podcasts and cutthroat bitch

How great are podcasts? Subscribe, refresh, experience great entertainment. I guess they are millions of podcasts now and there’s no way you can ever get to them all, but I’ve found several ones that I can’t live without.

Best Night Ever. Daily snippets that funnel into the Best Week Ever on VH1. Watching these makes you wonder how many reality shows can exist and how long this niche programming will last. It may be that is here to stay. Sitcoms, drama, documentary, reality TV. This show gets an A for snarkiness.

World Soccer Daily. This is heaven for a soccer fan. Informative, passionate, interesting. Yes they are biased but who cares? They way they turn a blind eye to “their” teams’ deficiencies, while ripping everyone is great. One of the best parts of the show is the nickname they gave to Landon Donovan—Landy Cakes. Hilarious. Every day at 2 hours is hard to keep up with. The Soccernet podcast is only an hour or less twice a week. Anyway, this is a great show. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to keep up with this and the Tony Kornheiser show when he comes back from Monday Night Football, but I’m willing to try.

Roots Rock Radio. A monthly show dedicated to music that you will never hear on radio. Blues, rockabilly, country, folk, anything that isn’t POP. Has a very homey feel and I’ve already heard some great music. As I have time, I’m going to go back and get older shows. I’m still looking for a podcast for American Routes on PBS but haven’t found it yet. This will do for now.

I’ve sort of given up on the Dennis Miller podcast. He’s on locally now, so I feel I can get a fix if I really need it. I don’t know. TK is ok with the guest host, but it’s just not the same. Notes from the Underground is back. The last one I listened to, I didn’t like a single song they played. Hopefully the next show is better.

If I could listen to podcasts and watch soccer all day, I might be happy. It would definitely be a step closer. Add cigars and beer, a box of Krispy Kremes and then we’d be talking.

Watched the latest episode of House (11/6/07). Two medical cases, some interesting interplay between characters old and new. Cutthroat bitch. How can she still be around? She doesn’t do anything. She waits for other people to make a mistake and undermines them in such a way as to present herself in a better light. She's like Sanjaya from American Idol. Her little schtick is old. I’m done with the hiring shenanigans. Let’s pick a team and have them battle it out with the old team. Anyway the exchanges between House and the CIA doctor were classic. The show is a lot better. But I’m right in saying that House doesn’t pop pills every 5 seconds, right? Is that because that tic is not as important? Or does it mean he’s overcome his addiction? His line two episodes ago about knowing what Vicodin tastes like while Cuddy might not know what her birth control tastes like was hilarious. By the way, Tom let me know about a great blog that deals with the medical aspects of the show, politedissent.com.

Coming Soon

Sorry for the delay in Mr. Harris' Wild Ride -- Part TWO
Pending approval, you will see this installment in it's appointed spot for Monday very soon (likely tomorrow, since i don't think Brandon is set up yet, you guys will need SOMETHING to read.....)
again.... big apologies from right here

Home Economics

I would have said a year ago, maybe even 6 months ago, that I can't stand living in a messy place. I don't like clutter and I don't like dirt. I do not often frequent my husbands office because it's usually the messiest place in our house and since I have no idea how he would like things organized (which after 5 years I must assume that he doesn't) and so much things are in piles on the floor with only a small path to the desk and the closet. However, I think my priorities have changed with working full time and commuting so far.

The small amount of free time I have nowadays, I don't care to take up with doing laundry and cleaning the kitchen (which unfortunately you have to do when on those rare occasions you choose to cook). I like to read, I read a lot, but I'm also actually a pretty slow reader so it takes a lot of time. So when I'm home and I'm finally relaxing after a day of trying to be an extrovert when I am naturally an introvert (which is exhausting) I have to choose between folding the laundry that's been sitting in a basket for a week, or reading my book in the bathtub...hmmmm

I understand there are an awful lot of single guys on this website so you might be reading this thinking to yourself "Who cares? I couldn't care less if you lived in the back of your garage without plumbing!" and to a point, you're right. Most people who visit us don't care if there are dishes in the sink or a basket of laundry in the living room. But I have to admit, it's gotten a little worse than that.

Up until this morning there has been two loads of laundry on the floor in our living room that was slowly co-mingling with a growing pile of dirty laundry for the last 3 weeks until we could no longer tell where one pile ended and the other began and there was no longer a floor but only a small hiking path up the side of the mountain.

Along with that, our kitchen was beginning to have a distinct smell to it (hint: when you make broccoli it's best to do dishes right away, broccoli smell is invasive).

And the last thing I will mention, and I'm am NOT proud of this. Our toilet has certain things growing on the inside that I'm pretty sure are related to the mold family. I can't be positive, but mostly I just don't look and get out as fast as I can.

What's really interesting is the conversations this situation has led to.

