I’m the Product Marketing Manager at Raven Internet Marketing Tools, and I work in Austin, TX out of my home while the company is based in Nashville, TN. Throughout the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing tips on how I succeed while working out of my home.

Click to zoom in

Working from home definitely has its benefits, but in order to maximize your efficiency you ned to have your home office setup properly. Everyone has their own needs and their own way to do things, but here’s a look at what my home office looks like.

My ultimate goal when setting up the room was to have a functional desk. Something that was clean and organized to keep me efficient with my day-to-day tasks. I’ll breakdown each section of the office and will list any special products I used to get my setup. As you can probably tell I’m from Pittsburgh and a huge Steelers and Penguins fan!

To the right of the desk is a whiteboard where I keep my to-do list for the various things going on in my life. All color-coded, of course.

The Desk

Click to zoom in

I recently converted to Apple and use a MacBook Pro. The toughest thing about converting was figuring out a way to run three screens at once with the laptop (yeah, I’m a nerd). Thanks to this great post by Danny Sullivan, I was able to do just that. These are the steps I took in order to get the two external monitors working:

1. Bought a Diamond BVU195 HD USB Display Adapter (DVI and VGA with included DVI to VGA adapter)
2. Installed the latest Driver for Macs

And that was it! That’s all you need to do. Here’s a list of everything else I have in this picture:

• Plymouth Writing Desk – $299.95 (which was the easiest desk I’ve ever put together)
• Logitech Speaker System Z523 (Black) – $85.99
• Apple Magic Mouse (the best mouse EVER!) -$69
• Apple Keyboard Kit – $49.99
• Zits 2010 Desk Calendar (my favorite comic!)
• Black KONNET iCrado iPhone dock – $27
• FlipTime iPhone app – $0.99
• Pittsburgh Penguins Championship wallpaper – free!

The Shelves

Click to zoom in

On my shelves that I got from IKEA, I have the following memorabilia displayed:

• Jerome Bettis autographed football
• Tony Dorsett autographed football
• Zamboni autographed by the 2002 Pittsburgh Penguins team
• Picture of my Grandfather from his military days
• Spider-Man 3 figurine
• Two bobble-heads: Joe Mullen and an autographed Mario Lemieux
• Pittsburgh Penguins puck autographed by Alexei Kovalev and Robert Lang
• Picture I designed of Alexei Kovalev (which he autographed)
• Pittsburgh Steelers helmet signed by the Steel Curtain
• Autographed picture of the Steel Curtain
• 1983 World Series baseball signed by the St. Louis Cardinals team (year I was born)

Click to zoom in

The Coat Rack

I use this coatrack to display the following:

• Autographed jersey by the entire Wilkes-Barre Scranton 2002 team
• Sidney Crosby baseball cap (I’d love to get this signed)
• Apron signed by the 2007 Pittsburgh Penguins team at their charity fundraiser: Penguins at Your Service
• Autographed Mario Lemieux jersey
• Autographed Penguins stick by Evgeni “Geno” Malkin

Click to zoom in

The Book Shelf

I actually found this bookshelf at Lowe’s for much cheaper than lookalikes at Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. I use it to house a bunch of Internet marketing books, a basket to hold any mail that requires my attention (usually bills) and our wireless printer.

That about does it for my setup. What does your home office look like?

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

My Home Office Setup: The Sports Office

Related posts:

1. Why You Need to Setup a Grocery Budget

Howdy everyone!

We have some exciting news to announce today. First, as you may or may not have noticed, we have two new sections to the site now: Food & Travel and Fashion! We’re really excited about having a dedicated area where you can go and read about these topics, and you can also subscribe to their specific feed if you only want to be alerted about new posts in that section.

We also have two new writers joining the team: Jenny Trotter and Jonnie Urban. Jenny will be introducing us to cities and towns all over the globe in the Food & Travel section. Jonnie has us covered with the latest recipes, history and tips around food. We’re really excited to have them joining the team, so please join us and welcoming them both!

If you’re interested in writing for The Tipping Glass, you can fill out the contribute form and we’ll get in touch with you. Have a great one and thanks for reading!

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Please Welcome New Contributors and New Sections to The Tipping Glass!

No related posts.

Check back each Wednesday with updated banter between Taylor and Josh about how the Big Game is shaping up and who we think will be lifting the Lambardi Trophy on February 7th.

