Clearing out the Clutter

Sunday Clutter

Hey folks,

Welcome back.  Could it possibly be any nicer outside today?  We don't want to miss any of the sun, so let's grab an iced coffee and get right down to the business of clearing out the Clutter.

Jon Lester looked great last night, giving up only 2 runs, 4 hits (including 2 solo home runs), and striking out 8 over 8 innings, as the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2.  The White Sox batters looked baffled all night, and it was good to see the Red Sox offense roar back to life after sleeping for the previous two games.  The win snaps a 7 game losing streak against Chicago, going back to last year, and today it's Andrew Miller's turn to start a new winning streak for Boston.

Meanwhile, off the field, the Red Sox made one minor trade, sending infielder Yamaico Navarro and a minor league pitcher to the Kansas City Royals for utility infielder Mike Availes.  I know, I know, that's a game-changer.  Availes showed up in the early innings of last night's game and was seen introducing himself to his new teammates in the dugout.  That has to be an odd experience.  The Sox tried to follow that up by trading former prized prospect 1B Lars Anderson to the Oakland A's for pitcher Rich Harden, but then they remembered that Rich Harden has a hard time staying healthy, and scuttled the deal.  It has to be a drag to be Anderson, knowing that you have no chance to play with your current big league club.  Teams have until 4pm today to make a trade, so maybe the Sox will find somewhere else to send him.

Albert Haynesworth apparently passed his first conditioning test and will be on the practice field with the Patriots today.  I think that puts him roughly three months ahead of where he was this time last season, so things are already looking up.

Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) says conservatives are lying to America.

The Massachusetts economy continues to grow at a faster rate than the national average.

Why are pregnant women and new moms having strokes at a much higher rate these days?

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired 1B Derrick Lee from the Baltimore Orioles yesterday.  That's probably the first time in about 20 years that someone should be excited about being traded to Pittsburgh.  Lee doesn't sound like he's exactly doing a dance of joy, though:

"It's the business of baseball," Lee said..."[The Pirates] are playing good. They turned it around, so good for them."

Can't you just feel the warmth there?  The Orioles handled the loss of Lee well, losing 8-3 and 17-3 to the New York Yankees.  Buck Showalter sure is doing a great job of turning that team around.

How is Doctor Who like The West Wing?

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  I was fortunate enough last night to catch the final scene of Point Break for the 10,000th time.  Man, I'll tell you, it's impossible to be in a bad mood when you watch that movie.  Keanu Reeves looks completely stoned, and Patrick Swayze is enough of a ham to take care of 10 Christmas dinners.  Enjoy today's, "Clip of the Day," and tell me you don't grin when Reeves says, "You gotta go down.  You crossed the line.  People trusted you and they died."  It's pure majestic cheesy beauty.  Have a good one, my friends, and we'll see you back here again for more fun soon.

 

Point Break (1991) - 4 - by Sebmagic 

 

 

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy Saturday to you all, and it looks like it will be a nice Saturday, indeed.  This might be a day that calls for a bike ride.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is.  Tell you what, if you spot me on my ride and tell me today's, "Song of the Day," I'll buy you a medium iced DD.  Sound good?  Of course, I'm going to need a cup of coffee before I even get on the bike, so let's take care of that first while we clear out some Clutter on this sunny day. 

Tim Wakefield pitched well in his search for his 200th win with the Red Sox, only giving up three runs and three hits over seven innings, but it wasn't enough, as the Red Sox lost 3-1 to the Chicago White Sox.  The Red Sox could only manage three hits themselves, but none of them belonged to Dustin Pedroia, whose hitting streak stopped at 25 games.  This is the seventh time in a row that Chicago has beaten us this year, but you know things are going pretty well when this is your team's first losing streak in a month.  However, it's time to put it to an end as Jon Lester takes to the mound tonight.

The New England Patriots continue their revolving door as they released six veterans, including Ty Warren, Nick Kaczur, and Tully Banta-Cain.  It looks like this will be another one of those seasons where I need the first five games just to figure out who's on this team.

