Remember these dudes with "The whistling song" from a few years ago. I really like this single.

"Second Chance"/Peter Bjorn & John



The video blows. I think he's mocking my drumming style. Is that a mean cowbell or a sample from "Knock Three Times"?

Meal of Links

One of the crazies has left the building. That's Glenn Beck. Oddly enough, he thinks he doesn't need TV.

MoviePass update. It appears the San Francisco trial has been scrapped because they didn't have the OK of the theaters involved. Automatically tossing this venture into the "Shady" category. Current irritants if you watch movies at a theater.

You can't call the President a dick. Especially on TV. BTW, I actually found Keith Olbermann's channel. It's right above the digital BBC America on Time Warner. Shitty sound, had to crank it. Really bad set compared with Rockefeller Plaza. And odd guests like Markos from Daily Kos. Banned on MSNBC, but front and center here.

It's that time again. Know your fireworks!

Are zucchini pancakes on your Holiday menu? Good God, does that look good. Also, 5 Burger recipes from the LA Times contest.

I always mention "There's an app for that, unless you have a Blackberry". A RIM exec tells all.

I'm with "Treme" every week. Another opinion.

Spin has the best albums this year. So far.

Sampling Lou Reed. Glad they included "Vicious". But here's a throwback to the Velvets:

"Waitin' For The Man"/Lou Reed



The Enquirer says Chris Hansen has been cheating on his wife. There is video.

What if these morons actually avoid raising the debt limit/ Can they be that stupid? I'm now starting to hear rhetoric about "artificial deadlines" being repeated by those who should know better.

Exercise Yard

God bless the Internets! Hunt Me 4 Sport.

Visitor

43 Across: The Boss's backup (11 letters) Answer: E Street Band

"The E Street Shuffle"/Bruce Springsteen

What are you listening to?

"Deep In The Motherlode"/Genesis



Meal of Links

Bachmann is playing "American Girl" at her campaign stops. Tom Petty not thrilled.

The debate on marijuana. If legal, how do we cash in?

Check this out. The Netflix model for your local theaters. Unlimited movies for $50/month. This would allow more evening and weekend visits because of the prohibitive costs at night. I'm intrigued. It's called MoviePass. Starts in Frisco and it looks like AMC is on board.

Exercise Yard

I actually bet on a horse.

Merry-Go-Round Horse Race



Visitor

61 Across: Justice Samuel (5 letters) Answer: Alito

It's a thankless job.

Some overeager student from my alma mater tries to get me to donate money.

The question which always sets me off is: (Alumnus first name here), when was the last time you visited campus?"

I wonder when the glow from Bubble City actually ebbs for this kind of person. So, I always reply with, "The point of this call is you are trying to get a donation, correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, I can't do that right now."

"It doesn't have to be a big donation. You know, any donation matters."

"Yes, I know."

Awkward silence ensues.

Call ends.

Not trying to be cynical, but maybe it comes off that way. I don't care.

Meal of Links

Newspapers are always finetuning the Comics. But the Denver Post yanked "Doonesbury", and there was nary a peep. Hard to figure how "Beetle Bailey" and "Blondie" survive though.

Trippy movies. Why there's "Inland Empire".

Bachmann announces her candidacy. And, so it begins.

Inside "TMZ". I must say, a guilty pleasure is stumbling into the one-hour weekend show.

Throw-up time. One of the biggest costs of committing to wars in Afghanistan and Iran? That would be air conditioning. To the tune of $20 billion annually.

Do you realize cereal consumption in the US is dropping>? Special K was down 16% from 2007 to 2010.

Breaking down the US Gold Cup loss to Mexico. Naysayers, like here, say it's the coaching. Others say, they almost had 4 goals themselves to tie Mexico. But they didn't.

Exercise Yard

Joe Pos with a beautiful sendoff for Nick Charles.

Visitor

52 Across: Mule's parent (3 letters) Answer: Ass

I was coming back from Best Friend's last night and saw something that I had heard about, read about, but had not yet seen. I somehow missed it going eastbound on 90 because I must have been distracted by some music.

But it was late and I'm paying attention to the road when out of the corner of my eye, I see it. At first, jeezy creezy, I didn't know what it was and it scared the living daylights out of me. After thinking I was hallucinating, I realized what it was...

It was that damn wind turbine at Lincoln Electric! WTF, that thing is huge. It makes that one at the junkyard off of 480 look like a damn TinkerToy.

