Still loving the stereo ...
... and now deep into crafting a story about others like me who love it too ...
For the last couple weeks, I've been scouting area record stores and searching for the people making up this groovy sub-culture -- mainly 20-somethings like me -- who love the nostalgia of record albums and refuse to let them die ...
So last week, during the River Root concert, I ran into a kid who, with his female cousin, collects records (he's into newer stuff, mostly Sufjan Stevens, while she's into all the classics). ... today I met up with both of them to chat a little bit and peruse their collections ... the girl's collection was respectable (... Beatles: 20 Greates Hits, The Who: Tommy, Fleetwood Mac: Rumours ... ), considering she hasn't been collecting that long and she's managed to find some great deals in odd places. Example: She found a near mint edition of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' -- the biggest selling record in the history of music -- for 10 cents at some book fair ... 10 cents!
... While the conversation alone made the meeting the highlight of my day, the girl also tipped me off that the local St. Vincent thrift store always has a pretty decent collection of records ...
So ... I figured out the place was on my way home from work and stopped. Turns out the girl wasn't lyin' ... I left with good conditioned copies of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, John Denver's Greatest Hits, Cat Stevens' Tea For the Tillerman and James Taylor's Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon -- and Harry Caray's 'Holy Cow', in paper back -- all for $3.85. ... and a grin on my face as big as the sunset.
3.30.2006
3.29.2006
Wednesday TV & Beyond
With 'Annie' last night, Kates and I spent tonight catching up on Tuesday TV ...
... 'Amazing Race' : Glad to see the pinkies are gone, they were a waste of the audience's time and the frat boys' time ... and so glad to see lovable Lori & Dave still in it. How great -- and lovable -- are they!?!
... 'Teachers' : Good stuff. Not great -- it's midseason throw-em-in-the-trash TV -- but it gives those of us who enjoy a good sitcom and abhor the overload of cops and court dramas some breathing room. So kudos to the networks for airing stuff like 'Teachers,' 'Sons & Daughters' and 'Courting Alex' before killing them off for good, never to be seen again ... but back to the show -- the premise of focusing more on the teachers' lives in the lounge and outside of school rather than the classroom is clever. And the flirtacious storyline between English teacher Jeff and his female teacher interests was comical. ..And yes, Deon Richmond, aka Kenny from 'The Cosby Show,' was instantly recognizable ...
... 'Lost' : ... whoah again. Another episode that delivered on the action and the drama -- and a climax that left us begging for more. (oh! Henry!) ... Locke's flashback didn't seem to present a lot to me at first, although my buddy Sean theorizes that his Locke's father has something to do wiSawyer and his conning. I, as always, was more interested in the present state of things on the island. As if the whole doors shutting on Locke wasn't wild enough, jaws across the country dropped, I'm sure, at the sight of that glow-in-the-dark map on the ceiling of the hatch ...
... 'According to Jim' : ... taking another one off the ol' DVR to end the night. It was a repeat, but HA-larious nonetheless ... it's simple, good, clean family-fun, and more and more I'm thinking it's one of the most underrated sitcoms on TV ... After all, it took me five years to find it.
... 'Amazing Race' : Glad to see the pinkies are gone, they were a waste of the audience's time and the frat boys' time ... and so glad to see lovable Lori & Dave still in it. How great -- and lovable -- are they!?!
... 'Teachers' : Good stuff. Not great -- it's midseason throw-em-in-the-trash TV -- but it gives those of us who enjoy a good sitcom and abhor the overload of cops and court dramas some breathing room. So kudos to the networks for airing stuff like 'Teachers,' 'Sons & Daughters' and 'Courting Alex' before killing them off for good, never to be seen again ... but back to the show -- the premise of focusing more on the teachers' lives in the lounge and outside of school rather than the classroom is clever. And the flirtacious storyline between English teacher Jeff and his female teacher interests was comical. ..And yes, Deon Richmond, aka Kenny from 'The Cosby Show,' was instantly recognizable ...
... 'Lost' : ... whoah again. Another episode that delivered on the action and the drama -- and a climax that left us begging for more. (oh! Henry!) ... Locke's flashback didn't seem to present a lot to me at first, although my buddy Sean theorizes that his Locke's father has something to do wiSawyer and his conning. I, as always, was more interested in the present state of things on the island. As if the whole doors shutting on Locke wasn't wild enough, jaws across the country dropped, I'm sure, at the sight of that glow-in-the-dark map on the ceiling of the hatch ...
... 'According to Jim' : ... taking another one off the ol' DVR to end the night. It was a repeat, but HA-larious nonetheless ... it's simple, good, clean family-fun, and more and more I'm thinking it's one of the most underrated sitcoms on TV ... After all, it took me five years to find it.
Re-treating to 'Annie'
... 30 years later, well, 20-some years after I first saw it, 'Annie' is still a treat to see ...
Kates and I caught the 30th-anniversary tour last night for its opening of a five-day stay in Milwaukee ... and we loved it ...
Without a doubt, the highlight of the night was the comical and feisty orphans -- especially their performance of 'Hard Knock Life' (you can see it and other scenes here) and any scene featuring the smallest orphan Molly, played by the hilarious, ham-it-up 8-year-old Amanda Balon. It seemed everytime she was on stage, she had all of the audience's eyes ...
But this show is about more than just some orphans ... Marissa O'Donnell, was spunky and talented as Annie, although her voice came across a bit nasally at times and her phrasing was somewhat awkward. Nonetheless, she could carry a note as beautifully as anyone in the cast, prompting Kates and I to sing 'Maybe' almost all the way out of the theater ...
... It wasn't until looking through the program during intermission that we realized all the star power we were seeing in Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks and Mackenzie Phillips as Lily St. Regis. Both have been all over telelvision, and both turned in memorable performances. ... and Alene Robertson's rambunctious and comical portrayal of Miss Hanigan was memorable also -- once we got use to the fact she wasn't Carol Burnett.
Also duly noted: for a little touring show, the sets were amazing ... Sandy (played by Lola) was a scene-stealer in her own right, never missing a cue and expertly trained in patience and sitting still -- although it was hard not to miss, and chuckle, at the sight of Annie constantly feeding her treats during the dog's inital appearances ... there were lots and lots of children in last night's audience, perhaps helping some of us older kids appreciate the charm of 'Annie' even more ...
For more reviews go here.
Kates and I caught the 30th-anniversary tour last night for its opening of a five-day stay in Milwaukee ... and we loved it ...
