Fun Is Dead

Folks I am wrapping this blog up.

It's just no fun and it hasn't been for some time, and if you aren't trying to change the world, making cash off of it, hyping yourself, or overinflating your overall importance both in cyberspace and in the "real world" then there just ain't no point in it if it ain't fun.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for commenting on it. Thanks also to the Bflo News for hyping this blog up... that was fucking great, super. I had no idea this blog here was so hot, so prominent in the "Buffalo Blogosphere*" but hey, there you go. Show's you how much I know.


Thanks and I'll see you in the funny papers.



* A godawful and thoroughly self congratulatory name that provokes either no response whatsoever from John Q. Public, or expressions of mild amusement (usually in the form of a snort and a "tchah") from those who know better.

For Fidel

Titanic. Listen to the words.

Magnificent.

Life Changing

The third season of Deadwood is all about class warfare, and people coming together for their mutual survival in the face of being devoured in toto for the financial gain of their alleged betters. Hot! HOT!

A Torrent of Profanity (Watch Yer Volume!!!!)

Oh I hope nobody watches this at work, in the presence of small children, or on a laptop in a church or other sacred place.

That said, it is hilarious. You've been warned.

The Joys of Slow Motion

OK, so this another version of The W.A.N.D., but as you can see it's one worth sharing.

The lyric also seems appropriate given the current global geopolitical situation. Now is indeed not the time for fanatics.

Burnt Out

Burnt Out


Folks, I am plumb burned out and I need to refocus my mojo and reallign my karma.

Forgive me if I just sock you with music commercials from You Tube, and thoroughly ridiculous ones at that.

Stay cool.

Genius

Genius.

UK Calling?!?

According to aintitcool and The New York Post some cast members of the BBC's The Office will be washing up on NBC's The Office. Will it be Tim? The Skinny Fascist? Pam?

The surround sound on the new Pink Floyd Pulse DVD is mind boggling, a wall of sound. Kudos to Gilmour and James Guthrie.

But how am I blogging during the "show?" Relax, it's the lamentable Roger-less section and I've already gone to the men's room and the fridge (this would've also been when I'd hit the souvenir stand). But soon it will be Dark Side Of The Moon (I've only waited years to hear it in surround sound) and it will be another story all together.

Play Like The Stars

Skills Endorsed By FIFA World Cup Player Of The Tournement


It's an international sensation, just like inquiring how one could get red carded out of the Final and into infamy and STILL get the Man of the Tournement award...

For Syd

R.I.P. Syd Barrett. I was never in the Cult of Syd ( I'm more of a Cult of Roger sort), but Syd was the father of the feast and you can't discount the importance of that.

Wherever you've gone to Syd I hope you've found some true peace.

Goddamn!!!!

Goddamn!!!!!!


You Tube is the shit. How many times can I say it? Check this shit out, a magnificent live rendition of "Let Down," my all time favorite Radiohead ditty.

It's a celebration bitches!!! Enjoy.

Wow

Italy over France on penalty kicks in the World Cup Final. It was the world against Italy (just the way they like it) and Italy prevailed (just the way they like it). A great game.

And once again this blog shows how little I know about soccer. Oh well.

Yikes

ABC just recreated a videogame graphic type shot of the Olympic Stadium leading up to the epic penalty kick canto!! Cool!

Zidane might have just profaned his legendary career with that red card that removed him from the game right before the PENALTY KICK phase. Whoops.

Inspiring

To hell with Beckham puking all over his shoes- Zidane coming back in after getting the magic spray on his shoulder was something else. And now extra time. In the World Cup Final. Nice.

Yes, Not Only Is It Another Commercial- But It's A Sequel Commercial!!

Jose +10 Part 2


More shameless corporate love.

Jose +10 Part 1


In honor of the World Cup- one of my all time favorite commercials. Behold- the WORLD of football.

Dag!

Clearly the World Cup has saved it's best match for last, with Zidane writing more of his fairy tale finish and the Italians digging deep and responding with a classic set piece. Any... ANY American who says there's no strategy or tactics in soccer after watching this classic will only be revealing their utter lack of sports knowledge and appreciation.

Unfortunately ABC's coverage is woeful, almost painful. I have never heard such blathering on by on air commentators. Any why bother showing the WHO'S WHO of European anything if you're not going to tell us who it is you're showing us. Bloody painful.

One Little Thing

Comparing Zidane's final game in today's World Cup Final to Elway's or DiMaggio's retirements isn't fare to Joltin' Joe or Elway- they retired after a league championship. Zidane is leaving the game after playing in the World Cup Final, the world's championship, a final game that will be viewed by over a BILLION people and remembered by millions all over the world.

The Shit

You Tube is the bomb. Almost enough to restore my faith in this damned medium.

More Virtual Pop Music

More Virtual Pop Music


Ordinarily one would assume I would object to this sort of thing out of hand. The problem however is that much like Gorillaz, this stuff appears to be actually good...

It's also right out of a William Gibson novel.

Because I Love You Guys

Because I Love You


I love those groovy George Salisbury video collage thingies. Play it for your born again Christian friends.

HUH?

Who The Hell Is Platinum Weird?


OK, it looks like another post modern rock and roll shuck and jive but for some reason this song is the shit...

World Cup Final Prediction

Today: France 2 Italy 1.

Yes, I am picking the Team of Destiny over the Hard Luck Case.

The Impossible Dream

Finally... today... mere hours before the actual World Cup Final takes place in Berlin... the roommate and I finally won the PS2 2006 FIFA World Cup in cooperative mode with France over Argentina. The impossible dream. I've had this game for a few months now and the best I could do was the consolation match. Over and over. It was getting depressing... until today.

Oh glorious day.

Correct-o-mundo

USA Today's been asking why soccer isn't big in the United States and among some of the blogged responses is my favorite, and sadly probably the most correct:

Think about Golf, US beaten by Europe in the Rider Cup...

Tennis, James Blake is your number 1, that says it all.

Americans are not about sports, they are about entertainment, hot dogs
and beers.

Posted by: Mark July 8, 2006 11:23:49

And when you factor in our recent lousiness in other international competitive endeavours (not to mention not one American in the Wimbledon quarterfinals!!) one has to suspect that Mark is absolutely right.

And that breaks my heart.

Big Kudos!!!

Hella kudos to Katie Burd and her co-conspirators for planning and executing a fine surprise birthday shindig for her husband Kevin, the radio Han Solo to my gnarly radio Chewbacca. Nice pizza by the way from Romeo's.

Preposterous

The Hard Luck Case (Italy) versus The Team of Destiny (France) in the World Cup. Who woulda thunk it?

Dazed and Infused

The Dazed and Infused on draught at the Allen St. Hardware is delicious. The sweet potato fries at the Allen St. Hardware are delicious. The dixieland jazz at the Hardware was chaotic and sleazy, the perfect soundtrack for the Allentown speakeasy experience. I love that place.

2 Out of Four

And yes, I was only 2 out of 4 for my World Cup semi final predictions, BUT, Thierry Henry DID show up so my prediction re: Brazil v. France was sort of correct. The only match I totally blew was my Argentina call, and frankly that was out of partisan love for Argentina.


Does that count as 3 out of 4?



OK OK, no it does not. And what the fuck happened in Germany to Germany? Losing to an Italian side in the heart of a biblical soccer scandal? We're talking about a side that had guys who's club teams are about to be literally banished from the premiere league of Italian soccer. Whoa. That one came out of nowhere. What goals. The first one by Fabio Del Grosso at the death of extra time was profound. The pass back and that bending ball that just caught inside the post- a fucking vision to be sure. I won't even hazard any half assed assessments about Italian national character, but I will say that to almost back into the World Cup semi finals and then win like that... damn. Wow.

The Point Abino International Croquet Tournement

PROPOSED:

An annual tournement of croquet featuring both singles and team play. In the both the singles and team tournement there will be 3 or 4 games varying on the number of entrants, with the top finishers competing in the tournement championship, with the winners recieving a commemorative white straw hats or engraved gin and tonic glasses and the losers The (dreaded) Stickey Wicket.


Stay tuned for more information. Coming in 2007.

Weird

Can somebody explain to my why exactly my farts smell like a bonfire even though I was barely near the ole bonfire, and only a short time ago? YIKES. This has been a beach conundrum for me for some time and if there any scientists or biologists out there with a credible answer I'd love to hear it. Seriously.

The Chimes of Freedom

What the hell happened to the Fourth of July? Usually you've got works of fire (shot off by professionals) shooting off all over the place once it gets dark enough and tonight I saw nothing exciting in my drive back from Canada where we enjoyed dangerous pagan bonfires and all sorts of fireworks fun. Actually Crescent Beach was dead today too- the deadest I have ever seen it. The roads were empty in Fort Erie and Buffalo, and that was hands down the fastest Fourth of July trip over the Peace Bridge back from Canada ever. What's going on? What has happened to our local / national mojo?

At least the Space Shuttle went up (up and away) without incident. That was key.


In any case fuck it. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY. It's a celebration!! Enjoy your freedoms while you can.



UPDATE!!!

Reports are coming in that it fell to ordinary citizens to have their own firework fun all over WNY without official sanction, and that in some parts of WNY we did damn good. Good for us.

Remember folks, the tag line for this here things is: "One man's obessions about life in the United States of America, in Buffalo, and beyond." One man. His loves, his hates, his frustrations, exultations, and small joys. And a lot of talk about inane ass stuff.

Attempts at reading more into anything posted here, or to ascribe ulterior motives are misguided, and if any offense has been given or taken in the course of this experiment I apologize for the discourtesy and any pain I might have caused you. It's a cold world and we've got to stick together.

