Clearing out the Clutter

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  How are you?  How's your week treating you?  Wednesday was pretty busy, but it never reached full "WTF?" status, so I'll take that.  We have more rain in the forecast for today, and BDH, Little Buddha, and I can't wait to see how the Clutter Tree looks when that's over.  Until then, help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Thursday Clutter.

The GOP isn't the only party who can use a filibuster.  Senate Democrats used the process to block an amendment that would have authorized people to carry guns around "water development projects like lakes and camp sites which are currently gun-free zones."  It's disappointing that NH Senator Jeanne Shaheen was one of the Democrats who voted or that amendment.

South Carolina is a silly place for reviving Mark Sanford's political career this week, but North Carolina is up to some nasty business with a bill that would require a parent's permission before a teen can seek birth control or be treated for a STD, substance abuse or mental health issue.  Listen, everyone wants parents and their children to have a relationship where they can openly discuss whatever issues the child is facing, and that type of communication should always be encouraged.  But we know there are many homes where that's just not the case, and no legislation can mandate it to be otherwise, so are those kids just supposed to be left at risk of getting pregnant, or suffering major health problems as a result?  That's outrageous.

It's starting to look like the stock market will never go down again, which of course means that we're about due for a major correction...unless we're not.  This is why Clutter doesn't pay any real attention to short term market news.  We have no idea what the market will do tomorrow, so we stick to our regular investment schedule, and if we happen to have extra cash at a time when the market takes a notable drop, then we throw in a few extra dollars.  This whole "trying to predict the future" thing is for the birds.

Speaking of birds, I gotta admit, I've never had a turkey come flying through a window at Clutter Headquarters, and I'm feeling pretty appreciative about that right now.  I'm sure BDH and Little Buddha would help it find its way out the door, but it would still be awkward.

By the time Tuesday night's Boston Red Sox 6-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins was finally over, it looked like I might have an opportunity to try out for back-up catcher and starting third baseman, as well as closer, but it's good to hear that David Ross and Will Middlebrooks seem to be okay.

I'm relieved to hear that Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ has already been released from the hospital after taking a line drive off his head Tuesday night.  Happ was motionless on the ground for about eight minutes after being struck by a hit from Desmond Jennings of the Tampa Bay Rays, and it was a scary sight.  Here's hoping he makes a full recovery quickly.

My most favorite thing about the Los Angeles Dodgers is that they took Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, and their gigantic contracts, last year.  My second favorite thing about the Dodgers is that Matt Kemp plays for them, and after you read this story about his interaction with a special fan, you'll understand why.

Cheers.  (pic via funscrape.com)

The new San Francisco 49ers park will be called "Levi's Stadium?"  Not exactly the most intimidating name ever, but when you're being paid $220 million for the naming rights, I guess intimidation isn't that high on the list of important items.  Hey, wait a second, this new stadium is in Santa Clara, California?  But they're still going to be called the "San Francisco 49ers?"  Screw that, they can join the "We don't want to admit we play in New Jersey" Jets and Giants as being the biggest liars in professional sports.  If you have to lie about where you play, you know deep down inside, in places you don't like to talk about at parties, that you've done something bad.

I'll be at Mom Clutter's house for Mother's Day weekend, so I'll probably have to DVR Saturday's Doctor Who episode, but the more writer Neil Gaiman talks about his script, the more I think this is likely to be worth the wait.  I'll enjoy some of the Gaiman experience before that, because I'm sure I'll be bringing my copy of American Gods for the trip.  I tend to read things (too) quickly, so it's been a challenge to pace myself with this book, but it's been worth the effort so far.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I think we'll let Mr. Eric Clapton take us out with today's, "Song of the Day."  Enjoy:

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as aways.  Try to stay dry out there, and come back later, so we can watch the Community season/series finale together.  Until then, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in.  How's your day going so far?  It's gorgeous out there!  I went to the gym and then walked around downtown Boston and back to do some errands.  It was so relaxing, but my feet need a rest, so let's get down to business.  Let's shake things up a bit.  Help yourself to a Sam Adams Summer Ale, and let's clear out some Saturday Clutter.

