Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turnin’ red
Crying’s not for me
Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’
Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me.....

Butch Cassidy has ridden off into the sunset, and Cool hand Luke has eaten his last egg. Hollywood says goodbye today to one of their finest. Paul Newman passed away this morning at the age of 83. After breaking hearts with his stellar looks and inspiring souls with his on screen presence for years, Newman spent his later years with his Newman's Own salad dressings, coffee, charities, and his racing team that won 8 CART series championships. While often a serious face on screen, Newman always charmed me with his playful characters. Of course his partnership with Robert "Sundance" Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", established the two of them as icons (can you ever forget Newman riding in a circle on that bicycle while Burt Bacharach's "Raindrops...." played?). Similarly, any guy can reference "Cool Hand Luke" with its "failure to communicate" and hard boiled egg showdown. For me, I just can't help love Newman as minor league manager/player, Reg Dunlop for the Charlestown Chiefs hockey team. In the 1977 comedy "Slap Shot", Newman leads a rag tag team to a championship in the vein of "Major League" or "Bad News Bears". Lingering more in your mind after you watch "Slap Shot" are the Hansen brothers (a trio of bottle-rim glasses wearing goons that beat the tar and fire out of everyone and simply fight their way through the league with much ballyhoo and hilarity).
You could talk forever about so many of his films - "The Sting", "The Color of Money", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "Road to Perdition", "The Hustler", "The Long Hot Summer" and on and on and on. Nevertheless, there were not many like this guy. He wasn't the original "ol' blue eyes", but I'm pretty sure they'll remember him the same nonetheless. So long, Fast Eddie.

Slap Shot and the Hansens at their finest

NOBODY can eat 50 eggs!

The Presidential Debate

Wow! Did anyone get anything out of that? Undecided voters are now decided - yeah right...No one learned anything last night, and my time was wasted. I was no more enthused with my candidate nor enthused about the other. Again, pretty pitiful that this is the best we've got. For Democrats, Obama is NOT the best they can do. He may be the best shot for victory, but clearly not the best candidate they can offer for the leader of our country. My only moment of chuckles last night was where Obama nearly went down the wrong road. He almost went into the "I know know more about controlling the military/military strategy than you". All I could think of was McCain snapping and channeling Col. Jessep - It would have been something like this.....

McCain: Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son?

Obama: No sir.

McCain: Ever served in a forward area?

Obama: No sir.

McCain: Ever put your life in another man's hands, ask him to put his life in yours?

Obama: No sir.

McCain: We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?

Obama: Yes sir.

McCain: Are we CLEAR?

Obama: Crystal.

McCain: Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Sen. Biden? I've had a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for health care and you curse the Upper Class. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: That the Iraq War, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you wanted me on that wall. You needed me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I've provided, then questions the manner in which I provided it. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to.

I took some liberties there to make it applicable. Oh, woe is America...

Gas Crisis!!!!!!

Hey Nashville! Get Your Act Together! YOU caused this!

Dad, this video's for you.

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

So, the Kings have gone quasi-softy....They rocked their socks off on SNL Saturday with James Franco (hence, my James Franco/Hills video on the previous post). I even laughed out loud a couple of times during this episode. There was a cameo by Serena Van der Woodsen on the Digital Short - "Murray Hill". Nevertheless, the Kings were "on time" in the vernacular of Blake Sloan. Here is live clip of them playing "Use Somebody" somewhere (?) - the second song on SNL Saturday. Enjoy.

(BURP!!!) - Whatever....

(how old is this pic? - HA!)

