Nostalgia is dead, long live nostalgia
It's now official, I Love the '90s will make its debut in July, further strip-mining the precious resources of nostalgia left in this country. The ad I saw for it was quite amusing, though, featuring I Love The ... regulars Hal Sparks, Michael Ian Black and Rachael Harris (who is of the Tina Fey/Lisa Loeb sorority of women who look far better with glasses) in a 90210 bit.
And speaking of nostalgia, I just finished What Really Happened to the Class of '93?, which naturally piqued my interest since I'm also the class of '93. Even more intriguing is that the author, former Salon.com writer Chris Colin, went to Thomas Jefferson High School in northern Virginia, and I know a friend who went there (long after this class graduated, though).
Anyway, the book attempts to encapsule a strange and momentous 10 years in American history (Clinton presidency, dot-com boom/bust, 9/11, etc.) through people like myself who "came of age" during that time. Thus, the book comes across as more "serious" version of The WB's High School Reunion, which loved to wallow in labels and silly drama instead of "reality."
But back to the book, Colin does a great job of profiling a number of his classmates, writing compelling narratives that show the development of his peers from their high school personas to what they are now. There are even some nice curveballs thrown into the mix (like a career change, family emergency, etc.), somewhat reflecting what these people went through during their lives over the past 10 years. Colin strikes a nice balance of objective detachment (in painting a fair and accurate picture) and emotional connection (when needed to provide some relevance -- like a former girlfriend and his "arch-enemy").
For the most part, Colin picked out interesting people to profile. In some cases, the book would've been incomplete without some of them -- the homecoming queen (who didn't seem the type), the girl who had a baby during her junior year, the guy suspended for having a BB gun in his truck, John Sununu's son, and unfortunately, the gifted kid who would commit suicide while in college. But he also got a nice cross-section of other types: the quiet drama girl, the stereotypical Asian overachiever, some misfit types whose lives have gone in multiple directions (to a Mormon mission, to a northern California monastery, to a world of hazy gender issues). Colin does a good job of making you want to care about these people, even if he wasn't close to all of them -- I'm sure he learned a ton about his peers he never would've believed while in the process of writing the book.
However, while he is trying to tie these stories to the events of the past 10 years (and obviously has to touch on political issues, both national and international), I have to wonder exactly how politically charged his classmates really were back then, and to a lesser extent now. Colin says that the social order at TJ wasn't as much the usual jock vs. geek, but liberal vs. conservative. It seems a bit hard to fathom, and my friend at TJ disputes this notion.
Yes, issues would polarize students, especially in a school in the DC area, but to make it the overarching theme of high school (especially at a science/tech magnet school) seems a bit far-fetched. No doubt, there were some major politically charged events during his time -- the outing of a few students (including one profiled who has HIV) and the fight over changing the school handbook to outlaw harrassment on sexual orientation terms. Some of those events would have long-lasting events on some of the people featured -- another girl came out during college and one guy has now become a she (sorta). But at times the book felt like the profiles would veer off into a political rant, either from the left or the right, although usually tied into that person's career.
I imagine this supposed framing of high school shouldn't be too surprising given Colin's "arch enemy" was a military brat with a definite conservative bent (at least during high school), even though the guy didn't really think Colin as a "nemesis." But maybe that's how some lasting high school memories will end up framing things years later, even while reconnecting with everyone proved to be a catharsis.
Nonetheless, the book is compelling and topical voyeurism, and maybe it's a good thing he didn't touch on pop cultural references, which might've bogged down the story taken away from his thesis. (I guess I Love the '90s will have to do in its stead.) And at least his reunion went off far better than mine, as I've chronicled before. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time find some of my old high school friends on Google, Friendster and those alumni finder Web sites.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Saturday, May 29, 2004
In the most unscientific of ways, I know exactly how long my commute home at 2:30 a.m. takes. It's the length of these three R.E.M. songs, played as part of a weekend three-play block on the de facto classic rock station here in town.
