Over the past few weeks, several articles have been published dealing with some of Shedd's Spot favorite subjects: Robert Byrd, Dan Snyder, the Washington Nationals. Seeing that the Shedd's Spot postings have been few and far between lately, I thought I'd share the articles with you.
A couple of days before Christmas, The Washington Post ran this story on the ol' Exalted Cyclops and how important he was to healthcare reform passing in the Senate. Three days after the article was published, The Post ran this brief feedback piece from the literary editor of The Weekly Standard that reminds readers of Robert Byrd's involvement in the Klan.
In early December, the Washington City Paper's Dave McKenna used his Cheap Seats column to sum up all of Dan Snyder's 2009 missteps. Read the column and get a laugh or two here.
On December 30th, soon to be ex-Washington Post Nationals beat reporter Chico Harlan wrote this Nats Journal piece on the 10 biggest Nationals developments of 2009. To me, the post affirms my claim the biggest mistake the Lerner family made since acquiring the team was keeping Jim Bowden as general manager. The team bottomed out in spring of 2009 with the Smiley Gonzalez scandal and, since then, the team has made massive positive changes in its front office. Unfortunately, those changes don't translate immediately to wins on the diamond. But, some of us have faith the team is finally headed in the right direction.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 36: LaWanda Page & Santa Claus
LaWanda Page, aka Aunt Esther, nearly comes to blows with Ol' Saint Nick over some Churches fried chicken.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Quickies
First up, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has reached a settlement with Fairfax County in a lawsuit in which the County claimed grease from a Krispy Kreme location in Lorton was clogging local sewer lines. To me this sounds like something that would happen in The Simpsons with a Krusty Burger location. And, just think what those doughnuts are doing to customers' inner plumbing if they're clogging up the sewer lines that much. Read The Washington Post story here.
And secondly, songwriter Aaron Schroeder died last week. Schroeder was known primarily for his songwriting, but he was also was a producer and artist manager. Schroeder had a string of hits recorded by Elvis Presley in the late 1950s and early 1960s that included "A Big Hunk o' Love", "Good Luck Charm", and "It's Now or Never". But, the list of other artists who recorded his songs is quite impressive. You can read about some of them and see a photo of Schroeder in a great Hugh Heffner style outfit here.
And secondly, songwriter Aaron Schroeder died last week. Schroeder was known primarily for his songwriting, but he was also was a producer and artist manager. Schroeder had a string of hits recorded by Elvis Presley in the late 1950s and early 1960s that included "A Big Hunk o' Love", "Good Luck Charm", and "It's Now or Never". But, the list of other artists who recorded his songs is quite impressive. You can read about some of them and see a photo of Schroeder in a great Hugh Heffner style outfit here.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Women Country Singers
Country Standard Time recently posted interviews with Patty Loveless and Rosie Flores. Seeing those pieces on the CST website made me think I should post several items relating to women in country music. Both Loveless and Flores have new CDs out. You can read the Loveless interview here and the Flores interview here. Rosie Flores performed as part of a benefit concert I attended at the Continental Club in Austin back in Sept. One of these days I'll post a blog entry of some type posted about that show.
Last year, Loretta Lynn gave this interview to Country Stars Central. The site has both the text and a podcast of the interview. If you can, listen to the podcast. I love the fact Lynn is still inviting the interviewer down to her house when Lynn's people tell her the interview time is over.
Earlier this year, My Kind of Country featured this interview with Connie Smith. Quite a few female country singers, Dolly Parton included, have said in interviews that Connie Smith is their favorite singer.
And finally, a few weeks back, I flipped my SiriusXM radio onto Johnny Knoxville's show. That week's theme was "Country Crooners With Big Cranks". Somehow Bea Arthur's version "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It" made the show. Go figure. You can hear that "masterpiece" here.
Last year, Loretta Lynn gave this interview to Country Stars Central. The site has both the text and a podcast of the interview. If you can, listen to the podcast. I love the fact Lynn is still inviting the interviewer down to her house when Lynn's people tell her the interview time is over.
Earlier this year, My Kind of Country featured this interview with Connie Smith. Quite a few female country singers, Dolly Parton included, have said in interviews that Connie Smith is their favorite singer.
And finally, a few weeks back, I flipped my SiriusXM radio onto Johnny Knoxville's show. That week's theme was "Country Crooners With Big Cranks". Somehow Bea Arthur's version "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It" made the show. Go figure. You can hear that "masterpiece" here.
A Full Moon Over Wisconsin
Shedd's Spot reporter "J.D." submitted this a while back. Unfortunately, it's a little less than an hour until tip off of the Duke-Wisconsin basketball game and I'm just now posting this. I forwarded "J.D.'s" email to a couple of folks I know who are originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Their reaction was "why is this guy from Richmond, Va. trolling the Madison, Wisconsin version of Craigslist?". Good question. Anyway, if you're watching the Duke-UW game tonight, look for the guy who placed the following ad.
Wanted: UW vs. Duke tix so I can stick my a** in Coach K's face - $1 (Madison, WI)
Seeking two tickets to the Dec. 2 UW mens' basektball game vs. Duke. Would prefer tickets somewhere in the lower level and near the team benches. I figure if I can get a seat close enough, I can at some point sneak down to the Duke bench, drop trou, and stick my hairy crack in Coach K's face. I've been wanting to do this for quite some time, so anyone who can help facilitate the dream on a budget would be most generous. I figure if there's one guy in the world who deserves to have a hairy, sweaty ass stuck in his face, it's Coach K. After all, he's been turning out team after team of cocky, whitebread under-achievers for the last two decades, and it's time someone showed him how the rest of the country feels about his brand of basketball.
When I say "budget," I should clarify that I can't afford your over-inflated mark-up if you're looking to make a buck on your seats. Sorry. But I have to figure in the cost of an indecent exposure/public disturbance citation into the cost, plus whatever I will have to buy my wife as an apology for my antics.
Wanted: UW vs. Duke tix so I can stick my a** in Coach K's face - $1 (Madison, WI)
Seeking two tickets to the Dec. 2 UW mens' basektball game vs. Duke. Would prefer tickets somewhere in the lower level and near the team benches. I figure if I can get a seat close enough, I can at some point sneak down to the Duke bench, drop trou, and stick my hairy crack in Coach K's face. I've been wanting to do this for quite some time, so anyone who can help facilitate the dream on a budget would be most generous. I figure if there's one guy in the world who deserves to have a hairy, sweaty ass stuck in his face, it's Coach K. After all, he's been turning out team after team of cocky, whitebread under-achievers for the last two decades, and it's time someone showed him how the rest of the country feels about his brand of basketball.
When I say "budget," I should clarify that I can't afford your over-inflated mark-up if you're looking to make a buck on your seats. Sorry. But I have to figure in the cost of an indecent exposure/public disturbance citation into the cost, plus whatever I will have to buy my wife as an apology for my antics.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Quickies
Ok, I just can't resist. It's too easy.....
Q: What's the difference between a car and a golf ball?
A: Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
Q: What does Tiger Woods have in common with a baby seal?
A: They both get clubbed by Swedes.
Q: What did Tiger Woods' wife do with the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving dinner?
A: She made him a club sandwich.
And finally...
Mrs. Woods: I hit him six times with a 7 iron.
FL Highway Patrolman: Six times?
Mrs. Woods: OK, give me a four.
Q: What's the difference between a car and a golf ball?
A: Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
Q: What does Tiger Woods have in common with a baby seal?
A: They both get clubbed by Swedes.
Q: What did Tiger Woods' wife do with the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving dinner?
A: She made him a club sandwich.
And finally...
Mrs. Woods: I hit him six times with a 7 iron.
FL Highway Patrolman: Six times?
Mrs. Woods: OK, give me a four.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Time Killers: The West Va. Music Hall of Fame
(Shedd's spot has been on hiatus again because of work. I hope I can get things cranked back up and keep it going.)
During past visits to West Virginia, I've made posts that jump all over the place. So, I think I'll keep this on one subject, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
A couple of weeks back, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame inducted its third class of honorees. Among the class were country pioneers the Bailes Brothers and country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins. Over the years, there were four Bailes brothers who performed at different times, in different combinations as the Bailes Brothers. Of the four, only Homer Bailes, age 87, is alive today. At the time this Charleston Gazette piece was written, Homer Bailes was en route from his home in Louisiana back to West Virginia for the Hall of Fame ceremony. So, most of the article's quotes on the Bailes Brothers came from Bailes' daughter. Here is my favorite quote from the daughter:
They were all ornery. They were whoremongers and alcoholics, but they loved each other, and they loved the music.
It won't probably surprise you Homer Bailes became a preacher later on in his life. Those sort of things happen a lot in country music.
I posted this Shedd's Spot piece back in March that features a video of Hawkshaw Hawkins performing "Car Hoppin' Mama" and you can read more about Hawkins in this recent Charleston Gazette article.
You can read more about the Bailes Brothers, Hawkins and the rest of 2009 class here.
One final note about the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. You shouldn't believe all the inductees were/are country performers. The Hall has also inducted Polka King Frank Yankovic and Chuck Berry's long time pianist Johnnie Johnson.
During past visits to West Virginia, I've made posts that jump all over the place. So, I think I'll keep this on one subject, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
A couple of weeks back, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame inducted its third class of honorees. Among the class were country pioneers the Bailes Brothers and country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins. Over the years, there were four Bailes brothers who performed at different times, in different combinations as the Bailes Brothers. Of the four, only Homer Bailes, age 87, is alive today. At the time this Charleston Gazette piece was written, Homer Bailes was en route from his home in Louisiana back to West Virginia for the Hall of Fame ceremony. So, most of the article's quotes on the Bailes Brothers came from Bailes' daughter. Here is my favorite quote from the daughter:
They were all ornery. They were whoremongers and alcoholics, but they loved each other, and they loved the music.
It won't probably surprise you Homer Bailes became a preacher later on in his life. Those sort of things happen a lot in country music.
I posted this Shedd's Spot piece back in March that features a video of Hawkshaw Hawkins performing "Car Hoppin' Mama" and you can read more about Hawkins in this recent Charleston Gazette article.
You can read more about the Bailes Brothers, Hawkins and the rest of 2009 class here.
