The stars at night are big and bright...

The stars at night are big and bright...
The stars at night are big and bright...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I Just Can't Look Away

I've been fascinated with Zooey Deschanel from the first moment I saw her as the cool big sister in Almost Famous.  Her eyes are are a magnet to my soul. Honestly, I could look at those eyes forever. She also has an offbeat, free spirit that is reflected in the characters she plays in films like Yes Man and (500) Days of Summer.

I met someone a few weeks back and thought I was seeing Zooey in person. I'm telling you the resemblance was uncanny in more ways than one. 

Something about those eyes.

It's A Sad Day In Mudville

1 year ago

I really hate to do this but I've had to revoke your bandwidthworthy status. 

Paul's R2



I actually know this guy from an internet forum and have followed his quest over many years to build the best R2D2 on the planet. He's been working on it since before I met him back in 2000 +/-. Trust me, Paul has taken a LOT of harassing about it on the forums over the years. A grown man building his own Star Wars character. You can just imagine the flames he endured.

But it was (an expensive) labor of love. Now to see the final results in the smiles and excitement it brings to the sick kid's faces, it was clearly worth every bit of the effort he's put into it.

The story made the local news in Maine, then was picked up by Yahoo. From there CNN and MSNBC aired it. It's great to know he's getting the credit he deserves.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Jack Roush Survives (Another) Plane Crash


NASCAR Team co-owner Jack Roush is in serious but stable condition following a "landing accident" at the famed EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event is the largest annual gathering of aviation enthusists in America. During the gathering it is officially the world's busiest control tower.

According to a report at AVweb, it appeared that Roush aborted landing on Runway 18R at Whitman Regional Airport and was attempting a goaround when the wingtip of his Beechcraft Premier dug into the ground. The twin engine jet pancaked, then slid across the grass and broke apart. 

Roush (68) sustained serious injuries and his passenger Brenda Strickland (61) non life threatening injuries. Both walked away from the crash.

The NTSB is investigating.

Radio transmissions between Roush (callsign: Premier) and ATC can be heard here.

This is the second serious crash Roush has had as a pilot. In 2002 he narrowly escaped death when his twin engine CamAir struck powerlines and cartwheeled into an Alabama lake. Former Marine Larry Hicks, who witnessed the crash, jumped in a nearby boat and rescued Roush.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The "I Have No Snappy Title" Edition

The posts have been few and far between lately. Awfully sorry about that. I did promise to put more effort into this a while back. But I gotta tell ya the universe has been beating me down like a red headed stepchild and I really haven't had a writing muse.

The new TV blog gizmo I got the bright idea for is not going well. Being on dialup makes it even better. It's a lot of sitting there waiting on the programs to download only to find out it won't work, doesn't do what I want it to or it's an expensive subscription service. I've decided it may be a while before that makes it's debut.

But things could always be worse, like living in Bell, California:
From the AP:

The City Council of this tiny blue-collar city voted to slash its bloated salaries, but some residents suggested nothing short of a totally cleaned house would appease their anger.
Under pressure from furious Bell community members, council members on Monday voted to cut their own salaries by 90 percent and two said they would not seek re-election when their terms end.
Four of the five council members were getting paid nearly $100,000 for their part-time jobs. Other officials were getting paid far more and the city manager, who made nearly $800,000, has already resigned. Attorney General Jerry Brown on Monday revealed he had subpoenaed hundreds of city records.
Hundreds of residents packed the community center on Monday to assail council members who listened to more than five hours of public comment. After the council announced its decision to cut its salaries, dozens of people waited for hours to vent their anger. Many demanded the council resign immediately.
Bell's city manager, police chief and assistant city manager all resigned last week after it was revealed they were making salaries totaling $1.6 million a year. 
The salaries exploded into public view after a Los Angeles Times investigation, based on California Public Records Act requests, showed the city payroll was bloated with six-figure salaries:
_ Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo made $787,637 a year, getting a series of raises since being hired in 1993 at $72,000. President Barack Obama makes $400,000.
_ Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia made $376,288 a year.
_ Police Chief Randy Adams earned $457,000 — $150,000 more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.
Councilman Lorenzo Velez makes about $8,000 a year, in line with the part-time pay for council members of similar-sized cities. He urged his colleagues to reduce their salaries to that level.

Friday, July 23, 2010

DVRworthy Weekend

Still fidgeting with that new schedule app. Still no luck getting it to work, so here's my suggestions for don't miss TV this weekend.

Mad Men (Season Premier)
Sunday   9pm   AMC   DirecTv channel 254

It's a new season and new agency for Don Draper & Co.

HBO Sunday Night Block Party: Hung/ True Blood/ Entourage
Sunday  10pm  HBO  DirecTv channel 501

HBO retains it's stranglehold on Sunday nights.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing: Brickyard 400
Sunday  Noon  ESPN  DirecTv channel206

ESPN kicks off their Sprint Cup coverage with the classic from Indianapolis.

Friday Night Lights
Friday  7pm  NBC

Go Panthers Lions!

Apollo
Saturday  3am  KERA

Excellent documentary on the Apollo space program launched in 1961.


NOVA: B-29 Frozen in Time (1996)
Sunday  4am  KERA

Inspiring yet heartbreaking documentary of Darryl Greenamyer's team of aviation enthusiasts that attempt to recover, rebuild and fly a crashed B-29 bomber found in the Arctic.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

NEW FEATURE: Movies That Don't Suck

Besides stealing tag lines from networks nobody watches, I've been experimenting with a new interactive feature that will show you my recommendations for upcoming "DVRworthy" programs. So far my luck hasn't been great in getting that to work. In fact, I'm at Wyle E. Coyote stage at this point. I'm somewhere between faceplant catapult and rocket powered rollerskates in the summer catalog. But,I have an ACME Goldcard and lots of Gorilla Tape.