Friday, May 28, 2004
JD already mentioned this great Onion article waxing nostalgic about my youth. However, I'm surprised it hasn't appeared on the main page of this site, although it'll likely be discussed to death at this event.
Quick update: I suppose not everyone realizes what The Onion is all about, given this brief exchange or this one on the YCDTOTV message board. Sigh.
Quick update: I suppose not everyone realizes what The Onion is all about, given this brief exchange or this one on the YCDTOTV message board. Sigh.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Pyramid scheme
Just caught an old episode of the $100,000 Pyramid (before GSN puts it out to pasture). During the bonus round, a clue of "The Bulge" for "Famous Battles" was disallowed because it's "not a place you can find on a map" (unlike Bull Run). Apparently to the judges, Battle of the Bulge was not a "real" battle.
Just caught an old episode of the $100,000 Pyramid (before GSN puts it out to pasture). During the bonus round, a clue of "The Bulge" for "Famous Battles" was disallowed because it's "not a place you can find on a map" (unlike Bull Run). Apparently to the judges, Battle of the Bulge was not a "real" battle.
How revolting
See, there is a practical use for DDR. Now to get back on that kick without bothering the neighbors.
And speaking of revolutions, here is the song list for Karaoke Revolution 2, although I'm disappointed Konami decided not to create add-on disks and instead went for a completely new game. Hopefully the new microphone will be better than my headset that barely fit me.
See, there is a practical use for DDR. Now to get back on that kick without bothering the neighbors.
And speaking of revolutions, here is the song list for Karaoke Revolution 2, although I'm disappointed Konami decided not to create add-on disks and instead went for a completely new game. Hopefully the new microphone will be better than my headset that barely fit me.
Monday, May 24, 2004
When in Rome
If Chipper Jones could do it, so could I, so I took in the Rome Braves tonight, who, as I discovered, are a pretty good team, especially on offense. Rome's pitching was OK but nothing spectacular, while Greensboro's starter seemed to be taking aim at the mascot.
The whole park experience was pretty good (pictures may come later), although I learned quickly that Rome isn't all that close to the interstate. Otherwise, the stadium reminded me of a smaller version of Myrtle Beach's stadium, which may not be that surprising given both are very new and are both Braves affiliates.
However, Rome toned down much of the sideshow that I saw in Myrtle Beach last year -- there were a couple of silly races, but otherwise the between-innings entertainment was much like Turner Field. Actually, so was the music, especially the batters' intros. On a related note, it was rather unfortunate that the instrumental part of this song as background music for a between-innings game to win some jewelry.
If Chipper Jones could do it, so could I, so I took in the Rome Braves tonight, who, as I discovered, are a pretty good team, especially on offense. Rome's pitching was OK but nothing spectacular, while Greensboro's starter seemed to be taking aim at the mascot.
The whole park experience was pretty good (pictures may come later), although I learned quickly that Rome isn't all that close to the interstate. Otherwise, the stadium reminded me of a smaller version of Myrtle Beach's stadium, which may not be that surprising given both are very new and are both Braves affiliates.
However, Rome toned down much of the sideshow that I saw in Myrtle Beach last year -- there were a couple of silly races, but otherwise the between-innings entertainment was much like Turner Field. Actually, so was the music, especially the batters' intros. On a related note, it was rather unfortunate that the instrumental part of this song as background music for a between-innings game to win some jewelry.
Time's up?
You have to wonder if 24 will soon be hitting the "Fraught" watch. The move to Monday nights isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the start of the season in January will be interesting since I'm wondering how they'll fit 24 one-hour episodes between then and the end of May, not to mention the shooting/production/writing schedules as it seems as if the occasional gaps help perk up the show when it hits down points. On the other hand, it may force the writers to approach the show like a 24-hour movie (which is how I view it) and actually have a plan for the entire season written up ahead of time instead of making things up as they go along and messing around with continuity (which often seems the case).
