Recag/C4_31 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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HBO’s world-conquering epic Game of Thrones seized the Outstanding Drama Series prize for the third time at the 70th Emmys on Monday night, having won twice consecutively before Hulu’s dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale took home the trophy last year. Handmaid’s and critical favorite Atlanta, both previous winners, were shut out altogether in the surprising grab-bag of this year’s winners, although Atlanta’s Teddy Perkins did make a creepy surprise appearance at the ceremony. Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost hosted the ceremony, and the show also picked up an expected win in the variety sketch series category.
FX’s The Americans picked up two prizes for “START,” the series finale of its excellent, long-undervalued run, for lead actor Matthew Rhys and creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg in writing. In reality, RuPaul’s Drag Race won the top prize for the first time. Meanwhile, in comedy, Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel took advantage of repeat winner Veep’s absence and triumphed over pegged favorite Atlanta to win the top prize, plus awards for star Rachel Brosnahan, writing and directing for creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, and Alex Borstein in supporting. In limited series and TV movie, FX’s The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story won big, while Regina King pulled off an upset win for Netflix’s Seven Seconds, triumphing over Laura Dern in HBO’s The Tale. And the great Henry Winkler won a supporting actor award for his turn in Barry, his first Emmy win more than four decades after he was first nominated for his iconic Happy Days role in 1976.
Read the full list of winners (in bold) below and measure them against Paste’s predictions here.
With Avengers: Infinity War having taken $2bn (£1.5bn) at the box office, Marvel's superhero films continue to dominate the cinema landscape. But just how do the comic book characters make the transition to the big screen?
It is now 10 years since Iron Man rocketed his way into cinemas, with Robert Downey Jr's quick-witted charm winning over audiences across the globe.
And from the afro-futurist Wakanda to the gleaming Asgard and nightmarish Dark Dimension, advances in computer-generated effects and the studio's blockbuster budgets have enabled filmmakers to push the envelope ever more.
But while the fantastical deeds of its costumed crusaders continue to thrill, the Marvel Cinematic Universe owes much of its success to the teams of unsung stars who never appear on screen.
For long before the films are released to sold-out showings amid a media frenzy, concept artists spend months painstakingly creating and honing the look and feel of each instalment.
"It's totally critical [to the end product]," says Ron Ashtiani, director of Atomhawk Design, which counts Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron among its portfolio.
"It's a huge amount of pressure, but also really rewarding."
The studio, based in Gateshead in north-east England, is displaying examples of its work as part of the Great Exhibition of the North.
Atomhawk was enlisted by Marvel after impressing with its videogame design work.
That area of expertise, Ashtiani believes, lent itself well to the vision Marvel had for its films.
Working digitally with illustration software, its team of artists design and refine the appearance of characters, props and environments - often dozens of times over.
From initial sketches through to detailed scene shots, no stone is left unturned.
"Every project we work on, we do a significant amount of reference-gathering," Ashtiani reveals.
"We explore real-world reference points and fiction.
"You've got to be careful not to create something that's been done before. You can get easily influenced by things you've seen."
Tasked with adding "an extra layer of believability" to the second Thor adventure, the team dived deep into Norse mythology and created the Asgardian skiff by combining a Viking longboat with futuristic-looking technology and materials.
It would be the first Guardians of the Galaxy instalment, though, that provided the company with its biggest opportunity to stamp its authority on a film's final look.
The comics, Ashtiani says, had "always been a bit niche", without a settled visual identity.
"It was a new imagining of IP [intellectual property] for Marvel.
"We looked at pulp movies like Barbarella and Forbidden Planet - a lot of very colourful and comic sci-fi, as they wanted to take that kind of feeling and mix it with a modern sci-fi look."
As drawn up by Atomhawk, the hero crew's Milano spaceship as well as the Kyln interstellar prison and Knowhere - the floating giant skull of a celestial being - all took starring roles.
Far from a simple process, "upwards of 50 versions" of the spaceship were designed.
The 18 months of hard work ultimately paid off, though. "About 25%" of the firm's ideas ended up on screen, having been realised by the film's visual effects teams.
Director James Gunn was so impressed he later tweeted his approval, saying Atomhawk's efforts had helped inspire a key scene between the villainous Thanos and Ronan.
While directors and production staff will no doubt have one eye on a film's overall budget, concept artists are free to "dream big and think of any option possible," says Martin Macrae, head of art at Oscar-winning visual effects company Framestore.
Headquartered in London and with offices worldwide, it has also worked on a number of Marvel projects including both Guardians films, Doctor Strange and Avengers: Infinity War.
"Budgets can cramp the creativity. If we can give examples of what something 'could' look like then the design can be adjusted to fit budgets," he says.
"Because our process is so early on in the production, it is a natural evolution to have images and designs change.
"We can design a character, but if it moves through to the animation team and its body can't move how the client wants, then adjustments will be needed.
"There are always times a design doesn't make it into the film - it is the nature of the beast. We had some fun designs for a character in Thor: Ragnarok, but due to the budgets and timescales they were not carried through to the final cut."
For the digital effects experts at Framestore who translate those creations into on-screen action, having a clear set of designs to work from is vital.
"It's key to have concept art approved by the director and/or the client VFX [visual effects] supervisor before we start," says Alexis Wajsbrot, the firm's VFX supervisor.
"Before starting to texture an asset or create a piece of VFX, we ask our art department to come up with ideas and we explore options with them.
"It's similar to how important it is to work on a storyboard before starting a physical shoot. It is possible to do it without it, but you lose a lot of time and might not even end up with the best possible shot.
"But even with the latest technology it is still very hard to adapt a concept and make it photorealistic. It's a lot easier to paint FX than to simulate it."
What, though, of those frequent amendments - do the redesigns create tensions within a team?
"You have to manage the crew's expectations and let them know that a character will evolve," Wajsbrot says. "Nothing is locked in until the last month of delivery.
"That is our role as a creative partner - to be as efficient as possible in adapting to the requests of clients and for the crew to be aware some of the work we are achieving will need to be tailored or reshaped.
"It's part of the creative process - trial and error."
For Atomhawk's Ashtiani, the process and its focus on detail mirror a change in society as a whole.
"These days people in general are way more in tune with design," he says.
