We're still in the midst of the "shopping" story portion of the Sask trip home. According to de Certeau, shopping is one of the every day activities through which consumers express their independent paths through state spaces. Of course, it also demonstrates that we're all stuck in state spaces. For today's act of shopping, I went to buy a ball glove. Long, long story short, and 16km later, I've got a ball glove. Despite everything I've said about my baseballian aptitude, I still maintain it's an investment in the future. I'll probably play again at some point, right?
The reason I bring this up now (besides the fact that it happened about three hours ago) is that, in a sense, part of the value people associate with things is how difficult they were to come by--although it's not a straightforward relationship. If it takes you a few seconds find a prized item you've been searching for, all fine and good, but a truly epic hunting makes a much better story. And if the trip to the local grocery store to buy milk takes several hours because you forgot to wear socks, you may get a good story out of it, but you're not going to feel too happy about that milk afterwards. This glove took the better half of a day and a very long bike trip, so it was slightly more difficult than I expected. Will that translate into a greater appreciation of it? Well, no; in the case of something like a ball glove, the difficulty of procurement in terms of calculating overall value is overshadowed by utility: if it works well in the ball game on Friday, that's much more important than any other measure I can think of.
Still with me? Good. The third part of my shopping trip on Thursday, June 5th, was to buy a book for my middle brother as a belated birthday present. How does gift giving fit into the discussion above? Well, the story of how you got the gift is largely unimportant; if you tell it, you run the risk of making it more about yourself than about the person you're giving it to, which slants the gift-giving towards personal indulgence over actual giving. (And yes, I realise that that's exactly what I'm doing now.) A wise man once noted the other peril in giving a book:"buying a book as a gift can become an overthinker's nightmare--you have to consider not only what the intended receiver means to you, but what you mean to them, what the book means to you, and what the book will potentially mean to them." Well, I said that. Right here. Still true though. So, as far as shopping for gifts go, you're in a double-bind. On the one hand, you want to limit the amount of time spent getting the gift as much as possible. But on the other hand, you want something that is meaningful and expressive. My brother asked specifically for a book because he wanted something to read during his big cross-country trip at the end of the month, and, supposedly, I know books.
My first choice was George Packer's "Village of Waiting." It came up in my postcolonial class; essentially, it's Packer's account of his time in Togo in the 80s, working as an English teacher for an African school. I thought (and still think) my brother would like it; it's thought-provoking, humorous, and just contentious enough that you can have fun picking apart Packer's arguments. But I couldn't give him my copy, since I needed it for the class, and assumed I could easily find a copy in Someplace Else.
I assumed wrong.
My other brother and I searched two separate bookstores, and came up blank. So we searched for a new book. I wanted something nonfiction and with a political edge. Of course, since I don't read a lot of that type, it was hard sluffing. We finally found a book (or at least my little brother did) called... I honestly don't remember. I remember it was hardcover, which I approved of, since it made it closer to the amount I spent on the younger brother's last birthday present, and that it was signed, which the middle brother would approve of, since it meant the book had value beyond being, you know, a book. So, with absolutely no ceremony, I handed him the book. He thanked me, but not without a wince that he quickly covered up. It was at that point that it hit me. Someone going on a long cross-country trip was looking for one primary factor in a book: that it didn't take up a lot of space. So the hardcover? Bad choice.
Moral: Gift-giving is best left to professionals.
This turned out to be much longer than I thought. There's probably a metaphor to be drawn between the post and the discussion regarding ease in shopping, but I'll let you decide whether it's worth the effort to retrieve it.
Later Days.
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
It's Time to Start the Music
First: ball news. Game 2 is also a loss. I've been switched to catcher, a role that I've fallen into not because I can throw a ball all the way to the pitcher (I can't. It's not far, but I can't. Hence the reason why I'm not great at baseball.), but because I have absolutely no fear of getting hit by baseball. Bring it, ball.