Meal of Links

Myspace. What an epic fail

The new Florida? It may be Wisconsin.

There is a new "Harry Potter" movie coming out soon. Will it make money? Beware the accounting.

How to land your kid in therapy. Most kids do not learn the skills of perseverance, resiliency, and reality-testing.

Regrets from the dying. Definitely things to consider.

The most connected city in the world? Seoul, brother.

Exercise Yard

River Plate is one of the most successful soccer clubs in Argentina. A 33-time champion. Things were OK, until they got relegated. Let the riots begin!

With water cannons!



Visitor

None, on a nice summer Sunday.

OK, I'm back. Tons of stuff happened the last few days, so let's get to it.

Went to the Happy Dog the other evening for their belated take on National Hamburger Day. The same toppings, this time on a burger. Very nicely done.

They actually found Whitey Bulger! He was the topic of one of those gangster hours on the Bio channel not too long ago. Truly a badass who became an informant and basically ran the Boston office of the FBI. He was Most Wanted #2 after Bin Laden and people were questioning if the FBI really wanted him found. Looked for him for years with no luck. The U.S. Marshals joined the hunt and within 7 months they found him. Back to Boston already. This'll be one to watch.

Was over at Paul's for the NBA Draft last night. I guess that draft class was weak. Still waiting for Dan Gilbert's pledge of excitement.

Meal of Links

Google should buy Hulu. It is up for sale and that match would be quite good.

Peter Falk died last night. He was much more than "Columbo", which is still pretty good if you catch it somewhere, but he'll always be remembered for that role. He was terrific in "The In-Laws", but my favorite Falk role was playing himself as an angel in "Wings of Desire".

Companero Scene from "Wings of Desire"



The end credits for "Rango". Great designing work.

The 6 Best Organized Burglaries. Ronnie Biggs? Still alive!

X is coming to town in October. Exene talks.

"Tree Of Life" apparently puzzles some viewers Remember, no refunds.

The films of Robert Altman. The one that is rarely shown is "California Split". I love that one.

This year's BBQ Mix. I honestly think I could do better. BTW, I just heard the other day that Level 42 has sold 30 million albums in their career. Huh? You best believe they also included this classic...

"Hot Fun In the Summertime"/Sly and the Family Stone



Judge Judy snores. Do you realize over the last year, she topped Oprah's ratings? From that mix, cue "She's A Bad Mama Jama".

Exercise Yard

Patrick Cantlay is an amateur golfer. He's been making lots of news lately. Low qualifier in Columbus for the U.S. Open. Low amateur at the U.S. Open.

He's playing in a PGA tournament this weekend, the Travelers Championship. Today, he shot a 60.

Visitor

54 Across: Valuable Ming (3 letters) Answer: Yao

The men in my family started Father's Day by taking in a morning screening of "Bullitt". Great to see it on the big screen. This is Steve McQueen. In a Mustang. In San Francisco. With Jacqueline Bisset. Does it get any better? And this was a few years before "Dirty Harry" in the same city.

My brother informs it was the first movie that contained the word "bullshit". Nice to see a decent crowd at the Capitol, as well. We feared it might be lightly attended and were surprised by how many were there.

Meal of Links

Funky Winkerbean is still awful. Please remove this from the same page as the Crossword Puzzle.

My brother's foot asks, "Why are air conditioners so heavy?". It's the copper. Or science.

Top 100 Apps. Look how few actually make it to a Blackberry. Sigh.

The 25 Most Influential Videos. I like "Sabotage".

30 Songs about Domestic Violence. I do hear The Crystals song every once in a while on The Underground Garage and I always ask, "1962? Really?". It stands out.

Norm Macdonald tries to save his Comedy Central show. Sort of.

The little engine that could. Netflix. Still baffling the experts.

The last time I saw Ryan Dunn was last night. He was on "Minute to Win IT" with Steve-O. Not many obits are mentioning that, even if it was a rerun.

I'm watching the US Open Golf with my Dad yesterday afternoon. After a Rory McIlroy par, NBC goes to some weird shot of the Congressional clubhouse and Dan Hicks apologizes for a video or something. We had to rewind it and we hear that Hicks apologizes for a video that was supposed to be a military salute that used an edited version of the "Pledge of Allegiance'. Without even thinking, I said, "They didn't edit out "under God", did they?". Of course, they did.

Exercise Yard

Jennie Finch named her son, Diesel.cThat is all.

