Getting The Bug (Again)

ACT I - SCENE I
INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

CAMERA pans left across what appears to be an apartment wall, with a large case full of DVDs. Most titles are familiar, cutting into closeups of CITIZEN KANE and his collection of STAR WARS films.
As CAMERA continues to pan left, we see a computer desk come into frame. JUMP CUT into CU of Fingers typing feverishly away. frantically spewing out the owner's thoughts.
CUT to CORY, a man in his late twenties, staring intently at his computer screen, mumbling the contents of my incessant typing. Whatever he sees brings a displeased look to his face. After throwing back the last of his Diet Pepsi and stroking the back of his cat ZOE, he begins again the dance of digits across the keyboard.

So, I'm watching Adaptation again after checking it out from the library, and the bug begins to creep into my head.

That's what I need to be doing. I need to be making movies.

Every so often, something I read, watch, encounter, whatever it might be, will spark something in my being to get back to what I love doing: making movies.

I realize while I'm writing this that my moviemaking experiences comprise solely of film school.
Sure, I can somewhat convince myself that the TV business is an avenue to express my creative juices, but I'm not that naive.

So, when the "bug" returns, it usually jars me into a state of creative flux where I'm comtemplating the pros and cons of writing, storytelling, and making movies.

Some of us call this motivation. All I know is that ideas come in and out of my head, 99.9% contrived and unoriginal. But, hope springs eternal that one idea will stick, perhaps even stand out from the mound of drivel that accompanies it. Maybe that's what keep me coming back.

In all honesty, there's really very little unappealing about moviemaking, except for the money lost and not made chasing a seemingly unattainable dream.

The best thing about these occasional lapses back into the creative vortex is that for the past four years, I have someone along for the ride.

Kirsten said tonight that she thinks between the two of us, we'd make a great writing team. I hope she's right.

The voices in my head are starving for some company.

Searching for Mel Kiper

I just got word tonight that the other fantasy league that I thought would never come to fruition has finally joined the race.

One roadblock: They're doing an offline draft this Sunday @ 4 ET. Eck. This seriously blows.

Excuse my geekiness, but one of the great joys of FF is the online draft. Sure, the first one's the toughest, but KO made out like a bandit in her maiden voyage.

Unfortunately, all the convincing in the world couldn't sway the judges at this particular league. It seems the majority of the fellas in this bunch aren't what you would call computer-savvy.

That's cool. Taking their money will feel a little sweeter. Not that I would condone gambling in any way, shape, or form.

Anyhoo, I may be incorporating the help of my readers (who am I kidding? reader) as a makeshift "war room" for the draft.

What? How can you turn down an opportunity to help build Chico's Bail Bonds from scratch to a championship contender? Have you no soul?

So, if your phone rings around 4 pm on Sunday, you'd be best not to answer.

You've been forewarned.

Kansas City's Other Sporting Event

Just a little levity before the Chiefs and Browns preseason clash that 80,000 + fans (my dad and brother included) will attend in their drunken stupors.

The game is but a footnote to the real event of gameday: Tailgating.

Meet Your 2004 Pressure Chiefs

OK. You've had your chance to meet the juggernaut and eventual 2004 "Frozen Tundra"Fantasy Football League champion in "The Girlie Men Express".

Now, here's a first look at my attempt to snatch the tiara from Kirsten's cranium.

Here's the lineup for The Pressure Chiefs:

• Quarterback - Daunte Culpepper and Jeff Garcia
• Running Back - Clinton Portis, Rudi Johnson, Chris Brown, and Julius Jones
• Wide Receiver - Derrick Mason, Santana Moss, Marty Booker, Reggie Wayne, Dante Hall, and Deion Branch
• Tight End - Boo Williams and Freddie Jones
• Kicker - Jon Kasay
• Defense - Carolina and Jacksonville

Let the games begin!

MOM. Use as directed.

Ahh...beach volleyball. Such a great and wonderful sport.

Before anyone thinks I'm only watching for the scenery, let me preface this by saying:

1. The sheer athleticism and versatility that each team must possess is unbelievable.
and,
2. Who am I kidding? The ladies are definitely easy on the eyes.

That said, while watching the gold medal match between Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May against Brazil tonight and against Americans Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs in the semis last night, I noticed something odd.

The story goes as such:

"Before her semifinal match, a victory against McPeak and Youngs, [Misty May] quietly sprinkled the ashes of her deceased mother over the sands of the Olympic venue on Monday night. Barbara May died of cancer two years ago. That was the private moment. Tuesday, she and Walsh filled the outdoor stadium with their joy in a very public manner."

That's a very touching story. But, while watching Misty May showing the camera her mother's remains, the container she was using to hold the ashes caught my eye.

A used medical perscription bottle.

I'm not going to speculate as to why she chose this receptacle to house her mother's remains. She's a big girl. Perhaps there's some underlying significance.

I'm just saying, I might've gone another route. Just a guess.

Congratulations to Misty May and Kerrie Walsh and enjoy the remainder of the Olympics.

Go USA!

You Can Make A Difference, eh?

Today I received an email that quite literally broke my heart. While the following passage may be difficult to read, take comfort in knowing that your involvement could be just the thing these unfortunate souls need to help buoy their spirits and make it through a difficult period.

Since September 11, 2001, Americans and Canadians have come together
as never before in our generation. We have banded together to
overcome tremendous adversity. We have weathered direct attacks on
our own soil, wars overseas, corporate/government scandal, layoffs,
unemployment, stock price plunges, droughts, fires, mad cow, SARS,
high gasoline prices, and a myriad of economic and physical
disasters both great and small. But now, we must come together once
again to overcome our greatest challenge yet.

Hundreds of Professional Hockey players in our very own nation are
going to be locked out, living at well below the seven-figure salary
level. And as if that weren't bad enough they could be deprived of
their life giving pay for several months, possibly longer, as a
result of the upcoming lockout situation. But you can help!

For only $20,835 a month, about $694.50 a day (that's less than the
cost of a large screen projection TV) you can help an NHL player
remain economically viable during his time of need. This
contribution by no means solves the problem as it barely covers the
annual minimum salary, but it's a start, and every little bit will
help! Although $700 may not seem like a lot of money to you, to a
hockey player it could mean the difference between spending the
lockout golfing in Florida or on a Mediterranean cruise. For you,
seven hundred dollars is nothing more than a month's rent, half a
mortgage payment, or a month of medical insurance, but to a hockey
player, $700 will partially replace his daily salary. Your
commitment of less than $700 a day will enable a player to buy that
home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new
Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio.

How will I know that I'm Helping?

Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on the
player you sponsor. Detailed information about his stocks, bonds,
401(k), real estate, and other investment holdings will be mailed to
your home. Plus, upon signing up for this program, you will receive
an unsigned photo of the player lounging during the lockout on a
beach somewhere in the Caribbean (for a signed photo, please include
an additional $150). Put the photo on your refrigerator to remind
you of other peoples' suffering.

HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING?

Your NHL player will be told that he has a SPECIAL FRIEND who just
wants to help in a time of need. Although the player won't know your
name, he will be able to make collect calls to your home via a
special operator in case additional funds are needed for unforeseen
expenses.

YES, I WANT TO HELP!

I would like to sponsor a locked out NHL player. My preference is
(check below):

[ ] Forward [ ] Defenseman [ ] Goaltender [ ] Entire team

(Please call our 900 number to ask for the cost of a specific team - $10 per
minute)

[ ]Jaromir Jagr (Higher cost: $32,000 per day)

Please charge the account listed below $694.50 per day for the
duration of the lockout. Please send me a picture of the player I
have sponsored, along with an Jaromir Jagr 2001 Income Statement and
my very own Bob Goodenow (Executive Director of the NHLPA player's
Union) pin to wear proudly on my hat (include $80 for hat).

