GO YANKEES - WAY TO BUILD THAT STADIUM
I'm happy to report, in keeping up with the times and catering to the
larger citizens of the United States of American and keeping in mind
that US citizens are on average the heaviest people in the world, the New
Yankee Stadium's seats are 2 inches wider than in the old stadium. This
should make everyone very comfy, and figuring that they'll continue to
sell Yankee Franks and Beer at an alarming rate, there should be another
seat expansion in 50 years when they build another new stadium. By the way,
the increase in seat size and slight reconfiguration of the stadium has left us with
nearly 5,000.....yes, 5,000 LESS seats in the new stadium. I guess that's not
a bad thing. Most people can't afford the tickets any more anyway.
MOVIE STAFF ON VACATION
I'm sorry to report that the movie staff has gone on vacation and so all I can do for you today is to recommend a movie and state that the reason I am recommending it is
because it's just good. And here it is: "The Apostle". Written and directed by Robert Duvall and if that weren't enough he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Sorry to say this Robert - you're an absolute freak of nature. You transform yourself so perfect into every role that it is freakish at the highest level. You're a scary person Robert Duvall. You're also the best there is.
MUSIC STAFF GONE FISHING
The music staff is in Palm Springs fishing. Wait...was that a dust storm outside my hotel that just blew sand into my mouth and into my eyes? OK - the finalists are Chopin Concerto No. 2, Schumann Concerto, Rachmaninoff 3. Most people would think the Rachmaninoff must be an automatic winner in an international competition but I might with these soloist today and I will tell you this. It's a complete toss up. I'm glad I just conduct the orchestra and I don't have to judge. What fabulous talents. I was just thinking.....at 8 a.m. this morning I had never met any of these three people, and on Sunday I'll be on stage helping each one of them try to attain the top price in an international competition. Is that cool or what?
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I have nothing bad to say about anything today. Oh wait, there is one thing. I'm tired of the cash register person at Office Depot, Home Depot and most other places I go asking me for my phone number and zip code. I'm trying to get the balls to just say "I don't give those out". But I feel obligated since they've helped me by offering a service or an item that I want. I just don't want to answer any more. I don't want to chat. I just want to buy my stuff and go home.
Subscribe: musicsportsmovies.blogspot.com
Posts
All Comments
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
THIS TIME I'LL BE REAL BRIEF
TIGER
A quick blurb about Tiger Woods - and I'm sorry for my briefness, but I have a short trip coming up so
I'll do my best since some of ya keep coming back. I'm not sure there is any athlete alive today that
dominates a sport like Tiger Woods. As a matter of fact, I'd be fairly confident to say that other than
Babe Ruth and Michael Jordon, no other athlete has completely taken over a sport and brought the sport
to the masses like Tiger Woods has. I never gave a crap about golf. I'd watch once in a while. But you better
believe that if he is anywhere on the leader board on Master's Sunday in a few weeks I'll be watching. OK,
maybe golf isn't quite as physically challenging as most sports but to hold such mental dominance ...and physical
dominance over your computers for a sustained amount of time is extraordinary.
LIONS
I'm dreading losing people's visits by typing as fast as I can and getting on with my work day so since Tiger
dominated part one I'll give "The Lion King" as movie section of the day. There, I did it. Lion King - one of the
best animated films ever.....great music.....the acting is quite ambitious and the costume design is
delicious. Come on people....I'm trying to get my catchy heading to relate. Cut me some slack...I'm under
serious performance pressure this week.
BEARS....oh MY
So yes, Haydn wrote symphonies and many have catchy titles....the Drum Roll Symphony, the Farewell Symphony, but did you know there was a "Bear Symphony". This is Symphony No. 82 by Haydn. Haydn intimates the tonality of bagpipes or a low sustained drone in the last movement and thus the symphony received it's nickname. Evidently a piano arrangement with dne in the early 19th century titled "Dance of the Bears" using music from Haydn's movement. Never seen this arrangement but that's the story.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Republicans who have hammered away at Obama since day one as if having another Republican in office like George Bush would have somehow miraculously fixed the never ending cesspool of shit that he left for the next guy. Come on people - it was a no win situation from the beginning and your man got us there....so go ahead and bash the new guy while he tries new things.....you put us there...you can go ahead and complain that you don't like what the next guy is doing to try to fix it. Must sometimes be nice to be blessed with lack of short term memory.
