Book Review: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business

by: Dick Van Dyke

I want to preface this post by saying I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read about an actor who I like and enjoy. However, it was probably a bad idea to read it immediately after Steve Jobs.

It was nice to read about the golden age of television and see how actors back then had real talents like singing and dancing. Van Dyke is 75% of the way to an EGOT, only missing an Oscar. That is an especially amazing feat since he is known primarily for only 4 things: The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Diagnosis Murder.

The only problem with this book is the one I read before it. I was still in the frame of mind of Walter Isaacson’s take on Steve Jobs’ life and it carried over to this read. First of all, one is a biography and one is a memoir. That’s a huge difference. I’m not saying Van Dyke was trying to spin anything in his favor but obviously it was written from his perspective. Second, there was no dirt. Van Dyke is known for being clean cut and staying out of tabloid trouble which is fine, of course, except that I had already been immersed in the Apple exposé known as Steve Jobs.

Anyway, it’s a good read if you’re a fan of Dick Van Dyke but make a point to buffer it with some lighter fare (or maybe I’m just weird).

Wonderful Christmastime

It’s funny how things change. When I was a kid there was nothing I hated more than getting clothes. Now I’m actually excited about new dress socks or ties for the office.

I used to pray for a huge gift like a Game Boy, Nintendo 64 or PlayStation 2. Now I want practical stuff for my home like a space heater and wine glasses (But I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t jealous of my sister’s new Kindle Fire).

Probably the clearest difference, though, is that I never used to be able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I'd have the hardest time falling asleep and then I’d be up by 6 am. It was tough having to wait for everyone else to wake up so we could finally open the presents. This year we opened presents at 9 am and still had to wake up my siblings.

However, I do take much more pride in the giving of gifts now than receiving. I realize that I’ve lived my life without these “presents” and if I don’t get something I want that I will be able to continue living without it-- Or break down and buy it. That’s the other advantage to being an adult.

Book Review: Steve Jobs

by: Walter Isaacson

Unprecedented access. That’s what Walter Isaacson got from Steve Jobs and that’s what the reader gets from Steve Jobs.

Most people know his story, especially the past decade or so. But this biography has a lot of inside information that the public never had access to: behind the scenes stories and glimpses into a brilliant mind. But with that brilliance came a dark side. He was a perfectionist and therefore a very difficult and demanding boss. The fact that he was so hands as a CEO made it even more of an issue with confrontations between him and employees becoming common daily occurrences.

But people believed in his vision and would follow him anywhere. His list of successes is enviable; the original Macintosh, iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad, nevermind his co-creation and leadership of Pixar (yes, that Pixar). He was a showman first and foremost but was also a design freak. He lived by the mantra of minimalism and making things as simple as possible.

This life story is so packed with information that I can’t even write a cohesive blog post about it. Read this book for the true tale of Steve Jobs.

The office yankee swap

With the holidays come many traditions. Some of these take place in the workplace such as secret santas or yankee swaps. Yesterday, my team had a yankee swap.

I’ve only been at this company for 3 weeks so I’m glad we didn’t do a secret santa. I don’t know people well enough yet. My real concern coming in to this was if I should play it safe or not. The safe gifts include Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts gift cards and booze. I was heavily considering picking up a bottle of something but decided that wouldn’t be very exciting. So I went on a Target trip to find some inspiration. They had plenty of cheap things but nothing I thought would be good for a yankee swap. Until I saw it... a lava lamp. It was perfect because it wasn't a standard gift and you can put it on your desk at work.

When we started the swap we put all our (wrapped) gifts in the middle of the table. Mine got picked first because it looked so bad ass. Then the person with #2 actually swapped for it. Boy was I feeling good! But that was the end of it. #2 kept it the rest of the time and pretty much every other gift was a bottle or a gift card. For a second, I had a bottle of Wild Turkey but lost it in a swap for a Starbucks card. Which was great because I don’t drink coffee. But hey, first person to comment gets it!

The Nutcracker

Last night we continued our holiday tradition of going to see The Nutcracker performed by the Boston Ballet at the Boston Opera House. This year is actually the final year they are using these props, costumes and effects. They have been in use for nearly 20 years and I am happy to say I got to see them the past 3 years.

When I was a kid we never went to see The Nutcracker (A fact further impressed on me when I couldn’t follow the story my first time). I remember some of my classmates mentioning it in elementary school and I didn’t get it. Why would anyone want to see a ballet anyway? But really, I was curious and a little jealous.

Fast forward many years to 2009. I had already been living in Boston for 2 years but hadn’t bumped into The Nutcracker at all. Yet one fateful day I was on Twitter and noticed something the indispensable @BostonTweet had posted. It was a link to Boston Ballet’s website where you could purchase tickets that day for 15% off. I was excited and intrigued so I went all in and haven’t looked back.

Now that I know the plot I absolutely adore going and I consider this my new Christmas tradition. It’s nice to dress up and go out and watch the fine arts. Have a sit down dinner and feel refined. But come on, it’s for the young at heart. The bear? One-armed gingerbread man? The black sheep? You got me -- I am the lowest common denominator and I love it.

Good Eats: Old Country Buffet

I had never heard of Old Country Buffet until my girlfriend started raving about it. Their tagline is “The best buffet in America.” Now that I’ve had my first taste I would be willing to bestow upon it “The best non-Chinese buffet in America” because you can’t beat the Chinese.

This place was surprisingly good. Why was I surprised? The location of the one we visited was in Ghetto Glen Meadow Glen Mall which I don’t frequent except for one Kohl’s trip to get my Steve Jobs Halloween costume. Plus, there were a lot of families present and I was getting flashbacks to the chaotic Target Pizza Hut we ate at in a time of weakness. But everyone was actually really well behaved and it wasn’t insanely loud with kids running around or anything like that.

The layout of the buffet was pretty cool. There was a salad section, an American(?) section (roast, chicken, other stuff), an Italian section, a Mexican section, plus fruits and desserts. The only bad thing I found was some undercooked chicken which they immediately replaced when it was brought to their attention. They had some solid beverage choices too and I had a couple glasses of chocolate milk (so good).

The only real negative is that it was a little pricey. Three people cost $40. It’s kind of tough for a family of 4 or 5 to throw that down with any regularity. Anyway, it was a nice treat.

First of the week

As you can see today is Thursday and this is my first blog of the week. Ugh, I knew this would happen. Actually that’s why I added my Twitter feed to the sidebar over there. -->
I figured it would give my readers (both of them) the ability to check out The Public Frog and not leave disappointed even if I hadn’t posted any new blogs.

The back story is that I joined Twitter in 2008 B.C. (Before Celebrities). I was hooked and having a lot of fun. Then I called in sick to work one day and wanted to tweet all the things I was doing instead. But I couldn’t because some of my colleagues checked my account. So the next day I made it private. It was like that way for 3 years until I decided I wanted to use it on my blog, so I opened it up again. Of course, I’ve always kept separate my name and my handle so it’s not like people I know who I don’t want to read it are suddenly flocking to my page. It’s better this way.

Good Eats: Boston Burger Company

I am a huge burger fan. I’ve been that way pretty much since birth. My mom says I take after my uncle in that regard. Apparently, he used to order burgers even when at Chinese restaurants. I’m not that ridiculous but anyone who knows me will comment on it. My girlfriend took me to the famous Mr. Bartley’s Burgers in Harvard Square for my birthday, for example.

On Tuesday, we went to Boston Burger Company in Davis Square. It’s a small place (smaller than Mr. Bartley’s) but has just as inventive a menu. I got the Killer Bee which is a patty topped with American cheese, bacon, a stack of beer battered onions rings and honey BBQ sauce. It was so unbelievably good. I had to take some of the onion rings off so it was a size that would fit inside my mouth. It ended up being exactly what I hoped for.

What really sets it apart though is its liquor license. That’s right… burgers and beer. A combo made in Germany America. Plus, they are on LevelUp so I got $4 off my first purchase. This place is a must for burger lovers.

Movie Review: The Muppets

It's not a guarantee but usually when Hollywood brings back a well-known franchise from our youth it is a big hit (see: Transformers & The Smurfs). Something about wanting to rekindle our childhood innocence causes us to go out, open our wallets and watch it once again.

The Muppets are like that but for every generation. Starting in 1976 with the Muppet Show and running through countless movies in the past 30+ years, millions of children grew up with the Muppets (and of course Muppet Babies). The only thing more surprising than the fact that this movie was a huge success and made a lot of money is that no one touched this franchise for 10 years. In this period of Hollywood recycling how is that even possible?

I suppose the closest comparisons would be to Batman (8 years) and Star Trek (7 years). A big bust of a movie (Muppets From Space, Batman & Robin, Star Trek Nemesis) means a lot of bad opinions in people's minds and a hurting bottom line for the movie studio. Understandably, they need to ignore the franchise for a while until their wounds heal and people forget about the latest disaster and instead remember the classic adventures.

However, I think an argument can be made that unlike those other two, a children-focused product like The Muppets would bounce back quicker and be more useful to a studio. What I believe is that the studios thought The Muppets were dead in the water because of how America's comedic values have evolved. Kids see a lot of physical comedy today and young adults hear a shitload of cursing. The Muppets don't offer that. They are about doing the right thing. They are clean cut. They are the antithesis of what we see nowadays. But where the studios messed up is that The Muppets are not considered "quaint". It's not like seeing a typewriter or a corded phone and saying "Oh, that's so Nana". Even though they haven't had the spotlight on them in recent years they still feel current. The Muppets have proved that they are still relevant.

