Archive | November, 2007

He Worked for Our Love

19 Nov

A Bruce Springsteen concert isn’t just any concert. It’s practically a religious experience.

And Sunday night’s show at the TD BankNorth Fleet Boston Garden Center was no exception.

This was, I believe, my fourth time seeing Bruce live (including the 1999 reunion tour when I had seats third row center, thisclose to the stage), and again, he didn’t disappoint.

Somehow I was able to get real good seats for Sunday’s show — Loge level, center, facing the stage, right in between Bruce and Steve Van Zandt — and it was an awesome evening. (No surprise.) Continue reading →

What’s in a Name?

18 Nov

According to The New York Times and the 2000 census, Smith is still the most popular last name in America, followed by Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones.

What about Lieberman?

It ranks waaaaay way down at number 3,906. Apparently, only three out of every 100,000 people share my last name.

The good news, though, is that in 1990, Lieberman was ranked 4,571st, so we climbed 666 places in 10 years. That’s an impressive jump. Just five more and we overtake the Corraleses, 20 more until we overtake the Wentzes, and 150 more until we overtake the Munns.

And if we grow another 666 places by the time of the next census, we’ll overtake the Parrys.

Davis, for those who may be interested, came in 7th. Martin, as a last name, came in 17th.

And if I ever become famous and decide to take my middle name as my last name, I’d have the 89th most popular one.

Find your own last name here.

Take the Money and Run

17 Nov

In the Coen brothers’ new film, No Country for Old Men, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) comes across a drug deal gone bad and takes a bag with $2 million from the scene.

Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), one of the baddest bad guys I’ve ever seen, is hired by some businessmen to track down the money.

And no matter where Moss goes, Chigurh finds him. That bad guy, he’s good.

And so is the film itself.

Also featuring a top-notch performance by Tommy Lee Jones — as Ed Tom Bell, the sheriff on Chigurh’s trail — No Country is one of the best movies of the year. Continue reading →

I’m Too Sexy for People

14 Nov

DAMMIT! I was overlooked again for the title of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. I figured when the Boston Phoenix left me off their ‘Unsexiest’ list that it was a good sign and I actually had a chance. But now People has gone and given the honor to Matt Damon of all people. Jeez Louise. What’s a guy gotta do to get a little lovin’ from those folks? At least I can still say I was Time‘s Person of the Year. That’s probably a better honor anyway. And I suppose it could be worse. At least I wasn’t named one of the Frigid 50.

The Ring Is Cooler, Anyway

13 Nov

I can’t get too upset about C.C. Sabathia winning the Cy Young Award today instead of Josh Beckett. Don’t get me wrong: I think Beckett’s the better pitcher and deserved the honor. But hey, Sabathia needed to win something after those two big, embarrassing losses in the ALCS. And besides, I’m sure Beckett’s much happier with his World Series ring. I know I would be.

Will Music Soothe the Savage Beast?

12 Nov

One personality trait I’ve always been proud of is my ability to stay even-keeled and not let anything get me too bent out of shape. But every now and then, I do get really pissed off. If I’m at work when this happens, I just vent through some music. Green Day tends to come out at these times. If I want to internalize it and calm myself down, I listen to their “Give Me Novacaine.” But if I’m beyond internalizing, I put on something like “Basket Case.” Or maybe I’ll play something by the Killers. Perhaps “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine.” A few years back, I’d play something like Counting Crows’ “Have You Seen Me Lately?” So I put this question out to you, my dear readers: I’m really pissed off right now. What’s a good song to play? Put your answer below in the comments field. Thanks.

Turn On, Tune In, Turn Off

12 Nov

I said it a few weeks ago before the TV season began, but after Sunday night’s episode, it’s definite: Brothers & Sisters is my favorite show on TV. Dave Annable was so good — he’ll be nominated for awards for this episode — and the whole thing was great. It was definitely one of the top-3 best episodes ever for that show. If you’re not already watching Brothers & Sisters, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Sunday’s installment was overly dramatic and heavier than usual, but most episodes are a perfect blend of drama and comedy, and the cast’s chemistry is so good that it’s like they’re actually a family. In short, watching this show is a really enjoyable way to end the weekend (it’s on at 10pm). Unfortunately, due to the American Music Awards next week, Brothers & Sisters is not on again until November 25. Set your DVR now.

