Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Don't forget, folks: Air America, the new liberal radio network, drops* at noon Eastern today.

The fledgling venture is only on in a few markets at this point, but they promise to have streaming audio available on their site at launch time. As of this moment, however, there's just a GIF with no links. If that doesn't change by 12 pm EST, try here.

*I understand "drop" is the hip word the kids are using these days for "debut" or "premiere." In my continuing effort to quash the spirit of today's youth, I'm co-opting as much of their slang as possible, thereby rendering it completely uncool. Try it on a teenager you know; it's fun!

Posted @ 7:27 AM

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Tuesday, March 23, 2004

I haven't said much here about the presidential race, a silence which I'm sure has puzzled those who know my passion for our country and my interest in politics. I expect to be voicing my views much more frequently once my show has opened (one month from today!) and I have time to think about things other than theater and work.

In the meantime, I offer this prelude to jackscheer.com's coverage of the 2004 campaign. It's in the form of an article by veteran newsman Walter Cronkite. In Sunday's Denver Post, Cronkite advised Senator John Kerry not to run away from himself as he runs toward the White House.

I'm sure the folks in the Kerry camp have read it. I just hope they take it to heart.

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A number of friends have called, e-mailed, or blogged about my "cryptic" post on Saturday. To those who've asked what I'm being so coy about this time, I can only beg your patience and indulgence.

Please believe me: I tried with all my might to refrain from teasing y'all yet again. Alas, I could not hold myself back. What can I say? I gotta be me.

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Speaking of patience, Washington fans will have the shortest possible wait for the return of Coach Joe Gibbs to the sidelines. He and his team will kick off the 2004 NFL preseason, going up against the Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame Game on August 9th. That's a mere twenty weeks away!

Not that I'm counting or anything.

Posted @ 1:29 PM

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Saturday, March 20, 2004

Pardon me for making with the cryptic, and it may be some time, maybe months, before I can be specific, but let me just say this: I had very good day today.

Posted @ 11:26 PM

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Following up on yesterday's emphatic post against the very notion of casting Cameron Diaz in a London stage production of The Philadelphia Story, here's a short, off-the-cuff list of much better choices culled from popular film and television.

When looking at my list, I ask you to remember two things.

1) On stage, a talented forty year old is often a better choice to play someone who's twenty-five than an actual twenty-five year old. Stage acting is all about talent and range, not looks or age.

2) Red wigs and/or henna are readily available.

Here, in no order at all, are my suggestions:

• Cate Blanchett
• Keira Knightley
• Natalie Portman
• Diane Lane
• Alyson Hannigan
• Nicole Kidman
• Allison Janney
• Julianne Moore

If you've got other nominations, let me know what they are. I may forward them to Kevin Spacey. Y'know, just to give him a little nudge. Plant a seed. Potentially save him from a soul-wrenching travesty.

And special thanks to my pal Gina for seconding my emotion on this one.

Posted @ 2:58 PM

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Friday, March 19, 2004

No.

No no no no no no no no no!

NO!

What in the name of all that's holy could Kevin Spacey possibly be thinking? Cameron Diaz as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story? The role originally written for Katharine Hepburn?!?

Kate, Phillip Barry, Joseph Cotten, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart are all spinning in their graves.

Posted @ 1:26 PM

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Thursday, March 18, 2004

For only the second time in my life, I've gotten in on a March Madness office pool (for entertainment purposes only, of course). I know virtually nothing about college basketball, but from what I hear that may actually increase my chances of coming out victorious.

Just to get it out there, my predictions for the Final Four are Duke, Gonzaga, Maryland and Wake Forest. I'm picking Duke to defeat Wake Forest for the championship.

Folks with more (read: any) knowledge of this stuff should feel free to drop me a line and tell me what I moron I am for going with these selections.

Posted @ 7:24 AM

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004

For your Saint Patrick's Day edification, I point you to John Scalzi's "An A to Z of Irish Culture." Read it now, and amaze your friends with your knowledge of Eire when you're knocking back Harp and Guinness tonight.

My own plans for the evening are less jovial and more prosaic. I need to tidy up the ol' homestead, as I've let things really go to pot there over the last couple of weeks. It's a night of putting stuff back in its proper place for me.

I will end the night on an Irish note, however, as I'm currently in the middle of Parke Godwin's engaging retelling of the story of Saint Patrick, The Last Rainbow.

Oh, and I did remember to wear green today. I can't afford to get pinched; I bruise too easily.

Posted @ 1:29 PM

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Boy, am I ever glad this late-season snow is staying well to the north of me. We haven't had the worst of winters here in DC, but I've certainly had my fill of things. I think I would have been pretty annoyed with even one more day of shoveling.

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Continuing my habit of pointing out comic book stories in the mainstream media, I recommend today's NYT article "Mild-Mannered Literary Guys Transform Into Comics Writers." It's a good read, with only the slightest whiff of condescension.

Posted @ 1:01 PM

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Thursday, March 11, 2004

I got a cup of Starbucks coffee this morning, having been too tired last night to load my home coffee maker. Yeah, I was that tired.

When I got the cup up to my office, I noticed there was a small drip coming from under the lip of the coffee lid. I've had this problem every now and again, with maybe one cup out of twenty leaking on me. I've always just figured it was a defective lid and/or cup and dealt with it, carefully avoiding dripping any coffee on my clothes, desk, car or whatever.

Today, not wanting the hassle of having to watch out when I took a sip, I decided to see if there was a defect I could identify and possibly correct. I removed the lid and scrutinized it. No problems I could see. I looked at the cup itself. This also appeared solid.

As I went to return the lid to the top of the cup, I suddenly realized what the problem was. After doctoring up my coffee with cream and sugar, I had put the lid's access hole right next to the cup's seam. The little extra bit of cardboard there was just enough to throw the seal out of whack and create the drip.

Two seconds after I realized this, it hit me that I've been making this mistake at least 5 percent of the time for over a decade.

There's nothing quite like being humbled by one's own consistent, long-term lack of thought to start your day. Makes me wonder if I'm qualified to tie my own shoes.

Posted @ 12:31 PM

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Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Need to steal a running theme from my buddy Rick for this one...

World Parody Watch
Dick Clark Sued for Age Discrimination

Somewhere, Oscar Wilde is having a good laugh over this.

That's par for the course, though. I imagine Wilde, no matter where he ended up, usually has several good laughs every day.

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Only pulled six of eleven on my declared Academy Award picks, and 14 of 24 overall. Not one of my better years, so I'm quite glad I didn't enter any Oscar pools.

I bet Paris Hilton wishes she could say the same.

Posted @ 1:29 PM

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Monday, March 01, 2004

Okay.

Everyone, repeat after me.

Bill. Murray. Was. Robbed.

It's just that simple.

[Update: Gina seconds my emotion on this. Yeah, we're reveling in the righteous indignation. Not only is it warranted, it's good for the ol' blood flow.]

Posted @ 12:31 AM

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