03 January 2007
02 January 2007
NMT: 02 JAN 07 Carly Simon - Into White
Another Tuesday, another review of a just released album.
This week, it's time to give Carly Simon the treatment.
Carly Simon ?!
Yes, Carly Simon. She released an album of mostly covers, and overall it's a solid sonic experience for any listener in the right mood.
It's downbeat, without being down, it's slow and sleepy without being boring. Her voice has gotten huskier, deeper, with less range, but it has a charm and beauty with those new edges and crags.
Her official website (linked above) is pretty well done. She has a database of the lyrics of all the songs she's recorded, whether or not she penned them. That's a great feature that more artists should add to their official sites. For the latest album she has real media (.ram) sound clips of each song, which I'll hotlink on the song by song description (hopefully she won't mind, if she does I'll change it).
On to the songs.
1) Into White (lyrics)
Penned by Cat Stevens (yeah, yeah, one of her exes), she does a lovely job with it. Expressively sung, without being overwrought, just the way a song like this should be done.
2) Oh! Susanna (lyrics)
Didn't see this song coming. Nobody expects a Stephen Foster song! The arrangement on this is less twangy, more modern folky, and it works beautifully. An unexpected take on a very familiar tune (also, I'm fairly certain she was never romantically linked with Mr. Foster).
3) Blackbird (lyrics)
A nice Beatles tune, done very nicely. She doesn't attack any of the notes, more like she cuddles and cajoles the sounds gently out of her lungs and throat. Very intimate.
4) You Can Close Your Eyes (lyrics)
It's a family affair! Carly's joined by offspring Ben and Sally Taylor on a song penned by their father James Taylor. It's a touch creepy how much Ben sounds like James, but other than that (or because of that) their voices fit together very well. Normally, I passionately hate James Taylor, but somehow this ain't bad at all. Both kids (not really the right word, she's over 30, he'll be 30 this month) have their own musical careers with the websites to prove it (Ben here, Sally here).
5) Quiet Evening (lyrics)
This song is credited to David Saw (link goes to his myspace, everybody has to be on myspace), a youngish, seemingly not yet too well known folky. Another really prettily arranged song with a lot of very well played piano and acoustic guitar. A bit too slow, I think this song could have been fantastic a little more up tempo.
6) Manha De Carnaval (lyrics)
The theme from Black Orpheus, a film you should have seen, if not at least heard of (count that as a recommendation to at least put it in your netflix queue). You absolutely better be in the right mood for this song before listening to it, if not, it will just pass you by without notice, but if you do pay attention you'll notice its ethereal beauty and all around excellence.
7) Jamaica Farewell (lyrics)
Made famous by Belafonte, credited to Irving Burgie (but pieced together from previously existing island songs), Carly gives the song a very mellow take. Brings out a very wistful quality to the tune that wouldn't be there with a different arrangement.
8) You Are My Sunshine (lyrics)
Another very familiar tune. Turns it into hymnal, almost. Slowed down to a crawl. Exceeds my limit for accepting that sort of interpretation, but that's not Carly's failing, just an observation.
9) I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song) (lyrics)
Not sure why the sloooooooow treatment works for this song, and not for the previous, but that is the case. Not much more to say, more of the same, if the samples turn you off, don't go any further, if they intrigue you, this is probably an album to buy/download.
10) Devoted to You/All I Have to Do is Dream (lyrics)
Starts with a heartbeat, interesting juxtaposition of songs made famous by the Everly Brothers. Her children add some well placed harmonies to add nice texture to the song.
11) Scarborough Fair (lyrics)
Arrrrgggggggghhhhh!!!!!!
12) Over the Rainbow (lyrics)
Hard not to compare every version of this song with THE version. In that context this song suffers, on it's merits it's quite nice. Some songs have been so well defined that they're hard to attack from any other angle. The only non-Judy version of this song I like is Smashing Pumpkins'.
13) Love of My Life (lyrics)
Almost too intimate. She sings this song in an extremely vulnerable manner, letting all sorts of cracks show in her upper register, and it works beautifully (because of that, not in spite of it). She interprets the hell out of her own song (in a good way, of course).
14) I'll Just Remember You (lyrics)
Co-written by David Saw and Ben Taylor, a quiet and simple way to end a quiet, simple, and very beautiful album.
Not much more to say, it's an achingly intimate look at a performer who accepts her current voice with style and grace. She's not the women or singer she used to be, and she uses that to her advantage rather than trying to hide or run from that.
With all the lullaby and children's song like elements to the album, it's surprisingly adult and emotionally engaged.