But now comes word that many of the regulars have gotten their walking papers. Of course, we'll find out shortly if this is actually "news," or if it's something that will portend the events of tomorrow's final episode.
You have to wonder if 24 will soon be hitting the "Fraught" watch. The move to Monday nights isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the start of the season in January will be interesting since I'm wondering how they'll fit 24 one-hour episodes between then and the end of May, not to mention the shooting/production/writing schedules as it seems as if the occasional gaps help perk up the show when it hits down points. On the other hand, it may force the writers to approach the show like a 24-hour movie (which is how I view it) and actually have a plan for the entire season written up ahead of time instead of making things up as they go along and messing around with continuity (which often seems the case).
But now comes word that many of the regulars have gotten their walking papers. Of course, we'll find out shortly if this is actually "news," or if it's something that will portend the events of tomorrow's final episode.
Walk this way
There's an interesting battle going on right now over Peachtree Street, specifically the running of new suburban commuter buses on that famed street to drop people off at their places of work. Given the current and future of design of Peachtree, it doesn't seem like a good idea. But when you consider the motivation behind the proposed plan, there's no wondering why there's such an outcry over the current state of commuting and the problem of out-of-shape Americans.
Steve Stancil, GRTA's executive director, says that the people who likely will be riding on the Xpress buses are not used to having to walk an extra block or so to get to work.
"For every block that people have to walk, you lose approximately 20 percent of your ridership," Stancil says.
There's an interesting battle going on right now over Peachtree Street, specifically the running of new suburban commuter buses on that famed street to drop people off at their places of work. Given the current and future of design of Peachtree, it doesn't seem like a good idea. But when you consider the motivation behind the proposed plan, there's no wondering why there's such an outcry over the current state of commuting and the problem of out-of-shape Americans.
Steve Stancil, GRTA's executive director, says that the people who likely will be riding on the Xpress buses are not used to having to walk an extra block or so to get to work.
"For every block that people have to walk, you lose approximately 20 percent of your ridership," Stancil says.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
What's the big deal?
I guess because I use Blogger somewhat regularly (depending on your defintion, I guess), I got selected for a GMail account. I haven't thought much of it, although it's under consideration as my primary account when I ditch the Mindspring one (which may be sooner rather than later). But I never realized how prized one of these accounts can be. If I only I knew ...
On a related note, I am looking to move my Web site (and maybe my e-mail) to my own domain. Anyone with suggestions for hosts and plans like that, feel free to leave some comments or e-mail me.
I guess because I use Blogger somewhat regularly (depending on your defintion, I guess), I got selected for a GMail account. I haven't thought much of it, although it's under consideration as my primary account when I ditch the Mindspring one (which may be sooner rather than later). But I never realized how prized one of these accounts can be. If I only I knew ...
On a related note, I am looking to move my Web site (and maybe my e-mail) to my own domain. Anyone with suggestions for hosts and plans like that, feel free to leave some comments or e-mail me.
Pulling the plug
The almost final results for this season's LaPlaca Open are in (we're just waiting for the Drew Carey and Oliver Beene burnoffs). I didn't do as bad as the season before when ABC seemed to make a minor comeback and Fox just decided not to air some shows (although Septuplets is supposedly coming this summer, about 18 months too late for the contest).
I only missed two shows. Many seemed to whiff on "Two and a Half Men," but I believe CBS had it somewhere other than Monday night when the schedule was first released. If not, then have we not learned from "Yes, Dear" or even "Baby Bob" that a family watching a test pattern will get ratings on the Big Eye on Monday nights? "Tru Calling" was a close call, and I ended up losing. I guess the shelf life for a wacked-out Fox drama featuring a hot brunette is two seasons, not one -- buzz or no buzz. (Have we not learned from "Dark Angel"?)
