Ramblings
December 30, 2005
December 29, 2005
2005 Soundtrack
This year I finally started an annual project I've been wanted to do for years: at the end of each year, I'll create a CD with the music that most accurately reflects my year in music (not necessarily music released that year).
Selections could be artists I discovered, rediscovered, or just listened to a lot; it could be a particular song that I couldn't stop listening to; or it could be a song that represents a particular genre or type of song (such as covers, mash-ups, etc.). No real rules, other than it has to fit on a standard audio CD. My brother & friend also joined me in this music project, and I think it'll be interesting to see how our tastes change -- or not change -- over the years.
With that, here's my soundtrack for 2005 (in order of track listing):
Selections could be artists I discovered, rediscovered, or just listened to a lot; it could be a particular song that I couldn't stop listening to; or it could be a song that represents a particular genre or type of song (such as covers, mash-ups, etc.). No real rules, other than it has to fit on a standard audio CD. My brother & friend also joined me in this music project, and I think it'll be interesting to see how our tastes change -- or not change -- over the years.
With that, here's my soundtrack for 2005 (in order of track listing):
- Radiohead: "Everything In Its Right Place"
- The Bad Plus: "Flim"
- Aimee Mann: "How Am I Different"
- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists: "The One Who Got Us Out"
- The Clash: "Clampdown"
- Jawbreaker: "Into You Like A Train"
- Sinkhole: "Burning, Itching, Irritation"
- Dick Dale: "Hava Nagila"
- The Futureheads: "Decent Days And Nights"
- The English Beat: "Twist And Crawl"
- Franz Ferdinand: "The Fallen"
- People Under The Stairs: "The Joyride"
- Kanye West: "Gold Digger"
- Beck: "E-Pro"
- Bad Religion: "Incomplete"
- Samiam: "Sunshine"
- Pixies: "Wave Of Mutilation"
- Hieroglyphics: "Oakland Blackouts"
- Mr. Lif: "Heavy Artillery"
- Man Or Astro-man?: "Theme From Eeviac"
- DJ Danger Mouse: "Encore"
- The Beatles: "You Never Give Me Your Money"
- Dave Brubeck: "Stompin' For Mili"
Labels: music, soundtrack
December 25, 2005
David Sedaris as Billie Holiday
Sedaris and Crumpet the Elf: A Holiday Tradition
Sedaris recounted his experiences playing Crumpet the elf at Macy's in New York during the holidays.NPR's site has David Sedaris reading from his "Santaland Diaries" (originally from 1992). Very funny (as you'd expect from Sedaris), but the best part is about 4:45 into the piece, when he does his impression of Billie Holiday singing "Away in a Manger," which he does surprisingly well.
Labels: humor
December 22, 2005
Damn NY cheaters!
Lawton admits steroid use; says 'I was desperate'
If Lawton didn't cheat to win that game for NY, the Red Sox (who had the same 95-67 record as the Yankees at the end of the season) would've actually won the American League East. (Yes I know: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...")
Lawton said that he's never taken amphetamines, but injected the steroid on Sept. 20. The next day, he started in center field and hit a home run in his first at-bat.So, let's take a look at that game in question: Yankee-Orioles on September 21. Matt Lawton hits his steroid-fueled home run, which results in the only 2 runs scored by the Yankees...who go on to win the game 2-1.
If Lawton didn't cheat to win that game for NY, the Red Sox (who had the same 95-67 record as the Yankees at the end of the season) would've actually won the American League East. (Yes I know: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...")
Labels: baseball
December 21, 2005
No more Sox sidearmers
Bummer. Two of my favorite Sox pitchers are now gone. Sidearmer Mike Myers already signed with the Yankees, and now the Sox have released Chad Bradford. I guess I'll just have to get used to seeing guys pitch overhand again.
December 20, 2005
Goodbye Bill Mueller
I can't stand Dan Shaughnessy, but he wrote a nice sendoff to Red Sox third-baseman "Buell" Mueller.
Mueller leaves an enduring mark with Sox
Mueller leaves an enduring mark with Sox
He left quietly, which is the way it always was with Bill Mueller, the Sox' Stealth Star from 2003-05.
Think about it. He played here almost every day for three years at a time when the Sox achieved popularity that bordered on religious fanaticism. He won a batting title for the Red Sox and played Gold Glove-caliber defense. He hit three home runs in a game. In a time when David Ortiz emerged as the Sox' greatest clutch hitter since Yaz, Mueller delivered two of the biggest hits in the history of the franchise. Oh, and does anybody remember that Mueller hit .429 when the Red Sox won their first World Series since World War I?
And yet, somehow, he did it all without anyone really noticing.
December 19, 2005
"Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious"
Saturday Night Live hasn't been very good for quite a while now, but this weekend's show (hosted by Jack Black) was surprisingly funny. The best part -- not to mention the best thing to come out of SNL in years -- was Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg's hardcore rap about getting cupcakes and going to the movies to see "The Chronicles of Narnia": check out the video for "Lazy Sunday".
Update: You can download the video from the iTunes Music Store for free.
Labels: video
December 8, 2005
'06 Sox infield
First the Sox get a new second baseman, then they let the first baseman go (while the backup retired), the third baseman is going to the Dodgers, and now they just traded their shortstop. Looks like a new beginning for Boston's infield in '06...
December 6, 2005
Ricky Gervais podcast
Yesterday, Ricky Gervais (of The Office and Extras) started doing a free weekly podcast courtesy of the Guardian UK. It's great -- do check it out. Worth it for the spaceship with the banana dispenser discussion alone!
The only bad thing about it: I end up looking like a giggling lunatic to the other people on the train...
The only bad thing about it: I end up looking like a giggling lunatic to the other people on the train...
Labels: humor
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