Focused on Roy Halladay

Ok, so we had been working on rolling out the first installment of our Focused on the Metroplex series, which will debut soon, as well as what was supposed to be the second installment of Focused on the Family, which we had to scratch and rewrite, for reasons evident in the eventual posting.  With all that has been going on, we've let the writing fall by the wayside and, as a aresult, most of what we never got to publish ended up being outdated.  How outdated?  Here was the original opening to this post:
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The acadamy of motion pictures has nominated a record ten movies for Best Picture this year.  In related news, the Acadamy of Motion Pictures has renamed the Best Picture Award the This Movie Sucked the Least this Year award.

See what we mean?

So, we'll go through what we have and try to cobble together something readable.  And no, we did not spell check, so it willprobably be bad.  Very bad.

We're off!

Adn we apologize for the limited hyperlinks in advance.  We know it makes us more readable.

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Big props to Robert Gates for being the first sitting Defense Secretary to say that the time for Don't Ask Don't Tell has come and gone.  The journey that started in 1946 with President Truman integrating the military, and was continued by President Clinton 17 years ago, has reached its rightful conclusion today, as the final step toward equality for all in the military appears just over yon horizon.  This is a day that all Americans should be proud.

Again, dated material, we know.

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Here's some food for thought.

People in this country, by and large, have no problem with compulsory automobile insurance.  People pretty much agree that in order to operate a motor vehicle, one must purchase insurance, so as not to cause someone else expense if they should have a mishap.  If someone cannot afford insurance, the general line of thought is that they should not drive.  If they do, and get caught, they should get a ticket and have to pay a fine.

This line of thought makes sense.  That's why most people agree with it.

However, when it comes to medical insurance, people are aghast at the idea of making it compulsory.  And the notion of fining non-compliers is castigated as cruel.  There is no dispute that the uninsured are a financial drain on everyone else, much in the same way as uninsured motorists.  It is equally free of dispute that, if given the choice, some people will forgo insurance.  Now, there is no way you'd ever get legislation passed that says if you are uninsured, you chose to be so and can die in the street.  So why is it not acceptable to make people carry coverage on themselves and their children?  (of course we speak of those who can provide for themselves, not those who legitimately cannot fend for themselves)

In the end, by compelling auto and not medical insurance, aren't we as a society saying that our cars, and all the things we can lose if sued after operating one recklessly (house, money, etc), are more important to us than our bodies?

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Fare thee well, Cory, Merlin, and Andrew, we'll see you on the Other Side. Save us a Silver Bullet, some flowers and (you know it's coming) a boner.

It had to be done.

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Click Here.

To paraphrase the late, great Al Johnson -- it just ain't your day when you can't take a jog on the beach without getting hit by a damned plane.

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Quote of the Week:

“There was a time I felt the mistake I made was the end of the world for me,"
--Donte Stallworth, WR, Ravens, on running over and killing a guy with his car, at 8am, while drunk.

Yeah, Donte -- we're gald it all worked out for you.

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Internet Video of the Week:

Epic Beard Man.  Or, "why we don't mess with old men on the bus".

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Ridiculous Story That Actually Appeared in a Publication of the Week AND Idiot Criminal of the Week:

Megan Barnes of Florida.   Here's why.

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Vintage Album Review of the Week:

The Bird and The Bee

Interpreting the Masters, Volume 1
(A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates)
2010

Heard it on the Radio - (3:03)*
I Can't Go for That - (3:36)
Rich Girl - (2:48)
Sara Smile - (3:06)
Kiss on My List - (4:19)
Maneater - (3:31)
She's Gone - (3:03)
Private Eyes - (3:03)
One on One - (3:40)
* - singles

We decided to go off the board this week and give a review of a brand-new album, released this past Tuesday.  Tribute albums are a hit and miss proposal.  If botched, they sound even worse than a normal album, compared to the original material.  If done too closely to the original, what is the point?  This album finds a nice place right in the middle.  Groundbreaking?  No.  Fresh?  Absolutely.

It's a good tribute album indeed when it takes at least four of five seconds into each track to figure out what song it is.  That speaks to excellent production and arranging by Greg Jurstin (the Bee).  As to the songs themselves, Inara George (the Bird) sings them well, if not uniquely.  Ourside of updated instrumentation (out with the Philly blue-eyed soul, in with the SoCal retro), they stick pretty close to the original material, which for the most part is a good thing.  At times though, they stick a bit too close.  One of the great things about Hall & Oates was listening for Daryl Hall's end-of-song scatting.  Kind of a white-boy's 80's version of flowing.  On the originals it sounds spontaneous; on a remake, not so much.  (Think "oooh butitswild oooh-ooo-ooo-ooooooh").

That minor flaw aside, this is a solid album that starts off with an original song, entitled Heard it on the Radio.  Both in sound and spirit, it sets the table for th retrospective set, even throwing in a lyrical nod to the H2O with , "when we first kissed it made my list".  A clever, entertaining intro to a very entertaining album.

The iTunes version throws in another original song at the end, 4th of July, which also has a retro feel to it, but probably from a decade or so earlier than the focus of this collection.  It sounds an awfull lot like the Carole King/Carpenters vibe Billy Joel and Phil Ramone were going for on Leave a Tender Moment Alone, except B&B nail it.  A nice song that ends the album all warm and fuzzy, but still probably best left off the general release, as it just doesn;t complement the rest of the work very well.

The bottom line: if you like the Bird and the Bee, you will love this ablbum.  If you love the H2O, you'll like the album.

Music: 4 (of 5)
Lyrics: 4 (of 5) (extra credit for one of our favorite lines of all time, "I need a drink and a quick decitsion")
Authorship: 4 (of 4) (remake exception)
Production: 3 (of 3)
Packaging: 2 (of 2) (digital booklet)
First Blush: 2 (of 2)
Aging: 3 (of 3) (great update on already great material)
Videos: 1 (of 1)
Total: 23
Stars: 4.6 (of 5)

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Parting shots:

Baseball season is upon us and it's time for predictions.

American League

Eastern Division Champion -- Boston Red Sox
Central Division Champion -- Minnesota Twins* (edging the ChiSox)
Western Division Champion -- Texas Rangers
Wild Card -- New York Yankees (edging the Angels, Rays, ChiSox and Tribe)

ALDS
Red Sox over Rangers
Twins over Yankees

ALCS
Red Sox over Twins

National League

Eastern Division Champion -- Philadelphia Phillies
Central Division Champion -- St. Louis Cardnials
Western Division Champion -- Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card -- Colorado Rockies (edging the Braves)

ALDS
Phillies over Rockies
Dodgers over Cardinals

ALCS
Phillies over Dodgers

And your 2010 World Series Champions?

The Boston Red Sox, in six, over the Phillies.  (We just can't help but feel letting Cliff Lee go was a mistake.  One can never have too much pitching, and the Phightin's will pay the price come October (Nov).

*We are picking the Twins to win their division, despite our immense displeasure at their scrapping the best road uniforms in professional sports, for something way too similar to the Nationals' look.  The new ballpark and these badass alternate home duds saved their ass.  This time. (yes, that's off-white)

And with that, we bid you adieu.

Until next time,

Keep the Faith