Here we go again

I’ve got a theory about presidential elections. There may be nothing to the observations I’ve made recently, but here goes…

We all remember how close the 2000 election was, where George W. Bush won by just five electoral votes. Most of us had never seen a presidential election like that in our lifetime and didn’t expect to ever again.

Then came 2004. Bush defeated John Kerry by 35 electoral votes – not as narrow a margin as his 2000 victory, but still pretty close.

Given the state of things, I thought for sure this upcoming election would be the Democrats’ to lose. But the latest polls show Barack Obama and John McCain deadlocked or even McCain with a slight lead. It looks like another nail biter.

So this will be three really tight presidential elections in a row. There is a whole generation of voters coming up who only know presidential races like this.

But of course they are not all like this. Or at least they didn’t use to be. Recently I was looking at the electoral vote breakdown of presidential elections going back to 1964. Before 2000, the closest margin we had was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford by 57 electoral votes. Outside of that, every presidential race between 1964 and 2000 was decided by a wide majority – the biggest of course being Ronald Reagan’s thumping of Walter Mondale in 1984, 525 electoral votes to 13 (Mondale only took his home state of Minnesota).

So if presidential elections used to be so much more decisive, why aren’t they anymore?

The last clear victory was in 1996 when Bill Clinton easily won a second term over Bob Dole. What’s changed since then to make these races so much tighter? I wonder if it’s the way we get our information about the campaigns.

Think about it. In 1996, CNN was a well-established news operation. But MSNBC and Fox News Channel were in their infancy. The glut of cable news coverage as we know it now didn’t really exist yet, but was firmly in place by 2000.

Talk radio boomed in the late 1990s. Rush Limbaugh paved the way in the early part of the decade. Love him or hate him, his show has been wildly successful and set the stage for the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage and countless others who populate the airwaves today.

And of course there is a little thing called the Internet, which has transformed campaigning in ways I can’t begin to describe. Not only is it another source of news for the public, but it’s given candidates a new way to reach out to their supporters – who then can start up all sorts of grass roots efforts on their own.

That’s the biggest change the Internet has brought on. It’s changed the way we communicate about politics with each other. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry can start their own blog to spout off or trade info on Facebook. How many of you heard of Matt Drudge before 1996?

The bottom line, my unscientific observations seem to indicate people are talking and listening more (although maybe they’re not always doing enough of both). I’m not sure if that translates into increased voter turnout. I haven’t researched that. But I think those that do vote are much more opinionated, if not more informed.

So there’s my theory, crackpot thought it may be. Our transforming media culture has in turn transformed presidential politics. Back in 2000, we never thought we’d see a race like that again. Now I’m not sure we’ll ever see a race like 1984 again.

'We have people everywhere'

Check out the awesome, action-packed theatrical trailer for "Quantum of Solace." November 14 can't get here soon enough!

All aboard!

We now officially have two kids in school. Thomas started kindergarten on Friday.

I was nervous about how we would do getting on the bus. But as you can see here, we had nothing to worry about! He did super.

Kris has some more thoughts on the start of school over on The Rooney Train.

Sudden silence

One of the most recognizable voices in a America has passed away. I was very saddened to learn this morning of the passing of voice over master Don LaFontaine.

The name might not ring a bell, but you've certainly heard his voice -- mostly likely on any of the thousands of movie trailers he narrated through the years -- many of them beginning with the words "In a world..."

Although he had been in the voice over business for decades, his face had only recently become recognizable thanks to his appearance in ads for Geico and the New York Lottery.

Don died yesterday from complications of Pneumothorax.

There is a small sample of some of his work on Ain't It Cool News.

Going to the movies (or watching TV for that matter) will never be the same.

Geekapalooza

Boy, 14 years ago (i.e.: single and with disposable income) there is no way I'd miss this!

From noon Sept. 13 to noon Sept. 14 Proctor's is going to host a 24 sci-fi movie film festival. The event is called "It Came From Schenectady."