4 out of 5

Book Review: Shaq Uncut

by: Shaquille O'Neal (w/ Jackie MacMullan)

Most memoirs/autobiographies just aren't very entertaining. Childhoods are usually boring and then there's the never overnight rise to the top (AKA the stuff we don't care about). But like with everything else he does in life, Shaq succeeds famously. For a man who stands apart in so many ways, he is the everyman. People love Shaq and are drawn to him almost effortlessly. He's just an awesome human being who happens to be 7'1" and a future Hall of Famer.

Shaq Uncut is a great read. It is quick paced and tells all the stories you want to hear. About his playing days with Kobe, D-Wade, LeBron, Penny Hardaway and the Celtics' Big 3. Plus, commentary on guys like Dwight Howard, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and... Greg Ostertag? You will get an insider's look at NBA locker rooms and player/front office relationships. But most importantly, you will laugh a lot.

2011 New Year's Resolution follow up

Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at an official New Year’s Resolution keeper! Back in December 2010 I was ruminating over what I wanted to change in 2011. I had tried in years past to “read more” but it never ended up sticking. This year, however, I crushed it.

I have read 27 books so far this year with a month to go. I have a sweet new library card for the NOBLE Network (North of Boston Library Exchange) and they’re having a tough time keeping up with me. I’ve read fiction (The Night Circus), non-fiction (The Longest Day), series (The Hunger Games), memoirs (Bossypants), and a children’s book (Go The Fuck To Sleep).

Am I better for it? I guess I’ll already know the backstory for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo movie but now it’s forced to live up to my expectations. It’s a double edged sword. I don’t want to be one of those “The book was much better than the movie” kind of people. (But seriously, The DaVinci Code was definitely a better book.)

Then again, other things have fallen to the wayside to make room for all this reading. My music listening has dropped dramatically. I just don’t have the time now. And I rarely watch TV but that’s not anything new. So, I kept my resolution all year but isn’t the point to make it a normal part of your life? All I did was focus my energy on that in lieu of doing other things. Mission accomplished?

Bobby Valentine, Manager of the Red Sox

As if you need to read one more person's opinion about this guy. In short, I think he's the right hire for this team at this time. Who knows what the situation will be in 2-3 years but right now we need a presence like Bobby V's.

He's no nameless guy. He's no player's manager. He is his own man and he is a bigger "celebrity" than most MLB players. No one will walk over him and he'll happily call out anyone -- regardless of status or salary -- who gets out of line. And that, my friends, is what this team needs most. Order. Direction. Someone to draw a hard line and dare anyone to cross it.

There will be no more Wakefield quests for 200 wins; no more Big Papi interrupting press conferences; no more chicken & beer in the clubhouse. All the detestable, egotistical things our hometown boys did this year will end today. And for that we must be thankful. Because the only thing worse than rooting for a bunch of rich ballplayers is rooting for a bunch of lazy, selfish, rich ballplayers.

Baby you can drive my car

I've never cared much for racing (NASCAR or otherwise) but I read this intro to a Sports Illustrated article once and it blew me away.

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The first time I drive the car it feels like rage, apocalypse in every cylinder, pistons hammering hot and remorseless as hell’s forge, the manifold ravenous, roaring for air and explosives, belts shrieking, crankshaft screaming threats, spinning off metal shavings like a lathe, the oil tortured, a black ruin of subatomic corruption boiling in the spattered bowel, rods, valves, lifters and springs flying apart, colliding and crashing back, the relentless cycling a hundred times a second, sickle on scythe, shrapnel clattering in the dark, anxious to fail, to escape, blazing, on razor wings, and the exhaust thundering fire and stench and the mourning blast of Armageddon--all of it held together by nothing more than an idea, by the faded ink on an engineer’s blueprint--and like everything else in the universe, the inevitability of its own spectacular end was sown in the first moment of its creation--a big racing V-8 is all intricacy and vanity and the outrageous noise of self-love on the way to self-destruction--everything in this engine is beating itself to pieces. Jesus, this isn’t a car, it’s entropy, a fast unraveling of thermodynamics, it’s the cosmic triumph of chaos, it’s war!

Jeff MacGregor

Apps for Apps (& Meals too)

The explosion of Foursquare is a good and a bad thing. The positive is that it allows you the ability to get recommendations from friends, unlock rewards and discover new restaurants. The negative is that the rewards/repeat business aspect of it is really lacking. That hasn't been a problem until recently with new competitor SCVNGR.

SCVNGR is a company that currently has 2 apps, SCVNGR and LevelUp. The namesake is the most similar to Foursquare. You can find local places and check in to alert your friends. However, where SCVNGR tops Foursquare is its rewards system. With Foursquare, you can only get a deal if you are the Mayor of a certain location. SCVNGR is different because you can earn points every time you visit towards discounts. It's a game within a game that makes it interesting.

LevelUp is similar in that they reward for repeat business. For example, if you spend $50 at one restaurant over a period of time then you will receive $5 off your next order. Not just that but LevelUp is also on the cutting edge of mobile credit cards. Simply enter your card details and all you have to do is flash your personal QR code at the counter and the transaction is complete. Plus, almost every place has an extra discount for your first visit ($1-2 off).

Rest assured there are many, many more competitors that we don't even know about. On Friday, we went to Ducali Pizzeria on a friend's recommendation. When we walked in there was a sticker in the window showing that they did LevelUp. Sweet, I thought, I can get a couple bucks off our meal. But wait, there was another sign hanging up for an app called Scout Mob. I downloaded it to see what it was about and amazingly they were offering 50% off! It's still getting up and running in Boston -- there are only about 8 restaurants registered -- but with discounts that severe there is no reason not to take advantage.

A rainy day melancholy musical companion

Open these two links one after another in a new tab. Don’t visit them, just listen.

Link 1, Link 2

I'm nobody! Who are you?

As some of you may know I named this blog after an Emily Dickinson poem. I thought it fit perfectly with the whole narcissistic concept of blogging. My thoughts, my views, my words.

By now you have probably noticed I changed the background layout to something a little more interesting than the cut-and-paste one from before. While fooling around with it for way longer than I will admit to I began to think back to what it was I originally wanted to do with this blog... which brings me back to Dickinson. I wanted to use this as a platform to share some engaging words or lyrics from time to time that I found contemplative or thought-provoking.

I figure there's no better place to start than the "Favorite Quote" I've had on my Facebook page since 2004.

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Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around—nobody big, I mean—except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.

J.D. Salinger

MLS Cup ≠ Super Bowl

MLS Cup 2011 was held last night. The championship was played between the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo. The Galaxy, you may know, are home to Landon Donovan and David Beckham, two of the most exciting and well-known players in MLS. So why, pray tell, did Commissioner Don Garber schedule this game on a Sunday night directly opposite America's favorite sport?

I have been trying to figure out one good reason why this would make sense, and with the exception of football vs futbol jokes and saying soccer and football are on the same playing field (at least literally), there is no practical reason. As it stands, it does a huge disservice to MLS. It was televised on ESPN which should garner some respect (unlike ESPN2 or Versus) but they could have played it any other night of the week (Monday notwithstanding) and found a larger number of viewers.

The whole idea is to grow your audience beyond just the core set of fans. MLS can't do that going up against the NFL. They are just further segregating their audience and upsetting some soccer fanatics who also enjoy football. Why make us choose?

The real credit should go to ESPN for giving this issue considerably more thought than MLS did and simulcasting the game on ESPN3.com. I know I'm not the only person who had Giants/Eagles on the TV and Galaxy/Dynamo on my laptop.

MLS needs to figure things out quickly because Beckham is most assuredly leaving now that his 5-year "I'm going to make soccer popular in America" contract is over. All of these great storylines were leading up to last night's game, but thanks to MLS, almost no one knew.

Concert Weekend

Tomorrow my girlfriend and I are going to see The Airborne Toxic Event play at the Orpheum. Then on Monday we are going to the Garden for Jay-Z and Kanye West. Amazingly, my girlfriend called into Kiss 108 and was the 20th caller, winning tickets to Watch The Throne.

I have only been to a handful of concerts with her but we have made our way around the Boston music scene. Bright Eyes, March 10, House of Blues; Neutral Uke Hotel, April 20, Brighton Music Hall; Death Cab for Cutie, August 1, Bank of America Pavilion. She's not from around here originally so I have to ensconce her into the different styles and vibes of each spot.

Am I the right man for the job? I'm not concert crazy but there was a 2-3 year period when I was going to 6-8 shows a year. And I'm not talking about a cover band at a bar or an acoustic guitar player on the subway platform I'm talking legitimate acts at known venues. Of course, I don't have my girlfriend's magical touch with phoning into radio contests so it was a pretty pricey exposition. I've had to cut back.

But this weekend is a throwback to the good ol' days. Back when music came first and everything else was secondary. That shit cray.