Super Bowl Predictions

Taylor: Well, here we are folks. Just a few days removed from the big game. This is the matchup we all wanted to see, but didn’t believe it would actually happen. Two power-house offenses getting ready for a shootout in Miami, FL. Let’s take a look at what each team has to do in order to raise the Lombardi Sunday night. Let’s start with the Indianapolis Colts.

Josh: Two things before we start. First, on Sunday, I will be watching the Super Bowl on the deck of a cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean. Take a second to be jealous………..Ok.

Second, this is me bragging that my pick to win it all at the beginning of the playoffs is still in it. Let’s take a moment of silence for the Chargers, who bombed out as the 2nd seed against the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

Taylor: *cough* Cowboys *cought* – you’ve got nothing on me!

Josh: Ok on to the Colts. The only thing that really worries me is the fact that Dwight Freeny’s ankle is about to fall off. But besides that, I think we both know who the better team is in this one. Peyton Manning is a surgeon when he has the ball in his hands. My guess is that the Saints defense will have a few wrinkles thrown into their game plan and Manning will start a little slow. But come his third or fourth possession, it’s game over. Not only will Manning be hoisting the Lambardi Trophy, he’ll also have his second Super Bowl MVP.

Taylor: Don’t underestimate this Saints defense. They make big plays when it counts and in each game that they won this year that had at least one fumble recovery. I expect to see the Colts turning the ball over at least 2-3 times. If the Colts can keep from doing that it is an easy win for them. But once this Saints defense frustrates you as they keep laying hits on you like they did to Brett Favre, any QB will get rattled. It will be an interesting chess match between the two for sure.

Josh: The Saints are opportunistic when it comes to capitalizing on the other team’s mistakes, but Peyton Manning won’t make mistakes. That thumb-headed mother f—er can play! The Vikings must have been eating buttered popcorn on the sidelines in the Championship Game with the way they were fumbling. I don’t see the Colts running the ball more than 20 times the whole game. Who needs a running game when you can pass the ball at will?

Taylor: If the Colts can avoid turnovers, the pressure will be at an all-time high on Drew Brees. From the Saints games I’ve watched, Brees tends to start out strong and then die off towards the end of the game. That’s the opposite of the way Peyton and the Colts offense plays. The Saints need to play consistent, high pressure football in order to both keep up with the Colts and to try and get a lead. I also think they’re going to need some help from their special teams to return a punt or kickoff back for a TD in order to get some sort of edge over the Colts.

As Bill Bellicheat always says, “do your job!” That’s what Brees and the Saints need to do. Even just one mistake will give the Colts exactly what they need to put the Saints at bay.

Josh: So who are you picking to win this one, AND who do you think will be the MVP? I’ve already given my prediction, Indy wins with Manning as MVP. Final score: 30-19 Colts.

Taylor: I’m pulling for the Saints to win their first Super Bowl title. MVP goes to Brees. Final score: 35-31 Saints.

Round 3

Josh: Well, our Super Bowl predictions took a little hit over the weekend and looks like we’ll need to do a little revising. My Colts are still in it, but looks like your Chargers choked again in the playoffs. Nobody is happier than the Colts right now, as they have been bounced the past two years by the Chargers. Taylor, what happened?

Taylor: I’m not entirely sure what happened to the Chargers. They had kicking problems, and they just couldn’t get into a rhythm. Perhaps it was a lack of preparation, or maybe they underestimated the Jets. To be honest it looked a lot like one of the many 4th quarter blown leads by the Steelers. The Chargers let a team they were better than stick around for too long. They should have been more aggressive to build a bigger lead. The Chargers weren’t the only ones to choke. How ‘bout them Cowboys?

Josh: All I gotta say about the Cowboys is how mad I get when people say it was Tony Romo’s fault. They put all the blame on him, when his offensive line (5 guys blocking 4 pass rushers most of the time) couldn’t stop Minnesota’s front four. I think there were 6 sacks and 19 QB pressures. When you have less than 2 seconds to throw on EVERY play, there’s nothing a quarterback can do.

But enough with the past. Tell me what you think of the Jets and Colts this weekend? How epic would it be if the Jets won because in week 16 the Colts pulled their starters, thereby allowing the Jets to get in the playoffs to begin with?