The scheduled films range from 50s classics ("Creature From the Black Lagoon," "Forbidden Planet") to contemporary hits ("Blade Runner," "Enemy Mine") to the obscure ("A Boy and His Dog," "Tokyo Gore Police" -- making its North American premiere no less).

At least one slot in the schedule will be filled in by a "viewers choice," which you can vote on at the festival's website. I voted for "Akira," but the vote leader right now is "A Clockwork Orange."

The Chosen One

Apparently Barack Obama is the One (and all this time I thought it was Neo...or Anakin Skywalker).

If you're not familiar not familiar with his life story, here it is courtesy of "The Daily Show."



I also got a kick out of this bit (I know it looks the same, but trust me and play -- it's a different clip)...

'Job well done'

I often can't stand all of the negativity that surrounds presidential campaigns.

The truth is we're all just people and we have different opinions -- and that's okay. Many of my closest friends have vastly different views than me, but we don't hate each other.

I think politicians on both sides of the aisle understand this. Just look at how Bush 41 and Bill Clinton have become buddies.

But during a campaign there is such venom spewed from candidates and their supporters that I get a little fed up. They only serve to rile people up and polarize the two sides.

I've always said that if I was interviewing a presidential candidate or moderating debate the question I'd most like to ask is "What is your opponent's greatest accomplishment?" or "What do you like most about your opponent?"

That's why I was so pleased to see this ad from John McCain that will air during tonight's coverage of the Democratic National Convention...



Sure, it serves a political purpose for McCain. It portrays him as gracious and generous light during coverage of an event mostly focused on bashing him.

But still, I thought it was a welcome change of pace. Too bad it won't last.

Back in the swing of things

We were gone on vacation all last week. Since returning I have been too busy, too tired or too lazy to provide a write up of all of our activities.

Fortunately, my better half was none of those things. She recapped the whole trip on our other blog. So you can read all about it on The Rooney Train and check out the pictures I uploaded to Facebook.

In other news, I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics. No matter what was on, I found it all to be pretty compelling TV (I actually stayed up until 2 a.m. one night watching a couple of Chinese guys play for the gold in ping-pong).

But what was fun was the fact that Nolan was really into it. Whatever was on – women’s gymnastics, track & field, volleyball, rowing – he was glued to it. He couldn’t get enough. At age 8, I think this was probably the first time he was really aware of the Olympics and he thought the whole thing was pretty cool. So it was great sharing it with him.

We’ve been to Lake Placid many times and have told him over and over how the Olympics were held there before. But I don’t think that really meant anything to him until now. I’m anxious to see if he gets as excited over the Winter Olympics in 2010.

With the Olympics gone and our vacation over, there is unfortunately no denying that fall is right around the corner. Next week Nolan and Thomas go back to school and we will soon be up to our necks in homework, Cub Scouts, fall travel baseball, etc. It’s been a great summer and I’m sorry to see it go.

Mark Spitz is all wet

It’s always interesting to watch the reactions of former athletes as their records are about to fall.

Case in point: Hank Aaron. I don’t think it was any great secret that he wasn’t thrilled to see Barry Bonds break his career home run record last summer because of what Barry allegedly did to get there. But he handled himself throughout the hoopla with class and composure.

Then there is Mark Spitz.

Spitz set a record in 1972 by winning seven gold medals at single Olympics. That record has a good chance of being broken this year by Michael Phelps, who now has three golds and hopes to take home five more before these games are done.

Spitz seemed gracious enough when I heard him interviewed on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning not long ago. But then I read an interview with him this morning that left me with a very different opinion of the Olympic legend.

To be fair, he doesn’t seem all that bent out of shape about Phelps surpassing him. His beef is that no one invited him to watch it happen.

"I never got invited. You don't go to the Olympics just to say, I am going to go. Especially because of who I am," Spitz told AFP in Hong Kong.

