Fried Rice Thoughts

Moving the Blog One More Time

2010-01-10T00:22:00.003-05:00

After moving from Blogger to Squarespace, I didn't anticipate moving my personal blog to another platform for quite some time. But sometimes, you get seduced when you don't expect it.

During the holiday break, I started playing with Posterous, and quickly became enamored. I love that I can post via e-mail, and can include audio and video clips rather easily. (The audio is especially appealing, since finding a satisfactory audio player has been difficult.)

So for the second time in less than six months, I'm moving my blog. You can now find me at The Casselbloggy (or at http://casselberry.posterous.com). I've actually been posting stuff over there for the last week or so, but realized I never made an announcement here. So if you've been clicking back here (as my friend A. has), hoping for some fresh content, I apologize. (And if you're someone who reads via RSS, here's my new feed.)

I probably never gave Squarespace a fair chance, but when you get that feeling, you just have to go with it. One thing I don't like about Posterous is that I can't install much sidebar content, and that's something I spent quite a bit of time working on in here. But I don't know how many people check out blogrolls anymore. And as much as I love Flash and Javascript widgets (especially my beloved Twitter widget), they tend to make a site load slower.

(I intend to keep iancasselberry.com alive. But it'll be more of what I originally intended: an archive of my work, an online resume, sort of a one-stop shop. In other words, a website, not just a blog. Now I just have to put some actual work into that.)

Once again, thank you for sticking with me as I keep moving around. Now that I'm not blogging at Bless You Boys full-time anymore, I plan to do a lot more writing. I'd like the new blog to be a bit more "stream of thought," with posts on all sorts of subjects - articles I've read, movie reviews, podcast clips, etc. - rather than "this is what I've decided to write about today." That approach always kept me going at BYB, and I don't see why it can't work here.

So please follow me over to The Casselbloggy (or the new RSS feed). And I should probably mention that you can also find me on Twitter and Facebook. I'll try my best to keep you entertained and informed enough to check back regularly.

We're Moving Out and Moving On

2009-08-17T12:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, here we go. I've had this in mind for a couple of months now, but procrastination (and baseball blogging) kept putting it off. I'm going to be moving El Bloggo from Blogger over to Squarespace.

I've been playing with their platform for most of the summer, and like all the toys they have to play with. I also like that I'll be able to create more of an actual website where I can archive some of my past writing.

For now, it'll be mostly a blog (which may or may not be a good idea, depending on who stops by). But once my days and nights aren't occupied by the Detroit Tigers, I'll see what I can really do with the site.

IanCasselberry.com is a bit narcissistic, I realize, and it's not as clever (or curious) as "Fried Rice Thoughts." Maybe I'll come up with something a little more creative down the line.

I don't plan to take this site down; there's a lot here that I'm proud of. But all of the old posts will also be archived over at the new place.

Thanks to everyone who has followed this blog over the past four years. I know it's not what it once was, when I gave this my full attention. But I hope you'll follow me over to the new site (and update your bookmarks, blogrolls, or RSS feeds accordingly, naturally), which I'll try my best to keep current (especially since I'll be paying for it now).

So please follow me over to IanCasselberry.com. (Here's the new RSS feed, too.) Hopefully, I can keep you interested and entertained enough to check it out regularly.

Quick Tigers Talk with SNY.tv

2009-07-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

I called in for a quickie chat with SNY.tv's "NY Baseball Today" this afternoon to preview the Tigers before this weekend's series with the Yankees. Host Ted Berg and I discussed Detroit's starting rotation, especially the one guy baseball fans outside Detroit and Toledo probably don't know much about.

So who has the sexier phone voice, me or Talking Chop's Martin Gandy?

Thanks to Ted and Jeff Goldman for inviting me onto the broadcast. It was fun to talk with them.

Coolest Trailer of the Summer?

2009-07-09T07:30:00.004-04:00

I caught this trailer before The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 a couple of weeks ago, and I think it's the best one I've seen this year. It was certainly the biggest surprise. To me, nothing makes a better trailer than one that makes you think you're to going to see one movie, then flips you over by the end.

For the first few minutes I was thinking, "Why is a trailer for a documentary showing before a big summer action movie? Did I go into the wrong theater?"

But a new trailer for District 9 has come out since then, the movie is about a month away from and maybe you've seen more of the viral advertising than I have and weren't as surprised. I just enjoyed being genuinely fooled for a few minutes (and am always excited by potentially good sci-fi flicks).

(The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 was pretty good, by the way. Even if John Travolta can't help but overact whenever he plays the bad guy. The dialogue was especially good, which it had to be, since that's kind of the entire movie. But I want to watch the original, which is now available on Hulu.)

Vote Brandon Inge to the All-Star Game!

2009-07-07T13:00:00.002-04:00

Okay, we've been lazy and cross-posting Detroit Tigers stuff here a bit too often recently. But since I have this other forum, in addition to Bless You Boys, I'd like to take advantage of it. Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge is one of five candidates for the last spot on the American League All-Star team, which is determined by online voting.

Inge has experienced a resurgent season, with a .269/.361/.513 average, and his 19 home runs are tied for the fourth-highest total in the AL. Combine those numbers with his usual stellar defense at third base, and you have arguably the Tigers' most valuable player this season and the second-best third baseman in the league.

Plus, he was nice to my mom back in February. How could you not vote for a guy like that?

Get Brandon Inge to the All-Star Game! Here's your ballot.

Vote often! Vote Inge!

And hopefully, we'll figure out just what we're going to do with this blog within the next couple of weeks. I've been piddling around too much over the past month.

This Week in Tigers Baseball Roundtable

2009-06-30T15:30:00.000-04:00

West coast start times for sporting events are kind of a killer for anyone on a regular daytime schedule, so if you're craving some Detroit Tigers talk around the time they'd be playing in the eastern time zone, a few Tigers bloggers might be able to help you out with that. Motor City Bengals will host a live roundtable discussion beginning at 7 p.m. EST tonight.

Panelists scheduled to join host Joe Dexter include J. Ellet from Eye of the Tigers, John from Tiger Geist, Greg from Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb and... me.

The show, called This Week in Tigers Baseball, can be heard through USTREAM. And if you can't listen to the live stream, a podcast will be available shortly thereafter. We'll be done in plenty of time before tonight's Tigers-A's game.

You can find the show here, and I believe you can submit questions and comments via Twitter through the podcast's main page. We hope you can tune in.

Talking Tigers on the Radio!

2009-06-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I appeared on WSGW (790 AM) in Saginaw to chat with our old friend Pat Johnston about the suddenly resurgent Detroit Tigers. (You might remember Pat had me on his old sports talk show a couple of times during the winter.)

Of course, the Tigers' recent play is a timely story, but I'm betting Pat also wanted a break from the news of the day (yesterday morning, that was Gov. Mark Sanford's indiscretions). A winning local baseball team is like opening the window to bring in a breeze.

So just how are these Tigers winning these ballgames? Who's been a surprise? Who's been disappointing? That's mostly what Pat and I talked about, along with discussing what improvements they could make in the weeks to come as they make what appears to be a solid playoff run.

Thanks again to Pat for inviting me onto the radio again. I always enjoy talking to him. (And I apologize for knocking him off balance with one of my comments during our conversation.

You can listen to an embedded audio clip below or download the file from the accompanying link.

WSGW_062509

Barack Obama, Insect Assassin

2009-06-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

For those who haven't seen this, do not interrupt Barack Obama when he's talking. The President of the United States will swat you into oblivion, m'er-f'er.

Coooollld blooooooded!

I highly doubt CNBC's John Harwood dared attempt any tough follow-up questions after that display. Notice him trying to compliment the President and get on his good side, lest he also find himself crushed with a smack of the hand.

Here's The Daily Show's take on it, in which Jon Stewart wonders if Obama has one of those "Terminator targeting systems" in his eyes.

Talking Tigers on RBI Radio

2009-06-16T14:00:00.002-04:00

I'm a few days late in posting this, but if you need something to listen to this afternoon or evening, and have about 24 minutes to kill, here's some audio from my appearance on RBI Radio last Thursday night. Basically, we had a "State of the Detroit Tigers" discussion up to this point of the season. No rants about Dontrelle Willis's eight-walk performance over the weekend, since we recorded before the Tigers-Pirates series.)

If you want to hear the whole show, you can listen via streaming audio at the RBI Radio home page or through TalkShoe.com. Of course, you can also download the podcast from the link at the bottom of this post. (Boy, I love listening to myself talk when "jogging" on the treadmill.)

Thanks to Joey H. for inviting me onto the show. It's always fun talking to him. And check out RBI Radio when you get a chance. (He's sick at the moment - which I'm pretty sure I had nothing to do with - so you can catch up on old shows for now.)

RBIradio_061109

Great Moments Are Born From Great Opportunity

2009-06-12T17:00:00.001-04:00

I'm sure Mike Babcock's pre-game speech to his Detroit Red Wings before tonight's Game 7 with the Pittsburgh Penguins was pretty good. But I'm still hoping it went something like this:

GO WINGS! Keep the Cup in Detroit!

One Thing I Like About Getting Older...

2009-06-09T12:30:00.003-04:00

When you're a kid, you never have time for the birthday cards that come with the presents.

Couldn't be less interested. Can't toss 'em aside fast enough. You read them because your parents reminded you to (or because you hope there's money in there).

But now that I'm older, I think I like the cards more.

(Don't get me wrong; a thoughtful present always hits the sweet spot. Or a really good meal.)

You know who you are. Thanks and love to each of you.

Familiarity in the Year 2009

2009-06-04T15:30:00.001-04:00

Clearly, we live in a new day and age when conversations like the one I had earlier today at Borders can take place.

Bookseller: [looks at my credit card, looks at me, squints] Is your name familiar to me?

Me: Um... Ian Casselberry?

[Bookseller shakes her head slightly.]

Me: Do we know each other? [I have never seen this woman in my life.] I... really don't know how to respond to that.

Bookseller: [laughs] I'm sorry. That is a weird question.

Me: Yeah.

Bookseller: Are you Facebook friends with [former co-worker of mine]?

Me: Yes!

Bookseller: Okay.

And that was it, folks. Nowhere we could really go from there, apparently. Signed the credit card receipt, took my bag, headed out the door, and walked through the parking lot in a daze, pondering what this life and culture has become in a very short time.

Today's Photo - 06/03/09

2009-06-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

I meant to post this earlier today, but a hilarious sidelight to last night's Tigers-Red Sox game was a wild squirrel chase. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, it was really the only entertainment of the evening.

The squirrel spent so much energy eluding the Comerica Park groundskeepers - running from one end of the outfield to the other, back to the infield, out to the bullpen - that the poor varmint eventually had to take a break. Here's a screen shot from the FOX Sports Detroit broadcast:

I'm not sure I've ever looked that relaxed in my life, though I've certainly tried.

You can read the whole story at BlessYouBoys.com, where we've also posted video of the chase.

Got to Get This into My Life

2009-06-02T19:30:00.003-04:00

I'm not a gamer (mostly for my own good), though I occasionally feel pangs of interest for playing Rock Band. The intro for The Beatles Rock Band doesn't necessarily make me want to run out to Best Buy and pick up the whole package. But damn, it looks really cool.

Is there any chance this could be made into a full DVD someday? (Or how about an IMAX film?) Just produce animated films for every song in the Beatles catalog. That wouldn't be too gargantuan a task, would it?