As I await Whitney's return from Nashville, I'm catching up on some "Hills" - everyone's favorite faux-ality show. Have you ever seen such good editing and dramatic camera angles on expressionless faces. DEEP! (sic) - Justin Bobby has let Audrina down yet again. I'm sure none of you know or care, but I tend to take the side of Lauren Conrad's rivals (I know. What a terrible person I am!). Lauren is a sweet girl, but I can't hang with grudges. In the movie "Starsky and Hutch", Snoop Dogg and Vince Vaughan both refer to the quote, "To err is human, but to forgive divine". I'm pretty sure that one of them attributes this to Shakespeare and another to God ("the biggest mack of all"). Too bad that was said by Alexander Pope.....The point being that I want Lauren to forgive Heidi!
Audrina is my favorite of the female characters (I would say Whitney, but there's only room for one of those in my life). Lo has been a little witch to her this year. Go walk Lauren's dog. When it comes to picking favorites, my REAL favorite has to be ------> JUSTIN BOBBY!!! (sober now) Nevertheless, I can't wait for this madness all to unfold. Brodie and Lauren, Stephanie and Doug, Drina and JB, Speidi, Lo and the Dog, Whitney and her boss, Heidi's lame sister Holly and her lame self - this is gonna get good!!!
Here is a great representation of this garbage that we watch....

See more James Franco videos at Funny or Die

Sloths !!!!

After a pretty decent SNL on Saturday, I was reminded of my favorite Digital Short -
SLOTHS !!!!

The Cup Experience

The Ryder Cup has begun! We have gotten destroyed the last 3 times by Europe. For all the ladies that are reading this and don't know what this is (if you are a guy and you don't know - shoot yourself), the Ryder Cup is the United States vs. Europe in a weekend of team golf competition in various formats. The last time we won (I could be wrong....) was when Payne Stewart and co. took down the Europeans in a fury of USA, USA chants. Sadly, that was the last we saw of Payne Stewart. He had a great year in 2000, he won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and then the triumph in the Ryder Cup. Payne died in a plane crash that fall...

After the 1st day today, the U.S. is in the lead! With no Tiger and our recent run of failures in the Cup, we did not stand a chance!!! Ryder 1st timer Boo Weekley has fired up the crowd with his good ol' boy persona and laissez-faire attitude. If you have never seen Boo (most of the few who read this blog - both of you....), he is a trip. Straight out of the backwoods and swamps of Milton, FL, there is no one like Boo Weekley. He shot up the leader board last year at the PGA Championship and nearly broke the single round record for a major (63).

Here was his press conference afterwards - PRICELESS!

Hit Me Baby One More Time

Oh, Jan Term '99 was a special time for so many boys - "oh, baby, baby...."
Next month, TRL will come to a close after a run of 10 years....It all went to pot after Carson left, or was it the fact that MTV quit playing videos? Either way, it was fun while it lasted, and BE HONEST it has a little special place in your heart (somewhere).

This Made Me Laugh

Stronger Two 4 Wednesday

Here's what I've been digging since clinic started back last week (I've been BUSY - in clinic, not on the Hype Machine)

Annuals - "Sore"
I really could not get with Annuals last album. (granted I only listened to 3 or so songs - "Brother", I'm talking about you....) This song is Good. At times it reminds me of "Reinhold Messner" era Ben Folds Five. I know it's from back in the Spring, but as I said - I hesitate when it comes to Annuals

Ra Ra Riot - "The Rhumb Line" (the whole album)
These poor kids lost their drummer and friend last year here in New England. He pulled a Jeff Buckley in the waters off Providence. They pulled it together for a fitting tribute to an old friend. I'm sure he is proud.

East Bound and Down

East bound and down

Loaded up and truckin'.
We gonna do what they say can't be done.
We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.
I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run!

Today, country music lost a legend. He may not have had the fanfare that came with the likes of Waylon and Willie, but he was a great one nonetheless. Jerry Reed passed away today at the age of 71. You may not know him, but maybe you know his name. If not, you hopefully know those lyrics to his famous song "East Bound and Down". Jerry Reed was a disciple of the Nashville legend, Chett Atkins. Known as the "Guitar Man", Reed wrote songs that were recorded by everyone from Nat King Cole to Elvis. He many times had a funny side to his songs, hence his collaborations with the likes of Ray Stevens. The boys of Rollin' in the Hay are hanging their heads low tonight. "East Bound and Down" was a staple of their set. I'm sure that Rick and the boys are pouring one out for Jerry.

I will always remember Jerry Reed by this song and movie role to which it coincided. A longtime friend of Burt Reynolds, Reed was given the role of Cledus in the classic flick, "Smokey and the Bandit". If you've never seen this movie, it's no "Schindler's List", but it hits a nerve in the south with NASCAR/bootleg themes. The premise is simple: a wealthy Texas man is trying to get a truckload of Coors Light to Atlanta, GA. Coors Light was not sold East of the Mississippi in the 70's. This tycoon pays Bandit (Reynolds) to facilitate the transportation of this truckload. With Bandit driving ahead in his Trans Am to ward off the Police/State Troopers (Smokey), there was only one man fit to drive the truck, Cledus (Jerry Reed) and his dog, Fred. I'm reminded of the people of the Southeast's battle to get beer from the New Belgium Brewery in Colorado the past 10 years (OK, maybe this is not a big issue to everyone in the SE. Mainly, I'm speaking of my immediate friends who really wanted Fat Tire and didn't want to go to Arkansas to get it. Well, we've finally got it. Mission accomplished, Bandit.) So long, Jerry. We'll see you down the road....

"The boys are thirsty in Atlanta, and there's beer in Texarkana"

"East Bound and Down" by Jerry Reed - (MP3)

Inspiratu

Watched the wacky-fest that is "i ♥ Huckabees" this weekend on IFC. Wasn't sure if anyone realized the inspiration behind my other blog, "How Am I Not Myself?". Here is the scene in all its glory.
Enjoy....

It's Not Over, Yet!

The year still has lots of goodness yet to come in the world of music!

September 23rd is an especially big release day for little Willy!

Kings of Leon - "Only By the Night"
- the Nashville boys (and the Sawyers and Lendale's neighbor) are back with album #4, and their doing it at Blackbird in Nashville (thank God). No more Ethan Johns producing (yea! - b/c he dumbs down their stuff and should stick to Counting Crows albums) He only got to where he is in life b/c of his father (that's called sarcasm, or is it irony......) Angelo Petraglia is back solely at the helm just like their 1st EP !!!

Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"
- With a solid release last year on Sub Pop, these boys are channeling the Dead one mo' time!








Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tongue"
- I'm gonna guess this one's gonna burn! Everybody's getting in on the action! Gone are Conor Oberst and Ben Gibbard in with Elvis Costello, Jonathan Rice (her beau), Zooey Deschanel, and M.Ward. This is already Whitney's album of the year....








Here's Jenny's Phone #

Who Do Ya Love?

Top Albums for 1st Half of 2008*

(in NO particular order – b/c I generally love all of these)

Beck – Modern Guilt
Vampire Weekend – (s/t)
Fleet Foxes – (s/t)
Black Keys – Attack and Release
The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
The Virgins – (s/t)
The Black Ghosts – (s/t)
Foals – Antidotes
Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
(oops! forgot Girl Talk - Feed the Animals)

*that I own – there is plenty great stuff out there that I still have not gotten around to buying….I’ll catch up by the end of the year maybe

Favorite Songs

(Chronological/Autobiographical for all the Rob Gordon/Fleming, Nick Hornby, John Cusack and High Fidelity kids out there)

Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
Beck – Inferno
MGMT – Electric Feel
The Black Hollies – Paisley Pattern Ground
Jack Penate – Second, Minute, or Hour
Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin – Glue Girls
Frightened Rabbit – Head Rolls Off
Tapes n Tapes – Hang Them All
The Kooks – Always Where I Need to Be
The Selmanaires – Broken Mirrors in the Mud
She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
The Black Ghosts – Anyway You Choose to Give It
We Are Scientists – Lethal Enforcer
Death Cab For Cutie – No Sunlight
The Ting Tings – Great DJ
Foals – Cassius
Black Keys – Strange Times
Jukebox the Ghosts – Hold It In
Phantom Planet – Do the Panic
The Raconteurs – Many Shades of Black
Fleet Foxes – Your Protector
M83 – Graveyard Girl
The Kills – Getting Down
French Kicks – Abandon
The Dodos - Fools
Cut Copy – Lights and Music
The Futureheads – The Beginning of the Twist
My Morning Jacket – Evil Uges & I’m Amazed
Hercules & Love Affair – Hercules Theme
N*E*R*D – Everybody Nose
The Last Shadow Puppets – Standing Next to Me
Mezzanine Owls – Snow Globe
Nine Inch Nails – Discipline
The Hold Steady – Sequestered in Memphis
Beck – Gamma Ray
Dr. Dog – The Old Days
Mates of State – My Only Offer
Chester French – She Loves Everybody
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
The Virgins – Rich Girls
Albert Hammond Jr – Bargain of a Century
The Dutchess and the Duke – Reservoir Park
Throw Me the Statue – Lolita
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Oxford Collapse – The Birthday Wars
The Walkmen – The Blue Route
Kings of Leon – Crawl

What did I miss? Plenty. I’ve been slacking….let me know what you loved?

Here are the songs I could find on Imeem (doesn't always have em all....)


Here are some videos of songs that Imeem didn't have the song alone


Here is one of my favs of the favs - Chester French (who I tipped earlier this year on here and their song Jimmy Choos - this song is better and makes me eager for their album which may never come out......pleased to know that Connor Farley is also a fan along with Pharell Williams who signed them to his label Star Trak with a Vulcan Nerve Pinch)

did I mention that these 2 are Harvard boys who recorded this in the basement studio at the school radio station....preppy!

Crouching Tigers, Hidden 11-Year Olds

Should I say, "Hidden Passports?". Whatever. The Chinese/Chianese scare me. They are the modern day USSR. OH! They are also massive cheaters. My favorite event in the Summer Olympics is women's gymnastics. This was secondary to my crush on Shannon Miller from 1992-1996 (yes, I know she is white trash - I was 12). The women's team came up short the other night pulling in the Silver medal. The Chinese won the Gold - period. They were great. Even if poor Alicia Sacs (Sacrimoni) hadn't had 2 major errors, the Chinese would have won. So, I don't want any tears shed by that poor girl. She is a champ. Regardless, the Chinese team was suspect and has been suspect from day one. Media outlets all over the place are reporting China team members Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, and He Kexin are 13/14 years old. When He (Kexin) was in competition last fall a Chinese AP report spoke of rising Chinese stars....like the 14 year old He.......this report came out yesterday. The link to that article is now gone along with the article......weird.......thanks Chinese government. The government has verified all their gov issued passports showing that the girls are over the 16 yo as of Jan 1, 2008 minimum. They're not suspicious at all though...............He Kexin's birthday............Jan 1, 1992. WOW! Way to not make it obvious. I know you people have seen these kids. Yes, kids. Bela Karolyi basically had to be cut off by Bob Costas the other night, b/c he kept slipping in, "Well, they ARE using 14 year old girls...". In a completely NON-dirty way, Karolyi with his 30 years of gymnastic coaching knows what 14 year olds look like. Tonight on NBC news, they ran a story on China's Project 119. This is their Hitler Youth camps for children training to be dominant in the Olympic games. That's it. It's SOLE purpose. WHO CARES??????? I love the Olympics, but it isn't everything. This project is insane and sad. If anything, those kids could be much better used sewing my new shirt from J.Crew (sic). Yippee! Hurray! Zoolander much?

The Chinese even cheated with the opening ceremonies. The fireworks were computer generated. The little girl singing was 7 years old and lip syncing for a 14 year old (again that age thing........).At the end of the day if these girls ARE of age, these girls must be kept in a box like veal, so they can't grow. They are let out the day of competition and see light for the 1st time. It's like Plato's allegory of the cave (what? not really).

ERHH!!!
CHEATERS!!!!!!!
*%^$!@*^%$#*^$!&^!!!!

(editors note/addendum 8/18/08) - wow, so now the judges are just morons from Turkmenistan, Grenada, Australia (insert random country here) - The Judges botched everything! Not one of the judges can be from a competing team's country. These yoyos are ALL from countries that have NOT ONE MEDAL IN GYMNASTICS EVER between them - BLURGGG!

Great Job, USA! Who didn't cheer their socks off for these two? Whitney sure did.....