Spitz feels he’s been snubbed because he didn’t get an engraved invitation from the International Olympic Committee, NBC Sports or FINA -- the international body that governs world swimming.

"I am going to sit there and watch Michael Phelps break my record anonymously? That's almost demeaning to me. It is not almost -- it is,” he said.

Perhaps he has a legitimate gripe. But he’s better off taking the high road and keeping it to himself and avoiding phrases like “because of who I am.” Newsflash Mr. Spitz: this is Michael Phelps’ time. It isn’t all about you.

But Spitz was just getting warmed up. He insisted he would have won eight golds in 1972 if he had the chance.

"I won seven events. If they had the 50m freestyle back then, which they do now, I probably would have won that too," he said.

It sounds like the word humble isn’t in this guy’s vocabulary. The article closed out with Spitz explaining why he thinks Phelps is so successful.

"He's almost identical to me. He's a world-record holder in all these events, so he is dominating the events just like I did," Spitz said. "He reminds me of myself."

The whole article made Spitz seem like he has an ego the size of Rhode Island.

We'll always have Paris

If you're not thrilled with Barack Obama or John McCain as choices for president, there is always...Paris Hilton?!?

I this clip Paris responds to McCain's "Celebrity" ad that called Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world," comparing him to Hilton and Britney Spears, but questioned if he was ready to lead.

I never thought I'd see the day I'd post a Paris Hilton clip on my blog, but the crazy thing is -- her energy policy makes some sense.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Belated happy bloggiversary to me

Hey, my bloggiversary blew by unnoticed. I just remembered today that July 26 marked the day I started "Off the Top of My Head."

Four years and 1,228 posts -- and nearly as many hours wasted.

Where the wild things are

It seems like boom in the rabbit population in our neighborhood. We, and several of our neighbors, have commented that it seems like there are even more of the little critters than usual this summer.

A few weeks ago Kris and the kids spotted a fox in our neighbor’s yard. A friend of ours who lives a few blocks away spotted a fox near his house earlier that morning – probably the same one that eventually made its way down to our street.

A few days ago our neighbor across the street says she caught sight of some sort of “wild animal.” She didn’t think it was a fox, but I was sure that must have been what it was. Especially after what I saw today.

I dropped the kids off at camp this morning, which is near my mom’s house. After leaving them I spotted a fox with my own two eyes trotting down her street. In all my life I had never seen an animal like that in the neighborhood before.

I guess with the increase in rabbits, it would make sense that there is an increase in things that like to eat rabbits. Still, it’s an unusual sight.

America's pastime in Schenectady

The boys and I had a great morning yesterday. We headed over to the Schenectady Museum to take in their special baseball exhibit.

It was billed as the "The Science Behind Baseball." There was a little bit of science stuff. One display helped you figure out how to find the sweet spot on a bat. We also watched a short movie in which two kids conducted experiments to determine which bat sends the ball farther -- aluminum or wooden (their results gave aluminum the slight edge).

But it was mostly a great collection of baseball memorabilia -- particularly as it pertained to Schenectady and the surrounding region. There were lots of great old photos of the Schenectady Blue Jays -- a former farm team for the Phillies best known for producing future Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda. I also spotted a photo of a young Phil Rizzuto being interviewed on WGY.

There were also items on display from more recent memory, including lots of memorabilia from the Albany-Colonie Yankees and the Tri-City ValleyCats.

I would have liked to have spent more time looking at the old photos and reading all of the captions next to them, but the kids didn't have the patience for that.

The highlight for them was getting up close and personal with several of the VallyCats players (and their mascot, Southpaw). They each brought baseballs that were filled with signatures before long.

They also spent a good deal of time testing their arms against the radar gun. Nolan says his best pitch was 28 mph (although the highest I remember seeing was 27). Little Thomas topped out at 25 mph and even did a pretty good job of hitting the strike zone.

View more photos here.

'The news better run'

The best f@#$%ing news promo ever!

Big air

Nolan gets a kick out watching skateboarders and other extreme sports. So it's no surprise I caught him watching the X Games last night on ESPN.

