...For The Ride Home: LeBron has a list, college degrees you shouldn't go after and Ms. Mavis Staples

Finally getting back to my Netflix, I watched this the other night. Only put it in the que because it has a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt as its star. It was...not all that good. You know what it reminded me of, though, in a completely odd way, of course? "Synecdoche, New York." The film itself is simply being different for the sake of being different. I understand the art aspect, and I also understand how cool it can be to be pretentious. But sometimes, it's just a bit much, as was the case in these two movies. Next up? "Crazy Heart." Hello, Thursday, how do you do? One more day until the weekend, and we won't stop until we get there (even if the gas gets low). Bought two tickets to see Hanson yesterday. Yes. Hanson. Judge me now, not later. Feel a bit squirmy about being surrounded by thousands of teenage girls screaming for the boys while singing every word of that new album, but hey, nothing a few beers can't cure, right? Wait. Do they sell beer at Hanson concerts? Ut oh. Anyways, we offer the following links in nothing but good spirits, and from all of us here at The Unusual Suspects headquarters, we sincerely hope that you, the wonderful reader, have a fantastic rest of your day.

From the “we have way too much time on our hands department,” we offer you 200 beer bottles opened in 80 seconds. (Deadspin)

There will now be coupon inserts in your copy of the Wall Street Journal. Honestly. (Ad Age)

Hey about that guy who wants to buy Newsweek? Yeah, he’s not a billionaire. (Forbes)

The worst paying college degrees of the year. Super interesting read. I’m assuming Journalism was too low to make the list because a starting salary in that particular field doesn’t even sniff this list’s No. 1. (Yahoo)

A Tiny Desk Concert with Ms. Mavis Staples. Who else is excited-times-a-gazillion about this new record? Come on, now. It has Wilco attached to it. (NPR)

Saw this yesterday but didn’t link it. Thought about it a bit more, and thought why not. LeBron has made a list and he’s checking it twice. (Fox Sports Ohio)

Halle Berry is single and ready to mingle. (People)

Kanye West is going to perform at this year’s Video Music Awards. There are talks of a duet with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. OK. That second part isn't true. (MTV)

One Used Car On The Cheap

So Tuesday I mentioned how I tried to relax while on vacay, despite the goings-on back home. Allow me to briefly elaborate, and then get to the point. There's always a point, right?

Instead of putting our adorable lab/shepherd mix in a kennel for the week while we sat on the beach sipping mixed drinks, we thought it would be more comfortable if my mother-in-law stayed at our house to dog-sit. We stocked the pantry, gave detailed instructions and let her use my car to get around (she uses mass transit, so doesn't have a need for a vehicle of her own).

One day into the trip, on her first outing in my '01 Ford Explorer Sport - a two door SUV that is only two-wheel drive… it may as well have been a Kia Rio with extra storage space and terrible gas mileage - she gets horrendously rear ended (but came out just shaken up).

Long story short, the rest of the week is spent on the phone with police, insurance people, parents, dog sitters, cat feeders and the like. Upon arrival home I find out the vehicle is a total loss.

So now, on to the point - I'm used car shopping! Yay! I need something economical, good on gas, four door, durable, fun and economical. Did I mention economical?

I really like the Nissan Versa Hatchback and have heard nothing but great things from owners who are friends, but I can't find one near me in my price range (lets say $10-$12K at this point). I'm pretty open-minded, so I could be persuaded to most brands. Any suggestions, thoughts, etc?

My last car-buying experience was at a place called Shultz Ford in Harmarville (western PA)… it was not a pleasant experience top to bottom. Aggressive salespeople, didn't get a great deal on the vehicle, had to take it back a day after we got it because it smelled funky, they told us it was four-wheel drive when it wasn't (found this out later obviously) and then, the icing on the cake, we got the Ford certification on it - a “thorough” inspection and repairs to make the car as like new as possible - and within one year we had to get new brakes and rotors. One year for new brakes before they poop the bed? Possible, but highly unlikely.

But I hear the Shultz Ford in Wexford is better. Ask for John H.

Has anyone had experience with Blue Knob Auto in central PA area? Google it man: The prices are outstanding and from what I understand it's a very no-nonsense place to buy a vehicle; no haggling and whatnot. I heard the way they keep prices low is by offering low returns on trade-ins, but since I won't have one I'll be in good shape there.

Like I said, I'm open to ideas, I just hope this experience is better than my last one. And hey, if there's any car dealers out there who want to cut a poor, lowly blogger a break on a great vehicle, I'll certainly be talking about my next car-buying experience right here, wink wink. Ha!

Hope to hear from ya'll with suggestions - Come back at 4 p.m. won't you?

...For The Ride Home: Alanis is pregnant, Arcade Fire rule the world and yes, 'Inception' was stolen from Donald Duck

My God, she's a doll, isn't she? Saw her on Jay Leno's show last night, and in a rare move by celebrities I tend to like, she came through and lived up to expectations. The following was brought up by my roommate after walking in to see me watching her: Is it too bad that the best role she'll ever get (Up In The Air) already happened? My answer: No. She's proven herself on some level already (A Tony Award and an Oscar nomination), and she seems to have a level head on her shoulders. So, with the exception of the upcoming "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," I think there may be nothing but goodness in her future. Oh. And she's a doll. Welcome to Wednesday. I was up way earlier than normal this morning, and found myself sort of lounging around a hot August afternoon. I now come away feeling guilty for doing such a thing. I should have ran, walked, swam, drove, anything to be outside. But alas, I am now, at the very least, caught up on sleep. Or, well, I hope I am. Tweeted this last night, so all other reflection on the friendly between the United States and Brazil will be passed over this time around. The only real thing to add is that I do believe Bob Bradley will be out by the end of the year, if not month, which is what some outlets are saying. The United States just didn't look good. You, though. You can look good, should you follow a few of the below links and have yourself a wonderful Wednesday evening.