Au Revoir, Regis

No explanation necessary, right? There is only one Regis. Tomorrow he is retiring and will complete his last episode of Live with Regis & Kelly. Big deal? Yes and no. Everyone loves Regis but who actually watches his show? Most people are at work. And if you're home sick, well, you're probably watching The Price is Right.

When I think of Regis I think of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, one of the landmark game shows of our generation. It's hard to forget just how popular that show became. Phoning a friend, asking the audience, using a 50/50 -- I remember the life lines even now. And it was all capped off with "Is that your final answer?" Regis was on every TV in every home of the country.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so the networks cooked up The Weakest Link, Greed and countless others trying to match the success of ABC's tent pole. But none of them had Regis.

My sincere hope is that he continues doing something in front of the camera. Whether that's commercials like the TD Bank spots or if he gets his own New Years Eve show. He is a year younger than Dick Clark, you know ;)

PETA vs Mario

PETA strikes again. This time they are going after the world's greatest hero, Mario.

One of Mario's power ups (after the mushroom and fire flower) is the super leaf which gives him a tail and the ability to fly. Apparently, PETA believes this sends a message to children that it is OK to wear fur.

That sentiment is ridiculous for 2 reasons. First, it's so completely absurd... I don't think anyone has EVER thought that. And second, no mention of the frog suit? That one is even more badass.

Speaking of badass, the one good thing to come from this is PETA created a parody game called Super Tanooki Skin 2D. Give it a shot, it's actually pretty addicting.

Book Review: The Wise Man's Fear

by: Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear is the second of an expected trilogy by Rothfuss called The Kingkiller Chronicle. You may recall I reviewed the first book, Name of the Wind, back in September. This one picks up right where that left off and is even more fantastical. Featuring fairies, mercenaries, kings, traitors and more, our hero Kvothe certainly has his hands full. It is almost inevitable how his name -- and reputation -- grow to perilous heights in the process.

The book ends with seemingly everything going Kvothe's way and nothing but an assumed perilous fall ahead of him. Heading into book three (tentatively titled The Doors of Stone) expectations almost match those Lost fans had for its final season. There are so many questions and plot lines that need to be tied up that it's difficult to believe everything will be resolved. Of course, books can have many, many pages (The Wise Man's Fear was nearly 1000) while ABC forced Lost's hand. Anyway, I am excited to see how everything comes together, or falls apart, for that matter. It's a hell of a story.

Duck, duck, duck, duck, goose

You know the old adage "Give them an inch and they'll take a mile"? That's how I felt missing Friday's post. I gave myself an inch and I took a mile.

Let me explain. When I find a cool, new thing I enjoy I will immerse myself in it 100%. It will take over my life. For example, January 2010 I spent watching the first 5 seasons of Lost. I had never watched it before but Hulu was streaming the whole series before the final season began in February. I dove in and before long I was addicted. Every night after work I would watch 2-3 episodes. I would spend the weekend doing nothing but crushing another 20 episodes. I'll admit it was ridiculous. At some point between seasons 3-4 I gave myself a break. It was just a day to relax and focus on something else. Problem was, the next day I didn't want to go back to it. Or the next day. It snowballed so that I wasted a perfectly good week without watching a single episode. I was disappointed in myself that I let it happen. Then I had to scramble to watch the last couple seasons before the final season opener began. I made it but it all felt forced after that week off.

The same can be said about my old music blog, The Tracklist. I was really into it for about 2 years and then I started slacking on listening to new albums. Now I can't even convince myself that I ever have 45 minutes available. I think the only albums I listened to cover to cover this year were Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead and The Lonely Island. I listened to 40+ albums last year!

So, you can see why I was nervous after missing Friday's post. Really, it shouldn't be that big a deal but I have a history with these things. Do I actually intend on posting 5 days a week for the foreseeable future? No, but I do like updating with some regularly. Let me know in the comments what you would recommend as a more comfortable blogging schedule.

Thursday Night Football

It's that time of year again. The one that NFL fans and fantasy football fans both dread: The return of Thursday Night Football. What started off a few years ago as an interesting promotional idea to get people to subscribe to the NFL Network has now become a major annoyance.

I love football but I don't have the NFL Network. How am I supposed to watch these Thursday night games? A couple years ago the NFL had a crisis on its hands when the undefeated Patriots were playing the Giants in the final game of the regular season with the first ever 16-0 season on the line. It just so happened it was a Thursday night NFL Network game, meaning only a small percentage of the country would be able to watch it. There was a huge uproar from fans and the NFL did the unprecedented and shared the broadcast rights with NFL Network, CBS, NBC and local Boston and New York affiliates.

The second issue with Thursday night games is what it means to fantasy football owners. Most people usually don't set their teams until the weekend. That way they have the most updated status reports and matchup information. However, once the Thursday night games start, you have to do all your homework and have all your changes set before that game kicks off. Otherwise, your team gets locked and you can't make any adjustments. I've lost many a game because of the irregular Thursday night showdown.

Nobody wants this except the NFL. Can't they change their tune (aka $$$) and do something for the fans for a change?

The dynasty is crumbling

In 2001, if the Patriots had started the season 5-3 everyone would have been ecstatic. In 2011, it's a harbinger of doom. A decade of dominance will do that to a fan base. Raised expectations are tough to control (see: 2011 Red Sox) and anything besides perfection is a letdown.

Of course, since that perfection was stolen in Super Bowl XLII they've been on a downward slope. The Matt Cassel-led 2008 version went 11-5 and somehow missed the playoffs; the 2009 team got blown out at home in the wild card round; and the 2010 Pats lost in the divisional round to the Jets after beating them 45-3 in their previous meeting. And that's not saying anything about the lack of a pass rush, the signings that haven't panned out, the coaching carousel behind Bill Belichick... it goes on and on.

This year began with such high hopes: The switch to a 4-3 defensive front, four new veteran pass rushers, rookie Pro Bowler Devin McCourty's continued emergence in his second year, new offensive weapon Chad Ochocinco and a beast of a defensive tackle known as Albert Haynesworth. We are exactly halfway through the season and they can all be counted as a loss.

Haynesworth was cut yesterday. He had all of 3 tackles this season. Ochocinco has only 9 receptions. McCourty is in the midst of a sophomore slump. With the exception of Andre Carter, the new defensive ends have done almost nothing. As for the 4-3 alignment? The defense is giving up the most passing yards of any team in the league.

What is finally dawning on Patriots' fans is that there is no quick fix. This is a serious problem and a plan needs to be laid out to rectify it. Start with hiring some coaches with actual experience and stop promoting from within. Bring in a new talent evaluator to assist Belichick with free agent signings and draft picks. Get Tom Brady a legitimate running back to shoulder the load.

It won't be easy but it needs to be done. Brady is already 34 and once he finally goes we are back to square one.

Book Review: Shit My Dad Says

by: Justin Halpern

With the explosion of Twitter a couple years ago came many things: a focus on narcissism, the reemergence of Ashton Kutcher and Shit My Dad Says. SMDS grew from Halpern tweeting his dad's funny statements and broadcasting them to the world. Apparently, the world was interested. SMDS became so popular that Halpern wrote a book and licensed a TV show to CBS featuring Captain Kirk in the title role.

Much like the TV show -- which was cancelled after 18 episodes -- the book was not enjoyable. It was a look back at Halpern's life and included some of his dad's comments along the way. There was quite an imbalance reading this because you could sense Halpern wanted to write a memoir but had to include his dad's anecdotes since they are what would sell the thing. Of course, that still doesn't favor the reader who was hoping for more jokes and less emotional life tales. I recommend following his Twitter account but staying far away from this.

Modern Family

I spent all weekend watching Season 2 of Modern Family. This is a show I was a little late to but am so glad I found. I knew they had a couple Emmys under their belt but I never actually tuned in to watch. I don’t watch very much TV so I never got around to it. Anyway, my girlfriend had recently picked it up and I started joining her. It is one of the funniest shows I have ever watched.

For those of you who don’t know the show revolves around three related families who share a patriarch. Featuring a top notch cast including Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell (2011 Emmy winner), Eric Stonestreet (2010 Emmy winner) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Kudos go out to the clearly fantastic writers who come up with the premises and jokes for each episode. I have yet to see a bad one.

The character Phil Dunphy is my absolute favorite. He’s a classic 21st century man who still thinks (and acts) like a kid, is more in touch with hfee sensitive side and has no problem taking a spa day. Seeing his choices and lifestyle in comparison to his father-in-law’s is comedy gold. Especially since he strives so hard to win his approval.

This is a show that has something for everyone. The characters are so diverse that it is impossible to not be drawn into at least one person’s story. It’s an amazing example of what America’s melting pot was supposed to become, cleverly disguised with humor.

Bond, James Bond

I've always been a huge James Bond fan. My dad loved the films so I got into them at a young age. We would go as a family to see the newest Pierce Brosnan movie; watch the classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger; and he even had some of Ian Fleming's original novels.

Then we got the reinvention of Bond with Daniel Craig and Casino Royale. It is one of my Top 2 Bond films all-time. It was a hell of a way for Craig to introduce himself to the 007 Club. Next came the first ever direct sequel to a Bond film, Quantum of Solace. It wasn't as good and was really a bit of a disappointment. For that reason (and MGM's near bankruptcy), the next Bond film was pushed back to 2012; 4 years from QoS and, conveniently, the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film.

