Really looking forward to the Caps' first home pre-season game of the year. I don't think I'll be in full-on "superfan mode" tonight (because I like to ease into these sorts of things, at least while it's still hot and humid outside), but it sure will be nice to see the place all set up for hockey again.
Won't be long now until the 82-game waiting period for the playoffs gets underway!
Photo credit: Adam Fagen (afagen) / Flickr
Every once in a while I'm reminded of a reason that I'd really like to have unlimited funds and a time machine. Being able to go back and experience the Black Crowes live in their entirety from 1992 to 1997 is definitely one of them.
Look closely. Can YOU find the hidden dumpster in the photo below?
Congratulations to those of you who did. You're all apparently keener-eyed than a whole lot of the people who live in my apartment complex.
I'd like to say that I'd been going back and forth on filling in the last material pieces of my obsession with Lost as yesterday's release date for the final season and complete series on DVD (and of course, blu-ray). I'd like to say that, but I'd be lying. There wasn't really any chance I could resist snagging shiny new discs filled with Lost-ness.
That's not to say that I was looking forward to yesterday's releases with quite the same single-minded fervor that I had all of the previous sets. Maybe I wasn't 100% pleased with the way things shook out back in May. It could be that I was little more gripey about season 6 than any prior season. Perhaps it's because I had to somewhat reluctantly accept the series finale as a decent ending only after doing a lot of conversing and internet scouring. All of those might have derailed my usual level of anticipation, but even combined, those factors could not overpower my compulsion for completion.
Additionally, in all of the previously mentioned scouring, I found intimations that there would be some real treats contained on those shiny new discs that would totally be worth my while. With that baited hook firmly in my mouth, I made a pit-stop on the way home from work yesterday to get fully reeled in.
With some trepidation and a hint of optimism (while breaking from my personal protocol about such things), I practically ignored the first 5 discs and immediately popped in disc 6, going straight to the special features contained within.
I clicked on "The New Man In Charge" and sat back.
As soon as the opening shot appeared on my TV screen, I was sucked right in. I hung on every word and image I heard and saw. And when those 12 wonderful minutes were over, I felt great about Lost all over again, in a way I definitely did NOT feel back in May.
I'm not going to give away anything too specific here, just in case anybody reading this hasn't seen it yet, but plans to. I will say that if you had the same massive lingering question that I did, then you pretty much HAVE to watch it. (Even if, unlike me, you didn't stand up and yell "That's complete horseshit! What about him, you dicks!?!" when it was over.)
It only took 12 minutes to give me the warm and fuzzies that I wasn't sure I could have about this show ever again. Sure, those 12 minutes maybe could have been worked into the last 18 hours of the series, but after watching them on their own last night, I think they work best this way. At least they did for me.
It's nice to be able to make up with an old friend.
And now, if you'll excuse me, the mega-box containing more tchotchkes than you could shake a frozen donkey wheel at is singing it's siren song to me and my wallet.
Just got an email from the fine folks promoting Iron Maiden announcing the release of their new video for the title track from their forthcoming album, "The Final Frontier." They've already been kind enough to share the first single from it (and for free, no less).
Anyway, here's the video:
The chorus is a tad repetetive, but I'm digging the riff. However, after seeing the costume for "Space Eddie," I can't help but be reminded of a piece of film I saw a long, long time ago at a Games Day or twenty.
Excuse me...
Is that your bag? Is this your first time riding with us? Have you seen any suspicious behavior recently? Are you familiar with the concept of escalators? Have you jut recently been discharged from a mental institution with a fresh set of clothes and a farecard?
Constant announcents come from disembodied voices over ubiquitous speakers reminding us to be courteous and vigilant, like good propaganda should. Train operators prattle on over in-train PA systems with unintelligible recitations about the proper way to board and de-board, and even how and where to sit or stand. Most recently, I've noticed platform "stewards" shouting at passengers as they get on and off of overcrowded trains stopped at overcrowded stations.
Every opportunity is taken to bombard the cattl... er, "valued customers" with friendly reminders of the best way to ride the Metro.
The result of the constant barrage of chatter? Nothing. At least, nothing that constitutes improvement. People still stand on the left on the escalator, they still sit or stand where they please on a train, they still stop doors when they're closing, and they still try to bum-rush their way onto a train before anybody has the chance to get out.
I might be way off base, but perhaps the "pump the trains and stations so full audio information that it turns into background noise for 90% of the riders and just annoys the other 10% in the process" strategy is due for a little revision?
