So Nick C can see it.
An absolute TBogg masterpiece from 2008.
mds
Sep 29, 2012
Three fabulous magazines for me over the last two days:
Finally, The Atlantic had a good issue, which includes a review essay by Sandra Tsing Loh, an article on gerrymandering (learned where that word came from), something about the Sabol NFL Films empire, an chart-filled wollapalooza article on US education, an article on campaign finance, and other sundry bits and pieces.
This Atlantic issue nearly makes up for their web essay by Glibertarian Conor Friedersdorf, who says he can not, from his lofty heights as an editor and columnist, vote for Obama next month because of drones. Friedersdorf is voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, instead. Riiiiiight! Naturally, he has been ridiculed and lambasted all week by the left new media. Including this gem from TBogg.
Then Renee got her first subscription Bust with Aubrey Plaza on the cover. Excellent!
And, the latest Mojo, with the Smiths on the cover is pretty badass, too.
I will be reading all weekend!
Have a great Saturday, everyone!
Mwah, ...
This Atlantic issue nearly makes up for their web essay by Glibertarian Conor Friedersdorf, who says he can not, from his lofty heights as an editor and columnist, vote for Obama next month because of drones. Friedersdorf is voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, instead. Riiiiiight! Naturally, he has been ridiculed and lambasted all week by the left new media. Including this gem from TBogg.
Then Renee got her first subscription Bust with Aubrey Plaza on the cover. Excellent!
And, the latest Mojo, with the Smiths on the cover is pretty badass, too.
I will be reading all weekend!
Have a great Saturday, everyone!
Mwah, ...
Sep 28, 2012
Barry Zito dropped by the store yesterday,
After picking up his fourteenth win this year in the City.
Here is the box score.
He was headed towards the public restrooms, which are right by my wine back stock area, and I was headed there to add wine to a cart that needed to be put on to the floor.
At first, I thought, "Oh, a Giants fan/dude going in to the bathroom, la la la," but then realized it was Barry Zito. I did not say anything to him, but it was plain in his glance and smile back to me that he knew that I knew who he was and yes, his expression said, "I am Barry Zito. I am a baseball star. I have a Cy Young."
He might have got a coffee, or some water, as he stopped at the coffee bar on his way out. I figure he was on his way home after the game, and basically needed some place to use the restroom. (Zito has shopped at our store before, though.)
He was wearing his black and white Adidas clubhouse slippers, black shorts, and crazy, almost bootleg-y Giants t-shirt and baseball cap.
I am sure he is thrilled about his rebound season this year, and that he has made the playoff roster, too. Unlike two years ago when the Giants beat my Rangers in the World Serious, and Zito was left doing bullpen duty, warming up pitchers and catchers, and not being part of the twenty-five man roster. Good for him. I have only heard great things about him personally the whole time he has pitched up here in the Bay Area.
mds
Here is the box score.
He was headed towards the public restrooms, which are right by my wine back stock area, and I was headed there to add wine to a cart that needed to be put on to the floor.
At first, I thought, "Oh, a Giants fan/dude going in to the bathroom, la la la," but then realized it was Barry Zito. I did not say anything to him, but it was plain in his glance and smile back to me that he knew that I knew who he was and yes, his expression said, "I am Barry Zito. I am a baseball star. I have a Cy Young."
He might have got a coffee, or some water, as he stopped at the coffee bar on his way out. I figure he was on his way home after the game, and basically needed some place to use the restroom. (Zito has shopped at our store before, though.)
He was wearing his black and white Adidas clubhouse slippers, black shorts, and crazy, almost bootleg-y Giants t-shirt and baseball cap.
