The 2nd night on The Tonight Show saw our little purple hero busting out 'Dreamer' from the Lotusflow3r CD.
I came across videos of both nights available on YouTube which will mean our readers outside the US should be able to watch them.
Nick - you'll want to check out the second one. ;)
Enjoy!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Ol' Skool Company
Prince performed the first of 3 nights on The Tonight Show last night and busted out a cool rendition of a new track from the MplSound CD.
Check it out here. The performance starts at around 38 minutes.
Btw - I have the new CDs (part of the fan club membership) and will be listening to them again on my drive back home tonight. No, they're not 1999, Purple Rain, Sign 'O' the Times or Lovesexy. But then I'm not a teenager any more either.
Just remember - the best time of your life is now!
Check it out here. The performance starts at around 38 minutes.
Btw - I have the new CDs (part of the fan club membership) and will be listening to them again on my drive back home tonight. No, they're not 1999, Purple Rain, Sign 'O' the Times or Lovesexy. But then I'm not a teenager any more either.
Just remember - the best time of your life is now!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Daily Show vs CNBC
This war of words between Jon Stewart of the Daily Show and CNBC (specifically Jim Cramer) while out of the country last week but managed to catch up with the videos and related news stories posted online over the past couple of days.
It's a comedian's job to observe those nuances of our day-to-day lives that we take for granted or otherwise miss and point out the absurdity in them for our amusement. It's a political satirist's job to do the same thing for the macro environment - translating things that we are sometimes too busy (or too into ourselves) to pay attention to and draw our attention to them. And sometimes what they call to our attention is just too important for us to forget to pay attention to ever again.
While I am still grappling with the ramifications in their entirety, I think what happened this week is in exactly that latter category. And I think it's super important that we pay attention going forward.
Check out the videos (in order) in the Cramer vs. Non-Cramer section of the Daily Show web site and let me know what you think. There are alot of very thought-provoking snippets in all this, but the part that is still resonating with me the most is when Jon Stewart asks Jim Cramer something along the lines of: " who are your customers?... who is it you owe a duty of care to?"
It's a comedian's job to observe those nuances of our day-to-day lives that we take for granted or otherwise miss and point out the absurdity in them for our amusement. It's a political satirist's job to do the same thing for the macro environment - translating things that we are sometimes too busy (or too into ourselves) to pay attention to and draw our attention to them. And sometimes what they call to our attention is just too important for us to forget to pay attention to ever again.
While I am still grappling with the ramifications in their entirety, I think what happened this week is in exactly that latter category. And I think it's super important that we pay attention going forward.
Check out the videos (in order) in the Cramer vs. Non-Cramer section of the Daily Show web site and let me know what you think. There are alot of very thought-provoking snippets in all this, but the part that is still resonating with me the most is when Jon Stewart asks Jim Cramer something along the lines of: " who are your customers?... who is it you owe a duty of care to?"
Friday, March 13, 2009
Purple Rain on the Big Screen
Last night was Thursday Night Flashback at the movie theatre in Fresno and Purple Rain was this week's flashback movie. So, in spite of my flight delays and having to lower myself to drive a red Mustang back from the Bay Area, we decided that it was only right that we should go along.
Jim and Letty joined us for dinner at Salazar's before heading up to Fresno to take our seats in the auditorium that was already 3/4 full of other people around about our age out to relive what it was like watching it at the movies the first time around. That is, if you had seen it at the movies the first time around - believe it or not, this was actually my first time seeing it out in public.
Anyway, we sang along, waved our hands and laughed in all the right places - "What's the password?" - as well as some other places. Certainly the haircuts, make up, clothes and sunglasses have dated quite hilariously. But the music? Pretty much timeless.
Jim and Letty joined us for dinner at Salazar's before heading up to Fresno to take our seats in the auditorium that was already 3/4 full of other people around about our age out to relive what it was like watching it at the movies the first time around. That is, if you had seen it at the movies the first time around - believe it or not, this was actually my first time seeing it out in public.
Anyway, we sang along, waved our hands and laughed in all the right places - "What's the password?" - as well as some other places. Certainly the haircuts, make up, clothes and sunglasses have dated quite hilariously. But the music? Pretty much timeless.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Feeling Crunky?
