Seven years ago, Adam Greenberg stepped up to the plate in his first major league at-bat as a pinch-hitter for the Chicago Cubs. He was hit in the head by a 95-mph fastball thrown by the Florida Marlins pitcher Valerio De Los Santos, and had to be helped off the field and taken into the hospital. Ever since that hit, he had to deal with a host of medical issues, from post-concussion syndrom to dizziness, severe headaches, and vertigo. He had kept trying to make it to the majors, but his career had fizzled in the minors.
Filmmaker and Cubs fan Matt Liston started the One At Bat campaign to get Greenberg at least one at-bat in the major leagues. Despite a great video, thousands of signatures, and endorsements from the likes of Hall of Famer George Brett, Chicago Cubs passed on giving Greenberg the chance. The Marlins heard about the campaign, and sought and obtained permission from Commissioner Bud Selig to sign Greenberg to a one-day contract (normally Major League Baseball doesn't allow one-day contracts). Greenberg accepted the offer on the Today Show, and will do his one at-bat next Tuesday, October 2nd, against the New York Mets and R. A. Dickey at Marlins Park in the second-to-last game of the season. Neither the Marlins nor the Mets are in playoffs contention.
According to ESPN, "Greenberg has also agreed to donate his one-day salary to the Marlins Foundation, which will then make a donation to the Sports Legacy Institute, an organization that advances the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups."
Even though some cynics said it is just a PR ploy by unpopular Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, and others complained that he didn't deserve it, I still think it's sweet. It clearly means a lot to Greenberg, and I hope he gets a hit.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Dancing with the Stars All Stars
I didn't watch Dancing with the Stars last season and was all set to give it up for good, but then they did an all-star season. I had to start watching it again.
The biggest change this season is the addition of half-points to the judging. Too early to tell whether this is a good change or not.
Initial thoughts about the dancers:
- Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. They did a great cha-cha during this first week, and also benefited from the pimp spot. As hard as it is to cheer for a Dallas Cowboy, Emmitt has shown himself to be a great dancer and competitor, as well as a class act. He and Cheryl have a nice, easy chemistry, and it shows on the dance floor. Definitely one of the favorites.
- Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd. HOT.
- Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel. I'm actually glad Sabrina didn't end up with Mark again. I think Louis is a better teacher and would be able to mold Sabrina into an even better dancer. She needs to stop hitting her moves so hard that it looks like she is punching someone.
- Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff. I've started to like Karina better since she was partnered (and won) with J.R. Martinez, and I can tell that I will like her with Apolo, too. Karina brings a different energy than Julianne, and this more mature energy works better with Apolo now. I love the crazy outfits they wore for the cha-cha, especially the glow-in-the-dark accessories.
- Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough. Another person who I think benefits from a new partner. Derek is a great choreographer and can bring even more out of Shawn than Mark did. Shawn is also older and actually pulls off some of the sexy moves better than the first time around.
- Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower. I didn't find Helio all that charming the first time around and this time it's bordering on creepy with Chelsie, but he certainly has enough energy on the dance floor. Poor Chelsie had to endure the public humiliation of the clip about her ignorance on languages, but at least she was a good sport about it.
- Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya. Drew was very rusty, and it shows. This couple ended up in the bottom two this week, and I really hope they will step it up because I like both of them.
- Kelly Monaco and Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Their interaction was just uncomfortable and Val was trying too hard to make people believe there was a possible showmance here. Kelly is pretty, but when compared against most of the ladies in this competition, she is severely lacking in personality.
- Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani. Just OK for me. Melissa looks great, though. I think they will finish in the middle of the pack. I like how Tony sneaked in how champions are insecure and he was a world champion, and even better that Tom called him on it.
- Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson. Joey is still annoying. At least he does seem to bring out Kym's more silly side, which is not a bad thing. Unfortunately they went first this week and I think the judges' score would have been hired had they gone later in the program.
- Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas. She was more comfortable and was a better performer, but still not very good, especially compared to the others.
- Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. During their season I go from being amused to being annoyed at their interaction, and so far it's still on the amusing side, but it will probably change soon.
- Pamela Anderson and Tristan MacManus. Poor Pam was the first one to be kicked off, and rightfully so. Their cha-cha was just weird and Pam looked really uncomfortable. Too bad for Tristan, but maybe he will get to dance more during the results show, which is not a bad thing.
The biggest change this season is the addition of half-points to the judging. Too early to tell whether this is a good change or not.
Initial thoughts about the dancers:
- Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. They did a great cha-cha during this first week, and also benefited from the pimp spot. As hard as it is to cheer for a Dallas Cowboy, Emmitt has shown himself to be a great dancer and competitor, as well as a class act. He and Cheryl have a nice, easy chemistry, and it shows on the dance floor. Definitely one of the favorites.
- Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd. HOT.
- Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel. I'm actually glad Sabrina didn't end up with Mark again. I think Louis is a better teacher and would be able to mold Sabrina into an even better dancer. She needs to stop hitting her moves so hard that it looks like she is punching someone.
- Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff. I've started to like Karina better since she was partnered (and won) with J.R. Martinez, and I can tell that I will like her with Apolo, too. Karina brings a different energy than Julianne, and this more mature energy works better with Apolo now. I love the crazy outfits they wore for the cha-cha, especially the glow-in-the-dark accessories.
- Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough. Another person who I think benefits from a new partner. Derek is a great choreographer and can bring even more out of Shawn than Mark did. Shawn is also older and actually pulls off some of the sexy moves better than the first time around.
- Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower. I didn't find Helio all that charming the first time around and this time it's bordering on creepy with Chelsie, but he certainly has enough energy on the dance floor. Poor Chelsie had to endure the public humiliation of the clip about her ignorance on languages, but at least she was a good sport about it.
- Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya. Drew was very rusty, and it shows. This couple ended up in the bottom two this week, and I really hope they will step it up because I like both of them.
- Kelly Monaco and Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Their interaction was just uncomfortable and Val was trying too hard to make people believe there was a possible showmance here. Kelly is pretty, but when compared against most of the ladies in this competition, she is severely lacking in personality.
- Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani. Just OK for me. Melissa looks great, though. I think they will finish in the middle of the pack. I like how Tony sneaked in how champions are insecure and he was a world champion, and even better that Tom called him on it.
- Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson. Joey is still annoying. At least he does seem to bring out Kym's more silly side, which is not a bad thing. Unfortunately they went first this week and I think the judges' score would have been hired had they gone later in the program.
- Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas. She was more comfortable and was a better performer, but still not very good, especially compared to the others.
- Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. During their season I go from being amused to being annoyed at their interaction, and so far it's still on the amusing side, but it will probably change soon.
- Pamela Anderson and Tristan MacManus. Poor Pam was the first one to be kicked off, and rightfully so. Their cha-cha was just weird and Pam looked really uncomfortable. Too bad for Tristan, but maybe he will get to dance more during the results show, which is not a bad thing.
2012 Emmys - Pre-Shows and Ceremony
My random impressions of the 2012 Emmys Pre-Shows and Ceremony:
Pre-Shows on E! and ABC
- I can't help but go "Awwww" at the obvious joy Giuliana Rancic is getting out of being a new mom.
- E!'s new mani-cam is just odd, and most of the celebrities did not what to do with it.
- Jimmy Fallon made the same exact jokes on E! and on ABC's official pre-show about Amanda Bynes driving him to the Emmys, Clint Eastwood saving him a seat, and people thinking it was him, not Jimmy Kimmel, who was the host of the show.
- Ryan's banter with Julianne Hough is so awkward. Are these two really dating?
- Kelly Osbourne's hair matching her dress is weird.
- I always feel bad when the celebs are rushed off the interview area so Ryan can talk to more important celebs waiting.
- ABC's Josh Elliott is very tall. I've only seen him before on ESPN behind the desk, so I had no idea how tall he was.
Ceremony
- Yay for the shout-out to Cat Deeley during Kimmel's opening monologue. Too bad she didn't win, although I do like Tom Bergeron, too. Cat still looks more amazing than Tom. Tom did have a funny acceptance speech, especially the part about thanking Jeff Probst for not being nominated.
- Kimmel's opening monologue was short and funny, but I didn't like most of his bits during the show. I didn't find the prank with Tracy Morgan and the part when his parents were escorted out funny. What was funny was when Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert tried to keep Jon Stewart from reaching the podium, and the Breaking Bad Andy Griffiths spoof.
- Jon Cryer? Really?
- Was Jessica Lange on something or drunk?
- Not enough shots of Benedict Cumberbatch - plus it was terrible that Sherlock didn't win anything.
- Funny bit between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler switching speeches when Julia won.
- Weirdest presenter combo of the night: James van der Beek and Damon Wayans, Jr.
- Well-deserved standing O for Michael J. Fox
Pre-Shows on E! and ABC
- I can't help but go "Awwww" at the obvious joy Giuliana Rancic is getting out of being a new mom.
- E!'s new mani-cam is just odd, and most of the celebrities did not what to do with it.
- Jimmy Fallon made the same exact jokes on E! and on ABC's official pre-show about Amanda Bynes driving him to the Emmys, Clint Eastwood saving him a seat, and people thinking it was him, not Jimmy Kimmel, who was the host of the show.
- Ryan's banter with Julianne Hough is so awkward. Are these two really dating?
- Kelly Osbourne's hair matching her dress is weird.
- I always feel bad when the celebs are rushed off the interview area so Ryan can talk to more important celebs waiting.
- ABC's Josh Elliott is very tall. I've only seen him before on ESPN behind the desk, so I had no idea how tall he was.
Ceremony
- Yay for the shout-out to Cat Deeley during Kimmel's opening monologue. Too bad she didn't win, although I do like Tom Bergeron, too. Cat still looks more amazing than Tom. Tom did have a funny acceptance speech, especially the part about thanking Jeff Probst for not being nominated.
- Kimmel's opening monologue was short and funny, but I didn't like most of his bits during the show. I didn't find the prank with Tracy Morgan and the part when his parents were escorted out funny. What was funny was when Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert tried to keep Jon Stewart from reaching the podium, and the Breaking Bad Andy Griffiths spoof.
- Jon Cryer? Really?
- Was Jessica Lange on something or drunk?
- Not enough shots of Benedict Cumberbatch - plus it was terrible that Sherlock didn't win anything.
- Funny bit between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Amy Poehler switching speeches when Julia won.
- Weirdest presenter combo of the night: James van der Beek and Damon Wayans, Jr.
- Well-deserved standing O for Michael J. Fox
Monday, September 24, 2012
The 2012 Emmys Fashion
The 2012 Emmys were last night, and there was quite a bit of a fashion parade going on. In general, there was a lot of sparkly, sequined dresses, bright colors (yellows, oranges, lime greens), and patterns. It definitely wasn't a boring red carpet. Here are my hits and misses (in no particular order).
BEST DRESSED
Sofia Vergara - Zuhair Murad. She knows what works on her, and has donned the mermaid-style gowns for multiple award shows. The color, the sparkle, and the fit are perfect, plus that large engagement ring and the rest of the diamonds really work on her.
Julie Bowen - Monique Lhuillier. The color is bright, but it actually works on her, and the fit and the drape was great. Plus it looks great with the new Emmy that she won.
Tina Fey - Vivienne Westwood. Tina Fey has really stepped up her red carpet game in the past few appearances. This dress has a deep red color that flatters her, and she smartly leaves off any distracting necklace to let the jeweled neckline shine.
Padma Lakshmi - Monique Lhuillier. Orange is a popular color, and this is one of the best on the red carpet last night. The cut itself is a bit boring, but she looks great in it.
January Jones - Zac Posen. Black is actually the minority for the red carpet last night, and this one stands out because of the dramatic draping and skirt. I don't always like her choices, but this one is a winner.