Visitor

58 Across: Brad of "Ocean's Eleven" (4 letters) Answer: Pitt

While still puzzled at Chris Berman referring to Retief Goosen as "The Iron Goose"...

I took my niece to see an a.m. version (Hah! My dollar, my rules.) of "Mr. Popper's Penguins". I vaguely remember the children's book as some British business guy ending up with penguins. Written when penguins were not all that popular. But Jim Carrey (has he fallen this far?) takes the lead as a real estate developer. His assistant, Pippi, still uses all words that begin with "p".

Probably the funniest scene (and, believe me, not many to choose from) is when Carrey has to bribe the doorman of his townhouse, so he isn't turned into the board. Angela Lansbury plays the owner of the Tavern on the Green, who will not sell to anyone. Least of all, to Carrey, or so it seems.

Carla Gugino in a pedestrian role as Carrey's ex-wife. Two kids round out Carrey's family. None of them really wanna see Carrey, until the penguins arrive. Bookman from "Seinfeld" plays Carrey's boss.

I will say the overall theme of the penguins presence fueling the family to get back together is so pie-in-the-sky, I hope kids don't fall for that crap. Other than that, an average flick. My niece liked it, hey, she's a kid. I thought maybe 6 on a scale of 1-10, and that's pretty generous. The closing song over the credits? "Ice Ice Baby", silly.

Meal of Links

Catching up with Louis C.K.. "Louie" starts up again this Thursday.

Keith Olbermann returns this week. Have you found Current yet with your remote?

The forgotten treasures of a Gen-X childhood. My favorite? "Halloween Candy Paranoia"!

Clarence Clemons died. Saw him 3 or 4 years ago and he looked bad back then.

The editor of Pollstar says Ticketmaster is not to blame for their fees. It's your favorite artist. Who allows you to blame Ticketmaster. This is what happens when everyone downloads music.

This song is now 25 years old this week...

"Bigmouth Strikes Again"/The Smiths



All the TED talks are here. With descriptions and dates.

Pictures of famous people. With their records. The Brando one kills me.

Exercise Yard

Bruins win the Stanley Cup. And their owner is still a dick.

Visitor

5 Across: Bean counter (10 letters) Answer: Numbers Guy

One would say Randy Lerner has had a track record of not hiring well when it comes to his sports teams. It seems he is going to do it again with the signing of Alex MacLeish as the new coach of Randy Lerner's Other Team. You see, MacLeish was the coach of their local rival, Birmingham City. I say was, because he got canned from Birmingham after they found out he was talking with Aston Villa. This was after Birmingham had committed to him even though the club had been relegated.




















So, Villa fans have been in an uproar. They had 1,000 fans storm Villa Park last night. You know, with the usual obscenities and graffiti. Many have said they will turn in their season tickets if MacLeish is hired, which looks like a go for Friday. A Facebook page "Aston Villa Supporters - We don't want Alex McLeish" has 17,000 followers. Did the Browns ever have protests like this? Oh yeah, the Dawg Pound Mike fiasco.

The main thing we are realizing with this latest coaching circus at Aston Villa is this. Randy Lerner is trying to do it on the cheap. They'll sell some more players this offseason and won't spend for the replacements. That's why they are ending up with a coach many do not want. The better candidates have been ignored or have stayed away.

The scoop.

This guy says the Villa fans are wrong.

BTW, next year's fixtures come out tomorrow.

Meal of Links

Speaking of soccer, Fox Soccer Channel becomes Fox Soccer in August. New logos, new studios and let's hope they get us to matches 5 minutes earlier. It wouldn't hurt to see the players come onto the pitch.

And the new sponsor of the FA Cup was announced today. It's Budweiser! The King of Beers hosts the match at teatime.

Cheer up. Keanu Reeves is an author. Who eats sandwiches.

"Moneyball" Trailer

How to eat when you're broke. I'm thinking "cinnamon crispas".

Polkas. Weird Al style. I guarantee you will smile. If not, listen to the one with "Loser" on it.

"America's Next Great Restaurant". Not so fast.

Mitt Romney is NOT unemployed. He's just not working.

Today's meme.

Exercise Yard

I thought Shaq was supposed to enjoy his retirement. I don't think an attempted murder and kidnapping trial is where he wanted to focus his time.

Visitor

10 Down: Dudley Do-Right's gp. (4 letters) Answer: RCMP

Hey, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup last night. Well, that only took 40 years.