One final note about the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. You shouldn't believe all the inductees were/are country performers. The Hall has also inducted Polka King Frank Yankovic and Chuck Berry's long time pianist Johnnie Johnson.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Quickies
This post will be all over the place. No theme, nothing tying it together, no nothing, period. So, strap yourself in.
First off, one night last week I was flipping around when I stopped on a program about the JFK assassination. It surprised the hell out of me to find out the famous Zapruder film of the assassination was shown publicly for the first time on a show hosted by Geraldo Rivera in 1975.
HBO's East Bound and Down is about to air for the first time in the U.K. Here's a brief BBC interview with the show's star and co-creator Danny McBride.
Commander Cody, minus the Lost Planet Airmen of course, has a new CD on the way. It's titled Dopers, Drunks, and Everyday Losers. Considering the Commander customizes "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)" to his own tastes with references to things like Thai sticks, the title of the new CD doesn't surprise me.
Unfortunately, Garth Brooks is coming out retirement. Here's a quote from his announcement:
We need to take back the music," Brooks said. "We don't realize how powerful we are. (Former CEO of Capitol Records Nashville) Jimmy Bowen told me that once, and he was absolutely right.
No ego in that quote, huh? This Country Standard Time blog post tells a little more about the annoucement, including Brooks adamant statement about his music not being available on iTunes anytime soon.
First off, one night last week I was flipping around when I stopped on a program about the JFK assassination. It surprised the hell out of me to find out the famous Zapruder film of the assassination was shown publicly for the first time on a show hosted by Geraldo Rivera in 1975.
HBO's East Bound and Down is about to air for the first time in the U.K. Here's a brief BBC interview with the show's star and co-creator Danny McBride.
Commander Cody, minus the Lost Planet Airmen of course, has a new CD on the way. It's titled Dopers, Drunks, and Everyday Losers. Considering the Commander customizes "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)" to his own tastes with references to things like Thai sticks, the title of the new CD doesn't surprise me.
Unfortunately, Garth Brooks is coming out retirement. Here's a quote from his announcement:
We need to take back the music," Brooks said. "We don't realize how powerful we are. (Former CEO of Capitol Records Nashville) Jimmy Bowen told me that once, and he was absolutely right.
No ego in that quote, huh? This Country Standard Time blog post tells a little more about the annoucement, including Brooks adamant statement about his music not being available on iTunes anytime soon.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Chefs, the Skins and Amarillo Slim (the use of "Chefs" was intentional)
Amarillo Slim, who is considered the world's greatest proposition gambler, once said "You can shear a sheep 100 times, but you can only skin it once". For those of you who aren't knowledgable about the world of gambling and cons, that basically means you can play a sucker for some of his money often, but you can only bankrupt him once.Here in the D.C. area, Dan Snyder has his hunting knife out and is starting to skin Redskin fans. After ten years of finding every possible way to reach into Redskins fans' pockets and pull out a dollar, Snyder is down to what may be his final con, putting the worst Redskins team in decades on the field and asking fans to continue to pay for admission to FedEx Field.
I won't list out all the scams Snyder has pulled over the years, Dave McKenna of the Washington City Paper is making a career of doing that. And, most everyone in the area read the series of articles a few weeks back in the Washington Post about ticket brokers getting first shot at tickets from the Redskins ticket office and the team filing suit against premium seat ticket holders who broke their multi-season contracts. But, none of Snyder's stunts compare to the fact Snyder continues to fancy himself a football operations expert after 10 years of Redskins mediocrity or worse and that he wants Redskins fans to believe it.
Finally, Redskins fans are seeing the light and realizing they are getting skinned. There are more and more empty seats at Fed Up...I mean...FedEx Field and fan reaction in the media outlets is one of disgust. Of course, we won't know for sure if the skinning is complete until those empty seats at FedEx Field are being driven by unsold tickets and not just no shows. Snyder's skinning of the Redskins fan base will be complete when the fans have turned the tide and put some pain in Snyder's pocket the way he has done the fans' pockets the last ten years.
Today's Redskins loss to the Chiefs continues the Redskins trend of helping teams in the midst of losing streaks break them. A couple of weeks back, I was in Missouri the day after the Chiefs got blasted by the Philadelphia Eagles 34-14. I gave the two sports radio stations in Kansas City a long listen that day while I was driving from Columbia to K.C. It was amazing how similar the calls into the station were to the calls received by the sports radio stations here in the D.C. area. There were the recurring themes in the calls of how the team had no direction, no talent and no hope. A common comment that day was "even Lions won yesterday" (the Lions had defeated the Redskins). For a while, I debated calling one of the stations to make a point I thought all those Chiefs fans were missing, at least they had a real football executive running the team since the Chiefs'owners had hired Scott Pioli away from the New England Patriots during the offseason. That alone puts the Chiefs one giant step ahead of the Redskins. Hell, today's game puts them two steps ahead of the Redskins.
________________________________
I'm thinking it's about time the Redskins were the subject of a commerical like this one that once used the Chiefs...I mean the Chefs...as the punchline.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 32: Good Hair
I'm hoping Chris Rock's new movie, Good Hair, is as good as some of the mocumentariy shorts he did on his old HBO show. If it is, the movie will be pretty damn funny. Here's a link to the movie's trailer on the movie's own website.
Meanwhile, here's a clip about hair from the aforementioned HBO show....
Meanwhile, here's a clip about hair from the aforementioned HBO show....
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Ralph Stanley Then and Now
Tomorrow, October 15th, Ralph Stanley's autobiography, Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times will be released. Ralph Stanley wrote the book with Eddie Dean, who I often, and with much respect, refer to as the King of White Trash Writers. Today, the New York Times ran this review of the book.
Back before Stanley broke out to a widespread, non-bluegrass audience thanks to his version of "Oh Death" being featured in the Coen brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Stanley was still just a founding father of bluegrass. That was Stanley's status in 1995 when Rebel Records released Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys 1971-1973, a four CD box set which chronicled some of Stanley's most productive years as a recording artist after his brother Carter's death in 1966. In December 1995, The Washington City Paper ran this review and brief Stanley bio which was also written by Eddie Dean. If you're not planning on reading the new Stanley autobiography, and most of you probably aren't, you should at least take a few minutes to read Dean's City Paper piece for an interesting look at an American legend.
Back before Stanley broke out to a widespread, non-bluegrass audience thanks to his version of "Oh Death" being featured in the Coen brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Stanley was still just a founding father of bluegrass. That was Stanley's status in 1995 when Rebel Records released Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys 1971-1973, a four CD box set which chronicled some of Stanley's most productive years as a recording artist after his brother Carter's death in 1966. In December 1995, The Washington City Paper ran this review and brief Stanley bio which was also written by Eddie Dean. If you're not planning on reading the new Stanley autobiography, and most of you probably aren't, you should at least take a few minutes to read Dean's City Paper piece for an interesting look at an American legend.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Quickies
There's only one quicky this week...
Some of you may have heard about this. An elderly woman was attacked by a "gang" of raccoons in Lakeland, Florida. I feel bad for the woman, but the local TV coverage there is way over dramaticized. Be sure to watch the news report videos that are also on this link. It really seems like reporter Dustin Chase is trying to turn this report into an Emmy winning report. And, Sherriff Turner speaks about the incident like the family of raccoons were members of a street gang.
Some of you may have heard about this. An elderly woman was attacked by a "gang" of raccoons in Lakeland, Florida. I feel bad for the woman, but the local TV coverage there is way over dramaticized. Be sure to watch the news report videos that are also on this link. It really seems like reporter Dustin Chase is trying to turn this report into an Emmy winning report. And, Sherriff Turner speaks about the incident like the family of raccoons were members of a street gang.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 31: The Fonz in a PSA
This clip was sent to me by "J.D." in Richmond. (I really should turn the Friday Frolics series of posts over to him.) This starts out a little slow, but stay with it. I have no idea who wrote this PSA, but I do really wonder what in the hell the were smoking.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Austin, Texas
This post if full of reading & video material on places in and around Austin that I didn't get to visit during my recent trip to Austin. In some cases, I visited these places during previous trips to Austin. With others, I've only heard or read about them.
First up, this piece tells the story of the weekly Chicken Shit Bingo sessions at Ginny's Little Longhorn. I've been to Ginny's several times in the past because some of my musician friends used to play there quite often, but I never made to a Sunday bingo session.
Back in August, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named Austin City Limits a historic rock and roll site. You can read it about here.
Finally, Broken Spoke owner James White talks about his Austin dance hall.
First up, this piece tells the story of the weekly Chicken Shit Bingo sessions at Ginny's Little Longhorn. I've been to Ginny's several times in the past because some of my musician friends used to play there quite often, but I never made to a Sunday bingo session.
Back in August, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named Austin City Limits a historic rock and roll site. You can read it about here.
Finally, Broken Spoke owner James White talks about his Austin dance hall.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Quickies
First off, and on a serious note, singer/songwriter/fiddle player Amy Farris was found dead in L.A. last week. Farris had recently been touring with Dave Alvin as part of his all woman band, The Guilty Women. An obituary from The L.A.Times can be found here.
Second, yesterday (Oct. 4) marked the 42nd anniversary of the debut of Leave it to Beaver on CBS. Have you ever wondered how in the hell in little Theodore Cleaver got the nickname "Beaver"? Me too. And, now since I mentioned the Beaver, I'm going to have the Kinky Friedman song "There's Something Wrong With the Beaver" stuck in my head all day.
Finally, the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards were given out last week. Although Dailey & Vincent won the big awards of Entertainer of the Year andVocal Group of the Year, the big winners were Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Cleveland won Fiddle Player of the Year, while bandmembers Marshall Wilborn and Jesse Brock won the awards for Bass Player of the Year and Mandolin Player of the Year, respectively. The group also won Instrumental Group of the Year and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for their recording of Bill Monroe's "Jerusalem Ridge". A full list of winners can be found here and a video clip of the band's recent appearance on the Katey Daly show follows.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 29: SCOTS
In honor of Southern Culture on the Skids' appearance today at the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival, here's a SCOTS video from way back when.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Midweek Time Killers from the Midwest
Greetings from Kansas City. Seeing that I'm in the Midwest, I thought I'd post a few pieces on things out this way.
First off, today's USA Today has this article on federal flight subsidies that keep airline service to rural destinations afloat. Most of airports served through the program are in the midwest, although...go figure...four of the airports are in West Virginia. (Big Daddy Byrd at it again.)
