http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/rem-asks-fox-news-stop-playing-losing-my-religion-during-dem-convention_651951.html
Apparently, in reaction to the Democrats' resolution to re-adopt the word "God" within their Pledge of Allegiance at the DNC which ellicited 'boos' (not boo-urns) from some of the crowd, FOX News was playing R.E.M.'s smash-80's hit "Losing My Religion" during outros to commercial breaks on Thursday night.
R.E.M. rightfully demanded that FOX News cease and desist using its song, saying, "We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there."
Conversely, and predictably, FOX fired back at R.E.M. with some complete bullshit reasoning that pretty much has earned them the dreadful reputation they already have. "FOX News Channel's use of an R.E.M. song during Thursday's edition of Fox & Friends was in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties. Nevertheless, we're always flattered to have this much attention for a song selection and we have R.E.M. was able to satisfy their publicity fix."
Newsflash, FOX News. Actually, there are a few. 1) R.E.M. is huge. HUGE. They don't need the help of FOX News to bolster their number of records sold or to create publicity. 2) R.E.M. doesn't formally exist as a playing or touring band anymore. Again, why would they want publicity? They hung it up a year ago, and have no plans to return to creating new music. 3) Shame on you, again, FOX News, for inserting your political and religious messages into your coverage that is supposedly "Fair and Balanced." Seriously.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Disc golfing at High Bridge, July 29-30-31
My "big trip" of the summer was a disc golfing junket in High Bridge, Wisconsin. Way up there by Ashland, the High Bridge recreational complex, or compound or something, housed 11 courses after taking hybrid/mixed courses into account. My friend Dan and I were determined to play as many holes, competitively, as possible. Although the initial over/under was 232.5 holes, it was adjusted to 200 after the first day.
We hit 201 holes for the three-day stretch, including having played every course (except Bear) multiple times, including Gold ("You've Got Gold!") and Granite Ridge by foot and by cart. (It was much more enjoyable by cart, which also marked the first time I've ever disced with a golf cart. Fun.) Although we played 201 holes, I only have scores for 10 of those 11 rounds. (11 x 18 is still only 198 holes, although the "Blueberry" course, from which our third round I'm missing scores, had a "bonus" 19th hole leading us back to our cabin. 198 + 3 bonus holes = 201, bitches.) (Note: all courses and holes played as Par 4s.)
Steve Dan
Wood1: -6 Wood1: -10
Blueberry1: -7 Blueberry1: -7
Gold1: +13 Gold1: +10
Wood2: -12* Wood2: -8
Granite Ridge1: E Granite Ridge1: +6
Granite Ridge2: -5 Granite Ridge2: +1
Gold2: +6 Gold2: +10
Wood3: -9 Wood3: -11
Wood4: -5 Wood4: -12*
Blueberry2: -7 Blueberry2: -2
-------------------- ------------------------
-32 -23
*-denotes low personal and overall scores of the weekend
We survived on burgers, dogs, and a steak, but without forks. Yup, steaks on a knife. The campfires were enjoyable though, in addition to general wilderness time. Pretty chill vibes all around.
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| Everything was rustic, including the overall scoreboard. |
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| There were lots of crazy holes -- rock outcroppings and treacherous turns and curves. The courses were extremely well maintained and groomed. |
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| A sign on one of the hybrid courses. Blueberry combined with some Granite Ridge holes to make the "Blueridge" course. We never found the "Blueberry Kush" course though. |
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| Highbridge Hills. Do it. |
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| This was our cabin. Ghetto couch on the porch, campfire, inside breakfast table, fridge, stove, and inflatable matresses and one bed. It was rustic, even a tad dirty, so I'd prepare a little better for next time. Overall though, it got the job done and housed us for 2 nights. |
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| The basket that inspired the controversial "3-and-out" argument. Was it called? Mark it 8? These were definitely league games. |
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| The scenery was spectacular. |
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| Hole #2 on Blueberry. The hole was past the tractor, up on top of that rock outcropping. Much longer than it looked. Solid birdie hole, though. |
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| At times it felt like we were on safari. |
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| Hello froggy. |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
In Cold Blood
I just finished my fifth book of the summer. (Three more to go to attain that ever-dorky goal of having read eight books this summer.) I decided that, after a raunchy trilogy and new young adult book, it was time for a classic with a little more depth.
I liked how Capote beautifully presented the scene, the case, and the murder. I can easily see how film-makers adapted this into a film. (And apparently I have seen this movie, although I can't recall much about it, other than Phillip Seymour Hoffman played Truman Capote.) I ended up enjoying the introduction and Clutter family so much that I didn't want their murder to come.
Capote also nicely presents the criminal perspective, although the detail is a little too specific and in-depth for me. I think that their ensuing voyage post-murder is important, but a lot of other side-facts and back-stories are not. I even sympathize here that Capote is trying to really develop the personality of the murderers -- it's necessary to go deep into detail. But some of the factoids and anecdotes still seemed superfluous and expendable.
