JUST CHECKING

HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION?

I'm still going to get around to the "Guy Sleeping on the Highway" story when I finally have time but this is not the time. I must quickly announce that Louisville will win the NCAA Basketball Championship this year. There - that's my bracket - are you happy now? Ok people - I get it...no one is voting for the sports section of my blog as the favorite. I gotta get it out of my system, what can I say. I did after grow up wanting to be a baseball statistician. So yes, it's time for you internet sports papers to look at a guy with plenty of education, enthusiasm and sports knowledge as a new writer on your staff. I got about another 30 good years in me. Bring it on.

DO THE RIGHT THING

I promise to stop plugging Spike Lee movies very soon.....I really do promise. However, "Do the Right Thing" is a great study in racial stereo typing and racism in general shot and interesting and unique ways. Lee's decision to have people utter racial slurs right at the camera makes it hard to understand why individuals would stoop to levels in which they would use these words on a regular basis. Perhaps what I enjoy most about this movie is that Spike himself plays a main role opposite Danny Aielo. And I'll admit - it may just be a NY thing but I grew up going to those pizzarias in the city and I have fond memories of life in the city. This movie is quite creative and way ahead of it's time and was Spike Lee's first huge commercial success.

AND SPEAKING OF RACISM

How about some Wagner people? Oh....sorry ......for issues regarding Wagner and racism or lack thereof you'll have to do your own research. For now I'll just go on record as saying that any orchestra work...prelude or other from the opera "Lohengrin" is absolutely stunning in its melodic beauty, carefully woven chromatic harmony and lush orchestration. Still can't quite figure out for the life of me how someone with such minimal musical training at a young age could turn into such a monster in the musical world (and I use the word monster in multiple ways).

GRIPE OF THE DAY

Bars that don't have food after 10 p.m. but want you to hang out and drink there until closing at 2 a.m. Really people, how about just a little bowl of pretzels or something.....a few chips.....maybe some peanuts. Really ain't gonna break you I promise. So I went out for a drink tonight and it was 10:05. Kitchen closed. Hell yeah I complained. The bartender asked me if I wanted a glass of olives. Hell yeah I want a glass of olives!!!! So there you have it. Sometimes when you pitch a hissy fit you wind up with your favorite food in the world right in front of you. Gee - that's wasn't much of a grip after all. Wow - not profanity in today's blog.
What the ......?