#200

Since people seemed to like the previous post, here's one more that I took. It's kind of great when you toggle between this one and the other one of Genevieve. Like a little cartoon or something.

More toys

Yesterday I decided to buy a new camera lens because, well, because I deserve it. And apparently, according to the guy at the counter, it makes me more "digitally dangerous." Watch out! Anyway, the lens works better in low light than my other lens, so I decided to give it a whirl last night. Here's some of the results:

Brittany

Jeff

Rich (this one was obviously posed)

Genevieve

My roommate Mike

All of these photos were taken without flash indoors, which is good for everyone...

Post Oscars Thought

From the desk in my room, I can see 3 movie posters: Vertigo, From Russia With Love and Octopussy. I'm noticing a progression in these posters: the newer the poster, the more information. The Vertigo poster is minimal with its info. Actors, director, screenplay and music. Fast forward 5 years to From Russia, and you add producers. Here's an example from 2007. You can see some significant poster inflation.

These people work very hard to bring us entertainment, and I know if it were me, I'd be thrilled to have my name on something everyone could see. But posters are advertisement, and as such, I ask the question - Has anyone in the general public ever decided to see a movie based off of, say, who the music supervisor is? How about because you like the producer? I ask in the spirit of curiosity - this isn't some kind of Seinfeldian rant. Comment away.

Spring... is not here yet.

Spring Training is upon us, and I'm excited. I really think the M's stand a chance of making the postseason this year. Surprisingly, this isn't a very popular conversation on dates, perhaps since I tend to suffer from a strong case of this:
Guess I need to work on that. Anyway, I saw this article on ESPN.com yesterday, and couldn't help but pass the word along. Now, I realize that most of my readers probably could care less about this, but it's like the author says, you invite a guy into your house so many nights... Anyway, they were nice enough to provide a few audio clips (after all, the man calls the games), and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share a few with you:

Ken Griffey Jr.'s 56th in '98

A classic grand salami call

This last one is classic. Perhaps you've heard me mention it before: The Double. Let me place this in historical perspective. It's 1995 - the season after the baseball strike tolled the death knell for America's Pastime. I was 14. There was a lot of talk about the future of baseball in Seattle with ceiling tiles falling in the Kingdome and years of mediocre play (up until '95, the M's only had 2 +500 seasons). The season started out rough, and with a major injury to team superstar Ken Griffey Jr, everyone was looking for the Bekins truck. Fast forward to mid August, and the Mariners are 13 games behind the division-leading California Angels (notice how much easier that is to say?). Then in September, miraculously, 2 things happen: 1) the Angels begin losing and 2) the Mariners pull out a string of incredible come-from-behind wins. At the end of the season, the two teams are tied, and for the first time in my baseball-watching life, my team has a legitimate chance at the postseason. A 1-game playoff is held in Seattle between the two teams, where the M's trounced the Angels 9-1, including a Luis Sojo in-the-park home run. I still remember where I was when I heard that call. The impossible had happened. We had made the postseason.

The ALDS started, and we were up against future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly and the rest of the '95 Yankees. The M's won the first two, but lost the third and fourth games, forcing a game 5 matchup in Seattle. The game stays pretty quiet until the bottom of the third, when Joey Cora goes yard. Yanks 0 M's 1. Things are looking up, but not for long. Top of the 4th, Bernie Williams is walked, followed by a Paul O'Neill homer. Yanks 2 M's 1. But not to worry Mariner's fans! For in the bottom of the 4th, Tino (the other) Martinez is driven home on a Jay Buhner single to left. Yanks 2 M's 2.

The status quo is maintained until the 6th, when the M's pitching seems to be coming unglued. First, Bernie Williams is walked, then Paul O'Neill. In a move that surprised no true Mariner fan, Ruben Sierra completed the trifecta, reaching 1st base on balls and loading them up. Don Mattingly steps to the plate. Normally, I have a hard time not liking Donny Baseball and his mustachioed ways, but I sure didn't like him as he drove in Williams and O'Neill on a 2 run double, putting the Yanks up 4-2. Luckily, my M's were competent enough to stop the bleeding there.

The bottom of the 6th passes. The bottom of the 7th passes. You can cut the tension in my parent's house with a knife, as we are all sitting on the edge of whatever we were sitting on, trying hard not to tear the hair out of our heads (yes, even me). Bottom of the 8th. Joey Cora flies out. 1 out. Griffey homers. Cheers ring out in Seattle. Yanks 4 M's 3. Edgar Martinez grounds out. 2 outs. Tino walkes and Jay Buhner steps up to the plate. He singles, Tino gets to 2nd and M's fans everywhere begin praying to whatever gods they believe in. A couple of switches (Diaz bats for Fermin, and Rodriguez runs for Tino) and a couple of walks later, and the Yankees send Rodriguez home uncontested. Yanks 4 - M's 4.

The 9th inning passes. As does the 10th. In the top of the 11th, the Yanks manage to play some good small ball, sending Pat Kelly around the bases. The Yanks are up 5-4, and things are looking really bad for my boys. Luckily, it's a home game, giving them a chance to show that they can play good small ball too. First up is Cora, who manages to get to 1st on a well laid bunt. Next up is Griffey, who sends Cora to third on a single to center.