Second, Kansas City was home to one of the great franchises in baseball history, the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs. This MLB.com piece details the Monarchs 1942 championship. While reading the piece, take note of the different locations that hosted games in the championship series and the Homestead Grays attempted use of ringers.
Finally, this excerpt, from the book that accompanied the Ken Burns PBS series on the history of Jazz, explains a little about how the 1920s and 1930s were a wide open time in Kansas City.
First off, today's USA Today has this article on federal flight subsidies that keep airline service to rural destinations afloat. Most of airports served through the program are in the midwest, although...go figure...four of the airports are in West Virginia. (Big Daddy Byrd at it again.)
Second, Kansas City was home to one of the great franchises in baseball history, the Negro League's Kansas City Monarchs. This MLB.com piece details the Monarchs 1942 championship. While reading the piece, take note of the different locations that hosted games in the championship series and the Homestead Grays attempted use of ringers.
Finally, this excerpt, from the book that accompanied the Ken Burns PBS series on the history of Jazz, explains a little about how the 1920s and 1930s were a wide open time in Kansas City.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Quickies...Well Not Really
Today's Quickies post comes to you from Austin, Texas, where yesterday, I started my 2nd Annual Beer, BBQ & Tunes vacation. With the vacation comes my 2nd Annual You Could Win a Prize at My Expense Contest where my friends take guesses at how much weight I'll gain or lose on my trip. All the proceeds go to benefit the Good Sports of Arlington scholarship Fund.
I'm beginning to think someone is trying to send me some sort of message during this trip. Yesterday morning, I was picked up by for my ride to the airport by a cab driver of Middle Eastern descent who blasting Christian rock in his cab. Then, when I opened the back cover AmericanWay, the American Airlines in flight magazine, to see a map of American's Dallas terminal, I found this article first. It's a story on the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Barbecue in Huntsville, Texas, and the Barbecue's founder, Annie Mae Ward. Finally, as a long day was winding down last night at the Mean Eyed Cat in Austin, I noticed the stone in the picture above in the floor of the bar. There's nothing like drinking a PBR in bar named after a Johnny Cash song that was built on the site of a church.
In between a large lunch at the County Line BBQ and that last PBR at the Mean Eyed Cat, was a lot live music and Shiner at the Continental Club. The show featured several bands. (The poster in the picture shows the line up.) Closing act Rick Broussard and Two Hoots and a Holler put on a great set mixing some classic country shuffles with original rockers and country shuffles of their own.
It's time to wrap up this post and head south to Lockhart for some more 'Q. Photos from Day 1 can be found here.
I'm beginning to think someone is trying to send me some sort of message during this trip. Yesterday morning, I was picked up by for my ride to the airport by a cab driver of Middle Eastern descent who blasting Christian rock in his cab. Then, when I opened the back cover AmericanWay, the American Airlines in flight magazine, to see a map of American's Dallas terminal, I found this article first. It's a story on the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Barbecue in Huntsville, Texas, and the Barbecue's founder, Annie Mae Ward. Finally, as a long day was winding down last night at the Mean Eyed Cat in Austin, I noticed the stone in the picture above in the floor of the bar. There's nothing like drinking a PBR in bar named after a Johnny Cash song that was built on the site of a church.
In between a large lunch at the County Line BBQ and that last PBR at the Mean Eyed Cat, was a lot live music and Shiner at the Continental Club. The show featured several bands. (The poster in the picture shows the line up.) Closing act Rick Broussard and Two Hoots and a Holler put on a great set mixing some classic country shuffles with original rockers and country shuffles of their own.It's time to wrap up this post and head south to Lockhart for some more 'Q. Photos from Day 1 can be found here.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 28: Getting It In The Can
This week's frolic comes courtesy of "J.D." in Richmond.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Quickies
When I first saw this sign Saturday morning I thought to myself "that sign could be taken three ways". Unfortunately, 7-11 intended it in the least interesting of the three, a free coffee sample.
A few weeks back, "J.D." sent me this link to RunPee's website. RunPee is an application for iPhones that tells the user the best time to use the restroom during movies. Here's "J.D."'s commentary on the application.
There's a site called runpee.com that can be downloaded on the iPhone that tells you the best point in a movie to run out for a bathroom break if that XXL soda is aching to be set free. Something like "46 minutes in when George Clooney gets out of the car, you have 90 seconds before he starts nailing the chick". And when you return, it will tell you what you missed. Pretty neat idea, but I was particularly amused today when I found out the app was created by Carson Palmer.
And finally, most D.C. area sports fans were all over the Washington Post pieces a couple of weeks back about the Washington Redskins suing club level ticket holders who had defaulted on their contracts and the mystery surrounding how tickets were leaving the Skins tickets office and going straight to ticket brokers instead of being sold directly to fans. Dave McKenna has some follow up here in a recent Washington City Paper blog entry.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 27: Everybody's Doin' It
This week's frolic comes courtesy of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen featuring, among others, Billy C. Farlow on vocals, Bill Kirchen on lead guitar, Andy Stein on sax and the Commander himself on piano.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Three Politicians Who Wouldn't Go Away
What do a former Klan member, a man who wears toupees worthy of induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a man with a master's degree in chemistry have in common? They all have political constituencies that unconditionally love them.
With the passing of Ted Kennedy, West Virginia governer Joe Manchin is considering how he'll choose the successor to the ol' Exalted Cyclops himself, Senator Robert Byrd. I'd think the first step would be to choose someone who hadn't been in the Ku Klux Klan. According to this article, Byrd made only two of 56 roll call votes in the months of July and August.
Meanwhile, former congressman Jim Traficant was recently released from prison. This Washington Post article tells all about his welcome home rally. If talking about passing gas is a qualification for being a member of Congress, maybe I should run. Then again, I don't need a toupee...yet.
Finally, how could I let this post wrap up without including some reading on Da Mayor for Life, Marion Barry. By now, everyone has heard about Barry's recent problems with one of his lady friends. But, this Washington City Paper piece from mid-July details some of Barry's other exploits with city funds. Oh yeah, Barry really does have a master's degree in chemistry. Insert your own joke here. (I recently watched the HBO documentary The Nine Lives of Marion Barry. I hope to have a post on the film sometime in the near future.)
With the passing of Ted Kennedy, West Virginia governer Joe Manchin is considering how he'll choose the successor to the ol' Exalted Cyclops himself, Senator Robert Byrd. I'd think the first step would be to choose someone who hadn't been in the Ku Klux Klan. According to this article, Byrd made only two of 56 roll call votes in the months of July and August.
Meanwhile, former congressman Jim Traficant was recently released from prison. This Washington Post article tells all about his welcome home rally. If talking about passing gas is a qualification for being a member of Congress, maybe I should run. Then again, I don't need a toupee...yet.Finally, how could I let this post wrap up without including some reading on Da Mayor for Life, Marion Barry. By now, everyone has heard about Barry's recent problems with one of his lady friends. But, this Washington City Paper piece from mid-July details some of Barry's other exploits with city funds. Oh yeah, Barry really does have a master's degree in chemistry. Insert your own joke here. (I recently watched the HBO documentary The Nine Lives of Marion Barry. I hope to have a post on the film sometime in the near future.)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Quickies
This week's Quickies post is all about flying objects.
First, Japan's first lady elect claims she was abducted by aliens. She also claims she knew Tom Cruise in a prior life. No joke, read it here.
Second, my friend "Barton Street" sent me the link to this site that tracks the real distance of home runs.
Finally, if you would really like to join the mile high club, you can do it in suburban Atlanta for $379 through the help of Mile High Atlanta. If the plane is rockin', don't bother knockin'
First, Japan's first lady elect claims she was abducted by aliens. She also claims she knew Tom Cruise in a prior life. No joke, read it here.
Second, my friend "Barton Street" sent me the link to this site that tracks the real distance of home runs.
Finally, if you would really like to join the mile high club, you can do it in suburban Atlanta for $379 through the help of Mile High Atlanta. If the plane is rockin', don't bother knockin'
Friday, September 4, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Quickies
Starting this post on a rather serious note, I highly suggest you watch the episode of Frontline that airs tonight (8/31) on WETA (D.C. channel 26) tonight at nine. Poisoned Waters examines the problem of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound. I watched most of this program one night last week and found it interesting how far the clean up of the Potomac River has come in last 30 years. Yet, the modernizing of sewage treatment plants along the Potomac was just a first step in cleaning up the River and thus the Chesapeake. There is still a long way to go. If you can't watch or DVR the program tonight, you can watch it online here.
On a lighter note, I'm hoping, now that Jim Bowden is nothing but a bad memory to Nationals fans, that items like this one in the most recent Sports Illustrated stop popping up in the sports media. SI polled 380 Major League players asking them "Which player get the the least out of the most talent?". The top five includes two former Nationals and two current Nationals.
Finally, "J.D." sent me this link to a TV news story about a supposed 15 year old stripper and her very angry grandmother.
On a lighter note, I'm hoping, now that Jim Bowden is nothing but a bad memory to Nationals fans, that items like this one in the most recent Sports Illustrated stop popping up in the sports media. SI polled 380 Major League players asking them "Which player get the the least out of the most talent?". The top five includes two former Nationals and two current Nationals.
Finally, "J.D." sent me this link to a TV news story about a supposed 15 year old stripper and her very angry grandmother.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 25: Three Champs and a Baby
One of In Living Color's more memorable sketches. For some reason, I don't think making fun of Muhammed Ali's condition would be as accepted today as it was when this shot back in the early 90s.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Quickies
Truly, this will be a quick post.
First, a Facebook "friend" of mine from college recently posted a link to this story on his Facebook page. I think I've been friended by far too many "The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore" types.
Second, according to USA Today, the NFL wants enact these rules to cut down on binge drinking and its related side effects at games. Right.......
Finally, this clip posted on YouTube has some great photos from this past Saturday's unveiling of Chuck Brown Way in D.C.
First, a Facebook "friend" of mine from college recently posted a link to this story on his Facebook page. I think I've been friended by far too many "The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore" types.
Second, according to USA Today, the NFL wants enact these rules to cut down on binge drinking and its related side effects at games. Right.......