A tremendously open and honest document of a woman singing songs she loves (or at least it would seem, maybe it's all one big marketing gimmick to get her on Oprah (Jan 16th), but I doubt it)
This week, it's time to give Carly Simon the treatment.
Carly Simon ?!
Yes, Carly Simon. She released an album of mostly covers, and overall it's a solid sonic experience for any listener in the right mood.
It's downbeat, without being down, it's slow and sleepy without being boring. Her voice has gotten huskier, deeper, with less range, but it has a charm and beauty with those new edges and crags.
Her official website (linked above) is pretty well done. She has a database of the lyrics of all the songs she's recorded, whether or not she penned them. That's a great feature that more artists should add to their official sites. For the latest album she has real media (.ram) sound clips of each song, which I'll hotlink on the song by song description (hopefully she won't mind, if she does I'll change it).
On to the songs.
1) Into White (lyrics)
Penned by Cat Stevens (yeah, yeah, one of her exes), she does a lovely job with it. Expressively sung, without being overwrought, just the way a song like this should be done.
2) Oh! Susanna (lyrics)
Didn't see this song coming. Nobody expects a Stephen Foster song! The arrangement on this is less twangy, more modern folky, and it works beautifully. An unexpected take on a very familiar tune (also, I'm fairly certain she was never romantically linked with Mr. Foster).
3) Blackbird (lyrics)
A nice Beatles tune, done very nicely. She doesn't attack any of the notes, more like she cuddles and cajoles the sounds gently out of her lungs and throat. Very intimate.
4) You Can Close Your Eyes (lyrics)
It's a family affair! Carly's joined by offspring Ben and Sally Taylor on a song penned by their father James Taylor. It's a touch creepy how much Ben sounds like James, but other than that (or because of that) their voices fit together very well. Normally, I passionately hate James Taylor, but somehow this ain't bad at all. Both kids (not really the right word, she's over 30, he'll be 30 this month) have their own musical careers with the websites to prove it (Ben here, Sally here).
5) Quiet Evening (lyrics)
This song is credited to David Saw (link goes to his myspace, everybody has to be on myspace), a youngish, seemingly not yet too well known folky. Another really prettily arranged song with a lot of very well played piano and acoustic guitar. A bit too slow, I think this song could have been fantastic a little more up tempo.
6) Manha De Carnaval (lyrics)
The theme from Black Orpheus, a film you should have seen, if not at least heard of (count that as a recommendation to at least put it in your netflix queue). You absolutely better be in the right mood for this song before listening to it, if not, it will just pass you by without notice, but if you do pay attention you'll notice its ethereal beauty and all around excellence.
7) Jamaica Farewell (lyrics)
Made famous by Belafonte, credited to Irving Burgie (but pieced together from previously existing island songs), Carly gives the song a very mellow take. Brings out a very wistful quality to the tune that wouldn't be there with a different arrangement.
8) You Are My Sunshine (lyrics)
Another very familiar tune. Turns it into hymnal, almost. Slowed down to a crawl. Exceeds my limit for accepting that sort of interpretation, but that's not Carly's failing, just an observation.
9) I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song) (lyrics)
Not sure why the sloooooooow treatment works for this song, and not for the previous, but that is the case. Not much more to say, more of the same, if the samples turn you off, don't go any further, if they intrigue you, this is probably an album to buy/download.
10) Devoted to You/All I Have to Do is Dream (lyrics)
Starts with a heartbeat, interesting juxtaposition of songs made famous by the Everly Brothers. Her children add some well placed harmonies to add nice texture to the song.
11) Scarborough Fair (lyrics)
Arrrrgggggggghhhhh!!!!!!
12) Over the Rainbow (lyrics)
Hard not to compare every version of this song with THE version. In that context this song suffers, on it's merits it's quite nice. Some songs have been so well defined that they're hard to attack from any other angle. The only non-Judy version of this song I like is Smashing Pumpkins'.
13) Love of My Life (lyrics)
Almost too intimate. She sings this song in an extremely vulnerable manner, letting all sorts of cracks show in her upper register, and it works beautifully (because of that, not in spite of it). She interprets the hell out of her own song (in a good way, of course).
14) I'll Just Remember You (lyrics)
Co-written by David Saw and Ben Taylor, a quiet and simple way to end a quiet, simple, and very beautiful album.
Not much more to say, it's an achingly intimate look at a performer who accepts her current voice with style and grace. She's not the women or singer she used to be, and she uses that to her advantage rather than trying to hide or run from that.
With all the lullaby and children's song like elements to the album, it's surprisingly adult and emotionally engaged.
