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Here's my thing
Sunday May 4, 2008
The Red Sox pounded the Rays 12-4, behind a solid outing by Josh Beckett. James Shields suffered one of his worst games, giving up 7 runs in less than four innings. Pedroia and Big Papi had solid nights and Manny gave another sweet defensive play, throwing out Carlos Pena at the plate, in what is becoming a regular highlight from the fun-loving outfielder.
Jon Lester goes against Scott Kazmir tomorrow (I guess that's today actually, with it being after midnight). Like I said earlier, I think this is the Ray's best chance for a win.
Look for an exciting game, possibly a low scoring pitching duel.
Update:
Well my ATT cell phone alert just went off, giving me the results of last night's NASCAR race in Richmond. Boy, that's some speedy networkin' huh? But it does remind me that I forgot to mention the race, so props to Clint Boyer for the win. Pity about Dale Jr. It is going to be a cryin' shame if he runs great all year and still ends up winless because of freak stuff like that wreck with Kyle Busch. The Gibbs Toyotas are still looking pretty strong, gotta wonder what was dragging down Michael Waltrip's team for all this time . . . yeah, I know, I just didn't want to say it. | | | |
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Saturday May 3, 2008
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You didn't think I'd let this slide without comment did you? |
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Right up front let me say that I would have never let my fifteen year old daughter do a photo layout / interview with an adult magazine in the first place.
Having said that, I don't find the picture in question to be particularly sexy or prurient anyway. That's not a come hither look on Miley's face. And in fact, I find the thing to be a cultural Rorschach test -- that is, people are seeing in this image what they want to see. Most of the complainers are the same ones who find subliminal porn in everyday objects and other innocent images and situations. |
I'm astonished at the hue and cry over this and the rush to paint Annie Liebowitz as some sort of predator hoping to pervert a young innocent girl. I had to laugh at one news outlet
who tried to make the case that Liebowitz had tricked Demi Moore into posing for that now well known pregnant nude photo on Vanity Fair's cover.
Anyone who's followed Demi's career knows she doesn't need any coercing to take her clothes off for photos or movies. The same writer mentioned the recent cover with Scarlett Johanssen and Kiera Knightly and tried to make some hash with that as well.
And again, Scarlett, like JLH, is building a career off her preternaturally large breasts, exploting them and her curvy body wherever possible. And that's Scarlette's ass filling the screen in see-thru panties in the opening credits of Lost in Translation, so let's not be painting her as some innocent corrupted by an unscrupulous photographer. And Keira Knightly . . . well just rent Domino and The Cave. 'nuff said.
No, the only person to blame here is Miley's achey breaky knucklehead father who is seaking to reposition his daughter for a more adult audience. He knows what Vanity Fair's readership is and what kind of images Annie Liebowitz takes. He signed a consent form, he knew what was coming, and probably was hoping for just the publicity storm that this has generated. |
But I'm also struck by the hypocrisy of the media in all this. Are they really shocked? Or is it because Disney is involved? After Britney, Jaime Lynn, and Vanessa Hudgens, Disney haters are looking for anything to sieze upon to torment the Kingdom of the Mouse. Any chance to imply that things might be out of control with notorious control freaks Disney, gets immediate and lengthy press coverage.
So is there a double standard? Well, remember this magazine cover: |
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That's 17 year old Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! How about the headline about America's Favorite Fantasy! Now that's overtly sexual, don't you think? I don't remember Rolling Stone being pilloried for that cover or the suggestion of some sort of perverted lolita fantasy surrounding these two underage girls.
How about this image and ad campaign from a little further back: |
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That's 15 year old Brooke Shields! In her Calvin Klein ad where she coos for the camera that nothing comes between her and her Calvins. Again, an overtly sexual ad suggesting that this fifteen year old girl isn't wearing underwear beneath her skin tight jeans. No one was screaming for this ad series to be yanked off the air. Was it because just a couple of years earlier, Brooke had played a child prostitute in Pretty Baby? And only a couple of years prior to that, that her mother (hmm, is there a pattern here?) had her prepubescent daughter in a fully nude photo shoot complete with very adult make up. Did the media yawn because young Brooke wasn't a supposedly innocent Disney girl? |
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No, I think if people want to get worked up about images of Miley, they should be nervous about these images: |
 
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Those are images taken (and confirmed to be her) by Miley herself featuring an actual come hither look in the top image along with other images I wouldn't want to see my 15 year old daughter in. Look, this girl has been trying on sexy for a year now. We hate to admit it, but fifteen is the new eighteen with these kids now. What is happening out of adult control is a bit more worrisome to me.
