Odds And Sods 7

I haven't done one of these in quite a while.  It's not that I don't have a lot of things, that don't really have enough to be a full entry.  It's that I'm just trying to do other things.  I still need to write some interviews and reviews.  Just haven't been into it lately.  I had a week full of headaches, but that's not really the reason.  It's definitely not the music or the bands, so I don't know...just a lot on my mind.

So what's going on?  I've been researching for my up coming Fantasy Baseball Auction Draft.  I know you're all impressed.  Yes, I know I'm nerdy on multiple levels and I'm very proud of it.  I think everyone is pretty nerdy in their own way.  Don't believe me, do you collect anything?  Then you're a nerd...sorry to inform you.  It goes with the territory.  There's nothing wrong with it.  I'm pretty sure all of my friends are and would be worried if I knew someone that wasn't.  I don't know what kind of person that would be. So, back to the baseball.  I'm taking over a team that was an expansion team.  In this league, you have a salary cap and sign players to contracts that last between 1 and 4 seasons.  So, there is more to it than just drafting luck.  There are some players unavailable, because they are under contract.  I know about half the people in the league personally.  I'm familiar with a couple of others, but have never met them.  Okay, this is now boring me and I'm writing it.  So, end scene...

I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately.  I like listening to interviews.  I tend to listen mainly to the comedy based ones.  They do get serious, but generally are very funny.  We all need laughter in our life and in my opinion, you can never have enough.  I've been listening to the Nerdist.  I know go figure.  It's hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick mainly, with other co-hosts rotating in and out, but he's the mainstay.  I listen for the guests, he's had some really good ones.  I also really like WTF with Marc Maron.  Another interview based comedy show.  Again, he's had some really great guests.  The other one I started listening to is called Podcast Masters.  Hosted by comedians Jim Breuer and Pete Correale.  It's mainly about their careers and Jim being a father to three daughters and how he handles it.  Parenting in a funny way.  Since, I'm about to become a parent.  I try to listen to any and all types of parenting styles.  Even a comedian that's looked stoned his entire life.

Lastly, because I don't have much else to talk about really.  There are some movies opening in March that will probably get overlooked, but hopefully not.  The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon is opening early in March.  It's based on a Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report, Total Recall, do I need to go on?) short story.  I just want to see how they run with it.  Dick wrote this story in 1954 and most of his stories in the 50's, 60's and 70's.  Just imagine having that type of creative mind to think of this stuff 50 years ago.  So, ahead of his time.  Kevin Smith's penultimate movie Red State is opening for an early run in New York City.  It opens everywhere in October.  I'm not sure if he will really retire after Hit Somebody.  I hope not, because I do enjoy his work.  The last movie I'll "pimp," as the cool kids say.  Personally, I think if you say the word "pimp" and think it's cool.  You've made a mistake.  Nobody speaks like that, unless your Katt Williams and everyone knows he isn't funny.  Where was I?  Oh right, the next movie, Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper and Bobby D.  I never read the novel, but it sounds very interesting.  A drug that lets you use your entire brain to it's full capability.  That sounds fascinating to me.  I generally don't read fiction, but that book sounds great.

That's all I have for you today.  I'll try to do better next time.

Odds And Sods - Holidazed Edition

 

I really love the holidays.  I don't mind driving to the different sides of the family, because I haven't had to do both sides in one day yet.  Normally, my wife and I would go to my Mom's for Thanksgiving and have Christmas a week early with her.  Then we'd do Christmas day at my in-laws house.  It's always worked out well.  Things will be changing, since next year we'll have a baby and I'm sure both sets of soon-to-be Grandparents will want their time on the holidays.  Thankfully, they don't live to far apart currently.  Things could change on that front...stay tuned.

I'll admit, I do watch some reality television, but I try not to watch too much of it.  I tend to watch more educational shows.  I know technically a show like American Pickers is reality, but you learn a lot about history as well.  I do like the reality shows that have a competition aspect to them.  Survivor has been decent this season.  No one is really controlling it this year, so it could be anyone's to win.  There just hasn't been a person that you can see coming back as an all-star.  Naonka would have been that one, but she quit, which was just dumb.  The other show that is like a white-trash Olympics is, The Road Rules/Real World Challenge.  If you've never seen it, check it out.  Steroid amped guys and prima donna girls, go against each other in battle.  It's basically Survivor, but you don't have to worry about being liked.  Being good in challenges is the main goal.  Plus, it's the only watchable thing on MTV, since there are no more videos.  They have shows called: 16 and Pregnant.  Sure, let's promote that...

Honor Roll:

I just want to send out my congratulations to my friend, Harris and his wife, Amy.  They just had their first child.  I'm happy everything went well and everyone involved came out healthy.