Impartiality

With all of my teams out of the World Cup I can now offer strictly gut instinct picks based solely an impartial appraisals, and here they are:

GERMANY V. ITALY - Germany all the way. It was a good run for Italy.

PORTUGAL V. FRANCE - France. It's about destiny now. And they did beat Brazil.

A Blow For Truth And Justice

I am an international backyard croquet master... avoiding all the sticky wickets in the tall grass and laying it down in a Red State / Blue State Challenge and YES YES the Blue States won. Cliff and Mimi Donius represtented, sending only our Red State oppponent's roquets and never each others and working our way to victory. That was the key. Cooperation.

"Go Fuck Yourself!"

I really like the customer service techniques on display at the Deadwood Bank as practiced by Trixie and Mr. Ellsworth. I love the voices of these marvelous actors (in particular William Sanderson's poetry spouting Farnum) spouting this wonderful American Shakespeare at each other while depicting our American story always in progress. I really loved the Hostetler "motherfucking" Steve the Jackass Loser, Dan Dougherty (Swearingen's chief thug) talking smack to Hearst's thug, and Al Swearingen's coaching to the electorate. While some might call it derivative I prefer to think that Milch is creating a proto Barney Miller / NYPD Blue as western.

Yikes... transatlantic national grief via satellite TV. Am I a jackal? Probably. But now I'm starting to feel bad... Maybe catching a few minutes of live Sky Sports (that just happened to be on as I was leaving for Canada) was a bad idea. But now the controversy starts. Bloody fantastic.

Ha! Eric Wynalda said Rinaldo cannot return to Man United for his club career! Ha! I said the same thing!

I must be going insane.

Oops, Wayne Rooney will also get some deserved shit for stepping on Christian Rinaldo's nuts and getting sent off. Ah... to be English right now. Wheew.

England's dream is over. The shame of a nation, if such a thing exists and I'm sure it does in England, will hang on the shoulders of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jamie Carragher for their gaffes in penalty kicks. The roommate is going nuts, and I think TiVO-ing Sky Sports tonight will make for hilarious viewing later on...

I will not pull my hair. That would be crazy. The roommate will however be applying the FULL whammy (both hands, all fingers) at the TV screen everytime Portugal comes near the ball.

Holy smokes... penalty kicks in the England v. Portugal quarterfinal. Right now as we speak any traffic on the roads, streets and lanes in that nation is grinding to an absolute halt, air is being gulped like fish on a dock, and hair is being tussled with love and care in preparation to be pulled sharply by it's owners.

ABC's World Cup coverage makes me wish I was more fluent in Spanish. Where's Tommy Smyth when you truly need him?

There is going to be some SHIT in the Manchester United clubhouse when this World Cup is over between Rooney and Rinaldo, and Sir Ferguson is going to have his hands full. Oh well. To Hell with Man United.

This extra time has been amazing. High drama. The dreams of a nation (not ours) hanging by a thread.

Scrubs Need Not Apply

WNY area soccer / football fans: WANTED, 2 or 3 fellow travellers for a roundtrip balls to the wall roadtrip to East Rutherford NJ to see Barcelona FC trounce Red Bull NY on August 12. All the big names should be playing... our chance to see one of the all time great European teams.

Why are fellow travellers needed? Because the cost of gas is gonna suck ass in August. $40/50 a body for gas won't be too bad at all... We'll drink beer and talk about football.

Scrubs, gun nuts and weirdos need not apply.

Doctor Who: The Three Doctors is the bomb, a lot of fun. The English are the best: their cars, the stiff upper lip, their taste in women's boots, and their capacity for the clever nudge and wink as art. I also like the rock music and science fiction.

Yes... I raided the used Doctor Who bin at the new FYE on Transit.

A Bitter Pill

Argentina just went down to Germany after penalty kicks. The US, the Netherlands and Argentina... my three teams in this thing... all out. Cambiasso... what were you thinking with that last kick? Ay-yiy-yiy-yiy.

Ah well life, and the tournement goes on.

Yeah!!!

Finally caught up with my Deadwoods. Goddamn I love that Victorian - cowboy - profane American dialect! I also love Trixie.

And Gerald McGreaney is vastly underrated as an actor, the proof being his airing of the old Hearst family laundry.

The Calm Before The Storm

We've been given a few days off to take stock of things, to catch our breath, to gain some perspective on the tournement. The conclusion: the tournement has been generally ugly and rough. The cards up the wazoo, the generally shabby play of England, the lack of truly beautiful soccer... the funny thing- it doesn't matter. The games I have seen have been tense, crazy, with bursts of pure brilliance, and pure competition (except for that Argentina v. Netherlands match- that was a dud). That's my feeling. But now we get to hold our breath again because the quarterfinals of the World Cup begin tomorrow.

Argentina v. Germany. A total classic. I'm rooting for Argentina. Tevez!!! Riquelme.

Italy v. Ukraine. Maybe not a classic, but the Italians are always fun to watch. Italy. And how about that Serie A scandal?!? Ay - yiy -yiy - yiy. Damn... Juventus (the Yankees of Italian soccer) is going down (to Serie B). Oh well.

England v. Portugal. Either a total upset or the British finally get their shit together. Portugal.

Brazil v. France. Ronaldo v. Zidane- the Battle of the Ancients. Unless Thierry Henry shows up Brazil all the way. Sayonara Zidane.

Super Shit

Superman Returns is a hella turkey- a colossal dud; horseshit. No beginning, no middle, no end, no plot, no pace, and the movie refuses to end. They had a dude who looks and sounds like Superman, a great Lex Luthor, and brilliant technological effects... unfortunately they didn't have a script worth two shits and apparently NOBODY knew it. Bryan Singer and his gang totally fumbled the ball.

The buzz is wrong. The buzz is wishful thinking. The buzz is a media company hoping to recoup some cash and some fanboys helping them by re-living their youths... at all costs.

And the 3d wasn't that frigging exciting. Goddamnit, I really wanted to like that movie. Seeing Superman The Movie for the first time was like a fucking religious experience for Jebus's sake. Aaaarrrgh.

I am going to bed.

Geeks

Check out the fanboys who submitted reviews of DVD's they haven't even seen yet because they wanted Uncle George to tinker with the movies they allegedly don't want Uncle George to tinker with.

Oy jackasses! It's either the Super Hi-Fi digital reworks of Star Wars or lo-fi* old school Star Wars. You can't have both simultaneously.

Jebus.


* and hey, Dolby Digital 2.0 ain't no joke. Me, I'm looking forward to the old school Star Wars- for nostalgia don't ya know.**


** nostalgia however that will not surpass my appreciation for the Super Hi-Fi digital reworked SW. Those are great, and they TOTALLY hold up and match up to the Super Hi-Fi prequels (which I also like- but you already knew that).

Sweet Jebus On A Bike!!!!

I hereby declare the teaser trailer for Spider-man 3 to be THE SHIT.



HT to aintitcoolnews.com.

Clubs I Don't Neccesarily Want To Be A Member Of

Frankly I'm not sure how to take the fact that Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove, and Michael Chertoff all love 24.

Shit.

Superman tickets on the IMAX are in hand.

My roommate just opined that only a wanker would wear a long sleeve shirt on a super hot day.

Perhaps he did all that heroic vomiting on purpose. What a wanker.

Beckham saved the day but it was Rooney who was the man of the match., although it was Beckham who got to vomit heroically on international television for the good of the nation.

Oh yeah.... tickets for The Flaming Lips at the NYS Fair on September 1 have been purchased. Booyah!!!!

The Land of Do - As -You Please

The trip to see the Hip in Toronto was a rousing success: nobody got arrested and no man was left behind. No hassles getting into and out of Canada. The Foggy Dew on King Street is a fine Irish pub and an excellent place to enjoy some air conditioning, a perfectly poured pint of Guiness, and the World Cup. It was brilliant, wonderful to enjoy a few pints and watch Argentina snag one in extra time off one of the best strikes I have ever seen (Maxi Rodriguez is a master), and the waitresses in the plaid skirts and black t-shirts.... Fort York was the perfect outdoor venue for El Hip- intimate yet open, and the Hip were on. And how about that forcefield!?! Wow. Gord danced and sang like mad and the band was kicking, with a boffo setlist. Don't Wake Daddy, The Wherewithal, We'll Go Too, Greasy Jungle, a Nautical Disaster dedicated to "our boys and girls in Afganistan and to Prime Minister Bush," and a fervent, amazing At The Hundredth Meridian. The only drawback, 1 encore. But it was a great show and a great start to the summer concert season.

I love Canada. People get to act like adults, concert security wasn't there to be DICKS (unlike at Darien Lake where that is their sole purpose, that and harshing your taxpaying citizen mellow), and they even sell you bottled water with the plastic top on- because apparently in Canada unlike the US they don't use the plastic bottle tops as weapons. What a country.

I just hope they don't take after us.

Hope

The hot football rumor of the moment: Bruce Arena's done, and in will come German coach Jurgen Klinnsman, tired of getting kicked around by the nation of Germany. Here only us nuts give a shit.

That would keep the fans happy... and maybe even give them hope.

The Round of 16

Now we're talking. This is what it's all about. Single elimination football. The World Cup's Round of 16.

The big matches of note this weekend:

Mexico v. Argentina, today. My pick: Argentina of course.

England v. Ecuador, tomorrow morning. This could be mighty interesting, considering the profound pressure Team England is under and the surge in mojo Ecuador's got. For England to prevail they're going to need legendary games from somebody. Rooney? Gerrard? Walcott?

Netherlands v. Portugal, tomorrow afternoon. Two perfectly matched teams right down the line. A potential classic.

More Reasons To Love Football (World Rules, Not North American Rules)

Feast your eyes gents. Ladies, here's some fine material of great interest.