Ben: "You dumped the clean clothes on the floor!"
Crystal: "You put them on the bed. I wanted to go to sleep."
Ben: "So why didn't you put them away?"
Crystal: "Why exactly did you pile them on the bed?"
Ben: "So that you would put them away."
Crystal: "Is that why you make nice neat piles of all the dirty dishes?"
Ben: "Yes"
Crystal: "Instead of just loading the dishwasher?"
Ben: "...Yes!"

There have been times when I purposely didn't clean up stuff just to see at what point it would start bothering Ben. I have never actually found his breaking point, I think I would go insane before that ever happened.

Ben: "The garbage is getting full"
Crystal: "Is that why you're so delicately laying that on the top of the pile that's already overflowing?"
Ben: "Yeah, as long as it doesn't fall..."
Crystal: "How much more are you going to put on top?"
Ben: "Until all the garbage magically disappears and the can is empty again."
Crystal: "Hmmm"

Ben is actually fairly good at helping around the house, but again, communication is key. And when communication is working then normally all is well. But considering my schedule and his hectic school schedule, we are blind, deaf, and apparently willing to put up with the smell of our habitat.

Sometimes, when it's really bad, I think to myself, "Maybe we can just move and leave everything dirty right where it is".

Boxing

I don't understand all of this fury over the release of the new game "Manhunt 2". The game has been banned in Britain, and this week Target announced that they would not carry this video game in their stores because it was "too violent".

Part of Target's reasoning is that Rockstar Games (the same company that gave us Grand Theft Auto) hid much of the game's more gruesome content in an area of the game code that has to be unlocked to be viewed, a process that is apparently a lot easier to do than it should be. It was the hiding of this content that enabled the game to earn an "M" rating from the ERSB (the video games ratings counsel). Many believe the "M" for Mature rating is too mild in light of the existing and hidden content of the game.

The Nintendo Wii, for example, allows you to use motion-sensing controllers to simulate different game actions, so "therefore to stab you're gonna mimic a stabbing motion, to swing a sledgehammer or a shovel you would do the same." So what's the big deal? Kids are going to need to learn how to swing sledgehammers one day if they are going to learn the kind of handy-man work ethic that contributing members of society should be. Maybe if games like Manhunt 2 had been around when I was a kid, I would be better able to help out around the house when we're, say, digging a trench or something.

Furthermore, I don't see what's so wrong with allowing potential criminals to practice their craft at home before they take it into the real world. They deserve the chance to hone their vocational skills just like many other workers. Do we protest Richard Hamilton the opportunity to shoot jumpers at the gym when he's not playing in regular games? Personally, I would prefer an educated and practiced criminal on the streets than the sort of reckless thugs that are now all too common. Better that my mugger knows the precise points at where to hit me so that I am only incapacitated rather than accidentally murdered.

Finally, the quest to unlock the hidden game code will teach younger players how to search effectively on the internet for information, a skill that is becoming more and more valuable as our technological age progresses. Why would we deny our kids this "teachable moment" when they are at their most eager to learn?

Join with me in insisting that Target recant its stance and offer this important cultural milestone for sale throughout its chain of stores!

Besides, if my friend RB can have this much difficulty becoming a boxer by using the Wii, how many future slayers do we really expect to create with a game like Manhunt 2?

futbol and movies

What a weekend of soccer.

Saturday morning was Arsenal v Manchester United. 1 v 2, the biggest game of the year so far. The first half was dreck. Hleb was the best player for the first fifteen minutes, but then Anderson shut him down. Adebayor was left 20 yards from goal and was ineffective. Ronaldo was, how shall we say, muted. The goal from Rooney, or Gallas, came from good build up and wing play. It wasn’t the cleanest of finishes and I’m not sure that United even deserved it. Fabregas’ equalizer right after halftime was sweet. Great effort from Arsenal. The second half was much more open. Arsenal’s best opportunities came from outside the penalty area, and United was dangerous with the few chances they created. The game changed with the introduction of Saha. His past to create the second goal was exquisite. Truly a magical moment and a glimpse into yet another level United could hit if he stays healthy. Arsenal pushed forward and drew level at the death. They deserved it and both teams earned a share of the points. What a season it could be. It could ’99 all over again with United and Arsenal fighting for the domestic prizes.

