Tina Dico at the Nectar Lounge

It was a really warm weekend and what better way to celebrate it than with a Sunday night live music gig....well, late night, that is.....the tix did say 8pm but I don't think the front act even started 'till about 9 and Tina's set was pushed to 10......coincidence or the fact that her latest album's titled "count to ten" :). Anyway, on to the show! Having seen her before when she was doing shows at Chopsuey, I think she's more confident this time and there's something really bright about her, or maybe that was just the lighting :).

She performed a lot of tracks from her latest album, and halfway through the set she did do a medley of songs from her previous albums, and even gave in to a few requests (yes, the folks asked for 'Warm Sand'). Having worked with a band in her other shows I think has added a nice dimension to her performance, but this night when she played acoustic with us, brought out some interesting variations, where I think in some situations the way she played and sang was intended to go with a band behind her, be she continues to perform the same way. And it does work, actually, and really exposes her voice and guitar work.

Pushed far enough

Annika Sorenstam and Justine Henin have both made the judgement that they have pushed far enough and its time to throw in the towel. I've always admired the seriousness that Annika brought to her game. Even when she smiled or laughed a bit, you knew it was never going to last.....her face would turn back to serious (or neutral) and she'd be ready for the next swing. Justine Henin is not too far from that mold, I think. I haven't seen her as much as Annika, but whenever I think of someone who has indeed stretched it far enough or made that full extension to earn every point, I'd think of Justine. It's amazing how much she can do with that frame. Anyway, farewell to you both, and all the best in that next step in your lives.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Watching the news clip on Sergio Garcia after he won the Players Championship, the last thing I thought he would say....and what was on my mind.....he actually said. Smiling, he started his acceptance speech with a thanks to Tiger Woods for not competing in the tournament.

The Anointed One

I was anointed by the pagan goddess :)

One of the things I miss about San Francisco is that it's a major stop for artists. When I heard that Goldfrapp was doing a show at the Warfield, my heart sank. It wasn't until the last week or so when circumstances turned in my favor and I found myself back in SFO just in time to watch a cold-infected Alison courageously sing, among other tracks, Utopia. I was one happy camper :).

QnA from SFGate

Take Notice

In one of my email exchanges to a former co-worker, I got the sad news that she had a diminished interest in the Giants this year and I found myself trying to sell the excitement of the new crew, one highlight of which is how refreshing defense from left field now looks like with Fred Lewis. He again showed this last night when made a perfect relay to throw out Josh Bard from second base. Like I've been saying lately to quite a number of folks, you just have to give this crew a chance. Emmanuel Burris is one of the new additions to the next generation, and he delivered.

Let's not end this entry with all glowing praise to the young guys. Last night's rally, after all, would not have been possible if that old, slow, guy named Bengie Molina hadn't hit a monster homerun off of Trevor Hoffman. Yes, it still pays to have veterans mixed with the kids, because experience is still a valuable commodity, and Bengie's got a lot of it......and a lotta Heart....ya need to impart that trait to the kids as well.

Congrats, Danica!

Danica Patrick's patience and hard work has finally culminated in a win! It's no secret that everyone has been tagging her as a Kournikova-in-the-making, but she really isn't given enough credit and she's no slouch in the racetrack. I'm glad that this win finally helps give her a bit more respect. I'm sure this will magnify her stardom significantly, but moreover, this is a great day for loyal fans. When I last saw her at Infeneon Raceway in Sonoma, her fans cheered her every pass around the track. Her fans in Japan must have been screaming with joy. Cheers, guys!

Wins and Losses

Confidence continues to grow with the new Giants crew. A great balance of youth (Lewis, Castillo, Wilson), seasoned guys (Taschner, Correia, Rowand), and veterans (Molina, Aurilia) came alive last night and I was very satisfied with the win. Sadly, this came in the same evening the Warriors lost to Denver and now fall a game behind in the playoff race. Not that it eliminates them completely....but that would have been a great moral boost.

Not that I'm a big hockey fan, but the Sharks won over Calgary in the NHL playoffs last night.

Is there a loss to balance this one? Hmmm.....how are our football teams rebuilding this off season?

Congrats, Frank!

I think the choice to have Frank Somerville replace Dennis Richmond in the 10 O'Clock news is a great choice. Being a big fan of Mornings on 2, I've always enjoyed Frank's light approach to delivering the news (and how we can easily switch to a serious tone when the news calls for it). Him paired with Ross and Tori make a great team......and that probably leads-in to a bit of sadness for me, as this will most likely split him from that crew (I mean he can't do both morning and evening shifts for sure.......or can he???....nah :) ) I still do my best to catch KTVU here in the Seattle area every chance I get (thanks to my brother's slingbox :) ) and now I'll have more to look forward to for the evening broadcasts. I'll always remember Frank for one of the station's anniversaries when they showed how Frank proposed to his wife (who was a producer or director I think at the time)......it was one of those great moments in local TV.....the camera suddenly turning to her...and there was Frank proposing on the air :)

Anyway, I'm glad you're still at KTVU, Frank, and congratulations on the new evening anchor position!

So who subs for Frank on Mornings on 2 now? (Willie Brown? :) )......just kidding!.....or ammm I???

:)

They'll ramp up soon enough

I've been guilty of impatience myself. But I always find a way to reason with my stubborn side to remember that these guys are fresh and they will make mistakes....they will discover major league play on the job.....they will even mess up routine plays at times. But they will get the hang of it soon enough and the talent that got them here will be revealed.

I was really happy for Daniel Ortmeier last night. My brother was witness to my constant ranting on him during spring training and I think Bochy's (and Lansford's) decision to keep him batting from the right side only has paid off. Personally, I'm just glad he's persevered as much and hope he continues to do so as the long season ahead will definitely test him.