I left the gym last night and stopped at the local liquor store on the way back to Clutter Headquarters, when something caught my eye.  There was a display of the new 12-packs of Sam Adams Summer Ale in cans.  I spent a few minutes deliberating, and then finally my curiosity got the better of me, so I bought a 12-pack.  So, what's the verdict?  Has Sam Adams discovered a new way to package beer to make you forget you're drinking out of a can?  Clutter says no.

I will concede right now that most of this might be in my head.  I haven't had beer out of a can since at least college.  Okay, let's be honest, high school.  I'm sure there's some part of me that just can't get over that I'm holding a can instead of a bottle, and I'm having flashbacks to drinking Miller Genuine Draft, and that's what my brain is expecting to taste.   This beer does still generally taste like Sam Summer, but that metallic aftertaste is still there, which is a fail for me.  However, I guess if you want to bring it to the beach, or a tailgating party or something, it's fine.  However, I'll be sticking with the bottles.

A good try.  (pic via craftcans.com)

Why is To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee suing her literary agent?

Let me get this straight, the incoming president of the NRA once called the Civil War, "the War of Northern Aggression," and he makes his predecessor look like a moderate?  Great, give me another Sam Summer.

It's sad to see former pitcher/current Toronto Blue Jays announcer Jack Morris embarrass himself with his accusations that Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is cheating.  It's telling that not one member of the Blue Jays team said anything during their game against Buchholz, which would clearly make them idiots if they didn't notice something was wrong, but Morris just says whatever comes to mind as he tries to distract folks from the fact that this year's highly-touted Blue Jays team is shaping up to be as miserable a disaster as last year's Sox team. 

Meanwhile, Sox pitcher Felix Doubront got lit up like a firecracker in yesterday's 7-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.  Granted, Texas has a terrific line-up, but I have increasingly less faith in Doubront as time goes on.  I don't know if it's because he has a "dead arm," and something can be done to fix it, but he never inspires confidence, and if he doesn't start showing signs of life fairly soon, the Sox should start thinking about guys like Allen Webster, and any other prospects they have high hopes for.

How awesome would it be to have Metallica play the national anthem before a Red Sox/Patriots/Bruins/Celtics  game? By the way, does it freak anyone else out as much as it did me, to learn that the youngest member of the band is bassist Robert Trujillo, who's 48 years old?

I see this trailer for a movie called Aftershock.  The first half seems like it's going to be some type of Hangover-ish comedy, and then it takes a sharp left turn into natural disaster/horror movie.  It's like they spliced highlights from two different movies together:

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  We're going to let James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet from Metallica take us out with their rendition of the Star Spangled Banner for today's, "Clip of the Day."  Seriously, the only thing I see wrong with having this lead off a game, is that it might get some players so revved up they start a fight in the first inning.  Other than that, rock on.

 

Thanks for stopping by, kids.  It was great to see you, as always.  You are certainly welcome to come back later tonight if you want to watch Doctor Who and/or the Red Sox with us.  Otherwise, enjoy the rest of your day, and we'll see you back here again for more fun soon.  Until next time, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Sunday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  How are you on this gorgeous Sunday?  Seriously, could it be any nicer out?  BDH, Little Buddha and I had a nice walk on Boylston Street yesterday, and now they want to go out again for a trip around the neighborhood.  I told them to go put on their sunscreen and get their hats, and then we'd do it as soon as we were done here.  So, help yourself to a nice medium iced DD, and let's clear out a little Clutter.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Felix Doubront looked liked he'd forgotten it was his turn to pitch during the first inning of yesterday's game against the Houston Astros.  He walked three batters, hit another one, and I think threw about 40 pitches.  However, someone apparently reminded him that the Astros are, how you say, "not good," and he found his bearings and made it through almost seven innings, as the Sox went on to beat Houston 8-4.  Meanwhile, David Ortiz just kept hitting the ball and driving in runs, as he went 2-3 with 3 RBI, and closed the night with a .519 batting average.  John Lackey takes the mound this afternoon in his first game back since he was hurt in Toronto, and he probably couldn't ask for a better opponent to face than the hapless Astros.