Is there anything on the face of sweet Mother Earth greater than Gorilla Tape?
I think not.

In the meantime, I thought I'd suggest some upcoming movies and a brief synopsis of why I think they are worthy of burning that precious DVR disc space.

Lifeguard (1976)
Thursday 11:00am  Showtime2    DirecTv Channel 547

Long before David Hasselhoff flexed his hairy pecs on Baywatch, Sam Elliott was King of the SoCal beaches as the ultracool 30ish LA County Lifeguard that happens to be sleeping with a 17 year old beach bunny (Kathleen Quinland) and his old high school sweetheart (Anne Archer) at the same time.

Decisions, decisions...

Cowboy Bebop The Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door (2001)
Thursday 1:00am Encore Action   DirecTv Channel 541

Full length version of the cult hit anime series about a ragtag group of space bounty hunters in search of a mad terrorist. This ain't Speed Racer or Pikachu, it's very well written.  It also features a fantastic soundtrack.

Very [Adult Swim].

Run Silent, Run Deep (1958)
Saturday 11:00am TCM    DirecTv Channel 256

Save your Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide, Submarine movies don't get much better than this (except for Das Boot). Sparks fly as Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster set sail to the Bungo Straits in search of those tricky Japs. Jack Warden and a young Don Rickles fill out the crew.

I Am Comic (2010)
Thursday 4:00am  ShowtimeHD West    DirecTv Channel 546

Johnathan Brody gives you an unprecedented behind the scenes look at the lives of standup comics and their addiction to the profession in this very interesting and entertaining documentary.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Radar Love Edition

  • 1310 The Ticket is once again airing the Scion Drag N Brag from Texas Motor Speedway on Friday  nights. Contrary to the name, it is not an all import race. It's a multi-class street legal drag race open to the public for a nominal buy-in. It's good radio and even better in person. It's the most open access you'll ever get to racing (and the least limited to alcohol) at TMS. I invited BIL to go watch last year and we had a blast even after we found out they would not allow any alcohol. That was a first in our experience at TMS. The races are open to anyone every Friday night thru August 13th.
  • This car has nothing to do with the Drag-N-Brag but I think it's pretty f'n cool.

  • That howl you heard as the crescent moon was rising last night was not a chupacabra. It was me getting my finger caught in the door closing the safe after I was momentarily distracted. Guess which finger?
  • I think fingernails are overrated and random Band-Aids are the new hip fashion trend. I've also developed a new style of 9 fingered tyipng thaty seembs to be weorking out niescly.
  • Speaking of chupacabras, the Runaway Bay Chupacabra was a topic covered by Craig Ferguson and Nicolas Cage thursday night.
  • They really need to come up with a better mascot name. Chupy? Abbra? Theodore J. ?
  • Newly acquired Texas Ranger Bengie Molina hit for the cycle in grand fashion at Fenway.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Early Afternoon Edition


  • A friend told me he tried the new diet pill Alli. It keeps your system from absorbing fats. He stopped using it after 2 days due to "uncontrollable accidents".
  • Thieves in Parker County are getting cocky.
  • Brits unveil new stealth UCAV.
  • Harvey Pekar was found dead in his home at age 70. I always was fascinated by him and his work. American Splendor is an excellent film.

Friday, July 9, 2010

The Extremely Tired and Half Hearted Edition

It's Day 10 with a Jacksboro Highway Switchblade stuck in my lower back. Also an unexpected very late night at work and I know there's no way I'm going to be up early to post, so away we go...


  • The Emmy nominations have been announced. Glee (19), Modern Family (14) and The Pacific (24) lead the way. HBO racked up a combined 101 nominations. Good news is some deserving shows are getting a shot. Friday Night Lights missed out on a Best Drama bid, but leads Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton (Eric and Tami Taylor) both received Best Actor/Actress nominations. HBO's very well done biopic Temple Grandin is up for Outstanding Made For TV Movie. 
  • Also in Emmy news, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien got 4 nominations. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 0.
  • Get ready for the media onslaught of the new ultimate summer action movie in the history of ever (sponsored by Geritol). Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are ready to pump you up. Contrary to what Cobra said on The Hardline, this is NOT basically a remake of They Were Expendable. Not even close.
  • They are freaking out in Oakland. Can't we all just get along?
  • I found out where The Honeymooners went. I wonder if they stayed at the same place I did on my 3rd honeymoon?  Bad juju in dat hut mon. Actually, the trip was the best part of that whole trainwreck. But I'm convinced one of us pulled a Brady and removed some ancient relic that cursed us.
    (I'm pretty sure it was her!)

    Thursday, July 8, 2010

    Thursday's Submission

    Tuesday, July 6, 2010

    That Championship Season




    I'd pay good money to watch the Wise County qualifying heats.

    A Few Quick Hits

    Monday, July 5, 2010

    Double Fake Random Thoughts

    With Mr & Mrs Blog King on honeymoon and nothing but reruns this week, looks like I'll have to step it up a bit...

    Friday, July 2, 2010

    Seriously Funny



    What do you get when you combine 5 comedians surrounded by their friends and an open mic? The Green Room with Paul Provenza, and it is some seriously funny stuff. You'll find it on Showtime, but it's scheduled for a limited run.

    Set the DVR and catch this greatness while you can. Keep in mind this is a bunch of comedians trying to one up each other so it is definitely TV-MA. Guests include Johnathan Winters, Robert Kline, Rosanne, Drew Carey, Penn Gillette, Martin Mull, Tommy Smothers, Adam Kindler and more.

    If you like raw comedy, you'll love The Green Room on Showtime.