A tremendously open and honest document of a woman singing songs she loves (or at least it would seem, maybe it's all one big marketing gimmick to get her on Oprah (Jan 16th), but I doubt it)
More of the Same
My reaction to this post over at Althouse regarding another WaPo time waster regarding Monica Lewinksy (which was a reaction to a snarkier WaPo time waster from last week). This isn't a tale of bias so much as cluelessness, and a lack of adaptability that will lead to irrelevance, if not extinction.
I'm most struck by this line, "I will not name names. But in recent days, Lewinsky has been back in the news".
The name he's not naming is LibbyColemanCopeland (oops!), who wrote this silly article about Ms. Lewinsky last week.
Why not call out his colleague by name?
Seems passive/aggressive not to.
Plus there should be a link to the original article that caused him to write his response, it's very unbloggerly not to.
First, if he was a blogger, he would have responded the same day, even if it was Christmas Eve, second, he would have addressed specific issues with the original article rather than write his own take off on it without directly referencing it. Thirdly and more importantly, he would have linked the article in the first place so that his readers could judge for themselves rather than forcing them to trust his opinion of the article.
Washington Post should have had the sense to include a link to increase traffic to both articles, but obviously their web editors don't yet think like people who are natives in the web, rather they treat it like a dirty, dank colonial outpost where they're stuck until they can get a 'real' job in the print division.
Remember Riding on the Disneyland Railroad and Watching the Audio-Animatronic Death Throes of the Dinosaurs . . .
. . . yeah, it's kind of like that.
From tomorrow's Variety, Peter Bart comes out for California secession. His reasons?
California is too vital and free-thinking to be dragged down by the U.S. any longer. As you well know, Governor, all Texans want to do is declare war on obscure countries, and we haven't won one of those in 60 years. The evangelicals own the South, and California isn't ready for their social agenda. The mandarins of New York and Boston have lost their political muscle -- all they can bring to us is more Clintons and John Kerry.
A liberated California would be an instant global force, Governor, and would provide you with a messianic platform. Trade would soar, incomes would rise and the government could lavish its resources on infrastructure and education rather than foreign wars. Who needs Washington's pathetic "entitlements" when we could create our own?
There are risks, to be sure; the Bushies would threaten Civil War, but they don't have any soldiers left to fight one. Some smarmy Justice Dept. bureaucrat would cite Chapter 115 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which terms rebellion a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment, but South Carolina was getting away with its secession in 1861 until a few loser states like Mississippi and Alabama horned in on its act.
Besides, that was all about slavery, and we're talking higher precepts now. A sovereign California would be liberated from a profligate, warrior national government whose interests are inconsistent with those of California. As you know better than anyone, Governor, all California wants is to be rich and flakey. In what other part of the world could a Hollywood, a Burlingame and a Cucamonga peacefully co-exist?
While over at the LA Times, Joel Stein does what Joel Stein often does, write poorly, and like an ass about how he doesn't care what you think.
Here's what my Internet-fearing editors have failed to understand: I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk at you. A column is not my attempt to engage in a conversation with you. I have more than enough people to converse with. And I don't listen to them either. That sound on the phone, Mom, is me typing.
Some newspapers even list the phone numbers of their reporters at the end of their articles. That's a smart use of their employees' time. Why not just save a step and have them set up a folding table at a senior citizen center with a sign asking for complaints?
I'm just guessing here, but I doubt any of his classes at Stanford included reading this book. Then there's this bit of patheticness, 'ha-ha', 'look at me', 'I'm having my people at the LA Times post this blog post for you losers to vent your loser spleens about my comic brilliance'. This comment, if real is far more disturbing than the stupid OpEd Joel Stein wrote
The First Fugging of the New Year!
The Fug Girls start 2007 by fugging my favorite auteur of quickie web videos.
First, what's wrong with partying like it's 1993?
Second, you've made the big time Kat!
Third, more videos please (from Kat, not the Fug Girls, though fugging videos of the fugging fug girls talking trash about fugging celebrities might be fun).
Fourth, since I somehow always seem to bring up Ken Jennings when talking about Kat Dennings, he has a funny post yesterday mixing in strange things his 4 year old said with slightly morbid thoughts about celebrities and reincarnation.
After you visit the Ken link, if you're wondering about my possibilities, I'd have to go with one of three, Aleqsandre Jorjoliani, Ted Hecht, or Judy Garland.
First, what's wrong with partying like it's 1993?
Second, you've made the big time Kat!
Third, more videos please (from Kat, not the Fug Girls, though fugging videos of the fugging fug girls talking trash about fugging celebrities might be fun).