House Speaker John Boehner spent the better part of a week crafting a right-wing bill for the debt limit that had zero chance of passing the Senate.  The bill finally made it through the House, and then what happened?  Right, it died in the Senate in about 30 seconds.  That was a great use of time, thanks.  Now it's up to the Senate to pass something, which of course will require 60 votes, since nothing ever passes in the Senate without a simple majority.  That would just be too easy.  I disagree with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) though, I think it's pretty easy to imagine the GOP would fillibuster the country into default.  Hopefully that won't be the case, but would you bet more than $1 against it happening?

By the way, now that you've been in charge for about seven months, Mr. Speaker, is this an okay time to ask where are the jobs you campaigned on?  No?  Okay, I'll be back again later.  Oh, and Senate Majority Leader Reid, I understand that your current bill, like Speaker Boehner's bill, cuts funding for Pell Grants.  Finally, someone realizes that the way to improve the economy is to cut college loan funding.  Wait, what?  Oh, my head is starting to hurt again.  Are there any leaders in this mess at all?  Anyone?  Oh, and Mr. President, is there any chance that the next time there's a policy conflict on...anything...you could start off by staking a position on the left, and then eventually work your way to the middle, rather than begin by being center-right and then begging the GOP to "meet you halfway?"  Just try it once.  Who knows?  You might like it.

In the meantime, if you are looking to go against the grain these days, a quick investment in the stock market right now might pay off down the road.

Weightlifting can do more than help you look good at the beach, it may also reduce your chances of diabetes.

Thinking about getting a nose job?  You might want to see a therapist instead.

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  I have to go get ready for that bike ride.  Let's have the terrific Fozzie Bear and the supporting cast of The Muppet Show take us out with today's, "Song of the Day" which is a combination of "Good Day Sunshine" and "Dancing in the Dark."  Yes, it's a 2 for 1 special today on Clutter.  You just can't get deals like this anywhere else!  Have a good one, my friends, and don't forget your sunscreen.  We'll see you back here again for more fun soon.  Later.

 

 

 

Friday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy Friday to you all.  Congratulations to everyone for surviving another week!  This calls for a nice iced coffee and a little randomness, don't you think?  Let's jump in and see where the day takes us.  Your guess is as good as mine.

On paper, Josh Beckett vs. the Kansas City Royals would seem to strongly lean in the Red Sox favor.  However, that's why they actually play the games instead of just running the stats through a computer.   Beckett certainly seemed to be off to a good start yesterday, and then suddenly lost his bearings for a few minutes in the 4th inning, gave up four runs, and was then back on track, but that was enough for the Royals to beat the Red Sox 4-3 to split their four game series. 

The highlight of the game, by far, was Dustin Pedroia hitting a 3-2 fastball that was somewhere around his eyes for a home run in the 8th inning to extend his hitting streak to 25 games.  It should be no surprise that Pedroia crushed that high pitch since that's pretty much where all of his practice swings take place.  Watch some time, no one takes practice swings like the Laser Show.  Carl Crawford hit a shot in the 9th inning that certainly looked like it had enough distance to be a walk-off home run, but the ball just died like it hit a brick wall at the warning track.  Tim Wakefield takes the mound tonight in search of his 200th win with Boston as they take on the Chicago White Sox.

In Bill Belichick we trust, but...wow.  First the New England Patriots acquire troubled defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, and now they trade for Cincinati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.  I'm less excited about the potential for this trade than the one for Haynesworth.  The big issue with Haynesworth is whether or not he's in the mood to play.  If he is, great.  The primary issue with Ochocinco seems to me to be one of age.  He's 33 years old, and that's no spring chicken for an NFL wide receiver.  Why exactly do we need him?  He and Belichick have made it clear that they respect each other, so I don't expect Ochocinco to be a personality problem, but he just seems old(er), and I don't know why he deserves a new three year contract as part of the deal.  I'm sure the players on the team have faith in their coaching staff, but they have to be slightly wary of these moves.  I certainly hope both trades work out, because they seem like game-changers for the Pats if they do, but...wow.

Do you think the GOP themeselves are ever surprised by how quickly Democrats cave to their demands?  There are times where I feel like House Speaker John Boehner must be running a pool with his caucus to see who can come up with the most extremist policy and get the Democrats to capitulate to it in the shortest time period.  What saves the Dems from themselves is that the GOP is so fractured they can't even agree on their own proposals.  Truly leadership at its best.

