June 2007 Archives

I watched two movies that Colin Farrell was in this week. Tuesday night's fare was Oliver Stone's overwrought piece of crap, Alexander. To be sure, Alexander The Great is one of the most complex and compelling people in history and epic is probably the only way to go. That's about the only thing Stone understood but he didn't pull it off. The battles were huge and confusing but Stone doesn't show us how the battles' conclusions were reached. We go from OK, where are we? to the victory celebrations. The way-too-many flashbacks and all of the other intrigues involving his father, his mother, his commanders, and his lovers were just boring. One other thing: I wonder if it was Stone or the actors who chose the dialects. Farrell's Alexander spoke with Farrell's strong Irish accent. Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer both affected some kind of accent that I couldn't figure out but it surely wasn't Greek, Macedonian, or any other southern European I've ever heard although, admittedly, I'm no expert on this small matter. This is the least of the film's problems. I'd like to have these three hours back.

The other one Patsy and I watched together is Intermission. Although Farrell's name is listed first because he's easily the biggest star, this is an ensemble film in the vein of Pulp Fiction and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. This one is a blast but it's a little slow getting off the ground. Pay attention, though, because they're setting you up for some great moments later in the film. Kelly Macdonald is becoming one of my favorite actors. If you need a young girl to play someone with quiet dignity totally unaware of her beauty, she's your girl. That's her strength and she has been excellent in everything I've seen her in. See also Nanny McPhee and The Girl in the Café. See this one with a big bowl of popcorn if you can.

68 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Have I got a ronnie?

Sally, Intermission

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Sure enough, its over just as fast as it all began. From the 1st of July I'm going to be a fully registered doctor and my internship days will be well in the past. I'm also going to be unemployed until further notice and I'm actually quite looking forward to it."

I have mixed feelings about the NFL’s dispute with former players. I have no such feelings about Congressional meddling into the matter. Congress needs to sort out more important things. From NFL.COM:

Aging NFL retirees told Congress that playing professional football left them with broken bodies, brain damage and empty bank accounts. Lawmakers said they may get involved if a better pension and disability system isn't created.

I feel for the "broken bodies and brain damage" part. Medical knowledge and technology was not then what it is now. Former players are seeking relief from current players and the league and I think there is some justification for that. Today's players wouldn't be playing for all the money they're playing for and they wouldn't be receiving the first rate medical attention they're receiving now if it hadn't been for those older players. That said, those players have no excuse for "empty bank accounts". They may not have made what today's players are making but they were making considerably more than the average Joe.

I have never sung or heard this song sung to the end. I suppose that's a good thing. I digress. It has an end and I like it.

I’m asking for guest blogger volunteers for the week of July 9-14, 2007. If you’ve never blogged before, here’s your chance to see what it is all about. If you use different blogging software, here’s your chance to see what the latest Movable Type version does. If you already blog, here’s a chance to do something different and shamelessly plug your own blog to maybe some different readers. If you’re interested, leave a comment. I’ll be around to lend technical support for anyone who wants it.

70 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Are you telling me that 17 seasons in the NFL didn't factor into his bad business decisions?

Garrett Webster

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Moses had Aaron. JFK had Bobby. Batman had Robin (and, I suppose, Batgirl but that's not important right now). Everybody needs a sidekick."

Sad anniversary yesterday. I think about Meg quite a bit. Hard to believe it's been a year already.

For City Park lovers, this is great news. SDT has done a phenomenal job in the French Quarter. You can't help but notice it.

Pottermania is alive and well. With a book and a movie due out next month, expect to hear about it almost non-stop. I will avoid as much of it as possible.

Today's QOTD has to be one of the silliest things I've ever heard a public official say ... whatever you think of Cruise and his religion.

72 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

[Filmmakers] will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult.

Harald Kammerbauer, German Defense Ministry Spokesman

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "There's a church in Buffalo, NY that we should avoid. In fact, I think we should encourage its removal from the neighborhood."