Fourth, since I somehow always seem to bring up Ken Jennings when talking about Kat Dennings, he has a funny post yesterday mixing in strange things his 4 year old said with slightly morbid thoughts about celebrities and reincarnation.
After you visit the Ken link, if you're wondering about my possibilities, I'd have to go with one of three, Aleqsandre Jorjoliani, Ted Hecht, or Judy Garland.
01 January 2007
It Really Is Going to be Andrew Bynum's World
The Lakers have been hit by injuries this year pretty severely, yet are still 20-11. Chris Mihm out for the year, Lamar Odom out for anywhere from six to ten weeks (and they are 5-5 so far without him), and now Kwame Brown looks likely to miss a month or more (that's still speculation, but here's hoping it's something that can heal in a month or less).
The Lakers have two people left who can play a 'true' center, and they're both 2nd year players, though neither played much last year, so both are practically rookies.
Andrew Bynum, whether he's ready or not, is going to have to play major minutes for the Lakers at center. He's still very, very young, still learning his position, still soaking up all the knowledge that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can bestow upon him, and despite all that's against him, capable of meeting this challenge.
He's a hard worker with the right mindset to meet this challenge as an opportunity rather than a burden.
If not, the Lakers will slip to the bottom of the Western Conference playoff hunt.
If he lives up to the challenge, then the Lakers will have a monster of a team when they get Odom and Brown back some time after the All Star break.
If the Lakers continue to play .500 ball with these injuries, they could be a fearsome team during the last 30 games of the season when everyone gets healthy.
That's a lot of 'ifs', and if I wasn't a dedicated Laker fan for better than 25 years (I stayed up to watch the rebroadcast of their first Showtime Era title back in 1980, the NBA didn't merit live coverage in one of the team's home markets on a Friday night, even during the clinching game of the finals back then, hard to believe now) I wouldn't even be dreaming of that the Lakers could withstand this latest spate of injuries and still stay with the elite teams of the league.
But I am a homer, and they do have great potential as a team, and Kobe is still Kobe, so they are capable of losing to any team in the league, and beating any team in the league, on any given night.
Also, when the Lakers first signed Kwame Brown, I doubt many folks thought it was a worthwhile gamble, but he's proven to be the player he was drafted to be for most of the games this season (#1 overall) rather than the player he became in Chicago and Washington.
The Lakers have two people left who can play a 'true' center, and they're both 2nd year players, though neither played much last year, so both are practically rookies.
Andrew Bynum, whether he's ready or not, is going to have to play major minutes for the Lakers at center. He's still very, very young, still learning his position, still soaking up all the knowledge that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can bestow upon him, and despite all that's against him, capable of meeting this challenge.
He's a hard worker with the right mindset to meet this challenge as an opportunity rather than a burden.
If not, the Lakers will slip to the bottom of the Western Conference playoff hunt.
If he lives up to the challenge, then the Lakers will have a monster of a team when they get Odom and Brown back some time after the All Star break.
If the Lakers continue to play .500 ball with these injuries, they could be a fearsome team during the last 30 games of the season when everyone gets healthy.
That's a lot of 'ifs', and if I wasn't a dedicated Laker fan for better than 25 years (I stayed up to watch the rebroadcast of their first Showtime Era title back in 1980, the NBA didn't merit live coverage in one of the team's home markets on a Friday night, even during the clinching game of the finals back then, hard to believe now) I wouldn't even be dreaming of that the Lakers could withstand this latest spate of injuries and still stay with the elite teams of the league.
But I am a homer, and they do have great potential as a team, and Kobe is still Kobe, so they are capable of losing to any team in the league, and beating any team in the league, on any given night.
Also, when the Lakers first signed Kwame Brown, I doubt many folks thought it was a worthwhile gamble, but he's proven to be the player he was drafted to be for most of the games this season (#1 overall) rather than the player he became in Chicago and Washington.
You Can Quit Hating Microsoft Now
Or maybe this is reason to hate them more for some (from Kotaku)
Sounds like a pretty good thing they're doing. Let's see Apple, Nintendo or Sony get shamed into doing something similarly generous.If you're going to let people play your game before it's released, you may as well get guys and girls who have some reference point as to how a battle rifle actually works. Their feedback at this stage of development would be invaluable.In what was either the afore-mentioned beta testing idea or a Christmas present to US soldiers in Iraq (admittedly, most probably the latter), Bungie flew some early-build copies of Halo 3 out so American troops not able to get home for the holidays could at least get some kind of Christmas cheer.
