Alive & Random
Did you know that the Soviets built a ridiculously huge statue of Mother Russia as a war memorial at Stalingrad? It's 279 feet tall, or more than 120 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
I've read a great many books this year, but rather oddly a sports novel by John Grisham is one of the ones that I'll remember the longest. Playing for Pizza follows a 3rd string NFL quarterback from his disastrous stint at the helm of the Browns in the 4th quarter of the AFC Title game (3 passes, 3 interceptions returned for TDs, knocked unconscious, game lost 21-17) to the championship of the Italian Football League's Super Bowl. Yes, there is an Italian league for American football. It's semi-pro, limits each team to 3 Americans, who are the only players paid. I've liked maybe two Grisham novels total prior to this, but this bag sale discard is one of the two or three finest sports novels I've ever read, with vivid characters and a real feel for what's really important in sports.
Saw the Black Keys last night in Akron. Very strong performance, but EJ Thomas is not acoustically designed for rock concerts. Give me the Agora any day. Opener was the Royal Bangs; they sucked.
The Cinematheque is showing the Akira Kurosawa film Kagemusa (known in America as Shadow Warrior) on Friday at 9:10pm and Saturday at 7pm. It's a Samurai epic set in the Warring States error, which should be immediately familiar to anyone who blew an entire spring break playing Nobunaga's Ambition on the Super Nintendo. In any event, it's Kurosawa, it's got samurai and I haven't seen it, so I'm definitely going on those of nights. Anyone care to join me?
Oh yeah, and happy "kill people you consider savages day". One of my coworkers took the day off; he threatened to spend the time making Columbus Day themed LOLCATs - "I is in your continent, stealing your stuff" as one example.
I've read a great many books this year, but rather oddly a sports novel by John Grisham is one of the ones that I'll remember the longest. Playing for Pizza follows a 3rd string NFL quarterback from his disastrous stint at the helm of the Browns in the 4th quarter of the AFC Title game (3 passes, 3 interceptions returned for TDs, knocked unconscious, game lost 21-17) to the championship of the Italian Football League's Super Bowl. Yes, there is an Italian league for American football. It's semi-pro, limits each team to 3 Americans, who are the only players paid. I've liked maybe two Grisham novels total prior to this, but this bag sale discard is one of the two or three finest sports novels I've ever read, with vivid characters and a real feel for what's really important in sports.
Saw the Black Keys last night in Akron. Very strong performance, but EJ Thomas is not acoustically designed for rock concerts. Give me the Agora any day. Opener was the Royal Bangs; they sucked.
The Cinematheque is showing the Akira Kurosawa film Kagemusa (known in America as Shadow Warrior) on Friday at 9:10pm and Saturday at 7pm. It's a Samurai epic set in the Warring States error, which should be immediately familiar to anyone who blew an entire spring break playing Nobunaga's Ambition on the Super Nintendo. In any event, it's Kurosawa, it's got samurai and I haven't seen it, so I'm definitely going on those of nights. Anyone care to join me?
Oh yeah, and happy "kill people you consider savages day". One of my coworkers took the day off; he threatened to spend the time making Columbus Day themed LOLCATs - "I is in your continent, stealing your stuff" as one example.