Friday, October 31, 2008
Condolences...and pork chops
A coworker lost her dad the other day and I feel sad for her and her daughter. Both of them were very close to him, though some problems with other family and his declining health resulted in them not being able to enjoy his company in the last few years.
It was a doubly sad thing to see her suffer the loss of her dad and have to face the other family problems at the same time. Even for her. She's tough and blunt; the type of person that grows up and lives in Dorchester and South Boston and raises a daughter as a single mother. Some are put off by her gruff exterior, but those who know her well know she's soft and mushy inside. She's a proud mother and grandmother and a loyal friend...if she doesn't think you're an "ass-pit."
It's not that she doesn't care what other people think of her, but her life has taught her that she needs to be ok with the person who has done the most to protect and provide for her and her daughter. Everyone else takes a back seat.
She also likes food; cooking it and sharing recipes. Just last week, I secured a Kale Soup recipe from Mrs. noterie's family for her because she was unsatisfied with the Rachel Raye one she had.
So for her, I'm sharing a dish my mom used to make when we were kids. I gave my condolences yesterday and think this might be appreciated. It certainly would count as comfort food. The other night I called mom for the details so I could make it. She gave some from memory before turning to the Betty Crocker New Picture Cookbook (First edition, 1961) that she still has around. This is a great winter meal, one that can slow cook on a Sunday afternoon and fill the kitchen with a warm yummy smell. It's got two qualities that probably explain why it was a regular on our table--it's quick to prepare and it's got cheap, readily available ingredients.
Pork Chops Supreme
4 pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
4 thin onion slices, about 1/4-inch thick
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. Place pork chops in ungreased shallow baking pan. Top each pork chop with a onion slice, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon ketchup.
Cover and cook for approximately 20 minutes. Uncover and cook spooning sauce over the chops occasionally, an additional 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches a temperature of 155°F on a meat thermometer. Remove from oven and serve.
I've always had it with sliced or quartered potatoes added, spread around the chops. They brown nicely when you uncover the dish.
It was a doubly sad thing to see her suffer the loss of her dad and have to face the other family problems at the same time. Even for her. She's tough and blunt; the type of person that grows up and lives in Dorchester and South Boston and raises a daughter as a single mother. Some are put off by her gruff exterior, but those who know her well know she's soft and mushy inside. She's a proud mother and grandmother and a loyal friend...if she doesn't think you're an "ass-pit."
It's not that she doesn't care what other people think of her, but her life has taught her that she needs to be ok with the person who has done the most to protect and provide for her and her daughter. Everyone else takes a back seat.
She also likes food; cooking it and sharing recipes. Just last week, I secured a Kale Soup recipe from Mrs. noterie's family for her because she was unsatisfied with the Rachel Raye one she had.
So for her, I'm sharing a dish my mom used to make when we were kids. I gave my condolences yesterday and think this might be appreciated. It certainly would count as comfort food. The other night I called mom for the details so I could make it. She gave some from memory before turning to the Betty Crocker New Picture Cookbook (First edition, 1961) that she still has around. This is a great winter meal, one that can slow cook on a Sunday afternoon and fill the kitchen with a warm yummy smell. It's got two qualities that probably explain why it was a regular on our table--it's quick to prepare and it's got cheap, readily available ingredients.
Pork Chops Supreme
4 pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
4 thin onion slices, about 1/4-inch thick
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. Place pork chops in ungreased shallow baking pan. Top each pork chop with a onion slice, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon ketchup.
Cover and cook for approximately 20 minutes. Uncover and cook spooning sauce over the chops occasionally, an additional 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches a temperature of 155°F on a meat thermometer. Remove from oven and serve.
I've always had it with sliced or quartered potatoes added, spread around the chops. They brown nicely when you uncover the dish.
Song of the Day: Don't worry baby
Ellen Goodman writes the column I've been thinking about for weeks.
The closer Obama comes to victory, the more terror strikes deep in the (blue) heartland. The better things look, the more they worry that it's "trick or trick" time. The election, like that dollar bill on the sidewalk, will be whipped out of their hands.
Did that pundit say that Obama is on the precipice of victory? See I told you, he's on a precipice! Does Obama have a lead in the polls between 4 percent and 15 percent? Isn't that the margin of error? Is Arizona now in play? BOO! Does Obama have more money?YIKES! Is Palin playing for 2012? EEEK!
Once this election was framed as a contest between fear and hope, with Obama leading the hope team. Now hope is politically incorrect and the Democrats have embraced their inner scaredy cat.
I've tried to bolster the spirits and confidence of fellow Dems by forwarding encouraging news, but it alway seems to be received with reservation. It's not just the "well, we can't get overconfident" thing, either. It's more fear of the boogeyman. I mean, I'm all for being as vigilant and hardworking and focused as possible until the results of the election are final. But when you can't take a bit of good news without fear--not worry, but outright fear--that it can't possibly be real, that's a problem.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
This is questionable
Ok, so Monday Night Football has a decent sized audience. But is MNF really the best place to give last minute exposure to the Presidential candidates? And with this questioner?
I like Berman, but these interviews are going to be less than worthless. He's a little too goofy a sports guy to be interviewing candidates for President. This is the kind of thing they do a few months out, when they're looking to have a relaxing common man appearance. They still look uncomfortable and geeky in the setting, but at least you have some time to get that image out of your head before you go into a booth and pull a lever for one of them to run the country.
Must Cringe TV.
On the eve of the presidential election, with "Monday Night Football" from Washington as the backdrop, candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are planning to participate in one-on-one interviews on ESPN via satellite.
ESPN's Chris Berman will do the segments earlier Monday, pending last-minute schedule changes by the candidates, and they'll air at halftime of the Redskins-Pittsburgh Steelers broadcast from D.C., the network announced. The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
I like Berman, but these interviews are going to be less than worthless. He's a little too goofy a sports guy to be interviewing candidates for President. This is the kind of thing they do a few months out, when they're looking to have a relaxing common man appearance. They still look uncomfortable and geeky in the setting, but at least you have some time to get that image out of your head before you go into a booth and pull a lever for one of them to run the country.
Must Cringe TV.
Song of the Day: Little of Your Time
Boomp3.com
I liked the Obama Infomercial last night well enough. It reminded me of one of those bio videos they show at the conventions before the nominee speaks. High on emotion, lots of references to the middle class and swing states. It presented him as a reasonable, positive, fair and qualified guy. In other words, exactly the opposite image the McCain campaign is trying to portray. But McCain isn't able to get a half hour on the networks to make that case.
I thought it was good that they had a joint Clinton/Obama event later in the evening. Lots of folks at that one. And allt the coverage I saw showed the video, then the energizing rally. Clinton is still such a polished and entertaining speaker. I wish he could have a do-over in the White House.
McCain's big counter was a sit down with Larry King. Hardly energizing or creative campaigning there. Looked pretty limp in between the two Obama hits.
I liked the Obama Infomercial last night well enough. It reminded me of one of those bio videos they show at the conventions before the nominee speaks. High on emotion, lots of references to the middle class and swing states. It presented him as a reasonable, positive, fair and qualified guy. In other words, exactly the opposite image the McCain campaign is trying to portray. But McCain isn't able to get a half hour on the networks to make that case.
I thought it was good that they had a joint Clinton/Obama event later in the evening. Lots of folks at that one. And allt the coverage I saw showed the video, then the energizing rally. Clinton is still such a polished and entertaining speaker. I wish he could have a do-over in the White House.
McCain's big counter was a sit down with Larry King. Hardly energizing or creative campaigning there. Looked pretty limp in between the two Obama hits.
Hey, the economy is fixed!!!
I don't know what McCain did when he suspended his campaign to fix the economy, but it must've worked. How else could a struggling small business like this do better than expected? Imagine what they could do if they had some tax incentives?
And we worried they were gouging us. Such silly, plebian thinking.
And we worried they were gouging us. Such silly, plebian thinking.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Now open for business
The noternie arcade. Blogger has "gadgets" you can add to blogs. Some of them are games. So I'm putting a few on--over on the right, beneath the blog archives and down at the bottom--for you folks to play with. In case you needed a reason to come back.
Breakout is for Mrs. noternie, who recently expressed a nostalgic love for the game she originally played on the old Atari 2600 system. Hangman I thought would just be interesting. I may switch them up periodically, so keep looking over there to see if there's something you might like.
Breakout is for Mrs. noternie, who recently expressed a nostalgic love for the game she originally played on the old Atari 2600 system. Hangman I thought would just be interesting. I may switch them up periodically, so keep looking over there to see if there's something you might like.
Song of the Day: Chinese Democracy
Boomp3.com
Axl Rose might be the only member of Guns N Roses left from their time as the best rock and roll band in the world. He's finally completed the long awaited Chinese Democracy album and will be released in late November.