I am sure he is thrilled about his rebound season this year, and that he has made the playoff roster, too. Unlike two years ago when the Giants beat my Rangers in the World Serious, and Zito was left doing bullpen duty, warming up pitchers and catchers, and not being part of the twenty-five man roster. Good for him. I have only heard great things about him personally the whole time he has pitched up here in the Bay Area.
 |
| Zito yesterday: 6 IP 3 R 3 BB 3K (W, 14-8) |
mds
Nick C and I have come up with
A fabulous new game to play, and we would like you to play along with us.
This game was inspired by the Bay Area Steely Dan cover band, Aja Vu, who always plays the Lafayette Art and Wine Fest these past few years. Nick C and I are not so crazy about their name, but Renee and Justin G like it a lot.
We started coming up with other cover band names for our favorite groups. So far we have two excellent ones: Nick C came up with his Clash cover band, which is called Between the Minarets. And, Renee came up with Dirty Sweet for T Rex.
Please submit any fun cover band names for any of your favorite groups or musical artists in the friendface comments, or by submitting comments to fauxluxe.
Mwah, ...
This game was inspired by the Bay Area Steely Dan cover band, Aja Vu, who always plays the Lafayette Art and Wine Fest these past few years. Nick C and I are not so crazy about their name, but Renee and Justin G like it a lot.
We started coming up with other cover band names for our favorite groups. So far we have two excellent ones: Nick C came up with his Clash cover band, which is called Between the Minarets. And, Renee came up with Dirty Sweet for T Rex.
Please submit any fun cover band names for any of your favorite groups or musical artists in the friendface comments, or by submitting comments to fauxluxe.
Mwah, ...
Sep 27, 2012
Well, goodness flipping gracious me!
So, that was not scary, at all, right?
The Rangers earn a split in the series, winning today, Nathan getting the last out with Cespedes in the on-deck circle, again. Just like on Monday.
But, the plucky A's decided they would rather give me a heart attack by hitting three solo shots in the eighth, before being retired in order in the ninth.
Good grief!
(And, now I get to do inventory tonight. Woo-hoo!)
The final from Arlington is nine to seven, Rangers.
The Rangers' Magic Number for the division is three.
The Rangers' Magic Number for a playoff berth is two. (The Angels are trailing the Mariners three to two right now B5.)
The Rangers' Magic Number for home field advantage is six. (The Yankees play later tonight.)
The Athletics' Magic Number for the division is eleven.
The Athletics' Magic Number for a playoff berth is six.
************
Here is how you figure out a Magic Number. The Magic Number is 163 - (Your team's Wins + Your rival team's losses.)
For example: The Rangers now have ninety-two wins, and the A's have sixty-eight losses. That adds up to 160. 160 subtracted from 163 is three!
Plus, you can do it for the trailing team, too. The A's have eighty-eight wins, and the Rangers have sixty-four losses. That adds up to 152. 152 from 163 is eleven.
Who ever reduces their Magic Number to zero first wins the division.
************
Oh, those plucky A's! Even if we do win the division, we still might have to face them in the playoffs. Ugh!
Barely alive,
mds
The Rangers earn a split in the series, winning today, Nathan getting the last out with Cespedes in the on-deck circle, again. Just like on Monday.
But, the plucky A's decided they would rather give me a heart attack by hitting three solo shots in the eighth, before being retired in order in the ninth.
Good grief!
(And, now I get to do inventory tonight. Woo-hoo!)
The final from Arlington is nine to seven, Rangers.
The Rangers' Magic Number for the division is three.
The Rangers' Magic Number for a playoff berth is two. (The Angels are trailing the Mariners three to two right now B5.)
The Rangers' Magic Number for home field advantage is six. (The Yankees play later tonight.)
The Athletics' Magic Number for the division is eleven.
The Athletics' Magic Number for a playoff berth is six.
************
Here is how you figure out a Magic Number. The Magic Number is 163 - (Your team's Wins + Your rival team's losses.)
For example: The Rangers now have ninety-two wins, and the A's have sixty-eight losses. That adds up to 160. 160 subtracted from 163 is three!