Emily Van Camp - J. Mendel. I think the color is a bit boring, but the dress is pretty and she looks amazing in it. I also love the hair and soft makeup.
Jessica Pare - Jason Wu. Beautiful white dress and it fits her perfectly. What a red carpet debut for the Mad Men star.
Ginnifer Goodwin - Monique Lhuillier. At first I thought I hate this dress, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. It is a daring dress, but she pulls it off with the haircut and her amazing face.
Amy Poehler - Stella McCartney. The newly-separated star rocks a much more daring look than her previous red carpet dresses, and she looks incredible. Way to show off your assets, Amy.
Jennifer Westfeldt - J. Mendel. Simple dress, but great fit and beautiful navy color. Of course her best accessory is her longtime love, Jon Hamm.
Cat Deeley - Tadashi Shoji. Cat looks elegant and statuesque in her bright orange-red gown, with just the right amount of detailing.
WORST DRESSED
Christina Hendricks - Christian Siriano. The color is pretty, but I thought the draping was weird and that belt was just an odd way to cinch her waist.
Julianne Hough - Georges Hobeika Couture. I hate the whole look - the hair makes her looks 20 years older than she is, and the weird feathering on the bottom doesn't do the dress any favor.
Leslie Mann - Naeem Khan. She looks like an old lady on top and the skirt color just hurts my eye.
Kristin Wiig - Balenciaga. She looks washed out in this cream gown, and the bottom looks like an old-fashioned lace tablecloth.
Julianne Moore - Dior Haute Couture. There is just too much dress, especially in that bright yellow, and it really overwhelms the petite star.
Lena Dunham - Prada. A talented lady, but she looks so much older in this dress. Lena, you are only 26 years old. You don't have to dress like you're in your 40s.
Elisabeth Moss - Dolce & Gabbana. Her new blonde bob looks incredible, but what's with the curtain-turned-into-a-dress look?
Julianna Margulies - Giambattista Valli Haute Couture. Another one that looks like a curtain, complete with a seam right down the front.
Ashley Judd - Carolina Herrera. Ashley looks like a prom queen, which is not a good thing for the Emmys. That hair is also a miss.
Lena Headey - Giorgio Armani. Lena Headey is a beautiful woman, but she looks like a witch in that dress. Plus her makeup and hair just look so odd.
Zosia Mamet - Bihbu Mahopatra. Everything about this look is just wrong, from the dress to the hair and the makeup.
SPLIT DECISION
Zooey Deschanel - Reem Acra. The bottom of the dress is gorgeous and the color looks great on her, but the top is ill-fitting and squishes her chest in such a weird way. It ruins an otherwise beautiful look.
Nicole Kidman - Antonio Berardi. I'm not sure about the blue beading on the top, although she does look elegant as usual.
Kat Dennings - J. Mendel. Another one who is beautiful on the bottom and has a great red color, but the ill-fitting top is awful. I was afraid her boobs were going to pop out at any moment.
Lucy Liu - Versace. Her dress is bordering on futuristic, and not in a good way, but I think somehow she pulls it off.
BEST DRESSED
Sofia Vergara - Zuhair Murad. She knows what works on her, and has donned the mermaid-style gowns for multiple award shows. The color, the sparkle, and the fit are perfect, plus that large engagement ring and the rest of the diamonds really work on her.
Julie Bowen - Monique Lhuillier. The color is bright, but it actually works on her, and the fit and the drape was great. Plus it looks great with the new Emmy that she won.
Tina Fey - Vivienne Westwood. Tina Fey has really stepped up her red carpet game in the past few appearances. This dress has a deep red color that flatters her, and she smartly leaves off any distracting necklace to let the jeweled neckline shine.
Padma Lakshmi - Monique Lhuillier. Orange is a popular color, and this is one of the best on the red carpet last night. The cut itself is a bit boring, but she looks great in it.
January Jones - Zac Posen. Black is actually the minority for the red carpet last night, and this one stands out because of the dramatic draping and skirt. I don't always like her choices, but this one is a winner.
Emily Van Camp - J. Mendel. I think the color is a bit boring, but the dress is pretty and she looks amazing in it. I also love the hair and soft makeup.
Jessica Pare - Jason Wu. Beautiful white dress and it fits her perfectly. What a red carpet debut for the Mad Men star.
Ginnifer Goodwin - Monique Lhuillier. At first I thought I hate this dress, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. It is a daring dress, but she pulls it off with the haircut and her amazing face.
Amy Poehler - Stella McCartney. The newly-separated star rocks a much more daring look than her previous red carpet dresses, and she looks incredible. Way to show off your assets, Amy.
Jennifer Westfeldt - J. Mendel. Simple dress, but great fit and beautiful navy color. Of course her best accessory is her longtime love, Jon Hamm.
Cat Deeley - Tadashi Shoji. Cat looks elegant and statuesque in her bright orange-red gown, with just the right amount of detailing.
WORST DRESSED
Christina Hendricks - Christian Siriano. The color is pretty, but I thought the draping was weird and that belt was just an odd way to cinch her waist.
Julianne Hough - Georges Hobeika Couture. I hate the whole look - the hair makes her looks 20 years older than she is, and the weird feathering on the bottom doesn't do the dress any favor.
Leslie Mann - Naeem Khan. She looks like an old lady on top and the skirt color just hurts my eye.
Kristin Wiig - Balenciaga. She looks washed out in this cream gown, and the bottom looks like an old-fashioned lace tablecloth.
Julianne Moore - Dior Haute Couture. There is just too much dress, especially in that bright yellow, and it really overwhelms the petite star.
Lena Dunham - Prada. A talented lady, but she looks so much older in this dress. Lena, you are only 26 years old. You don't have to dress like you're in your 40s.
Elisabeth Moss - Dolce & Gabbana. Her new blonde bob looks incredible, but what's with the curtain-turned-into-a-dress look?
Julianna Margulies - Giambattista Valli Haute Couture. Another one that looks like a curtain, complete with a seam right down the front.