The Central Terminal is an awesome building, something right out of Tolkien.

Tomorrow... the Hip in Toronto. Booyah!

Art Happenings

The Buffalo premier of Prison of the Psychotic Damned at the Central Terminal was boffo: I got my picture taken with scream queen Melantha Blackthorne, boozed up before during and after the showing, enjoyed the show, and thoroughly enjoyed some grade a students from Nardin tear thru some punk rock and lob used tampons into the crowd (apparently store in the fridge).

I like Halloween when it's not Halloween, and I like Halloween people when it's not Halloween, and it was a gas.

Face It Folks

0 - 2 - 1.


America needs to face it, our national soccer leaves a great deal to be desired. Sending journeymen overseas for international experience is all well and good, but our native soccer needs some juice, some oomph, some goddamned spirit. MLS just doesn't do it. Nobody is playing for their jobs, for their team's livelihoods day in and day out because there's nowhere to go- you're team is in the league and you stay there, you're good to go. Everywhere else in the world of soccer however the league lineups change from year to year because the lame teams get the boot down into lower leagues and the best move up to a higher level, and THAT is what we need in the US. The training, the commitment, the drive, it's just more intense in a promotion/relegation system and that is where our national game needs to go. That passion and intensity also carries over to the fans and the way the interact with the game, and I have to think that would help grow the game here too- fanatical fans at the local level, fans caught up in the very battle for the existence of their teams, become fanatics for the national game and national team. That's how you make the game of soccer our game.

Bruce Arena, our US manager, needs to go. They just weren't ready for the Czechs and we never fully recovered.

Oh well, the World Cup dreams of the US in 2006 are done, kaput. At least Freddie Adu, the future of US soccer will be a legal adult in 2010, and he might even be playing for Chelsea.


Anyhoo... let's go Argentina!!!!

The dreams of the US National Team are fizzling away...

USA 1 Ghana 2 in the 83rd minute.


Italy 2 Czech Republic 0 in the 88th minute.





A national disgrace in the making.

Dignity

Talk about playing for your dignity... Ivory Coast battled back to win the game after being down by 2. Tremendous. That might even postpone the resuming of armed conflict in that country. America however tomorrow is not playing for their dignity. They are playing for a chance in the big leagues. Yes we need Italy to beat the Czech Republic. But that can and will happen. The Azzurri will pull it off, and I have no problem rooting for them (I just finished reading a book about Italian soccer after all for God's sake). This is it. Courage. Grit. Some goddamned offense.

USA!?! USA. USA!!!

Oh yeah, the Argentina v Netherlands was a dud, the first dud of the Cup. Alas while some games are about pride and others for a chance to do more, some games are just about not getting injured. Oh well, the knockout stage begins Saturday...

?????

Matt Damon as James Tiberius Kirk in the JJ Abrams Star Trek movie????

That almost makes sense....

Wrong-O Jackass!

The dude on ESPN totally misconstrued the nature of everything during the Argentina v Netherlands match (TiVo'd and better yet I've avoided the score like the plague!) by saying that the Serbia Montenegro v Ivory Coast meant nothing. Jesus Christ man it means everything! Those men were playing for their pride, maybe even their national pride, and at the end of the day that means a shitload! Nobody wants to be the scrub at the bottom, and those fine men were playing for their dignity.

This dude on TNR's World Cup blog nailed it exactly right: Tommy Smyth is the best, and certainly one of the reasons I've developed soccer/football mania (from all those Champions League matches I Tivo'd off of ESPN this spring). If you're channel surfing past the World Cup and hear a leprechaun opining lyrically on the game you should stop and take heed- he's hilarious, perceptive, and an artist with his commentary.

It's About Fucking Time

Rolling Stone finally get's a rock and roll blog going and it is THE SHIT.

The Netherworld

Damn, us Star Trek fans are like nomads wandering in the darkness... making our own Star Trek episodes... wondering how THEY will fuck it up next... and now drooling over the great imponderable: what would have happened if Michael J Stryzinksi re-imagined and rebooted Star Trek before Paramount sent his treatment back "return to sender." Of course I'm intrigued because 1) I think Trek has burnt itself out after the disappointment that was Enterprise, 2) Chuck over at Seeley's always has championed the notion, and 3) the mythology of the new series shows real love for what made the original Trek so great and enduring.

In any case, our quest across the pop culture desert continues.

The oasis?

Doctor Who- The Pirate Planet was fan-fucking-tastic: well produced, clever on the verge of satire, and thoroughly hilarious. It even ended with the Doctor giving the newly liberated Zanaxians the black power salute.

Douglas Adams was / is a genius, and the British were brilliant for giving him their BBC airwaves to spread it around.

A Celebration

In honor of the DVD release of Dave Chappelle's Block Party on DVD I give you once again my thoughts from March after seeing it in the theater. Buy this motherfucker people! You will laugh! You will cry! You will feel good about America! It's still the feel good movie of 2006.


Friday, March 10, 2006
America!

Due to technical difficulties and a sucky day so far you get yesterday's blog today: Dave Chappelle's Block Party is the shit. I want to live in his America: a country where people are cool with one another and where people of all creeds and colors come together to listen to our finest American rap music and enjoy a good BBQ. It's the feel good movie of the year.

Seriously.

Random thoughts on Block Party: Mos Def is the coolest cat in the USA, Questlove Thompson is a musical/drumming genius, The Fugees were and are hilariously overrated, the return of Big Daddy Kane brought a smile to my face and triggered a subconsious time travel trip back to the late 80's riding on the 22 Summer Best Metro bus to school, Erykah Badu is a goddess, Jill Scott is a radiant, beautiful Odetta, Dead Prez so drop the true science, and only African American folks should be allowed to do marching bands.

Why is Artvoice sleeping on Block Party? They've got a great ad for the movie but no review. It's even directed by Michael Gondry. What's that about?

The poster for Block Party is great, one of my favorite posters ever: in addition to all the musical stars from the movie and Dave front and center it also features the old Bed Stuy hippy lady, the Central State U. marching band director who helped get those kids to NYC for the party, and some of the folks from southwestern Ohio who got golden tickets to come to the party. The movie is as much theirs is it is anybody else's. Dave Chappelle is cool, no matter what anybody says.

And oh yeah, the Sabres are AWESOME. Keep it rolling lads, you are DOING IT.

Insight

Finally finished A Season With Verona - Travels Around Italy In Search Of Illusion, National Character And... Goals! by Tim Parks (no relation). Bloody brilliant and resonant as I read it during our Sabres playoff run. Even though it was about provincial Italian football it easily encompassed Italian football, football itself, and sports period: why we love it, and more importantly how and why we as intelligent people can immerse and invest ourselves in pursuits that have no philosophical or religious value. I also loved the fact that Parks wrote like I do. It's a fun book that if you're not careful might teach you something. And probably give you a soccer itch.

The Sporting Life

The spirit of America was definitely embodied by the US Open: the USGA's puritanical efforts to punish professional golfers killed everybody's spirits and resulted in lousy scores, the outcomes was determined by high powered chokes (Furyk, Montgomerie) and remarkably poor decisions (Mickelson), and the trophy literally fell into the lap of some dude FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. I kid you not, the Golf Channel postgame coverage featuring post match press conferences is brilliant, a pageant of pain, shame, and regret. Oh the humanity. I think it was Jon Stewart who joked that perhaps the 3-nil Czech drubbing of the US hinted that ours was a country in decline, and if it is indeed true that through the sporting life one can understand the ebb and flow of life itself than the 2006 US Open certainly posed some questions. And hey, wasn't the only goal the US got yesterday against Italy an own goal? It was! Minga! We're hanging by a thread in the World Cup too. Yikes.

I fear that our national mojo is fucked.

The Spirit of America

Only on FIFA World Cup 2006 on the PS2 does Cliff the Liberal embody the spirit of America- injuring 2 players (we're talking LAYING THEM OUT!) and snatching the only goal to clinch third place (the Republican roommate co-pilot played woefully as the other American in the game). Yes folks, there seems to be a mystical barrier blocking myself from getting into the videogame World Cup Finals. Sad. But the crushing of two peaceable Dutchmen and digging out the winner in the service of America... almost number 1... that was great.

The spirit of America might also have been embodied today by Phil Mickelson, who played the final hole of the US Open like he was drunk, or playing like he was me or my golfing buddies, and thus totally gave away the US Open. Two hilariously bad shot decisions in a row... profoundly bad decisions. What great television.

But... Phil admitted his error and called himself "an idiot"... is that American? It certainly ain't Bush-like. Frankly I think it was just pure cockiness and it killed him when he should have played it conservatively. Oh well. I still love Phil.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day fathers of the world.

Not Dead Yet

Well the US got a point out of Italy, and you gotta respect their grit and inspiration- considering they were down 2 men for 2/3's of the game. Goddamn ref. But the real deal is this: the US has to beat Ghana and Italy has to beat the Czechs Thursday... the universe / fate / destiny + American grit and balls might deliver us into the 2nd round.

Yes, there is hope, and it is alive.

Redemption Song

Last night's Peace Has No Borders event was indeed socially and morally redeeming, but that's not why I'm here. I'm talking about the US redeeming itself in the World Cup. I've made my peace with their drubbing at the hands of the Czech Republic and it's time to move on and I hope everybody is able to do so. Get back to square one in this thing boys and set up a pivotal third game. You can do it. It can be done. This is it.

USA?!? USA.

Muchas Gracias Dos!

Muchas gracias to Argentina for clubbing Serbia-Montenegro 6-0, far, far harder than what the Czech Republic handed us on Monday. Beautiful goals, beautiful play. And they got (Barcelona's ) Lionel Messi some World Cup minutes, the Argentinian Boy Wonder injured since early spring. Messi looked good (an assistant to the ordinarily hated Hernan Crespo!! Goal!!), and Argentina looks awesome.