I wish I could have been there on Friday when President Obama became the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood's annual meeting.  The president discussed the never-ending attacks on women's health, and he nailed it with this quote:

"No matter how great the challenge, no matter how fierce the opposition, if there's one thing the past few years have shown, it's that Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere."

Damn right.

Has it really been a decade since the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed?  Wow, it doesn't seem like it's been nearly that long.

A timeless classic.  (pic via epodunk.com)

I think I'd give last night's Doctor Who episode a B+.   It was darker than most of the other episodes so far this year, which is a plus, and it was interesting to see more of the inside of the TARDIS, which as I wrote yesterday, has always been a source of great daydreaming to me.  On the other hand, there were several moments that should have felt much more dramatic than they did, such as The Doctor's companion Clara learning what his real name is (though she conveniently forgets by the end of the story).  I just don't understand what the issue is but the second half of this season still feels much fluffier than the first half did.  It's as if they changed the production team at the mid-point, but Steven Moffat is still there.  Maybe he's distracted by other projects.

Speaking of Doctor Who, I also mentioned yesterday that one of my favorite episodes was called The Doctor's Wife, which was written by Neil Gaiman.  As we were hanging out in Barnes and Noble on Boylston Street yesterday, BDH and Little Buddha suggested that I buy his book, American Gods.  It was a good call by those two.  (They're really very perceptive.)  I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but it's an intriguing read.  I'll let you know more when I get further into the story.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  There's a Red Sox promo that's always running on NESN, which is set to the tune of "It's Time," by the Imagine Dragons.  The damn song is stuck in my head, and you know the rules - when it's stuck in mine, I like to share with you.  So on that note, here are the Imagine Dragons with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of this gorgeous day, and we'll see you again for more fun soon.  Until next time, that's today's Clutter, and as you might have guessed, we are outta here.

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Testing, testing.  One, two, encyclopedia, encyclopedia.  Is this thing working?  Can you hear me now?  Hey,  hello there!  Sorry we missed you yesterday.  Clutter had some technical difficulties when we first arrived in Fort Myers, but they've all been straightened out, and we're back!  Mom Clutter and I are having a great time so far.  It didn't seem all that hot out when we were at the game yesterday, but I already have a light sunburn.  I tell you, just thinking about the sun makes me pink.  Anyway, we'll talk more about that another time.  For now, help yourself to a nice medium  DD, and let's clear out some Wednesday Clutter.

It was terrific to be back at Jet Blue Park.  We sat on the left field side, past the dugout, but there really isn't a bad seat in the place.  The Boston Red Sox lost 5-1 against the Miami Marlins, but that doesn't tell the story.  Jon Lester looked strong while throwing four shutout innings.  I believe that means he gave up two runs in 24 innings during spring training this year, so it's not surprising that he'll be the Opening Day starter for the third year in a row on Monday.  Lester was followed by Andrew Miller and Andrew Bailey, who were both sharp, but then Daniel Bard struggled, giving up three runs in the 7th.  Junichi Tazawa was good after him, and then someone named Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up two more runs in the 9th.  Obviously I'd like to see more hitting, but I'm not worried about this team's offense, I want to see the pitching shine like it (generally) did today.  Next up, Clay Buchholz and company (including a supposedly returning Jacoby Ellsbury) against the Minnesota Twins.

So far it sounds like the U.S. Supreme Court might be looking for a narrow decision regarding Prop. 8 in California, so that they don't have to endorse same-sex marriage as a general concept, but it's challenging to see how they can let the Defense of Marriage Act stand, especially when there seems to be a combination of the four liberal justices supporting marriage equality, and Justice Anthony Kennedy wanting to leave things to the states. 

