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February 27, 2010

A Rational Rebuttal

Filed under: curling history, news, opinion — andy @ 6:56 am

The internet (and what passes for the local media in Duluth) have been highly critical of the men’s Olympic performance, and have singled out John Shuster in particular.   The “John Shuster sucks” meme is just another sad example of how the anonymity of the internet encourages bullies.   The labels applied to Shuster are inaccurate, but fortunately  they won’t stick.  Anyone remember Star Wars Kid?  Keyboard Cat?  Sarah Palin?

I thought not.  The internet phenomena of today will be forgotten tomorrow.  Meanwhile, John Shuster will still be curling competitively, winning some games and losing others.  The facts are that he is young, he’s a really good curler, and despite a statement made in frustration to the contrary, he does not “hate this stupid game”.

John Shuster is damn good curler.

For a more detailed account of Shuster’s history and future, please read the post on the MonkeySee blog by Linda Holmes, “Being John Shuster“.  It is a great story.

-Andy Skildum

February 26, 2010

This bodes well for our economic recovery

Filed under: news, opinion — andy @ 6:32 am

According to the New York Times, the gilded dipshits who were so busy driving our economy into a ditch a couple years ago have taken a shine to our favorite sport.  Is this good for capitalism, or bad for curling?

Trade takeouts, not derivatives!

I don’t think anyone who has ever, you know, actually curled, would call it a “slow-poke game”.  This is journalism, apparently.  Well done Eric Dash!  But for real examples of curling stories that are both slapdash and mean spirited, its tough to beat the Duluth News Tribune.

February 21, 2010

Review: “Curling 2010″ for the XBox360 is awesome

Filed under: Reviews, curling video games — andy @ 1:41 pm

Buy this game. Seriously.

Dadoo Games released “Curling 2010″ for the XBox360 this week– the full version is available for the amazing price of $3.00! It is downloaded through the XBox Live service directly from your game console, or through your web browser by following this link. The amount of bang for your buck is tremendous.  You can see screenshots from the game here, and videos here.

I’ve spent a bit of time with Curling 2010 since its release, and I can confidently say this is the best curling video game available for any console system today. Rather than make a winter sports compilation, this game is focused solely on curling, and it is clear that Dadoo thoroughly understands curling. In the basic match game, the standard competition rules, including the free guard rule, are in effect (although the number of ends per game, number of stones per end, Canadian versus international free guard rule, etc. are all changeable parameters– in fact you can set up a game with up to four teams, and four stone colors!).

The setting is an outdoor curling sheet, set in a valley surrounded by snow covered spruce. There are no cartoon characters or avatars to control; you basically act as skip and set a hovering broom to set the aiming point. You also set the weight with the left and right triggers, and turn with the X and B buttons. Once you have everything set to your satisfaction, press the A button to release the stone. Sweeping is accomplished by alternating left and right trigger buttons as the rock glides down the sheet.

(Click the “more. . .” link below for the rest of the review.)

(more…)

February 16, 2010

First draw of Olympic curling complete

Filed under: Uncategorized — andy @ 3:44 pm

John Shuster, Jason Smith, Jeff Isaacson, and John Benton gave Germany’s Andy Kapp a few headscratchers, but came up short in the end. Shooting percentages were almost identical, but Team USA needed to steal two in the tenth end for a tie and the Germans were having none of it.

line score us vs germany

Shuster and his team take on Norway tonight. (Yes, Norway– the ones with the pants.)  In the first draw Norway had surprisingly narrow loss to Canada in an extra end.   Good curling, and Go Team USA!

February 15, 2010

Best. Episode. Ever!

Filed under: curling history, news — andy @ 6:47 am

Marge and Homer take up curling: “It’s got bowling for me, and sweeping for you!” Now, where can I get a Springfield Curling shirt?

Springfield_Curling_Sm

UPDATE: Fox doesn’t like the Simpsons clips on YouTube, so I’m trying to embed from Hulu. To watch the official version of the Simpsons’ “Boy Meets Curl”, follow this link to FoxTV.

February 13, 2010

2010 Duluth International

Filed under: Bonspiels, news — andy @ 3:58 pm

Live from the 1pm saturday draw of the Duluth International Bonspiel. On sheet 8, Seppo Sormunnen battles Sheriff Ross Littman to stay in the A bracket.

February 9, 2010

Coming soon: Curling on the XBox360

Filed under: curling video games, news — andy @ 6:12 pm

Its been a while since I got the first inkling that someone was working on a serious curling simulation for the XBox360. The project by Dadoo Games, now called “Curling 2010″, has matured into a great looking curling game. The game is currently in play testing, and will soon be available for download through the Xbox Live service for the unbelievably reasonable price of $5.

For this you get the ability to play against a computer or friends at home or over the internet. If the video above is representative of the graphics and rock physics in the actual game, it will be awesome. I especially like the design choice to trade cheesy cartoon characters and pseudo-stadium settings typical of most console curling games for the more serene outdoor setting. I am eagerly awaiting the release of this game!

$5!

January 5, 2010

Colbert vs. Shuster: Bonspiel of the Century

Filed under: Bonspiels, curling history, news, things that slide on ice — andy @ 2:41 pm

Steven Colbert meets John, Jason, Jeff, the other John, and the Cute One at the Plainfield Curling Club in New club for some heart to heart talk and some head to head competition.

December 14, 2009

Team USA wins in Eveleth

Filed under: Curling for money, competitive curling, news — andy @ 10:07 am

John Shuster and Team USA won the Championship at the Curl Mesabi Cashspiel in Eveleth last weekend, beating Andrew Wickman of Winnepeg 5 to 1 in six ends.  Nice job.

And speaking of Olympians, Canada will be represented by Kevin Martin and Cheryl Bernard in Vancouver.  Tough competition.

December 3, 2009

It is the time for giving

Filed under: art, curling history — andy @ 6:09 am

And for every kid on your list: vintage Playmobil, of course!

playmobil curlers circa 1992

playmobil curlers circa 1992

November 25, 2009

Sheet 3. . .

Filed under: Uncategorized — andy @ 10:47 am

. . .looks like a muddy dog rolled all over it.

November 11, 2009

Why do hockey players migrate to curling?

Filed under: art, things that slide on ice — andy @ 9:32 am

This may explain it:

October 21, 2009

John Shuster at the World Cup of Curling

Filed under: Curling for money, competitive curling, news — andy @ 1:36 pm

John Shuster and company are playing in the Grey Power World Cup of Curling this weekend in Mississauga (a.k.a. south Toronto), Ontario.   This event is a prelude to Vancouver:   The Olympic representatives from Scotland, Norway, China, Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark and USA’s Shuster will be competing against five Canadian teams, one of which will represent Canada in the Olympics.

Tonight (Thursday, Oct. 21) at 7pm CST, John Shuster takes on Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue in the first draw.  You can see end-by-end scoring at this link.  Good luck John!

Thursday morning update:

shuster vs gushue line score

Good start, Team USA!

Testing the new version. . .

Filed under: Uncategorized — andy @ 1:20 pm

If you can see this, the newest version of WordPress has been successfully installed on curlduluth.com’s server.

March 25, 2009

An homage to the Duluth Curling Club

Filed under: Reviews, art — andy @ 4:15 pm

From YouTube via zolson1404

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