OK, let's see if I have the energy to get through a bunch of stuff today. Hot weather, erratic sleep patterns (must learn to sleep in on "weekends"), etc. are making me a bit off.

More ramblings from the classic rock 1000 countdown
Sometime Sunday, I know I caught at least a couple of classic Led Zeppelin tunes (including "Kashmir" and "The Immigrant Song"), which ranked it somewhere in the high 300s. I'm not a big fan of Zeppelin by any means, but what in the world is anything by America doing ahead of those two songs? ("Ventura Highway" was at 244, I think). As one of my co-workers said when he first saw the ad on CNN for America's Greatest Hits, "I didn't realize the same band did all of those songs I hated." On the flip side, it was cool but odd to see "Losing My Religion" chart a few songs later. To think, a song I remember when it first came out is now considered a big part of the "classic rock" landscape. I'll do more picking apart of the chart when it gets posted online and I welcome any comments on the chart.

Movie time
Finally got a chance to catch up on some of my movies, catching Minority Report this afternoon. (Bless AMC Theatres and their twilight rate -- $3.75 is a bargain, and exactly half of the matinee rate at Graumann's Chinese Theatre in L.A.)

I didn't read up on it as much as usually do with movies, so I wasn't spoiled right away with plot details. I enjoyed the film a lot -- a solid story with enough twists to keep the action moving. Plus, some solid acting performances across the board, including Tom Cruise, who played was still "super movie star" the whole way through but at least kept it muted for the most part. I'm impressed, if a bit amazed that Colin Farrell is actually a year younger than me. Even odder to me is that he's defintely a cross between Treat Williams and Ron Livingston of "Office Space" fame.

The premise for the movie (officers stopping murders before it happens) was pretty wacked out. However, I was taken by the visions of the not-so-distant future. The really personalized ads, quickly updating/morphing newspapers, the cool looking computers and cars, etc. And yet, there seems to be lots of Big Brother hovering over everyone. All in all, it's a solid sci-fi/action/thriller that can attract a wide audience (perfect for the summer) and still get good critical buzz. It's got enough geek elements, blow 'em up elements and "hey, there's a twisted plot" elements.

All-Star time
The baseball All-Star Game is still the best of the ones in the major sports, given its tradition and the fact that it pretty much occupies its own place in the sports landscape with nothing else sports-wise competing against it in the middle of the summer. We actually like to fight over who made the team and who didn't, and while many of the game's all-time greats are on display, it's also cool to see the smattering of "Who's that?" that makes the team each year, whether it be Jack Armstrong, Biff Pocoroba or Randy Winn.

This year's home run contest was lots of fun again, mainly because you get the oohs and aahs of blasts going to parts of ballparks you never knew existed. What helped out a bit this year is that the top two mashers the whole way through actually made the finals, although Sammy Sosa faded late to keep up the tradition of the best hitter there using up all the power in the early rounds. Jason Giambi was scarily consistent throughout, although he needed that swing-off to make the finals. And much like the "Who dat?" All-Stars, there's also the "Who dat?" in the derby. Paul Konerko acquitted himself well, taking Giambi to the swing off in the semis, while Torii Hunter struggled. Hopefully neither of them will fade into obscurity like Damian Easley or Carl Everett.

Hopefully, the All-Star Game won't turn into the Pro Bowl with about half the roster pulling out with made-up injuries (oops, I've got a hangnail), but it's starting to turn that way with Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez bailing this year after being selected. I will tip my hat to Tom Glavine, who won't pitch because of a blister, but is in Milwaukee anyway to take part in the festivities. I guess with all major sports, you work your whole life to be honored as an All-Star, but there's a point of diminishing returns that after so many years and honors, you get tired of it and want to be elsewhere -- and that's damn sad. So when will budding stars like Alfonso Soriano and Vladimir Guerrero get tired of this routine and either pull out or come up with a fake injury?

Oh well, if we're always harping on who get snubbed, maybe we should just invite those people who actually want to come. At the 2000 All-Star Game, fellow NU alum Joe Girardi made the squad after Mike Piazza's beaning. He was something like the third or fourth choice for the backup catcher because slightly more deserving stars that year like Javy Lopez and Todd Hundley passed because they already had plans for the break. Granted, this was done a day before all the hoopla started, but you have to wonder. Then again, it was great to see Girardi be introduced as an All-Star, no matter the circumstances.