And for your blogging pleasure The New Republic's World Cup Blog. And it's actually about soccer. Great stuff.

Yowza

File under YOWZA!!!:

Civil War #2 (Marvel Comics)- Chuck said "no cosmic reset button" is going to fix that and he is right. The post 9/11 mindset hits Marvel Comics and the war against superhero civil liberties starts. Stunning shit. <- Check the link!

Wonder Woman #1 (DC Comics)- Beautifully drawn and wonderfully written by The OC's Allen Heinberg, a damn fine first issue.

Ex Machina Special #2 (Wildstorm)- Pure prequel sci-fi / superheroic action straight up, no politics, unlike the excellent Ex Machina ongoing series that juggles perfectly the sci-fi / superhero action with the sharp West Wing talk and NYC political history on a monthly basis.

Liberty Meadows #37 (Image)- I love funny talking animal / good girl art / soap opera comic strips drawn by Frank Cho. The hilarious Star Wars bit (from Episode I no less!!!) was also much appreciated.

Gnarles Barkley, St. Elsewhere. Booyah.

Episodes 1 and 2 of The Pirate Planet, a spiffy Tom Baker Doctor Who story on DVD... a story written by Douglas Adams. Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy-a-riffic, and intriguingly not cheesy at all production wise. I even think that's the dude who played Baron Harkonnen in the Sci-Fi Channel remake of Dune acting almost Harkonnen-like as the Doctor's foe. There might even be a critique of capitalism in there somewhere. It's ri-goddamn-diculous, but I can't wait to watch the last 2 installments.

Why the World Cup is turning out to be a shitload of fun:

England and Sweden both snatching victory out of the jaws of mediocrity in the closing moments- England finding enough mojo in the presense of a resurrected Wayne Rooney for Beckham to set up the Jolly Giant Peter Crouch and later a stunner from Steven Gerrard, and Sweden pulling some poetic bullshit off in the 88th minute. Stunning shit.

Irony and Sport

From the Real Deal Blog:


Irony

My favorite political moment of the World Cup thus far:

Watching my Republican roommate rooting for Mexico versus Iran in a match that took place in Nuremberg, where the Nazis were succesfully tried for crimes the President of Iran says never happened.

And tomorrow, Trinidad and Tobago plays England in a classic battle between former colony and former colonial power.

What a great sporting event.

And a new question, am I pretentious enough to hang out over at Cafe Aroma to watch World Cup games?

Oh yeah, the season (series 1) finale to the new Doctor Who was brilliant. Now I know why Daleks freaked English kids out back in the day. I'll miss Christopher Eccleston but I suspect David Tennant will do just fine for season (series) 2, which hopefully will surface in the US sooner rather than later (yeah I'm talking to you Sci Fi Channel!!!)..

Muchas Gracias!

Muchas gracias to Spain for handing a pummeling to the Ukraine that was actually worse than the pummeling we got Monday from the Czech Republic.

3-0.

We're officially the worst team in the World Cup, potentially for the second World Cup in a row. The only thing we have left is for Ghana to stun Italy and potentially get that traditional yet scandal-ridden powerhouse to pack it in before our game against them next week and then a stunner against the gigantic question mark that is team Ghana. Can team the US Team pull it's shit together? It's going to be a long, strange 4 days.

They have no inspiration, no pace, and the giveaways are disgraceful. They are just standing there, nobody's moving, creating open space. It's total submission to a ragtag bunch of Czechs who play professionally all over the continent, like vagabonds. There's nothing going on. The only team in this World Cup to go down 2 goals in the first half.

The US team is as of right now rubbish.

Bloody Hell

Man. Us nil. Czech Republic 2. Our World Cup run hangs in the balance after a ludicrusly flat performance. The roommate is flipping out over the giveaways and stupid play (going inside- to nowhere instead of outside-in; no counterattack to speak of). The roommate is so pissed the fact that the second Czech goal came from a player going to Arsenal next season means absolutely nothing to him as he pummels the couch. And next we get Italy, who might well be even better than the Czech's. Do I want to Tivo the Italy vs. Ghana game later? Do I really want to know what's in store? Sam's Army has it's work cut out for them.

And is Ben Rothlisberger a TOTAL RETARD? Getting in a motorcycle accident without a helmet? The guy is frigging King of the County. Jesus Christ.

Game On

Kudos to ESPN2 for the excellent coverage and buildup to today's 1st fixture of the USA in the FIFA World Cup. Kudos to Sam's Army (whose website is down alas) for giving a shit about football and for rooting our team on (like they do EVERYWHERE else the game is played- all throughout the game , singing and chanting from start to finish) wherever they are playing. Hell, kudos to Addidas for those great commercials with those 2 kids and all those international soccer stars. Kudos to U2 for letting ABC/ESPN use their music for all their World Cup advertising.

Kudos to the US team for getting to the Cup in the first place. Now let's do this thing. USA!! USA!!!

Yes!!!

Hot shit. The Flaming Lips are playing the state fair in Syracuse on September 1. A Friday. And I thought all hope was lost for seeing The Lips this year.

You know what that means.

The caravan is leaving Buffalo NY no later than 5 PM.

And behold their new video for "The W.A.N.D." Easily one of the best videos ever as you will soon see.

Cosmic Harmonic Convergence

Usually the Truthout.org is a source for MY OTHER BLOG, but this morning it's more appropriate here:

President Bush may give the event a miss - one can only wonder what he would make of a game in which the U.S. has a negligible chance of being world champion; for Americans with qualms about their country's imperial role, by contrast, supporting the plucky and rather well-liked outsiders of Team USA is an opportunity for guilt-free patriotic fervor. But you can be sure that Bush allies like Tony Blair, Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac, Junichiro Koizumi, and Silvio Berlusconi (who actually owns AC Milan, one of Italy's top teams) will watch their countries' every game.

Indeed Tony Karon's How to Watch the World Cup: Politics and War by Other Means is a most handy guide to the world (as it is right now) during this exciting World Cup month. The other day one of the chaps on The Daily Show said that the reason why Americans don't get crazy about soccer is because if soccer is metaphorical socio-political warfare Americans already have the real thing and thus don't need the metaphors (or something to that effect), and he is indeed correct. I however like metaphors, larger meaning, and shit like that. That's why when the roommate and I triumphantly advanced the US to the quarterfinals on the PS2 FIFA World Cup (after enjoying the end of the Netherlands vs. Serbia Montenegro match) game I listened with such pride to the "Star Spangled Banner" at the conclusion of the game. In it's entirety. I was that proud.

And who do we have to play in the videogame quarterfinals? The Czech Republic.

We definitely ain't playing that until after the actual game tomorrow. That would be bad juju no matter how you cut it.

The Album of the Summer Today

Last year's sneak sensation was the Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc.": funky, heavy, hypnotic, and sonically precise and seductive. It was everywhere last year, and with good reason. This year's song of the summer is "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, and the album from which it comes, St. Elsewhere is the album of the summer. Seriously. Imagine Al Green (before he became the Reverend Al Green) and his producer on 22nd Century acid and using 21st century technology and old school ethos (when hip hop mattered, when hip hop was actual art) to create bonafide soul music. The most modern, challenging and exciting R&B you will hear this year or anytime soon.

Fucking Brilliant

Yesterday was fucking brilliant. The radio show went great. I had a chance to watch a World Cup match in it's entirety. I went over to Randy's for a BBQ- Randy lives on N. Pearl between North and Allen, and got hammered. The beer and food was plentiful and served periodically throughout the day. The weather was perfect... pluperfect. I didn't sweat once. With a healthy road beer in a plastic cup I saw the sights- the Allentown Experience was great: the festival is as it always is (which is OK), the Allentown West thing was cool: more packed it, more weird, with a neat Shakedown Street / Diagon Alley feel; and the Music Is Art Festival was swell. Of the three it was the most interesting, the one that felt the most like a Hallwall's Arts and Models Fair circa 95-96, and I salute Robby Takac for putting it on and letting it all hang out.

I love Buffalo

Was it me or was yesterday the best Allentown day EVER? I'm still gobsmacked.

X-Men 3 is a dud. Sort of boring, with cheesier than usual special effects in a rote effort by everybody involved; thus, it is a letdown. Especially after the first two.

Also for the record, the teenagers of Williamsville need to get their shit TOGETHER, especially the teenage girls who occupied the row in front of us. Goddamn it you were in public.

Today was declared a national holiday in Costa Rica so the whole country could watch the first game of the FIFA World Cup. You have to love that. On Monday the US plays the Czech Republic and it will be business as usual except the insane and truly dedicated. On Saturday June 17 the US plays Italy in their pivotal second match, and you will have no excuse.

Quick Shots

- Ted Nolan has finally been hired by a team in the NHL! Finally.

- 1 more day till the FIFA World Cup. Matches of note over the next few days: Costa Rica vs. Germany 6/9 (opening match of the tournement), England vs. Paraguay 6/10, and the US vs. Czechoslovakia 6/12.

- The almost hilarious national saga that has been the recent life of injured England striker Wayne Rooney is reaching it's apex.

- Bruce Springsteen is the MAN, and free as a bird. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Operation Deadwood Update

The first four episodes of Deadwood Season 2 are gritty, poetic, and serious shit. The only show that regularly sends me to the Wikipedia.

8 more to go but the third disc is out over at the Blockbuster. I might have to cruise on by to see if I get lucky...