So, here we are, bottom of the 11th, down by one, no outs with men on 1st and 3rd, when Edgar Martinez steps up to the plate. He takes the first pitch, a strike, putting the count at 0-1. The rest is history:

The Double

AMAZING! Simply one of the most electric moments of my life. Tears streamed down grown men's faces, washing away the years of crappy baseball that they had endured. Baristas everywhere gave free lattes to their customers. The Space Needle got up and did a little dance! But seriously, to this day I get a little shiver anytime I hear that call or see one of these photos:


Here's to hoping that this season will be 3/4ths of the season that one was. Good luck this year to Ichiro, Bedard, Felix and the rest of the crew. And congrats to Dave Niehaus for making it to Cooperstown. You deserve it for making every season great.

Mmmm... root beer.

Here's the scoop on that new diet root beer from the folks over at Thomas Kemper: it's pretty darn good.

I have to admit something here: I'm biased against diet sodas. So, using a free meal as bait, I lured a couple of diet soda experts over to my place so I could get their opinions as well. Phrases like, "20 calories, really?" and "I'd drink this" were thrown about. No joke. Apparently, the root beer also puts Michelle "in the mood" (see photo), but in the mood for what the world may never know.

We all agreed that there was a definite diet aftertaste to it, but it wasn't that strong. The girls, neither one of which had ever had an original TK, both told me that they liked the flavor of the root beer quite a bit. I've had hundreds of bottles of the original over the years, and though it was pretty easy to tell that this one wasn't, it was still most definitely a Thomas Kemper.

For me, one of the biggest surprises was how light it was. I wasn't the only one to mention that. If you've ever tried an original, you'll know that it's pretty rich. I usually save mine for dessert and skip the cookies. With the diet, you get a lot of the flavor without feeling like it's one of the courses, which is nice.

So, what's the verdict? Well, while I still think I'd reach for an original for my after-dinner treat, I wouldn't be ashamed of bringing a case of the diet to any respectable barbecue or using it in a lower-cal root beer float.

#300

Yesterday marked a milestone for me, I purchased my 300th album - Someday My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis. I know you're all waiting with baited breath to know more about my collection (right?), so here are a few stats:

• 43% of my collection is Jazz
• 2% is Beatles
• I inherited 1 Aquabats CD (only of note since I saw someone dressed in full Aquabats attire last week on 23rd)
• Best Album Title: quite possibly The Rumproller
• Most Represented Artist: Miles Davis with 17 albums (Birth of the Cool, Bags' Groove, Workin', Steamin', Relaxin', Cookin', 'Round About Midnight, Kind of Blue, Milestones, Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, Someday My Prince Will Come, E.S.P., Miles Smiles, In a Silent Way, and Bitches Brew in case you were wondering. I know, you weren't).
• Most Embarrassing CD that I'll Admit to Owning: Journey's Greatest Hits
• Best CD I Forgot I Owned: Weezer's blue album

Well folks, the tales of wonderment and awe don't end there, but I think I will. Any bets on when I make it to 400?

Check it!

Saw this at a friend's house tonight and couldn't pass up the mention. Perhaps you've seen it before. Check out the link.

Super Rad

Late breaking addition!

Happy V-Day to all you lovers out there. I know what I'm going to be doing tonight... wishing I was stranded on a creepy island with Kate. Sigh... oh well.

But for those of you who actually have someone to enjoy the evening with, here's a late breaking addition to my list of a few posts ago:

"Manhattan" performed by Blossom Dearie



I make no promises about the efficacy of this song, but it couldn't hurt. Especially if you live in Manhattan. If you live in Brooklyn, I have no doubt that you'll be getting all the loving you need. Brooklyn's good like that.

Making use of old news

I've been listening to ABBA for the last few days. I hate to admit it, but there's something about those Swedes. I guess it's my one guilty pleasure...

But it got me thinking about a comment made by John McCain several months ago, back when everyone thought he was out of the race, perhaps thrown about to show how out of it he was. He was asked about what was on his iPod (he has an iPod?). His answer, from the Austin American-Statesman:

Dare I say ABBA. Everybody says, ‘Ehhh, ABBA.’ Why is that? ABBA was the largest selling (recording act ever). Nobody likes them but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. (But) you’re a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see ‘Mamma Mia?’ Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarassed to say I like ABBA, ‘Dancing Queen.’”

More from McCain. If elected, “the background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House.”

And even more.

“‘Take a Chance on Me.’ Maybe that’s what we should have as our (campaign) theme song. That would be good.”

Is this why so many Republicans are mad at him?

Down with Smooth Jazz

I really wish websites like Amazon had a button along the lines of "Do not include weenie jazz" when browsing the bestsellers. Or perhaps it could say "click here if you are a middle-aged white woman" and it would only show you the smooth jazz. Anything to separate the two. I could continue to rant on this subject, but I'll just encourage you to read this.

Super Tuesday

Breaking news: Romney wins Utah. Shocker.