More to it than that. -Rob

Not much today and kinda late getting to it. Maybe some inspiration tomorrow. I'll sleep on it. Reading Jackdaws now because my nephew and my mother both enjoyed it. I'm enjoying it, too.

A little bizarre. I wonder if we're starting to get a little overzealous about this stuff. That's not true. I don't wonder.

I’m asking for guest blogger volunteers for the week of July 9-14, 2007. If you’ve never blogged before, here’s your chance to see what it is all about. If you use different blogging software, here’s your chance to see what the latest Movable Type version does. If you already blog, here’s a chance to do something different and shamelessly plug your own blog to maybe some different readers. If you’re interested, leave a comment. I’ll be around to lend technical support for anyone who wants it.

73 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

In the annual race for El Busto — my preseason pick for the biggest bust in fantasy football — Falcons QB Michael Vick is currently running a one-horse race.

Court Mann, Pro Football Weekly

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "It was actually gross. If you want the complete truth."

We watched Songcatcher last night. I had never heard of it. It's about a music teacher, played perfectly by Janet McTeer, whom I also never heard of. She goes to visit her sister in the mountains after she is severely disappointed at the university she works for when she is passed over for a position for which she is obviously qualified. McTeer is quite delightful as are most of the characters she meets in the mountains. Newcomer Emmy Rossum steals every scene she's in as does Pat Carroll. She discovers that the mountain people have handed down the songs from their English and Scottish ancestors from generation to generation in tact. She wants to record them, collect them, and publish them. The people there have mixed feelings about it. Some of them like their isolation and others think there may be room for improvement in their lives. This was a good story with great folk music and magnificent mountain scenery throughout. I enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

I offer two images from the CrabAppleLane backyard this drizzly Sunday afternoon.

Texas Star Hibiscus at CrabAppleLane

CrabAppleLane Garden - June 24, 2007
It’s that time again. I’m asking for guest blogger volunteers for the week of July 9-14, 2007. If you’ve never blogged before, here’s your chance to see what it is all about. If you use different blogging software, here’s your chance to see what the latest Movable Type version does. If you already blog, here’s a chance to do something different and shamelessly plug your own blog to maybe some different readers. If you’re interested, leave a comment. I’ll be around to lend technical support for anyone who wants it.

74 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Alice, you're gonna have to keep Reese away from you. Well, if you don't want butter, you gotta pull the dasher out in time.

Viney Butler, Songcatcher

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "However as I look at this identity more, it quickly becomes obvious that it has a number weaknesses as well as strengths. Yet sadly the proper debate about the relative merits of this logo have been sidelined by the usual sensationalist journalism that we have come to expect in Britain."

About today's QOTD: What's been my biggest disappointment since I upgraded my satellite receiver is the dearth of quality high-definition programming. Planet Earth is spectacular (Can't wait for it to be re-broadcast. I missed a few episodes). High-definition enhances visual movies like the latest Star Wars series, V For Vendetta, Serenity, or Blade Runner but you hardly notice any difference in many movies. I like a good character-driven film as much as the next guy, but, sometimes, I'm just all about the popcorn and the WOW. I want more WOW.

76 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

This series was made for high definition. Its success points to consumers wanting to see and hear high-definition content, and there isn't a huge amount of content available from broadcast or cable or satellite.

Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "The fundraiser is called Kill Cancer and that's what's on the shirts. Go buy one. Buy TEN. I'm buying one, don't you want to be like me? You KNOW you do."

I don't know if this piece by Dave White is on the level or satire but I agree with everything he says about every artist he mentioned by name, particularly The Doors. To me, growing up in the 60s, The Doors were never anything more than a pop band playing on AM radio. I think they benefit from Rolling Stone Magazine's "all things 60s are great" campaign.