There Will Be Blog... Soon

2009-06-01T17:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks to those who have been stopping by to check for fresh content. I'm sure you've become tired of looking at a picture of my father for the past couple of weeks, regardless of its significance to me.

Those who know me - especially fellow bloggers - know I despise "Sorry for the lack of posts recently; life has gotten in the way" lameness, so I'm not going to subject you to that. And that wouldn't be true, anyway. Life hasn't gotten in the way. (Although perhaps I've gotten in my own way.)

But I am trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog next. With today being June 1, I was hoping to have some answers with a fresh page on the calendar, but this is taking longer than I thought it might. I'll get it together, though, because I take this stuff seriously. I haven't even written about Star Trek, for Spock's sake, and I loved that movie.

So I appreciate your patience, and intend to have something worth your time and attention up soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this commercial as much as I do:

That little girl cracks me up!

2009-05-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

Bring Back Morgan Freeman as Dracula!

2009-05-18T22:00:00.001-04:00

I forget if it's my mother or Ms. Hooz (or someone else entirely), but someone didn't believe me when I said that Morgan Freeman used to be on The Electric Company. Thanks to YouTube, I can now support that assertion. (Oh, Wikipedia mentions it, too.)

This might actually be a better clip, but there's no bath. Or singing.

(via Cinematical)

When You Can't Figure Out What Mom's Talking About

2009-05-10T12:00:00.002-04:00

I'm sure plenty of other people thought the same thing when they saw this on SNL last night, but this fits my mother so well. (And thus, it makes a perfect Mother's Day post.)

The only thing the Mom Translator is missing to make it perfect for Cecilia Casselberry would be a mental telepathy reader for those instances where Mom thinks I can figure out who she's talking about just by saying, "You know that woman... she's on the show you watched that one time... married to that actor."

(It's even worse when it comes to politicians: "He's either a Congressman or Senator... I think he's a Democrat, but he may be a Republican.")

Happy Mother's Day to you, Mom. I thank you for everything, and I love you.

Today's Photo - 04/22/09

2009-04-22T17:00:00.005-04:00

While on my morning "jog," I had to take a picture of this lonely postal truck, perhaps enjoying a moment of solitude, or just stretching out among all of the vast space now available at the almost totally abandoned, now in foreclosure, Georgetown Mall on Packard in Ann Arbor.

That used to be a Rite-Aid behind where the truck is parked. That parking lot used to have a hell of lot more cars in it. And the surrounding neighborhood used to have a place to pick up their pharmaceuticals, a postal counter, a pizza place, a tailor/seamstress, a hair salon, and an antiques shop. Kids who grew up nearby, such as myself, found a place to hang out as adolescents, or a place to work as they got a bit older.

Now, all that's left is a Kroger that's probably on life support, and a giant asphalt-covered, pothole-riddled, weed-infested eyesore.

'If You Build It, He Will Come'? Well...

2009-04-21T15:30:00.001-04:00

With today being the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of Field of Dreams, I thought this might be the time to confront one of my personal demons and make a confession "in print."

No, it's not that I didn't see the movie. Nothing like that. I've seen it several times. And if I'm flipping through channels and notice it's on, I'll watch. So I enjoy it, too. That's not what I'm confessing. The end made me cry like I was hormonal. "You wanna have a catch?" hit all those father-son issues - which I've always been a sucker for - right in the chest.

What I'm admitting today is this: I lived in Iowa for two years, and never once visited the actual "Field of Dreams."

I know, Shoeless Joe, I know. I can't explain it, either.

Iowa City is only a 90-minute drive from Dyersville, where the field is. (If my mother is reading this, it's actually a two-hour drive. Ahem.) And my two years at the University of Iowa included spending a summer there. Yes, I was taking classes the whole time (with a pretty heavy course load - really), but I couldn't have devoted a Friday or Saturday (or the random Tuesday) to making a trip?

However, I will point out that I did attend a lecture by the film's director, Phil Alden Robinson, when he visited campus, back in 2004 (probably to commemorate the movie's 15th anniversary). Does that take me off the hook at all? No, I know it's not enough.

Maybe the issue was that I would've visited Dyersville by myself, and thus wouldn't have been able to play catch with anyone. That may have led to some awkward situations.

"Excuse me, kid - can I borrow your dad for a bit? We'll be back in a half hour. Go play in the corn. I think I saw Lou Gehrig's ghost over there. Or maybe it's the dude who played Costner's dad, signing autographs. Oh, and I'm gonna need your mitt, too.

Okay, 'Dad,' I think we're about the same age, but let's have a catch."

If I had to name two things in this life that I truly love, baseball and movies would both be on the list. Yet I have to look at myself in the mirror each summer and try to deny the truth. When I watch Field of Dreams now, maybe those tears signify something else entirely.

"If you build it, he will come"? Apparently, the concept was lost on me.

Today's Photo - 04/20/09

2009-04-20T15:00:00.003-04:00

I got to meet a rock star last night! Well, I doubt Brian Vander Ark would be comfortable with that label. Nor would I use it, myself. I just tried to get your attention. (And perhaps distract you from the poor picture.)

Anyway, his show at The Ark last night was tremendously enjoyable. After a rough week that frequently put me in a bad mood, it was nice to just sit back and hear some good music. Vander Ark's lyrics make it easy to visualize his stories and escape for a couple of hours. Thanks to Rob (who's on the right of the photo) for inviting me to be his plus one, and introducing me to the headliner of the evening.

Skeet Football, Starring Matthew Stafford

2009-04-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

Just in case you missed it (as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is on, well, late), the possible (likely) first overall pick in Saturday's NFL Draft appeared on Jimmy Fallon's show Thursday night. For all those Detroit Lions fans wondering what sort of player they might be getting as of approximately 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, Matthew Stafford is lethal at skeet shooting with footballs.

That could be our quarterback, Detroit. (Though I'm among those who hope the Lions draft an offensive tackle, even though they really, really need a stud quarterback.)

The Lions are formally announcing their new logo and uniforms today (which have been the worst-kept secret in Detroit sports over the past few weeks). But maybe they should put a plate on the front of the jersey instead. Stafford would hit Calvin Johnson between the numbers every time.

Today's Photo - 04/19/09

2009-04-19T15:30:00.002-04:00

Quite the maître d' they have at Knight's Restaurant in Ann Arbor. He didn't seem too interested in accepting a tip for the shiny armor, though.

The Best Ad for Cotton Fabric Ever?

2009-04-16T13:30:00.003-04:00

Here's more, if you're really interested.

(via /Film)

The Wonder of the One-Year Wonder

2009-04-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

[The following post ran earlier today at Bless You Boys.]

Like many in the Tigersosphere (and baseball blogosphere) writing about Mark Fidrych over the past 24 hours, I didn't get a chance to see him play. Yet I almost feel as if I did, because The Bird was such an integral part of the baseball history and culture in Detroit. I was often amazed by how enthusiastically people remembered him. And as I said in today's Morning Prowl, whenever I saw Fidrych in interviews, it struck me how genuinely grateful he was for that season of glory in the major leagues, instead of bitter or remorseful.

My father became less of a fan as he got older, but it was obvious Fidrych meant something to him. He'd tell me all about him during our first trips to Tiger Stadium, enough that I immediately associated him with the Tigers, though his career had ended years before I ever went to a ballgame.

And that's what impresses me as I'm reading about Fidrych today, hearing stories on the radio, and watching footage on television. How many players with a career as short as Fidrych's - even though that rookie season (19-9, 2.34 ERA) was incredible - leave such a deep, lasting footprint on a fanbase? On a sport? As Joe Murray posted on Twitter, the Tigers have had plenty of other one-year wonders throughout their history. But none of them are remembered as fondly or vividly as Mark Fidrych.

Here's a memory I can share, however, if you'll indulge me:

I had a short career myself, as a sportswriter. And while working at Motor City Sports (now a website, under new ownership), a recurring assignment of mine was to write a feature on the 30th anniversary of Fidrych's rookie season. During the staff meeting, another writer offered to help me out, as he had a bunch of Fidrych stuff in his basement. I kind of got the feeling he really wanted the gig. And I briefly thought maybe he should get it, as he seemed to know more about The Bird than I did. But I wanted the challenge. And I wanted the chance to write about a player that held such a special meaning in Tiger Town.

Unfortunately, it never quite came together. We kept pushing the article back, as space was needed for more "timely" articles, either previews of upcoming seasons, or features that maybe didn't need quite as much lead time. (Plus, the publication schedule was kind of spotty, and issues were put down here and there.) Finally, just when it seemed like we might get the article in for an issue in the fall, I got a call from my editor.

"Did you see today's Free Press?" he said. Not yet. Why?

Michael Rosenberg had written a 30th anniversary feature on Fidrych for the paper. And all I could do was laugh. Of course that was going to happen. He was Michael Rosenberg, writing for the Detroit Free Press. I was just some wanna-be, writing for a start-up magazine that ended up folding less than a year later. Even if we'd had a chance to run a similar article, and just waited too long, it wasn't going to be seen by anywhere near as many people as Rosenberg's.

Besides, after reading the article, I was kind of relieved. Because my piece wouldn't have been as good. I can't kid myself. Ultimately, I was happy to just enjoy the story as a fan, rather than having it become work.

What I remember most from that entire process, however, is how easy it was to get ahold of Fidrych. I was used to going through the team for things like that, and figured I'd have to get some contact information from the Tigers. Plus, I thought it might seem more "legit" working through a more official channel. As it turns out, however, I didn't have to go to such trouble. Fidrych was in the phone book. Maybe that's not as unusual as I'm making it out to be. But to me, it sort of fits right in with his "normal guy" persona (I put that in quotes, because he's a bit more eccentric). Sure, call me up. We can chat.

Now, I kind of wish I'd pushed a little harder on that one.

Loser of Fun, Winner of Life!

2009-04-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

I'm a couple of days late with this, as the opening week of baseball season has swamped me. But as awful as Monday night was, from a sports standpoint - with the Tigers losing their opener, 9-5, and Michigan State losing the NCAA basketball championship game (to North Carolina!), 89-72 (and the game wasn't even that close) - there was a little ray of sunshine among all the clouds.

I won a NCAA tournament bracket! To be more specific, I won the bracket put together by Dan Levy and his On the DL podcast. You can view the final standings here, though I believe you need to be registered with CBSsports.com to view the page. I can't remember if I've ever won a bracket, though I recall coming close back in high school (and actually nabbing some prize money).

The bittersweet irony of the win, of course, is that the result that gave me the victory was the exact opposite of the outcome I was rooting for. The total surprise of it all is that I had written myself off, as I was way down toward the bottom of the standings after the third round of the tournament. As Dan pointed out on Tuesday's podcast, I came out of nowhere to steal the win. Getting the final two teams right (and, of course, the champion) will do that, I suppose.

And here I thought MSU was kind of a homer pick (while raising the flag for the Big Ten conference). However, I did think - as I said to several of my friends - that coach Tom Izzo does not waste a team. He knows how to coach through the postseason tournament, but if he has the talent and experience on his roster to win, they will get there. This year's run proved that yet again. MSU just happened to run into the best team in college basketball at the end.

Thanks to Dan for running the bracket for his listeners (and if you're a sports fan, you really should be listening to On the DL) and for being good to me as a sports blogger. What a pleasant surprise this has been.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to dance.