Plus, you can do it for the trailing team, too. The A's have eighty-eight wins, and the Rangers have sixty-four losses. That adds up to 152. 152 from 163 is eleven.
Who ever reduces their Magic Number to zero first wins the division.
************
Oh, those plucky A's! Even if we do win the division, we still might have to face them in the playoffs. Ugh!
 |
| Joe Nathan has a lifetime ERA of 0.76 (!) v the Oakland A's |
Barely alive,
mds
Sep 26, 2012
The Magic Number is still five,
And, I do not like the Rangers chances tonight. Darvish was scratched from yesterday's start and they are saying the latest he will pitch again will be Sunday against the Angels.
(If the Rangers lose tonight, I suspect they might think about starting him tomorrow, and give Harrison an extra day of rest, too.)
So, yesterday, no Darvish, and in went Scooter Feldman, boychik, instead. Feldman did not pitch too bad, and the rest of the bullpen was sharp, too, until Lowe in the tenth.
The main problem with the Rangers is their inability to score runs right now. The Rangers plated two in the first, and had Hamilton at third with no outs. They did not score again the rest of the game. Plus, they had two runners picked off first last night.
If the Rangers win tonight, I will consider that a real steal/gift. It is more likely that they will get rocked tonight, and have to buckle down tomorrow to earn the split they need.
************
Here is the story about Renee and the Magic Number. Two years ago when the Rangers became good again after a decade of yuck I would blog here on fauxluxe about the Magic Number. To wit, here is such a post, and here is another one. Plus, I would quiz Renee on what the Magic Number was every time it changed. Renee went along with this, thinking what a silly obsessed boy I was, doing esoteric special baseball math that no one could figure out but myself.
Until a few days before her birthday in 2010 and she heard the radio voice of the A's, Ken Korach, tell listeners that the Rangers Magic Number was three or whatnot.
She sat bolt upright in her chair, and exclaimed, "You mean there really is such a thing as a Magic Number? You were not just making all that up?"
Pretty cute.
************
The Rangers' Magic Number for the division title is five.
The Rangers' Magic Number for a playoff berth is three.
The Rangers' Magic Number for home field advantage is seven.
Let's go Rangers!
Ardent
(If the Rangers lose tonight, I suspect they might think about starting him tomorrow, and give Harrison an extra day of rest, too.)
 |
| Lefty rookie prospect, Martin Perez, goes for the Rangers tonight. |
So, yesterday, no Darvish, and in went Scooter Feldman, boychik, instead. Feldman did not pitch too bad, and the rest of the bullpen was sharp, too, until Lowe in the tenth.
The main problem with the Rangers is their inability to score runs right now. The Rangers plated two in the first, and had Hamilton at third with no outs. They did not score again the rest of the game. Plus, they had two runners picked off first last night.
If the Rangers win tonight, I will consider that a real steal/gift. It is more likely that they will get rocked tonight, and have to buckle down tomorrow to earn the split they need.
************
Here is the story about Renee and the Magic Number. Two years ago when the Rangers became good again after a decade of yuck I would blog here on fauxluxe about the Magic Number. To wit, here is such a post, and here is another one. Plus, I would quiz Renee on what the Magic Number was every time it changed. Renee went along with this, thinking what a silly obsessed boy I was, doing esoteric special baseball math that no one could figure out but myself.
Until a few days before her birthday in 2010 and she heard the radio voice of the A's, Ken Korach, tell listeners that the Rangers Magic Number was three or whatnot.
She sat bolt upright in her chair, and exclaimed, "You mean there really is such a thing as a Magic Number? You were not just making all that up?"
Pretty cute.
************
The Rangers' Magic Number for the division title is five.
The Rangers' Magic Number for a playoff berth is three.
The Rangers' Magic Number for home field advantage is seven.
Let's go Rangers!
Ardent
Sep 25, 2012
The Rangers Magic Number is five.
Their Magic Number for the playoffs is three, and their Magic Number for Home Field Advantage is eight.
