Picked up the U2 by U2 book from the library today. It's good. The text is compiled from interviews with the four band members as well as their manager, Paul McGuinness, and it's set in set up as a chronology.
Haven't read the whole thing, but I'm thinking it'd be worth buying.
I've always liked U2. I recall when their first album was played on 92 CITI FM, back in the heyday of that station. Then War came out and I was hooked.
January 4, 2007
January 2, 2007
What's up at the Joe?
Watched the last of the Wings-Ducks game tonight. It was Steve Yzerman night, so they had retired his jersey at the beginning of the night.
But in watching the game, I was struck by how quiet it was. I don't know why that was, although towards the end of the game the deafening silence might have come from the fact there were so many empty seats.
Why were there empty seats? It was sold out - so they said - because of Stevie Y night. The opponents were arguably the best team in the league so far this season (the Anaheim Ducks have dropped the Mighty from their name, only to become so on the ice). It was only a one goal difference with four plus minutes to play, so it wasn't a blow out.
Yet in following the play, many empty seats were evident in the first dozen or whatever rows from the glass.
And this is in Hockey Town?
I suppose I should also say that the same thing was in evidence for the two games that I saw down in Phoenix. That is, there were many empty seats at Coyote games too. This makes me wonder about the financial health of these franchises and the league in general.
Those empty seats could be paid for by corporate folks, who aren't really interested in being at the games and get a tax credit or write-off for their purchase. But if so, what is it saying about your sport when the main way you make money is by selling tickets to people who don't
actually want to be there?
But in watching the game, I was struck by how quiet it was. I don't know why that was, although towards the end of the game the deafening silence might have come from the fact there were so many empty seats.
Why were there empty seats? It was sold out - so they said - because of Stevie Y night. The opponents were arguably the best team in the league so far this season (the Anaheim Ducks have dropped the Mighty from their name, only to become so on the ice). It was only a one goal difference with four plus minutes to play, so it wasn't a blow out.
Yet in following the play, many empty seats were evident in the first dozen or whatever rows from the glass.
And this is in Hockey Town?
I suppose I should also say that the same thing was in evidence for the two games that I saw down in Phoenix. That is, there were many empty seats at Coyote games too. This makes me wonder about the financial health of these franchises and the league in general.
Those empty seats could be paid for by corporate folks, who aren't really interested in being at the games and get a tax credit or write-off for their purchase. But if so, what is it saying about your sport when the main way you make money is by selling tickets to people who don't
actually want to be there?
December 30, 2006
A misremembering
Watched most of Lawrence of Arabia again today, which has one of my favorite pieces of dialogue from any film. It goes like this:
"We can't just do nothing!"
"Why not? It's usually best."
The curious thing is that I had remembered that second bit as a line said by Alec Guiness's character. He plays an Arab king, so I took it as a little bit of Arabic wisdom, although I don't suppose the screenplay was written by an Arab.
However, I misremembered this. It isn't Guiness who says it. Rather it's said by a British General, who suggests doing nothing in response to a statement by one of his lower officers.
The different speaker gives phrase a different sense, I think. The British are hardly doing nothing in 'Arabia'
during the time period of the film. Yet in the instance in question, which is whether they should do something to help Lawrence out in his dealings with the Arabs, the General is for not helping - that is, doing nothing.
"We can't just do nothing!"
"Why not? It's usually best."
The curious thing is that I had remembered that second bit as a line said by Alec Guiness's character. He plays an Arab king, so I took it as a little bit of Arabic wisdom, although I don't suppose the screenplay was written by an Arab.
However, I misremembered this. It isn't Guiness who says it. Rather it's said by a British General, who suggests doing nothing in response to a statement by one of his lower officers.
The different speaker gives phrase a different sense, I think. The British are hardly doing nothing in 'Arabia'
during the time period of the film. Yet in the instance in question, which is whether they should do something to help Lawrence out in his dealings with the Arabs, the General is for not helping - that is, doing nothing.
December 29, 2006
Thoughts on The Good Shepard
Just saw The Good Shepard, Robert De Niro's directoral debut. All the parts of the film are good, if not excellent, but somehow it doesn't really come together. So, it's a good film but not great.
First off it goes against expectation, as one has the impression that it will be more of an action film than it is. If you're looking for a punch 'em up, blow 'em up flick, you should just go see Casino Royale again.
Matt Damon gets recruited into US army intelligence and then what develops into the CIA. Nasty things happen, but all in a covert sort of way, as befits CIA activity.
Much of what the movie portrays is the high personal cost Damon's character pays for his occupation. Estranged from a woman he married but wasn't in love with, as well as their son, unable to trust anyone, as that's the only good, or true piece of advice that his 'superiors' offer him: "trust no one."
In a nice cameo role, Joe Pesci as an old mafia boss tells Damon's character that he, as an Italian has family and the church, the Irish have their homeland, the Jews tradition, even the blacks their music, what has Damon - an American WASP - got?
Damon's response is "the United States. The rest of you are just visiting."
It's a good question, and I don't know if Damon's response is consistent with the rest of the film as it seems the USA is happy to throw him over if circumstances warrent.
But I do know I don't have a good answer for that question.