Without a doubt, the highlight of the night was the comical and feisty orphans -- especially their performance of 'Hard Knock Life' (you can see it and other scenes here) and any scene featuring the smallest orphan Molly, played by the hilarious, ham-it-up 8-year-old Amanda Balon. It seemed everytime she was on stage, she had all of the audience's eyes ...But this show is about more than just some orphans ... Marissa O'Donnell, was spunky and talented as Annie, although her voice came across a bit nasally at times and her phrasing was somewhat awkward. Nonetheless, she could carry a note as beautifully as anyone in the cast, prompting Kates and I to sing 'Maybe' almost all the way out of the theater ...
... It wasn't until looking through the program during intermission that we realized all the star power we were seeing in Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks and Mackenzie Phillips as Lily St. Regis. Both have been all over telelvision, and both turned in memorable performances. ... and Alene Robertson's rambunctious and comical portrayal of Miss Hanigan was memorable also -- once we got use to the fact she wasn't Carol Burnett.Also duly noted: for a little touring show, the sets were amazing ... Sandy (played by Lola) was a scene-stealer in her own right, never missing a cue and expertly trained in patience and sitting still -- although it was hard not to miss, and chuckle, at the sight of Annie constantly feeding her treats during the dog's inital appearances ... there were lots and lots of children in last night's audience, perhaps helping some of us older kids appreciate the charm of 'Annie' even more ...
For more reviews go here.
Cubs place Prior, Wood on DL
Just get rid of them now. At this point, both of their arms are shot to so many pieces, the Cubs would be better off to trade 'em both while they can still get their money's worth ...
Cubs place Prior, Wood on 15-day DL
Cubs place Prior, Wood on 15-day DL
3.27.2006
Monday, Monday
Nothing like coming home from a long day of work to a spring rain shower and turning on some good music ...
... and then laughing hysterically with your wife when she comes home from work and the two of you dance to an old New Kids on the Block tape ... and reminisce on your middle school dances.
... and then laughing hysterically with your wife when she comes home from work and the two of you dance to an old New Kids on the Block tape ... and reminisce on your middle school dances.
3.26.2006
Sunday reads
... and now Connecticut is done. It's been fun, NCAAs. Good luck George Mason. See ya next year.
Here's some of my fave/intriguing reads of the week ...
a A whole different baseball world where team really means team
a NBC's David Gregory Gets Caught in Political Battle (... and the debate rages.)
a Megan Mullally looking beyond 'Karen'
a 'Christine' creates a life beyond Elaine
Here's some of my fave/intriguing reads of the week ...
a A whole different baseball world where team really means team
a NBC's David Gregory Gets Caught in Political Battle (... and the debate rages.)
a Megan Mullally looking beyond 'Karen'
a 'Christine' creates a life beyond Elaine
3.24.2006
My F in bracketology
… I said last weekend the tournament had ended for me. Now, it’s really over.
Duke’s done …blah. I told fellow bracketeers before the tournament the way Duke had been playing down the stretch, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make it out of the Sweet Sixteen. (Yeah, and last year I said Kansas would lose to Bucknell in the first round…) But do I listen to my gut!? Nope …
I watched Texas squeak out their game with a three-pointer …(At least I called that one in my bracket …)
And then Gonzaga-UCLA. Wow ….Kates was already in bed, and I was about to turn it off with Gonzaga up by like 10 and two minutes left. Then I thought, ah, this could change in a hurry, I’m staying up …
... Glad I did. I had Gonzaga in my bracket -- but geez, what … a … finish. … UCLA scored the go-ahead shot and Gonzaga was so stunned they could hardly concentrate on moving the ball up the court …
Kansas is done. North Carolina is done. Duke is done. Gonzaga is done … and now Boston College is done -- on a questionable goal-tending call no less.
…My bracket is ruined, but here’s hoping I correctly picked Connecticut as the champion -- me and the other half of bracket-filler-out-ers …
Duke’s done …blah. I told fellow bracketeers before the tournament the way Duke had been playing down the stretch, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make it out of the Sweet Sixteen. (Yeah, and last year I said Kansas would lose to Bucknell in the first round…) But do I listen to my gut!? Nope …
I watched Texas squeak out their game with a three-pointer …(At least I called that one in my bracket …)
And then Gonzaga-UCLA. Wow ….Kates was already in bed, and I was about to turn it off with Gonzaga up by like 10 and two minutes left. Then I thought, ah, this could change in a hurry, I’m staying up …
... Glad I did. I had Gonzaga in my bracket -- but geez, what … a … finish. … UCLA scored the go-ahead shot and Gonzaga was so stunned they could hardly concentrate on moving the ball up the court …
Kansas is done. North Carolina is done. Duke is done. Gonzaga is done … and now Boston College is done -- on a questionable goal-tending call no less.
…My bracket is ruined, but here’s hoping I correctly picked Connecticut as the champion -- me and the other half of bracket-filler-out-ers …
3.22.2006
Ballpark fun
It’s days like today that I can sit back honestly and profess how much I love my job …
I spent the day visiting Chicago ballparks and everything baseball … Our assignment: to find everything and anything a baseball fan and his or her buddies can surround themselves with on game day.
A train ride down to Davis Street, and the El to the Sox-35th Street dropoff, we started at The Cell -- home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox. Sox fan or not, no Chicago person can not appreciate saying that … we paid homage to the home plate of old Comiskey and admired the architecture of the stadium. Then, on a whim, we decided to try seeing if we could get inside the stadium. … we stepped into the Sox front offices and a receptionist was nice enough to hook us up with a PR guy who gave us a full walking tour of the stadium, all while painters put the finishing touches on doorways and windows and a grounds crew worked on the field.
But the excitement was only beginning …
From The Cell, we took the El south to 47th, which later proved to be a mistake, because we were destined for the Negro League Café, which is located several blocks east of 45th Street … oh, the walk. But well worth it. If people aren’t scared off by the gritty neighborhood this eatery calls home, the classic burger-and-fry type entrees are quite tasty, while the walls full of Negro League memorabilia make the place a museum of its own …
From there, we walked about a mile the other way to Grandstand, a sprawling memorabilia shop, loaded with everything from jerseys and hats to shot glasses and steering wheel covers, all with the logos of your favorite team. In fact, I indulged a little myself, buying a commemorative Sox World Series ball.
Then … to Wrigley. A baseball lover’s shrine, I say.
We took the El and got off at Addison as the sun was setting around Wrigleyville. Business women on cell phones were walking to cars and apartments. Men were jogging. Kids were playing and couples were walking dogs. … far from the environment that surrounds the park on game day (see tips here), it was peaceful and wonderful. Like Central Park in Chicago’s north side -- except without all the grass, water and forest area.
We walked through the Cubs-themed McDonald’s on Clark, peeked our heads inside ImprovOlympic and admired all the architecture and eclectic life that defines Wrigleyville … I’ll be back on April 8th, and I can’t hardly wait.