Your Name: _______________________

Telephone Number: _______________________

Account Number: _______________________ Exp.Date:_______

[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: _______________________

Alternate card (when the primary card exceeds its credit limit):

Account Number: _______________________ Exp.Date:_______

[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: _______________________

Act now. You'll be glad you did, eh?

Thanks to Nicole for the email

Roar of The Lion

Newsflash: Pedro The Lion is an amazing band.

If you're interested in checking them out, you can listen to their entire album at the website below. How cool is that?

Launch The Pedro Player
click on the box to the right that reads "audio"

Droppin' A "Dime"

There's been some more new Cake songs added to their online player since my last post.

Check their (and best) song on the player.

For further reference, I'm placing a separate link along the right hand column.

Launch the Cake Player

A "Splendor" on Celluloid

"Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff."
-Harvey Peckar

The library can be a pretty wonderful place. Full of books, ideas, philosophy, opinions, satire, whatever you're looking for right at your fingertips.

On our last trip to the book depository, Kirsten and I picked up our usual assortment of items. For her, 4 to 5 books, varying in form, usually fiction. For me, CDs to burn and DVDs to absorb.

For some reason, this trip was very different than the countless others. The following is a list of what I stumbled upon on this particular venture:

CDs

• Incubus A Crow Left of The Murder - Heard it wasn't nearly as good as their previous releases. But, for free, what can it hurt?
• David Bowie Ziggy Stardust 30th Anniversary Edition - For the bonus CD alone, it's worth it.
• U2 The Joshua Tree - Not sure how this happened, but I've never owned a copy. Yeah, I know.
• Nick Drake Pink Moon - Never heard it. C'mon, it's Nick f#ckin' Drake.

DVDs

• "Waking Life" - Haven't seen it. Kirsten thought it looked good; after reading the back, I can't wait to check it out.
• "American Splendor" - Tonight's subject. We just finished it tonight. Verdict: Two thumbs way up from the both of us.

What a wonderful movie. To be honest, I knew very little about Harvey Peckar before this movie. Sure, I'd heard of his legendary guest appearances on Letterman, but the rest never seemed to make its way to the small town where I grew up. Harvey and his family have a blog that is an interesting read on how his world has turned upside down since the movie's release.

All I got out of this movie was a wonderful group of characters that created a tapestry of ordinary life that is both painfully dingy and grim and achingly simple and beautiful.

Finding beauty in the things that we take for granted in life is such a powerful message that reaches out to all of us.

If you haven't seen this film, and you happen upon it while perusing for the latest Janet Evanovich at the library, or in a more common video store, pick it up. You won't be dissappointed.

Mix Master Mike

Mike and The Mixtapes.
Sounds like a great name for a band, right?

OK, so it's not as good as The Rusty Trombones, but I digress.

My friend Mike has just released his anticipated debut of hopefully many monthly mixtapes. Check it out at the link below where you can download a little piece of Mike for free.

Randomness presents MixTape 0804 Bacteria Be Damned

I highly recommend it. If nothing else, think of it as stretching your obscure internet music dollar.

Google Me

I added a new toy to the bottom of my site. Check it out...it may come in handy perusing my archives.

If you have a site or blog of your own and want to join in on the Google fun, here's the link to get your very own personal search engine.

Happy Googling!

I Love My Pants (Post)

Back by popular demand (OK, I liked it), I'm bringing back a funny post that I came across sifting through my archives.

Yes, I'm that vain.
---------------------------
Nice Pants You Have, Hmm?

Star Wars Lines That Can Be Impressive If You Substitute The Word "Pants"

• 1. A tremor in the pants. The last time I felt this was in the presence of my old master.
• 2. You are unwise to lower your pants.
• 3. We've got to be able to get some reading on those pants, up or down.
• 4. She must have hidden the plans in her pants. Send a detachment down to retrieve them. See to it personally Commander.
• 5. These pants may not look like much, kid, but they've got it where it counts.
• 6. I find your lack of pants disturbing.
• 7. These pants contain the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it.
• 8. Han will have those pants down. We've got to give him more time!
• 9. General Veers, prepare your pants for a surface assault.
• 10. I used to bulls-eye womp-rats in my pants back home.
• 11. TK-421. . . Why aren't you in your pants?
• 12. Lock the door. And hope they don't have pants.
• 13. Governor Tarkin. I should've recognized your foul pants when I was brought on board.
• 14. You look strong enough to pull the pants off of a Gundark.
• 15. Luke . . . Help me take . . . these pants off.
• 16. Great, Chewie, great. Always thinking with your pants.
• 17. That blast came from those pants. That thing's operational!
• 18. Don't worry. Chewie and I have gotten into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than this.
• 19. Maybe you'd like it back in your pants, your highness.
• 20. Your pants betray you. Yours feelings for them are strong. Especially one. Your sister!
• 21. Jabba doesn't have time for smugglers who drop their pants at the first sign of an Imperial Cruiser.
• 22. Yeah, well short pants is better than no pants at all, Chewie.
• 23. Attention. This is Lando Calrissean. The Empire has taken control of my pants, I advise everyone to leave before more troops arrive.
• 24. I cannot teach him. The boy has no pants.
• 25. You came in those pants? You're braver than I thought.

-courtesy Grahme Newell

Walker, St. Louis Cardinal

Just when you thought the Cards had a tough lineup before August 6, now Larry Walker's wearing Cardinal red.

The big debate: Where will he hit in that power-packed lineup? 2nd? 6th? Will he crack the Pujols - Rolen - Edmonds heart?

Wherever he ends up, it's definitely a good problem to have for skipper Tony LaRussa:

"There's some good times ahead -- where to hit him, where to play him, how much to play him," said La Russa, who praised team ownership. "They're trying to give us every chance we can to get to the finish line and get to October and do some damage."

Performer. Visionary. American.

The following is an excerpt from an New York Times op-ed piece written by Bruce Springsteen.

You can read the whole article here.

"It is through the truthful exercising of the best of human qualities - respect for others, honesty about ourselves, faith in our ideals - that we come to life in God's eyes. It is how our soul, as a nation and as individuals, is revealed. Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting."

-Bruce Springsteen

Thanks, Boss.

Link via Mike and Vernum

"Vote for Bushie"

In case you haven't seen the Will Ferrell Bush ad presented by Americans Coming Together at this site, or if you're like me, the QuickTime file wouldn't upload onto your computer, I may have found a remedy.

I had no problem viewing the ad at the link below. So give it a try. Careful around the horse.

"Bush Straight Talk" Ad (starring Will Ferrell)

The Perks (and Perils) of A Career in Television

I'm going to see the Braves take on the best team in baseball August 14th, and thanks to 4 comp tickets after working my TV magic, it won't cost me a thing.

Except for the $12 to park.
Plus the $9 for a Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich at The Bullpen before the game.
And another $9 dropped at The 'Pen for 3 Bud Lights to load up before the game.
(I refuse to pay for beer inside a stadium - no-one to co-sign on a loan and I don't have a house to take out a morgage.)
Also, another $4 inside the park for a Diet Coke. (see above)
And, the $10 for gas.
Total --- $44.oo

Oh yeah, worst of all, my best friend, girlfriend, coolest chick I know, and co-ambassador of fun can't go because she's working.
In the immortal words of Yosemite Sam: Rack-a-frak-a, Rack-a-frak-a.

Hey, at least the tickets were free.

PS: Rolen for MVP. Respect.

Only The Lonely

This sucks. Kirsten's been in Michigan since Monday, and I'm so bored.

Zoe and I miss her very much. (Maybe if I say enough good things about her, she'll fly home early).

Oh, well. It's worth a shot.

Come home safe.

Playing Along With "meme"

Ok, Mike. I'm game. Add me to the meme experiment.

This posting is a community experiment that tests how a meme, represented by this blog posting, spreads across blogspace, physical space and time. It will help to show how ideas travel across blogs in space and time and how blogs are connected. It may also help to show which blogs (and aggregation sites) are most influential in the propagation of memes. The dataset from this experiment will be public, and can be located via Google (or Technorati) by doing a search for the GUID for this meme (below).

The original posting for this experiment is located at: Minding the Planet (Permalink) --- results and commentary will appear there in the future.

Please join the test by adding your blog (see instructions, below) and inviting your friends to participate -- the more the better. The data from this test will be public and open; others may use it to visualize and study the connectedness of blogspace and the propagation of memes across blogs.

The GUID for this experiment is:
as098398298250swg9e98929872525389t99
87898tq98wteqtgaq62010920352598gawst

(this GUID enables anyone to easily search Google or other search engines for all blogs that participate in this experiment, once they have indexed the sites that participate). Anyone is free to analyze the data of this experiment. Please publicize your analysis of the data, and/or any comments by adding comments onto the original post (see URL above). (Note: it would be interesting to see a geographic map or a temporal animation, as well as a social network map of the propagation of this meme.)

INSTRUCTIONS
To add your blog to this experiment, copy this entire posting to your blog, and then answer the questions below, substituting your own information, below, where appropriate. Other than answering the questions below, please do not alter the information, layout or format of this post in order to preserve the integrity of the data in this experiment (this will make it easier for searchers and automated bots to find and analyze the results later).

REQUIRED FIELDS (Note: Replace the answers below with your own answers)

(1) I found this experiment at URL: randomness personified

(2) I found it via browsing my blogroll.

(3) I posted this experiment at URL: COD Blog

(4) I posted this on date (day/month/year): 04/08/04

(5) I posted this at time (24 hour time): 12:47:00 PM EST

(6) My posting location is (city, state, country): Columbus, GA, USA

OPTIONAL SURVEY FIELDS (Replace the answers below with your own answers):

(7) My blog is hosted by: Blogger

(8) My age is: 27

(9) My gender is: Male

(10) My occupation is: TV Producer

(11) I use the following RSS/Atom reader software: N/A

(12) I use the following software to post to my blog: Blogger

(13) I have been blogging since (day, month, year): 28/08/2002

(14) My web browser is: Knology

(15) My operating system is: Windows XP

Orwell, Huxley, and the iPod

With the 20th anniversary of Apple's Macintosh comes a new version of the infamous "1984" commercial, that originally aired during Super Bowl XIX.

Only something's different.

Pay no attention to the appliance on the hip of the hammer-wielding woman.

It's nice to know that Apple is incorporating the power of rawk to thwart the evil Orwellian society.

Of course, Steve Jobs paints himself a nice picture with the cover of Newsweek (seen right) and the story of a nation wrought with iPods.

By the way, Pirates of Silicon Valley...a great flick.

OK, I'm done with my random babbling. Peace out.

Props to Jesse for the link.

Rivers Explains It All...

...in his letter for readmission to school.

An interesting read...quite the journey our Weezer friend hath taken.

Props to Jesse for the link.

A Delicious Slice

With their anticipated 5th album due out 5 days into October, Cake has been kind enough to allow us to sample a slice of the album's first cut, "Wheels".

Help yourself. Buy a T-shirt. Catch a show.
If nothing else, they've got a great advice column.

CAKE
Pressure Chief (2004)

1. WHEELS
2. NO PHONE
3. TAKE IT ALL AWAY
4. DIME
5. CARBON MONOXIDE
6. THE GUITAR
7. MAN
8. WAITING
9. BASKETS
10. END OF THE MOVIE
11. PALM OF YOUR HAND
12. TOUGHER THAN IT IS

Endgame - The Video Game!

Education and Voltron...Two great words that sound great together.

Warning: Game is long and use of brain matter required. Consult a physician.

Save the Planet...Play BushGame!

Free Music is Always Good

If you're in the market for free mp3s that won't end in a trip to court, Pitchfork Media is always a good source.

A word of warning:  It's a haven for obscure bands seeking exposure.  But really, where's the fun in downloading a top 40 hit?  No surprise there.

Happy music shopping! 

PS  Check out Monolith's Ruby Dear and Treewave's Sleep.

The Year of our (Sith) Lord

I'm sure most of you are privy to the following, but in case you've been stuck on Dagobah or even Hoth, creator George Lucas announced the title of the final? installment of the Star Wars saga,
Episode III:  The Revenge Of The Sith.

In case you're wondering what The Sith is, congratulations on not being a geek.
Here's how the AP sees the Sith:

The Sith is the evil sect that corrupts Anakin -- played by Hayden Christensen -- by drawing him into the dark side of the Force, which is the cosmic power that balances the universe in the series. The unveiling of the title was made in San Diego at a gathering of thousands of sci-fi and superhero fans by revealing a black T-shirt with the words, "Revenge of the Sith." The movie will be released in May.

More Star Wars trivia:  Did you know that the original title of Episode Six (Jedi) was "Revenge of the Jedi"?
The name change, according to this site:

The film was originally named Revenge of the Jedi until it was pointed out that revenge is contrary to the Jedi code, though many speculate that the change was always planned to throw fans off. But it has also been claimed that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was originally subtitled The Vengeance of Khan, and that the title was changed because of its similarity to Revenge of the Jedi.

They even had merchandise and T-Shirts that leaked to the public in 1983 with the defunct title.
Man, I would love to have one of those T-Shirts!
Well, I guess I could always make one from this copy of the original teaser poster.

Sun Hits The Sky

Get off my back, OK?  So it took me forever to realize the genius in Supergrass (see post below) and their sophomore effort, In It For The Money...at least I'm admitting my wrongdoing.

Please forgive me.  I truly meant no harm.

Seen The Light
It's official.  I get Supergrass now.  Life on Other Planets is a revelation.
 
From the song that shares the title of this post, while he may just be "a rock n' roll singer in a rock n' roll hand, it sounds otherworldly to me.
 
Some more favorites from L.O.O.P:  Za Song, Prophet 15, Grace, Seen the Light, Rush Hour Soul, just to name a few.

If nothing else, they have some of the coolest websites I've ever seen, so at least they got that goin' for them, which is nice.

Case in point:  Check out this site, now with album demos and other cool stuff.

First Gunther, Now This!
 
From the guys that brought you Powder Blue Pine Tar (despite the Royals' best efforts to squelch my and their love for the game) comes an exciting new venture dedicated to the day-to-day minutiae of my beloved Kansas City Chiefs aptly titled Red Zone Blitz.

A special thanks go out to G and G for restoring my faith in humanity.

If nothing else, you can count me in as a loyal reader. 

The 2004 season kicks off July 29th in River Falls for training camp.  The groundswell for the 2005 Super Bowl starts now.

2004 Kansas City Chiefs Schedule

In A World ruled by Cliche and Derivative Storylines...

Disclaimer:  This audio file exceeds the FCC requirement for needle drops. 

You've been warned.

Scathing Bi-Partisan Cartoon of The Week

Just in case you've been living in a cave, this is the political fodder du jour in the newsroom this week.