"If you look at mobile phones and cars they're highly designed. A car used to be a box with four wheels. At best you would have a choice of colours.
"The industry we're in is quite Darwinian - it's survival of the best idea."
Is it 'game over' for box artwork?
Patriots Mailbag: Who Are New England’s Seven Most Indispensable Players?
Is it crazy to believe Rob Gronkowski actually hasn’t lost a step?
The New England Patriots tight end’s statistics are down this season, which has led many, including Michael Lombardi, to conclude he’s not the same player he once was. We all watched the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 43-40 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, right? Gronk still looks like Gronk.
Teams were keying in on Gronkowski early in the season because the Patriots lacked weapons. They’re still doing it, and the Patriots have scored 38-plus points in three consecutive weeks. If teams want to keep keying in on Gronkowski, then Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will just have to keep hitting his other receiving options on the way to highly productive offensive performances.
Something tells me teams will stray from this concept eventually, and Gronkowski will start putting up lofty numbers once again. Also, it’s worth noting Gronkowski is on pace for 69 catches for 1,080 yards this season. Last year? He had 69 catches for 1,084 yards.
If Gronkowski lost a step, then most tight ends didn’t have 100 yards to begin with.
Who aside from Brady and Gronk would you consider to fit the “we CANNOT afford an injury to this player and win the SB”? category?
Defensive end Trey Flowers comes to mind first. The Patriots’ defense was a disaster without Flowers in Weeks 2 and 3. He’s the Patriots’ best, most complete defender, and it shows when he’s not on the field.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Julian Edelman probably would round out the five most indispensable Patriots list. Safety Patrick Chung and running back James White might be sixth and seventh.
For all seven players, it’s a mix of talent and level of replacement. Some might say the Patriots’ defensive end depth is barren without Flowers.
Did you see what Chris Hogan did with attention taken off of him? He had four catches on four targets for 78 yards. I think the Patriots made the right decision.
I believe it comes down to the fact that the Patriots view Hogan as being more versatile, plus he’s had more time to build trust with quarterback Tom Brady.
Hogan and Edelman split the “Z” and slot roles with Josh Gordon manning the “X” role. Edelman likely would have been mostly stuck in the slot role in three-receiver sets if Dorsett had played instead of Hogan. Dorsett is more of an outside receiver.
#MailDoug as we get deeper into the season, what do you expect of josh gordon in the weeks to come?
As long as Gordon keeps clean off the field, I expect his role to keep growing and for him to increase his production.
It seems like the Patriots, across the board, are intent on making this work. Brady will sometimes lose faith and trust and grow impatient with a player if he’s not on the same page. There was miscommunication between Brady and Gordon twice on Sunday night, but Brady kept targeting him.
That’s a good sign. Gordon showed a glimpse of his upside when he caught a touchdown in double coverage in Week 5. That upside should start seeping through more and more.
The Patriots’ ultimate offensive potential is contingent on Gordon. If he can revert back to the 2013 version of himself, then this offense has 2007-like potential. Even if he can be the 2017 version of himself, then the Patriots’ offense should be one of the best in the NFL.
What contract do you think will be the Pats top priority this offseason on both offense and defense?
It’s definitely Flowers on defense. And he could be mighty pricey. Pass rushers aren’t cheap. Well, NFL players in general make a lot of money. But pass rushers are especially pricey.
Right guard Shaq Mason already became their top offensive priority when he signed an extension before the season. The remaining options are Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, left tackle Trent Brown, running backs Jeremy Hill and Kenjon Barner and offensive linemen Ulrick John and Brian Schwenke.
So, basically what I’m saying is it’s obviously Ulrick John. Kidding.
It might be Gordon. Beyond Gordon, it would be Brown.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Patriots re-sign Brown, move either him or Isaiah Wynn to right tackle then move on from Marcus Cannon.
Like, right now? No. But I do think he might need to restructure his contract to stick around. He has a $13.4 million cap hit next season.
The key with Devin McCourty is putting him in positions to succeed. Having him cover Tyreek Hill 1-on-1 is not a great position for him to succeed.
I think McCourty is at his best as a deep free safety.
Is Burkhead going to be activated from IR?
I believe that’s the plan. That also was the plan with Shea McClellin and Malcolm Mitchell in 2017, and neither came to pass. Bringing players off injured reserve is a fluid situation. Not to sound too much like Bill Belichick, but “we’ll see how it goes” with Burkhead.
I guess my mom. Thanks, Donna, from Richie.
For years now, Pats fans have harassed you about the Patriots acquiring Gordon. Now that that has actually happened, who are you going to be harassed about this trade deadline?
Other than the lunatic Patriots fans who still want to sign Dez Bryant?
Deone Bucannon, Larry Fitzgerald and Amari Cooper, none of whom the Patriots can afford.
What breed of bear is a Chicago Bear?
Polars, Kodiaks, and Grizzlies would be tougher to beat than smaller breeds like a Black Bear or a Sri Lankan Sloth Bear.
Based on the Bears’ bear logo, I’m going to say definitely a grizzly bear (I don’t know why that picture links to a fleece blanket nor who would order said fleece blanket) judging by the ears and fangs. Do bears have fangs? It looks like bears have fangs.
I’ve also done way more research on brown bears than I expected to on this fine Thursday.
I was under the impression brown bears, Kodiak bears and grizzly bears were all the same. I’m kind of right.
Brown bear apparently is the species, while grizzly and Kodiak are subspecies of brown bears. My friend Nora Princiotti of The Boston Globe told me there is a subspecies of brown bears that are also just called brown bears. I’ll choose to believe her, because who wants to do more research on actual bears when I should be studying the Chicago Bears?
Brown bears, Kodiak bears and grizzly bears all look the same to me. I hope I’m not a bear bigot.
we gonna wear Pat the Patriot uni this year?
The Patriots haven’t worn the Pat Patriot uniforms since 2012 because of a rule implemented by the NFL that prevents teams from wearing different colored helmets.
Favorite all time Patriot not on the current roster?
Lawyer Milloy, because I was a fan of him from his days with the Washington Huskies. I liked Corey Dillon for the same reason.
How fast is the Earth moving through space?
If you were at a party, what would you say?
You never answer my questions…. Are they that bad?
Yes. But I’m answering this on Thursday afternoon. This will be published Friday morning. I also plan to watch the Red Sox game Thursday night, but I can’t tell the future.
(UPDATE 12:29 a.m.): Future Doug watched the Red Sox win the pennant.
I’ve got a pretty good rip move. Sometimes I’ll rip past Mike Giardi when he’s in my way in the media workroom.
I’m 99 percent sure I’m the only Doug Kyed in the world.
Kyed is a Danish last name, and the only Kyeds in the United States are directly related to me, so I know who all of them are. Douglas is not a popular Danish first name.
Who’s the one player in your lifetime that you would turn the tv on to see every time they played? Doesn’t have to be a Patriot.