Ashley Judd - Carolina Herrera. Ashley looks like a prom queen, which is not a good thing for the Emmys. That hair is also a miss.
Lena Headey - Giorgio Armani. Lena Headey is a beautiful woman, but she looks like a witch in that dress. Plus her makeup and hair just look so odd.
Zosia Mamet - Bihbu Mahopatra. Everything about this look is just wrong, from the dress to the hair and the makeup.
SPLIT DECISION
Zooey Deschanel - Reem Acra. The bottom of the dress is gorgeous and the color looks great on her, but the top is ill-fitting and squishes her chest in such a weird way. It ruins an otherwise beautiful look.
Nicole Kidman - Antonio Berardi. I'm not sure about the blue beading on the top, although she does look elegant as usual.
Kat Dennings - J. Mendel. Another one who is beautiful on the bottom and has a great red color, but the ill-fitting top is awful. I was afraid her boobs were going to pop out at any moment.
Lucy Liu - Versace. Her dress is bordering on futuristic, and not in a good way, but I think somehow she pulls it off.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
So You Think You Can Dance - Finale
Last night was the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, and boy, it was an exciting finish.
SPOILER ALERT
The winners are Eliana and Chehon! I was surprised about Chehon. I thought Cyrus had this in the bag. But I am excited that the best dancers won. Eliana has been a favorite of mine from the top 20 - she is so effervescent and bubbly, and her dancing is out of this world. Chehon has grown on me - he was really quiet and reserved in the beginning, but he opened up more as he hit the top 10, and his leaps are incredible.
The finale also brought back the top 20 in a crazy group number choreographed by Sonya Tayeh and Christopher Scott. Christopher Scott also choreographed and danced in a new number with Comfort, Twitch, and Cyrus - which was awesome.
The six judges (Lil' C, Debbie Allen, Adam Shankman, and Tyce Diorio joined Mary and Nigel) and Cat chose their favorite pieces from the season, and the four finalists also got to choose to reprise their favorite numbers. It was especially great to see Will and Amelia's cat routine from NappyTabs, Chehon and Anya's Argentine tango, Lindsay and Cole's paso doble, Eliana and Alex's contemporary "Bang Bang" routine from Stacey Tookey, and Cyrus and Twitch's animation from Christopher Scott.
Before the winners were announced, the top 10 and the all-stars danced a crazy jungle routine by NappyTabs.
Another season is in the books, and I thought it was a successful one. I still wished they had kept the results show, but I think they did the best they could with just one show a week. Until next year!
SPOILER ALERT
The winners are Eliana and Chehon! I was surprised about Chehon. I thought Cyrus had this in the bag. But I am excited that the best dancers won. Eliana has been a favorite of mine from the top 20 - she is so effervescent and bubbly, and her dancing is out of this world. Chehon has grown on me - he was really quiet and reserved in the beginning, but he opened up more as he hit the top 10, and his leaps are incredible.
The finale also brought back the top 20 in a crazy group number choreographed by Sonya Tayeh and Christopher Scott. Christopher Scott also choreographed and danced in a new number with Comfort, Twitch, and Cyrus - which was awesome.
The six judges (Lil' C, Debbie Allen, Adam Shankman, and Tyce Diorio joined Mary and Nigel) and Cat chose their favorite pieces from the season, and the four finalists also got to choose to reprise their favorite numbers. It was especially great to see Will and Amelia's cat routine from NappyTabs, Chehon and Anya's Argentine tango, Lindsay and Cole's paso doble, Eliana and Alex's contemporary "Bang Bang" routine from Stacey Tookey, and Cyrus and Twitch's animation from Christopher Scott.
Before the winners were announced, the top 10 and the all-stars danced a crazy jungle routine by NappyTabs.
Another season is in the books, and I thought it was a successful one. I still wished they had kept the results show, but I think they did the best they could with just one show a week. Until next year!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Gangnam Style
You know you've hit pop culture jackpot when your YouTube video has been viewed over 200 million times, you have been parodied on Saturday Night Live, celebrities like T-Pain and Katy Perry tweeted about how awesome the video is, and it has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and CNN.
The song in question is called Gangnam Style, and it's by South Korean rapper Psy (real name Park Jaesang). Psy is 34 years old and grew up in South Korea, and went to Boston University and Berklee School of Music. He released his first full album in 2001, and has been known as a controversial and unique singer in the K-pop arena.
The Atlantic did an interesting article on the subversive message behind the video - worth reading as an academic exercise.
The song in question is called Gangnam Style, and it's by South Korean rapper Psy (real name Park Jaesang). Psy is 34 years old and grew up in South Korea, and went to Boston University and Berklee School of Music. He released his first full album in 2001, and has been known as a controversial and unique singer in the K-pop arena.
The Atlantic did an interesting article on the subversive message behind the video - worth reading as an academic exercise.
Fatal Attraction - 25th Anniversary
I probably watched Fatal Attraction way too young. I remembered it being on TV and was fascinated with Glenn Close. I'm also sure that I won't be able to stomach watching it now.
Fatal Attraction turns 25 today, and there is an interesting tidbit about the changed ending. In the original ending, Glenn Close's character, Alex, committed suicide using a knife that had Dan's fingerprints on it to pin him for murder. Dan was arrested for murder, but his wife, Beth (Anne Archer) found a tape of Alex stating that she would kill herself if she wasn't with Dan. Test audience apparently hated this ending, and it was changed to the ending that is shown in the theatres - Alex attacking Dan, and Beth killing Alex. Glenn Close apparently objected to the new ending because she felt the original ending was more true to Alex, but eventually relented.
Fatal Attraction turns 25 today, and there is an interesting tidbit about the changed ending. In the original ending, Glenn Close's character, Alex, committed suicide using a knife that had Dan's fingerprints on it to pin him for murder. Dan was arrested for murder, but his wife, Beth (Anne Archer) found a tape of Alex stating that she would kill herself if she wasn't with Dan. Test audience apparently hated this ending, and it was changed to the ending that is shown in the theatres - Alex attacking Dan, and Beth killing Alex. Glenn Close apparently objected to the new ending because she felt the original ending was more true to Alex, but eventually relented.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Richard III - Skeleton Possibly Found
The archaeologists who had been excavating a parking lot in Leicester, England thought to be the site of Richard III's grave, found a skeleton that may be the remains of Richard III. The testing will take awhile, and it is unclear whether they can get DNA from the skeleton, but it is still very exciting.
