My Anonymous Friends

Seems my blog has gotten intensely popular the last few days ... especially among the anonymous commenters.

It appears as those some folks with a personal grudge against me have made my little slice of the web their playground for attack.

I'm really not sure why, but it's forced me to make a small change.

First, at least until these folks get the boredom out of their system, I'm moving toward "moderated" comments.

I still intend to post most of them (and I'm sure this will be taken as a challenge by my new "friends" to post the ugliest stuff they can come up with ... see the new post under my "Hi Mom!" entry as an example.)

I came here for fun, and as a way to keep my writing up to date, but it appears as though some want to ruin the experience.

I intend for that not to happen.

I also have to admit, it's kind of fun.

For one thing, the fact that I'm so deep in someone's head after all this time, kind of makes me laugh.

It also makes me feel bad for these folks at the same time, that they feel the need to resort to childish games in order to try and get my ire up.

And thirdly, it's kind of a fun detective game.

See if they drop enough clues, It's pretty simple to figure out their identities.

Google Analytics helps a lot too! :)

A Grab-Bag

I've been remiss in writing for a few days ... so today, you get a mash-up of a few topics.

1. The future

Last night, I was invited by my alma mater, Kent State, to speak at a "Careers Over Coffee" event on the subject of journalism. Yes, the irony was profound.

The panel was an interesting mix ... a 1953 grad and longtime Plain Dealer reporter, the 1989 grad and former Beacon Journal editor turned instructor, then there's the '93 grad and representative of the broadcast genre (me!), and the 2003 grad and writer for Cleveland Magazine.

A couple tips for anyone hoping to have a session like for journalists.

First, leave more than 45 minutes, because we can TALK. And talk. And talk.

Secondly, it might be better to have more upperclassmen than underclassmen in this session. I got the impression this group didn't really know what they wanted to do with their lives just yet.

Thirdly, a positive step. None of the panel hid the fact that the media is in a tough spot right now. We stressed that opportunity is there, but it's going to be harder than ever to break in. It seems their professors are giving them the same message. Which is good, because, while I loved my profs back in the day, I think they failed in setting us up with the "real-world" view that was needed once you went pro.

All in all, a decent night, the current crop of Kent State students was way too quiet for my liking ... they may have been too young to be anything more than overwhelmed.

2. The past

Like a lot of baseball fans, I was glued to the A-Rod/Steroids interview on ESPN.

My first thought was, "Wow, a body language expert would have a field day with this."

What was with him constantly looking to the right? Was his lawyer standing there? Was Gammons on the clock? Was Madonna pole dancing in the corner?

Also, you could tell A-Rod had been prepped with talking points, as he loses his way about midway through his first answer.

What's my take?

Well, I give him credit for the admission, even if it did follow a lie to 60 Minutes.

But, someone asked me what the fallout would be?

To me? None.

Look, this may sound jaded, but there is absolutely not a single name that could come out as being a steroids user that would surprise me. Ripken? Nope. Gwynn? Nope. Maddux? Maybe (but only because his gut was a thing of legend in baseball clubhouses.)

Also, look, the players weren't alone. The trainers, GMs, and owners were just as complicit in perpetuating the Steroid Era as the players taking the junk.

After all, chicks dig the long ball.

3. More Of The Past

Staying on the baseball theme, this morning's news about a lawsuit contending Robby Alomar and AIDS is a little stunning.

But, this goes back to my prior point.

When I was a kid, I idolized players. Mike Hargrove, Roger Clemens, guys like that.

Now, I find myself rooting for the team, the uniform ... not the individual players.

Sure, I love watching Grady Sizemore hit as much as the next fan. But, I do so knowing that he's likely leave the Indians after 2012, and I can't get too attached.

Also, and I've learned this the hard way, a lot of pro athletes aren't the best role models off the field.

Face it everyone, baseball (and sports) is filled with young, single, hard-partying, sexual conquesting Alpha males.

Always have been, always will be.

If I was in their shoes, I'd probably be the same guy, sadly. Young, single, and rich, without a care in the world.

However, the closer I got to these guys over the last 15 years, the more I realized that I could no longer put them on the pedestal they once sat atop.

I'll always be a baseball fan ... but I love the sport, the game, the story, not necessarily the players.

4. Born To Run.

I know I talked in depth about my love for Bruce Springsteen and his halftime performance at the Super Bowl.

Some loved it, some hated it.

But, I will say this, Bruce Springsteen can WRITE. And not just songs.