Here's the first single, also named Chinese Democracy. It's fairly typical Guns stuff. The guitar riffs sound just like the old days, though the solos aren't quite as good as Slash's used to be. Axl's voice is very produced, but he was never Pavoratti, so that's not the biggest sin in the world.
UPDATE: What's more exciting than Chinese Democracy finally coming out? Free Dr Pepper to go along with it. They challenged Guns to put the album out, now they plan on following through on giving everyone a free can of the tasty beverage.
Axl Rose might be the only member of Guns N Roses left from their time as the best rock and roll band in the world. He's finally completed the long awaited Chinese Democracy album and will be released in late November.
Here's the first single, also named Chinese Democracy. It's fairly typical Guns stuff. The guitar riffs sound just like the old days, though the solos aren't quite as good as Slash's used to be. Axl's voice is very produced, but he was never Pavoratti, so that's not the biggest sin in the world.
UPDATE: What's more exciting than Chinese Democracy finally coming out? Free Dr Pepper to go along with it. They challenged Guns to put the album out, now they plan on following through on giving everyone a free can of the tasty beverage.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
More action
I've got Obama getting 300+ electoral college votes in a bet for lunch. I've already got a wager at 290, but I went to 300 on this one because it's with a McCain voter and I wanted it to cut a little deeper when Obama tops it.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
On being dumb
In considering the arrest of Massachusetts Senator Diane Wilkerson, Jay uses the word most people come around to when someone famous gets nabbed for something: dumb.
Is Wilkerson or just convicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens dumber than drunk drivers, smokers, or overweight McDonald’s eaters?* Seems to me Wilkerson and Stevens might be playing better odds with less at risk.
That doesn’t make it right, but it’s certainly not as dumb. It makes us feel better to overlook our own idiocy and highlight it in others, apparently.
*I’m not condescending, I've been all three to wildly varying degrees and know that I was dumb.
Is Wilkerson or just convicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens dumber than drunk drivers, smokers, or overweight McDonald’s eaters?* Seems to me Wilkerson and Stevens might be playing better odds with less at risk.
That doesn’t make it right, but it’s certainly not as dumb. It makes us feel better to overlook our own idiocy and highlight it in others, apparently.
*I’m not condescending, I've been all three to wildly varying degrees and know that I was dumb.
The cool factor in Politics
The young vote is usually stronger for Democrats than Republicans. But that gap might be bigger than ever this time around. Aside from the fact that we have an young guy and they have a really, really, really old guy, we have a young, cool guy.
Did Al Gore or John Kerry ever really inspire this:
That's from the Globe's review of a concert headlined by Jay-Z. Now, Jay-Z and Eminem and some other musicians and actors may have been supporting Gore and Kerry in the past, but do you think their advocacy got the same response Obama will?
Did Al Gore or John Kerry ever really inspire this:
As an image of President Bush hovered on the overhead screens, he rhymed about the government's disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina.
"Boston, are you ready for change?" he asked as Barack Obama's image got the crowd worked up.
That's from the Globe's review of a concert headlined by Jay-Z. Now, Jay-Z and Eminem and some other musicians and actors may have been supporting Gore and Kerry in the past, but do you think their advocacy got the same response Obama will?
Bud proposes to Pena
As bad as it is that a World Series game was suspended because of rain, things could've been much worse.
If Carlos Pena doesn't hit that run scoring single to tie the game, the game would've either continued in the pouring rain or gone into a rain delay. When it didn't stop raining, the game would've been called and the Phillies granted the World Series trophy...in the clubhouse...after a long rain delay...with the stands likely empty. That looks good on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The only other alternative would've been suspending the game with the Phillies up 2-1. If they picked up play and the Rays won, the Phillies would've lost a game that could've been considered complete and given them a World Series title. At the very least, they lose the opportunity to celebrate at home. At the worst, the Rays could win Games 6 and 7.
So, still smarting from the whole "All Star Game tie," which was as much the fault of the managers, Bud Selig might've had to deal with the first rain shortened World Series clinch.
If Carlos Pena doesn't hit that run scoring single to tie the game, the game would've either continued in the pouring rain or gone into a rain delay. When it didn't stop raining, the game would've been called and the Phillies granted the World Series trophy...in the clubhouse...after a long rain delay...with the stands likely empty. That looks good on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The only other alternative would've been suspending the game with the Phillies up 2-1. If they picked up play and the Rays won, the Phillies would've lost a game that could've been considered complete and given them a World Series title. At the very least, they lose the opportunity to celebrate at home. At the worst, the Rays could win Games 6 and 7.
So, still smarting from the whole "All Star Game tie," which was as much the fault of the managers, Bud Selig might've had to deal with the first rain shortened World Series clinch.
Song of the Day: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Boomp3.com
One of the all-time greatest songs ever recorded. An ultimate head-banger, full of energy and pure adrenaline. There's nothing subtle about this song.
There was real magic in this band. When you consider the success former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has had and think about what could've been done between he and Cobain could've done... Luckily, Nirvana did leave us a catalog of excellent stuff to enjoy.
One of the all-time greatest songs ever recorded. An ultimate head-banger, full of energy and pure adrenaline. There's nothing subtle about this song.
There was real magic in this band. When you consider the success former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has had and think about what could've been done between he and Cobain could've done... Luckily, Nirvana did leave us a catalog of excellent stuff to enjoy.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Or, as they officially call it, Wii.
There was an early celebration of my birthday saturday night and I received a Wii as a gift. After extensive leaf raking Sunday I set it up and played a little last night. Mrs. noternie and I both created Mii characters to represent us.
I took the daily test of agility, etc. and came up with a fitness age of 40. Based on what my sister's family was telling me the night before, that's not bad. The lowest age you can get is 20.
The party also featured some of the greatest foods in the world: salad by mom, excellent pizza from my favorite local joint, pistachio cake by MIL, blueberry pie by Mrs. noternie and pumpkin ice cream by the local creamery.
There was an early celebration of my birthday saturday night and I received a Wii as a gift. After extensive leaf raking Sunday I set it up and played a little last night. Mrs. noternie and I both created Mii characters to represent us.
I took the daily test of agility, etc. and came up with a fitness age of 40. Based on what my sister's family was telling me the night before, that's not bad. The lowest age you can get is 20.
The party also featured some of the greatest foods in the world: salad by mom, excellent pizza from my favorite local joint, pistachio cake by MIL, blueberry pie by Mrs. noternie and pumpkin ice cream by the local creamery.
Song of the Day: Suite Judy Blue Eyes
A Crosby, Stills, and Nash classic. And in case you don't know the backstory, wiki supplies it.
The title refers to Stephen Stills' former girlfriend, singer/songwriter Judy Collins and the lyrics to most of the suite's sections consist of his thoughts about her and their imminent breakup. Collins is known for her piercing blue eyes, which are referenced in the title. Stephen Stills on NPR, 15 July 2007, in talking about the release of demo tapes he made in 1968, called Just Roll Tape reveals that Judy Collins was with him in the studio when these tapes were recorded. She told him "not to stay [at the studio] all night", Stephen said. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is one of the demo songs. When the interviewer asked if he and Judy were still a couple then, because the interviewer had always thought the song was a breakup song, Stephen, after deferring an answer, went on to say that "the breakup was imminent." "We were both too large for one house." Stills said that he liked parts of this demo version of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" better than the released version.
Collins and Stills had met in 1967 and began a relationship that lasted for two years. In 1969, she was appearing in the New York Shakespeare Festival musical production of Peer Gynt and had fallen in love with her co-star Stacy Keach. She eventually left Stills for Keach. Stills was devastated by the possible breakup and wrote the song as a response to his sadness. In a 2000 interview, Collins gave her impressions of when she first heard the song:
"[Stephen] came to where I was singing one night on the West Coast and brought his guitar to the hotel and he sang me “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” the whole song. And of course it has lines in it that referred to my therapy. And so he wove that all together in this magnificent creation. So the legacy of our relationship is certainly in that song."
Friday, October 24, 2008
Song of the Day: End of the World As We Know It
For a coworker who can't find the time to go to Vermont (where his wife's family lives) and take his kids skiing because he thinks the world will end.
Explaining the omission
Yes, my wife is much, much more qualified for inclusion in this than anyone that's in there. And had the people putting it together met and talked to my wife, I know that the title would have changed from plural to singular.
But I think she would've turned them down anyway. It's not really her thing. And I'm glad she's not in it. The only qualification I meet in the title is "Massachusetts" and I'm always a bit insecure. I don't need a bunch of weirdos chasing my hot wife or putting her picture up in Bay 3 of Joe's Corner Garage.