By the reaction I've witnessed, it seems to be the one touchstone on which the left and right can agree:  Both of these guys are idiots. 

Netiquette - Your Dear, Dear Friend
 
Tired of all the constant spelling of words?  Unsure of the proper procedure in a chat room?  Looking for an effective way to communicate in the workplace?
 
The next time you ponder whether to use that emoticon or enter that chat room, stop and consult the manual.
 
Now we can all breathe a little easier.

A Message From The Management
 
A little propaganda never hurt anyone.

Is That A Hankerchief You're Wearing...
 
If you haven't seen this clip that happened in the break on Letterman, check it out here.
 
Words can't even describe it....it's like Costanza feeling that lady's fabric and promptly losing his job as a bra salesman.

Plight of the American Soldier
I found this great article in The New Yorker about the change in the psyche of the American soldier since World War II. 
 
Plus, there's a nice plug in it for the Red Lobster here in town.  You know me...always pimpin' the Lobster. 

Breaking Out In Hives

Sweden's favorite punk band is launching another assault on the U.S. charts with a new album hitting stores July 20th.

Check out their new single "Walk Idiot Walk" streaming on their website. Enjoy.

Too Much Livin'...Is No Way To Die
Well, I made a new compilation. Keeping with the theme of driving on the open road and my friend's recent post about Jay Farrar's latest, I decided to come up with a "best-of" mix of Farrar's post-Tupelo band Son Volt especially for the highway. All selections are taken from the band's wonderful trinity of albums, Trace, Straightaways, and Wide Swing Tremolo.
With a lot of my comps, I try to arrange the tracks in a format that I see fit. With Roadcase, I kept the songs in the same order as they appear on the albums, in chronological order of the album's release.
Artistic License or Laziness? You be the judge.
Below is the tracklist for the 80 min disc. I know that some of you out there will have a difference of opinion on said list. Don't be shy. That's why we have the comments section.
Let your voice be heard...and let the debate begin.

Roadcase - The Best of Son Volt
Windfall
Live Free
Tear Stained Eye
Route
Drown
Loose String
Catching On
Too Early
Mystifies Me
Caryatid Easy
Back into Your World
Picking Up The Signal
Left A Slide
Creosote
Last Minute Shakedown
Been Set Free
Straightface
Driving the View
Medicine Hat
Strands

Disclaimer: This disc is best heard while operating heavy machinery, preferably for a low wage, on a strip of pavement, with a Peterbilt logo adorning the front and mudflaps. Gimme Cap Optional, but encouraged.

Chinese Utensil Torture

Kirsten and I have been meaning to bring this up for a while now, and I'm interested to hear what the masses think about this odd, yet growing problem.

Why do buffets feel the need to use slotted spoons for Solid foods, and solid spoons for foods that would better suited for said slotted spoons?

Don't misunderstand me. I'm pro-slotted spoon. I've also gone on record stating the Spork (that ingenious hybrid of fork and spoon, available at your nearest KFC) may very well be the greatest utensil nay, invention of all time.

Can't the good folks tending to our buffets stop, put down those endless trays of crab legs they're sending to the hordes leering over the smorgasboard, and consider the dilemma at hand.

I mean, slotted spoons for Jello? Why? Find the need in that scenario. Meanwhile, the pineapple and peaches, equipped with your garden variety solid spoons, beg the same question: Why?

Maybe this will help. Maybe, by starting a groundswell for the proper uses of buffet-serving utensils, we can put a stop to this baffling problem plaguing the good human troughs of America.

Hey, if I can change one restaurant owner's mind, it'll all be worth it.

Because, in the end, it's all about the kids.

Join the fight, won't you?

P.S. There's a band called Spork. I've never heard their music, but I love them already.

Kerry and Eddie in 2004

Well, since we've got that out of the way...Press the flesh, boys!

Kissing hands and shaking babies...that's the name of the game.

BTW...The Post, such a cute little rag. Hey, at least they got the headline first!

-post created with the aid of Wilco's "Theologians"

Ready For My Next Slice

The good folks over at Sunless Suitcase have brought my attention to a wonderful development: a new slice from Cake is due this October 5th.

Great news, indeed. I had just finished compiling a "best-of" comp from Cake's highly underrated four albums(see trackist below), and while taking in their sweet Sacremento sounds, anxiously awaited the release of album 5.

The wait is over...well, almost.

Tracklist from Slice-The Best of Cake:

Opera Singer
Ruby Sees All
The Distance
Never There
Friend Is A Four Letter Word
Guitar
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
Jolene
Commissioning A Symphony In C
Walk on By
You Part The Waters
When You Sleep
Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle
Comfort Eagle
Italian Leather Sofa
Alpha Beta Parking Lot
Stickshifts And Safetybelts
Mr. Mastodon Farm
I Will Survive
Ain't No Good
Sad Songs And Waltzes

Top heavy with Motorcade songs, I know.
What can I say? I'm proud of the fact that I knew them before they sold out. Plus, Only when you have a Willie Nelson cover as the closing track do you have a true album.
Word.

L.A. Showcase

In the past, the Los Angeles Dodgers are far less than a blip on my radar.

With that in mind, 2004 has changed that drastically. Not because I've decided that Gagne is amazing and worth following very closely (which he is).
Not because new GM and Moneyball disciple Paul DePodesta is a great hire for an up-and-coming team (also true)...and definitely not because I share the home of the Columbus Catfish, L.A.'s Class A affiliate.(although said city has something to do with it.)

The answer: Edwin Jackson.
Jackson grew up in Columbus, GA (the home office of COD Blog) and exceled at Shaw High School before being drafted by the Dodgers.
After a brief minor league career, Jackson made his major league debut in the Sunday night ESPN Game of the Week last year on his 20th birthday. His opponent: Future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Yikes.
So, what does the kid do? Dominates from the first pitch, outduels The Big Unit and picks up his first major league win. Oh, did I mention that he turned 20?

Consider myself (and many a baseball fan) a believer.

So, why this lament on a 20 year old?

Edwin got the call to join the big club again, against crosstown rival Anaheim and their reluctant ace, Bartolo Colon.

Prediction: A solid performance for Edwin, and a permanent spot in the rotation.
With Nomo's health concerns, I think L.A. feels the time is right to hand the ball to their top prospect and see what he can do every fifth day. Edwin never returns to AAA and finishes the season in the bigs.

Now to the real question: Will he still be in Dodger Blue?

While I feel that Edwin is being given his long-awaited shot, I can't help but think it's all a showcase for a potential suitor to help bolster L.A.'s rotation and/or lineup with talent and power.

Will DePodesta pull the trigger on a trade? Most likely.

Will Jackson's name surface? Definitely.

Will the future be sent packing for the now. Too close to call.

I can say this: The kid looks awfully good in Dodger Blue.

The ball is in your court, Mr. DePodesta. I trust you'll make the right call.

Royals Order a "Ruben"

Another move today, again involving cash.

Well, it seems KC is shoring up their corner OF depth.

How good is said depth? Aye, that's the rub.

New Kid on The Blog

Real original title, I know. What IS original is my friend's great new blog that just opened its doors to the masses.

Fellow music and film lover -B just logged on a few days ago, but I implore you to go check out his new scene here at the Sunless Suitcase. He's infinitely more talented than I and has a keen eye and ear on the music and film that matter to me, and maybe even yourself.

So do me a solid and check it out. If nothing else, you'll do wonders for contributing to our collective sanity.

Isn't that what life is all about?

Cumberland Takes The Fall

The Royals fired their pitching coach today.

As much as I complained about his mismanagement of the young arms, but is he really the sole man to blame?