Please, read this diary that he wrote about the Super Bowl experience.

Never have I read something so well-written about a 12-minute performance.

It really does put you in his shoes as to why he wanted to do this, and what goes through a performer's mind when they're on the largest stage in the world.

Also, to give you more incentive to read, Cleveland gets name-dropped as Bruce finally playing before an audience he always hoped to see. Good stuff there.

It's just one more small reason that this is one man who will always be a favorite of mine.

Hi Mom!

Well, I'm officially climbing off the Springsteen soapbox for a bit here ... after receiving some startling news.

My mother reads my blog.

Now, you have to understand something, I've never told her this blog exists.

And, while my parents aren't computer illiterate, I did once have to write them a note on how the VCR works with the TV (such as how to change the channels to see tapes, etc.)

So, imagine my surprise when I talked to Mom on the phone, and she began peppering me with questions about my entries.

Seems she got curious why using Google one day, and searched my name.

Lo and behold, it brought her here.

Now, on one hand, I think it's a little embarrassing that Ma and Pa can now comb through all my entries ... although there really isn't anything here to get embarrassed about.

On the other hand, I think it's pretty fun that Mom was able to navigate cyberspace on her own to land in my corner of the World Wide Web.

So, in the words of everyone that's ever had a camera pointed in their face ... I say "Hi Mom!!"

The Halftime Show

Well, since I'm still living the Springsteen high-life, I couldn't let last night's Super Bowl halftime show pass without a few comments.

As a hard-core Bruce fan ... what did I think?

First off, the opening shot ... Bruce and Clarence back to back basically doing a re-creation of the Born To Run cover sent chills up my spine.

Otherwise, Springsteen tossed everything but the kitchen sink in there. He really did try to condense the energy of a 3-hour show down into 12 minutes.

We got concert staples like the guitar toss, the stage slide (which he overshot!), the piano jump, and even the guitar twirl ...

Springsteen was quoted as saying he wanted to turn the Halftime Show into a 12-minute party ... and I think he succeeded ... even though he didn't play a full version of any single one of the 4 songs.

However, I almost think he tried too hard to get all the concert bits in there ... the show could have used a little more breathing room.

Bruce's voice also didn't sound "tour ready" ... as it was a bit weak on Born To Run and Working On A Dream.

And, while adding Working On A Dream was done for a mercenary reason (to sell records, dummy!) it did feel a little flat after Born To Run.

The typical Bruce humor was there ... c'mon, who else would have the guts to tell viewers to "step away from the guacamole and put down the chicken fingers."

All in all, to this fan, it was a fun performance ... that had a few missteps.

But, I'm certainly ready for him to bring a tour stop to Cleveland! (Please?)

(By the way, I loved the idea of the taped intro with the players/coaches announcing the band as Bruce usually does. Especially Ken Whisenhunt saying "booty shaking".)

Working On A Dream

(Before I get into this post, I've changed my header to reflect my Bruce-heavy mood. Go ahead and play Where's Waldo with me. Think I had good seats?)


I wasn't planning to turn this into a music review blog ... but I can't let a new Bruce Springsteen album come out without a few thoughts ...

If you stick around to the end ... you get a Super Bowl Halftime Show spoiler ... so proceed with caution! :)

"Working On A Dream" hit the store shelves Tuesday, but through some alternative methods I've had it for a couple weeks.

The album reminds me a lot, in some ways, of Tunnel Of Love.

Back then, The Boss was coming off his largest commercial success with a huge rock album known as Born In The USA ... you might have heard of it.

The much-anticipated follow-up wasn't a massive rock album at all.

It was an album filled with very good songs, about love and the heart.

No racing, driving, rock anthems included.

In sort, the album was a little jarring on first listen. But, the more you listened, the more you found the essential Springsteen stuff was in there.

Now, I look back on it as one of Bruce's best albums.

Well, "Working On A Dream" feels similar to me. After many, many listens it keeps getting better. And it follows Magic, and album of mostly angry rock songs.

This time around, Bruce decided to make an album filled with songs that harken back to his 60's pop idols.

And, the central theme of the disc ... time. How you cannot change the past, and also how, at least for a man of 60, time is beginning to run out a bit.

I really think that "Working On A Dream" is inspired by the loss of E Street Band keyboard and accordian player Dan Federici.

Dan was the first member of the band to pass away, after a battle with melanoma.

His loss frames the music and the songs, none more obvious than the album's proper closer "The Last Carnival" ... a sequel of sorts to "Wild Billy's Circus Story."

So, what are the standout tracks?

Well, if you like the big arena rockers, you have "My Lucky Day." If you like modern blues, "Good Eye" is a great tune.

Of course, the bonus track, "The Wrestler" is one of Bruce's best in recent memory.

And, the title track itself I'll always feel a close connection to, since I was in the crowd when Bruce played it for the very first time ever, at the Barack Obama rally in Cleveland.

Is "Working On A Dream" the best Bruce has ever done? No.

But, it's a pretty solid effort, that I feel will only get better with time.

Now ... that Super Bowl Halftime spoiler ...

Ready?

Ya sure?

OK, here goes ... and boy does this make me happy to see!

I'd Like To Thank The Academy

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I found out that cleveland.com had discovered my little bloggy blog.

Yes, apparently a few of my non-pithy words about the inauguration appeared on the site's "political blog" ... along with a link right back here!

And it happened one day after a 2 friends of mine had their blogs linked to the same website.

Of course, I mercilessly teased one of them, who made sure we all knew about her achievement. (I still love you Mom2Amara!)

Turns out ... somehow, someway, the same honor was then tossed my way. So, following her lead, I bragged about it as well!

After making the discovery ... I had a couple initial thoughts.

1. I sure wish I had taken a little more time on the post. It wasn't one of my finer works, but I did manage to get a "nice work" from a commenter who I assume worked for the website. So, I guess I wasn't too bad.

2. I'm amazed that people are actually reading this. So many times, I really think I'm just writing this stuff for about 3-4 friends that bother to come by and humor me. To see a major media source print a few of my words and link here, honestly, stuns me a bit.

So, to anyone who might have discovered this blog through cleveland.com, welcome, and I can't promise I'll ever write anything interesting again. But, I promise to try.

Also, since I mentioned the Academy in the title ... a jeer today to the folks who vote for Oscar nominations.

Somehow, Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler" failed to get nominated, after winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

While I haven't seen the film yet (culture is apparently taking longer to reach NE Ohio), the song is simply incredible, one of Bruce's best tunes in years.

It's a shame the Oscar folks failed to realize this, especially considering they nominated just 3 songs, 2 from the same movie.

The only good news for this music fan, is hopefully, it improves the chances of Peter Gabriel's "Down To Earth", from Wall-E, winning the award.

It's another simply fantastic tune, that makes me wish Mr. Gabriel could put out an album more than once every 10 years.

And if you haven't heard either, give them a listen!

The Inauguration

Just wrapped up watching today's inauguration of Barack Obama, and what's the point of a blog if I can't say a few things about it?

First off, the scene itself was impressive. The sea of people, the waving of US flags, the former Presidents and Vice-Presidents ... this really is pomp and circumstance at it's best.

I also learned a few things along the way. Such as, Obama became President at Noon ... without taking the oath. Not sure I really knew that could happen.

Also, didn't know that the Oath itself meant so little that the Chief Justice could just say whatever the hell he wanted, and the President could follow along, and still be President.

Hey, John Roberts, some index cards wouldn't kill ya next time. Seriously. You're asked to do one thing, and you can't manage that?

As for inspiration. Yes, it is wonderful seeing a man of color in the White House.

I'll be honest though, as a white male, I'm sure the true impact of this is kind of lost on me.

Seeing the tears in the eyes of African-Americans at the event convinces me more than words ever could that this was an event of historic import. If you'd like some words, check out what my friend Mom2Amara wrote this morning.

It's stuff like that I just can't express, after growing up a middle-class, white kid. And, it's ok for me to admit that.

I got a personal thrill, though, in seeing this, because not that long ago I stood in a crowd of people in Cleveland to see Obama speak. (Of course, Bruce Springsteen was a BIT of a draw for me as well.)

To know I stood 100 yards away from a man who just became President is kind of stunning to me, but very cool at the same time.

As for Obama's speech, I'll let others who are smarter than me dissect that.

I will say this though, I did vote for Obama. I do think this country needs a new direction and new leadership.

But, the days of stump speeches, attack ads, and political posturing is over.

Mr. President, you're on the job, starting now. And it's time to start cleaning things up.

I know we'll have to be patient, and I know times will be difficult, but it's time to fulfill your promises.

If you succeed, you'll probably go down as one of our greatest leaders ever. If you fail, well, I'm not afraid to vote for the other guy in 2012.