Clearing out the Clutter

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

In case I haven't made it clear, I love the Clutter Tree.  I spent so much time watching it the rain last night, it was like I was spellbound.  The tree was one of the main reasons I bought Clutter Headquarters all those years ago, and my fascination with it continues to grow with each pasisng day.  It seemed like just a week ago that the leaves were struggling to come out, and now thanks to a few days and nights of solid rain, they're in full bloom.  They're such a lush dark green, and they fill up almost every window in the place, which can almost give the impression that we're located in the woods.  (Note: We are not located in the woods.)  It's so calming to look out of these windows, that one might think that one doesn't need to clear out the Clutter for the day.  However, one would be wrong.  So, help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's get to work.

The news out of Oklahoma is just devastating, so it was nice to see a story about a woman finding her dog in the aftermath of Monday's tornado.   As you watch the clip, tell me if you agree that the dog looks like it wants to ask, "What the #$#$ just happened?"

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R) will only support federal relief aid for his home state if it comes with corresponding spending cuts somewhere else.  Let that sink in for a second.  Senator Coburn doesn't want to talk about that right now, calling it "insensitive" to discuss.  I would go with something like he's a psychopath who doesn't believe it's his job to help his constituents, especially in a time of disaster, but that's just me.

Apple to Congress:  If you're going to give us a way to legally hide billions, we're going to legally hide billions.  This isn't complicated.

I find myself a little fascinated by this poll that says a majority of Republicans don't think the 2012 presidential election was fair.  I certainly understand that they didn't like the result, but it was unfair?  Do they really in their heart of hearts believe that the Democratic Party was out sending union thugs to intimidate GOP voters, and flooding the polls with undocumented residents to commit massive voter fraud, the licks of which are unprecedented in history?   That's the only explanation they can come up with, as opposed to say, a comprehensive party platform that's hostile to everyone except wealthy white guys?  As the son of two mental health professionals, I feel qualified to say that this level of mass paranoia is both incredible and perhaps a little sad.  These voters must feel so terrified of everything that's different from them. 

First we had the Virginia GOP candidate for attorney general who wanted to force women to report miscarriages to the police or face jail time.  Now we have the Virginia GOP candidate for lieutenant governor who opposed desegregation and also compared Planned Parenthood to the KKK. Sometimes I struggle to remember that these people live in the same country that I do.

All of the above insanity is just part of the reason I'd love to hear President Obama give a Bulworth speech, like this one written for him by Ezra Klein of The Washington Post.

Apparently the Mediterranean diet can make you both healthier and smarter.  No word yet on whether or not it can make you funnier, a better listener, or more popular, but I'm sure those studies are on their way.

Who's hungry?  (pic via uwex.edu)

Myrtle the Turtle is back after some home renovations.  How do you move a 550lb/90-year old turtle?  Anyway she agrees to.  Make sure you watch the video that goes with the story.

ESPN is cutting hundreds of jobs despite being the most profitable component of the Disney empire.  Did some investor complain about the profit margins here?

Why was the Doctor Who crew in New York on Monday?

I'm not the world's biggest fan of The X-Men.  I've seen a couple of the movies on cable, but they weren't "appointment television" or anything.  The trailer for the new Wolverine movie doesn't do anything to make me change my mind, but what do you think, Clutterheads?

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  We're going to close things out again with one more song from The Doors.  This is L.A. Woman, which features great work by everyone in the band, it's today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, you guys.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of the day, and come back soon so we can hang out again.  You know BDH and Little Buddha start getting restless when they go too long without seeing you.  Until next time, 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.

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Clutter Headquarters, one and all.  BDH and Little Buddha have been waiting for you, and they've already got the coffee ready, so help yourself to a nice medium iced DD, and let's clear out a little Thursday Clutter.

The advocacy organizations that sued over access to emergency contraception will apparently go back to the courts if the FDA doesn't drop their age-restrictions.  Good for them, we shouldn't be letting politics trump public health concerns.

Congratulations to Representative Ed Markey for winning Tuesday's Democratic primary for the open U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry.   Markey takes on the Republican nominee Gabriel Gomez, and I'm sure he won't take anything for granted between now and the general election on June 25th.