I can't think of a game I'd rather watch less. Not only is it Cardinals-49ers but it will be called by Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, and Mike Ditka. At the moment, I think the only broadcasting team I find tolerable is Troy Aikman and Joe Buck and that's mostly because of Troy Aikman. Troy is knowledgeable and doesn't feel the need to talk constantly.

77 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Nirvana, the Beatles, and every other band you worship is overrated

Dave White, MSNBC.COM

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Thousands of years ago, when humans weren't yet imagined, turtles lived peaceful and prosperous lives in and around the world's lakes and oceans. They spent their days in the usual turtle ways: swimming, eating, lounging on the beach, sharing gossip and making new turtles."

New Orleans East - June 19, 2007 Last night’s drive home featured some of the worst weather I ever drove through. The radio was reporting that it was a “fast-moving” thunderstorm and we were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 7PM. This was taken at 6PM just before I got in my truck to head home and it wasn’t raining where I was yet. Unfortunately, the route home was right through those black clouds on the Causeway; about 50 miles of heavy rain and gusting crosswinds. The Causeway portion of the commute is 24 miles over open water. There is nothing to shield commuters from the wind. Full restrictions were in force. No one allowed on the bridge on a motorcycle or without fully functioning headlamps and windshield wipers. No glass trucks. Stopped for about 20 minutes along the way before I got on the bridge to allow it to ease up. That wasn’t a great idea, either. The wind and rain never did ease up and street flooding was becoming a problem. Street flooding always concerns me because it is so easy to get trapped. Even if you can make it through the high water in your vehicle, the person or persons in front of you may not be able to and you’re stuck. Fortunately, that didn't happen although there were some anxious moments as I drove through 18-24 inches of water behind some kind of import sedan. There was some stop and go once I got on the bridge but the weather heading north was only bad as opposed to the horrendous weather I had just come through. It was a long drive home.

78 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

The 2007 UC Irvine Anteaters don't want to take their uniforms off.

Dave Serrano, UC Irvine Anteaters Baseball Coach

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "My Dad was running around all day getting ready for the Storm. Plus,being a Volunteer Fireman for the Neighborhood,the radio in the House den was spewing forth all Kinds of stuff I never heard of Before."

Mark Knopfler's new album, Kill To Get Crimson, will be released worldwide on or around the 10th of September, 2007, according to his website. Wonder if he'll ever do something with fellow Scotsman, Gerry Rafferty, again. Rafferty provided the vocals on The Way It Always Starts for the Local Hero soundtrack.

Kem called it. Number 10 on his list announced yesterday. I'm not a big fan of mid-season coaching replacements in most sports but baseball is different. There are enough baseball games left to salvage a lost season. That's assuming a change in leadership is what the Orioles need.

79 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I’ve been away for quite a while
And I want to hear all your news
Speak to me
Let me see you smile
Cause I’ve had those homesick blues

Mattie's Rag, Gerry Rafferty

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Most of Rafferty's songs reflect the travails of a hard-working musician struggling to maintain his soul and integrity in a field that tends not to reward people like him, and yet Rafferty managed to strike gold twice."

Started Match Point Wednesday night and finished it Friday night. It was written and directed by Woody Allen. It doesn't resemble anything I've ever seen of his. For one thing, it isn't funny. Some might say his other films aren't, either, but I'm not quite that hard on him. It's about a guy who wants to work his way into a very well-off family. His unknown motives seem suspicious to the viewers. Turns out he doesn't want to rip the family off or anything like that. He just wants to be like them. He does it. He gets in through his job as a tennis pro. He befriends the son first and then seduces the daughter. It's not enough. He decides to have an affair with the brother's girlfriend. From that moment on, the film is painful to watch as the lead character's world just closes in on him. It has a bit of an unexpected ending, which is appropriate for this unexpected film. I liked it. About Scarlett Johansson: Not sold on her acting.

80 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

You're gonna do very well for yourself, unless you blow it.