Alanis Morissette is pregnant. Here’s hoping her kid says “Thank You” whenever she yells “You Oughta Know” something about being “Ironic.” OK. I tried. (Us Weekly)

Why TBD is important. And no, TBD is not a sexually transmitted disease. (Recovering Journalist)

Wow. Dude working in the pressroom brings guns to work. For some reason, this isn’t surprising to me at all. Silly press people. (Providence Journal)

OK. So Jennifer Lopez will not be a judge on “American Idol” now. Hello, Kara. How are you doing? (The Huffington Post)

Oh, what a mess they have at my beloved New York Jets facilities. The more this goes on, the more Rex Ryan will get out of hand. (USA Today)

The new Arcade Fire record debuted at No. 1. Hipsters promptly start burning copies of CD in the streets. (Pitchfork)

Hey, look! Norah Jones is going to play Farm Aid. Who’s in for a trip to Milwaukee? (Pollstar)

Read/heard about this earlier in the month, but if CNN picks it up, it must have traction, right? Was “Inception” inspired by Donald Duck? Way too many jokes to make here. (CNN)

A development that keeps getting arrested.

“Arrested Development” is the best television show I have ever seen. That’s followed at No. 2 with “The Wire.” Three through 402 are a crap shoot, and I don’t have the time, and you don’t have the patience to go through them with me.

The show was smart. The show was funny. The show was really smart. The show was smarmy. The show was really, really smart. The show was clever. And again, the show was really, really, really smart. Honestly, though. It’s hard to imagine a program that could ever do what the wonderful individuals behind “Arrested Development” were able to do ever again. Ever. And that’s why the recent chatter regarding a possible movie has once again heightened my hopes to the point of no return.

Because we love you, the thoughtful reader, we thought it would be a good time to go over a couple of the recent news-making instances that have surrounded the movie. We begin with Jen Aniston. It was first reported that there was a possibility of her being in the possible movie a few days ago when both her and Jason Bateman were doing press for their new movie that is set to come out. Those reports were later debunked when Bateman chastised bloggers (gasp!) and others for trying to make news out of nothing. That said, for the record, here’s a list of characters a few people thought Jen Aniston could play, should she appear in the movie. It’s pretty neat.

All of that is moot, anyways, because something tells me die-hard “Arrested Development” fans probably don’t care if she’s in the film or not. All we truly care about is weather or not it’s going to happen. Which leads us to this, a small piece that sees David Cross – for the 10th time, it seems – kill all AD fans’ dreams with his words by setting the date at 2087 for when things pick up. Why he must always be the voice of “this movie will never happen” both disappoints me and saddens me.

All of this, though, is overshadowed by one key component that I’m pretty curious to know: Will anybody care? I mean, let’s think about this. The show got cancelled after three seasons. It never got the “Family Guy” treatment by being resurrected from the dead for a second life somewhere else. You constantly see the DVDs on sale for five bucks and a grocery coupon. And when you consider the most recent successful example of TV done on film – “Sex And The City” – you must note that the HBO show appealed to a wide array of audiences, a far cry from the niche set of fans that obsess over whether or not George Michael and Maeby will ever kiss again.

That said, I happen to be in that niche set of fans, and I’m going to continue to slobber over every nugget of news that creeps its way out. In the meantime, I suppose I’ll have to settle for such cliché things as blooper reels…

...For The Ride Home: Pennywise gets in a fight, Britney Spears on 'Glee' and possible future 'SNL' hosts

Just can't get this song out of my head. Damn, that CD is infectious. Hello, hello. Welcome to Tuesday. Did you get your early-day dose of sun burn yet? You really ought to, you know. Big night tonight. Why, you ask? Well, that's because the United States meets Brazil on at the Meadowlands for the team's first match since the World Cup. It shall be interesting to see who Bob Bradley plays. Will he continue his predictable formation from the World Cup with the same, predictable players? Or will he experiment a little with some of the younger stars because it's a friendly? Come on, Bob. Landon Donovan can't stay young forever. Also tonight, we see the first double-digit day of August. Where did all the time go, we ask. Soon enough, it will be Autumn, the leaves will change, the nights will get longer, the weather colder and depression sets in. Whoa. That was a dark sentence. Anyways, before we can sink into the seasonal sadness, we must celebrate the summer evenings we have now, and to do that, you really ought to start it off right with a peak at a link or two below. Besides, summertime = happytime. Damnit.

Ten questions regarding the upcoming Premier League season. Don’t forget: U.S.-Brazil tonight at 7. (The Big Lead)

Britney Spears is going to appear on “Glee.” I sort of root for her now, don’t you? (MTV)

Ten brand new projects move forward within the world of journalism. An initiative to provide journalists with micro-finance training for those who want to launch new media ventures? Hmm. (Washington News Council)

Carl Bernstein thinks no one wants to read in depth journalism anymore. And he’s right. And it’s troubling. (Big Think)

Tracy McGrady to the Pistons? Really? Didn’t see that coming. (ESPN)

A list of people others hope will host “Saturday Night Live” this season. Never even considered Carey Mulligan, but if that goes down, I will hold a party for such an event. (Entertainment Weekly)

Wow. Pennywise storms on to bus to beat the poop out of another band. Silly punk rock kids. (Alternative Press)

The “Spider-Man” musical will actually open. Good for them. Really thought that project was dead. (ABC News)

Like Usher Said: Let it Burn

As you all rejoice in having us back after what I’m sure was a long and arduous week without, today I’d like to offer you a little post to help make you feel better about your collective selves.

Most of you know the better half of this blog and me (along with my wife and several dear friends) just returned from a week of R&R at the shores of the Outer Banks in NC.