Will All 365 Days of 2007 Be This Surreal
The controversy.
The YouTube of said controversy (remember, the women aren't actually naked)
(I love how on Japanese television they often provide karaoke friendly sing along lyrics to the really, really bad music they tend to prefer on NHK)
I watched the rebroadcast of this on the local international station KSCI 18, and there were pretty scenes of waves gently lapping on white sand beaches near sunset or sunrise (but with the original audio intact) instead of the bodysuit clad women BOUNCE BOUNCE-ing.
Things I don't quite get, why? why a clown? why that Harpo hairdo?
(technically this happened in 2006, but I'll count this as the first really weird thing to happen in 2007, anyway)
The YouTube of said controversy (remember, the women aren't actually naked)
(I love how on Japanese television they often provide karaoke friendly sing along lyrics to the really, really bad music they tend to prefer on NHK)
I watched the rebroadcast of this on the local international station KSCI 18, and there were pretty scenes of waves gently lapping on white sand beaches near sunset or sunrise (but with the original audio intact) instead of the bodysuit clad women BOUNCE BOUNCE-ing.
Things I don't quite get, why? why a clown? why that Harpo hairdo?
(technically this happened in 2006, but I'll count this as the first really weird thing to happen in 2007, anyway)
30 December 2006
They Make It Far Too Easy Some Times
The AP article on the death of Saddam closes with a doozy of a paragraph.
The line, "sought to win public support" is what really gets me. All those dictators with their attempts at producing cults of personality around themselves are really just trying to 'unite' the many people under their control. By plastering his image across the land, he was just doing a public service. Saddam wasn't a brutal, murderous, foul, filthy, megalomaniacal dictator, instead he was merely a person who, "wielded a heavy hand to maintain control".
While he wielded a heavy hand to maintain control, Saddam also sought to win public support with a personality cult that pervaded Iraqi society. Thousands of portraits, posters, statues and murals were erected in his honor all over Iraq. His face could be seen on the sides of office buildings, schools, airports and shops and on Iraq's currency.
The line, "sought to win public support" is what really gets me. All those dictators with their attempts at producing cults of personality around themselves are really just trying to 'unite' the many people under their control. By plastering his image across the land, he was just doing a public service. Saddam wasn't a brutal, murderous, foul, filthy, megalomaniacal dictator, instead he was merely a person who, "wielded a heavy hand to maintain control".
29 December 2006
Weekly NFL Related Humiliation (Week SEVENTEEN)
The final week of football and a lot of teams' playoff hopes hinges upon the Saturday contest. All 7-8 NFC teams that are challenging for the final wild card spot find themselves on the road this week. I'll pick the winners in all five of those games.
On the AFC side, it's as good as over, if the NY Jets can beat Oakland and Denver beat San Francisco, then it's all done. They're both at home, and there's no reason to expect either of them to fail.
ESPN shows every game as a toss up, but that ain't right, so I'll go with the Bodog.com line as of 12:55am ET Sat December 30th.
NY Giants at Washington (+3.0) Washington (+3.0)
The Giants are an awful team right now that have given up on their coach. Even though the Redskins have had a disappointing season, at this moment in time they are a better team then the Giants and will happily keep their division rival from making the playoffs. Tiki Barber might as well take the week off and start his TV career now.
St. Louis at Minnesota (+3.0) Minnesota (+3.0)
Both these teams have had disappointing seasons. Both teams are 3-7 in their last ten games. I think the Vikings will play with some pride and defeat a mediocre Rams team. It's a bit of a coin flip as to which team to pick, though, neither team have been exactly inspiring this season.
Carolina at New Orleans (+3.0) Carolina (-3.0)
The Saints have nothing to play for, and probably won't play their top players throughout the game. That should make all the difference. Carolina doesn't control their own playoff destiny, and if the Giants win on Saturday (which I doubt they'll do), then this game will be meaningless for them as well. Carolina has a lot of talent and despite a recent four game losing streak can play as well as any team in the NFC. They have a real shot at making it back to the NFC Championship game again this year. But only if they get into the playoffs.
Atlanta at Philadelphia (-9.0) Philadelphia -9.0
I know I said last week that the Falcons had given up, and I was right. But, if everything breaks their way in the earlier games, they'll know by kick-off whether or not they have something to play for. Philly is playing for a division championship, and for them that means the difference between playing at home or playing in Seattle next week. I think Carolina will make this game irrelevant for the Falcons, and they'll be playing to get their coach fired once again this week. They'll get their wish, too. Mora is toast, let the coaching search begin! (though I don't know who would want this job). This game won't be close, Philly will earn themselves a first round game against a dangerous Panthers team.
