-Apparently today marks the last episode of Reading Rainbow. I have to be honest, I didn't even know the show was on anymore. "Take a look, it's in a book... It's reading Rainbow." That's in your head now, isn't it? Welcome to my Friday.
-As cool as it may be that Nick Green was able to come in and pitch two scoreless innings in last night's game, I didn't think it was all that funny. The Sox were only down five runs at the time and if the offense is clicking they can make that up in two innings. Seemed like they were throwing in the towel a little early is all. Not the message you want to send when you're in the wild card hunt.
-Hold on, there's a wide receiver that's acting like whiny dickhead? That almost never happens... more than four times a season. Also, refusing to learn the playbook is not the best way to show the rest of the league that they should take the chance and trade for you.
-Last night Step Up and Step Up 2 were both on TV (you know, just in case you didn't want to have to wait to get your burning questions answered). I think that could be considered an anti-commercial for Starz.
-Speaking of terrible movies that didn't need sequals: the final Final Destination opens this weekend. Apparently it's the fourth one. Raise your hand if you knew that. And if you not only knew that, but have seen them all, take that hand and slap yourself in the back of the head.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
So Much For Private...
When Ted Kennedy passed away the other day, the family said that they were going to have a private memorial service for the Senator. Well, as I'm typing this, the Ted Kennedy funeral procession from Hyannisport to Dorcester is being carried on no less than 10 channels (even Fox News, if you can believe it). That seems a bit excessive to me. Remember when funerals were private? Now news cameras are in churches (which I have always had a bad reaction to) and hearses are followed by helicopters like it's a speed-limit version of the O.J. car chase. Apparently the only thing that's going to be private about this whole thing is the mass inside the Kennedy home. This is where the practice of sitting shiva makes so much more sense.
I get that he was a public figure, but do we need wall-to-wall coverage? It's a lot like the Michael Jackson story to me. I had initial shock, but seeing as how I didn't know the man personally, I don't feel I need to be this included. I'm curious about the story, but only need the big picture details. Perhaps a photo of the hearse as it goes past the stand where Mayor Menino will be paying his respects, maybe a quote or two from family friends. That seems like enough to me. But when you have this much air time to fill you invariable get into all the minutiae that crosses the line from relevant to "I just can't have silence here." All I know is this: if you didn't vote for Ted Kennedy but are a big fan of soap operas you, my friend, are shit out of luck today.
-Now that he's been released by the Red Sox (finally - should have traded him back in May when he still had some value), I'll give you Brad Penny's line for the first game he pitches in the National League: 6 IP, 3 ER, 2 BBs, 4Ks. Just you watch, he'll sign with some National League team still in the wildcard race (my money is on the Rockies) and be a good starter for them, right up until they need him to pitch against a quality line-up. Between Penny, Smoltz and Saito, this was not a banner offseason for Theo Epstein.
I get that he was a public figure, but do we need wall-to-wall coverage? It's a lot like the Michael Jackson story to me. I had initial shock, but seeing as how I didn't know the man personally, I don't feel I need to be this included. I'm curious about the story, but only need the big picture details. Perhaps a photo of the hearse as it goes past the stand where Mayor Menino will be paying his respects, maybe a quote or two from family friends. That seems like enough to me. But when you have this much air time to fill you invariable get into all the minutiae that crosses the line from relevant to "I just can't have silence here." All I know is this: if you didn't vote for Ted Kennedy but are a big fan of soap operas you, my friend, are shit out of luck today.
-Now that he's been released by the Red Sox (finally - should have traded him back in May when he still had some value), I'll give you Brad Penny's line for the first game he pitches in the National League: 6 IP, 3 ER, 2 BBs, 4Ks. Just you watch, he'll sign with some National League team still in the wildcard race (my money is on the Rockies) and be a good starter for them, right up until they need him to pitch against a quality line-up. Between Penny, Smoltz and Saito, this was not a banner offseason for Theo Epstein.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
That Almost Never Happens
I'm not overtly political, but I never hid the fact I like Ted Kennedy. We came down on the same side for a lot of hot-button political issues. Plus, he did a lot for both the state of Massachusetts and it's residents. When you come right down to it, it was a pretty simple formula: he was from my state and all the women in my life like him, which is usually good enough for me (even now I wonder who's taking the news worse: my mom, Liz or Kennedy's wife). So I was saddened to hear about his passing early this morning. Obviously he had been in failing health, but you never got the sense that the end was this near. On the whole its just a sad story and there really is nothing more you can say about it.
Instead, I'll shift the focus a little bit. A surprising fact about the news was that I found out by actually reading a newspaper. Most of the time I'll get my news from various Internet sources or by turning on the TV, but this morning I made my way downstairs without turning on either and saw the large headline on the Boston Globe. Now, as I had said Senator Kennedy had been in failing health and the Globe probably had the issue ready to go, only needing to fill in the appropriate dates to finalize the story. Still, when you stop and think about the world we live in today, with the constant "breaking news," when was the last time you walked past a newspaper and the headline actually broke news to you? In this day and age, by the time a paper comes out the news is usually 8-12 hours old.