(Have I told you folks the Renee Magic Number story? It is a hoot. Maybe another time.)
In the meantime, let us talk about last night's odd little A's/Rangers tilt. Derek "Dutch" Holland had looked marvelous lately, so, last night, of course, he could not find the strike zone, and gave up two massive bombs to Cespedes and Donaldson. He lasted all of three total innings, and left, trailing three to one.
When I saw that Roy Oswalt was coming in for the fourth, I had resigned myself to the fact that the Rangers were most certainly going to lose, and that Oswalt would act like a little cry baby again, and that Ranger fans everywhere would scream, "DFA the bum, already!"
Lo, and behold, Oswalt pitched very well for two frames, and kept the Rangers in the game. Hamilton (we discovered what his mystery illness was, but it still sounds like a fishy story) hit a second-deck bomb job of his own, and the Rangers were trailing four to two, bottom of the seventh.
The A's yanked Straily (after a v fine effort) with two out, bottom seven, and brought in Neshak. (Neshak had blown the A's four run 13th inning lead in the Bronx a few days ago.) Neshak walked Hamilton, got to two strikes on Beltre, and then got rocked by an opposite field home run, tying the game at four.
A's fans are surely wondering why Ross pitched the ninth. (I feel bad for Ross, he has had a v rough year.) But, for whatever reason, Managers are reluctant to bring in their closers in tied ballgames on the road. There were some other options for Melvin, too (Doolittle, the Rangers had lefty Moreland lead off) but Melvin went for Ross.
Ross faced five batters, giving up one run, three singles, an intentional walk, and recorded his only out on Elvis Andrus' sacrifice. And, that is your ballgame.
(Melvin's oddest move to me last night was sending the runner in the top of the ninth with Cespedes -- who murders the Rangers -- in the on deck circle.)
Beltre's legend continues to grow in Arlington. He had a spectacular game last night, despite still being v sick.
Alright, we do it all again tonight! Darvish v Milone. You gotta love nerve-wracking Pennant Race baseball.
Ardent
(Have I told you folks the Renee Magic Number story? It is a hoot. Maybe another time.)
 |
| Wow! Look at Napoli jump! |
When I saw that Roy Oswalt was coming in for the fourth, I had resigned myself to the fact that the Rangers were most certainly going to lose, and that Oswalt would act like a little cry baby again, and that Ranger fans everywhere would scream, "DFA the bum, already!"
Lo, and behold, Oswalt pitched very well for two frames, and kept the Rangers in the game. Hamilton (we discovered what his mystery illness was, but it still sounds like a fishy story) hit a second-deck bomb job of his own, and the Rangers were trailing four to two, bottom of the seventh.
The A's yanked Straily (after a v fine effort) with two out, bottom seven, and brought in Neshak. (Neshak had blown the A's four run 13th inning lead in the Bronx a few days ago.) Neshak walked Hamilton, got to two strikes on Beltre, and then got rocked by an opposite field home run, tying the game at four.
A's fans are surely wondering why Ross pitched the ninth. (I feel bad for Ross, he has had a v rough year.) But, for whatever reason, Managers are reluctant to bring in their closers in tied ballgames on the road. There were some other options for Melvin, too (Doolittle, the Rangers had lefty Moreland lead off) but Melvin went for Ross.
Ross faced five batters, giving up one run, three singles, an intentional walk, and recorded his only out on Elvis Andrus' sacrifice. And, that is your ballgame.
(Melvin's oddest move to me last night was sending the runner in the top of the ninth with Cespedes -- who murders the Rangers -- in the on deck circle.)
Beltre's legend continues to grow in Arlington. He had a spectacular game last night, despite still being v sick.
Alright, we do it all again tonight! Darvish v Milone. You gotta love nerve-wracking Pennant Race baseball.