But I think she would've turned them down anyway. It's not really her thing. And I'm glad she's not in it. The only qualification I meet in the title is "Massachusetts" and I'm always a bit insecure. I don't need a bunch of weirdos chasing my hot wife or putting her picture up in Bay 3 of Joe's Corner Garage.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
el Globo sympathizes with college students who don't like the dreaded blue exam book. I get the whole sore wrist thing and the composition habits computers have created that don't lend themselves to longhand writing.
But in the end, haven't the blue books always been hated because they require students to think? To demonstrate a depth of knowledge and understanding that's a little more challenging than choosing A, B, C, or D?
But in the end, haven't the blue books always been hated because they require students to think? To demonstrate a depth of knowledge and understanding that's a little more challenging than choosing A, B, C, or D?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Does he drink?
I don't know if Curt Schilling drinks or not. But when he puts up a long, rambling, angry post like this--and then deletes it--you wonder if he was on a mini-bender.
Credit where credit is due: Pink Hat Hell found the cached post and put it on their site. Universal Hub then posted about it.
Credit where credit is due: Pink Hat Hell found the cached post and put it on their site. Universal Hub then posted about it.
Thanks and apologies
This is already the second busiest month in the history of Someday I Will, in terms of blog posts. And with eight days left, there's a good chance it could be the top-posting month in the history of this blog.
Much of the increased activity in last seven months has been the consistent posting of a Song of the Day. Content has also been bolstered--to the chagrin of some--to the many posts on the Red Sox and the Presidential election campaign.
SOTD isn't going anywhere if I can help it. But the Red Sox season is over and the election is less than two weeks away. While I will still comment on the Sox and whoever gets elected, there's sure to be a slowdown on those topics--to the delight of some.
So I'll be posting on other topics, I guess. What they are I do not know. But the need to keep actively posting will force my curiosity to find subjects that require my opinion. Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments. You all like the fart humor, right?
As always thanks for visiting--especially you regulars.
Much of the increased activity in last seven months has been the consistent posting of a Song of the Day. Content has also been bolstered--to the chagrin of some--to the many posts on the Red Sox and the Presidential election campaign.
SOTD isn't going anywhere if I can help it. But the Red Sox season is over and the election is less than two weeks away. While I will still comment on the Sox and whoever gets elected, there's sure to be a slowdown on those topics--to the delight of some.
So I'll be posting on other topics, I guess. What they are I do not know. But the need to keep actively posting will force my curiosity to find subjects that require my opinion. Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments. You all like the fart humor, right?
As always thanks for visiting--especially you regulars.
Song of the Day: Let Go (Beauty in the Breakdown)
The cost(s) of beauty. It's not cheap to go from here to there.
I can't wait for the book/movie/miniseries
I think Sarah Palin's story over the last few months would've made a great reality TV show. There's obvious reasons why it couldn't have been done, but I think the books that come out in six months will be fascinating.
What was really going on behind the scenes in terms of the vetting, the shopping, the training, the shopping, the relationship with McCain and the shopping?
She's an interesting case. Not in the "I think she's interesting and would be great to have in a prominent position in the governing of our country" way. More in a "what the eff is going on there?" way.
I haven't seen or read much discussion about McCain and Palin's interpersonal interaction, until this. Sounds like there wasn't much of a honeymoon with the Alaskan mail order VP candidate:
What was really going on behind the scenes in terms of the vetting, the shopping, the training, the shopping, the relationship with McCain and the shopping?
She's an interesting case. Not in the "I think she's interesting and would be great to have in a prominent position in the governing of our country" way. More in a "what the eff is going on there?" way.
I haven't seen or read much discussion about McCain and Palin's interpersonal interaction, until this. Sounds like there wasn't much of a honeymoon with the Alaskan mail order VP candidate:
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Edwards hair was small potatoes
RNC shells out $150K for Palin fashion
The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.
According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.
The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.
The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.
The answer can be found inside the RNC’s September monthly financial disclosure report under “itemized coordinated expenditures.”
It’s a report that typically records expenses for direct mail, telephone calls and advertising. Those expenses do show up, but the report also has a new category of spending: “campaign accessories.”
September payments were also made to Barney’s New York ($789.72) and Bloomingdale’s New York ($5,102.71).
Macy’s in Minneapolis, another store fortunate enough to be situated in the Twin Cities that hosted last summer’s Republican National Convention, received three separate payments totaling $9,447.71.
The entries also show a few purchases at Pacifier, a top notch baby store, and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., suggesting $295 was spent to accommodate the littlest Palin to join the campaign trail.
An additional $4,902.45 was spent in early September at Atelier, a high-class shopping destination for men.
UPDATE: Her salary as Governor of Alaska is only $125,000.
Song of the Day: Fly me to the moon
Boomp3.com
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- India blasted into the international space race Wednesday with the successful launch of an ambitious two-year mission to study the moon's landscape.
The unmanned lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1, or "moon craft" in ancient Sanskrit, launched at 6:20 a.m. (8:50 p.m. ET) from the Sriharikota space center in southern India.
The mission seeks high-resolution imaging of the moon's surface, especially the permanently shadowed polar regions, according to the Indian Space Research Organization. It will also search for evidence of water or ice and attempt to identify the chemical breakdown of certain lunar rocks, the group said.
Despite the numerous missions to the moon over the past 50 years, "we really don't have a good map," said Miles O'Brien, CNN chief technology and environment correspondent. "The goal is to come up with a very intricate, three-dimensional map of the moon."
Must see TV
You've probably seen her music video and her boyfriend's equally funny retort. You may have seen her as an award show host. You also might have recently seen her do political humor.
But if you haven't seen the Sarah Silverman Program, you're missing out on cleverly crafted laugh until your stomach hurts television. It's on Comedy Central, thursday's at 10 pm, but set the TiVo/DVR to record the series whenver it comes on. Brilliant!
I watched an episode last night during which Sarah coaches a young orphan in a pagent while two regulars on the show run into trouble when their cell talk about a fart in a friend's police cruiser catches the ears of overzealous counter-terrorist coppers. Here's the climax to both plots, nicely interweaved.
And if not for the Indian space program, the episode would've given us today's Song of the Day.
But if you haven't seen the Sarah Silverman Program, you're missing out on cleverly crafted laugh until your stomach hurts television. It's on Comedy Central, thursday's at 10 pm, but set the TiVo/DVR to record the series whenver it comes on. Brilliant!
I watched an episode last night during which Sarah coaches a young orphan in a pagent while two regulars on the show run into trouble when their cell talk about a fart in a friend's police cruiser catches the ears of overzealous counter-terrorist coppers. Here's the climax to both plots, nicely interweaved.
And if not for the Indian space program, the episode would've given us today's Song of the Day.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Song of the Day: Womanizer
She's BACK. Britney is at the top of the charts. Good for her. Let's hope she makes a bunch of money, stays in therapy, becomes a good mother and finds some contentment in life. I'd also wish her a decent song, but that might be the longest of long shots.
Boomp3.com
Uh, um. Forget the good song wish altogether. I think she's more suited for the "unsuited" video format. Girl knows how to make sexy in a video, that's for DAMN sure.
Boomp3.com
Uh, um. Forget the good song wish altogether. I think she's more suited for the "unsuited" video format. Girl knows how to make sexy in a video, that's for DAMN sure.
Heroes
I'm two episodes behind on Hereos. There have been some time and scheduling issues. The Red Sox have been playing significant games. Then there's been some travelling that took me away from Mrs. noternie and then Mrs. noternie away from me, so we needed quality time together and since she doesn't watch Heroes, that's not quality time. But, obviously, I'm losing a little enthusiasm for the show, too.
They're getting into a lot of time travel and plot lines include confusing crossovers about what's happening, what's "already happened" when they go forward and what they have to do differently when they go back to stop things from turning out the way they saw them in the future. Ugh. And then they've complicated the good-evil roles of just about everyone. You don't know who's good and who's bad and when they're good or evil (good in present, bad in future? vice versa?) While it keeps you wondering, it gets to the point that you almost stop caring.
It's turning into a philosophical debate over genetic engineering, basically. The straightforward entertainment provided by "superhero" characters is almost entirely gone.
But I plan on catching up and following through with the season. Sometimes these shows go through rough patches and then rediscover themselves.
They're getting into a lot of time travel and plot lines include confusing crossovers about what's happening, what's "already happened" when they go forward and what they have to do differently when they go back to stop things from turning out the way they saw them in the future. Ugh. And then they've complicated the good-evil roles of just about everyone. You don't know who's good and who's bad and when they're good or evil (good in present, bad in future? vice versa?) While it keeps you wondering, it gets to the point that you almost stop caring.
It's turning into a philosophical debate over genetic engineering, basically. The straightforward entertainment provided by "superhero" characters is almost entirely gone.