One other gripe. The ending. In the same fashion as Capote went into detail about the murderers' lives, as went ensuing descriptions of other death row inmates. (That's deaTH row, not DeaF Row, for clarity's sake.) Capote described of the crimes and rationales of other inmates for about 30 pages too long before finally wrapping up the horrifying story.
Read it if you have a little bit of time on your hands -- it's a dense read. Only 320-ish pages, but extremely detail-laden and dialogue is used more sparingly than paraphrasing with a dialect. Good for vacations, reading by the pool, extremely hot summers.
I liked how Capote beautifully presented the scene, the case, and the murder. I can easily see how film-makers adapted this into a film. (And apparently I have seen this movie, although I can't recall much about it, other than Phillip Seymour Hoffman played Truman Capote.) I ended up enjoying the introduction and Clutter family so much that I didn't want their murder to come.
Capote also nicely presents the criminal perspective, although the detail is a little too specific and in-depth for me. I think that their ensuing voyage post-murder is important, but a lot of other side-facts and back-stories are not. I even sympathize here that Capote is trying to really develop the personality of the murderers -- it's necessary to go deep into detail. But some of the factoids and anecdotes still seemed superfluous and expendable. |
| Not that Death Row. |
Read it if you have a little bit of time on your hands -- it's a dense read. Only 320-ish pages, but extremely detail-laden and dialogue is used more sparingly than paraphrasing with a dialect. Good for vacations, reading by the pool, extremely hot summers.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Phish, Alpine Valley, 6/30 & 7/1/12
Okay, I think I'm ready to talk about these shows.
To a non-Phish fan, or even a casual Phish fan, I'm sure these shows were fun. I enjoyed a few moments of them, here and there. But to someone who has seen this band a lot (and I consider myself a borderline fan of that department -- these shows were my 23rd and 24th times seeing Phish), these shows were a let-down before they even happened.
The band played two shows atVerizon Wireless, no, First Bank, no...ummm... screw it, Deer Creek in Indianapolis prior to Alpine Valley. And they were some of the choicest setlists the band has laid down, in my opinion, since 1999 or 2000. Bust-outs of old-school Phish originals (McGrupp, Tela, Sanity, and David Bowie, which was first on my "gotta have it" list this year) and ultra-rare cover songs like Velvet Underground's Cool It Down AND Sweet Jane (only the second time played each, and first since Halloween 1998), and the ultimate knife in the back, Blues Image's Ride Captain Ride, which I've been quietly chasing since 1998, at Deer Creek actually had me considering that I should sell my tickets to the first night at Alpine Valley. Typically, when Phish throws down some magic, the next show is a phone-in. While I wouldn't call either Alpine Valley show a phoned-in show, there's just no way that they could have been even comparable to the Deer Creek shows. I mean, I'm still steaming over Ride Captain Ride...I've missed it by one show at least two or three times now, and even missed it a few times at shows I should have been at, but didn't attend for whatever reason.
That all being said, the shows were still decently fun. They played a few originals that I was still excited to hear, like The Sloth, Reba, Runaway Jim, 2001, Maze, a cover of Talking Heads' Crosseyed and Painless, Let it Loose by the Rolling Stones, and, perhaps the highlight of the two shows, the 1-2 opening punch of Bob Marley's Soul Shakedown Party and Velvet Underground's Lonesome Cowboy Bill on Sunday night. It's quite possible that they'll never play Lonesome Cowboy Bill again, as, like the VU covers at Deer Creek, it hadn't been played since it's original bust-out on 10/31/98.
Beyond the aforementioned original and cover-song highlights, the Alpine Valley shows were average at best, unfortunately. The critical side of my mind gets disappointed when I think about it, but after some reasoning and self-condolences, I tell that critical voice to shut the fuck up and just enjoy the shows for what they are -- a few nights to kick back with good friends, old acquaintences, and crunchy, hetty jamz.
To a non-Phish fan, or even a casual Phish fan, I'm sure these shows were fun. I enjoyed a few moments of them, here and there. But to someone who has seen this band a lot (and I consider myself a borderline fan of that department -- these shows were my 23rd and 24th times seeing Phish), these shows were a let-down before they even happened.
The band played two shows at
That all being said, the shows were still decently fun. They played a few originals that I was still excited to hear, like The Sloth, Reba, Runaway Jim, 2001, Maze, a cover of Talking Heads' Crosseyed and Painless, Let it Loose by the Rolling Stones, and, perhaps the highlight of the two shows, the 1-2 opening punch of Bob Marley's Soul Shakedown Party and Velvet Underground's Lonesome Cowboy Bill on Sunday night. It's quite possible that they'll never play Lonesome Cowboy Bill again, as, like the VU covers at Deer Creek, it hadn't been played since it's original bust-out on 10/31/98.