Ardent
Sep 24, 2012
Massive free-wheeling roundabout here today:
I will start with baseball:
The Rangers' Magic Number for winning the AL West is seven.
The Rangers' Magic Number for clinching a playoff spot is four.
On Sunday, the sixteenth, right before the Wife and I leftThe Overlook Claremont Hotel for our reservation at Rivoli, I was sweating bullets, keenly peering in to the MLB.com app on my iToy, listening to Eric Nadel call the final out of a game the Rangers really needed to win. Actually, it is September, so, if your club is a part of the pennant chase, you naturally believe that they need to win every game, whilst knowing at the same time, that that is nearly impossible.
The A's lost that day as well, knocking two off the Magic Number to fourteen. The A's and the Rangers both had the next day off, so I figured what would be the likely outcome for the upcoming week. I anticipated that the Magic Number would be cut in half to seven by Sunday the twenty-third. I expected the Plucky A's to go two and four at Detroit and New York. And, the Rangers to go three and three at Los Angeles Angels of Disneyland and Seattle. The A's went two and four (four off the Magic Number) and the Rangers went three and three (three off the Magic Number, adding up to seven total).
And, that is where we are.
The A's and the Rangers open a four game series tonight in Arlington. The A's then fly home and finish the regular season in Oakland. They will play Seattle this weekend and then play three with the Rangers, starting a week from today, October first.
The Rangers play three against the annoying, "We refuse to go away" Los Angeles Angels of Disneyland this weekend. The meat, if you will, between the two aforementioned Oakland A's "buns".
The A's series with the Yankees was an absolute September Classic. All three games were decided by one run, and the first two, both of the Yankees' wins, were decided in the last at-bat of extra innings. The A's on Saturday took a four run lead on three home runs in the top of the thirteenth, only to lose in the bottom of the fourteenth on a fielding error. And, then Eric Chavez said some stupid stuff to Murdoch's New York Post, instead of just being grateful for such a thrilling crazy win. Athletes, right?
But, the A's rebounded yesterday and snuck out of the Bronx with a five-four victory.
Meanwhile, the Rangers do not have to see the Seattle Mariners again until next Spring. Hoo-ray! The lowly M's have given the Rangers fits all season, and it was touch and go, nail-biting time yesterday right around four o'clock, as Joe Nathan got the save, and the Rangers avoided being swept by Seattle. (In fact, when the Rangers lost the first two of that series, it was the first time the Rangers had lost consecutive games in over a month.)
The Rangers are getting very good pitching right now, but can not hit a lick again, quite suddenly. Josh Hamilton has some bizarre ailment that no one can diagnose, and we do not know when he will return. Adrian Beltre has been battling his own illness issues lately, too, and apart from a majestic, magical ninth inning, game winning home run against the Angels last Thursday, he has not done much, either. Kinsler, Cruz, and Elvis are all struggling, too. Only Napoli, Craig Gentry, and David Murphy are hitting right now.
I am hoping that getting some home cooking this week will wake up some bats. And, you know the A's have got to be wiped after that epic Yankees series.
I expect the A's and Rangers will split their four game series, getting the Magic Number down to three with six games left. But, the A's need to worry about the Angels, as well. The Angels are three back in the loss column for a playoff spot, chasing the A's. The A's magic number for a playoff spot is eight.
There was a funny moment in yesterday's Rangers game, when Soto hit a two-run home run. Soto was convinced he had popped it up, and slammed his bat on the ground, not realizing it had left the park until he looked up after rounding first base. That "pop up" home run was the game winning hit, it turned out.
************
I do not know if it is because I have watching, following so much of the pennant races lately, or, because I have just devoured all seven seasons of the deliciously rude English series, Peep Show, but I am obsessed with The Fratellis right now. Their glam-y, yobbish, naughty football terrace hits; Flathead, Chelsea Dagger, etc, ... just seem to be perfect for me right now.
I dare not post their videos here, but you can find them v easily on YouTube. It is basically the band "playing" whilst surrounded by girls wearing lingerie.
