Category Archives: Popular Culture

Administrative, Popular Culture

Busy Weekend

3 Comments

We’re making a big push to get more moved into the house this weekend, including setting up an office for Patricia and the guest bedroom, and starting to straighten out the garage. I also have to clean the gutters, even though the leaves aren’t all down yet, because there’s a Pacific storm coming in on Tuesday or Wednesday of indeterminate strength and rainfall.

I did watch the Michigan game yesterday, though. In the past two weeks, I think they’ve gone from being the worst 4-0 team in the country to the best 4-2. They’re only two turnovers away from being undefeated, and if they hadn’t had so many last night, they’d have beaten Iowa handily. The defense is actually starting to look better, which gives me some hope for the rest of the season, if the quarterbacks can figure out what color jerseys they’re supposed to be throwing to. Also, I see that the Lions are off to a good start on the new losing streak to break their previous record, with a loss to the Steelers today.

Media Criticism, Popular Culture, Space

Annoying

40 Comments

As a “rocket scientist” (I hate that phrase), I wish that everyone in the media would stop saying that NASA crashed a “rocket” into the moon. A rocket put it into space, but what crashed into the moon were spacecraft (though they had small rocket motors on them). I don’t actually even like the term “rocket” for a launch vehicle. It’s like calling a car an “internal combustion engine.”

Popular Culture

Tigers And Twins

6 Comments

Tied in the bottom of the eighth. Detroit, and Michigan could sure use a win here for morale, given their economic straits.

[Update a few minutes later]

Whooooaa. The Tigers are roaring. Top of the ninth. Men at first and third, no outs, with Polcanco one and one.

[Update]

Dang. Ordonez must have hit into a double play (I’m just following a game track). It’s the bottom of the ninth, still tied. The pressure is on the Detroit pitcher to keep the game going.

[Update a few minutes later]

Well, the pitcher(s) (they made a change in the inning) did their job. It’s the top of the tenth.

If the Tigers lose this, Ordonez, despite the fact that he got them here, will be the goat. It was theirs to win in the ninth, and they choked.

[Update]

OK, Detroit got a run in the top of the tenth, breaking the tie. Now it’s all up to the defense. Unfortunately, the Twins got a triple in the first at bat…

[Update]

Well, they’re tied again, with runners at first and third, with one out. The Twins may be about to put the Tigers out of their, and our, misery.

[Update]

Well, Detroit keeps it alive, and gets out of the inning.

[Update]

Top of the twelfth, and the Tigers have the base loaded, with one out. If they can’t win now, they don’t deserve to.

[A few minutes later]

Bases loaded, and once again, they stranded everyone. And I can’t find TBS on DirecTV.

[A few miutes later]

OK, I found TBS on channel 247, but contrary to reports, it’s not showing the game.

[late update]

Well, it looks like Detroit played true to form, and let the Twins have it in the bottom of the twelfth, by a run. At least fans don’t have to torture themselves figuring out how they’ll screw up next.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Popular Culture

Just In Case You’re In A Boycotting Mood

16 Comments

Here’s a list of projects in which Hollywood people who have defended the child rapist are currently involved.

Of course, I’ve been boycotting Hollywood for years, but not necessarily for political reasons — I just don’t find the cost or time worth going out to the movies for most Hollywood products. If I were dating, of course (as I haven’t for years), I might feel differently. But probably not. I’m creative enough to find other things to do on a date.

Popular Culture

Hanging On By Their Fingernails

8 Comments

The Tigers seemed determined to blow their lead in the division for the last month, and they managed to do it yesterday, letting the Twins tie them. But they finally shook the dust off their bats and beat the White Sox today. If Minnesota holds on to win against the Royals (as they are ahead currently in the seventh), I guess there’ll be a one-game playoff. So they have one more chance to blow it. They have my full confidence in their ability to do so.

Meanwhile, after blowing their record last week, the Lions have started a new losing streak today. We’ll see if they can top the previous one.

Popular Culture

Deja Vu

3 Comments

I’m watching Michigan demonstrate why it’s the worst 4-0 team in the country against the Spartans. They seem to be reverting to the team that they were last year. Last week’s win against Indiana may have been their last this season.

[Post-game update — the above was posted in the third quarter]

Well, they almost pulled off another one, like Notre Dame and Indiana, but their luck ran out in overtime.