HBO’s world-conquering epic Game of Thrones seized the Outstanding Drama Series prize for the third time at the 70th Emmys on Monday night, having won twice consecutively before Hulu’s dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale took home the trophy last year. Handmaid’s and critical favorite Atlanta, both previous winners, were shut out altogether in the surprising grab-bag of this year’s winners, although Atlanta’s Teddy Perkins did make a creepy surprise appearance at the ceremony. Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost hosted the ceremony, and the show also picked up an expected win in the variety sketch series category.

FX’s The Americans picked up two prizes for “START,” the series finale of its excellent, long-undervalued run, for lead actor Matthew Rhys and creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg in writing. In reality, RuPaul’s Drag Race won the top prize for the first time. Meanwhile, in comedy, Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel took advantage of repeat winner Veep’s absence and triumphed over pegged favorite Atlanta to win the top prize, plus awards for star Rachel Brosnahan, writing and directing for creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, and Alex Borstein in supporting. In limited series and TV movie, FX’s The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story won big, while Regina King pulled off an upset win for Netflix’s Seven Seconds, triumphing over Laura Dern in HBO’s The Tale. And the great Henry Winkler won a supporting actor award for his turn in Barry, his first Emmy win more than four decades after he was first nominated for his iconic Happy Days role in 1976.