But my eight other choices did come through:
-- Friends: Easy, although people got burned last season when they said this would be the one where the show finally ended
-- The Drew Carey Show: I probably should get those points by the end of the summer
-- The Practice: Firing most of the cast screamed "Fraught," but I got scared when James Spader actually perked up ratings.
-- Jake 2.0: Bad title and premise. Plus, it was on UPN. If it isn't Smackdown, Tyra Banks or Star Trek, you're toast.
-- The Mullets: See Jake 2.0. Seemed like a nice SNL concept, though.
-- L.A. Dragnet: When you replace Ethan Embry (a potential show-killer himself) with the U.N., you've got problems. Plus, the lead-in was the "Wonderful World of Disney." Can't we get Pep Strebeck back?
-- Boston Public: The move to Fridays was a death knell. Plus, most of us at work still can't think of the show without the first ads featuring Fyvush Finkel leering at one of his students. And that was how long ago?
-- Threat Matrix: Seemingly anything with the word "Matrix" in it released after 1999 has sucked.
The almost final results for this season's LaPlaca Open are in (we're just waiting for the Drew Carey and Oliver Beene burnoffs). I didn't do as bad as the season before when ABC seemed to make a minor comeback and Fox just decided not to air some shows (although Septuplets is supposedly coming this summer, about 18 months too late for the contest).
I only missed two shows. Many seemed to whiff on "Two and a Half Men," but I believe CBS had it somewhere other than Monday night when the schedule was first released. If not, then have we not learned from "Yes, Dear" or even "Baby Bob" that a family watching a test pattern will get ratings on the Big Eye on Monday nights? "Tru Calling" was a close call, and I ended up losing. I guess the shelf life for a wacked-out Fox drama featuring a hot brunette is two seasons, not one -- buzz or no buzz. (Have we not learned from "Dark Angel"?)
But my eight other choices did come through:
-- Friends: Easy, although people got burned last season when they said this would be the one where the show finally ended
-- The Drew Carey Show: I probably should get those points by the end of the summer
-- The Practice: Firing most of the cast screamed "Fraught," but I got scared when James Spader actually perked up ratings.
-- Jake 2.0: Bad title and premise. Plus, it was on UPN. If it isn't Smackdown, Tyra Banks or Star Trek, you're toast.
-- The Mullets: See Jake 2.0. Seemed like a nice SNL concept, though.
-- L.A. Dragnet: When you replace Ethan Embry (a potential show-killer himself) with the U.N., you've got problems. Plus, the lead-in was the "Wonderful World of Disney." Can't we get Pep Strebeck back?
-- Boston Public: The move to Fridays was a death knell. Plus, most of us at work still can't think of the show without the first ads featuring Fyvush Finkel leering at one of his students. And that was how long ago?
-- Threat Matrix: Seemingly anything with the word "Matrix" in it released after 1999 has sucked.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
The new good books
I'll admit I've never read a Harry Potter or Left Behind book, but Slate does a solid job in pointing out the similarities between the two series, and noting the big difference between the two (which probably helps explain some of the attitudes toward the books):
Left Behind is Christian and Harry Potter pagan, but rather that Left Behind is Protestant and Harry Potter is Catholic. One of the chief theological arguments between Catholics and Protestants has been over whether salvation is earned through faith or by good works. ...
Left Behind is fatalistic; Harry Potter sees outcome determined by individual actions. Both provide a roadmap for how to live a good life, but in one case the key is morality, and in the other it is faith.
I'll admit I've never read a Harry Potter or Left Behind book, but Slate does a solid job in pointing out the similarities between the two series, and noting the big difference between the two (which probably helps explain some of the attitudes toward the books):
Left Behind is Christian and Harry Potter pagan, but rather that Left Behind is Protestant and Harry Potter is Catholic. One of the chief theological arguments between Catholics and Protestants has been over whether salvation is earned through faith or by good works. ...