How about that city? In the last decade, each of their major sports team has won a title. We are still waiting since 1964. For any team.

Look out for the riots in Vancouver. Apparently you riot-win or lose.

Meal of Links

"Spider-Man" officially opened on Broadway. Oh, it still sucks, but in more of an official way.

The 100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books. I haven't read a lot of these.

NPR lists their 25 favorite albums from this year, thus far. That's a lot of unknowns there.

E! has a show tonight on commercial stars. The Most Interesting Man in the World is featured.

Facebook lost 6 million users in the USA during May. Even Bill Gates couldn't take it.

Exercise Yard

Progressive Field will host an Ohio State-Michigan game. In hockey!

Game will be held on January 15.

Visitor

21 Down: Actor Matthau (6 letters) Answer: Walter

"The Fortune Cookie"

On Sunday night, S. and I were at the Rock Hall for the 3rd Annual Chef Jam. This raises money for the Ohio City Farm, which picked up a check for $5K, and education programs for the Rock Hall.

This year featured a higher ticket price, more music, less people and less vendors. But still rates fairly high on the fun list, as this year, even some of the vendors got into the act and started dressing the part. Prosperity had the Ramones, I think Melt had Kiss and there were some Beatles as well, dishing out some Yellow Submarine sammies.

The music started earlier with the band from Crop. As usual, they played "Whipping Post". The Naked Cowboy strolled around, publicizing Naked Cowboy Oysters, by mainly posing for pictures. There was of very good cover band, Abbey Rodeo, before the headliners appeared. That was the English Beat (actually only Dave Wakeling with other unknowns), who actually treated this as an appearance, and played more than an abbreviated set including some General Public stuff.

English Beat Setlist:

"Save It For Later"
"Tears Of A Clown"
"I Confess"
"Tenderness"
"I'll Take You There"
"Ranking Full Stop"
"Mirror In The Bathroom"

Sampling of Restaurants/Plates:

B Spot: Beef Sliders

Deagan's: Mushroom Stuffed Quail

Melange: Pork Belly and BBQ Beans

Melt: Fried Twinkie

Moxie: Whiskey River Gelato

Prosperity Social Club: Sloppy Joes and Mac N Cheese

Sweet Moses: Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Bourbon Caramel Sauce w/Chocolate Candy

Sushi Rock: Spicy Salmon and Spicy Tuna

Meal of Links

Last night, I went to the Cinemark and saw the latest Woody Allen flick, "Midnight In Paris". I must say, moving his productions to the other side of the pond have revived the guy. This was sort of a "Back To The Future" for the adult set.

This time, Owen Wilson plays the Woodman Voice as a successful Hollywood writer with a deep love for '20s Paris. He is taking a shot at writing a novel and about to marry Rachel McAdams. I normally like McAdams, but she seemed off here. Michael Sheen eats some scenery as a friend, maybe former lover, of McAdams. He's an art professor, lecturing at the Sorbonne, so he knows everything about art and wind and just about everything else. Type of guy who corrects tour guides, Described perfectly as "pedantic" by Carla Bruni. Yes, stunt casting has Bruni in not just one, but two scenes.

Anyhow, as the clock strikes Midnight, McAdams and Sheen and his wife go elsewhere, Wilson is transported back in time on a nightly basis. Where he meets artists like Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, Cole Porter, Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Picasso, Bunuel, Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali ("Dah-LEE"), those types. Accepted almost immediately and never questioned about his clothing, even at the most formal gatherings. Of course, he is smitten with Marion Cotillard during these throwbacks.

The story is a nice take on nostalgia. If you immerse yourself completely, it appears that Allen has decided it stifles you creatively. Because everyone has their own idea of what the greatest time was. For example, when you think Wilson and Cotillard are a match, she opts for the Belle Epoque period of Paris.

Definitely a love letter to Paris, especially the shots in the rain. Certainly worth the 90 minutes when it comes to cable. And, you have to admit it, Allen still has some interesting stories to tell. Hopefully.

Worst addictions, by decade. And how they were treated.

Best game show hosts of the '80s. Good to see Ken Ober on there.

A look at "The Wall". Yes, it still fascinates.

Hugh Hefner's fiancee decided not to marry him. She realized she was about to marry a fossil. So, Dr. Phil's son shows up. For her, not Hef.

In case you did not know, the CIA has drones over Yemen. Shouldn't there have been a vote on that or something?