The Fratellis are not a good group, really. They are certainly a guilty pleasure for me. And the singer really milks his accent to a very annoying degree, but, you do have to respect their knack for writing "hits".
Peep Show, meanwhile, is bloody good fun. It breaks no fresh ground, but is mean-spirited and fun, and hilarious, in dozens of very good ways. Plus, I love Olivia Colman, who plays Sophie. Peep Show prob is not for everybody, but Renee and I truly enjoy it.
************
Mittens is in such a world of hurt right now. He is hurting so bad that he even did a Friday news dump of his 2011 taxes, and hired some lackey to write a report about the previous ten years of tax returns that basically said, "Well, you folks, the forty seven per cent, the help, can not actually see Mittens' tax returns, but I have looked at them, and everything is okay, so, would you kids just shut up about all that now?"
Plouffe and Axelrod, of course, have already created a sharp commercial about all this, that is airing in Ohio right now, as Mittens and LL Cool P will be sailing in a corrical (h/t In the Loop) throughout the Buckeye state for three days this week.
And, up in Massachusetts, we are seeing the real Scott Brown, at last. Ms Warren is slowly but surely beginning to connect with voters, and is stretching out her slim lead. The drug store truck driving man, that won a few years ago is long gone, and has been replaced but a whinging cry baby of the worst kind, that is holding his breath on account that Elizabeth Warren does things like call Brown a Republican, and what not. What a witch, right?
And, that is all I got for today,
Love you all,
Ardent
The Rangers' Magic Number for winning the AL West is seven.
The Rangers' Magic Number for clinching a playoff spot is four.
On Sunday, the sixteenth, right before the Wife and I left
The A's lost that day as well, knocking two off the Magic Number to fourteen. The A's and the Rangers both had the next day off, so I figured what would be the likely outcome for the upcoming week. I anticipated that the Magic Number would be cut in half to seven by Sunday the twenty-third. I expected the Plucky A's to go two and four at Detroit and New York. And, the Rangers to go three and three at Los Angeles Angels of Disneyland and Seattle. The A's went two and four (four off the Magic Number) and the Rangers went three and three (three off the Magic Number, adding up to seven total).
And, that is where we are.
The A's and the Rangers open a four game series tonight in Arlington. The A's then fly home and finish the regular season in Oakland. They will play Seattle this weekend and then play three with the Rangers, starting a week from today, October first.
The Rangers play three against the annoying, "We refuse to go away" Los Angeles Angels of Disneyland this weekend. The meat, if you will, between the two aforementioned Oakland A's "buns".
The A's series with the Yankees was an absolute September Classic. All three games were decided by one run, and the first two, both of the Yankees' wins, were decided in the last at-bat of extra innings. The A's on Saturday took a four run lead on three home runs in the top of the thirteenth, only to lose in the bottom of the fourteenth on a fielding error. And, then Eric Chavez said some stupid stuff to Murdoch's New York Post, instead of just being grateful for such a thrilling crazy win. Athletes, right?
But, the A's rebounded yesterday and snuck out of the Bronx with a five-four victory.
Meanwhile, the Rangers do not have to see the Seattle Mariners again until next Spring. Hoo-ray! The lowly M's have given the Rangers fits all season, and it was touch and go, nail-biting time yesterday right around four o'clock, as Joe Nathan got the save, and the Rangers avoided being swept by Seattle. (In fact, when the Rangers lost the first two of that series, it was the first time the Rangers had lost consecutive games in over a month.)
The Rangers are getting very good pitching right now, but can not hit a lick again, quite suddenly. Josh Hamilton has some bizarre ailment that no one can diagnose, and we do not know when he will return. Adrian Beltre has been battling his own illness issues lately, too, and apart from a majestic, magical ninth inning, game winning home run against the Angels last Thursday, he has not done much, either. Kinsler, Cruz, and Elvis are all struggling, too. Only Napoli, Craig Gentry, and David Murphy are hitting right now.
