cryptique

The afterglow has waned, and now the reality is setting in. Registration required to read that link (NY Times), or get a login from BugMeNot.

Southeast Michigan is doing its level best to imitate that Switzerland scene. It's nowhere near it yet (and won't get there, because we're not on a lake), but there are tree limbs coming down all over the place from the weight of the ice.

The goat for the Chargers: Marlon McCree. Dude, you don't intercept a pass on FOURTH DOWN. Just bat the ball to the turf. See what happens when you try to pad your personal stats? YOUR TEAM LOSES. Dumbass.

The title track is on Oink in flac. Just that one track though.

Why even go to a concert if the songs are going to be the same as they are on the album? These days I would probably just walk out of a show if it was a note-perfect reproduction of the album tracks. The artist may as well just stand on stage with a boombox and play CDs into a microphone ... it's basically the same thing.

I swore up and down that I wasn't going to watch it this year. I'll be watching tomorrow night. Fucking promos.

Good god. I've seen somewhat similar stuff near Lake Michigan, but not anywhere close to that scale.

http://thedunktank.com/v.php?id=be01a56050...96d185b7e966218

I would be extremely surprised if there were overdubs.

Tim O'Reagan - s/t Cod dammit I love this album. It just keeps getting better and better for me the more I listen to it. There are a couple of near-stumbles among the songs, but all in all it holds together really well. Also, for some reason, ordinary as it is, I've always loved his voice (ever since "Bottomless Cup" on the Jayhawks' Sound of Lies album).

This is true. He's pretty much useless these days. His one remaining skill of note is his free kicks, but let's face it, anyone can take a free kick. I haven't set foot on a pitch in years and I could probably still put a decent shot on goal (that was one of my strengths too). In the midfield, he has become extremely tentative and apparently refuses to get his uniform dirty. I can't remember the last time I saw him make a slide tackle (though admittedly I haven't seen him play in a while). He avoids physical contact with other players as much as possible.

I think you're seriously overestimating hockey's popularity in the U.S., Ace. Despite its problems, soccer's popularity is slowly inching upwards. I doubt the NHL can say the same. Even before the lockout, it was difficult to still think of the NHL as one of the "major" sports. I agree that in ten years, it's quite possible that soccer will pass hockey in terms of fans/viewers. Basketball, on the other hand ... that ain't gonna happen.

I was with you up until that. If soccer's so boring, why is it the world's most popular sport? Personally, there's nothing I'd rather watch. I take time off work during the World Cup.

Saw these guys on Garrison Keillor's New Year's Eve program, and damn are they good.

I was into it too, and for a brief time, the NASL was big news. I attended sold-out Chicago Sting games at Wrigley Field and a nearly sold-out Detroit Express game at the Silverdome. There were exhibition tours of NASL teams (e.g., the Sting once played at Western Michigan University's football stadium before a large crowd). The attendance figures went way up during the Pel

But they did, back when Pele played. Then interest waned again. If you haven't seen Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos, it's kinda interesting. Beckham isn't the same kind of figure as Pele, and I doubt he'll have as profound an effect, but soccer is also a bit further along now than it was in the '70s.

That can't be good for her "singing" career.

That's because Americans are, for the most part, idiots. Beckham will boost attendance numbers for Galaxy matches next season (home, and especially away), but won't necessarily do much for other matches. However, the recent rule change allowing these big-money signings will bring a few more burnt-out international stars into the MLS and help to increase attendance elsewhere too. Beckham is just the first such signing. Personally, I think Beckham's next to useless on the pitch these days, but he is a media sensation and that will sell some tickets. I suspect his signing with L.A. was most

Kicking Television is fantastic. There, I said it. I can't say I listen to it all that often, but I enjoy the hell out of it each time I do.

Thought you might.

I grudgingly bought a prepaid phone with minimal minutes before we went on a vacation this past fall. I've used it fewer than five times. It's still on its initial battery charge. So, technically I own one, but I might as well not.