Here are ten investments to consider if the U.S. defaults.  If you need any help, contact Clutter Headquarters, and BDH and Little Buddha will be happy to walk you through the transaction.  We run a diversified shop here.

When exactly did Boston Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino become a rumored candidate to run against Senator Scott Brown?

Larry Flynt claims to have offered Casey Anthony $500,000 to appear in Hustler.  That would help her improve her public image, right?  I bet the issue would sell a lot of copies, though.

9/11 responders are dealt a setback as a new government study says a definitive link between the World Trade Center and cancers the responders are dealing with, can't be established yet.  This means the responders aren't entitled to federal funds that have been set up for dealing with health problems caused by that day.

Should hot dogs have warning labels like cigarettes?  All I know is that this quote from a meat industry flunky is nonsense:

“Hot dogs are part of a healthy, balanced diet,” AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said in a news release. “They come in a variety of nutrition and taste formulas and they are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

Right, I think we all remember as kids when our moms would tell us, "Come on dear, you have to eat your hot dogs.  They're full of protein and vitamins!"  Give me a break.

Sorry to hear that Boston Bruin Marc Savard's health hasn't improved since he suffered another concussion on January 22nd.  I can't begin to imagine the stress and anxiety that must create.

Tiger Woods is baaaaack.

Condolences to the family and friends of former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu, who was found dead yesterday of a suspected suicide.

You have to be curious about any musicians who describe their performances as "Mozart meets Monty Python."

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  It's funny because Mozart (and other composers) did actually meet Monty Python many years ago, via today's, "Song of the Day."  Just remember that, "You can still hear Beethoven, but Beethoven can not hear you."  Truer words were never spoken.  Thanks for stopping by this week.  We hope you enjoyed your time at Clutter Headquarters as much as we enjoyed having you here.  Come back again soon, and we'll have some more fun with the day's events.  Later.

 

 

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

How are you?  Come on in, I was just looking at cakes for Clutter's two-year birthday next week.  Do you have any preferences?  I asked BDH and Little Buddha which one they liked best, but they want all of them.  How is it Thursday already?  What's the plan for the weekend?  Have a seat, have a seat.  I'll grab the coffee, and then we can clear out a little Clutter.

John Lackey gave up 11 hits and 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings last night, but that's fine, because the Red Sox offense pounded the Kansas City Royals once again for a 12-5 win.  The highlight of the night was Big Papi's monster grand slam in the 4th inning, which was his 20th home run of the year and gave him 1000 RBI with the Red Sox.  Big Papi is now part of an elite group with that accomplishment, joining Yaz, Ted Williams, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, and Bobby Doerr.  To make things even better, the New York Yankees lost against the Seattle Mariners (who finally snapped their 17 game losing streak), so now the Sox are up by 3 games in the AL East.  Josh Beckett takes the mound this afternoon to try to help the Red Sox take 3 out of 4 from the Royals.

The Red Sox may need to make a trade for a starting pitcher after all, as Clay Buchholz's return is delayed yet again.  Terry Francona said Buchholz hasn't re-injured himself, so that's good, but it's been almost two months here, and they still don't know what the problem is with his back.  I don't think the Sox need to make a huge deal, but a little extra pitching depth never hurt anyone.

The New England Patriots made a major move by trading for extremely talented/troubled defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.  Will Haynesworth, who quit on the Washington Redskins last year, thrive in the world of Bill Belichick, like former headcases Corey Dillon and Randy Moss did, or will this be a big mistake for the team?  If Belichick can work his wonders, this is a game-changer for the Patriots defense.  If not, I guess they can always just cut Haynesworth and move on.  It also seems like a break from the normal Patriots way since Haynesworth is awaiting trial for sexual assault.

Cheers to 11 out of 12 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation for appearing in an, "It Gets Better" video designed to help gay teenagers.  It's not surprising, but it is still disappointing that Senator Scott Brown can't be bothered to stand up against bullying. 