A quick blurb about Tiger Woods - and I'm sorry for my briefness, but I have a short trip coming up so
I'll do my best since some of ya keep coming back. I'm not sure there is any athlete alive today that
dominates a sport like Tiger Woods. As a matter of fact, I'd be fairly confident to say that other than
Babe Ruth and Michael Jordon, no other athlete has completely taken over a sport and brought the sport
to the masses like Tiger Woods has. I never gave a crap about golf. I'd watch once in a while. But you better
believe that if he is anywhere on the leader board on Master's Sunday in a few weeks I'll be watching. OK,
maybe golf isn't quite as physically challenging as most sports but to hold such mental dominance ...and physical
dominance over your computers for a sustained amount of time is extraordinary.
LIONS
I'm dreading losing people's visits by typing as fast as I can and getting on with my work day so since Tiger
dominated part one I'll give "The Lion King" as movie section of the day. There, I did it. Lion King - one of the
best animated films ever.....great music.....the acting is quite ambitious and the costume design is
delicious. Come on people....I'm trying to get my catchy heading to relate. Cut me some slack...I'm under
serious performance pressure this week.
BEARS....oh MY
So yes, Haydn wrote symphonies and many have catchy titles....the Drum Roll Symphony, the Farewell Symphony, but did you know there was a "Bear Symphony". This is Symphony No. 82 by Haydn. Haydn intimates the tonality of bagpipes or a low sustained drone in the last movement and thus the symphony received it's nickname. Evidently a piano arrangement with dne in the early 19th century titled "Dance of the Bears" using music from Haydn's movement. Never seen this arrangement but that's the story.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
Republicans who have hammered away at Obama since day one as if having another Republican in office like George Bush would have somehow miraculously fixed the never ending cesspool of shit that he left for the next guy. Come on people - it was a no win situation from the beginning and your man got us there....so go ahead and bash the new guy while he tries new things.....you put us there...you can go ahead and complain that you don't like what the next guy is doing to try to fix it. Must sometimes be nice to be blessed with lack of short term memory.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
KILLING DOGS, DOG DAY, WOLF DOGS, HOT DOGS
HE'S BACK
GREAT!!!! Michael Vick.....fresh off of serving jail time for being involved in organized dog fighting rings is likely to be picked up by an NFL team. I love the people who say "hey...he's paid his dues....I hope he can be successful and still lead a productive life". OK...I'll give you this - he's paid his dues and I hope he lives a productive life. As for being successful who the hell cares. Let him sign his first 5-10 million dollar contract and fail miserably. He still deserves that much. I hope he signs for enough to live for a few years until he can get real job but I dread seeing him have an ounce of success on an NFL field. That's just me. I can have an opinion, right?
YOU CAN CALL ME AL
Three words: Dog Day Afternoon. Al Pacino and John Casale - great acting...a true over the top 1970's crime drama with twists and turns at every corner. Pacino puts every fiber of his being into this role. He is young, brash, and you know from the moment the movie starts that this guy just may have a career. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE. John Casale....yes that's his name John Casale - no not Pacino......Fredo from the Godfather. Here is your trivia for the day - did you know that John Casale who played alongside Pacino in Dog Day and also played Fredo in the Godfather movies was in 5 films in his short life. EVERY film was nominated for a Academy Award for Best Film. Casale died very young from cancer and I'm thrilled to see that a film about his life premiered at this year's Sundance Festival. HIGHLY recommend Dog Day Afternoon.
WOLFEY
Listen people...Peter and the Wolf is not just a cute little children's piece with a good moral at the end of the story. This is a major orchestra composition. I've frequently used excerpts from this work as part of my audition process for orchestras. So next time you listen, don't just listen to the story. Listen and appreciate the very creative orchestration and technical demands placed on individual members of the orchestra. I think I've blogged about Peter already, so suffice to it to say that you should buy a copy for your kids and listen along with them.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I'm griping about a great travesty that occurred as I grew up as a kid. It was the travesty of the hot dog. One day, someone decided to tell everyone that hot dogs had rat hairs in them and other gross stuff. So hot dogs got a bad rap. Even today it seems that the delicious wiener cannot escape the death grip that was cast upon it in the 1970's and 80's. I'm here to say that Hot Dogs are fabulous. In addition, there are money great hot dog places......not always easy to find, but they're around. So lay off the freakin hot dogs already....if I want to eat 4-5-6 on a weekend while watching sports, that's life. And by the way - only hot mustard please....not of that bright yellow crap.