Green Bay at Chicago (-3.0) Chicago -3.0
Lousy weather is expected in Chicago, rainy and in the 40s. This is possibly Brett Favre's last game (which is why it's getting the Sunday Night treatment). Chicago has nothing to play for, and the Packers might be in a do or die situation. But that won't be enough for Green Bay to win this one. The Chicago defense will outscore both offenses in this game. Grossman and Favre will both give up the ball at least 3 times on fumbles or interceptions, the difference being that the Chicago defense scores off of turnovers keeping their mistake prone offense off the field. Should be a lousy game.
I think Carolina will be the only 7-8 team to be able to secure themselves a victory this week. That simplifies all the various scenarios, but who knows, all these teams are 7-8 because they've been inconsistent, so that probably won't change this week. Any or all of these teams can win or lose.
So if my predictions are all correct the NFC playoffs next week should be Dallas at Seattle and Carolina at Philadelphia, with Chicago already securing the one seed, and New Orleans already securing the two seed.
On the AFC side, San Diego will clinch the one seed, Baltimore will be second. Both New England and Indianapolis should finish 12-4, but the Colts beat the Pats earlier this season and will get themselves the 3 seed. The playoff match ups next week should be NY Jets at Indianapolis and Denver at New England, but none of those four teams has a chance against Baltimore or San Diego the following week.
On the AFC side, it's as good as over, if the NY Jets can beat Oakland and Denver beat San Francisco, then it's all done. They're both at home, and there's no reason to expect either of them to fail.
ESPN shows every game as a toss up, but that ain't right, so I'll go with the Bodog.com line as of 12:55am ET Sat December 30th.
NY Giants at Washington (+3.0) Washington (+3.0)
The Giants are an awful team right now that have given up on their coach. Even though the Redskins have had a disappointing season, at this moment in time they are a better team then the Giants and will happily keep their division rival from making the playoffs. Tiki Barber might as well take the week off and start his TV career now.
St. Louis at Minnesota (+3.0) Minnesota (+3.0)
Both these teams have had disappointing seasons. Both teams are 3-7 in their last ten games. I think the Vikings will play with some pride and defeat a mediocre Rams team. It's a bit of a coin flip as to which team to pick, though, neither team have been exactly inspiring this season.
Carolina at New Orleans (+3.0) Carolina (-3.0)
The Saints have nothing to play for, and probably won't play their top players throughout the game. That should make all the difference. Carolina doesn't control their own playoff destiny, and if the Giants win on Saturday (which I doubt they'll do), then this game will be meaningless for them as well. Carolina has a lot of talent and despite a recent four game losing streak can play as well as any team in the NFC. They have a real shot at making it back to the NFC Championship game again this year. But only if they get into the playoffs.
Atlanta at Philadelphia (-9.0) Philadelphia -9.0
I know I said last week that the Falcons had given up, and I was right. But, if everything breaks their way in the earlier games, they'll know by kick-off whether or not they have something to play for. Philly is playing for a division championship, and for them that means the difference between playing at home or playing in Seattle next week. I think Carolina will make this game irrelevant for the Falcons, and they'll be playing to get their coach fired once again this week. They'll get their wish, too. Mora is toast, let the coaching search begin! (though I don't know who would want this job). This game won't be close, Philly will earn themselves a first round game against a dangerous Panthers team.
Green Bay at Chicago (-3.0) Chicago -3.0
Lousy weather is expected in Chicago, rainy and in the 40s. This is possibly Brett Favre's last game (which is why it's getting the Sunday Night treatment). Chicago has nothing to play for, and the Packers might be in a do or die situation. But that won't be enough for Green Bay to win this one. The Chicago defense will outscore both offenses in this game. Grossman and Favre will both give up the ball at least 3 times on fumbles or interceptions, the difference being that the Chicago defense scores off of turnovers keeping their mistake prone offense off the field. Should be a lousy game.
I think Carolina will be the only 7-8 team to be able to secure themselves a victory this week. That simplifies all the various scenarios, but who knows, all these teams are 7-8 because they've been inconsistent, so that probably won't change this week. Any or all of these teams can win or lose.
So if my predictions are all correct the NFC playoffs next week should be Dallas at Seattle and Carolina at Philadelphia, with Chicago already securing the one seed, and New Orleans already securing the two seed.
On the AFC side, San Diego will clinch the one seed, Baltimore will be second. Both New England and Indianapolis should finish 12-4, but the Colts beat the Pats earlier this season and will get themselves the 3 seed. The playoff match ups next week should be NY Jets at Indianapolis and Denver at New England, but none of those four teams has a chance against Baltimore or San Diego the following week.