Dee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart

Twist Ending: Jordan Honored in Detroit

2009-04-07T13:30:00.001-04:00

Who was that tall gentleman being honored for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame during halftime of last night's national championship game in Detroit? Why, it was Michael Jordan! Maybe you've heard of the guy.

Pardon the term, but talk about a slam dunk. Is there any athlete in any sport worthy of such an honor more than Jordan? How long do you think the selection committee took to debate that one?

But what makes me want to post a short note about this is that it seems deliciously ironic that Jordan was recognized in Detroit, perhaps the one NBA city that, as my friend Big Al said on Twitter, doesn't universally worship him as a basketball deity. The rivalry between Jordan's Chicago Bulls and our Detroit Pistons was just too fierce, and I could be wrong about this, but I think some hard feelings still exist (though it's been quite a while now).

I'd also like to think that Jordan appreciated the irony of being honored in Detroit, as those knock-down, drag-out playoff series versus the Pistons truly forged him into the championship player he's now known as. Of course, Jordan was already a phenomenal talent. Maybe the best ever. But until he figured how to beat Detroit, he wasn't going to win it all. That rite of passage - something that used to be a standard in the NBA - is an important part of his legacy.

Happy Best Sports Day of the Year!

2009-04-06T13:00:00.002-04:00

Opening Day in baseball? College basketball's National Championship game tonight? The first Monday in April is the best sports day of the year. If only we were all allowed the day off today.

Normally, I would say the only thing to make this better locally would be for the Tigers to begin the season at home today, instead of tonight in Toronto. But with today's snow, baseball in Detroit would be a soggy bummer and probably postponed.

Besides, Michigan State playing at Ford Field (right next to Comerica Park) for the national championship is a more than suitable replacement. Growing up in Ann Arbor (and later studying at Iowa), I can't act like I'm a huge Spartans fan (though I did attend MSU for one year). But MSU certainly represents our state tonight. They're also a decided underdog, which is always more fun to root for. (And if they can beat a school from the south, it'd be that much sweeter. That's kind of my own personal issue, though.)

Between the Tigers playing at 7 p.m. and MSU tipping off after 9 p.m., it's going to be a fun night. Of course, it'll be even better if both teams end the evening victorious. (There's a bit more at stake for MSU tonight, however.) Oh, this will be glorious.

Today's Photo - 04/06/09

2009-04-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

You know, I'm always the guy who says there's going to be one more snowfall. In response, I usually get, "Why don't you just enjoy Spring?"

Yeah, I'll get to that, Sunshine. As soon as my back stops aching from the wet, heavy sludge I had to push off my driveway this morning.

This will not, however, harsh my Baseball Opening Day mellow. More on that later.

The Myth of the Fifth Third Burger Continues to Grow

2009-04-04T09:30:00.001-04:00

Perhaps you remember our post last week about the massive Fifth Third Burger that the West Michigan Whitecaps will be offering at its ballpark this season. Last week, CNBC's Darren Rovell sampled it, but when I found out about someone else who had actually attempted to eat the thing, I wanted to talk to him.

You can read my interview with XM Radio's Casey Stern over at Bless You Boys.

Oh, and just because, here's Padma eating a big burger of her own.

(photo via Big League Stew)

Today's Photo - 04/02/09

2009-04-02T19:00:00.000-04:00

My first baseball game of the season: the University of Michigan hosting Oakland University yesterday. It ended up being more about endurance than enjoyment, as the game lasted four hours with the temperature steadily dropping amidst consistently strong winds. U-M finally won, 14-13. Here's the Ann Arbor News recap.

I don't know why the hell this photo is so blurry. Dammit.

The Continuing Death of Newspapers Hits Home

2009-03-30T19:00:00.003-04:00

So I'm a week behind on this, but after picking up a Sunday edition of the Ann Arbor News yesterday, I remembered that I hadn't written anything about the paper shutting down as of July. Considering that I'm both an Ann Arbor resident who loves (or used to love) newspapers, that felt like an oversight.

What was surprising about the news was how surprising it still felt when it was actually announced. Anyone reading this who's picked up a copy of the A2 News lately saw this coming. That newspaper is but a shell of what it once was, the paper most of us grew up with and developed an affection for. And the decline has been steady for years.

The local arts coverage disappeared almost a decade ago. Reading syndicated film reviews in a town that supposedly covets quality cinema was incredibly disheartening. The paper also used to run music reviews and columns from writers that had a feel for what readers were listening to. They actually went to concerts and interviewed performers before they came to town. But those articles have been gone for a long time, too.

Even the sports page - which with the University of Michigan athletic program to cover would seemingly be the backbone of the newspaper - had dwindled to a near pamphlet over the past couple of years, with less than a handful of full-time reporters on staff. And this was a sports department that provided a springboard to national talents such as Jason Whitlock and Jeffri Chadiha.

The Michigan ice hockey team - a perennial national power in its sport - didn't warrant a beat reporter for road games. The baseball team, which had a notable run of success the past 2-3 seasons was barely noticed. Football still drew significant coverage, but the number of reporters covering games had clearly been cut, opening the door for the bigger Detroit papers to swoop in and beat them to stories.

Even the paper's top sports columnist, Jim Carty, thought so much of the paper - and his profession - that he chucked it all and went to law school last fall. (Fortunately, he's blogging like a madman, and has been all over the decline and fall of his former employer.)

And I haven't even gotten into the lack of actual news about what's going on in Ann Arbor. Stories chasing flashy concepts like commuter trains to Detroit and trolley cars downtown still get the front page, but if you want to find out what happened at city council meetings or various programs being implemented, you have to seek that information out for yourself. Granted, that's not the most exciting news, but isn't that the sort of thing a local newspaper should be focused on, rather than running syndicated articles on stories you've already heard or read about elsewhere?

When I moved to Iowa, my mother told me she and my father had decided to cancel their subscription, largely because Dad wasn't reading the paper anymore. He didn't have the energy to stay up and read the paper after dinner (the A2 News being an afternoon paper) like he used to. So the copies were frequently going from kitchen table to recycling bin untouched. Dad and I never really talked about it, but I wonder if perhaps he also felt the paper was no longer worth the effort.

Of course, when I wanted to hear what was going on back in Ann Arbor, Mom usually didn't have any local news to share. And I'd mock her for cutting herself off from the one source that might provide her with such information. But really, the paper wouldn't have given her much. And eventually, I found some of what I was looking for online. Sadly, that experience hasn't changed since I moved back here. The A2 News's website isn't bad, though the MLive.com platform (imposed by corporate ownership, I imagine) doesn't do it any favors, in terms of appearance or functionality. We got what we paid for, I suppose.

The hope is obviously that the new website that rises from the ashes of the fallen A2 News provides something more than what was previously available. But other than vague promises that AnnArbor.com will be "unlike anything we've ever seen," there's not a lot to go on. With only a few exceptions (the New York Times and Washington Post, to name two big publications), newspapers haven't "gotten" the internet very well. And maybe therein lies the promise. This won't be a "newspaper," per se. It'll be an online publication.

But as Jim Carty points out (I told you his blog was good), the people in charge not only all come from newspapers, they come from the publications that have now failed. Will they have learned from the mistakes that were previously made? Will the presumed freedom of a new venture allow them to provide us with the news source we've been lacking for so long? Or will people decide they prefer what the Ann Arbor Chronicle (run by former News staffers) has been doing -and quite well - since last fall?

Ultimately, it's just sad that the print product - some local flavor, a piece of a community - is being left to die. But if papers like the Rocky Mountain News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer couldn't survive, what chance does a publication like the A2 News have? Or is that exactly the kind of newspaper that should be surviving, because it serves a smaller region and doesn't require such a wide scope? Lamenting what could've been, along with the finality of it all, is what still managed to make this announcement so impactful.

For those who know me well, this might have a whiff of hypocrisy. I've been beating the "print is dead" drum for a couple of years now among friends and colleagues, finding more prosperity (relatively speaking) writing for a sports blog than I did for a magazine that eventually failed. I made an opportunity for myself, and it happens to have worked out. But I grew up loving newspapers, and always wanted to write for one. (Hell, my very first job was delivering the A2 News.) And I still buy them, though hardly as often as I used to (maybe once a week, and usually on Sundays).

But it would be nice to actually be excited by reading a local publication again, anticipating what I might learn or what someone has to say, rather than picking one up just because I need something to read at a diner or coffee shop. Local radio looked like it was dead, but might possibly be making a comeback with WQKL and WTKA. Here's hoping the same is possible for local news.

Happy Birthday, Dad

2009-03-27T18:00:00.000-04:00

The Best Heist Movie Ever Made

2009-03-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

I love heist movies. Something about the drama and suspense that comes with putting together the big plan, depending on events to move like clockwork, adapting when those events go out of sync (as they inevitably will), and covering for every contingency is utterly appealing in a story. Of course, it's even better if the prize is monumental, or the challenge insurmountable.

This is not one of those stories.

I haven't decided which fall I like best. I think it's the second one, because that looked like it really hurt. But the first one has some depth and complexity to it, when you factor in how his head hit the floor, bottles falling onto him, etc.

But no matter what happens to this guy, at least he doesn't have to admit he was arrested for "having relations with a car wash vacuum."

(via Aaron Gleeman.com)

Man vs. Burger... Lots of Burger

2009-03-26T21:00:00.001-04:00

Have you heard about the Fifth Third Burger? A massive bomb (4,800 calories) of a burger that will be offered this season at West Michigan Whitecaps games? If not, here's the breakdown:

Start with an 8-inch sesame seed bun that requires 1 pound of dough and is made specially for the Whitecaps by Nantucket Baking Co. of Grand Rapids.

Spoon on nearly a cup of chili and place five one-third pound hamburger patties on top of that. (Get it, 5/3 pounds of beef for the Fifth Third Burger?)

Add five slices of American cheese and liberal doses of salsa, nacho cheese and Fritos. Top it off with lettuce, tomato and sour cream, and you have a burger that can be sliced with a pizza cutter and feed four people for $20. Jalapenos are optional.

If a single person can consume the entire 4-pound finished product in one sitting, the team plans to give him or her a special T-shirt.

(In writing about the Fifth Third Burger for Bless You Boys, I noticed that the particular ingredients have changed since the burger was first announced. The incarnation that's now being promoted actually seems less disgusting. Maybe someone stepped in and said, "Whoa! Do you want to kill somebody? Take the Spam off that thing!")

But now, we have actual video evidence of someone eating the thing. Well, at least he took a bite or two of the burger. (Maybe we'll have to wait for Adam Richman to truly take this monstrosity on for "Man vs. Food.") I figured at least one or two people tried it, for quality control purposes or whatever, but this man was told he's the very first.

Ladies and gentleman, CNBC's Darren Rovell.

If Rovell (who named this the Minor League Concession Item of the Year) was trying to impress Erin Burnett, I think he may have failed. Or maybe she digs that sort of thing. It was kind of hard to tell, though she didn't seem as revolted as one might expect. I'm also surprised Jim Cramer didn't try to tear into that thing himself. Maybe he did, after Rovell was done talking about it.

You can see more at Rovell's blog.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I might be ready to become a vegetarian. (Or watch Padma Lakshmi eat a big burger instead. Mmm... Padma.)

