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There’s an easter egg to be found in the latest Tony Hawk video game. It features the Star Wars Kid showing some of his moves. I think this is pretty cool.

Does anyone know what affect all this attention has done to the kid? I hope he is reaping some sort of benefit from it.

Episode 4 of Enemies was performed last Thursday. This Thursday is Episode 5.

In case you missed all the action last week and are planning to see the show tonight, here’s a recap:

Ludwig, the arrogant, selfish musician, has been noggin-walloped by Bubba Fett, the bounty hunter who’s arrived in Las Vegas, looking for the immoral Dr. Shelley Lugosi’s simple-minded clone Kenny. A noggin-walloping means that Ludwig is, physically, under the control of Bubba Fett, who commands Ludwig to do his bidding. Ludwig is not pleased about this constant embarrasment and bother.

Dr. Shelley, through holographic communications with bounty hunter Bubba, keeps demanding Bubba work quicker, and bring back Shelley’s sex-toy/son/clone to where Shelley can do as he pleases with Kenny.

The armless Cassidy, Ludwig’s girlfriend, has fallen in love with Kenny and is not sure how to tell Ludwig.
Kenny has fallen in love with the Lord, and then, with Cassidy. There’s seems to be a pure, untainted love.
Gabe, also in love with the Lord, is denying his new-found love for Kenny, whose pheremones cause everyone to fall in love with him.

Gabe’s girlfriend, the psychic Britney, is tired of it all and only wants she and Gabe to be happy together. To achieve this, she’s willing to use a wish on her magic Lobster Claw. Gabe refuses pagan help, though, and quickly becomes infatuated with formerly retired Acadian Christian folk-singer Sabine Dijon. Britney does not like being two-three-and-four-timed by Gabe

Butch, Cassidy’s one-armed twin,and the sensually vulgar woman who kidnapped, from Dr. Shelley, Kenny to Las Vegas, is upset that her hard work in brainwashing Kenny into her sex slave has been for naught, since Kenny has gone off with Gabe to learn the ways of God. She’s rabidly on the hunt of Kenny herself, and will stop at nothing to get him back. Even if it means killing him.

Just as Bubba and Butch are about to fight over which of them gets Kenny, Gabe stops the proceedings with news that Kenny is now off-limits, now that he’s in the religious sanctuary of the church Gabe newly purchased, formerly known as the Xanadu Casino, now known as the Xanadu Holy Roller Disco Experience and Church.

What will happen this week? Come find out tonight at the Arts Guild.

Or don’t.

I’ve been a pretty busy lad the last couple of weeks, hence the lack of postings lately. Days have been very busy with work, and nights have been filled with rehearsals and/or preparations for Enemies.

Then, to cap it off, I’ve been working all week as an actor on a short film that’s being produced, hopefully in time for the next Reel Island Film Festival. So, yesterday, for example, I showed up at 8:30 for the film shoot. Did that until 4:45, then rushed, late, to a 4:30 rehearsal which was supposed to go until 6:30. Then back to another location at 7 for another hour of shooting. (Un)Fortunately, the rehearsal got screwed up and it only lasted until 5:30, so I actually had time to go and eat something.
After 8, I came home and got to work on preparing the music cues for the next episode of Enemies. That took me to 1:00am.

The last few days, hours like that have been the rule, not the exception. Luckily, the stuff I’m doing (except for the Work work) is fun.

Still, looking forward to getting back to a more leisurely paced day.

And, to once again posting more consistently, in terms of frequency.

Boys, this game isn’t any fun if you don’t get a hit once in a while.

I forget where I read it, but I saw Walter Johnson’s name somewhere in reference to baseball at the beginning of the 20th century. It reminded me of the great song about Walter Johnson, performed by Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers. I really only know about Walter through Jonathan’s song, but, based solely on that, he seems like a pretty interesting fellow. I love the idea of a pitcher purposefully allowing opposing players to hit the ball, so that they’d enjoy the game a bit more.

I’m an occasional fan of Jonathan Richman. I like a bunch of his songs, but can’t really listen to many of them in a row. His style and talent wears on me when there’s too much of him, I think. When a Richman songs comes on in a random rotation, though, it’s always great to hear it.

