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.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
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
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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
Monday, November 28, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
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
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.
---------------
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
Monday, November 21, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, November 18, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
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 ;)
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 ;)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, November 14, 2011
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.
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, November 10, 2011
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 $$$) and do something for the fans for a change?
I love football but I don't have the NFL Network. How am I supposed to watch these Thursday night games? A couple years ago the NFL had a crisis on its hands when the undefeated Patriots were playing the Giants in the final game of the regular season with the first ever 16-0 season on the line. It just so happened it was a Thursday night NFL Network game, meaning only a small percentage of the country would be able to watch it. There was a huge uproar from fans and the NFL did the unprecedented and shared the broadcast rights with NFL Network, CBS, NBC and local Boston and New York affiliates.
The second issue with Thursday night games is what it means to fantasy football owners. Most people usually don't set their teams until the weekend. That way they have the most updated status reports and matchup information. However, once the Thursday night games start, you have to do all your homework and have all your changes set before that game kicks off. Otherwise, your team gets locked and you can't make any adjustments. I've lost many a game because of the irregular Thursday night showdown.
Nobody wants this except the NFL. Can't they change their tune (aka $$$) and do something for the fans for a change?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, November 7, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, November 4, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
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.
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.
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