(via Big League Stew)

Shellhead vs. Little Dragon

2009-03-26T18:00:00.001-04:00

Couldn't you use one minute (actually, more like 50 seconds) of awesome today? That is, if you haven't already seen this...

Not a surprise, really. If Bruce Lee could take down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, what chance did Iron Man have? (Spoiler alert, if you didn't actually click on the video.)

If 10-year-old Ian had access to a video camera and super-cool action figures like Iron Man and Bruce Lee, he might have tried to do something like this. Of course, it wouldn't have been any good, and he would've run out of patience after the first 10 stop-action poses. But he might have tried.

And I just found out Bruce Lee's gravesite is in Seattle. That might have to be added to the itinerary when I visit in May. That is, if Mis Hooz will abide.

The Detroit Tigers Lose a Legend

2009-03-24T20:00:00.002-04:00

[The following post ran earlier today at Bless You Boys.]

We have terribly sad news in Tiger Town today, as Hall of Famer George Kell passed away at the age of 86. According to reports, he died in his sleep early this morning at his home in Swifton, Arkansas.

Kell was a 10-time All-Star, six of those honors coming during his years with the Detroit Tigers (1946-1952). He also played with the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles in a 15-year major league career.

Perhaps his most sterling achievement as a ballplayer was beating out Ted Williams for the American League batting title in 1949, edging him out by mere percentage points. Kell was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983 by the veterans committee.

Kell was a third baseman almost exclusively throughout his career. And he pretty much remains the gold standard for that position in Tigers history. Just the other day, The Daily Fungo posted an item about the team's all-time third basemen, and the list is basically Kell and everyone else. (No offense to Aurelio Rodriguez.) The Spot Starters had him ranked #24 on its list of Top 100 Tigers.

I imagine most everyone reading this, however, remembers Kell more as a broadcaster for the Tigers from 1959 to 1996. And from 1975 to 1996, he was the team's television play-by-play man with Al Kaline. With all due respect to Ernie Harwell, for those who grew up watching the Tigers on TV, Kell was the voice of baseball, the voice of summer.

As a kid developing into a baseball fan, I remember being fascinated when my father told me that Kell once played for the Tigers. The whole idea seemed so amazing to me. I think it was my first realization that there was a history to the game, so much bigger and richer than what I was watching on TV.

And if you'll indulge my sharing one more memory - this one much more recent - the first thing I thought of when I heard the news of Kell's death was a phone call I got from the Fungo's Mike McClary. He'd just gotten in touch with Kell to do an interview on The Detroit Tigers Podcast, and it was like talking to a kid on Christmas. I could almost imagine Lil' Mikey's feet dangling off the couch while sharing the big news.

You can find that interview here. Mike just re-posted it.

A Blanket and a Napkin - with Sleeves!

2009-03-23T11:00:00.000-04:00

If only I could've gotten one of these before spending hours in front of the TV watching college basketball over the past few days.

(from Real Time with Bill Maher)

Michigan-Clemson in Two Minutes

2009-03-20T13:00:00.002-04:00

This was probably the most fun I've had on a Thursday night in quite a while.

Watch CBS Videos Online

CBS is really doing a good job with its online component to the NCAA Tournament, by the way. At one point yesterday, I was watching my computer as much as the television.

I'm pretty sure I pulled something when Manny Harris got that three-point play with 37 seconds left to give Michigan a 61-57 lead. Getting too old to jump up so quickly from a prone position like that.

Next time, I'll make sure I stretch out first. I'm just happy I get to watch Michigan play again on Saturday.

The Return of Michigan Basketball

2009-03-19T15:00:00.000-04:00

11 years is a long time to wait. That's how long it's been since the University of Michigan men's basketball team participated in the NCAA championship tournament. The long, joyless drought ends tonight at 7:10 p.m. EST when the Wolverines play Clemson.

College basketball hasn't been fun around here in a long time. As exciting as it was to see Michigan win a bid on Sunday to the tournament (maybe a little more exciting than it had to be, as CBS really made us sweat by waiting until nearly the end of the selection show to announce the Wolverines had made it), it'll be even more fun to watch John Beilein's crew play a meaningful game tonight. Go Blue!

Talking Tigers on BlogTalkRadio

2009-03-18T22:00:00.001-04:00

After a false start last week, Seth Stohs rounded up a handful of bloggers for an AL Central season preview on his BlogTalkRadio podcast.

We covered all of the notable Detroit Tigers stories from Lakeland this spring, including the competition for the fifth starting pitcher, the rise of rookies Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry, and the health of Joel Zumaya. And as one of my regular readers already called me on, I made my predictions for the order of finish in the AL Central.

Thanks again to Seth for inviting me on his show. We might chat again during the season when the Twins and Tigers play each other. I encourage you to listen to the entire podcast, as you'll learn what's going on with each of the Tigers' division rivals.

You can listen to an embedded audio clip below or download the file from the accompanying link.

sethspeaks_031709

Brian Fellow vs. The Parrot

2009-03-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

With Tracy Morgan reprising his Brian Fellow character last weekend on Saturday Night Live, Hulu brilliantly (and thankfully) posted a past "Safari Planet" skit.

I'd say that was the best one Morgan ever did, but I don't remember all of them. However, I do remember this one because The Rock was in it (playing a guy named "Denny McLain" from the Detroit Zoo), and because Brian Fellow yells at a parrot. That's crazy!

Talkin' Tigers with SethSpeaks.Net - Take Two

2009-03-17T18:00:00.001-04:00

This didn't work out last week, but Seth Stohs of SethSpeaks.net says he's ready for his AL Central preview show, so I'm scheduled to talk some Detroit Tigers baseball on his Minnesota Twins Weekly Podcast tonight on BlogTalkRadio. The broadcast will begin at 10 p.m. EST. I'll be on approximately 10 minutes after the hour.

I'm not sure who the other AL Central bloggers will be, but we'll be talking for about 10 minutes apiece on our respective teams. That should be enough time to bring up how many BYB readers hold serious grudges toward the Twins, right?

You can listen to the show at BlogTalkRadio.com, but if you miss it, a download of the show will be available later on for you to peruse at your discretion.

Once again, the show begins at 10 p.m. EST. Hopefully, you can tune in. Thanks to Seth for inviting me.

Today's Photo - 03/17/09

2009-03-17T17:00:00.001-04:00

After seeing all the students walk around campus with green t-shirts and beads, I was getting thirsty. And wouldn't you know, my fridge was fresh out of Diet Coke?

Happy St. Patrick's Day. I wonder if I can interest any of my neighbors in some beer pong?

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Jim Leyland

2009-03-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland waves to us, just in time for Green Beer o' Clock. (Of course, that may have been this morning for ~~most~~ some of you.)

I really should've picked up one of those green Tigers hats. Even if I'd wear it only once a year.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Be good out there.

How is Tracy Morgan Not on Animal Planet?

2009-03-16T13:30:00.001-04:00

When I saw that Tracy Morgan was returning to Saturday Night Live to host, I had only one wish for the episode: A "Brian Fellow's Safari Planet" skit. Thank you, SNL.

Why I think this character is so funny, I don't know. When I've tried to explain Brian Fellow to someone who hasn't seen it, I get blank stares in return. But somehow, Tracy yelling "I'm Brian Fellows!" to the camera just hits that funny bone. That's crazy!

Today's Photo - 03/15/09

2009-03-15T19:00:00.003-04:00

Winter is definitely over when the Dairy Queen on Packard opens for the spring.

Actually, I think it opened on March 2, when it was cold as hell outside. Not much of a line then. You can't see it in the photo, but there was quite a line at around 4:30 p.m. today. And everyone was in a good mood.

(Oh, and I'm sure you wanted to know: I got a small Heath Blizzard.)

Even Lex Luthor Needs a Bailout

2009-03-12T13:00:00.005-04:00

When the greatest criminal mind of our time (well, at least in 1978) can't even afford to bankroll another fiendish scheme to destroy Superman, you know our economy is really struggling.

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm - watch more funny videos

Maybe you need one of those Congressional hearings, Lex.

And a nice bald wig on Jon Hamm there, eh?

Perhaps this was also a tip of the cap to those in the geeksosphere who think he'd make a fine Superman whenever another one of those movies gets made. (I think I'd count myself among that group, though he might be a big too old for the role now. Seems crazy to say when Hamm's career is just catching fire, though.)

(via Geek Tyrant)

No Podcast Tonight

2009-03-11T14:00:00.002-04:00

UPDATE (9:30 p.m.): I've been out all day, and unfortunately, didn't get a chance to check my e-mail until just now. The podcast has been postponed for tonight. We'll probably do an AL Central roundtable of some sort next week. Apologies for the mix-up, and if you were planning to listen tonight, thank you.

# # #
Apparently, I just can't get enough of talking to people about the Detroit Tigers. (Or I just love hearing myself talk.) Seth Stohs of SethSpeaks.net invited me to appear on his Minnesota Twins Weekly Podcast tonight on BlogTalkRadio. The broadcast will begin at 10 p.m. EST.

I'm not sure who else is scheduled to appear, but I believe Seth will be talking to bloggers who cover Minnesota's rivals in the AL Central division. (I should probably bring up how many readers at Bless You Boys hold serious grudges toward the Twins, right? That could make things interesting.)

You can listen to the show at BlogTalkRadio.com, but if you miss it, a download of the show will be available later on for you to peruse at your discretion.

Once again, the show begins at 10 p.m. EST. I'm not yet sure when I'll be on, but I was told to call in by then, so maybe we'll start talking about the AL Central right away. Thanks to Seth for inviting me.

The Most Famous Jay Buhner and Ken Phelps Have Ever Been

2009-03-10T20:00:00.002-04:00

In a post I'm writing for tomorrow at Bless You Boys, I made a reference to Frank Costanza's infamous question to George Steinbrenner while the New York Yankees owner was presumably giving him bad news about his son. This is one of my favorite Seinfeld moments.

Just in case you were wondering why I'd post this video.

After seeing that, I sometimes used to fantasize about Tom Monaghan coming to my house and my father asking him how he could trade John Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander Of course, I also would be dead (or believed dead) in this scenario, so it didn't hold a lot of appeal to me.

If You Ever Need to Ditch 3 1/2 Pounds of Carrots...

2009-03-10T07:30:00.003-04:00

Is this video demonstrating the power of new toilet flushing technology fascinating or a little bit disturbing? I mean, really - how often is some of this stuff used to demonstrate flushing capacity going to find its way into your toilet?

null - Watch more free videos

After watching that, I'm reminded of shopping for new toilets last year as we suddenly had to remodel both of our bathrooms. The salesperson at Lowe's was raving about a toilet that could flush 10-15 golf balls. ("It does! I've tried it!")

While I appreciated that capability, I also wondered what I could possibly produce in the bathroom that would be the equivalent of a bucket of golf balls. Instead, maybe I should be thinking of incriminating evidence that I may need to dispose of someday. Maybe the next demonstration of toilet technology will have a foot sticking out of the bowl as someone tries to push it in, like with the woodchipper in Fargo.

(via Thompson on Hollywood)

Talkin' Tigers on the Radio: Spring Training Spectacular

2009-03-09T15:00:00.001-04:00

I was invited onto "The Benchwarmers" last night to talk Detroit Tigers and Spring Training on Toledo's WSPD (1370-AM). They gave me the thumbs-up to post some audio from last night's show, so here's a clip of my appearance. (I'm glad I got a chance to use that recording software again.)