After last night's Republican debate. Could this be their future?

Exercise Yard

Big Game 7 for the Bruins tomorrow. Newest hero: Brad Marchand, the Erich Barnes of the NHL.

Quote of the year:

Why did Marchand keep punching him then?

"Because I felt like it," Marchand said.

"Golf Boys" Video/Crane, Fowler, Mahan, Watson



Visitor

29 Across: 1983 Woody Allen title role (5 letters) Answer: Zelig

While watching Manny Acta leave Josh Tomlin out there to die...

Mr. and Mrs. Mix were in town yesterday and I met up with them at the Winking Lizard in Avon. Which needs better signage, BTW. It's right over the border in Lorain County. Anyhow, Mister and I have had some dialogue lately about our mutual hatred for Guy Fieri. I think the guy is a tool.

I cringed when this guy was rewarded with a network show. The laughable "Set It And Forget It" or "Minute To Win It" or whatever it is called. They basically have imported the asshat contestants from Howie Mandel's show and given them a new forum to demonstrate their asshatery. Encouraged by this clown. The Memorial Day episode finally dropping me over the edge.

But there are people out there who dig the guy. As this article (courtesy of foodnetworkhumor.com), a slobber job, if there ever was one, shows. The picture alone, like some crazed culinary Corey Feldman, reveals a lot. Be sure to read the comments on how real Americans feel about this "awesome dude".

Meal of Links

Come on, old timer, get through the crosswalk faster. Traffic planners are seriously thinking about redesigns to account for elderly walkers.

Dueling Michael Caines from "The Trip"



Why is the TV always on? Or, so it seems.

I laughed. Bill Maher and Jane Lynch read Anthony Weiner texts. NSFW.

Exercise Yard

MLB is considering realignment. I am definitely in favor of the radical realignment that would put the Houston Astros in the American League.

Just think. Eliminate the divisions and the Top 5 from each league get in the playoffs. I think it'll work. Of course, the last time they were thinking radical realignment, it would have placed the Reds and Pirates in a division with the Indians and that never got beyond the discussion stage.

This latest realignment may have been floated to the public to test reaction. I haven't heard too much negativity, so maybe there is a chance.

Visitor

None, on a cool Sunday.

Letterman's drum solos from this past week. With video. Including an Ed Shaughnessy/Buddy Rich throwback.

Is it just me or does Neil Peart look like a cross between Shemp Howard and Bill Laimbeer?

Meal of Links

I once was in Chicago and had a same-day copy of The National in my hands. The story of its demise. Still legendary.

Jack White divorces Karen Elson. They both decide to throw a party to celebrate.

10 scientist rock stars. I guess Skunk Baxter is non-degreed and not necessarily a scientist?

Here is the song I recorded (I mean my hit record) from yesterday's Google Doodle. It was for Les Paul's 96th birthday.

The best soccer stadium in America just opened. The team? Sporting KC. Huh?

Palin's e-mails.

Exercise Yard

While the NFL idles, Randy Lerner's Other Team is having some issues. Brad Friedel left for Tottenham. Ashley Young is headed to Manchester United. And Aston Villa are having some troubles getting a new manager.

The latest target, Roberto Martinez, decided to stay at Wigan. A rarity, Martinez humbly displayed loyalty by turning down three times his current salary to stay at Wigan, a much smaller team. The Chairman there even referred to him as "a son".

Hadn't heard that kind of talk from a team since Modell and Kosar.

Visitor

63 Across: One of the Allman Brothers (5 letters) Answer: Duane

David Simon talks (briefly) about "Generation Kill". And says the most satisfying show he's done is "Treme".

NOLA's Dave Walker In Treme



Meal of Links

Is it too early to bitch about the American version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"? Boobs on a poster are not going to bring in the teens. If it was "The Girl With The Tyson Tattoo", maybe.

"Boys, we got ourselves a werewolf. Right here in River City."

Lots of talk about cloud computing lately. Here's the scoop.

Craig Ferguson takes his show on the road. To Paris?

End-of-life questions you may want to think about.

Tim Pawlenty. WTF? He wants tax cuts three times larger than the Bush tax cuts. So what then does Romney offer? Or Bachmann?

F1 finally bails on Bahrain. No one really wanted to go there.

Exercise Yard

Grantland debuted today. Simmons on LeBron. Boy, what we saw in Game 4 this year was as perplexing of what we witnessed in Game 5 last year.

