a decision

I like Robert DeNiro. I Like Al Pacino. I’m not sure that I like them together. Righteous Kill looks good, but I’m not sure. It could certainly suck ass. When was the last time you saw them together doing really well? Heat was certainly not good…

Ha!

Suck it, Dirty Bert!

Linkage.

It’s obviously a self-preservation move, but anything that works to remove dirty play from the league can’t be all bad, can it?

If you missed it…

On occasion I’ve been known to be pretty creative, particularly when there’s text messages involved. All of my sisters (and my Mother too) are quite capable of standing up for themselves, so my role as the protective brother has been diminished and lets me take certain liberties. In case you missed it on Sufficient, a good example…

• LizzieB: Super. Now the baby politicos are hitting on me.
• Matt: Well, screw one of them. You will become a creature of legend, more powerful and frightening than ever!
• Matt: Men will weep and nations will crumble under your withering stare. The old legends will be told again and all will bow to the Amazon queen.
• LizzieB: I like the way you think.

Total time involved in this exchange? Less than 1 minute.

Back from the mountains

So I’m back from my Adirondack excursion and I think it was fairly successful. With the exception of one portage that was MUCH more difficult than it looked on the map and a pulled/ripped muscle in my paddle arm it was actually pretty sweet. At the time it felt like shit and hurt like hell, but I think I somehow had fun. If nothing else it’s very nice to completely diconnect from the cell phone, computer, email and tv for 6 full days. I’m also a bit disappointed that I missed Mike Phelps’ races but what can you do? Some sacrifices must be made.

Before the trip started I work 8am-3am, 6:45am-4:30pm and then hopped on a (commuter) train so I got no sleep at all. Now that I’m back in my apartment I’m exhausted (only 1.5 hrs of sleep last night because I had to get up for a disgustingly early flight). I’m sitting on my couch eating pizza and drinking a cocktail using my custom-infused mint vodka. I figured it would put me firmly to sleep but then I found a replay of the Grace Potter and The Nocturnals show on RaveHD. If you haven’t heard me go on about this yet, you should check it out. An HD station dedicated to live music performances 24×7 in HD and full 5.1 Dolby Surround. It sucks that you can’t get it on DirecTV anymore, but Cablevison has it on channel 785.

Anyway, I have decided on the strength of this single performance and 1 cd that I LOVE THIS BAND. I’m disappointed that I missed that at All Points West, but it couldn’t be helped. A Rousing kickball victory awaited me instead! Anyway the impetus for this post was a rousing rendition of “Stop the Bus”. I’m reminded that it’s been a very long time since I’ve felt this for real…

We’ve been driving since the winter
The destination doesn’t change
You know i can still remember
The day you asked me for my name

You are the rock on the riverbed
Growing smoother every year
You are the voice inside my head
I can’t believe you got me here

Stop the bus and turn the radio up high
And grab the first guitar you see
And get out the old flare gun and throw it to the sky
Tonight you’re sleeping next to me

You give me something to remember
Each time you look into my eyes
You see through my trouble and my temper
And you call me out on every lie

Stop the bus and turn the radio up high
And grab the first guitar you see
And get out the old flare gun and throw it to the sky
Tonight you’re sleeping next to me

~”Stop the bus” - Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

A surely-needed break.

My summer is always hectic. You know… getting to work by 8, spending 4 hours watching movies interspersed with work, then leaving at 2:30 and walking home in the bright sunshine. Between that and Sunday kicball in Prospect Park I’m totally exhausted and in need of a vacation.

Ok, maybe that’s not quite right. While most of the above is true, I did work from 8am - 2:30am yesterday before getting up at 6am and getting to work for 7:15. If I never have to sort, filter, rename, catagorize and reassign 37,000 temporary files again I certainly won’t complain. Did I mention I had to do it by hand? And get it done before 10am?

Thank goodness that I’m officially on vacation now. I leave tomorrow for a 7-day extravaganza of canoeing and camping in the Adirondacks. The forecast is for the mid-60’s, isolated thunderstorms and a stiff breeze but I refuse to be intimidated! Bring it on, Nature! I can take it!

It really is gorgeous up there.

Anyway, I won’t be back until at least next Wednesday, so have a fine week! Don’t burn the place down. The list of emergency numbers is by the phone. Don’t forget to let the dog out. And Mom? Don’t forget to let him back in!

Never too late.

I know it’s gotten lots of press yesterday and today, but the stunning USA upset of France in the Men’s 4×100m freestyle relay might be the race of the decade. If you haven’t seen it (I’m not sure how that’s possible) you should watch it. FInd it in HD here.

I guess frogs really can’t swim, huh?

Give ‘em the business.

This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.

I happen to think this is one of the best quotes ever from Fred Thompson. Thank heavens that AMC plays The Hunt For Red October every week.

HAH!

Crazy Japanese game shows always make people’s minds break.

I love the olympics.

There are lots of things I don’t like about the olympics. Rythmic gymnastics, sequined uniforms, opening ceremonies, and lots of associated bullshit. It’s nights like tonight that make me remember exactly why this event is cool. Men’s team gymnastics (the USA team just ROCKED tonight. Excellency on display on the high bar and the pommel horse.), women’s beach volleyball (always a stunning display of true fitness) and SWIMMING!!!!!!

Have I mentioned that I really want to hate Michael Phelps? He’s too perfect. And therein lies the rub: I can’t hate him because he’s just TOO AWESOME!! And Dara Torres is a freak of nature. A fantastic, highly lovable freak of nature.

Ok, I think the cold medicine has kicked in. Time to take a quick nap.

The downside of computers

I am not a creative person. I played a bunch of instruments, I’ve painted and drawn a lot of stuff but it’s all been highly derivative. I’m a very good mimic, but I hold those with true creative talent in high esteem. It’s both highly intriguing then to me that software like this has become readily availble.

On the face of it I’m impressed by the ability of the machine and the people who made it happen. It’s only after I get over the shock and awe that I realize we’re just enabling more low-talent hacks to become stars. We’ve already given away our souls in this country for flash and showmanship over actual ability. Why should we permit this to continue?

Yeah, I’m a crotchety old man. I’m sick, tired and hungry.