Bang Potential

Podcast Pilot

2012-04-17T06:04:00.002-07:00

"Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap!"

2011-08-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

I was born to blog and then after much vacilating I decided that reading fiction might be a better waste of time.

I would love to be friends on Goodreads.

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

2011-04-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'll be back with extreme resoluteness in mid June.

On Repeat 1 (Penny and the Quarters - You and Me)

2011-01-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

Critical mass has been reached. Dana Stevens described Blue Valentine as "shattering". Matty on Filmspotting related how his girlfriend broke up with him 20 minutes after they saw it, saying that he was the Ryan Gosling character right down to his "big forehead". I listened to the Culture Gabfest rave about it today, and for their outro they played this, the couple's song. Wow, the Eccentric Soul series wins again. I assume Gorilla vs. Bear's 5/17/07 posting is largely responsible for it ending up in the film; here for more. It's great movie in a normally worthless genre, however, I can't say you should actually watch it.

Seriously, Watch This TV Show Promo "I'm going to ask you just one more time"

2011-01-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

Carrie Brownstein is super wry when she drops in on All Songs Considered, and every one of the clips for this show are gut busters. Here's hoping they stay wordy, and away from bits that could be saved for the last half hour of a SNL episode. The pilot is supposedly already viewable on Hulu, but it was bog city when I tried.

On Repeat 1 (The Altered Beast - Ghost Train Poka 2010 Remix)

2011-01-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah. Here's the link to download a better version that incorporates Jay-Z.

Strong Buy: Grimbergen Double Ale

2011-01-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday night a stranger/typical New England jerk slapped me on the shoulder and sawing forward with his Belgian goblet said "Man you have to get this, it's the number two beer in world, well it's at least in the top ten." My general willingness to act on low risk recommendations given with gusto and the specifics of his entreaty made it my next call. Very rarely do things live up to the hype but six out of six pals agree that this does. Surprisingly good from the tap or bottle, it's the new number one here.

Downton Abbey 4/5

2011-01-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

Bam! The heirs to the family's insane estate sink with the Titanic and suddenly everything is flipped upside down. The writer of Gosford Park, my #9 film of the past decade, created the most expensive British TV series ever, which is presumably why the first season is only seven hours long. Those two facts explain why This Recording rightly called it "the ideal Mad Men replacement". My face also zagged when I read such ridiculous praise, but after we polished off the season in exactly one week I was concurring hard. If you aren't craving more after the first episode you can probably quit, and while it may be tame the capital "D" drama cranks up fast after that.

Slimish Blue Oxford Rundown

2011-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

Epiphany is a little strong, but that's what I had after reading the unrefindable blog of some gent who was setting off on a two week trip to Singapore, Thailand and other places I've never been to, and was limiting his shirt battery to four blue oxfords and one white. I think I'd been unconsciously disposed to the blue oxford, and the calm, pleasing, and, when cut properly, flattering statement it makes. However, I was only just starting to get my four year old Banana one back into the out and about rotation and like an aging DH its retirement is long overdue. Enter the Brooks Brother's Extra Slim Fit line and the Blind Oxford Tasting post on The Trad's blog and I'm almost a full blown enthusiast. The aforementioned posts mainly focused on $80-$149 shirts that seemed to come in too wide so I thought I would go after less pricey slimmer types. The following is what's not pictured below.

J. Crew only has white, sun-faded and rounded point collar versions, Banana Republic also only has white (as of last week there's a blue one that's "just in" and looks great but...), not that it's worth going into, but I'm trying to be comprehensive so; The Gap restricts itself to short sleeved and Express/AE have none for males. The overly blog hyped revival of Land's End proves empty again with its offering of a shirt whose weave is far too tight and blue dominated, already reviewed here, and taste may be a matter of taste but their "Canvas" edition's collar is way too "re-proportioned". Ralph's were either ponied, puntered (Rugby) or "distressed" all marks that violate the semi-discreet aspect I entered as part of the criteria. Band of Outsiders and Thomas Pink were more spendy than I spend. J. Press for some reason wasn't sought out, we'll say it was assumed to be too wide, yes that's it. Dickies and American Apparel were complete yuck, i.e. beyond horrible, the latter's fabric giving new meaning to cheap looking even if it wasn't also cling-wrap thin.

Done. Note,this post is riddled with links, it's immediately clear that this is the first time I've photographed clothes, and yes those are the same shirts under tweaked iPhone camera settings. Now, the entrants.

L.L. Bean - Trim Fit Classic Oxford Cloth Shirt - $29.50

I spent too much time paging through their catalogue when I was in grade school so even though the "new trim fit" diagram showed this was only slightly less billowing than than the standard version I crossed fingers put it in my cart. This was a mistake, as a pair of socks could be made from the excess fabric and back/sides would still mushroom like crazy at the waist. French Blue is the color I should have ordered as the Bean's "blue" was light. The cloth here was definitely the most rigid and while the detailing was agreeable this shirt shows why oxfords fell so out of favor with general populace. Freeport didn't merit a snapshot and has instead been placed under the other shirts to demonstrate relative width. Here and with the big winner I'm a 17-34. The rest are mediums.

Value 5th - Cut 5th - Weave 5th - Color N/A - Overall 5th

Bonobos - Bentham Blue - $80.00

As the name of this oxford hints at, Bonobos is an enlighten company. Go here to get $50 off your first order of more than $100. Not wanting to scare away the average bro they only mention that Bentham's fit is "not too boxy and not to slim" when it reality it's the most contoured of the five, however, the manner in which this is achieved is so clandestine that your friends and mother won't be able to pin down why you look so sharp. I think the button on the back of the collar is a superfluous detail that shows a lack of confidence on the part of the designer, but the collar is spot on and the big weave and color are great after a very short getting to know you period.

Value 4th - Cut 1st - Weave 3rd - Color 2nd - Overall 3rd

Brooks Brothers - Classic All-Cotton Extra-Slim Fit Supima Oxford Dress Shirt- $79.50

Critics, click here, are right. There is no extra about this slim, but it's still very flattering while raising even less an eye than the Bentham. Apparently men's style forum haunters are divided on its grayer blue color but that and the overly white weave have my number seven times over. Notice I unknowingly ordered the Supima as opposed to the Original. They are both the same price. The BB ESF also sports the healthiest collar collar in the contest. Here's The Trad experts point/counterpoint on the same.

Value 2nd - Cut 3rd - Weave 1st - Color 1st - Overall 1st

American Living - Solid Oxford Shirt - $24.99

According to Valet this JCPenney house brand is designed by Ralph Lauren, and I'd say it shows. The weave, collar, and fit are pretty darn good and personally I like the flag carrying eagle even if its head and neck are a little goosey. That logo does prompt a lot of questions so be prepared to say "JCPenney" or come up with a fun lie, also there's some pink accents that have been inexplicably put on the shirt tails.

Value 3rd - Cut 4th - Weave 2nd - Color 3rd - Overall 4th

Uniqlo - Oxford Long Sleeve Shirt - $19.50

The Brooks Brother's 34 inch sleeve lands just above the base of my thumb and this lone foreign entry's medium is just as long but cut very high and so narrowly that they feel shorter. Toss in the much trimmer trunk and our slimmest contender is almost disqualified for buckling during deep breaths/given points for making me feel busty. Hopefully it's evident from the photos at the very top, but the weave was tighter than some, smaller but nicely collared, and the quality of that fabric didn't raise any concern. Not having access to there sole U.S. location in SOHO I took the leap and placed my first email order that some how got pared down to the this lone oxford. Info is here. I paid $7 for shipping.

Value 1st - Cut 2nd - Weave 4th - Color 4th - Overall 2nd

On Repeat 1 (Meco - Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band 12" Disco Mix)

2011-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

I often go through lulls where I'll be convinced that I'm not owned by Star Wars , but then I'll see the book cover below or this track will start playing out of the blue in some obviously inspired coffee shop and I'm pulled in even deeper. Now some are saying "Disco + Star Wars, this should be in your wheel kitchen house bag. Why only now?" The answer is I heard a botched version when Episode I came out, and subsequently stayed away far far away film theme remixes. A happy accident brought me back and now I'm making up for lost time.

Top Ten Albums of 2010

2010-12-12T17:30:00.001-08:00

1. Beach House - Teen Dream

You: Boo, boring, go home! I agree and don't like it any better, but this will be the year's first album that I'll come back to and repeatedly play in 2016, it can single-handedly spin my mood in a positive direction, and it consistently glides through to a clean and fulfilling conclusion while never tempting the skip forward hair trigger. The disc, like their studioesque sounding concert, which the Philistines and I gave an A+, inspires no affinity, but more than enough respect and anticipation.

2. Tallest Man on Earth - Wild Hunt

Considering my enthusiasm for groping under rocks in the singer/songwriter desert it's disconcerting that I recently my need for the snake bite kit has been so rare. This Swede stunned me with the first three tracks and kept re-burying the fangs on subsequent listens with new and already ipod starred songs. Your well meaning but backwards friend might recoil at the sound of tall guy's voice, but tell him that while M. Buble has his time and place The Swede is worth a second listen because Nick Cave is a more interesting person than songwriter and for all that Dylan still is he isn't 27 and doesn't banjo.

3. Free Energy - Stuck on Nothing

The only reason this isn't number one is because their myspace page and EP made them my top/fav/bestest band of 2009 and by last July I'd already thrown two rods (simultaneously I assume) in this ride and been thumbing for hours. If you hate the equation Rock+Fun=Awesome don't bother with number three. Not that it matters, because I only care how a band sounds in my buds, but their live shows burn venues to the ground.

4. The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme

I'll cop to it. I haven't heard any of their other stuff and this was a tenth hour addition made possible only by the shuffling a 2010 albums playlist. How I listened to just half of the album before ejecting last spring only to play it for ten hours straight some weeks ago I'll never be able to reconcile. That I didn't know they were from Lund before I signed up for the fan club newsletter made the connection even more satisfying.

5. She and Him - Volume Two

Volume One was great, Two is too. I hope they keep it up or at least show another duo how to make it look so easy.

6. Surfer Blood- Astro Coast

I can't understand how a person wouldn't fully enjoy at least a couple of these tracks, if not the whole thing, the first time through so I would agree that these aren't heady sounds but there's still a lot to grow in to and gain appreciation for on repeated passes. Toss out the wonderful lyrics that squared off permanent quarters in my brain and you still have an arrangement that is all the more compelling because they aren't using any instruments or samples you with which you aren't already on a hugging basis.

7. jj - jj n°3

As I said back in my Q1 report this jj record benefited from a degree of latitude that my limited mental faculties are rarely able to dole out. When it finally worked for me the price of all that marching seemed like a tremendous deal in my favor.

8. Yeasayer - Odd Blood

This album was the second biggest revelation of the year. Ambling Alp, O.N.E, Madder Red, and Rome are just knock down drag out fun that reverberate like not much else.

9. Magic Kids - Memphis

Upon first meeting them one might become concerned that this band is just straight alitame (a Pfizer developed sweetener I just google/wiki'd whose sugar punch is 2000 times greater than sucrose), but with the exception of their "sailing is back in style" lyric they do sugar so well that I completely bought into their teeny bopper, is any buddy going to moonlight skate with me m.o./aura.

10. Twin Shadow - Forget

I like Toro's stuff, which is probably more layered and complex, but he never hooked my ear like this bro of Sammy Sosa. Maybe that's because the lyrics are more audible on Forget. Again I think there's aspects here to enjoy on the first and the twenty-fifth time through.

Those get an honorable mention. Here's last year's top ten and consider dialing in the same Bat Channel for a rundown of the Top 25 Songs.

bbbbang

2010-11-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

On Repeat 1 (The Generationals - When The Fight They Fight)

2010-11-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

My lust for this song cannot be overstated. I couldn't have slept harder on their album when it came out last year, but tried to compensate by looping it and this track for about 10 days without rest. The unenlightened might at first listen regard it as typical cheap Pandora filler, but the band's melodramatic lyrics snap perfectly and the instrumentation is always interesting.

Sherlock 3/5

2010-11-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

Seventy minutes into this four and a half hour miniseries I thought it was going to be my new second favorite thing on television. The leads are unimprovable and the dialogue and plot are whip smart. I enjoy Holmes in any non-Guy Ritchie form, mouse or otherwise, so a modern character trolling around Soho had no problem drawing me in. The first episode, "A Study in Pink" is by far the best but all three start squeaking to varying degrees as soon as the cartoonish villains show up towards the end. I realize that Nazis and Vadars are hard to come by, but please BBC 1 fix this rabid insanity because the rest of the show is too spot on to waste.

Top Album Ever + 2

2010-11-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

I've been searching in vain for an excuse to post about these for a long time, but the one hasn't presented itself and I need to clear my conscious regardless of whether or not these are painfully obvious highlights.

Arthur Russell - Love Is Over Taking Me 10/10

I noticed this when pitchfork listed it in their tops albums of 2008, but the first couple tracks must not be as accessible as the other nineteen because I dropped it. Through the good fortune of shuffle or some random blog mention it came back and bashed my door in. Whew. It's really more of compilation, but I'm using a pass.

