tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89304152024-03-12T19:51:55.195-04:00Fried Rice ThoughtsDefying niches and definitions since 2004. (Sorry, no fried rice recipes.)Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.comBlogger1100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-65488229844802982582010-01-10T00:22:00.003-05:002010-01-10T00:27:11.684-05:00Moving the Blog One More Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/S0lkhwgOcTI/AAAAAAAAByk/lokKE-ZJDJ8/s1600-h/movers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/S0lkhwgOcTI/AAAAAAAAByk/lokKE-ZJDJ8/s400/movers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424977757262999858" border="0" /></a><br />After moving from Blogger to Squarespace, I didn't anticipate moving my personal blog to another platform for quite some time. But sometimes, you get seduced when you don't expect it.<br /><br />During the holiday break, I started playing with <a href="http://posterous.com/">Posterous</a>, and quickly became enamored. I love that I can post via e-mail, and can include audio and video clips rather easily. (The audio is especially appealing, since finding a satisfactory audio player has been difficult.)<br /><br />So for the second time in less than six months, I'm moving my blog. You can now find me at <a href="http://casselberry.posterous.com/">The Casselbloggy</a> (or at http://casselberry.posterous.com). I've actually been posting stuff over there for the last week or so, but realized I never made an announcement here. So if you've been clicking back here (as my friend A. has), hoping for some fresh content, I apologize. (And if you're someone who reads via RSS, here's <a href="http://casselberry.posterous.com/rss.xml">my new feed</a>.)<br /><br />I probably never gave Squarespace a fair chance, but when you get that feeling, you just have to go with it. One thing I don't like about Posterous is that I can't install much sidebar content, and that's something I spent quite a bit of time working on in here. But I don't know how many people check out blogrolls anymore. And as much as I love Flash and Javascript widgets (especially my beloved Twitter widget), they tend to make a site load slower.<br /><br />(I intend to keep iancasselberry.com alive. But it'll be more of what I originally intended: an archive of my work, an online resume, sort of a one-stop shop. In other words, a website, not just a blog. Now I just have to put some actual work into that.)<br /><br />Once again, thank you for sticking with me as I keep moving around. Now that I'm not blogging at <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/"><em>Bless You Boys</em></a> full-time <a href="http://casselberry.posterous.com/last-day-at-bless-you-boys">anymore</a>, I plan to do a lot more writing. I'd like the new blog to be a bit more "stream of thought," with posts on all sorts of subjects - articles I've read, movie reviews, podcast clips, etc. - rather than "this is what I've decided to write about today." That approach always kept me going at <em>BYB</em>, and I don't see why it can't work here.<br /><br />So please follow me over to <a href="http://casselberry.posterous.com/">The Casselbloggy</a> (or <a href="http://casselberry.posterous.com/rss.xml">the new RSS feed</a>). And I should probably mention that you can also find me on <a href="http://twitter.com/iancass">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/iancass">Facebook</a>. I'll try my best to keep you entertained and informed enough to check back regularly.Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-64872925378170988822009-08-17T12:00:00.002-04:002009-08-17T12:00:03.482-04:00We're Moving Out and Moving On<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SolfyViXIxI/AAAAAAAABwI/xcDW8aGumds/s1600-h/movers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 175px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SolfyViXIxI/AAAAAAAABwI/xcDW8aGumds/s200/movers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370929348995392274" border="0" /></a>Okay, here we go. I've had this in mind for a couple of months now, but procrastination (and baseball blogging) kept putting it off. I'm going to be moving El Bloggo from Blogger over to <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace</a>.<br /><br />I've been playing with their platform for most of the summer, and like all the toys they have to play with. I also like that I'll be able to create more of an actual website where I can archive some of my past writing.<br /><br />For now, it'll be mostly a blog (which may or may not be a good idea, depending on who stops by). But once my days and nights aren't <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/">occupied</a> by the Detroit Tigers, I'll see what I can really do with the site.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.iancasselberry.com/">IanCasselberry.com</a> is a bit narcissistic, I realize, and it's not as clever (or curious) as "Fried Rice Thoughts." Maybe I'll come up with something a little more creative down the line.<br /><br />I don't plan to take this site down; there's a lot here that I'm proud of. But all of the old posts will also be archived over at the new place.