Musings @musicandmeaning.com

Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding.
"He had a theory that musicians are incredibly complex, and know far less than other artists what they want and what they are; that they puzzle themselves as well as their friends; that their psychology is a modern development, and has not yet been understood." – E. M. Forster

Archive for July, 2003


Wednesday, 16 July 2003

Baseball’s finest?

It’s too bad for Eric Gagne. Pretty much is a good reason for why the All-Star Game should not be a factor in anything important for the regular season, let alone deciding home-field advantage for the World Series. If, say, the Yankees make the series, are Garret Anderson and Hank Blalock really going to be pleased that they helped NY win home field advantage? If, say, Dusty Baker and the Cubs make the Series, is it really fair that the guy who was charged with the loss of the All-Star Game be stuck with knowing that his unfortunate, uncharacteristic bad outing on the mound cost the NL team in the World Series? [Gack.] But that’s just MLB. One of these days I will actually learn to not be sucked in by the increasingly ever-commercialized, over-hyped All-Star game.

This is why watching baseball — not just this thing but a normal season game — on a network broadcast like Fox Sports is such a culture shock for me, after growing up and still watching the dignified play-by-plays from Vin Scully or even the radio broadcasts with the other — single — play-by-play guys. I never really appreciated the whole concept of "color commentator" on network broadcasts, especially when the two guys end up paying less attention to the game on the field and end up talking to players and coaches and asking them questions during the game, or fitting them with mics and listening in on their conversations. Really, it becomes two or three guys having a chat-fest with each other, and I miss the personal aspect of e.g. Vin Scully talking to us. To me. To you. I don’t tune in to watch a behind-the-scenes show, or to listen in on a bunch of guys joking around with each other. I just want to experience the game.

Posted at 6:26 pm | Filed under Baseball, sports |  

Sunday, 6 July 2003

The WBE Drinking Game

I was writing over at my other journal about today’s Weekend Becomes Eclectic show, and just how many cool things Anne Litt is putting on the air.

So I thought I’d bring over the WBE Drinking Game idea I’d written about there. (This is a version revised to better suit reality):

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Okay. Now Anne Litt is playing Peggy Lee‘s "I’m Gonna Go Fishin’."

Unbelievably cool. Will she play Richard Buckner? If she hasn’t already today…

I should create a WBE drinking game of sorts. Problem is, I don’t drink. In any case here’s a starting point:

– playing a Lizzie West song…1 drink.
– switching genres in one set…1 drinks. (Chet Baker –> Coldplay)
– switching genres twice in one set…2 drinks. (Chet Baker –> Coldplay –> Patsy Cline)
– switching genres thrice in one set…3 drinks. (Chet Baker –> Coldplay –> Patsy Cline –> Yo-Yo Ma)
– playing a Richard Buckner song…3 drinks.
– playing a Richard Buckner song from The Hill…4 drinks.
– playing Richard Buckner, David Gray, Coldplay, Peggy Lee, Oscar Peterson, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Jayhawks, Whiskeytown/Ryan Adams in one show…have a nice trip, baby.