But I plan on catching up and following through with the season. Sometimes these shows go through rough patches and then rediscover themselves.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Colin Powell endorses Obama
In case you missed it, here's Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama on Meet the Press. It's worth watching his entire statement. Powell makes a very well reasoned case for why he's supporting Obama over McCain. He's a Republican, but he clearly has issues with the McCain campaign and the party's focus in the election. He is clearly disappointed and, I think, angry that some of the lines of attack by McCain/the GOP are over the line and polarizing outside of the partisan political arena.
I've always been a Powell fan and was disappointed when he aligned with the Republicans back in the late 90s. It was also sad to see his career ruined when he served as the point person for spreading the lies that led us to war in Iraq. Whether he knew how much was actually wrong about what he was spreading can be debated, I suppose, but the effect of his involvement is probably irreversible. I do hope he can play an advisory role in an Obama administration, however. I think he's intelligent and fair-minded.
Song of the Day: Bernadette
Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops, passed away over the weekend. They were one of the few bands that continued to play with original members.
Here's some of their songs that you know and can sing along with, I'm sure.
Baby, I Need Your Lovin'
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch)
It's the Same Old Song
Reach Out I'll Be There
Standing in the Shadows of Love
Bernadette, for some reason, was always one of my favorites.
Boomp3.com
Here's some of their songs that you know and can sing along with, I'm sure.
Baby, I Need Your Lovin'
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch)
It's the Same Old Song
Reach Out I'll Be There
Standing in the Shadows of Love
Bernadette, for some reason, was always one of my favorites.
Boomp3.com
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Offseason
1. Get Varitek off the field. Please. Please. Please.
2. Bye, Bye Timlin
3. Cora's out.
4. Beckett to fat camp
5. ORRtiz gets surgery and then to Peruvian Winter League to prepare for the no. 11 spot in the batting order.
6. Enjoy retirement, Wake.
7. Coco traded for young talent
8. Magaden fired
9. Find next 3B (or 1B and send Youk to 3B)
10. Hello Michael Bowden.
11. Replace Kotsay and Casey
12. Javy NO-pez
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
UPDATE: Let's make it a baker's dozen. I forgot to mention Lugo. Gone. See ya. Have a nice day. No way he should come back with this team.
2. Bye, Bye Timlin
3. Cora's out.
4. Beckett to fat camp
5. ORRtiz gets surgery and then to Peruvian Winter League to prepare for the no. 11 spot in the batting order.
6. Enjoy retirement, Wake.
7. Coco traded for young talent
8. Magaden fired
9. Find next 3B (or 1B and send Youk to 3B)
10. Hello Michael Bowden.
11. Replace Kotsay and Casey
12. Javy NO-pez
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
UPDATE: Let's make it a baker's dozen. I forgot to mention Lugo. Gone. See ya. Have a nice day. No way he should come back with this team.
Game 7
Lester on the mound for Game 7. Dramatic win followed by a solid one. Tampa is learning about the ups and downs of the playoffs. That doesn't mean they won't win. But they're not going to be quite as cocky if they win Game 7 as they would've been if they won Game 5. Not nearly.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Steve Harvey?!?!?!
Instead of Game 6 of the ALCS, right now TBS is showing the Steve Harvey Show.
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Friday, October 17, 2008
BOOO!
President George W. Bush is either talking about the economy or preparing his Halloween greeting for White House Trick or Treaters.
National announcers are never as good as local ones
Take the "over"--no matter how high the line--on how many times the announcers mention these things in Saturday night's broadcast of ALCS Game 6:
Tampa Bay
Re TB franchise: Discussion of whether they can make a multiple-year run with their young talent core, the way Atlanta did.
Crawford: Connection with Baldelli as the early faces of the franchise.
Longoria: Maddon telling him to get his strike zone back before the playoffs. Missing time with injury.
Upton: How he "glides" in the outfield. His shoulder problem, which robbed him of power during the season.
Navarro: His coming into spring training '07 overweight and the conversation Maddon had with him about coming in for the '08 season in shape, so he can become a team leader.
Bartlett: Almost soley responsible for a major reduction in runs scored against TB.
Red Sox
ORRtiz--Hurt wrist, doesn't trust hands to be there, starting swing early.
It seems as if they passed out a set of talking points for each player during a production meeting before the series started. The announcers know nothing more about the teams than what's on that sheet. They have repeated the same stories for each player every time they've come to the plate; in every single game. They need more notes. Or to read the paper to pick up new things to discuss about players.
Caray and Martinez are horrible. They've made Mrs. noternie do the unthinkable: express that she's looking forward to the World Series being on Fox, where Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will call the games.
Darling, I think, has been very good. I've never heard him before and I've been impressed with how well he puts the game into an understandable, instructive and entertaining context.
Martinez is not imaginative enough to use his years in the game to talk about what he's seeing in front of him.
Caray just doesn't seem to know that much about baseball. He exaggerates the importance of plays and the ability of players during routine plays. And his game calling is way too loaded with cliches.
Tampa Bay
Re TB franchise: Discussion of whether they can make a multiple-year run with their young talent core, the way Atlanta did.
Crawford: Connection with Baldelli as the early faces of the franchise.
Longoria: Maddon telling him to get his strike zone back before the playoffs. Missing time with injury.
Upton: How he "glides" in the outfield. His shoulder problem, which robbed him of power during the season.
Navarro: His coming into spring training '07 overweight and the conversation Maddon had with him about coming in for the '08 season in shape, so he can become a team leader.
Bartlett: Almost soley responsible for a major reduction in runs scored against TB.
Red Sox
ORRtiz--Hurt wrist, doesn't trust hands to be there, starting swing early.
It seems as if they passed out a set of talking points for each player during a production meeting before the series started. The announcers know nothing more about the teams than what's on that sheet. They have repeated the same stories for each player every time they've come to the plate; in every single game. They need more notes. Or to read the paper to pick up new things to discuss about players.
Caray and Martinez are horrible. They've made Mrs. noternie do the unthinkable: express that she's looking forward to the World Series being on Fox, where Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will call the games.
Darling, I think, has been very good. I've never heard him before and I've been impressed with how well he puts the game into an understandable, instructive and entertaining context.
Martinez is not imaginative enough to use his years in the game to talk about what he's seeing in front of him.
Caray just doesn't seem to know that much about baseball. He exaggerates the importance of plays and the ability of players during routine plays. And his game calling is way too loaded with cliches.
A long, long time ago...
In this same universe I started a blog. It was actually on this same service, Blogger. The sum total of the blog was 10 posts over almost an entire year. To be fair--to me--I had a lot going on and blogging was not very well established.
Though the first post was in March 2004 and the last was in March 2005, among the three posts about the Red Sox, none mentioned the playoffs or their first World Series win in 86 years. Two mentioned snow. One was introspective. I present it here, for your consideration...
Proud curmudgeon?
On being a curmudgeon...I'm not sure I see anything wrong with it, but I don't know if it reaches a level of pride with me. I've been called a curmudgeon more than once since early college days. Sometimes it's almost a full-scale condemnation, other times a teasing jab. In any presentation, it is probably dead-on.
I'm a contrarian, too. That has more potential to irritate people, but is probably more of a source of pride than being a curmudgeon. Odd, that.
In a discussion today following my latest labeling as a curmudgeon, I raised the issue of being a contrarian. I've had more trouble accepting that label, but now I'm working on it as an asset. At least, that's what came out of my mouth. Can a contrarian soften the edges and pick their spots so that the conversational opposite values the criticism/feedback/alternate point of view. Seems logical. But can this contrarian?
Though the first post was in March 2004 and the last was in March 2005, among the three posts about the Red Sox, none mentioned the playoffs or their first World Series win in 86 years. Two mentioned snow. One was introspective. I present it here, for your consideration...
Proud curmudgeon?
On being a curmudgeon...I'm not sure I see anything wrong with it, but I don't know if it reaches a level of pride with me. I've been called a curmudgeon more than once since early college days. Sometimes it's almost a full-scale condemnation, other times a teasing jab. In any presentation, it is probably dead-on.
I'm a contrarian, too. That has more potential to irritate people, but is probably more of a source of pride than being a curmudgeon. Odd, that.
In a discussion today following my latest labeling as a curmudgeon, I raised the issue of being a contrarian. I've had more trouble accepting that label, but now I'm working on it as an asset. At least, that's what came out of my mouth. Can a contrarian soften the edges and pick their spots so that the conversational opposite values the criticism/feedback/alternate point of view. Seems logical. But can this contrarian?
Blog suggestion
I've heard of Pointy Universe before and I may have even visited it. I was led there today by Universal Hub, read a few posts and would like to suggest it. There's a dog. And kids. There are posts about the Red Sox and post about drinking. There's good stuff going on over there.