I had but a few goals for the week of fun and sun:
1. Eat fresh seafood and NC-style BBQ
2. Relax
3. Read a book for fun
4. Don’t get too sunburned

Well friends, goal number one went off without a hitch. In fact, it’s safe to say I crushed that goal and made it my b-word. Goal number two I accomplished mostly, thanks in no part to the goings-on of our life back at home (a different story for a different day). Goal number three I somewhat finished, although unfortunately I didn’t get to the bookstore before the trip so I ended up reading half of this book I found in the beach house called “Pleading Guilty” or something.

Goal number four, on the other hand, well I thought I had that one licked, until God chuckled heartily and reminded me who’s the boss. Despite my best efforts (slathering on SPF30 every hour or so) I still managed to get a little crispy on an area that I never imagined...

Easy pervs, I’m not talking about that area. 

I’m talking about the top of my head. And yes, I am officially 80 years old.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not a ginger kid. I don't typically burn horrendously. And while I may be balding, I am nowhere near “bald.” I’ve got the widow’s peak going, but that’s about it, so I never dreamed my scalp would get scorched.

Apparently though, my hair is just barely thin and terrible enough to let those harmful UV Rays in, free to plunder and pillage… and embarrass me on my first day back to work, at which point I looked like the “before” picture in a Head & Shoulders commercial due to the peeling.

But I guess I can’t complain too much: three out of four goals ain’t bad… And the better half of this blog was sunburned so bad we thought he needed to be hospitalized, hehe. We can laugh about it now, ay?

If you’ve got a good sunburn story, we’d absolutely love to hear it. Misery does, after all, love company.

See you at 4 p.m. if you’d like to hitch a Ride Home with our links. Hearts.

...For The Ride Home: Esstential movie performances, is Tiger Woods someone you'd root for, and "Mad Men" Monday!

Week 20, week 20. Hello. Welcome back. How do you do? On a scale of 1 to 100, how much did you miss us (anything under 500 is unacceptable)? What have you been up to? Do you enjoy bagel sandwiches? All of these are pertinent questions, and though tradition expects me to return from vacation beginning with Monday's Ride, I thought of penning a "let's catch up" post, but alas, such things have not happened. I justified that by telling myself I would toss out a few things in this particular space, but then I remembered, "NO! This space is reserved for 'Mad Men' talk!" So here we go. We find out Joanie has had two abortions last night, which in an odd way is acceptable and predictable at the same time, while inexplicably not taking anything away from her character. And that's hard to do. More evidence of Don's life crumbling comes when he gets news out west that Anna is probably going to die. This, in turn, led to a few lines that were noteworthy uttered by Don, though they escape me now, a day later (maybe I should start taking notes when I watch). The Brit's life is crumbling as well, leaving the door open for a "what's going to end up happening with this character" discussion that deserves far more than a mere Ride paragraph. Though, all of that said, the scenes from next week finally suggest that after the last two episodes' worth of build-up, "when will this come to ahead" material, we are going to see a few things explode, which excites me beyond belief. The writers made it a clear point to suggest that even before next week's previews began when Joanie sits down at the table to announce to everyone that it is now 1965. Oh, and, as you will see if you follow the link below, any thoughts on Anna having a messed-up leg and the correlation it may have with the journalist Don ran into at the beginning of the season? Just food for thought. Whew! As always, all suggestions/comments are welcome as I will check back through the day and evening to see if we can't share some valuable "Mad Men" chatter. Oh, and I saw "The Kids Are All Right." Anyways, check out the links, check back tomorrow, and try not to write too many checks. It's always good to save money in a recession, you know.

The Premier League kicks its season off Saturday. I’d give you a full post about it, but something tells me you may never come back if I do. Instead, I’ll note that Manchester United beat Chelsea for the Community Shield, and whoever wins the Community Shield typically has a pretty good shot at winning the Premiership. I’m not sayin’ but I’m just sayin.’ (Soccer Blog)

An updated list of essential film performances. Leo in “The Departed” and Boogey make an appearance. (Popmatters)

Wolf Blitzer has been at CNN for 20 years. Here’s a profile on the guy. (The Baltimore Sun)

Magazine circulation is down. This is bad. Really bad. (Paid Content)

Any magazine that labels itself as the “Anti-Maxim Magazine” is a magazine I want to check out. (Boston Globe)

That long-awaited Jay-Z memoir is finally going to see the light of day. Good. Now you know what to get me for Christmas. Just send it to The Unusual Suspects headquarters. (Rolling Stone)

John Goodman wants you to know how to lose weight. Love, love, love him on “Treme.” (Showbiz Spy)

Tiger shot 602 over-par this weekend. Question that may just be made into a post: Do his recent struggles incline you to begin rooting for him to do well this weekend at the year’s final major? (Los Angeles Times)

Man Men. Expect these every Monday. (Vanity Fair)

...For The Ride Home: More on this LeBron story, Ellen and Kara out on "Idol" and we'll see y'all in a week!

A hell of an afternoon. Such is the life we live in. We send Week 18 off into the twilight with a picture of a beach. Why? That's because, yes, though we love you, the two of us will both be somewhere far, far away on vacation all of next week. This will be a bit of a departure from the vacation I recently took, in which the other half of this operation stayed with you by offering his usual two posts a week. This time around, we will both be gone, thus leaving you with a blank space in your heart for a week. I know, I know. How many vacations could I possibly need? Answer: Whatever the amount, it's not enough. This doesn't mean we both don't still love you, and, for that matter, we pray we see you back here in a week, ready and excited as ever. We promise there will be no more vacations for a very long time after this. Pinky swear, in fact. So alas, we leave you lovely, attractive readers with the following links to hold you over until a week from Monday, a date I believe is August 9th. Until then, please, please keep in mind that no matter how many breaks we may take, or how far away we may be, as always, love you, miss you.