Sunday afternoon was the big Italian clash between Juventus and Inter Milan. Without going into an extensive record of Italian soccer, let’s just say there’s not a lot of good will between the two teams. Inter is in first and has not lost this season. Juventus came in a couple of points below, and this same served as another measuring stick for their return to Serie A. The game started and stayed at a frenetic pace. Rarely do you see an Italian game where the game is played end to end of the entire 90 minutes. It was what I expected from the English game, with the Italian game expected to be cautious. The roles were reversed and both teams threw everything forward in the search for 3 points. Figo had a nice game for Inter and Javier Zanetti worked really hard. As for Juventus, Cheilleni owned Ibrahamovic in a match up that drew the attention of the match. Del Piero had an OK game, but Nedved was diabolical. Not a very good performance. The substitution of these two players changed the game for Juve, as they were able to finally cancel out Julio Cruz’s clinical finish at the end of the first half. Camronasi came right on and took the game to Inter and Iaquinta threw his body around as only he can. 1-1 was the final and a share of the points was fair.

So two games in two different leagues between the two biggest teams. It was awesome and it’s on to the Champions League in midweek.

That euphoria was tempered by two movies that I saw recently.

Lonesome Jim. Directed by Steve Buschemi and starring Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler. If you ever need to get depressed, watch this movie. If you need to compare your life against some loser's to increase your self esteem, watch this movie. Ugh.

Taxi Driver. Supposedly a classic, but I have to say that I wasn't that impressed. The pace of the movie was unbearable. Robert DeNiro did a great job of playing an unhinged, desperate Vietnam vet, and the interplay between Shepard and Brooks was good, sort of a sitcom vibe, but that was about it. Reading several reviews, it looks like I missed out several key aspects of the film. That is entirely possible. Maybe I need to see it again to catch the nightmarish isolation of Bickle as he wades through a hellish urban existence. Or maybe I can just say the world is full of evil and that some people snap because it.

Mr. Harris' Wild Ride -- Part ONE

So... I just rode a train down to Maryland, USA. If you've never tried this mode of transportation before, I highly suggest it. It was the most comfortable I've been on a long trip and by FAR the most interesting. Let's see how interesting you find it by the end of this novella. (I'm gonna get fired....)

It all started at the bus station in East Lansing. I should mention at this time that my parents came with me on this trip. So, we're at the bus station waiting around for the bus. We're standing outside because the waiting area was hot, muggy, and smelled subtly of urine (and you know that wet air is full of molecules that... well, even now, I shudder to think of it) -- Anyway, here we are, outside ... waiting... this young girl comes out of the station and sits on a bench near my mother. She turns out to be Katie the MSU freshman travelling to "Picksburg" to see her mama. She's travelling alone it turns out and on a train for the first time (I informed her that Heimlich's Chew Chew train at Disneyland doesn't count) and was a bit nervous. Understandable if you've ever been to a bus depot where you can hardly tell the pending passengers from the hobos (the trick is to look for luggage (not always 100% accurate though)). So we adopted Wee Katie for this bus ride.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to the Toledo Train Station, but others on the bus felt that the driver could have spent more time concentrating on driving, and less time popping pills, eating coleslaw, and talking on his cell phone.

Now, on to Toledo, where we met Andy the Drunk and his mother, Marge. Andy the Drunk spotted us as the train-newbies we were from the moment he laid eyes on the eight of us. (For the sake of factuality, i now mention that both Mom and Pop have been on many, many trains before.... but this did not stop Andy the Drunk from taking us under his wing.)

Regardless, Andy was incredibly cordial, informing us of all the in's and out's of train travel. He even watched our luggage for us while we had dinner at a nearby table. Once on the train, he insisted that we allow him to give Pop and me a tour of the train. This was a bi-level train with most of the passenger seating on the top level. The front cars contained the sleeper rooms, next were the bar car, diner cars, and observation room (club car in lower level). The rest of the passenger seating was located in all but the final car, of course, the caboose (did not get to enter the caboose). He showed me how to open the doors between cars (it's actually fairly obvious, but he insisted that he has witnessed innumerable amounts of people who lacked the presence of mind to press the large black button labeled "PRESS" that opens the door). He located the bathrooms for me and pointed out sleeping passengers and almost got in a fight with a guy who said, "Nice shirt" to me (Andy the Drunk was certain he had heard "Jerk".... hi jinks followed).

This seems as good a time as any to mention that apparently, all train personnel are DICKS!

Anyway, we got back to my parents and Katie the MSU freshmen had found her way to them (did I mention that she was separated from us when we boarded? Oh... well, she was separated from us, when we boarded, by the conductor...). Andy the Drunk was going to head down to find his mother and grab some of the beer that he had stowed away in his luggage for us all to enjoy. He made lewd gestures around the tuchas of young Katie as he stumbled toward the stairway leading to the lower passenger area. (This stumbling was related to train movement.... as I have said, he's a drunk, so he's very good at walking a straight line whilst inebriated). Katie then asked me to give her the tour of the train. So we headed back up toward the front. In the bar car, we bumped into the head waiter, the conductor, and another rail employee. Katie very much wanted to see what the sleeper rooms looked like but they informed us that all the rooms were taken, or they would gladly show her what they look like. So we headed on back to the family to see what was what.