Now, today's main topic. One of the most beloved programs of my childhood was the Muppets. Beyond knowledge of the characters, I remember exactly two things about the show: the general tune of the theme song, and that Muppets are awesome. Based on those two points, I recently tried to secure some episodes of the original series, but, through a miscommunication, would up with the entire series of the '96-97 attempted revival, Muppets Tonight. It's a tv show now, not a theatre, and everything shifts according: Waldorf and Statler heckle from their living room chairs, each episode is run as if it's the production of a late night talk show, and, most significantly, show leader Kermit has been replaced (well, downgraded, he's still there, but runs things from a more hands-off, behind the scenes approach) by Clifford.
This is Clifford:
Oh, sorry. That's internationally-known, adored by generations of children around the world Clifford. THIS is Muppet Tonight's Clifford:
And that's a good a place as any to start with the show's big problem: the Muppets are, to me at least, about a dysfunctional, yet caring, family. Muppets Tonight feels like the Muppets designed by studio execs. Clifford's a prime example: he looks and acts like what you'd get if you took a bunch of people, sat them down at a table, and told them you wanted an updated Kermit, something that comes off as current and hip, but without being offensive. And voila--Clifford. I have nothing against Clifford--but nothing for him either. He's just there.
Other problems are also symptoms of this main failing: whoever decided to put their money behind Clifford downgraded the "core" muppets--it's very rare that Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Fozzie all appear on the same episode. And their replacements--Jonny Fiamo, Lou, Bobo, and Clifford--are okay, but they just don't have the same dynamic as a group. It seems like the show knows this a weak point, as it tries to gloss over this element and replace it with a huge, gigantic cavalcade of guest stars. I know the original series had its fair share, but it feels like here, the guest of the week is all the plot ever revolves around.
And that's the problem. But there's lots of good stuff too. First, in the area of not so much good as curious, it's interesting to note Statler and Waldorf's changing roles as the series goes by. Originally, it would just cut to them after a scene and they'd heckle from what was very clearly a nursing home. I'm guessing someone felt this was too depressing an end for the two, because all of a sudden, they started doing their heckling from chique locations, such as ocean resorts, pool side views, gigantic foyers, and, once, a ski lift. And they're often surrounded by a bevy of (especially if they're poolside) scantily clad women. That sounds like a good retirement to me.
Next, on the subject of guest stars, most of the stars actually give fairly decent performances. Since the whole operation is financed by Disney now, we see some big (well, 90s big) names, including movie stars like Michelle Pfiefer and Pierce Brosnan, musicians ranging from Tony Bennett to Coolio, and comedians like Don Rickles and Billy Crystal. It's clear that they're having a lot of fun too, which is nice to see.
And with that, let's go into the list of the 4 best scenes in Muppets Tonight.
Number 4: Out of all the guest stars on the show, I gotta say I think Garth Brooks got the most out of it. His schtick for the episode is that he wants to perform song styles outside his usual repetoire. So, we get Brooks hamming it up in renditions of Salsa, a Tom Jones impersonation, and, the best, his rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, complete with gratutious chicken-kicking.
Number 3: Speaking of hams, George Takei delivers, playing himself during Beaker's week long Trek-A-Fari--at least, himself as a long-winded blowhard. He thinks he'll finally get his chance to be captain after their captain abandons ship, but he is preempted by Robert Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo), who reminds him that Keeshan has seniority. Takei: "Mr. Beaker, set ego for 'bruised.'" (I think it's the delivery that really sells this one.)
Number 2: Where would the Muppets be without references that predate 90% of their supposed demographic? During the Bill Crystal episode, we see a remake of When Harry Met Sally's most famous scene, complete with a cameo from a Rob Reiner muppet. Piggy, playing the Sally role, tells Bill that he wouldn't be able to tell if she was faking it--it being a sneeze, of course. Keep your mind out of the gutter. A demonstration follows, which leads to the inevitable punchline: "I'll have what she's having! But with less pepper."
Number 1: Leave it to the old school to show you how it's done. The very best, most awesome, incrediblistic thing to happen in the entire course of Muppets Tonight was performed by the macdaddy, K-Frog himself. Watch below, as Kermit sings a cover for Talking Head's "Once in a Lifetime."
And that's why the frog will always be king.
Later Days.