This makes me laugh every time I read it. (Twitter)

More on this LeBron James story that I find fascinating. Also, this is exactly why The Big Lead is my favorite blog on the planet: A real in depth look at how things probably happened for those who don’t know about how these things happen. (The Big Lead)

Five things you should know before dating a journalist. “Yes, we think we’re smarter than you.” So, so great and so, so true. (Rock My Car)

As I’m certain you all heard: Ellen is out. Kara’s probably out. Looks like J-Lo and Steven Tyler are in at “Idol.” (Rolling Stone)

Very good idea. Taking the WikiLeaks stories and making them your own. (Columbia Journalism Review)

Wacky news agency hangs it up after three decades. Where are we going to get our “A bear walks into a bar…” stories? (AOL)

Sandy’s pissed. She needs to catch a break. Just one. (E! Online)

Ten cities perfect for young adults. Just can’t agree with Lansing, Michigan. (Yahoo)

“I Gotta Feeling” is nearing the six million mark in downloads. What is wrong with you people! (Pollstar)

Turns out Matt LeBlanc has gray hair, and has had gray hair. I don’t see anything wrong with this. Why did he dye it before? Gray is such a nice look. (USA Today)

Blogspot Banter: Placebo Journal Blog

July's Blogspot Banter takes a look at Dr. Doug Farrago of the Placebo Journal Blog, a blog that is a bit of an extension of a print magazine and newsletter of the same name. In big letters on the top of the blog's homepage, you will find the phrase, "Medical Humor With A Purpose," and that's pretty accurate.

In addition to relaying important information within the medical world (something I admittedly know absolutely nothing about), Farrago sprinkles in bits of wit, comedy and a desire to explain such information in a manner that is easy enough for even idiots such as myself to understand. In other words, even if you don't have much interest in medical issues and health topics, it's still certainly worth your time to check out if you happen to come across an few extra minutes.

Much like our previous subjects, the Placebo Journal Blog was once listed as a Blog of Note on Blogspot's homepage, and, just in case you forgot, this also has an actual magazine attached to it. Yes, friends. This is the real deal. The man behind the blog was nice enough to take a few minutes out of his day to answer some questions regarding how incredibly long his day can be, his patience with breaking through into the television world and, of course, his will to not want to anger his friends.

You can visit Farrago's blog here. We encourage you to look, leave him a nice comment or two, and spread the blogosphere love that we enjoy sharing with each and every one of you fantastically intelligent readers. Now, without any further ado, we present you with Dr. Doug Farrago, the man behind the Placebo Journal Blog. Enjoy.

Q: You’ve had your blog since 2007, I believe. That’s almost three years you have been running now. What gave you the idea to begin a blog mixing humor with medical issues? Did you come across any bit of inspiration for this particular blog?

A: The Placebo Journal blog came as natural extension to our print magazine, The Placebo Journal. It was a way to keep current (magazines don't really do that) and also comment on medico-political news.

Q: Your blog seems to have a consistent base of commenters. What advice would you give to a blogger starting out in regards to how to gain readership? Were there any struggles you had to begin with, and how did you overcome them?

A: Thanks for the praise, but blogs are always up and down. Only blog if you like writing or it's a release. Persistence and determination and patience will take you the rest of the way.

Q: How do you find time to blog around your professional career? Would you like to make a career around your blog and/or blogging?

A: I am a practicing physician (as well as editor to the Placebo Journal). I get up at 4:45 AM and take care of my dogs. Then I read email, do some work and then write my blog on current medical events. I then go to the gym and then to the office. I do not foresee making a career out of blogging but stranger things in life have happened.

Q: How important is the comments section/readership numbers to you?

A: It is good to know people care enough to have an opinion.

Q: Is this blog up and running for fun, and your own personal enjoyment, or is this something that you only find gratification in when you know other people are reading?

A: Both. It is a stress relief as well to write back about the lunacy going on in the health care profession.

Q: That said, have you become discouraged and have you ever considered giving up your blog because you thought no one cared/read? If so, how did you overcome those feelings?

A: I have a niche and a game plan. No one else competes with me with medical humor and sarcasm. I own this space and though it is small, it is all mine. I would love to grow it and keep going with all my writing. I do an e-newsletter (Placebo Gazette), videos (Placebo Television) and the print journal (Placebo Journal). I also travel the country doing keynote talks on "Humor and the Art of Medicine." All my stuff are spokes that are part of the same wheel or brand. I do get discouraged as opportunities (two possible television series) have come and gone for bigger things, but I am a patient man. It will come.

Q: How important do you think a name can be when beginning one’s own blog? Does it need to be catchy? Is a hook imperative?

A: Forget the name. Create your own brand and everything that goes along with that. The name should follow.

QUICK 5:
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: "Rocky"
Q: Favorite food?
A: Ice cream
Q: Favorite television show?
A: "The Office"
Q: When you are not working or blogging, what do you enjoy doing the most?
A: Taking a nap.
Q: What’s your favorite blog?
A: I don't want to piss any of my friends off, so no comment.

Double Feature: Dinner For Schmucks & Charlie St. Cloud

Each Friday, we will offer up two movies that are scheduled to be released within the accompanying weekend. We know, we know. It’s hard to come across blogs who ever actually get movie talk right. That’s why we won’t say much. A trailer. A paragraph. And boom – all you need to know about what new movies you can take your beautiful object of affection to see this weekend. It's like going to the drive-in movie theater. Remember those? So much fun. Thank us later, not now.

Dinner For Schmucks

It honestly, truly surprises me when people come up to me and say they really can’t wait for this movie to come out. Why? You can’t sell me anything particularly original and/or innovative about it. Sure, it might get a few laughs, and we all have our opinions on Steve Carell, but to say this is a movie you just can’t wait to see? Honestly? That’s like claiming to be excited for “American’s Got Talent” to come on. “To me, religion is like Paul Rudd. I see the appeal and I would never take it away from anyone, but I would also never stand in line for it.” That quote comes from Jeff on “Community” and it couldn’t be any more true. Maybe if “I Love You, Man” didn’t suck half as much as it did, I would be more inclined to be excited for such a movie, but really, have you ever seen a movie Mr. Rudd stars in that is exceptionally good in any aspect? Didn’t think so. Still, Carell is charming in his own right, and seeing him do the immense amount of press he’s done for this movie makes me want to support him in some odd way. Can’t imagine not waiting for the DVD, though. Movies are expensive these days.