Read the full list of winners (in bold) below and measure them against Paste’s predictions here.

With Avengers: Infinity War having taken $2bn (£1.5bn) at the box office, Marvel's superhero films continue to dominate the cinema landscape. But just how do the comic book characters make the transition to the big screen?

It is now 10 years since Iron Man rocketed his way into cinemas, with Robert Downey Jr's quick-witted charm winning over audiences across the globe.

And from the afro-futurist Wakanda to the gleaming Asgard and nightmarish Dark Dimension, advances in computer-generated effects and the studio's blockbuster budgets have enabled filmmakers to push the envelope ever more.

But while the fantastical deeds of its costumed crusaders continue to thrill, the Marvel Cinematic Universe owes much of its success to the teams of unsung stars who never appear on screen.

For long before the films are released to sold-out showings amid a media frenzy, concept artists spend months painstakingly creating and honing the look and feel of each instalment.

"It's totally critical [to the end product]," says Ron Ashtiani, director of Atomhawk Design, which counts Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron among its portfolio.

"It's a huge amount of pressure, but also really rewarding."

The studio, based in Gateshead in north-east England, is displaying examples of its work as part of the Great Exhibition of the North.

Atomhawk was enlisted by Marvel after impressing with its videogame design work.

That area of expertise, Ashtiani believes, lent itself well to the vision Marvel had for its films.

Working digitally with illustration software, its team of artists design and refine the appearance of characters, props and environments - often dozens of times over.

From initial sketches through to detailed scene shots, no stone is left unturned.

"Every project we work on, we do a significant amount of reference-gathering," Ashtiani reveals.

"We explore real-world reference points and fiction.

"You've got to be careful not to create something that's been done before. You can get easily influenced by things you've seen."

Tasked with adding "an extra layer of believability" to the second Thor adventure, the team dived deep into Norse mythology and created the Asgardian skiff by combining a Viking longboat with futuristic-looking technology and materials.

It would be the first Guardians of the Galaxy instalment, though, that provided the company with its biggest opportunity to stamp its authority on a film's final look.

The comics, Ashtiani says, had "always been a bit niche", without a settled visual identity.

"It was a new imagining of IP [intellectual property] for Marvel.

"We looked at pulp movies like Barbarella and Forbidden Planet - a lot of very colourful and comic sci-fi, as they wanted to take that kind of feeling and mix it with a modern sci-fi look."

As drawn up by Atomhawk, the hero crew's Milano spaceship as well as the Kyln interstellar prison and Knowhere - the floating giant skull of a celestial being - all took starring roles.

Far from a simple process, "upwards of 50 versions" of the spaceship were designed.

The 18 months of hard work ultimately paid off, though. "About 25%" of the firm's ideas ended up on screen, having been realised by the film's visual effects teams.

Director James Gunn was so impressed he later tweeted his approval, saying Atomhawk's efforts had helped inspire a key scene between the villainous Thanos and Ronan.

While directors and production staff will no doubt have one eye on a film's overall budget, concept artists are free to "dream big and think of any option possible," says Martin Macrae, head of art at Oscar-winning visual effects company Framestore.