Also congrats to State Representative Linda Dorcena Forry for winning the Democratic primary for the 1st Suffolk Senate seat on Tuesday.  Clutter has known Rep. Forry since before she won her current seat, and there is no doubt she'll do an outstanding job, once she defeats the Republican nominee in the general election on May 28th.  This seat has long been held by Irish-American men from South Boston, and the idea of it moving to a Haitian-American woman from Dorchester simply reflects the ever-changing make-up of this great city.

How frightening is it that the GOP is pushing gun legislation that even the NRA says is based on fiction.  Think about that for a second.  How disconnected from reality do you have to be to propose an idea that's so extreme that even the country's biggest weapons trade organizations says, "Yeah, that's a little too much for us to support."  Should we be pushing for mandatory mental health services for some of these guys?

Hey, if investors want to "sell in May and go away," I'm more than happy to go shopping in the stock market this month.  Go right ahead folks, sell everything you want, so I can go looking for some bargains.

I should be able to drink a Sam Adams "Boston Strong" beer without guilt, since 100% of the profits are going to charity, right?

Clutterheads, there are two main reasons that BDH, Little Buddha and I love hanging out with you every day.  First off, you're outstanding company, and we love having you here.  Second, our daily meetings give us a chance to discover outstanding news stories that we might otherwise have missed.  Case in point:  An article that demonstrates how Van Halen explains the federal government, and nails it.  Where else would you have seen this?  Just here, my friends.  Just here.

The owner of the Chicago Cubs says he'll consider moving the team out of Wrigley Field if they don't get approval for a bigger scoreboard.  Something tells me he should beef up his personal security before thinking seriously about that move.

Hey, the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live made their online returns from the dead this week, and so far, the results seem promising. 

Monty Python's Flying Circus alum John Cleese continues to brings his one-man show to places that aren't Boston.  What has to happen to change this situation?  Come on, man.  I've met Michael Palin and Eric Idle, I doubt Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam are ever going to  be hanging out around here, and Graham Chapman is probably still dead.  I want Basil Fawlty to come to town!

Don't be skeptical, a trip to Boston would be awesome!  (pic via dangerousminds.net)

Two days until the next Doctor Who episode.  Not sure what to make of this one yet, but trying to keep an open mind about it:

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  It pains me that John Cleese seemingly refuses to visit these parts, but he's still one of my favorite actors.  No one does anger better than Cleese, as you'll see in today's, "Clip of the Day."  My favorite skit is either the slaughterhouse or the restaurant.  What's yours?

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and come back soon so we can do this all over again.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Thursday Clutter

Hi everyone,

How are you?  Is it Friday yet?  No?  We're close though, right?  Okay, that will have to do for now.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's power through today with a little Thursday Clutter.

President Obama just can't seem to understand that he's negotiating against himself when it comes to the budget.  Republicans have zero interest in working with him.  Zero.  Nada.  Zip.  So when he offers to cut Social Security benefits in exchange for increased taxes, all the GOP does is accuse him of hurting seniors.   

Meanwhile, Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas) claims the Bible proves that humans have nothing to do with climate change.  The idea that these are our "leaders" makes me want to cry myself to sleep sometimes. 

Retiring-Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino apparently wasn't kidding when he said he intended to have some fun in his last months in office:

City of Boston Budget Trailer from Kris Carter on Vimeo.

 

This is disturbing: The IRS thinks it can read your emails, Facebook chats, and all of that, without a warrant.   

RIP Robert G. Edwards.  The founding father of in vitro fertilization died yesterday at age 87.  I have close friends who have benefited from his work, as have countless others.  What an incredible legacy to leave behind - giving hope to those who would otherwise be hopeless.

Saturday mail lives on for now, as the U.S. Postal Services has abandoned its proposal to cut back to a five day a week schedule.  It's an important win for people who who live in rural communities, the poor and others who still depend on "snail mail," but we haven't seen the last of this story yet.

Why is Foreign Policy editor David Rothkopf arguing that U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is more dangerous than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un?  Do you agree?

Taco Bell promises to start making healthier food, but you better not be in a rush for it.

Why is Apple so obsessed with sex?  Don't they have some innovation and global domination to focus on instead, or something?

The stock market continues to surge, thus increasing my chances of actually being able to afford those Red Sox season tickets once I finally come off the waiting list.

Speaking of the Red Sox, Big Papi is still on track to rejoin the team next week.  Looking forward to seeing him back in the swing of things.

I don't remember hearing that Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy had a cancer relapse this off-season, but I'm glad to hear he's okay for now and has no intentions on leaving us any time soon.  We're all behind you, Rem Dawg!

Hey, what do you know, wide receiver Julian Edelman will be returning to the New England Patriots.

Okay Clutterheads, Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg have a new movie coming out.  What's the verdict here?  I tend to give Denzel the benefit of the doubt, while I also tend to not want to see Wahlberg in much of anything.  Yay or nay?

 

Wait, Carson Daily still has a talk show?  And it's been on for 12 years?  I can't remember the last time I saw him mentioned, not counting New Year's Eve or on ads for The Voice. 

Sammy Hagar still wants back in Van Halen.   The former lead singer would apparently insist on ex-bassist Michael Anthony rejoining at the same time.  I'd be fine with all of this.  I don't see any of it happening, but hey, that's what people said about a David Lee Roth reunion, and that worked out.

Speaking of which, Roth also wants Michael Anthony back in Van Halen?  Can't imagine that sits well with Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen.  Who knows, Sammy, you might get another chance at the spotlight sooner rather than later!

No (non-family) love for Wolfgang Van Halen?  (pic via zimbio.com)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  It's about time that Stevie Ray Vaughan made his Clutter return, so why don't we have him close things out for us with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

That's good stuff.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and come back soon, because you know how cranky we get when you're gone.  Until next time, that's today's Clutter, and you may or may not be superstitious, but we are outta here.

Wednesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  How are you?  Could it possibly have been any nicer outside yesterday?  My vote is for no.  Absolutely gorgeous.  Warm, but not too hot, and it seemed to put everyone in a good mood.  While I was out enjoying the warmth, I stopped in at a local Dunkin (I know you're all shocked) and tried one of their new mint chocolate chip iced coffees.  You know, I liked it, but it tasted a little more like a soda than a coffee, so I probably won't be back for another one of those.  However, it's time to get to work, so help yourself to a medium iced DD (I recommend the regular flavor), and let's clear out a little Wednesday Clutter.

What the hell's gotten into Cookie Monster?  C is for "cookie," not for "causing a disturbance with a child." 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is getting all sorts of attention for this tape that shows him strategizing to use Ashley Judd's past mental health issues against her if she ran against him.  Now I agree that all candidates of all political persuasions do this kind of brutal analysis of potential opponents, but I think the Washington Post is missing the point here.  What this tape tells us is that we still have a long ways to go in this country to removing the stigmas around mental health, because we as a society need to get to the point where these kinds of problems aren't effective attack material.

We can do better.  (pic via nydailynews.com)

Failed presidential candidate Rick Santorum says it would be "sucidial" for Republicans to stop discriminating against marriage equality.  Someone apparently didn't get the memo about the GOP's supposed "re-branding" efforts.  This party's not going to change.  They're the party of old scared rich white men who don't understand why all these "weirdos" keep trying to cause trouble.

BDH asked me to pass along this story about a promising treatment for arthritic dogs.

The Boston Red Sox will hopefully continue their winning ways against the Baltimore Orioles tonight.  Meanwhile, Big Papi's rehab assignment continues to slowly progress.

Is former sports radio powerhouse WEEI now a sinking ship?  It can't be a good sign when they asked Red Sox announcer John Rishto take a 30% pay cut.

I finally got myself on the waiting list for Red Sox season tickets, which is great.   The bad news is that I'll likely be collecting Social Security by the time it's my turn to buy tickets, but that's fine because I'll have to save that long to be able to afford them.

There's another special guest star returning for an appearance in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special.  This character has only made one appearance so far, but she should make a good tribute to a key component of The Doctor's past. 

Yesterday's Clutter mentioned how Wrestlemania 29 was this past weekend, and I didn't feel like I'd missed anything.  Well, now I have to mention this week's Monday Night Raw, because it was just wild.  I don't know if this crowd had too much Red Bull before the show started, or what, but they had their dials set to 11 the entire night and forced the WWE performers and announcers to respond to them.  I like to see how these guys handle situations like that.  Some of them rose to the occasion, and some of them totally lost the crowd, which made for entertaining television. 

They were loudly chanting for the whole three hours.  They covered everyone from the ring announcer, to wrestlers who aren't in the company, to themselves (a loud "we are awesome" was heard for a few minutes.)  That was more fun than I've had watching that show in about a year (actually, since after the last Wrestlemania when Brock Lesnar returned), and you have to see one clip.

Here's the short version.  A guy named "Dolph Ziggler" won the opportunity for a championship match at a PPV about 8 months ago, so they've been teasing him cashing in this contract ever since.  Well, last night was the payoff.  The (now former) champion had just won his match, but had "suffered" some serious damage to his leg, and Ziggler decided this was the time to "cash in."  Do me a favor,  just watch the first three minutes of this and listen to the crowd.  This was wrestling at its best:  A good storyline, strong performances, an emotionally invested audience.  Put it all together, and you have today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Whether you're a wrestling fan or not, it's easy to imagine what a rush it has to be to inspire a crowd response like that, am I right?  Of course I'm right.  The only problem here is that it will probably be another year before the WWE puts together another show like this.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and come back soon so we can do this all over again.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and there's no need to cheer for us like a WWE crowd (unless you want to), but we are outta here.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in.  How are you?  What's the plan for today?  BDH, Little Buddha and I are looking forward to watching the Red Sox this afternoon, but there's work to be done before that.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Saturday Clutter.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 last night in what had to be the most exciting game the Sox have played in at least 1.5 years.  They left 15 runners on base, which is a problem, but the pitching was solid, it seemed like everyone chipped in offensively, and there remains a good sense of hustle and urgency to the team (while batters are also showing more discipline at the plate than last year.)  Add in the Toronto fans lustily booing their former manager John Farrell all night, and it was a lively night.   It's great to see the Sox still in first place, and hopefully John Lackey's return to the majors after his Tommy John surgery will go well. 

The Red Sox have found a replacement for their late announcer Carl Bean, who died last year.  Well, three replacements.

Kansas passed a bill that would limit the ability of poor women to obtain an abortion, prevents students from receiving information to help them make healthy decisions, and defines life at conception, which will presumably be the foundation of their next personhood campaign in order to eventually outlaw all abortions.   Because really, why should all women be able to make their own medical decisions, and who needs healthy kids, right?

On the flip side, cheers to the federal judge who ordered the FDA to make emergency contraception available to women of any age without a prescription.  The age restriction was based on politics instead of health care policy, and it was always disappointing that the Obama administration would have taken that path.  This is an important step forward in the ongoing campaign to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Here's an interesting take on President Obama's strategy with his proposed Social Security cuts.

Clutterheads, you all know that Clutter runs on Dunkin Donuts, but we're mostly talking about the coffee here.  I'll have a blueberry muffin now and again, and there are times I have a craving for a glazed stick, but that's it.  I haven't had any of their breakfast sandwiches, because they don't look appealing to me at all, and I love a good egg and cheese on a bagel.  So,  I'll stick with my medium coffee, and maybe one of you can tell me how bacon and eggs on a donut tastes, okay?  In fact, if you eat this thing and want to send in a review, we'll be happy to post it.

Just looking at the picture adds the pounds.  (pic via eater.com)

Doctor Who's first-ever director says the show is too sexy.  I would say it simply reflects an evolution in the times since the show debuted 50 years ago.  Tell you what, I'll watch tonight's episode and report back tomorrow on whether or not it's too sexy.  Oh, the sacrifices I make for all of you.

Too sexy?  Please.  (pic via imdb.com)

Okay kids, the Red Sox game is about to start, so that's going to do it for now.  I'm thinking that it's been too long since we had Pink appear in these parts, and there's no time like the present to change that, so here she is, with Nate Ruess, with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Yeah, that's better.

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and you know you're welcome to come back if you want to hang out and watch tonight's Doctor Who.  Otherwise, be good, and we'll do this again soon.  For now, that's today's Clutter, and you don't need to give us a reason, because we are outta here.

Tuesday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in.  How are you?  It's an exciting day at Clutter Headquarters.  Vacation has finally arrived!  My bags are packed, I'm ready to go, though it hurts to leave BDH and Little Buddha so.  They seem to be okay, though, since I hear them in the other room making plans for their party.  I guess I'm in "out of sight, out of mind" status with them right now.  That's cool, they deserve their fun, and I know they'll take good care of the place.  The cab will be here soon though, so let's get down to business.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, because it's time to clear out a little Tuesday Clutter.

It's a historic day in this country as the U.S. Supreme Court addresses the issue of same-sex marriage.   I'm not a lawyer, but having taken one constitutional law class in college, I feel qualified to give some thoughts here.  I'd like to think that the Court will simply recognize that this discrimination is blatantly unconstitutional and find there's no valid reason for states to prohibit same-sex marriages.  I also don't think that the Court is prepared to give a blanket defense to anti-equality laws.  My best guess is that they'll strike down California's Prop 8 measure, but limit their ruling to just that state.  The Court then looks at the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday, and the money here is on an invalidation of the law, with a ruling that this is an issue that should be left to the states.  What do you think, Clutterheads?

The NRA is pushing its radical agenda by bombarding Newtown residents with robo-calls?  That's beyond inappropriate and closer to sadistic.  Shameful.

The war on voting took a brief pause as Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe vetoed a voter ID bill that was put before him.  Now the the question is, will the Arkansas legislature override his objections?  Of course, you can guess which political party controls the legislature in that state.

In case one of you Clutterheads was the sole Powerball winner last weekend, feel free to drop me a line.  Clutter still isn't for sale, but we're always happy to talk to supporters.

Soda consumption is down to its lowest level since the 1990's.  That's great news from a public health perspective.  As a Coke shareholder, I'm happy to see that the company is still king in this space, and also pleased that they have about 400 non-soda products to fill in the gap.  Some Dasani, anyone?

Support Clutter and enjoy some water.  (pic via dasani.com)

Argh, Jacoby Ellsbury's ankle is still sore.  Come on, Ellsbury, rest up, put some ice on that thing, and be ready to go by Wednesday.

Apparently Tiger Woods still has some quality golf left in him.

The good news is that Doctor Who will be back in just four days!  The bad news is that it's time for a new round of speculation about Matt Smith leaving the show.  I'm not going to worry about this too much right now, but there's one thing I don't like about this story (besides the general idea of Smith leaving).  The rumor is that he'll be gone after this year's Christmas special.  If that's true, it would mean that either a) Doctor Who would be changing lead actors mid-way through a season for the first time ever (assuming they had the same broadcast schedule as the current season),  or b) It will be about a year-long wait for a new full season of the show after this one wraps up in May.  Oh, why do I punish myself with being a BBC fan?  Okay, I just said I wasn't going to worry about this right now.  Let's move on.

It's not time to go yet.  (pic via bbc.co.uk)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  The cab's here, so I've got to go.  You know what, I think we'll let Frank Sinatra close things out, in what I think is his first Clutter appearance ever, with today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for coming by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Now remember, we'll be checking in from Fort Myers, so don't forget to come back later and check that out.  We take you wherever we go, my friends.  However, for now, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.  See you in a bit.

Sunday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back.  Come on in.  How's your weekend going so far?  I got a number of errands out of the way yesterday, including finally doing my taxes.  I don't like to get into specifics, but I see a lot of Dunkin Donuts coming my way.  Speaking of coffee, help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's clear out a little Sunday Clutter.

The Boston Red Sox lost 5-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday, but it was encouraging to see pitcher Clay Buchholz continue to have a strong spring, this time going 5 1/3 innings and only giving up one run on four hits.  I know I keep saying it, but so much of this year's season comes down to how Jon Lester and Buchholz perform.  Obviously they haven't played a single came that counts yet, but the results are still impressive so far.

Ready to rock?  (pic via bostonglobe.com)

Yesterday was March 22nd, it was 40 degrees outside (30 with the wind), and there was snow on the ground.  Spring has just begun, so clearly this was the right day for the first appearance of Sam Adams Sumer Ale at the local store, right?  I hate complaining about this, but seasonal beers are now a full season off.   Why is this so hard?  I can read the calendar, you all can read the calendar, so why can't beer companies read the calendar?  Mind you, this is my favorite beer of the year that I'm griping about, but it shouldn't be out until May 1st at the earliest.  I mean, this sets us up for Octoberfest to come out at the end of June.  What?

Too soon.  (pic via beerpulse.com)

I don't know where political reporter David Bernstein will end up next, now that the Boston Phoenix is gone, but you can find him at his new website for now.

RIP Joe Weider.  The godfather of bodybuilding died yesterday at age 93.  Weider created the Mr. Olympia contest, and I'm guessing he had more to do with Arnold Schwarzenegger's success than any other individual besides Ahhhnold himself.  Weider pushed the future Terminator right from the beginning of his weightlifting career, and continually featured him in his weightlifting magazines up to the present day as if Scharzenegger was still a competitor.

The folks at VHND.com posted a 90 second clip of Eddie Van Halen playing on LL Cool J's new album.  I don't know, I'm always happy to hear some new VH, but the guitar is buried so far down in this mix, it's not doing much for me.  Do we have any LL Cool J fans here?  What do you think of this?

 

Now, on the other hand, I could watch this Doctor Who prequel another 100 times and love every minute of it.  Matt Smith continues to do a magnificent job as a 30 year old actor playing a 900 + year old man who has the spirit of a five-year old.  Plus, the twist at the end leaves me even more excited for next Saturday's new episode!

 

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I think we're going to let Louis C. K. take us out with some commentary on how much it sucks to be broke (though I'm guessing that doesn't apply to him anymore.)  As usual, he's dead-on in today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Thanks for hanging out with us, everyone.  It was great to have you here, as always.  I've got to go take care of a few errands today, but I'll be back later if you want to stop by again.  BDH and Little Buddha always light up when you're here (no guilt trip or anything.)  Otherwise, enjoy the rest of your Sunday, be good, and we'll see you here again soon.  Until then, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Saturday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  How are you?  I'm good, though my ears are still ringing a bit from last night's Dropkick Murphys concert.  I just looked out the window and saw that the buds on the Clutter Tree are starting to grow, and that makes me smile.  Plus,  BDH and Little Buddha just made a fresh pot of coffee, so today is off to a pretty decent start so far.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, and let's keep the fun going by clearing out some Saturday Clutter.

What can I tell you, the Dropkick Murphys kicked off St. Patrick's Day weekend in style at the TD Garden last night.   Every time I see a concert, I'm reminded that the "90 Seconds I'd Love to Have" post is dead-on.  The Garden crowd was respectful to the opening acts, but they roared when the lights went out again, the massive "Dropkick Murphys" backdrop on the stage was revealed, and the sound of bagpipes filled the arena.  Ken Casey and the rest of his crew then delivered two hours of solid Celtic punk rock, and the crowd ate it up.  Check it out for yourself right here:

 

The band is playing tonight near Clutter Headquarters, and I imagine tickets might already be sold out, but if you have a chance to go, I heartily recommend it. 

So, it's great that Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) now supports marriage equality, but it shouldn't have taken his son coming out for him to get there.  His job as a public official requires him to understand how his policy positions impact all children, not just those who are straight or wealthy.   Again, I'm glad he's come around, but this underscores one of my main irritations about conservatives, which is that I think they lack a fundamental empathy for others who aren't like them, and issues only become important once it directly impacts them. 

It's easy for them to vote against equality when it doesn't impact them.  It's easy to vote for economic policies that hurt the poor because that doesn't impact them.  It's easy to vote against health care reform, because that doesn't impact them.   It's easy to vote for anti-choice legislation (which at its core is an anti-poor movement) because it doesn't impact them.  So yeah, good for Senator Portman for coming around, but how about taking the time to understand how you and your party hurt people who aren't like you on a daily basis?  Like say, for instance, when the House GOP unanimously votes down a proposed increase in the minimum wage.

I'm still saddened by the sudden closure of the Boston Phoenix.   Quick aside, what's the difference between the Lincoln assassination joke by Phoenix owner Stephen Mindich at the end of this article, and the one Seth MacFarlane made at the Oscars?  Not expecting to hear a huge outrage against Mindich, just saying.

First it was Wes Welker, and now little Danny Woodhead has left the New England Patriots to join the San Diego Chargers.  I guess the thinking is that Shane Vereen and newly-signed Leon Washington will be filling Woodhead's spot.  Well, hey, cheers, Danny.  It was fun watching you run underneath defensive linemen for the last two years, and I hope you enjoy your time in San Diego.

Bye, Danny boy.  (pic via usatoday.com)

On the other hand, cornerback Aqib Talib will be staying with the Patriots for another year, so there's that.  He certainly seemed to help tighten up the defense when he arrived last season, which is good, I just hope he can stay healthy.

The Boston Red Sox just traded for Baltmore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco's brother?  He's a minor leaguer now, but it seems like that might be awkward if he ever made it to the majors here.  Well, we'll deal with that later.

I'm pretty sure I'm under some obligation to try heavy metal band Iron Maiden's beer if it ever makes it to the United States, right?  Well, if I must, I must.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Why don't we have Celtic Woman take us out with a stirring rendition of an Irish classic (obviously a tribute to Danny Woodhead)  for today's, "Song of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your Saturday, be good, and come back again soon.  Perhaps we'll have a toast next time.  Until then, that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.

Monday Clutter

Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  Come on in, make yourself comfortable.  BDH, Little Buddha and I spent yesterday tidying up Clutter Headquarters for you.  How was your weekend?  Did it go by too quickly, as usual?  It certainly did here, but the fact that it's lighter out later now definitely makes up for it.  Okay, let's get moving.  Help yourself to a nice medium DD, because it's time to kick off the week with a little Monday Clutter.

The Boston Red Sox are shutting down David Ortiz for the next week or so, after his new MRI's showed inflammation in both heels.  Well, maybe I'll be able to find a way to snag a picture of him at Fort Myers in two weeks.  Putting the needs of the Big Papi News Desk to the side for a moment, what are the Sox going to do if he's out for an extended period of time?  After watching the first few weeks of spring training games so far, I feel better about Boston's pitching than I did last year, but the team will clearly be counting on Big Papi to produce offensively.  Okay, let's not jump ahead of ourselves.  We'll review again in a week.

The wait continues.  (pic via espn.com)

A Republican admitted that his party is not a good place for women?  I wonder how long they'll let him keep his GOP membership.

Once again, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi cuts to the chase:  The Republicans haven't been fighting President Obama because he didn't reach out to them.  They've been fighting him because they're obsessed with blocking every aspect of his agenda.  I know I've said this before, but the GOP reminds me of an abusive boyfriend who spends years attacking a woman and then complains that she won't reach out to him to work on their relationship.

I don't understand most of what this article says, but check it out anyway and find out why a guy hacked Donkey Kong.

Hey, shouldn't Sam Adams Summer Ale be coming out some time around now?  I mean, come on, it is March 11th, after all.  Why are we still drinking Alpine Spring?  That's so February, am I right?

I know we talked yesterday about Justin Timberlake hosting Saturday Night Live, but in case you missed it, check out this skit for "Veganville."  The guy clearly delivered the goods yet again:

Justin Timberlake - Bring It On Down 2... by IdolxMuzic 

Does anyone want to see the new documentary about the current singer of Journey?  Seriously, anyone?

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, who was hospitalized after battling kidney stones.

Benedict Cumberbatch is only in the new Star Trek trailer for two seconds, and he doesn't say anything, but I guess it still looks cool anyway:

 

Supermodel Elle MacPherson is apparently engaged, and word has it that it's not to me.  Just out of curiosity, guys, how many of you immediately thought of this when you saw that name?  Or rather, did any of you not think of this?  Truly a defining image for a teen in the 1980's.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  I've been re-watching The Sopranos on one of the HBO HD channels, which was not an option back when the show was still on.  It's still amazing how each episode felt like a mini-movie that I would pay to see in the theaters, right up until the very last scene of the show, which with a soundrtrack provided by Journey, is today's, "Clip of the Day."

 

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, and we'll see you again soon.  For now, don't stop believing, but that's today's Clutter, and we are outta here.