By 6:30, we were back on the El and I was settled into my latest copy of Entertainment Weekly …
And lovin' it.
I spent the day visiting Chicago ballparks and everything baseball … Our assignment: to find everything and anything a baseball fan and his or her buddies can surround themselves with on game day.
A train ride down to Davis Street, and the El to the Sox-35th Street dropoff, we started at The Cell -- home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox. Sox fan or not, no Chicago person can not appreciate saying that … we paid homage to the home plate of old Comiskey and admired the architecture of the stadium. Then, on a whim, we decided to try seeing if we could get inside the stadium. … we stepped into the Sox front offices and a receptionist was nice enough to hook us up with a PR guy who gave us a full walking tour of the stadium, all while painters put the finishing touches on doorways and windows and a grounds crew worked on the field.
But the excitement was only beginning …
From The Cell, we took the El south to 47th, which later proved to be a mistake, because we were destined for the Negro League Café, which is located several blocks east of 45th Street … oh, the walk. But well worth it. If people aren’t scared off by the gritty neighborhood this eatery calls home, the classic burger-and-fry type entrees are quite tasty, while the walls full of Negro League memorabilia make the place a museum of its own …
From there, we walked about a mile the other way to Grandstand, a sprawling memorabilia shop, loaded with everything from jerseys and hats to shot glasses and steering wheel covers, all with the logos of your favorite team. In fact, I indulged a little myself, buying a commemorative Sox World Series ball.
Then … to Wrigley. A baseball lover’s shrine, I say.
We took the El and got off at Addison as the sun was setting around Wrigleyville. Business women on cell phones were walking to cars and apartments. Men were jogging. Kids were playing and couples were walking dogs. … far from the environment that surrounds the park on game day (see tips here), it was peaceful and wonderful. Like Central Park in Chicago’s north side -- except without all the grass, water and forest area.
We walked through the Cubs-themed McDonald’s on Clark, peeked our heads inside ImprovOlympic and admired all the architecture and eclectic life that defines Wrigleyville … I’ll be back on April 8th, and I can’t hardly wait.
By 6:30, we were back on the El and I was settled into my latest copy of Entertainment Weekly …
And lovin' it.
3.21.2006
Jammin back in time
I’m about speechless …Tonight, my friend Liz and I went to the local college to check out Tony, Jumbo & the River Root Band, a ‘60s and ‘70s cover band that we might not have seen if I hadn’t been browsing on the college’s Web site today, looking for story ideas … on a whim, we decided to head out to the concert.
wow. wow. wow.
A 9-piece band loaded with brass, guitars and keyboards -- not to mention their phenomenal 12-year-old drummer, these guys were without a doubt the coolest, tightest and most authentic cover band I’ve seen. Admittedly, the lead vocals seemed a bit over-rehearsed and, for lack of a better word, operatic at times, but with each passing song, the harmonies and instrumentation were so exact, I felt as though I had been transported back to a completely different time and place …perhaps a place my father had once been.
These guys jumped out by opening with the Bangles guitar pumping arrangement of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’ and they were far, far from done … and they went on for nearly three hours. It was amazing.
They played Steely Dan. They played Neil Young. They played Ides of March.
They played The Beatles … ‘Here Comes The Sun,’ ‘Eight Days A Week’ and a dead-on version of ‘Birthday.’ They played Dave Clark Five … ‘Because’ and ‘I Like It Like That.’ Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Boxer.’ … The Mamas & the Papas ‘California Dreamin’ … A sweet Buckinghams medley that hit ‘Kind of a Drag’ dead-on. … The Turtles ‘You Baby.’ … An amazing Byrds medley … and, with all that brass, Chicago’s ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?’ and ‘Beginnings’ -- one of my fave Chicago tunes, thanks to its raucous brass finale.
… even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s ‘Teach Your Children’ -- in the form of all nine band members on acoustic guitars lined up at the front of the stage …
…The band ended with the Moody Blues’ ‘Nights in White Satin.’
Speechless? … it was breathless.
3.19.2006
Sunday reads
Study: Fewer News Stories Offer Any Depth ... yeah.
Conan O’Brien to devote show to Finland trip ... Kates and I had this show on our DVR and watched it earlier tonight ... HA-larious!
Found by ‘Lost’ ... To hear Evangeline Lilly talk, her path to stardom on the hit series 'Lost' was almost beyond her control.
‘Amazing Race’ host enjoys globe-trotting role ... 'Amazing Race,' and Phil, of course, -- Rocks!
It’s Not Just Popular, It’s Infectious ... uh, ya think!? ... I've been saying this since the new 'Grey's' season began last fall -- it's the new 'Friends.' The cast and the chemistry among the cast is arguably the best on TV right now ...
Conan O’Brien to devote show to Finland trip ... Kates and I had this show on our DVR and watched it earlier tonight ... HA-larious!
Found by ‘Lost’ ... To hear Evangeline Lilly talk, her path to stardom on the hit series 'Lost' was almost beyond her control.
‘Amazing Race’ host enjoys globe-trotting role ... 'Amazing Race,' and Phil, of course, -- Rocks!
It’s Not Just Popular, It’s Infectious ... uh, ya think!? ... I've been saying this since the new 'Grey's' season began last fall -- it's the new 'Friends.' The cast and the chemistry among the cast is arguably the best on TV right now ...
3.18.2006
Rock Chalk heartbreak
It’s all over now …
My Jayhawks were clubbed from the tournament last night …this morning I’m suffering from the emotional hangover …
As I’ve grown up -- in all of sports -- there have been two teams I’ve grown to live and die with: The Chicago Cubs and Kansas Jayhawks basketball. …and with no two teams do the losses seem so heart-breaking. …
Last night -- and especially after last year’s first round loss to Bucknell -- the Jayhawks seemed sure and poised to avenge their demons and take their game deep into the tournament. They had won 15 straight to close out the season and took the Big 12 tournament. They were gelling at the right time and people were picking them even to make Indianapolis.
It was not to be …
They played defense well, but they couldn’t make any of the floaters they were throwing up and all of the other shots that should have been givens …
So…
We’ll wait ‘til next year ...
Again …
Bring on the Cubs …
… and while I’m at it. Is it just me or has CBS’ tournament coverage been horrible this year!? … I mean, sure we’ve only seen two days worth of games, but I’m already sick -- and soooo frustrated -- of them cutting in and out of games at inopportune times and cutting into games when the key moment has passed. Perfect example: Yesterday’s thriller that ended with Northwestern St. hitting a last-second three-pointer to beat Iowa. My buddy Brian and I hit Chilli’s to catch the games over lunch. But CBS continued to show the Wisconsin-Arizona blowout, even while they teased us with the close Iowa score in the corner of the screen. I know the Wisconsin game had regional interest, but I don’t care if Brett Favre was at point guard -- no one wanted to keep watching that Badger game. … CBS carried the game a couple minutes after the final horn sounded and then broke into the Iowa game just in time to show the winning shot draining through the cylinder …c’mon! … they were breaking in and out of the Kansas game last night too and driving me crazy. I think the web cast thing is great and all (I took advantage of it again last night, it ... The KU game on the TV, my laptop showing the North Carolina-Murray St. game below it, while I rode the stationary bike and worked out …) ... but what happened to showing a couple games on the screen at once!?!