Not likely, but like in business, the line is Results, Results, Results.

Greinke Time

Well, after a ray of hope with Mike Wood's first game(and subsequent victory) as a Royal, What else do we persistent Royals fans do to ward off these sick yet familiar feelings?

Take in a game with young Mr. Greinke on the hill. This kid cures all.

(Warning: May cause uncontrollable cheering and high-fiving. Ask your doctor if watching Zach Greinke is right for you.)

Fighting His Chrome Demons

A nice article on Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, his battle with prescription pills, and his stint in rehab.

PS: If you haven't picked up A Ghost Is Born, what are you waiting on?

Priest or L.T.?

What, like you're not already thinking about football?

Well, if any of you know me well at all, I'm a little biased here.

So read on and decide for yourself.

With me, SI is preaching to the converted.

Royal Acquisition

The Royals made another move today.

Not sure as to the significance, but I must protest that it got the wheels turning as to how close KC is to trading off Joe Randa, until it became apparent that it was to fill a hole at third with Randa heading for the DL and surgery.

Will Randa be next on the Royals chop block?

The countdown to the Teahan Era in Kansas City swings into gear.

Welcome to Goalietown

What has gotten into the Blues?

Last week at this time, goaltending was arguably the organ-i-zation's weakest position in terms of depth and talent.

Fast forward to today's net-mindful Blues:
-acquired 2001's 26th overall (1st round) draft pick netminder from Dallas. [Bacashihua]
-stole the top European goaltender in the 2004 draft on Saturday. [Marek Schwarz]
-traded a 2005 4th round pick Sunday for the Senators (and now Blues) no. 1 goalie. [Patrick Lalime]

Going from a huge question mark to a team strength is more than enough to get me ready for the next NHL season...whenever they decide to drop the puck.

Big thumbs up to Pleau and his staff. I can hear the naysayers are scrambling for something bashworthy right now. Keep digging.

Projected Blues Depth Chart in Net

Blues
1. Lalime
2. Bacashihua "Cash"

Worchester IceCats
1. Sanford
2. Divis

Rivermen
1. Rudykowsky

Europe
1. Schwarz

I call this Blues Steal

How much do I love my Blues now?

Two days ago, they traded last year's 30th pick overall, D Shawn Belle, for Dallas' 2003 26th overall, G Jason Bacashihua (or "Cash"). With that transaction, the Blues added to a weak net corps in the hopes that "Cash" would pay off in the future.

But the real heist came on draft day. With their 17th pick in the 2004 Draft, St. Louis grabbed arguably the top netminder in the draft, goaltender Marek Schwarz.

The only complaint I can find is should the Blues have waited to make the Belle deal after the draft?
My response: How do we know that Dallas wouldn't have just gone with a D-man in the draft? If you told me before the draft that the Blues would have a shot at one of the draft's top 2 goalies, I'd asked for a hit of what you're smoking.

This is the best pick the Blues have made in 5 years, since grabbing Jackman at 17 in 1999.

Nice work, Jarko. That extension is well deserved.

Vive le Blue!

Marek Schwarz
Position: goaltender
Team: HC Sparta Praha Sr.
Birthdate: April, 1st, 1986
Birthplace: Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
Height: 6'0”
Weight: 173 lbs.
Catches: R
CSB final rank: 1st among European goaltenders

At 6'0”, 173 pounds, Schwartz already possesses decent size, covers the net quite well and has considerable smarts. He plays a butterfly style which is very effective and makes it tough to beat him low. Schwarz is a resilient goalie with exceptional quickness and reflexes. He uses his pads well and has a quick glove hand. He also likes to challenge the shooter and plays the angles with remarkable poise. He impresses with his confidence and doesn't let in many bad goals. On the mental side he seems to be tough, but still sometimes tends to lose focus for a while. His drawbacks are average skating and he has to further develop his stickhandling. Schwarz’s play with the puck isn't very good, but he is aware of this and working on this skill. This season Schwarz developed a penchant to go down sometimes too early, thus leaving the upper half uncovered and vulnerable to shooters. He has to get rid of this habit, but nevertheless he is the most talented netminder from this year's European crop. Schwarz won't fall past the Top 15 as he has all the tools of a future NHL starter.

2004 St. Louis Blues draft picks

Thanks Carlos

Well, the third best player to ever don a Royals uniform is headed to Houston.

Although it was a foregone conclusion that Beltran wouldn't continue to darken the centerfield grass at Kauffman after this year, it's still a little rough to stomach.
The idealist in me wanted Carlos to shun his greedy, life-sucking agent Scott Boras and stay with the team where he won the AL Rookie of the Year and grew up before our eyes.

But, just like that moment when a parent sending his son off to college, it's for his own good. Now he can work to fulfill his talent on a contending team, and possibly realize the dream of so many: a ring of his own.

I'll continue to follow Carlos on his quest...and watch him seduce a entire legion of new fans. Those long, graceful strides eating up the outfield grass, on his way to a spectacular, effortless catch. That incredible power from both sides of the plate, and his ability to toy with pitchers once he's on the basepaths.

Buen Suerte, Senor Beltran. You deserve it. Houston: Take care of him...and keep those damn Yankees away.

A Ghost is Born

What's that you say? Another even-numbered year? I guess that can only mean one thing: Another masterpiece by Wilco.

Well, that's merely this author's opinion...just one man.
And, another.
One dude, not so much...but then,
yet another...ah, you get the idea.

If you're a fan, pick it up. If you're not, pick it up anyway. You just might have a paranormal experience.
(The author also recommends you first listen the Wilco's previous and best album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, before indulging in Ghost. Also, do not operate heavy machinery.

I call it "Blue Steel"...

...and it's all the rage. Hope you like the latest shape shift made by the good folks at COD Blog.

Maybe this will motivate the Creative Dept. to stay busy filling your screen with witty banter.

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it, too.

Cory Kiper Jr,Draft Expert|Predictions

So, I've thought it over, and I'm going on record with my predictions for the first 10 (+1) picks in tomorrow's 2004 NFL Draft.

Keep in mind, this mock doesn't include any trades or changes in draft position. Strictly, the picks with the teams as they are ranked.

With that, here we go:
-------------
Pick 1 - San Diego (4-12) selects Eli Manning QB | Mississippi
Pick 2 - Oakland (4-12) selects Roy Williams WR | Texas
Pick 3 - Arizona (4-12) selects Larry Fitzgerald WR | Pittsburgh
Pick 4 - N. Y. Giants (4-12) select Robert Gallery OT | Iowa
Pick 5 - Washington (5-11) selects Kellen Winslow TE | Miami (Fla.)
Pick 6 - Detroit (5-11) selects Sean Taylor S | Miami (Fla.)
Pick 7 - Cleveland (5-11) selects Ben Roethlisberger QB | Miami (Ohio)
Pick 8 - Atlanta (5-11) selects DeAngelo Hall CB | Virginia Tech
Pick 9 - Jacksonville (5-11) selects Kenechi Udeze DT | Southern Cal
Pick 10 - Houston (5-11) selects Dunta Robinson CB | South Carolina
+1
Pick 11 - Pittsburgh (6-10) selects Phillip Rivers QB | North Carolina State
-----------------

There you have it...We'll watch the results tomorrow @ Noon ET and see how I do.

An Easter Epiphany

I'm not a deeply religious person. Sure, I was raised in the Catholic faith, but as I got older, the trips to that old structure on Washington Street became less and less frequent. Maybe it was due to the rigors of growing up in a single-parent home, and our busy lives began to drift from the Sunday visits.