I sat down with him and we watched some guys doing BMX stunts.

Then this morning while at the Y I caught some skateboarding highlights and knew he'd love to see it. So tonight we found these highlights of the "mega ramp," which he thought was "wicked cool."

Although it's fun to watch, there is no question these guys must be a little crazy.

Yanks trade for Pudge

BREAKING NEWS: The Yankees got Pudge Rodriguez from the Tigers for bullpen setup man Kyle Farnsworth.

Now go rest up that shoulder Jorge...

Yo ho!

Sometimes I think I'm the one person in the Capital Region who has never been a big fan of horse racing in Saratoga.

But even I got a kick out of listening to the call as a horse named Arrrrr won the second race yesterday...

'Horrible' news

If you're like me, you loved Joss Whedon's fantastic musical "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" when it was streamed online last week, but are too cheap to download it at iTunes.

The plan was that Whedon's mini-movie made outside the Hollywood studio system was going to be steamed for free for only a limited time. Then you'd have to get it at iTunes or wait for the eventual DVD release.

But wait no more! "Dr. Horrible" is the latest release as part of the Hulu Days of Summer. Now you can watch it over and over and memorize all the songs to your heart's content...

Law & Order: Gotham City Unit

In the criminal justice system, the people of Gotham City are represented by three separate, yet equally important groups – the police who investigate crimes, the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders and the Goddamn Batman.

These are there stories.

CHUNG CHUNG!

(Thanks, Pat.)

Zeroes and fives

Yesterday passed without the significance of the date even dawning on me. It has been 39 years since a man-made spacecraft landed on the moon and a human first set foot on another celestial body.

Maybe my memory would have been better if I had actually been alive on July 20, 1969 and could remember the day firsthand. But still, it's one of the most important dates in human history.

Lester Holt made a very good point that I've mentioned to people before. What's the deal with our fascination with anniversaries that end in zeroes and fives? Why is the 39th anniversary of Apollo 11 less noteworthy 40th? As Lester predicts, there wasn't much talk about it yesterday, but we'll hear tons about it next year.

Putting the band back together

We had a really good time our big summer picnic yesterday. A good chunk of my old high school crowd -- seven families all together -- gathered in the Saratoga Spa State Park.

Yeah, so we got rained on a little bit. We didn't let it rain on our parade!

It's always neat seeing everyone's kids together. They ranged in age from 6 months to 8 years.

Jim Flanders joined us, who most of us haven't seen since our 10th reunion about eight years ago. He surprised everyone by pulling out a great big stack of copies of The Warrior -- our old high school newspaper. It turns out he kept most of them. That was quite the walk down memory lane. I hope we can get together again someday so I can spend more time looking at them (and reading some of the old movie reviews I used to write for the paper).

As for myself, I pulled out a couple of yearbooks yesterday and looked them over -- and realized the pictures look like scenes out of a bad John Hughes movie.

We all do a pretty good job of keeping in touch, but these days it's mostly through e-mail, Facebook and blogs. Nothing beats getting together face-to-face. We hope to make this picnic an annual event.

Speaking of Facebook, I've got more photos of the day there.

Facebook boom

Is it just me or has there been a Facebook explosion recently? I know the social networking site has always been popular, but lately it seems like people are joining in droves.

I've had a Facebook account for quite a while now, although I didn't really start actively using it until about a year ago.

I've had a steadily increasing list of Facebook friends. But lately it seems like I'm finding someone new -- or someone new is finding me -- almost everyday. It's been a great tool for reconnecting with old friends from high school and college and some former co-workers.

Even Kris took the plunge yesterday, creating her own Facebook page to see what all the fuss is about.

It's quite cross section of people I've connected to. I'd say the ages of the people on my friends list range from 16 to mid-60s.

I knew Facebook was successful, but the level of its success and some of the unlikely people I've found on there surprises even me.