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who has followed this blog over the past four years. I know it's not what it once was, when I gave this my full attention. But I hope you'll follow me over to the new site (and update your bookmarks, blogrolls, or RSS feeds accordingly, naturally), which I'll try my best to keep current (especially since I'll be paying for it now).<br /><br />So please follow me over to <a href="http://www.iancasselberry.com/">IanCasselberry.com</a>. (Here's <a href="http://www.iancasselberry.com/casselbloggy/rss.xml">the new RSS feed</a>, too.) Hopefully, I can keep you interested and entertained enough to check it out regularly.Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-56470411058165380752009-07-16T19:00:00.000-04:002009-07-16T19:13:33.296-04:00Quick Tigers Talk with SNY.tvI called in for a quickie chat with <a href="http://web.sny.tv/index.jsp">SNY.tv</a>'s "NY Baseball Today" this afternoon to preview the Tigers before this weekend's series with the Yankees. Host Ted Berg and I discussed Detroit's starting rotation, especially the one guy baseball fans outside Detroit and Toledo probably don't know much about.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="embedded_player" height="263" width="320" data="http://service.twistage.com/plugins/player.swf?v=ebbf6ea257230"><param name="base" value="http://service.twistage.com" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="movie" value="http://service.twistage.com/plugins/player.swf?v=ebbf6ea257230" /></object> <br /><br />So who has the sexier phone voice, me or <a href="http://www.talkingchop.com/"><i>Talking Chop</i></a>'s Martin Gandy?<br /><br />Thanks to Ted and Jeff Goldman for inviting me onto the broadcast. It was fun to talk with them.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-57186469162394908462009-07-09T07:30:00.004-04:002009-07-09T07:56:34.004-04:00Coolest Trailer of the Summer?I caught this trailer before <span style="font-style: italic;">The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3</span> a couple of weeks ago, and I think it's the best one I've seen this year. It was certainly the biggest surprise. To me, nothing makes a better trailer than one that makes you think you're to going to see one movie, then flips you over by the end.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lhBMjyJ4gOQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lhBMjyJ4gOQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />For the first few minutes I was thinking, "Why is a trailer for a documentary showing before a big summer action movie? Did I go into the wrong theater?" <br /><br />But <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/full-district-9-trailer-flaunts-mecha-suits-alien-babies/">a new trailer</a> for <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.d-9.com/">District 9</a></span> has come out since then, the movie is about a month away from and maybe you've seen more of the viral advertising than I have and weren't as surprised. I just enjoyed being genuinely fooled for a few minutes (and am always excited by potentially good sci-fi flicks). <br /><br />(<span style="font-style:italic;">The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3</span> was pretty good, by the way. Even if John Travolta can't help but overact whenever he plays the bad guy. The dialogue was especially good, which it had to be, since that's kind of the entire movie. But I want to watch the original, which is <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/27822/the-taking-of-pelham-one-two-three">now available</a> on Hulu.)<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-21159239258578187402009-07-07T13:00:00.002-04:002009-07-07T13:18:32.335-04:00Vote Brandon Inge to the All-Star Game!Okay, we've been lazy and cross-posting Detroit Tigers stuff here a bit too often recently. But since I have this other forum, in addition to <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/">Bless You Boys</a></span>, I'd like to take advantage of it. Tigers third baseman <a href="http://tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=276346">Brandon Inge</a> is one of five candidates for the last spot on the American League All-Star team, which is determined by online voting. <br /><br />Inge has experienced a resurgent season, with a .269/.361/.513 average, and his 19 home runs are tied for the fourth-highest total in the AL. Combine those numbers with his usual stellar defense at third base, and you have arguably the Tigers' most valuable player this season and the second-best third baseman in the league.<br /><br />Plus, he was <a href="http://friedricethoughts.blogspot.com/2009/02/when-mothers-meet-tigers.html">nice to my mom</a> back in February. How could you not vote for a guy like that?<br /><br />Get Brandon Inge to the All-Star Game! <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/fv/ballot.html">Here's your ballot</a>. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/fv/ballot.html"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/137828/vote_inge.