My last post was filled with excitement for the beginning of baseball. The dog and I love baseball, but it never ceases to amaze me how the soulless owners of the clubs find new ways to remove the joy from the game and dollars from my wallet. Case in point, the Mariners flexible pricing plan for seats at Safeco. Using the pricing model from the airline industry where adjacent seats may differ in cost by the $100s, Howie, Chuck and the boys have decided to award their dedicated fans by letting market demand determine the price of every seat in Safeco for every game. So those wanting to see Felix pitch on a Friday night against the Yankees may pay $90 for a seat that was priced at $42 last year. I'm not talking about scalper or secondary market pricing. This is what the Mariners are charging at their ticket offices. Meanwhile the dedicated fans, fans who purchased tickets, went to the games and bought overpriced hot dogs, pop and merchandise while watching their team lose 100 games, are reduced to taking the day off to get left field bleacher seats on a Wednesday afternoon against the Royals!
I usually go to 6-8 Mariners games per year. Not this year! I bought tickets for train night and that’s it. I’ll go see the Blue Jackets play in Silverdale. They are more affordable and they’ll probably win more games. Ernest Thayer was right. There is no joy in Mudville.
To add insult to injury the Mariners are publicly supporting efforts to bring the NHL and bring back the NBA (who cares about the NBA!) with a new facility south of Safeco's parking garage. Unfortunately, they are doing everything they can behind the scenes to stop the process and perceived threat to their fan base. Maybe I'm crazy, but if the mariners actually fielded a competitive team with serious prospects for post-season play they wouldn't have to worry about other sports teams syphoning off their patrons.
The Alpha and the Alpha’s Mate traveled to eastern BC to play in the snow without the dog and then were gone most of the following week despensing justice and tearing up casinos with librarians. Needless to say the dog has been feeling neglected in need of therapy or a support group. The Alpha’s Mate is still traveling this week but E and the Alpha are home. We’ll do our best to make the dog feel wanted. We’ll be settled in and back to our routine by next week.
In the Headphones
Carnivale Electros (2012) by Galactic
Funky, Soulful R&B crafted like a good pot of gumbo with the influences and performances of a who’s who of contemporary New Orleans musicians. The Birthplace of Jazz indeed.
Preaching the Blues (2011) by Fleetwood Mac
The founding members of Fleetwood Mac began as John Mayall’s band, The Bluesbreakers. Preaching the Blues is a snapshot from a time capsule capturing a 1971 performance in Canada. Also, it's pretty much Disc 2 of the 2003 Madison Blues box set.
Voice of Ages (2012) by The Chieftains
In their 50th year as a band the Chieftains have put together a collection of mostly traditional folk tunes with the help of an impressive group of friends.
Visuals
The Big Screen
The Hunger Games (2012)
Gary Ross (Pleasantville) directs Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) as a kick-ass Katniss.
On the Player
Young Adult (2011)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) directs, Diablo Cody (Juno) writes, Charlize Theron leads the cast and Patton Oswald steals the show.
A depressed author of a young adult book series travels back to her hometown in an attempt to resurrect what she remembers as a “happier” past. It has it's moments.
A depressed author of a young adult book series travels back to her hometown in an attempt to resurrect what she remembers as a “happier” past. It has it's moments.
My Week with Marilyn (2011)
A version of Marilyn Monroe’s trip to England in 1956 when she made The Prince and the Showgirl. Michelle Williams is fantastic!
The Contender (2000)
Joan Allen stars as a VP hopeful to Jeff Bridges’ president. Gary Oldman shines as the McCarthy-like congressman who plans to spoil the party.
Tube
If I can’t watch a show on the network website then my favorite place to go for online TV is Project Free TV. Sure you get a few pop-ups, but there’s nothing to download and I have very few problems.
Just finished the 4th season. It’s the best cop show since The Shield. From TNT, the first 3 seasons are out on DVD.
William H. Macy is absolutely brilliant as morally challenged citizen attempting to game the system at every opportunity and his resourceful brood haven’t fallen far from the tree. Some of it's best moments are when Macy's character rails against everything that's wrong with the government. I’ve no doubt that my more conservative friends think this is what happens in the home of every welfare and disability recipient in the country. From Showtime, the first season is out on DVD.
Nancy Botwin is a selfish, amoral scumbag! Doug, Andy and the boys are the only reason to continue watching! From Showtime, the first 7 seasons are out on DVD, the first 6 are on Netflix to stream.
On the Nightstand
Life (2010) by Keith Richards
All things Rolling Stones from a man who slept twice a week for decades whether he needed it or not.
What the Dog Saw (2009) by Malcolm Gladwell
A collection of Gladwell’s articles from The New Yorker. How to communicate with dogs, how to hire the right person for the right job, the secrets behind the collapse of Enron and finding a solution for homelessness in America, among other topics.
An Unfinished Life (2003) by Robert Dallek
A degenerative condition of the spine, constant urinary tract infections, digestive issues, chronic pain, the use of copious amounts of drugs to counter the effects of the previous, chasing skirts, trying to change Civil Rights laws and thwarting the Red Menace. JFK probably would have died by the early 1970s if he hadn’t been killed in Dallas.
The Tiger’s Wife (2011) by Tea Obreht
Less a novel than a collection of stories spanning nearly a century shared by a granddaughter and her grandfather in Bosnia.