Nola Rice, Match Point

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Well, the Black Tomato is a native Russian fruit and a delicacy once regularly enjoyed by one of the founders during his time spent living in Moscow. It's the rarest of the tomato family and when sampled offers an exceptional tasting experience."

The rabbits have returned to CrabAppleLane. I suspect they never left but they're coming out in the yard again. Turtles have also started to move around. They're looking for mates, I suppose. Happened to see one yesterday that got himself/herself stuck in the middle of a highway near the house. It had no chance of making it across. If I'm heading out, I usually pick them up and put them on the side they're heading to. If I'm heading in, I bring them to CrabAppleLane and release them. I've done that with quite a few over the years. I have no idea where they go but I hope they're safe. They don't have the best survival instincts. Today's photos were taken yesterday. One of the subjects was in the front yard dining on the tall grass and then trying not to move hoping I wouldn't see him/her. The other was in my garden surveying his/her new surroundings. The rabbit was last seen in the backyard. The turtle has disappeared. Pitcherlady has a reptilian companion, too.

The Challenger

The Champ

81 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

The first time we have two female commanders in orbit — that will be neat.

Peggy Whitson, U.S. Astronaut

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "In a way, this move is a conflict of interest. The leagues will accept the sponsorship but prohibit their employees from the benefits -- meanwhile still encouraging binge drinking and general silliness from their fans. Amazing."

Time capsules were once all the rage. People would bury a few everyday things of the time, some that would surely miss mention in history books, to be dug up at some specified date in the future. It's still a pretty cool idea in my estimation. Burying a car is a little unique, though. That it was a 1957 (The year the CrabAppleLane residents were born) Plymouth is cooler yet. But then:

The contents of a “typical” woman’s handbag, including 14 bobby pins, lipstick and a bottle of tranquilizers, were supposed to be in the glove box, but all that was found looked like a lump of rotted leather.

"Typical" = "a bottle of tranquilizers". That's something I didn't know and I'm dying just thinking about it. I thought and have always been told that the 50s were the good old days, you know, Ozzy and Harriet, Donna Reed, Happy Days, and all that. Seems more than a few moms had a secret.

I also love that they thought to bury gasoline because it might be obsolete 50 years in the future. I wonder what a similar Plymouth buried today would include. I hope they'd be right about the gasoline this time but I have my doubts. And I wonder what a "typical" woman's handbag now includes.

The Saints released Michael "The Beer Man" Lewis yesterday. Michael has been a fan favorite since he made the team as an undrafted free agent at age 29. He was making a living driving a beer truck when he tried out for his hometown team. I feel bad for him but he had a good run and was a longshot to make the roster this season. The Saints did him a favor by letting him go now so he can latch on somewhere else. I think he still has a year or two in him as a special teams player and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he finds a roster spot somewhere in the NFL. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Saints call him back during the season to plug a hole if he doesn't find a team. They did that with Fred McAfee several times. Good Luck and Good Job, Michael.

About today's QOTD: If I ever need rescuing from hell or high water, please let it be those emergency workers.

82 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Emergency workers have come to the rescue of a town cut off by floodwaters in true Antipodean style - by delivering a large consignment of beer by boat.

Nick Squires, Telegraph.co.uk

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Anyone familiar with the raw beauty of Lake of the Woods in North Western Ontario will find it easy to believe that a recent government survey found sport fishing to be the most popular recreational activity in the region."

G. T. Beauregard - Entrance to City Park in New Orleans, LA

P.G.T. Beauregard is a Louisiana Civil War General most famous for firing on Fort Sumter and commanding the Confederates at the first Battle of Bull Run at Manassas. Why he's posted at the entrance to City Park in New Orleans is unknown to me.