Now, today's main topic. One of the most beloved programs of my childhood was the Muppets. Beyond knowledge of the characters, I remember exactly two things about the show: the general tune of the theme song, and that Muppets are awesome. Based on those two points, I recently tried to secure some episodes of the original series, but, through a miscommunication, would up with the entire series of the '96-97 attempted revival, Muppets Tonight. It's a tv show now, not a theatre, and everything shifts according: Waldorf and Statler heckle from their living room chairs, each episode is run as if it's the production of a late night talk show, and, most significantly, show leader Kermit has been replaced (well, downgraded, he's still there, but runs things from a more hands-off, behind the scenes approach) by Clifford.
This is Clifford:
Oh, sorry. That's internationally-known, adored by generations of children around the world Clifford. THIS is Muppet Tonight's Clifford:
And that's a good a place as any to start with the show's big problem: the Muppets are, to me at least, about a dysfunctional, yet caring, family. Muppets Tonight feels like the Muppets designed by studio execs. Clifford's a prime example: he looks and acts like what you'd get if you took a bunch of people, sat them down at a table, and told them you wanted an updated Kermit, something that comes off as current and hip, but without being offensive. And voila--Clifford. I have nothing against Clifford--but nothing for him either. He's just there.Other problems are also symptoms of this main failing: whoever decided to put their money behind Clifford downgraded the "core" muppets--it's very rare that Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Fozzie all appear on the same episode. And their replacements--Jonny Fiamo, Lou, Bobo, and Clifford--are okay, but they just don't have the same dynamic as a group. It seems like the show knows this a weak point, as it tries to gloss over this element and replace it with a huge, gigantic cavalcade of guest stars. I know the original series had its fair share, but it feels like here, the guest of the week is all the plot ever revolves around.
And that's the problem. But there's lots of good stuff too. First, in the area of not so much good as curious, it's interesting to note Statler and Waldorf's changing roles as the series goes by. Originally, it would just cut to them after a scene and they'd heckle from what was very clearly a nursing home. I'm guessing someone felt this was too depressing an end for the two, because all of a sudden, they started doing their heckling from chique locations, such as ocean resorts, pool side views, gigantic foyers, and, once, a ski lift. And they're often surrounded by a bevy of (especially if they're poolside) scantily clad women. That sounds like a good retirement to me.
Next, on the subject of guest stars, most of the stars actually give fairly decent performances. Since the whole operation is financed by Disney now, we see some big (well, 90s big) names, including movie stars like Michelle Pfiefer and Pierce Brosnan, musicians ranging from Tony Bennett to Coolio, and comedians like Don Rickles and Billy Crystal. It's clear that they're having a lot of fun too, which is nice to see.
And with that, let's go into the list of the 4 best scenes in Muppets Tonight.
Number 4: Out of all the guest stars on the show, I gotta say I think Garth Brooks got the most out of it. His schtick for the episode is that he wants to perform song styles outside his usual repetoire. So, we get Brooks hamming it up in renditions of Salsa, a Tom Jones impersonation, and, the best, his rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, complete with gratutious chicken-kicking.
Number 3: Speaking of hams, George Takei delivers, playing himself during Beaker's week long Trek-A-Fari--at least, himself as a long-winded blowhard. He thinks he'll finally get his chance to be captain after their captain abandons ship, but he is preempted by Robert Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo), who reminds him that Keeshan has seniority. Takei: "Mr. Beaker, set ego for 'bruised.'" (I think it's the delivery that really sells this one.)
Number 2: Where would the Muppets be without references that predate 90% of their supposed demographic? During the Bill Crystal episode, we see a remake of When Harry Met Sally's most famous scene, complete with a cameo from a Rob Reiner muppet. Piggy, playing the Sally role, tells Bill that he wouldn't be able to tell if she was faking it--it being a sneeze, of course. Keep your mind out of the gutter. A demonstration follows, which leads to the inevitable punchline: "I'll have what she's having! But with less pepper."
Number 1: Leave it to the old school to show you how it's done. The very best, most awesome, incrediblistic thing to happen in the entire course of Muppets Tonight was performed by the macdaddy, K-Frog himself. Watch below, as Kermit sings a cover for Talking Head's "Once in a Lifetime."
