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March 31, 2005
RIP Mitch Hedberg
The funniest man to grace the stage of small comedy clubs since Bill Hicks has passed.
Escalator is now permanently stairs.
Posted by MikeSager at 2:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Brought to you by the letter Q?
Just remember Elmo - this man wants to see you sponsored by Mattel instead of the letter O.
And don't let him operate on you either.
Posted by MikeSager at 12:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 30, 2005
Give Ryan a Chance
Alright - Capitol Punishment pointed out something about Ryan Church that I was unaware of - his awesome On Base Percentage in the minors. And that he had a cold when he was called up to the majors last yet. I was quite unimpressed with his numbers in the bigs. But with this new information (and a .430 OBP in Triple A), I'm quite willing to give this at a shot. Also, he apparently shares a name with a Star Wars artist - which in the DC Tech-corridor plays very well.
I still like Terrmel, but I will definitely give Mr. Church his due.
Apparently the Army is interested in the naming rights to RFK. RFK was in the Navy. Hmm... My understanding is that there's a bit of a rivalry there. So I propose that if we sell the naming rights of RFK to the US Army, the Army be forced to sell the naming rights of their stadium at West Point to the Air Force. Perhaps Chuck Yeager Field at West Point Stadium?
Honestly, even if Ethel Kennedy is ok with letting them put a corporate name on her husband's monument - I'm not. Let RFK have his stadium. It's not like there isn't going to be a new stadium to plaster with a corporate name in 3 years.
Posted by MikeSager at 12:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 29, 2005
Church over Sledge?
So Chavez is going to New Orleans. Bully!
Now the questions are who is going to play Center? And who is going to leadoff?
The first question has an easy answer - Terrmel Sledge. This cat is going to be on fire in the next year or two. And the name! Sledge! Like a Sledgehammer! Calling Peter Gabriel - the story writes itself! And yet we're talking about putting Ryan Church in there? Now look - it's not that I have anything against Ryan Church. I think he's a fine player, and would be a decent starter. But he's not Sledge! Let's give Terrmel his due!
Now the leadoff question is much trickier. Do you steal Wilkerson from the middle of the lineup? Do you take a chance on Guzzie? (NO!) This is a tougher call to make. I'd say let Terrmel take the role, and see how he does? His OBP certainly could use some work from last season, but all indicators seem to say this guy has plate discipline. If not? Let Brad do it. Granted I think he'd be better further down in the lineup, but leadoff is very important - you need to have the table set in order to drive in runners.
It is a shame that Armas pulled his groin. I was beginning to hope that we'd have a healthy pitching staff. Oh well - hopefully by mid year we'll have owners in place with the money to trade cash and options for Ben Sheets or Josh Peavy.
Posted by MikeSager at 7:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 27, 2005
Some Positivity
Sometimes, writing profanity laced diatribes decrying the corruption of the administration grows tiring. Every now and again, you want to write about something that's going right. Well - I have found the perfect subject... Music.
This year is already shaping up to be another fantastic year for music. And in the last 3 years, we've seen unprecented production from good bands! Decent music is even playing on the generic radio stations! And despite the death of HFS, interesting music is now popping up all over the place.
There's new music from artists new and old. Fresh faces such as The Killers, Bloc Party, and Autolux are appearing alongside The White Stripes, U2, and Queens of the Stone Age. Side projects such as A Perfect Circle and The Postal Service are releasing music equally great as the main projects from which they sprung.
How is this possible, despite the total corporate takeover of radio and record labels? The Internets! Indeed, with new distribution and promotion techniques available to every artist no matter how big or small, good music is getting into the hands of the people! There's no more filter!
So now, after the cut, I present the 6 albums that you must posess this year. Links go to the iTunes Music Store.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Best Tracks - Little Thoughts & Positive Tension
Music as tight as early U2. Vocals the evoke Robert Smith. Lyrics that can be as political as The Clash or Rage Against the Machine. A slight British accent. A brilliant sense of urgency is conveyed throughtout the record. This one has instant classic written all over it, and I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of these guys for a long time.
Autolux - Future Perfect
Best Tracks - Capital Kind of Strange & Sugarless
Greg Edwards from Failure's new project. They've been around since 2002, but this is their major debut. Admittedly I was disappointed they left the title track off the album (it was on their 2002 demo), but overall the record is fantastic. This band has depth and subtleties under every note they play. And you can hear them interlock well together. Additionally, they're not afraid of the Beatles school of letting multiple people sing - refreshing in this day and age. There's a certain darkness to the record - they make all the songs feel strangely uncomfortable, yet soothing. The songs, partially because of how they were recorded, can feel like dirges - and that's a good thing.
