We Miss You George

"Watch out now, take care

Beware of the thoughts that linger

Winding up inside your head

The hopelessness around you

In the dead of night

Beware of sadness

It can hit you

It can hurt you

Make you sore and what is more

That is not what you are here for"

-excerpt from Beware of Darkness from All Things Must Pass (1970)

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's an appropriate toast, from The Ice Storm:

One More Nugget

I found this clip on YouTube a few days ago...this is the infamous Jimi Hendrix appearance on the Lulu show in 1969 where he and the Experience hijacked the show to pay a cheeky tribute to the just-broken up Cream. The fun happens at 7:44

Saturday YouTube Nugget

A little Everly Brothers for a quiet Saturday night.

God Bless Susie Greene

OK...this might be a touch out of context and a tad profane, but this clip captures what I love about Curb Your Enthusiasm.

"IT'S GONE!!!! IT'S GONE, YOU FUCKING MOTHERFUCKING...I'LL KILL YOU JEFF!!! YOU'RE A COCKSUCKER, MOTHERFUCKER...MY GRANDMOTHER'S BROOCH IS MISSING! I CANNOT REPLACE THIS ITEM! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF SOMETHING YOU CARED ABOUT WAS MISSING?!! YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANYTHING, YOU KNOW THAT?!!!"

"...ooh, my baseball cards...."

Friday YouTube Nugget

This week's installment comes courtesy of the dearly missed Muppet Show. Here's Kermit's nephew Robin singing a lovely song adapted from a poem by A. A. Milne - "Halfway Down The Stairs":

Congrats J.P.

Continuing the football wrap-up....any guy that throws for 295 yds, then goes home to pound the skins and pore over Hesse's Steppenwolf is jake with me.

Who Will Rid Me Of This Troublesome Team?

New England's march to perfection rolls right over defending champ Indianapolis and, frankly, it couldn't happen to a more deserving pair. Peyton Manning regained his title as Supreme Choke Artist while his coach, the noted homophobe Tony Dungy, watched helplessly as his team gave away a ten point lead at home with under nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Looks like Buffalo vs. New England (Week 11) is the league's best chance to stop the Patriots' juggernaut. (/daydream)

Friday YouTube Nugget

Two bits of comic relief today:

Thank You, Masked Man by Lenny Bruce

Tracy Morgan, star of NBC's 30 Rock, is interviewed on a local morning news program. He is, shall we say, in good spirits

UPDATE: More Tracy Morgan goodness, this time on WGN-Chicago

Happy Halloween

from the good people at Mainway Novelties:

Your 2007 World Series Champs

Congrats to the Boston Red Sox...the pluckiest band of $143 million payroll players ever assembled. Hoorah...

Friday YouTube Nugget

A little easy-listening country for you this week. Here's an up-and-coming quintet from the North country. Singing "Far Away Eyes", here's the Rolling Stones:

Check out Charlie Watts' face at 1:38....he is simply the greatest

Paul Wellstone

Today, October 25th, marks the third anniversary of one of the most shocking events of my political lifetime - the plane crash and death of Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN).

Senator Wellstone, as you can see, wasn't your garden variety, blow-dried politician. He was a proud liberal and probably the only member of the Senate with a conscience. I've identified with Sen. Wellstone more than any other politician in my lifetime (save maybe Howard Dean), because he was genuine and passionate about his public service. I had to love that he was a former Political Science professor before he was elected to the Senate out of nowhere in 1990.

Paul Wellstone spent his life fighting for progressive values, social justice and, most importantly, inspiring people like me to be more active and informed on what goes on around us. His values live on in those he inspired, but I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment today to say thanks, Senator.

More info on Paul Wellstone here and here

Why is this man laughing?

Meet Mr. 25%

Friday YouTube Nugget

For this week's installment, I set the wayback machine to those heady days of the mid-90's and what I believe to be one of the top 5 pop songs written in the last 20 years. The band is Pulp and the song is "Common People":

Who has two thumbs and center Orchestra tickets to Neil Young at Shea's in November?

THIS GUY!!!!

Miracle on Abbott and Southwestern Drive

An update that I am overjoyed to share: Bills TE Kevin Everett Can Stand On His Own

In a scant five weeks, Everett went from the most grim of prognoses by the attending physicians to becoming ambulatory by himself.


Shit like this reinforces my faith in humanity. Those were people, trained and highly skilled, who saved that man's life. Who applied the body-cooling treatment as soon as he was injured that most likely saved his spine and will lead to him being able to walk again. Said treatment was developed, of course, through the Miami Project, a non-profit organization devoting to reversing paralysis and started by a former NFL linebacker who's son was paralyzed in a college football game in 1985. And who, among NFL owners, is the biggest contributor to the Miami Project, who has donated millions to this cause?


Ralph C. Wilson, Jr, owner of the Buffalo Bills


That circle of life is a humdinger, ain't it?

Day 246: United 93 Held Hostage

Okay....this is beyond the realm of ridiculous and lazy. We're entering Captain CuckooBananas territory here. I have, in my possession, the film United 93 for more than 35 weeks now. What kind of pathological behavior am I exhibiting in this sad affair? Am I so lazy that I'm using the excuse that I can't find the nifty little red Netflix envelope to return the movie to explain why I have held this DVD hostage for 8 months? Can no one explain why I just don't call/e-mail/fax/smokescreen a message to Netflix to send me another envelope? Can it be that I've forfeited 8 months and $40 in membership fees to see other, less-depressing titles?

Why haven't the good people at Netflix reached out to me? A simple message saying "Hey friend - you've been hoarding United 93 for an awful long time...what's up?" would suffice. As would "Hello? Are you OK? Did you hit your head on a coffee table, put some tissues on your massive head wound and die bleeding and blind drunk like William Holden?" Nada, nil, zilch from those robber barons at Netflix....I guess as long as the monthly debit fee comes through, they could care less about my well-being. I think they have to share at least some of the blame here.

I think I need professional help. Or a replacement Netflix envelope.

P.S. It was a tremendous film

UPDATE: Writing this post was somewhat cathartic...it released me from whatever psychic block I was having from taking action on this pathetic episode. I called Netflix and spoke to a nice gentleman who is sending me out a bonus DVD (Blades of Glory)....then, I can return both DVDs in the new mailer. Problem solved...until next month.

The Humanist's Eye On Hollywood

DATELINE: Hollywood:

Holy shit....I just read Angie Everhart is engaged to......wait for it.....

Joe Pesci.

Yes, Joe Pesci.

This Joe Pesci:

is engaged to this:

that's right, little Joe Pesci is going to be making animal noises in this woman's ear:

This raises, of course, several questions - does he even come up to her mid-thigh? Why did God/Buddha/Jehovah/Allah/Flying Spaghetti Monster bless Joe Pesci with so many earthly rewards? Why couldn't Toulouse-Lautrec or Sartre pull off something this audacious?

Saturday YouTube Nugget

The exquisite Nina Simone, live from Ronnie Scott's, singing "If You Knew" . I guess the club's air conditioning was on the fritz that night.