Finally, this clip posted on YouTube has some great photos from this past Saturday's unveiling of Chuck Brown Way in D.C.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 24: Southern Fried Rabbit
Those of you who are at least in your mid-30s probably remember the days when the Looney Tunes cartoons were a fixture on Saturday morning TV. And, there were plenty of other times you could watch Bugs, Daffy and the rest of the crew. Back in the 70s, no one seemed to worry if a cartoon was too violent or was politically incorrect (geez, that term didn't even exist back then). In the years since, things have changed mightily. First, the Looney Tunes were stripped of their playful brand of violence. Then, the more politically incorrect cartoons vanished from the airwaves. And finally, the Looney Tunes disappeared altogether from any major TV outlets. (The reasons behind that are fodder for an entirely different post.)
While being semi-comatose after a long day of work last week, it dawned on me I hadn't seen the Bugs Bunny cartoon "Southern Fried Rabbit" in years. It was one of the Bugs cartoons that disappeared sometime between the time I turned 13 and the time I graduated from college. Of course, the cartoon was both violent and politically incorrect. It starts with Bugs facing a carrot famine up north and deciding to schlep to Alabama where a record carrot harvest is taking place. I'll let you pick up the story from there when you watch the uncut cartoon which is included below.
But first, I have a related story. My cousin Tim and I lived together through most the 90s. One weekend during that time, the Cartoon Network aired a weekend long Looney Tunes Marathon. Tim taped every minute of the marathon in an attempt to get "Southern Fried Rabbit" on tape. Tim ended up finding that it aired at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, but he was very disappointed to find that roughly half the cartoon was not aired. All the scenes of Yosemite Sam getting blasted on were gone and another minute long scene from the middle of it were gone. Once you watch the cartoon, you'll know exactly what minute I'm talking about. Then, you can make your own decision...is this cartoon a piece of art lost to political correctness or is it a product of an era that's best forgotten? I think the regular readers know what I think.
While being semi-comatose after a long day of work last week, it dawned on me I hadn't seen the Bugs Bunny cartoon "Southern Fried Rabbit" in years. It was one of the Bugs cartoons that disappeared sometime between the time I turned 13 and the time I graduated from college. Of course, the cartoon was both violent and politically incorrect. It starts with Bugs facing a carrot famine up north and deciding to schlep to Alabama where a record carrot harvest is taking place. I'll let you pick up the story from there when you watch the uncut cartoon which is included below.
But first, I have a related story. My cousin Tim and I lived together through most the 90s. One weekend during that time, the Cartoon Network aired a weekend long Looney Tunes Marathon. Tim taped every minute of the marathon in an attempt to get "Southern Fried Rabbit" on tape. Tim ended up finding that it aired at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, but he was very disappointed to find that roughly half the cartoon was not aired. All the scenes of Yosemite Sam getting blasted on were gone and another minute long scene from the middle of it were gone. Once you watch the cartoon, you'll know exactly what minute I'm talking about. Then, you can make your own decision...is this cartoon a piece of art lost to political correctness or is it a product of an era that's best forgotten? I think the regular readers know what I think.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Elvis, Billy Lee and the Beach
First off, how could I let the 32nd anniversary of Elvis Presley's death go unmentioned this week? Of course, whoever wrote this wants you to believe The King of Rock and Roll is still very much alive. And, I thought the story about Elvis' long lost twin brother still being alive that I mention in this travel blog post was a little out there.
Second, rockabilly pioneer and overall wild man, Billy Lee Riley, died a couple of weeks back (August 2nd). I'm hoping to do a post on him in the near future, but in the meantime this lengthy interview with him covers most all of his career.
Third, it seems every year some local media outlet runs a story on the supposed debauchery that takes place in Dewey Beach and the locals' effort to stop it. The latest installment comes in this Washington City Paper article.
Finally, if you are really bored at work, you can check out the happnenings on the Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk on this Boardwalk Beach Cam.
Second, rockabilly pioneer and overall wild man, Billy Lee Riley, died a couple of weeks back (August 2nd). I'm hoping to do a post on him in the near future, but in the meantime this lengthy interview with him covers most all of his career.
Third, it seems every year some local media outlet runs a story on the supposed debauchery that takes place in Dewey Beach and the locals' effort to stop it. The latest installment comes in this Washington City Paper article.
Finally, if you are really bored at work, you can check out the happnenings on the Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk on this Boardwalk Beach Cam.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Quickies
I'm starting to think I should post weekly links to Dave McKenna's weekly "Cheap Seats" column in the Washington City Paper. McKenna seems to have it in for Dan Snyder and his money grubbing tactics more than I do. McKenna's latest column focuses on Snyder's use of adding "parking fees" to ticket prices for non-Redskin events at FedEx field.
The Washington Nationals announced recently the team had made a record breaking offer to Stephen Strasburg, the number one overall pick in this year's amateur baseball draft. That would mean the offer is more than the $10.5 million the Cubs gave to Mark Prior in 2001. I bolded amateur above to indicate Strasburg has never thrown a pitch above the college level. Still, his agent, Scott Boras, thinks Strasburg is worthy of the type of money paid to established veterans, although Boras may be the only one who believes that. I think many true Nationals fans, and I'm one of them, are to the point where it wouldn't bother us if the Nationals tell Boras and Strasburg to f**k off. Nationals color commentator Rob Dibble had this to say directly to Strasburg via Dibble's MASN blog and I think it summarizes the siutation fairly well. (Dibble reiterated these views during the broadcast of Saturday's Nationals-Reds game, using Drew Storen's negotiations with the Nationals as an example of what a young player should do once drafted.) The deadline for signing Strasburg, and all other 2009 draft picks, is today. My hope is that, if Strasburg doesn't sign, none of Boras' other clients are signed (he is the agent for 5 of the top 13 picks including the top 3) and that Boras loses credibility with amatuer players going forward.
The Washington Nationals announced recently the team had made a record breaking offer to Stephen Strasburg, the number one overall pick in this year's amateur baseball draft. That would mean the offer is more than the $10.5 million the Cubs gave to Mark Prior in 2001. I bolded amateur above to indicate Strasburg has never thrown a pitch above the college level. Still, his agent, Scott Boras, thinks Strasburg is worthy of the type of money paid to established veterans, although Boras may be the only one who believes that. I think many true Nationals fans, and I'm one of them, are to the point where it wouldn't bother us if the Nationals tell Boras and Strasburg to f**k off. Nationals color commentator Rob Dibble had this to say directly to Strasburg via Dibble's MASN blog and I think it summarizes the siutation fairly well. (Dibble reiterated these views during the broadcast of Saturday's Nationals-Reds game, using Drew Storen's negotiations with the Nationals as an example of what a young player should do once drafted.) The deadline for signing Strasburg, and all other 2009 draft picks, is today. My hope is that, if Strasburg doesn't sign, none of Boras' other clients are signed (he is the agent for 5 of the top 13 picks including the top 3) and that Boras loses credibility with amatuer players going forward.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Vaya Con Dios Les Paul
Music legend Les Paul died last week (August 13) at the age of 94. The innovations Paul brought to the world of music as a guitarist, a guitar builder and recording engineer may have no equal. In the last week, much has been written about Paul by writers who are far more informed about his career than me and I encourage you to seek out some of those peices out and read them. In the meantime, please read this article about Paul posted on PBS' website in 2006 to coincide with the debut of the American Masters program, "Les Paul: Chasing Sound". And, if at all possible, rent or buy the DVD of the program. You'll be astonished by the man's many accomplishments.
Tour de France Follow Up
A few weeks back, I made this post about happenings at the Tour de France that included telling about the financial problems the Tour's premiere team, Team Astana, was having. Team Astana member Alberto Contador went on to win the Tour with teammate Lance Armstrong finishing third. Right after that post was made, Armstrong announced he was starting his own team for the 2010 Tour de France and the team's primary sponsor would be Radio Shack. Immediately, speculation started regarding who would join Armstronng's team and what would happen to Team Astana.Once Armstrong made his announcement and the Tour was over, Contador and Armstrong started taking shots at each other in the media. The Contador-Armstrong war of words would make the spoiled brat drivers of NASCAR proud. Contador said “My relationship with Lance Armstrong is zero. He’s a great rider and he did a great Tour. Another thing is on a personal level, where I have never admired him and never will.” Armstrong fired back on Twitter (what does that tell you?) with "“Hey pistolero, there is no ‘I’ in ‘team’. what did I say in March? Lots to learn. Restated. Seeing these comments from AC . If I were him I’d drop this drivel and start thanking his team. w/o them, he doesn’t win. A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents.”
It's still up in the air as to what team Contador will ride for next year, but one thing is for certain, he won't be Armstrong's teammate. Contador is still under contract to Team Astana thru 2010, but wants out. According to this L.A. Times blog, Team Astana, which is sponsored by the Kazakhstan based Astana Group, has no intentions of letting Contador walk. So, while Armstrong starts his own U.S. based team, the Spainard, Contador, may be forced to worship the hawk for another year. But, no matter where Contador ends up, the 2010 Tour de France looks to be a soap opera that could be aired in the place of the The Guiding Light or Days of Our Lives for three weeks.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 23: Stevie's Dark Secret
Regular Shedd's Spot readers know I found the first season of HBO's East Bound & Down to be freakin' hilarious. I've mentioned the show here several times. A while back I watched the extra material included in the DVD set. One of the DVD extras is the scene that follows that didn't make the final cut of the episode it was shot for. After you watch it, you'll understand why. It's even more wrong than anything included the show. Needless to say, you probably won't want the dialog from this clip being heard in the office. And finally, have any of you readers ever "FDR'd" anyone?
(To see the full, wide screen version of this clip, click on the clip after it starts playing to go directly to YouTube.)
(To see the full, wide screen version of this clip, click on the clip after it starts playing to go directly to YouTube.)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Midweek Time Killers...The Castles
Back in February, I wrote a post on the Thrillbillys celebrating the 5th anniversary of their regular gig at the Sunset Grille. Head Thrillbilly Johnny Castle formed the band to play in the Thursday night spot vacated by Bill Kirchen when Kirchen moved to Austin in 2004. After seeing the Thrillbillys last week, I began to think it was time for everyone to learn a little more about Johnny...and his wife Jana. First, is this Eden Amp artist interview with Johnny that discusses his playing style and a lot of the folks he has played with over the years. Second, is this recent Washingtonian interview with Johnny's wife, Jana, that discusses her 38 year career as a waitress. Jana has spent half of that time waiting tables at the Red, Hot & Blue in Laurel, MD. I guess it's true that there is hard working woman behind every musician.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Quickies
Today's Quickies post continues coverage of two subjects Shedd's Spot just can't resist, Stormy Daniels potential Senate run and Dan Snyder screw ups.I heard on the radio a while back that adult film star, and potential Senate candidate, Stormy Daniels had been arrested on a domestic violence charge for hitting her husband, among other things. (Maybe she's leaving "regular" porn and moving on to S&M porn and she was practicing for a different type of role?) But, besides Stormy's look in the mugshot to right, the strange thing about this story is that Daniel's political advisor in Louisiana, Brian Welsh, had his car blown up. You can read about both events in this New York Post article.