Aww, Ashley Judd's not going to run for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky against Mitch McConnell?   That would have been fun to watch.

Ashley Judd.  (pic via usmagazine.com)

Friend of Clutter/ Little Seal author/ incredible mom-woman-human being Emily Rapp gives another moving interview about her son Ronan and his death from Tay Sachs.  I also have to point out that the article is accompanied by a beautiful picture of the two of them.  Go check it out, I'll wait for you here.

Everyone back?  Okay, let's continue.

It's amazing that we still have stories like Boston College threatening disciplinary action against students who are distributing condoms out of their dorm rooms.   You'd think this was 1953, not 2013.  You'd also think schools would want to keep their students healthy and safe.

It seems like time for another reminder that fees matter when it comes to retirement plans, and even what sounds like a small percentage can add up to a lot of money.   You all know Clutter doesn't give specific investing advice, but as a general rule of thumb, you want to keep your fees down as low as you can, and that's a powerful argument for Index Funds, which have much lower fees than actively managed mutual funds (in some cases, as  low as 10% of an active fund.) 

This is Tim McCarver's last year announcing baseball games for Fox?  Excuse me while I do a dance of joy around my table here.  That's outstanding.  It's painful to listen to him and Joe Buck. 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I think Mom Clutter and I might go play some miniature golf now (as soon as I put on some sunscreen.)  I actually watched Rock of Ages last week, and we're going to have to talk about that train wreck in more detail another time, but let's close things out with one of the songs in the movie with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and let's do this again soon.   For now, that's today's Clutter, and we still love you, so don't harden your heart, but we are outta here.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  Come on in, make yourself comfortable.  How's your week going so far?  Mine's okay.  In addition to being full of Clutter, my head at times starts speeding up a little too quickly.  It's almost as if I've had too much coffee (as if such a thing were possible), and it's annoying.  So today's goal is to slow it down a bit while we go through the headlines.  Wait, where did BDH and Little Buddha go?  Oh, there they are.  Okay, help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's relax while we clear out a little Wednesday Clutter.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.   He certainly left a complex legacy behind, but it's always good to have a critical mind when listening to critics who attack someone who helped the poor in his country, because any leader who does that ends up making a lot of powerful enemies.

Here's one of the many problems with today's unhinged GOP.  They make so many insane claims about President Obama that it distracts from real problems with the administration like, oh, I don't know, they think they have legal permission to kill a U.S. citizen on American soil with a drone.  Yeah, that deserves a little more discussion than Obama's birth certificate.

It's hard to be that excited about the Dow hitting an all-time high while the economy still continues to struggle and now has to face with our self-inflicted wounds from the sequester.

10 years later, as LZ Granderson writes, a lot of people owe the Dixie Chicks an apology.    They spoke their minds about the Iraq War and paid for it.  The hypocrisy of the "America: Love it or leave it" crowd when it comes to free speech never ceases to amaze.

Time for the comeback.  (pic via nbc.com)

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Drake Britton hit 111 mph this weekend.  The problem is that he was drunk behind the wheel at the time.  Dear Mr. Britton, smarten the bleep up.  I don't know what discipline options are available to the Sox, but you're lucky you're not dead or that you didn't hurt someone.

Fox is launching a sports network to compete with ESPN. 

The New York Yankees are falling apart at the seams as first baseman Mark Teixeira is the latest to hurt himself.  That's a shame.

Jon Stewart is taking two months off from The Daily Show this summer.  Deep breaths, everyone.  We'll be okay.

Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of the death from a drug overdose of actor John Belushi.  I read Bob Woodward's Belushi bio, Wired, several times in my youth, as Woodward portrayed a man who lived fast and died hard.  Given Woodward's current credibility problems, perhaps I ought to revisit the book.