I remember where I read it. A sports article about the Expos moving to Washington. Walter Johnson played for the Washington Senators, back one of those times when there was a Washington Senators team.

Check out this song. I bet, like all of baseball, you’ll come to love and respect the player.
Download Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Walter Johnson.mp3 (3404.0K)

I am so confident that I have tweaked my system to perfection, that I am guaranteeing 10 of 14 correct.

Here are this week’s picks (winner in all caps):

CINCINATTI at Pittsburgh – This is one of those close picks where I pick opposite to whom I think will win. The Bengals will surprise… wait, does that mean I think the Bengals will win? Should I really pick the Steelers? One pick in, and I’m already confused. Remember the guarantee, Rob. Remember the guarantee. Yes, I think Pittsburgh will win, so I pick Cincinatti.

INDIANAPOLIS at Jacksonvilee – see using last week’s plan (picking only the opposite to what I thought) I’d have to go with the Jags on this one. But this time I’m using a distilled version of last week’s plan, combined with my good old absolute certainty. I am certain the Colts (they’ll be this year’s SB champs) will win.

NEW ENGLAND at Buffalo – Oh how I’d love the Bills to win. But they won’t. Pats win (damn them to hell).

New York Giants at GREEN BAY – Green Bay will win. Giants have already peaked for the season.

Oakland at HOUSTON – This is one of those inverse picks. Too close to call, so I go against the team I think will win. See, it’s simplicity itself, my plan.

PHILADELPHIA at Chicago – Another no-brainer. But watch for the upset, Rob. Nope, not this week. Eagles win.

Washington at CLEVELAND – I’m confused again. I expect the Redskins to win, so I pick the Browns. However, I will not be surprised by a Cleveland upset, which means perhaps I should pick against that eventuality… No, I pick Browns to win. See? Simplicity itself.

Atlanta at CAROLINA – I don’t care at all about this game. I’m not even gonna try and figure out my plan on this game. I’m just going with the home team. Whatever. Is anybody reading anyway?

New Orleans at ARIZONA – This is the pick that propels me into double-digit correctness this week.

Denver at TAMPA BAY – Denver wins, so I pick Tampa Bay.

NEW YORK at Miami – I always pick Miami, right, but with the Opposite Day pick I should pick the Jets. But if I really pick the Jets to win, then I’d be picking the Dolphins. See? This week, I actually think Miami is going to pull an upset and win. So, I go with the Jets.

Tennessee at SAN DIEGO – Do you think I’m picking the Chargers because I think they’re a shoe-in to win, or because I think the Titans will really win and it’s an opposite pick. If you follow football, you know the answer to that, don’t you.

St. Louis at SAN FRANSISCO – For a second, I convinced myself that the Rams were sure to win this game so I was ready to pick them. But then I realised that the Rams will never be sure to win a game this year. Even over the pathetic 49ers. So, since I think the Rams will likely win, I gotta go San Fran.

Kansas City at BALTIMORE – I fully expect KC to come out of their slump this game and win it. But not enough to waste my pick on them. KC wins, but I pick the Ravens to win.

There, a guaranteed double-digit correct pick this week. Guaranteed.

Tomorrow night we stage episode 4 of the improvisational soap opera Enemies. at the arts guild, at 8pm. Episodes 5 & 6 will occur on the next two following Thursdays.

This is the third season for Enemies. I was involved last year and enjoyed it enough to come back this year for another set of episodes. This year, most of the scenarios take place in Las Vegas.

Tonight’s dress rehearsal went better than I expected. I am not one of those who believe a good dress rehearsal means a bad opening night. I think a good dress rehearsal means a good dress rehearsal.

Anyway, if you’re looking for something to do, drop by and see the show.

Seven and seven. Is that the name of a drink? 7-Up and some brand of gin, perhaps?

Anyway, I went 7-7 last weekend in my football picks. Yay, I made it to 50%! I made to “Guessing Quality” picking!
I’ll have to re-tune my picking strategy further. Last week I picked opposite to what I’d normally pick, even though on some games I was almost 100% certain I’d be wrong (and I was). By picking opposite, I did quite well on the games where I was unsure of the outcome.