Headquartered in London and with offices worldwide, it has also worked on a number of Marvel projects including both Guardians films, Doctor Strange and Avengers: Infinity War.

"Budgets can cramp the creativity. If we can give examples of what something 'could' look like then the design can be adjusted to fit budgets," he says.

"Because our process is so early on in the production, it is a natural evolution to have images and designs change.

"We can design a character, but if it moves through to the animation team and its body can't move how the client wants, then adjustments will be needed.

"There are always times a design doesn't make it into the film - it is the nature of the beast. We had some fun designs for a character in Thor: Ragnarok, but due to the budgets and timescales they were not carried through to the final cut."

For the digital effects experts at Framestore who translate those creations into on-screen action, having a clear set of designs to work from is vital.

"It's key to have concept art approved by the director and/or the client VFX [visual effects] supervisor before we start," says Alexis Wajsbrot, the firm's VFX supervisor.

"Before starting to texture an asset or create a piece of VFX, we ask our art department to come up with ideas and we explore options with them.

"It's similar to how important it is to work on a storyboard before starting a physical shoot. It is possible to do it without it, but you lose a lot of time and might not even end up with the best possible shot.

"But even with the latest technology it is still very hard to adapt a concept and make it photorealistic. It's a lot easier to paint FX than to simulate it."

What, though, of those frequent amendments - do the redesigns create tensions within a team?

"You have to manage the crew's expectations and let them know that a character will evolve," Wajsbrot says. "Nothing is locked in until the last month of delivery.

"That is our role as a creative partner - to be as efficient as possible in adapting to the requests of clients and for the crew to be aware some of the work we are achieving will need to be tailored or reshaped.

"It's part of the creative process - trial and error."

For Atomhawk's Ashtiani, the process and its focus on detail mirror a change in society as a whole.

"These days people in general are way more in tune with design," he says.

"If you look at mobile phones and cars they're highly designed. A car used to be a box with four wheels. At best you would have a choice of colours.

"The industry we're in is quite Darwinian - it's survival of the best idea."

Is it 'game over' for box artwork?

Patriots Mailbag: Who Are New England’s Seven Most Indispensable Players?

Is it crazy to believe Rob Gronkowski actually hasn’t lost a step?

The New England Patriots tight end’s statistics are down this season, which has led many, including Michael Lombardi, to conclude he’s not the same player he once was. We all watched the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s 43-40 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, right? Gronk still looks like Gronk.

Teams were keying in on Gronkowski early in the season because the Patriots lacked weapons. They’re still doing it, and the Patriots have scored 38-plus points in three consecutive weeks. If teams want to keep keying in on Gronkowski, then Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will just have to keep hitting his other receiving options on the way to highly productive offensive performances.

Something tells me teams will stray from this concept eventually, and Gronkowski will start putting up lofty numbers once again. Also, it’s worth noting Gronkowski is on pace for 69 catches for 1,080 yards this season. Last year? He had 69 catches for 1,084 yards.

If Gronkowski lost a step, then most tight ends didn’t have 100 yards to begin with.

Who aside from Brady and Gronk would you consider to fit the “we CANNOT afford an injury to this player and win the SB”? category?

Defensive end Trey Flowers comes to mind first. The Patriots’ defense was a disaster without Flowers in Weeks 2 and 3. He’s the Patriots’ best, most complete defender, and it shows when he’s not on the field.

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Julian Edelman probably would round out the five most indispensable Patriots list. Safety Patrick Chung and running back James White might be sixth and seventh.

For all seven players, it’s a mix of talent and level of replacement. Some might say the Patriots’ defensive end depth is barren without Flowers.

Did you see what Chris Hogan did with attention taken off of him? He had four catches on four targets for 78 yards. I think the Patriots made the right decision.

I believe it comes down to the fact that the Patriots view Hogan as being more versatile, plus he’s had more time to build trust with quarterback Tom Brady.

Hogan and Edelman split the “Z” and slot roles with Josh Gordon manning the “X” role. Edelman likely would have been mostly stuck in the slot role in three-receiver sets if Dorsett had played instead of Hogan. Dorsett is more of an outside receiver.

#MailDoug as we get deeper into the season, what do you expect of josh gordon in the weeks to come?

As long as Gordon keeps clean off the field, I expect his role to keep growing and for him to increase his production.

It seems like the Patriots, across the board, are intent on making this work. Brady will sometimes lose faith and trust and grow impatient with a player if he’s not on the same page. There was miscommunication between Brady and Gordon twice on Sunday night, but Brady kept targeting him.