I don't know much about much, but I know this about that:  Iron Man 3 looks like a fun time at the theater.  It's still amazing to see how far Robert Downey Jr. has come since his days of getting high and wandering into random homes.  It makes me wonder if John Belushi could have eventually pulled off the same comeback if he hadn't died prematurely.

 

Note to Taylor Swift:  Taking on Tina Fey and Amy Poehler is not going to turn out well for you.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  We close things out with one of my most favorite John Belushi moments for today's, "Song of the Day."  Note, the clip is much larger than what we usually feature, which only seems appropriate for a larger-than-life personality.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Getting the chance to hang out with you definitely slowed my head down for the time being, so many thanks for that.  I'm still not sure what the weather forecast is for today, but stay safe, stay dry, be good, and come back soon.  You know that we only get by with a little help from our friends.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Tuesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  How are you?  BDH, Little Buddha and I are all happy to see you.  Did you notice the Clutter Tree outside before you came in?  Take a peek, we have the first little buds of the new year!  It will still be a while before the leaves come back, but just seeing them start to appear is good enough for us.  Okay, time for business.  Help yourself to a nice fresh medium DD, and let's clear out a little Tuesday Clutter.

We start today with an announcement that Emily Rapp's new book, The Still Point of the Turning World, detailing her journey when her son Ronan was diagnosed with a fatal disorder, goes on sale on Thursday.  Emily is the author of the "Our Little Seal" blog, which is one of the Clutter favorites, and to say she's incredible is a gross understatement.  Sadly, Ronan died last month, but I have no doubt that his mom has given him a moving tribute in this book.

(pic via amazon.com)

If any of you were hoping that Jeb Bush might be the one to lead the GOP back to a less extreme position, you're out of luck.  The former Florida governor is now more anti-immigration reform than W. was, so you should probably keep looking for new leader.

Just one day after Clutter expressed concern, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz sounds more optimistic about being ready for the start of the season. 

I still can't get my arms around this Florida sinkhole that killed a man in Florida.  The damn thing is 60 feet deep?  They're really not going to be able to recover his body?  Listen, I absolutely understand that this is a real person that we're talking about, and the whole thing is a tremendous tragedy, but it's also the opening sequence of so many science fiction/horror movies.  I'm a horrible person, let's move on.

What does billionaire investor Warren Buffett think Apple should do with the gajillion dollars they're holding onto in reserve?

First it was Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, and now the injury bug claims another member of the New York Yankees, this time general manager Brian Cashman, who broke his leg after jumping out of a plane.

Now that the New England Patriots have Tom Brady signed to a new deal, it would be great if they could quickly wrap things up with wide receiver Wes Welker and then move on to other needs this off-season.

2013 just keeps getting better as the mighty Van Halen announced their first U.S. concert date of the year!  I'm feeling so optimistic today, I'm going to predict that this show comes and goes without a hitch.  I know, I'm talking crazy talk here, but what can I say?  The show will go on!

Oh wait, we're not done!  The third Doctor Who special of the year will be on March 31st, just one day after the resumption of the second half of this season!  That means I'll have about three hours of new Doctor Who to watch when Clutter gets back from watching the Boston Red Sox in spring training at Fort Myers.  I think I'm getting dizzy.

The good news continues with the return of Mad Men in just over a month.  You know what that means, right?  More Alison Brie!  I have to lie down.

Clutter isn't a huge fan of Anchorman, and hearing that Harrison Ford will appear in the sequel doesn't do anything to change that.  How long has it been since the former Han Solo dominated the box office?  15 years?

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  We're going to close things out with a little old school Van Halen with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and come back soon, because BDH and Little Buddha are always eager for company.  Be sure to check out the Clutter Tree on your way out.  Spring is just around the corner, my friends.  Until next time, that's today's Clutter, and this may be love, but we are still outta here.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in, make yourself comfortable.  How are you?  I'm so excited that March is finally here.  I'm going to see the Dropkick Murphys in two weeks, then there's the road trip to Fort Myers to see the Red Sox, and then the month ends with the return of Doctor Who!  What more could I ask for?  However, first things first.  BDH and Little Buddha are ready with some fresh coffee, so help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Saturday Clutter.

Did you hear the story of the guy who was swallowed up in his bedroom by a sinkhole?  What the hell?  It sounds like something straight out of a horror movie, or even a Doctor Who episode.  Condolences to his family and friends.

As sequestration begins, it's amazing/depressing/infuriating that we are going to harm on a fragile recovery for no reason except that the GOP is completely out of touch with the majority of the country, and their radical members couldn't care less.  Much of the economic troubles of the last few years has been symptomatic of a global recession, but this is a completely self-inflicted wound. 

I don't know how anyone in the GOP says with a straight face that they'd be willing to work with President Obama if he wasn't so mean.  Their party declared war on him on his first day in office and haven't let up since.  He wasted too much time in his first term trying to get them to engage in legitimate conversations with him, and they wanted nothing to do with him.  Now they're whining because he's not rolling over for them.  This party is a joke.

Bob Woodward's latest book, The Price of Politics, made it clear that he's no fan of the Obama administration.  He sets the tone with an introduction that highlights his sense of the President's lack of accomplishment before taking office, and then everything else the White House does is portrayed as stubborn, unprofessional, and clueless.  So, maybe whatever created that hostility is what's driving the author in his current bizarre battle with the White House, but he looks worse and worse by the day.

I sometimes forget that baseball players (or professional athletes in general) are also human beings, but check out this story by Gordon Edes of why former (and perhaps future) Boston Red Sox player Drew Sutton hit what Edes calls his favorite home run of 2012.

Winning certainly pays off handsomely.  Joe Flacco got the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl championship, and the Baltimore Ravens rewarded him with a six-year / $120 million contract.  Of course, this is the NFL we're talking about, so far all we know this could end up being a two-year deal for $10 million, and Flacco will be cut in 2015, but it makes for a good headline.

Did I mention that Doctor Who returns in 28 days?

The countdown begins!  (pic via bbcamerica.com)

Is Ahhhhnold going back to bodybuilding?

R.I.P. Bonnie Franklin.  The actress, who was best known as the mom on One Day at a Time, died yesterday at age 69.

 

In case anyone is wondering, 90210 is going off the air after five seasons.  Yes, it was on for five seasons.  Quick, can you name five shows on the CW network?  No cheating!

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I recently came across this clip of Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow playing at a Johnny Cash tribute show, and it reinforced an eternal truth for me:  Willie Nelson is bad-ass.  So, I think we'll let the two of them close things out with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and make sure you come back for more randomness soon.  You know how antsy we get when you're not here, and no one wants that.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and we'll discuss at some other point what would happen if we were a carpenter and you were a lady, but for now, we're outta here.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in, make yourself comfortable.  How's your day going so far?  I was out the door early this morning to make sure that I could get to the gym and do a grocery shopping before the next round of snow came.  Now I see that it's not supposed to start until sometime around 5:00, and I'm starting to wonder if the whole thing has been over-hyped again. 

However, that's fine, because this has already been a good day.  First off, BDH got a birthday gift certificate in the mail for a free medium coffee from Dunkin Donuts, and second, everyone here is excited to watch the Boston Red Sox play on NESN for the first time this year!  Hell, we're so excited, we're actually eager to see how John Lackey looks!  So, it's all good, but right now, let's focus on the task at hand.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, because it's time to clear out a little Saturday Clutter.  Ready?  Here we go...

I don't believe that Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down simply because of health issues.  We'll see whether or not it has anything to do with some type of "gay lobby" in the Vatican, but something will eventually be revealed as the real reason he's leaving. 

Glad to hear that the government will be going after any profits convicted bomber Eric Rudolph receives from his new book.  He shouldn't be allowed to benefit from his heinous acts that took several lives.