Jonathan Richman - Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow 9/10

That I kept from fully processing Jon's appeal while unceasingly fanning the flames for Jens Lekman and The Modern Lovers is probably the best example of my knack for refusing to take just one more step when musical catnip is almost within reach. YouTube somehow doesn't have tracks from either of these discs.

Sparklehorse - Good Morning Spider 8/10

He's unique, intense, and as these two cuts forebode not around.

Sick of Goodbyes

Chaos of the Galaxy/Happy Man

Day of the Jackal 4/5

2010-11-19T13:27:00.001-08:00

Grown men used to read something other than nonfiction, and when they did spy novels were king. The 1974 film version of the Forsyth book may be one of the best starless movie ever, and at worst this hitman joint easily dispatches with the Bourne Supremacy. I ignorantly avoided it because I couldn't comprehend why French soldiers would want to assassinate de Gaulle. That was a mistake.

The Social Network 5/5

2010-11-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

Catfish 4/5

Fincher expertly wrangled Sorkin away from his Sports Night/Studio 60 dark side and towards near perfection. I love a good/great documentary and unlike many see them as something entirely separate from movies. But, however loathe I may be to do so, the film with the most misleading trailer ever will definitely be among my top five movies of 2010. If you strongly disagree, leave your number in the comments because even though it's been months I'm still ripe to hash it out.

Strong Buy Cavalcade

2010-09-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Dominion

I don't know how to get you to buy this game, but you'll thank me ceaselessly if you do. The last time I played it with three friends the sole first timer said, "I hate board games. I'll play, but I really hate board games." Forty-five minutes later the same bro was proposing that we meet four nights later and play again even though he'd finished in last place.

Euro-German boardgames like Dominion and the previously reviewed Strong Buy, Settlers of Catan, reside in their own insular circles of awareness. If you've heard of Dominion you are cringing at my hyping of such an obvious pick, as it was the game of the year in 2008, if you haven't you'll probably recoil when you see the artwork on the game boxes in the aforementioned genre, this aspect alone kept me at bay for almost a decade, but do yourself an immense favor and soldier past that, and in Dominion's case the fact that it is a completely card-based game and begin reaping massive rewards.

The rules of Dominion are extremely basic, something I wish I'd know before I waited five months to play it after purchasing it last March. It's always good to have a sympathetic group that's disposed to board games for your first go round but after you'll know how to mentally prep your audience and be confident in springing it on the eager and wary alike. One caveat; while girls take to Settlers of Catan like a sixty year old American male to Stephen Ambrose books I have yet to play Dominion with a female and while I plan to in the near future I'll admit that the cards are pretty nerdtastic, and yes the Old Spice one is a fraud. Next up are Pandemic and Ticket to Ride.

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Stereogum’s 40 Best New Bands Of 2010

Yes, seeing as how this has been available since the beginning of the month we are looking at the ultimate slowplay on my part, but that said these tunes have held up since then and regardless of how common or uncommon the knowledge of these bands is this free playlist remains a lazy man's paradise. That's right forty free tracks. The DOM song was my entry point, when a friend confidently threw it at me, and it's only received love and excitment when I've done the same to multiple compatriots. The other three, arranged in order of stellarness, might sneak up on you over the course of a couple listens but the payoff is huge. Dive into all forty if you haven't already, but these and the more hyped Cults and CEO cuts seemed to me to be the definite standouts.

DOM - Living in America

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords

Dominant Legs - Young At Love and Life

Tennis - Marathon

Girl's/Women's Ankle Socks
OK, this is at least four months too late, but I needed one more item to make this a full-fledged cavalcade, and I'm so passionate about these that I figured it was worth it. Even the smallest men's socks still leave about a centimeter showing with running shoes so they are unwearable with oxfords, Chuck Taylors, and whatever Sperrys you might find yourself striding in and for reasons from comfort to smell a no-show sock is nice to have. One of the chorus of male clothing bloggers extolled some insanely overpriced, e.g. $9 a pair, no-shows a couple months ago that were specifically made to go with low cut Tod's, but with a little tweaking a bargain basement female tennis sock will do just as well.

Sony MDR-EX75 Earbuds

I've given every pair of white earbuds on Amazon under thirty dollars a shot and this spendy forty dollar pair surpasses them all exponentially. So if you are looking to replace the Apple standards or don't want to expose your good pair to everyday/everywhere use and would like a durable pair with a slick two piece cord, nice little case, heads set at a weird angle that makes them super comfortable and resilient to falling out even on the most violent runs try Sony again for the first time. I think the sound is good too, but what would I know about that.