When news of the Vanity Fair thing hit, there was also some stories about another set of images like these ones above, taken at a party or something. There was mention that the images contained nudity. Now those stories have disappeared off the sites where I saw them with no residual mention. Site owners have not responded to my e-mails about them. Is there more going on in this young girl's life than we know? Let's hope it is nothing untoward.
That bothers me much more than a arty photograph taken by a professional photographer. |
| | Posted by postaldog at 1:51 PM - | |
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. . . from the Rays?!
Heh heh
Never thought I'd get a chance to write that headline!
But seriously, the Sox finally got their bats going and took advantage of the always inconsistant Edwin Jackson to take a much needed win from the Rays.
This is an important series for both clubs, even this early in the year. Boston has got to get some consistant run production and guys like Ortiz need to get their shwing on and begin getting in the groove for the season. It's looking like the division is going to be much more competitive than in years past.
The Rays need to show that they can win big on the road against a quality opponent with their first line pitchers in the game. Tampa Bay beat up on Baltimore's water boys, as they should have, showing some signs of maturity that we've been hoping for for years down here. They handed a wounded Boston a tough series sweep down here, now they've got to show they can get them on the road as well. Even one game in Boston will be a psychological victory.
My guess would be the Kazmir game, as he's going to come out blazing in his return to the lineup. He blasted, rightfully so, the team for hanging him out to dry as far as putting a competitive team on the field. Well, they're playing their asses off now and he's got to bring it as well to reclaim his spot as the team ace from James Shields.
This could be a very fun year for me as a fan of both teams. If they could both finish above the Jankees, I'd be in heaven!
Don't laugh, it just might happen.
edit: Jeez, I've been calling James Shields Jake, why doesn't someone tell me these things? Actually I think Jake Shields is a MMA fighter. Oh well, apologies. | | | |
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Sunday April 27, 2008
The Rays have taken two of three so far from Boston. As I predicted. But with Beckett ailing and the wonderful serendiptious of James Shields on the mound tonite, we may have a sweep for the hometown boys. Tough break for my Sox, but it's great to see the Rays playing big and turning out quality games.
Hopefully we'll continue to see this when the Jankees come to town instead of their usual - roll over and play dead - routine.
But here's my thing --
I come into work yesterday, and this guy, Mike, comes rushing up to me first thing with a bit about what a great game the Rays played the night before - a 5-4 win in 11 innings over the Sox.
And I'm agreeing, talking about how thrilling it was and mentioning about my thoughts on the whole series. Then I get it.
The sh*t eating grin and the comment about how disappointed I must be with the game's outcome. Why would I be disappointed, I ask. Because my team lost and after all I'm such a huge Red Sox fan, and so on, he says.
Now I have equal amounts of Rays and Sox clothing, and I wear them constantly. Probably too much. I should really get a make-over, but I find baseball jerseys very comfortable. Anyway . . .
I've always supported, enthusiastically, my hometown team. But I've been a fan of Boston since I was ten, I'm not just going to thrown them under the bus 'cause we finally got a team here.
But this guy keeps going on about how hard it must be for me to see my team lose to the Rays and how incredible it was for a weak, puny team like Tampa to beat a powerhouse like Boston and so on. And all the while with this sh*t eating grin on his face.
So yeah, I snapped. And I gave him a forceful bit about how I'm perfectly able to support two teams, how I've always supported the Rays, how as long as the Jankees are losing I'm happy, and so on. I closed by telling him to get over it.
Needless to say, he sulked away with his feeling hurt.
But my question in all this is, where does this come from? Where does this need to exhault at the disappointment of another come from? I've known this guy for over 20 years. We're not best buddies or anything, but I've never done anything to him, that I'm aware of, to make him want to rub my face in something.
Do you see this where you work/live? I imagine it is everywhere. What is wrong with people? Maybe it's because I played on some of the worst teams in organized sports during my life. Perhaps that gave me a different perspective on competition, that although I root enthusiastically for my teams, I'm can be happy as long as they don't humiliate themselves [see 0-26 Bucs].
I'm sure I put some strain between myself and this guy, and it will take some time to repair. But I'm not sorry I told him off. I don't go around revelling in the miseries of others, I don't see why I should have to just stand there and take it when people try and do that to me.
Suppose I still have some growing to do.
| | Posted by postaldog at 9:23 AM - | |
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Friday April 25, 2008
My Sox come into town this weekend to play a three game series against my hometown Rays. The Sox are flu-ridden, and nursing quite a few injuries and the Rays are coming off a very nice three game winning series at home-away-from home Disney. I won't be surprised if the guys take two of three from Boston.
As I write this, the score is tied 4-4. Wake went six innings and gave up four runs. He's actually doing much better than I thought he would with the loss of long-time personal catcher Doug Mirabelli.
Oh well, got to catch some shut eye. Put in 12 hours today and tomorrow looks just as bad. | | | |
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