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />Vote often! Vote Inge!<br /><br />And hopefully, we'll figure out just what we're going to do with this blog within the next couple of weeks. I've been piddling around too much over the past month.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-45007567391963681672009-06-30T15:30:00.000-04:002009-06-30T15:40:44.087-04:00This Week in Tigers Baseball RoundtableWest coast start times for sporting events are kind of a killer for anyone on a regular daytime schedule, so if you're craving some <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/DET" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> talk around the time they'd be playing in the eastern time zone, a few Tigers bloggers might be able to help you out with that. <a href="http://www.motorcitybengals.com/"><i>Motor City Bengals</i></a> will host a live roundtable discussion beginning at 7 p.m. EST tonight.<br /><br />Panelists scheduled to join host Joe Dexter include J. Ellet from <a href="http://eyeofthetigers.com/"><i>Eye of the Tigers</i></a>, John from <a href="http://www.tigergeist.com/"><i>Tiger Geist</i></a>, Greg from <a href="http://enotalksbaseball.blogspot.com/"><i>Where Have You Gone, Johnny Grubb</i></a> and... me.<br /><br />The show, called <i>This Week in Tigers Baseball</i>, can be heard through <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/motor-city-bengals-live">USTREAM</a>. And if you can't listen to the live stream, a podcast will be available shortly thereafter. We'll be done in plenty of time before tonight's Tigers-A's game.<br /><br />You can <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/motor-city-bengals-live">find the show here</a>, and I believe you can submit questions and comments via Twitter through the podcast's main page. We hope you can tune in.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-17130259898728512352009-06-26T14:30:00.000-04:002009-06-26T14:36:43.768-04:00Talking Tigers on the Radio!Yesterday, I appeared on <a href="http://wsgw.com/">WSGW</a> (790 AM) in Saginaw to chat with our old friend Pat Johnston about the suddenly resurgent Detroit Tigers. (You might remember Pat had me on his old sports talk show <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/tags/wtkq">a couple of times</a> during the winter.)<br /><br />Of course, the Tigers' recent play is a timely story, but I'm betting Pat also wanted a break from the news of the day (yesterday morning, that was Gov. <b>Mark Sanford</b>'s indiscretions). A winning local baseball team is like opening the window to bring in a breeze.<br /><br />So just how are these Tigers winning these ballgames? Who's been a surprise? Who's been disappointing? That's mostly what Pat and I talked about, along with discussing what improvements they could make in the weeks to come as they make what appears to be a solid playoff run.<br /><br />Thanks again to Pat for inviting me onto the radio again. I always enjoy talking to him. (And I apologize for knocking him off balance with one of my comments during our conversation.<br /><br />You can listen to an embedded audio clip below or download the file from the accompanying link.<br /><br /><embed bgcolor="#ffffff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3247397568-audio-player.swf?audioUrl=http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/133253/WSGW_062509.mp3" allowscriptaccess="never" flashvars="playerMode=embedded" height="27" wmode="window" quality="best" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/133253/WSGW_062509.mp3">WSGW_062509</a><br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-28740633349600475102009-06-18T09:00:00.001-04:002009-06-18T09:22:24.329-04:00Barack Obama, Insect AssassinFor those who haven't seen this, do <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> interrupt Barack Obama when he's talking. The President of the United States will swat you into oblivion, m'er-f'er. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5VuzWcr0YzE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5VuzWcr0YzE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Coooollld blooooooded!</span><br /><br />I highly doubt CNBC's John Harwood dared attempt any tough follow-up questions after that display. Notice him trying to compliment the President and get on his good side, lest he also find himself crushed with a smack of the hand.<br /><br />Here's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=230685&title=obama-kills-a-fly">The Daily Show</a></span>'s take on it, in which Jon Stewart wonders if Obama has one of those "Terminator targeting systems" in his eyes.