First off it goes against expectation, as one has the impression that it will be more of an action film than it is. If you're looking for a punch 'em up, blow 'em up flick, you should just go see Casino Royale again.
Matt Damon gets recruited into US army intelligence and then what develops into the CIA. Nasty things happen, but all in a covert sort of way, as befits CIA activity.
Much of what the movie portrays is the high personal cost Damon's character pays for his occupation. Estranged from a woman he married but wasn't in love with, as well as their son, unable to trust anyone, as that's the only good, or true piece of advice that his 'superiors' offer him: "trust no one."
In a nice cameo role, Joe Pesci as an old mafia boss tells Damon's character that he, as an Italian has family and the church, the Irish have their homeland, the Jews tradition, even the blacks their music, what has Damon - an American WASP - got?
Damon's response is "the United States. The rest of you are just visiting."
It's a good question, and I don't know if Damon's response is consistent with the rest of the film as it seems the USA is happy to throw him over if circumstances warrent.
But I do know I don't have a good answer for that question.
December 22, 2006
Robs and their hats
What is up with guys named Rob and their hats? I was in a bar this week, where me and my friends Jen and Stephanie met up with some other folks, including a guy named Rob, who was wearing a hat.
Alcohol was consumed, as we were in a bar, and at one point Stephanie got it into her head that she wanted to try on Rob's hat. So, she does, removing it from his head unannounced.
He practically freaks out! It's not like he was bald underneath, or looked to be having a bad hair day. And he didn't really seem the type to be freaking out about such things. He was a frat boy, so perhaps somewhat prone to freaking out, but he also studied and liked stoic philosophy so you'd think he could be a little more rational about such things as someone borrowing your hat for a few minutes.
But it got me to thinking that there was a Rob I knew in Paris who was sensitive about his hat, as I found when I touched it one night. That Rob did seem to thinning on top, so maybe that was some of it.
And my cousin Rob used to wear a cap 24/7, or so it seemed. Don't know if he wore one in bed. He also didn't seemed to be thinning on top, so I'm not sure of the reason for his hat behavior.
But he has stopped wearing hats quite so much. So, perhaps there's hope for all the other Robs out there.
I mean, it's just a hat, man.
Alcohol was consumed, as we were in a bar, and at one point Stephanie got it into her head that she wanted to try on Rob's hat. So, she does, removing it from his head unannounced.
He practically freaks out! It's not like he was bald underneath, or looked to be having a bad hair day. And he didn't really seem the type to be freaking out about such things. He was a frat boy, so perhaps somewhat prone to freaking out, but he also studied and liked stoic philosophy so you'd think he could be a little more rational about such things as someone borrowing your hat for a few minutes.
But it got me to thinking that there was a Rob I knew in Paris who was sensitive about his hat, as I found when I touched it one night. That Rob did seem to thinning on top, so maybe that was some of it.
And my cousin Rob used to wear a cap 24/7, or so it seemed. Don't know if he wore one in bed. He also didn't seemed to be thinning on top, so I'm not sure of the reason for his hat behavior.
But he has stopped wearing hats quite so much. So, perhaps there's hope for all the other Robs out there.
I mean, it's just a hat, man.
December 18, 2006
Give it up for Jeff Garcia!
Congratulations to Jeff Garcia for leading the Philadelphia Eagles to an 8-6 record and a chance to win their division. No one would have thought that they'd be in this spot after Donovan McNabb went down with an injury.
However, Garcia, who lost the starting job in Detroit, and had to settle for a back-up position in Philadelphia this year, had performed great in the four games since becoming their starter.
I think he's thrown 9 TDs and only one interception, which came late in yesterday's victory over the NY football Giants.
Always like to see those former CFL players do well down in NFL.
However, Garcia, who lost the starting job in Detroit, and had to settle for a back-up position in Philadelphia this year, had performed great in the four games since becoming their starter.
I think he's thrown 9 TDs and only one interception, which came late in yesterday's victory over the NY football Giants.
Always like to see those former CFL players do well down in NFL.
December 12, 2006
First cards
I have received my first Christmas cards of the season, but I want to go on record that I sent cards prior to receiving any.
Yes, I put the cards in the post on Sunday, and received my first card on Monday, but still I was ahead of the game! First time ever I think.
I'm ahead, because I won't be sending out cards for a few days as I'm going to Arizona tomorrow for 9 days. Going to the Grand Canyon, staying at in a 'Heritage cabin' at Bright Angel Lodge and for a couple of nights, and then driving back down to Tempe to see the World Junior Racquetball Championships that begin with the opening ceremonies Friday and wrap up the following Thursday.
I may also take in a Coyotes game or a Suns game, who are playing the Raptors next week. Could be fun.
Yes, I put the cards in the post on Sunday, and received my first card on Monday, but still I was ahead of the game! First time ever I think.
I'm ahead, because I won't be sending out cards for a few days as I'm going to Arizona tomorrow for 9 days. Going to the Grand Canyon, staying at in a 'Heritage cabin' at Bright Angel Lodge and for a couple of nights, and then driving back down to Tempe to see the World Junior Racquetball Championships that begin with the opening ceremonies Friday and wrap up the following Thursday.
I may also take in a Coyotes game or a Suns game, who are playing the Raptors next week. Could be fun.
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