The article mentioned that the archaeologists found two skeletons "a female skeleton that was broken apart at the joints was discovered in what is believed to be the Presbytery of the lost Church; the other skeleton, which appears to be an adult male, was found in the church choir and shows signs of trauma to the skull and back before death, which would be consistent with a battle injury, the researchers said." The male skeleton also showed signs of scoliosis, which would explain why contemporary accounts of Richard described him as having one shoulder higher than the other, and which later led to the mistaken description of him as being a hunchbank.
There is also an updated picture gallery, which showed some of the findings, like a medieval penny and the stone frieze.
The article mentioned that the archaeologists found two skeletons "a female skeleton that was broken apart at the joints was discovered in what is believed to be the Presbytery of the lost Church; the other skeleton, which appears to be an adult male, was found in the church choir and shows signs of trauma to the skull and back before death, which would be consistent with a battle injury, the researchers said." The male skeleton also showed signs of scoliosis, which would explain why contemporary accounts of Richard described him as having one shoulder higher than the other, and which later led to the mistaken description of him as being a hunchbank.
There is also an updated picture gallery, which showed some of the findings, like a medieval penny and the stone frieze.
Jonathan Groff and Zachary Quinto - Confirmed Dating
I've written before about the rumor that Zachary Quinto and Jonathan Groff dating, and now Zachary Quinto himself has confirmed it. Zachary sounds so sweet talking about how happy he is. I hope these two will make it!
So You Think You Can Dance - Performance Finale
Last night was the performance finale, and it was jam-packed with dances. Each dancer danced six routines - one each with the other finalists, one with an all-star, a solo, and a group dance. I'm surprised none of them dropped down from exhaustion at the end of the night.
Favorite routines
1) Cyrus and Twitch's animation from Christopher Scott. How cute was Cyrus when he was going crazy over meeting Madd Chadd? Madd Chadd and Christopher Scott are good friends, and Madd Chadd was one of the stars of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD), a dance web series choreographed by Christopher Scott, Harry Shum, Jr, and Galen Hooks. If you've never seen LXD, go online and check them out. It's quite amazing. This was the routine that everyone has been waiting for, and it was fantastic. From the premise (two genetically-enhanced creatures breaking out of their glass cage and trying out their new powers) to the movements and the interactions between the dancers, it was a great piece. Seeing Twitch and Cyrus next to each other makes me realize that Cyrus has some work to do to really command the stage, but he hasn't had that much experience professionally, so that will come with time.
2) Eliana and Alex's contemporary from Travis Wall. What a perfect combination of dancers, music, and choreographer. I love how Travis didn't try to do too much with Alex and Eliana, but choreographed something that was beautiful and showed their strengths.
3) Eliana and Chehon's pas de deux from Marat Daukayev. I've been telling Mr. Y from the beginning that I really want to see a traditional pas de deux if Eliana and Chehon ever danced together, so I was so happy to see this routine. The pas de deux to the Nutcracker Suite was very traditional and Eliana was definitely more showcased than Chehon, but the two of them did such a beautiful job and it was nice to see classical ballet. The two of them matched each other very well and Chehon was so strong in supporting and lifting Eliana.
4) Chehon and Allison's contemporary from Stacey Tookey. This was just a beautiful piece. Both Chehon and Allison really threw their emotions into the dance and it was really haunting. Plus that one-arm lift was just insane.
Least favorite routines
1) The group routine from Tyce Diorio. A total mess from start to finish. It would have been better if they left this off and let the dancers rest.
2) Tiffany and Will's contemporary from Sonya Tayeh. Tiffany was obviously very athletic and danced well, and it was nice to see Will again, but the dance didn't have the chemistry and the piece was just disjointed to me.
3) Tiffany and Chehon's rumba from Dmitry Chaplin. The two of them looked pretty, but this wasn't much of a rumba. I also didn't feel any chemistry between the two of them. Chehon's hip action was non-existing, and I didn't buy Tiffany as being sexy.
4) Eliana and Cyrus's paso doble from Jason Gilkinson. Eliana was fierce as usual, but Cyrus really struggled to keep up.
Solos
I thought Eliana's solo was way better than Tiffany's. Tiffany did a pretty generic contemporary solo, when Eliana's ballet one was so powerful. I also thought Chehon did a better job with his solo than Cyrus, but it was a closer call.
Predictions
It's hard to predict who's going to win, but I really hope Eliana and Chehon will prevail. Eliana can do anything, and does not seem to have a weakness. Chehon has also improved over the course of the season, and as much as I love Cyrus and how hard he works, I think Chehon deserves to win.
Favorite routines
1) Cyrus and Twitch's animation from Christopher Scott. How cute was Cyrus when he was going crazy over meeting Madd Chadd? Madd Chadd and Christopher Scott are good friends, and Madd Chadd was one of the stars of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD), a dance web series choreographed by Christopher Scott, Harry Shum, Jr, and Galen Hooks. If you've never seen LXD, go online and check them out. It's quite amazing. This was the routine that everyone has been waiting for, and it was fantastic. From the premise (two genetically-enhanced creatures breaking out of their glass cage and trying out their new powers) to the movements and the interactions between the dancers, it was a great piece. Seeing Twitch and Cyrus next to each other makes me realize that Cyrus has some work to do to really command the stage, but he hasn't had that much experience professionally, so that will come with time.
2) Eliana and Alex's contemporary from Travis Wall. What a perfect combination of dancers, music, and choreographer. I love how Travis didn't try to do too much with Alex and Eliana, but choreographed something that was beautiful and showed their strengths.
3) Eliana and Chehon's pas de deux from Marat Daukayev. I've been telling Mr. Y from the beginning that I really want to see a traditional pas de deux if Eliana and Chehon ever danced together, so I was so happy to see this routine. The pas de deux to the Nutcracker Suite was very traditional and Eliana was definitely more showcased than Chehon, but the two of them did such a beautiful job and it was nice to see classical ballet. The two of them matched each other very well and Chehon was so strong in supporting and lifting Eliana.
4) Chehon and Allison's contemporary from Stacey Tookey. This was just a beautiful piece. Both Chehon and Allison really threw their emotions into the dance and it was really haunting. Plus that one-arm lift was just insane.
Least favorite routines
1) The group routine from Tyce Diorio. A total mess from start to finish. It would have been better if they left this off and let the dancers rest.
2) Tiffany and Will's contemporary from Sonya Tayeh. Tiffany was obviously very athletic and danced well, and it was nice to see Will again, but the dance didn't have the chemistry and the piece was just disjointed to me.
3) Tiffany and Chehon's rumba from Dmitry Chaplin. The two of them looked pretty, but this wasn't much of a rumba. I also didn't feel any chemistry between the two of them. Chehon's hip action was non-existing, and I didn't buy Tiffany as being sexy.
4) Eliana and Cyrus's paso doble from Jason Gilkinson. Eliana was fierce as usual, but Cyrus really struggled to keep up.
Solos
I thought Eliana's solo was way better than Tiffany's. Tiffany did a pretty generic contemporary solo, when Eliana's ballet one was so powerful. I also thought Chehon did a better job with his solo than Cyrus, but it was a closer call.
Predictions
It's hard to predict who's going to win, but I really hope Eliana and Chehon will prevail. Eliana can do anything, and does not seem to have a weakness. Chehon has also improved over the course of the season, and as much as I love Cyrus and how hard he works, I think Chehon deserves to win.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Going for It on Fourth Down
I've mentioned before the book Scorecasting, which challenges conventional wisdom and assumptions about sports by applying economic analysis to sports situations.
One of the stories mentioned in the book is about Kevin Kelley, the football coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kelley has also been featured in Sports Illustrated - here's one article about him. Kelley's approach is unusual because he doesn't follow a lot of the typical football wisdom. His team doesn't punt - always going for it on fourth down. His team almost always attempts an onside kick after scoring, and his playbook has a lot of tricks and gimmicks. Kelley has done a lot of research on football matters, and the numbers and analyses convince him that a lot of conventional football wisdom is just wrong. For example, as the SI article mentioned, "according to Kelley's statistics, when a team punts from near its end zone, the opponent will take possession inside the 40-yard line and will then score a touchdown 77 percent of the time. If it recovers on downs inside the 10, it will score a touchdown 92 percent of the time. 'So [forsaking] a punt, you give your offense a chance to stay on the field," he said. "And if you miss, the odds of the other team scoring only increase 15 percent. It's like someone said, '[Punting] is what you do on fourth down,' and everyone did it without asking why.'"
It's hard to argue with the results - over the past ten years Pulaski Academy has the record of 105-20 over the past 10 seasons, including an undefeated season in 2011, and it has also won won three state championships.
Kelley's name recently surfaced again as the inspiration behind Louisiana-Monroe's stunning 34-31 overtime defeat of Arkansas this past Saturday. Louisiana-Monroe has not had a winning season since 1993, and has never been to a bowl game, while Arkansas is a perennial national powerhouse who was ranked #8 in the Associated Press bowl heading into the game. Kelley had befriended Louisiana-Monroe's offensive coordinator and head coach, and shared his research and philosophy with them. Although the Warhawks didn't fully buy into the system, when they were behind 28-7 in the second half, they started playing Kelley's way. The result is that they went 6-for-7 on fourth downs and converted a fourth down on each of the five touchdown drives, including the last one that gave them the win.
One of the stories mentioned in the book is about Kevin Kelley, the football coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kelley has also been featured in Sports Illustrated - here's one article about him. Kelley's approach is unusual because he doesn't follow a lot of the typical football wisdom. His team doesn't punt - always going for it on fourth down. His team almost always attempts an onside kick after scoring, and his playbook has a lot of tricks and gimmicks. Kelley has done a lot of research on football matters, and the numbers and analyses convince him that a lot of conventional football wisdom is just wrong. For example, as the SI article mentioned, "according to Kelley's statistics, when a team punts from near its end zone, the opponent will take possession inside the 40-yard line and will then score a touchdown 77 percent of the time. If it recovers on downs inside the 10, it will score a touchdown 92 percent of the time. 'So [forsaking] a punt, you give your offense a chance to stay on the field," he said. "And if you miss, the odds of the other team scoring only increase 15 percent. It's like someone said, '[Punting] is what you do on fourth down,' and everyone did it without asking why.'"
It's hard to argue with the results - over the past ten years Pulaski Academy has the record of 105-20 over the past 10 seasons, including an undefeated season in 2011, and it has also won won three state championships.
Kelley's name recently surfaced again as the inspiration behind Louisiana-Monroe's stunning 34-31 overtime defeat of Arkansas this past Saturday. Louisiana-Monroe has not had a winning season since 1993, and has never been to a bowl game, while Arkansas is a perennial national powerhouse who was ranked #8 in the Associated Press bowl heading into the game. Kelley had befriended Louisiana-Monroe's offensive coordinator and head coach, and shared his research and philosophy with them. Although the Warhawks didn't fully buy into the system, when they were behind 28-7 in the second half, they started playing Kelley's way. The result is that they went 6-for-7 on fourth downs and converted a fourth down on each of the five touchdown drives, including the last one that gave them the win.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Richard III
Archaeologists recently uncovered a medieval church, Greyfriars, under a parking lot in Leicester, England (pictures here), which is said to be the final resting place of Richard III. Richard III is believed to be buried in Greyfriars in 1485, after he died at the Battle of Bosworth Field during the War of the Roses. He is the last King of England to died in battle.