Yesterday, the official name of Bond 23 was announced: Skyfall. It returns Craig and Judi Dench, and will also feature Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes. The director is Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame. That's a lot of talent they've lined up and it's getting me excited again. I'm shaking (not stirring) with anticipation.

Good Eats: Burritos Express

WOW. I wish I could type that in bubble letters because this was the biggest, fattest burrito I have ever seen. This is no Boloco, Qdoba or Chipotle. This is no Margarita’s or Border Café. This is Burritos Express. The website doesn’t look like much and, really, neither does the restaurant. I have been working/eating in the Financial District for 4 years now and I have never once heard of nor seen this establishment. As a matter of fact, it was pure luck that I found out about it at all.

I spent the hour before lunch deciding where I would spend my hour for lunch. I was going through all the usual spots in my head but decided I wanted something new. I pulled out my iPhone to check out other local eateries. I stumbled upon a Mexican place called Andalé (related to Zocalo of all places) and started reading the Yelp reviews. A few people mentioned a place called Burritos Express as being a solid alternative. So I decided to give it a shot.

It was located right around the corner from a restaurant I’ve been to a few times and immediately across the street from State Street’s Boston HQ. It’s a small place but it was clean and colorful. There was absolutely no line – I take lunch at 1:00 to avoid the rush – and I ordered a steak burrito with sour cream.* Their burritos are served with lettuce, rice, beans, pico de gallo, cheese and salsa. But the best thing about it was the crispness of the wrap. It wasn’t just a soft outer layer to hold all the ingredients, it had a nice texture to it and was clearly an important part of their formula. I will add that it didn’t have much of a salsa kick to it. I like my Mexican fairly mild so it was fine by me but some people may not be so understanding.

I managed to finish the whole thing and not pass out at my desk in a food coma (a real feat). Make sure you are hungry when you go so you can get your money’s worth. And preferably on your day off so you can loosen your belt, lie down and recuperate.


*Sour cream and guacamole are $.75 extra. Each. I decided to add just the one.

Too Bad “Divorce” Doesn’t Begin With the Letter “K”

GUEST BLOGGER: @brigibaby

Oh Kimmy. I was rooting for you, I really was. I’m not gonna lie and say that while watching the 4-hour fairy tale wedding event (yes, I did watch all four hours; can I get some kind of medal?) on E! I wasn’t making snide comments about Kim and Kris (we all knew she wasn’t going to take his last name, you can spare us the faux-drama next time). I’m not gonna say I saw this marriage lasting. But I will say that, secretly, I wanted it to. Even though I’ve had it up to here with this family and their compulsive need to change every “C” in the alphabet to “K,” everyone deserves to find true love!

The reason for the big D? Who knows. Maybe it was the fact that they barely knew each other. Maybe it had to do with Kim’s biological clock, and her freaking out that she was nearing 30 and unmarried, while her younger sister was happily doing the husband and wife thing. Maybe it really was the ol’ “irreconcilable differences” that all celebrity marriages seem to end with. Whatever the reason, no one was really surprised to hear that Kim was filing for a divorce a mere 72 days after their over-priced and publicized wedding extravaganza. Because that’s really what it was; an event. It wasn’t about the joining of two people in the sacred sacrament of marriage; it was about making the Kardashian empire even more money.

Maybe that’s why people are so disgusted with the whole thing. This wasn’t Kim’s first marriage. Her first marriage, when she was only 19, actually lasted for 4 whole years before she split with music producer Damon Thomas. Older and none the wiser, she married Kris Humphries seven years later, after a whirlwind courtship of barely 10 months. People want to talk about how gay marriage desecrates the whole sanctity of the union? Believe what you want, but anyone who treats marriage like a publicity stunt is defiling marriage worse than two people who are truly in love who happen to be the same gender.

No one is more upset about this than E! The network that shoved this family into our lives (and probably orchestrated the whole rush-delivery wedding) is reaping what they sowed. I can just imagine little Ryan Seacrest crying himself to sleep last night. They probably thought, hey, it worked with one Kardashian sister (Khloe and Lamar, anyone?), let’s see if we can go 2-0 (I will be the first to say that as much as I had my doubts about Khloe and Lamar’s quicky marriage, I think they’re actually very cute together). The editing team for the new season of Kourtney and Kim Take New York is probably in a frenzy, having been given direct orders to edit out every time Kim says something about how married life suits her, and how happy they are, and how her family is really warming to Kris!

Kim and Kris’ whole defense about their getting married so soon (yes, they had to defend their relationship to their family, who probably saw this divorce coming a mile away) was the whole “When it’s right, it’s right. When you know, you just know, blah blah blah.” Every girl wants to believe that. True, there are couples who jumped the gun, married soon after they met, and are still happily together years later, but honey, that is the exception (haven’t you seen He’s Just Not That Into You? You’re always, always, always the rule, never the exception). That rarely happens, because everyone is sublimely happy the first few months of a new relationship - constant sex will do that to you. It’s when the butterflies fly away and the giddy newness wears off that the real relationship begins. Unfortunately for Kim, Kris just wasn’t “the one.” I still have hope for her, though. Everyone deserves to find happiness - and if you’re really lucky, you find the one so when even after all the shiny newness is worn away, you still feel butterflies.

Book Review: The Night Circus

by: Erin Morgenstern

Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel is a fantastical adventure revolving around Le Cirque des Reves, an enchanted circus that is open only from sunset to sunrise.

The plot unfolds as two magic men (not magicians, who simply give the illusion of real magic) with two distinct beliefs about magic create a competition for their apprentices to partake in that will pit each other’s skills and differing styles against one another. One believes natural ability trumps all while the other claims everything can be learned through books and study. It is an interesting debate of nature vs. nurture set in a world of magic.

The game takes place at Le Cirque des Reves and there are many interesting characters throughout. Everyone seems to have a part to play in advancing the storyline and even the secondary characters are important figures. The only thing more interesting than the performers is the circus itself. Described in amazing detail by Morgenstern, I cannot do it justice here. Simply know that it is massive, always changing, appears and disappears mysteriously and everything inside is colored black, white and gray.

The Night Circus is very open ended. The time period changes chapter-to-chapter as the story is explained in a non-linear way; the circus sets up all over the world so the location can get lost sometimes; there are so many involved characters that the narration and character voices can be confused. But the biggest difficulty was convincing myself that magic is a skill that can be learned. Even if you are not born with that ability you can just crack open a book and teach yourself. This was a formidable concept to accept because we have been taught (through the Harry Potters of the world) that there is a clear distinction between magic and Muggle.

I give Morgenstern credit for forcing the reader to question their own preconceived notions about magic and the power of learning. She really aimed high in her first book and succeeded in a grand way.

P.S. There is also an interactive puzzle game available to play online as a companion to the book.

A Hazy Halloween

Steve Jobs, a giraffe and a biker chick walk into a bar. It’s not the setup to a joke, it’s a Halloween bar crawl!

Saturday we went out in the pouring rain to a bar crawl around Faneuil Hall. We started at The Place which was absolutely packed. I saw a couple Indiana Jones’ (which was my costume last year), 3 different groups of Legends of the Hidden Temple players and a surprising number of Santas. We met up with our friends Michael Jackson and ramen noodles for some beers and jungle juice.

Our next stop was to everyone’s favorite spot, Hong Kong. They weren’t doing karaoke so we went upstairs to the dance floor. I ended up running into an old friend from high school as well as a group of former coworkers (Frogger, '20s gangster, flapper). We grabbed some scorpion bowls and went to town. Then my girlfriend’s friend showed up (construction worker) and we decided to head next door to Trinity.

Trinity is a bar that I have never seen really busy. It’s on a corner with Hong Kong, Sissy K’s and The Black Rose and it is definitely the black sheep of the group. Even on Saturday, as an official member of the bar crawl, it was not even close to capacity. We did a shot and went upstairs where most of the people were congregating. We danced for a little bit, took a picture of 3 blind mice and decided to leave the crawl to head to a house party.

Steve Jobs, a giraffe, a biker chick, Michael Jackson, ramen noodles and a construction worker try to hail a cab. Well it wasn’t hailing but the rain had turned into snow, which is never as fun as it was when you were a kid. Anyway, we got 2 cabs and ended up in Allston/Brighton. We pretty much doubled the amount of people who were there and literally brought the party. We were there maybe 5 minutes and my girlfriend was already putting together a signup sheet for beer pong. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to us, her construction worker friend drank a little beyond his means and was not doing any favors to our host’s bathroom. He came out and it was clear that he had to go home. That and if anyone saw that he had vomited in the sink we probably would have been asked to leave anyway. So four of us turned right around and got another cab.* We managed to get home with only minor issues – not more puke thankfully but those damn taxi credit card machines.

All in all, it was a relatively successful and undeniably memorable Halloween.


*It was MJ and ramen noodles’ friend’s place so they stayed and dealt with the consequences.

A Friday Treat

Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum performing "Engine" live at Jittery Joe's.

