Random (quick) thoughts

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I've been neglectful regarding my blog recently because, as you probably know if you're reading this, I'm in the process of relocating to New York to take a job with a transcription firm.

But here are a few musings/subjects of interest from the past week or so:

-Emerson in the news! This sounds like the type of incident/person that would have annoyed me while I was a student at Emerson. But frankly, I don't see what the big deal is and why the story has become FOX News fodder.

-Beckett was robbed.

-But thank God our World Series MVP is staying. What a class act. The thought of Alex Rodriguez in a Red Sox uniform still sends a chill down my spine.

-I saw Tegan and Sara at Webster Hall in New York on Monday. They put on a great show. Check out my pictures here, and look for my article in next month's issue of Blast.

For interested parties, this was the set list, from what I can remember (not in order):
-Dark Come Soon
-Like O, Like H
-Floorplan
-Nineteen
-Soil Soil
-Monday, Monday, Monday
-So Jealous
-Where Does the Good Go
-Hop a Plane
-When I Get Up
-Speak Slow
-Relief Next to Me
-Walking With a Ghost
-Knife Going In (?)
-Back in Your Head
-The Con
-Call It Off

Encore:
-Umbrella
-You Wouldn't Like Me
-Are You Ten Years Ago
-Take Me Anywhere
-Living Room

A good read

Former New York Times correspondent Charlie LeDuff has a really heartfelt and humorous piece in the current issue of Men's Vogue about his transition from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist to stay-at-home dad. Even I, a self-described loather of children, found it touching — especially the last couple of paragraphs. Trust me, it's worth your time.

From Romenesko.

Ouch

It seems Radiohead's "pay what you want" experiment for their latest album, In Rainbows, failed — in terms of profits, at least.

You have to wonder if, going into this endeavor, the band expected its fans to shell out a reasonable $10 — or even more — per album. My guess is, considering their zealously devoted fanbase, they probably did.

Speaking as someone who still buys CDs and loves looking through liner notes, I know I'm in the minority here. But I was truly surprised to learn that most Radiohead fans didn't even open their wallets when "purchasing" In Rainbows.

I didn't buy In Rainbows and haven't even checked it out on iTunes yet. And I generally gripe about paying more than $9.99 for a CD. But as soon as Radiohead announced their experiment, I immediately asked myself how much I would pay for an album by a band I truly, truly loved. I came up with $25 — based on the fact that I recently spent about that much purchasing two copies of Tegan and Sara's The Con after I wore out the first one by overplaying it.

It's interesting (and depressing) that a band like Radiohead, with such a cult following, can't even inspire fans to cough up more than six bucks for an album. Imagine if an artist (term used loosely) like Britney Spears decided to release an album and told buyers to pay whatever they wanted for it. Would anybody really bust out their credit card? I doubt it.

Also, apparently at least one band rep spoke too soon.

38 (still) Pitches

Good news all around for Red Sox Nation today.



First, I think everyone can be happy about the announcement that blogger/postseason powerhouse/aspiring politician? Curt Schilling will be returning to the team (and, incidentally, probably finishing out his career in Boston). Everyone knows pitching wins in the playoffs, and as far as I'm concerned, the Red Sox just secured a central cog in their 2008 Fall Classic machine.

Schilling has become such an integral part of the Sox' lineup that it's hard to imagine he's only been playing in Boston for four years. I, for one, suspected the right-hander had pitched his last game in a Red Sox uniform when he walked off the mound in Game Two of the World Series. I think he did, too.

So I felt a huge sense of relief to learn that his 11-2, 2.38 ERA playoff stats will be back in Boston next season. Say what you will about his age and injury-prone regular seasons. In my opinion, for what he brings to the team in terms of morale and clutch performances, a one-year, $8 million contract is a bargain.

Let's hope the front office displays the same sensibility in regards to Mike Lowell.


Second, congratulations to Gold Glove winner Kevin Youkilis. Let's hope this is the first of many off-season accolades for the Red Sox. Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, anyone?

Twice in a Lifetime

I've been on hiatus for the past week or so because I was up in Boston watching the Red Sox win their second World Series in four years — a victory I can't imagine celebrating anywhere else.


It's things like singing "Sweet Caroline" in a bar at 1:00 on a Tuesday afternoon with 150 people that make me realize (to quote The Standells) that Boston truly is my home. Thankfully, this year's celebration was much more subdued than 2004 and none of my classmates was killed this time.

I'll resume blogging this week and probably post more about the Sox' victory, but right now I'm trying to catch up on about six days' worth of sleep.

I leave you with this blissful image...