Late Night With The Mad Blogger
"Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it."
Just watched the first part of a documentary on the birth and development of Chicago. Absolutely fascinating. There is so much to the city, so much more than what we see today. The name Chicago actually comes from the Indian name for what is now the Chicago river. The word "Chicagoua" means "place of the wild onions". It seems that the area was actually a marsh around the river, infested with stink weed. The river stunk. Joliet and Marquette founded the area in the hopes of developing a water route from New Orleans to Montreal, from the Mississippi through the Great Lakes and onto the St Lawrence. It began as a small fur trading post, and quickly became the heart of the industrial revolution. The city developed better methods of cutting and storing grain, they created a disassembly line for creating pork products, and eventually the railyards became the hub of all railway travel in the United States. It rreally is a marvel. The population went from 4000 to 300000 in 40 years. Unbelievable. The last thing they covered was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, when 73 miles of homes were destroyed after Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern. It's amazing how much you learn about what we see today by studying the history. Every little thing, it seems, was molded by the actions of our predecessors.
Movie Review: The School of Rock
Much better than I expected. I have no problem recommending this movie. I must admit though, it starts, it runs, and its over, just like that. Very little character development, very little story and plot. But, what it does have is heart and soul. Jack Black plays basically himself, but with so much energy, his antics go from goofy and ridiculous, to funny and personal. The kids are sterotypical, but good enough that you enjoy their transformation. The key to the movie is the idea that there is more to life than the straight laced, button down world that these private school kids live in. Its a cheesy flick, more a saturday afternoon special than a cinematic event. But, worth the price of a rental.
I really love candy. It has no nutritional value, and really, isnt good for you in any way. But Ill be damned, I cant stop eating it. I feel like I need a candy bar a day. The sheer enjoyment of a peanut butter Twix, some Peanut M&Ms or a 3 Muskateers makes it absolutely worth it for all the negatives involved. Is there any reason that the best things, the tasty things, are all bad for you. Why cant broccoli taste like chocolate?
You won't normally find me watching women's basketball. Something about missed layups that fails to excite me. But in preparation for Sportscenter, I just caught the last 8 seconds of LSU/Georgia. LSU missed a free throw, up by two, and the Georgia point guard dribbled the length of the court. At the free throw line, going in for the tying shot, she slipped. She fell. They lost. In a great moment of character, the Georgia coach ran out on to the court, amidst the celebrating LSU players, and he didnt complain. He didnt argue the lack of a call. And he didnt chastise a single player. He picked up that point guard, and hugged her, telling her its ok, and he was proud of her. That, my friends, is how it's supposed to be. And that is why college sports will remain a force in America. For every 20 teenage millionaires each year, there is one moment like this that trumps every greedy intention prevalent in professional sports.
What is the deal with shows like the Bachelorette and the Bachelor? Isnt this just about the most demeaning thing out there? Pretending to be excited to meet someone, then spending all this time to see if you actually like them. And then decide if you want to get married? What ever happened to good old fashioned dating? Meanwhile, the "dates" that they go on are all Trump-like yacht rides and beach picnics. So then, these two are gonna fall for each other, go into the real world, and start eating at Chili's and renting movies like the rest of us. Am I stupid to think that the bloom will be off the rose when things start getting real? If you want a good show, tape these lovebirds for the months after the end of the show. Suddenly, you arent in so much love anymore when she's cleaning the crud out of her eyes lounging in front of Oprah in her Iowa State sweats. And he isnt the dream man you thought when you see him drinking a High Life and eating dip with his fingers over the sink.
Why is there such a negative association with gamblers? Sure, there are some real degenerates out there, and speaking from experience, well, it can become an obsessive habit. But I really think sports gambling gets a bad rap. Think about it, would you worry more about some guy that knows a sport, throws 500 on the lakers to win, and gets on with his life after a three hour game, or does fantasy guy worry you more? These guys, spending entire offseasons, month after month, analyzing stats, pondering mythical trades, all so they can pit their 20 dollars in a wager that has astronomical odds and takes some 5 months to come to fruition? Fantasy games can be ok in moderation, but there are some real problem kids out there. Grown men, wasting hours upon hours trying to decide if they should start Rafer Alston for the assists, or Mark Blount for the blocks. Haven't heard of those guys? Consider yourself part of the majority.....
