Trade Deadline

Down to the wire here. Manny looks like he will go. I hope not to the Marlins for Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham. Hopefully Andrew Miller gets thrown in the mix or Cameron Maybin.
Yes he has been doing this for 10 years (as I was so informed last evening via text) but he hasn't been doing it this blatantly (5.45 seconds to first base on a groundball down the line to third), plus the Red Sox are struggling and when you aren't winning minor issues become problems.

Another Note
Ivan Rodriguez for Kyle Farnsworth is a better trade for the Tigers. Ivan Rodriguez is a non factor since he stopped using steroids. He doesn't throw out 47% of runners like his career numbers dictate. Why would you deal for him when you have Jose Molina who throws out everybody even though he doesn't hit at all.
Kyle Farnsworth, although a lunatic throws hard and could be devistating along the likes of Zumaya and Rodney. This is one of those trades that makes the Yankees look good to people that don't know shit about anything.

Irony So Thick You Can Steal It

A young African American girl walked into an Urban Outfitters yesterday and stole this T Shirt.

I Can't Believe I Am Saying This, But Trade Manny Now

I think this a bit overdue. The smart move would have been getting him out of town after last year (The Red Sox have done a better job of late getting rid of fan favorites in a timely fashion--Nomar and Millar are two that come to mind). Its not that he is not productive (.298 19 63) and I believe, if he sticks around, he will be a huge contributor in the Red Sox run to win the East, he just needs to go. You have to get rid of guys while there is still some something there. I also believe that he is a cancer in the clubhouse this year. There is no Kevin Millar in the clubhouse anymore and you tend to believe that sitting out against the Yankees is the worst, most selfish thing that a guy can do; even selfish for Manny.
He has a no trade clause and a 20 million dollar option for '09 so this doesn't make him a very movable piece. No way they will get equal value for him, but getting rid of him in a trade right now might be better than getting nothing for him in the off season.
The Red Sox are a mess right now. Starting pitching is hit or miss, the bullpen is embarrassing. A rotation that includes Beckett, Lester, and Dice K should be thought of as one of the best in baseball, but with a bullpen that can't keep them in the game, their efforts turn fruitless. Delcarman, Hansen are young but ineffective and Timlin's better days are far, far behind him.
In order for the Red Sox to win the AL East and make a legitimate run at another championship a couple things need to happen.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury has to pick it up. He is 5 for his last 46 and has only scored twice in the last 10 games. A lineup with Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ramirez, Ortiz, and Youkilis should be the best five in baseball. Without an effective leadoff hitter nothing gets going.
2. A deal must be made for bullpen help. No Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell deal, but something to get a good lefty like Fuentes in Colorado. I still think Okajima can get the job done, it just doesn't feel like Francona believes that.

The Yankees are hot and made a deal which makes me believe that the Pirates are owned by George Steinbrenner. Nothing is more demoralizing than getting swept by the Yankees at Fenway Park. Big game tonight.

Frightened Rabbit is my new favorite band this morning...Head Rolls Off

By the time I had finished listening to this song for the first time I had already purchased their two cds off of amazon.

Notes of Zero Interest

>Batman-Dark Knight is the best action movie since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
>There has never been a more terrifying screen villain than Heath Ledger playing the Joker (more terrifying than Falcon Eddie)
>The only thing worse than watching a WNBA game is watching a "fight" in a WNBA game. (What a joke)
>I haven't bought the new Hold Steady cd and I don't know why
>Although Kyle Lohse doesn't have the best stuff in baseball no one has better control right now. (The Cardinals will be sitting at home in October, but he will win the Cy Young in the NL)
>Camden Yards holds 49,000 people yet only 29,000 come to the games. The Orioles are terrible but what else is there to do in Baltimore.
>Famous people practice funny religions and name their kids weird things like Hover Craft Tinker Toy because they are bored with their fantasy lives and are unfullfilled by the simple pleasures that make Midwesterners so happy, such as listening to music in the backyard while playing yard games and drinking beers as fast as you can.
>I think it is important for males in their early thirties to periodically embrace the early recordings of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.
>I think Tropic Thunder is a can't miss riot comedy. (There is nothing funnier than Robert Downy Jr. playing a black man)
>Control, the bio-movie of Ian Curtis and Joy Division is the best bio-movie I have ever seen and I have only seen two (Chris-Netflix movie in mailbox)

Ce N'est Rien Sings Immemorial!!!!! From Baby Hell EP

Everyone says I do better to take all my dosages at once
Like I won't know how to go on
My high school sweet, I wont say heart cause you had none

Ce N'est Rien [mp3] Immemorial

Famous and Not So Famous People Doing Things and Not Doing Things

IMovie Is The Best Hobby Since Alcoholism

It is a video about the murder of a melon
word

White Winter Hymnal Video---Fleet Foxes

I was kind of disappointed that I didn't get to see a clamation kid with his head lopped off into the snow...but its a good video anyway.