You almost need to have blinders on to the world to make it until the morning to see yesterday's news. I typically go to bed sometime around midnight, by which time news has broken, been reported on, jackasses like me have commented on it on their blogs and we've moved on to the next breaking news story. Even if actual big news breaks overnight the newspapers wouldn't have time to run with it. Gone are the days of iconic headlines. Now, people just go for shock value. Maybe, given the way that Kennedy was an old-school Senator, it's appropriate that I learned of his death in an old-school way. Either that or I should turn my TV on first thing in the morning like the rest of the world.
Instead, I'll shift the focus a little bit. A surprising fact about the news was that I found out by actually reading a newspaper. Most of the time I'll get my news from various Internet sources or by turning on the TV, but this morning I made my way downstairs without turning on either and saw the large headline on the Boston Globe. Now, as I had said Senator Kennedy had been in failing health and the Globe probably had the issue ready to go, only needing to fill in the appropriate dates to finalize the story. Still, when you stop and think about the world we live in today, with the constant "breaking news," when was the last time you walked past a newspaper and the headline actually broke news to you? In this day and age, by the time a paper comes out the news is usually 8-12 hours old.
You almost need to have blinders on to the world to make it until the morning to see yesterday's news. I typically go to bed sometime around midnight, by which time news has broken, been reported on, jackasses like me have commented on it on their blogs and we've moved on to the next breaking news story. Even if actual big news breaks overnight the newspapers wouldn't have time to run with it. Gone are the days of iconic headlines. Now, people just go for shock value. Maybe, given the way that Kennedy was an old-school Senator, it's appropriate that I learned of his death in an old-school way. Either that or I should turn my TV on first thing in the morning like the rest of the world.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Accessory Overkill
I've always like the idea of a motorcycle road trip across the country. Something about the open air and riding off into the sunset across middle America is very appealing to me. Harley Davidsons (it has to be a Harley, by the way, no crotch-rockets for me) have been romanticized for years in the movies. However, I also enjoy leg room, reclining and not getting wet if it rains. As a result, I stick to cars (Oh yeah, one more thing - I also have no idea how to ride a motorcycle). Besides, living in Massachusetts means that you only have so many days to ride, which puts motorcycles among the items that it's better to know someone that has one and will let you use theirs instead of you actually having to own it yourself (other items on the list include pools, convertibles, boats and country club memberships). Still, I get why people would like to bike their way across the country.
Today when I was at a red light I was next to a slightly older couple, probably in their mid-50's, sitting on the husband's bike. Now, they were not a small pair, so their bike was already a bit larger than standard. But, the thing that caught my eye was that they had every accessory you can buy for a cruiser: windshield, full back on the seat for the person riding in back (complete with seatbelts), MP3 player controls on the handlebars, GPS with video display, individual drink systems in addition to the multiple cup holders the bike already had, extra large luggage bags on each side and a communication system that allows them to speak directly into each other's helmets without having to shout. My point to these people is this: buy a damn car already.
-Is it wrong that, in reading this article about a body being found on Atanta Braves player Chipper Jones's ranch in Texas, the main thing that stuck with me was not the tragedy of someone losing their life, but that there have been over 80 straight days in Texas in which the temperature has topped 100 degrees? Is this ranch near San Antonio or the surface of the sun?
Today when I was at a red light I was next to a slightly older couple, probably in their mid-50's, sitting on the husband's bike. Now, they were not a small pair, so their bike was already a bit larger than standard. But, the thing that caught my eye was that they had every accessory you can buy for a cruiser: windshield, full back on the seat for the person riding in back (complete with seatbelts), MP3 player controls on the handlebars, GPS with video display, individual drink systems in addition to the multiple cup holders the bike already had, extra large luggage bags on each side and a communication system that allows them to speak directly into each other's helmets without having to shout. My point to these people is this: buy a damn car already.
-Is it wrong that, in reading this article about a body being found on Atanta Braves player Chipper Jones's ranch in Texas, the main thing that stuck with me was not the tragedy of someone losing their life, but that there have been over 80 straight days in Texas in which the temperature has topped 100 degrees? Is this ranch near San Antonio or the surface of the sun?
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Most Useless Piece of Clothing
Since Saturday's birthday party was luau themed, I figured I should get a new Hawaiian shirt for the occasion. I already had a couple, but one more couldn't hurt. Also, since there are three of them hanging in my closet, I can officially claim to have a Hawaiian shirt 'section' in there. Now, if my time on the golf course (especially down in Rhode Island) has taught me anything, it's that etiquette requires under the Hawaiian shirt should be a tank-top undershirt, more commonly known as a "wife beater." I guess that's in case, should I feel the need to walk around with my shirt unbuttoned (unlikely), I would still have my stomach covered. Plus it just really completes the look.