Taylor: That really would be epic. The Jets are looking more and more like the 2005 Steelers. They’ve faced adversity time and time again this playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the Colts dismantled the Baltimore D and I’m not convinced things will go down any different. I’d love to see the Colts and Saints advance to the Super Bowl. It would be one of the most exciting games we’ve seen in a long time. How do you see the Vikings and Saints playing out. At the beginning of the playoffs I predicted the Vikings to advance.

Josh: I’m with you on the Colts. The Chargers were not prepared, and made some head-scratching coaching decisions (punting on the 36 yard line, onside kick at the end, etc). The Colts will not make those mistakes. Every team knows exactly what the Colts are going to throw at them, but they’re helpless to stop them. The Colts have won 15 games in a row that meant something, and would have beaten the Jets in week 16 if they had left their starters in the game.

As for Saints and Vikings, to me, it’s a coin flip. I would love for the Saints to advance, because it would be 2 weeks I won’t have to listen to everyone giving Favre the credit for his TEAM’S success. The Vikings pass defense is vulnerable, so I think if Drew Brees can take advantage of that, they can pull it off. I’m also waiting for Favre to turn into the turnover machine that he usually becomes at the end of the season.

Josh’s New Super Bowl Prediction: Colts over Saints

Taylor: I’m with you there, but I like the Saints to get their first Super Bowl title. Saints over Colts. Which probably means this will be Jets vs Vikings.

Round 2

Josh: Well Taylor, looks like we’re both still in the running to have our Super Bowl picks work out, although neither your Chargers or my Colts played over Wild Card Weekend. Was that one of the most boring weekends of football you’ve seen in a while or what? Until the 3rd quarter of the Cardinals/Packers game, I couldn’t stay awake.

Taylor: Agreed, I was really surprised at how many blowouts there were. The last quarter of that Cardinals game, though, was one of the most exciting I’ve seen in awhile. Your Cowboys have me worried, and with a performance like that, Minnesota should be very worried. That’s a big game for us as they are both of our NFC Super Bowl representatives. I’m going to go ahead and assume you are taking the Cowboys in that game. What about the Saints vs. Cardinals? Looks like another shootout.

Josh: Ah yes, this will be the week for bragging rights, as our NFC picks will be facing each other. Fun fact: The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL right now to not have even one player on Injured Reserved. Healthy teams win in January. Another stat that can not be overlooked, however, is the record of the home team in the divisional round. With an extra week to rest up, about 70% of divisional round games have been won by the home team since the 6-team format began. With that said, the only team in the NFC that worries me right now is the Cardinals. Even with their non-existent secondary giving up 45 points, Kurt Warner is a monster pushing 40 years old. The QB argument for the past decade has been Manning vs. Brady, but maybe it should be changed to Manning vs. Warner.

Taylor: Healthy teams most certainly win in January. That’s a huge advantage on their end. And their defense playing out of their mind. I think the reason Warner gets left out of those conversations is because he doesn’t play at this level during the regular season. He seems to save it all for the playoffs. I think the Cardinals have a huge advantage coming into this game. Outside of the game against Green Bay, the Cardinals D was top 5 all season. Not to mention the Saint defense is probably the most injury-plagued unit of all playoff teams. The Saints have looked terrible their last three games and will most likely be out of sync while the Cards are in their stride. My head tells me Cards win while my heart hopes the Saints do. On to the AFC!

Josh: I think the AFC is a lot more clear cut than the NFC. Chargers and Colts in the championship game. The Ravens played awesome against the Patriots last week, and have that awesome three-headed running attack. But the Colts defense is the most underrated in the league, and playing at home on turf will give the advantage to those small, quick defenders. Plus, Flacco threw only 10 times last week. He won’t be able to get away with that against the Colts. As for the Chargers, I think they can not take the Jets’ defense lightly. They have been dominant, and will pose problems for Phillip Rivers. I see this game being pretty tight, and more physical.

Taylor: Completely agree with you. The Jets and Ravens had a good run, but the Chargers and Colts will end up being too much for them. Thanks everyone and stay tuned next week when we update this post again to review our picks and to pick the championship games!

Round 1

Josh: We enter a brand new chapter. How they got here is irrelevant. What they do now will determine their place in history. Jobs will be lost. Heroes will be discovered. Beer will be drank. It’s the NFL Playoffs baby!!!

Taylor: Over the next few weeks we’ll get to analyze coaching decisions on whether or not to rest players in meaningless games, eagerly await the dramatic fall of the Cowboys, and drink even more beer.