Citigroup shareholders didn't want to pay their last CEO $15 million, but his replacement gets $11.5 million?  Doesn't seem like much of a difference to me.  In full disclosure, I owned Citigroup stock years ago when I was first learning about the stock market.  The stock was at a low price because the company had just had some sort of scandal, and my recollection is that I did okay when I sold it (as part of the plan to come up with the down payment for Clutter Headquarters), but I never felt right about being connected to that company.  There were other scandals, and they never inspired confidence.  I was happy to cash out in order to move into this sprawling manse with a fantastic tree.

It's too bad that we won't be watching David Ortiz today, but everything will be fine as long as he's ready for action by the time Clutter gets to Fort Myers at the end of March.  The Big Papi News Desk is eager to get back to work!

What is the "Larry Bird drill," and how will it benefit the Red Sox?

The new Doctor Who special is on tomorrow night, so I don't know how much I'll catch of the Oscars, but I hope host Seth MacFarlane does well.   The Family Guy creator is at his best when he's pushing the boundaries, so it will be interesting to see to what extent he's allowed to do that, or if he's neutered in front of the Hollywood establishment.

Seth MacFarlane (pic via monstersandcritics.com)

Former President Jimmy Carter weighed in on what he says is wrong with Argo.  His points are perfectly fine, but I can't say I care.  Unless a movie is claiming to be a documentary, I tend to assume it's largely fiction, even if it's "based on real-life events."  Argo is a dramatic story, and a well-made movie, and I give Ben Affleck credit for putting it together.  If it has a limited connection to reality?  So be it.

I still find it remarkable that One Life to Live and All My Children are coming back from the dead.  More than a year after the plans to switch them to an online platform were cancelled, the two soap operas resume production on Monday.  The bigger question here is, will enough viewers watch first-run content online to make this experiment profitable, and if so, what does it say for the future of television? 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Let's have Seth MacFarlane and the rest of the Family Guy crew take us out with today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was geat to see you, as always.  Those of you who want to stick around and watch the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays are more than welcome to hang out some more.  As for the rest of you, be good, stay out of the storm (if it ever arrives), and come back soon so we can do this all over again.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

How are you?  How's your week going so far?  I always feel like I'm playing catch-up when a three-day weekend includes a Monday.  On the flip side, Friday is already that much closer, so I guess it all balances out in the end.  BDH and Little Buddha are reminding me to focus on living in the present, and they're right, as usual.  So, help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Wednesday Clutter.

What are the odds that Cardinal Sean O'Malley is really a contender to be the next pope?  Is this like when you start hearing rumors that senators from New Hampshire are under consideration for a vice-presidential slot?  No one believes that it has the slightest chance of happening, but it's good to have your name out there?

Scott Brown should have reconsidered accepting a job with Fox News if he really has any interest in being governor, because that move is just not going to fly with Massachusetts voters.  It also won't help that he thinks he could explain some "questionable" Tweeting by claiming it was a "pocket tweet."  Those would be some pretty magical pockets, sir.  Clearly I speak from jealousy since my own pocket tweets look like this:  "xrfsdlnnnnnnnnnnnn" and not anything resembling actual words.

The Massachusetts GOP continue to blur any distinctions between themselves and their national bretheren as they feign outrage over a connection between Congressman Ed Markey and former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.  Yeah, that's a way to broaden your base in the state.

A state legislator proposes making the simple act of filing gun control legislation a felony.  There are some scary people in office these days, kids.  Their disconnect from  reality grows by the day.  When they're not trying to throw people in jail for four years for proposing legislation, they're showing unbelivable ignorance about fundamental biology by refering to abortion as the removal of "the largest organ in the body."  This is what happens when you allow creationism into the schools as a "valid competing theory."

The Tea Party needs to work on their messaging.  Do they think President Obama or Karl Rove is a modern-day Hitler?  Focus, guys. 

Hotmail email accounts are disappearing, seemingly leaving AOL as one of the last old school addresses standing.  That's fine, I'll be old-school 'til the end, though you can still reach us at bitsofclutter@gmail.com.

