Finally

{ December 18, 2008 @ 4:51 pm } · { music }
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I’ve been waiting all year for this news out today courtesy of u2.com:

No Line On The Horizon, the new studio album from U2, will be released on Monday 2nd March 2009.

Written and recorded in various locations, No Line On The Horizon is the group’s 12th studio album and is their first release since the 9 million selling album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, released in late 2004.

Sessions for No Line On The Horizon began last year in Fez, Morocco, continued in the band’s own studio in Dublin, before moving to New York’s Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and finally being completed at Olympic Studios in London.

The album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite.

While many fans were hoping for a Fall 2008 release, it’s good to know we’ll hear the album 1st quarter next year.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a more experimental sound and improved songwriting compared to the last album.


I wish I used to be married to Madonna

{ December 17, 2008 @ 10:22 am } · { Culture, music }
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According to the AP, Madonna has settled her divorce with Guy Ritchie and the settlement is in the $76-90 million-dollar range.  You can read the full article here.  The article goes on to mention that she and her kids are currently on tour, where her last performance in Brazil attracted over 70,000 people.  Wow.  It’s interesting to me that she’s still culturally relevant 20-something years after her debut. Personally I find her music pain-inducing and her faux british accent even more so.

I remember having a discussion with Doug during a recent Superbowl halftime performance by Paul McCartney (who also paid out a large settlement) where he remarked that he couldn’t think of one Beatles song he liked.  “What”, I asked incredulously, “surely there must be one?”  After naming about 8-10 songs, PDoug assured me that my attempts were futile.   I was stunned.  I always thought of the Beatles as one of the more accessible bands ever.  To not find one Beatles song likable almost makes you inhuman.  I argued that for a lot of the bigger acts in music, most everyone could find at least 1-2 songs appealing.

I bring up this little anecdote because after perusing the Madonna catalog, I am now ready to make that same bold proclamation regarding her music.  There isn’t one song I find enjoyable, nothing.  It’s all bad.

Furthermore, she’s had approximately 2,345 boyfriends during her career and while I refuse to attack her physical appearance, suffice it to say at any moment in her career there were likely 100 celebrities I would have chosen to date over her.

However, after reading a little more about Madonna’s estimated net worth while also factoring in how much Mr. Ritchie is receiving,  I don’t think A-Rod is the dummy I pegged him to be…

Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like cheap food

{ December 16, 2008 @ 5:34 pm } · { Food, Restaurants }
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In an effort to spread some Christmas cheer, here’s a link to a website I’ve visited in the past, Restaurant.com.  You simply enter your zip code and you’re sent to a list of restaurants affiliated with the site.   Normally the website offers $25 gift certificates for $10 but until 12/22/08 they’re offering the $25 gift certificates for $2, that’s right 80% off.  Take a look at the site and before you checkout use the promo code SANTA to receive the additional savings.

Mad props to the forums at gottadeal.com for the code

SNL’s take on Gov. Blago

{ December 15, 2008 @ 2:45 pm } · { Politics }
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Below is a funny segment from last weekend’s Saturday Night Live on our sorry excuse for a governor.  He was also dealt with in the opening segment.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse…

{ December 15, 2008 @ 9:16 am } · { Business, Economy }
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Over the years, I’ve recognized that some of the types of things I read in print and watch on TV have a fanbase where the median age is something closer to 65.  60 Minutes is one those shows and last night they had an interesting/alarming piece on the financial crisis and how it might not end anytime soon.

You have to love the acupuncturist and her failing attempt at amassing wealth.  It’s interesting how greed, which is really at the heart of the entire crisis, so often casts its subjects in an unfavorable light.

Bears Game Musings

{ December 13, 2008 @ 4:28 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I know it’s a day late, but here are some things I observed during the Bears victory over the New Orleans Saints Thursday night:

1) Every time I think Adewale Ogunleye is finished, he makes a play that pleasantly surprises me.  For example, when New Orleans had the ball at the 2 due to Orton developing “Rex-itis” and fumbling the snap, Pierre Thomas caught the ball in the flat on 2nd down where ‘Wale tried unsuccessfully to tackle him and looked bad in the process.  As soon as Thomas caught the ball and I saw Ogunleye as the only defender in the vicinity, I knew bad things would happen.  They did and we had a tied game.   However, ‘Wale  redeemed himself by later getting his hands up and picking off a Drew Brees pass that was destined to find someone open in the endzone.  Nice job at redemption, Adewale.

2) I know I’ve said this about 82 times this season but Rashied Davis proved once again that he is not an NFL wide receiver.   In his tenure with the Bears, he’s had only two notable catches that come to mind.  One was the catch in overtime against the Seahawks in the 2006 playoffs and the other was earlier this season against the Falcons  where he caught what should have been the game-winning TD.  Granted, the ball thrown during Thursday’s game was a bit behind him, but he has to make the play.  Through December 11 he ranked 6th in the NFL with 7 dropped passes.  Looking at the list there are some prominent names that also, at times, have butterfingers.  The difference is that those receivers are either big, fast, or have the ability to get open.  Unfortunately, Mr. Davis doesn’t fall under any adjectives listed above.

3) After the big defensive stop with 5+ minutes left in the game, why did the offense come out with back-to-back passing plays?  Why not run the ball and attempt to kill the clock?  I didn’t agree with the play calling during that series, but loved the attempted fake punt pass earlier in the game.  Anytime you feel you can catch the other team off guard, go for the trick play.

4) Greg Olsen was mauled in the endzone on the final drive in regulation but officials in all sports rarely like to call penalties/fouls at the end of the game, preferring to let the players play instead of their call defining the outcome of the game.  Paradoxically, it was the Pass Interference call in overtime that set up Gould’s game-winner.

Blago Campaign Ads

{ December 11, 2008 @ 9:41 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Below are ads that ran during Gov. Blago’s re-election bid that, in light of the recent news,  are now absolutely uproariously funny (at least to me):

Answer to the first question: eliciting unethical, illegal contributions…

Favorite Line: “i’ve ruffled feathers, had some rocky moments, added a second child” —what?  Is it just me or is that last statement out of place?

Apparently his opponent was right on…

Really, Rob, you couldn’t memorize 30 seconds worth of material?  “C,mon, let’s get real”

Church is all about me

{ November 28, 2008 @ 9:34 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I was sent this via email, my apologies to those that may have seen the clip,  it’s a well-done, church-made video rich in satire. There was a laugh-out-loud moment for me around the 3:30 mark.

Black Friday

{ November 28, 2008 @ 9:56 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Waiting out in the cold with aggressive people who haven’t showered for inferior stuff that isn’t really discounted all that much…yeah, it’s that time again.

After being in retail for some years, it’s no coincidence that i awoke at 8:14 this morning with a smile on my face.

For all the talk of retailers discounting heavily to combat the recession, this year’s ads were terribly underwhelming.