GREAT!!!! Michael Vick.....fresh off of serving jail time for being involved in organized dog fighting rings is likely to be picked up by an NFL team. I love the people who say "hey...he's paid his dues....I hope he can be successful and still lead a productive life". OK...I'll give you this - he's paid his dues and I hope he lives a productive life. As for being successful who the hell cares. Let him sign his first 5-10 million dollar contract and fail miserably. He still deserves that much. I hope he signs for enough to live for a few years until he can get real job but I dread seeing him have an ounce of success on an NFL field. That's just me. I can have an opinion, right?
YOU CAN CALL ME AL
Three words: Dog Day Afternoon. Al Pacino and John Casale - great acting...a true over the top 1970's crime drama with twists and turns at every corner. Pacino puts every fiber of his being into this role. He is young, brash, and you know from the moment the movie starts that this guy just may have a career. BUT WAIT - THERE'S MORE. John Casale....yes that's his name John Casale - no not Pacino......Fredo from the Godfather. Here is your trivia for the day - did you know that John Casale who played alongside Pacino in Dog Day and also played Fredo in the Godfather movies was in 5 films in his short life. EVERY film was nominated for a Academy Award for Best Film. Casale died very young from cancer and I'm thrilled to see that a film about his life premiered at this year's Sundance Festival. HIGHLY recommend Dog Day Afternoon.
WOLFEY
Listen people...Peter and the Wolf is not just a cute little children's piece with a good moral at the end of the story. This is a major orchestra composition. I've frequently used excerpts from this work as part of my audition process for orchestras. So next time you listen, don't just listen to the story. Listen and appreciate the very creative orchestration and technical demands placed on individual members of the orchestra. I think I've blogged about Peter already, so suffice to it to say that you should buy a copy for your kids and listen along with them.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
I'm griping about a great travesty that occurred as I grew up as a kid. It was the travesty of the hot dog. One day, someone decided to tell everyone that hot dogs had rat hairs in them and other gross stuff. So hot dogs got a bad rap. Even today it seems that the delicious wiener cannot escape the death grip that was cast upon it in the 1970's and 80's. I'm here to say that Hot Dogs are fabulous. In addition, there are money great hot dog places......not always easy to find, but they're around. So lay off the freakin hot dogs already....if I want to eat 4-5-6 on a weekend while watching sports, that's life. And by the way - only hot mustard please....not of that bright yellow crap.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
BAILOUT, SEX, MURDER, MCDONALDS and COCA COLA
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT
So they say if you have a catchy title on your blog - maybe some good keywords - it will get you more hits on your site. OK - so my title has nothing to do with my blog - it's just to get more hits. So for sports today I'll simply complain that most of the very top seeds made it through March madness and now we'll likely get the pleasure of watching North Carolina in another championship game. Wip-dee-freakin doo da day! So I'm not in the mood to yammer about sports today so I'll give you a little tip in case you want to smile and enjoy a day out in the sun. Find the local Little League field and go watch the 5 year olds play tee-ball. That's what life is all about. Pure relaxation, fun, and guaranteed mayhem. There is nothing like watching a ball hit off a tee and then watching 10 or so kids on the other team pile on top of each other fighting for the ball or watching the kid in center field playing with blades of grass oblivious to the fact that a hit ball just rolled right by him. FUN IN THE SUN!!!!!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
OK, I'm going Independent Film again and I know this will by no means be everyone's cup of TV and probably not recommended for the kiddies. It's a little movie called Chuck and Buck. Trust me on this one - if you like creative film making, good acting and a very interesting albeit off the wall story rent this one. Mike White wrote and directed the film and also plays the lead role of an adult still lost in a child's world. As usual I prefer not to give much away about specifics of the story but I will tell you that you won't be able to take yourself away from the screen. The acting is relaxed and brilliant and I'm thankful that we have writers like White that will put some taboo subject matter onto the big screen.