So we have a winner on Dream Job. I must say, I just saw him do his first Sportscenter highlight, and well, it was pretty good. He kept up, he got the players right, it was as good as you can expect. Admittedly, I didnt think he was that great over the course of the show. But, hey, he won, so those in the know know more than me I suppose. Im happy for the guy. He gets a one year contract, a new car and 95 K a year. I understand that the people who work so hard in the business are going to be jealous and upset over this, and will over-scrutinize the kid. But why? What is the point? Because he won a contest? At least he won. He beat out 10,000 other people. He competed on a stage, under intense pressure. He didnt create the contest. He didnt cheat. There was no favoritism and there was no nepotism. Get off his back. He may have won the career lottery ticket, and jumped over people who have paid their dues, but he did it all within the parameters of a fairly organized contest devised by his employer. Its not like he pulled a Mountain Dew cap and was forced on the network. So jeez, dont blame him. If you want to be jealous or angry, take it out on management. But since most ESPN talent are eunichs, dont expect them to challenge the suits any time soon. Not when they can take out their acrimony on an innocent college Jr who just happened to live his dream. Yeah, what a jerk....
Are we going to continue to pay Spike Lee on the back? Truth is, one of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the important movies of our generation (or any generation for that matter) is Do the Right Thing. A genius piece of cinema that made us give race relations or honest attention. But, well, has anything since then come even close? Is he just a victim of his early success? It wouldnt be the first time it occurred. Save for Malcolm X, not a single Spike Lee movie has made a difference on the social landscape. Considering that is the point of his movies, to make a point, the lack of a ripple upon their release needs to be noted. Jungle Fever; Crooklyn; Summer of Sam....all supposedly socially significant, and none of them let out even a squeak. The problem is, Spike is a notorious "race baiter" in that any attempt to challenge him or his views is met with accusations of racism. Racism is a legitimate problem in America, but it is like the boy who cried wolf: the more you claim it, the less value each claim is awarded. Truth is, Im sure racism can be found in any situation if you look hard enough. That doesnt mean it actually exists.
Just watched the first part of a documentary on the birth and development of Chicago. Absolutely fascinating. There is so much to the city, so much more than what we see today. The name Chicago actually comes from the Indian name for what is now the Chicago river. The word "Chicagoua" means "place of the wild onions". It seems that the area was actually a marsh around the river, infested with stink weed. The river stunk. Joliet and Marquette founded the area in the hopes of developing a water route from New Orleans to Montreal, from the Mississippi through the Great Lakes and onto the St Lawrence. It began as a small fur trading post, and quickly became the heart of the industrial revolution. The city developed better methods of cutting and storing grain, they created a disassembly line for creating pork products, and eventually the railyards became the hub of all railway travel in the United States. It rreally is a marvel. The population went from 4000 to 300000 in 40 years. Unbelievable. The last thing they covered was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, when 73 miles of homes were destroyed after Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern. It's amazing how much you learn about what we see today by studying the history. Every little thing, it seems, was molded by the actions of our predecessors.
Movie Review: The School of Rock
Much better than I expected. I have no problem recommending this movie. I must admit though, it starts, it runs, and its over, just like that. Very little character development, very little story and plot. But, what it does have is heart and soul. Jack Black plays basically himself, but with so much energy, his antics go from goofy and ridiculous, to funny and personal. The kids are sterotypical, but good enough that you enjoy their transformation. The key to the movie is the idea that there is more to life than the straight laced, button down world that these private school kids live in. Its a cheesy flick, more a saturday afternoon special than a cinematic event. But, worth the price of a rental.
I really love candy. It has no nutritional value, and really, isnt good for you in any way. But Ill be damned, I cant stop eating it. I feel like I need a candy bar a day. The sheer enjoyment of a peanut butter Twix, some Peanut M&Ms or a 3 Muskateers makes it absolutely worth it for all the negatives involved. Is there any reason that the best things, the tasty things, are all bad for you. Why cant broccoli taste like chocolate?