The Number 2 Fifth Beatle

Billy Preston , my number 2 fifth Beatle (behind only Sir George Martin), passed away. A groovy keyboardist, and a true soul man (a soul man with so much soul he was able to get the fracture Beatles through the Let It Be sessions).

Operation Deadwood

Operation Watch The Second Season of Deadwood Before The Third Season Starts has begun but it's a bit too soon to talk about it... I've still got to succesfully rent and view 10 more episodes by Sunday.

It is going to be tight.

OK... I'll Admit It...

... last night's Sopranos finale left a bit to be desired, especially after the fine beginning. A whole bunch of set up for the last 8 episodes that we gotta wait 7 months for.

They better be worth the wait.

The new Doctor Who is just so good. Series (season) 1's penultimate episode is rousing, perfectly realized, hilarious, and a pitch perfect critique of reality television- what I've been saying for years in fact. I can see why the British have taken so well to this new Doctor- it's the Doctor Who of their dreams: perfectly realized yet still endearingly overreaching, cerebral, modern yet thoroughly vintage, and a pefect distillation of the Who phenomenon. Billie Piper is the perfect Doctor's companion, Christopher Eccleston seems to capture the archetypal essense of the concept of the Doctor (it's a shame he left after the first series/season*), and producer Russell Davies has perfectly re-imagined/continued** the Doctor Who legacy for modern audiences. Did I mention that the bonus materials on the Doctor Who dvd's Chuck lent me were bountiful and informative?

I cannot wait for next week's conclusion.


* Early reports from the UK indicate that the new Doctor David Tennant is more than adequate in the currently running second series/season.

** Amazingly, it's still in continuity, going all the way back to the 1963 first episodes. The advantage of building your show around an immortal time and space travelling Time Lord who occasionally regenerates himself in totally different male guises thoughout his long history.

Black Friday

Welcome to Black Friday people, a day on which despair and depression are exemplified by the clean shaven faces.

We'll be OK, but not yet. Not today.

Many Tanqueray and Tonics Into The Evening...

Bring on the WORLD CUP!!!

THANK YOU SABRES!!!

Random Thoughts

I took my medicine and watched the 11 PM news.

John Murphy seemed almost choked up.

Briere is a warrior. The future of the Sabres.

I am so proud of this team. No bitching. Anybody.

I would never admit to anybody upon pain of death that I was at Thursday in the Square tonight after 7 PM. Ever.

And though they were sad
They rescued everyone
They lifted up the sun
A spoonful weighs a ton

Giving more than they had
The process had begun
A million came from one
The limits now were none

Being drunk on their plan,
they lifted up the sun.

Forcing it off with their hands
The trapdoor came undone
Above our heads it swung
The privilege had been won.

Being drunk on their plan,
they lifted up the sun.

Yelling as hard as they can
The doubters all were stunned
Heard louder than a gun
The sound they made was love.

"A Spoonful Weighs A Ton," The Flaming Lips

Actually I had to cut off Pet Sounds to switch to The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin in 5.1 while the roommate and I cleaned ou the fridge. The modern Pet Sounds. A natural segue way.

Cue The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. In it's entirety. A good soundtrack for all those sad phonecalls.

Cue Led Zeppelin II track 4.

THANK YOU SABRES!!!

They went down fighting to the end.


THANK YOU SABRES!!! FUCK YOU BRINDAMOUR!!! THANK YOU SABRES!!!


FUCK YOU BRINDAMOUR!!!!!



THANK YOU SABRES!!!! THANK YOU SABRES!!!!! THANK YOU SABRES!!!!


WE WILL BE THERE WITH YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!

Destiny

There however is also the destiny element to consider, and I think it is time for the Sabres to TAKE IT UP, injuries and all. This is their time.

Go Sabres.

The out of body experience that has been the last 45 some odd hours comes to an end now. Now we get to business. Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Conference Finals in '99 were nothing like this- we had that shit locked up easily against Toronto; this however is a different kettle of fish, a heightened reality experience that occurs all too infrequently. This is it and I am HAPPY either way.

And for the record you are nuts if you ain't reading Superman and Action Comics. Right in time for the new movie DC is putting out a magnificent re-approach to the classic character that is poignant, dynamic, sharply scripted, and beautifully presented. Wonderful stuff.

Hot tip burning up the internet: Batwoman's coming back, this time as a lesbian. A far cry indeed from the cheesy 50's origins of the character...

Of course this made for a fine conversation at Seeley's. Obviously the consensus is that we're cool with it, and sure I'll read it if only for one issue because not even that will keep it in my stack for long.

Hunker Down

GAME 7 TONIGHT!!!!!

Doctor Who The Talons of Weng-Chiang has made me a fan. Intelligent, quasi-cheesy, artfully done, and a jolly good time. Thanks to Chuck at Seeley's Comics for the DVD lender.

I am a fan.

And big kudos to the fans down at the HSBC who were there to rumble.

YES!!!!!!!!!!


OH MY GOD!! DANIEL BRIERE!!!! DANIEL BRIERE JOINS THE LIST OF ALL TIME GREAT SABRES HEROES!!!


GAME 7 THURSDAY NIGHT!!!! LINDY RUFF WILL PICK UP HIS CELLPHONE CHARGER IN PERSON!!!!! PJ KEEPS THAT DAMNED BEARD A WHILE LONGER!!!

Ay Dios mio! Fitzpatrick the Fool had no stick for the last minute of regulation as time seemed to slow down during the chaos that ruled the last gasp of regular time.

Now it's overtime. Katie Burd called from the HSBC and she said it: THIS IS IT.

Let's Go Buffalo. Let's Go Buffalo!

No! Focus! It's not over.

Hold your breath. Clutch your chicken bones or Sacred Relics tightly. Purify your thoughts and intentions. Focus your chi. Ponder your karma. Love unconditionally. Keep the faith.

Right now we're just warding off the evil spirits. 9:10 second period.

Glorious Suspension of Disbelief

Chuck at the comics store read the blog and came through big time Thursday when I ran in the store after work and out of the store on my way to the wedding rehearsal: 2 DVDs of vintage Doctor Who and they are a hoot. I can see why I could never have tolerated them as a child being a child of and ruined by Star Wars, but now I can appreciate this sort of stuff. The apparently classic 1972 Carnvial of Monsters featuring Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning (LOVE THOSE BOOTS!) is absolutely cheesy and they knew it but they didn't care: they cooked it up with a wink and a straight face and everybody disbelieved and therefore believed it into art for an English audience at home glad to suspend their disbelief with a nod and wink themselves. The half hour episodes digest well and I can't wait to finish them off. I actually regret not giving them some time when they used to show them on Channel 17. And why are they not on all the time now? On BBC America or SciFi? A bloody disgrace.

The Tom Baker disc I haven't finished yet but that doesn't appear to be THAT cheesy at all and appears to be a Sherlock Holmes riff of the highest order, and as a Holmes reader in my youth I can't wait to finish The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

Update!

I am an Anglophile. I like Radiohead. The BBC. 2000 AD. Monty Python. Pink Floyd. The Beatles. Zeppelin. The Stones. JRR Tolkien. The Office. Bass. Harry Potter. Fish and chips. Judge Dredd. English soccer. Sky Sports. Luther Arkwright. Black Sabbath. The Police. The Beach Boys were huge in England for years after America deserted them and Brian Wilson is venerated over there the way I venerate him myself. James Bond. The new Doctor Who. The old Doctor Who as portrayed by Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it but I caught the season finale of Lost yesterday morning with my coffee and internet, not because it was forgettable, but because it blew my mind in so many ways that it's just not funny, a culmination of not one but two seasons of TV and a classic tossing up of the pieces to see which and where they will fall next season. Satisfying.

When ABC splices together another Peter Coyote narrated clip show before next season I strenuougly recommend you give it a shot for shits and giggles.

I am golfed out. I am partied out. I have sweat more sweat in the last three days than you could possibly imagine. They had no food anywhere at Tan Tara today so I had to golf on an empty stomach and I'm pretty sure I was almost hallucinating out there in the sun. I can still smile at the memory of being introduced at the reception Saturday (God did I sweat) to the glorious strains of the Sabres Dance. It's been a weird week, but everybody is where they are supposed to be and all is well.

Happy Memorial Day! And to all our servicemen and women, thanks*.


* Except for the ones who don't deserve it. Read the papers.

Another Fine Shindig

Congratulations and thanks to the Higgins family of Kettering Ohio, yes my relatives from Ohio, for the swell shindig yesterday at the Higgins/Parks casa up in Canada. The food was excellent and everything was great. It was a good wind-down from the big wedding and another fine excuse for the Parks/McElroy/Higgins/Fry clan to party down.

The Schnide

We're on it folks. But think about people... this is the FIRST TIME we've been in this situation throughout 3 rounds of playoffs. It was a heartbreak, but they played well and that's the way it goes sometimes.

But we've gotta persevere and go for it. The fans at the arena tomorrow night will have a Herculean challenge before them, but they too will have to do what they will have to do. Go Sabres. Go Sabres fans.

Happy Day

Brother Kevin and Mary's wedding was very nice: the ceremony was lovely and the reception a righteous shindig with probably the best wedding DJ I've ever seen (I don't think any of the music was MY music but I didn't mind), the food was excellent, and the bars multiple. The food was great, the booze plentiful, and instead of clinking glasses for newlywed smooching we made everybody chant "Let's Go Sabres" or "Let's Go Buffalo" and clap the clap we all know. One table of cousins even got up and did the Sabres dance. All very nice. Hopefully that mojo does something.

The reception also featured the best Chicken Dance and Hooky Pooky's I've been gotten down to in a long time. Congratulations Kevin and Mary, and on behalf of Brother Tim and myself I apologize for fucking up the runner. What a cock up that was.