Richard III is a fascinating figure in history, made especially famous by the play of the same name written by William Shakespeare over 100 years after Richard's death. Richard III is most noted as being the alleged killer of the two young princes under his care, sons of Richard's brother, King Edward IV. The princes Edward and Richard were said to have been imprisoned and killed in the Tower of London on Richard III's orders, and led to the legend of the Princes in the Tower. Richard III was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet Dynasty, which ruled England from 1154 until 1485 - a reign of 14 kings lasting 331 years.
In Shakespeare' play, Richard III is most decidedly an amoral and Machiavellian villain. However, there are plenty of novelists and historians who argued that the real Richard is not the evil villain he became known to be. During his short two-year reign, according to Wikipedia, he "instituted what later became known as the Court of Requests, a court which poor people who could not afford legal representation could apply to for their grievances to be heard, introduced bail in to protect suspected felons from imprisonment before trial and protect their property from seizure during that time, founded the College of Arms, banned restrictions on the printing and sale of books, and ordered the translation of the written Laws and Statutes from the traditional French into English."
One of my favorite books ever is Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time," which presents an alternate view of Richard III and the Princes in the Tower. The title of the book, "The Daughter of Time," is from a quote by Sir Francis Bacon: "Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority," which indicated Tey's view that the evil Richard was a constructed myth, not reality.
In that book, Alan Grant, a Scotland Yard inspector and a regular character in Tey's books, was in the hospital with a broken leg. He was really bored and restless, and decided to investigate the case of Richard III after being intrigued by a portrait of Richard III that showed him as being gentle and wise, instead of monstrous and cruel. With the help of an American researcher who was working at the British Museum, Grant investigated the case like a modern detective without leaving his bed, and concluded that the story of Richard III being a callous murderer and a monster was constructed by the Tudor dynasty that came after him, partly to assert the Tudor claim to the throne.
The book pointed out the fact that Richard III was never accused or convicted of any murder against the Princes during his time, and that the most famous source of the evil Richard III story came from Sir Thomas More, who was an advisor to Tudor King Henry VIII, and was only eight years old when Richard III died. This fact led credence to the theory that the evil Richard was simply a creation of the Tudor kings who wanted to establish the legitimacy of their claim to the throne, which they wrested from Richard III during the War of the Roses. Shakespeare used More's Richard III book heavily in writing his play, so it made sense that his Richard III is also a villain.
I did not research Tey's sources or evidence, but I did come away convinced that Richard III is not as evil as More and Shakespeare had made him out to be. It is a very well-written book and has an interesting narrative structure - definitely worth reading for mystery fans.
Richard III is a fascinating figure in history, made especially famous by the play of the same name written by William Shakespeare over 100 years after Richard's death. Richard III is most noted as being the alleged killer of the two young princes under his care, sons of Richard's brother, King Edward IV. The princes Edward and Richard were said to have been imprisoned and killed in the Tower of London on Richard III's orders, and led to the legend of the Princes in the Tower. Richard III was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet Dynasty, which ruled England from 1154 until 1485 - a reign of 14 kings lasting 331 years.
In Shakespeare' play, Richard III is most decidedly an amoral and Machiavellian villain. However, there are plenty of novelists and historians who argued that the real Richard is not the evil villain he became known to be. During his short two-year reign, according to Wikipedia, he "instituted what later became known as the Court of Requests, a court which poor people who could not afford legal representation could apply to for their grievances to be heard, introduced bail in to protect suspected felons from imprisonment before trial and protect their property from seizure during that time, founded the College of Arms, banned restrictions on the printing and sale of books, and ordered the translation of the written Laws and Statutes from the traditional French into English."
One of my favorite books ever is Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time," which presents an alternate view of Richard III and the Princes in the Tower. The title of the book, "The Daughter of Time," is from a quote by Sir Francis Bacon: "Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority," which indicated Tey's view that the evil Richard was a constructed myth, not reality.
In that book, Alan Grant, a Scotland Yard inspector and a regular character in Tey's books, was in the hospital with a broken leg. He was really bored and restless, and decided to investigate the case of Richard III after being intrigued by a portrait of Richard III that showed him as being gentle and wise, instead of monstrous and cruel. With the help of an American researcher who was working at the British Museum, Grant investigated the case like a modern detective without leaving his bed, and concluded that the story of Richard III being a callous murderer and a monster was constructed by the Tudor dynasty that came after him, partly to assert the Tudor claim to the throne.
The book pointed out the fact that Richard III was never accused or convicted of any murder against the Princes during his time, and that the most famous source of the evil Richard III story came from Sir Thomas More, who was an advisor to Tudor King Henry VIII, and was only eight years old when Richard III died. This fact led credence to the theory that the evil Richard was simply a creation of the Tudor kings who wanted to establish the legitimacy of their claim to the throne, which they wrested from Richard III during the War of the Roses. Shakespeare used More's Richard III book heavily in writing his play, so it made sense that his Richard III is also a villain.
I did not research Tey's sources or evidence, but I did come away convinced that Richard III is not as evil as More and Shakespeare had made him out to be. It is a very well-written book and has an interesting narrative structure - definitely worth reading for mystery fans.
So You Think You Can Dance - Top 6
It's down to the Top 6 on So You Think You Can Dance. At this point, although my favorites are Eliana and Cole, I would be happy with any of the dancers winning. All of them bring something different to the competition, and it's great to see so much variety instead of the usual contemporary dancers. There is no voting tonight because the eliminations are solely based on last week's votes (the judges can't save anyone anymore), and next week is the performance finale where people will vote for the winners.
Each of the top 6 danced three dances - one with an all-star, one with each other, and a solo. The group routine was choreographed by Sonya Tayeh, and it was her usual mix of weird and energetic. Eliana had a couple of standout moments, which were great. Overall a good number.