About today's QOTD and BOTD: It's about the way concert tickets get to concert goers these days. I've never paid a broker/scalper for tickets, unless you call Ticketmaster a broker/scalper. I have a few other choice names for them but that's another story. My routine was to call the concert information line periodically and try to find out who's coming and when. That simple amount of legwork was enough to give me an edge. That's all changed. Bands announce when and where they'll be and the whole world can find out easily online. Concerts rarely sold out instantly when I was going to them. With the internet, they do now. Back in the days when I used to go to The Warehouse, you could usually buy General Admission tickets on the day of the concert and work your way up close to the stage. One of the bands mentioned in the USA Today article was Rush. Just boggles my mind. I paid $6 to see them at the top of their game from maybe 15 feet from the stage. Now, it would cost hundreds or thousands if you could even get that close. The last "big" concert I went to was Pink Floyd in the Superdome in 1994. I called Ticketmaster in New Orleans the instant the tickets went on sale at 10AM one Saturday morning. Busy, busy, busy. I used another trick up my sleeve that not too many others thought of. I called Ticketmaster in Baton Rouge at about 10:05AM, got right through, and had my tickets for the New Orleans show at 10:07AM. My problem, at the moment, is there is hardly anyone on the music scene that excites me enough to do any of this.

83 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

We have no problem getting tickets — we have a problem getting good tickets at a good price.

Linda Casey, Bayside, N.Y.

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "With many of the show's dates already sold out, BuySellTix.com is your best source for securing tickets to one of this year's biggest events. Do not worry if you couldn't get tickets to the show nearest you when tickets went on sale. BuySellTix.com still has tickets to the hottest shows in the biggest cities, but we won't for long."

Started Match Point last night. Not sure what to think yet. I am happy that it is not a typical, neurotic Woody Allen movie, though.

Kem didn't like Brick quite as much as I did.

Today's BOTD belongs to Curt Shilling of the Boston Red Sox.

84 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

The six-year, $48 million deal Matt Schaub, a much less proven commodity than the inexperienced Romo, signed with the Texans didn't do Jerry any favors.

Tim MacMahon, Dallas Morning News

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Not sure how to start or finish this one. Pitch by pitch would most likely be as painful to read as it was to experience."

We need Yankees-Red Sox? It's not true. I'll be the first to tell you they have a great and old rivalry. As a sports fan in a small market, though, I'd surely like to hear one of these sports journalists say we need Twins-Tigers or Cubs-Cardinals. Some good, exciting baseball is being played outside of New York and Boston. A look at the standings this morning shows a three-way tie for first place in the National League West. Cleveland and Detroit are tied for first place in the American League Central. We need good, exciting baseball. It shouldn't matter who the teams are to supposedly "impartial" journalists.

So much for my NBA Finals prognostication.

85 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Elsewhere, the New England Journal of Medicine reports that people who play excessive amounts of Nintendo Wii may experience shoulder pain and may also never lose their virginity.

Andy Borowitz, Newsweek

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "All you really need is a tank, a light bulb, a small dish of water, and crickets. (well they gotta eat!)"

I love the way the image is presented. Click on the thumbnail image. -Rob

I'm beginning to think security and insecurity are like flammable and inflammable. Apologies to anyone who postulated that idea before I did.

86 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

J. Geils was right. Love stinks. You can dress it up in sequins and shoulder pads, but one way or another, you're just gonna end up alone at the spring dance strapped in uncomfortable underwear.

Veronica Mars

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "It helps me to lighten up the fact that I've just done something or didn't do something that will land my kids in therapy as adults."

If you haven't watched The Sopranos this week but intend to, go away now and come back after you've seen it. Well, The Sopranos is over unless there is a movie in the works. I kinda doubt that. If there really were two other endings shot, I think I would have preferred one of them ... EITHER ONE. First off, they got some very unlikely help from Phil's crew and the FBI. I found that a little pleasing and displeasing at the same time. I liked that they got him but I don't think it would have been that easy. Throughout the show, Tony and Paulie showed up at the usual places where Phil's people would have been looking for them. Nothing happened but the tension was mounting. Finally, creator/producer/director/writer David Chase tantalized us with tension in a diner building up to a big ending in the final scenes and then pulled the rug out from under us. I feel cheated. There are some who are saying this was an appropriate way to end, that this is Tony Soprano's life and always has been. He has so many enemies that every opening door is a threat. Maybe so but we deserved a conclusion. We deserved answers, not questions. I'm disappointed.