Now if only my GODDAMNED neighbor wasn't running all of his yard tools at 9 AM today...

You've got to love the ballsy talk coming out of the battered but unbowed Sabres lockerroom.

Go Sabres.

And what does this say about American Idol's audience? To heck with the 15 year old girls- apparently this show also caters overwhelmingly to middle class white women burning up their phone lines to vote for roly poly gray haired 30 year old men.

Yikes.

Sweet victory. Buffalo 2 up to Carolina's 1, and it is good. Alternately a humdinger and nail-biter it was a great game, the crowd was in excellent form (we shook off Carolina scoring first, and so did the Sabres), and all is well. Let's go Buffalo!

The season finale of 24 was awesome, sweet, shocking. An awesome show, with the best cliffhanger I've seen in a long time. Keiffer deserves another Emmy and Jean Smart deserves one too.

"The next game's at home and that's a whole new gear for the Sabres to play in."
- Bob DiCesare (I think) on 550 AM this morning.



"I love singing and frequently, and cheerfully, on my own, too frequently and too cheerfully for those who live with me. But from age fifteen on I had lost the ability to lose myself in the spell of a group song. For me every meeting was revivalist, and hence impossible.
What pleasure then, at the Bentigodi, to rediscover the crowd and it's choral pandemonium. I could, even, after a while raise my hands at the appropriate moments. Like church, the curva (curve of stadium) embraces all comers. In particular, I love the ragged end to almost all the songs and chants; you launch with great gusto unto something inanely repetitive- nella pioggia e sottio il sole, nello stadio ci sarooooo ('in rain or sine, I'll be there' - the tune is 'La Marseillaise'). You sing it once, you sing it twice, then all of a sudden it breaks off, there is predetermined end, you can never know when it is going to stop, so that someone will be left with his arms in the air when all the others have sunk away. That person looks round, amazed, faintly embarrased. I remember one time in particular a man in his forties on the station platform when we arrived in Vicenza. Bundling out of the train, the fans were yelling Vicenza Vicenza vaffanculo! and so taken with the excitment of yelling fuck off into the faces of people he didn't know, that he went on a good thirty seconds after all the others stopped. His voice at last trailed away. His face was the picture of embarrasment. Then he burst out laughing. In the football crowd one moves constantly in and out of the spell, in and out of the group, in and out of the law. Singing together you are all-powerful, singing alone you are a fool. People are aware of this. And however stupid they may be, at least the songs are not addressed to God. They are not that stupid. Then, once in the stadium, they have a definite purpose: to incite the team, to raise these mercenaries' adrenaline levels. Dark eyed, sharp-nosed, chinless and turkey necked, Captain Leo Colucci says: "For us the fans are like the motor in a car, without them we wouldn't get any mileage. It's they who give us the drive when things get tough, and if it wasn't for them I don't know how we would manage."

- Tim Parks (no relation), from A Season With Verona: Travels Around Italy In Search Of Illusion, National Character and... Goals!



Our work is cut out for us tomorrow night people: in bars, in your car, in your homes and at the game itself- we gotta make some noise. This is what we do.

The Breaks

That's the way it goes. Carolina was tighter and kept Buffalo from getting their game going, and hey that's what happens after all in the EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. Jon Davidson is right: this series is going the distance, and so will us fans if we're worth anything. The only thing I will say is that Buffalo needs to win the games when the other guy scores first because too much karma and mojo has been attached to the "when Buffalo scores first..." mantra and we need to get beyond that.

Go Sabres.

Dreams Continue, Dreams Die, and Dreams Begin Again

Of course the real dream continues... you know what I am talking about people. Unfortunately my PS2 FIFA World Cup* dreams ended in bitter penalty kick defeat at the hands of the Netherlands (yes, the Netherlands) in my first and only knockout stage game. After seemingly endless qualifying matches and a dodgy group stage (draw + win + loss = group stage advancement miracle) it ended because the computer outwitted me. Call me crazy but you kinda get invested in these things, especially because I was doing it with and for THE STARS AND BARS, and to have it end like that, without even getting to the quarter finals is a damn shame, and shameworthy.

Now let's see what the Republic of Ireland can do...



* One of the best videogames ever. Seriously.

Bulletproof Eyeball

Behold the Bulletproof Eyeball!

Is this the movie of our dreams? If the original made us "believe a man can fly," will this one make us believe that a man can really be that super?

Nice.

Tense. I spoke too soon. I did the counterjinx and held my breathe for 2 minutes and lo all is well. 3-2 Sabres. And now we can breathe. Lindy Ruff is a goddamned genius. His adjustment, whatever the hell he did during the 1st intermission was pivotal, and his team pulled together and pulled it off. This is what we signed on for, this is why it's our game and they are our team.

Monday night. 7:30 PM. Game 2.

Do you feel it? That sense of possibility?

It's about to become a shared sense of possibility. That is all we ever wanted.

McKee!!! Whooooa! The patience of Buddha and the sharpshooting of Robocop.

The NBC coverage of the game is solid, almost as good as a CBC feed.

Slice and dice! Admire the adjustments. Respect the adjustments.

Huge!

A big goal. "It happened so fast." Ken Hitchcock, if he's even watching shivered and hugged himself. And those proud Sabres fans made some serious noise.

Even Better Than The Real Thing

From the Real Deal radio show blog:

09:31:09 am, Categories: Radio Show Updates, Corporate "Responsibility", 126 words

Even Better Than The Real Thing

A huge thanks to Michael Blanding from The Nation and Barry Crimmins for joining us this morning. heartily The Real Deal recommends:

http://www.michaelblanding.com/ for more from Mike.

and

http://barrycrimmins.com/ for more Barry Crimmins stuff and his excellent, excellent Blues in the Key of W online album.

The Real Deal also wants to thank Ed from Buffalo for alerting us to the http://www.cokekills.net.org.com/ hoodwink that alas does direct you to a Pro Coke site so foul that it actually comes off as being anti Coke reflexively.

Gail also had a great story about the Sabres that we didn't have time to get to but trust me folks- it is a fine piece. Thanks Gail!

Hell, thanks everybody. Go Sabres!


09:33:52 am, Categories: Radio Show Updates, Arts and Crafts, 70 words

Odds and Sods

And for those who care, the music from today's show featured:

"After the Garden" Neil Young, off of his new album Living With War.

"Coke" Flickerstick, off of Welcoming Home The Astronauts.

"Even Better Than The Real Thing" U2, off of Achtung Baby.

"We're Gonna Win That Cup" sung by Maria Sabastian.

And yes yes, the new Neil Young album is amazing:raw, honest, spiritual, and wise. The record of 2006 because frankly it's a time capsule of 2006, of an age that hopefully /ideally we'll look back on in a few years and scratch our heads over.

Late Night Pre Show Ramblings

The new Doctor Who is the best. It made me want to go to Cardiff. In Wales. I know, unbelievable (although not really- I was a young Fleetwood Mac fan by osmosis and thus a lifelong fan of the Welsh Witch herself...). I think I'll have to get that boxed set in July and maybe see if Chuck has any old Doctor Who's on VHS he can lend me (in fact, Chuck takes partial credit for getting Doctor Who on Channel 17) to bone up on the original article.

I am an Anglophile. I like Radiohead. The BBC. 2000 AD. Monty Python. Pink Floyd. The Beatles. Zeppelin. The Stones. JRR Tolkien. The Office. Bass. Harry Potter. Fish and chips. Judge Dredd. English soccer. Sky Sports. Luther Arkwright. Black Sabbath. The Police. The Beach Boys were huge in England for years after America deserted them and Brian Wilson is venerated over there the way I venerate him myself. James Bond. The new Doctor Who.

U2, The Flaming Lips, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Wilco, and R.E.M. are huge in England.

I also like sinking ships. I read A Night to Remember in grade school. I think the original Poseiden Adventure is magnificent. The book in my uncle's Time Life collection about ships that was my favorite was the one about the sunken ones. I couldn't wait to find out what was in the Andrea Doria's safe. I liked Titanic. I had to see Poseiden on the IMAX. Actually I don't know what that's about.

The Parallel Universe (aha! a DC Comics trope!) Al Gore bit on last week's SNL (I figured I'd fast forward to the Paul Simon stuff) was great, the Seinfeld curse bit even better (almost joyful? serendipitous?), and the new Paul Simon stuff sounds amazing- I had a Brian Eno moment (OVERCOME BY SOUND!) as I watched it, and the lyrics resonate (why is it usually the old guys who can produce such resonant art?).

I'll have to add it to my list. The rest of SNL I fast forwarded through except for peyote gag and the end credits when everybody hugs (the Al Gore Paul Simon embrace was nice, real, two soldiers). Al Gore is and always will be the shit. Just when you think the man is kaput you see the glimmers of a second coming and you start to wonder "hey- the current asshole has certainly fucked everything up- ya never know"....

The Real Deal's in 8.66 hours and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in in 13.66.

Something for the Sports Nuts

From Stefan Mellarme via A Season with Verona by Tim Parks (no relation):

"Yes, I know we are nothing but vain forms of matter- yet sublime too when you think that we invented God and our own souls. So sublime my friend! that I want to give myself this spectacle of a matter aware, yes, of what it is, but not throwing myself into the Dream that it knows it is not, singing the Soul and all those divine impressions that gather in us from earliest childhood, and proclaiming, before the Nothingness that is truth, those glorious falsehoods!"


Go Sabres.

And yes... Superman Returns looks cool, based at least on the trailers and commercials. And yes... I will go set in IMAX 3D, most likely opening day.

Definately the small things.

Seth Cohen was reading a book that I devoured almost two years ago on this week's OC finale! Nice. Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is indeed the shit, and yes it will catch on in this country eventually: a fucked up adult fairy tale with an acute comedy of manners and the best fake footnotes ever. It's also the best debut novel I have ever read.