Charlie St. Cloud

“It’s like his brother dies, and he likes to play baseball or something.” That’s what my roommate said when I asked why Zac (without a K or an H) Efron was on the television we were watching. It’s intriguing to me that he’s still getting as much work as he’s getting. It’s clear he wants to be taken seriously, or, at the very least, more than just a mere Disney Channel alum. But “17 Again” seemed too Disney for someone who wants to expand his horizons. That said, I admit I have yet to see “Me And Orson Wells,” a movie the kid reportedly shows some chops in here and there. But why is he so eager to be taken seriously? He’s only 22. That’s young. Besides, he should know by now that the best way to do that is to go away for a little while (three to five years), come back with a crazy-good film that earns rave reviews, and begin Act II of a career that people once dismissed as impossible. For his sake, I hope he eventually takes that advice. Until then, we will be subjected to such movies regarding a kid’s dead brother who likes to play baseball. Or something.

...For The Ride Home: Taking a look at "Palinese," Jessica Simpson could be the next "Idol" judge and RIP Lorenzen Wright

It may be a week later, but I finally had the opportunity to look up Ms. Jan Jones' recent time on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." I only do this because I have never, ever seen her in an interview setting that made her look good. She simply just seems detestable on every single level. And I love "Mad Men." This time? Well, she referred to people in the audience who like to get autographs as "you guys," and it was in a context that seemed awkward and insulting, as though she's better than those who watch the show. Then, she was utterly dismissive of earning an Emmy nod. So, yeah, this sounds as though she didn't earn any nice points this time around, either. But she seemed happy, at least. Every other interview she's done has felt annoyed. Why root for her now, though? Because she recently started dating Jason Sudeikis, the coolest dude SNL has these days. She best not break his heart. Anyways, say hello to the final Thursday of July. You know what this means, right? A brand new Blogspot Banter for you tomorrow! Be excited. It also means the weekend is almost here! Be even more excited for that. Unfortunately (or fortunately), before any of those things come to fruition, we must offer some links to help the time pass by more quickly. You see. We love you. Really. We do.

Former NBA star Lorenzen Wright was found dead. This is probably the best column you could read on it. (The Commercial Appeal)

An ombudsman attacks PBS for developing something called “Palinese.” I’m sure you can figure it out. (PBS)

The classic should they or shouldn’t they when it comes to magazine cover designing. In this case, it’s Time magazine. (Time)

Well, this is interesting. A group of reporters cover and write the same story. Now, readers can choose which of those stories will actually run. Seems like a cheesy tactic. (Washington Post)

Why the hell would they give Jessica Simpson the “American Idol” seat? Still love “With You,” though. (Reality TV World)

Been meaning to post something about this, but I just keep forgetting. Argentina ousted Diego Maradona as manager from the country’s national team. Here’s a piece concerning what the eclectic star is going to do now. (CNN)

Yesterday Facebook. Today, Twitter. Tomorrow, Tumblr? The real reason we link this: His new album will now longer be called Good Ass Job. (New York Magazine)

CBS will introduce more gay characters on its shows. Wait. What was “Two And A Half Men” about, then? (The Celebrity Café)

Back To The Future

Early this week I did something I’ve never done before: I bought a laptop. And while this may seem like no big deal to most of you, I’ve always taken a bit of a hard-line stance against these machines – mainly because the cost to benefit ratio seemed positively ridiculous to me. But in the wake of stories like these, paired with the fact that my wonderful wife wanted one for some classes she’s taking, I figured now was as good a time as any to take the proverbial leap into 2005.

And of course, I bought the laptop right before I read the aforementioned article.

Such is my life.

But all in all, I’d say I’m happy with the purchase so far. We ended up going with a Toshiba Satellite something or other that was a steal according to the online reviews I looked up prior to (insert link to consumer reports post from a few weeks ago). The laptop was only $299! And in a rare stroke of good fortune, I checked a few days after I bought it and the same model went up to $369. Nice.

After looking at a couple different places, I bought the laptop at Best Buy. I would say my experience was good overall. I knew what I wanted before getting there, told the kid in the laptop section what I wanted and that I was in a hurry, he tried to sell me an extended warranty and the services of Geek Squad (two minutes tops), I declined, paid and was on my way.

The only hiccup was that I was paying in cash, which is apparently a new concept there. The kid ringing me out had to have a manager confirm that he counted my $316 correctly – and of course it took five minutes or so for a manager to make her way over to us. Really? You’ll let this kid sell high-tech equipment, talk about warranties and finance options but he can’t count less than $500? Lame.

And another question – I looked online for awhile the other day and I just can’t figure it out: When you buy a new computer from Best Buy, what EXACTLY does Geek Squad do? Last night I spent an hour or two setting our preferences, uninstalling the useless pre-set programs and favorites (who chooses that stuff anyways?), installing the anti-virus and networking the laptop to my wireless connection. Is that really worth $129 or whatever it costs? The only thing I haven’t done yet is create a Recover disk, and I’m sure Windows 7 will walk me through it pretty simply.

But I digress. There are obviously millions of people who would rather not spend the two hours setting it up, so Geek Squad, I suppose you win. Although I’m actually considering buying stock in the company just so I can get a peek at what they actually do. I picture this back room full of nerds playing cards and looking at Playboys from the mid 90’s, laughing at all the people who pay to give them their computers to work on for 15 minutes then sit on a shelf for a day and half.

Final question: Anyone know where I can get a cheap copy of Microsoft Office? Just kidding! I really don’t need Bill Gates’ legal team tracking me down.

See you at 4 p.m.., friends. Ride Ride Ride.