Civil War

You needn't be in college to enjoy this ultra rapid fire drinking game that's as stupefyingly awesome as beer pong is pitiable. I champion a 3 on 3 with 3 ping pong balls and 3 cups vertically lined up in front of each player melee version of the game. Should the ball land in one of your cups you can't shoot till you're done swigging. Specifics vary on the web, but the gist is the same. Word to the not stupid, don't play this game in slim fitting Ben Sherman shorts no matter how much they're the apex of cool or room you have at the waist because somebody blew out the sides and rear not once but twice, thankfully Gilt wiped the tears away and now has a customer for life.

iTunes Celebrity Playlist Podcast

With Lala gone I buy most of my music from Amazon and therefore knowledge of this podcast eluded me for sometime. Before I knew music blogs existed I did some serious celebrity playlist sifting, Edward Burns's was my favorite, however this podcast incarnation is even better. You'll find out you like the celebs you were already disposed to even more, enjoy the Jersey Shore peeps debating whether it's better to work out to house or rock, and Wilbur's misuse of "prolific" .

Have no fear of getting bogged down in Enrique's painfully obvious mix because Apple only plays about ten seconds of each song so the episodes fly by. According to the celebs I need to get way more Dolly Parton in because Jolene was the only track that could rival Man in the Mirror for repeated mentions. This podcast is an easy and enjoyable way to pinpoint your musical blind spots, because the last thing I want is to get ambushed at a cookout by a Michael Nesmith reference that Zoe Dasch would have gladly shielded me from.

My favorite episodes were Adam Goldberg, She & Him, Zac Brown Band, Franz Ferdinand, Quentin Tarantino (who only selected songs by The Jacksons), and Jewel and Ty Murray.

Untitled 4/5

2010-09-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

I rated this trailer a 100/100, and have been foaming at the mouth for the DVD, which only just came out last Tuesday, since I missed this theaters last fall. Considering those expectations, it held up very well. Its only negatives were a lag around the 75 minute mark, and my own not being able to keep up with the torrent of absurd and hilarious statements that were always delivered so drolly my processor got worn out. It's currently available for instant viewing on Amazon and Netflix.

On Repeat 1: Love - Little Red Book

2010-09-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

I've tried and not been able to fully appreciate their other songs and more revered album Forever Changes, but the stilted progression

and ridiculously too short stone cold to the max refrain had me mainlining this for weeks.

Nonfiction Audiobook Rater

2010-09-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker 8/10
This may be one of the books Alvy buys for Annie in Annie Hall, but it's totally not about death, and more about Freud, Jung and other major psychoanalysts of the last century; ergo it's one of the densest books I've ever been exposed to and totally captivating. There are only two another books that I've been in the middle of and thought, I'll want and need to re-read/listen to this.

Legacy of Ashes by Timothy Weiner 8/10
This the most boring book I've ever listened to and every American should have to digest it before they get to vote again. If I ever had any doubt that Ron Paul's desire to eliminate the CIA, scratch that, CIA's covert operations was 100% the way to go the author completely erased it. Everything action or in the agency's case, foul-up is completely sourced. Dulles and company seemingly couldn't have done more than three things right since their inception; recent history for sure is no help. The CIA's dealings were effectively the history of the world after WWII. Interesting tidbit; that famous shot of the last chopper out of Saigon wasn't of the U.S. embassy, but a CIA safe house. I dare you to take this book on in any form; just gird yourself to be pummeled with "station chief" in every sentence.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain 7/10
This was just a really fast and interesting story about a guy that could have totally junkied out, but somehow made a career for himself and then gave readers a crazy look into the kitchen and finances of the food service industry. I was particularly troubled to hear that he never never never orders mussels, my appetizer of choice, because they've probably been sitting for way too long in a rank five gallon bucket in the walk in, and gladdened by his recrimination of those who preach the fifteen knife gospel in advising that all you need is one heavy chef's knife that sharpens well.

John Adams by David McCullough 7/10

Mac fully convinced me that John Adams was our number one patriot (a word I feel needs to be reappropriated from the Neo-Cons) in spirit and definitely only behind Washington in reality. Adams hated slavery, and despite being a bona fide Puritan tried unsuccessfully to get his fellow Massachutens to extend religious freedom to jews. If Jefferson was the 76ers finesse big-play wideout, Adams was the work horse back who sacrifices his body and guarantees victory by controlling the clock. This was no where near as enthralling as 1776 and it seemed more than a little long, but I can't bring myself o give it a six.