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-31800865727231798442009-06-16T14:00:00.002-04:002009-06-16T14:35:01.828-04:00Talking Tigers on RBI RadioI'm a few days late in posting this, but if you need something to listen to this afternoon or evening, and have about 24 minutes to kill, here's some audio from my appearance on <em><a href="http://rbiradio.blogspot.com/2009/06/live-at-9pm-et-tigers-blogger.html">RBI Radio</a></em> last Thursday night. Basically, we had a "State of the Detroit Tigers" discussion up to this point of the season. No rants about Dontrelle Willis's <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2009/6/14/909353/d-train-walks-the-plank-pirates-6">eight-walk performance</a> over the weekend, since we recorded before the Tigers-Pirates series.) <br /><br />If you want to hear the whole show, you can listen via streaming audio at the <a href="http://rbiradio.blogspot.com/" >RBI Radio</a> home page or through <a href="http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/49704" >TalkShoe.com</a>. Of course, you can also download the podcast from the link at the bottom of this post. (Boy, I love listening to myself talk when "jogging" on the treadmill.)<br /><br />Thanks to Joey H. for inviting me onto the show. It's always fun talking to him. And check out <em>RBI Radio</em> when you get a chance. (He's <a href="http://rbiradio.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-going-on.html" >sick at the moment</a> - which I'm pretty sure I had nothing to do with - so you can catch up on old shows for now.)<br /><br /><p><embed bgcolor="#ffffff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.google.com/reader/ui/3247397568-audio-player.swf?audioUrl=http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/128655/RBIradio_061109.mp3" allowscriptaccess="never" flashvars="playerMode=embedded" wmode="window" quality="best" width="400" height="27"></embed></p> <br /><br /><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/128655/RBIradio_061109.mp3">RBIradio_061109</a><br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-24914538638251317522009-06-12T17:00:00.001-04:002009-06-12T19:47:36.706-04:00Great Moments Are Born From Great OpportunityI'm sure Mike Babcock's pre-game speech to his Detroit Red Wings before tonight's Game 7 with the Pittsburgh Penguins was pretty good. But I'm still hoping it went something like this:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwpTj_Z9v-c&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwpTj_Z9v-c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />GO WINGS! Keep the Cup in Detroit!<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-69161762169340621162009-06-09T12:30:00.003-04:002009-06-09T13:05:09.272-04:00One Thing I Like About Getting Older...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Si6TeM2toGI/AAAAAAAABvQ/Debxzp1qLFI/s1600-h/bday_cards.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 425px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Si6TeM2toGI/AAAAAAAABvQ/Debxzp1qLFI/s400/bday_cards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345371954791424098" border="0" /></a><br />When you're a kid, you never have time for the birthday cards that come with the presents. <br /><br />Couldn't be less interested. Can't toss 'em aside fast enough. You read them because your parents reminded you to (or because you hope there's money in there).<br /><br />But now that I'm older, I think I like the cards more.<br /><br />(Don't get me wrong; a thoughtful present always hits the sweet spot. Or a really good meal.)<br /><br />You know who you are. Thanks and love to each of you.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-42959901815921970342009-06-04T15:30:00.001-04:002009-06-04T16:31:44.744-04:00Familiarity in the Year 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SigflqACvJI/AAAAAAAABvI/78TiXpbhB1A/s1600-h/conan_3000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 270px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SigflqACvJI/AAAAAAAABvI/78TiXpbhB1A/s400/conan_3000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343555689665182866" border="0" /></a><br />Clearly, we live in a new day and age when conversations like the one I had earlier today at Borders can take place.<br /><br /><blockquote>Bookseller: [looks at my credit card, looks at me, squints] Is your name familiar to me?<br /><br />Me: Um... Ian Casselberry? <br /><br />[Bookseller shakes her head slightly.]<br /><br />Me: Do we know each other? [I have never seen this woman in my life.] I... really don't know how to respond to that.<br /><br />Bookseller: [laughs] I'm sorry. That <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a weird question.<br /><br />Me: Yeah.<br /><br />Bookseller: Are you Facebook friends with [former co-worker of mine]?<br /><br />Me: Yes! <br /><br />Bookseller: Okay. </blockquote><br />And that was it, folks. Nowhere we could really go from there, apparently. Signed the credit card receipt, took my bag, headed out the door, and walked through the parking lot in a daze, pondering what this life and culture has become in a very short time.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-77376205496516516442009-06-03T21:00:00.002-04:002009-06-04T00:49:28.353-04:00Today's Photo - 06/03/09I meant to post this earlier today, but a hilarious sidelight to last night's Tigers-Red Sox game was a wild squirrel chase. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, it was really the only entertainment of the evening. <br /><br />The squirrel spent so much energy eluding the Comerica Park groundskeepers - running from one end of the outfield to the other, back to the infield, out to the bullpen - that the poor varmint eventually had to take a break. Here's a screen shot from the FOX Sports Detroit broadcast:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SidPhsCMkBI/AAAAAAAABvA/M-hzw9yYqbs/s1600-h/copa_squirrel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 460px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SidPhsCMkBI/AAAAAAAABvA/M-hzw9yYqbs/s400/copa_squirrel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343326923073032210" /></a><br />I'm not sure I've ever looked that relaxed in my life, though I've certainly tried. <br /><br />You can read the whole story at <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2009/6/3/897115/run-squirrel-run-red-sox-5-tigers-1"><span style="font-style:italic;">BlessYouBoys.com</span></a>, where we've also <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2009/6/3/897425/video-wild-squirrel-chase-at">posted video</a> of the chase.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-92144411316212885642009-06-02T19:30:00.003-04:002009-06-03T00:33:17.208-04:00Got to Get This into My LifeI'm not a gamer (mostly for my own good), though I occasionally feel pangs of interest for playing Rock Band. The intro for <a href="http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/">The Beatles Rock Band</a> doesn't necessarily make me want to run out to Best Buy and pick up the whole package. But damn, it looks really cool.<br /><br /><object width="460" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lvA46G7nWX0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lvA46G7nWX0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="283"></embed></object><br /><br />Is there any chance this could be made into a full DVD someday? (Or how about an IMAX film?) Just produce animated films for every song in the Beatles catalog. That wouldn't be too gargantuan a task, would it?<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-90352176930433317352009-06-01T17:00:00.003-04:002009-06-01T17:14:12.011-04:00There Will Be Blog... SoonThanks to those who have been stopping by to check for fresh content. I'm sure you've become tired of looking at a picture of my father for the past couple of weeks, regardless of its significance to me. <br /><br />Those who know me - especially fellow bloggers - know I despise "Sorry for the lack of posts recently; life has gotten in the way" lameness, so I'm not going to subject you to that. And that wouldn't be true, anyway. Life hasn't gotten in the way. (Although perhaps I've gotten in my own way.)<br /><br />But I <span style="font-style:italic;">am</span> trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog next. With today being June 1, I was hoping to have some answers with a fresh page on the calendar, but this is taking longer than I thought it might. I'll get it together, though, because I take this stuff seriously. I haven't even written about <span style="font-style:italic;">Star Trek</span>, for Spock's sake, and I <span style="font-style:italic;">loved</span> that movie. <br /><br />So I appreciate your patience, and intend to have something worth your time and attention up soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this commercial as much as I do:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KpLShM1lrFU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KpLShM1lrFU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />That little girl cracks me up! <br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-42787735854841556012009-05-20T09:00:00.001-04:002009-05-20T09:51:57.041-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/ShQKqn1D-0I/AAAAAAAABu4/C8cxP2x_b1U/s1600-h/dad_shrine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 353px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/ShQKqn1D-0I/AAAAAAAABu4/C8cxP2x_b1U/s400/dad_shrine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337903185703205698" border="0" /></a><br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-89373028473910546562009-05-18T22:00:00.001-04:002009-05-18T22:24:36.462-04:00Bring Back Morgan Freeman as Dracula!I forget if it's my mother or Ms. Hooz (or someone else entirely), but someone didn't believe me when I said that Morgan Freeman used to be on <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Electric_Company">The Electric Company</a></span>. Thanks to YouTube, I can now support that assertion. (Oh, Wikipedia mentions it, too.)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wp0-yDJAtWQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wp0-yDJAtWQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkwCynNm18c">This</a> might actually be a better clip, but there's no bath. Or singing.<br /><br />(via <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2009/05/18/stars-in-rewind-morgan-freeman-takes-a-bath-in-a-casket/">Cinematical</a></span>)<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-59077870379815677202009-05-10T12:00:00.002-04:002009-05-10T12:21:19.905-04:00When You Can't Figure Out What Mom's Talking AboutI'm sure plenty of other people thought the same thing when they saw this on <span style="font-style:italic;">SNL</span> last night, but this fits my mother so well. (And thus, it makes a perfect Mother's Day post.)