...For The Ride Home: Kanye West has new songs, Kate Winsley has a new boyfriend and classic stories have a new home (kind of)

The best celebration in the history of sports. That's a bold statement, I know. But can you think of anything better? Especially in soccer, a sport that showcases celebrations more than any other sport, really. So funny. Welcome to Wednesday, the official half-way point of the week. I can't explain how much it angers me when people who I feel don't have good reason to say bad things about me, say bad things about me. Does this annoy you, too? This is a hard, hard life, you know. No matter how much you try, no matter the things you do, and no matter the steps you take in the right direction, some people can't get up from the low road. I know I'm not the best. But for the first time in a very long time, I'm fairly certain I'm not the worst either. Anyways, I now have a decision that I turn to you, my wonderful friends, about. I finished the second season of "Dexter" last night (crazy good), and, because I timed it perfectly, the third season arrived today. Do I begin watching that, or do I sit down with what Netflix has offered, "Whip It?" All suggestions would be much appreciated. It could be like an interactive game we play. Though before I'll be able to sit down with said television show or movie, I must offer the following links for your viewing pleasure. I sincerely hope you have a wonderful hump day. Be good, now.

Eminem is still at No. 1 after five weeks. This, friends, is awfully impressive in today’s fickle music world. Dude’s almost at two million. (MTV)

ESPN posts story about a night with LeBron. ESPN takes down said story about night with LeBron. Deadspin got to it before that happened, though, and you can read it here. (Deadspin)

It’s a new age for writing, that’s for sure. Here’s a look at classic magazine stories that recently popped up on Twitter. (The Pitch)

Chuck Todd on both Journolist and the WikiLeaks. It’s on the second page, but it’s worth it. (Politico)

Kate Winslet has a new boyfriend. “The Reader” was good, but “Revolutionary Road” was better. (Showbiz Spy)

Kanye West went to Facebook and didn’t poke anyone. Hehe. Get it? (All Hip-Hop)

Brad and Angie. Who’s the bread winner? (Fox News)

The best ballparks, logos, mascots, uniforms and team names in baseball. (Bleacher Report)

A salad is a salad is a salad is a salad.

So, I came across this last night. Wait, what? How the hell did you mindlessly come across this out of nowhere? I had a salad last night for dinner, silly. Or, as some may refer to it as, a dinner salad. It came from the world-renown salad-making power-house, Pizza Hut. I ate the salad, thought about salad, and then typed the world “salad” into a google news search, and that link is a result of what I found.

I’ve always loved salads but until the last couple months – months dedicated to losing weight and being healthy – I never gave the notion of a salad serious consideration when considering dinner. Around 30 pounds lost later, a highly decreased running regimen, one vacation behind me and another on its way (more about that Friday), and it’s safe to say I’m off the wagon when it comes to this healthy thing.

But I still love salads, though, which is maybe the one thing I can take away from the last couple months of the Hell that is not eating and running 60,000 miles a day. What this gives me is nothing, really, other than a longer timeframe before I inevitably put all of that weight back on. But, hey. At least I’ll look good for the rest of the summer, right? Wait, you can’t see me.

Anyways, this particular recipe kind of grossed me out. I love BLTs. And I love salads. But a BLT salad? Honestly? It just doesn’t sound right. Why do salad-makers always have this burning desire to pair any type of awkward food with other awkward foods? Or elaborate dishes with other elaborate dishes? It’s like a quest for each chef to bring entire dishes together (ala a BLT salad) to try and form some super-meal. Why? What’s wrong with having a BLT and a salad separately, but as one meal? Seems perfectly fine to me.

You know what’s really good? A simple chef’s salad, or a salad one gets while ordering some bigger, elaborate and expensive meal. Think about it. A tiny bowl with nothing more than lettuce, maybe a tomato and/or cucumber, a couple croutons and a damn good dressing to go with it. These things are completely over-looked these days with trendy diets and elaborate eat-right plans. It’s a shame, really. Because a salad is a complement to a better meal first and an entire course second. Those who think otherwise are totally missing out on some true salad fun.

And speaking of salad fun…



Always nice to get a Monty Python video in to start the day.

Now, does anyone out there know any good salad recipes? Thought I'd ask. It'd be impolite not to.

...For The Ride Home: M.I.A. is the best, yet another no-hitter is thrown, U.S. media is the devil and fall fashion is here!

Found myself up unusually early Sunday morning. It finally, after a week's worth of stalling my Netflix que, gave me the opportunity to sit down and watch this movie. Remind me again why I like Jake Gyllenhaal? Oh, yes. It was "Zodiac," wasn't it? I don't know. It's hard for me to not like movies, but this one came up a bit short. Mr. Spiderman was pretty good here (especially toward the end), but as a whole, there was something inherently uninteresting about it. And Natalie Portman isn't all that attractive. Anybody out there who agrees with me? Didn't think so. Anyways, welcome to Tuesday, or, as July-lovers may call it, the final Tuesday of July. Beautiful day today, and even found the time to play a little tennis. Always good to get out and feel as though you weren't a particularly pathetic slob for all of the day by spending time in the sun and moving semi-quickly around a tennis court. Need to get some work done tonight, and if I manage to achieve such a goal, you can rest assured that a happy man I will be, if even for a few minutes. Before tonight comes around, though, I must offer up these links, remind you all to be nice to those you enjoy being around, and consider having pizza for dinner. Why? Because it just seems right. Be good, now.