I normally don't pay that close attention to the mini-solos as the dancers get introduced, but this time the boys decided to dance each other's styles. I was confused as to why Chehon did a martial-arts-like move like Cole in the beginning, but then it became clear at the end when Cole did Cyrus's signature robot moves. Once we rewinded, it was obvious Cyrus was doing ballet poses in the middle - I can understand why he didn't even try to do Chehon's ballet moves.
Favorite routines
1) Cyrus and Comfort's dubstep from Christopher Scott. This number was crazy. There were a lot of intricate movements with the feet, the body, and the hands. I actually think Cyrus falls a bit behind Comfort at times, but Comfort is such a beast that it would be hard to keep up with her.
2) Cole and Eliana's contemporary from Mia Michaels. Mia Michaels said she was inspired by the way rams fight. I really like this piece - it was emotional, physical, and intense, but not in a fake or pushy way. Cole and Eliana danced it very well and even more important, acted it really well.
3) Eliana and Twitch's hip hop from Christopher Scott. This piece was so fun and sexy. Eliana really matched Twitch step by step, and their chemistry was off the charts. I love how much fun they were having, and it really translated to the audience.
Least favorite routines
1) Witney and Chehon's cha-cha from Jean-Marc Genereux. Witney was in her elements, but Chehon looked lost again. He wasn't any better than when he tried the samba early in the season.
2) Chehon and Kathryn's contemporary from Tyce Diorio. This piece is exactly why I'm not a big fan of Tyce. He tries to do the serious, weighty stuff, but the overall effect is fake and manipulative. Chehon and Kathryn danced it well, but the piece came out to be boring and annoying.
Solos - from my favorite to least favorite
Boys
1) Chehon
2) Cole
3) Cyrus
The boys really brought it tonight with the solos. All of them did a fantastic job. Chehon's solo was different than what he has done before - very masculine and dark. Cole's wolf-themed solo was intense and I love the music. Cyrus is just amazing as usual, and I'm impressed that he constantly shows up with new moves. How cute were their moms? I almost cried when Chehon's mom talked about how proud she was of him just for being himself.
Girls
1) Eliana
2) Witney
3) Tiffany
The girls' solos were not as exciting as the boys' pieces. Eliana's lines were amazing in her solo, and it was fun to see her do more contemporary than straight ballet like she did last week. Witney's paso-doble-themed solo was fine, but I thought it was rather weird without a partner. Tiffany's solo was just a garden variety contemporary solo - nothing particularly special.
Eliminations
There was no bottom twos this week, just eliminations. I wasn't surprised when Witney and Cole were eliminated. Witney has been in the bottom quite a few times, and Chehon has surpassed Cole in momentum. I'm sad Cole left, but it would only be two more weeks before we will see him again in the finale.
Each of the top 6 danced three dances - one with an all-star, one with each other, and a solo. The group routine was choreographed by Sonya Tayeh, and it was her usual mix of weird and energetic. Eliana had a couple of standout moments, which were great. Overall a good number.
I normally don't pay that close attention to the mini-solos as the dancers get introduced, but this time the boys decided to dance each other's styles. I was confused as to why Chehon did a martial-arts-like move like Cole in the beginning, but then it became clear at the end when Cole did Cyrus's signature robot moves. Once we rewinded, it was obvious Cyrus was doing ballet poses in the middle - I can understand why he didn't even try to do Chehon's ballet moves.
Favorite routines
1) Cyrus and Comfort's dubstep from Christopher Scott. This number was crazy. There were a lot of intricate movements with the feet, the body, and the hands. I actually think Cyrus falls a bit behind Comfort at times, but Comfort is such a beast that it would be hard to keep up with her.
2) Cole and Eliana's contemporary from Mia Michaels. Mia Michaels said she was inspired by the way rams fight. I really like this piece - it was emotional, physical, and intense, but not in a fake or pushy way. Cole and Eliana danced it very well and even more important, acted it really well.
3) Eliana and Twitch's hip hop from Christopher Scott. This piece was so fun and sexy. Eliana really matched Twitch step by step, and their chemistry was off the charts. I love how much fun they were having, and it really translated to the audience.
Least favorite routines
1) Witney and Chehon's cha-cha from Jean-Marc Genereux. Witney was in her elements, but Chehon looked lost again. He wasn't any better than when he tried the samba early in the season.
2) Chehon and Kathryn's contemporary from Tyce Diorio. This piece is exactly why I'm not a big fan of Tyce. He tries to do the serious, weighty stuff, but the overall effect is fake and manipulative. Chehon and Kathryn danced it well, but the piece came out to be boring and annoying.
Solos - from my favorite to least favorite
Boys
1) Chehon
2) Cole
3) Cyrus
The boys really brought it tonight with the solos. All of them did a fantastic job. Chehon's solo was different than what he has done before - very masculine and dark. Cole's wolf-themed solo was intense and I love the music. Cyrus is just amazing as usual, and I'm impressed that he constantly shows up with new moves. How cute were their moms? I almost cried when Chehon's mom talked about how proud she was of him just for being himself.
Girls
1) Eliana
2) Witney
3) Tiffany
The girls' solos were not as exciting as the boys' pieces. Eliana's lines were amazing in her solo, and it was fun to see her do more contemporary than straight ballet like she did last week. Witney's paso-doble-themed solo was fine, but I thought it was rather weird without a partner. Tiffany's solo was just a garden variety contemporary solo - nothing particularly special.
Eliminations
There was no bottom twos this week, just eliminations. I wasn't surprised when Witney and Cole were eliminated. Witney has been in the bottom quite a few times, and Chehon has surpassed Cole in momentum. I'm sad Cole left, but it would only be two more weeks before we will see him again in the finale.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Ukulele Cover of "Rolling in the Deep"
Just when you thought you have heard every cover of Adele's popular "Rolling in the Deep," here comes a ukelele version courtesy of Jake Shimabukuro, the Hawaiian ukelele artist. This version is pretty incredible, and unless you have amazing speakers on your computer, it's actually better to listen to it with headphones on. Mr. Y and I agreed that we might actually get this guy's album when it comes out on October 2nd.
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