Change of plans

Remember that plan to go to Six Flags New England? Yeah, well, that didn't work out so much.

We got up this morning and checked the weather for Agawam, Mass. and realized it was supposed to raining there all day. So we shifted gears and went to the Great Escape instead, despite the fact we've already been there three or four times this summer.

But you know what? We had the best time! Every time we go we still find new things to do. Each trip is a new experience. These season passes we have are the best deal ever. (Thanks again Mom & Dad Chase!)

We brought Nolan's friend Evan with us and spent the first half of the day in the water park. We had a blast on the Mega Wedgie and the Tornado. Then while everyone else went off to the Lumberjack Splash Wave Pool, I slipped off on my own to tackle the Comet.

After a break for lunch we hit some more rides and worked in a stop a McDonald's for dinner on the way home. It was our longest day at the Great Escape yet and there are still some more rides we still haven't done. There's always a next time...

When we got home, there was one more package waiting for Nolan at the door (thanks Uncle Tim and Aunt Bonnie). And that brought Nolan's birthday weekend to a conclusion.

Birthday and baseball

I think Nolan really enjoyed his eighth birthday yesterday. We kept things fairly low-key this year. He didn't have a big party.

When he woke up, the day began with the special breakfast he picked out for his birthday -- Chocolate Honey Combs. Then we let him dive into presents.

Later in the morning we took him shopping to blow some of his money on a game for his DS. Counting that, he got two new DS games. So since it was his birthday we caved and let him have extra video game time.

We spent time outdoors too, with a couple of rounds of catch out in the front yard.

His friend Dan came over for pizza and cake. Then we all went to see a Tri-City ValleyCats game. We all rooted for the ValleyCats -- even though they were playing the Staten Island Yankees. The Cats lost to the Yankees 4-3.

But we all had a good time anyway. For Kris and Thomas, it was their first trip to a game at the Joe. Thomas got to stay up way past his bedtime. As for Nolan, he got his birthday announced on the scoreboard and was invited to join a group of kids singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" down on the field during the 7th Inning Stretch (see more photos on the Rooney Train).

Afterward Dan came home with us for a sleepover.

Tomorrow we're taking another of Nolan's friends with us to Six Flags New England for the day. We'll give you an upate later on how that goes.

Nuts to you!

Jesse Jackson puts his foot in his mouth, causing cable new talking heads to stumble all over themselves. Wacky hilarity ensues...

Summer TV (that's not on TV)

It's easier to get through the summer TV void with a little helping of "The Office." Their Kevin-centric summer webisodes have begun...



Next week a web-exclusive "Heroes" spin-off begins. It's called "Heroes: Going Postal," because it's about a postal worker with crazy powers. Clever, huh? It looks like this mini-show will focus solely on this new character -- although the trailer does indicate that Angela Petrelli will turn up. Here's the trailer...

Minor league madness

Nolan is pretty excited to go to a ValleyCats game on his birthday this weekend. As far as he's concerned, it's the next best thing to a trip to Yankee Stadium.

We've been to the Joe twice before and have really enjoyed the experience both times.

Moreover, it's great to see so many local baseball fans supporting the Astros farm team even though they don't have the best record. They always seem to draw a decent crowd -- and set an attendance record this past weekend with 6,630 fans there for Fourth of July fireworks.

Minor league sports have been hit and miss in the Capital Region. Just look to the departures of the Albany-Colonie Yankees and the eventual demise of the Diamond Dogs. In other sports, Albany couldn't keep the Firebirds after they won the Arena Bowl and it seems like the River Rats of the AHL often struggle pull in a crowd.

So long live the ValleyCats. Whether they win or lose, it's great entertainment for the family.

Living room makeover

Our new living room furniture arrived yesterday.

The sectional we had for nearly five years didn't hold up very well. It had some ugly stains we couldn't get out and the fabric on the arm where 3/4 of the family preferred to sit to watch TV was completely worn out and tattered.