There's Another Kind?
Is it really necessary to modify castration with the term, "malicious"? (via Drudge).
(she wouldn't have been charged in North Carolina if it was the shiny, happy version of castration, I guess)
(she wouldn't have been charged in North Carolina if it was the shiny, happy version of castration, I guess)
USC Defeats Michigan
I'm not jumping the gun on a Rose Bowl headline.
Rather, I'm reporting the results from the annual Lawry's Beef Bowl (a video interview from KCBS here)
(I'd get the Michigan side of the story, but I'm from here and I'll be rooting for USC, so screw trying to be balanced)
(OK I lied, here's some balance)
It happens every year, both teams participating in the Rose Bowl get treated to lots of thick juicy prime rib at Lawry's Beverly Hills.
The Trojans narrowly out ate the Wolverines 630 to 612 lbs.
Teams normally consume 400-500 lbs, so the teams went all out this time.
Vegetarians aren't allowed on the football field, I guess.
And you can't blame either team for wishing they were in Arizona instead of Southern California. The Rose Bowl is the Consolation Bowl this year, unfortunately. Maybe they were trying to eat their disappointment away.
(Do they have a Tostitos eating contest before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl?)
Rather, I'm reporting the results from the annual Lawry's Beef Bowl (a video interview from KCBS here)
(I'd get the Michigan side of the story, but I'm from here and I'll be rooting for USC, so screw trying to be balanced)
(OK I lied, here's some balance)
It happens every year, both teams participating in the Rose Bowl get treated to lots of thick juicy prime rib at Lawry's Beverly Hills.
The Trojans narrowly out ate the Wolverines 630 to 612 lbs.
Teams normally consume 400-500 lbs, so the teams went all out this time.
Vegetarians aren't allowed on the football field, I guess.
And you can't blame either team for wishing they were in Arizona instead of Southern California. The Rose Bowl is the Consolation Bowl this year, unfortunately. Maybe they were trying to eat their disappointment away.
(Do they have a Tostitos eating contest before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl?)
Fourth? That Probably Would Have Been First on My List
Here's a quote from a recent editorial by Robert Farago at The Truth About Cars,
Really, that would have been my first bullet point, but other than that, I agree with everything he says.
Bob Lutz has a blog though, he does have that going for him, if you want to read his post that caused the subsequent post, it's here.
Lutz wasn't always an idiot, far from it, but his way of thinking isn't adaptable to these times. I don't think a more flexible thinker could do anything more to move GM forward, their entrenched bureaucracies are too endemic throughout the corporate behemoth to move more than an inch. But, a chairman who articulated a better vision for the future would help their stock price and public perception.
"Fourth, Bob Lutz is an idiot."
Really, that would have been my first bullet point, but other than that, I agree with everything he says.
Bob Lutz has a blog though, he does have that going for him, if you want to read his post that caused the subsequent post, it's here.
Lutz wasn't always an idiot, far from it, but his way of thinking isn't adaptable to these times. I don't think a more flexible thinker could do anything more to move GM forward, their entrenched bureaucracies are too endemic throughout the corporate behemoth to move more than an inch. But, a chairman who articulated a better vision for the future would help their stock price and public perception.
Will They Air It? Will You Watch?
Possibly, Saddam Hussein will be as dead as a Norwegian Parrot within a week.
Also, more than likely, his last moments pining for the fjords will be somewhere on the web.
TV Newser has begun asking the question as to how the various news outlets will handle this possible footage.
It's nothing I need to see personally, but I have absolutely no problem at all with him dying at the end of a hangman's noose (unlike one far better known blogger).
And just to keep this a light post, here it is below (not the execution, the dead parrot).
Also, more than likely, his last moments pining for the fjords will be somewhere on the web.
TV Newser has begun asking the question as to how the various news outlets will handle this possible footage.
It's nothing I need to see personally, but I have absolutely no problem at all with him dying at the end of a hangman's noose (unlike one far better known blogger).
And just to keep this a light post, here it is below (not the execution, the dead parrot).
The anonymous military source everyone is referencing as to the time of Saddam's execution might be talking out of his or her ass as anonymous sources often do. The Iraqi Justice Ministry claims any possible execution won't happen before Jan 26th. But who are you going to believe, an unnamed anonymous US military source, or an unnamed 'senior official' within the Iraqi Justice Ministry?