The stock market ran on Dunkin yesterday as the company's shares closed the day up 46% over their initial price.  Dunkin's parent company is giving everyone the day off tomorrow to celebrate their success, and I believe everyone in Massachusetts should follow suit.

The GOP inspired group unity on the debt limit crisis with a film clip of a bunch of thieves talking about how they're going to hurt people.  That sounds about right.

The GOP continues their war against voting, this time threatening college students in Maine.

It was only a matter of time before CNN host Piers Morgan was linked to the News of the World phone-hacking scandal.  Morgan denies any knowledge of such activities while he was the NOTW editor, but others claim that's impossible to believe.

Scientists have discovered the gene mutation that causes "Elephant Man disease."  It's amazing that, according to the article, it's basically a single typo out of the three billion letters in the human genome.

Congratulations to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Ervin Santana on throwing a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians yesterday.

I missed the details of the Pittsburgh Pirates/Atlanta Braves 19 inning epic on Tuesday night until now.  1) Of course former Red Sox disaster Julio Lugo would be in the middle of it.  2) Joe Ponanski of Sports Illustrated is right: Major League Baseball is going to have to expand their use of instant replay, even if they have to be dragged kicking and screaming the entire way, because at some point, the sport will lose legitimacy by tolerating human error that can and should be easily corrected.

Should I have known that Joe Pesci retired from acting 12 years ago to pursue a musical career?  More importantly, have any of you heard My Cousin Vinny sing?

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  It struck me Monday night at Fenway Park that while Jonathan Papelbon has the best entrance in baseball, Daniel Bard's is also pretty bad-ass with Ted Nugent's, "Stranglehold" as his music, so let's make that today's, "Song of the Day."  Have a good one, my friends, and don't forget to come back soon for more fun.  Later.

 

 

 

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Clutter Headquarters, your home for all things random.  Today is one of those days where the "real world" has me on a busy schedule, so I need to go.  However, BDH and Little Buddha have your coffee ready and today's Clutter is ready to go.  Stay as long as you like, and those two will lock up after you leave.  Talk to you later!

After sleeping Monday night, the Red Sox bats woke up to batter the Kansas City Royals pitchers, particularly Dustin Pedroia, who had two singles, a double and a triple, and Big Papi, who went 4-5 (including 3 doubles) and 5 RBI.   The problem was that Sox pitcher Andrew Miller seemed determine to keep the Royals in the game at first, giving up 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings.  However, the bullpen was solid, particularly Alfredo Aceves and Matt Albers, and the Red Sox eventually prevailed, beating Kansas City 13-9.  More importantly, the game ended well before 2am this time, so I'm feeling much better, thanks for asking.  Hopefully, John Lackey will continue this little roll he's currently on by shutting the Royals down tonight.

David Ortiz has apparently hired Mayor Menino as his new agent, with Hizzoner saying he wants the Red Sox to sign Big Papi to an 8-year contract extension. 

For those of you who might be tired of hearing me say that letting the Bush-tax cuts expire would wipe out at least half of the current debt problem, let me put it to you this way:  1) Tough.  2) Another way to look at it is that if corporations and the wealthy were taxed at 1961 rates, the whole damn problem would go away, but no, let's argue about how much we'll cut in Social Security and Medicare, because that's clearly where the problem is.

Who would dare say that the upcoming Dunkin Donuts IPO is anything less than the greatest thing to ever happen to the stock market/country/planet?  Heathen!  This writer must be on Starbuck's payroll.

RIP Jack Fitzpatrick, who was both a former state senator and also the owner of the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.  I stayed at that inn once, and it was very pretty.  It's Clutter-recommended if you're looking for a place to stay in the area.

Good for Senator John Kerry for pushing to repeal the discriminatory ban on blood donations by gay men.  This is an extremely outdated policy that should be done away with as soon as possible.  Also, just another quick plea to all of you to donate blood if you're eligible.  You can save lives, and you get cookies for doing so.  How could it possibly get better than that?

A mother has to endure the horrible tragedy of seeing her young child killed when he darted out into the street, and a prosecutor thought she should face charges for that?  Even crazier, she was convicted?  Are you kidding me?  Thankfully she won't face jail time, but what planet are we living on?