Highway 61 - Mark Polizzotti 9/10
If you are a Bob Dylan fiend bike don't run to audible and download this short stack for a measly ten dollars. Mark not only gives the history and story behind every song, but gives insights on that period of Dylan's career and tells us how to read between the lines of Pennebaker's 1967 documentary. It's intense to hear about the number one jerk, cool mainly because he hates/doesn't care about anybody or what they think of him crumple like a child under the opinion of the Beatles. The book also gave up a, previously unknown to me, bit of Dylan trivia that I've already used in a Good Will Hunting bar scene dream. Q:What album was Positively 4th Street on? A:None, it was released as a single between Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde. Mark does spend time laboring over who played base on what track, but that's the absolute worst that could said. I'm fired up and ready to destroy the 33 1/3 titles on Songs in the Key of Life and Low.

Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell 8/10

Why would ever read a book by a non-David Sedaris This American Life contributor? Because Sarah could write the shoes off an old school wrestler and even when she is talking about something that couldn't interest you less she delivers it so wittily and from such an unexpected angel that you love even minute of her informative poly-sci quickie.

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus (ABRIDGED) by John Gray 9/10

I normally eschew the bejeezus out of abridged versions, but we unwittingly listened to the abridged as all get out ninety minute version of this book and it was so good that I had to rave about it. Everything he says is so basic, but somehow still so unrealized by the gender being informed by the Doc of their partners desires; which are basically this. Men, shut the hell up and just listen with out trying to fix the problem, no matter how many zillions of times she comes complaining to you about the same inane thing that isn't directly related to you. Women, shut the hell up and leave him alone when he is mad or frustrated; he'll come out of his cave when he's ready and leave. him the flip alone until then. This stupidly simple advice has probably saved the sig and I from untold man hours of discord, and it's so short

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson 7/10
The set-up is great, it covers a not often addressed but seemingly influential period, Larson is a master story teller and the Chicago World's Fair architect (guy that did the Flatiron building) and the whacked out serial killer couldn't be more compelling, but I was never fully sucked in for long.

Shadow Divers 6/10
People love this book, and if you have a red and white flag decal on the rear window of your ride, are a WWII buff, or have ever vacationed in a tropical region you've probably already read it and are damning my misguided rating of six, but this thing would have been way to slow/long in parts to actually read. That said, the mystery is real, the numerous scuba adventures/deaths are riveting, and the description of sea town life legit. It just could have wrapped up more quickly. Shoot those dives were crazy..., nope sticking with a six.

Just In Case You Didn't Catch This On Swiss-Miss

2010-09-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

A New Season Of Unchecked Hubris

2010-09-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Fantasy football is capable of inducing a singular excitement. In the past calendar year my only sport championship viewing was three quarters of the NBA Finals and the World Cup, but even I can get hyped for at least eight weeks of the NFL now that last year's horrible showing is only a foggy memory. Save for Rodgers this is a by the book KUBIAK squad so if it doesn't dominate I'll be extremely vexed. I give you the 2010 Sterlings.

Aaron Rodgers, GB QB

Shonn Greene, NYJ RB

Beanie Wells, ARI RB

Hines Ward, PIT WR

Steve Smith, NYG WR

Matt Forte, CHI RB/WR

Zach Miller, OAK TE

Eagles D/ST

Lawrence Tynes, NYG K

Cadillac Williams, TB RB

Donald Brown, Ind RB

Leon Washington, SEA RB

David Garrad, JAC QB

Devin Hester, CHI WR

Steve Breaston, ARI WR

Oh, So That's Why People Liked Him

2010-09-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is the most hackneyed trick in the talk show book. Attractive teenage girl plus self-aware unhip host equals mediocre late night laughs, but Carson seemingly has real charm and completely redeems it. The Late Show intro and wardrobe in this clip had me conjuring up a world where Mad Men didn't exist and a steady diet of 60s-ness wasn't incredibly accessible, so scary. NBC apparently made the YouTube user take down the good version I initially saw on Smoke and a Coke, but there's smooth moves even with horrible video and "If I'd met you when I was nineteen" still comes through.

The Last of Shelia 4/5

2010-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

A chamber murder mystery with a good mousetrap is hard to beat. The whodunit genre is paper thin when it comes to home runs like 1945's And Then There Were None and Gosford Park so a solid triple was really all I could hope for out of this film concerning a movie producer and his six friend's Mediterranean yachting holiday. It made a lovely solo night, stayed in my head all week, and can be found on Netflix instant.

+++++++