UPDATE:
It's official, it's happened, and TV Newser (the link goes to their archives, clearly late December 2006 will go down as being the most Saddamtastic month ever) goes crazy with the coverage of who was first to announce. Who cares? (and no event is complete until it's become cause for some FNC bashing)
Also, I wasn't the only one who thought of parrots.
Tammy Bruce puts things in perspective well. She says most of what I'd want to say, and probably does a better job than I would have, so just read what she has to say.
And they should grind up Saddam's remains and feed him to pigs. That's what he deserves, no grave, no respect, and no dignity in death.
UPDATE:
It's official, it's happened, and TV Newser (the link goes to their archives, clearly late December 2006 will go down as being the most Saddamtastic month ever) goes crazy with the coverage of who was first to announce. Who cares? (and no event is complete until it's become cause for some FNC bashing)
Also, I wasn't the only one who thought of parrots.
Tammy Bruce puts things in perspective well. She says most of what I'd want to say, and probably does a better job than I would have, so just read what she has to say.
And they should grind up Saddam's remains and feed him to pigs. That's what he deserves, no grave, no respect, and no dignity in death.
Creeping Sharia In Dear Old Blighty
Wolverhampton, England, segregation rules.
First it's pools, then it's buses, then it's Islamic courts. Surrendering freedoms in the hopes of placating a vocal minority within a minority that demand special treatment will only lead to greater demands.
Government condoned segregation, whether requested by a minority to keep outsiders out, or imposed by a majority to keep a minority down, leads to all sorts of social ills.
If Muslims fear seeing a belly button or upper thigh so much, they should open their own private pools, they shouldn't demand the local governments to conform to their concepts of modesty. If they want to play in public, play by the public rules.
I live in a neighborhood with many Orthodox Jews. They have their rules on modesty for followers, but they don't expect everyone walking down the street to follow their customs (of course, a different story if you're invited to their homes, as it should be). They don't go around demanding public streets be closed down on Saturdays cause they can't drive on the Sabbath.
Yet, that's essentially what the Muslims in Wolverhampton are expecting. It's wrong, very wrong. This is a small thing on the surface, but it's symbolic of a trend going on, and that trend won't lead to compromise, won't lead to happy, shiny multiculturism. Instead that trend will lead to more demands and stronger reactions to the craziness.
It's hard to believe the good folks in England had once been known for their pluck and resolve, the news from over there seems to lack those attributes.
First it's pools, then it's buses, then it's Islamic courts. Surrendering freedoms in the hopes of placating a vocal minority within a minority that demand special treatment will only lead to greater demands.
Government condoned segregation, whether requested by a minority to keep outsiders out, or imposed by a majority to keep a minority down, leads to all sorts of social ills.
If Muslims fear seeing a belly button or upper thigh so much, they should open their own private pools, they shouldn't demand the local governments to conform to their concepts of modesty. If they want to play in public, play by the public rules.
I live in a neighborhood with many Orthodox Jews. They have their rules on modesty for followers, but they don't expect everyone walking down the street to follow their customs (of course, a different story if you're invited to their homes, as it should be). They don't go around demanding public streets be closed down on Saturdays cause they can't drive on the Sabbath.
Yet, that's essentially what the Muslims in Wolverhampton are expecting. It's wrong, very wrong. This is a small thing on the surface, but it's symbolic of a trend going on, and that trend won't lead to compromise, won't lead to happy, shiny multiculturism. Instead that trend will lead to more demands and stronger reactions to the craziness.
It's hard to believe the good folks in England had once been known for their pluck and resolve, the news from over there seems to lack those attributes.
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I don't know that 'Ryan Fishman' is really a journalist, but if he is, the attitude expressed is one of disdain for 'regular folks' and a desire to lead them to the conclusions he wants them to have rather than be an objective seeker of the truth.
I don't expect journalist to be free of bias in their personal life, but statements like those above make naked the desire and intent to report the facts only in a manner that supports a predetermined set of ideas.
For all I know that commenter is a right of center troll claiming to be a journalist, or a left of center commenter pretending to be an outrageously biased reporter to get the usual journalist haters to say outrageous things.
But there's plenty of evidence, anecdotal and otherwise, that there are lots of folks in lots of newsrooms that think like 'Ryan Fishman', even if they are smart enough not to ever talk like that in mixed company.
Speaking of the Disneyland Railroad, the Wiki.More on the imagineering wonders of Audio-Animatronics.
UPDATE:
What? Now I have to spell things correctly as well? This blogging thing is getting to be too much work. Changed 'throws' in the title to the correct term 'throes'. I thank Mr. Cottage for pointing that out to me. I'll get around to the big playoff post tomorrow (and recap of the previous week).