Ce N'est Rien--- Common Muse For Hack Commediennes

Another song from Ce N'est Rien.
Common Muse For Hack Comediennes
He kind of rocks it out a bit...
Here it is... the song

Ce N'est Rien [mp3] Common Muse For Hack Commediennes

Modest Mouse @ The Pageant

There are two points that should be made before I go on.
1) Modest Mouse puts on a live show that rivals My Morning Jacket and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as the best.
2) I think I am two years away from not being able to deal with people in social settings.
I saw Modest Mouse a few years ago and I thought it was the best show that I had ever seen. Isaac Brock goes fucking nuts on stage...I am always amazed by guys who do it every night and do it with an element of crazy.
They play too much from their last two albums, but you can't blame a band for doing such a thing. I don't hate We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, but I don't like it nearly as much as their earlier albums. Regardless the show was great.
I have come to the conclusion that if you go out and I notice you (because you are doing something to be seen) then I really verge on hating that person. I have enough self awareness to realize this is a problem, but I don't think it is going anywhere so I will just have to get used to it.
The four blond mannequins that sat in front of us spent most of their time looking around to see if anyone noticed them (nobody did but me because I am an old man and am irritated with everyone) and text messaging pages and pages of notes on their word processor telephone. I don't know why they were there and I guess that shouldn't be any of my concern... If someone told them that it was cool to be at a Neil Diamond concert they would be there text messaging their way through Sweet Caroline. (It is, in fact, very cool to see Neil Diamond)
Then there were the frat boys sitting a few rows up. Huge Modest Mouse fans right. Standing up and giving lots of "knucks" to buddies they are making throughout the show (upwards of 73 knucks in all). They looked like they were dancing to Crazy Town singing Butterfly...giving the overhead gun point. Huge Modest Mouse fans.
At times I wish I was down with the kids mosh pitting around. They looked like they were having a good time...without trying too hard.
The concert was badass though. Tiny Cities Made of Ashes was awesome and they rocked out for a long time. They played Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset which was thrilling. I wish they played Trailer Trash, but they didn't and I wish they played some other stuff from old albums (Building Nothing Out of Something, Lonesome Crowded West, Moon and Antarctica) but really everything they played--Float On (not my favorite), Dashboard, and Fire it Up were all pretty great.
The show I saw before was better, but I could watch them perform at their best or at their worst. They are the opposite of the New Pornographers. They look like they are happy to be there and they play like they like their own songs.
Modest Mouse is awesome. I don't like people in social settings anymore. I am a 92 year old man.
Set List (I have heard much better from them...Still pretty sweet though)
1. Dance Hall
2. Black Cadillacs
3. Satin In A Coffin
4. Here It Comes
5. Dashboard
6. Trucker's Atlas
7. Education
8. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
9. Bukowski
10. This Devil's Workday
11. We've Got Everything
12. Wild Packs Of Family Dogs
13. Float On
14. Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset
15. Satellite Skin
16. The Good Times Are Killing Me

Encore:

17. Bury Me With It
18. Fire It Up
19. Spitting Venom


Modest Mouse [mp3] Trailer Trash

With Our Ears Buzzing We Play Endlessly

The new Sigur Ros album called Med sud i eyrum vid spilum and I guess that means "with our ears buzzing we play endlessly". I thought Takk was great and I have enjoyed about everything these guys have done. When I am tired of listening to people singing words I understand I usually listen to Sigur Ros. I almost think the fact that I have no idea what they are singing about makes the songs even better. For all I know they could be singing about cats and wooden puppets or pickle brine and how much stubbing your toe hurts... but that doesn't really matter because the music is great.
I think this album might appeal to more people. Mainly because of track one, Gobbledigook. I really like the drums in this song.
LISTEN!!!!!!

Sigur Ros [mp3] Gobbledigook

Hoppipolla from Heima DVD