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
So I'm now conducting the Prelude to the Opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the Austrian composer Englebert Humperdinck. But I do realize that most of you know Mr. "Dink" as the guy who sings the power ballad "After the Lovin". Well I decided to youtube Mr. "Dink" and he did quite a rendition in Vegas in the 80's. He has quite an amazing voice and while I don't normally recommend pop singers on the music part of my blog he is well worth listening to. Particularly amazing is his "opera lesson" on youtube where he sings parts of Puccini's "La Boheme". The guy has quite a range. Oh - and while you're at it - the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the other "Mr. Dink" is both colorful and beautiful and cannot be recommended more highly. Try to see and hear it in live performance if you get a chance. Who would thought it - two Engelbert Humperdinck's that are both one hit wonders. How odd.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
That I can't just fly where I want whenever I want. This is a gripe that I must do something about. I must find another job as if I'm not busy enough already but I'm just tired of not being able to hop on a plane for a weekend. So for all of you that think college professors are well off and have comfortable lives.....hahahahahah, think again my friends. Cash, checks and money orders accepted.
So they say if you have a catchy title on your blog - maybe some good keywords - it will get you more hits on your site. OK - so my title has nothing to do with my blog - it's just to get more hits. So for sports today I'll simply complain that most of the very top seeds made it through March madness and now we'll likely get the pleasure of watching North Carolina in another championship game. Wip-dee-freakin doo da day! So I'm not in the mood to yammer about sports today so I'll give you a little tip in case you want to smile and enjoy a day out in the sun. Find the local Little League field and go watch the 5 year olds play tee-ball. That's what life is all about. Pure relaxation, fun, and guaranteed mayhem. There is nothing like watching a ball hit off a tee and then watching 10 or so kids on the other team pile on top of each other fighting for the ball or watching the kid in center field playing with blades of grass oblivious to the fact that a hit ball just rolled right by him. FUN IN THE SUN!!!!!
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
OK, I'm going Independent Film again and I know this will by no means be everyone's cup of TV and probably not recommended for the kiddies. It's a little movie called Chuck and Buck. Trust me on this one - if you like creative film making, good acting and a very interesting albeit off the wall story rent this one. Mike White wrote and directed the film and also plays the lead role of an adult still lost in a child's world. As usual I prefer not to give much away about specifics of the story but I will tell you that you won't be able to take yourself away from the screen. The acting is relaxed and brilliant and I'm thankful that we have writers like White that will put some taboo subject matter onto the big screen.
ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK
So I'm now conducting the Prelude to the Opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the Austrian composer Englebert Humperdinck. But I do realize that most of you know Mr. "Dink" as the guy who sings the power ballad "After the Lovin". Well I decided to youtube Mr. "Dink" and he did quite a rendition in Vegas in the 80's. He has quite an amazing voice and while I don't normally recommend pop singers on the music part of my blog he is well worth listening to. Particularly amazing is his "opera lesson" on youtube where he sings parts of Puccini's "La Boheme". The guy has quite a range. Oh - and while you're at it - the opera "Hansel and Gretel" by the other "Mr. Dink" is both colorful and beautiful and cannot be recommended more highly. Try to see and hear it in live performance if you get a chance. Who would thought it - two Engelbert Humperdinck's that are both one hit wonders. How odd.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
That I can't just fly where I want whenever I want. This is a gripe that I must do something about. I must find another job as if I'm not busy enough already but I'm just tired of not being able to hop on a plane for a weekend. So for all of you that think college professors are well off and have comfortable lives.....hahahahahah, think again my friends. Cash, checks and money orders accepted.
LATE NIGHT BLOGGIN
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.....
This is a 3 part blog - 1st sports, then movies, then music. All your infotainment in one tightly wrapped package. It's late and today's blog will be a bit brief. (I know - that's what I always say) So for my sport of the day I've chosen Poker. Ok - it's not a sport...whatever...it's a game. I'll only address the people that wonder why and how people could get so attached to it. It's as simple as this - it's a rare game that combines advanced mathematical skills, psychology and completely unpredictable chance. Now once you get the first two mastered you set yourself up to have a better chance once you hit those moments of chance. It's as simple as that...you can think it through but there are simply not that many games out there that combine a high skill level with what some would consider total luck.
SPELLBOUND
Spellbound was a documentary that followed a number of very intelligent little kids in their pursuit to win the Scripts National Spelling Bee. I can sum this one up easily: The exciting thing about the movie was the simple fact that these kids came from so many different walks or life, locations, and unbringings. It shows that the most talented kid can come from anywhere and what makes this kid talented is not easily predictable. I would even recommend this one for those of you with kids. All the kids in the movie are wonderful, and whether you think their parents are pushy and drive them or not, all the parents deeply love their kids and you can see that in the movie.
CHOPIN
I guess my mom missed me once I left for college and thoughout her last years. She died just prior to a full week of dress rehearsals and performances I had for an opera I was conducting. I flew to the funeral and left the next day to get back for my performance. It was difficult to do this as I had to leave my brother and sister in NY and not even help clean out my mom's apartment. However, after the funeral we went back to her place and I found a stack of CD's - all Chopin piano music. It seemed that almost all I played growing up was Chopin. She loved it and I know how much she missed my playing. She even sold my piano within a year of when I moved out to help me out with money for college. I wonder how she felt the day the piano was moved out. I'll never know now. One thing I do know - everyone needs to own a few Chopin recordings. I would highly recommend the Ballads and the Scherzos as these are some of his greatest solo works.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The complete asshole coach who pulled his son (the catcher) out of the baseball game today in the middle of an inning after the kid made 3 errors. I was coaching for the opposite team. That was simply the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Asshole, asshole, asshole. How in the hell could this possibly be a good lesson for a 14 year old? A pitcher having problems on the mound is one thing but to pull a position player out of a game in the middle of an inning has got to be one of the most humiliating things you can ever do to a player. Not only that, but this guy actually rags on his son from the first base coaching box while the kid is trying to hit: "oh....that's a great swing....just great"........"keep doing that, that will work". Oh - I'm sorry - let me be more clear: Chatsworth Junior Baseball League Junior Giants. Asshole.
This is a 3 part blog - 1st sports, then movies, then music. All your infotainment in one tightly wrapped package. It's late and today's blog will be a bit brief. (I know - that's what I always say) So for my sport of the day I've chosen Poker. Ok - it's not a sport...whatever...it's a game. I'll only address the people that wonder why and how people could get so attached to it. It's as simple as this - it's a rare game that combines advanced mathematical skills, psychology and completely unpredictable chance. Now once you get the first two mastered you set yourself up to have a better chance once you hit those moments of chance. It's as simple as that...you can think it through but there are simply not that many games out there that combine a high skill level with what some would consider total luck.
SPELLBOUND
Spellbound was a documentary that followed a number of very intelligent little kids in their pursuit to win the Scripts National Spelling Bee. I can sum this one up easily: The exciting thing about the movie was the simple fact that these kids came from so many different walks or life, locations, and unbringings. It shows that the most talented kid can come from anywhere and what makes this kid talented is not easily predictable. I would even recommend this one for those of you with kids. All the kids in the movie are wonderful, and whether you think their parents are pushy and drive them or not, all the parents deeply love their kids and you can see that in the movie.
CHOPIN
I guess my mom missed me once I left for college and thoughout her last years. She died just prior to a full week of dress rehearsals and performances I had for an opera I was conducting. I flew to the funeral and left the next day to get back for my performance. It was difficult to do this as I had to leave my brother and sister in NY and not even help clean out my mom's apartment. However, after the funeral we went back to her place and I found a stack of CD's - all Chopin piano music. It seemed that almost all I played growing up was Chopin. She loved it and I know how much she missed my playing. She even sold my piano within a year of when I moved out to help me out with money for college. I wonder how she felt the day the piano was moved out. I'll never know now. One thing I do know - everyone needs to own a few Chopin recordings. I would highly recommend the Ballads and the Scherzos as these are some of his greatest solo works.
GRIPE OF THE DAY
The complete asshole coach who pulled his son (the catcher) out of the baseball game today in the middle of an inning after the kid made 3 errors. I was coaching for the opposite team. That was simply the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Asshole, asshole, asshole. How in the hell could this possibly be a good lesson for a 14 year old? A pitcher having problems on the mound is one thing but to pull a position player out of a game in the middle of an inning has got to be one of the most humiliating things you can ever do to a player. Not only that, but this guy actually rags on his son from the first base coaching box while the kid is trying to hit: "oh....that's a great swing....just great"........"keep doing that, that will work". Oh - I'm sorry - let me be more clear: Chatsworth Junior Baseball League Junior Giants. Asshole.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