The Joy Circuit - EP1
Best Track - Xs (only one because it's a short record)
This project, featuring 3/4ths of Year of the Rabbit (Ken Andrews (of Failure) is missing) is sort of the halfway point between the alternapop of Year and the etheral moodiness of National Skyline. Jeff Garber's skill at layering textures on intoxicating melodies is once again demonstrated, and the band as a whole is very tight. These guys are self-produced, and self-distributed - the perfect example of how the internet is revolutionizing music. The record itself is short - too short. But hopefully we'll see a full-length from them soon.
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart
Best Tracks - A Classic Art Showcase & Worlds Apart
Alright, I enjoyed Source Tags and Codes, but it was never my favorite. When I started raving about this album to my friend Deirdre, she was unsure - saying that she'd had enough of them. Well - I want more now! This album is incrediable - each song flows seemlessly into the next, and yet each stands on their own just as well. This album, much more than Source Tags, has a tendency to saunter off into a strange musical interlude - and then snap back into the main song. In fact, that seems to be a motif throughout the album.
The Exit - Home for an Island
Best Tracks - Let's Go To Haiti & Back to the Rebels
Not Currently Available on iTunes Music Store (even though I bought it there)
I first heard of these guys when they opened for Muse, and I was absolutely blown away. I mean, I was knocked over by the sonic crush. These guys were so loose and comfortable on stage - and yet were incrediably tight musically. I swear I was watching the second coming of At The Drive-In. Stylistically these guys jump around a bit, but nothing ever feels out of place. There's a definite reggae influence in some of the material - but it's like if the rhythms were thrown into a post-punk sensibility. The album is fantastic, but unfortunately it doesn't approach them live - this is a band that you have to see! But get the album anyways!
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze
Best Tracks - Tangled Up in Plaid & Someone's in the Wolf
For the more astute of you, a common theme you'll notice on my list is most of these acts have some connection to the band Failure. Troy Van Leeuwen is featured heavily on this album, the first one he actually recorded on with Queens. And his influence definitely comes through. And yet the album is signature Josh Homme - the textures, the layering, and arrangements. Nick Oliveri is definitely missed, and I think his depature does make the album not as strong as Rated R - but Lullabies does still keep up with Songs for the Deaf. Nonetheless, with a solid feel throughout the record, and rock-solid riffage - this is classic Queens.
Well - that wraps this up. I might make this a semi-regular feature, so long as music continues to remain interesting. And I think it will - so long as bands like Bloc Party are selling out their shows.
Posted by MikeSager at 2:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 25, 2005
The First Intersection of Baseball and Politics
Corporate Sponsor Field at RFK Stadium, eh? While we're auctioning them off...how about John F. Kennedy - Target Center for the Performing Arts? The Lincoln-Mercury Memorial? The Jefferson-Pauly Shore's Biodome Memorial? What about the White House Black Market White House? And perhaps the Lockheed Capitol?
Look - I don't care about the new stadium. But in Washington, the tradition is that corporate sponsorship is implied - not outright spoken. Let RFK be RFK.
via Washington Times
via why.i.hate.dc
via Wonkette
Posted by MikeSager at 5:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Abuse of Power
John -
Does the law only apply when it's convient? And does this mean that we get an apology from you for going after Clinton when all he was guilty of was not heeding the "No Fat Chicks" sign that graces the Oval Office?
Has the whole fuckin' country gone bat-shit insane?
Posted by MikeSager at 3:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Let's Googlebomb Frist!
It's simple enough. Just link Frist's senate website using the word "quack". Anyone who throws out their medical ethics for cheap partisan gain deserves this.
This guy has abandoned his ethics, and violated his oath to do no harm. This is the same "Doctor" who refused to say that HIV can't be transmitted by tears or sweat. This isn't a first offense - this guy repeatedly abandons proper medical procedure so that he can gain political points.
Enough! Pull his license! Googlebomb! This man is a QUACK!
FYI - this is also my first Diary over at DailyKos. About time, eh?
Posted by MikeSager at 2:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Out of Outrage
What do I think about this whole debate over that poor dead woman (yes - she is dead)?