The site's is positioning statement is: "musings from a clenched soul with a crooked finger." I'm not quite sure what that means, but it sounds intriguing. She's a writer by trade, so you know most of the commas will be in the right place.
I'm going to visit regularly for at least a few weeks.
The site's is positioning statement is: "musings from a clenched soul with a crooked finger." I'm not quite sure what that means, but it sounds intriguing. She's a writer by trade, so you know most of the commas will be in the right place.
I'm going to visit regularly for at least a few weeks.
Song of the Day: It Ain't Over Til It's Over
Boomp3.com
A little Lenny Kravitz in honor of the Red Sox comeback last night. They may go down in a hail of cowbells during Game 6. They may fall victim to a catwalk in Game 7. But it was nice to see Fenway rock again.
The thing I hope for most when the Red Sox take the field is that the pitchers throw a few high hard ones at the Tampa Bay hitters. They are waaaaaaay too comfortable in the box and hitting waaaaaaay too many home runs. Very early in Game 6 Beckett needs to send a message. Then he needs to repeat it. Let them get mad and let Jonny Gomes get his WWF gear ready to go. It has to happen.
A little Lenny Kravitz in honor of the Red Sox comeback last night. They may go down in a hail of cowbells during Game 6. They may fall victim to a catwalk in Game 7. But it was nice to see Fenway rock again.
The thing I hope for most when the Red Sox take the field is that the pitchers throw a few high hard ones at the Tampa Bay hitters. They are waaaaaaay too comfortable in the box and hitting waaaaaaay too many home runs. Very early in Game 6 Beckett needs to send a message. Then he needs to repeat it. Let them get mad and let Jonny Gomes get his WWF gear ready to go. It has to happen.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Magic Wand: Comparisons of Wall Street and Main Street
I'm sick of hearing about the financial crisis and how we need to "take into account the concerns, not just of Wall Street, but of Main Street as well.
Joe the Plumber
Joe the Plumber...
--Isn't a licensed plumber.
--May or may not even be registered to vote. Is a Registered Republican.
--Is closely related to a guy (some sources say it's father-son) who is the son-in-law ofCharles Keating, of the Keating 5 scandal (McCain was one of the 5). He worked with Keating and did time for his involvement in the Keating affair.
--Wouldn't pay any additional taxes under Obama's plan unless that plumbing business started to make a LOT more money.
--Actually has no plans to buy the business.
--Had a lein slapped against him for not paying state taxes.
But hey, if you're a tax-dodging registered republican in a swing state that's an unlicensed plumber, a relative of someone at the center of a scandal involving McCain and feel comfortable lying about your business endeavors, you're the kind of Joe Sixpack a McCain administration will fight for.
--Isn't a licensed plumber.
--
--Is closely related to a guy (some sources say it's father-son) who is the son-in-law ofCharles Keating, of the Keating 5 scandal (McCain was one of the 5). He worked with Keating and did time for his involvement in the Keating affair.
--Wouldn't pay any additional taxes under Obama's plan unless that plumbing business started to make a LOT more money.
--Actually has no plans to buy the business.
--Had a lein slapped against him for not paying state taxes.
But hey, if you're a tax-dodging registered republican in a swing state that's an unlicensed plumber, a relative of someone at the center of a scandal involving McCain and feel comfortable lying about your business endeavors, you're the kind of Joe Sixpack a McCain administration will fight for.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Image is not everything
Is there anyone who is more different than an image/character that they became known for than Henry Winkler?
Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments.
Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments.
McCain's campaign
I don't agree entirely with Dan Kennedy's post on Seth Gitell's post on McCain's campaign and the similarities between Obama-McCain and Patrick-Healy. But I think he does hit on one of the problems with McCain's campaign and a Parcells-like "you are what you are" truth that's worth noting:
Parcells used to say that if you're 2-4, you can't claim "we're better than a 2-4 team." If you were better than that, your record would be. You are what you are.
Everyone's got operatives. In most successful campaigns, though, the operatives work for the candidate. Conversely, in many losing efforts, the candidate ends up doing whatever the operatives tell him or her. That was certainly the case with the hapless Healey, who, in a matter of two weeks, morphed from respected if little-known moderate to right-wing nut.
There is no such thing as candidates who are better than their campaigns.
Parcells used to say that if you're 2-4, you can't claim "we're better than a 2-4 team." If you were better than that, your record would be. You are what you are.
Song of the Day: Unbreak my heart
Boomp3.com
This one's dedicated to Dick Cheney, who some suspect only announces heart problems as a way of claiming to have one.
This one's dedicated to Dick Cheney, who some suspect only announces heart problems as a way of claiming to have one.
The Bet
If Obama goes over 290 electoral college votes, I get cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop, including the new Bababooey cupcake. (not yet listed on the menu)
If Obama fails to top 290, I have to supply a big bag of Portuguese sweet bread from Homlyke Bakery in New Bedford/Fairhaven.
The payoff will most likely be over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lemme tell ya, if you're ever in their area, these are some damn good cupcakes. Follow the link above to see the cupcake menu. And Homlyke makes some damn good sweet bread.
If Obama fails to top 290, I have to supply a big bag of Portuguese sweet bread from Homlyke Bakery in New Bedford/Fairhaven.
The payoff will most likely be over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lemme tell ya, if you're ever in their area, these are some damn good cupcakes. Follow the link above to see the cupcake menu. And Homlyke makes some damn good sweet bread.
The son, betrayer of the cause?
William F. Buckely's son was writing for the National Review, which dad founded. He's not anymore. He endorsed Obama last week, which was sort of a major sin for someone spawn from and embraced by the top level conservative types. But he not only knocks McCain, he throws a shot at the convesrvative movement. He feels it's either disappeared or been hijacked.
Curious to see what Jay at Hub Blog has to say about this. He's more into this specific kind of conservative movement stuff than I.
"While I regret this development, I am not in mourning, for I no longer have any clear idea what, exactly, the modern conservative movement stands for," Buckley wrote.
"Eight years of 'conservative' government has brought us a doubled national debt, ruinous expansion of entitlement programs, bridges to nowhere, poster boy Jack Abramoff and an ill-premised, ill-waged war conducted by politicians of breathtaking arrogance. As a sideshow, it brought us a truly obscene attempt at federal intervention in the Terry Schiavo case," he also wrote.
The resignation comes four days after Buckley formally endorsed Obama on the Web site The Daily Beast, writing the presidential campaign had made John McCain "inauthentic," and Obama appeared to have a "first-class temperament and first-class intellect."
Curious to see what Jay at Hub Blog has to say about this. He's more into this specific kind of conservative movement stuff than I.
Health update
Illness strikes some people at the most opportune time. Update on the super Sox fan who is sick, but not because of the Sox play in the ALCS...
Co-workers are really going to love seeing this one come down the hall, huh?
yup, missed the whole game. Slept from about 7 pm until 7 am.
Eff this. I'm back at work today and if I have to s#!+ and hurl in a can in my office so be it.
Co-workers are really going to love seeing this one come down the hall, huh?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
That being said...
270towin.com has a map with a button. Push the button and see how the election might go, if it were held today. It's fun to push the button and watch the states come in red or blue. Then do it again and again to see what changes and what stays the same. According to their disclaimer...
That being said, during the last 1,000 simulations run, Obama won 99.9% of the time. Among the simulations, Obama averages 339 Electoral College votes, well more than the 270 required to win.
There has been some confusion about what the simulator is actually calculating. The simulator is NOT a prediction of the outcome of the election. It merely takes representative state polls (or averages of multiple polls where appropriate) and answers the question: If the election were today, what is the range of likely outcomes? However, the election is not today. A change in the polls of just 1-2% in a few pivotal states could yield totally different simulator results.
That being said, during the last 1,000 simulations run, Obama won 99.9% of the time. Among the simulations, Obama averages 339 Electoral College votes, well more than the 270 required to win.
Not for the squeamish...or during lunch
What's worse than staying up late to watch a Red Sox game or seeing an early game that's over before it's dark? Hold on to your hats for this one, which came in via email from a very, very dedicated fan. And remember, his condition wasn't caused by the Red Sox...
True confessions:
I didn't see one pitch of the game last night. I was on death's doorstep sick with about an 8-hour evacuation process.
I know you don't need to know this but I'm proud to say that I hit the sickness superfecta last night:
1. many trips to the can to vomit
2. Many trips to the can with diarrhea
3. A couple trips to the can with vomit first then switcheroo to diarrhea.
4. One glorious trip to the can with diarrhea WHILE vomiting in a bucket.
I lost 10 pounds overnight, easily.