The latest round of bad publicity for Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder actually has nothing to do with the Redskins. Instead, it involves Six Flags, the bankrupt amusement park chain Snyder controls. Shedd's Spot regular reader, "Barton Street", sent me this link to a recent item from the Washington City Paper that discusses Six Flags second quarter results.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Shedd's Spot Has Been on Hiatus
What do you get when you combine a lot work and some time visiting family out of state? An unfortunate, unnanounced hiatus for Shedd's Spot.
I'm sure there is a multitude of things I could write about, but let's keep it simple to begin with and talk about three men who have birthdays today, August 8th, Frank Howard, Mel Tillis, and Webb Pierce.
Frank Howard was one of the few bright spots in the history of the expansion Washington Senators. Howard came to the Senators from the L.A. Dodgers in a trade prior to the 1965 season. In L.A., Howard had been a part time player. Once arriving in D.C., he became a full time player who put up monster home run numbers in a non-steroid age, including a tear in May 1968 when he hit 10 homers in 20 at bats. Recently, there has been talk of Howard joining the Washington Nationals in some capacity and the Nationals will give away Frank Howard bobbleheads at their August 22nd game againt the Brewers. It's sort of funny they are not doing it tonight because tonight's game features an Adam Dunn bobblehead giveaway. This prior Shedd's Spot post features a link to an Nationals.com interview with Howard.
When most people hear the name Mel Tillis they think of a light hearted, stuttering singer who had a string of country hits in the 1970s and also did some TV and had a few roles in some Burt Reynolds movies. But prior to any of that, Tillis had a hall of fame songwriting career. The first hit he had as a songwriter was Webb Pierce's 1957 version of "I'm Tired", although not all the words were Tillis'. Prior to Pierce recording the song, Tillis had pitched the song to Ray Price at the Florida State Fair. Price took the song back to Nashville, but didn't record it. Instead, Pierce got wind of the song at the Grand Ole Opry one night as Price was singing it backstage. Pierce decided he wanted to record the song, but Price would only give him the first verse. So, Pierce took the first verse to songwriter Wayne Walker who wrote two additional verses that Pierce tacked on to Tillis' first verse. Tillis did not know about the Pierce recording of the song or the changes until he heard Pierce's record on the radio one night while still living in Florida.
"I'm Tired" was the first of many classic country hits Tillis wrote or co-wrote. Pierce recorded several more Tillis songs, inlcuding I Ain't Never", "Tupelo County Jail" and"Honky Tonk Song". (If you can believe it, the Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, coverered "Honky Tonk Song" on her 1975 LP I've Got What it Takes.) Ray Price had hits with "Burning Memories" and "Heart Over Mind". Probably the two most famous versions of Tillis compositions are Bobby Bare's "Detroit City" and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition's version of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town". When Rogers released his version of "Ruby" in the late 60s, many thought Tillis had written the song about a soldier who had been wounded in Vietnam. Instead, Tillis had written it about a man in his hometown who had been wounded in World War II. (I'm surprised someone hasn't covered the song in the past few years, slightly changing the words for the song to be about someone wounded in Iraq.)
In 1984, Tillis released his autobigoraphy, Stutterin' Boy. The book is by no means high brow reading, but includes dozens of great stories about the golden days of Nashville in the 1950s and 1960s. Any fan of real country music history would find it an entertaining read.
Nowadays, Webb Pierce is widely remembered for his flashy style as much as his music. For years, buses ferried hundreds of tourist a day past Pierce's Nashville home to see his guitar shaped swimming pool. But, for a time from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, Pierce was one of the hottest country stars going. Maybe I'll write more about Pierce in the future, but for now you can watch him perform the afforementioned "I'm Tired" in appearance recorded prior to Pierce overdosing on rhinestones.
I'm sure there is a multitude of things I could write about, but let's keep it simple to begin with and talk about three men who have birthdays today, August 8th, Frank Howard, Mel Tillis, and Webb Pierce.
Frank Howard was one of the few bright spots in the history of the expansion Washington Senators. Howard came to the Senators from the L.A. Dodgers in a trade prior to the 1965 season. In L.A., Howard had been a part time player. Once arriving in D.C., he became a full time player who put up monster home run numbers in a non-steroid age, including a tear in May 1968 when he hit 10 homers in 20 at bats. Recently, there has been talk of Howard joining the Washington Nationals in some capacity and the Nationals will give away Frank Howard bobbleheads at their August 22nd game againt the Brewers. It's sort of funny they are not doing it tonight because tonight's game features an Adam Dunn bobblehead giveaway. This prior Shedd's Spot post features a link to an Nationals.com interview with Howard.
When most people hear the name Mel Tillis they think of a light hearted, stuttering singer who had a string of country hits in the 1970s and also did some TV and had a few roles in some Burt Reynolds movies. But prior to any of that, Tillis had a hall of fame songwriting career. The first hit he had as a songwriter was Webb Pierce's 1957 version of "I'm Tired", although not all the words were Tillis'. Prior to Pierce recording the song, Tillis had pitched the song to Ray Price at the Florida State Fair. Price took the song back to Nashville, but didn't record it. Instead, Pierce got wind of the song at the Grand Ole Opry one night as Price was singing it backstage. Pierce decided he wanted to record the song, but Price would only give him the first verse. So, Pierce took the first verse to songwriter Wayne Walker who wrote two additional verses that Pierce tacked on to Tillis' first verse. Tillis did not know about the Pierce recording of the song or the changes until he heard Pierce's record on the radio one night while still living in Florida.
"I'm Tired" was the first of many classic country hits Tillis wrote or co-wrote. Pierce recorded several more Tillis songs, inlcuding I Ain't Never", "Tupelo County Jail" and"Honky Tonk Song". (If you can believe it, the Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, coverered "Honky Tonk Song" on her 1975 LP I've Got What it Takes.) Ray Price had hits with "Burning Memories" and "Heart Over Mind". Probably the two most famous versions of Tillis compositions are Bobby Bare's "Detroit City" and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition's version of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town". When Rogers released his version of "Ruby" in the late 60s, many thought Tillis had written the song about a soldier who had been wounded in Vietnam. Instead, Tillis had written it about a man in his hometown who had been wounded in World War II. (I'm surprised someone hasn't covered the song in the past few years, slightly changing the words for the song to be about someone wounded in Iraq.)
In 1984, Tillis released his autobigoraphy, Stutterin' Boy. The book is by no means high brow reading, but includes dozens of great stories about the golden days of Nashville in the 1950s and 1960s. Any fan of real country music history would find it an entertaining read.
Nowadays, Webb Pierce is widely remembered for his flashy style as much as his music. For years, buses ferried hundreds of tourist a day past Pierce's Nashville home to see his guitar shaped swimming pool. But, for a time from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, Pierce was one of the hottest country stars going. Maybe I'll write more about Pierce in the future, but for now you can watch him perform the afforementioned "I'm Tired" in appearance recorded prior to Pierce overdosing on rhinestones.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume XX: I've Lost Track
A few weeks back, "The Arlington Rap" was all the rage. Now, we have Fairfax's follow up.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Two Very Different Subjects
According to this NPR interview with actress Beth Broderick, times are hard for Hollywood's working class actors. It seems the combination of bad ecomomic times, the explosion of reality television shows, and last year's writers' strike have caused the actress' annual income to decrease from a range of $300,000 to $500,000 per year down to $70,000 per year. During the interview Broderick says "Nobody wants to sit where I'm sitting and say, 'Hey, this is the reality. I did two movies, six guest-star spots and I starred in a one-woman show, and I'm not making any money. I'm on TV every day in every country in the world, and I don't make any money.' "
Meanwhile here on the East Coast, former Washington National Matt LeCroy has started a new career as minor league manager in the Nationals farm system. This recent Washington Times piece talks about LeCroy's new career and, of course, tells about the Nationals game in 2006 when the Astros stole seven bases in six innings while LeCroy was playing catcher. Then Nationals manager Frank Robinson pulled LeCroy from the game and then was brought to tears while talking about it in his post-game press conference. To me, that was Robinson's second finest moment during his tenure here in Washington. The first was the incident discussed in this previous Shedd's Spot post.
Meanwhile here on the East Coast, former Washington National Matt LeCroy has started a new career as minor league manager in the Nationals farm system. This recent Washington Times piece talks about LeCroy's new career and, of course, tells about the Nationals game in 2006 when the Astros stole seven bases in six innings while LeCroy was playing catcher. Then Nationals manager Frank Robinson pulled LeCroy from the game and then was brought to tears while talking about it in his post-game press conference. To me, that was Robinson's second finest moment during his tenure here in Washington. The first was the incident discussed in this previous Shedd's Spot post.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
What Do Borat and Lance Armstrong Have In Common?
This time every year while the baseball season is grinding toward the July 31 trade deadline and a lot of sports fans start getting impatient for NFL training camps to open, an international sporting event is going on in France (and Spain and Italy). That event, of course, is the Tour de France. I'd venture to say most casual sports fans know Lance Armstrong has come out of retirement and is in search of his eigth Tour de France title. But, beyond that, I think very few Americans know very much about the Tour or anything or anyone having to do with it.
Believe me, I'm no expert and there are a lot of things about team bike racing I have no clue about. But, a couple of things have caught my attention while dropping in on the Tour replay shows each night on Versus. The first is that this sports is pretty damn dangerous. There have been a few multi-rider pile ups in this year's Tour that have led to some riders leaving the Tour with injuries. Maybe the most notable was Armstrong's teammate, Levi Leipheimer, leaving with a broken wrist he suffered during a crash in stage 13. But, the most horrifying crash this year was a single rider crash in yesterday's 16th stage. Jens Voight apparently hit a bump while descending down a mountain at a speed somewhere between 40 and 50 MPH. Obviously, Voight was hospitalized after the crash.