On the other hand, despite what I said only a month ago, I think I’m really starting to tire of Kid Nation. The show has just become way too formulaic, and the way it’s edited, it’s clear the producers are guiding the action (I mean, really. What’s the deal with that pioneer journal??). I’m still amused by Jared, but quite frankly, I can’t stand a whole handful of the kids and how self-righteous and spoiled and annoying they are (I’m talking about you, Divad and Taylor, and especially you, Mike). I know these kids are only, like, 11 (or younger), but they’re driving me nuts. And given how excited I was about this show, it’s a real bummer to say. So I’m hoping Kid Nation gets better because I’m not giving up on it just yet.

And back to the good: Amazing Race is back! This is far and away the best reality show on TV, thanks to its great casting and unpredictability, and the fact that every season is totally different in where the teams go and what they do there. And this season is already off to a good start. The goths have got to go, and the father/daughter team will likely be gone next week. Otherwise, I’m rooting for Lorena and Jason; I think they have the best chance of winning. There are nine teams left, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.

If, by the way, you’re wondering how many of the shows I said I’d watch that I’m actually watching, you may be happy to know it’s a fraction of the list I predicted. Nothing on Monday or Tuesday; Wednesday is only Kid Nation; Thursday is 30 Rock, The Office, and Grey’s Anatomy; nothing on Friday or Saturday; and Sunday is Amazing Race and Brothers & Sisters. What can I say? I like what I like, and I had a hard time settling into the newbies.

Now, hopefully the WGA strike won’t foul up the current TV season too much …

Family Jewel

11 Nov

Plain and simple, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is one of the best movies of the year. Or maybe it would be were it not 5 or 10 minutes too long, and didn’t have as much time-shifting. But that’s minor quibbling when you have such a fantastic acting ensemble and a crackling plot. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play down-on-their-luck brothers who decide to rob a jewelry store to get themselves out of dire straits. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and complications arise involving their parents (Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris) and Hoffman’s character’s wife (Marisa Tomei), and soon the boys are in more trouble than before the heist. Director Sidney Lumet keeps the action moving, employing the aforementioned time-shifting device to further shade the characters and reveal their varied motivations, and that works quite well for the first half. But after the first few flashbacks, the device gets tired and it made me roll my eyes. Hoffman and, most surprisingly, Hawke are both excellent, giving performances of intensity and turmoil. Things don’t all go as you expect them to, and when the film reaches its eventual conclusion, not everything is resolved and you’re left wondering what will happen to the characters next. Sometimes that’s frustrating. Here, with all kinds of questionable moral activity going on, it feels appropriate. I’m going to give BtDKYD a strong B+.

The Panera Era Begins

10 Nov

Panera Bread has finally opened up in the space formerly occupied by Zathmary’s.

Now, I know you’re not supposed to embrace national chain stores opening up in Coolidge Corner, but as these types of places go, I have to say I think Panera makes a great addition to the area. After all, it’s hard to get too upset about a new chain opening when it’s one like Panera and not a new McDonald’s or another coffee place.

Between this and the Citibank and Qdoba next door, they’ve given new life to that chunk of the sidewalk with their clean, modern looks, and I welcome a new food option that actually offers good food, as opposed to the unhealthy Quizno’s or the cramped unworthiness of Finagle-a-Bagel. Continue reading →

Wake Up

10 Nov

Of course, one of the worst things about Daylight Savings Time is the fact that it gets brighter earlier now than before.

And the worst consequence of that is when, on weekends, I am woken up earlier than I’d like to be.

Like today.

It was so bright out when I woke up that I figured I had slept late and had caught up on some much needed rest.

Nope. It was only 8 a.m.

I like to sleep until at least 9 a.m. on Saturdays. And I tried to fall back asleep, but no dice. I was up.

Arrgh! Damn you, DST! How long till we spring ahead?

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