1. Frist is a quack who should have his medical license removed.
2. Anyone who didn't beleive that the Bush Administration would find its way into your bedroom should finally open their eyes now.
3. Tom Delay is a liar and an opportunistic smarmy fuck.
4. John Stewart is almost always correct.
5. Smaller government my ass.
It seems like the only thing that works the way it's supposed to in this country is the courts - and of course that's the target of the Republicans at this point.
So for those of you who voted for this - fuck you, and your tax cut. You've destroyed our country.
Posted by MikeSager at 11:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 23, 2005
Too Busy to Blog
I'm just getting settled in my new location - DC area. After being busy painting, I'm now putting stuff away. I'll be back shortly, though.
Posted by MikeSager at 10:11 PM
March 16, 2005
Why Shouldn't I Become a Canadian, eh?
I thought it was just one fake news item. The administration has produced multiple fake news items. They're putting out propoganda.
The White House has no business producing "news bits". You don't get to do that in America. This administration is trying to make our country join the League of Ordinary Nations.
It is the duty of our press to come out hard against this. To talk about this on every cable channel. Let every pundit rail against the administration for this betrayal of the people's trust. The White House has no business producing propoganda. The government has no business producing propoganda.
If you voted for Bush, this is what you voted for.
Posted by MikeSager at 5:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2005
Queer Eye for the Sox Guy
I love the Red Sox (the picture on the right should make that abudantly clear). I enjoy Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I am definitely amused by the prospect of the Fab Five making over the Red Sox.
I only have 3 comments.
1. 'Tek, Millar, Wakefield, Damon, and Mirabelli are all good sports.
2. Shea Hillenbrand is still obnoxious. He may not have said anything, but he certainly is thinking something.
Posted by MikeSager at 3:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
St. Patricks Day on the Auto Train, Nats Rain-Out
Hopefully Amtrak has Guinness because I'm going to be on the train on St. Patrick's Day. My journey back to the District is on Thursday, a bittersweet end to 4 years of Florida and it's screwed up politics.
Baseball after the jump.
I got to enjoy 2 1/2 innings of DC baseball yesterday as the Nationals jumped to a 5-0 lead over the Dodgers at Space Coast Stadium...before being rained out. 4 years in Florida, and I only have 2 1/2 innings of Spring Training to show for it. Then again, DC didn't have a team until this year.
I need to find a plugin for Picasa that lets me Watermark pictures. The quality of the exports is much better than MS Paint. And for those of you who say I should buy Photoshop - I don't have the scratch. If I did, I most definitely would.
Posted by MikeSager at 9:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 11, 2005
Who's Your Buddy?
So Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer surrendured to authorities because of charges of election fraud. You see, there was this guy named Ken Mulvaney who is convinced that he should've had a run-off against Dyer. Dyer avoided the runoff by getting more than 51% of the vote here. Well Mulvaney, who still harbors a grudge and is filing legal actions more than a year after the election ended, won't let it go. And Al Gore got called a sore loser? Al Gore won and yet let it go. This guy loses, and won't just accept it.
Now - I don't have any feelings on Mayor Dyer one way or another. Policy wise, I think he's done a pretty good job. Even when he hasn't won the issues I care most about - mass transit and the Arts, he has been fighting on the correct side. And yet, he has managed to piss off just about everyone he deals with because of his style.
I must say that this whole thing shows Orlando is becoming a big city. Only in big cities do the leadership get indicted while in office.
Posted by MikeSager at 3:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 9, 2005
Ego Surfing at the Gates of Blogs...
Is it just me, or does Wonkette always seem to find any blog that refers to her, or has some obscure comment about sexuality and government.
It's like she's the Kibo of left-wing bloggers.
I'm moving back to DC soon. Like in the next week soon. But first, I'll see a Nats game this weekend.
Posted by MikeSager at 6:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 3, 2005
Bris Me I'm Jewish
Oi. These are the worst puns I've ever seen. I can't wait until I order my shirts.
Posted by MikeSager at 7:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
One More Reason Not to Like Lieberman
Alright, so we already dislike Joe Lieberman because of the fact that he's a Republican in Democratic clothing, he gives cover to Shrub at every opportunity, and because he has this thing against fun video games (You can pry my GTA out of my cold, dead thumbs).
According to mlb.com, he's also a Yankees fan.
