...and what should really irk Conan, too:
Imagine for a minute that I'm a big star with a movie opening next Friday, am I going to appear on both Jay and Conan on NBC in LA? If so, which first? I can't imagine that Jay's show will not be the preferred, and more prestigious, program, so why bother with Conan at all -- much less with that Jimmy Fallon -- although at least he's on the opposite coast.
I must admit I laughed heartily at Tom Hanks' recent appearance on Letterman and his suggestion of a "Dave at Eight" show (a.k.a., CSI: Dave).
I remember when Johnny's retirement meant something: he was leaving and a new era was beginning. No such drama here: no one's leaving, no one's changing. It's instead much ado about time slots.
Of course the real time slot news ain't Tonight (or Earlier This Evening or whatever Jay's show's name will be), it's rather that, in order to appease the East Coast and perhaps even prove to youngsters that "Yes, Virginia, there is a Fall Classic," World Series games are going to begin before 8 PM --- at 7:57!
(No, seriously, that's what MLB announced.)
31 May 2009
Pools and Paradise (not regained)
As any regular reader of this blog knows, I've not grown up in any number of ways.
This fact was driven home to me today when I went to the Plainville YMCA to go swimming.
It was the first time I had gone without my daughters (their having a theatrical engagement at the entity formerly known as Newington Children's Theatre). When they're with me, I play with them, swim a little, play with them, sit in the hot tub, play with them, swim a little bit more...
Alone, however, I had to swim exclusively.
How bloody boring is that, I've learned?!
Growing up, my family had a pool in which I could spend hours alone playing around, splashing, sitting on the bottom of the pool, exploring the sides with goggles, etc... Indeed my favorite game was to play any number of television private detectives/cops (divided into two teams) who then fought one another -- the way they did the bad guys on all those shows I watched: Mannix, Kojak, Cannon, The Mod Squad, Baretta, Banaczek, Starsky and Hutch... Why both sides were technically good guys, I don't know, but I'd throw myself into and all around the pool, pretend I was being punched and almost drowned, and fight back, as well...until I was, well, exhausted.
That's how I'd still spend my time in a pool, if I had the opportunity.
Of course, you've already figured out my problem: None of these activities is really an option for a 47-year-old man in a public pool (even one as empty as the one at the Plainville Y on a sunny Sunday afternoon). I'm not sure what they'd make of a goggled man pretending to be thrown around a pool by an invisible Telly Savalas, but I'm fairly certain they wouldn't allow it for very long.
Ah, youth, who loves ya, baby?
This fact was driven home to me today when I went to the Plainville YMCA to go swimming.
It was the first time I had gone without my daughters (their having a theatrical engagement at the entity formerly known as Newington Children's Theatre). When they're with me, I play with them, swim a little, play with them, sit in the hot tub, play with them, swim a little bit more...
Alone, however, I had to swim exclusively.
How bloody boring is that, I've learned?!
Growing up, my family had a pool in which I could spend hours alone playing around, splashing, sitting on the bottom of the pool, exploring the sides with goggles, etc... Indeed my favorite game was to play any number of television private detectives/cops (divided into two teams) who then fought one another -- the way they did the bad guys on all those shows I watched: Mannix, Kojak, Cannon, The Mod Squad, Baretta, Banaczek, Starsky and Hutch... Why both sides were technically good guys, I don't know, but I'd throw myself into and all around the pool, pretend I was being punched and almost drowned, and fight back, as well...until I was, well, exhausted.
That's how I'd still spend my time in a pool, if I had the opportunity.
Of course, you've already figured out my problem: None of these activities is really an option for a 47-year-old man in a public pool (even one as empty as the one at the Plainville Y on a sunny Sunday afternoon). I'm not sure what they'd make of a goggled man pretending to be thrown around a pool by an invisible Telly Savalas, but I'm fairly certain they wouldn't allow it for very long.
Ah, youth, who loves ya, baby?
Yet another reason to start smoking...
...retroactively at least...and more specifically smoking German cigarettes.
How many packs did one have to buy before getting that card?
How many packs did one have to buy before getting that card?
A VERY successful first attempt at parading...
This was the first time within anyone's memory that CCSU would have a contingent in the annual New Britain Memorial Day Parade -- which happens EVERY May 30th at 6:00 PM.We were 16 strong, with plenty of CCSU stuff to give away (foam fingers, frisbees, t-shirts, key-rings, pens, post-it notes...).
