But, really, what's my incentive to get a new one? Every six months, Apple releases better, smaller and sleeker models with video capabilities and other party favors. I'd have wasted thousands of dollars at this point if I bought every upgrade.
So for now, I'll stick with my glorified Walkman. Even if the music, screen and backlight like to freeze while I'm listening to Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious." Not embarrassing at all.
Call me a lazy American -- at least when it comes to trying new network TV shows. I prefer to root for some TV shows, rather than actually taking the time to watch them.
I really wanted "Arrested Development" to succeed. But I never watched a single episode, despite the fact that friends and family are convinced I'll be hooked on the DVDs.
I liked the premiere episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," but haven't watched it since.
I've always laughed at the comedy stylings of Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch. But I've yet to catch "30 Rock." I mean, the guy who brought us Astronaut Jones alone should be enough incentive for me to watch, no?
And yet all of these shows are struggling to retain viewers on a weekly basis. Especially "Arrested Development," which is, um, not on TV anymore.
Maybe all of this has to do with the karmic implications of my rooting so hard against "Dancing With The Stars."
You can now get to this page via the more recognizable and more-annoying-to-type www.VarsityBasketweaving.com.
You can still get here the old way, but I figured landing the domain name would be a great way to solidify my blog identity. Or something.
Found this spiffy black-and-white tribute video to Johnny Cash on BestWeekEver.tv's site today:
Some thoughts:
- This video's jam-packed with A-list celebrities who have made a name for themselves with years and years' worth of work -- and Corinne Bailey Rae. I like her one song and all, but jeez, even Lisa Marie Presley has more of a right to be in this thing.
- Also, perhaps my favorite part, keep an eye out for the Bill Parcells look-alike at the 2:18 mark.
- Chicken vs. egg debate: Was Cash's version released first, or was Moby's "Run On" the predecessor? Both very different, both very cool.
While reading the display on my Sirius satellite radio this morning, I deduced that Dave Foley had found work in between seasons of "Celebrity Poker Showdown."
I quickly realized that rap duo Kidz in the Hall, with a subtle change of one letter, had employed the services of neither a Foley nor a McCullogh.
Fun fact! I wanted to rip into the Kidz for their blatant name rip-off, but they're actually pretty good. Reminiscent of Kanye West and OutKast, but a bit more old-school.
Let's hear it for the first movie franchise that will force me to go to the theatre on opening night for the third straight time.
Thus breaking my current record of two, held by, um, the Spider-Man franchise.
I love logos. You should too.
That's why you should take this test. It's timed, so you have to be fast, be accurate and avoid productivity.
(Via BestWeekEver.tv.)
After two years that tore America apart, hope returned to our nation with Election Day results.
And I hear there was some kind of votey-type thing yesterday, too.
With the exception of its use by MasterCard advertising executives, I am demanding immediate cease-and-desist orders for any conversational set-up that lists various goods and services and their corresponding costs, followed by the punchline "Priceless."
This joke format got tired about two or three years ago, but seeing it dragged out a week or so ago for MTV's "Yo Momma" marks the official -- and long overdue -- end of the trend.
"Let's Go To Prison." And the trailer's funny, too!
Honorable mention: "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." And the movie's funny, too!
1. Your team is ignored and unranked in preseason polls, despite holding the active Division-I record for consecutive bowl wins.
2. Your team fights its way into the Top 25 rankings, only to lose a game to an embarrassing opponent.
3. Your quarterback is good, but not great.
4. Your team climbs back up to a teen ranking in the polls, only to lose the most significant regular season game of the year.
5. At the end of the regular season, your team is ranked between 20th and 25th, and your team is dispatched to a glorified away game for a postseason appearance, while other teams reap millions more dollars for their bowl participation. (Pending.)
Alabamians,
Please refrain from shooting at "Dukes of Hazzard"/"Smallville" star John Schneider. He is just a Good Ol' Boy who happens to be one of Superman's legal guardians.
Plus, Schneider was born in Westchester, which you and I know is the best, Chester!
Trust me, you don't want to make Clark Kent mad. He'll write a really scathing column about you in The Daily Planet.
