Jim's Guts

Friday Morning Pick Me Up...

First up is a really good song about a sort of sad thing, running into an old flame at a club. Before we get to the video let me toss out props to the band, The Airborne Toxic Event, for allowing embedding of the video. This isn't a widely read blog, but it's possible that because I was able to post this hear someone will hear it for the first time and check them out. I wish more bands, and record companies, got that. Anyway, here is "Sometime Around Midnight";

And that's followed by this classic from Naked Eyes "Voices In My Head" (you thought it was going to be "Always Something There To Remind Me", didn't you?);

It's obviously a new decade...

Not only am I linking to a David Brooks piece, but I couldn't agree with him more;

Many people seem to be in the middle of a religious crisis of faith. All the gods they believe in — technology, technocracy, centralized government control — have failed them in this instance.

In a mature nation, President Obama could go on TV and say, “Listen, we’re doing the best we can, but some terrorists are bound to get through.” But this is apparently a country that must be spoken to in childish ways. The original line out of the White House was that the system worked. Don’t worry, little Johnny. When that didn’t work the official line went to the other extreme. “I consider that totally unacceptable,” Obama said. I’m really mad, Johnny. But don’t worry, I’ll make it all better.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration has to be seen doing something, so it added another layer to its stage play, “Security Theater” — more baggage regulations, more in-flight restrictions.

At some point, it’s worth pointing out that it wasn’t the centralized system that stopped terrorism in this instance. As with the shoe bomber, as with the plane that went down in Shanksville, Pa., it was decentralized citizen action. The plot was foiled by nonexpert civilians who had the advantage of the concrete information right in front of them — and the spirit to take the initiative.

Really, the whole thing is worth a read.

Goals for 2010...

Last year was the first year I posted my goals for the New Year online (I don't really believe in "resolutions", if I need to make a change I should just make it, no need to wait for Jan 1st) so let's see how I did and look forward to 2010...

2009 Goals -

• Complete one road race per month
  - Nope. I missed May & June while recovering from back surgery.
• Post at least 3 times a week (a log book is only as good as the entries you put in)
  - Nope. I think I blew that one in March.
• Complete a half-marathon and get my 5k times below 27 minutes
  - Close. I did the Half, but didn't get under 27 (27:38 was my fastest)
• Raise $2,500 for this year's Get Your Guts In Gear Ride
  - Nope. I didn't even get to ride

The good thing about not reaching last year's goals is that it's easier to set this year's. Here are the 2010 goals -

• Complete one road race per month
• Post at least 3 times a week
• Finish the Sun Run 10k under 60 minutes / 5k times below 27
• Raise $2,500 for this year's Get Your Guts In Gear Ride

Hopefully I'll do better this year!

Friday Morning Pick Me Up...

Here's a reach for you... While the song itself isn't exactly festive (though it is a nice upbeat song), it does feature a New Year's Eve tradition of "dancing". Here is Wired Magazine's Keepon dancing to Spoon's "Don't You Evah";

There were some good parts to the first decade of the 2000's, but in general I'd rather not go through all that again so as much as I love this song, I really hope it's wrong. Here are the Propellerheads featuring Shirley Bassey with "History Repeating";

The movies of 2009...

Here's an amazing compilation video of the movies of 2009...

Friday Morning Pick Me Up - Christmas Edition...

...And I can't think of any more Christmasy then Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song";

Happy Christmas everyone!

Yes Virginia...

I think what makes the story of little Virginia O'Hanlon's letter to the New York Sun so cool is that it's true; both in the fact that it really happened, and that Santa does exist. Happy Christmas...

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O'HANLON. 115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Uncover Ostomy...

I don't have an ostomy, but I know plenty who do (including my good friend D who first twigged me to this site). Ostomies have allowed them to get back to doing what they want (say, riding 210 Miles for instance?) and living full lives. Yet, there's a stigma around getting an ostomy, so I wanted to quickly highlight one young woman who is working to change that...

Jess is a college student, and with the help of IDEAS and UOAA (one of Get Your Guts In Gear's beneficiaries) she's created a site called Uncover Ostomy which is "...an online awareness campaign shaping a positive conversation about the ostomy in social media spaces. We will be sharing positive stories and thought provoking images—dare we say sexy?—to spark this conversation."

People who are different for any reason will always be looked at and asked questions of, it seems to be a universal human trait, thank goodness for folks who willing to embrace that. Best of luck Jess.

Friday Morning Pick Me Up - Christmas Edition...

This will only be funny to people who have seen GrooveLily's wonderful holiday show "Striking 12", but I can't think of this song without thinking of these lines from the show...

Gene - "Remember that video they used to play on MTV in the early 80's? It was Bing Crosby sitting home alone in his comfy chair with his pipe, and there's a knock on the door, and who is it but his "neighbor" David Bowie. And Bowie comes in with his little orange spiky hair, and his zoot suit, and his thin tie, and they have this incredibly stiff, weird conversation, and then to make things even stranger they decide "hey, you know what we should do, we should sing 'Little Drummer Boy'". And even with that ridiculous setup, it still works, because you can't ruin 'Little Drummer Boy'!!"