Left Behind is fatalistic; Harry Potter sees outcome determined by individual actions. Both provide a roadmap for how to live a good life, but in one case the key is morality, and in the other it is faith.
I know (the origins of) Kung Fu
Given how much time I spend doing trivia-type stuff, I obviously took great interest in this article on books specializing in general knowledge-type stuff. I already owned this book mentioned in the column, and I'll have to get the one written by the folks at Slate.
As the story states, there is a growing market for stuff like this. I'm a big fan of Mental Floss, and not just because Victoria has written for them. It is interesting that wanting to know stuff is becoming "hip," although in this Google-based world, it probably isn't too surprising. People need and want to know stuff, and thanks to the Internet, it can happen somewhat quickly. And yet, I still think the pursuit of knowledge still seems marginalized.
While game shows like Jeopardy and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? are very popular, there's often a wonderment over the successful contestants, as if they're freaks of nature or something because they know stuff. And yet, many people take great pleasure when the "media" mess up some factual error in some report, or, even worse, Jay Leno exposing regular people for knowing nothing in his "Jaywalking" segment.
Many of us still take on that basic teenage idea that we "know everything," but when someone shows that he or she knows more, there's a defensive reaction of, "How did he/she know that?" or worse yet, "Why does he/she know that?" (That even comes up in quizbowl competitions where most of us try to take pride in knowing lots of stuff.)
I like the attitude Mental Floss editor Will Pearson takes toward his magazine. "It's about people learning information they always thought they should know."
And one last note, Todd, the writer of the CNN story, helps run a popular bar trivia business down here in Atlanta, so I wouldn't be surprised if some of the information gleaned from these books ends up in a contest one of these days.
Given how much time I spend doing trivia-type stuff, I obviously took great interest in this article on books specializing in general knowledge-type stuff. I already owned this book mentioned in the column, and I'll have to get the one written by the folks at Slate.
As the story states, there is a growing market for stuff like this. I'm a big fan of Mental Floss, and not just because Victoria has written for them. It is interesting that wanting to know stuff is becoming "hip," although in this Google-based world, it probably isn't too surprising. People need and want to know stuff, and thanks to the Internet, it can happen somewhat quickly. And yet, I still think the pursuit of knowledge still seems marginalized.
While game shows like Jeopardy and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? are very popular, there's often a wonderment over the successful contestants, as if they're freaks of nature or something because they know stuff. And yet, many people take great pleasure when the "media" mess up some factual error in some report, or, even worse, Jay Leno exposing regular people for knowing nothing in his "Jaywalking" segment.
Many of us still take on that basic teenage idea that we "know everything," but when someone shows that he or she knows more, there's a defensive reaction of, "How did he/she know that?" or worse yet, "Why does he/she know that?" (That even comes up in quizbowl competitions where most of us try to take pride in knowing lots of stuff.)
I like the attitude Mental Floss editor Will Pearson takes toward his magazine. "It's about people learning information they always thought they should know."
And one last note, Todd, the writer of the CNN story, helps run a popular bar trivia business down here in Atlanta, so I wouldn't be surprised if some of the information gleaned from these books ends up in a contest one of these days.
You're canceled
I believe we're just waiting for Fox to announce its fall schedule, and we can come up with the final results on this season's LaPlaca (thank you, ABC, for burning off Drew Carey in the summer so I can get points).
Only a couple of people mentioned Ed on their lists, even though it was pretty much done after last season. But now that it's officially toast, here's a long tribute to the journey of our favorite bowling alley lawyer.
I believe we're just waiting for Fox to announce its fall schedule, and we can come up with the final results on this season's LaPlaca (thank you, ABC, for burning off Drew Carey in the summer so I can get points).
Only a couple of people mentioned Ed on their lists, even though it was pretty much done after last season. But now that it's officially toast, here's a long tribute to the journey of our favorite bowling alley lawyer.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Aaargh!
The last time I went to a Braves game, I saw a triple play. So of course, I decide not to go to the stadium tonight with Randy Johnson pitching, and I miss a perfect game.
Poor Braves, in consecutive games, Ben Sheets knocks them out for 18 strikeouts and now Randy Johnson fires a perfect game.
The last time I went to a Braves game, I saw a triple play. So of course, I decide not to go to the stadium tonight with Randy Johnson pitching, and I miss a perfect game.
Poor Braves, in consecutive games, Ben Sheets knocks them out for 18 strikeouts and now Randy Johnson fires a perfect game.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Tone deaf, Part 2
I already posted the Blender list of the 50 Worst Songs Ever, so I figured I would just follow along for the VH-1 special and just laugh away. Well, I was wrong.
I suppose because of rights issues with the songs and videos, the VH-1 list is actually much different. Very strange.
I already posted the Blender list of the 50 Worst Songs Ever, so I figured I would just follow along for the VH-1 special and just laugh away. Well, I was wrong.
I suppose because of rights issues with the songs and videos, the VH-1 list is actually much different. Very strange.
I've added a handful of new blogs to the list, courtesy of a long-running roto baseball league I'm in with one of my college roommates. I've known the existence of a bunch of them recently, but now I know where they are. One of these days I'll arrange them in some order other than alphabetical, but I like the mishmash right now.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Game show geekery
Yes, folks, it's time to play the Millionaire phone game yet again. I whiffed tonight by inverting my answers on a question. I went to oldest to youngest, instead of vice versa, probably still thinking how we sealed up first place at team trivia tonight. I'll be back trying to add my name to the list of friends who have been on the show.
In other game show news, I'm actually fascinated by the Jeopardy! Power Players week, featuring high profile political folks and journalists. I'm actually caring about the DC power culture again, if just for a few days and with the help of Alex "Damn You" Trebek. The Washington Post has a good preview of it, thankfully devoid of most spoilers.
Today's episode featured a very stiff Bob Woodward, who got outbuzzed on two clues directly related to him, plus a couple of feisty righties in Peggy Noonan and Tucker "You got a problem with the bow tie?" Carlson.
Here's the rest of the week's schedule:
Tuesday: Anderson Cooper, Maria Bartiromo, Kweisi Mfume
Wednesday: Ari Fleischer, Ashleigh Banfield, Aaron Brown
Thursday: Al Franken, Gretchen Carlson (CBS's "Early Show"), Keith Olbermann
Friday: Tavis Smiley, Christine Todd Whitman, Tim Russert
Yes, folks, it's time to play the Millionaire phone game yet again. I whiffed tonight by inverting my answers on a question. I went to oldest to youngest, instead of vice versa, probably still thinking how we sealed up first place at team trivia tonight. I'll be back trying to add my name to the list of friends who have been on the show.
In other game show news, I'm actually fascinated by the Jeopardy! Power Players week, featuring high profile political folks and journalists. I'm actually caring about the DC power culture again, if just for a few days and with the help of Alex "Damn You" Trebek. The Washington Post has a good preview of it, thankfully devoid of most spoilers.
Today's episode featured a very stiff Bob Woodward, who got outbuzzed on two clues directly related to him, plus a couple of feisty righties in Peggy Noonan and Tucker "You got a problem with the bow tie?" Carlson.
Here's the rest of the week's schedule:
Tuesday: Anderson Cooper, Maria Bartiromo, Kweisi Mfume
Wednesday: Ari Fleischer, Ashleigh Banfield, Aaron Brown
Thursday: Al Franken, Gretchen Carlson (CBS's "Early Show"), Keith Olbermann
Friday: Tavis Smiley, Christine Todd Whitman, Tim Russert
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Friday, May 07, 2004
What took the Rangers so long to sell out and get a corporate name on their stadium? And isn't it fitting that it's a 30-year deal, although can the team prepay the principle? Were they hosed on the points and the closing costs?
Play ball!
The weather is getting warmer, but not oppressive, so it was the perfect time to catch a businessman's special (and still get in time to do the long walk from the stadium to my car and even drive home for a few minutes to change and deal with an interesting phone call).
While I was happy NU's own Mark Loretta had a big game, validating my decision to wear the 'Cat hat, the Braves fans got a minor thrill with a triple play (an around-the-horn one for good measure). This is the second time, I believe, I've seen a triple play in person. The first being Randy Velarde's unassisted one at Yankee Stadium a few years ago.
Besides the beautiful weather for a game, the Braves made a number of changes from Opening Day that really improved the fan experience. For one, they've taken a page from their former Time Warner compadres, the Hawks and Thrashers, and are now giving out free programs, about the size of a Playbill. It has just enough basic roster information so fans don't seem totally clueless about the home team, plus it was a good excuse to slip in an All-Star ballot.
You can't keep score in the program, but at least now you can buy an actual scorecard for a buck. While I have my own scorebook, it aggravated me that the only way to get a scorecard in the past was to pay $5 for the big program/yearbook thing with a scorecard on a glossy page that made it impossible to write on. Thankfully they've solved that problem, although I'm still taking my tattered book with me to the park.
Finally, the one promotion I made sure to take advantage of was the half-price concessions that's a promotion to show off some of their new food items. I suppose I'd have tried more if I had the time, but it also shows how ridiculously expensive ballpark food is but doesn't need to be. For instance, there's now a place for specialized burgers (replacing the specialized hot dog stands, I believe) -- but the regular price is $8.25, and I doubt it comes with fries. It was strange paying less than $5 for nachos and a lemonade and realizing how much I'll actually pay in the future.
The weather is getting warmer, but not oppressive, so it was the perfect time to catch a businessman's special (and still get in time to do the long walk from the stadium to my car and even drive home for a few minutes to change and deal with an interesting phone call).
While I was happy NU's own Mark Loretta had a big game, validating my decision to wear the 'Cat hat, the Braves fans got a minor thrill with a triple play (an around-the-horn one for good measure). This is the second time, I believe, I've seen a triple play in person. The first being Randy Velarde's unassisted one at Yankee Stadium a few years ago.
Besides the beautiful weather for a game, the Braves made a number of changes from Opening Day that really improved the fan experience. For one, they've taken a page from their former Time Warner compadres, the Hawks and Thrashers, and are now giving out free programs, about the size of a Playbill. It has just enough basic roster information so fans don't seem totally clueless about the home team, plus it was a good excuse to slip in an All-Star ballot.
You can't keep score in the program, but at least now you can buy an actual scorecard for a buck. While I have my own scorebook, it aggravated me that the only way to get a scorecard in the past was to pay $5 for the big program/yearbook thing with a scorecard on a glossy page that made it impossible to write on. Thankfully they've solved that problem, although I'm still taking my tattered book with me to the park.
Finally, the one promotion I made sure to take advantage of was the half-price concessions that's a promotion to show off some of their new food items. I suppose I'd have tried more if I had the time, but it also shows how ridiculously expensive ballpark food is but doesn't need to be. For instance, there's now a place for specialized burgers (replacing the specialized hot dog stands, I believe) -- but the regular price is $8.25, and I doubt it comes with fries. It was strange paying less than $5 for nachos and a lemonade and realizing how much I'll actually pay in the future.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
It's good to see I'm not the only one confused by KFC's re-expansion of its abbreviation to something silly. But at least we don't have the animated Colonel in the TV ads anymore, either.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
You knew there was going to be some obvious hand-wringing over how the Pat Tillman story was covered, so it was somewhat surprising to see Salon's King Kaufman provide a slight counterpoint by looking at the psychology over how we react to such stories (especially when comparing Tillman's death to others who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I don't mean one life is more valuable than another in some measurable, abstract, objective way. I just mean it's a matter of perspective. Consider any one of those soldiers whose death we've heard about recently. Are his life and death more valuable and important to his family and friends than Pat Tillman's? Of course they are.
Pat Tillman's life and death tell us a compelling story, one that touches us. He hit a nerve in people not just because he put a face on the war effort, which he did, but also because his story had so many compelling elements, not the least of which was his refusal to do interviews, to participate in his own mythmaking. Giving up a glamorous, million-dollar career to join the Army during wartime is one thing, but shunning the spotlight? In 21st century America, that really made him stand out.
But as unusual as it was, as unusual as he was, Tillman's story was just so damn easy to identify with. Who among us, upon hearing about him leaving the NFL and joining up, didn't put ourselves in his shoes and think, Would I have done that? It's all the more compelling that in the vast majority of cases, the answer must have been "No." It certainly was for me.
We ascribe different levels of meaning and importance to all sorts of objectively similar things all the time because of the way they speak to us. There's nothing wrong with that. It might feel a little weird to shortchange the cop on the beat or the firefighter rushing into a burning building or even Tillman's comrades in arms, but it's not. For any one of us, no two lives -- and no two deaths -- are equal.
And in a related story, MSNBC.com pulled Ted Rall's cartoon questioning Tillman's hero credentials that sounds a lot like the editorial at UMass from last week.
I'm not sure I agree with the pulling of the cartoon or even the sometimes the overboard reaction to Gonzalez's editorial. For the most part, the positions on the war I've seen are:
a) You support the administration's position, or
b) You're against the current administration's position, but you still support the troops.
These two pieces show there's at least an option c) You're not only against the war, but also against the troops fighting it. So f--- them all.
(In a sick way, it's a lot like the Point/Counterpoint bit in Airplane! where one side says "...they bought their tickets. They knew what they were getting into. I say let them crash.")
I don't mean one life is more valuable than another in some measurable, abstract, objective way. I just mean it's a matter of perspective. Consider any one of those soldiers whose death we've heard about recently. Are his life and death more valuable and important to his family and friends than Pat Tillman's? Of course they are.
Pat Tillman's life and death tell us a compelling story, one that touches us. He hit a nerve in people not just because he put a face on the war effort, which he did, but also because his story had so many compelling elements, not the least of which was his refusal to do interviews, to participate in his own mythmaking. Giving up a glamorous, million-dollar career to join the Army during wartime is one thing, but shunning the spotlight? In 21st century America, that really made him stand out.
But as unusual as it was, as unusual as he was, Tillman's story was just so damn easy to identify with. Who among us, upon hearing about him leaving the NFL and joining up, didn't put ourselves in his shoes and think, Would I have done that? It's all the more compelling that in the vast majority of cases, the answer must have been "No." It certainly was for me.
We ascribe different levels of meaning and importance to all sorts of objectively similar things all the time because of the way they speak to us. There's nothing wrong with that. It might feel a little weird to shortchange the cop on the beat or the firefighter rushing into a burning building or even Tillman's comrades in arms, but it's not. For any one of us, no two lives -- and no two deaths -- are equal.
And in a related story, MSNBC.com pulled Ted Rall's cartoon questioning Tillman's hero credentials that sounds a lot like the editorial at UMass from last week.
I'm not sure I agree with the pulling of the cartoon or even the sometimes the overboard reaction to Gonzalez's editorial. For the most part, the positions on the war I've seen are:
a) You support the administration's position, or
b) You're against the current administration's position, but you still support the troops.
These two pieces show there's at least an option c) You're not only against the war, but also against the troops fighting it. So f--- them all.
(In a sick way, it's a lot like the Point/Counterpoint bit in Airplane! where one side says "...they bought their tickets. They knew what they were getting into. I say let them crash.")
Monday, May 03, 2004
This strip had me rolling, although I wonder how many people are going to get the reference in the punch line?
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