Who cares if it's just two exhibition games against Northeastern University and Boston College:  The 2013 Boston Red Sox are just a day away from playing some baseball!  That should also mean, among other things, the return of Jenny Dell.  Life is good.

Welcome back!  (pic via baseballjournal.com)

Funny, I was just talking to Mom Clutter about this when she was here last weekend.  The Tampa Bay Rays have a great organization and do a remarkable job of producing talented teams year after year on a small budget.  However, no matter how successful they are, no one will come to see them, which is why you never hear big name free agents talk about how much they want to play there.

Who feels "bullied" by music executive Clive Davis' new autobiography?

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I think we're going to let Jane's Addiction close things out with their cover of this Rolling Stones classic.  Clutter is a big fan of the original, but we also enjoy a different take every now and again, so on that note, here we go with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  I'll be out for a bit tonight, so if you see me and tell me you're a Clutterhead, there just might be a free beer in it for you.  Otherwise, be good, and we'll meet back here for more fun soon.  Until next time, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  How's your week going so far?  The heat is on overdrive again here, but I guess we should be appreciative of that since it's about zero degrees outside.  BDH and Little Buddha are running around in their swimsuits, but they're still ready to get to work, so help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Wednesday Clutter.

So, wait a second.  If we can suspend the debt limit for three months, like the House Republicans want to do, than why can't we suspended it permanently and stop subjecting our economy to this continually irresponsible brinkmanship every time the GOP works itself into a lather?

With a new poll showing that 70% of the country supports Roe v. Wade, maybe it's time for Republicans to stop focusing on trying to overturn the Supreme Court decision and blocking access to health care services for women, and instead focus on supporting proven preventative measures like comprehensive sex education and the federal Title X family planning program.

Or, they could just continue with the usual nonsense like Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who says opposing birth control coverage is just like Martin Luther King, Jr's campaign for civil rights.

I saw someone on the T yesterday reading former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona's new book.   Something tells me this is going to be a best-seller around here.  (How's that for going out on a limb, huh?  Next up?  Prediction that tomorrow is Thursday.)

New Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli has avascular necrosis in both hips?  I believe that's the same condition that both Bo Jackson and Eddie Van Halen had.   Yeah, it's good they only signed him to one year. The Sox had to designate pitcher Chris Carpenter for assignment to make room for Napoli, so between Carpenter and outfielder Marlon Byrd, Boston got roughly the value of a used hot dog wrapper for letting Theo Epstein go to the Chicago Cubs.

I don't think Wes Welker's wife had anything to apologize for after she criticized Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis for his past legal troubles.  There will be a lot of fawning pieces about Lewis for the next two weeks, but let's tell the entire story here. 

Do former Oakland Raiders teammates Tim Brown and Jerry Rice seriously expect us to believe that their coach threw the Super Bowl?  Come on, get outta here with that nonsense.

Oh, I'm going to have to clear out some room on the DVR for this:  BBC America is airing a complete  adventure of the first Doctor on Sunday.   I don't think I've ever seen a complete Doctor Who episode featuring this Doctor or his successor before.  Apparently they'll be showing one adventure of each Doctor per month until we get to the 50th anniversary in November.  Sweet! 

Wait, Alison Brie and Jennifer Lawrence were in a television show together?   Did I just break the Internet?  How did this not get picked up?  Oh, the humanity.

What was this all about?  (pic via uproxx.com)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I always like the song, "Gone Away" by The Offspring, and now they've got this "unplugged" version which features Dead Sara's lead singer Emily Armstrong.  I'm still sort of partial to the original, but this is an interesting alternative, and it's today's, "Song of the Day." (Note:  You're going to have to hit the "full screen" icon to really get this.)

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and try to stay warm.  Of course, you know you're welcome to come back and hang out later if you can't shake off the chill.  My guess is that BDH and Little Buddha will have a beach party going on by then.  In any case, be good, and it feels, and it feels like heaven's so far away, which is why we are outta here.