Sunday, February 26, 2006

Don Knotts died this weekend. Very sad. Pretty funny guy. Take a moment to watch a rerun of The Andy Griffith Show and remember how talented he was. Sure, he overacted but I think he hit all the right notes in that show. I'd also recommend The Incredible Mr. Limpet. I saw it as a child and loved it. Avoid his turn on Three's Company at all costs. He had a great bit in the movie Pleasantville a few years back. Go watch that as well. Oh...and the bad, but fun...Apple Dumpling Gang, The Private Eyes (both with Tim Conway), and Hot Lead and Cold Feet.

I wonder if there will be a tribute at the Oscars or if he'll just be a part of the requisite photo montage?

A little culture

Jess and I went to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. Great fun.

First piece was Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 by Carl Nielsen. I liked it. I was reminded of Stravinsky. The first movement was much better than the the second and the ending was abrupt, seeming to come from nowhere. But what an ending...

Second piece was Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor by Serge Rachmaninoff (bonus: sample the music via wikipedia). The centerpiece of this concerto was pianist Andre Watts. He's certainly a fine pianist, and the music was good; I just don't really like piano concertos. The piano isn't my favorite instrument and I'm not keen on symphonic works that center on it.

That said, it was nice going to the symphony. I think Jess and I will look into going again and perhaps getting season tickets next year. It was fun being out all dresse up and seeing everyone else dressed all nice. We ran into the Caruthers. We unknowningly parked right next to them and walked in with them. Brief conversation, but nice nonetheless.

Also, soccer update....we're now 2-0. We won our game 4-2. I could have played better but our offense is very talented so I don't think we were ever in any danger of losing. I like these guys. Lots of fun. And it's nice to be winning.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Peter,

This has you written all over it...

PVC instrument.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Also today....Malcom X was assassinated on this day in 1965.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

I wonder how he would have regarded the past 41 years had he lived...?

No...I'm not turning this place into random trivia site...I just felt it should be put out there to think about.

Mike: for your comment

http://blogs.salon.com/0003494/2006/02/21.html
(via Boing Boing)

Globe

407 years ago today, Feb. 21, 1599, the contract to build the Globe Theater was signed and we're all better for it.

Thought you should know.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Podcasts...

From time to time I plan to share my ever-changing podcast selections from iTunes. All the podcasts I will mention over then next few weeks are free; I believe, requiring only an iTunes account and the software loaded on your pc.

These are presented in no specific order or hierachy of favoritism.

Knowledge@Wharton

This is podcast from the Wharton School of Business @ the University of Pennsylvania offering the latest business insights, information and research from a variety of sources.

Why do I listen? I enjoy the variety of article that cover diverse business topics from the biddin behaviour of buyers in internet auctions, to the recent trends in pension downsizing, to the economics of renting vs. byuing in the home video market. As I didn't attend business school, I find that I can learn just enough to be dangerous in a conversation. The audio is generally 5x5 and the narrator is fairly engaging with material that, in the wrong voice, could be snooze inducing.

The Onion Radio News

Get your RDA of artifical news in this quick, 1-minute, daily fake news report topic taken from The Onion. It's presented very seriously, with no indication that a joke is being played out. Very good and often laugh-out-loud funny. Also well produced - 5x5.
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Let's all laugh at the funny shooting...

It seems to me that shootings and getting shot are not humorous when they occur in the real world. Sure...in fiction...you can might be able to laugh at someone getting shot...I'm thinking of Marvin from Pulp Fiction.

However...when playing with reality I don't think shootings are a laughing matter, not even for Darwin Award candidates who shoot themselves while cleaning their guns or other such matter.

However, it appears that Compassionate Conservatism means making jokes partly at the expense of someone who was shot by the second most powerful man in the country.

I just love this administration.
It's been a while since I mentioned something political.

Dick Cheney certainly knows good gun safety. I wonder if alcohol was involved? Aren't you supposed to look before you shoot, especially if you're turning around and following your prey? If this guy was approaching Cheney from behind it seems reasonable to assume he was making every effort to avoid the field of fire. What I seem to have missed in the reporting is the distance between Cheney and the victim. If anyone saw a report on that let me know as I'm a bit curious. The other thing that stinks is the question as to why it took hours to inform the White House and even longer to announce it to the media.

I don't really think there's a cover-up of anything nefarious...just a delay based on embarrassment and to ensure all stories were aligned properly.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Soccer season started today. New team, new city, new outcome. We won 5-1. Game was cold. Like playing in high school in New York, in October. Lots of fun.

I was in goal and the only goal for the other team came off a penalty kick. Though to be fair the goal total was more due to the very efficient and skilled play of the defense. It's clear this team is in another league, no pun intended, when compared to my teams last year. Those teams were good and fun, but this team actually plays like a team. Players passing the ball, playing uselfishly, and generally having a better undertanding of the game.

The team name is Hangover Blues (also would be a great band name). We play Sunday afternoons at 4:45 at Burns Park in North Little Rock - Fields 13 or 14.

Please come and watch (though it's okay to wait for a little more warm air). Jess was out there this evening and her dad, Perry, came to watch us in the cold. Very nice.

Also, a quick thanks to Tom (aka Tweedler) for inviting me to play.

Thursday, February 09, 2006


Look at the lower right corner of the photo...is that a jealous nose? And is it about to get smacked by the one true leader of the house?

Wednesday, February 08, 2006


I thought cats were supposed to play with yarn...silly Vagabond. Beyond cute...

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Out on a limb...

Okay..before the game...I'll take the Steelers. 30-24.

Let's see what happens...

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Check it out...

Okay...I'm a few months off...but here's a new site that I recommend: Life in Books.

It's a blog run by my friend Sarah White. I'll add the link to the side. She now has the distinction of having two links to sites produced by her. Sarah is an excellent writer, vibrant and witty. Please take a visit to her page and return often, you'll be glad you did.
I'm pleased that Donne brought out such interesting responses. Let's see if we can keep it up.

Tom...didn't know you hated 16th Cent Brit Lit, and Donne in particular, so much. What's not to like. And sure, Shakespeare is excellent but there were other fine writers of the era. You've got Kyd, Marlowe, and Jonson to name but a few. And there's the unanswerable question as to whether Shakespeare the man was Shakespeare the writer.

Peter...embrace the alien...and you're right, not flowery at all. While I like some modern poetry, I really admire and respect using established form, rhyme, meter, etc. Something I believe is often lost to modern poets...or certainly the hacks who string a bunch of random words together and call it a poem. Or the folks who make a simple two line rhyme and call it a poem.

Kat...was your comment directed at me or one of the others? I can't tell. Perhaps, since I can't determine, I should take it as a sign it was actually directed at me. I sense you're harkening back to your overtly zealous attack on me a few months ago. :-)

Mike...not sure what the "Praise Bob" was for but keep it coming. You could always switch to "Praise Ken."