He's right - You can't ruin "Little Drummer Boy", here are Bing Crosby & David Bowie with their version;

The video is just a compilation of shots from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", but it's the music that makes it for me. In general, I'm not a big Christmas music guy, but this song get's played every year. Here is the Vince Guaraldi Trio with "O Tannenbaum";

Christmas Lights Hero...

Here's a little Holiday fun from former Disney Cast Member Ric Turner (he worked in special effects which I'm sure you'll have no trouble believing when you see the video). Mr. Turner hooked up his Guitar Hero game to his light display the results of which you can see below (be sure to watch the very end).

You can actually play the game, say's Mr. Turner; "Even though the game is in "easy" mode, the lights don't provide the same timing detail as the game does, so it is much harder. Even expert Guitar Hero players have a hard time with the lights, and nobody has made it through without errors (yet)."

h/t Daily Mirror.

Friday Morning Pick Me Up...

The L&T and I were chatting about over produced music a while back. Say what you will about these ladies from New York, but over-produced probably wouldn't be one of them. This is just classic garage rock, a drum, a bass, and a guitar.  Shot in a "wrecked house" in Seattle, this is the Vivian Girls with "When I'm Gone";

From three instruments and little production to a whole slew of them! I was stoked to find this song on YouTube as it's one of my favorites. From the fantastic album "Pelican West", here is the fantastic Haircut 100, with "Fantastic Day" (see what I did there?);

Link to video for FB friends...

"The GOP's Misplaced Rage"...

Great article by a conservative economist. It's a little long but it's well worth reading the whole thing, here's the money quote;

"Until conservatives once again hold Republicans to the same standard they hold Democrats, they will have no credibility and deserve no respect."

"Supporting the troops"...

Bob Herbert has a great column up at the NY Times, you should really go read the whole thing, but for me this is the money quote;

The air is filled with obsessive self-satisfied rhetoric about supporting the troops, giving them everything they need and not letting them down. But that rhetoric is as hollow as a jazzman’s drum because the overwhelming majority of Americans have no desire at all to share in the sacrifices that the service members and their families are making. Most Americans do not want to serve in the wars, do not want to give up their precious time to do volunteer work that would aid the nation’s warriors and their families, do not even want to fork over the taxes that are needed to pay for the wars.
…
I don’t think our current way of waging war, which is pretty easy-breezy for most citizens, is what the architects of America had in mind. Here’s George Washington’s view, for example: “It must be laid down as a primary position and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal service to the defense of it.”

The next time you see some flag waving wingnut spouting how important the wars are, ask them about their service record or how much time they’re spending volunteering to help the troops that they “support”. Just don’t be surprised by the answer…

Quick hits...

It's Army v. Navy week! It was a little weird not having the game last weekend, but obviously I like the idea of it getting it's own week.

I just found out that the Game has a bit more meaning this year - If Army wins it becomes bowl eligible and will go to the Eagle Bank Bowl (if they lose, UCLA goes). It's nerve racking but cool that the Army v. Navy game will have more on the line than just Army playing for pride.

Speaking of football, very excited to see the BCS committee give a game to two non-automatic qualifier teams. They would have taken a lot of heat from the public had they stiffed BSU, but they were within their rights to do so. Boise State v. TCU should be a great matchup and I'm really looking forward to that game.

In a slightly surprise move, Navy will get Missouri in the Texas Bowl. Navy had an automatic bid to the game and the front runner for Navy's opponent had been Texas A&M, but there was a late change. I don't know anything about Mizzou, having only seen them play for about a half, but it should be interesting.

Tiger...

Look, I don't know what happened, and personally, I don't really care. What is making me crazy is his insistence that this is a "private matter" - It's not. You want a private life, then get a private job and give up your endorsements. When you're a public figure that's part of the job, we can debate whether or not it should be, but the reality is that it is.

ESPN's "Talented Mr. Roto" Matthew Berry sums it up best (sorry for the extend quote, but it's well worth reading the whole thing); 

But, there's one part of the story I am qualified to write about. Here's part of Tiger's statement that appeared on TigerWoods.com.

"But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy."

No. No, no, no, no, no, no. I can't tell you how angry this statement made me. And the fact there are so many others who seem to agree with it. Leave him alone! Well, guess what, Eldrick and the defenders of privacy? That's the gig.

No one gets it both ways. Tiger is not the first celebrity or athlete to have their private life written about by tabloids, blogs and mainstream press. Been going on forever. You knew that when you joined the PGA Tour, you knew it when you hired IMG to represent you at the very start of your career, you know it every single time you cash one of those oversized checks. (By the way, I demand that when Jaimee Grubbs and Rachel Uchitel sign to be in Playboy -- and trust me, it's coming -- they get paid with one of those oversized checks.)