Beyond the aforementioned original and cover-song highlights, the Alpine Valley shows were average at best, unfortunately. The critical side of my mind gets disappointed when I think about it, but after some reasoning and self-condolences, I tell that critical voice to shut the fuck up and just enjoy the shows for what they are -- a few nights to kick back with good friends, old acquaintences, and crunchy, hetty jamz.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Euro 2012: the commentary
(Note: this was originally penned on June 28, and not finished until Mid-July.)
The title isn't meant to imply that we're discussing my commentary in this post...I want to bring attention to the sheer brilliance of the call brought on by perhaps my favorite announcers of any sport, ever: Adrian Healey and Ian Darke.
That's not to say that any of the other worldly futbol announcers aren't as good. They're all good. Listening to the call of a Euro 2012 match, or any major match, is so.damn.enjoyable.
These guys not only know what they're talking about. They're natural linguists. In the commentator bios I found, I discovered that all of them are at least bilingual. Then again, I suppose that in England or anywhere else in Europe, it's common to classify yourself as multilingual. Fact: people who speak more languages have a more firm grasp on vocabulary, and generally kick ass at speaking and describing things. Toss in an English accent, and I'm really, really starting to hate Phil Simms.
I also love the terminology used for sports that I have never heard in any other arena. Being "unlucky" is the term for banking one off the crossbar, or suffering a foul without gaining anything for it. In baseball, a homerun is "robbed" from a hitter -- there is no luck involved. Certainly no luck in American football -- a kicker who misses a 45-yard field goal to put the team ahead as the clock expires is not "unlucky" -- he is a scape goat for the team's failure to dominate, and thusly shamed forever. (See: Martin Gramatica) In basketball, you're layin' bricks from 3-Point Land, but you're certainly not "unlucky." Perhaps you could actually be unlucky in curling, but that's about the only instance I could think of.
They also seem to discuss the individuals' decisions much more than, say, the NFL or MLB. European futbol fans seem more apt to blame, and in some instances, crucify players for a single poor decision that they made on a corner kick or missed header. In the NFL, we are aware of the bad players but simply don't draft them in fantasy leagues and try to hide their lack of skills by blanketing it on the general defensive or offensive deficiency. In the MLB, you can get away with sucking for a long, long time without getting benched. Hell, Rickie "Don't Call Me Dick" Weeks is batting .183 for half a season and still finds unquestioned daily starting time. You don't hear Rock commenting on Rickie's poor decisions. If anything, it's that he's more unlucky and getting robbed in the field, or not seeing pitches that well. Excuses.
Maybe it's the accents. Foreign terms and concepts. Some other X-factor. But I think half the reason why I get completely sucked into World Cup, Olympics, and Euro 2012 is the superb quality of commentary.
That's not to say that any of the other worldly futbol announcers aren't as good. They're all good. Listening to the call of a Euro 2012 match, or any major match, is so.damn.enjoyable.
These guys not only know what they're talking about. They're natural linguists. In the commentator bios I found, I discovered that all of them are at least bilingual. Then again, I suppose that in England or anywhere else in Europe, it's common to classify yourself as multilingual. Fact: people who speak more languages have a more firm grasp on vocabulary, and generally kick ass at speaking and describing things. Toss in an English accent, and I'm really, really starting to hate Phil Simms.
I also love the terminology used for sports that I have never heard in any other arena. Being "unlucky" is the term for banking one off the crossbar, or suffering a foul without gaining anything for it. In baseball, a homerun is "robbed" from a hitter -- there is no luck involved. Certainly no luck in American football -- a kicker who misses a 45-yard field goal to put the team ahead as the clock expires is not "unlucky" -- he is a scape goat for the team's failure to dominate, and thusly shamed forever. (See: Martin Gramatica) In basketball, you're layin' bricks from 3-Point Land, but you're certainly not "unlucky." Perhaps you could actually be unlucky in curling, but that's about the only instance I could think of.
They also seem to discuss the individuals' decisions much more than, say, the NFL or MLB. European futbol fans seem more apt to blame, and in some instances, crucify players for a single poor decision that they made on a corner kick or missed header. In the NFL, we are aware of the bad players but simply don't draft them in fantasy leagues and try to hide their lack of skills by blanketing it on the general defensive or offensive deficiency. In the MLB, you can get away with sucking for a long, long time without getting benched. Hell, Rickie "Don't Call Me Dick" Weeks is batting .183 for half a season and still finds unquestioned daily starting time. You don't hear Rock commenting on Rickie's poor decisions. If anything, it's that he's more unlucky and getting robbed in the field, or not seeing pitches that well. Excuses.
Maybe it's the accents. Foreign terms and concepts. Some other X-factor. But I think half the reason why I get completely sucked into World Cup, Olympics, and Euro 2012 is the superb quality of commentary.
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