A Sad Day for All of Us

The day we all hoped would never arrive has just been announced:

Veteran TV host Barker to retire after 50 years

He's stepping down next June. He is 82, after all. He couldn't do it forever I guess. I'm not sure what else to say--just glad we have another eight months left. Maybe Irene and I can take a trip down there & see a taping in person, but tix will be impossible to get now.

I'm sure not looking forward to when seacrest or some other idiot takes over--No Tanks!


UPDATE from Simpsons/NFL Picks: Monty Burns went 9-3-2 this weekend. I went 4-10. (but he didn't have to pick against the spread)

A Stunner

Despite (because of?) my certainty that the NL champ would not win a World Series game(documented here), the Cards are a win away from shocking the Tigers, and the rest of us, and taking it 4-1. I've never seen a team have every lucky break go their way like the Cards did last night (the centerfielder slipped & fell down chasing what should have been an easy out, a key hit tipped off the leftfielder's outstretched glove, another killer error by a Detroit pitcher, etc,etc), and all without the benefit of even a single blown call, which is headline worthy by itself. Maybe it's just their time to win one. Now they'll blow it for sure.

Another stunner: For this whole NFL season, the Fox Sports web site has had different Simpsons characters picking the winners of each week's games. This week: Monty Burns. Next week: Kang & Kodos. How did I not hear about this until today? Not a clue.

Homer picked them in week one (and went 10-4-2). A sample of his wisdom: "I don't like Miami because the dolphin on the helmet is wearing a helmet that doesn't have a dolphin on it. Which side are you on, man?"

Queue it up

There are over 300 titles in our Netflix queue. I can't imagine ever getting this down to a reasonable number. Each year we add the movies that were nominated for the Oscar's Best Picture that we hadn't seen. As of today, Brokeback Mountain, Crash, and Walk the Line aren't even in our top 50.

Here's a glimpse of our queue, limited to our top 10 foreign language films.
An Amazing Couple
Floating Weeds
Schultzie Gets the Blues
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
Monsieur Ibrahim
The Battle of Algiers
On The Run
The Barbarian Invasions
Jet Lag
Empire of the Wolves

Set your Tivo

Tonight is the premiere of the latest celebrity interviews for Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel. Tonight Eddie Vedder interviews Laird Hamilton. This is the second season of this series with celebrities interviewing celebrities. Last season's highlights was Tom Ford interviewing Jeff Koons, Michael Stipe with Mario Batali, and Robert Redford with Paul Newman.

Fred's Latest Trick

I taught Fred a new trick. I don't have any video to show you but I came across a video of another cat doing exactly the same thing. Check it out!
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Opening soon at a theater near you

Here's the first 4 minutes of the Borat movie.

It's My Birthday!

I'm sipping Bacardi like it's my birthday. And you know I don't give a f***. It's not your birthday! Oh, that 50 Cent can really write lyrics like no one else. Well, I'm not actually sipping Bacardi because there's none in the house. I am enjoying some rum that the Walshes donated before moving to Virginia. I raise my rum and coke to Keith and Julie and give thanks! And I'm watching/listening to my U2 Live in Sydney dvd that Denise (thanks Geeg) got me; Larry Mullen was looking pretty hot that year. Jim's treating me to dinner at the Met Grill. I hope they have strawberry shortcake because that's what I really want for my birthday cake.

Forbes' List of the World's Most Expensive Restaurant

Every year Forbes lists the world's most expensive restaurants. Aragawa, a steak house in Tokyo tops the list for the second year in a row. Dinner can be had at an average cost of $370 per person. Looking down the list, I saw the name of a restaurant where Jim and I actually had the liberty to enjoy a meal -- Queue de Cheval. Back in 2000, Jim and I made a trip up to Quebec and Montreal. We stumbled across this steak house in Montreal, and enjoyed lunch. I didn't realize this place was an institution. We would definitely recommend this place if you're ever in Montreal.

Crypted from Jim's Rant on Spezio

I'm posting this from Jim's email.

In case any of you haven't been following this--despite hitting a Cirillo-like .196 during his 2 years here (in Seattle) including a remarkable .064 (that's 3 for 47! - I looked it up) in 2005, Scott Spiezio has been killing the ball during the playoffs, hitting 2-out triples etc etc. Jack Buck said "Spiezio again!" after another big hit. This either proves that the NL really really sucks or that he was seriously tanking it when he was here with his buddy Bavasi. The answer's probably a combo of the two.

Spiezio has even turned into a folk hero in St Louis, like Johnny Damon was in 04 for the Sox, with fans are even wearing fake bright red soul patches to look like him (see attached photo at bottom). weirdo

OK I'll stop my rant now--just remember that I was the first one who told you that the tigers will sweep whoever comes out of the NL (sorry Keith)

I agree that the fad has gone to people's head.

Snakes on a Plane revisited

I know Jim (and Fridge) would appreciate that the USC marching band played the theme song from Snakes on a Plane during half-time. It's quite a catchy tune. Which version do you like -- USC's or Cobra Starship's?

I miss Buster

I across this and wanted to share. I totally love the show, Arrested Development, and I'm sad that it never got the viewership it deserved. I absolutely love Buster.

Irene's Reading List for September

The Red Notebook by Paul Auster
The Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster
Istanbul, The Imperial City by John Freely
Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley
The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

I'M LAME

I haven't blogged in what seems like months - here's what's been happening:

I'm very happy to report that I finally finished reading Don Quixote about 2 weeks ago. It was L-O-N-G, and to me not all that great, to tell the truth. I'm sure it was cutting edge back in 1605 and an important step in the development of the modern novel, but it just kind of goes on and on, and there's not much of a story line carried through the whole thing, other than DQ being Craz-ee. And that whole windmill thing? Done & forgotten in the first 50 pages (of over 1000). I think it may be so well known because that's as far as a lot of people make it.

Much of Part2 (which originally came out in 1615, 10 yrs after part 1) is DQ & Sancho staying at the castle of a Duke & Duchess who play practical jokes on them for laughs, so I guess you could also say it may have important in the development of modern prank TV, like Candid Camera and Punk'd. I say read Les Miserables if you're looking for a brick-sized classic--that was great, a genuine page turner (really!).

Irene and I went to DC this past weekend to see Joe & Andrea. Had an awesome time, did a few museums, dinner with my Hoya buddies at the ginormous new downtown Clyde's and a crab feast at the Quarterdeck in Arlington with our newly relocated friends the no-longer Seattle Walshes, some boozing, a movie (Jackass #2!), saw Robbie Fulks live-- we were busy! We'll be going to Berlin, Dresden and Prague with J&A next month - can't wait for that!

to be continued tomorrow - gotta catch my bus

Lost is back

What's my opinion of the season premiere episode of Lost? I had high hopes, but I soon grew frustrated and annoyed by the show. What was with all the commercials? Luckily we fast forwarded through the commercials since we tivoed the episode. Book club for the Others?! Planet of the Apes thing with Sawyer?! The aquarium under which Jack is held captive?! Kate eating fish biscuits after sitting down with Henry for a meal of eggs, bacon, and coffee? Henry Gale aka Ben?! Eesh -- I hope the season gets better than this.

If you haven't seen ABC's Ugly Betty, you can still see the first episode online.

Guaranteed to put a smile on your face