I am hoping that getting some home cooking this week will wake up some bats. And, you know the A's have got to be wiped after that epic Yankees series.
I expect the A's and Rangers will split their four game series, getting the Magic Number down to three with six games left. But, the A's need to worry about the Angels, as well. The Angels are three back in the loss column for a playoff spot, chasing the A's. The A's magic number for a playoff spot is eight.
There was a funny moment in yesterday's Rangers game, when Soto hit a two-run home run. Soto was convinced he had popped it up, and slammed his bat on the ground, not realizing it had left the park until he looked up after rounding first base. That "pop up" home run was the game winning hit, it turned out.
************
I do not know if it is because I have watching, following so much of the pennant races lately, or, because I have just devoured all seven seasons of the deliciously rude English series, Peep Show, but I am obsessed with The Fratellis right now. Their glam-y, yobbish, naughty football terrace hits; Flathead, Chelsea Dagger, etc, ... just seem to be perfect for me right now.
I dare not post their videos here, but you can find them v easily on YouTube. It is basically the band "playing" whilst surrounded by girls wearing lingerie.
The Fratellis are not a good group, really. They are certainly a guilty pleasure for me. And the singer really milks his accent to a very annoying degree, but, you do have to respect their knack for writing "hits".
Peep Show, meanwhile, is bloody good fun. It breaks no fresh ground, but is mean-spirited and fun, and hilarious, in dozens of very good ways. Plus, I love Olivia Colman, who plays Sophie. Peep Show prob is not for everybody, but Renee and I truly enjoy it.
************
Mittens is in such a world of hurt right now. He is hurting so bad that he even did a Friday news dump of his 2011 taxes, and hired some lackey to write a report about the previous ten years of tax returns that basically said, "Well, you folks, the forty seven per cent, the help, can not actually see Mittens' tax returns, but I have looked at them, and everything is okay, so, would you kids just shut up about all that now?"
Plouffe and Axelrod, of course, have already created a sharp commercial about all this, that is airing in Ohio right now, as Mittens and LL Cool P will be sailing in a corrical (h/t In the Loop) throughout the Buckeye state for three days this week.
And, up in Massachusetts, we are seeing the real Scott Brown, at last. Ms Warren is slowly but surely beginning to connect with voters, and is stretching out her slim lead. The drug store truck driving man, that won a few years ago is long gone, and has been replaced but a whinging cry baby of the worst kind, that is holding his breath on account that Elizabeth Warren does things like call Brown a Republican, and what not. What a witch, right?
And, that is all I got for today,
Love you all,
Ardent
Sep 18, 2012
Reform
David Simon, the creator of the fabulous, groundbreaking programs; The Wire, Treme, and Generation Kill, was on the Bill Maher show recently. No one let him get a word in edgewise.
One of his biggest interrupters was one of my heroes, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, of the great progressive mag, The Nation.
Ms Vanden Heuvel, like I said, is one of my fave progressives alive, but it pained me watching her fight with Simon, constantly butting in to his long-view perspective with her short-term political solutions.
There was a time when Ms Vandel Heuvel prob thought like David Simon. Indeed, she still might think like him now. But her position as Editor-in-Chief for a national political magazine does not allow her the freedom such as the one a writer/creator of many popular HBO series' might enjoy.
Simon's point was one that I have been stressing here on this blog for ages. To wit, That it is not enough to reform capitalism, or any of the systems that are part and parcel of it. That any tweaking of the system that capitalism holds over this country is not nearly enough.
Until we are ready to look ourselves in the mirror, as a nation, as citizens, and ready to face up to the fact that we need to treat ourselves better, more equal, and with empathy, then no amount of tweaking to the interest rates or tax rates are going to mean a goddammed thing.