Wait, brains shrink over time?  Are you kidding me?  As if I didn't have enough going on with this extra large melon of mine, now I have to worry about my brain not filling up all of the space in there over time?  Does that mean I'm going to feel it rattling around in my skull when I get older?  Oh this sucks.

McDonalds, clearly feeling the heat of possible regulations throughout the country, decided to make Happy Meals healthier by including apples, cutting back on the fries, and reducing the sugar and sodium over time.  They claim the changes are only driven by consumer feedback, but hey, whatever does the trick here works for me.

Wait, Cameron Crowe (of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Almost Famous fame), is doing a documentary on Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary?  Oh yeah, sign me up for that!

What's the problem between Google + and Captain Kirk?

Amy Winehouse gives Microsoft the opportunity to highlight the time-honored tradition of pushing an artist's records after their death.  Classy, folks.

RIP G.D. Spradlin,a character actor best known for his role as Nevada Senator Pat Geary in The Godfather: Part II.  I had no idea Spradlin was an attorney before becoming an actor.

There's all sorts of gossip on the General Hospital front as a) James Franco is apparently ready to do an "extended run" as his recurring character, a performance artist/homicidal loony named, wait for it, "Franco," and b) Will GH be joining All My Children and One Life to Live as Internet soaps?  Grandma and Grandpa Clutter would not be happy to hear that!  Damn you, Katie Couric.  Damn you and your generic perkiness.

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  In case you didn't click on the link to the Pearl Jam story, let me help you out a bit by showing you the error of your ways and making the documentary trailer today's, "Clip of the Day."  No need to thank me.  I'm here only to serve you.  Have a good one, my friends.  We'll see you back here again for more fun soon.

 

Pearl Jam Twenty from Pearl Jam on Vimeo. 

Tuesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy Tuesday to you.  Wait, it is Tuesday, right?  It was another very late night at Fenway last night, which means once again, today's Clutter is being written on about four hours of sleep, so my apologies if the randomness seems even less focused than usual.  It's clearly going to be a multi-coffee day, so help yourself to the first cup, and let's get to work.

For the second time this year, I found myself leaving Fenway Park after 2:00 a.m.  The good news was that I watched Jon Lester pitch like he hadn't spent any time on the DL.  The bad news was that the Red Sox lost 3-1 to the Kansas City Royals in the 14th inning.  The Sox bats blew several opportunities late in the game, the most groan-inducing play being when Marco Scutaro apparently missed a bunt sign in the 12th inning as Josh Reddick was charging home from 3rd.  Reddick was thrown out in a run-down, and then Scutaro hit what would have been the game winner right after that.  Didn't Scutaro blow a chance to win that other game that went until 2:45?  It's all a blur.   Andrew Miller will try to start a new winning streak for the Red Sox when he takes the mound tonight.  I will try to stay awake until at least the 3rd inning.  One of these is much more likely than the other.

Meanwhile, Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz finally had a bullpen session yesterday, and it sounds like it went pretty well, though Buchholz's return still seems to be a little while from now.  It will be a huge lift for the team when he returns to the rotation, whenever that happens, but I have to think this lower back issue is raising some red flags.  It's kept Clay on the DL since June 17th, and I haven't heard any mention of anyone having any idea what's causing it.

The NFL lockout is finally over, so it's time for the New England Patriots to get to work.

President Obama delivered another address to the nation last night about the debt crisis.  All I'll say today is that Democrat or Republican, any argument about our debt that doesn't include the Bush-tax cuts, isn't an honest discussion about the problem.

A new report from the Ireland government calls out the Vatican for their handling of sexual abuse cases involving children.

Glenn Beck continues to show what a fringe member of society he is by comparing the Norway camp victims to Hitler Youth.

My plan to be one of the last people to own a BlackBerry seems to be gaining a little traction as maker Research in Motion announced plans to lay off more than 10% of its employees.

A new study indicates that time travel is not a likely possibility.  That's fine for now.  Some day, Doctors Brown and Who will explain to us how to make this all work out.  I'll just wait for them to get here.  Should be any time now.

The Dunkin Donuts IPO could start selling today.  I'll take all of the shares, plus a blueberry muffin and a glazed stick.