Expulsions:

We all know that commercials are for the most part dumb and holiday ones, even more so.  I don't know if any commercial is dumber than this one.

They are looking for the car and they brush off a black one first, but no that's not the right one.  They hit the button on the phone and find the car.  Of course, the first car isn't yours.  Your car is WHITE...not BLACK.  A little snow isn't going to hide that important fact.  Also, "Our House" by Madness has been ruined for me.  Thanks Verizon...

Odds And Sods 5

Everyone sing with me...FIVE Golden Rings!!  It'll be here far quicker than anyone wants it.  In fact, there are some radio stations by me that have already switched over to Christmas music 24-7.  I could see after Thanksgiving, but it's just too early right now.

I watched the annual Simpson's Treehouse of Horror last night and it was just horribly bad.  I know they've been on for something like 21 years, but there isn't a law that says they have to stay on the air.  The Cleveland Show Halloween episode wasn't any better.  The Family Guy Halloween show was better, but just barely.  I really like Family Guy, most of the time.  I still come back to South Park, it's always consistently good.

I'm actual size today, extra medium.

There needs to be a VH1 Behind the Music for the band, The Cars.  They have a great history and were very successful.  Plus, they are currently working on a new album.  It just needs to be done.

 The weather today has decided to try and have every nasty component possible.  High cold winds, it snowed last night and will rain later today.  A good day to stay in and listen to music/watch movies.  Not that I thought for a minute about going outside.  What's the record for naps in one day?

Why do all charitable events involve something physical?  Why can't it be lounging for charity?  I can watch the hell out of a TV.  I would do that for a solid 24 hours for AIDS, Cancer or anything else that needs money really.  Hangnail research?  $5 an hour for 24 hours, could be achieved easily.  Multiply that by 25 people donating and you could raise a ton of money.  It's a thought that should be taken seriously.  Then us fat guys can raise money for charity too.

Honor Roll:

The San Francisco Giants and their fans for winning the World Series.  Great pitching got them over a Texas Rangers team, that also had a great season. 

That Metal Show on VH1 Classic, for extending the program to an hour.  It's a lot more interesting now that you have some time to talk about a variety of things, with multiple guests.

Expulsions:

The Law & Order franchise.  Isn't it time?  I mean, when was the last time any of these shows were interesting?  I love this franchise.  I still watch original L & O episodes in syndication if there isn't anything else on, because I know it'll be good.  I used to like Criminal Intent, but they've made far too many changes over the years.  Special Victims Unit can be a little too much at times.  It's easily the most graphic show of the franchise.  I won't even watch the new show.  Just retire it.

Odds and Sods 4

Four score and seven years ago...whoops...sorry, wrong topic.

Do you acquire keys?  I have this ability to acquire keys.  I have a couple keys on my ring that I really have no idea where they go to.  One could be from an old job, but which one?  The other isn't a key to a building, but more like a mail key.  The thing is, I have my mail key...hmmm...just stumped.

Looking for a good quality movie to view.  Mr. Deeds it is!  My wife calls me a connoisseur of "bad movies."  I don't really look at them as bad, per se.  Ok, I do, but I can usually find something good in them.  Take Mr. Deeds, for instance...it's all about Winona Ryder.  Not her performance, but just her.  My schoolboy crush forever. 

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have called off their divorce.  Seems like I called this a couple of months ago.  I think my prediction is sound in it's logic.

"I wish I was in Tijuana, eating barbecued iguana."

Honor Roll (formerly Hall Passes, this makes more sense): 

Apparently, this little blog is big in Denmark.  Which is awesome beyond words.  Looking at my stats, my main readership is from the United States.  Since, that's where I'm also from, it makes sense.  Number two, however is Denmark.  Now I do have a friend that lives there, but I don't think he is the one that is viewing it all those times.  Sa, Hej to mine venner i Kobenhvn og i hele Danmark.  Tak for laesning.  I hope I didn't butcher your language too badly.

The late great, Rory Gallagher.  There is supposedly a story where a writer or interviewer, walked up to Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and asked, "How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world?"  Jimi's response was, "I don't know, you should go ask Rory Gallagher."  True or false, I have no idea, but it makes for a great story.  This video is all about the bass player, Gerry McAvoy.  He's so into it.


Detentions:

October.  It's my birth month, so it's not all bad, but it means I have to start wearing pants again.  Hold on pervs...I wear shorts...everywhere.  As it cools off and gets rainy, I have to cover up my sexy legs.  I'd rather wear shorts.  It's just easier.  Plus, it's like summer is still going on...in my mind at least.