Josh: I love the fact that your Steelers and my Bills are not in the playoffs this year. Nobody can claim we’re biased, and people can call us Switzerland because we’re neutral in this affair. Let’s skip the playoff round-by-round predictions and just get to the Super Bowl. Taylor, who will be the last man standing?

Taylor: Just like that, eh? I recommend that you head on over to your favorite Super Bowl betting website and you place your money on the San Diego Chargers. Not only did they enter the playoffs as the hottest team, they are playing a complete football game on both sides of the ball. They have been consistent and are fully capable of competing in a shootout or in a defensive slugfest. What about you?

Josh: Ah, you’re going with the popular pick. I’m pretty sure every beat writer and their step mothers are picking the Chargers to win it all. They are playing awesome right now and seem to have a complete game. I also love Ladanian Tomlinson and really want him to get a Super Bowl ring, and this might be his best chance. However, I like the Colts to win it all. They have an awesome defense this year that nobody seems to recognize, and the soon-to-be MVP starting at Quarterback.

Taylor: So it sounds like neither of us believe the NFC will be taking the crown. Who do you see representing the NFC this year?

Josh: Two weeks ago, I would have said the Eagles. They were flying (no pun intended) on offense and stiff on defense. But after that performance against the Cowboys where they had a chance to lock up the 2nd seed with a victory, I lost my faith that they can even get past the Wild Card round. What is interesting about both conferences is that besides New England, it looks like every game will be played in a dome or warm weather. That bodes well for the fast, offensive, pass-happy teams like the Saints. But my gut is telling me that something happened in Dallas after they pounded the Eagles, and we might be seeing them in Miami this year. So I’m going on a limb here and calling it: Colts over Cowboys.

Taylor: Josh, I’m speechless. The Cowboys? THE COWBOYS? You are aware that Romo is still starting there, right? After a strong week 17 performance, my faith in the Vikings has been restored. Just like the Chargers, they have a complete game. I think the hiccup they had towards the end of the season was just the reality check they needed to be prepared mentally. Chargers over Vikings. Brett Favre retires until August.

Josh: We will have to agree to disagree here. Honestly I think anyone in the NFC can come away with the conference. Tell me one person who thought the Cardinals would make it to the Super Bowl last year, and I’ll call them a liar. The NFC is wide open. Any of those teams can finish on top. Ok let’s get to this weekend. We’ll start with the AFC Wild Card games: Jets at Bengals, and Ravens at Patriots. Give me your predictions, and one sentence why for each game. Go.

Taylor:I think the Jets roll over the Bengals again. The Bengals only managed 79 total yards of offense against them on Sunday, and they now have strong confidence going into this game. And let’s not forget that Carson Palmer did finish 1/11 with an INT. As for the Pats and Ravens, Welker’s injury makes this game much closer than I originally thought it would be. The Ravens have never beaten the Pats, and I don’t expect this game to be any different. Who do you have?

Josh: That was two sentences for each game. Regarding the Jets, I don’t care how they got into the playoffs (beating two teams with nothing to play for), that defense is spectacular and as long as Sanchez doesn’t try to be a hero, they’ll win on the road. I don’t think Brady has ever been one-and-done, so especially because the game is in New England, the Patriots will overcome Welker’s injury and dismantle the Ravens.

I’ll go first for the NFC. The Cowboys will once again beat the Eagles. This is a different team than in the past. Wade Phillips is coaching for his job and will have his guys up to speed as long as they don’t take a trip to Cabo mid-week. I just can’t get over how Philly played so poorly with a bye week and second seed on the line. Their effort in such an important game shows me that they’re not ready to travel down south again for the rematch.

I think last week’s Cardinals vs. Packers game was meaningless, and that Arizona with all those weapons on offense, a decent defense, and above average running game will be too much for the Packers to handle.

Taylor: I will give you the Cowboys game, as I do believe they will finally win their first playoff game since 1996. As for the Cards/Packers I’m going to have to disagree. Boldin is questionable and the Packers offense is clicking on a cylinders. I think their offense will be too much for the Cards to handle, but it will be an exciting shootout.

That’s all for now folks, check back next week when we’ll update this post to review our predictions and pick the next round.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Who Will Win the Super Bowl?