With the small size of our living room -- and, more importantly, the location of our cable outlet -- we're limited with what we can do with the layout. But this is the floor plan Kris came up with. We're pretty pleased.

Plus, with potty training far behind us, there is a good chance these cushions will never get peed on!

Support the 'Stache

I got a kick out of this logo and slogan on Yankees.com encouraging people to vote for Jason Giambi for the All-Star game.

A Long Island company passed out 20,000 fake mustaches to fans at the stadium today. Everyone in the crowd had them on -- including a few players in the dugout. Joe Giardi even had one on during his post-game interview on YES.

Who knew facial hair could be such a big deal? ESPN.com's Page 2 declared Giambi's hairy upper lip the "most valuable mustache" and compiled a list memorable Yankee mustaches. And SportsCenter used it as inspiration to do an entire segment on great mustaches in sports history.

Boy, did they have this kind of hoopla for Rollie Fingers?

We still hold these truths to be self-evident...

Happy Independence Day one and all. I wanted to resurrect this post from a couple of years ago...

You can read a copy of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives site. Seems very appropriate today.

The great outdoors

I know I promised pictures from last weekend's camping trip. You can see them here...

Zombies for Obama

I spotted this on EW's PopWatch blog and just had to post it here.

It seems Barack Obama has secured the support of deceased war heroes in his quest for the presidency.

Woah. Is this a sign of the oncoming zombie apocalypse?

Or then again, maybe he just has the backing of members of the Grateful Dead. Yeah, I guess that makes more sense.

Bond is back!

I'll try to post some pictures from our weekend camping trip later tonight.

In the meantime, movie lovers, feast your eyes on this -- the first trailer for "Quantum of Solace," the next installment in the new and improved James Bond series...

Don't mess with McCain

What do you think? Is this a convincing case for John McCain?


McCain Vows To Replace Secret Service With His Own Bare Fists

The gang's all here

Allow me to geek out and share some "Doctor Who" joy.

For those of you who watch the show on SciFi, you still have a couple of weeks to go until you see the latest episode from this past weekend, "Turn Left." So I'll try to remain spoiler-free...except to say it was pretty darn cool!

It was one of those episodes that on the surface seems great, until you put some thought into it and you notice some of the glaring plot holes. (And really, aren't most of the episodes like that?) My advice -- don't think too much and just enjoy the ride.

If you can't get past the implausibilities and elements that just don't add up, don't worry. The last 60 seconds will more than make up for it.

Which brings us to the photo above. It was well-publicized that Rose Tyler would reappear this year. She began her three-episode stint in "Turn Left" (not counting a few cameos in earlier episodes). But what's been a rumor until now is that the last two episodes would feature everything but the kitchen sink, with a whole bevy of returning characters. The trailer for next week and the publicity photo seen here verify that this is indeed true.

It should be good stuff!

Losing a legend

I was caught off guard this morning when I heard on the radio during the ride to work that George Carlin had died.

Mainly I couldn't believe that was the first I was hearing about it. I get all kinds of breaking news alerts on my phone from NBC News, often for things I could care less about. You mean to tell me the death of George Carlin doesn't merit a text alert? C'mon NBC!

I loved Carlin. I remember when he came to Plattsburgh when I was in college. I psyched myself up for his show by listening to every George Carlin album I could get my hands on over and over again. Unfortunately, when I saw the actual show he had very little new material and I could recite verbatim most of his routine that night. But it was still great to see him live.

One of the most memorable bits from that night is one of the routines that everyone is trotting out today as they pay tribute to George -- his hilarious comparison between football and baseball. That and his legendary "Seven Words You Can't Say on TV" are showing up embedded on blogs left and right today.

I decided to go old school. My dad wasn't the biggest George Carlin fan. His counter-culture humor wasn't always dad's style. But dad did always get a kick out of the Hippy Dippy Weatherman (perhaps the forerunner to his "Cars" character)...



Also left out of most of the tributes today is any mention of the underrated "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."