The Internet can be a wee bit addictive.

I had no idea that the Smurfs are 53 years old.  That's pretty Smurf'ing cool.

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now.  Man, I'm going to need another six cups of coffee to get through the morning.  How should we close out today's Clutter?  Part of me wants to throw in a Metallica or Pantera clip to help me wake up.  The other part of me wants to show a clip of a baby and two puppies.  Pantera or puppies, Pantera or puppies.  After discussing it with BDH and Little Buddha, I think we'll go with the puppies.  The three of us hope you enjoy today's, "Clip of the Day."  It's all going well until the baby tries to eat one of the puppies.  That's a little awkward, but they seem to move past it.  Thanks for stopping by, my friends.  Feel free to come back any time you like.  Clutter Headquarters is open to all, even if I'm taking a nap.  Later.

 

 

 

 

Monday Clutter

Hi everyone,

A happy Monday to you all.  How was your weekend?  Did you remember your sunscreen?  What's on the agenda for the week?  BDH and Little Buddha want to hear everything.  Thankfully, that nasty heat wave is finally behind us.  Well, grab yourself an iced coffee, and let's kick off the new week with some randomness.  Did I mention that Clutter's two year anniversary is right around the corner?  That's so exciting.  Okay, we'll get back to that later.  Off we go...

Congratulations to pitcher Tim Wakefield who recorded both his 199th win and 2000th career strikeout with the Red Sox yesterday.  He also gave up a grand slam, but that's okay as the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 12-8 yesterday.  It was the 15th consecutive loss for Seattle, and you have to feel a little bad for them.  They finally got off to a good start, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, but then the Sox quickly erased that lead by scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning.  It seemed like everyone in the Boston lineup had a good day at the plate, except for Marco Scutaro (0-4).  Carl Crawford looked much more like his old self, going 3-4 with two RBI.  Him playing at his normal level would be the equivalent of Boston making a major trade at this point in the season.

Now the focus shifts to Jon Lester's return to the mound tonight when he takes on the Kansas City Royals.  I will be at the game to provide you all with a first-hand account tomorrow.  No need to thank me, Clutterheads.  I'm happy to make this massive sacrifice to provide you with the most accurate information possible.  No, I'm not a hero.  Just a guy willing to go the extra mile for you, that's all.

One of the greatest benefits by far of owning Clutter Headquarters is not having to deal with the Boston rental market.  One word of advice to people who are looking for a place--there is no need to go through a real estate agent.  There's nothing they can do for you that you can't do yourself, and they're a  complete waste of money, which is important when you already have to come up with first month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit.  All you have to do is go on Craigslist, look through the ads, and make your own appointments.  It's 5% more work on your part, but the savings is worth it.

No one wants to see the Sarah Palin documentary.

Good news for millions of patients as a number of popular prescription medications (including Lipitor) should become cheaper over the next few years as their patents expire, and they are joined by generic versions.

Congratulations to Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven and Pat Gillick on their inductions into the Baseball Hall of Fame yesterday.  It's a well-deserved honor for all three men.  Unfortunately, it's probably also one of the last times we'll be able to talk about inductees without having to mention steroids.

My coffee hasn't fully kicked in yet for me to properly process the rumors that the Philadelphia Eagles are interested in having Brett Favre be their backup for Michael Vick, so all I can say right now about that is, don't do it.  Just don't it.  Andy Reid, I'm confident you can find at least one quarterback to have on your team who isn't a scumbag.  Just keep looking.

You're really not a baseball fan if you're not enjoying the great season the Pittsburgh Pirates are having.  The team (52-47) is currently in first place in the NL Central, which is a far cry from their 18 consecutive losing seasons.  People mocked new manager Clint Hurdle when he said the Pirates would turn things around, but he's proving them wrong.  Shades of the late Dick Williams and the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Red Sox, perhaps?  I don't know how far they can go, but it's been a fun story to watch so far.

The wait is almost over!  Doctor Who returns on August 27th.  Excellent!  What a great way to start off the week. 