The second hour of the show was their "Spring Training Spectacular," and we discussed how the team is looking so far, what important competitions remain (especially among the pitching staff), and whether or not some players can rebound this season. (Adam Van Arsdale from SB Nation's Cleveland Indians blog, Let's Go Tribe, was on later to discuss the his team's chances in 2009.)

Thanks to Jim Kushlan for inviting me onto the show, especially while the Toledo area was under a tornado warning. Somehow, the idea of people listening to some baseball talk while seeking shelter in their basement isn't entirely comforting.

You can listen to an embedded audio clip below or download the file from the accompanying link.

WSPD_030809

If Barack Obama Got Angry

2009-03-08T15:00:00.002-04:00

If you didn't catch Saturday Night Live last night, you missed Rahm Emanuel's fantasy about Barack Obama. (Actually, I think this is a fantasy many people share. And I'm not just saying that because my borderline man-crush*, The Rock -who got himself a feature in the Sunday New York Times - is involved.)

Gee, I think I'd like the president when he's angry.

I was going to call that Rahm Emanuel's wet dream, but I'm betting that'd involve him doing the smashing and throwing himself. And Andy Samberg's Emanuel continues to be hilarious.

* Why "borderline"? Because I wouldn't go to a movie just because The Rock is in it.

The Rorschach Test

2009-03-05T15:00:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day. Watchmen hits theaters, and I'll probably be catching a matinee. (I don't think I can do the midnight showing tonight for a near-three hour flick.) I'm at that point I often get to with movies like this, where I can't take any more hype.

I can't watch any more trailers online, I can't watch any more "sneak peeks" on TV, and I can't read any more reviews. (Though I've really enjoyed CHUD.com's video interviews with cast and crew.) And though Alan Moore's writing has brought great joy to my life over the years, I really don't give a shit what he thinks about his work being adapted because he's just trying to piss on everyone's parade.

I just want to see the damn thing.

At some point, probably when I'm sitting in my seat before the previews begin, I'll wonder if I've set myself up to be disappointed by getting so excited. (I read through the book one more time this week, which was probably a bad idea.) But really, Iron Man and The Dark Knight cooked a lot of that angst out of me. And I know by the time that WB logo hits the screen, I won't even care about that stuff because I'll still be in disbelief that a Watchmen movie has really been made.

In the meantime, however, I'll occupy myself with more promotional material, such as this video of the special effects used to create Rorschach's mask. So cool!

I can only hope we'll get a similar video detailing the work that went into creating Dr. Manhattan's big blue schlong, my favorite description of which is Cinematical's "dangling like a participle with no tomorrow."

♦ I can't post that Rorschach "Obamicon" image, without giving proper credit to the artist, Warren Hart. You can buy t-shirts with the graphic here.

♦ All the Watchmen footage released online, edited into one clip? Here you are.

♦ Salon.com has a new interview with Alan Moore.

♦ What would a Watchmen Saturday morning cartoon have looked like?

Cross The Daily Show at Your Peril, CNBC

2009-03-05T11:30:00.002-05:00

I thought David Letterman was glorious when he was cranky. Do not get on Jon Stewart's bad side, ladies and gentlemen. (Though I suspect he and his staff have had a rant against CNBC brewing for quite some time. Nine minutes of material?)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

No one likes to have their plans canceled. Doing it to someone with the bully pulpit of a TV show, however, is probably a really bad idea.

So how soon before CNBC tries to send Erin Burnett or Maria Bartiromo over as an olive branch?

(Meanwhile, the stock market continues its plunge toward Shitsville as I write this.)

Bitten by Bittman

2009-03-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

I've spent a lot of time reading Mark Bittman's blog and columns, viewing his video podcasts, trying out his "Minimalist" recipes in my kitchen (all available at NYTimes.com), and watching him traipse around Spain with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow. He's also influenced my eating, cooking, and shopping habits quite a bit in recent months. (As has, of course, our dear vegetarian friend Mis Hooz, over the years.)

So I was pretty geeked to see him on The Colbert Report Tuesday night to promote his new book, Food Matters.

Enthusiasm is a dish best shared, don't you think?

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Mark Bittman

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Rap Battle
Joke of the Day

And now, Bittman's on Twitter, too. Maybe I can get some ideas for dinner tonight from that.

Team Venezuela = Average Joe's?

2009-03-04T12:00:00.002-05:00

We try not to double-dip between blogs too much, but I thought this post from Bless You Boys might play well here, too.

For those non-baseball fans in the crowd, countries from around the world are taking part in an international tournament called the World Baseball Classic. And many major league players have just left their teams to participate. There's a distinct Detroit Tigers flavor to the Venezuela squad, with four of them playing for national pride. Yesterday, with the team taking the field for the first time, photos were released of their uniforms.

Here's a picture of Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez sporting the national togs:

As soon as I saw the uniforms, I started to get an itch in my brain. They looked so familiar to me, yet I couldn't quite place them. Then sometime after dinner, it hit me: They're the same outfits that Average Joe's wore in Dodgeball. Take a look for yourself. Now batting, Peter LaFleur:

As Pepper Brooks might say, "It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em."

(Either that, or he'd say, "Effin' A, Cotton, Effin' A!")

Today's Photo - 03/03/09

2009-03-03T17:00:00.001-05:00

I was going to snap a photo of the pothole problem on my street, which offically grew out of control this week, with at least eight problematic, rim-bending crevasses.

Fortunately, it appears that someone either contacted the city of Ann Arbor about the problem or perhaps waste removal crews complained that one of their trucks was almost damaged by these things. As of this morning, the holes were patched up.

So I didn't get the picture of a deep, tire-swallowing pothole that I wanted. Snooze, and you lose. I guess a smoother, less obstacle course-like drive will have to be a consolation.

Shaking a Fist at Twitter?

2009-03-03T09:30:00.003-05:00

I've had a few conversations with friends and colleagues about Twitter lately, some of whom feel "it's stupid" or they don't really get it. My response is that the mistake is to think that Twitter is just for one thing. It's what you make of it: A microblog, a RSS feed for your blog, a news feed for you, a social outlet to share experiences (like the inauguration or Oscars), a communication tool with other bloggers, networking with people in your field, etc.

However, I'm not sure that answer would do much for Jon Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Twitter Frenzy

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Of course, Twitter has that sort of "trendy" vibe, and I think that's what puts some people off of it. And when politicians, journalists, and broadcasters adopt it to look cool, doesn't that make it the opposite of cool? (I do believe, however, that some of those people are sincere about using as a communication tool.) But maybe I'm the wrong guy to talk to about this, because I love Twitter.

By the way, if you really are curious about Twitter and looking for a good explanation, I recommend two videos that Steve Isaacs posted as sort of a primer. (His vlog is worth a regular stop, anyway. Unlike, say, Samantha Bee's pretend one.)

'You Are Blind as a Bat, and I Have Sight... '

2009-02-27T11:00:00.002-05:00

You ever wake up with something in your head, and have no idea how it got there? For some reason, this classic SNL skit was on my mind first thing out of bed, with Joe Piscopo's Frank Sinatra voice providing the soundtrack. I'm just happy I found it (though disappointed it wasn't available on Hulu).

via videosift.com

Wow, was that really 1982? I don't think I could even stay up late to watch SNL back then. If I did, it was a victory for Young Ian.

Today's Photo - 02/25/09

2009-02-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Gee, is there a Watchmen movie coming out? You'd never know it from the offerings available on bookshelves and magazine racks.

That's not even including the dozens of copies of the graphic novel stuffed onto the bestsellers rack near the front of the store. The Official Film Companion, by the way, was pretty cool and almost renders The Art of the Film unnecessary. (Plus, it's like half the price. Hey, we're in a recession.)

And just so you know, no mothers with their children saw me checking out pictures of Dr. Manhattan's schlong.

The Dark Sprite?

2009-02-24T14:00:00.002-05:00

I generally enjoyed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, though it's doing the opposite of growing on me. The further I get from it, the less I think of it. (But I'll probably watch it again when it's released on DVD.) And I can't exactly put my finger on why that is - maybe because I'm not sure the movie really said anything - but Jimmy Kimmel might have figured out what was ultimately missing: Batman.

There we go. Now if Brad Pitt had gotten in some brawls and kicked a little ass, as he did in his other collaborations with David Fincher, maybe we would've had a Best Picture winner.

(via /Film)

Maybe Weed Makes the Oscars Funnier

2009-02-23T19:00:00.002-05:00

For the benefit of those who may have missed it (such as the person with whom I watched the last 1/3 of the Oscars telecast over the phone), here is the 'Pineapple Express' skit with James Franco and Seth Rogen, in which they celebrate the year in comedy.

The contented look on Franco's (or Saul Silver's) face as the talented young actor named James Franco (who deserved a Best Supporting Actor nomination) makes out with Sean Penn in Milk was my biggest laugh of the evening.

I suppose Janusz Kaminski filled in for Saul's bubbie?

And how about the shot taken at The Reader? Between that and the poke it took during Hugh Jackman's opening song-and-dance number, Kate Winslet had some bruises before she took the stage to accept her Best Actress award. Or was that the classic defense of making fun of yourself so others won't pick on you?

Here's a Comeback That Needs to Pay Off

2009-02-23T14:30:00.004-05:00

In another attempt to get past Mickey Rourke not winning Best Actor at the Oscars (as well as The Wrestler and Darren Aronofsky being overlooked when it came to nominations), we laugh to prevent ourselves from crying. (Maybe we're better off paying more attention to the Independent Spirit Awards.)

Check out this parody from the Funny or Die folks:

And hey, maybe Alyssa Milano can be the actress who can manage a Rourke-like comeback, which is something that Cinematical (via Jezebel) wondered today.

The Acceptance Speech Mickey Rourke Got to Make

2009-02-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

As you probably know by now, Sean Penn won the Best Actor award at the Oscars last night, instead of Mickey Rourke. (And though I predicted a Rourke win, I tried to cover my bases by saying Penn deserved the award, in what will eventually be viewed as the more important film.) So not only was Rourke denied recognition for a great performance, but we as a viewing audience were deprived of what surely would've been a memorable acceptance speech.

Fortunately, Rourke won Best Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday night, and got to make a speech that was surely more raucous than what he may have intended for the Oscars. (Just be warned if you're watching this at work: This is from the live broadcast, so the profanity isn't bleeped out.)

But hopefully for Rourke's sake, this is the launch of a comeback, and not a landing point. May his next movie choice be a good one. (Do Iron Man 2, Mickey!) Maybe Rourke will get another chance at an Oscar someday, and we'll get to see ABC censors freak out as he walks to the microphone. My fingers are crossed.

If It's Oscars Time, We're Making Predictions!

2009-02-22T13:00:00.002-05:00

This is probably being posted too late for anyone to read it before the actual ceremony, but in the name of continuing a FRT institution - five years running, baby - we're predicting the Oscar winners in the so-called major categories. Tomorrow, we'll also be doing our traditional Oscar post-mortem and hand out some of our own awards.

As much as I love the Oscars, however, I don't feel as much enthusiasm for them as in recent years. Largely because I don't believe there's going to be much suspense, other than in two or three categories. (Maybe it's always been that way, and I talk myself into believing some awards are up for grabs. Or maybe I read so many movie blogs now that conventional wisdom seems more locked in than it used to be.)