A power ranking for “Mad Men” characters. A bit obnoxious at times, but interesting nonetheless. (Lisanti Quarterly)

Reason No. 361 to love M.I.A.: She blasts Lady Gaga in this interview. Fabulous. (Time Out)

Please, please don’t do this, beloved New York Jets. (ESPN)

Matt Garza threw the 250th no-hitter in Major League Baseball this season last night. A pie was thrown. (St. Petersburg Times)

Whoa. A new way to track newspaper circulation. One step? Counting one subscriber multiple times. This seems like one step forward, five steps backward. (Editor & Publisher)

And speaking of newspapers. According to this brand new, Earth shattering WikiLeaks device, the United States pays Afghan media to write nice stories. Something tells me this WikiLeaks thing is going to end up being much more important than people predict. (Yahoo)

Aretha Franklin and Condi Rice: Making lovely music together. (Christian Science Monitor)

$15,000 for porta-potties? Honestly? (TMZ)

Ten things you’ll need to consider when getting your fall wardrobe together. Hey, it’s never too soon to consider seasonal fashion. Besides, it’s almost August already. (Esquire)

Learning to fly

Saturday was one of the highlights of my summer, as myself, my brother, my better half of this blog and my better half in real life went to the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert in Pittsburgh.

Absolutely. Fantastic. Time.

The day exceeded expectations in every category. The traffic, usually a soul-crushing, schedule-destroying terror for concerts at this particular venue, was a breeze. The tailgating was tremendous: no grill this time, but we brought fried chicken, cole slaw, chips and french onion dip, all washed down with lots and lots of beer. The conversation was light and fun, yet inspired and honest at the same time. The heat was dreadful, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Oh, and then came the concert. We skipped the first band, The Drive By Truckers or something (???); they sounded very Americana, but somewhat watered down like many modern country acts. I could be way off here, mind you. Then Sir Petty (yes, I realize he has not been officially knighted but dammit maybe he should be) hit the stage with an earnest, driving set that was deemed “nearly perfect,” although I still say he could have played a hair longer.

There was, however, one thing that was unmistakably imperfect: a slight screw-up coming right out of the box. As the band went to ring out the first note of the night, someone came in too early, someone else came in too late and someone else didn’t come in at all. The band immediately cut the botched note off, regrouped and struck the chord in unison, beginning the show the way rock titans should.

But there it was, plain for all to hear. This iconic band, these gods among men, messed up their intro. It wasn’t colossal… it was barely noticeable in fact. But it happened, and we all heard it.

And it was awesome.

In an extremely poetic way, it was truly ironic. Here’s Tom Petty – the man. At that point, I related to his words and music even more than ever before, because those words and notes were being communicated by a mere mortal, not a myth or legend or deity. This is a man who falls short, who’s worked hard to get where he is, who can laugh at his mistakes.

For some people, I think seeing a hero slip can be a crushing experience, but I guess I’m at the point where my personal heroes need to be human and real. It’s a great feeling.

Now go pick up the new album “Mojo” and then Ride with us at 4 p.m.

...For The Ride Home: Super mega tour is announced, LeBron needs to shut up, and welcome to your official "Mad Men" thread

Put serious thought into a "Mad Men" Monday post to generate conversation about the show the day after a new one premiers. Wasn't quite sure how it would go over, so I'm going to use this valuable space to discuss all things "Mad Men" come Mondays. Please feel free to offer any opinions. I'll be sure to check back regularly throughout the day to get a word in with anyone who would like to speak about such things. But, wow. How great was the first episode? Betty reaffirms that she is the worst mother since Hitler. Don's date went absolutely fabulous, and count me in the minority if you have to, but I hope we see more of those two together. Oh, and the lines of the season may have already been uttered - one, when Don explains to Betty how "temporary" certain things are, the other, when he tells Peggy there's no room for a girl in the meeting. And the way the season opens, with the journalist asking the one question that the entire show has been centered around for four years now, "Who is Don Draper?" you know we may be in for quite possibly the best season the show has seen. Yeah, yeah. I know I jump to conclusions. Buy my God, I missed that show. OK. That's just me. Now it's on you (if you so choose, that is). As you do that, take a look at a few of these links, and begin your week in style by checking out the wonderful Hanson tonight on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." You see. It all comes full circle.

So now LeBron James has a hand in Chris Paul’s whereabouts? Come on, now. (The Big Lead)

I really, really like Rufus Wainwright. I do. (Popmatters)

Writer is ma-a-ad about being listed as a member of the now-defunct Journolist. Calls conservatives conspiracy hounds. (Village Voice)

So, everyone loves this “Top Secret America” series, right? (Politico)

The Huffington Post makes one dollar per year per reader. Didn’t know that. (Newsweek)

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Saves The Day, Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything are touring together? This makes me feel equal parts young, old, excited, sad and happy. Goodness gracious. (Alternative Press)

I want one of these. In a total non-creepy way, of course. No, but seriously. I do. (Fox News)

This seems to be the story of the weekend: Pigeons poop on the Kings of Leon. Insert your own hipster “Kings of Leon now suck because they sell records” joke here. (CNN)

In an mmmbop, they're gone. (But now, they're back).

I got to do something I haven’t done in a looooong time Friday night (the extra o’s are to emphasize exactly how long it’s been): I found myself awake, slightly drunk and in front of a television with a cable package that features VH1 at three in the morning. This, of course, provided me the opportunity to take in this week’s VH1 Top 20 Countdown, a countdown that has seen more hosts than the Game Show Network.

This is important because it allowed me to see the Hanson video for “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Somethin’” for the first time in a long time. Because of this, as I traveled over the weekend, I made sure the band’s latest album, Shout It Out, was by my side as I drove down whatever road I happened to be on. Very, very manly, I know.

But it’s just so damn good. The music is happy. It’s got a little bit of soul to it. The sound is pure pop, and the kids’ voices have all matured (we think). Sprinkle in a horn section here and there, a few songs about how damaging a romantic break-up can be, and what you have is a serious candidate for Album of the Year. Or, well, to me, at least.

What adds to the album’s goodness is knowing that those dudes still make music. We’ve never seen them caught up in any type of scandal. They are all married, now. This is something like their 93rd record. None of them opted for a solo career. And, most importantly, they bring a glance back to what will end up being the last golden age of pop music that dominated the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.