Congratulations also to Jonathan Sanchez and the bullpen, who picked up each other.

A big WOOHOO for Fred Lewis' double play at the plate! I'm sure a lot of folks have to start getting used to outstanding defense from left field now that we've got him patrolling that area :).

First Win of the Season

Finally, one for the win column :) It's been rather depressing the past two games (especially Matt Cain's gem of performance that went unrewarded) so to finally get last night's win (a game-ending double play) is a boost for this crew. It's become apparent, however, that it truly is time to give all the new guys more playing time. They're hungrier, stronger, and it's really refreshing to see new players, especially the ones that are doing well.

Eugenio Velez is as potent as he was in spring training. Jose Castillo came out of nowhere and is a pleasant surprise (he reminds me of Deivi Cruz for some reason). I'm hoping to see more of Fred Lewis and Brian Bocock, and hopefully more of Steve Holm. And Merkin Valdez....wow! He really has rebounded after TJ surgery (also Tyler Walker). But let's not forget the real winner last night: Tim Lincecum. He not only pitched great, he won the game by getting a hit off of Loaiza and eventually scoring on Randy Winn's sacrifice fly.

Assimilation Complete. ST Routines Installed.

Resistance is futile.

Seventh Tree is now in my veins. There is something eerily haunting in Alison's voice and the simple combinations or orchestrations she and Will used for this album.

Watching the DVD (that accompanies a special edition of the album) repeatedly the past couple of days reminds me how much a visual person I am, and in this case...the audio-visual experience just makes me appreciate the album more, especially the instrumental versions of Road to Somewhere and Some People.

Seventh Tree

Being a huge fan of Goldfrapp's Black Cherry and Supernature albums and accustomed to their high energy, I had a few seconds of numb sadness, even disappointment, after my first pass at Seventh Tree.

Then I listened to it again.

To date I haven't skipped to any particular track. And the more I listen the more this album is growing on me. It feels as though Seventh Tree is one long and epic track. At some point I'm sure I'll begin to recognize individual tracks...

Right now I think it will be Road to Somewhere for a while.

Am I really getting anywhere? :)

Message in a CyberBottle?

More 08 Oscars

Behold, the best actress: Actor/presenter Forest Whitaker holds a tearful Marion Cotillard backstage after announcing her win for La Vie en Rose.



"George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber batsuit from 'Batman & Robin' -- the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch -- you rock man." -- Tilda Swinton, thanking "Michael Clayton" co-star George Clooney after winning best supporting actress trophy.

(pics and notes from usatoday.com)

2008 Oscars

Marion Cotillard won. Amen :)

More notes:

1. - Amy Adams' singing on stage was magnificent. She even stayed to perform with other stage performers for the other nominated song (why didn't Patrick Dempsey do the same?)

- Damn I really regret having not taken my Spanish elective classes in college...otherwise I could have understood Javier Bardem's last sentences for his mother.

Again it's a struggle with time, but the montages gave me an idea...why not show as much only to fill time and give the award winners a little more time. Still, some montages could have been omitted and some sections like how the votes are tallied. Really, you can just post all the incformation in the website for full disclosure...

Teleprompter - these are actors, don't you think they can remember a few sentences?

I wish they'd stop saying how many times someone has won or been nominated for an award.

Joel and Ethan Coen either showed us what these award shows mean to them or they just are not known for openly expressing gratitude...maybe both (not that there's anything wrong with either one).

Best Speech: Tilda Swinton (and she finished it even before the music started)

Next year's host should be: Jack Nicholson :)

Juno

There's just something about Ellen Page that annoys me the first time I see her portray a role, and yet I can't turn away, and by the end of the film I've pretty much been won over. It's like the reaction that couple had with Kramer's potrait in Seinfeld.

It's not the first time that a movie has been made about teenage pregnancy, but this one feels really fresh and suited for today's time. JK Simmons also plays a great father role in this one.

Numero Uno

Anytime someone "from the streets" makes it in the "big world", everyone takes notice. Who is to say it only applies to humans :) .....congratulations to Uno for surprising all those tricked out poodles at Westiminster. ...dare I call him an underdog ? :)

SFGate article

My fate at the ICU and the Warriors

Hey first of all, I aint complainin'...am really happy the Warriors have won the last three games (Kings, Wizards, and Suns) and to my utmost enjoyment...but all three have been such heart attack finishes I'm probably headed for the Intensive Care Unit :). Ellis has really developed into a great player and I just hope the Warriors can keep him (and that he reciprocates with the team that gave him his chance)...same goes for Andris Biedrins. These two guys were question marks for me in the past and I wondered why Chris Mullin spoke so highly of them back then...now I know (and I will trust you more, sir ;) ).

The 08 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards has never really been the same for me and I can't even remember when that "magic" was lost. My last happy memory was when Stevie Wonder did a joke on stage trying to raise his glasses to read the nomination card...when was that? sometime in the 90's, right?

Alas, this years Grammy would have been just another one passing by for me had it not been for....yes, honestly......Stevie Wonder! I think it was a great advantage for him to not be at the mercy of the teleprompter. Having been introduced as a 25-time Grammy winner, he certainly was the most comfortable on stage. And did you hear him sing the chorus line from Alicia Keys' "no one"? He can still hit the high notes...as only a 25-time Grammy winner can.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but Herbie Hancock's Gershwin tribute was the performance highlight for me and made me feel really glad to have not missed this year's show. And yes, I truly enjoyed Amy Winehouse.....she even brought the beehive back!

Capote

Just watching Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener's exchanges makes it for me for this film. Right now, I just can't think of anybody else who could have played Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee the way these two did...(yes, I know there was another one...and nope, not interested in seeing it :) ).