Figured something out

Now I know why hospital shows are so popular on tv. It's not that the human stories of life and death, and those who deal with it, has an obvious inherent drama, although I can see why you would think that. Nope, it's much more subtle. Think about most of the doors in a hospital. They are mostly double doors that open together. The classic dramatic move of pushing open a pair of double doors, which I think started in Westerns and was done very well by Viggo Mortensen in LOTR: The Two Towers, is in almost every scene of transition from one set to another. A subtle device to be constantly raising the level of tension. Viewers think, "Oh, both doors just opened! Something important must be happening."

Well, I am tired, laying on my couch trying to fall asleep, I have got to get my bed back together soon. I am really glad for the wireless card on the laptop. Night all.

Sean

Post St. Patricks Day

I don't really have anything exciting to say about St. Patrick's Day - except that I really have decided I will try to never not be in Vegas again for the first weekend of the NCAA Men's BB tourney. I was denied watching some games and there was no waitresses brining free drinks.

I had to take my waterbed apart this weekend and spent the last few nights on the couch. Not my best few nights of sleep. But I have a chance to deep clean my bedroom, that has to be good. Seriously, it needs it.

I should be posting in a few days my new endevours. One of them is to advertise myself to build databases for chartiable organizations (or small businesses to make a little cash). I think this would be a good way to use my skills to provide a service that could otherwise be quite expensive.

The other thing I want to do is to start begging people for money to go to Vegas. I want to raise about $5000 for a week in Vegas. I would spend my time playing golf, gambling, reading and writing my screenplay that has been in production for years now. I intend to contribute to this with any extra money I get beyond my salary. These activities would include any extra money I happen to make writing databases if someone wants to pay me, any money made selling my monopoly boards collection, or possibly my coke bottle collection, any gambling or golf outing winnings, selling blood, whatever. And begging.

If you want to put some money into my fund, I will send you the paypal account information. Want to induce me to lose weight (currently at 275 from 282 March 1)? Give me a penny per pound. Want me to mention something on my extremely widely read blog about you or something you want or support? Throw me a quarter or something. Want to toss me a buck just because? Fine. I'll take anything.

I read about a bunch of those people who just ask for money on the web and get it. What's up with that? Why can't I do it? Well, I am going to try now.

Well, I should get back to work, I mean, um, I should go clean my kitchen, since I have had a good dinner after a hard day's work. Yep.

Sean

Daily Thoughts

Thought I would simply leave this open while at work and post occasional thoughts to it.

I watched The Daily Show last night (from Tuesday) and the guest was Zbigniew Brzezinski promoting his new book Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower. When Jon Stewert started reading his bio, I thought, "This is going to be one smart dude." He is. Incredibly intelligent and capable of bringing across really difficult ideas. His attitude was, "Why yes, I am incredibly brilliant and the highest authority in this subject. Would you like me to explain it to you?"

After his discussion, I wondering if there has ever been a sales bump from appearing on the Daily Show. There are so many books I want to read after hearing about them from this show, but I don't get around to it.

11:30 - Listening to All Songs Considered from NPR (from 2/22/07) and they are talking to Lily Allen. Never heard of her, but she and her music sound interesting. The thing I like about this show is they usually focus on a guest and play some of their favorites and influences. Good show.

Update: 1:50 Just got back from a long lunch at Loco's so we could watch a little hoops. I don't think there will be a whole lot of work done this afternoon. Old Sheilaleighs (sp?) has a few huge tents.

2:09 PM - Uriah Heep - Stealin' I have mentioned it before, but "Stood on a ridge and shunned religion", regardless of how you feel about it, is a great line.

4:31 PM - Done very little useful work today. Winthrop beat Notre Dame. I knew I should have gone with my heart and not taken ND. What was I thinking.

Grandmother's Passing

Yesterday, Feb 23rd, we held a memorial service for my Grandmother, (my father's mother), who died from a stroke she suffered on Sunday, the same day my mother suffered a seizure (she is all right now). All of her children were there and my cousin Brian spoke for only a few minutes but said everything we were thinking and said it wonderfully.

This is one of those situations where the cause is terrible, but one of the results has been that our family has connected again, including the grandchildren. Hopefully, as we all come together to remember our grandmother and take care of our grandfather, I think that bond will be stronger. Most of the work had been done by my grandmother in the past, and we need to re-establish that network individually.

We spent a few hours going through boxes of old photos, and that went a long way towards that reconnection, even with everyone spread around the country. Maybe something good will come out of this after all.

Later

Night of the Storm

Don't know how you are doing, but I am safe at home, watching an awful basketball game. State is not playing real well and Michigan is playing awful. I like what Tommy Amaker has done with the team off the court, but his Michigan teams just do not seem to improve from year to year and during the year. I think he has got to be on a short leash, where maybe he must make the tourney next year or is gone. Thinking of Michigan coaches makes me wonder about the last big game that Lloyd Carr's team has won and I don't think you can count Notre Dame this year.