"This is a happy song I wrote. It's a children's song. I was living in Seattle at the time and my life was pretty much in the shitter. So I was pretty depressed. Well, it was a long story. I had just gotten back off the train from Denver where I had moved but 2 weeks later went back. Because I was really confused about this girl. She was in Florida at the time. Well, she lived in Seattle but then she left Seattle cuz I left and she was all bummed out. Guess you had to be there. But I came back and told her to come back cuz I loved her. And in my depression I wrote this song and was happy about 5 minutes and then went back in the shitter. But out of it I get a little children's song. So, you know, things happen in funny ways."

Ripley's Believe It or Not: Global Warming

It is supposed to snow today here in Boston. It is October 27. The only time I remember snow earlier was on October 18, 2009.* Now seems like a good time to talk about global warming and why some people refuse to believe it.

This post has nothing to do with politics – it has to do with ignorance. How do I know that? First, we have the greatest scientific minds telling us this is happening. They are showing us pictures of the ozone layer and it is clearly shrinking. Second, every time there is an unusually warm day in winter there are thousands of people who start sarcastically spouting off about how that definitively proves there is global warming. They just don’t get it.

An Inconvenient Truth was a huge step forward for the global community to understand what was happening. I’m sure many people didn’t like that Al Gore was attached to it (making it a political issue) but it was impossible to deny the facts. Gore didn’t do the research; he was just the face of the project. He had professional climatologists putting together legitimate figures and he simply presented them to the public. To call that political is to ignore the whole point.

There is no need to classify the type of people who fall into this category. It can be anyone, anywhere. I am just not sure why these people don’t believe it. I suppose it can be frightening to not have control over something but that doesn’t mean you pretend it’s not there. (Whether people believe in Heaven or not they still believe in death.) Maybe they just don’t like people telling them what to think or do. A Big Brother-type government giving them false information to control and change how they live (restrict gas/oil emissions to lessen carbon footprint).

The thing is there are multiple signs found in nature pointing to an ongoing, Earth-altering change:
• False-color images of the ozone shrinking over time
• The global temperature rising over the past few decades
• Huge ice sheets falling off icebergs and the Antarctica shelf into the ocean
• Numerous species of animals migrating further and further north each year

I guess what this really comes down to is whether you believe this is happening or not everyone needs to make an effort to slow down the process and hopefully turn it around. We are all in the same boat and even if you don’t believe it is sinking, you probably don’t want to toss any water inside.


*Why would I remember that date? Because the Patriots were massacring the Titans 59-0.

A Revolution in New England

The New England Revolution have parted ways with the longest-tenured and most successful coach in their franchise’s history. Steve Nicol departs after 10 years on the job with a resume including 4 MLS Cup appearances but missing out on the championship each time.

This was a long season for the former Coach of the Year recipient. Nicol’s contract was up at the end of the year and there was uncertainty if team owner Robert Kraft was interested in bringing him back. Much like what we have been hearing from the Red Sox the past 3 weeks, there does appear to be a certain shelf life for head coaches. Additionally, Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph was playing out the final year of his deal and got into some preseason trouble along with third year defenseman Kevin Alston. (I know one of the Rev Girls and apparently the incident involved drugs and a physical altercation with a woman.)

Though the season started on a high note – managing a draw with an LA Galaxy squad featuring Landon Donovan and David Beckham, followed by a win over DC United (and my old classmate Charlie Davies) – it was all downhill from there. With only 4 more wins the rest of the season (against 16 losses and 12 draws) the Revolution missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year leading to Nicol’s departure. It’s impossible to deny the comparisons here to Terry Francona’s situation with the Red Sox. He was in the final year of his contract and missed the playoffs the past 2 seasons.

What we have seen this past decade with Boston sports teams is consistency. Steve Nicol (2002), Terry Francona (2004), Bill Belichick (2000) and Doc Rivers (2004) have all held their roles, successfully, for 7+ years. That patience goes back to the franchise owners understanding that they have the right man in charge and giving him room to work. Especially notable is the Nicol/Belichick connection as both the Revolution and Patriots are owned by Robert Kraft. He is one of the premier owners in sports and it's clear he knows how to manage people the right way.

Whatever his future holds, Nicol will be looked on fondly by Revolution fans for many years to come. He took the team from being an afterthought to a championship contender and will not be easily replaced.

Book Review: Happy Accidents

by: Jane Lynch

I am not a Gleek. Far from it. So why, you may be asking, did I read this book? The 40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models, Party Down, Talladega Nights...

Jane Lynch is hilarious and I thought her memoir would provide an ample opportunity for laughs. Sorry to say it did not. It was interesting but didn't really catch my interest all that often. I'm sure it would be great for someone dealing with their own homosexuality or someone who has been to AA but I fit in neither category.

I suppose what I was expecting was a book similar to Tina Fey's Bossypants. Yet that is an unfair comparison because Tina Fey is a comedy writer and Jane Lynch acts out the jokes that are written for her. I'm not trying to take anything away from her because acting is a great talent, but it takes a sharp mind to write and especially to write jokes.

This is more of a straightforward memoir than any sort of comedy book. Consider yourself warned.

Good Eats: Redbones

I had my inaugural trip to Redbones this weekend and it was fantastic. For those not in the know, Redbones is a BBQ joint in Somerville’s Davis Square neighborhood that was recently voted Best Barbecue in Boston.

We went at 6 pm on Saturday and there was a line well out the door. It’s not a hidden gem… everyone knows about it. We decided to wait in the bar which was packed with (what else?) more people waiting to be seated. We had a couple beers before a server came around and asked for a party of 2 willing to sit at the counter. We jumped at the chance. It was actually a great spot because we were able to watch the cooks working right in front of us. It was amazing how quickly they finished plates and how only one of them spoke and was in control of the whole kitchen situation. It was as if he were conducting a symphony orchestra.

When seated, we each received a piece of cornbread. Additionally, we ordered 3 appetizers: steamed broccoli, mac & cheese and hushpuppies. Per the menu, hushpuppies are described as “fried cornbread flavored w/ scallions & garlic, served w/ vinegar sauce.” I guess it’s true that everything is better fried because they alone were worth the price of admission. The sauce added a nice bite too.

For our entrée we both ordered pulled pork sandwiches which came topped with pickles, onions and coleslaw, and with beans and potato salad as sides. The sweet sauce that we asked for was the perfect complement to the pulled pork. Ours came piping hot (again, we were seated right there) but once it cooled down enough it was absolutely delicious. I’m not a big potato salad guy but even that was well done.

I recommend Redbones to anyone with a hankering for some good BBQ at competitive prices and I can’t wait to make a return trip.

Support Your Soccer!

I was talking to my girlfriend today about Fox winning the broadcast rights to the 2018 & 2022 World Cups over ESPN (who’ve held the rights to every World Cup since 1994). She caught me off guard when she said she didn’t care about the World Cup and found it annoying last year when people were sucked into the excitement. I chalked it up to her general non-interest in sports but enough people claim to not like soccer that I wanted to better understand why.

Yes, I grew up playing soccer and played it through high school; Yes, I was at the perfect youthful age to be heavily invested in the 1994 World Cup that was played right here on US soil; And, yes, I did win a free workout with the New England Revolution when I was a kid. But I feel like I have a pretty good handle on most people’s complaints about the sport: it’s too slow, there aren’t enough goals, MLS sucks and the foreign leagues are too difficult to follow due to TV rights and cable packages. Fine, if that’s the case then these people should also be uninterested in baseball (slow) and hockey (not enough goals). Yet baseball is America’s pastime and hockey is a popular niche sport that certainly doesn’t get ragged on like soccer does. So, why the hate?

To Americans, soccer is a European sport. Football and baseball are pure Americana; Basketball is urban; Hockey is Canadian. Americans haven’t cared much for European things since 1776. And the biggest thing that has carried over that distaste is flopping. Soccer players are known for flopping, which is a terrible but true distinction. But even all the European basketball players in the NBA flop constantly. It’s just what they do. So the manly American men chop it up to soccer players being weak – “It’s not as physical as football” – as their reason not to watch. Of course, that feeling has become so pervasive that people will just use it as an explanation without ever actually giving soccer a chance.

The World Cup is different though. It’s more like the Olympics; a must-see event that captures the world’s attention and cultivates national pride. Is there a better chant than “U-S-A!” “U-S-A!”? I ended up sending my girlfriend the reaction video to Landon Donovan’s goal heard ‘round the world against Algeria. I rest my case.

The Art of Selling Out

If you haven’t heard, Death Cab for Cutie is putting out a remix album called Keys and Codes Remix EP. It consists of songs off their most recent release, Codes and Keys, remixed by the likes of Cut Copy and The 2 Bears. Death Cab has been doing a lot of that the past few years; putting out additional releases to coincide with their proper albums. Narrow Stairs had The Open Door 5 song EP, Plans had the Directions music video album and they also released a tour documentary, Drive Well, Sleep Carefully. Death Cab even provided the lead single to the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack.

It’s this remix album, though, that really threw me for a loop. It seemed so unlike Death Cab that I had to take another look at their recent releases and that’s when it hit me: All of that additional shit listed above came out after they signed with Atlantic. Ding Ding Ding!

The curse of the major label. For all the good they do as far as providing money, high production quality and promotion, they also go way overboard spending unnecessarily, overproducing albums and causing a backlash due to advertising saturation. They believe that fans of a band want to hear and see everything possible that band has created. But sometimes it’s too much. There’s a reason only 12 or so songs are released on albums… the others just aren’t as good. Releasing everything just brings the quality down and skews their body of work.