So, this week, I’m going to go with my gut on those games that I think are certain of their outcome. And I’ll stick with the Opposite Pick strategy on those games where the outcome is closer to a guess.

I’m on my way to a perfect pick week, I tell yas!

Jacques Villeneuve is my favourite race car driver.
Ever since, about a year ago, Jacques Villeneuve left Formula One racing, I’ve been checking TSN’s Formula One racing page, hoping to someday see the headline that “Jacks is Back”. Well, I was pleased to see that headline about a week or two ago, annoucing he’s signed with Sauber-Petronas for the next two year. I wasn’t so pleased that it was Sauber, a middling team at best, that he signed with. I was hoping it would be Renault. That displeasure was somewhat lessened though, when, the next day, it was announced that Jacques would finish out this year (3 more races) with Renault, starting with this weekend’s race in China. (does that mean he was this >

This week, I attemp to better my (sad) 2-week-in-a-row 7-9 record by picking the exact opposite of who I pick as winners in the games this week. This week there are only 14 games scheduled, so I am aiming at going 8-6.
My Picks This Week will be ALL IN CAPITALS

NEW ORLEANS at St. Louis – I expect the Rams to win, so I will say the Saints will take this game.
PITTSBURGH at Miami – This is a tricky one. I always have to bet on the Dolphins, because they are my team. However, I expect the Steelers to win. However, I would have picked Dolphins. So, I have to pick Steelers to win.
CHICAGO at Minnesota – I am so sure that the Vikings will win this game that I expect Opposite Day to fail me on this pick.
Cleveland at NY GIANTS – This one could go either way. Normally, I’d pick the Browns because I’d kinda like them to be successful. Therefore, I pick the Giants.
Arizona at ATLANTA – First I all-capitalized Arizona, thinking that Atlanta would win this game. Then I thought for a moment: I bet this is a game where the Cardinals surprise and win. Therefore, I pick the Falcons.
Baltimore at CINCINATTI – There is no way that the Bengals will win this game. My pick: Bengals.
Philadelphia at DETROIT – In the past twenty years, have the Lioins ever started a season 3-0? Not in the last ten, and certainly not this year. Therefore, I pick them to win this game and go 3-0.
JACKSONVILLE at Tennessee – Quite simply, the Titans will win, so I’ll pick the Jags.
HOUSTON at Kansas City – I gave the Texans two weeks to disappoint me. Each week I picked them to win, and each time they lost. This week, I cannot pick Houston to win, so, Houston wins.
SAN DIEGO at Denver – I couldn’t possibly bet against the Broncos in this game: Chargers win.
GREEN BAY at Indianapolis – I am still proclaiming the Colts to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. To that end, they will defeat a not-so-potent Packer team. My pick: Packers.
SAN FRANSISCO at Seattle – I cannot pick the 49ers again until they show me something, anything that gives me reason to pick them. They’ll lose this game, so I’ll pick them to win.
TAMPA BAY at Oakland – okay, I find it very hard to pick the Raiders, just because I don’t like the team. However, I don’t think the Bucs can beat them at home. I pick the Bucs to beat them.
DALLAS at Washington – I had a hard time picking who I thought would win this game. I decided on the Redskins and that’s why I’m going with the Cowboys this week.

So, there they are. The picks that are opposite to what I would normally pick. 8 and 6, here I come. It’s guaranteed. Maybe even 9 and 5. That’s right, I’m THAT bad at picking, normally.

For the past couple of months, I’ve been daily driving by the site where Sears is being built. I’ve been seeing all the workers, some in their machines, some on the road, others in other places. Mostly they seem busy.
Lately I’ve been wondering how it is they remain busy. Are they each told, each day, what they are expected to accomplish? When the bulldozer guy, for instance, goes to work in the morning, does he have a good idea of what he’s going to be doing that day, or does he wait to find out from a foreman what his job is? Is the bulldozer guy in fact a “bulldozer guy”? Or does he somedays work the bulldozer, and other days pour concrete?
Who is it that decides these things, and how early in the process are they decided?What if bulldozer guy calls in sick?

What if foreman calls in sick?

Is it stressful work, or just tedious hard work, or both?

Will I be able to sleep tonight?