Related posts:

1. Super Bowl XLIV Recap and 2010 Preview
2. Should the Colts Coast and the Saints Sleep?
3. Week 13 NFL Preview

Hi everyone! We’re very excited to announce that Jaime Parker has joined the Tipping Glass team as one of our featured writers in the Entertainment section of the site. Jaime will be covering everything from fashion to the latest gossip that is making its way around the interwebz. Please join me in welcoming Jaime to our team and keep an eye out for her first post that will be going up today!

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Please Welcome Jaime Parker to The Tipping Glass!

No related posts.

Each Wednesday I’ll be bringing you six songs you need to go out and download now! Have a recommendation for the Tipping Glass community? Leave a comment and we might feature it in next week’s six pack!

This week we’re focusing on kick-ass 90’s music!

1. Rammstein – Du Hast

This song takes me back. All the way back to middle school. I still love how many people know every word to this song without being able to speak a lick of German. This song became super trendy, but how can you not love it? Rammstein is a pretty hardcore band. I wish I could have seen them on the Family Values Tour.

2. Fiona Apple – Criminal

Why is this song so awesome? Because it introduced me to Fiona Apple. I love her music. It is so refreshing and original. I never understood how she fell of the map for so many people, but I know you all once rocked out to this kick-ass jam.

3. Radiohead – High & Dry

This is easily my favorite Radiohead song. The lyrics and the vocals to this song are simply amazing. You almost immediately fall into a trance when this song starts out. Such a beautiful song that I never get sick of.

4. Alice in Chains – Man in the Box

Alice in Chain’s MTV Unplugged album is one of my favorite albums of all time. They’ve recently made somewhat of a comeback and are touring again, but I’ll always think back to that performance and their classic songs. It was really hard to choose which to feature in this lineup. Perhaps we should do a Six Pack of only Alice in Chain songs.

5. Rage Against the Machine – Guerilla Radio

You can’t talk about the 90’s without mentioning Rage Against the Machine. Talk about a trendy band to like. Between them and the Dave Matthews Band it was almost a guarantee that someone had at least one album from them. This song is still regularly played on all rock stations, and rightly so. Because it kicks ass.

6. Cake – Never There

And last, and certainly not least, we come to Cake. Cake’s music was not only extremely catchy, but most of the time the lyrics were hilarious. I always loved his videos, too. I think what makes Cake’s music stick out so much is how unique it is. There aren’t very many artists that approach music the way that he does.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be compiling our favorite 90’s songs, help us out by leaving a comment with your favorite 90’s tracks.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 16th ed.

Related posts:

1. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 25 edition
2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 9th edition
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition

One of the things I see so many people struggling with these days is credit card debt. Credit cards are the devil. They make it so easy for you to spend money, and as a result – so many people fall behind. Before you know it you’ve racked up $5,000 in credit card debt. And then it starts earning interest.

I completely understand the appeal of credit cards. You can earn rewards, you can buy something you really want even if you don’t have the money for it now and credit cards are just more convenient than cash. So how can you get all of the benefits of a credit card without all of the downside?

The answer is simple, and chances are you already know what I’m about to say. Pay off your entire balance at the end of each month. It’s that simple. You should only charge items to your credit card that you know you’ll be able to pay off at the end of the month. If you can’t afford to pay it off by the end of the month you shouldn’t buy it. You should save up for it.

By taking this approach you not only avoid interest penalties, but you get the kick-ass benefit of the rewards. All for spending the same amount of money. Unfortunately, in today’s world people all too quickly get a new credit card, see their limit and act as if they have X amount of dollars to spend now. That isn’t the case. When you get a credit card your financial decisions shouldn’t change.

To avoid credit card debt you need to stay patient and stick to your budget. People don’t realize until it is too late just how fast that 18% APR adds up. It never goes away and your debt will grow and grow in front of your very eyes. Be smart. Don’t buy things you can’t afford that month. Save. I know it is hard, especially if you really want it, but you also don’t want to put you and your family in a financial situation you can’t afford to be in.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

The Secret to Credit Card Financial Freedom

Related posts:

1. How to Budget: Entertainment Fund
2. The Hobby Fund
3. More Money?

On Tuesday, 30 Seconds to Mars released their third studio album, and first album since 2005, titled This Is War. Creating the album has been a very unique process for 30 Seconds to Mars as they found themselves in the midst of a lawsuit with their previous record label among other things. Through much adversity they have created a unique sounding, worth-the-wait kind of album that you will most definitely enjoy. Below you’ll see my ratings for each individual song on the album and I’ve also recommended which songs you should download from the album and which ones you can skip.