Of course, I don’t feel this way about Death Cab because they are my favorite band. However, this remix album is different. Codes and Keys didn’t perform as well as expected, meaning Atlantic wants to recoup as much money as possible with as little expense as possible. How about reaching out to a bunch of little known (i.e. inexpensive) up and comers to create their own takes on these songs? They’re Atlantic’s property so it doesn’t cost them to license anything. It’s the perfect plan and yet it’s so ridiculously unnecessary and unlike Death Cab that it sucks having their name attached to such an obvious and transparent moneymaking venture.

Belichick + Brady = Best Ever

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are certain Hall of Famers. This weekend they added another accolade to their already storied partnership: Belichick & Brady have tied Don Shula & Dan Marino for the most career wins for a Coach/QB combo. Shula & Marino ended with 116 wins, 68 losses and zero championships. Belichick & Brady are still plying their trade and have 116 wins, 33 losses and 3 championships. Impressively, they have accomplished this feat in 35 less games, which also gives them the best Coach/QB winning percentage of all time. Also keep in mind that Brady missed the entire 2008 season. Who knows where they would have been by now. Hell, where will they be when they decide to call it quits?

Take a look at this bar graph from a couple weeks ago. I was surprised not to see Lombardi/Starr, Landry/Staubach, Walsh/Montana, Seifert/Young, Holmgren/Favre, Shanahan/Elway or Dungy/Manning on this list. (And the fifth pair is a complete shocker.)

What’s most fascinating is that the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts; it’s equal to the sum of its parts. They have both succeeded with each other, of course, but interestingly they have also done it alone. Belichick is a defensive coach. That’s where he’s made his mark since his Giants days with LT. He doesn’t mess with the offense. People forget now but this team used to be defensive minded. The early part of this decade the Patriots were predicated on defense. 2001 doesn’t happen without the defense shutting down the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Plus, let’s not forget that Brady-less season in 2008 when Belichick still managed to get the team to 11 wins.

Brady has been likewise. Belichick doesn’t tweak his performance because he works on the other side of the ball. Brady threw 50 touchdowns in a season (NFL record) and is currently on pace for well over 5,000 passing yards this year (would be another record). These aren’t marks that are matched by any QB in any offensive system. Only all time greats can touch these records and Brady is in that class.

Regardless of which one you argue is deserving of more credit, remember that it is a joint accolade. Football more than any other is a team sport and Belichick & Brady have turned the Patriots into one of the top teams in the league year after year. It is that consistency and the continued practice, studying and hardwork that has cemented their legacy as the best Coach/QB duo ever.

Book Review: Sex on the Moon

by: Ben Mezrich

Sex on the Moon is a new book by Ben Mezrich and his first since the hugely successful The Accidental Billionaires, which was popularized in the Oscar-nominated film The Social Network.

This book tells the real-life story of Thad Roberts, an up-and-coming NASA intern who decides to steal and sell Moon rocks. We learn that the samples are priceless and – even more important to his colleagues at NASA – the most precious substance on Earth.

Thad is one of the top minds in NASA’s internship program but uneasiness lies underneath. Whether due to his Mormon upbringing, issues with his wife, or the outgoing persona he created at NASA, things aren’t going exactly the way he had planned.

Written as a work of stylized non-fiction, Mezrich communicated directly with Roberts to get the intimate details of the coup. Some conversations were filled in and thoughts fleshed out but otherwise this is the truest account of the events available. It’s an interesting story but unless the reader has a fascination with space it may be lost on them.

The NBA has balls

The NBA has done it. They crossed a line that even the NFL didn’t dare. They cancelled games and placed themselves in the crosshairs of fans’ scorn.

Weren’t they paying attention earlier this year when the NFL was in the midst of a lockout? There was an extremely negative reaction by fans that these two groups of extremely wealthy constituents could not come to an agreement as to how to split their billions in revenue. The NFL is the most popular sports league in America and not even they could avoid the fans’ wrath. Thanks to the fortitude of Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft they were able to work out a deal and not miss any games. But apparently the NBA missed the headlines. They missed how quickly fans turned on everyone involved. And now they have done it to themselves, completely unnecessarily.

The question remains who will be the NBA’s Bob Kraft? The problem is that NBA owners lack the iridescence of NFL owners. Kraft, Jerry Jones, the late Al Davis, even Dan Snyder are well known and garner some respect. In the NBA… not so much. Mark Cuban is certainly a beacon but if he’s not up to the task you’re left with Jerry Buss and maybe Michael Jordan, who is a second-year owner. Not exactly guys you can rally behind to get an agreement in place.

Everybody should get ready for a long season. Hockey season that is, since they will likely capitalize the most from the wandering sports fans who no longer have basketball to enjoy. And the NHL is a prime example of what happens when you cancel games. Their lockout wiped out the entire 2004-2005 season and they’ve only recently started recovering some of their attendance and viewership numbers. The NBA kicked the hornets’ nest -- as Stieg Larsson might say -- now they must prepare to get stung.

Wedding Season

As a guy in his mid-20’s the past couple years have been packed full of weddings. They’re supposed to be fun, joyous occasions but they can be quite an expensive proposition for guests to undertake. Gifts, travel & hotel expenses and a dress/tux if you are in the wedding itself. And forget it if there’s a cash bar.

I’ll be going to my fifth wedding in the past 2 years this weekend (I was invited to a sixth but couldn’t make it) and I have 2 more scheduled for next year. I am exhausted and my wallet is barren but it’s simply not something that can be missed. Of the 8 weddings I’ve been invited to recently have been 3 family members, 3 college friends, 1 high school friend and 1 work colleague. Unless there is a legitimate scheduling conflict, how can you say no?

They’re all the same, more or less, which I think is what’s most annoying. Every girl has her “dream wedding” with the perfect flowers and cake and whatever else but they all follow the same ritualistic pattern. The actual ceremony is what it is (as expected) but the reception should be a game changer and yet the only things that seem to vary are the party favors. The entrance, the first dance, the parent-bride/groom dance, mediocre food, cake/dessert, bouquet throw, dancing. Did I miss anything?

I’m not ignorant to the fact that it’s an important event in 2 people’s lives. Receiving an invite is special and it’s nice to be thought of that way. But I think it will be even more fascinating to look back at the wedding album in 20 years and see which people you’ve stayed close with over the years.

My gifts, money and presence are an investment in their relationship; a sign that I care about them and believe in them. Congratulations.

City of Champions

Now that the Bruins have officially raised the championship banner it seems like a good time to take a look back at the past decade in Boston sports. How fortunate are we to have witnessed 7 world championships across the 4 major sports? Especially considering those teams hadn’t won any titles since 1986 (Celtics), 1972 (Bruins), 1918 (Red Sox), EVER (Patriots).

2001 – Patriots
2002
2003 – Patriots
2004 – Red Sox, Patriots
2005
2006
2007 – Red Sox
2008 – Celtics
2009
2010
2011 – Bruins

Most cities would be happy just seeing their teams make a deep run in the playoffs. Let’s not forget that the 2003 Red Sox lost in Game 7 of the ALCS, the 2007 Patriots lost in Super Bowl XVII, the 2008 Red Sox lost in Game 7 of the ALCS, the 2010 Celtics lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and the 2002/2005/2006/2007 New England Revolution lost in the MLS Cup final. See, it isn’t all champagne wishes and caviar dreams. The Revolution became the Buffalo Bills of Major League Soccer.

Remember when our teams were underdogs? The Patriots defeating the Greatest Show on Turf; the Sox coming back from a 3-0 deficit to mount the greatest comeback in history; the Celtics assembling the new Big 3 to bring their first title since the old Big 3; and the Bruins rebounding from their own 3-0 collapse the year before. Nowadays you can’t even discuss championship hopefuls without mentioning a Boston-based team.

TANGENT: The Pittsburgh Pirates are terrible. I’m sorry but it’s true.* However, this year they actually led their division at the All Star Break and it was extremely riveting. I was excited and I have no rooting interest in them. MLB was excited and voted 3 Pirates to play in the All Star Game. Of course, they faded in the second half and finished way out of contention but it was enthralling to see that the possibility for greatness was there, however short that time was. That’s what I miss in Boston: being the surprise team, the buzz team, the fun team.

Winning is great but suspense and surprise are what make sports truly fun.


*The Pirates set a record with 19 consecutive (and counting) losing seasons.

I got 99 problems and Wall Street is #1

GUEST BLOGGER: @brigibaby

Unless you live under a rock (or in a small, uber-conservative city where your news might be censored), by now you’ve heard of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Started back in September, when protesters began to literally occupy Wall Street by camping out on the street, the movement has spread to multiple cities across America. It’s garnered quite a following in Boston, and whether this is because Massachusetts is known for its’ liberal views, or from the masses of young college students eager to be a part of something bigger than they are, I couldn’t tell you. But I can tell you that I’m actually interested in what’s going on, and that is worth noting.