That will remain one of the greatest sports mysteries of our time. Leonard Nimoy should do a show.

Visitor

53 Down: "Another Saturday Night" singer Sam (5 letters) Answer: Cooke

I got my car back late this afternoon. And my windows work. But at a cost. Not a fuse or passenger door switch. But the command post switch on the drivers side needed replaced. Fuck.

Anyhow, it allowed me to catch a viewing of "The Hangover: Part II". Not as much of a laugh riot as the original, but enough things going on to keep your interest up. And if you happen to see it with a larger group of fanboys, I'm sure the laughs come easier, because it's the same movie. Seriously.

Substitute:

A monkey for Tyson's tiger.

A monk for the baby.

Chow jumps from an ice maker as opposed to a trunk.

Missing finger instead of missing tooth.

Said monk is mistaken for wrong person like Black Doug.

Doug is OK here but did not participate.

Monk with a stick instead of kids with taser.

Eddie is now Samir.

Phil is in hospital again.

Ed Helms sings again.

Missing guy found again.

Remember the 13 references from original (Danzig song and Vegas room number)? Elevator sign reveals building has 13th floor in this one.

Alan mentions Jonas Brothers tour dates again.

And a bunch of other stuff changed slightly from the original.

The reviews for this one have been negative, some brutally so. I didn't find it that bad or offensive that I was basically watching a rerun of the first one. There is genius in the ability to get us to pay for this one, I guess. So, if you absolutely loved the first one, it's not a bad view.

Meal of Links

I guess Anthony Weiner would have survived (for we all know, he's gotta go) if he actually had sex with these women (One of the women is former Indian Ben Broussard's sister). Because sending pictures and sexting and whatever the hell else he was doing is just considered weird by too many people. And reckless, if you happen to sit in the House of Representatives, which allows everyone to easily question your judgment. Sad to see him go, I think he had been a good advocate on health care. But America is forgiving, you sit out a while, go to some sort of counseling, and become a pundit.

Peter O'Toole is atill alive. And he speaks about "The Stunt Man". Awesome movie. I may be on a limb here, but that may have been one of the least-viewed Best Actor nominations in Oscar history.

Sebastian Junger talks about Tim Hetherington. And how the world should end radicalism.

All about sugar.

Here are the Top 25 Country Artists since 1985. What astounds me are those still on the list:

21. Ricky Van Shelton

15. The Judds

12. Clint Black (this really threw me)

George Strait and Garth Brooks are still 1-2! Strait has charted a Top Ten song every year since 1981, along with 44 No. 1's and 83 Top Tens.

"You Just Don't Get It, Do You?"



Exercise Yard

NBC, sans Ebersol, still wins the rights to the next 4 Olympics, after London. They promise all events live on one of their many platforms.

Visitor

36 Across: Stat for Cliff Lee (3 letters) Answer: ERA

I go to Giant Eagle this a.m. and when I leave I discover, after opening it, my right front window will not close. I'm kinda happy it didn't rain today.

Meal of Links

Large breasts on Chatroulette. With male expressions. It's probably a tie between Column 1 and 3 with some priceless gems. Guy under blanket, for one.

The HBO doc on Bobby Fischer airs tomorrow at 9. I saw this at the Film Fest and it's well worth the time. Especially to those who may not be familiar with Fischer.

Selena Gomez attends a Justin Bieber soccer match. Looks like the local chicks hate her.

Why can't they just admit it? She's an idiot.

More death. The smartphone is really killing the PC. Even faster than predicted.

What we're tired of at the movies. You're kidding. They are doing a "Battleship" movie.

100-year old Ohio woman has had an account at the same bank since 1913. "I get along good because I don't have many wants."

Exercise Yard

Donald Brashear wins another fight. This time as an MMA fighter.

Visitor

None, on a sunny Sunday.

I really like my Saturday Plain Dealer. Not so much for any editorial or ad content, but the fact the Saturday Crossword has finally arrived on my doorstep. So, it pains me when I get that edition of the PD stolen. I've had that happen before at various times and it blows.

While I was recovering from some Ommegang Wittes last night, I finished up yesterday's version of the local daily newspaper. Looking at all of the Patio Issue, as it were. So, I didn't exactly get out there early for today's paper, grabbing it around 8:30. After finally getting to it 15 minutes later, all I could say was "Fuck me!".