Before I dive in, let me just say that this is a fantastic album. Easily one of the best of 2009. However, 30 Seconds to Mars decided to experiment with something. They invited fans from all over the world to recording sessions where they recorded them singing and making various noises. On one or two tracks that would be a really cool effect. But 30 Seconds to Mars decided to include an element of this in EVERY SONG. I can’t tell you how many songs on this album are so close to perfection but fall short because of their desire to involve their fans. I’ll talk more about this during my reviews on each song.

Each track is rated on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the best possible score.

Track 1: Escape (1/10)

Escape is basically a 2 minute intro track to the album. There is some quiet synth going on with some fan noise at the end. I recommend only getting this track if you plan on listening to the whole album from start to finish.

Track 2: Night of the Hunter (9/10)

Night of the Hunter is one of the best songs on the album. I love the beat of the track, the creepy delivery from Jared Leto and the breaks between each part of the song. The only thing I don’t like about this song, and this is something you’ll be hearing me say A LOT about this album is the use of the crowd. This is one of the instances on the album where the song would have been a perfect 10/10 had they just kept Jared Leto doing his own backup vocals.

Track 3: Kings and Queens (9/10)

Kings and Queens is the first single off of This is War and it is a fantastic track. I love the poetry in this song and the way it builds up until the end. Great vocals by Leto. With was the perfect song to be the first single of the album, and one you should definitely add to your collection. The fan inclusion on this song I actually liked. One of the few instances I thought it was appropriate and made the song better.

Track 4: This is War (8/10)

I’m not a big fan of the way this song starts out. It takes the fan noise from the intro track and expands it a little long. It doesn’t add any value to the track and really takes the song down a notch. I love the intensity of the song and it is pretty well written. The first line of the chorus is a little weak, in my opinion (“From the left, to the right, we will fight, to the death”).

Track 5: 100 Suns (6/10)

This is a very short acoustic track that it is dark and well written. My only complaints are how short it is (under 2 minutes) and the random cheering of the crowd on the track. The crowd really ruins the mood and sounds super cheesy. They basically end up cheering at the end.

Track 6: Hurricane (10/10)

This song is EPIC. This song is unbelievably well constructed. I absolutely love the piano in the track, it really makes it. I think Jared Leto is at his best vocally with the song. If I could get you to download one song off of the album to play over and over again it would be this one. The song is just over six minutes long, but because it is so well composed you don’t even notice. One of the best 30 Seconds to Mars has ever recorded. I of course hate the crowd involvement at the end of the track. I really wish I could get this track without them included and with Jared doing his own backup vocals. Kanye West was supposed to be on this track but the version with him on it was pulled from the album due to a conflict between the record labels. I imagine it will make its way out there eventually, although I can’t imagine why they would change this song with how perfect the way it is.

Track 7: Closer to the Edge (10/10)

This song will most definitely be one of the singles off of the album. The chorus is flawless and, again, the delivery and composition of the song is spot on. I can definitely see this one being the most played song on the radio of all of the songs on the album as it is also more upbeat than the other tracks. In all serious, why why why did they need the crowd in this one too?

Track 8: Vox Populi (8/10)

Vox Populi has a lot of crowd involvement but it works with the way they composed the song. It is meant to be a group rallying song and so it makes sense for them to be chanting along with the chorus and at the beginning of the track. It is a good overall track but not something I see as being released as a single. I imagine it would be great live, too.

Track 9: Search and Destroy (8/10)

I love the opening of Search and Destroy as you get a whisper-like delivery from Jared Leto and a great drum beat. The song builds in intensity as it goes on, and it is well composed lyrically. I love how catchy the chorus is and lucky for me the crowd volume is softer than on other tracks. Again, most likely not a single but overall a solid song worth downloading.

Track 10: Alibi (8.5/10)

Alibi starts off with a soft piano piece which helps set the mood for the song. The song reminds me a lot of A Modern Myth. This is a beautiful ballad-like piece that will definitely mellow you out. If you like darker, sadder tracks, than you’ll love this song. Great delivery again by Leto. Oh and the best part is: there is no crowd involvement on this track!!

