I survived the U2 concert last night at Quicken Loans Arena. I thought it was a great show. I guess the question is was it worth $175 a ticket? I'd have to answer in the affirmative. I mean we spent the money for the show so long ago, you forget you even had it. You could carve out tickets to several other shows for that same price, but I've been seeing that band for so long, you have to go. Others are fanatical about Springsteen, I guess U2 is it for me.

The show had the same setup as last time where they have a ramp that encircles the folks in front of the stage. Same video setup up top where each band member is filmed almost exclusively on four screens. And Dan Gilbert does not hesitate to pay the heating bill at the Q, because it was kinda hot in there. And I'd say the average age of the attendees skewed older.

The setlist had a mix of the old and the new, with emphasis on some Beatles covers. I though it offered enough for any newbies out there, while satisfying the old-timers. It was a very gratifying show and I'll probably pay a record price the next time they show up.

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The death of Richard Pryor brings back lots of memories. I haven't seen his concert films lately, but I was fortunate to see them in the theater so many years ago. Truly one of the funniest and most influential comedians of our time.

I absolutely loved one of his bits from the live films. It's the one where the mean dog who lives next to Pryor decides to cut Richard some slack because he sees that he's down. So when the dog goes back to his house, he turns around and tells Richard to not get the wrong impression, he'd be back after his ass tomorrow. Very funny. The kids today don't know it, but he was a genius.

Why the music industry doesn't like saving songs off a satellite receiver. Thought I'd reference this instead of the constant stream of "Stern goes to satellite radio" articles.

Sydney comes up with a new twist on racial unrest. Beach riots!

Exercise Yard

All you can say about the Browns game today was that the food was good. Crabcakes, yes! They did play a competitive game, but there were three things that cast doubt on the coaching staff again.
For one series that Reuben Droughns sat out, Maurice Carthon called for three straight passes, resulting in a three and out. With one second remaining in the first half, with the ball on the Browns 45, Frye took a knee. Should have been a Hail Mary, you may get a penalty. The timeout taken after the Browns had escaped without having a charged timeout (because of an injury on what was subsequently ruled an incomplete pass) in the final minute of the game was unbelievable. So much time had elapsed during a booth replay and Leigh Bodden being tended to, the strategy should have been determined.

Two penalties on Bodden in the last minute didn't help. First one was highly questionable. The second looked like Bodden pushed Chad Johnson within the 5-yard zone, but the ball was in the air. The Browns, edging further up the draft order, lose 23-20.

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None, it's Sunday.