My Jayhawks were clubbed from the tournament last night …this morning I’m suffering from the emotional hangover …
As I’ve grown up -- in all of sports -- there have been two teams I’ve grown to live and die with: The Chicago Cubs and Kansas Jayhawks basketball. …and with no two teams do the losses seem so heart-breaking. …
Last night -- and especially after last year’s first round loss to Bucknell -- the Jayhawks seemed sure and poised to avenge their demons and take their game deep into the tournament. They had won 15 straight to close out the season and took the Big 12 tournament. They were gelling at the right time and people were picking them even to make Indianapolis.
It was not to be …
They played defense well, but they couldn’t make any of the floaters they were throwing up and all of the other shots that should have been givens …
So…
We’ll wait ‘til next year ...
Again …
Bring on the Cubs …
… and while I’m at it. Is it just me or has CBS’ tournament coverage been horrible this year!? … I mean, sure we’ve only seen two days worth of games, but I’m already sick -- and soooo frustrated -- of them cutting in and out of games at inopportune times and cutting into games when the key moment has passed. Perfect example: Yesterday’s thriller that ended with Northwestern St. hitting a last-second three-pointer to beat Iowa. My buddy Brian and I hit Chilli’s to catch the games over lunch. But CBS continued to show the Wisconsin-Arizona blowout, even while they teased us with the close Iowa score in the corner of the screen. I know the Wisconsin game had regional interest, but I don’t care if Brett Favre was at point guard -- no one wanted to keep watching that Badger game. … CBS carried the game a couple minutes after the final horn sounded and then broke into the Iowa game just in time to show the winning shot draining through the cylinder …c’mon! … they were breaking in and out of the Kansas game last night too and driving me crazy. I think the web cast thing is great and all (I took advantage of it again last night, it ... The KU game on the TV, my laptop showing the North Carolina-Murray St. game below it, while I rode the stationary bike and worked out …) ... but what happened to showing a couple games on the screen at once!?!
3.16.2006
Technological advances
...CBS's TV coverage of the tournament is done for the night, but the Washington-Utah State game is still going ...
...so I'm watching it on the internet!
... how cool is that!!!
...so I'm watching it on the internet!
... how cool is that!!!
It's maaaad-ness!
Ah March ...
(Thoughts of Spring, right? ...Yeah. Don't get me started on the fact it snowed ALL DAY today ...AGAIN!)
...I was a little leery of the NCAA tournament and filling out brackets this year considering home ownership, an iPod, a burglary and good primetime TV, among other things, kept me from following the college basketball closer than usual this year. Nonetheless, I caught quite a few games during the conference tournmanents last weekend, the brackets were unveiled and the once again, the madness hit me ...
... all week I kept an eye on 'Sportscenter' for some extra insight and here I was last night pouring over the stats on ESPN.com and filling out my bracket and a bracket for my hermit crab, Herman Hermit (because, yes, at my workplace anything that lives and breathes is allowed to enter the office pool as long as U.S. currency is paid in full.) ... and oddly enough, for days I've been talking to my cohorts about how wide-open this year's tournament is and suggesting that perhaps Duke and Connecticut were overrated. But lo and behold, as I scrolled through each game and filled out the brackets, who do I have playing for the national championship but Duke and Connecticut. (For the record, Kansas and Boston College fill out the Final Four in my bracket; Kansas and Ohio State fill out the Final Four in Herman's bracket.)
* * *
And what a day it's been ...
There were statistics thrown about throughout the day, something like 4 billion dollars worth is lost in productivity at the workplace during March Madness. Yeah. My office did it's part in contributing to that today ...
... not only did a couple of us head to one of the many sports bars for the lunch hour, the television was on and tuned to the games, and CBS Sportsline was tuned in to the live updates on our desktops. Our eyes were glued to the TV duringthe waning seconds of that classic Boston College-Pacific game, as well as the Tennesee-Winthrop game. Few of us were surprised when UW-Milwaukee upset Oklahoma, but the handful of Marquette grads in my office weren't too happy when they gave up theirs to Alabama ... Not to mention I had the Golden Eagles penned into the Sweet Sixteen ...
Oh. The fun. ... Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.
TV in review
Quick thoughts on my favorite shows (because few were actually new episodes) this week ...
Amazing Race: ... a ha! So the frat boys thought they were all done when they saw ol' Phil standing at the end of that Moscow square. Then Phil just stared at them and said, 'I'm sorry to tell you...' ... with a long pause during which I was waiting foir him to say ' ... you've been eliminated from the race for flirting too much.' ... but he just told the boys the race wasn't over and made them go on their way. ...Otherwise, no real surprises here. The old folks some how are staying in it, it's not looking like the forgetful pinkies will be hurt too much by their mishap at the pool.
... In the meantime, I've quietly begun establishing affections for BJ & Tyler (The Hippies), David & Lori (The cute 'geek' couple from Manhattan, Kan. ... Woo hoo!) and Wanda & Desiree (the sweet mother-daughter combo).
* * *
Sons & Daughters: ... Love it!
For the record, I haven't seen an episode of the comparable 'Arrested Development' (but that doesn't mean I'm not extremely curious about 'A.D.' or think about renting it every time I stop in a Blockbuster to see what all the buzz is about ...) Still, no matter how much funnier its fans think 'A.D.' is than 'S&D' ... I think the raw and quirky little S&D is pretty darn good and you've got to take it for what it's worth -- a nice little breath of fresh air that, judging the way TV execs think these days, probably won't see the light of primetime next fall.
... through the first four episodes, there's been plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for me and there's not an unlikable character on the family tree -- although Cameron's sister Sharon and her daughter Carrie seem to be the scene-stealers thus far... My favorite moment so far came in the second episode when sex-deprived Sharon and her husband Don got 'that feeling' and, while Don headed to the bedroom, Sharon exhuberantly dialed up brother Cameron and screamed into the phone 'Cameron! We're having sex!' ...
* * *
Invasion ... I was barely hanging on through the fall, but lately, it's been getting better and better every week.
Mariel's one smart gal, surviving creepy Christine's wrath and pulling off that slick trick with the carbon copy board and alerting a doctor that Sheriff Underlay needed to be called ...