For whatever reason, just because I don't attending sans the C & E's (which have also become few and far between), it doesn't mean that most of the teaching we find in our denomination make up the structure and foundation of the way I live my life.

The reason for this preface is to tell you a story that happened last night on Easter Weekend Saturday:

****

I was pulling into the apartment complex around 8:30 last night when I was confronted by a slow moving car, and when I say slow, I'm talkin a snail lapped this machine.
As I waited for the car to pass so I could turn left behind it, I noticed it was a taxi, obviously lost in the maze I call my neighborhood.
Thinking nothing more of it, I continued home, but something was different. As I pulled into the driveway, I noticed a woman with a suitcase standing by the visitor parking island in front of my house. Just then it hit me; that cab was looking for her. So I jumped out and began walking and calling to her. It wasn't until I got within 2 feet of her that she finally acknowledged me. She was a middle-aged (probably in her 50s), dressed in a cardigan and jeans with a lone suitcase.
I asked if she was waiting for a cab. She nodded. I then told her I had passed a taxi coming home and it looked lost. At that moment, I saw the cab pull by at the complex entrance about 300 feet from us. She asked if I could flag it down for her, so I took off in a dead sprint. As I neared the cab, it began its U-turn, apparently giving up the search for this customer.
Dejected, I jogged back to the lady and told her that I would jump back into my truck and see if I could catch up with the cab again.
As I began walking to my truck, I saw her face melt in her eyes and she began sobbing. At this moment, I knew that probably everything in this woman's life recently had let her down, and I wasn't about to be the next.

After looking for the cab (to no avail), I returned home and pulled up beside her. Rolling down my window, I expressed no luck in finding the elusive cabbie. She began to break down again. Quickly, I asked if I could take her anywhere. She looked up and choked out that she needed to get to the bus station.
"No problem," I told her. So I jumped out, grabbed her suitcase and helped her to the passenger side.
***
Keep in mind that I have never seen this woman before in my life, and the same can be said of her.
For those who don't know me, I'm 6'5" and 280 pounds. Not exactly a docile air to my appearance.
Needless to say I wasn't surprised that she was apprehensive, but I convinced her that I was just as scared about the situation. Reluctant but thankful, she stepped into the vehicle.
***
The Greyhound station is about 15 minutes from our home, so as we strapped in and began our trek, I asked her name.
She said simply, "I'm Laura".
I then asked her why she was so upset, and if she wanted to talk about it. Reluctantly, she began to tell me about how she and her husband had just moved into the complex yesterday, from a small town in Georgia. Apparently, this was a normal thing to the two of them. Laura said that they have lived all over the place, with her husband getting jobs around town to make money, while she tending to the house.
It seemed to me that they had been married for about 18 years, but both had children with other partners. It seems that she had seen the move as a new beginning for the two of them, a chance to start over in a new city.
Unfortunately, the problems of the past didn't stay away for long. She told me that he hit her all the time, and the domestic violence stems back to the first years of their marriage. As much as I hated it, I could see it coming.

You know the feeling that you want something so badly to not be the truth, and it turns against you? This was one of those moments.

After last night's latest drunken fight, she told him that this was the last time he was going to lay a hand on her.
(Even now, as much as I hope that is true, I don't think it will happen.)
As her husband lay on the bed passed out, she quietly packed a suitcase and left her new home. She told me she then asked for help from a policeman who lives a few doors down from us. He asked her if she wanted to press charges. She told him that she couldn't, that it wouldn't do him or her any good. The policeman then offered to call her a cab, which she accepted.
That's where I came into the story.
***
As we neared the bus station, she began to pull herself together. She told me she was planning on taking the bus to Mississippi, but she had no one that knew she was coming. This is when I realized what a decision this woman has taken.
I continued to tell her that based on what I had heard, she was making the right decision. I think she's starting to believe me.
***
After we arrived at the Greyhound Station on 818 Veterans Parkway, I jumped out of the truck and grabbed her suitcase from the back. Laura joined me and thanked me again for taking her to the station. It was then as we headed for the entrance that something amazing happened.

She grabbed my hand.

Here I was, returning home for seeing Kirsten only 30 minutes previous, and now I was helping someone change their life. Here we were only 10 minutes ago, she was apprehensive to even tell me her name, let alone accept a ride from me. With one single, beautiful gesture, she rekindled my faith in the power of the human spirit, the ability each and every one of us has within ourselves to touch someone else's life.
***
As we entered the bus station, after talking to the ticket office, Laura told me that she was fine and she would be alright. She then gave me a hug and thanked me for being so sweet. It was then that I left the building and walked back to my truck. Nothing could wash away the look on my face.

***Epilogue***

On the trip to the bus station, Laura asked me (on several occasions) why I was doing this. To me, the answer was simple:

"I have a mother and father. I have a brother. I have a girlfriend. I have many people in my life that mean the world to me. If anyone of them were in your situation, I can only hope and pray that somebody, anybody would be there to help them out in that time of need. That's all I can ask for, therefore that all I can do for someone else."

The Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have done to you".

Of all the things I have learned and followed in life, this one sits at the summit.

I truly hope that I never see Laura again. That way, I know there's a good chance she has followed through with leaving her husband behind. That's a lot to ask, and unfortunately, I don't think it will be true.
***
As I left her at the bus station, she continued to thank me for my help. What she doesn't realize is she helped me as well.

Too often in life, we're confronted with the negatives of human interaction: the lying, back-stabbing, self-righteousness, prejudice and inequalities in the world.

With one small gesture and a trusting heart, Laura reconfirmed everything that's great about life.

I just hope good things for people like Laura. She deserves only the best in life.

Godspeed in her journey.

It's a Brand New Era...

We're wiping the slate clean, and beginning anew.

Hope you like the new look. With any luck, I should have the comments link matching up a little better in the near future.

Good Ways to spend a Sunday...

Yes...I was courtside in the corporate section at the Xavier-Duke game today.

By the way...is Luol Deng the Carmelo of 2004? Freshman leading a powerhouse program to the title. Tune in next week...

Anyway...back to the game.
Yes...I met Rep. Dick Gephardt (literally sitting next to us at the game) and hung out with his son (looks just like him)and daughter-in-law (lovely people, all of them).

For the most part, I remained neutral between the 3 teams, with a slight emphasis for the Blue Devils (Dick's son is a Duke alum).

All in all...a monetary rundown of the day:

Tickets: (2) Courtside seats for Atlanta Regional Final - Free (gift from the station GM)
Transportation: Free (My friend Jason drove us to Atlanta)
Fuel: $19.36 (I filled up the tank)
Concessions: (1) Large Diet Coke ($4.50)and the worst 1/2 pound hot dog in culinary history ($6.50)
Parking: Jason paid $5.00 right next to the Dome.
Total: $35.36

Meeting a famous Missourian in the heart of Dixie....Pretty damn cool.

The Drunkard's Top 40...

...and no, Casey Kasem isn't involved.

Author's note: This article is best read while imbibing your libation of choice.

Cheers!

Chasing A Dream

OK. I'm not sure how many of you are watching this ESPN's Dream Job, but regardless, the statement I'm about to make may shock you that know me.

I agree with management.

Al Jaffe, VP of Talent for ESPN and the man in charge of hiring all the anchors, continues to be the only judge that's
A. Giving the dreamers constructive criticism that they can utilize, and
B. Nipping their egos in the bud.

Speaking as a TV professional for the last 4 years, that job they're vying for isn't all that dreamy. There's a ridiculous amount of work involved, and the copycat, comedic, "look-at-me" attitude has to stop if they want to be taken seriously.