When we arrived, a new person had been added to the cast without my knowledge. Dan the Amish. There sat Dan the Amish with Andy the Drunk and Pop, beers in hand, supplied to them by ... well, you know.... Andy the Drunk welcomed us back and handed me his beer for a sip. (If you know me at all, this was a somewhat horrifying prospect) But I didn't want to be rude, what with being under his wing and all, so I tipped my head back with the hope that the low alcohol content of this tall can of Miller Light would be sufficient to kill whatever may be lurking within Andy the Drunk's mouth. (I haven't gotten sick yet, so... well, hopefully I'm okay...) I couldn't help but notice however that Dan the Amish hadn't even opened his tasty beverage (Do they have a rule about that? (by "they" I'm referring to the kind of Amish who are allowed to indulge in transportation not pulled by horses (I know the rules differ from sect to sect)))

Dan the Amish though was very pleasant, and, woah! Talk about a weak handshake for the roughest hands I've ever felt. I don't hold this against him though. I'm positive he does not have a lot of contact with outsiders, and that would make anybody nervous, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt that within his community he is a confident individual and a pillar or their society. Dan the Amish promptly fell asleep....

We all chatted for a bit longer and Andy the Drunk made a few more lewd gestures in Katie the MSU freshman's tuchas region (all the while mischievously grinning at me, searching for my approval for a late-40's man "molesting" an 18-year-old).

All of a sudden like, Dan the Amish woke from his nap, said "Goodnight, English" and sauntered back to the car with all the other Amish people (did I mention there was a whole passenger section full of Amish??) in it, holding his beer inside his vest as he stumbled (this also was due to train movement.... as I have said, Dan the Amish did not open his beer)

Join us next week for the continuation of this story wherein Andy the Drunk leaves us forever in search of his mother, my parents fall asleep for the better part of the train trip, and some new characters are added to the tale.

Black and White and Read All Over...

I have never paid much attention to news or to politics, I'm trying to do better but I still don't know half the political names that get thrown around. I know Obama is half black, Romney is Mormon, Clinton used to be a woman, but Bloomberg? Huckabee? Kucinich? Not a clue.

And as for the rest of the news, well, it's just depressing. I find myself reading Newsoftheweird.com and the Pecular Postings of MSNBC.com because it makes me giggle and doesn't make me feel like humanity is not worth saving.

However, the older I get, more I feel as if I have the right to air my opinion about every news article whether it be political, criminal, educational, entertaining or whatnot. I didn't used to think my opinion was so very very important but since I don't hear anybody else saying what I'm thinking, I guess I have to speak for myself. So without further ado:

Dividedwefail.org
If you've seen the commercials you don't really know what it is (this could be said about 89% of all advertising in America). The commercial is a bunch of kids talking about how politicians should be more honest and should be held accountable to what they promise. I agree whole heartedly and even like their little half donkey half elephant mascot. However, if you actually go to the website its the AARP!!!! What the crap! The fact that the American Association of Retired Persons uses children in their marketing automatically makes me suspicious of their motives.

The basic platform is health care and social security, ok, kids need health care I understand that, but social security? Don't for one second try to make me believe that social security is something more than a specifically "retired persons" interest. By the time the kids in the commercial need it, it's most likely going to be gone. Other than saying it should be "strengthened" for the future (which doesn't really mean anything) they just want to make sure all those baby boomers get their own. Sure, they paid into it, but probably not as much as they plan on taking out, and definatly not as much as I'm paying into it.
Anyway, enough of social security...

Don't Tase Me, Bro!
Puh-Lease! Yeah, he's breakin' his silence. He plans on writing a freakin' book! I've also included the original clip of the "incident" where he flips out but doesn't exactly know why they "tazed" him. This is the type of democrat that should make all other democrats cringe. Personally, I think the tazer was the best invention since the toilet! Of course, now there is all this discussion about whether or not the tazer is somehow interfering with our constitutional rights. I think if an officer of the law asks you to do something and you don't do it, then getting tazed is a lot better than getting shot, and a heck of a lot easier for the officers than trying to argue with idiots like this.

In Case You Need a Reason to Hate the Government.
I don't think there's anything I can say about this article (from newsoftheweird.com) that any reasonable person wouldn't already be thinking...whoever wrote their orders is an evil evil person.
The 2,600 members of the Minnesota National Guard returned recently from extended duty in Iraq, which was reportedly the longest consecutive deployment of any outfit (22 months, counting extensions). However, the Guardsmen still do not qualify for government education benefits. The law allows the benefits only for those on "active duty" at least 730 days, but the Minnesota Guard's orders (as well as some other outfits' orders), were specifically written for "729 days." [KARE-TV (Minneapolis), 10-18-07]

Someday I'm going to write a newspaper with nothing but good news.