Another thought, that I thought I had thought of, but apparently Jason did first, was that it seems The Daily Show has become the new breeding ground for comedic talent. It used to be Saturday Night Live, then stand up, now the people for the Daily Show seem to be heading out and doing other work.
Kilborn - Late Late Show
Colbert - Colbert Report
Carell - Office, 40 Year Old Virgin
Black - Started stand up, really big now
Corddry - The Winner
Corddry - Studio 60
Rachael Harris - TV commercials and shows
Ed Helms - Several episodes of The Office

The interesting thing is that the current crop of correspondents is top notch - John Oliver, John Hodgman, Jason Jones, Samantha Bee, Rob Riggle, Asif Mondvi, all damn good.

So, until next time, later

Hello again and Winter Blast

Hello again, it's been a few months since I posted, but I thought I would try a little.

First: Current Song - Wandrin' Star - Lee Marvin from Paint Your Wagon Soundtrack - 4 stars

Few interesting things - last night I went with my friend Kathy (and we met her friends Kate and Lisa) down to the Detroit Winter Blast - and we had a blast. Sorry, had to use it.

At the Michigan Lottery stage, I watched ? and the Mysterians just rock the heck out of the place. I tell you what, if you like having a good time, like mid-sixties rock done right, with some soul and R&B, check these guys out. You can't take your eyes off of ?, he is so dynamic on stage. On the link above, you will see information regarding how to help ? out since his house burned down in January. Once you see him live, you will want to help. It's hard to say it more, go see him.

Kathy and her friends went and saw a Zydeco band that she said was pretty good.

Current Song - Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary - 4 stars

Later, one of my new favorites bands, although I had seen them years ago, but I am now digging them a lot more, got on staged and blew the flaps of the tent, The Twistin' Tarantulas. They play fun, dancable Rockabilly, with some heavier stuff thrown in, like covering Blitzkreig Bop and Ace Spades. Just watching Pistol Pete on the upright bass is nearly worth the price of admission, but the guitar player, who looks 16 years old and Pete says he is still 15, is astounding. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name. Pete, update the web page for his name, especially when he turns 16. I would feel guilty if I didn't mention the drummer, but not that much - just kidding, he provides a great backbone for the guys to run with the music.

There was a lot of people downtown, and we hung out in the food tent (mashed potatoes in martini glasses from one booth, hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps from another - I spose if I was a better, more responsible blogger, I would have gotten names better). Then we hit the Town Pump, which had a live blues band (who need to learn not to screech the mike as much) and was pretty busy. Eye candy was top notch.

Anyway, great night

Current Song - Stand Up Comic - Ray Davies, from CD Other People's Lives - 4 stars

Well, it appears my laundry is done, see you again soon

Sean

Saturday night December 8th

I have been drinking. Drinking at a new bar called Sips at Orchard Lake and Grand River. Site of the former Midfield Grill. Cool place

BTW - Song playing during post - Naked Eye by The Who

I tried to do a google search on sips, not out there yet. A cool place, I would recommend. Great pizza, and the bartenders are hot. Smokin' My buddy Walter and I sat, had a number of drinks, and talked with WDFN's Sean Beligian. That made us feel cool. He was a heck of a guy with a sweet Canadians hat that he picked up at a game 20+ years ago. You have to love that kind of dedication. Plus, I picked up a few WDFN Thunderstix for mom, who seems to love them.

Now - Baby Don't you Do It - The Who - From the extended version of Who's Next

Hey, guess what, Troy Smith won the Heisman. Really big surprise. Actually, the biggest surprise to me is that Quinn finished 3rd. Mike Hart finished 5th. Watch for him next year, with about 40 carries a game, at 5 yards per. Especially if Jake Long is coming back.

As for the title game, I agree with the polls, Michigan had their chance, if they could have stopped the big runs, they would be there playing Florida. The key seems to be for Michigan to beat USC in the Rose Bowl. If they don't, the pollsters were right and the BCS works.

I realized over the last few weeks that the most troublesome thing for me about not having a playoff is that we place reliance on the bowl system (and the BCS) to tell us who is the best team of the year. The problem is that the bowls are played several weeks after the final games of the season (51 days in the case of Ohio State, 44 for Michigan). Are the teams really the same after that much time off? How much of the teams edge is lost in that time period, with finals and family obligations involved? If there is a former athelete out there who reads this, amongst the 3 (at max) readers, is the team the same after that long of a layoff? Were the Tigers hurt by a 7 day layoff in the World Series?

Music wise - I really need to buy The Who - Live at Leeds (1970) - this live stuff at the end of extended Who's Next is amazing. I think it was from recordings in Montreal around the same time. I no longer have the liner notes.

As a last note, I don't know who is on the Red Wings anymore. It is so bad that I referred to Daysuk as Kozlov when he scored tonight. I need to start watching Wings games more carefully.

Sean