The other acts that shared the radio space with them around that time simply proved to lack substance and staying power, while these kids were taking time to hone their skills. Think about it. The Backstreet Boys? Sure they are still at least trying to have a music career, albeit with only four members, but did you honestly know that they released an album last year? (Side: Once interviewed A.J. for a piece I was working on and the entire experience couldn’t have gone any worse. It was a few days after Brian came down with the Swine Flu, and he happened to be sick as well. Oh, and so was I. Each question turned into us complaining to each other about what it’s like being sick. The piece ended up being awful.) ‘NSYNC? Remove Justin Timberlake from that equation and what you have is a bunch of guys who have absolutely no idea what they are going to do with the rest of their lives. Besides, they could never churn out anything better than “Pop,” so why try? 98 Degrees? Wait. Who?

Yes, I know these comparisons are boy band heavy, but remember, that’s what Hanson essentially was when “MMMBop” first hit. Plus, they were young. And heartthrob-y. You can’t name a 15 minute span of radio between 1997 and 2003 when you didn’t either hear any of the aforementioned groups, Savage Garden or Britney Spears. It was all pop, all the time, regardless of if you played your own instruments or not (which, I remember thinking it was possible none of Hanson actually did at the time, anyways).

So what’s my point? Well, Hanson wins, and they made it look easy by simply sticking to the book. They slowly got better at what they wanted to do for a living, they kept their respective lives in check, and seemed to have decided early on that they didn’t really care if it all went away tomorrow (which it did) by continuing to make music today. It still might not be completely cool to be a fan of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, group, but to say you don’t respect them would be a bit unfair. Besides, I could post this video every day for the next six months and never get sick of it…

...For The Ride Home: Atmosphere is going to tour, Bieber to star on CSI, Matt Barnes goes to L.A. and don't forget "Mad Men"

Week 17 comes to an end today. More importantly, we bid farewell to our second-ever themed week here at The Ride, Soul Week. Which do you believe is better? Soul Week or Norah Jones Week? That's tough, we know. Sending us off is Booker T & The MG'S with the classic "Green Onions." We saved these guys for last simply because they were the glue that held nearly every soul record together in the 1960s. The impact they had on the music is unmeasurable. So sad to see it go, though. So sad. Alas, we welcome Friday with open arms, ready to dive into the last week of July. Goodness, gracious, where did this summer go, friends? Hopefully for you, you have a bunch of crazy good plans for the weekend, much like we do. If you don't, though, do not forget about Sunday's "Mad Men" return, a return we stupidly proclaimed happened last weekend. We know it's true this week, though. Jan Jones will be on television tonight and Ms. Hendricks looked stunning last night. Before we get to any weekend shenanigans, we must offer a few links for you to mull over as your Friday night takes shape. We sincerely hope you enjoy what's left of July and you make this sultry summer night a night you may never forget. Be good, friends, and of course, as always, love you, miss you.

Atmosphere is touring. Anyone else know/like them? Takes me back. (Pitchfork)

Matt Barnes signed with the Lakers last night. Have to wonder how Kobe’s going to respond to that after the two provided us with one of the best moments of last season. (Los Angeles Times)

Only because we linked Whitlock’s attack on Mitch Albom earlier this week: The columnist now compares Reggie Bush to a slave. (Fox Sports)

Haven’t been this excited for a sports book in a long, long time. Jim Miller talks about what people can expect in his book – with the fabulous Tom Shales, I may add – regarding the ins and outs of ESPN. Fireworks will be had. (Sports Illustrated)

One of the greats, Daniel Schorr, died. He was 93. (NPR)

Remember that damning Rolling Stone piece about the general? Yeah, that was supposed to go to GQ, but the magazine turned it down. (The New York Observer)

Again, don't forget that “Mad Men” kicks off Sunday. Here are 10 questions with Don Draper. (Time)

Justin Beiber is going to be on CSI. No way he lives up to Taylor Swift’s guest spot. (People)

Oh, we love you, Tracy Morgan. (TMZ)

Double Feature: Salt & Ramona and Beezus

Each Friday, we will offer up two movies that are scheduled to be released within the accompanying weekend. We know, we know. It’s hard to come across blogs who ever actually get movie talk right. That’s why we won’t say much. A trailer. A paragraph. And boom – all you need to know about what new movies you can take your beautiful object of affection to see this weekend. It's like going to the drive-in movie theater. Remember those? So much fun. Thank us later, not now.

Salt

How convenient. A movie about a female Russian spy hits theaters right after…a female Russian spy stirs up controversy in the good, old U.S.A. Saw the extended trailer for this before “Inception” earlier this week, and to be honest, it brought the movie from “no way I’ll ever, ever see this” status to “well, if it’s a Sunday afternoon, and there’s nothing on, and TNT happens to be the only channel to come in clearly on my television, I’ll give it a shot” status. Angelina Jolie looks oddly good in these previews, though, right? Sure, blonde isn’t quite her color, but how sexy does she look in that jet black hair? And I don’t even like jet black hair. Plus, she seemed to have dropped 15 pounds for this role, bringing her total weight to somewhere around 62. This seems interesting enough, and for people who love spy and/or action movies, why not give this a shot? After all, “Wanted” wasn’t really all that bad, right?



Ramona and Beezus

Because there is absolutely nothing else coming out this weekend, we take this, a film starring the not-so-kid-anymore actress Selena Gomez in a family comedy that is sure to rake in 10s of dollars over its opening weekend. Fun fact: Did you know she was once in the Barney show? I didn’t. That sure earns her a boatload of cool points, though. I came across an interview with her promoting the film this week, and both her and the subsequent host were absolutely gushing over the little girl who shares the spotlight with the Disney star. Could this be a new Abigail Breslin on our hands? Highly unlikely. Still, though, Ms. Gomez celebrated her 18th birthday this week, so if you own kids, and you want to go to the movie theater, why not give the star your hard earned money, if nothing else, because she made it to 18 without having to check into rehab. Now if I could only find out why her Wikipedia page as the band Forever The Sickest Kids listed as an “Associated Act.”