I don't know why, but I actually have a couple of these in my wardrobe collection. And while wearing one in the 90 degree heat of Saturday, I realised how utterly useless this piece of clothing is. The whole point of an undershirt is to provide you with an extra layer of defense, so should you either lathered on the deodorant or have a sweating issue, you've got extra coverage. Typically, I'll just use an older tee-shirt for this assignment (division championship shirts are great for just such an occasion). But, with the tank-top kind the main areas of concern remain uncovered. In other words, your armpits are still wide open. And, as I was sweating, the 'beater didn't do anything to cover up this problem. I just don't even know why they still makes these things.
-If you ever needed more proof that the National League is the way to go for aging pitchers, look no farther than the case of John Smoltz. Couldn't wait to get him out of the Red Sox rotation, but you put him against a National League line-up and he looks great. When you factor in the resurgence of Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo that just seems like further proof. I think if you're in a contract year and want one last big payday, then you need to get traded to a National League team for the stretch run. Just watch, someone will give Smoltz a deal for next year.
I don't know why, but I actually have a couple of these in my wardrobe collection. And while wearing one in the 90 degree heat of Saturday, I realised how utterly useless this piece of clothing is. The whole point of an undershirt is to provide you with an extra layer of defense, so should you either lathered on the deodorant or have a sweating issue, you've got extra coverage. Typically, I'll just use an older tee-shirt for this assignment (division championship shirts are great for just such an occasion). But, with the tank-top kind the main areas of concern remain uncovered. In other words, your armpits are still wide open. And, as I was sweating, the 'beater didn't do anything to cover up this problem. I just don't even know why they still makes these things.
-If you ever needed more proof that the National League is the way to go for aging pitchers, look no farther than the case of John Smoltz. Couldn't wait to get him out of the Red Sox rotation, but you put him against a National League line-up and he looks great. When you factor in the resurgence of Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo that just seems like further proof. I think if you're in a contract year and want one last big payday, then you need to get traded to a National League team for the stretch run. Just watch, someone will give Smoltz a deal for next year.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
First Taste of Cake
Tradition around the family has been that kids don't typically get to try cake until their first birthday. So, because it was Charlotte's birthday she was about to try cake for the first time.
As you can see, the girls came ready to respect the luau theme.
Charlotte got a nice big cake for her first birthday. Now, both Addison and Abigail were very tentative the first time they tried birthday cake, so we expected that Charlotte would do the same and ease her way into birthday cake...
...but, then again, maybe not.
"So, this is what all the hype was about. I can see why."
"Why have you been holding out on this for a whole year?"
Saturday, August 22, 2009
4 Quick Ones For A Saturday
-Here's my problem with all the new stadiums that are going up around the world today: they're full of fun things to distract you while you stand in line to spend $10 on a beer. Now, if the team you root for is bad, it can help to keep your mind off of that fact. But, it's all being done at the expense of what should come first and foremost in the construction of a stadium. If you spend a billion dollars on a sports stadium it, at it core, should be a good place to watch sports. There shouldn't be obstructed views that prevent you from seeing right field if you have bleacher seats. Most of all the architects shouldn't be so concerned with having such a big scoreboard that it makes it difficult to actually play the game.
-So, Ted Kennedy is trying to get the state to change the policy and pretty much allow him to name is own replacement when steps down. In other words, he's already planning for his death. Why, Teddy, how very Irish of you.
-The justice system in this country confused me. Run a huge dog fighting ring across a couple states? Your sentence is 20 months in prison. Shoot yourself in the leg in a nightclub? You'll do 2 years. Get drunk and high, get behind the wheel and kill someone? 24 days. Yeah, this all seems very fair.
-I think Memphis potentially getting stripped of their 38-win season should be a huge red flag for Kentucky. When you hire a guy like John Calipari, who likes to recruit these one-and-done high schoolers who have no type of loyalty to whatever institution they intend to go to for a semester, then you should fully expect some problems down the line. And, when you factor in the fact that this is the second time a John Calipari-led program has been stripped of a Final Four appearance you can not act surprised if it comes up again. While I think Calipari will be extremely cautious, because you can only dodge this kind of thing so many times, that doesn't mean that he will change his spots overnight. You've been warned.
-So, Ted Kennedy is trying to get the state to change the policy and pretty much allow him to name is own replacement when steps down. In other words, he's already planning for his death. Why, Teddy, how very Irish of you.
-The justice system in this country confused me. Run a huge dog fighting ring across a couple states? Your sentence is 20 months in prison. Shoot yourself in the leg in a nightclub? You'll do 2 years. Get drunk and high, get behind the wheel and kill someone? 24 days. Yeah, this all seems very fair.
-I think Memphis potentially getting stripped of their 38-win season should be a huge red flag for Kentucky. When you hire a guy like John Calipari, who likes to recruit these one-and-done high schoolers who have no type of loyalty to whatever institution they intend to go to for a semester, then you should fully expect some problems down the line. And, when you factor in the fact that this is the second time a John Calipari-led program has been stripped of a Final Four appearance you can not act surprised if it comes up again. While I think Calipari will be extremely cautious, because you can only dodge this kind of thing so many times, that doesn't mean that he will change his spots overnight. You've been warned.
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