With that, so far I like Zachariah, Kelly, and Aaron with the slight edge going to Kelly. On that note, I really believe if Zach cleans up this look, he's by far the most talented.

Finally, my two cents: Make it fun, but don't make an ass of yourself.

Falling Deeper into Dementia...One Cap at a Time

Ever since I heard from a little bird about this low-tech hack, I've gone nuts buying more than my share of 20 oz. beverages...and their subsequent winnings.

Yeah, I know it's stupid, but dammit, I feel like I'm thumbing my nose at the man with each winning twist. It's the little victories, I say.

Am I alone here?

Feel free to comment with your judgemental discourse below.

Two More Weeks!

Abstracting the View

Check out this cool ass site aptly titled Mr. Picassohead that Kirsten and Kelly pointed out to me.

If you're interested, check out My First Picasso.

Go ahead, make one....it's fun, and there's no cleanup!

Rollin' on the Red Carpet

Kirsten turned me on to this little nugget of fun.

If you'd like to take a look at my DFILM Directorial Debut, roll on over to Rick's hood.

Time Heals All Wounds...

If these two kids can make it, surely there's hope for all of us.

Happy Valentine's Day

...and have a great weekend. Today will be a long day of going to work with Kirsten for Career Day.

Maybe then I'll be able to decide what I want to do with my life.

Here's Hoping...

Behold....


More info on the new Weezer Blue Album Deluxe Edition and the sold separately DVD! (In Stores March 23rd)

Here's the tracklist for the Blue Album Deluxe Edition:

Disc One - Weezer
1. My Name Is Jonas
2. No One Else
3. The World Has Turned And Left Me Here
4. Buddy Holly
5. Undone (The Sweater Song)
6. Surfwax America
7. Say It Ain't So
8. In The Garage
9. Holiday
10. Only In Dreams

Disc Two – Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets

1. Mykel and Carli (b-side)
2. Susanne (b-side)
3. My Evaline (b-side)
4. Jamie (originally appeared on DGC rarities)
5. My Name Is Jonas (live b-side)
6. Surfwax America (live b-side)
7. Jamie (live acoustic b-side)
8. No One Else (live acoustic b-side)
9. Undone (previously unreleased kitchen tapes)
10. Paperface (previously unreleased kitchen tapes)
11. Only In Dreams (previously unreleased kitchen tapes)
12. Lullaby For Wayne (previously unreleased pre-production recording)
13. I Swear It’s True (previously unreleased pre-production recording)
14. Say It Ain’t So (original album mix)

Weezer DVD - Rundown

videos:

Undone - The Sweater Song
Buddy Holly
Say It Ain’t So
El Scorcho (directors cut)
The Good Life
Pink Triangle (home made no budget)
Hash Pipe
Island In The Sun (Marcos Siega)
Island In The Sun (Spike Jonze)
Photograph
Dope Nose
Keep Fishin’
Slob (indie style low budget)

Documentary, B-roll, and Live stuff:

Undone - the Sweater song (Alternate version)
"Weezer Goes To NY: The Making of The Blue Album"
In The Garage (live)
Jamie (Live)
"Buddy Holly News"
"Saction" (spring 1995 tour action)
Say It Ain't So (B-roll version)
Say It Ain't So (live - Dave Letterman)
"Weezer Goes To Van Nuys: The Making of Pinkerton"
El Scorcho (live)
The Good Life (B-roll version)
Pink Triangle (Live and Acoustic)
Mykel and Carli (Live)
My Brain (Live)
"Outlog"
"Stoopid Fresh" (green album preparations)
"How Not To Do An Interview"
Dope Nose (B-roll version)
"Eurotrash" (2002 tour action)
Take Control (Live)
Fall Together (Pre-Show Warmup)
Prodigy Lover (demo session)

A Valentine "Miracle"

How I've longed to see this movie. Hopefully, we can tear ourselves away from the TV station to catch it.

The reviews have been nothing short of wonderful...which means that it's sure to dissappoint.

The best thing: I don't care.

Such a wonderful moment in U. S. history cannot be cheated.


Do I believe in "Miracle"? Oh, yes.

Bowling With The Skinheads...It's Fun to Spare!!

Kirsten would normally appreciate my giving props to Camper Van Beethoven/Cracker in this space o' cyber, but that's not at work here.

Yesterday, I found myself torn between purchasing "Lost in Translation" or finally picking up "Bowling for Columbine".

Since I couldn't find a marked down copy of "Lost" anywhere, I settled for "Bowling"

Man, I hate being poor.

=W= Alert

Mark your calendars, you fans of music, for March 23rd.

It's been brought to my attention that the boys in Weezer are tentatively marking that date for the release of not only the long-awaited Weezer DVD, but a deluxe edition of one of my top ten albums of all time, their debut "Blue Album".

Here's Karl's post on the day in reference:

Freedom from the Stallion
well, its been a long time coming, but from 'on high', we have a tentative release date for BOTH "Video Capture Device" (the Weezer DVD), AND The Blue Album Deluxe Edition: March 23, 2004. (Now, "tentative" means they have put them on their release schedule, and this date is subject to revision. But - if the release date is in fact changed, it won't be changed by much.)

Thats right, The DVD and the Deluxe Blue Album are coming out on the same day. As previously reported here, the DVD will have over 3 hours of videos, mini-documentaries, live footage, and behind the scenes action dating from 1991-2002, and will have optional band member commentary on many of the DVD's selections. The Deluxe Blue Album will be a 2 disc set that includes the blue album and a disc with all the b-sides and a selection of rare and very rare tracks, plus a big fat booklet with lots of stuff to read and tons of pix, many never before seen.

In the coming weeks/months, the release date will be confirmed and youll see the cover art for the dvd. At the moment, the DVD's final assembly and production session is slated for the beginning of February. As more info becomes known it will appear on this news page. Thanks to all the fans for your support and patience on these projects!

[posted 1/15/2004 U.S.A.]

Punk the Vote

Hey, I can get behind this good cause.

'Tis the Season, or Happy Belated Popcorn Day 2004

I thought Christmas was over, but yesterday I found a pack of microwave popcorn slipped through the mailslot (Special thanks are in order for Heather, Lyn, and Richard, whoever the hell you are).

But today, I arrived at home to find a cute little box with candy inside hanging from our doorknob.

Thanks to the Greystone Village, and I like red Corvettes.

Just a thought.

Surveys Says!

Disclaimer: The following is my attempt at filling out a survey found on Kirsten's website.

Guarantee: It will suck.

Warning: If you don't mind wasting 10 minutes of your life, Read on.

If you want to play along, leave your answers in the Comments section below.

Just warning you, dear reader, ahead of time.