... and throughout the episode I couldn't help from longing that somebody would just knock off Christine and put her out of her misery ... Then! Thank you Zura for popping her right in the forehead ...
... But as my buddy Brian pointed out today: is she really dead? ... One can only hope.
... and that whole scene in the gym with the basketball players blindly passing the ball around!! How freaky was that!?!?!
Amazing Race: ... a ha! So the frat boys thought they were all done when they saw ol' Phil standing at the end of that Moscow square. Then Phil just stared at them and said, 'I'm sorry to tell you...' ... with a long pause during which I was waiting foir him to say ' ... you've been eliminated from the race for flirting too much.' ... but he just told the boys the race wasn't over and made them go on their way. ...Otherwise, no real surprises here. The old folks some how are staying in it, it's not looking like the forgetful pinkies will be hurt too much by their mishap at the pool.
... In the meantime, I've quietly begun establishing affections for BJ & Tyler (The Hippies), David & Lori (The cute 'geek' couple from Manhattan, Kan. ... Woo hoo!) and Wanda & Desiree (the sweet mother-daughter combo).
* * *
Sons & Daughters: ... Love it!
For the record, I haven't seen an episode of the comparable 'Arrested Development' (but that doesn't mean I'm not extremely curious about 'A.D.' or think about renting it every time I stop in a Blockbuster to see what all the buzz is about ...) Still, no matter how much funnier its fans think 'A.D.' is than 'S&D' ... I think the raw and quirky little S&D is pretty darn good and you've got to take it for what it's worth -- a nice little breath of fresh air that, judging the way TV execs think these days, probably won't see the light of primetime next fall.
... through the first four episodes, there's been plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for me and there's not an unlikable character on the family tree -- although Cameron's sister Sharon and her daughter Carrie seem to be the scene-stealers thus far... My favorite moment so far came in the second episode when sex-deprived Sharon and her husband Don got 'that feeling' and, while Don headed to the bedroom, Sharon exhuberantly dialed up brother Cameron and screamed into the phone 'Cameron! We're having sex!' ...
* * *
Invasion ... I was barely hanging on through the fall, but lately, it's been getting better and better every week.
Mariel's one smart gal, surviving creepy Christine's wrath and pulling off that slick trick with the carbon copy board and alerting a doctor that Sheriff Underlay needed to be called ...
... and throughout the episode I couldn't help from longing that somebody would just knock off Christine and put her out of her misery ... Then! Thank you Zura for popping her right in the forehead ...
... But as my buddy Brian pointed out today: is she really dead? ... One can only hope.
... and that whole scene in the gym with the basketball players blindly passing the ball around!! How freaky was that!?!?!
3.15.2006
The Selig establishment
This today from SI-Extra. I couldn't have said it better myself
The reckoning is here. That's what senior writer Tom Verducci says about baseball commissioner Bud Selig in a Scorecard essay this week following Barry Bonds's portrayal as a serial steroid user in the book Game of Shadows. "For all the good Selig has sowed-the wild card, interleague play, revenue sharing, the first labor deal without a work stoppage, the growth of advanced media such as MLB.TV and the cool straight-out-of-the-box World Baseball Classic-his term will be defined by what he does with Bonds, just as Fay Vincent's was by George Steinbrenner, Bart Giamatti's was by Pete Rose, and Judge Landis's was by the Black Sox," Verducci writes. "What happens after the commissioner reviews the evidence is what defines Selig's conviction. He could suspend Bonds-a possibility, according to those close! to Selig-knowing the issue could wind up being decided by arbitrator Shyam Das. That would put the players' association in the position of defending a steroid cheat who dropped out of their licensing program. Bonds, the union would argue, could not be subject to penalties for
steroid use before 2003 because no penalties existed, and he could not be subject to any since then without a positive drug test. Selig, however, would be suspending Bonds not for a violation of the drug policy but for conduct detrimental to baseball. Whether Das would uphold the suspension is almost incidental to Selig's establishing an official condemnation of Bonds, tantamount to an asterisk next to his home run total." (more here)
3.14.2006
Musically inclined
Still loving the stereo ...
I stopped by the record store again today to chat up the owner for a story idea, and ended up walking out with two more records: Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Sound of Silence.'
...Both were being played as soon as I arrived home from work, in addition to listens of The Beach Boys 'Today', The Carpenters 'Now & Then,' Toto 'IV', Natalie Imbruglia's 'Left of the Middle' and Chicago IX.
I'm lovin' it.
I stopped by the record store again today to chat up the owner for a story idea, and ended up walking out with two more records: Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Sound of Silence.'
...Both were being played as soon as I arrived home from work, in addition to listens of The Beach Boys 'Today', The Carpenters 'Now & Then,' Toto 'IV', Natalie Imbruglia's 'Left of the Middle' and Chicago IX.
I'm lovin' it.
FOUL!!
Never mind that fans are conflicted about Bonds (me included), but the fact the Giants now say they will honor Bonds if and when he breaks the Babe's record is more sickening ...
In the meantime, Cagle's Cartoon Index has some creative and witty cartoons on Bonds and baseball's steroids saga ...
KU cancels classes
My poor KU: KU cancels classes after tornado damages 60 percent of campus buildings
More interesting news from baseball and the TV world during the last couple days:
a Baseball classic means more to some countries than others
a A tribute to Kirby: Twins, fans honor life of Hall of Famer
a Where will 'Today' turn if Couric departs?
a Working for laughs at 'The Office'
More interesting news from baseball and the TV world during the last couple days:
a Baseball classic means more to some countries than others
a A tribute to Kirby: Twins, fans honor life of Hall of Famer
a Where will 'Today' turn if Couric departs?
a Working for laughs at 'The Office'
3.12.2006
Sunday afternoon
... Forget the NCAA Tournament! ... How 'bout the World Baseball Classic!! What a finish by the USA today versus Japan!
* * *
We're not watching our usual Sunday night lineup of TV as I'm enthralled with the Baseball Classic on ESPN and Kates is upstairs working on school work ... But God bless the DVR and 'West Wing' which begins its finale countdown tonight ... can't wait to watch it all unfold!
* * *
Baseball reads
a Clemens reportedly will retire ... for now
a Derrek Lee headed for big payday
a Jim Leyland wants to prove himself again in Detroit
... and in other news
a Salukis' cheerleader expected to make full recovery ... I'm not sure if I cringed more at the sight of her falling to the court or her doing cheers as medical staff carted her away on a stretcher. Call me insensitive, but I found the whole thing -- not to mention all the attention she's garnered this past week -- incredibly cheesy ...
a Bradshaw Bares All for His Latest Film ... looking forward to it -- the film, that is.