The day this country wakes up, and realizes that it is only as strong and powerful as the homeless folks living in The Tenderloin is the day that America might finally be on the right track.
There is a very disturbing trend, even amongst Democrats lately -- eager to win re-election, natch -- that those of us who have been dealt a shitty hand are moochers, scofflaws, and losers. This kind of thinking is supremely detrimental to the very idea of what this country is all about, and it disgusts me.
I do not want to reform Capitalism, I want to change life.
Once we change the way we look at life, and our relations to its citizens, then will the reformation begin re sytems, politics, etc, ...
Michael David Spitler
One of his biggest interrupters was one of my heroes, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, of the great progressive mag, The Nation.
Ms Vanden Heuvel, like I said, is one of my fave progressives alive, but it pained me watching her fight with Simon, constantly butting in to his long-view perspective with her short-term political solutions.
There was a time when Ms Vandel Heuvel prob thought like David Simon. Indeed, she still might think like him now. But her position as Editor-in-Chief for a national political magazine does not allow her the freedom such as the one a writer/creator of many popular HBO series' might enjoy.
Simon's point was one that I have been stressing here on this blog for ages. To wit, That it is not enough to reform capitalism, or any of the systems that are part and parcel of it. That any tweaking of the system that capitalism holds over this country is not nearly enough.
Until we are ready to look ourselves in the mirror, as a nation, as citizens, and ready to face up to the fact that we need to treat ourselves better, more equal, and with empathy, then no amount of tweaking to the interest rates or tax rates are going to mean a goddammed thing.
The day this country wakes up, and realizes that it is only as strong and powerful as the homeless folks living in The Tenderloin is the day that America might finally be on the right track.
There is a very disturbing trend, even amongst Democrats lately -- eager to win re-election, natch -- that those of us who have been dealt a shitty hand are moochers, scofflaws, and losers. This kind of thinking is supremely detrimental to the very idea of what this country is all about, and it disgusts me.
I do not want to reform Capitalism, I want to change life.
Once we change the way we look at life, and our relations to its citizens, then will the reformation begin re sytems, politics, etc, ...
Michael David Spitler
Sep 15, 2012
Do you not see?
(No one except Annie S prob reads my baseball posts.)
The plucky A's won their World Serious last night. At a finally frickin' sold out house (which was not really sold out, but whatever, ... )
The A's are likely candidates for the Wild Card, and I am not crazy, at all, about meeting them in the playoffs, but their story is just about done.
It is a beautiful story, yet, one that ultimately will result in gorgeous, beautiful failure, most likely at the hands of the Rangers, who are way too busy thinking about the World Serious.
The A's will promptly go a massive losing streak, starting today, nine sixteen two thousand twelve.
Bank it.
mds
The plucky A's won their World Serious last night. At a finally frickin' sold out house (which was not really sold out, but whatever, ... )
The A's are likely candidates for the Wild Card, and I am not crazy, at all, about meeting them in the playoffs, but their story is just about done.
It is a beautiful story, yet, one that ultimately will result in gorgeous, beautiful failure, most likely at the hands of the Rangers, who are way too busy thinking about the World Serious.
The A's will promptly go a massive losing streak, starting today, nine sixteen two thousand twelve.
Bank it.
mds
Sep 3, 2012
For the folks that brought you the forty hour work week,
Happy Labor Day everyone!
Here are some clips for you:
Those are two consecutive clips from John Sayles' 1987 film, Matewan, starring James Earl Jones, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, and Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy.)
Below is a trailer for Made in Dagenham, starring Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike, Miranda Richardson, and Andrea Riseborough.
Here are some clips for you:
Those are two consecutive clips from John Sayles' 1987 film, Matewan, starring James Earl Jones, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, and Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy.)
Below is a trailer for Made in Dagenham, starring Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Rosamund Pike, Miranda Richardson, and Andrea Riseborough.
This post is inspired by and owes a serious debt to Hartley and digby over at Hullabaloo.
Ardent
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