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Cory Michael O'Donnell
2. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING? Olive Khakis
3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO? Kirsten's watching CBS' Up to the Minute, so that's on in the background.
4. WHAT ARE THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER? I don't give out my home number.... so you'll have to guess. The last four digits of my work number are 5425.
5. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? El Vacquero...No, not in Kirksville...that would be quite a fast! Enchi-LADAS!
6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Sienna....because the name RAWKS.
7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? 48 and Clear (2:50 am). My Weather Pixie is sporting a jacket with his "Hacker" tee.8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Kirsten.
9. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? Their eyes.
10. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? Yes, she's a freak...and she's kinda cute.11. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Good...A little wired.
12. FAVORITE DRINK? I love Mountain Dew.
13. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS? Smirnoff Ice.
14. FAVORITE SPORTS? Hockey, Football, and Baseball.
15. HAIR COLOR? Medium Brown, but when I get a wild bug, it's more of a Blonde.
16. WHAT COLOR DO YOU WANT IT TO BE? I wouldn't mind being more naturally blonde, like when I'm a kid. Hey, I'll settle for just being able to KEEP all of it.
17. EYE COLOR? Blue
18. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes. I'm blind as a bat.
19. SIBLINGS AND THEIR AGES: Casey, 25.
20. FAVORITE MONTH? May.
21. FAVORITE FOOD? Chinese, Italian, Chicken
22. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Love, Actually. We saw it at the dollar theater last night. It was excellent!
23. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas.
24. FAVORITE RELAXATION SPOT? I love to lie around in bed and watch TV.
25. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? Oh yeah. Fear of rejection.
26. FIRST TEENAGE (OR PRE-TEEN) MOVIE STAR CRUSH? Alyssa Milano. I had a poster of her on my door...in hockey gear. I became a BIG fan after that.
27. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
28. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs
29. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE-NIGHT STANDS? Relationships.
30. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate
31. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE BACK? Yes.
32. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Brock
33. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Rich
34. LIVING ARRANGEMENT? Share a townhouse with my two sweeties, Kirsten and Zoe.
35. WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING? Working on "Dude, Where's My Country?
36. WHAT'S ON THE MOUSE PAD? St. Louis Cardinals.
37. FAVORITE BOARD GAME? I always liked Monopoly. Trivial Pursuit. I kick ass at the Star Wars Edition. I played a lot of Risk in college. What a Loser.
38. WHAT IS THE LAST MOVING YOU WATCHED? Huh? I watched my neighbors move out last week. If this is supposed to say "movie," then see #22.
39. CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR TONGUE? Nope....Fat tongue.
40. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Great films...and people doing what they love to do.
41. BUTTERED, PLAIN OR SALTED POPCORN? Caramel.
42. FAVORITE CAR? Ferraris.
43. FAVORITE FLOWER? Roses. I get this feeling that I should buy more of them. Can't explain why.
44. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? Six...and way too many key chains.
45. CAN YOU JUGGLE? Uhhh.....Nope.
46. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Friday. As Loverboy says, I'm working for the weekend.
47. RED OR WHITE WINE? Red.
48. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? Detroit. The day after Crackhouse Niki's wedding. We were going to drive to Cedar Point, but we were too tired. We went to C.J. Barrymore's instead. It was a great day.
49. DO YOU CARRY A DONOR CARD? Nope. Now I feel guilty...wait a minute...nope, just a little indigestion. Better now.
50. LIFETIME GOALS? To be truly happy. I'll let you know if I ever get there.

Kid Hilarious

Is it just me, or is Kid Notorious the funniest show?
I've been listening to it in the background while Kirsten is watching it, and the one-liners are just killing me.
The best character in the show? A tie between Slash and the fat and sassy black housekeeper, Tollie Mae.

Plus, a spy phone disguised as a sex toy?
I might be alone here, but I definitely couldn't live without a c*ckphone.

I smell a moneymaker here.

COD Nation wants YOU!

After all this long breaks between posts on the Mainframe, I've decided to George Costanza this problem and use the exact opposite approach.

Heretofore, I've created another blog, tentatively titled COD Nation, where some of my friends may be popping in from time to time to post their thoughts.

At posting time, KO and I are the only writers on this new site, but fret not dear reader, as Ray Kinsella once said,

"If you build it, they will come."

On that note, since I am vehemently opposed to any and all unsolicited emails, I am asking any and all readers interested in participating in this new and exciting forum to step forward and let your voice be seen.

Please leave me a comment at the link conveniently named |Comments| below this post, and let me know that you too wish to join the Nation.

Come on in, future COD Nation Posters of America, the Blogging's fine.

Gunther, can you hear me?...or the first post of 2004



Our long national nightmare is finally over. Coach Vermeil officially gives KC 2 more years, and the search is on for a new defense. That means a new Defensive Coordinator.

It seems the wheels are already in motion with some good names
getting tossed about.

I'd like to see Gunther back at the reins. Remember, he was dealing with a
lot of Marty has-beens and never-was's when he was the head coach....Elvis
Grbac, Hello? We can't fault him for that.

Plus, as Vermeil would say, he "goes to work". The man is tireless, a
great, aggressive, attacking D-coordinator.
Just the shot in the arm this team needs.

Finally, guys like Wesley, Woods, Maz, Hicks, Browning, Warfield all played
for Gunther. They KNOW his system. Couple that with the current talent and
the total emphasis on defense in the draft...shutdown corner in the 1st rd,
DT in the second...etc. It's time. Bring back Gunther.

Let's Go....Broncos?

In an odd twist, I found myself rooting for my favorite NFL team's fiercest rival, the Denver Broncos, to win their game last night.

There is a logical reason for this.

With the Broncos' defeat of the Colts @ Indianapolis, The Kansas City Chiefs, despite their wretched showing on Saturday against the Vikings, clinched a first-round bye for the playoffs, clearing up a small part of the playoff picture.

Also buried in the muck that was the Vikings' trouncing of KC was a milestone for the Mainframe's favorite MVP frontrunner and theologian, Priest Holmes. With his second 3 TD day in as many weeks, Holmes tied the single season-rushing TD record held by Emmitt Smith with his 25th paydirt carry. To give an example of how many TDs that is for one player, keep in mind that the closest anyone else is to him in rushing touchdowns is a team, the Broncos, with 20.

With one game remaining next week, Priest needs one rushing touchdown to break said record and two TDs to tie the single season TD record of 26 total touchdowns held by St Louis Rams great Marshall Faulk.

Needless to say, I don't think his holiness will take the day off this Sunday.

A Little Levity in a World of Cell Phone Celebrations

I love Dan Patrick. Not in a gay way, mind you, but a "damn, he's a funny dude" way.
Along those same lines, I'm a big fan of the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio . I listen to it everyday while I'm working.

On most days, the show tends to lean toward the lighter side of sports, interspliced with guest interviews from athletes to actors and civilians to CEOs. Basically like most sports talk radio shows on the dial.

Today, however, perhaps to take a break from the bickering and arguing over the Joe Horn cell phone call, Dan introduced a great story that took place in Omaha, Nebraska over the weekend.

A young man named Brandon Peel displayed a level of sportsmanship that, to be honest, used to be more prevalent in our society.

I won't bore you with a synopsis of the event when you can read about it here. What I can do is urge you to click on the link. I found myself welling up over the unselfishness, class, and maturity shown by this 18 year old.

If only 32 year old professional football players could take a cue from this kid. I don't mean to single out the Joe Horns oand the Terrell Owens of the world. In the NFL, The "Me Above the Team" is an epidemic.

But, Joe Horn has been quoted numerous times that his act was purely for "entertaining the fans".

You know what, Joe, you're right. I'd much rather watch you absorb a national audience with an unoriginal selfish act than see an 18 year old kid give the most priceless gift to a 15 year old kid with Downs: a smile and a chance to touch his dream of wrestling.

What was I thinking?

Kick in the "Shins"

Hi. Remember me? Well, if all two of you are reading this, I've come out of my hibernation....and we can all thank Mr. Wolf.

Last night, I was downloading a song file that he listed @ number 1 on his top 5 list for 2003. I didn't get a chance to listen to it until today.

The song is Gone for Good by The Shins. It is perhaps the most gorgeous use of sound manipulation that I've heard in recent memory. It also inspired me to get off my ass and write about it.

To listen, check it out at Mike's cool ass blog. (December 9 post)

Believe me, it's worth it.

Thanks Mike for making me buy another CD.