Well, here I am back in the ANA lounge at Narita after heading down to the gate to board my flight only to learn that the maintenance issue they had been telling us about hasn't been resolved and they now have to change planes. That is going to put me behind schedule by about 2 hours as they can't get us the new plane until 7pm vs. the original 5:05 departure date.
At Michelle's request I did a quick run to 7-Eleven and cleaned them out of our favorite Japanese chocolate - Crunky - before heading to the airport. Not only does Meleena enjoy herself a little Crunk, but so do the students in Fowler.
In perhaps more important news I discovered that there's a Sake bar here in the ANA lounge and I'm currently enjoy a nice glass of smooth local sake while watching CNN (with an Australian presenter wearing a lime colored two-piece suite) talking about various eco-friendly initiatives, including a cemetery that has solar panels installed above the tombs.
By the way, for those of you that are paying attention, Jay and I are having nice little discussion on the Watchmen movie in the comments of that post from the other day. Those of you that have seen the movie and haven't commented yet, feel free to share your opinions.
At Michelle's request I did a quick run to 7-Eleven and cleaned them out of our favorite Japanese chocolate - Crunky - before heading to the airport. Not only does Meleena enjoy herself a little Crunk, but so do the students in Fowler.
In perhaps more important news I discovered that there's a Sake bar here in the ANA lounge and I'm currently enjoy a nice glass of smooth local sake while watching CNN (with an Australian presenter wearing a lime colored two-piece suite) talking about various eco-friendly initiatives, including a cemetery that has solar panels installed above the tombs.
By the way, for those of you that are paying attention, Jay and I are having nice little discussion on the Watchmen movie in the comments of that post from the other day. Those of you that have seen the movie and haven't commented yet, feel free to share your opinions.
Monday, March 9, 2009
UlloaSullivan Citrus
We finally got around to eating our entire 2008-2009 crop of Oranges on Saturday morning. That is, we ate the lone orange our little tree managed to produce since the last one that was devastated by the bad frost from a couple of years ago.
It was tasty but not quite acidic/tangy enough to put it in the big leagues of fruit that would be destined for Japan, in spite of it's unblemished appearance.
Jim - does that mean we should have left it on the tree longer or picked it sooner?
It was tasty but not quite acidic/tangy enough to put it in the big leagues of fruit that would be destined for Japan, in spite of it's unblemished appearance.
Jim - does that mean we should have left it on the tree longer or picked it sooner?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Why Watch Watchmen?
We went to see Watchmen last night in Redwood City as part of our evening here in the Bay Area before Michelle dropped me off at SFO for my trip to Tokyo. We picked up Anna Moreno, one of M's former students who is currently studying at Mills College in Oakland, went out for dinner and then on to the movies to catch the must-see movie release of the month.
I had high hopes and the fact that Michelle had agreed to go along and see it too meant that she had bought into the months of hyping - by the media and by me - about how awesome it was going to be. It was directed the guy that made '300' that she loved - in spite of the high gore factor - and the special effects promised to be mind blowing.
However, that she and Anna finally left after 2 hours to go and wait outside and that I only stuck it out so as to see more of the special effects and to find out how they had made a change to the ending, should give you a sense that we were pretty underwhelmed. Sure it was visually stunning and titillating in places. But not only did the violence and sex seem over the top (even for a movie in this genre) but I can honestly say that the movie really didn't do justice to the graphic novel with all it's scale, depth, stories-within-stories and doomsday atmosphere. And I can't even say that if you hadn't read the graphic novel none of that would matter as I'm not sure you would really get it without that prior education.
I think Michelle a bit sorry for me as she didn't tease me about it at all afterwards.
Still, if you're interested in seeing a well-muscled glowing blue man's privates, a fat guy have his arms cut off with a rotary saw and a graphic masked hero sex scene inside an owl ship to the sounds of Leonard Cohen singing "Hallelujah" then perhaps this is the movie you've been waiting for.
As for me - I'm looking forward to May when X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Trek are released.
I had high hopes and the fact that Michelle had agreed to go along and see it too meant that she had bought into the months of hyping - by the media and by me - about how awesome it was going to be. It was directed the guy that made '300' that she loved - in spite of the high gore factor - and the special effects promised to be mind blowing.