87 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

After eight years and six seasons, HBO's landmark Mob saga The Sopranos didn't so much end as stop.

Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Alan Sepinwall writes that series creator David Chase threw one final curveball at his audience that fit perfectly with everything done on this show before."

Congratulations to Rags To Riches on her breathtaking victory in The Belmont yesterday. Owner/trainer/jockey deserve some credit but I think the lion's share of it has to go to the filly. It was a truly spectacular performance. Watch the video on the ESPN page if you haven't seen it already. Just WOW.

I'm guessing right now that the final episode of The Sopranos tonight will be the most watched cable program of all time. I think the Saints-Falcons football game broadcast on ESPN's Monday Night Football currently holds the record.

Just a few years ago, Daunte Culpepper was a NFL superstar. Now, he can't find a job and nobody really wants him. Some of it due to injury, much of it his own fault. He has developed bad habits and a very faulty decision-making process both on and off the field. Speaking of a very faulty decision-making process, I am so glad the Dolphins turned to him last year instead of Drew Brees. One of the teams reportedly (According to ESPN's Len Pasquarelli) interested in him is the Vikings, his original team. I find that somewhat laughable although I suppose stranger things have happened like Billy Martin's many stints as manager of the New York Yankees.

Rather hot here at CrabAppleLane this Sunday afternoon. My thermometer says 101.1º with 46% relative humidity as of 2:40PM. Some things like that kind of heat and sunlight, though. For example, I offer the image below.

Vine seeking the sun on the CrabAppleLane back deck

88 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Who knows more about extortion, me or you?

Tony Soprano, The Sopranos

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "If you are wondering about how The Sopranos will end, the Associated Press reports that there were 3 alternate endings filmed for Sunday's finale. Knowing the creativity David Chase and his writing team have, I am confident the finale will be really good."

We watched Serenity last night. I had recorded it off of one of the HD channels earlier in the week. Serenity is based on a short-lived TV series called Firefly. I've seen Firefly and Serenity mentioned in blog entries and other things I've stumbled on across the web but I had never seen any part of either. They somehow seem to have reached cult status even though there are only 15 total episodes of the series. Serenity is part space opera, part romantic comedy, and part big adventure. What I liked about it was the humor. It does not take itself all that seriously. There is also some fun action and some fun visuals and really great music. It looks like a big budget film but was reportedly shot for $40 million, which is almost nothing by big budget film standards. The budget for Spiderman III was $258 million. Anyway, this is a fun popcorn movie. See it in HD if you can.

89 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Yes, I've read a poem. Try not to faint.

Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "It seems to me that Sony is going down the same path as they did with their Beta-Max tape technology holding up the license costs apparently unless exclusive."

Drinking water in the mornings instead of coffee these last few week days and haven't had a coke in a few days although I had a couple of root beers Wednesday at lunch. Caffeine withdrawal caused a headache (Bad day at work didn't help) the first day I did this but not since. Just seeing what life is like without a steady infusion of diuretics. For what it's worth, I never found coffee or Coke to be a stimulant or, at least, it hasn't had that effect on me. I can easily fall asleep after a half pot of coffee if I'm tired. That's not to say the caffeine does nothing for me. I can't drink decaffeinated coffee or Coke. Both are horrible. This is just an experiment. I like coffee too much to give it up entirely but I think I could live without soft drinks for a long time.

90 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

LeBron lays LeBrick

MSNBC.COM Headline

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "She's been working too hard stressed out and obsessing over work. She needed a break."