Another item I found interesting is that the team that is considered the best, Team Astana, has been teetering on bankruptcy all through 2009. At one point earlier this year, the team's riders hadn't been paid in two months and cycling's governing body threatened to strip the team of its comptetive license unless the riders' pay was brought up to date. (And you thought the mothers of Elijah Dukes' children had a rough time of it collecting child support!) What makes this surprising is that Lance Armstrong is a member of Team Astana. Armstrong agreed to not take a salary when he joined the team, but that is not the case for the team's other riders, which include the aforementioned Leipheimer and current Tour leader Alberto Contador.
About this time, you're probably starting to wonder how a cycling "super" team can be in trouble financially. The answer is Team Astana's primary sponsor is the Astana Group, a collection of state owned businesses located in Kazakhstan. Yes Kazakhstan, native land of Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional character Borat. Although Borat may have made millions for Cohen, the real citizens of Kazakhstan and the country's businesses are stuck in a financial funk. And the funk is filtering down to Team Astana. The financial feasibility of the team is in question past the conclusion of this year's Tour de France, despite the fact Contador is all but a lock to win the Tour.
Earlier today Armstrong announced he has arranged sponsorship for the 2010 cycling season which will allow him to ride in next year's Tour, but no details were given. Maybe if we're lucky he'll ride for Team Borat...or maybe Team Bruno.
Believe me, I'm no expert and there are a lot of things about team bike racing I have no clue about. But, a couple of things have caught my attention while dropping in on the Tour replay shows each night on Versus. The first is that this sports is pretty damn dangerous. There have been a few multi-rider pile ups in this year's Tour that have led to some riders leaving the Tour with injuries. Maybe the most notable was Armstrong's teammate, Levi Leipheimer, leaving with a broken wrist he suffered during a crash in stage 13. But, the most horrifying crash this year was a single rider crash in yesterday's 16th stage. Jens Voight apparently hit a bump while descending down a mountain at a speed somewhere between 40 and 50 MPH. Obviously, Voight was hospitalized after the crash.
Another item I found interesting is that the team that is considered the best, Team Astana, has been teetering on bankruptcy all through 2009. At one point earlier this year, the team's riders hadn't been paid in two months and cycling's governing body threatened to strip the team of its comptetive license unless the riders' pay was brought up to date. (And you thought the mothers of Elijah Dukes' children had a rough time of it collecting child support!) What makes this surprising is that Lance Armstrong is a member of Team Astana. Armstrong agreed to not take a salary when he joined the team, but that is not the case for the team's other riders, which include the aforementioned Leipheimer and current Tour leader Alberto Contador.
About this time, you're probably starting to wonder how a cycling "super" team can be in trouble financially. The answer is Team Astana's primary sponsor is the Astana Group, a collection of state owned businesses located in Kazakhstan. Yes Kazakhstan, native land of Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional character Borat. Although Borat may have made millions for Cohen, the real citizens of Kazakhstan and the country's businesses are stuck in a financial funk. And the funk is filtering down to Team Astana. The financial feasibility of the team is in question past the conclusion of this year's Tour de France, despite the fact Contador is all but a lock to win the Tour.
Earlier today Armstrong announced he has arranged sponsorship for the 2010 cycling season which will allow him to ride in next year's Tour, but no details were given. Maybe if we're lucky he'll ride for Team Borat...or maybe Team Bruno.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 21: Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Tomorrow, July 18th, would have been Screamin' Jay Hawkins 80th birthday. (He passed away in 2000). I really was hoping to include a performance of his classic "Constipation Blues" here, but the one available on Youtube was kind of boring. So instead, you get this performance of "I Put A Spell on You" from Hawkins' 1994 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Midweek Time Killers: Baseball Old and New
The latest issue of Sports Illsutrated has this profile of legendary Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. The piece readily references the two classic (and obscenity laiden) Earl Weaver clips that are posted for posterity on YouTube and that have been featured here on Shedd's Spot, the Manager's Corner radio program and Weaver's 1980 argument with an umpire at Memorial Stadium. But more importantly, the piece describes how Weaver was a forerunner in using statistical analysis to judge player performance and match ups.
The same Sports Illustrated issue also features a couple of other profiles most old time Orioles fans may want to skip, a story on the 1969 Miracle Mets and a "where are they now" piece on former Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kent Tekulve.
Meanwhile, today's Harrisonburg Daily News Record includes this article on the first ever meeting between the Cal Ripken, Sr. League and Valley League All Stars. Both leagues are summer leagues for college baseball players. The Ripken League operates teams in and around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. while the Valley League operates teams in the northern half of the Shenandoah Valley. The game ended shortly before I began writing this post with the Ripken League winning 2-1.
And, if you haven't had enough baseball and Earl Weaver, you should be able to hear the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours musical tribute to Earl Weaver here.
The same Sports Illustrated issue also features a couple of other profiles most old time Orioles fans may want to skip, a story on the 1969 Miracle Mets and a "where are they now" piece on former Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kent Tekulve.
Meanwhile, today's Harrisonburg Daily News Record includes this article on the first ever meeting between the Cal Ripken, Sr. League and Valley League All Stars. Both leagues are summer leagues for college baseball players. The Ripken League operates teams in and around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. while the Valley League operates teams in the northern half of the Shenandoah Valley. The game ended shortly before I began writing this post with the Ripken League winning 2-1.
And, if you haven't had enough baseball and Earl Weaver, you should be able to hear the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours musical tribute to Earl Weaver here.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Quickies
Both of the items in this week's belated Quickies post are relatated to HBO. HBO recently launched the website Comedy Fetish where fans can watch clips from their favorite HBO comedy series. I watched a few clips from my favorite HBO comedy series, Entourage and East Bound & Down, only to be disappointed that the clips included are the more tame ones and, guess what, have all the foul language blanked out. If you dig deeper, you'll see the site is nothing more than a marketing ploy to sell DVDs thru Barne & Noble and downloads thru iTunes.
If you'll remember back a couple of years, HBO's Real Sports ran a story on the financial wizardry of form baseball player Lenny Dykstra. Then, earlier this year, Real Sports ran a follow up story on how Dykstra's financial empire was crumbling around him. Last week, Dykstra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Here's The Philadelphia Inquirer story. But, this recent CNBC interview with Dykstra is far more entertaining.
If you'll remember back a couple of years, HBO's Real Sports ran a story on the financial wizardry of form baseball player Lenny Dykstra. Then, earlier this year, Real Sports ran a follow up story on how Dykstra's financial empire was crumbling around him. Last week, Dykstra filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Here's The Philadelphia Inquirer story. But, this recent CNBC interview with Dykstra is far more entertaining.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 20: Furry Fetish
In honor of the new season of Entourage beginning this coming Sunday, here's a classic Johnny Drama scene.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Midweek Time Killers...Serena and The Fat Man
I'm beginning to think I should just turn over the Midweek Time Killers series of posts to "J.D" in Richmond. He seems to be turning me on to more and more of the reading material included here. Monday, "J.D." sent me an email with info on this column by Jason Whitlock which takes several shots at Serena Williams, despite her recent Wimbledon win. I'm not going to comment any further on the column. But, I am going to include a few links to other blogs and columns where the writers throw their two cents in on Whitlock's column. There is this blog from The Pitch-Kansas City that also has a great picture of Whitlock with some "entertainers". The Retort has this and there is piece is entitled "Fat Man Calls Serena Williams Overweight…F*cking Hypocrite!". I do think the title of the aforementioned "Fat Man..." piece holds some merit because Whitlock is shaped a lot like another man who is somewhat associated with Kansas City, Jimmy Rushing (pictured below), long time lead singer with the Count Basie Orchestra. And, oh yeah, Rushing's nickname was Mr. Five by Five. Hmmm...maybe Whitlock could adopt the name?
And finally, if you haven't had enough of Jason Whitlock, there is this 2006 interview with The Big Lead, which was conducted not too long after Whitlock's departure from ESPN's Page 2.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Politically Incorrect Nationals Report
Yesterday's Washington Times sports page included Mark Zuckerman's weekly Nationals Report. The lead item in the report was Shawn Hill, the talented but often injured starting pitcher the Nationals released during spring training, and his recent Tommy John surgery. As Zuckerman commented, many fans were upset about Hill's release and I readily admit I was one of them. But obviously, Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo made the right call on Hill.
After the item on Hill, Zuckerman went on to write about minor league pitcher J.D. Martin, who is putting together a fine season at AAA Syracuse, before moving onto some poor attempts at humor. One of those attempts happened to involve Adam Dunn's 300th career HR, which he hit Saturday. I had the pleasure of seeing the homer sail over my head in right field Saturday and be caught a fan further back in the upper deck. That fan happened to be William Sanders, a U.S. Army colonel, who just happens to be African-American. Sanders returned the ball to Dunn after the game and Dunn gave Sanders an autographed jersey and autographed balls in return. Of course, Zuckerman reports, in his attempt at humor, that Colonel Sanders "exchanged it for a bucket of chicken". I guess Zuckerman didn't actually see Sanders in person or see a picture of the colonel, but who knows. And, I have to think the sports editor at the Times wasn't paying much attention either. I guess that's what happens when a last place baseball team is being covered by a major city's second rate newspaper.
(As a footnote, I'll point out I love politically incorrect humor and do not want to sound hypocritical. Obviously, I've made several attempts at politically incorrect humor here on Shedd's Spot. But in my opninion, there is really no place for it in what is supposed to be a legitimate newspaper's reporting on sports or the news.)
After the item on Hill, Zuckerman went on to write about minor league pitcher J.D. Martin, who is putting together a fine season at AAA Syracuse, before moving onto some poor attempts at humor. One of those attempts happened to involve Adam Dunn's 300th career HR, which he hit Saturday. I had the pleasure of seeing the homer sail over my head in right field Saturday and be caught a fan further back in the upper deck. That fan happened to be William Sanders, a U.S. Army colonel, who just happens to be African-American. Sanders returned the ball to Dunn after the game and Dunn gave Sanders an autographed jersey and autographed balls in return. Of course, Zuckerman reports, in his attempt at humor, that Colonel Sanders "exchanged it for a bucket of chicken". I guess Zuckerman didn't actually see Sanders in person or see a picture of the colonel, but who knows. And, I have to think the sports editor at the Times wasn't paying much attention either. I guess that's what happens when a last place baseball team is being covered by a major city's second rate newspaper.