The season premiere of Entourage was typically unmemorable last night, but Curb Your Enthusiasm scored a direct hit on the Middle East conflict via a Palestinian chicken restaurant.  Trust me, it made sense at the time.  I wonder if HBO realizes that airing Entourage right before Curb just highlights how much better the latter is than the former.

Okay, kids, that's going to do it for now. Let's have Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters take us out with their song, "Learning to Walk Again," for today's, "Song of the Day."  Have a good Monday, my friends.  Thanks for stopping by, as always.  We hope you've enjoyed your time at Clutter Headquarters, and we hope to see you back here again real soon.  Feel free to tip the staff, they work hard for your enjoyment.  Clutter's not on Yelp (yet), but if you want to mention us to your friends, that would be wicked awesome.  Later.

 

  

Sunday Clutter

 Hi everyone,

The heat wave has finally broken, with today's highs only supposed to be in the low 80's.  That's much more manageable. This calls for some celebrating, so grab yourself a nice fresh iced coffee, and let's clear out some Clutter.

I was out with some friends for the early part of the evening last night, and the Red Sox were kind enough to wait to score some runs until I got home, beating the Seattle Mariners 3-1.  They were losing 1-0 within a minute of me turning on the television, but Jacoby Ellsbury came through with a two-run single in the seventh inning to give them the lead.  That continues to be a magical inning for Boston as the Sox have outscored their opponents 93-33 in the seventh this year.  This was Terry Francona's 1000th win as a manager, so cheers to Tito on that.  Throw in a Yankees loss, to give the Red Sox a three game lead in the AL East, and it was a good night all around.  Now it's up to Tim Wakefield as Boston goes for the sweep today.

Russell Brand wrote a thoughtful piece about Amy Winehouse and how society handles addicts.  Even if you don't like Brand's work, this is worth a read.

The first same-sex marriage in New York took place at 12:01 this morning, and as of this writing, it appears that the state, the country, and the world are all still standing.

Florida legislators put politics before child abuse prevention, rejecting $50 million in prevention funds because the money is tied to the health care reform law.  I don't know how those lawmakers sleep at night.

The story of the Norway attack by a right-wing extremist continues to worsen as now 93 people have died. (Norway officials announced another death after this article was posted.)

Representative David Wu (D-OR) is the focus of the next Congressional sex scandal, as he's accused of sexually assaulting a donor's daughter.

Mark Bittman has an interesting op-ed in The New York Times today about taxing unhealthy foods and using that revenue to subsidize vegetables.  I can hear some of my friend's complaining already about a "Big Government" intrusion on their freedom to eat junk, but given how much our national obesity costs us on so many levels, statistics like this gain notice:

(T)he projected benefits are even more impressive; one study suggests that a national penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would generate at least $13 billion a year in income while cutting consumption by 24 percent.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got married.  I really can't come up with anything appropriate to say here.  Let's move on.

As baseball trade rumors start heating up before the deadline at the end of the month, it's sort of fascinating to think about how much chaos a single trade creates, mostly for the player, but also for the team as well.  Lives are completely disrupted with no notice.  There are many things about being a professional athlete that seem really cool, but the lack of security must be a major challenge.

Kristen Stewart isn't going to be playing a delicate version of Snow White in movie theaters next year, judging by these publicity pictures.

Ok, kids, that's going to do it for now.  We're going to let Eddie Vedder take us out with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band with a cover of Pearl Jam's, "Better Man."  It's a great performance, and they tear up the stage during the second half of today's, "Song of the Day."  Have a good one, thanks for stopping by, and feel free to come back again whenever you like. There's always room for friends at Clutter Headquarters!  Later.

 

 

Amy Winehouse

To the surprise of no one, but to the sadness of many, troubled singer Amy Winehouse was found dead  today in her London apartment.  Winehouse, who was only 27 years old, had well-documented struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, and she apparently could not overcome her demons.  The public response has been overwhelming, and it has the usual split of fans who are crushed that their favorite singer is gone, and those who always seem to be angry when they hear of an overdose, as if the deceased committed a transgression against them specifically.  I never understand these people and what makes them tick.  They clearly seem to derive a sense of moral authority in these situations, which makes me think that the rest of their lives are pretty unfulfilling, and that's sad.