Track 11: Stranger in a Strange Land (6/10)

The one thing I’m not a big fan of with this song is the 90 second intro. It’s not that I’m against long intros, but there really wasn’t a point to the intro music with this song. The beat basically stopped and then the actual song started. This song isn’t bad but it is forgettable. I think it is a nice compliment to the album but it isn’t a must-have by any means.

Track 12: L490 (1/10)

I don’t understand the point of this track. It is an obnoxious instrumental track that towards the end has monks chanting.

Overall, I give this album a 9/10. The only things I’d change about it would be to make it longer and for the love of God take out the crowd in almost all of the songs. If you take out the instrumental tracks it is really only 10 songs long. I highly recommend that you buy this album and play the shit out of it, but if you are still hesitant you should download these songs:

• Hurricane
• Closer to the Edge
• Kings & Queens
• Night of the Hunter

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Album Review: 30 Seconds to Mars – This is War

Related posts:

1. Concert Review: AFI, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Bravery and Cage the Elephant
2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 25 edition
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 9th edition

Yesterday we took a look at which teams we expect to secure the wild card spots in the AFC. There is a bit more up for grabs still in the NFC, so let’s take a look at what playoff positions are most likely a lock:

Projected Top Seeds:

(1) New Orleans (12-0)
(2) Minnesota (10-2)
(3) Arizona (8-4)

The fourth position (it could actually work out to be the third position) is reserved for the winner of the always competitive NFC East. As of right now the Cowboys are leading the division with a tie-breaker over Philadelphia. Both teams are 8-4. So before we get to the wild cards, we need to determine who will win the NFC East title.

The contenders:

Dallas (8-4)
Philadelphia (8-4)
N.Y. Giants (7-5)

Let’s start with Dallas. Not only do they have the whole “we are a piece of shit team in December” thing going for them, they also have a very difficult schedule. This week they face a hot San Diego team, followed by games against New Orleans, Washington and Philadelphia. The Cowboys are more than capable of dropping all four of these games. It doesn’t get any easier for Philadelphia who in addition to playing Dallas have a game this week against the Giants and games against the 49ers and Broncos. No cakewalk there either. Finally, the Giants (who play Philly on Sunday) have it just a bit easier. They play Washington and Carolina and wrap up their season against Minnesota who will probably rest some of their starters at that point.

With all of the division games left for these teams, this is a very tough call. I don’t think Dallas is mentally strong enough to win enough games to capture the NFC East title, so in my opinion it comes down to Philadelphia and the Giants. The Giants have just begun to show some life on defense, but I don’t think it will be enough to contain Philadelphia. I see Philadelphia getting the win this weekend and capturing the NFC East title.

On to the wild card. Assuming I’m right about Philly, the top contenders for the two wild card positions are:

Green Bay (8-4)
Dallas (8-4)
N.Y. Giants (7-5)
Atlanta (6-6)

Green Bay has just as tough of a schedule ahead of them as Dallas and the Giants do. But with the Cowboys struggles and their remaining schedule, I don’t see them keeping pace with the Packers or the Giants. The Falcons have the easiest schedule of the pack, but they would have to run the table and that includes being the Saints this Sunday in Atlanta.

Who will get in? I see the Giants and the Packers securing the final two wild card positions, but this is going to be a tight race and should make for an exciting final four weeks of football. Who do you think will be getting in in the NFC?

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

NFL Playoff Picture: NFC

Related posts:

1. NFL Playoff Picture: AFC
2. Week 13 NFL Preview
3. Week 16 NFL Preview

Each Wednesday I’ll be bringing you six songs you need to go out and download now! Have a recommendation for the Tipping Glass community? Leave a comment and we might feature it in next week’s six pack! At the bottom of the post you can preview and buy songs courtesy of Amazon.

1. White Lies – To Lose My Life

This kick-ass alternative track is very dark and moody. White Lies sound a lot like The Cure and Joy Division, so if you like either of those bands you’ll love this track and their latest album (also titled “To Lose My Life”). The hooks are very catchy, the vocals are raw and the drums are tight. What’s not to like?

2. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – A Mad Russian’s Christmas

Tis the season, after all, and this is a stand-out track by the very popular orchestra. This song is fun and exciting as it changes from their classic Christmas tunes about every 20-30 seconds. It’s very upbeat and is easily one of my favorite songs by them.