* * *
We're not watching our usual Sunday night lineup of TV as I'm enthralled with the Baseball Classic on ESPN and Kates is upstairs working on school work ... But God bless the DVR and 'West Wing' which begins its finale countdown tonight ... can't wait to watch it all unfold!
* * *
Baseball reads
a Clemens reportedly will retire ... for now
a Derrek Lee headed for big payday
a Jim Leyland wants to prove himself again in Detroit
... and in other news
a Salukis' cheerleader expected to make full recovery ... I'm not sure if I cringed more at the sight of her falling to the court or her doing cheers as medical staff carted her away on a stretcher. Call me insensitive, but I found the whole thing -- not to mention all the attention she's garnered this past week -- incredibly cheesy ...
a Bradshaw Bares All for His Latest Film ... looking forward to it -- the film, that is.
3.11.2006
Old and new
DVR is an awesome -- and interesting -- piece of technology.
Kates and I now have the ability to watch all of our favorite TV shows and all the shows we've been hearing about from other people for years but never had enough VCRs in the house or enough time to catch ... On the other side, Kates and I rarely watch TV shows live any more, instead waiting until we some free time to sit down and watch a whole bunch of things in a row ...
A la Friday night. I came home early from work and caught up on the last two weeks worth of 'Scrubs.' .... then Kates and I came home after a night on the town (watching Kates' elementary students perform 'Oklahoma' ...) and watched the two-hour premiere of 'Amazing Race.' ...What? It's two weeks old? Bah!! We don't care. With DVR we can watch it on our time -- and without commercials! ... I went to bed longing for the 'The Frosties' to be eliminated (I was annoyed with them from the start). This morning, Kates and I ate breakfast and started up the DVR to catch up on the second 'Amazing Race' episode. ... and I could breathe a sigh of relief. 'The Frosties' had been eliminated, and we are caught up on the latest from 'Amazing Race.'
* * *
A couple months ago, I took my parents stereo system off their hands -- a stereo system they bought themselves after marrying in 1975. Yep, turntable, speakers, amplifier, the works ...
They hadn't used the system in years, and there was even some question whether it still worked. No matter, I was willing to give it a try. I wanted it, not only for it's durable cassette player (I have a buttload of cassette tapes I'd listen to a lot more if it wasn't for the squeaky cassette player in my newer stereo...), but also with a huge, nostalgic desire to listen to music in a way I hadn't in a long, long time, and a way that is quickly becoming, in this age of iPods and downloadable music at your fingertips, a lost artform ...
Then on Friday, I ventured into a new music store opened down the street a few weeks ago. My jaw hit the floor. Vintage records from wall-to-wall. And we're not talking your Grandma's old Kenny Rogers albums you can find for a dollar now in any corner antique store. Nope, classic albums, in good condition, all sorted and stacked alphabetically -- just the way our parents saw them. From Chicago to Zeppelin they were all there. One aisle display started with a pristine copy of The Beatles: White Album -- for $75, of course.
... I could've spent all day in the place. But alas, I had things to do -- and not a lot of money to spend. After thumbing through a few racks, I went to the counter with copies of two Beach Boys albums -- 'Today' and 'In Concert' -- and The Carpenters: 'Now & Then,' paying about $4 for each of them ... and I fell further in love with the store and the whole dying-record concept when the clerk -- a skinny, gray-haired man in his late 50s or early 60s, sporting a tie-dyed T-shirt -- saw the records I was purchasing and struck up a conversation with me about how great The Beach Boys and The Carpenters were in their day, and how the only classic rock music people seem to care about or know about these days is The Beatles.
... So when Saturday arrived, I awoke with one thing on my mind: Setting up that old stereo. For weeks I had been sort of intimidated by the maze of wire and cords that came with the system, but wasn't going to let it stop me on this day ... Like I was MacGyver or on some sort of Mission Impossible assignment, my heart raced as I nervously connected all the wires. Then, when all appeared to be set, I grabbed the closest cassette tape I could find: Petula Clark's Greatest Hits.
Pressed play on the cassette deck. ... and 'Downtown' never sounded so good.
Then the records ... I carefully removed The Beach Boys' 'In Concert' album from its sleeve and set it on the turntable. At first, it wouldn't spin. Then slowly, it started turning. It was warming up now. Then I carefully lowered the needle. Static. ... And then "... From Hawthorn, California, to entertain you tonight, live in a recording session, the fabulous Beach Boys!! ..." ...loud screams and the opening guitar riff of 'Fun, Fun, Fun' ... Just the way I remembered hearing it probably 20 years ago now ...
It was a beautiful sound. Tears of glee and wonder filled my eyes, knowing my father had played this same record on this same system decades ago, sometimes with my brother and I dancing in front of the fireplace trying to be like The Beach Boys ...
This afternoon, I went out and got a shelf for the system and set it up. Re-connecting all the wires, and adding my iPod to it.
Tonight, Imogen Heap and Van Morrison never sounded so good on this old stereo.
Kates and I now have the ability to watch all of our favorite TV shows and all the shows we've been hearing about from other people for years but never had enough VCRs in the house or enough time to catch ... On the other side, Kates and I rarely watch TV shows live any more, instead waiting until we some free time to sit down and watch a whole bunch of things in a row ...
A la Friday night. I came home early from work and caught up on the last two weeks worth of 'Scrubs.' .... then Kates and I came home after a night on the town (watching Kates' elementary students perform 'Oklahoma' ...) and watched the two-hour premiere of 'Amazing Race.' ...What? It's two weeks old? Bah!! We don't care. With DVR we can watch it on our time -- and without commercials! ... I went to bed longing for the 'The Frosties' to be eliminated (I was annoyed with them from the start). This morning, Kates and I ate breakfast and started up the DVR to catch up on the second 'Amazing Race' episode. ... and I could breathe a sigh of relief. 'The Frosties' had been eliminated, and we are caught up on the latest from 'Amazing Race.'
* * *
A couple months ago, I took my parents stereo system off their hands -- a stereo system they bought themselves after marrying in 1975. Yep, turntable, speakers, amplifier, the works ...
They hadn't used the system in years, and there was even some question whether it still worked. No matter, I was willing to give it a try. I wanted it, not only for it's durable cassette player (I have a buttload of cassette tapes I'd listen to a lot more if it wasn't for the squeaky cassette player in my newer stereo...), but also with a huge, nostalgic desire to listen to music in a way I hadn't in a long, long time, and a way that is quickly becoming, in this age of iPods and downloadable music at your fingertips, a lost artform ...
Then on Friday, I ventured into a new music store opened down the street a few weeks ago. My jaw hit the floor. Vintage records from wall-to-wall. And we're not talking your Grandma's old Kenny Rogers albums you can find for a dollar now in any corner antique store. Nope, classic albums, in good condition, all sorted and stacked alphabetically -- just the way our parents saw them. From Chicago to Zeppelin they were all there. One aisle display started with a pristine copy of The Beatles: White Album -- for $75, of course.