And that's why the frog will always be king.
Later Days.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
More Like... Co-Wreck!
Back at good ol' Where Else High, I played in the Co-Rec league, on the fine team of Taurus. And even in the undergrad days, I managed to get on a few rec leagues. To date, I've played on: (high school) the basketball team, floor hockey team, soccer team, slowpitch team, handball team, and the steal-the-sticks team. And in undergrad, I played in three different volleyball leagues and on a soccer team. I have played, then, with approximately 75 different team mates, in hundreds of games, over the course of past ten years.
I have never, ever won a game.
There's been some close calls. Games that went into overtime, extra innings, final shootouts. Games that were close, but not quite. And huge, monolithic blowouts. Ever lose a volleyball game 25 to nothing? Ever lose a soccer game 25 to nothing?
But you keep trying. And you keep playing. Because sooner or later, that glorious title of 'game not lost' will be yours.
And all of this is preface to today's Event, the inaugural baseball game of the English U of Blank graduate students. I'm glad to be on the team. Let me put that out there, front and center. They need the numbers, and if there's one thing I can do, it's arrive and take up space. But out of all the sports that are not my bag, baseball is not my... you know, there's nothing that really comes to mind when you try to think of "something bigger than a bag that you put things in." But if there was, baseball would not be that thing for me. I'm an average hitter, an average catcher, and Lord knows I hustle, but I cannot throw more than ten feet. Which is a problem in an outfielder.
But I'm in good company. There's no real all-star on the team (ok, maybe one, but as long as he bats directly after me, I'm not going to complain), and our errors are more or less a team effect, so it's fun. It was a beautiful day for a game too--sunny, but not so much that it was quite scorching. I'm probably going to be burnt tomorrow, and I have a throbbing skinned knee from a slide at first, but both of those are my own fault (especially considering the rule that you can run past first is designed especially so that people don't slide and skin their knees.) We really started to click in the end too--the score for the last inning was 4-0, so really, we won 1/5 of the game.
Of course, that leaves the other 4/5, which we did not win. Not even slightly. In fact, the final score was 17-8. The game, while not a blowout, did not really leave the outcome in doubt at any particular point. (Maybe at the first pitch. But I had my doubts.)
Our second game is tomorrow. Stay tuned, and see if the Consequence curse holds up for yet another term of sporty action.
Later Days.
I have never, ever won a game.
There's been some close calls. Games that went into overtime, extra innings, final shootouts. Games that were close, but not quite. And huge, monolithic blowouts. Ever lose a volleyball game 25 to nothing? Ever lose a soccer game 25 to nothing?
But you keep trying. And you keep playing. Because sooner or later, that glorious title of 'game not lost' will be yours.
And all of this is preface to today's Event, the inaugural baseball game of the English U of Blank graduate students. I'm glad to be on the team. Let me put that out there, front and center. They need the numbers, and if there's one thing I can do, it's arrive and take up space. But out of all the sports that are not my bag, baseball is not my... you know, there's nothing that really comes to mind when you try to think of "something bigger than a bag that you put things in." But if there was, baseball would not be that thing for me. I'm an average hitter, an average catcher, and Lord knows I hustle, but I cannot throw more than ten feet. Which is a problem in an outfielder.
But I'm in good company. There's no real all-star on the team (ok, maybe one, but as long as he bats directly after me, I'm not going to complain), and our errors are more or less a team effect, so it's fun. It was a beautiful day for a game too--sunny, but not so much that it was quite scorching. I'm probably going to be burnt tomorrow, and I have a throbbing skinned knee from a slide at first, but both of those are my own fault (especially considering the rule that you can run past first is designed especially so that people don't slide and skin their knees.) We really started to click in the end too--the score for the last inning was 4-0, so really, we won 1/5 of the game.
Of course, that leaves the other 4/5, which we did not win. Not even slightly. In fact, the final score was 17-8. The game, while not a blowout, did not really leave the outcome in doubt at any particular point. (Maybe at the first pitch. But I had my doubts.)
Our second game is tomorrow. Stay tuned, and see if the Consequence curse holds up for yet another term of sporty action.
Later Days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)