3. Sarah Jaffe – Ever Born Again

I first heard Sarah off of the Austin City Limits sampler pack (which was amazing, btw) and she is truly a gem. Her voice and her 6-song EP (titled “Ever Born Again”) will send you into a beautiful trance as you are able to feel the emotion she captures in each track. She definitely has a unique sound, but I think what attracts me to her the most is the raw emotion of each track. Great song-writing, too.

4. Pete Yorn – Lose You

Most people will remember this song from the House episode last season where Kutner committed suicide. Pete’s soft voice throughout the song captures the power behind its lyrics and you’ll quickly find yourself feeling the same emotions the House crew felt when they heard the news. This is a great track off a very solid album that you should definitely download.

5. Hawksley Workman – Smoke Baby

This guy is one of the most underrated artists in today’s music. Everything from the beat of the song, the catchy chorus and even the rap-verse three quarters of the way into the song will keep this song on your MP3 player for a long time. This song came highly recommended from Tipping Glass reader (and at one time author) Lyndsay Walker. She fully endorses her fellow Canadian and he doesn’t disappoint.

6. Lostprophets – Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)

Oh how I love this song. The great thing about this track is how it builds and builds and builds all the way through the song to the point where you want to scream along with the band. This album was released back in 2006 when the UK phenom finally brought their music to the U.S. From start to finish their album “Liberation Transmission” is a work of art.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 9th edition

Related posts:

1. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 25 edition
2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 16th ed.

As we enter week 14 the wild card race in both the AFC and NFC is as competitive as ever. Let’s take a close look at the race for the final two playoff positions in the AFC:

Projected top seeds:

(1) Indianapolis (12-0)
(2) San Diego (9-3)
(3) Cincinnati (9-3)
(4) New England (7-5)

As of right now Denver (8-4) and Jacksonville (7-5) own the 5th and 6th playoff seeds, respectively. I think it is safe to say that Denver will secure one of the playoff spots. But this is where things get interesting. The following teams are fighting for the 6th seed:

Pittsburgh (6-6)
Baltimore (6-6)
Miami (6-6)
N.Y. Jets (6-6)

Which of these five teams has the best chance at securing the last remaining spot? I think it will come down to the very last game of the season – when Miami and Pittsburgh face off. If you look at the strength of schedule, Jacksonville’s next 3 games are against Miami, Indianapolis, and New England. Three games they are more than capable of losing. Baltimore has an easier schedule as they play Detroit, Oakland and Chicago. Although you never know what games are easy and which are hard for the Steelers, they have an easy game against Cleveland on Thursday followed by three very tough games against Green Bay, Baltimore and Miami. As you may of noticed, Miami has one of the hardest remaining schedules of the group. They play Jacksonville, Tennessee, Houston and Pittsburgh. Finally, the Jets face the struggling Buccaneers and Falcons, in addition to playing Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Something to keep in mind is that Indy and Cincy may be resting their starters at that point.

Looking at the schedules, Baltimore and the Jets seem to have the easiest path to playoff success. Given the Jets struggles at QB, I give the edge to the Ravens, assuming their secondary can get healthy and Flacco can manage the game.

It’s all too easy to look at the schedule and the NFL has a way of keeping things interesting. I’m predicting that the final playoff seed will come down to a week 17 game between the Steelers and Dolphins. Winner gets in. Let me explain why I chose these two.

Miami plays every team tough. They are a very consistent football team which is the key to winning. The only thing holding them back is the strength of their competition. Let’s not forget how hard these guys play every team. They are very capable of beating each team remaining on their schedule. Probably more so than any other team in the playoff race.

Pittsburgh has too much talent to continue to slump. If they can take care of business on Thursday with Cleveland and Polamalu can come back to play against Green Bay they will be back to championship form. If you have ever watched a Steelers game where Polamalu plays and when he doesn’t, you know the defense is completely different when he is gone. When he plays they are a top 5 defense who can finish games. We all know how much they struggle when he doesn’t. He creates the turnovers the Steelers are in desperate need of, especially towards the end of the game.

Who will get in – Steelers or Dolphins? I’m predicting the Dolphins in one of the more exciting week 17 games we’ve seen. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the NFC playoff scenario. Be sure to sound off in the comments with whether or not you agree with my prognostication!

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

NFL Playoff Picture: AFC

Related posts:

1. NFL Playoff Picture: NFC
2. Week 16 NFL Preview Review
3. Week 13 NFL Preview Review