That’s a good sign. Gordon showed a glimpse of his upside when he caught a touchdown in double coverage in Week 5. That upside should start seeping through more and more.

The Patriots’ ultimate offensive potential is contingent on Gordon. If he can revert back to the 2013 version of himself, then this offense has 2007-like potential. Even if he can be the 2017 version of himself, then the Patriots’ offense should be one of the best in the NFL.

What contract do you think will be the Pats top priority this offseason on both offense and defense?

It’s definitely Flowers on defense. And he could be mighty pricey. Pass rushers aren’t cheap. Well, NFL players in general make a lot of money. But pass rushers are especially pricey.

Right guard Shaq Mason already became their top offensive priority when he signed an extension before the season. The remaining options are Gordon, Hogan, Dorsett, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, left tackle Trent Brown, running backs Jeremy Hill and Kenjon Barner and offensive linemen Ulrick John and Brian Schwenke.

So, basically what I’m saying is it’s obviously Ulrick John. Kidding.

It might be Gordon. Beyond Gordon, it would be Brown.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Patriots re-sign Brown, move either him or Isaiah Wynn to right tackle then move on from Marcus Cannon.

Like, right now? No. But I do think he might need to restructure his contract to stick around. He has a $13.4 million cap hit next season.

The key with Devin McCourty is putting him in positions to succeed. Having him cover Tyreek Hill 1-on-1 is not a great position for him to succeed.

I think McCourty is at his best as a deep free safety.

Is Burkhead going to be activated from IR?

I believe that’s the plan. That also was the plan with Shea McClellin and Malcolm Mitchell in 2017, and neither came to pass. Bringing players off injured reserve is a fluid situation. Not to sound too much like Bill Belichick, but “we’ll see how it goes” with Burkhead.

I guess my mom. Thanks, Donna, from Richie.

For years now, Pats fans have harassed you about the Patriots acquiring Gordon. Now that that has actually happened, who are you going to be harassed about this trade deadline?

Other than the lunatic Patriots fans who still want to sign Dez Bryant?

Deone Bucannon, Larry Fitzgerald and Amari Cooper, none of whom the Patriots can afford.

What breed of bear is a Chicago Bear?

Polars, Kodiaks, and Grizzlies would be tougher to beat than smaller breeds like a Black Bear or a Sri Lankan Sloth Bear.

Based on the Bears’ bear logo, I’m going to say definitely a grizzly bear (I don’t know why that picture links to a fleece blanket nor who would order said fleece blanket) judging by the ears and fangs. Do bears have fangs? It looks like bears have fangs.

I’ve also done way more research on brown bears than I expected to on this fine Thursday.

I was under the impression brown bears, Kodiak bears and grizzly bears were all the same. I’m kind of right.

Brown bear apparently is the species, while grizzly and Kodiak are subspecies of brown bears. My friend Nora Princiotti of The Boston Globe told me there is a subspecies of brown bears that are also just called brown bears. I’ll choose to believe her, because who wants to do more research on actual bears when I should be studying the Chicago Bears?

Brown bears, Kodiak bears and grizzly bears all look the same to me. I hope I’m not a bear bigot.

we gonna wear Pat the Patriot uni this year?

The Patriots haven’t worn the Pat Patriot uniforms since 2012 because of a rule implemented by the NFL that prevents teams from wearing different colored helmets.

Favorite all time Patriot not on the current roster?

Lawyer Milloy, because I was a fan of him from his days with the Washington Huskies. I liked Corey Dillon for the same reason.

How fast is the Earth moving through space?

If you were at a party, what would you say?

You never answer my questions…. Are they that bad?

Yes. But I’m answering this on Thursday afternoon. This will be published Friday morning. I also plan to watch the Red Sox game Thursday night, but I can’t tell the future.

(UPDATE 12:29 a.m.): Future Doug watched the Red Sox win the pennant.

I’ve got a pretty good rip move. Sometimes I’ll rip past Mike Giardi when he’s in my way in the media workroom.

I’m 99 percent sure I’m the only Doug Kyed in the world.

Kyed is a Danish last name, and the only Kyeds in the United States are directly related to me, so I know who all of them are. Douglas is not a popular Danish first name.

Who’s the one player in your lifetime that you would turn the tv on to see every time they played? Doesn’t have to be a Patriot.