However, that she and Anna finally left after 2 hours to go and wait outside and that I only stuck it out so as to see more of the special effects and to find out how they had made a change to the ending, should give you a sense that we were pretty underwhelmed. Sure it was visually stunning and titillating in places. But not only did the violence and sex seem over the top (even for a movie in this genre) but I can honestly say that the movie really didn't do justice to the graphic novel with all it's scale, depth, stories-within-stories and doomsday atmosphere. And I can't even say that if you hadn't read the graphic novel none of that would matter as I'm not sure you would really get it without that prior education.
I think Michelle a bit sorry for me as she didn't tease me about it at all afterwards.
Still, if you're interested in seeing a well-muscled glowing blue man's privates, a fat guy have his arms cut off with a rotary saw and a graphic masked hero sex scene inside an owl ship to the sounds of Leonard Cohen singing "Hallelujah" then perhaps this is the movie you've been waiting for.
As for me - I'm looking forward to May when X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Trek are released.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Happy Birthday Letty
It's good to know that once again you are officially a year older than me. If only for the next 3 and a bit months.
Hope you had a fun Birthday weekend and have a great day today!
See you tonight for Lasagne.
C&M
M&C
Hope you had a fun Birthday weekend and have a great day today!
See you tonight for Lasagne.
C&M
M&C
Justin's Swim Event in Las Vegas
Justin had entered a swim event in Las Vegas and we decided, as interested and supportive relatives, that we should go along to show some both our support and our interest. That it was taking place in Las Vegas was completely unrelated to our level of support and interest. And that it happened to be scheduled for the weekend of Letty's birthday, while interesting, was not the only fact that supported our decision.
Of course, as an athlete, Justin really needed to make sure he got plenty of rest and sleep in the evenings. This meant that Letty, Jim, Michelle and I were at a bit of a loose end as to what to do with ourselves. And it was only then, on Friday evening after a visit to the delightful buffet at the Rio, that we realized what we should do.
So, long story short, we made our way down to South Point where after spending an hour or so holding our own at the Blackjack tables, we headed in to see our favorite tribute band perform. Note for all MOAB II attendees - the Friday night show here is much better than the Saturday night one at the out of town place we went to in December. After the show we headed back to the Blackjack table and managed had a blast with the dealers for a good couple of hours winning quite a bit of money between us and eventually being moved to another table as they were beginning to close down that section of the card floor. Definitely a first for us. And it was after 4am by this point.
Bed time eventually came at around 5:45am just in time for us to grab about 3 hours sleep before heading over to watch Justin swim in the 200 IM and 50 Freestyle heats. Needless to say, our afternoon nap was especially welcome.
The evening was spent with dinner at Mesa Grill - with the same waiter (Michael F.) as from MOAB II - and a visit to the Luxor and The Bodies exhibition before we dropped Justin back with the swim team to get another good night's sleep before his 100 Backstroke heat the next morning. Clearly the huge steak and two portions of potato's he consumed the night before helped as he knocked .7 seconds off his personal best to wrap up his 4 days of competition in style.
Justin - just remember, it's all about you. Can your next swimming event be in the Caribbean? :)
Of course, as an athlete, Justin really needed to make sure he got plenty of rest and sleep in the evenings. This meant that Letty, Jim, Michelle and I were at a bit of a loose end as to what to do with ourselves. And it was only then, on Friday evening after a visit to the delightful buffet at the Rio, that we realized what we should do.
So, long story short, we made our way down to South Point where after spending an hour or so holding our own at the Blackjack tables, we headed in to see our favorite tribute band perform. Note for all MOAB II attendees - the Friday night show here is much better than the Saturday night one at the out of town place we went to in December. After the show we headed back to the Blackjack table and managed had a blast with the dealers for a good couple of hours winning quite a bit of money between us and eventually being moved to another table as they were beginning to close down that section of the card floor. Definitely a first for us. And it was after 4am by this point.
Bed time eventually came at around 5:45am just in time for us to grab about 3 hours sleep before heading over to watch Justin swim in the 200 IM and 50 Freestyle heats. Needless to say, our afternoon nap was especially welcome.
The evening was spent with dinner at Mesa Grill - with the same waiter (Michael F.) as from MOAB II - and a visit to the Luxor and The Bodies exhibition before we dropped Justin back with the swim team to get another good night's sleep before his 100 Backstroke heat the next morning. Clearly the huge steak and two portions of potato's he consumed the night before helped as he knocked .7 seconds off his personal best to wrap up his 4 days of competition in style.
Justin - just remember, it's all about you. Can your next swimming event be in the Caribbean? :)