Had a delightful lunch yesterday with The Great White Shank at Liuzza’s. He describes it a little at his place. He’s absolutely correct about one thing. If your company has their meeting/conference/convention in New Orleans at one of the large chain hotels (Hilton, Sheraton, etc), they’re doing their people and themselves a disservice by offering them hotel food. That’s not to say that all hotel food is bad, it’s to say that there are far better places to eat in New Orleans, probably within walking distance and probably cheaper ... or, if you’re really pressed for time, need to cram as much into your convention as you can, and don’t want your people wandering off, why not have them stay at one of the local hotels that has better food. For instance, the Pontchartrain Hotel has some of the very best food in the city. New Orleans has some of the best cuisine in the entire world and it is just silly to come down here and not to take advantage of it.

It says here the Cleveland Cavaliers will surprise the Spurs and take the NBA Championship in 7 games.

91 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Interested to see that Starbucks plans to replace whole milk with 2 percent in its American and Canadian stores by the end of the year, though customers can still request whole milk if they wish. Hmmm. I know its good for me, and I know it'll save me 70 or 80 calories to have a 2 percent latte rather than a whole-milk latte, but let's be frank here. It's an outrage Starbucks didn't consult me before making this sea-change.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "One of the driving forces behind social media is the notion that we trust each other more than we trust media/business. We're looking for good, reliable information. If the CVBs aren't providing it, we'll look elsewhere. We want to know what's good and what's bad. We want honest opinions."

I don't think it's any surprise that Tiger Woods is easily the highest paid athlete in the world. Deservedly so. He owns his sport. Banked twice as much as his nearest rival.

I used to do something called the ZDTV Investment Challenge online a few years ago. They gave you an imaginary amount of money and you competed with other contestants to make the most of it. It used current stock prices. It was fun for a time but I lost interest. Went to the site today and someone else has taken over their domain. Looks like a site that spammers would send you to. I won't be linking to it.

Nice shot.

92 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

A guy like DeLamielleure says the things he said about me; you think I'm going to invite him to dinner? No. I'm going to break his ... damn neck.

Gene Upshaw, NFL Union Head

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "The family’s emergency fund–$15,000 in a savings account– should be larger, Boucher said. He recommended having $50,000 on hand in case anything happened to George’s income."

I wonder how The Sopranos will end. No spoiler alerts necessary today. I have no inside information, no special insight, no connection to the actors. It's been a good series and Sunday's episode has me worrying about a gangster/murderer more than I normally would. It doesn't look good for Tony and his New Jersey crew. Phil and the New York crew seem to have the upper hand. I wonder what happens now that everyone is in hiding. Who will find who first? Can't wait.

93 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Sometimes people come up to say, "I remember you from when I was small". That's when it hurts.

Mark Blumenthal, Operations Manager - Coney Island Amusement Park

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "The schedule is tough. They have road games at Indy and at Chicago. They play the Seahawks and improved 49ers. However, I like the direction the Saints are headed."

Finally picked a tomato this weekend. Was beginning to worry about that. People on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain are almost finished with their season already and mine is just starting. Looking to be a short but, hopefully, bountiful season.

ESPN had the Yankees and Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball. Understandable. Heated rivalry. Tonight, they have the Yankees and White Sox on Monday Night Baseball. Two fourth place teams in the showcase. Well, games that pay the bills can't always be games of interest, I suppose.

I had to read the QOTD a few times for it to sink in. Rash to accept a $27 million offer? How bad could it be?

94 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

According to one of the sources, the Magic forced Donovan to make a rash decision.

Associated Press via MSNBC.COM

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Donovan had reservations about leaving the Florida Gators for the NBA on Friday and spent all weekend trying to find a way to get out of his contract."