And of course, we won't mention to Thomas that Mr. Conductor #2 is dead.

Season finale

Another baseball season is in the books. These shots were from Nolan's last game on Saturday. I love the look on his face as he gets ready for a ground ball coming toward him.

The New Classics

Entertainment Weekly has put out their list of "The New Classics" -- the 100 best movies of the last 25 years.

I've seen 62 of the 100 movies. It's a good list, but there are a number of glaring absences, including:

• "A Few Good Men"
• "American Pie"
• "Batman" and/or "Batman Begins"
• "Beauty and the Beast"
• "Field of Dreams"
• "Finding Nemo"
• "Good Morning Vietnam"
• "Jurassic Park"
• "Say Anything"
• "Top Gun"
• "The Untouchables"

And that's just for starters.

How many of the movies have you seen? What do you think should have been included and what movies do think have no business being on this list?

This and that

My blogging mojo has really been out of whack lately. Here’s a sample of the things I could’ve/should’ve been blogging about recently:

• An update from the Free Stuff Files: I recently scored a free necktie from Christopher's Men's Store. They're running a promotion with the local station that carries Yankee games. They randomly pick an inning before the game and if the score is tied during that inning you can go to the TV station's website to print out a coupon for a free tie. Sure enough, the first time they ran this promotion they wound up giving away dozens and dozens of ties. The deal was good for any tie in the store. I had a $90 tie in my hands at one point, but passed on it because it was kind of ugly. I settled on one worth about $40.
  
  
• I can’t believe Thomas is done with preschool. He’s still such a little pipsqueak. It’s going to be really weird when he gets on that bus for Kindergarten in the fall.
  
  
• Nolan has been playing really good baseball lately. His whole team has come a long way this year. Hard to believe we only have one game left.
  
  
• We’ve really been getting our use out of our Great Escape season passes. We’ve already been up to the park twice with the whole family plus Kris went up one more time with Thomas and his friend Leo. I finally have someone to ride rollercoasters with since Nolan is now big enough. We’re now planning a trip to Six Flags New England (formerly Riverside Amusement Park) since our passes will work there too. Thanks mom and dad Chase!
  
  
• We’ve gotten into the habit of riding our bikes to church every Sunday morning. I really enjoy that.
  
  
• We recently downgraded to regular old basic cable. So far we’re surviving. We’re watching more PBS. Plus the kids are getting by on a steady diet of DVDs from the library and I’ve found Hulu to be a lifesaver. We’re also reading more.
  
  
• Speaking of DVDs for the kids, I continue to educate them in the classics. We recently picked up a 4-DVD set of Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons at the library. Nolan is now well versed in “moose and squirrel,” as well as “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” “Fractured Fairy Tales,” “Aesop and Son,” and of course “Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties.”
  
  
• My two little geeks-in-training are also getting hooked on “Doctor Who.” One of the most asked questions when I get home from work is “Dad, can we watch ‘Doctor Who’ tonight?” Thomas has taken to walking around the house pretending to be a Dalek and Nolan has moved beyond the current 10th Doctor and asked to watch some of the classic episodes from the 1970s and 80s that I have on DVD.
  
  
• I’m steadily getting more addicted to Facebook. Several more friends from high school and college have signed on recently. It’s been a great way to keep in touch with people.
  
  
• I’ll leave you with this question – when can we stop referring to years as “two-thousand” and start saying “twenty?” For example, when I see 2010, I want to say “twenty-ten,” but it bugs me to hear people still say “two-thousand ten.” Just a little pet peeve I guess.

The Office War

Once again, I've gone too long without blogging and thus allowed many blogworthy topics to slip through my fingers.

I'll try to make it to you all by sharing this...

Photos from the trail...

Kris recently blogged on the Rooney Train about our hike through the Christman Sanctuary in Duanesburg. Here are some photos from the excursion...

Update from the Free Stuff Files

A big thank you goes out to Ray Brownell, who sent me a very timely text message this afternoon, alerting us to the fact Friendly's is giving out free ice cream cones today.