Song of the Day: In this life
Boomp3.com
Delta Lee Goodrem rang the opening bell at the NYSE this morning.
Our young, male readers might find this Australian visually appealing. Actually, our older male readers might, too. And our lesbian readers of any age. Ok, carbon based lifeforms reading this blog will find Delta Lee Goodrem attractive.
Her beauty and the fact that she rang the opening bell of the NYSE on a day when for some reason I cared are the reasons she is featured here. The song is, well, it's not my cup of tea. But you may enjoy it. She's apparently pretty AND popular.
Delta Lee Goodrem rang the opening bell at the NYSE this morning.
Our young, male readers might find this Australian visually appealing. Actually, our older male readers might, too. And our lesbian readers of any age. Ok, carbon based lifeforms reading this blog will find Delta Lee Goodrem attractive.
Her beauty and the fact that she rang the opening bell of the NYSE on a day when for some reason I cared are the reasons she is featured here. The song is, well, it's not my cup of tea. But you may enjoy it. She's apparently pretty AND popular.
Easy trade off
I'd much rather stay up late to see a Red Sox win than feel like turning it off before it even gets dark.
There are several struggling people I blame for the sitaution the Red Sox find themselves in. I blame them because they are not just in a slump. And no, this doesn't mean Tampa doesn't deserve credit for their play. We can be intelligent enough to cite more than one reason for something, can't we?
Jason Varitek. It's no secret that he's been going through a divorce and it's a poorly held secret that infidelity might have played a part. Long-term, repeated infidelity, is the rumor. So he hasn't hit all season. But now he's giving up passed balls in critical situations. And he took a third strike with two on and less than two out yesterday. Inexcusable. He knew the ump was giving wide strikes. He needed to put the ball in play. He's supposed to be smart. He's playing dumb.
David ORRtiz. There are five or six guys who are more deserving of his spot in the batting order. Just like his knee problem a few years ago that required surgery he didn't get until after the season, he didn't get that wrist properly fixed. It's costing us big time right now. For much of the season--before the injury, even--he's been a shadow of his former self. It's a wonder Pedroia gets anything to hit.
Ellsbury. Enough with the popups. Hit the ball on the ground. (In fairness, Francona should've pulled him and put Coco in by now, a nift reversal of last year's strategy that worked so well.)
Beckett. The string of nagging injuries leaves me no choice but to conclude that Mr. Beckett got fat and happy with himself after last season's success and came back ill-prepared for the season. Let's hope he goes to fat camp--or at least one of those super workout training centers--this offseason.
There are several struggling people I blame for the sitaution the Red Sox find themselves in. I blame them because they are not just in a slump. And no, this doesn't mean Tampa doesn't deserve credit for their play. We can be intelligent enough to cite more than one reason for something, can't we?
Jason Varitek. It's no secret that he's been going through a divorce and it's a poorly held secret that infidelity might have played a part. Long-term, repeated infidelity, is the rumor. So he hasn't hit all season. But now he's giving up passed balls in critical situations. And he took a third strike with two on and less than two out yesterday. Inexcusable. He knew the ump was giving wide strikes. He needed to put the ball in play. He's supposed to be smart. He's playing dumb.
David ORRtiz. There are five or six guys who are more deserving of his spot in the batting order. Just like his knee problem a few years ago that required surgery he didn't get until after the season, he didn't get that wrist properly fixed. It's costing us big time right now. For much of the season--before the injury, even--he's been a shadow of his former self. It's a wonder Pedroia gets anything to hit.
Ellsbury. Enough with the popups. Hit the ball on the ground. (In fairness, Francona should've pulled him and put Coco in by now, a nift reversal of last year's strategy that worked so well.)
Beckett. The string of nagging injuries leaves me no choice but to conclude that Mr. Beckett got fat and happy with himself after last season's success and came back ill-prepared for the season. Let's hope he goes to fat camp--or at least one of those super workout training centers--this offseason.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Aha!
An early start time means I can watch the game and still get to sleep at a normal time. Of course, that assumes they don't go 14 innings, the way they did when Mrs. noternie and I attended that ALCS game against the Yankees that started at 5 and finished near midnight.
Song of the Day: Madame Butterfly
In honor of Columbus Day and the many, many contributions the Italian people have made to the world (I'm sure they've told you all about them), today's song of the day is Italian. Puccini. See? Ends in a vowel an everything.
Boomp3.com
I'm not an Opera guy, but I've got nothing against it, either. Just don't have an interest.
I joke with my Italian friends--as they do with my Irish and French ancestery--but I was respectful enough not to play the Godfather or Dean Martin.
Boomp3.com
I'm not an Opera guy, but I've got nothing against it, either. Just don't have an interest.
I joke with my Italian friends--as they do with my Irish and French ancestery--but I was respectful enough not to play the Godfather or Dean Martin.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Scary things as Halloween nears
Mrs. noternie has imagined a new hell, more horrifying than any she has imagined before: a Red Sox playoff game being called by Chip Carey and Tim McCarver.
Friday, October 10, 2008
It's almost over
John McCain's campaign will soon, thankfully, come to a merciful end.
Thanks for the military service and working in the Senate all these years. It really is appreciated. But I can't help but think the whole "Maverick" thing was a bit too contrived. You can't vote with the President and party 90% of the time and then reasonably sell yourself as someone that bucks the party or leadership.
Honestly, I think McCain's something of an opportunistic phony. Rather than learn discipline at the Naval Academy, he played the role of Admiral's son and goofed off. Bad grades, bad conduct. He tries to spin it as if he was a "rascal." Probably considered by his classmates more of a spoiled jerk.
Anyway, the financial collapse has ruined what little chance he had of staying close. The only thing McCain's folks cling to are national polls showing them within five points. But national polls can only predict the popular vote; a thing everyone knows to meaningless, especially after the election of 2000.
If you want to get a real picture of what's going on, check out pollster.com or 270towin.com or politico.com. They have the polls from individual states. Leave out the states where averaged poll results show a difference within the margin of error (only 6) and Obama is already looking at somewhere near a 320-158 lead in electoral college votes, with 60 more to be fought over. Politico makes calls on the remaining states and gets a final result of 353-185.
No, it's not over. But I don't know that McCain has anything left that won't cost him as many votes as it wins him. Politico is running a story about how McCain rallies are getting uglier, to the point that some in the party worry about it. It has the word "panic" in the headline. That's never good.
Thanks for the military service and working in the Senate all these years. It really is appreciated. But I can't help but think the whole "Maverick" thing was a bit too contrived. You can't vote with the President and party 90% of the time and then reasonably sell yourself as someone that bucks the party or leadership.
Honestly, I think McCain's something of an opportunistic phony. Rather than learn discipline at the Naval Academy, he played the role of Admiral's son and goofed off. Bad grades, bad conduct. He tries to spin it as if he was a "rascal." Probably considered by his classmates more of a spoiled jerk.
Anyway, the financial collapse has ruined what little chance he had of staying close. The only thing McCain's folks cling to are national polls showing them within five points. But national polls can only predict the popular vote; a thing everyone knows to meaningless, especially after the election of 2000.
If you want to get a real picture of what's going on, check out pollster.com or 270towin.com or politico.com. They have the polls from individual states. Leave out the states where averaged poll results show a difference within the margin of error (only 6) and Obama is already looking at somewhere near a 320-158 lead in electoral college votes, with 60 more to be fought over. Politico makes calls on the remaining states and gets a final result of 353-185.
No, it's not over. But I don't know that McCain has anything left that won't cost him as many votes as it wins him. Politico is running a story about how McCain rallies are getting uglier, to the point that some in the party worry about it. It has the word "panic" in the headline. That's never good.
John Weaver, McCain’s former top strategist, said top Republicans have a responsibility to temper this behavior.
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Sen. Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Sen. McCain,” Weaver said. “And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive.”
“Sen. Obama is a classic liberal with an outdated economic agenda. We should take that agenda on in a robust manner. As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
Song of the Day: New Kid in Town
Boomp3.com
Game 1 of the American League Championship Series is tonight. And though I don't think the Devil Rays are overshadowing the Red Sox, they are getting quite a buzz, even here in Boston.
Congratulations to them and their fans. Now I hope you get swept and Jonny Gomes breaks his leg trying to score the tying run in the 9th inning of a game.
Condolences to Derek Lowe. I was rooting for him last night. He was a good starter who was willing to go to the pen and did very well there. He moved back to the rotation and had a Cy Young class year in there. He was then willing to throw on short rest and come out of the bullpen in 2003. Do you remember that vs the A's he finished Game 1, started Game 3 (7 IP, 1 R, 0 ER) and finished Game 5 by striking out Terrance Long with the bases loaded? He was pretty impressive last night, until he coughed up a couple HRs. He could've used some help from the offense.