(As a footnote, I'll point out I love politically incorrect humor and do not want to sound hypocritical. Obviously, I've made several attempts at politically incorrect humor here on Shedd's Spot. But in my opninion, there is really no place for it in what is supposed to be a legitimate newspaper's reporting on sports or the news.)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Friday Frolics and Quickies All in One...Bikinis
The holiday weekend slowed things to a craw here at Shedd's Spot. Two baseball games and a lot of beer don't lend a lot of time for blogging.
According to Wikipedia, today (July 5th) marks the 63rd anniversary of the modern bikini. Of course, the modern two piece bathing suit known as the bikini was named after the Bikini Atoll, which was the site of U.S. nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958. An interesting aside here is that I once worked for a CPA firm that did the accounting for the the trust fund which managed the funds alotted to the Bikini natives by the U.S. government many years after the nuclear tests.
And staying on the subject of the bikini, I found it a little disturbing that so many women had the need to post videos on YouTube of their facial reactions during their first bikni waxing. Check it out for yourself.
Although she's not in a bikini, I don't think there are too many men in my age group who don't vividly remember this photo of Cheryl Tiegs from the 1978 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Ending this post with the past due frolic, here is a related Bud Light commercial from a few years back.
According to Wikipedia, today (July 5th) marks the 63rd anniversary of the modern bikini. Of course, the modern two piece bathing suit known as the bikini was named after the Bikini Atoll, which was the site of U.S. nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958. An interesting aside here is that I once worked for a CPA firm that did the accounting for the the trust fund which managed the funds alotted to the Bikini natives by the U.S. government many years after the nuclear tests.
And staying on the subject of the bikini, I found it a little disturbing that so many women had the need to post videos on YouTube of their facial reactions during their first bikni waxing. Check it out for yourself.
Although she's not in a bikini, I don't think there are too many men in my age group who don't vividly remember this photo of Cheryl Tiegs from the 1978 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Ending this post with the past due frolic, here is a related Bud Light commercial from a few years back.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Midweek Time Killers...Stupid and Serious Sports Stuff
Many D.C. area residents have probably heard about the awkward in game interview Senator John Kerry gave MASN's Debbi Taylor during one of the Red Sox-Nationals games at Nationals Park last week. I was at the game, so I didn't have the...uh....pleasure of seeing it, but the bulk of it can be read in this D.C. Sports Bog entry. If you dig a little deeper, it's easy to find more examples of Senator Kerry's stiffness and general lack of knowledge when it comes to sports. This Boston Herald column discusses a few of them.
A few weeks after being let go from Dan Snyder owned WTEM radio, Brian Mitchell speaks out about it to USA Today here. (I think it's time Mitchell and ol' CP, Clinton Portis, have it out in a celebrity boxing match. I know a certain fledgling charity in Arlington that would love to sponsor the match and collect the proceeds.) According to this Washington Post piece from a couple of weeks back, the managment of WJFK is planning a jump into full time sports radio. Maybe Mitchell can catch on there.
For a little lighter fare, that is not stupid, check out this WRC-TV website page which features Sonny Jurgensen's 1994 interview with Sammy Baugh.
And finally, "J.D." forwarded me this Jason Whitlock column about the recent HBO Real Sports piece on Jim Brown and Bill Russell. Seeing that Tiger Woods is in town for the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, it seems appropriate to post a link to the column because part of the column discusses Jim Brown's feelings toward Tiger Woods. That happens, of course, after Whitlock talks about his fascination with strip clubs. Who else would write "Jesus walked with prostitutes. Jason walks with strippers."?
A few weeks after being let go from Dan Snyder owned WTEM radio, Brian Mitchell speaks out about it to USA Today here. (I think it's time Mitchell and ol' CP, Clinton Portis, have it out in a celebrity boxing match. I know a certain fledgling charity in Arlington that would love to sponsor the match and collect the proceeds.) According to this Washington Post piece from a couple of weeks back, the managment of WJFK is planning a jump into full time sports radio. Maybe Mitchell can catch on there.
For a little lighter fare, that is not stupid, check out this WRC-TV website page which features Sonny Jurgensen's 1994 interview with Sammy Baugh.
And finally, "J.D." forwarded me this Jason Whitlock column about the recent HBO Real Sports piece on Jim Brown and Bill Russell. Seeing that Tiger Woods is in town for the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club, it seems appropriate to post a link to the column because part of the column discusses Jim Brown's feelings toward Tiger Woods. That happens, of course, after Whitlock talks about his fascination with strip clubs. Who else would write "Jesus walked with prostitutes. Jason walks with strippers."?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Quickies
The infomercial world lost its king over the weekend. Pitchman Billy Mays was found dead by his wife Sunday morning. The AP story via Yahoo is here. I recently told several friends I was considering being Mays for Halloween this year and I was already working up some imitation Mays pitches for products such as the human ass and beer. So, maybe I jinxed him.
Tomorrow (June 30) sees the release of the first season of HBO's East Bound and Down on DVD. For those of you who haven't seen the show, its storyline revolves around a former baseball phenom, Kenny Powers, who hits rock bottom and ends up back in his North Carolina hometown as a subsitute P.E. teacher. Powers is played by Danny McBride and series executive Will Farrell makes cameos as Ashley Schaeffer, the owner of the town's BMW dealership. I'm not a huge Will Farrell fan, but he is pretty funny as Schaeffer while wearing a Ric Flair-like wig. The show is probably one of the more poilitically incorrect TV shows made in recent years. The HBO short documentary on the making of the series can be seen here.
Finally, Freddie King's "Going Down" is used as the theme song for East Bound and Down. Here is King performing the song live.
Tomorrow (June 30) sees the release of the first season of HBO's East Bound and Down on DVD. For those of you who haven't seen the show, its storyline revolves around a former baseball phenom, Kenny Powers, who hits rock bottom and ends up back in his North Carolina hometown as a subsitute P.E. teacher. Powers is played by Danny McBride and series executive Will Farrell makes cameos as Ashley Schaeffer, the owner of the town's BMW dealership. I'm not a huge Will Farrell fan, but he is pretty funny as Schaeffer while wearing a Ric Flair-like wig. The show is probably one of the more poilitically incorrect TV shows made in recent years. The HBO short documentary on the making of the series can be seen here.
Finally, Freddie King's "Going Down" is used as the theme song for East Bound and Down. Here is King performing the song live.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 19: More Jones Big A**......
Back in April, "J.D." told me about the Jones Good A** BBQ and Foot Massage spot on Youtube and I quickly used it as a Friday Frolics post. Now, I think it's time to revisit the Jones line of products.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
David Brinkley and D.C. Weather
The weather forecast for this weekend looks like the typical D.C. summer forecast...hazy, hot and humid. We've finally turned the corner from a rainy spring that would make a tropical rainforest native feel at home to the summer weather most D.C. residents expect.One year at Jazz Fest, a New Orleans cabbie asked my friends and I where we were from. When we told him we were from D.C., he quipped "I bet you boys ain't used to heat and humidity like this". I tried to tell him it could get just as hot and humid here, albeit it only for a couple of months. After all, our Nation's Capital was built on a swamp. But, the cabbie would have no part of what I was saying.
I've often heard folks who live in the D.C. area say there really isn't a spring season here. Somehow, the weather seems to always go from chilly and wet to hot and humid, with not many "pretty spring days" in between. I know this sounds like a sweeping generalization, but I do remember seeing something years ago on TV that seems to support this belief.
Not too long after I got out of college, I was nursing a Sunday morning hangover and watching This Week With David Brinkley. I vividly remember David Brinkley's end of broadcast commentary that morning. Someone (I don't remember who) had just published a study on the best and worst U.S. cities for weather as it affected lifestyle. Somehow it didn't suprise me when Mr. Brinkley passed on the the nugget that Washington, D.C. was the worst weather city in the country. The study had a rather narrow criteria, the annual number of days when the sky was sunny and the temperature was in the 70's. According to the study, D.C. averaged 10 such days per year. Every spring, I somehow remember that snipet from This Week and I try to count how many sunny and 70s days we've had. I never seem to get past five.
Midweek Time Killers...D.C. Music
A few years back, a few writers at The Washington City Paper compiled this piece which surveyed 40 D.C. music scene insiders as to what pieces of local music were their favorites. My favorite quote from the piece is:
“I’m sure you’ll get a lot of votes for ‘Da Butt,’ and I do think ‘Da Butt’ is a f*cking great song. There’s no way around that,” says Mark Noone, lead singer for the Slickee Boys, who ultimately chooses the Slickees’ own 1983 single, “When I Go to the Beach.” “Not just because I wrote it,” he says. “I just think it turned into kind of a D.C. anthem.”
For those of you who haven't seen the Slickee Boys video for "When I Go to the Beach", you now have no excuses.....
“I’m sure you’ll get a lot of votes for ‘Da Butt,’ and I do think ‘Da Butt’ is a f*cking great song. There’s no way around that,” says Mark Noone, lead singer for the Slickee Boys, who ultimately chooses the Slickees’ own 1983 single, “When I Go to the Beach.” “Not just because I wrote it,” he says. “I just think it turned into kind of a D.C. anthem.”
For those of you who haven't seen the Slickee Boys video for "When I Go to the Beach", you now have no excuses.....
Monday, June 22, 2009
Quickies
First off, Variety reports in this story that Columbia Pictures is scrapping the movie version of Michael Lewis' book Moneyball. The movie was to have starred Brad Pitt as Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane. The A's have a history of fielding competitive teams on a small budgets thanks to Beane's use of statistical analysis which allows the A's find productive young players who do not yet command outrageous contracts.
According to this Yahoo Sports piece, Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella doesn't "know a steroid from a reefer". FYI Lou, a reefer is a refrigerated rail car used for shipping food and perishables.
And speaking of Lou Pinella, here is a TV station flashback to 1992 when Pinella was the manager of the Cicinniati Reds and he got into a tussle with then Reds relief pitcher, and now Washington Nationals color analyst, Rob Dibble.