I’m not apathetic; I’m just not political. Politics have never interested me, and I don’t pretend to think otherwise. But “Occupy Wall Street” has been increasingly hard to ignore, especially since my office is in one of the buildings that looms over Dewey Square, where protesters have been camping out for the last few weeks (they’re protesting the Boston Federal Reserve building, not mine, I swear!) So I started reading the signs from the protesters and clicking on the articles about the movement, and I realized something: I’m one of the 99%!

This movement is for everyone who feels that they are underappreciated and overworked. For the single parent who works three jobs just to put food on the table for their kids. For the “traditional” family whose patriarch was laid-up in a work-related injury and can’t pay the medical bills and the mortgage. For the student who worked their ass off to get through college, only to find that the only places hiring offer minimum wage and no shot of making a dent in the mountain of student loan debt they have. Seriously, read this blog and tell me it doesn’t infuriate you.

As someone who served in AmeriCorps for two years, I know a thing or two about struggling to make ends meet. You don’t become a VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) because you want to make the big bucks (did you notice how the title even has the word “volunteer” in it? that should tell you a little bit about the salary). I’ve been on food stamps, applied for heating assistance, and most of my wardrobe is from thrift stores. I don’t live an ostentatious life by any means, and have no problem paying taxes, contributing to my health insurance, or any other of the number of things that come with being considered an “adult” in this country. What I do have a problem with is this “American Dream” that is deteriorating right before my eyes, and the eyes of everyone else in my generation. Of the countless poignant protesters’ signs that have sprung up in this movement, one that resonates with me the most is: “It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

It’s no secret that this country needs some reform. Don’t think so? Watch any one of Michael Moore’s documentaries and get back to me. I love this country, and am proud to be an American, but we can’t ignore the fact that the past few years have been rough. Somewhere, somehow, we’ve veered off course. Corporations are more concerned with making a quick buck than with defending the rights of their customers. Politicians are more concerned about hiding their sex scandal than getting around to the issues they promised. Employers are more concerned with increasing their bottom line than maintaining morale or creating new jobs. These issues are what sparked the “Occupy Wall Street” movement, and judging from the past few weeks, it’s clear that there’s no shortage of things to protest.

I don’t pretend to know the solution to this mess. Instead of being one of the pioneers in this movement, I’m one of the ones who can only offer help by way of a smile or an encouraging word as I trudge by on my way to work (I have a job; I truly am one of the lucky ones). So I try to do what I can do: read up on it. As corny as it sounded when you were little, the old adage “knowledge is power” has proven true time after time as an adult, so I’m doing my part by being informed. When visitors come into the office and look out the window at the collage of tents below, I launch into my daily update of their progress. It’s comforting to know that Americans haven’t lost their backbone; that the protests of the 60’s and 70’s aren’t just memories of a time when we believed in something. I believe in this movement and these people. And having Suze Orman on my side doesn’t hurt, either.

Book Review: Go The Fuck To Sleep

by: Adam Mansbach

I don't have any kids but it has been impossible to ignore the buzz behind this book. Every parent is saying "It's so true!" "Hilariously honest!" "That's exactly how we feel!" etc., etc. So I figured I would take the time to read this. Besides, I enjoy cursing and rhyming so I thought there would still be something in it for me.

It took about 2 minutes. The book is 30 pages cover to cover and there's only 4 lines of text per every 2 pages. It is, in essence, a children's book with full page illustrations. I liked the concept but in practice it was kind of a letdown. The cursing felt forced and was clearly just a schtick. Still, it was funny how the parent/narrator got more and more desperate towards the end and began doubting his parenting abilities.

The real icing on the cake is Samuel L. Jackson narrating the audiobook version:

ESPN – The E is for Entertainment

Entertainment & Sports Programming Network. Sometimes I forget that fact because unlike MTV, which no longer plays music*, ESPN still shows sporting events. But they are also in the entertainment business. Perhaps that is why their ESPN ScoreCenter app sent me breaking alerts regarding the death of Steve Jobs and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Things I would never expect to be reported on by ESPN I am first hearing about via their app. I'm not complaining -- I think it's awesome, albeit weird. How do they decide which non-sports stories are momentous enough to be pinged?

ESPN is clearly trying to broaden their appeal by becoming a go-to resource for more than just sports, but they're not there yet.** For example, when I received those alerts and went to the app for more information there was nothing to be found. No story, no details, nothing. I had to Google it and check Twitter to find out what was going on. And that is where the problem lies. Yes, ESPN is breaking the news but there's no follow up on their end. I have to go to other resources to get any information about what happened. If they are serious about taking that next step into the mainstream consciousness for anything other than sports then they need to go in 100%. Otherwise, they will continue landing the first punch but getting pummeled for the rest of the round.


*That '70s Show? Really?
**This sentence includes there, their and they're. *Bows*

Perception: Person vs User

Hi, my name is Brent and I am a person.

Hi, my name is Yeewuz and I am a user.

Our generation has an interesting duplicity; we have ourselves and we have our online selves. Some people log in and become characters completely unlike themselves. Some people are just who they are in real life but under a pseudonym (user name).

I have been wondering how people would be able to find information about me. Of course, the first thing someone would do is to Google my name. What does that bring up? My Facebook page, LinkedIn & work-related items, and some other people with my name. Nothing too enlightening there since I don't use Facebook as my online HQ. Plus, with multiple people popping up, how can someone be sure which information is for the right Brent?

Now if you try this exercise but type in my user name instead, the floodgates open. There are way more hits that pop up in a variety of places and you can be assured that they are all mine. No multiple Yeewuz's out there. This search gives a much clearer picture of who I am and what my interests are.

Let's face it, family members or bosses or whomever else may be trying to track you down are going to search for your name. That's why I don't put anything on Facebook that isn't public knowledge. I am who I am (We R Who We R?) but it feels good having an outlet for my innermost thoughts and off the cuff remarks that I won't have to answer to in real life. It's nobody's business except who I want to share it with and only my good friends and complete internet strangers know the name Yeewuz. It's funny how much more comfortable that can make you feel.

iPhone 5! Wait, no…

Get ready for Apple’s newest release the "S"! That’s right, much like the old iPhone 3G, the iPhone 4 was found worthy of an "S" update. WOW!!!!

Speed? Sass? Not quite. The "S" stands for Siri. Much like those hands free sync systems they have in cars now ("Call Home", "Play Radiohead", etc.) Apple managed to shrink the technology to fit inside an iPhone. But not an iPhone 5.

I’m kidding of course. Yes, everyone is disappointed that Apple didn’t release a new phone but there’s no way Steve Jobs would have left his post before a huge announcement like that. Anyway, Siri appears to be quite a tool. Through voice commands you can have her read your messages, check the weather, do online searches, add calendar appointments, set reminders, and more.

My big question is unless you’re driving, when would it be useful? The iPhone is already so simplistic that this just seems unnecessary in most situations. Am I missing something or is that exactly why Apple stock dropped 0.6% after the announcement? Let me know in the comments.

25th Birthday Bash

On Saturday we had an early birthday celebration for my girlfriend, Brigid. All her sisters came into town and a couple old friends from New York. We got a room at the Hotel Buckminster not far from Fenway (Talk about a depressing place to be right now). There was a plaque in the lobby signifying that a meeting took place in 1919 between a Chicago White Sox player and a businessman about throwing the World Series. Yes, apparently the Black Sox scandal has roots in Boston.

We brought a bunch of beers, sparkling vodka and some hard liquor. Things got a little loud, a little crazy and Brigid’s voice went up about 2 octaves. The plan was for us to start the party at 9pm at The Pour House and have everyone else meet us there. We got to the hotel at 6, thinking we’d have plenty of time to get ready, pre-game and go. Well, that didn’t end up happening. What did happen was we left at 11 and we went to Bleacher Bar. There were quite a few texts going back and forth to rearrange everything. Needless to say, we had so much fun in the hotel that some people were in favor of inviting everyone else to join us there. Instead, we went out but decided to stay close by.

It was raining lightly and there was some conversation about taking umbrellas from the front desk. We ended up taking one (for 8 people) and then kept trying to avoid having to hold it. We made it to Bleacher Bar and joined 4 friends who had already arrived. We quickly ordered a round of shots for everyone so they could catch up to us. We pretty much got to own the place because no self-respecting Sox fan would be in there right now. But it was a lot of fun and we got to take a few pictures.

Fast forward an hour and Brigid had the urge to go dancing. We ended up down the street at Landsdowne Pub, but not before a stop at the sausage cart for some food. In the bar there was a rock band playing songs from the 80s and 90s. They were actually pretty talented. We headed out back to the DJ pit for a little while and really got our dance on. By the end of the night we had lost 3 people and saw a fourth make a bad decision if you catch my drift.

After they turned the lights on at 2am we made our way back to the hotel, stopping at a 7/11 on the way. We picked up the weirdest array of food: Cheetos, Diet Pepsi, water, a burrito, a DiGiorno pizza and microwave popcorn. I don’t even remember what else. Maybe a chocolate bar. We spent the next hour playing Empire and laughing hysterically before passing out at 3.

I’ll see if I can find any pics to post later.

Book Review: Bossypants

by: Tina Fey

Just reading the book jacket I knew picking this up was a great choice:

"I hope that's not really the cover. That's really going to hurt sales."
-Don Fey, Father of Tina Fey

"Absolutely delicious!"
-A Guy Who Eats Books

"Totally worth it."
-Trees

"Do not print this glowing recommendation of Tina Fey's book until I've been dead a hundred years."
-Mark Twain

Bossypants is a hilarious look back at the life of comedienne Tina Fey through her own words. We get all her thoughts and reflections along the way, which with the help of time, can now find the humor in so many things.