In addition, I usually think the Academy gets it right with the Best Picture nominees, but I wasn't thrilled with their choices this year. I still think Doubt got screwed. How can every actor in the cast be recognized, yet the film itself doesn't get nominated. And I'm still disappointed a more daring choice like The Dark Knight or WALL-E wasn't made.

But I'm very curious to see how Hugh Jackman does as host. I think not having a comedian sounds like a bad idea, but maybe this is one of those daring choices that I just accused the Academy of not making. Plus, he's Wolverine. So he'll get it done somehow. Also, I really want to see if Mickey Rourke wins and what he might say in an acceptance speech.

Okay, here's how I think it'll go:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis - Doubt

I know - she's only in the movie for, like, 10 minutes. But it's a great 10 minutes, especially when you have to go toe-to-toe with Meryl Streep. I also think Doubt has to win something tonight, and this is where it'll be. I have to admit, however, I didn't see Vicky Christina Barcelona (though I just got it from Netflix), so I can't say if the herd has it right on this one.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Probably the lock of the night, don't you think? Other than a happy ending for the Mickey Rourke rebirth story, this will likely be the most emotional moment of the evening. And it's not like Ledger doesn't deserve this award. It may have been the most memorable performance in any movie last year.

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Actually, this could be the lock of the night. I didn't see The Reader, nor do I have much interest in doing so, despite the promise of Winslet getting naked. Thankfully, she's done that in plenty of other movies, a dedication to craft that will finally be saluted tonight.

BEST ACTOR
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

I haven't posted my thoughts on The Wrestler, though I still intend to because I have a lot to say about it. But - spoiler alert - I loved it, and still think about it weeks after I saw it (twice). Rourke's performance was amazing, but I also wonder if his story has kind of overwhelmed critical opinion. Not to say I'm not guilty of that, either. I've read or watched as many recent interviews with him as I can, and gone back to read profiles from five to 10 years ago. It would be great to see Rourke win this when he's been painfully honest about how badly he's screwed his life up.

However, if you're talking about the craft of acting, Sean Penn completely becomes someone else in Milk. It's unlike anything else I've ever seen him do, and there's nothing showy or over-the-top about it. So I think there's a damn good chance he wins this.

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

This isn't just because Boyle directed the likely Best Picture winner. But of the five nominees, I think he also created the most consistent, exciting film. Frost/Nixon really takes a while to get going. I'm not sure 'Benjamin Button' ever really does get going. And though I believe Milk is Gus Van Sant's best film, it sometimes feels formulaic. Slumdog Millionaire just feels alive. Boyle quick cuts when the action calls for it, he slows down when he has to, splices in flashbacks at just the right time, juggles humor and drama skillfully, and uses music masterfully.

BEST PICTURE
Slumdog Millionaire

Well, I think I already described what makes 'Slumdog' a worthy winner. I'll add, however, that it has quite possibly the best ending credits sequence that I can remember. If any of the other nominees has a chance at winning, I believe it's Milk. And years from now, we'll probably be saying that was the more important film. But there's also something to be said for acknowledging the zeitgeist and embracing a cultural phenomenon as it occurs, and 'Slumdog' has definitely tapped into something.

And because we're all about the writers, the screenplay awards must also be mentioned. I'm going to predict a surprise for BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. Martin McDonagh is going to win for In Bruges - creating a strangely touching, though unquestionably dark and violent, story around four or five memorable characters - though Andrew Stanton is probably the favorite for WALL-E. And Simon Beaufoy will get BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY for Slumdog Millionaire.

Finally, I predict an 11:45 p.m EST ending for the festivities. Jackman will move the show along as best he can, but some of those speeches are going to run on.

Attack of the Insult Comic Dog

2009-02-20T17:00:00.001-05:00

With Late Night with Conan O'Brien coming to an end tonight, the show has been replaying some of its best segments from the past 16 years. Thursday night, they showed an absolute classic.

Here's Triumph the Insult Comic Dog ~~abusing~~ visiting fans awaiting the premiere of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones:

I know I've been saying this all week, but I hope Conan's move to 11:30 p.m. EST doesn't take away any of his edge or skewed sensibilities.

(And yes, I know I've been lazy by just posting videos this week. There will be Oscar predictions before Sunday night's festivities! And I really do intend to write about The Wrestler...)

String Dance-Off: Conan vs. Colbert!

2009-02-18T20:00:00.001-05:00

Conan O'Brien isn't holding anything back as his "Late Night" show comes to an end this week. What other explanation could there be for a clash of invisible string dances?

Not quite as epic as the Conan-Colbert-Stewart smackdown from last year, though. (Did NBC really take the video of that down? What a buzzkill.)

I just hope NBC lets him do wacky stuff like this when he takes over "The Tonight Show." Let Conan be Conan!

Today's Photo - 02/18/09

2009-02-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

Some cheeky with your coffee?

These are frickin' awful. (Of course, if it came in a stainless steel travel model, I'd be all over it. Naturally. I think I'm quite hot.)

Today's Photo - 02/17/09

2009-02-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

Last night was the annual "Meet the Wolverines Night" for the University of Michigan baseball team. And it's probably much more fun for the kids, with snacks, player autographs, and... balloon hats.

No, I didn't get one. "Too old" or whatever. (Although I like to think I could've sweet-talked a mother into giving up one of her kids' hats. But I most certainly got some pizza.)

I was there to learn about this year's team with Mr. Big Ten Hardball. (You can read his 2009 season preview here.) Many introductions were necessary, as a lot of last year's squad graduated. It could be a rough season over at Fisher Stadium.

Happy President's Day

2009-02-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

In honor of President's Day, we salute one of our favorite presidents, Josiah Bartlet. Here's an excellent example of what made him such a great leader, fictional or otherwise:

Man, I loved The West Wing.

To those fortunate enough to get the day off (and I really don't think there are many), Happy President's Day.

The Beard is Gone

2009-02-16T10:00:00.002-05:00

With the end of "Manuary" (as Big League Stew's Kevin Kaduk coined it), it was only a matter of time before the facial hair I had accumulated (along with the untamed mane of hair that had grown) needed to be shorn away. The protective hirsute armor I had built to protect myself from the elements had outlived its usefulness and appeal.

Yesterday, I took clippers to face and left my beard in the sink. After that, it was off to New Age Salon, where a Taiwanese lady can cut my Asian-esque hair in a way that doesn't look awful when it grows out again in a couple of weeks. I have once again rejoined civilization, cleaned up enough to be recognized by the Twitterati.

So what did the whole thing look like? Well, it may or may not have resembled this:

My glasses are less clunky. That's all I have to add.

Sunday is Trader Joe's Day

2009-02-15T08:00:00.003-05:00

Regardless of what I'm doing on Sunday, I somehow seem to find my way to Trader Joe's. Never underestimate the need for cheap cans of black beans and frozen tilapia fillets. So this seems like a good video for today.

(via mediabistro and tumbléo)

A Valentine to Myself

2009-02-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

Sell Crazy Someplace Else, Part 2

2009-02-12T14:00:00.001-05:00

Did you see Joaquin Phoenix on David Letterman last night? Yeesh.

The guy's just having a laugh on us, isn't he? Regardless, it's always fun to see someone get on Dave's bad side.

UPDATE: Looks like CBS had all the clips taken off YouTube. You can still watch it at the official "Late Show" site.

Sell Crazy Someplace Else; We're All Stocked Up Here

2009-02-11T19:00:00.005-05:00

I know I'm almost 24 hours late with this, but I just watched Ann Curry's interview on Dateline with the octuplets' mother (or "Octo-Mom," as she was called on TV Newser) via DVR. My opinion is the same after viewing as it was beforehand.

This woman is fucking insane.

I realize how mean that sounds. And how reductive and dismissive calling someone "crazy" can be. I've learned not to throw that word around lightly. Hey, the woman's own mother called this decision "unconscionable."

But this is batshit loony territory. And I'm not even talking about whether she thinks she's Angelina Jolie or whatever. (Though if that's true, she's certifiable.)

Consider this quote (via Andrew Sullivan, by way of Secular Right):

The nine-week premature octoplet’s delivery required 46 doctors, nurses, and assistants; in twelve days, their care has likely cost at least $300,000 and counting.

And isn't that just the tip of the iceberg? How many couples struggle to pay for child care? How many opt to put off having children until they can afford it, work more, decide that one parent will stop working, or enlist grandparents to help out?

I'd love to know what job Octo-Mom plans on nabbing after she finishes school that's going to support 14 children. (Think about that number. If someone put 14 books on a table, you'd say, "Man, that's a lot to read.") Has she been paying attention to what's going on with the economy? Or does she see books and reality TV shows in her future? (She's also accepting donations through her website, which I can't really bring myself to link to.)

Maybe she's also hoping for a federal bailout.

25 Random Baseball Things: Detroit Tigers Edition

2009-02-10T13:15:00.005-05:00

Looks like a baseball day, here at Fried Rice Thoughts.

Following the trend that's become so popular on Facebook, Kevin Kaduk of Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew has recruited baseball bloggers to list 25 Random Things related to their favorite teams. My list, heavily influenced by the Detroit Tigers, is up today.

Thanks to Kevin for asking me to participate. Once I got rolling, it was a load of fun.

(And go read your Big League Stew! It's good for you!)

A-Rod Had Me... Until He Started Being A-Rod

2009-02-10T10:30:00.002-05:00

[I originally posted this at Bless You Boys, and would normally keep it over there, but since this A-Rod steroids thing is bleeding over into the regular news - Did someone really ask President Obama about this at last night's news conference? - I thought it would fit here, as well.]

I know I can be a sucker, but Alex Rodriguez almost had me.

Maybe it was whining on his part, but I was ready to buy A-Rod's admission that he took steroids during his first season in Texas because he felt pressure to live up to that record-setting 10-year, $252 million contract. Expectations can be a hell of a thing. Here in Detroit, we saw how fast some Tigers tried to duck the championship expectations that so many of us put on them last year.

But it briefly looked like a true moment of candor from a player whose image seems manufactured down to the smallest detail. I've never had any dislike for Rodriguez as a player. In fact, I've always been quite impressed by his talent. But I certainly understand why so many refuse to embrace him or flat-out think he's phony. Very little about the guy seems genuine. Every move he makes, every word he says seems geared toward getting people to like him.

Sure, an athlete like Michael Jordan was manufactured for endorsements, but what we saw from him on the court was genuine. Think about how he celebrated after hitting that shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989. Or the shrug of the shoulders he gave to the scorer's table after hitting his sixth three-pointer vs. Portland in 1992. That was a man being overtaken by the moment.

Compare that to A-Rod's fight with Jason Varitek in 2004. Didn't Rodriguez try just a little too hard to look tough? (I've always thought he was mouthing those curse words to Varitek's face a bit too demonstrably.) And I'm not even getting into the ol' "slap-and-run" he pulled later that year in the playoffs.

If only A-Rod's chat with Peter Gammons could've ended after what appeared to be a rare moment of humanity. Of course, it couldn't because Gammons had to conduct an actual interview and push the issue with some questions. (You can read the entire transcript at Big League Stew.) And that's when the rehearsed A-Rod came back. I particularly enjoyed when he used this as a defense:

Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid. I was naive.

It's as if A-Rod stepped off the bus from Kansas and dropped into Haight-Ashbury of the 1960s. Hippies were everywhere, man... I was listening to Jefferson Airplane... It was free love!