I'm half rooting for Manny and hoping Nomar doesn't get into a game.
Game 1 of the American League Championship Series is tonight. And though I don't think the Devil Rays are overshadowing the Red Sox, they are getting quite a buzz, even here in Boston.
Congratulations to them and their fans. Now I hope you get swept and Jonny Gomes breaks his leg trying to score the tying run in the 9th inning of a game.
Condolences to Derek Lowe. I was rooting for him last night. He was a good starter who was willing to go to the pen and did very well there. He moved back to the rotation and had a Cy Young class year in there. He was then willing to throw on short rest and come out of the bullpen in 2003. Do you remember that vs the A's he finished Game 1, started Game 3 (7 IP, 1 R, 0 ER) and finished Game 5 by striking out Terrance Long with the bases loaded? He was pretty impressive last night, until he coughed up a couple HRs. He could've used some help from the offense.
I'm half rooting for Manny and hoping Nomar doesn't get into a game.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Finding happiness in small doses
Happiness comes in small doses, Denis Leary once said in a bit. Then he went on to name [sexual event], a chocolate chip cookie and a cigarette as examples. You [deleted], you eat the cookie, you smoke the cigarette, you go to bed, he said.
Well, I'm going to add another thing. Happiness is walking into the Comcast office, dropping cable boxes and remote controls on the counter and saying: "Hi, I'd like to cancel my service."
FIOS is in, Comcast is out. And good riddance.
By the way, check out the comments in my previous post about this, linked in last paragraph. Comcast wants me to think they are more than concerned with my satisfaction as a customer...now. I don't buy it. I think the comment was a phony spam-like response.
Well, I'm going to add another thing. Happiness is walking into the Comcast office, dropping cable boxes and remote controls on the counter and saying: "Hi, I'd like to cancel my service."
FIOS is in, Comcast is out. And good riddance.
By the way, check out the comments in my previous post about this, linked in last paragraph. Comcast wants me to think they are more than concerned with my satisfaction as a customer...now. I don't buy it. I think the comment was a phony spam-like response.
Song of the Day: Highway Star
Boomp3.com
I think Deep Purple holds up very well. Good guitars, good keyboards. Things have progressed in music so that Deep Purple doesn't sound as hard now as it did back in the day. There's just so much more hard metal around now. But they played well on good songs that have good energy. So thery're absolutely still worth listening to. This is the type of band that you need to remember and go back to every once in a while. Even though they were probably overplayed in the 80s, the music becomes great again when you haven't heard it in a while.
I think Deep Purple holds up very well. Good guitars, good keyboards. Things have progressed in music so that Deep Purple doesn't sound as hard now as it did back in the day. There's just so much more hard metal around now. But they played well on good songs that have good energy. So thery're absolutely still worth listening to. This is the type of band that you need to remember and go back to every once in a while. Even though they were probably overplayed in the 80s, the music becomes great again when you haven't heard it in a while.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Connections
Mrs. noternie and I saw Jed Lowrie get the game winning hit in Monday night's game.
Mrs. noternie got her hair cut today.
Last week, Jed Lowrie got his hair cut by the same woman that's been cutting Mrs. noternie's hair for several years.
We're that cool, Mrs. noternie and I are.
Mrs. noternie got her hair cut today.
Last week, Jed Lowrie got his hair cut by the same woman that's been cutting Mrs. noternie's hair for several years.
We're that cool, Mrs. noternie and I are.
Good news, Sox fans...
McCarver: Ramirez's lack of commitment with Red Sox 'despicable'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
Manny Ramirez has been nearly unstoppable since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 1. Tim McCarver, who will call the National League Championship Series on Fox television, is among those who have noticed
If McCarver's doing the NCLS, he can't be doing the ALCS. That's good news right there.
Song of the Day: Poncho and Lefty
Boomp3.com
Think Biden or Palin is willing to go by the name of Poncho to McCain or Obama's Lefty?
From Eminem to Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. That's Song of the Day for you.
UPDATE: Seems George W. Bush is not left-handed. But Gerald Ford was. And in 1992, Geo HW Bush, Clinton, Perot were all lefties vying for the Oval Office and VP Al Gore was also a lefty.
Think Biden or Palin is willing to go by the name of Poncho to McCain or Obama's Lefty?
From Eminem to Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. That's Song of the Day for you.
UPDATE: Seems George W. Bush is not left-handed. But Gerald Ford was. And in 1992, Geo HW Bush, Clinton, Perot were all lefties vying for the Oval Office and VP Al Gore was also a lefty.
Hey Comcast: Bu-Bye!
I watched only the first half and then got kind of bored with it. I decided to watch some MMA that was recorded on my DVR. I'm switching from Comcast to FIOS cable today, so all my DVRd stuff will be gone.
Why am I switching?
--I have a grudge against Comcast. I had to set up multiple appointments for the initial installation when the driver claimed I wasn't home. (Car was in driveway, I caught a glimpse of him through the window cruising by without stopping.) I didn't want cable in the first place. We bought all the DirecTV stuff, but the installer said the signal was blocked by trees.
--I'm stuck in the middle of their battle with the NFL. Comcast started charging $7 to get NFL Network, possibly because the NFL won't let Comcast offer Direct Ticket. I don't blame Comcast for that. I'd love to get Direct Ticket and I'm bothered that the NFL makes it available only to one satellite provider. But, I can get the NFL Network free on FIOS. That means I can buy an extra $7 worth of penny candy every month.
--It's cheaper for us to switch. We already have Verizon home phone and FIOS internet. Mrs. noternie has Verizon wireless. She does the bills and she said it's cheaper to switch. That means it's cheaper.
--The channels are as good or better. In addition to the NFL Network, we'll get the SPEED Channel free. We would've had to pay to get it on Comcast.
--The DVR thing. We have one with Comcast, but FIOS has that deal where you get a DVR in one room, but can watch anything recorded on that DVR in any other room that has a cable box. Good for late night mma watching in bed after Mrs. noternie has nodded off.
--I have a grudge against Comcast. It bears repeating. When I called to complain and reschedule my initial installation mentioned above, they COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS that I had taken time off of work and would have to take MORE time off work simply because their guy drove by without stopping.
Why am I switching?
--I have a grudge against Comcast. I had to set up multiple appointments for the initial installation when the driver claimed I wasn't home. (Car was in driveway, I caught a glimpse of him through the window cruising by without stopping.) I didn't want cable in the first place. We bought all the DirecTV stuff, but the installer said the signal was blocked by trees.
--I'm stuck in the middle of their battle with the NFL. Comcast started charging $7 to get NFL Network, possibly because the NFL won't let Comcast offer Direct Ticket. I don't blame Comcast for that. I'd love to get Direct Ticket and I'm bothered that the NFL makes it available only to one satellite provider. But, I can get the NFL Network free on FIOS. That means I can buy an extra $7 worth of penny candy every month.
--It's cheaper for us to switch. We already have Verizon home phone and FIOS internet. Mrs. noternie has Verizon wireless. She does the bills and she said it's cheaper to switch. That means it's cheaper.
--The channels are as good or better. In addition to the NFL Network, we'll get the SPEED Channel free. We would've had to pay to get it on Comcast.
--The DVR thing. We have one with Comcast, but FIOS has that deal where you get a DVR in one room, but can watch anything recorded on that DVR in any other room that has a cable box. Good for late night mma watching in bed after Mrs. noternie has nodded off.
--I have a grudge against Comcast. It bears repeating. When I called to complain and reschedule my initial installation mentioned above, they COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS that I had taken time off of work and would have to take MORE time off work simply because their guy drove by without stopping.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Oval Office a haven for minorities?
Barack Obama AND John McCain.
George W Bush
Bill Clinton
George HW Bush
All lefties.
George W Bush
Bill Clinton
George HW Bush
All lefties.
Song of the Day: 'Till I Collapse
Boomp3.com
Played in the middle of the 9th inning--between Mike Scioscia overmanaging away the go ahead run and Jed Lowrie driving it in--this song was played at Fenway. Mrs. noternie said that if the Red Sox won, this needed to be song of the day.
It's Eminem, so there's some adult language, but it's rather mild and there are no offensive messages.
Considering the grief I cause Mrs. noternie to confront because of things I do, I try to fulfill as many of her requests as possible.
Played in the middle of the 9th inning--between Mike Scioscia overmanaging away the go ahead run and Jed Lowrie driving it in--this song was played at Fenway. Mrs. noternie said that if the Red Sox won, this needed to be song of the day.
It's Eminem, so there's some adult language, but it's rather mild and there are no offensive messages.
Considering the grief I cause Mrs. noternie to confront because of things I do, I try to fulfill as many of her requests as possible.