... I could've spent all day in the place. But alas, I had things to do -- and not a lot of money to spend. After thumbing through a few racks, I went to the counter with copies of two Beach Boys albums -- 'Today' and 'In Concert' -- and The Carpenters: 'Now & Then,' paying about $4 for each of them ... and I fell further in love with the store and the whole dying-record concept when the clerk -- a skinny, gray-haired man in his late 50s or early 60s, sporting a tie-dyed T-shirt -- saw the records I was purchasing and struck up a conversation with me about how great The Beach Boys and The Carpenters were in their day, and how the only classic rock music people seem to care about or know about these days is The Beatles.
... So when Saturday arrived, I awoke with one thing on my mind: Setting up that old stereo. For weeks I had been sort of intimidated by the maze of wire and cords that came with the system, but wasn't going to let it stop me on this day ... Like I was MacGyver or on some sort of Mission Impossible assignment, my heart raced as I nervously connected all the wires. Then, when all appeared to be set, I grabbed the closest cassette tape I could find: Petula Clark's Greatest Hits.
Pressed play on the cassette deck. ... and 'Downtown' never sounded so good.
Then the records ... I carefully removed The Beach Boys' 'In Concert' album from its sleeve and set it on the turntable. At first, it wouldn't spin. Then slowly, it started turning. It was warming up now. Then I carefully lowered the needle. Static. ... And then "... From Hawthorn, California, to entertain you tonight, live in a recording session, the fabulous Beach Boys!! ..." ...loud screams and the opening guitar riff of 'Fun, Fun, Fun' ... Just the way I remembered hearing it probably 20 years ago now ...
It was a beautiful sound. Tears of glee and wonder filled my eyes, knowing my father had played this same record on this same system decades ago, sometimes with my brother and I dancing in front of the fireplace trying to be like The Beach Boys ...
This afternoon, I went out and got a shelf for the system and set it up. Re-connecting all the wires, and adding my iPod to it.
Tonight, Imogen Heap and Van Morrison never sounded so good on this old stereo.
3.09.2006
Bonds away!
So I just finished reading my copy of this week's Sports Illustrated and the excerpt from this book -- 'Game of Shadows' -- that's supposedly going to blow away Barry Bonds' reputation ...Thing is, nothing I read tonight surprised me.
The huge amount of respect I held for Bonds as a gifted player throughout much of the 1990s started crumbling fast after his grand jury testimony was published by the San Francisco Chronicle in December '04. And it pretty much bottomed out during last season when Bonds' body --particularly his knees -- started falling apart, further cementing the evidence that he was likely using ...
But above all that, this winter I've been reading Howard Bryant's
'Juicing the Game : Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball' -- a brilliant piece of journalism that gives the average fan an inside-baseball look, starting with the Bud Selig-led overthrow of former commissioner Fay Vincent, on through the devastating 1994 strike and up to the Congressional testimony in the days leading up to the 2005 season. In the book, Bryant takes a hard look at Bud Selig and the owners who were too busy counting their bills and enjoying the homeruns flying out of their new retro parks to do anything about steroids (even while they had the knowledge and studies to prove performance-enhancing drugs were taking over the game) and the players union, which had become too powerful for its own good to give into the owners proposals or care about the integrity of the game.It's an incredibly fascinating book that I've barely been able to put down since I started reading ...
But I digress ...
On Tuesday, during a train ride into Chicago (I visited the Field Museum's new 'Evolving Planet' exhibit -- very interesting. And I learned that we're going extinct ... but that's another post), I began reading the final chapters of Bryant's book which focuses on Bonds' rise and fall in the major leagues. It was ironic because, by the time I was returning home, everything I'd been reading all day was now the top story on every sports radio program ...
The bottom line, as Bryant portrayed it, is that Bonds is a man haunted by what he believes is a lack of respect for his race and his father's playing days. Never mind the fact that by the mid '90s Bonds had already earned an armload of MVP awards and put up Hall of Fame numbers. Bryant writes in his book that Bonds was a man frought with jealousy and a man who was out simply to tear every white man's record from the books. So when Mark McGwire captured America's hearts in 1998 by clobbering 70 homeruns, Bonds seethed. Not only had fans all but forgotten Bonds, he was enraged that McGwire wasn't the multi-tooled player he had been ... So Bonds set out to beat McGwire and the white man with whatever it took ...
Now? Although past history gives us little hope, Bud Selig must take a hard look at the evidence surrounding Bonds' steroid use and for once in his commissionership take a proactive approach by sending a message to everyone who plays or cares about the game that it will not allow performance-enhancing drugs. Selig must be firm on Bonds the way Bartlett Giamatti was hard on Pete Rose. If that means suspending Bonds from the game or erasing his 73 homeruns in 2001 from the books, so be it. ... That said, do I think Bonds should be banned from the Hall of Fame? No -- although Bonds is perhaps no longer a first-ballot winner, as other writers have said this week, he did have Hall of Fame numbers before his alleged steroid use between 1999 and 2004, just like Pete Rose amassed a Hall of Fame career before allegedly betting on baseball ... Nonethless, a suspension handed down by Selig would at least protect Hank Aaron's career homerun record ...
Here's what some of America's best sports writers and columnists -- and David Wells -- have to say ...
a Pittsburg Post-Gazette/Gene Collier: An ultimate interview with Barry Bonds
a San Francisco Chronicle/Joan Ryan: In post-truth era, facts mean less
a San Francisco Chronicle/Ray Ratto: Resolution? Not with our Barry It'll be business as usual, for all the usual suspects
a Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune/Patrick Reusse: Most players have a weak response to steroid flap
a The Washington Post/Tony Kornheiser: Medically Creamed and Cleared
a David Wells thinks Bonds should admit steroid use
3.06.2006
Hall of Famer Puckett dies at 44
wow.Hall of Famer Puckett dies at 44
UPDATE 03.09.05 .... More on Kirby
a Mourning for Kirby continues around baseball
a Puckett remembered fondly in Mets' camp
a Puckett was too unnatural to overlook
a Former Twins Guardado, Lawton laughingly recall Puckett's unique mentoring
a Puckett's impact on Twins ranges far, wide
a Tom Kelly's sorrow bound up with a profound gratitude
Seriously? What'd you expect?