A YANKEES FAN! If there was ANY doubt left that Joementum was anything but a Republican, this should confirm it! You can't like the Yankees and be a Democrat unless you live in New York, or Northern Jersey! Connecticut is part of Red Sox Nation! Joementum is once again rooting for the Republicans - be it in politics, or in baseball.
Posted by MikeSager at 9:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 2, 2005
FCC to Enforce Decency on Cable?, The Creepieness That is Chic-Fil-A, The Trouble with Whiskey Part I, Go Nats (Or the Trouble with Whiskey Part II)
There was a bit on Olbermann tonight about an Alaskan Senator who wants to introduce a bill to allow the FCC to regulate Cable and Satellitle companies in the same fashion it regulates the broadcast airwaves.
Alright - let me get this bit of sheer IDIOCY straight. The FCC, the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISION, is going to be dictating to private companies who use private infrastructure what they can or cannot say on their broadcast. Um...No. Despite the fact that this administration and the cohorts in the congress might think that the Consitution serves a much better purpose as toilet paper, there are some of us who believe that the Government has no business telling anyone what they can or cannot say (except if it's inciting violence. But then again, this is all about sex - violence is ok with the PTC).
The reason the FCC can regulate content on broadcast is because IT'S BROADCAST! It's the people's airwaves! They get to use our airwaves for free, but they have to keep it clean between 7 am and 11 pm (Yes, you can say "fuck" on broadcast television and radio after 11 pm. It's called Safe Harbor. How do I know this? I did a late night Metal college radio show with my old band's bassist while I was in college round 1).
The FCC has about as much legal right to regulate what is said on a private network as I do - and I don't have much right to regulate it. Otherwise, Fox News would be illegal. And Dr. Phil. I don't like Dr. Phil.
Last night was interesting. We'll start the sordid tale at Chick-Fil-A. I was going to go to Toojays, which is next door, but they were 5 minutes from closing and I had no desire to be "that guy". So I went into that bastion of Red Stateness that is Chick-Fil-A. The Blue Stateness that is Chipolte had suckerpunched my stomach. Several days in a row. Not fun.
Anyhow, along with my sandwich (and the ubiquitos dose of "Good Christianess") they had this thing on my tray about Junior Achievement. And it had a pyramid. And I don't have a scanner, but you're going to have to take my word on this. It was the pyramid of good business. The bottom of the pyramid was Free Market. Ethics was on the top. While I'm glad Ethics was mentioned, the message was very clear. The Free Market is the "bread" of capitalism. 3-5 servings per day. Ethics are the Fats and Sweets. Use sparingly.
After this, I went out for drinks with a good friend of mine. The problem is, I often forget that this friend of mine is a whiskey-swilling ex-country-music-roadie. He's also a liberal Jewish Red Sox fan. But anyhow, Adam is probably the only Jewish guy I know capable of winning a bar fight. Against the Oakland Raiders. He's a little guy, but he has a mean package - and he can hold his Whiskey.
I, on the other hand, cannot quite hold my Whiskey. Do you remember that episode of the West Wing where Josh slept in the office and his clothes smelled awful? That was me today. Hungover with important Washington things to do...
I had tickets to the first ever Nationals game! And I couldn't go! Because I couldn't be more than a few feet from the toilet. I had to watch the Nationals on ESPN! I debated putting the television on the toilet, but knowing my luck I would've just destroyed it. But at least we won. I'll go next week. And on opening day.
Dammit.
Posted by MikeSager at 8:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 1, 2005
Chiles is Out
Chiles is out. There was an eligibility issue. Looks like I'm going to remain an Unemployed Kerry Staffer. Dammit.
Posted by MikeSager at 5:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Press Makes Your Feel Important
I certainly hope this isn't all I get as far as 15 minutes go, but I'm starting to feel a little famous (Note: I said "famous", not "infamous".)
I had a Post reporter e-mail me asking about my take on the Nats in the EA Game MVP Baseball 2005. Between that and the writer Mike Sager doing a piece on other people named Mike Sager, I'm starting to feel like people give a damn about what I think. Of course, if people really gave a damn what I think, Kerry would be President right now. But I digress.
I'm going to the first Nationals game tomorrow - the spring training game versus the Mets. That should be fun, especially since it's only an hour away. The last baseball game I actually went to was at Camden Yards about 6 years ago.
Posted by MikeSager at 2:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack