Clearing out the Clutter

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Holy windy Saturday!  The Clutter Tree is swaying every which way, and BDH is worried it's going to blow away.  We're trying to explain to him that it will be okay, but he seems anxious, poor guy.  Well, make yourself comfortable, grab a medium DD, and let's see if we can power through some Clutter while still keeping an eye on the tree.

Let's see, Mittens held a small event in Detroit's enormous Ford Field yesterday, where he pointed out how many Cadillacs his wife Ann owns.  Other than that, it was a good day for the campaign.

Let the fun begin! (pic via dailykos.com)

We probably shouldn't be so hard on Mitt Romney, those stadiums are hard to fill, and it's not like any other presidential candidate has had a better turnout in a smilar setting recently.  Oh, wait:

(pic via townhall.com)

I'm at a loss for words to describe this bizarre video of Virginia Delegate David Albo (R) spending three minutes explaining to his colleagues in detail how his bill to force ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, cost him some..."action" with his wife:

 

Did Foxwoods Casinos buy Boston.com?  Their ads on the sides of the site's homepage completely overwhelm the news articles.

To the disappointment of every GOP presidential candidate, the S & P 500 reached its highest level since 2008 yesterday.

Index funds are a good default investing tool for most people, but Warren Buffett remains a notable exception to that rule, as his company Berkshire Hathaway beat the S & P 500 for the 39th time in 47 years.

They can't use the stock market to make their case, so the Republican presidential candidates are forced to continue lying about President Obama supporting infanticide.  Not to sound like too much of an old fogey, but I can still remember "back in the day" when such ludicrous accusations would have been confined to late night talk show callers who would then pivot to charges that the government was putting some sort of mind control drug in our water supply.  The ongoing implosion of the Republican Party remains one of the most fascinating political developments I've ever seen.

If the Obama administration is looking for a new Ambassador to the Bahamas who actually wants the job, BDH, Little Buddha, and I are willing to consider it.

NL MVP Ryan Braun was defiant in his first public comments after having his suspension for failing a drug test overturned.  He does baseball no favors by referring to the drug testing program as "fatally flawed."  Major League Baseball should always be striving to have the strongest and fairest policy in place, and if there are errors, they should leap at the chance to improve them.  However, there's still no explanation for why Braun's specimen showed such high levels of testosterone, and no proof of tampering was provided by anyone.  Hopefully Braun is clean, but he should expect to spend the year under a microscope.

Boston Red Sox players react to the Braun decision.

I'm fascinated by the fact that Dan Shaughnessy was paid to write a column today about how David Ortiz yelled at him for something he didn't do.  Does Shaughnessy have incriminating photos of his editors at the Boston Globe?  I wonder if he was at all embarrassed about turning in such a lazy/uninformative piece of writing, or if he really just stopped caring after the Red Sox destroyed his beloved, "Curse of the Bambino."  Just throw in the towel if you have nothing left, Dan.

Say good night, Dan. (pic via bostonsportsmedia.com)

In other news, Major League Baseball may be forcing Frank McCourt to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers, to the relief of the team's fans, but no one said anything about the parking lots.

ESPN's Gordon Edes reports on Manny Ramirez's comments upon joining the Oakland A's, and also slips in a criticism of Peter Gammons for printing Terry Francona's emotional comments about Ramirez a few years ago.

We have the first look at new Star Trek villan Benedict Cumberbatch in action!

A belated happy birthday to Abe Vigoda!  The actor, who has been rumored to be dead for 30 years, turned 91 yesterday.

Still alive.  (pic via aveleyman.com)

I don't know actor Patrick Wilson, or his show, A Gifted Man, but he seems like my kind of guy.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Abe Vigoda still lives, but he definitely didn't come out on the good end of this scene from The Godfather after trying to set up Al Pacino to be killed.  Well, you can't win them all.  Here's today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you as always.  Have a good day, try not to get swept away by the wind, and we'll all meet back here again for more fun soon.  Until next time, today's Clutter has been cleared.

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back, how are you?  We're (less than) a week away from Leap Day (someone can't do math), and Little Buddha's been trying to explain that concept to BDH all morning, but I don't think it's sinking in yet.  Why don't we leave the two of them alone for now, grab a medium DD, and clear out some Clutter in the meantime.  Sound good?  Here we go...

The GOP wrapped up their first season of Crazy Debates last night in Arizona.  No more debates are currently scheduled, but maybe they'll convince everyone to come back for a post-season wrap-up special hosted by Dr. Drew.

No one had a performance to be proud of last night, but Rick Santorum particularly demonstrated that he's not prepared for being the front-runner on any level.  It remains a brutal indictment of Mitt Romney that Mittens couldn't put this guy away five months ago.

Santorum isn't holding back any of the crazy now, saying that teens were less sexually active before contraception was readily available.  Meanwhile, Romney surrogate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants to make sure everyone knows Santorum thinks Satan is coming after us.  You really couldn't make these stories up.

The Romney camp sent out an edited edition of an endorsement from the Detroit News, and the newspaper isn't happy about it at all.  Turning an endorsement into a negative news story is an impressive trick.

Glad to hear that George Huguely was convicted of killing his ex girlfriend.  He was described as an abusive thug, and may he serve every one of his 26 year sentence. 

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) abandoned his support for the legislation recently approved by the Virginia House that would mandate a trans-vaginal ultrasound for women seeking an abortion, instead saying that it should be an abdominal one.  (The same McDonnell whose master's theisis called working women "detrimental" to the family.)  McDonnell clearly realized that the original bill would kill any chance he has of seeking higher office, and it's a step in the right direction, but the state shouldn't be mandating any procedure.  This should be a situation between a woman and her doctor, and the state should recognize them both as competent adults.  No matter how loudly Republicans scream about "small government," they can't resist a chance to interfere in reproductive health issues.  It's a fetish, really.

McDonnell (pic via politico.com)

If you want to invest in the stock market, you're better off just buying an index fund than an actively-manged fund.  The index funds consistently beat the majority of their active competitors, so why should you pay for someone's salary and marketing expenses for worse results?

A new paper suggests that eating gluten-free products may be a waste of money for people without celiac disease.  The paper's authors say that the main problem is there's no set definition for "gluten sensitivity," so perhaps more research is needed.

Big Papi has arrived in spring training. So has the Laser Show, and they both sound ready to get down to business.  It's amazing that David Ortiz is about to become the longest-tenured member of the Boston Red Sox, assuming that Jason Varitek is about to retire.  Where does the time go?  By the way, can we lose the whole "captain" notion this year?  It's an idea whose time has come and gone, and with Varitek's expected pending retirement, let the concept go into the sunset with him.

Terry Francona and Manny Ramirez clearly don't exchange Christmas cards.

The Boston Celtics must be thrilled to have the All Star break now after losing 119-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.  It was the 8th loss in 9 games for Boston, though Doc Rivers called it a, "team-building game."  The Celtics are now off for the next six days, so they can rest up and figure out what they need to do to be relevant in the second half of the season.

I'm thrilled (and a little relieved) to hear that Eddie Van Halen is getting good reviews so far as Van Halen launches their tour.  There have already been countless clips from the first few shows, thanks to the band allowing video cameras into the shows this time, and he sounds locked in.  Can't wait to see for myself!

Uh oh, what's actor Sacha Baron Cohen threatening to do at the Oscars that has the Academy in such a tizzy?

Sacha Baron Cohen (pic via celebrity-gossip.net)

So sorry to hear that Seinfeld actor Daniel Von Bargen attempted to kill himself by shooting himself in the head.  I hope that he comes through in one piece and can get some help after that.

Jennifer Aniston doesn't sound excited about a Friends reunion, but there's no way they won't do it at some point down the road.

Friends can't stay apart forever.  (pic via epguides.com)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  President Obama was in the news a few weeks ago for singing an Al Green tune, and now he's back for more, singing Sweet Home Chicago with B.B. King and company at a recent White House concert.  I'd say that's pretty cool, though I imagine the GOP would find a way to claim it's proof that he's a Muslim terrorist.  Either way, it's today's, "Song of the Day," so check it out:

 

Thanks for stopping by, it was great to see you as always.  Have a good day, and feel free to come back later today if you want to go to happy hour or to just hang out.  We'll still be here trying to explain the concept of Leap Day.  Otherwise, we'll see you again tomorrow for more fun and coffee.  Until next time, that's the Clutter, and we are outta here.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to the house of randomness.  What is with the weather?  It was supposed to snow last night, but today's forecast calls for a high in the mid-50's.  I have several meetings today, and my brain tells me that it's late February, so of course I need my winter jacket, but I don't if it's really going to be that warm.  What to do?  I'm having a brain cramp here.  Okay, first things first.  Grab a medium DD, then let's clear out some Clutter, and then I'll figure out what coat I need.  Here we go...

It can't be a good sign that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear another case regarding affirmative action policies in higher education.  The scope of the ruling could be narrowly tailored to the case involving a woman who was unable to get into the University of Texas, but no matter what, it's hard to imagine it won't be a restrictive outcome.

Casting a cloud over the entire election process, it appears that 25% of all super PAC money this year is coming from five donors.  The Supreme Court may think that money equals speech, but these guys have their surround sound stereo blasting at 11 while the rest of us are barely above a whisper.

Mitt Romney continues to follow Rick Santorum's lead by claiming President Obama has led some sort of "war on religion."  I wonder if there's any part of Mittens that feels the slightest bit of shame at the depths to which he will sink to try to win this campaign.  His rhetoric is so consistently not-based in reality, that it seems like he will truly say anything at all for a vote.

The struggle for control of Romney's inner voice continues.  On the one hand, you have the "severe conservative."  On the other, you have the man saying that cutting growth slows down the economy.  That's not going to play well with the base, though not much is these days.

The search for the "real Romney" continues. (pic via invisiblechildren.com)

The S.S. Romney continues to take on water, as a new poll shows him losing his once-considerable lead over Rick Santorum in Arizona.

GOP Senate candidate/former Representative Pete Hoekstra is running as fast as he can from his own racist campaign Super Bowl ad.

Republican Indiana State Rep. Bob Morris thinks the Girl Scouts sell gay abortion cookies.

Wait, what's this?  Conservative voters use the safety net too?  Shocking.  One of the greatest cons in American politics is getting middle and lower-income voters to repeatedly vote against their own economic interests.  Needing help isn't a moral failure, it's a simple fact of life.  We should be looking out for each other, not looking down on each other.

Comcast is launching its own version of Netflix.  I hope it's a better service than "On Demand," which lists about 5000 programs, of which, three are interesting.

Johnson & Johnson CEO Bill Weldon finally lost his job after the company was forced to recall seemingly-all of its products at one point or another over the last few years.

There's a new edition of Sam Adams coming out to celebrate the Boston Marathon, and the best part is,  you don't have to run the marathon to drink it!

The saga is over:  The Boston Red Sox are getting a Chicago Cubs pitcher named (not "that") Chris Carpenter as compensation for Theo Epstein.  Carpenter is projected as a hard-throwing middle reliever-type and doesn't seem that bad.  The Red Sox never should have let Theo go before they knew who they were getting in return, but since they did that, Carpenter seems about a good a prospect as they could have hoped for.  Let's move on.

Chris Carpenter (pic via bleacherreport.com)

There's nothing I love hearing from a player more than boston Red Sox third baseman/Tom Brady's future brother-in-law Kevin Youkilis's comment, "I’m going to make it as hard on them as possible not to bring me back.’’  Good luck, you sweaty bull.  Force ownership's hand and make them offer you a new contract at the end of this season.

Let the fun begin! (pic via espn.com)

Speaking of which, condolences to Tom Brady on the passing of his longtime quarterback mentor Tom Martinez, who died yesterday of a heart attack while undergoing dialysis.

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Brady Quinn probably hasn't won any supporters with his whining about Tim Tebow.  This might be why you're a backup, Brady.  Broncos VP John Elway is clearly looking for a way out of "Tebow Time."  Make your case that you deserve the job in such a dominant fashion that Elway can say there was no way for him to ignore you.  Otherwise, shut the hell up.

Community returns on March 15th!  Get with the program and watch this show, my friends.   If there's room on TV for The Bachelor, there's room for this well-written program.

Who would dare go after the estate of The Godfather author Mario Puzo and why?  Doesn't sound like a wise move, unless they're prepared to sleep with the fishes.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Let's have Willie Nelson take us out with his amazing cover of Coldplay's, "The Scientist."  If today's "Song of the Day" doesn't move you, then...well, that's just sad.  Enjoy the master at work:

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you as always.  I'll be running around town today, so if you see me and identify yourself as a Clutterhead, I'll buy your coffee.  Until then, I still need to pick out my coat, and today's Clutter has now been cleared.

Sunday Clutter

 Hi everyone,

Happy Sunday to you all.  What's the plan for the day? BDH, Little Buddha and I are off to the gym, and then we have a few errands to do after that.  Hey, don't be fooled, those two may be small, but they can move the plates.  It's pretty amazing.  However, we have business to take care of before that, so grab yourself a medium DD, and let's clear out a little Sunday Clutter.  Everyone comfortable?  Here we go...

First Mitt Romney was attacking Rick Santorum for his pursuit of budget earmarks, even though Mittens had done the same thing.  Now Romney's attacking Santorum for working with organized labor in the past, even though, that's right, say it with me now, Romney's done the same thing.  However voters feel about earmarks or unions, why should they think they can trust Romney on either issue.  The man stands for nothing and looks foolish when he makes attacks like this, given his own multiple positions.

Romney's also managed to anger both the auto industry and the Tea Party with his thoughts on any type of bailout.  That's a pretty neat trick to pull off.

Quick quiz:  Do you know what it means to be "Spreading Romney?"

I wonder which Republican senator says s/he will call for a new GOP presidential candidate if Mitt Romney loses his home state of Michigan.  How remarkable is it that we're even having this conversation about the supposedly-"inevitable" candidate?

Rick Santorum doesn't see the need for public education.  It's nothing but them there teachers interferin' with the family, and if we just went back to a nation of home-schoolers like we had 200 years ago, everything would be fine. 

In further Santorum news, apparently "Mr. Sweater Vest" also decided that Protestants aren't real Christians.  Is that a big deal?  Mittens should be punching himself in the face every morning for not being able to beat this guy. 

Stop me if you've heard this one before:  A rising GOP star, who is aggressively anti-immigrant, is now being accused of threatening his male lover, who's an undocumented Mexican immigrant.  Bonus points for the fact that the guy was forced to step down as Mitt Romney's Arizona campaign co-chairman.  I wonder if conservatives are more upset with him for being gay or for having a Mexican boyfriend?  Republican hypocrisy, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

The tributes and condolences continue to pour in for New York Times reporter Anthony Shadid, who died in Syria on Thursday from an asthma attack.

Anthony Shadid (pic via yahoo.com)

The Massachusetts legislature needs to find a way to prevent MBTA riders from having to bear the full burden of the T's current budget problems.  Cutting routes would hurt the state's economy, and dramatically raising fares is essentially a tax hike on middle and lower income people.

There's no way to know for sure, because I'll never try this, but if someone made me drink a bacon milkshake, I'm pretty sure that I would severely vomit for an extended period of time.  Pretty sure.

Evening Clutter goes well with a Sam Adams, but let's be clear, alcohol is just as dangerous as other drugs, even though we tend to put it in a "lighter" category than something that comes in pill form and it's a much more widespread problem:

And while 8 percent of Americans ages 12 and over use illicit drugs, 34 percent are addicted to alcohol or indulge in what public health officials consider risky drinking.

Johnson and Johnson recalled yet another product.  This time it's infants' Tylenol, due to a defective delivery system.

Spring training has finally officially begun.  Of course I'm excited for the start of a new season, as I have been for each of the last 30 years.  It's just not the same at Clutter Headquarters without having Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy on the TV.  It's going to be a season of transition.  I have less of a sense of this year's team than I have had in probably 10 years.  The new players need to demonstrate their value, and the returning team needs to show some indication that they won't tank it again like they did last year.  Boston sportswriters are all clamoring for public apologies from the players.  That would have been nice, but it's clearly not going to happen at this point.  I just hope they'll show that dedication on the field, and of course I'll be watching every step of the way...and probably talking about it once in a while here.  Let's see what you've got, boys. 

Let the games begin. (pic via bleacherreport.com)

Having said that, I still miss Tito and feel bad about how he was thrown under the bus last year.  I hope he's able to move on from the horrible end to his Red Sox tenure and finds the happiness he so deserves.  I'd much rather keep him and ditch the owners, but I will root for whatever team he manages next and wish him the best of luck.

Are the Oakland A's really going in on Manny Ramirez?  Well, the whole point of Moneyball is seeing value where others don't, right?

ESPN apologized for using a racist slur in the headline to an article featuring Jeremy Lin.  I wonder who's getting fired for this.

More former football players are suing the NFL for allegedly hiding the dangers of playing with concussions.

Family and friends said goodbye to Whitney Houston yesterday.

In a shocking development, Nicolas Cage's new movie, Ghost Rider, is getting bad reviews.

2012 just keeps getting better and better.  First Van Halen released a new album, then spring training started, and just over a month from now, Don Draper will be back:

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  When you read and watch all of these stories about Whitney Houston this week, the first reactions tend to be, "What a shame/what a mess of a person."  I'd rather have that not be the lasting impression, so we're going to take a trip back to the 1993 Billboard Awards.  I know we played this same song last Sunday, but watch this live performance and enjoy the power of the woman who was in control of her life, her talent and the audience, and let that be the lasting memory.  Here's today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you as always.  I know tomorrow is a holiday, so you're welcome to come back tonight to hang out if you want.  I'll go get some more Sam Adams (to be enjoyed in moderation).  Otherwise we'll see you all back here again for more fun on Monday.  For now, it's off to the gym for us, so that's the Clutter, and we are outta here.

Sunday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back, come on in.  The big day is here!  First we have Puppy Bowl VIII, and then Tom Brady and the New England Patriots finally take on the New York Giants.  It's funny, the two weeks between the AFC championship game and the Super Bowl really didn't seem all that long, but now that we're just a few hours away, it seems like an eternity.  There's only one thing we can do right now.  That's right, say it with me...grab yourself a nice medium DD, and let's clear out some Super Bowl Sunday Clutter.

Okay, let's try to stay focused here and check out today's headlines....as soon as we look at the lineup for the 2012 Puppy Bowl!

These guys are all stars! (pic via starcasm.net)

Okay, now I'm ready.

Mitt Romney became the first GOP candidate to win consecutive primary contests, scoring a solid win, as expected, over Newt Gingrich in Nevada yesterday.

There's one subject where Mitt Romney is a man of his word:  He sure does love to fire people.  This time it was the poor sap who was hired to improve Romney's debate performances and then fired because someone felt he was getting too much credit for doing his job.

The 2012 GOP ticket.  (pic via shakespearessister.com)

The news gets worse for Newt Gingrich:  His sugar daddy Sheldon Adelson is starting to hint that  he'll support Mittens whenever Newt drops out.

Is U.S. Senator Scott Brown the only GOP member of Congress trying to look like he's best friends with President Obama?

No, Senator, I do not want to take a ride in your truck. (pic via acclaimimages.com)

Everyone is talking about the upcoming Facebook IPO, but here's why it might not be as great of an investment as you might think.  Proceed with caution, my friends.

The CDC suggests that all boys between the ages of 11 and 21 should receive the HPV vaccine.  It will be interesting to see if this recommendation causes nearly the same controversy that the recommendation for girls did.

Time for a Puppy Bowl break!(pic via tv.com)

Jody Kristofferson has signed a developmental deal with the WWE to be a pro wrestler.  Jody is the son of legendary singer Kris Kristofferson, and reports so far indicate that he could be the real deal.  I wonder if he'd use one of his dad's songs for an entrance theme.

Could there still be a chance for the Boston Red Sox to sign free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt?

Congratulations to former New England Patriots running back Curtis Martin on being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday.

I can't imagine what a blow it must be to be cut from the team less than 24 hours away from the Super Bowl, but that's what happened to New England's Tiquan Underwood.

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers makes his Super Bowl prediction.

Boston Globe football writer Christopher Gasper says the New York Giants have turned into the New York Jets, and that's just fine for the New England Patriots.  (The Giants certainly are eager to declare themselves champions.)

New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski is ready to truly fill the shoes of Adam Vinatieri if that's what it takes to win today.

Vince Wilfork is ready to go.  I'm starting to get goosebumps.

Okay kids, I have to go hit the gym and burn off some of this energy before I go totally nuts.  Before I go, though, let me make my own prediction.  I've seen some in the media trying to turn the New York Giants into the new version of the 1985 Chicago Bears.  I think the Giants are starting to believe that themselves, and they do so at their own peril.  Let's not forget, they were a 9-7 team during the regular season, and they earned every bit of that record with two losses to the lowly (5-11) Washington Redskins and one to the (7-9) Seattle Seahawks.  Yes, they've played well to get here, but you know what, so have the Patriots, who haven't lost a game since November 6th, when the Giants beat them by all of four points.  

When you add the significant improvement of the New England defense since then, the fast tempo that I expect the Patriots to play at for four quarters, the fact that Gronk is going to be on the field (and I think going to surprise people with his effectiveness), and the fact that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have had two weeks to prepare for the chance to avenge their loss of four years ago, mix it all together, and sprinkle in a healthy dose of the Giants believing their own headlines, I think you get a 27-20 win for New England. 

And on that note, we'll let Tom Brady take us out with today's, "Clip of the Day."  Have a great day, my friends.  Have fun tonight, wherever you watch the game, and be safe.  We expect to see each and every one of you back here tomorrow for more fun.  Go Patriots!!!

 

Friday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy Friday to you all.  Come on in.  It's amazing how quickly this week went by, yet it still feels like it's taking forever for the Super Bowl to get here.  BDH and Little Buddha are getting stir crazy, but they'll survive.  Maybe we'll watch Puppy Bowl reruns until Sunday.  For now, make yourself comfortable, grab a nice hot medium DD, and let's clear out some Friday Clutter.

There is only one way for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to repair the incredible damage they've done to their reputation:  Stay out of political battles and restore the grants to Planned Parenthood to pay for breast exams.  It's really that simple.  Each denial by the organization that this was a political decision only further undermines their credibility.

I still can't believe that Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for President yesterday.  Actually, what I really can't believe is that Romney sought the endorsement.   With polls showing that only 13% of voters say The Donald's endorsement would make them more likely to vote for a candidate (sorry, make that 8%), what's the appeal here?  Yesterday's Clutter talked about Romney's ongoing struggle to connect with people who aren't rich, and with all due bias, it's a serious weakness of his.  First there's the incredibly low tax rate, followed by Swiss bank accounts, followed by saying he doesn't care about the poor, and now, he's joined at the hip by a man who's best known for saying, "You're Fired."  I can't even begin to imagine what he was thinking.  How long do you think it took the DNC to put together this add?  We'll set the over/under at 15 seconds:

 

Romney has attacked President Obama for requiring all health plans, including those for Catholic organizations, to include free contraceptive coverage, even though Romney himself previously angered those organizations on a similar issue when he was governor.  I've covered this issue before, so we won't get into that again now, but I was struck by this quote from Matt Smith, who apparently runs some conservative Catholic advocacy organization.  Smith said he supported Romney, noting, "“You better hope that he’s going to stay true to his word.’’  Dear Mr. Smith, good luck with that, because the record has shown that there's no reason to believe Mittens will stay consistent on any issue.

Could the disaster that is the former Filene's site in Downtown Crossing finally move forward?  A new developer has big plans for that pit.

Will this crater finally disappear? (pic via boston.com)

A new study suggests that sugar should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco.  Read this article before you laugh that off.

How much do you think Facebook makes off of you per year?  My guess is that the answer will surprise you.

Bad news for the New York Giants:  Gronk returned to practice yesterday.

A New York bar is banning the sale of Sam Adams during the Super Bowl.  That's fine, their patrons will need something good to drink after the game to drown their sorrows.

Well, this is interesting:  Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been medically cleared  by his doctor to play in the NFL again following his latest neck surgery.  I still think the Colts have already made the decision to move on, but what will Manning do now?

Boston Red Sox pitcher/new father Josh Beckett says he's ready to go for 2012.  I hope he's got a chip on his shoulder.

Carl Crawford, on the other hand, is being sued by a friend who claims Crawford and his brother stole his life savings.

Sorry to hear that hockey legend Gordie Howe is suffering from the early stages of dementia.

Van Halen threw a private show Wednesday night to celebrate the upcoming release of, A Different Truth, next Tuesday (in case you hadn't heard) and showed they can still bring the goods.

It looks like word is getting out about How I Met Your Mother being appointment television, as the show's ratings are up 19% over last year.  Welcome to the bandwagon everyone.  Hop on, there's plenty of room for everyone!

Okay folks, that's going to do it for now.  It's been ten years since the New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl.  They were underdogs then, like they are now, and we know how that turned out.  So, as we wait for the big game on Sunday, let's take a look back at how this dynasty run began with today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, my friends.  It was great to see you as always.  It's supposed to be cold today, so try to stay warm, get some work done, and then we'll meet back here again for more fun and randomness.  For now, today's Clutter has been cleared.  Later.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  The calendar says it's February 1st already.  Where does the time go?  I guess we better get to work, so grab yourself a medium DD, and let's clear out some Clutter.

It's extremely disappointing to hear that the Susan G. Komen charity has caved to anti-choice extremists and stopped providing grants to Planned Parenthood for breast exams for low-income women.  How misguided.  As if cancer cares if you're pro-choice or not, as if it cares where you go for your exam.  Shameful.  You can click here if you want to make a donation to Planned Parenthood in support of these important services.

Mitt Romney crushed Newt Gingrich in yesterday's Florida primary, beating Gingrich 46-32%.  Is this the tipping point of the race, or can the Newt find a way to revive his campaign for the third time this cycle?  Meanwhile, Romney is off to Minnesota to try to win the endorsement of former opponent/Tea Party hero Michele Bachmann.  With any luck, Bachmann will be an active surrogate for Romney and tell us more about how vaccinations cause mental retardation.

The GOP Florida primary has been judged, "the most negative campaign ever."  With 92% of the ads being negative, you sort of wonder why the candidates even bothered with the 8% that were positive.  Maybe that's part of the reason that yesterday's turnout was 15% lower than in 2008.

John McCain may have endorsed Mitt Romney this year, but a former McCain aide is warning Mittens to back off a bit on Newt Gingrich.  John Weaver says the last thing Romney needs is for Gingrich to feel like he's got no way out.

Eugene Robinson asks a great fundamental question:  What exactly does Mitt Romney believe in?   I don't know anyone who can legitimately claim to know the answer to that.  The best that his supporters can come up with is, "He's a rich guy who is not President Obama, and that's all that matters."  Maybe this video will clear things up:

 

At least Mitt's being honest about one thing:  He doesn't care about the very poor.  So if you're one of those bleeding hearts who think the president should be looking after the most vulnerable members of our society, he's not your guy.

Condolences to the family and friends of Massachusetts Governor's Councilor Kelly Timilty who died yesterday at age 49.

Rocker Neil Young is working on building his own electronic music device that takes forever to download a song, but sounds much better than anything else out there right now.  Can he find a large market where people will pay for quality over convenience?

For those of you looking for a birthday present for me (two weeks from today, but who's counting), please don't get me a sloth.

McDonald's will stop adding ammonium hydroxide (otherwise known as "pink slime") to their burgers, citing, "a focus on food safety."  Yeah, that seems like a good reason to stop.  I haven't eaten at McDonald's in 20+ years, and I'm pretty sure that a new-found focus on food safety won't be breaking that streak anytime soon.

You want a Big Mac with your pink slime? (pic via wavy.com)

Clutterheads, maybe I should have asked this before the pink slime story, but who wants to meet up at the new local taco/tequila bar?

The big Super Bowl news of the day is that Gronk is out of his walking boot.  That's got to be both a step in the right direction, and likely a hint that he's actually a machine who was just fitted with a new leg attachment. (As an aside, how many of you can tell me who Ryan Mallett is without clicking the link?)

He'll be back on Sunday, dude.  (pic via providencejournal.com)

New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco talked about the challenges of bringing nothing to the table this year.  I still say he can have a JD Drew moment if he does anything memorable in the Super Bowl.

The Dice-K comeback begins, as the Boston Red Sox pitcher threw yesterday for the first time since having Tommy John surgery last June.

I've always been under the impression that Saturday Night Live contracts are extremely long and hard to get out of, so I'm wondering what Paul Brittain did to warrant being "released immediately."  In all fairness, I will probably have forgotten about him before today's Clutter is over.

SNL alums Dan Ackroyd and Will Farrell are teaming up with Zach Galifianakis on a political comedy.  This could be pretty funny, or it could be utterly horrible.

Paul who?

HBO's, Game Change, with Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin, looks like fun:

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  We're four days away from seeing exactly how well Rob Gronkowski is able to perform, so why don't we let him take us out with today's, "Clip of the Day."  Given that he's clearly been playing with a broken neck for weeks now, a little high ankle sprain isn't going to stop him:

 

Thanks for stopping by, my friends.  It was great to see you as always.  Have a good one, and make sure to come back soon, because there's always more Clutter to clear.  Later.

Tuesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy Tuesday to you all.  The Super Bowl is just five days away, and the new Van Halen album is two days after that.  My head's already spinning, so let's cut to the chase and get down to business.  Everyone have your medium DD?  Yes?  What about you over there in the corner, good to go?  Okay, let's clear out some Clutter.

The Apprentice returns on February 19th, and what do you know?  Donald Trump just happens to be talking about running for president again.  Do you remember when he said he had some guys who'd uncovered some really shocking information about President Obama's birth certificate?  Whatever happened with that?

I'll do it, I swear, I'll do it. (pic via abcnews.com)

NBC doesn't like Mitt Romney's campaign ad that features Tom Brokaw announcing a story about Newt Gingrich's ethics troubles.

Meanwhile, Newt's got his own problems, as he's being sued by the co-author of Eye of the Tiger to to stop using the song at his rallies.

Chris Matthews to Mittens:  What comes around, goes around:

 

David Axelrod reminded the public of one of the major differences between President Obama and Mitt Romney:  One of them lets their dog travel inside the car on trips.  This is a distinction that is of particular importance to BDH and his friends.

Rick Santorum will release four years of tax returns that nobody asked for.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has entered Twilight Zone territory, claiming that Congress has given President Obama everything he's asked for.  Perhaps three years of obstructing every Democratic proposal has left Senator McConnell suffering from exhaustion.

It's the end of an era as the main house on the Kennedy family compound is being donated to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for public use.  BDH wants to know if we'll be donating Clutter Headquarters to his institute.  I told him I'd get back to him about that.

Which street drug is now being tested as a quick fix for severe depression?

A teenager who's survived cancer is now growing his hair long for other cancer survivors.  His reward?  To be kicked out of his school.  That's clearly sending the right message.  Helping others in need is nice, but you gotta keep that hair short.

It turns out there's no actual legal definition for "natural" when talking about most foods, so paying extra for "natural" Tostitos is probably a waste of money.

Las Vegas sports books are rooting really hard for a New England Patriots Super Bowl win.

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team, and he may have to step it up if Rob Gronkowski is limited on Sunday.

Everyone is talking about how much Gronk will be able to do at the Super Bowl, and how much pressure that will put on Wes Welker and Hernandez.  However, former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch says, don't forget about me.

Will Big Papi be the first Red Sox player to actually go to arbitration in ten years?

Former Red Sox pitcher/Massachusetts native Manny Delcarmen has apparently surrendered to the dark side of the force, signing a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.  Our condolences to his family and friends during this challenging time.

(pic via bostondirtdogs.com)

Jenny Dell isn't the only new face coming to NESN.  Former player Matt Stairs is joining the network as a studio analyst.

Will Prince Fielder's signing with the Detroit Tigers help him repair his relationship with his father, former Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder?  (It's worth clicking on that link just to see the picture of a young Prince in Zubaz pants.)

I have to say I really enjoyed the Ferris Beuller's Day Off sequel, though I missed Sloan and Cameron:

 

Axl Rose and the current Guns 'N Roses lineup are returning to The Ritz, the site of the band's famous 1988 performance.  That 1988 show was amazing to a 14 year old Clutterhead.  I just wish it was the original band playing again this time.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Last week, we had Zaak Wylde playing the Star Spangled Banner and suggested he should play it for the Super Bowl.  We're all about choices here at Clutter, so today, we give you the option of Chickenfoot guitarist Joe Satriani's performance for today's, "Song of the Day."  Check it out:

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  I hope you had as much fun as we did.  Have a good day, stay warm, and come back soon for more fun and randomness.  Until next time, today's Clutter has been cleared, and we're outta here.

Sunday Afternoon Clutter

Hi everyone,

Come on in.  Welcome back, how are you?  How's your weekend going?  Little Buddha and I have been chasing BDH around Clutter Headquarters all day trying to get him to calm about for next week's big game.  The little guy finally wore himself out, so he and Little Buddha are taking a nap.  I hope you don't mind it's just me here today, but at least I have fresh coffee!  Help yourself to a medium DD (or a Sam Adams Spring Ale, if you prefer), and let's check out a little Sunday Clutter.

The late former mayor Kevin White is being fondly remembered throughout Boston after his death on Friday.

Mayor White (pic via politico.com)

The anticipation is building as the New England Patriots were sent off to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl by 25,000 fans.

Vince Wilfork is ready to go! (pic via patriots.com)

Mitt Romney is pulling away in Florida just two days before the state's primary.  Does Newt Gingrich have another comeback in him, or is this the beginning of the end for him?  Hopefully he can figure out a way back, besides the endorsement of Herman Cain.  I think the public really needs another 50-100 GOP debates to have a real sense of the candidates.

Mittens is really trying to sweep the leg with this ad.  Simple and to the point:

 

I was just thinking about something.  Mitt Romney has touted Domino's Pizza, which Bain Capital bought during Romney's tenure, as an example of his success as a businessman.  Isn't this the same Domino's which has been running nonstop ads forever now talking about how much they used to suck at everything?  Is that a subliminal attack on Romney?  Has the DNC been funding these ads the entire time?  Or am I just hungry?

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is doing everything they can to regain Democratic control of the House, which would require flipping 25 seats.  With polls showing support for a Democratic House is growing, could they pull this off?

It appears that Twitter's new attempt at censorship is extremely easy to get around.

Could it be that the Boston Red Sox might actually get a player of "significant value" from the Chicago Cubs as compensation for former general manager Theo Epstein, if for no other reason than Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig wants to discourage other baseball executives from trying to get out of their contracts early?

Tim Wakefield is still waiting for a call from the Red Sox.  Wakefield's talking about being open to retirement or pitching for another team, but you know it would kill him to fall just short of being Boston's all-time wins leader.  I wonder if the chances of that call happening have increased at all, now that it appears pitcher Roy Oswalt will be signing with the St. Louis Cardinals despite being pursued by Boston.

Is anyone worried that the Red Sox home opener is on Friday the 13th this year?

R & B singer Etta James was buried in style yesterday.

Mom Clutter and I saw The Iron Lady, starring Meryl Streep yesterday.  Streep was terrific in her performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, but the rest of the movie isn't particularly good.  You really don't get a sense of what made Thatcher who she was, and the scenes showing her struggling to get around in the current day and talking to the ghost of her late husband Dennis are too long.  The plot is disjointed, and it never really comes together as a story.  However, there are times where it's impossible to see Streep's face, and it looks like you're watching footage of the real former prime minister.

 

Who do we have to thank/blame for a possible Spice Girls reunion?

Remember them? (pic via idolator.com)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Let's have Peter Tosh take us out with his take on Nina Simone's classic, "SinnerMan," for today's, "Song of the Day."  I love the orginal, but this ain't bad either:

 

Thanks for stopping by, my friends.  It was great to see you as always.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and don't forget to come back again soon.  I promise BDH and Little Buddha will be awake, and we'll clear out a brand new round of randomness.  Until then, today's Clutter is now cleared.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Happy weekend, Clutterheads!  Great to see you again, come on in.  What's the plan for the day?  It's certainly much nicer out than it was yesterday.  Mom Clutter is coming soon, so BDH, Little Buddha and I have to finish cleaning up Clutter Headquarters before she gets here.  However, we have time for a quick break, so make yourself comfortable, grab a medium DD, and let's clear out a little Saturday Clutter.

Condolences to the family and friends of former Boston Mayor Kevin White, who died yesterday at age 82.  Mayor White was a truly historic figure who oversaw the transformation of Boston into a leading city during challenging times.

One of the most interesting stories I've heard about Mayor White was about his efforts to avoid a riot in Boston, as was happening in so many other cities, after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968.  He did this by getting WGBH to broadcast a James Brown concert from the Boston Garden so that people would stay home instead.  It was an extremely tense situation, but it worked out:

 

A new poll shows Mitt Romney with a nine point lead in Florida over Newt Gingrich.  Is this the beginning of the end for Newt, or just the latest chapter of this soap opera?  In the meantime, Romney is now trying to claim that his tax rate is closer to 50%.  Come on, Mittens, now you're just being silly.  It's amazing that such a successful businessman doesn't have the slightest idea how to talk about his money.

Ron Paul continues to claim that he never read his own racist and homophobic newsletters.  Apparently he just threw his signature on them, collected a paycheck and never thought twice about what might be going out under his name.  Actually, I can appreciate that.  BDH and Little Buddha have been writing Clutter for over a year now, and I don't have the slightest idea what they claim I've said.  I just cash the checks and go on my merry way.

Is it finally time for the long-awaited Facebook IPO, or is this just another mean tease?  Either way, there's a lot of money to be maid with your vacation pictures.

The Red Sox still need another starting pitcher, but at least NESN has hired ESPN's Jenny Dell to replace Heidi Watney, so the pieces are slowly starting to fall into piece, right?

Welcome to NESN, Jenny Dell. (pic via barstoolsports.com)

Additional Red Sox tickets go on sale today.  Just a reminder, I'm always available if you ever find yourself with an extra ticket you can't use over the course of the season.

Gordy Gronkowski (a name right up there with "Benedict Cumberbatch") says his son Rob has a high ankle sprain.  Clearly Mr. Gronkowski needs a primer on the New England Patriots approach to media relations:  Say nothing of value at all costs.

I'm telling you, this is all part of Bill Belichick's master plan.  He signed Chad Ochocinco in the off-season and had him do nothing all year to make sure opponents didn't bother to scout him.  Belichick looked at the schedule, determined that the Patriots would be likely to play the Ravens in the AFC championship game, which meant that they'd face Bernard Pollard.  The same Pollard responsible for injuries to Tom Brady and Wes Welker in past seasons.  The hooded one knew there was a good chance that no-good dirty rat would try to take out another Patriot, and that would mean New England would need a secret weapon in the Super Bowl. 

What better weapon than a well-rested Ochocinco?  He'll have the freshest legs on the field, and watch him and Tom Brady "suddenly" develop this outstanding chemistry as they team up for three touchdown passes.  We'll find out in the off-season that Brady and Ochocinco have been working together for hours at every Patriots practice all season.  Tell me that's not freaking brilliant, and tell me that you wouldn't be surprised if that's revealed to have been the Hooded One's plan all along.

It's all going according to plan. (pic via bostonherald.com)

Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay are trying to downplay this week's battle in the press over the state of the Indianapolis Colts.  Just shake hands and walk away, guys, this story is already getting old.

The Boston Celtics are finally a .500 team.  Boston followed-up their impressive come-from-behind win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday with a 94-87 win over the Indiana Pacers last night.   The win gives the Celtics a 9-9 record.

Sarah Jessica Parker is filing in for Demi Moore as Gloria Steinem in the new Linda Lovelace movie?  I have a hard time seeing Carrie Bradshaw in that role.

Clutter has long had a crush on Reese Witherspoon, but it's been years since she's made a movie we actually want to see, and, This Means War doesn't seem likely to be the one to break that streak:

 

We had a trivia question for Skidmore Clutterheads involving yesterday's, "Song of the Day."  The school's a capella group, The Bandersnatchers, used to sing a "TV Medley" in their shows which included the theme song to, "Welcome Back Kotter" (yesterday's song).  The question was, what was the next complete song in the medley after that?  For those of you playing the home game, "Welcome Back" led into one line from the "WKRP in Cincinatti" theme song, but that was followed by a full rendition of the theme song from, "Greatest American Hero."  Thank you to everyone who played, and yes, folks, this is the kind of Clutter that rattles around in my head when you're not around.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  For a band that's been out of the spotlight for so long, Van Halen is doing a great job building the buzz for their new album, "A Different Kind of Truth."  They've been releasing previews of a number of new tracks, and we've finally come across the hard rock jam that fans have been waiting for.  "China Town" sounds a little bit like David Lee Roth's song, "Shyboy" from his solo career, and that's just fine by me.  Van Halen is still in fine form, as evidenced by today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Okay, folks, we have to get back to our cleaning.  Thanks for stopping by, it was great to see you as always.  Have a fun day, and don't forget to come back tomorrow for Clearing out the Clutter's 1000th post.  BDH is especially excited about it.  Until then, that's the Clutter, and we're outta here.