Back on my high horse. The reason, Tiger, you get so much money for golf tournaments? Because of public interest. TV and sponsors pay a lot of money to tournaments, who in turn pay a lot of money to golfers, because of public interest.

You don't think the "Tiger Woods" of Archery (Im Dong-Hyun of South Korea, incidentally) wishes as many people loved archery as they do golf? He's among the top people in the universe at his solitary sport, just like Tiger, but has anyone heard of him? Exactly.

Tiger is not a spokesman for many fine products because he is a good golfer. He is a spokesman because he is famous for being a good golfer and that's an important distinction. Because he keeps winning tournaments that people are very interested in, he's paid a small fortune. According to Forbes, Tiger's current net worth is around $500 million.

I begrudge him none of it. He's earned every penny. But Tiger, don't you dare complain that all of the sudden magazines want to put you on the cover between a sad-looking Elin and a trashy-looking waitress or two instead of wearing a green jacket, smile on your face and putter in your hand.

Friday morning pick-me-up - Goonies edition...

So...The 1985 Steven Spielberg classic "The Goonies" was on the other day and it got me thinking about the video that Cyndi Lauper made for her tie-in single "The Goonies R Good Enough". It was a two part "event" with the first chapter released before the movie opened and the second afterward.

The video stared a who's who of 1980's professional wrestlers with the dearly departed Capt. Lou Albano reprising his role as Cyndi's "Pop", and bad guys played by The Iron Sheik, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Freddie Blassie, along with several others (including a surprise cameo by Andre The Giant), but it also included a lot of non-wrestling appearances - In addition to The Goonies from the film, it featured Roseanne Barr (who plays the Sea Hag), Steven Spielberg, and The Bangles (they're pirates on the ship in part 2). The whole thing was just bizarre and totally 80's which got me wondering... Could I find it?

God bless the Interwebs because Ladies & Gentlemen I'm proud to present the full 12 minute version* of Cyndi Lauper's "The Goonies R Good Enough";

* - Yes,it's long, but it's SO worth it. Here's the link for my Facebook friends.

Friday Morning Pick Me Up...

There's only one video this week, but it's well and thoroughly worth it. From the Muppet Studios comes the best rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" you'll ever see...

Link to video for my FB friends

Matt Taibbi is a genius...

...Which isn't news, nor is the fact that he's become a "must read" for me, but I think he really nails political coverage in America. He starts out talking about the Palin media coverage, but really he paints an accurate, but unfortunate, picture of the mainstream political coverage. The piece is titled "Yes Sarah, There is a Media Conspiracy". The whole thing is worth a read, but I think this is the key...

The political media has always taken it upon itself to make decisions about who is and who is not qualified to be taken seriously as candidates for higher office...

The tone for all this behavior is always set somewhere way up the corporate totem pole, and it always reflects some dreary combination of simple business considerations (i.e. what’s the best story and sells the most ads) and internalized political calculus (i.e. who is a “legitimate” candidate and who is an “insurgent” or a “second-tier” hopeful). It’s not that the reporters are making this judgment themselves, it’s that they have to listen to what the apparatus Up There is saying all day long — not just their bosses but the think-tank talking heads they interview for comments, the party insiders who buy them beers at night, the pollsters and so on.

And when all these people start getting in their ears about this or that guy doesn’t have “winnability,” or doesn’t have enough money to run, or has negatives that are insurmountable, all that thinking inevitably bleeds into the coverage. It’s not that the reporters are “biased.” They just don’t have the stones, for the most part, to ignore all the verbal and non-verbal cues they get from authority figures about who is “legitimate” and who isn’t.

Paying with someone else's blood...

David Broder at the Washington Post has an opinion piece up about the war in Afghanistan;

"It is evident from the length of this deliberative process and from the flood of leaks that have emerged from Kabul and Washington that the perfect course of action does not exist. Given that reality, the urgent necessity is to make a decision -- whether or not it is right." (emphasis added)

Really Mr. Broder? As of Friday morning 5,130 US Service men and women have lost their lives because the Bush administration just "made a decision" and didn't think about the consequences. But I guess it's pretty easy to rush into things around when it's not your arse on the line or your blood being spilled...

Friday morning pick-me-up...

Bob Schneider has a new single out, and the man sure knows how to turn a phrase;

Come out tonight, come out with me, baby.
We'll throw the careful into the crazy,
Turn the sky black into a sky blue,
Turn the close shave into a whoo-hoo.

We're like Romeo and Juliet, 40 dogs, cigarettes,
We're like good times that haven’t happened yet but will.
I can tell you where we're gonna be
When the whole world falls to the sea:
We’ll be livin’ ever after, happily.

Here is "40 Dogs (Romeo and Juliet)";

While we're on the topic of great lyrics here's a group that wrote some beautiful music as well. From Liverpool here is China Crisis with "Wishful Thinking";