The weather was beautiful: sunny and dry with a cool breeze!
And who doesn't love a parade on a night like that?
The omens suggest that this looks like the beginning of a great CCSU tradition.
29 May 2009
A recent sign in front of an Armenian Church...
...read:
God is the potter; we are the clay
This led me to think:
God is the putter; we are the ball.
God is the knotter; we are the rope.
God is the plotter; we are the scheme.
God is the 'puter; we are the websites.
God is the lotter(y); we are the tickets.
God is the spotter; we are the gymnasts.
God is the Kotter; we are the Sweathogs.
Some Things I've Done Since Last I Blogged...
Not in chronological order:
Read aloud half of some 1350 names at the CCSU Undergraduate Commencement at the XL Center in Hartford, CT
Read aloud half of some 300 names at the CCSU Graduate Commencement at Welte Hall in New Britain, CT
Wished there were more opportunities to wear academic regalia
Watched my younger daughter come in 4th in the New Britain District-Wide Spelling Bee (4th grade division)
Had lunch with and heard three entertaining talks by Merlin Mann (just Google him)
Watched two Bing Crosby movies, The Emperor Waltz (wittily written and well directed) and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (so-so), while on furlough
Attended my older daughter's school Spring concert (...her fellow singers need to remember that they are performers by whom people want to be entertained)
Went to my daughters' dance recital but left as soon as they both were finished (at the 3 1/2 hour mark!)
Orchestrated the first-ever CCSU contingent to march in tomorrow night's New Britain Memorial Day Parade (note the traditional date!) by asking folks to march and collecting a variety of things to pass out to the crowd (foam fingers, frisbees, t-shirts, ice scrapers, pens...) Some of us are wearing academic regalia!
Wrote the 2008-2009 English Department annual report
Been puzzled by why anyone watches any more than the final 3 minutes (i.e., last half hour) of an NBA playoff game
Went to a great NB Rockcats baseball game/birthday party for my favorite young man under the age of 9
Celebrated my younger daughter's 10th birthday (best gift IMHO: a Tintin activity book; best gift IHHO: iPod Shuffle)
Saw my older daughter perform twice in the Newington Children's Theatre production of The Hundred Dresses (good play, well done)
Saw two excellent CCSU productions: Waiting for Lefty and a new play Still Waiting by my colleague Josh Perlstein
Saw 42nd Street at the Goodspeed Opera House
Bought new tap shoes
Promised myself I'd start blogging regularly again
Read aloud half of some 1350 names at the CCSU Undergraduate Commencement at the XL Center in Hartford, CT
Read aloud half of some 300 names at the CCSU Graduate Commencement at Welte Hall in New Britain, CT
Wished there were more opportunities to wear academic regalia
Watched my younger daughter come in 4th in the New Britain District-Wide Spelling Bee (4th grade division)
Had lunch with and heard three entertaining talks by Merlin Mann (just Google him)
Watched two Bing Crosby movies, The Emperor Waltz (wittily written and well directed) and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (so-so), while on furlough
Attended my older daughter's school Spring concert (...her fellow singers need to remember that they are performers by whom people want to be entertained)
Watched way too many commercials for Land of the Lost
Pondered why people go see Will Ferrell movies
Helped my older daughter practice her 8th grade oration -- on the importance of arts educationWent to my daughters' dance recital but left as soon as they both were finished (at the 3 1/2 hour mark!)
Orchestrated the first-ever CCSU contingent to march in tomorrow night's New Britain Memorial Day Parade (note the traditional date!) by asking folks to march and collecting a variety of things to pass out to the crowd (foam fingers, frisbees, t-shirts, ice scrapers, pens...) Some of us are wearing academic regalia!
Wrote the 2008-2009 English Department annual report
Been puzzled by why anyone watches any more than the final 3 minutes (i.e., last half hour) of an NBA playoff game
Went to a great NB Rockcats baseball game/birthday party for my favorite young man under the age of 9
Celebrated my younger daughter's 10th birthday (best gift IMHO: a Tintin activity book; best gift IHHO: iPod Shuffle)
Went to the CCSU-AAUP Day at the NB Rockcats game with my younger daughter and her gentleman caller but left in the 4th inning because it was cold and rainy!