But here's where he finally lost me:

...there's many things that you can take that are banned substances. I mean, there's things that have been removed from GNC that today would trigger a positive test. I'm not sure, exactly, you know, what substances I used, but whatever it is, I feel terribly about it.

He's not sure what he used? There's an original defense. And I know this is hardly a fresh rebuttal here, but a world class athlete worth $252 million knows what he's putting in his body.

Sure, I could see a guy who wants to bulk up or slim down start scarfing down protein bars without checking to realize some of them contain more sugar than candy bars. I don't even look at a bottle of fruit juice anymore without checking if it contains high fructose corn syrup. And I'm just a schlub concerned about his weight.

But somebody who's handled his career as meticulously as Alex Rodriguez just stuck a syringe in his butt without knowing what was in it? A clubhouse attendant didn't just slip A-Rod a brownie with some Primobolan baked in it. It's not somebody's bottle of rhinoceros testosterone. That is real deal, engineered in a lab, professional grade stuff.

So Rodriguez has now thrown himself at the mercy of the people and admitted he tried to get an edge - an edge he probably didn't even need with his physical gifts. By at least copping to the crime, following the New York Yankee handbook written by Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi, he shows he's smarter (and maybe even less arrogant) than Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds.

But does he still have to try so hard to get us to like him? With the frowns and the near-tears and the pleas for understanding? Maybe this de-legitimizes him in the eyes of some. (And others are probably just weary of seeing the headlines hogged up by what's going on with the Yankees.) For the majority of baseball fans, however, I'd say this is just more of an unfortunate moment. It just gives us some more ammunition with which to make fun of A-Rod. And I (along with the rest of the baseball blogosphere) am kind of grateful for that.

'No Masks, No Capes, No Gadgets or Experimental Weapons'

2009-02-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

I've already let out enough shrieks and giggles about Watchmen, but the brilliance of their viral marketing campaign continues with this video:

24 days until the film hits theaters on March 6.

Raging Bedhead

2009-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

What two straight days in bed (due to a cold) will do to a decent head of hair:

The picture doesn't even convey the full horror. That tuft on the right (my left) was gargantuan.

And I really need a haircut.

When Mothers Meet Tigers

2009-02-06T17:00:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to post this for the last couple of weeks, but just could never find the right time. But with things currently quiet in on the baseball front (and I imagine they will be until pitchers and catchers report next week), here's my chance.

The Detroit Tigers held their annual Winter Caravan across the state two weeks ago, leading up to TigerFest at Comerica Park. One of their stops was at the University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital, a place that not only holds a special meaning for one of their players, Brandon Inge, but happens to employ my mother as a nurse.

Word gets around the hospital that some Tigers are there to meet with the kids, so my mother goes down to check things out before her shift ends. (Knowing that her son spends way too much time on his Tigers blog, I'm sure she also wanted to throw some names at me later on.) As she approaches the clerk's desk, she notices a small crowd gathered around.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"One of the Tigers is over there," her co-worker said. "I'm not sure which one."

My mother waits until the people scatter away, then goes over to say hello. "He was shorter than I expected," she told me later. (Mom thinks all professional athletes are supposed to be the size of Wilt Chamberlain.) "Kind of small for a baseball player. Is he any good?"

The baseball player notices my mother staring, smiles and says hello. "You play for the Tigers?" she asks. He nods, still smiling. According to her, this is what she said next:

"My son is a huge fan of the Tigers! He's a grown man, but he loves you guys. He watches you every night and cheers you on. Talks about you all the time! Oh, could you sign something for him? He'd be so happy! Let me find something for you to sign..."

My mother then reaches into her pocket and pulls out an index card. The player smiles, asks to whom he should make it out, and signs the card. The two of them exchange thanks and carry on with their respective days.

"He was very nice," Mom said. "Very humble, too. He seemed kind of shy. Who's number 15? Is he the one who donated all the money?"

One of the questions that came to mind, of course, was, "Ma, you couldn't have mentioned the blog? Maybe say your son would've loved to do an interview?" But I didn't want to seem ungrateful, and I wasn't. Besides, that wasn't really the time or place for such a thing. And what Mom did was pretty cool.

Here's the card my mother handed to me a few hours later:

So does this mean Brandon Inge is my Tiger this year?

Ah... Bacon!

2009-02-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever read Fried Rice Thoughts in the morning and thought to yourself, "Man, I could really go for some bacon right now." Well, crispy pork goes very well with fried rice, so here's something that might help you with that.

Thanks to Bacolicio.us, you can add a slice of bacon to any site you'd prefer. All you have to do is add "http://bacolicio.us/" to the beginning of any URL. As an example, you might try:

http://bacolicio.us/http://friedricethoughts.blogspot.com/

Wa-Pow! There's a nice crispy strip of bacon strewn across the front page. Maybe I'll take a picture of a fried egg tomorrow to go with it. Now, you're free to look at whatever else it is you like to look at on the internet, with bacon on top. You're welcome.

(via AppScout.com, with a hat tip to twitter.com/moryan)

Jon Stewart Has No Curiosity For Benjamin Button

2009-02-05T11:30:00.004-05:00

I enjoyed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for the most part (though I'd lean toward outrage if it wins the Best Picture Oscar), but Jon Stewart's thoughts on the film were still pretty hilarious.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Intro - Slumdog Millionaire

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Important Things With Demetri Martin
More Funny Videos

That was from Tuesday's show, if you missed it, which also included a fun interview with Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel.

Looking Into the Crystal Ball

2009-02-04T16:30:00.002-05:00

You have questions, I see. About the future? Yes. The Year of the Ox has you excited. Big things. Yes...

What do I see... ? Ah, yes - it's becoming clearer. The fog is dissipating. The future is coming into focus now.

You will be traveling. Someone will throw a fish at you. You will not catch it, because you are clumsy.

There will be... a needle. The letter "s" is important...

Space Needle! Safeco Field! Science Fiction Museum! Salumi! (But sorry, no Supersonics.)

Seattle. You will be going to Seattle.

The Funniest Super Bowl Ad

2009-02-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

... in Detroit, that is.

For those watching the Super Bowl in metro Detroit, one of the first commercial breaks during the game (or maybe it was during the "kick-off" show) gave us an ad funnier than anything Budweiser had to offer.

Maybe if the ad had said, "Look, we're really, really, really sorry," I'd have been more receptive. (And if it had said, "We're also really sorry you have to watch Matt Millen on NBC's pre-game show," that would've been glorious. But Channel 4 in Detroit sort of took care of that.)

And the load of cheese served up in getting new coach Jim Schwartz to pose by the scoreboard and then run onto the field would've gone great on the nacho chips I was eating at the time.

But hey, at least they're trying.

A Superb Super Bowl

2009-02-02T13:00:00.001-05:00

With six to seven months until meaningful football is played again, the final game of the NFL season - the one that determines the champion, the one that millions of people have essentially turned into a national holiday - should leave a lasting impression. And Super Bowl XLIII most certainly did not disappoint.

After the Steelers' Santonio Holmes caught the winning touchdown, somehow reaching high into the air to snare the football, while also dragging his toes along the grass to stay in bounds, I briefly thought I might not ever watch football again. Because I'm not sure any future games can match this.

What chance do they have? This game had everything! Pittsburgh gained the upper hand, but then Arizona fought back. And when it looked like the Cardinals might take the lead for the first time, the game turned with probably the most spectacular play ever made in the Super Bowl: James Harrison intercepting Kurt Warner's pass at the Steelers' goal line and running his 242 pounds the entire 100-yard length of the field to score a touchdown. Instead of a 14-10 Arizona lead, the first half ended with Pittsburgh up 17-7.

That could've been a knockout punch for the Steelers. So often, an opponent can't recover from a blow like that.

But the Cardinals did, pecking away at that 10-point deficit, until they finally had a breakthrough when Larry Fitzgerald found a crack in Pittsburgh's defense and ran like he was shot out of a rocket, streaking 64 yards for what had to be the game-winning touchdown. And most of the time, it would be.

(Incidentally, I've always admired Fitzgerald as an athlete, but I officially became a fan when a pre-game feature mentioned that he's kept his mother's drivers license in his wallet ever since she passed away. I do the same with my father's drivers license.)

Yet with just enough time remaining on the clock (2:30, I believe) for one last comeback, the Steelers did just that, putting together the kind of game-winning touchdown drive that fans talk about with reverence for decades.

I didn't think Ben Roethlisberger (or as my mother calls him, "Burger," apparently because she's intimidated by all those consonants) was that great of a quarterback. Good, yes. But drives like that make a player legendary, up there with Joe Montana, John Elway, and Tom Brady. At first glance, Roethlisberger doesn't appear to belong alongside those names. And maybe he doesn't in terms of overall career achievements. But he's right with them in Super Bowl performances.

For anyone who would ask why I love sports, I'd point to that game-winning touchdown. Besides the dramatic backdrop, it's the feat itself that amazes me. Roethlisberger threw the football exactly where he had to, over three Arizona defenders, toward the back corner of the end zone where only his receiver could catch it. Just high enough, just far enough. If he had to make that throw again, who knows if he could? Maybe he'd think about it too much. Or throw it too low. Or throw it too far. But hell, maybe he could. Maybe Roethlisberger is just that good.

There is one thing about the very end of the game that really bugs me, though. The outcome became official once it was ruled that Kurt Warner fumbled the ball and turned it over to Pittsburgh. Yet if Warner's arm was coming forward in a throwing motion, the play would've been ruled an incomplete pass and Arizona would've kept the ball for at least one more chance to try and win the game. The play, however, was called a fumble. And the determination was made so fast by the referees that the evidence would seem conclusive. I think it was anything but.

It's not just that the call may have been wrong. It's that it wasn't even reviewed. Which is baffling, because officials had taken second looks at every questionable play in the game, utilizing the multiple camera angles that were available. Why the rush to make such a quick decision? Considering the stakes, how can you not even take a look at that play, to make sure the right call was made?

Oh, and I can't write about last night's game without mentioning Bruce Springsteen's halftime show. More than the music, I was impressed by The Boss giving America a closer view of his crotch than they may have been ready for.

Obligatory Super Bowl Pick

2009-02-01T14:00:00.002-05:00

I realize the popular consensus seems to be that the Steelers' defense will rule the day, but I'm not so sure their offense can outscore the Cardinals. And I like the fact that Arizona's coach, Ken Whisenhunt, used to coach with the Steelers, and is familiar with their scheme and personnel.

It'd also be more fun to see the underdog win. So...

Arizona 26, Pittsburgh 20.

I know - I should be rooting for the Steelers. Rust belt city, same colors as Iowa, etc. But I really dig Kurt Warner and his story. Even if he lays the Jesus talk on a bit thick.

The Cardinals also have more players who went to Michigan (five, to the Steelers' two), which is how I've determined rooting interests in the past. And I'm thinking of growing my hair like Larry Fitzgerald's. Though I'm not sure that's a good look for my people.

But a clean, exciting game, with some funny commercials thrown in, should make for an enjoyable evening.

These Fingers Were Made For Typin'

2009-02-01T12:00:00.003-05:00

It wasn't exactly a resolution of mine to blog more here in 2009, but I did want to post more this year than I did last year.