OK, I admit it... it is the small things....

And regarding the actual OC finale: holy smokes. I didn't that coming.

USA!!!

FIFA has issed complete lineups for this year's World Cup. Behold.

Check out how many Americans from the US squad are playing in the English Premiere League next year! Marcus Hahnemann (Reading)! Tim Howard (Everton)! Carlons Bocanegra (Fulham)! Cory Gibbs (Charlton)! Eddie Lewis (Leeds)! Bobby Convey (Reading)! Claudio Reyna (Manchester City)! Brian McBride (The Pride of Fulham)!

I'm very proud of these dudes.

The Arsenal Fan Responds

The roommate deserves a word:

It was a great Champions league final despite a lose for Arsenal which I've been a fan of for 13 years. It was just a shame that the referee was just a complete asshole as well as his 2 assistant referees, who were complete fuck ups. They really gave Barca all the help they needed and more. Don't think that I was disappointed that Barca won because I am a fan of them but just wished that it was refereed fairly. The referee(shithead of the year) should have called more fouls on Barca than he did. But obviously he must have liked Barca more than Arsenal. If it was called more fairly the outcome might have been more different, like an arsenal win. This didn't happen but Arsenal will be back and will be better than ever. That I can truly say will come to light . Long live" ARSENAL" forever.


I should have had him write that earlier when he was really angry. Now he's more boozed up and mellow.

Fuck Arsenal. Barca forever!

I was grossly negligent in not mentioning the stellar play by play work of Derek Rae and fine voice of Tommy Smith on today's ESPN 2 coverage of the UEFA Champions League final. I really hope we get to hear more from them during the World Cup.

Poseiden on the Imax made me want to go the bathroom real bad. Entertaining, but nothing profound or mind blowing. Irwin Allen's legacy is safe.

Changes

The WNY Progress Report blog is out. The Real Deal Blog is in. My thoughts about important stuff...

Beautiful!

Barcelona has claimed their second European Champions title and all is well. Sir Henrik Larsen will be honored forever at the NouCamp for his play tonight- setting up both of Barca's goals. Yes controversy will hound this match over the red card for Arsenal keeper Lehman, but fuck that- it was Larsen's night.

Redemption!!

Samuel E'to scored off the brilliant thru pass from Sir Henrik Larsen, in his last game in a Barcalona jersey before his pleasant retirement to his native Sweden. Beautiful redemption for E'to in the driving Parisian rain! And now the Brazilian Biletti scores! From Larsen again! Joy!

At the start of the half I can now say that at last THE TIDE IS TURNING, so much so that the old standbys of guns, gays, and immigrantes might not be enough to save the day- but only if the Democrats decide to do and stand for something. Maybe hope is on the way.

Go Barca!

Arsenal up by one at the half because the El Jackass made a last ditch save on E'to. Fear not, Barca's got 45 more minutes.

FUCK!!!!

Sol Campbell scores off a set piece and Arsenal is up by 1 inspite of being down 1 man. Off a fucking dive, a dive that was actually praised by American commentator Marcello Belboa to the shame of all Americans. Ugly. Fuck Arsenal.

Bad Omen? Not!

FIFA 2006 pre-game match between Barcelona FC (me) and Arsenal FC (roommate) ended with Arsenal on penalty kicks. A brutal, hard fought match.

And now the real deal.

Cliff's Club Football Breakdown

In honor of tomorrow's Champion's League final between Barcelona FC and Arsenal FC- the first game that I can honestly say I really, really give a shit about (I've watched and rooted for teams sure, but this is different) I give you my end of the season European Football wrap up:

Barclay's English Premiere League:
The odious Chelsea and Manchester United took the two top spots, due most likely to their assorted bullshit. Liverpool tried (gotta root for the Beatles' hometown), Arsenal poisoned Tottenham* to clinch the final Champions League spot for next year, and my north country Bolton Wanderers crapped out near the end enough to miss European cup play altogether. I always root for the newly promoted teams and amazingly enough Wigan and West Ham (The Hammers!) landed in the top 10. Sunderland however died a horrible death along with Black Sabbath's Birmingham, both of which got relegated along with Birmingham neighbour West Bromwich Albion. No doubt alcohol consumption in that region of England has tripled...

I don't give a shit about France or Germany. Lyon and Bayern Munich always wins that shit.

Italy's Serie A:
Juventus (a team I used to root for before I found out they are considered "odious" by everybody else in Italy) and AC Milan (Berlusconi's AC Milan) are under investigation for all sorts of wrong doing and just might lose their championship in disgrace. Gotta love that Italian soccer. The "best" fans in the world (ie crazy).

Spain's La Liga:
My Barcelona FC took the top spot and beat Real Madrid (Franco's Real Madrid) down. Of all the European Leagues I confess that I like Spain's the best, and the best soccer moment of the year had to be Espanyol's heroic avoidance of relegation with an extra time goal that sent Gol TV's Scotsman and the Espanyol faithful into paroxyisms of joy and disbelief.


And no I don't watch soccer all the time... just TiVO'd highlight shows, which alas will be ending until August. But now it's time to get ready for BARCELONA FC and the Champions League.


And then... THE WORLD CUP.


* Okay, it was an airborne virus and not food poisoning (although who's to say Arsenal didn't pull some James Bond shit? The Champions is muy, muy importante).

Brilliant

The U2 commercials for the 2006 World Cup are fucking brilliant, wonderful, inspired. Of course the global themes of the ads and global appeal of the World Cup, an event that unites the majority of the world in relative peace for 1 month will probably fall on deaf ears in our soccer ignorant nation but it matters not. U2 did the ads, the ads are magnificent, and they didn't sell out doing it. I mean shit folks, it's the FIFA World Cup we're talking about here.


Also, the Internet is back ON for me. Hot damn. The PC Medic is the MAN.

The new Doctor Who BBC imports on the Sci-Fi Channel are also brilliant. While I doubt that I'd ever find a woman attractive in a US flag t-shirt the sight of Bille Piper running around London during the Blitz with a lovely Union Jack on her chest is something I will cherish forever. The sight of all that other fucked up shit in that episode I will not: a genuinely freaky zombie nightmare that simultaneously reminded me of Pink Floyd's The Wall and a Sigur Ros music video until the cathartic end.

The White House fucking up El Presidente's televised speech was not brilliant. Ay carumba. And just you wait for the Conservative outcry even though I'll bet you dollars to donuts that some dingus in the Oval Office pushed the wrong button on the camera at the wrong time. Whoops! Gotta get that practice speaking in sir!

Sunday TiVO Blowout!

The Simpsons was brilliant: science vs. religion vs. America vs. our common sense and American decency. Whether it was the useless history exhibits with absolutely no educational value (TLC, Discovery Channel), Helen Lovejoy telling Reverend Lovejoy that the creationism vs. evolution controversy would pack the pews before they got it on, Larry Hagman as the southern Clarence Darrow attorney or the pro creationism scientist with a "phd in truthology from Christian Tech," it hit the nail on the head. Sharp and hilarious.

Gay mobsters in love. Carmella recognizing once again the moral quagmire she's a willing participant of. The pain of Ginny Sack. Gay mobsters losing it because they can't deal with the button down, rural handyman life when they'd rather be back in Jersey breaking legs, and because they lost their battle with their wristwatch and the long boring work day. Tony recognizing that Dr. Melfi is right about his relationship with his sister Janice and by extension his relationship with his mother all equals another killer Sopranos.

I'll miss Jed Bartlett and his staff, and I wish them well. Watching the President of our dreams, the President of the country of our dreams end his adventure on last night's West Wing finale was profound, touching, and very sad. All the gracenotes were there: Charlie, Lily Tomlin giving tips to the incomming Executive Secretary, Josh and Donna, Sam, the ghost of Leo, and the beautiful relationship of Jed and Abby. It was good, beautiful, graceful, and sweet.

America and NBC are the poorer now that The West Wing has ended. That said, the commercial for Sorkin's new show this fall looked awesome, and I cannot wait.

Perfect

NBC might have been pinching pennies to screw The West Wing out of a retrospective by showing the pilot, but oh the sweet cosmic first episode / current events irony: the Christian Right acting the fool, illegal immigrants questing for a better life, and a stark reminder of the President of our American dreams and the jackass we are currently stuck with.

And now the finale.

In Brief

- Windows Service Pack 2 was the worst download I have ever made. Totally cocked up the ole computer. Thanks a lot Bill. Posting is thus screwed. Sorry.

- Smallville's season finale was boffo and the best use of computer effects on TV I've seen in a while. Serenditpitous. I can't wait for the conclusion, even if they haven't officially announced that it's been renewed for next season....

- The Champions League Final.... Barcelona FC vs. Arsenal FC... live from Paris France Wednesday May 17... the capper of the club football season before the soccer world (ie the rest of the world) holds it's breath in anticipation of the World Cup. Profoundly exciting.

- Tonight: the finale of The West Wing. The smartest show in the history of network TV reaches it's end and I'm sad, and you should be sad too... trust me.

The Real Deal

Yes! The Sabres are on to the 3rd round, the Eastern Conference Finals, and THEY ARE THE REAL DEAL. Adversity- they've dealt with it: shitty refereeing that borders on a conspiracy, two losses in Philly, doubts about Miller, the number 1 team in hockey, jackass hometown fans, you name it. They've seen it. They've triumphed.

THE REAL DEAL is also the name of the radio show. Things have changed. We have changed. We now speak for ourselves. Tune in next Saturday at 9 AM on News Talk 1270.

THE REAL DEAL.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Mom. Grandma. Katie. Gail.