I wasn't the world's biggest Amy Winehouse fan, but I certainly appreciated that she had a distinctive voice.  There was an extended period of my life when she seemed to be omnipresent, and I have a multitude of memories that include her singing  in the background.  As that period has since passed, I think her death hits me a little harder than another singer's might, as it's perhaps the final piece of that chapter for me. 

I don't know Amy Winehouse's life story at all.  I don't know what drove her demons, I don't know what kind of support system or other resources she had available to her, and I don't know if this story could possibly ever have had a different ending.  All I know is that I'm sad for her, sad for her family and friends, and sad for those who continue to struggle with their own addictions or those of a loved one. 

Rest in peace, Amy, and thank you for providing such a powerful soundtrack that moved so many during your short time on this planet.

 

 

 

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  It's great to have you with us.  I hope everyone found a way to stay cool yesterday.  Today's supposed to be much cooler, with a high that will only reach 96 degrees...sigh.  Well, let's stock up on some iced coffee, turn the a/c back on, and clear out a little Saturday Clutter, shall we?

The Red Sox returned to Fenway yesterday and immediately made themselves right at home, defeating the Seattle Mariners 2-1 7-4. (I should have had more coffee before I wrote that.)  John Lackey was solid (admittedly against a very bad line-up), and Jacoby Ellsbury remains on fire, hitting his 16th home run of the year to give Boston the lead against Felix Hernandez.  Apparently pitches look like beach balls these days for both Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia who now has a 19-game hitting streak.  Josh Beckett takes to the mound tonight to try to keep the momentum going.

Mike Lowell was back in Boston yesterday, and it was great to hear him talking with Don and Jerry for an inning during last night's game.  He certainly sounds like he's enjoying retirement, but I'd trade Jim Rice for him in a heartbeat for NESN's pre/post game shows.

President Obama is frustrated that Speaker Boehner left the debt ceiling discussions.  I can certainly understand why he'd be annoyed, since the GOP would rather have the country default than have the top 1% pay another dollar in taxes.   However, since it sounds like President Obama had already caved on Medicare and Social Security, I'm not that disappointed that this conversation stalled.  We fight wars that we haven't budgeted for, and we've given unnecessary tax cuts to some of the wealthiest people in the world under a false premise that they will create jobs because of it.  The solution is not to punish our nation's senior citizens.  For the millionth time, Mr. President, the GOP doesn't want to be friends with you, no matter how many times you offer center-right proposals.  You weren't elected to be a Republican-lite.  These folks will wreck the country to protect the rich.  Are you going to fight them, or are you just going to slow them down a little?

What terrible news out of Norway, as man is accused of setting of a bomb and then going on a shooting rampage at a camp that left a total of 91 people dead so far.

Will Maryland be the next state to pass marriage equality?

The USDA calls for stricter labeling of meat additives.  I'm always in favor of giving the consumer more information.  I'm just sorry it's necessary clearly state if your chicken breast is 40% solution.

I know it's hard, but I think we'd all be better off if people were able to walk away from social media while they're on vacation.  Isn't the whole point of a vacation to get away from everyone? 

The Winklevoss twins lose a legal challenge against Mark Zuckerberg...again.

It seems pretty shady for the NFL owners to claim they've come to an agreement on ending the NFL lockout with a document that includes things they never discussed with the players.  I don't want the lockout to continue any longer than the next guy, but I hope the players know exactly what they're agreeing to before this thing is over. 

Heh-heh, Beavis and Butthead are coming back, and they are just as stupid as ever.  Can't wait for their return in October?  Here's a sneak preview:

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I'm really not one for vampire movies, but David Tennant is in the new movie, "Fright Night," which I understand is a remake of a 1980's film.  Colin Farrell plays the vampire, and David Tennant is a vampire killer of some sort who will teach Anton Yelchin how to take care of business.   I've often said I'd watch Tennant read the phone book, so apparently, "Fright Night" will be my next trip to the movie theater.  Take a look for yourself as David Tennant introduces a sneak preview of the movie for today's, "Clip of the Day."  Stay cool, my friends, and we will be back soon for more fun.  I promise.