Finally, I've done my share of Dan Snyder bashing here on Shedd's Spot and I believe he has deserved every bit of it and more. In an entry back in March, I mentioned how I had received mailings from the Redskins for a couple of years telling me I had risen to the top of the 200,000+ person season ticket waiting list. Everyone in D.C. with half a brain knows the length of that list is a bigger lie than anything that's ever come out of Marion Barry's mouth. Well, this April snipet in The Washington City Paper further proves it.
According to this Yahoo Sports piece, Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella doesn't "know a steroid from a reefer". FYI Lou, a reefer is a refrigerated rail car used for shipping food and perishables.
And speaking of Lou Pinella, here is a TV station flashback to 1992 when Pinella was the manager of the Cicinniati Reds and he got into a tussle with then Reds relief pitcher, and now Washington Nationals color analyst, Rob Dibble.
Finally, I've done my share of Dan Snyder bashing here on Shedd's Spot and I believe he has deserved every bit of it and more. In an entry back in March, I mentioned how I had received mailings from the Redskins for a couple of years telling me I had risen to the top of the 200,000+ person season ticket waiting list. Everyone in D.C. with half a brain knows the length of that list is a bigger lie than anything that's ever come out of Marion Barry's mouth. Well, this April snipet in The Washington City Paper further proves it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 18: The Arlington Rap
The link to this video was emailed to me this time last week by my friend and Shedd's Spot regular reader, Sam. Since then, it's been emailed to me at least half a dozen more times and five of my Facebook friends have posted on Facebook. I was told by another friend the video even got some play on the local NBC affiliate's evening news telecast. So, needless to say, it's caused quite a stir among those who live in Arlington now and those who grew up there.
Personally, I think the video is hilarious because it makes fun of one of Arlington's biggest problems, the self absorbed twenty and thirty something residents and all the "upscale" businesses they support. Within the first couple of days of watching this, I witnessed four people pushing elevator buttons that were already lit and saw more brown flip fops than I could count. Some of my friends who live in L.A., lower Arlington, were quick to point out that it appears as if the video was shot completely in north Arlington along the Wilson Blvd. corridor and that lower Arlington, and its residents, shouldn't be lumped in with generalizations about other half of the county. That may be true for now, but a change is coming.
Personally, I think the video is hilarious because it makes fun of one of Arlington's biggest problems, the self absorbed twenty and thirty something residents and all the "upscale" businesses they support. Within the first couple of days of watching this, I witnessed four people pushing elevator buttons that were already lit and saw more brown flip fops than I could count. Some of my friends who live in L.A., lower Arlington, were quick to point out that it appears as if the video was shot completely in north Arlington along the Wilson Blvd. corridor and that lower Arlington, and its residents, shouldn't be lumped in with generalizations about other half of the county. That may be true for now, but a change is coming.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Midweek Time Killers...The One and Only Blelvis
This week, the belated Mid-Week Time Killers post consists of just two items and they both are about Blelvis. The first is Eddie Dean's 1998 Washington City Paper profile of Blelvis. The second is Monica Hesse's article on Blelvis that appeared in The Washington Post in 2007, on the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.
If you went out in dowtown D.C. in the late 80s or 90s, you may have run across Blelvis on a street corner or performing in a bar like D.C. Space. At the time Eddie Dean piece was written, Blelvis was down on his luck. The Post piece, written nine years later, doesn't focus as much on the Blevis' hard times.
Years ago, my cousin and I had a bunch guys we grew up with over one Sunday to watch football. One of the guys, let's call him "R.B.", was quite the Elvis fan, could sing a little himself and was also African-American. That Sunday, "R.B." told me with great pride how he and his boys had run into Blelvis downtown the night before and how Bleivis given "R.B." the great pleasure of singing a few songs with him. After singing a few Elvis numbers, "R.B." suggested they do a song by "R.B."'s all-time favorite singer, Sam Cooke. But, Blelvis would have no part of it and he left "R.B." to sing the Sam Cooke number on his own. Obviously Blelvis is a man of convictions.
If you went out in dowtown D.C. in the late 80s or 90s, you may have run across Blelvis on a street corner or performing in a bar like D.C. Space. At the time Eddie Dean piece was written, Blelvis was down on his luck. The Post piece, written nine years later, doesn't focus as much on the Blevis' hard times.
Years ago, my cousin and I had a bunch guys we grew up with over one Sunday to watch football. One of the guys, let's call him "R.B.", was quite the Elvis fan, could sing a little himself and was also African-American. That Sunday, "R.B." told me with great pride how he and his boys had run into Blelvis downtown the night before and how Bleivis given "R.B." the great pleasure of singing a few songs with him. After singing a few Elvis numbers, "R.B." suggested they do a song by "R.B."'s all-time favorite singer, Sam Cooke. But, Blelvis would have no part of it and he left "R.B." to sing the Sam Cooke number on his own. Obviously Blelvis is a man of convictions.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Quickies
This week's Quickies post will be real quick...First up this week, talk of porn star Stormy Daniels making a run for the Senate in 2010 has not subsided. According to this London Times piece from last month and this Politico blog entry from last week, Daniels has taken part in a "listening tour" around Louisiana as a first step toward a possible run. Luckily for Daniels, she just turned thirty so the minimum age requirement for the Senate won't be an issue.
And following up on this morning's entry on Thom Loverro's criticism of Rob Dibble, in which I discussed what might have been John Lownstein's greatest moment as a broadcaster, I give you this link to a blog entry by someone named the Urban Shocker that discusses what may have been Brother Lo's finest moment as player. In this time of controversy about how steroids have inflated baseball statistics, the following Lowenstein quote seems to put things in perspective:Nuclear war would render all baseball statistics meaningless.
Thom Loverro Hates Rob Dibble
Columnist Thom Loverrro has this column in today's Washington Times which is very critical of MASN's Washington Nationals telecast color commentator, Rob Dibble. Loverro's primary criticsm of Dibble is that Dibble is uninformed, especially when it comes to the Nationals pitching staff. This differs from other writers who have criticized Dibble for being too much of a homer, particularly when it comes to his use of "us" and "we" and encouraging words like "let's get two and get out of this" and "atta boy". Of course, as Loverro points out his column, Dibble's fan-like mentality has won over many Nationals fans.
For me personally, the jury is still out on Dibble as a commentator. I will readily admit I wasn't very enthused when I read during the offseason that he had been hired by MASN. And, during the first few weeks of the season I thought his criticism of rookie starting pitchers Sharon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann was a little too harsh. But, I will say Dibble's enthusiasm during the broadcasts is an improvement of the dull delivery of Don Sutton who seemed to talk about his playing days during game broadcasts as much, or more, than Dibble.
Speaking for myself, and I'm sure many longtime D.C. area residents will agree, the best local baseball television announcing team I've ever heard is Mel Proctor and John Lowenstein. They kept fans entertained and interested as they blended just the right mix of baseball knowledge and levity on Home Team Sports Orioles broadcasts from the mid-80s until the mid 90s . No one who saw it will ever forget the spring training game broadcast when Lowenstein yelled out the back window of the broadcast booth for the hot dog vendor on the ground outside the stadium to send two hot dogs up to the broadcast booth. Cameras stayed on the vendor as he bewilderdly looked around to see who was trying to get his attention. If I remember correctly, Lowenstein got his hot dogs a couple of innings later.
But, back to present and the Nationals. My friend and fellow blogger, Tadcranky, has a theory about the Nationals inability to sign upper level free agents. Tadcranky's theory is that as long as the Nationals appear as if they are going be awful the following year, no upper level free agent is going to sign with them. A premiere player is going to get the same the amount of money to play for a contender, or at least a team that will flirt with .500. So, why would the free agent sign with a team that may lose 100 games? I think the same theory holds true for broadcasters. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of studio analyst and color commentator jobs associated with Major League Baseball. So, why would a top tier TV analyst sign on to follow a losing team with a new and questionable fan base for the length of 162 game season?
For me personally, the jury is still out on Dibble as a commentator. I will readily admit I wasn't very enthused when I read during the offseason that he had been hired by MASN. And, during the first few weeks of the season I thought his criticism of rookie starting pitchers Sharon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann was a little too harsh. But, I will say Dibble's enthusiasm during the broadcasts is an improvement of the dull delivery of Don Sutton who seemed to talk about his playing days during game broadcasts as much, or more, than Dibble.
Speaking for myself, and I'm sure many longtime D.C. area residents will agree, the best local baseball television announcing team I've ever heard is Mel Proctor and John Lowenstein. They kept fans entertained and interested as they blended just the right mix of baseball knowledge and levity on Home Team Sports Orioles broadcasts from the mid-80s until the mid 90s . No one who saw it will ever forget the spring training game broadcast when Lowenstein yelled out the back window of the broadcast booth for the hot dog vendor on the ground outside the stadium to send two hot dogs up to the broadcast booth. Cameras stayed on the vendor as he bewilderdly looked around to see who was trying to get his attention. If I remember correctly, Lowenstein got his hot dogs a couple of innings later.
But, back to present and the Nationals. My friend and fellow blogger, Tadcranky, has a theory about the Nationals inability to sign upper level free agents. Tadcranky's theory is that as long as the Nationals appear as if they are going be awful the following year, no upper level free agent is going to sign with them. A premiere player is going to get the same the amount of money to play for a contender, or at least a team that will flirt with .500. So, why would the free agent sign with a team that may lose 100 games? I think the same theory holds true for broadcasters. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of studio analyst and color commentator jobs associated with Major League Baseball. So, why would a top tier TV analyst sign on to follow a losing team with a new and questionable fan base for the length of 162 game season?
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday Frolics, Volume 17: Bruno
The man gave us who gave us Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen, is back with a movie by one of his other characters, Bruno. The movie opens July 10th. You can see several of Bruno's "finest" moments at this COED Magazine link. (Thanks to "J.D." in Richmond for providing the link.)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
More Midweek Time Killers..."Don't Tase Me, Sonny" and Fishing in the Gulf
Remember when a University of Florida student was tased at a speech given by John Kerry a couple of years back and famously yelled "Don't tase me, bro"? Well, I'm thinking the recent tasing of a Texas grandmother is even more of a classic. I know that sounds awful, but after you watch the following news story from an Austin TV station, that includes police dash cam footage, I think you'll agree.
And of course, you have to love the fisherman who caught a live air to air missile in the Gulf of Mexico. Read about that here.
And of course, you have to love the fisherman who caught a live air to air missile in the Gulf of Mexico. Read about that here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)