The 34 posts I put up in January - and I intended to write more - were the most I've done in a month on this blog since July of 2005. (I wrote 19 posts last January.) But that's when there was no Bless You Boys or Sweaty Men Endeavors, and I spent all day on campus, with plenty of time to kill between classes and waiting for buses at Iowa. (And later on, I blogged to keep my head from exploding after my father died.)

In January of '05, I wrote 63 posts! And that was with no video clips available and few photos. What the hell was I writing about? Although I think I "got" writing in short bursts much better back then. (And I didn't gratuitously split up "random thoughts" types of posts, like I may have today. Ahem.)

I bet FRT had more readers back then, too. Ah, well.

Peanut Butter and Jelly! That's All I Put in My Belly!

2009-02-01T11:00:00.001-05:00

Judging from how often I've been buying it (including this morning), peanut butter is apparently my favorite thing to eat thus far in 2009. Boy, did I pick the wrong year...

Thankfully, none of the stuff I've been buying is on any sort of recall list.

Gran Torino: A Fried Rice Movie Review

2009-01-30T14:30:00.003-05:00

[Because sometimes, four sentences just aren't enough...]

I should begin by saying that I'm glad that Gran Torino didn't turn out to be the movie I thought it would be (or the trailers and commercials might lead you to believe), the same sort of last hurrah/last word for the Dirty Harry archetype that Clint Eastwood's bad-ass cowboys received in Unforgiven. And if this does end up being Eastwood's last role, he gave himself a juicy one in Walt Kowalski, a character full of pathos, just enough complexity to be compelling, and perhaps the best sense of humor since he was hanging out with Clyde the orangutuan.

But in terms of tone, this is an incredibly uneven film, starting out with a commentary on modern-day youth (which is portrayed as irredeemably one-dimensional throughout the film), then turning into a fish-out-of-water/world-has-changed-around-him sort of tale. And that might have been an interesting enough movie in itself, but the screenplay doesn't get very introspective. And Eastwood seems more interested in conveying his dismay with a sneer and a growl, anyway.

The story progresses into a clash-of-cultures kind of buddy comedy, which is probably the most compelling aspect of the film because we see Kowalski develop as a character. But along the way, a lot of cheap laugh shortcuts, loaded with Archie Bunker-esque politically incorrect racial epithets, are taken. I know this is where a lot of people have a problem with the movie, but it didn't really bother me. At least in terms of offending me. it's almost too over-the-top to take seriously.

Finally, it veers into deadly serious, try-and-digest-this-during-the-credits drama, and this provides a great example of how Eastwood the director shines when working with veteran actors like Sean Penn and Hilary Swank, professionals who get what their director is trying to accomplish and can get it done in one or two takes. But when he works with less experienced actors - and I don't think it's an insult to label most of those who play Kowalski's Hmong neighbors "amateur" - this approach doesn't serve him well.

In a pivotal scene building toward the movie's climax, Bee Vang, who plays the boy Kowalski has befriended, has to show emotion, and bring it believably. And he fails so badly that it's almost laughable. I actually felt bad for him because he's so clearly over his head as an actor. And I wonder if Eastwood - as a director or an actor - did the best he could with him or just kind of left him hanging.

When this is released on DVD, I'd like to see it again because I wonder if I cut it a break for filming in Detroit. The script is sprinkled with enough little nuggets (mentions of the Lions, resentment for driving foreign cars, etc.), and the locations look familiar enough to appeal to my inner Michigander. Plus, I think the story fits rather believably in metro Detroit, as several areas and neighborhoods have changed in the way Kowalski's does. But could the film's flaws become even more apparent after the stars in my eyes fade away? I have a feeling they might.

10 Chick Flick Cliches

2009-01-30T13:00:00.003-05:00

This could almost be enough to get me to see He's Just Not That Into You.

Almost. Now if this were a British movie, I might feel differently. Sap with an accent is just so much more charming.

But I think my favorite cliche is #6. (But #5 is always good for a laugh.)

Wait - did you say Jennifer Connelly is in this? Um...

(via The Movie Blog)

Metal Health Will Drive You Mad!

2009-01-26T16:30:00.003-05:00

"Bang Your Head" likely won't be the song that's in your head after you're finished watching The Wrestler. But two days later, thanks to Randy "The Ram" Robinson (and Darren Aronofsky), Quiet Riot has pounded their way back into my short-term memory.

It's like I'm 10 years old, sitting in front of a cassette player and smacking the edge of my desk with drumsticks all over again. Man, did I want one of those iron masks. (And could you even make a metal video in the 80s without a smoke machine?)

Four-Sentence Movie Review soon to come...

Happy Chinese New Year!

2009-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Don't panic if you encounter people running around in elaborate dragon or lion costumes at your Chinese restaurant of choice today. It's Chinese New Year! And 2009 is the Year of the Ox (or Ji Chou).

That has me particularly excited for this year's celebration because the Ox is my sign on the Chinese Zodiac. Big things, baby!

Well, perhaps not without some struggle, as the Year of the Ox "symbolizes strength gathered through unity, harmony, obedience, courage, and hard slog." We Oxen should expect a "dutiful, family-oriented, and dependable year."

Or maybe I'll just get a tattoo. (Although I might be kind of old for that, at this point.)

Here's a description of the Ox which (unfortunately) fits me pretty well. I might opt for this one, however, as it sounds a bit more noble.

And here are the traditional dishes one might eat on Chinese New Year. Fish and dumplings, I think we can do. The other stuff? Well, we'll see.

Congratulations and be prosperous! Oh, and don't buy shoes or books, or talk about death today. Bad luck!

No More Talkin' Tigers on the Radio

2009-01-23T07:30:00.001-05:00

I don't know how many of you had streamed or downloaded our appearances over the past two weeks on WTKQ's The Morning Ticket with Pat & Todd, but I'm not going to be talking on the radio again any time soon.

Unfortunately, the powers-that-be at FM Talk 100.5 decided to go in the proverbial different direction, and as of last Friday, pulled the plug on the show. Any disappointment I felt over that is a trifle compared to what two radio hosts who suddenly don't have a show must have experienced. Fans of WDFN in Detroit learned this week just how brutal the radio industry can be. (And though I'm late on it, that's something I'd like to write about in the next couple of days.)

I'm obviously biased, but Pat Johnston and Todd Guerne are two talented, nice guys who deserve better, and will hopefully get it. And if you follow the conversation over at Bless You Boys, you know Todd's suddenly become an active part of the BYB community, and it's great to have a new voice and more participation - especially at this time of year.

So I should probably leave it there, and thank Pat and Todd for a wholly unexpected opportunity, as short-lived as it turned out to be. It's incredibly flattering that they thought enough of what we do here to want to talk about the Tigers on the radio each week. And it was a lot of fun.

'The Superman Exists... and He's American'

2009-01-22T23:30:00.003-05:00

Watchmen is going to be just the coolest movie ever, isn't it?

(Love that old, Filmation-style cartoon!)

I mean, comic book geek tingles aside, Zack Snyder and his cast and crew have put some serious work into creating a world for this movie, constructing an era for the story to play in. This isn't just going to be some superhero action flick. And a movie based on Watchmen shouldn't be, either.

Gimme Some Skin, Inauguration Style!

2009-01-22T18:00:00.002-05:00

You've probably already seen this on at least three websites today, but I'm not above falling in line with the rest of pop culture. Especially when it means putting up a fresh post. Viva Obama! Viva la inauguration!

But honestly, as a cable news junkie (though my craving has gone down considerably since January 1), I got a big kick out of seeing TV personalities like the "Morning Joe" crew play along. Nice to see they don't take themselves too seriously. (That means you too, Pat Buchanan!)

Trying to Catch Some Oscar Fever

2009-01-22T10:00:00.002-05:00

Continuing a four-year tradition here at Fried Rice Thoughts, we post the Academy Award nominations (which I didn't even realize were being announced today, until I saw something on Twitter) for your perusal, along with some thoughts on the nominees.

You can read the complete list here, but for now, these are the major categories (and as a writer, I always have to include the screenwriters):

Best supporting actress:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best supporting actor:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Actress:
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Actor:
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Director:
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk

Best Original Screenplay:
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon - WALL-E

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
David Hare - The Reader
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture:
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Quick thoughts:

▪▪ Okay, let's just get it out of the way: It's a big disappointment not to see The Dark Knight among the Best Picture nominees. I had no delusions that it would actually win the award (Though The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won in 2004, so would it really be that weird?), but I thought Batman would at least get nominated.

Maybe it's the comic book fan in me seeking validation, but this was one of the five best movies of the year. C'mon, Oscar - at least give Christopher Nolan a Best Director nod.

▪▪ Looking at the nominees for Best Supporting Actor, I think Heath Ledger definitely has a shot at a posthumous win.

▪▪ Doubt also got hosed for Best Picture.

So which two movies would I have taken off? Well, I haven't seen The Reader, so that would be an easy choice for me. And though I enjoyed it, and think it's quite a filmmaking achievement for David Fincher, I'd probably kick The Curious Case of Benjamin Button off the list, too.

▪▪ My sit-up-and-clap nominee this year? Richard Jenkins. The Visitor was a fantastic movie, with an ending that I still can't shake, and it's largely because of the arc Jenkins's character follows.

A close second would be Amy Adams, who hasn't been getting nearly enough acclaim for her performance in Doubt. An Oscar nomination takes care of that, I'd say.

▪▪ Robert Downey, Jr. brought me a smile. My love and admiration for the man has not been hidden on this blog, and I'm glad to see him get some recognition for the year he had, but I'd have rather seen him nominated for Iron Man.

However, there's one scene of his in Tropic Thunder that amazes me. If you haven't seen it, I'll try not to spoil it for you, but it involves his disguise as a rice paddy farmer.

▪▪ In place of Downey, I'd have nominated Sam Rockwell for Frost/Nixon or James Franco for Milk.

▪▪ The toughest category is probably Best Actor. You could make a great case for any of the nominees (though maybe I shouldn't comment on Rourke, since I haven't seen The Wrestler yet), but Sean Penn looks like the favorite to me.

▪▪ And I love Clint Eastwood, but I was glad to see he didn't get nominated for basically playing Archie Bunker in Gran Torino.

▪▪ Kate Winslet has to be a lock for Best Actress, right? With the nominations it received, The Reader has to win one award. Here it is. And it's not like she isn't overdue.

So Long, W

2009-01-20T22:30:00.001-05:00

Besides the image of Barack Obama taking the oath of office, and a satellite photo of the inauguration ceremonies, this might be my favorite picture from today's festivities:

Off to Texas you go now, W.

(via The New York Times)

Yes, He Is!

2009-01-20T19:00:00.003-05:00

If you were fortunate enough to watch today's Inauguration festivities as they happened, you know how impressive the spectacle was. Especially the sea of people flooding the National Mall and the streets of downtown Washington D.C. to witness Barack Obama taking the oath of office.

As I watched, one thought kept reverberating through my mind: I really wish my father had lived to see this. He would've been deeply touched by the moment. And as both a Democrat and a history major, he would've loved President Obama.

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

I hope no one needs anything important done from, say, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Our national attention will likely be occupied. (Did anyone reading this call in sick today to watch the inauguration?)

In preparation for today's historic festivities, I picked up some Baracky Road from Zingerman's Creamery.

(I hope the Obama administration is better, if you know what I'm saying. Not that the gelato was bad. It's gelato; how bad could it be? But Zing's Pimento Cheese is more inspirational. Not as cool a label on the container, though.)

Here's to history.