Bitter Angels
One of the many stories on espn about last night's game...
noternie’s editorial comment:
Consider that the Angels finished the regular season with a record only 5 games better than the Red Sox. And this while playing in a division in which they were the ONLY team over .500. The Red Sox played in a division in which all but one team finished with a record better than .500. Way better, John? Hardly.
Consider that the Angles, who have always been touted as a team that wins by doing the little things right, did big things wrong; major baserunning gaffes, horrendous fielding and over-managing that led cost them the go ahead run in the ninth inning of a game that resulted in their elimination.
Consider that one of the wins in this series was the result of the “best closer in the game” getting shelled. And that two of the three Red Sox wins came in Mr. Lackey’s home ballpark.
Maybe, Mr. Lackey, the play of the Angels was something of a joke. Maybe the Red Sox played “way better” than the Angles, rather than talking about who was “not as good as us” as a philosophical exercise. Talking about the field is dumb, since both teams actually played on the same field together in each of the four games.
It must be frustrating to Mr. Lackey to be on a team that is so good…and so suddenly irrelevant.
"It's way different than last year," said Lackey, who was 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts this postseason. "We are way better than they are. We lost to a team not as good as us."
Then Lackey was asked to describe the feeling in the clubhouse, and without hesitation and with clear irritation, he shot back, "like I want to throw somebody through a wall."
He was not joking, his anger palpable. Lackey pitched admirably, allowing two runs in seven innings on Monday night. Boston scored both in the fifth inning, the first on a groundout by Jacoby Ellsbury and the second on a double to left field by Dustin Pedroia, who recorded his first and only hit of the entire series. Lackey was unimpressed.
"[On Sunday] they scored on a pop fly they called a hit, which is a joke," said Lackey, referring to a popup that was misplayed into three runs. "[On Monday], they score on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball anywhere else in America [except in Fenway Park]. And [Pedroia's] fist-pumping on second like he did something great.
noternie’s editorial comment:
Consider that the Angels finished the regular season with a record only 5 games better than the Red Sox. And this while playing in a division in which they were the ONLY team over .500. The Red Sox played in a division in which all but one team finished with a record better than .500. Way better, John? Hardly.
Consider that the Angles, who have always been touted as a team that wins by doing the little things right, did big things wrong; major baserunning gaffes, horrendous fielding and over-managing that led cost them the go ahead run in the ninth inning of a game that resulted in their elimination.
Consider that one of the wins in this series was the result of the “best closer in the game” getting shelled. And that two of the three Red Sox wins came in Mr. Lackey’s home ballpark.
Maybe, Mr. Lackey, the play of the Angels was something of a joke. Maybe the Red Sox played “way better” than the Angles, rather than talking about who was “not as good as us” as a philosophical exercise. Talking about the field is dumb, since both teams actually played on the same field together in each of the four games.
It must be frustrating to Mr. Lackey to be on a team that is so good…and so suddenly irrelevant.
I lost my tickets to ALDS Game 4
Seriously. While walking with Mrs. noternie through the Prudential Center Mall, the tickets--in an envelope folded twice and stuffed securely in the front left pocket of my Levi's--fell to the floor of the mall, which I didn't discover until a few minutes later.
We were meeting my brother-in-law and neice who were going to the game separeatley. They joined us on a frantic search for the tickest in a crowded, urban mall. We asked security, customer service and each of the many kiosk workers if they had seen anything. Nothing. We retraced our path from the car to the end of the mall where I had walked. Nothing.
Talk about sick to my stomach. There was no doubt that someone had picked up the envelope, found the tickets and felt like the luckiest person in Boston. The only chance we had was that the envelope was folded twice and may have looked like trash...as long as the person who picked them up didn't notice the writing on the outside of the envelope that read: ALDS Game 4.
Finally, one of the kiosk workers mentioned that maintenence sweeps up frequently and that the envelope might have gotten scooped up by them. He told us they dump the trash into one of the many receptacles located throughout the Mall. So we retraced our path and I gingerly looked through at least half a dozen trash cans. With only two or three left, my brother-in-law proudly called out and held aloft the found tickets. The tickets were in this trashcan, my newest favoritist trashcan, to which I may forever genuflect whenever I pass by...
It took the walk over to Fenway, a sausage, a beer and a full inning before the pit in my stomach was fully disolved.
We were meeting my brother-in-law and neice who were going to the game separeatley. They joined us on a frantic search for the tickest in a crowded, urban mall. We asked security, customer service and each of the many kiosk workers if they had seen anything. Nothing. We retraced our path from the car to the end of the mall where I had walked. Nothing.
Talk about sick to my stomach. There was no doubt that someone had picked up the envelope, found the tickets and felt like the luckiest person in Boston. The only chance we had was that the envelope was folded twice and may have looked like trash...as long as the person who picked them up didn't notice the writing on the outside of the envelope that read: ALDS Game 4.
Finally, one of the kiosk workers mentioned that maintenence sweeps up frequently and that the envelope might have gotten scooped up by them. He told us they dump the trash into one of the many receptacles located throughout the Mall. So we retraced our path and I gingerly looked through at least half a dozen trash cans. With only two or three left, my brother-in-law proudly called out and held aloft the found tickets. The tickets were in this trashcan, my newest favoritist trashcan, to which I may forever genuflect whenever I pass by...
It took the walk over to Fenway, a sausage, a beer and a full inning before the pit in my stomach was fully disolved.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Ah, the changing seasons
Along with different leaves, the chill in the air signals the start of fall and winter recepies. Last week we cooked up some apple pancakes with the "fruit" of our apple-picking trip. We also made some chunky applesauce from scratch.
Last night, there was mulled apple cider, which doubled as a great frangrance for the house. And there was the season's first meatloaf, which allows me to enjoy today one of the greatest lunches available in this world.
Last night, there was mulled apple cider, which doubled as a great frangrance for the house. And there was the season's first meatloaf, which allows me to enjoy today one of the greatest lunches available in this world.
Song of the Day: Telephone Line
See if you don't recognize this tune, which sounds a lot like a Beatles song or at least something from Paul McCartney and Wings. There are several good songs by ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) out there. And the lead singer--Jeff Lynne--was one of the driving forces behind the Travelling Willburys.
My preference...
I would have preferred Dustin Pedroia getting his first hit of the series to score the winning run last night.
I would have preferred David Ortiz earning his place in the middle of the lineup.
I would have preferred that if JD Drew were healty that Francona would've had him in the lineup. Pedroia, Ortiz and Lowell have been way underperforming so far. Tito should've used everything he had to close out the series. You know Tampa's got to play AT LEAST one more game.
I would've preferred the Red Sox win last night and end the series, making my tickets to tonight's game useless.
I had tickets to Game 7 of the World Series at Fenway Park last year. And I was happy to not use them. Very happy.
I would have preferred David Ortiz earning his place in the middle of the lineup.
I would have preferred that if JD Drew were healty that Francona would've had him in the lineup. Pedroia, Ortiz and Lowell have been way underperforming so far. Tito should've used everything he had to close out the series. You know Tampa's got to play AT LEAST one more game.
I would've preferred the Red Sox win last night and end the series, making my tickets to tonight's game useless.
I had tickets to Game 7 of the World Series at Fenway Park last year. And I was happy to not use them. Very happy.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The bailout
When the House was voting down the bailout package Jay, who tries to keep a foot in the business world and the real world at the same time, took some pleasure in watching the Wall Streeters turn into the petulant child that fears maybe their latest tantrum put them on Santa's "bad" list.
I agree it’s interesting to see the free market champions on Wall St squirm waiting for the safety net to kick in. But if the “free” market is only “free” from real risk for those people, it’s a fleeting warmth. It’s even more fleeting when we realize that as bad as they are, we’re dependent on saving them. They know Santa will come for every child, their “time out” will end and the push for deregulation will return.
For the average person, it sure feels like the game is rigged. But when in history has it not felt that way? Hey, we’ve got it better than the Egyptians building the pyramids, right? We got big shiny SUVs and a big, shiny teevee.
I agree it’s interesting to see the free market champions on Wall St squirm waiting for the safety net to kick in. But if the “free” market is only “free” from real risk for those people, it’s a fleeting warmth. It’s even more fleeting when we realize that as bad as they are, we’re dependent on saving them. They know Santa will come for every child, their “time out” will end and the push for deregulation will return.
For the average person, it sure feels like the game is rigged. But when in history has it not felt that way? Hey, we’ve got it better than the Egyptians building the pyramids, right? We got big shiny SUVs and a big, shiny teevee.
Song of the Day: It's in the way that you use it
Newman finally won an Oscar for his performance in the Color of Money, with Tom Cruise. The Hustler is a better movie, but it doesn't have a Clapton song on the soundtrack.
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