You won't normally find me watching women's basketball. Something about missed layups that fails to excite me. But in preparation for Sportscenter, I just caught the last 8 seconds of LSU/Georgia. LSU missed a free throw, up by two, and the Georgia point guard dribbled the length of the court. At the free throw line, going in for the tying shot, she slipped. She fell. They lost. In a great moment of character, the Georgia coach ran out on to the court, amidst the celebrating LSU players, and he didnt complain. He didnt argue the lack of a call. And he didnt chastise a single player. He picked up that point guard, and hugged her, telling her its ok, and he was proud of her. That, my friends, is how it's supposed to be. And that is why college sports will remain a force in America. For every 20 teenage millionaires each year, there is one moment like this that trumps every greedy intention prevalent in professional sports.
What is the deal with shows like the Bachelorette and the Bachelor? Isnt this just about the most demeaning thing out there? Pretending to be excited to meet someone, then spending all this time to see if you actually like them. And then decide if you want to get married? What ever happened to good old fashioned dating? Meanwhile, the "dates" that they go on are all Trump-like yacht rides and beach picnics. So then, these two are gonna fall for each other, go into the real world, and start eating at Chili's and renting movies like the rest of us. Am I stupid to think that the bloom will be off the rose when things start getting real? If you want a good show, tape these lovebirds for the months after the end of the show. Suddenly, you arent in so much love anymore when she's cleaning the crud out of her eyes lounging in front of Oprah in her Iowa State sweats. And he isnt the dream man you thought when you see him drinking a High Life and eating dip with his fingers over the sink.
Why is there such a negative association with gamblers? Sure, there are some real degenerates out there, and speaking from experience, well, it can become an obsessive habit. But I really think sports gambling gets a bad rap. Think about it, would you worry more about some guy that knows a sport, throws 500 on the lakers to win, and gets on with his life after a three hour game, or does fantasy guy worry you more? These guys, spending entire offseasons, month after month, analyzing stats, pondering mythical trades, all so they can pit their 20 dollars in a wager that has astronomical odds and takes some 5 months to come to fruition? Fantasy games can be ok in moderation, but there are some real problem kids out there. Grown men, wasting hours upon hours trying to decide if they should start Rafer Alston for the assists, or Mark Blount for the blocks. Haven't heard of those guys? Consider yourself part of the majority.....
So we have a winner on Dream Job. I must say, I just saw him do his first Sportscenter highlight, and well, it was pretty good. He kept up, he got the players right, it was as good as you can expect. Admittedly, I didnt think he was that great over the course of the show. But, hey, he won, so those in the know know more than me I suppose. Im happy for the guy. He gets a one year contract, a new car and 95 K a year. I understand that the people who work so hard in the business are going to be jealous and upset over this, and will over-scrutinize the kid. But why? What is the point? Because he won a contest? At least he won. He beat out 10,000 other people. He competed on a stage, under intense pressure. He didnt create the contest. He didnt cheat. There was no favoritism and there was no nepotism. Get off his back. He may have won the career lottery ticket, and jumped over people who have paid their dues, but he did it all within the parameters of a fairly organized contest devised by his employer. Its not like he pulled a Mountain Dew cap and was forced on the network. So jeez, dont blame him. If you want to be jealous or angry, take it out on management. But since most ESPN talent are eunichs, dont expect them to challenge the suits any time soon. Not when they can take out their acrimony on an innocent college Jr who just happened to live his dream. Yeah, what a jerk....
Are we going to continue to pay Spike Lee on the back? Truth is, one of my favorite movies of all time, and one of the important movies of our generation (or any generation for that matter) is Do the Right Thing. A genius piece of cinema that made us give race relations or honest attention. But, well, has anything since then come even close? Is he just a victim of his early success? It wouldnt be the first time it occurred. Save for Malcolm X, not a single Spike Lee movie has made a difference on the social landscape. Considering that is the point of his movies, to make a point, the lack of a ripple upon their release needs to be noted. Jungle Fever; Crooklyn; Summer of Sam....all supposedly socially significant, and none of them let out even a squeak. The problem is, Spike is a notorious "race baiter" in that any attempt to challenge him or his views is met with accusations of racism. Racism is a legitimate problem in America, but it is like the boy who cried wolf: the more you claim it, the less value each claim is awarded. Truth is, Im sure racism can be found in any situation if you look hard enough. That doesnt mean it actually exists.
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