<br /><br /><object width="460" height="266"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/VEOwhtHzcXPNH44JcyZaXQ"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/VEOwhtHzcXPNH44JcyZaXQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="460" height="266"></embed></object><br /><br />The only thing the Mom Translator is missing to make it perfect for Cecilia Casselberry would be a mental telepathy reader for those instances where Mom thinks I can figure out who she's talking about just by saying, "You know that woman... she's on the show you watched that one time... married to that actor." <br /><br />(It's even worse when it comes to politicians: "He's either a Congressman or Senator... I think he's a Democrat, but he may be a Republican.") <br /><br />Happy Mother's Day to you, Mom. I thank you for everything, and I love you. <br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-66611618719650236802009-04-22T17:00:00.005-04:002009-04-22T18:12:12.841-04:00Today's Photo - 04/22/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Se-SthUfQlI/AAAAAAAABuY/BA64vuKleIA/s1600-h/gtown_mall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 245px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Se-SthUfQlI/AAAAAAAABuY/BA64vuKleIA/s400/gtown_mall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327638194938659410" border="0" /></a><br />While on my morning "jog," I had to take a picture of this lonely postal truck, perhaps enjoying a moment of solitude, or just stretching out among all of the vast space now available at the almost totally abandoned, <a href="http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/business/index.ssf/2009/01/washtenaw_county_may_seize_geo.html">now in foreclosure</a>, Georgetown Mall on Packard in Ann Arbor. <br /><br />That used to be a Rite-Aid behind where the truck is parked. That parking lot used to have a hell of lot more cars in it. And the surrounding neighborhood used to have a place to pick up their pharmaceuticals, a postal counter, a pizza place, a tailor/seamstress, a hair salon, and an antiques shop. Kids who grew up nearby, such as myself, found a place to hang out as adolescents, or a place to work as they got a bit older.<br /><br />Now, all that's left is a Kroger that's probably on life support, and a giant asphalt-covered, pothole-riddled, weed-infested eyesore.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-9275916267984365542009-04-21T15:30:00.001-04:002009-04-21T15:41:37.240-04:00'If You Build It, He Will Come'? Well...With today being <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090419&content_id=4346196&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb">the 20th anniversary</a> of the theatrical release of <i>Field of Dreams</i>, I thought this might be the time to confront one of my personal demons and make a confession "in print."<br /><br />No, it's not that I didn't see the movie. Nothing like that. I've seen it several times. And if I'm flipping through channels and notice it's on, I'll watch. So I enjoy it, too. That's not what I'm confessing. The end made me cry like I was hormonal. "You wanna have a catch?" hit all those father-son issues - which I've always been a sucker for - right in the chest.<br /><br />What I'm admitting today is this: I lived in Iowa for two years, and never once visited the actual "<a href="http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/distance.html">Field of Dreams</a>."<br /><br /><center><img class="photo" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/iancass/liotta_fod.jpg" /></center><br /><br />I know, Shoeless Joe, I know. I can't explain it, either.<br /><br />Iowa City is only a 90-minute drive from Dyersville, where the field is. (If my mother is reading this, it's actually a two-hour drive. <i>Ahem</i>.) And my two years at the University of Iowa included spending a summer there. Yes, I was taking classes the whole time (with a pretty heavy course load - really), but I couldn't have devoted a Friday or Saturday (or the random Tuesday) to making a trip?<br /><br />However, I will point out that I did attend a lecture by the film's director, <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Alden_Robinson">Phil Alden Robinson</a></b>, when <a href="http://www.yah.uiowa.edu/cal-oct.html">he visited campus</a>, back in 2004 (probably to commemorate the movie's 15th anniversary). Does that take me off the hook at all? No, I know it's not enough.<br /><br />Maybe the issue was that I would've visited Dyersville by myself, and thus wouldn't have been able to play catch with anyone. That may have led to some awkward situations.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"Excuse me, kid - can I borrow your dad for a bit? We'll be back in a half hour. Go play in the corn. I think I saw Lou Gehrig's ghost over there. Or maybe it's the dude who played Costner's dad, signing autographs. Oh, and I'm gonna need your mitt, too.<br /><br />Okay, 'Dad,' I think we're about the same age, but let's have a catch."