Third Monday Movie Day

For the eleventieth month in a row, I enter this post wishing I had more to talk about. Maybe in the next life I'll see movies again.

I did attend This is the End. There were some true, huge laugh-out-loud moments. There were also clearly ad-libbed bits that fell flat and brought the crowd to dead silence. All in all, I'm glad I saw it and it was actually the first movie I saw with the Milkmaid in the theater (without our kids) since The Rundown. Remember that? I might not, but for the fact that we found Skim's real name in it.

I've also found time to watch a few episodes of House of Cards, which remains incredible, with superb acting and writing to match. Let me make this clear to those on the fence: I didn't think I liked political shows either, but dude...this show. I also decided what the hell...I'll pick up where I left off in The Office (season eight, about a quarter of the way through). Maybe it's an "absence makes the heart grow fonder" sort of thing, but they were still telling some pretty good stories in a post-Michael Schur world there.

And, as always, I can name everypony on a certain kids' show and have about fifteen songs from Jem and the Holograms burning holes through my brain. The kids don't even watch all that much TV. It just sticks in there.

Now that I've gotten into reading a little bit more (and I'm running a writing season of Survivor again, so it's more than just the books) again, I'm not sure where that leaves me on my quest to see the hundreds of movies in my queue. I have Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Micmacs at my house right now, and I believe that was the disc at my house during last month's post. It's pretty ridiculous that I can't set aside two hours to watch a movie from one of my five favorite directors, but there it is. Kids really suck up one's time when they become interesting, you know?

What have you seen? I'll live vicariously through y'all.

Happy Birthday–July 15

John Clapp (1851)
Dan McGann (1871)
Bubbles Hargrave (1892)
Shirley Povich (1905)
Jake Powell (1908)
Bruce Edwards (1923)
Donn Clendenon (1935)
Mike Shannon (1939)
Kirt Manwaring (1965)
Brett Merriman (1966)
James Baldwin (1971)
Miguel Olivo (1978)

Shirley Povich was a sportswriter for the Washington Post from 1923-1993.  He continues to write articles for the Post for twenty-five years aftr he "retired".

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to brianS, kg2005, and Mom Beau.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–July 15

Mekons — Memphis, Egypt

So after a week of star fu-- er I mean star grabbing, welcome to Freealonzo’s Rock Week!  This week will feature my favorite rock bands rocking out to rock music at its bone-jarring rockingest.   No lofi-emo-jazz-acoustic-goth-folk-country-pop-soul music for 7 whole days.  Can you handle it?  I think you can, in fact I know you can.  So get ready to rock because these songs go to 11!!!!!

I think it’s mandatory to start off Freeaolonzo's Rock Week with this song from the Mekons.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_yT4Rykq4

From The Mekons Rock and Roll

8 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 108 votes, average: 8.38 out of 10 (8 votes, average: 8.38 out of 10)
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2013 Game 92: Twins at Yankees

Ah, a merciful end comes as we enter the All-Star break. The Twins are 38-53, which is right around the disaster we feared they'd be at the "half." This AL East tour certainly did the team no favors. The Yankees are 51-43 but are sitting in fourth in their always-ridiculous division.

Kyle Gibson, who has one win, faces Captain Cheeseburger, who has two hundred. I plan to watch the Yankee feed, but if it's a CC love-fest I might have to rethink things.

A series win in New York...it's impossible, right? Let's see it anyway, Twins.

Happy Birthday–July 14

Jesse Tannehill (1874)
Happy Chandler (1898)
Johnny Murphy (1908)
Robert Creamer (1922)
Ralph Rowe (1924)
Bob Purkey (1929)
Billy McCool (1944)
Steve Stone (1947)
Danny Walton (1947)
Vic Rodriguez (1961)
Robin Ventura (1967)
Derrick May (1968)
Jose Hernandez (1969)
Tim Hudson (1975)

Albert "Happy" Chandler was the commissioner of baseball from 1945-1951.

Author Robert Creamer wrote a biography of Babe Ruth which is still considered to be one of the best baseball books ever.

Ralph Rowe was a coach for the Twins from 1972-1975.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–July 14

Truck Time with Twayn: Minivan Edition

Making assumptions is a necessary part of diagnosing mechanical problems, and of living life in general. But like most things, there are good and bad assumptions. Good assumptions based on empirical evidence, factual information, experience and knowledge can be quite helpful. But bad assumptions, as Robert Pirsig reminds us in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, are traps to be avoided as they can mislead, direct you down dead-ends, and greatly complicate the task at hand.

Continue reading Truck Time with Twayn: Minivan Edition

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.