I was channel-surfing the other day when I came across a program on one of the high-definition channels about the making of Star Wars. It was not about the first three that I saw back in the 70s and early 80s but the newer ones that I never bothered to see. I never saw the first one, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, in the theater when it came out. I didn't want to see the other two in the theater because I hadn't seen the first one. Seeing them in chronological order has been elusive for me ever since. Now, I'm glad it was. After seeing a visually-magnificent couple of scenes on that making of Star Wars program, I decided to go looking for them. On Friday, June 1, one of the high-definition channels was broadcasting all three of them. I set the DVR to record them all. For reasons I mentioned yesterday, we had a good old-fashioned Saturday afternoon triple feature yesterday. Actually, we started Episode One Friday night.

To say they were visually rewarding is understatement of the highest order. They are spectacular and high-definition is the way to see them. They were shot digitally and this is their native format. I wish I had room on my DVR to save them indefinitely but, unfortunately, I don't. OK, enough of that. The story, particularly Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, is told in a matter-of-fact manner, which is the main knock on all three films. Aside: Do we still call them films when they're entirely digital? I guess there really is a difference between a movie and a film now. I digress. The dialog is served up cold in all three of these and it's pretty bad, which is OK because the action is pretty much non-stop. George Lucas should have stuck to the story and let someone else write the screenplays. That said, let's have a show of hands. Who watches these movies for the dialog?

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is, by far, the best of the three. It takes us from the first two movies in this new series to, as Roger Ebert puts it, "where we came in" in 1977. Some have expressed sympathy towards Anakin Skywalker and his reasons for turning to the Dark Side of the Force. Make no mistake about this: By the last third of this film, he is the monster, Darth Vader. Seeing these three movies in succession was fun and seeing some of these well-known characters in a different time was a real treat. I'm glad I finally did it. Patsy enjoyed them, too. Do it one day if you ever get the chance. I recommend a couple of big bowls of popcorn.


One from the backyard this glorious CrabAppleLane Sunday afternoon before I get out on the tractor.

Black Cherries - June 3, 2007 A rare sight at CrabAppleLane. Untouched black cherries. The wildlife usually gets to these before I ever see them. Not a big fan of them, myself, but the raccoons and cardinals love them.

95 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

You're going to kill him, aren't you?

Padmé, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "One morning when I was waiting to get off work, I walked outside and found this beautiful moth. As the moth moved around, the spots on the wings seemed to be like eyes and looked like they blinked."

Due to a late night, a late start this morning, and a yard-work-canceling afternoon thunderstorm, today was a day spent indoors enjoying a movie marathon. We finished the last one a few minutes ago. It was You're In The Navy Now from 1951. As a rule, I don't care for old movies. There are a few exceptions. I can watch Casablanca, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Wizard of Oz, and a handful of others without wincing at technical shortcomings. This one has technical shortcomings. Strike one. It stars Gary Cooper as an inexperienced commander of a misfit crew. OK, that's been done many times. Strike two. The misfits, though. That was a surprise. The opening credits didn't reveal any of them. There's a young and uncredited Lee Marvin, a young and uncredited Charles Bronson, and a young and uncredited Jack Warden. It gets points from me for that. Nothing here you haven't seen before but I suppose it was better than a poke in the eye.

This story in USA Today caught my eye for this paragraph:

"He's unbelievable — he just keeps on going," said Ryan Nerz, who works for Major League Eating, which he describes as "a world governing board for all stomach-centric sports."

Major League Eating? Someone actually named a company that and is somehow making a living at it. Boggles the mind.

96 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Years from now when they talk about post-traumatic stress, New Orleans after Katrina will be the poster child.

Dr. Frank Minyard, New Orleans coroner

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "is it crazy to try to compete with the NFL ? I don't think so. Here is why:"

Documentary from New Orleans Saints TE Mark Campbell

Hurricane season has started. CrabAppleLane is about as ready as we ever are.

Billy Donovan just couldn't resist the challenge or the money. I advised him against it although I'm fairly certain he didn't read it. Just as well. No one needs career counseling from me.

97 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I’m banged up. I’m winded. I’m fatigued.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "On the other hand, I've come to learn that if you see one error in an article, it's because 15 others have been corrected."