Someone pilfered my PD and replaced it with the weekend version of the Wall Street Journal. So, I guess I have some sort of benevolent thief or some sort of overly aggressive WSJ deliverer. Which caused me to trudge up to the Circle K to get my fix.

Because the last time I went through this from the PD, I learned:

It was my fault.

and

They sorta kinda don't get there quick enough with a new paper for me.

Needless to say, I'm back on early sentry duty.

Meal of Links

The Best Muscle Cars. They are beauties.

Matt Dillon died yesterday. Not the actor. Well, yeah, the actor, but the other guy. The "Gunsmoke" Guy.

"Cash Cab" pays off. Ben Bailey hosts a network show. Hey, anything to have less Guy Fieri on my TV is a good thing.

Kid Learns To Ride Bike



"Pawn Stars" is the No. 1 show on cable. And sparked TV's hottest genre. Thrift TV.

Looks like Pat Coyne picked the wrong market for Krispy Kreme sites. Should have said the UK, instead of Brunswick.

Shades of Brian De Palma. If there are truly no cuts, as it appears so, it's pretty cool. Roger Ebert called it "the greatest music video ever made".

"The Grand Rapids LipDub"



Speaking of beer. how to enjoy it.

Exercise Yard

The Rangers pitcher who beat the Indians yesterday? He has an interesting story. And he's 6-0.

Visitor

1 Across: Candy vehicle (4 letters) Answer: SCTV

SCTV-The Great White North/Babe Ruth Story

The anticipation for "The Tree of Life" is getting even higher. Terrence Malick is even allegedly coaching projectionists on the correct equipment settings.

But the Cedar-Lee has a Malick retrospective next week that somehow does not include "Badlands". They do have "The Thin Red Line" though. But they don't really write what makes the films special. We go to Nashville for that.

And they have "Badlands".

Meal of Links

It seems DJ Kishka gets more ink than Bic these days. Tireless promoting will do that. Niche is now permanently carved.

We go to walk our dog and we pick up a hitchhiker named Bono. WTF?

Here are 5 major companies that pay taxes. Maybe I should go to Costco.

No surprise. The global war on drugs has failed.

One of Sandra Bullock's early roles was in the US version of "The Vanishing". She's not in it very much (looks great, bitches at Kiefer Sutherland, does a cute little dance, then gets chloroformed) and it sucked. Ah, but the original, was much creepier and, by far, the better movie. And, of course, it did not have a Hollywood ending.

It's official. TV has run out of ideas. NBC reboots "Fear Factor". When does "Sledge Hammer" return?

Exercise Yard

If you find yourself watching the Stanley Cup Final (and how could you not with the Bruins FINALLY involved) Listen to the play-by-play guy. Here is Doc Emrick's story.

Visitor

26 Across: TV's Mrs. Peel (4 letters) Answer: Rigg

Usually, it's only Cleveland that ranks dead last in various and sundry lists. But this time it's all of America.

You see, the North Koreans just did a study and they found the No. 2 place for happiness in the world is...North Korea. They suck up to the Chinese and make them No. 1. Rounding out the Top 5 are noted cheerful places like Cuba, Iran and Venezuela.

The USA comes in dead last at No. 203.

Meal of Links

Bill Simmons and his new website, the ESPN-named Grantland. I think the neat thing is some of the writers are going to get more eyeballs on their work. And adding Klosterman and Gladwell to the roster are certainly not bad moves. I've been reading this guy since the AOL days and the good columns still outweigh the duds by a significant margin.

Your home and renting vs. buying. Obviously, the trend is renting.

Older Japanese are volunteering for nuclear plant cleanup. They feel they can't have the young participating.

Letterman has a "Drum Solo Week" next week. Sheila E. and Neil Peart show up.

If you hate Time Warner, read this. Very funny.

Was 2001 a good year for music? Missy Elliott, Daft Punk, Jay-Z, White Stripes and Kylie Minogue. With Minogue's great Michel Gondry-directed video, "Come Into My World". Plus his White Stripes stuff.

Palin's back. Trump and his pizza. He's like Mr. Pitt.

Exercise Yard

Here's how you get a World Cup in Qatar. From the Argentina head: "Yes, I voted for Qatar, because a vote for the US would be like a vote for England, and that is not possible." That's like Sam McDowell throwing a curve to Dick Tracewski.

The English still hate Sepp Blatter. But he ran unopposed and "Captain Corruption" gets 4 more years at the helm.

Visitor

61 Down: Big name in ice cream (3 letters) Answer: edy