</span><br /></blockquote><br />If I had to name two things in this life that I truly love, baseball and movies would both be on the list. Yet I have to look at myself in the mirror each summer and try to deny the truth. When I watch <i>Field of Dreams</i> now, maybe those tears signify something else entirely.<br /><br /><object width="460" height="266"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/w1GZpnnGwg0VQW_TR40tag"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/w1GZpnnGwg0VQW_TR40tag" mce_src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/w1GZpnnGwg0VQW_TR40tag" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="266"></embed></object><br /><br />"If you build it, he will come"? Apparently, the concept was lost on me.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-73017663331268226382009-04-20T15:00:00.003-04:002009-04-20T15:15:38.594-04:00Today's Photo - 04/20/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SeyYmIPVJYI/AAAAAAAABuQ/Q6Tzuul_fWA/s1600-h/BVA_041909.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 460px; height: 325px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/SeyYmIPVJYI/AAAAAAAABuQ/Q6Tzuul_fWA/s400/BVA_041909.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326800240086689154" /></a><br />I got to meet a rock star last night! Well, I doubt <a href="http://www.brianvanderark.com/home.php">Brian Vander Ark</a> would be comfortable with that label. Nor would I use it, myself. I just tried to get your attention. (And perhaps distract you from the poor picture.)<br /><br />Anyway, his show at <a href="http://theark.org/">The Ark</a> last night was tremendously enjoyable. After a rough week that frequently put me in a bad mood, it was nice to just sit back and hear some good music. Vander Ark's lyrics make it easy to visualize his stories and escape for a couple of hours. Thanks to <a href="http://twitter.com/popaupers">Rob</a> (who's on the right of the photo) for inviting me to be his plus one, and introducing me to the headliner of the evening.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-40080733980328580042009-04-20T11:00:00.001-04:002009-04-20T11:27:20.581-04:00Skeet Football, Starring Matthew StaffordJust in case you missed it (as <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/">Late Night with Jimmy Fallon</a></span> is on, well, late), the possible (likely) first overall pick in Saturday's NFL Draft appeared on Jimmy Fallon's show Thursday night. For all those Detroit Lions fans wondering what sort of player they might be getting as of approximately 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, <a href="http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=307755">Matthew Stafford</a> is lethal at skeet shooting with footballs.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49ec9142c3220de0/49e942fea8fc05d6/a8fb4b49/-cpid/2ca7dcd9a9a475f9" id="W4727a250e66f972349ec9142c3220de0" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49ec9142c3220de0/49e942fea8fc05d6/a8fb4b49/-cpid/2ca7dcd9a9a475f9" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /></object><br /><br />That could be our quarterback, Detroit. (Though I'm among those who hope the Lions draft an offensive tackle, even though they really, <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> need a stud quarterback.)<br /><br />The Lions are <a href="http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2009/4/14/834587/lions-to-reveal-new-logo-uniforms">formally announcing</a> their new logo and uniforms today (which have been <a href="http://waynefontes.com/2009/04/from-the-worst-kept-secret-dept-lions-to-reintroduce-bubbles-new-uni.html">the worst-kept secret</a> in Detroit sports over the past few weeks). But maybe they should put a plate on the front of the jersey instead. Stafford would hit <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fplayers%2Fcalvinjohnson%2Fprofile%3Fid%3DJOH088640&ei=TpPsSffYNYvIMqT26OsF&usg=AFQjCNH09dzoxkKJfH0gv4nkAOy8hmJ9Dw">Calvin Johnson</a> between the numbers every time.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-85677795763996985272009-04-19T15:30:00.002-04:002009-04-20T11:44:34.898-04:00Today's Photo - 04/19/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Set7Uu9ck7I/AAAAAAAABuI/6q6suiINqio/s1600-h/knights_a2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 345px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fEpSBo6jlVo/Set7Uu9ck7I/AAAAAAAABuI/6q6suiINqio/s400/knights_a2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326486580429099954" border="0" /></a><br />Quite the maƮtre d' they have at <a href="http://www.knightsrestaurants.com/">Knight's Restaurant</a> in Ann Arbor. He didn't seem too interested in accepting a tip for the shiny armor, though.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-11189658320147879022009-04-16T13:30:00.003-04:002009-04-19T15:25:14.569-04:00The Best Ad for Cotton Fabric Ever?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJFutyUrllo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJFutyUrllo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thefabricofourlives.com/">Here's more</a>, if you're really interested.