No expulsions today, but I'm always watching.  Be good kids.

Odds and Sods 3

Three is a magic number...

Can someone explain to me why every time I turn on VH1 Classic I see a Bon Jovi/Motley Crue/Poison or Def Leppard video?  They are on every show that has videos, sometimes more than once; Totally 80's, Rock Fest and Metal Mania.  Just watch one of those shows the whole way through and you'll see at least two, but probably all of the bands.  The easy answer is they fit into all three categories, but are those bands really metal?  I don't think so...hard rock, sure...metal...nope.

When did driving become a game to figure out where the person in front of you is going?  I like directionals, they are good and important in my mind.  Maybe it's just me, but I don't know where you the person in front of me...you know, the one talking on the phone, doing your hair, reading a book and/or doing your taxes...is going.  For the simple price of...free...since they come with your car...you can tell me by turning on one of those handy dandy blinking arrow thingys.  An exception to this rule would be the 75+ crowd that likes to keep their directionals on 24/7.  You're on a two lane highway, in the left lane...you can't go anymore left...please turn it off...it's been on for 15 miles.  By the way you're driving 54 mph on a 65 mph highway...that's why people are passing you on the right.  No, they aren't waving at you...they are pissed and those hand signals...well....this is a family blog.  Let's say it's not to remind you of how popular you were in 1962, when everyone knew you.

I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "...I drank what?"

Fantasy Sports Corner:

UFC picks: I went 3-2 in my last pick'em.  I'm not dedicating a blog to it anymore...I'll just update it in Odds/Sods.  I have to remember not everyone is into the UFC like I am.  Anyways, fight picks for UFC 119 on 9/25/10.

Frank Mir v. Mirko Cro Cop (tough one, Cro Cop, TKO)
Antonio Rogerio Noguiera v. Ryan Bader (Bader, Decision)
Matt Serra v. Chris Lytle (Serra, Decision)

Just three fights today...That's enough.


The Hong Kong Cavaliers (fantasy baseball) lost in the semifinal series and is now playing the 3rd place series.
The Flying Burrito Brothers (fantasy football) are 1-1. 

Hall Passes:

I just finished reading I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be your Class President.  It was written by Josh Lieb, who is an executive producer/writer for The Daily Show.  I normally don't read fiction, but the description of the book sold me on it and it was $6.40 on Amazon.  It's also written for Young Adults, I know, well beyond my reading level, but I'm trying to expand my horizons.  The book is completely brilliant, but loses it in the last 20 or so, pages.  Still recommended...

Today is the 23rd anniversary of Jaco Pastorius' death.  I just wanted to pay a little homage to this great jazz bassist.  This video is from the great work he did with Joni Mitchell.  Pat Methany is the guitarist, another legend in own right.

Suspensions:

People that refer to their favorite sports team  in conversation as "We played" or "Our team."  You're on the team?  Really?  When?  Does the manager or coach know this?  What position do you play?  They can be your favorite team, but you have nothing to do with their success or failure.  When you get a paycheck from the team then you can say these things.

Expulsions:

Justin Bieber, I know not original, but honestly, who is this kid?  I'll be the first to admit that I don't listen to the radio much and when I do it's mainly Classic Rock or Oldies.  It just really struck me, because he's going to be guest starring on the season premiere of CSI.  The original one in Vegas, not Portugal or Presque Isle, ME.  That would be a dull show...CSI: Presque Isle, ME.  Look it up...you'll understand it then.  Anyways, sorry for the distraction.  I know this Bieber kid gets made fun of a lot, but he's playing arenas at 16 yrs old.  He's laughing at you, folks.  Your daughter is obsessed with him and is purchasing everything and anything with his name or face on it.  Ground your kids if they even mention his name.  Parenting 101.  Yes, you'll have the last laugh when he's hanging out with Leif Garrett and Danny Bonaduce in a few years, but that's still a little ways off.

Odds and Sods 2

Second verse same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse.

Surprisingly, I managed to fit in well at a rather large cookout/party we went to last weekend.  It was a lot of fun, but it surprised me, because I have a tendency to fight myself on participation.  The more people there are, even if I know all of them, the more I withdraw and just watch.  I've always had something against "small talk."

VH1 or whomever makes the Classic Albums series, needs to do more.  Suggestions would be London Calling and Aqualung.  Also, they need to replay the couple I missed.  Damn the Torpedoes and 2112/Moving Pictures really need to be shown multiple times.  Such a great series for music nerds like myself.  I just like to sit there and absorb the information.  I didn't know Alan Parsons was the engineer on Dark Side of the Moon, but I do now.  This just made me laugh at how meaningless this is to just about everyone, but me.