Alright folks ... What's with all the complaining today about last night's Academy Awards (here and here)!?... I thought they were pretty entertaining, and I don't look forward to it and plan parties the way other people I know do ...Seriously, was it really that big of an upset that 'Crash' beat out 'Brokeback Mountain?' Sure, 'Brokeback Mountain' had the buzz but everything I've read and heard the last couple weeks pointed to 'Crash' winning the Oscar for best picture. So, no surprises here. (For the record: I haven't seen either film. Heck I've hardly seen any of the films nominated last night. But the 'Crash' DVD is sitting next to our DVD player -- loaned to us with high regard prior to last night's Awards -- and ready to be viewed as soon as we can find a couple hours out of our busy lives ...)
And what's with all the pouting about Jon Stewart's performance. Sure, it was a little more respectful and reserved than his typical banter on 'The Daily Show.' But look at his audience last night. Hollywood. Primetime. ABC. Enough said. ... Stewart last night was funny enough, people.
Of the things being said today that I will agree with ... George Clooney's
acceptance speech. Yes, classy -- and comical. ... Acceptance speech music. Yep. Threw me off too. And indeed unfair to the winners. ...Favorite moment: Reese Witherspoon finally gets an Oscar or as Kim Morgan puts it "Reese grows up." ...She's come a long way from 'Pleasantville' and 'Election' baby!
3.05.2006
Sunday reading
Nothing like a lazy afternoon watching spring training baseball and 'Baseball Tonight' ...
... while it snows outside my window.
Once again, the interesting reads that caught my eyes this past week:
... in baseball news ...
a Clemens' son: Dad's 'stuff is pretty nasty'
a Request to force Angels' name change rejected ... darn. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (and the marketing scheme behind it) is one of the most pathetic things in all of sports these days.
a Schilling: Move WBC To July ... I'm kinda thinking the same thing.
a St. Louis stadium work still frenzied with just over a month to go ... can't wait to see it.
a Fans - and Congress - outraged over Buck O'Neil's exclusion from Hall of Fame ... Count me among those.
... in music news ...
a Queen is Recharged and Ready to Rock You ... ah, Queen. Great music.
... in TV news ...
a Edgy dramas, inventive sitcoms and even inventors are sprouting up on the networks this spring ... I cannot WAIT to get a look at ABC's 'Sons & Daughters' ... Ok, the reviews for it haven't been that good, but it looks to be HA-larious at least for a couple episodes.
a 'West Wing' alums to return as show winds down ... I couldn't imagine the Bartlett administration winding down any other way. Can't wait!!
... in pop culture/political/comic news ...
a ‘Boondocks’ comic strip taking 6-month hiatus ... And let's hope it returns in six months. It's one of the edgiest and coolest -- not to mention funniest -- comic strips in American newspapers right now.
... and from somewhere out there ...
a So Speedy, So Exclusive, So Expensive, So Totaled
... while it snows outside my window.
Once again, the interesting reads that caught my eyes this past week:
... in baseball news ...
a Clemens' son: Dad's 'stuff is pretty nasty'
a Request to force Angels' name change rejected ... darn. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (and the marketing scheme behind it) is one of the most pathetic things in all of sports these days.
a Schilling: Move WBC To July ... I'm kinda thinking the same thing.
a St. Louis stadium work still frenzied with just over a month to go ... can't wait to see it.
a Fans - and Congress - outraged over Buck O'Neil's exclusion from Hall of Fame ... Count me among those.
... in music news ...
a Queen is Recharged and Ready to Rock You ... ah, Queen. Great music.
... in TV news ...
a Edgy dramas, inventive sitcoms and even inventors are sprouting up on the networks this spring ... I cannot WAIT to get a look at ABC's 'Sons & Daughters' ... Ok, the reviews for it haven't been that good, but it looks to be HA-larious at least for a couple episodes.
a 'West Wing' alums to return as show winds down ... I couldn't imagine the Bartlett administration winding down any other way. Can't wait!!
... in pop culture/political/comic news ...
a ‘Boondocks’ comic strip taking 6-month hiatus ... And let's hope it returns in six months. It's one of the edgiest and coolest -- not to mention funniest -- comic strips in American newspapers right now.
... and from somewhere out there ...
a So Speedy, So Exclusive, So Expensive, So Totaled
3.04.2006
The week that was ...
Here comes the weekend .... yes!Last night Kates and I, with our friends Liz and Emily took to Marquette University to see the great funnyman Mo Rocca ... A huge fan of VH1's quirky, pop culture-filled 'I Love the ...' series, yes, this was one of those dream-come-true/once-in-a-lifetime experiences I cherish ....
Mo is currently on a tour of the country's college campuses to profess his knowledge of 'The Gamekillers ' -- the 14 types of men, who prevent 'innocent young males' from 'locking down some tail.' (You can read more on the official Web site or the preview story from the 'Marquette Tribune')
The show was comical, but -- with me and my groupies being in committed relationships -- probably not as entertaining as it was to the whoopin' and hollerin' Marquette coeds surrounding us. Heck, we all just wanted to see Mo. And the highlight, of course, was Liz and I getting to shake hands with Mo and chat him up a little bit afterward. Nice guy.
* * *
Ok, so I've been on a big Coldplay kick this week. Part of it's likely my introspective mood the last several days. Part of it's stemming from a preview I wrote earlier this week for a show coming here in a couple weeks. Part of it's me in mourning the unseized opportunity to get tickets to that show (not to mention, a Ben Folds show in the area next weekend ...could've been my ninth meeting with B.F., but Coldplay would've been a first ...). Not to mention, Coldplay seemed to be everywhere I turned this week. The aforementioned preview story. In my car. The 'Fix You' video I plopped on the sidebar of this site. And on this week's episode of 'Scrubs.' ... OK, so most of it was my doing ...
* * *
Speaking of Coldplay, my boss officially put the ke-bosh this week on me listening to my iPod as I worked. I tried arguing that I only used it for a couple hours a day, mostly to help me keep my concentration and write stories, among all the other distractions, and that it wasn't bothering anyone else ... he didn't see it that way.
Dang it.
... it was a good run while it lasted.
* * *
The other night I joined a new affiliate of the adult men's baseball league. Finally!
So sick of the hotheads, beer monkeys and can't-get-over-the-fact-they're-not-major-leaguers guys that fill the city softball leagues, another guy stepped up to the plate and is forming teams in our city ...
I read a story in the morning paper about the league, went to the organizational meeting that night and signed up -- it's gonna make my summer. Games start in May and will be played every Sunday.
Finally, a bunch of guys who share the same passion as me and I can play with on a consistant basis ...
Now I just have to get myself in shape ...
* * *
So I DVR'd the first games of the World Baseball Classic early Friday morning and then watched some of them in my free time yesterday and today ...
The games were good. But it was more entertaining to listen to the American broadcasters repeatedly saying names like Young Soo Bae, Byung Doo Jun, Jae Hun Chung and Min Han Son ...
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