<br /><br />(via <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/04/16/page-2-50/">/Film</a></span>)Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930415.post-36090638455457758732009-04-14T18:30:00.000-04:002009-04-14T18:42:09.896-04:00The Wonder of the One-Year Wonder[<span style="font-style:italic;">The following post ran earlier today at</span> <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2009/4/14/835027/mark-fidrych-the-wonder-of-the-one">Bless You Boys</a>.]<br /><br /><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/100349/fidrych_si.JPG" align="right" border="1" hspace="9" />Like many in the Tigersosphere (and baseball blogosphere) writing about Mark Fidrych over the past 24 hours, I didn't get a chance to see him play. Yet I almost feel as if I did, because The Bird was such an integral part of the baseball history and culture in Detroit. I was often amazed by how enthusiastically people remembered him. And as I said in today's <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2009/4/14/834686/morning-prowl-mark-the-bird">Morning Prowl</a>, whenever I saw Fidrych in interviews, it struck me how genuinely grateful he was for that season of glory in the major leagues, instead of bitter or remorseful.<br /><br />My father became less of a fan as he got older, but it was obvious Fidrych meant something to him. He'd tell me all about him during our first trips to Tiger Stadium, enough that I immediately associated him with the Tigers, though his career had ended years before I ever went to a ballgame.<br /><br />And that's what impresses me as I'm reading about Fidrych today, hearing stories on the radio, and watching footage on television. How many players with a career as short as Fidrych's - even though that rookie season (19-9, 2.34 ERA) was incredible - leave such a deep, lasting footprint on a fanbase? On a sport? As <a href="http://twitter.com/joe_murray/status/1518112768"><b>Joe Murray</b></a> posted on Twitter, the Tigers have had plenty of other one-year wonders throughout their history. But none of them are remembered as fondly or vividly as Mark Fidrych.<br /><br />Here's a memory I <i>can</i> share, however, if you'll indulge me:<br /><br />I had a short career myself, as a sportswriter. And while working at <a href="http://motorcitysports.net/"><i>Motor City Sports</i></a> (now a website, under new ownership), a recurring assignment of mine was to write a feature on the 30th anniversary of Fidrych's rookie season. During the staff meeting, another writer offered to help me out, as he had a bunch of Fidrych stuff in his basement. I kind of got the feeling he really wanted the gig. And I briefly thought maybe he should get it, as he seemed to know more about The Bird than I did. But I wanted the challenge. And I wanted the chance to write about a player that held such a special meaning in Tiger Town.<br /><br /><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/100345/fidrych_rs.jpg" align="right" border="1" hspace="9" />Unfortunately, it never quite came together. We kept pushing the article back, as space was needed for more "timely" articles, either previews of upcoming seasons, or features that maybe didn't need quite as much lead time. (Plus, the publication schedule was kind of spotty, and issues were put down here and there.) Finally, just when it seemed like we might get the article in for an issue in the fall, I got a call from my editor.<br /><br />"Did you see today's <i>Free Press</i>?" he said. Not yet. Why?<br /><br />Michael Rosenberg had written <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20090413/SPORTS02/90413064/1048/sports/Flashback++Our+last+big+Mark+Fidrych+story++from++06">a 30th anniversary feature</a> on Fidrych for the paper. And all I could do was laugh. Of course that was going to happen. He was Michael Rosenberg, writing for the <i>Detroit Free Press</i>. I was just some wanna-be, writing for a start-up magazine that ended up folding less than a year later. Even if we'd had a chance to run a similar article, and just waited too long, it wasn't going to be seen by anywhere near as many people as Rosenberg's.<br /><br />Besides, after reading the article, I was kind of relieved. Because my piece wouldn't have been as good. I can't kid myself. Ultimately, I was happy to just enjoy the story as a fan, rather than having it become work.<br /><br />What I remember most from that entire process, however, is how easy it was to get ahold of Fidrych. I was used to going through the team for things like that, and figured I'd have to get some contact information from the Tigers. Plus, I thought it might seem more "legit" working through a more official channel. As it turns out, however, I didn't have to go to such trouble. Fidrych was in the phone book. Maybe that's not as unusual as I'm making it out to be. But to me, it sort of fits right in with his "normal guy" persona (I put that in quotes, because he's a bit more eccentric). <i>Sure, call me up. We can chat</i>.<br /><br />Now, I kind of wish I'd pushed a little harder on that one.<br /><br>Ian C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01249763037058741373noreply@blogger.com0