I'll be playing Fantasy Football this season.  Yes, yet another nerdy thing I do...I have embraced my inner nerd.  Don't you understand being a nerd these days is equivalent to being the "big man on campus" from years past.  Think about it...smart guy/girl...creative...interesting...go to a good college...have a career plan...etc.  The jock gets that injury and boom...you have an overweight gym teacher.  Ok, rant over...I digress.  Where was I?  Fantasy Football, right, check...I normally just play Baseball.  I've always followed MLB and it's my favorite sport.  Hockey is very close to being tied for 1st.  I have played Fantasy Football in the past and have done well...I think I do pretty well in all the fantasy sports I play.  I tend to be in contention most of the time.  The past couple of years however, I've watched less and less of the NFL.  It just doesn't really interest me anymore.  I committed to the league, so we'll see how it goes.  I'll keep you updated.  I'm currently in 2nd place in my Fantasy Baseball league with a playoff spot wrapped up.

Hall Passes:

Mr. Big are currently writing songs for a new album.  The original lineup of Sheehan, Gilbert, Martin and Torpley are back.  Paul Gilbert is touring Europe starting in November.  They will probably begin recording at the beginning of 2011.  Yes, I'm obviously super excited about this.

The Black Crowes are celebrating the 20th anniversary (believe it or not) of Shake Your Money Maker, which was their debut album.  One of the greatest American bands in the past 20 years.  Just grossly overlooked.

Detentions:

There is a sun tan place near me in Providence, RI trying to bring in customers with this ad: "Come on in, you could look like Snooki or Pauly D from the Jersey Shore."  I guess if your one of those people that spray tan or lie in tanning beds this would be effective advertising, but really, the Jersey Shore.  Do you lose brain cells while you tan?

Expulsions:

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt keep themselves in the media eye.  It's all they have and it's sad.  We're divorced, plastic surgery and now we're back together.  I predict a murder/suicide for their final act one of these days and I don't care.  

Odds and Sods

These are thoughts that don't really need a full blog post...

Cable channels now produce better-scripted shows than the networks.  USA has Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains and White Collar.  FX has had The Shield, Rescue Me, Sons of Anarchy and Louie.  Sy Fy has had all the Stargate shows, plus, Eureka, Warehouse 13 and the successful relaunch of Battlestar Galactica.  AMC is also going strong with Mad Men and Breaking Bad.  Not to mention all the programming on HBO, Showtime and now Starz in the past 7-10 years.

The Geico commercials with actor Mike McGlone (the guy with the slicked back hair, that asks if the ex-drill sergeant would make a good therapist, just to name one of many) really need to end.  We loved the cavemen so much they got their own horrible, horrible show.  We love the British, Australian, South African or whatever he is, gecko.  I want that question answered...It drives me crazy.  Hell, we even tolerate the stack of cash with the eyeballs.  Do we really need a dude with a deep monotone in a suit asking hypothetical questions?  Right, didn't think so.

I hanker for a hunk'a cheese...I just do.

X Games 16 starts/started (depending when I get around to publishing this) Thursday.  I've been a huge fan since it started in my adoptive home state of Rhode Island.  Most of the greats in all the disciplines of Skateboarding, BMX, Freestyle Moto and Rally car driving.  We've seen major innovation in tricks and events.  Things that were very difficult to land have become standard tricks over the years. 

To go along with the X Games, ESPN is showing one of their great documentaries in the 30 for 30 series.  Also, this series is the only reason to watch the channel these days.  Thank you Bill Simmons for coming up with the idea.  The Birth of Big Air is all about Mat Hoffman and premieres at 7 pm on Thursday.  He's the Tony Hawk of Freestyle BMX.  He's invented about 100 tricks in his career and has had enough injuries to make the toughest football player cry.  Please check it out.

Cheers:  This week's cheers go out to the Boston Red Sox for hanging tough through all their injuries.  A very nice sweep of the Angels to cap off the road trip.

Also, the MLB Trade Deadline is upon us.  There's just a couple of days to go, but it's always my favorite time of the baseball season, other than the playoffs.

Last, but not least, the Where Are They Now? issue of Sports Illustrated came out this week.  My favorite issue of the year.  I'm a history buff and I love learning about athletes.

Jeers: This week's jeers go out to the LA County Sheriff's Dept. for giving Lindsay Lohan special treatment and also for the fact that she'll only do 13 days of her 90 day sentence.  It's just wrong.

The world would be a better place if we stopped creating fake celebrities.  Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of Wherever and every other "scripted" reality show.  I guess people really will do anything to be famous.  So depressing...have some self-pride.

Until next week...take care of yourselves.