Celebrated my 21st wedding anniversary
Missed my last three tap classes (most recently because I spent 50 minutes on an exit ramp due to a multi-car accident at the base of the ramp)
Watched my older daughter win the district-wide New Britain Spelling Bee (8th-grade division), becoming the first student to ever win five in a row.
Began helping my younger daughter with her science fair project: growing a geode of copper sulfate pentahydrate (thanks, Barry!)
Cursed my temperamental laptop
Cut my lawn six times
Hosted my weekly radio show five times
Shopped unsuccessfully for a 21st wedding anniversary giftSaw my older daughter perform twice in the Newington Children's Theatre production of The Hundred Dresses (good play, well done)
Saw two excellent CCSU productions: Waiting for Lefty and a new play Still Waiting by my colleague Josh Perlstein
Saw 42nd Street at the Goodspeed Opera House
Bought new tap shoes
Promised myself I'd start blogging regularly again
22 April 2009
Now is the time for drinking...
As archeologists inch ever closer to finding the tomb of Cleopatra, take another look at Horace's wonderful Odes I.37, more commonly known as his "Cleopatra Ode." Cleopatra, from the beginning, has been a figure hard to get one's head around.
Notice how, despite its initial hatred toward the prisoner (who's unnatural for any number of reasons, not the least of which is her being a woman) and genuine joy about her capture, by the end the poem reflects a respect for an honorable enemy who faces defeat (well, just like a man).
XXXVII. Nunc Est Bibendum. (translated by John Conington)
Now drink we deep, now featly tread
A measure; now before each shrine
With Salian feasts the table spread;
The time invites us, comrades mine.
'Twas shame to broach, before to-day,
The Caecuban, while Egypt's dame
Threaten'd our power in dust to lay
And wrap the Capitol in flame,
Girt with her foul emasculate throng,
By Fortune's sweet new wine befool'd,
In hope's ungovern'd weakness strong
To hope for all; but soon she cool'd,
To see one ship from burning'scape;
Great Caesar taught her dizzy brain,
Made mad by Mareotic grape,
To feel the sobering truth of pain,
And gave her chase from Italy,
As after doves fierce falcons speed,
As hunters 'neath Haemonia's sky
Chase the tired hare, so might he lead
The fiend enchain'd; SHE sought to die
More nobly, nor with woman's dread
Quail'd at the steel, nor timorously
In her fleet ships to covert fled.
Amid her ruin'd halls she stood
Unblench'd, and fearless to the end
Grasp'd the fell snakes, that all her blood
Might with the cold black venom blend,
Death's purpose flushing in her face;
Nor to our ships the glory gave,
That she, no vulgar dame, should grace
A triumph, crownless, and a slave.
Notice how, despite its initial hatred toward the prisoner (who's unnatural for any number of reasons, not the least of which is her being a woman) and genuine joy about her capture, by the end the poem reflects a respect for an honorable enemy who faces defeat (well, just like a man).
XXXVII. Nunc Est Bibendum. (translated by John Conington)
Now drink we deep, now featly tread
A measure; now before each shrine
With Salian feasts the table spread;
The time invites us, comrades mine.
'Twas shame to broach, before to-day,
The Caecuban, while Egypt's dame
Threaten'd our power in dust to lay
And wrap the Capitol in flame,
Girt with her foul emasculate throng,
By Fortune's sweet new wine befool'd,
In hope's ungovern'd weakness strong
To hope for all; but soon she cool'd,
To see one ship from burning'scape;
Great Caesar taught her dizzy brain,
Made mad by Mareotic grape,
To feel the sobering truth of pain,
And gave her chase from Italy,
As after doves fierce falcons speed,
As hunters 'neath Haemonia's sky
Chase the tired hare, so might he lead
The fiend enchain'd; SHE sought to die
More nobly, nor with woman's dread
Quail'd at the steel, nor timorously
In her fleet ships to covert fled.
Amid her ruin'd halls she stood
Unblench'd, and fearless to the end
Grasp'd the fell snakes, that all her blood
Might with the cold black venom blend,
Death's purpose flushing in her face;
Nor to our ships the glory gave,
That she, no vulgar dame, should grace
A triumph, crownless, and a slave.
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