A Couple of Things

Lardawg and I caught the Aqualung/Pete Yorn show at the Granasty in Lawrence last night. Actually, it was more like the Aqualung show. He continues to amaze me with his artistry and musicianship. New album out March 13th. Pete Yorn is a bore, we left after four songs.

Things You Might Not Have Known About (ME:)

I would like to introduce a new series here at AlmostEverything called “Things You Might Not Have Known About (ME:)”. Each week I will dispel a few tidbitty facts about yours truly. Some things my wife doesn’t even know! Some you will know. Some you won’t. Others you will wonder if we should still be friends. And, here we go.

>I hate Tupperware (and Ziploc bags)

> Until about age 17, I wanted to be a cartoonist

>I voted for Clinton

climate-controlled Oscars

What I learned at the Oscars: The earth is warming and my crush with (or ‘on’ for you grammar nerds) Penelope Cruz continues.

ps. I love my wife

side notes >

• Beginning March 2, The Dolphin Gallery will be host to an art show featuring handprinted, letterpressed and silk screened rock posters. Some of my favorite artist groups being Hammerpress and Aesthetic Apparatus. If you live in KC, make sure to put this on your to-do list.
• NPR’s This American Life is coming to TV (Showtime). I will be purchasing the seasonal DVDs. (via blankenship)
• My parents have been in town from Tennessee the past few days and we checked out the new WWI museum at the Liberty Memorial. I highly recommend it to everyone, even if you aren’t a huge war history buff. My favorite part were the walls of original war propaganda from around the world (original Uncle Sam I Want You for US Army) Awesome! But nonetheless, a very sobering exhibit on the affects of war.

The Entourage: Vegas (2 of 4)

We have just returned from Vegas…again. I am calling this trip the Week of the Entourage. Basically, they were everywhere. Most of the time I had no idea who the entourage was for, but nonetheless, I couldn’t help being completely fascinated by it. I didn’t want to be the guy to stop and stare, but it is difficult with the stopping power that a fast-paced and bling-infested entourage can have.

It all started with me looking at a clothing line in a small booth and suddenly I’m surrounded by ‘homies’ in diamonds – people huddling around – taking pictures with camera phones – gawking – blah blah blah. I don’t know who this dude was standing next to me looking at clothes – probably a hip-hop star. I’m sure my unsuspecting mug is on some girls blog with me looking confused and annoyed.

It is also the weekend of the NBA All Star game and festivities. I have never witnessed so many entourages in my life – and I stopped everytime…or got out of their way. They don’t move for you.

We walked by Nikki Hilton and I was surprised by her lack of an entourage. I figured she would have had the most.

So after thinking about it for a while, I realized that deep down I want an entourage for myself. You can get a lot of things done with an entourage. Plus, once you get your timing down walking together, you are an unstoppable force. Who’s in?

3 Annoying Things From This Evening

Numero Uno: The Grammys. Lame. What happened to the presentation of awards? What happened to rock music? What happened to movie actresses staying movie actresses and not becoming recording artists? What happened to diversity of nominees? What happened to classy speeches (dixie chics)? Why is every program on network television using ‘american idol’ skams to boost ratings? I’m calling this Grammys ‘the night that music died’. My apologies go out to Imogen Heap for having to endure a long night of sitting just knowing that there was no way in hell (or America) that you would win over an american idol. We still think you’re the best.

Numero Dos: The Sprint commercial featuring the Powe(red) phone. Sprint will donate a percentage of the sale to help fight AIDS in Africa when you buy a red phone. Probably the tackiest display of using humor for a horific and global epidemic. Pardon my French, but holy shit. Who approved this ad? What ad agency was responsible for production? One of the top marketing blunders I have ever witnessed. Just another reason to not use Sprint. I’m sure the commercial will appear on YouTube tomorrow and I don’t think I’m overreacting.

Numero Tres: The Duke Bluedevils continue to be on the front page of ESPN.com’s college basketball section everyday even with a losing record and no way of being in contention of the title come tournament time. When will the politics stop and the focus turn to the talented teams?

“Hey, how’s everyone else doing?”

“But, I’m not in a hurry.”

Can fast service ever be considered a disservice? Is our service industry culture obsessed with ‘the fast’?

An example:
The other night I went to the grocery store to pick up a few essential items. When I got to the check out line, a few people with carts got behind me. The chekout lady barely greeted me, and began feverishly scanning my items. She got to an item that she didn’t know the code, and panic set in. She began apologizing to me for taking so long, “I’m so sorry sir…”. I said, “What? It’s been 5 seconds…”. A little later (7 seconds) she apologized again. I replied, “Don’t assume I’m in a hurry.”

Sometimes the grocery store is my sanctuary after a long day of work. My biggest pet-peeve is when I’m handed my receipt and I don’t even have time to fold it up in my wallet before I’m being elbowed by the next person in line to move and my bags have been wisked away.

I’ve seen this fast mentality cross over into high-end dining. Not that I eat a ton of high-end meals, but the recent times that I have, the server is always apologizing for the food not being out or saying things like, “Your food should be out any minute.” Once again, don’t assume I’m in a hurry. I’m probably not. And you’re annoying.

If I’m in a hurry at the grocery store, I’ll use the self-checkout lane. If I’m in a hurry for dinner, I’ll get fast food. We are always coming out with new ways to improve efficiency and speed, with always the assumption that we are in a hurry. I would love to be in a culture where it is frowned upon to ask for your check before two hours have passed.

Rivalry, The Definition of

What is a rivalry? I know what it isn’t – KU vs K State. K State’s Huggins agrees. He thinks that KU winning the last 33 of 34 games is no where near a rivalry, but more like domination. Is the tide changing? It doesn’t look like it anytime soon. A little read over at ESPN puts rivalry into perspective.

I have to say that I enjoyed last night’s game, especially after the ‘CATS!’ post from all my k-stater friends on the March Madness prediction. I actually wanted a close game. I wanted the Cats to come out and rock us and have KU come back to clinch the ‘rivalry’. It didn’t happen. At first I was disappointed, but quickly became giggly. Sparky, I wish you had come over for the game.

Note: Please don’t think this is turning into a sports blog. It isn’t. There will be a few b-ball posts during the madness that is March.

Once a Prince, Always a Prince

I am speechless. I am without speech.

Pan’s Labyrinth

Last week before my Vegas trip, I went and saw Pan’s Labyrinth…by myself (thanks for the suggestion Sarah). All to say, one of the most amazing movies I’ve ever experienced. Beautiful, creepy, spellbounding, horrifying, sad, hopeful….some of the best acting I’ve seen in a long time.

What do you (you, being, who has seen the film) have to say?

Pan’s is now in my top films of all time, right under Death to Smoochy.

Prediction: March Madness

KU will lose for the third straight time in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This time to a team that doesn’t start with the letter ‘B’. I don’t want this to happen, but it is almost inevitable.