What says you

If you asked most people to describe their CD collection, they probably would balk at the degree of simplification necessary to get it down to a paragraph, let alone a sentence. But I’m willing to go shorter, only a fragment: a collection of disappointing follow-ups to critically acclaimed albums. I’ve got tons of them. You liked Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell – I’ve got Show Your Bones. You were digging Jurassic 5’s Quality Control – try out Power in Numbers. How ‘bout The Strokes – I’ve got First Impressions of Earth, but everyone wants Is This It? I can’t seem to jump on a bandwagon until it’s already bounding out of town with me choking on dust. And knowing this fact hasn’t changed my selection – or luck – to any obvious degree. And that brings me to my latest purchase – Wincing the Night Away by The Shins. I wasn’t cool enough to be on board for the Braff-approved Oh, Inverted World or even Chutes Too Narrow. But knowing the reputations of those records led me to try WTNA. My point isn’t about whether this record is good or bad (I think it is OK, but nothing great), but if I’m even qualified (in reality, cool enough) to make a determination. Obviously, my CD buying track record wouldn’t lend much credence to my opinion. This is part of my recurring pet theory: I never feel that I am qualified to do anything. I don’t feel like I’ve listened to enough B-sides by obscure Nordic bands to say whether any band is actually good. And this extends beyond music. There’s a lot I don’t know – and I’m fully, nearly overly, aware of it.

Despite that, I’ll give you my take. I most enjoy Australia and Turn On Me. Many of the other tunes are good, just not in an in-your-face way, such as Spilt Needles, which takes a Frostian turn at the end.

You're old enough, boy,
Too many summers you've enjoyed,
So spin the wheel,
We'll set you up with some odd convictions,
Because you're finally golden, boy

I wish that I felt more confident about my ability to know good from bad, but I don't. But know this, if you do something lauded as good, I'll probably be interested in what you do next.

Joga Bonito

I know this is about basketball, but for anyone who cares to watch the a certain professional basketball team absolutely destroy Agent Zero and his band of defense-less minions, I have the VHS tape for your enjoyment. Suns 127 Wizards 105.
Nash was immaculate. You cannot play point guard much better. Check the stat sheet: 27 points, 11-13 from the field, 3-4 from 3-point land, 14 assists. The whole Wizards team only had 14 assists. And Nash did all that despite breaking the team's superstition that they wouldn't shave until they lost in the winning streak that now stands at 13.
The basketball by the Suns was quite beautiful. I'm sure there will be discussion at FreeDarko and people will say this game wasn't as exciting as Washington's OT win in Phoenix when Arenas dropped 54, but this was simply the most crisp, well spaced, effective brand of basketball you will see.
While I constantly write about the Suns, I'm not one to jock them or hold up the foam finger. But I know I have seen few games that were as aesthetically pleasing as this one. The play simply reached another level that I don't think any other teams in the NBA can reach. That doesn't mean the Suns are the best team, it just means when they're rolling, they're the best to watch.
And I have the VHS to prove it.

Check under the hood

I'm apparently not meant to play basketball in Mexico. My game absolutely does not translate south of the border, and I have no plans to try it again in the future. I do plan to continue playing in the United States.
I watched the Colts-Patriots game tonight on my trusty VHS system. I watch so many sporting events on tape that I'm losing the patience for actual live sports. I keep trying to fast forward games I'm watching as they are happening.
I've noticed Keith puts labels on his posts. I haven't done so, and don't know whether I should start because I haven't in the past. Maybe I'll do a pilot project with this post and see what the reading audience thinks. Feel free to leave comments on the labels, or not, you know, whatever.
Gaucast #3 was a success. I think in no time people will be clamoring for less.
I finished watching the first season of Extras. It was spectaculatastic all the way through. Highly recommended.
I'm reading America On Trial by Alan Dershowitz. It's a look back at important trials that had a profound impact on the nation and more recent trials that captured people's imaginations, including the trial of "If I Did It" himself, which Dershowitz had firsthand knowledge of. The book is excellent as a historical reference, but I was looking for a little more actual law discussion. I may get that in my next selection, which is American Law in the 20th Century by Lawrence Friedman. The Friedman book is roughly eleventy zillion pages long and weighs 82 pounds - it comes with its own back brace. My attempt to read it is sort of like maxing out when you start a weightlifting program (not that I know much about that with my sinewy physique). If I can't read it now, it will show me what I have to do to actually prepare to succeed (or at least not be a horrible failure) in the future. I'm actually excited to read both of them but wish I had more time to spend reading.
I've been listening to season two of the Ricky Gervais show podcasts. On iTunes they are listed under audiobooks, not podcasts, as I think I mentioned at some point previously. Still, they are quite humorous. Rockbusters is worth the price in itself.
Sorry that my blog posts are little more than drivel. I would like to offer more but my working life is not something I want to talk about at the moment, so with that off limits I have little more to add. But no need for worry, stiff upper lip, on to battle, here we go now, this too shall pass. I guess what I'm saying is that it will all work out in the end. At least, that's what I'm planning on.
And just to remind you, I am terrible at basketball in Mexico. Horrible, pathetic, Knicks-like. Sad.

Don't ignore this

Kat and I Netflixed the first season of Extras. We've only seen the first three episodes and are waiting for the second disc, but it is excellent. It's not The Office on soundstages. It is a different show, but it is hilarious. Highly recommended.
Also, for our trip to Phoenix we purchased season 1 of the Ricky Gervais Show podcasts from iTunes. If the idea of a man screeching "That is absolute bollocks" at the top of his lungs for three or four hours intrigues you, I can wholeheartedly endorse it. I'm planning on downloading the second and third seasons as well. You absolutely need to learn more about Karl Pilkington.

Feel free to ignore this

Let's go.



While it was only a January game between a middling Eastern Conference team and a certain professional basketball team, I thought the Magic/Suns matchup definitely had some FreeDarko capabilities, especially since Darko himself, pictured above, was involved.



Not to mention, Steve Nash, pictured here, as well as Stoudemire and Young Thunder. However, the Suns never got out and really ran like they are known for. When you buy a Suns ticket, you expect lots of crazy running and jumping, but this game, even though won by the Suns, was more like an East Coast grind-it-out battle that seemed conspicuously not FreeDarko. It was a lot of fun, but I think I enjoy the game most when watching on television, preferably with the sound on mute.


The entertainment distracted from the game for me. I just wanted to watch and listen to what was going on, but there was constantly music blaring, even as play was going. I didn't think they piped in music during the action, but I was wrong. Also, some of the "fans" can be a bit annoying. Since this is Phoenix, there are no celebrities at the games, unless you count the occasional John McCain sighting (I don't know if my few readers bother clicking the links, but the article at that McCain link is pretty excellent). But those involved in the halftime entertainment included Danity Kane, actor (I guess) Terry Crews and the king of mid-1990s MTV Rock 'n Jock sports himself, Bill Bellamy.
Despite what I didn't like, I had a good time. Watching Nash play, even in a game when he wasn't spectacular, was great. Boris Diaw was only one rebound short of a triple double and seemed to be the difference. Orlando had no answer for his quickness and passing ability.


It was fun to see an NBA game. Kat liked it more than watching baseball, which I guess is a good thing since I like basketball more than baseball.

Event this evening

I'll be attending a certain professional basketball team's game this evening, thanks to the generosity of Kat's parents. This team is now 27-8, and that's in spite of a 1-5 start, and has won 8 in a row. I expect I'll post a few pictures and maybe tell you about the game in this space. But we'll see, maybe you'll be lucky enough to avoid that. Have a nice day.

Up to date

David Brent: My only worry is that the powers that be don't come down here and pop their head around the door with their rulebook and go, "Oh, hold on, what's going on here? These people are mucking around, right, whilst getting the job done! They're having a laugh at work with the sword of Damocles hanging over them! Right? This isn't in the rulebook! Who's in charge here?" "Guilty! Get a new rulebook! Alright?"

This quote is an important one to me. Kat has heard me say it so many times that I think she may be reconsidering that whole engagement thing. Actually, the only part I say is "Guilty! Get a new rulebook!" This was uttered regularly yesterday during a shopping excursion in preparation for the wedding. Kat purchased a bangin' (Jonathan Antin voice engage!) wedding dress that should soon be available for viewing on KatFancy, but I don't want to steal her organza thunder. I think the dress is fabulous.
The reason I offered the "rulebook" quote is because the first person I told about the dress shopping was a bit alarmed that I had gone along. I understand the etiquette, but the idea of sitting in the car for that long was ridiculous. Plus, I'll probably have forgotten what it looks like (I already can't remember if it's ivory or cream or which is which) by the relatively big day.
I was forced to do some shopping as well. I purchased a suit that probably costs more than all of the clothes in my closet combined, but it feels great and it looks good. It's charcoal gray. There will be no photos because I want to keep you wanting more. The shoes I bought (just like those O.J. wore!) cost more money than the total monetary value of what I have offered to society during my 25 years on Earth. It's frightening.
In exciting wedding guest news, a national figure who has recently been in the news has repeatedly informed me that he is turning down my wedding invitation and will categorically, unequivocally and absolutely NOT be attending the nuptials, however, I still believe that Mr. Saban will make an appearance. I don't know if that joke really works, but I thought it might be funny so I tried it.
Reading: I just finished Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. I wish I could say that I have the ability to use my unconscious to make incredibly sharp snap judgments, but my gut feelings tend to be incredible failures. Bill Simmons says that this book - and anything that Gladwell has drunkenly scrawled onto a piece of papyrus is life-changing and terrifically important - but personally I don't see it. I don't think consulting Blink will make it any easier for me to select which member of Three's Company is most similar to Allen Iverson. I wish I could, but I don't have the gift.
Listening: I drove home from Phoenix last night and was all over the AM dial trying to find Seahawks-Cowboys. I enjoyed the stentorian voice of Marv Albert teamed with former Cincinnati coach and crybaby Sam Wyche on Westwood One out of a San Francisco station. I also caught some good ole boys out of a San Antonio station lamenting every Jerramy Stevens reception. I also briefly (and this may be unbelievable but it is true) got some of KFAB out of Omaha and could hear a Nebraska basketball game. There was also a lot of mariachi music as there always is.
I got home for the fourth quarter and watched on television. Everyone wants to talk about Romo, whose possible divinity I once considered, but what was really fun was watching Martin Gramatica jump around like a hobbit on ludes. If he had actually put a better block on Jordan Babineaux than the light brushing he provided, I think Romo could have gotten the first down or scored. That is the sort of insight (blaming kickers for the failures of others) that you get only at The Yumanity.
Watching: A certain professional basketball team win five in a row.