Out of Body Experiences

Once again my home computer has been laid up, this time thanks to the damnable Windows XP Service 2 Pack, so I am way out of sorts in more ways than one. Sufficeth to say what is going on will make for a fascinating chapter in my autobiography, and more info will be forthcoming when I am able. It's been a wild 48 hours.

I am crosseyed and painless. Born under punches. The bags under my eye have bags. But me and my people, my tribe, are strong.

That said, no matter what happens the Sabres have been there for me, been there for us and it is time to show how much we love them. Their wins have been OUR wins- they're joy and resolve has become our own. Tonight's game is going be HUGE, and yer man here will be there. Game 4. Sabres up 3-0 in the series. The moon was brighter last night and the air had a wonderful scent upon it... the scent of JOY JOY JOY. Go Sabres.

Real quick:

- The 2nd season finale of Veronica Mars was cold, hard, and brutal; and this season has been one of the best tributes/homages to the LOOONG, dark crime fiction sagas of James Ellroy.

- Brad Whitford's mojo was surging last week on Real Time With Bill Maher, his keen moral logic and eloquent moral outrage trumping the conservative tomfoolery of the former governor of Virginia and member of the Foundation for Readiness and Preparedness. Bully for him.

- The new Neil Young and Flaming Lips albums have gone into constant rotation. These records... folks... these records give you something to chew on, to draw on, to see yourself and your philosophy in... and they are good.

!!!!!!!!!!

Sabres UP TWO GAMES IN ROUND 2!! ON THE ROAD!! IN OTTAWA!! Have no expectations, avoid disappointment and occasionally be pleasantly surprised the Office Buddhist always says, and tonight was no exception. Wednesday's going to be AWESOME. My phone is ringing, everybody's going nuts, it's great. NOW we can talk about a sweep.

YES!!!!!

Game time. And MSG's got the game so that means no OLN dingleberries tonight! Rick and Jim all the way! Yes!!!

Go Sabres!

The latest Sopranos was another out of body experience- an exercise in hightened artistic awareness: Christopher and Tony sharing Oprah moments, Paulie having a total meltdown, Christopher and Tony's Dazed and Confused interlude. The Italian Festival bit was ever bit as familiar as it was totally weird (the idol with the dollars, "where's his hat?"), and Tony's "you're doing a heckuva job Brownie" to a damage control deficient Paulie was the icing on the cake. Not since Twin Peaks has a show so consistantly created such hightened realities, and I'll even say that The Sopranos goes one better by conjuring such tones and textures out of observation and mundane moments magnificently captured on film instead of Lynch's inspired and hypnotic weirdness. And Paulie's hallucination made me jump up.

People also shouldn't do heroin. Bad shit.



Why oh why did NBC choose to:
1) air the pilot episode of The West Wing before the West Wing finale instead of a dignified clip show as originally planned?
2) air the pilot episode at 7 PM and the finale at 8PM instead of it's 9 PM timeslot?
3) not air the pilot at 7 PM, the clip show at 8 PM, the finale at 9 PM, and whatever the hell the show at 10 PM?

I like that Gatorade commercial honoring the US National which is getting ready as we speak for the World Cup in a little over a month. It really was a bitch qualifying, and based on my efforts with the new FIFA game I can say based on my woes with the US Team that qualifying campaign is long and it is hard with one pivotal game after another for 2 years running. USA!


Oh yeah, I finished listening to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince audiobook on CD and the finale is wonderfully evocative and painfully emotional. Jim Dale is truly a magnificent performer. Damn, Rowling really has crafted an intriguing saga and jim dandy popcorn book, dense both with plot, and emotion; a modern mythology/pop culture touchstone in the making.

Game 2 and 24 tomorrow night with the fellas, and at some point this week when I get a chance, my wrap English Premiere League wrap up.

????

Can somebody, anybody explain to me why Rockin' at the Knox booked Blondie?!? Does Blondie even tour anymore, or are they hauled out of storage for special occasions? Going from modern alt rock gods Wilco to Blondie the next year... I don't know what sort of pedigree the Albright Knox is going for but I can tell you that they chose poorly.


And I ain't just saying that because they didn't choose the Lips. I even have a Blondie "Best Of" in my cd collection, but Blondie man... Blondie.

The penultimate episode of Justice League Unlimited was just swell: Lex Luthor and Gorilla Grodd debate leadership philosophies while their Injustice Society goes to war with itself (like they always do) with nary a superhero in sight. The voice casting is brilliant: Clancy Brown, Powers Boothe, Juliet (Druscilla) Landau, Daniel Dae Kim and Michael Ironside; and as always it's fun watching classic archetypes (classic archetypes if you grew up in the 70's) spout sharp quasi Tarrantino dialogue. It's fun stuff and it's a shame it ends next week with a super duper super hero super villain cosmic evil space god blowout.

The real question now is whether the run of stellar DC Comics cartoons that began almost 20 years ago with Batman The Animated Series is coming to an end. It'd be a sad day indeed if that's the case. Hopefully they'll do The Legion of Superheroes next...

I Am An Ass

Today was "Free Comic Book Day" throughout America and I totally forgot to mention it here. Chuck, I apologize. I should have been all over it. To make up for this I heartily encourage you folks to head over to Seeley's Comics on Delaware Ave. (or to your local shop) and pick up:

OFF THE MAIN BAR: Civil War #1 (Marvel Comics)- the Marvel Universe goes to war with itself over the individual rights of superheroes in the Post 9/11 WMD age; Infinite Crisis #7 (DC Comics)- the universe shattering conclusion to DC's most recent superhero orgy blowout. Sad, inspiring and profound. I totally should have known it was "Free Comic Book Day" when both of these comic book company humdingers came out in the same week.

OFF THE TABLE TO THE LEFT: Infinite Crisis #1-6 (DC C0mics). Excellent stuff. Dense but strangely readable because hey, you know the archetypes.

OUT OF THE BOOKSHELF AT THE END OF THE BAR: Alan Moore's Watchmen and V For Vendetta tradepaperback collections (Vertigo). Books that have kicked our popular culture up a notch in and of themselves and the artists and writers they have influenced in the realms of literature, film and television.

ASK CHUCK FOR: Astonishing X-Men #1-14 (Marvel Comics)- Joss Whedon's verisimilitudinous take on the ubiquitous Marvel heroes; the last 4 issues of Superman and Action Comics respectively, which features an excellent jumping on point for the revamped and rejuvenated Superman titles and some of the best writing The Man has seen in a while (which is saying something because they weren't bad before they got rejuvenated); anything good. Chuck knows his stuff. His Good Stuff rack has never let me down.


You really can't go wrong with this stuff.

Oh Glorious Day!

- The show today went well.

- Ron, from PC Medic is a wizard, a true star. The PC is back.

- The Sabres are magnificent, glorious; profound. To come back 5 times and take that game on their ice is a tremendous accomplishment, and the oppurtunity to lock it down and play confidently Monday might be the difference against a potentially desperate Ottawa. Mike Grier is my hero, Joe Vip's hero, yes, he is moving up the list. What a game for Grier. And Drury, and Roy, and Connolly. The defence needs to tighten up however and people need to lay off Miller- the guy can't be expected to stop 3 and 4 point blank shots over and over. The kid made the big stops and that's what matters.

- Monday night is going to be sick: Game 2 and 24.

- Live Barcelona vs Espanyol while I go through a week's worth of e-mail. Thank God. And the TiVO will catch what I really want to see: the celebrations at the Camp Nou having won La Liga Wednesday. What a show. The GolTV coverage is also excellent, far better than OLN's coverage of last night's game.

- And the new Neil Young album is titanic; a record for RIGHT NOW, a record that sounds like it was recorded yesterday- and sounds like you are in the room with Neil and the band and the big choir. Yes, a choir... a choir that makes this rocker a bonafide sing a long about living in a country that's gone a wee bit off the rails. Sweet, honest, sharp, loving and a little wise.

- Is a road trip up to Toronto in the offing to see CSN&Y at the Air Canada Centre? A CSN&Y that could beautifully translate the choiral parts for songs off the new Neil album? Hmmmmm.

- Tickets for Radiohead in Toronto however are a bonafide no go, sold out before I could get on it 25 minutes after the tickets went on sale.

- Last night's OC was an exercise in entropy and karma and a magnificent maelstrom of lies and biting tension. In case you were wondering the band who got no props from Fox for the music last night was Bloc Party.

- Bloc Party is the only new new wave band that actually matters beyond being a new new wave band with nice trousers.

- Ya hate to say it but god doesn't The Office perfectly skewer office life, office tension and conflict, and the madness of mangement? Last night's episode, an ode to conflict management, was brilliant. Painful.

- Enjoy yer Cinco De Mayo.

- The NHL and OLN are off my Fecal Roster.

- GO SABRES!

The Hot Diggity List

- Barca! Barcelona FC has claimed the La Liga title two years running, and has an excellent chance to go for the Double by beating Arsenal FC in the Champions League Final. Booyah.

- The original versions of Star Wars, Empire and Jedi are coming out on DVD. While not overly obsessed with the original versions like some of the fans I will still absolutely grab them up because they are the movies I grew up with. Nostalgia ya know. What will be interesting however is seeing how the match up with the prequels. Personally I think some people might be suprised...

- Are people with superpowers WMD's? And if so, do they still have individual rights as American citizens? These are the questions driving Marvel Comics' new extravaganza mini series Civil War that just started the other day, and it is hot stuff. Traditional superheroes and traditional superhero tropes have never been presented in such a thoroughly modern way, and yes, it is cool that Captain America has chosen to take the side of superhero rights. Good stuff.

- Round 2 starts tomorrow night. No rest for the wicked. Get ready people.