Thank you,
Varsity Basketweaving.
(Via BestWeekEver.tv.)
Last night, I spent another hour of my life watching yet another VH1 top 100 show that hooked me with a death grip and wouldn't let me go. Here were my musings:
- I have no issue with VH1 online voters (more about them later) ranking Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" at No. 19. What I nearly flipped out over was the fact that the special named several "artists" who covered the song, including the legendary Joey McIntyre, but omitted the gut-wrenchingly beautiful Eva Cassidy version that might be better than the original. That's like mentioning Roseanne's cover of the national anthem but ignoring Whitney Houston's. Reedonkulous.
- Panelist Darryl McDaniels has always been my favorite member of Run DMC. Maybe because he's the bespectacled Simon to Jam Master Jay's Alvin and Reverend Run's Theodore, but he just seemed to me to be the coolest, most down-to-earth member of the group.
Also, a propos of nothing, I saw Run DMC open for Guster once at Boston College. Strangest concert pairing I've ever seen.
- Now 28 years old, almost two decades after U2's "With or Without You" came out, I had always thought of it as a breakup song. While explaining its No. 13 ranking on the list, VH1 made me realize that the song might also be about God. Now I realize that "see the thorn twist in your side," "you give yourself away" and all subsequent lyrics might have metaphysical connotations. As a college English and Communication double-major, I should have been the first to overanalyze this song and adopt the out-there interpretation.
- Panelist Mike Mills (of R.E.M. fame) seems about as accessible as Michael Stipe doesn't.
- Hmm... "Come On Eileen" at No. 18? Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" at No. 12? And "Like A Virgin" at No. 8? I guess all the men were busy voting on Maxim and ESPN's online polls instead.
- Now, Hall & Oates are pretty cool, but "I Can't Go For That" is the 6th-best song of the 80's? Really? I don't even know any lyric from that song other than the title! Let's face it: "Maneater" was a better song, but even that should peak on this list at like No. 42, tops.
- Props go out to two panelists in particular: deejay Chris Booker (formerly of the formerly awesome 92.3 FM in New York City, now on mornings in Philly) and comedian Godfrey, both of whom I've had some pleasantries with in the last couple of years.
Explain your answer:
For a couple of days about two years ago, I was very briefly in the running to be Booker's on-air Sports Guy correspondent, doing snarky sports reports for his afternoon show. That is, until a genuinely funny and talented guy by the name of Nick Stevens took that spot and ran with it. I called into Booker's show a couple of times after that while he was still on the air in NYC, and Stevens is hilarious as well on the New York comedy scene. Both seem to be nice guys and it's sweet to see them fare well for themselves.
While I was on a date a couple of years ago, I caught Godfrey at the Comedy Cellar. When he asked me where I was going to school, I explained to him that I was 26 and a journalist. He picked up on the fact that I had a low, resonating voice and from that point onward referred to me as Stone Philips. He spent the next five minutes setting up my hypothetical reporting from Iraq, which was hysterical. At the end, he said something to the effect of, "Oh, no, if you're a reporter, you're probably going to write about how much I suck now." Just the opposite, man, you were awesome.
- Promo time! I have to say, my interest in VH1's "Totally Awesome" was totally nonexistent until I found out that Neal Brennan -- who cowrote and cocreated "Chappelle's Show" -- was involved. That, combined with the clips of Tracy Morgan that I saw, might just suck me in. Or it might just suck.
- The top 3: "Hungry Like the Wolf" gets the bronze (meh), "Pour Some Sugar On Me" gets the silver (nice!) and "Livin' on a Prayer" wins the gold (shrug). I grew up hating Bon Jovi, but I'll admit now that they're good musicians with some catchy tunes. I think I hate to love them. Or the other way around. Still can't make up my mind.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just released its nominees for next year's induction. Here are my (worthless) votes, in order of most worthy to least worthy:
YES
-Van Halen (as long as Gary Cherone is not inducted)
-R.E.M.
EH
-Grandmaster Flash (I'd say yes, but it is a ROCK hall of fame, after all)
-The Ronettes
-The Stooges
NO
-Chic
-Patti Smith
-Dave Clark Five
-Joe Tex