As head writer of Saturday Night Live, Fey was able to craft the art of the ridiculous and this book is a testament to that. It doesn’t feel forced; the laughs are real and you can sense that she is laughing -- at herself -- right there with you.

This book is a genuinely good time although it definitely skews to the female perspective. It is still enjoyable for the male population (as I can attest) but during certain anecdotes there is a sense of detachment.

Good Eats: The Brahmin & Zocalo

I saw a local deal on Rue La La for a 6 course tasting for 2 at The Brahmin, a new restaurant in Back Bay that opened in August. It was tough to ignore that price so I decided to make the purchase and check it out.

It's in a pretty good location not far from the Orange Line's Back Bay Station. It's a pretty spacious place with a main room, a second function room to the right and a downstairs area which we didn't see. They even had some tables still set up outside for the few fair weather days we have remaining.

As I said, the deal allowed us to choose 6 different items from the dinner menu. We chose the Greens Salad, Seasonal Tomatoes & Baby Mozzarella, Tater Tots w/ a trio of sauces (truffled ketchup, garlic aioli, and grainy honey mustard), Meatballs, Grilled Chicken Skewers and Truffled Mac & Cheese.

The Greens Salad was the only sub-par course. Also, the Sidecar I ordered was horrendous. The rest of our drinks were tasty, though.

Never one to miss an opportunity to brag to my friends I made sure to check in on Foursquare. A tip popped up that "the best guacamole in town" was located right next door at a Mexican restaurant called Zocalo. Needless to say, there was no way my girlfriend was going to miss that. So after we finished our 6 courses we walked exactly one restaurant over and sat down for some tortilla chips and guac. (If you have never eaten dinner and then immediately gone to another restaurant for more food (not dessert) then let me tell you that it is very confusing for your stomach and brain to make sense of what is happening.)

The place looked busy but it was much smaller than The Brahmin so that wasn't really the case. Still it was cozy enough that we could look over towards the bar and see they had their own guacamole station where an employee literally just makes guac all day. Old school style too: in a mortar with a pestle. It was very cool to watch.

It was served in our own mortar and I enjoyed it thoroughly. My girlfriend liked it but wouldn't go so far as to label it "the best in town". Definitely worth a visit for the experience if nothing else.

The End of an Era

The 2011 Red Sox season is over and so is the franchise’s renaissance of the past 7 years.

2004 changed everything. 2007 emphasized that fact. But 2011 has brought us back to the world of the cursed. The 2003s, 1986s and 1978s that we all believed were behind us have returned.

Of course we were confident. Money and championships will do that to you. But, once again, we learned that money doesn’t equal championships. Best Team Ever? 100 wins? Try worst collapse in baseball history. No team has ever had a 9 game lead in September and not made the playoffs. Until now.

Maybe this is what needed to happen. To start over. To hit refresh. This will clear out all the pink hats. This will clear out all the Fenway Commemorative Bricks. We needed to get back to basics. We needed to get back to baseball. Hey Theo, batter up.

Amazon Kindle Fire

It's hard to believe that there have been no serious competitors to the iPad in the nearly 18 months since it was introduced. Today we may have the first as Amazon unveiled the Kindle Fire.

"How," you ask, "can a tablet with only 8 gigs of memory, barely 10,000 available apps, and no camera or microphone be considered competition?" Two words: Amazon and $199.

Amazon is a known and trusted brand. People will give them an opportunity just because it's them. But Amazon has even one upped that by wrapping the entire Kindle Fire around their services. Books, movies, music, cloud storage - all easily accessible through your Amazon account.

$199 is a great price; nay, a fantastic price. It's less than half the price of an iPad. Everyone knows Apple makes great products and that they are priced with that quality in mind. But this... this is a game changer. This is where families take their first foray into the tablet market; this is where it becomes more than just an item to show off; this is where the tablet becomes the next Walkman.

Book Review: Name of the Wind

by: Patrick Rothfuss

My girlfriend recommended this book to me and I knew it must be good because she’s not a huge fan of the fantasy genre. In a word, this book is breathless. The whole story is of wonder and amazement. It involves magic and demons and a dragon. But it is also human. There is love, death, learning.

The story surrounds a man named Kvothe. He is telling the story of his life and we are there to witness. How he was born into a traveling troupe, learned magic from a visitor, dealt with the death of his family, survived day to day as a street urchin, eventually joined the University, fell in love with a girl, slayed a dragon and uttered the name of the wind. But wait, there’s more.

Name of the Wind is the first of an expected trilogy known as The Kingkiller Chronicle. The second book was published earlier this year and the final one does not currently have a release date.

Movie Review: 30 Minutes or Less

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson

McBride plays a slacker who needs some money. He and his cohort Swardson devise a plan to kidnap a pizza boy (Eisenberg) and strap a bomb to him. They tell Eisenberg if he robs a bank for them they will disarm the bomb and let him go. Eisenberg enlists the help of his childhood friend Ansari to assist in the heist. With the stakes so high a violent ending is almost inevitable.

The plot is ridiculous but humorous. However, it becomes downright depressing if you are unable to block out the fact that this really happened to someone and it didn’t end well.

The 4 leads all have their funny moments but McBride takes the cake. The movie has laughs but never really gets beyond the “OK” to “Average” range.

3 out of 5

Patriots’ Defense – New Look, Same Results

The Patriots are 2-1 in this young season and that’s nothing to turn your nose up at. But the defensive side of the ball – the one that was getting all the press during the lockout-shortened offseason and preseason – has been stinking up the joint. Bill Belichick, for the first time in his football life, switched to a 4-3 defensive front. He brought in proven veterans who profiled as solid pass rushers. All of this with the hope of changing the “bend but don’t break” defense of the past few seasons. Mission accomplished. Now they bend AND break.

Let’s take a look at the stats from the first 3 games of the season.

Miami – 24 pts, 488 yds allowed

San Diego – 21 pts, 470 yds allowed

Buffalo – 34 pts, 448 yds allowed

These aren’t even top flight teams! Can you imagine what the Packers or Saints would do?

(And let’s not place too much blame on Tom Brady for the loss to the Bills. Yes, he had 4 interceptions – matching his total from all of last year – but he also had 4 touchdown passes. It would have been a Buffalo blowout if not for Brady. Once again, the defense proved to be the deciding factor.)

But where exactly is the weakness? The defensive line: where Albert Haynesworth only has 2 tackles? The linebacking corps: with Brandon Spikes missing some time? Or the secondary: without veterans James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather flying around?

It’s still early in the season and the hope in New England is that everyone is still growing into the new 4-3 alignment.
*Belichick is a Hall of Fame coach but the 4-3 isn’t his specialty. He must draw up new schemes and see what works and what should be scrapped.
*Many new players that were brought in must learn the playbook, terminology and The Patriot Way. And that includes on offense too (see: Ochocinco, Chad).

In short, a franchise that has proven to be one of the best of the past decade has earned some level of respect. Leeway should be given while they go through the growing pains of the early season schedule. Remember, without the normal amount of offseason workouts and training camps everyone is learning on the fly, including the rest of the NFL. If there is any team who will be able to figure it out and succeed, it will be the Patriots.

A Very She & Him Christmas

It's a match made in Heaven the North Pole. Indie pop duo She & Him are releasing a Christmas album later this year. As anyone who has heard this band (or has seen Elf) knows, Zooey Deschanel has the perfect voice for holiday tunes. Stereogum has the tracklist and album cover posted here. It appears to be mostly standard fare but I'm looking forward to hearing M. Ward's arrangements.

Beside the point, are they really releasing a Christmas album on October 24? I'm not going to digress into a rant about the over-commercialization of Christmas; rather, the obvious synergistic quality of announcing this album while Zooey's new show New Girl is bringing in 10 million viewers a week.

Plus, she's adorable.

Going, going, g---

With only 3 games left to the season the Red Sox are somehow still leading the race for the AL Wild Card by 1 game. However, I am currently watching Josh Beckett load the bases in the 5th, while refreshing the score of the Rays/Yankees game and seeing Tampa Bay up by 2. The month of September has really done a number on everyone involved. Suddenly, Terry Francona is on the hot seat; Theo Epstein is no longer the boy genius; Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia & Jacoby Ellsbury have stopped garnering heavy MVP consideration; and Boston fans are being mocked in the media. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times wrote a great piece on how the rest of the country is viewing this epic collapse.

I'm with Curt Schilling on this one. I don't want to see the Sox in the playoffs. Why extend this doomed season any longer? Finish with an embarrassing flourish of ineptitude and make some wholesale changes in the offseason.

Introduction

I love social media. I love how new it is, how fresh it is and how it is always changing. I love how it takes the old way of doing things and flips it on its head.

What do I want to do with this blog? I have Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Goodreads, Listal and an old MySpace page. Yet even with all of that I don't feel like I have a public platform for my real thoughts, ideas and comments. I get the most play out of Twitter but I want the ability to ruminate on things without a character limit. For that reason, The Public Frog has come into existence.