We were very near our neighborhood Friendly's at the time, so we made a beeline there for some refreshment on this very hot day.

Act now! The free cone deal is only good until 5 p.m. today!

Angels in the Outfield

Nolan (and his whole team for that matter) played one of his best games tonight.

He made two outs at the plate as catcher in the first inning, one at first base in the third and he assisted with an out at second base while playing right field in the fourth inning.

Batting he went four for four, with a double (the most you're allowed in Single A) and three singles. It was his first ever double. When Kris congratulated him, he made sure to point out to her that it was his first "career" double.

Here's the crazy thing. When I arrived at the game (I was running late unfortunately) I noticed there was a C-130 circling overhead. Every time I see one of the ski birds from the Stratton Air National Guard Base I can't help but think of dad. So I smiled and thought to myself that it's going to be a good game.

And it was a great game -- with that C-130 up above for what seemed like most of it. A part of me can't help but think that meant Nolan's pop was looking down on him.

The most trusted sources in news

Here are some news updates from the folks at "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report."

First up, "Daily Show" correspondent Wyatt Cenac wishes the Democratic primary season had been a little more like "Lost."



I think it was Brian Williams who once described Stephen Colbert as a national treasure.

Next, while talking to George Will, Stephen offers one of the best explanations of liberalism and conservatism I've ever heard.



Finally, the toilet on the International Space Station has been repaired. Here are Colbert's comments on the plumbing problems last week that nearly had me peeing my pants.

Bending the Joba Rules

I must admit I’m getting a little tired of the “Joba Chamberlain Experiment.”

Joba got his first start last night and lasted an unimpressive 2 1/3 innings. He threw only 62 pitches, but it was predetermined his limit on the night was going to be 65.

For his next start this weekend I think they’re going to let him throw a whopping 80 or so pitches.

Look, if Joba’s going to be a starter, then let him be a starter. A starting pitcher in the bigs should be expected to last at least six innings and throw about 100 pitches.

The last time I checked the Yankees were in fourth place in the AL East. This isn’t the time for “experiments.” They need to win games.

I understand they want to protect Joba’s arm and ramp him up to speed. But isn’t that what spring training is for? Isn’t that what the minors are for? Why is this guy starting games when we know he’s not going to last as long as a starter should and the team will wind up relying on the bullpen?

I suppose I kind of fall into the camp that wonders if Joba should have been left in the bullpen, where he’s been lights out. The one-two punch of Joba and Mariano Rivera has been formidable. And let’s face it, Mo isn’t getting any younger. Joba could be a great successor as closer.

Either way, I want Joba to be a success. Nolan has his rookie card, which we’re hoping will be worth something someday.

I need a good book

Summer is just about here, which means I’m craving a good book to read.

Right now, at the top of my list is Scott McClellan’s White House tell-all.

But I’ve also had the urge to find a book about Teddy Roosevelt. He seems like an interesting character that I’d like to learn more about.

I enjoy learning about history. Last summer I read a biography of the very fascinating Benjamin Franklin. That was inspired by my reading the summer before of a book titled “Infamous Scribblers,” about the wild and crazy early days of American journalism.

There is also a book about the French and Indian War I’ve been meaning to read for a long time.

Of course, I wouldn’t mind a good piece of fiction either. I could always go for a fast-paced page-turner.

So does anyone have any good suggestions for the summer reading list?

Burning brewery

Flames have struck the F.X. Matt Brewery in Utica, where Saranac beer is made.

It appears some sort of welding accident touched off the blaze yesterday afternoon, which cause $10 million to $20 million in damage.

The owners are vowing to rebuild.

The brewery is the oldest in New York. It's been a family business since it was started in 1888.

Saranac has long been one of my favorite beers. I've bored many people with the story of the day Mike, Aaron and I spent at the brewery swigging free beer after free beer.

Say what?

The season finale of "Lost' was great.

One of my burning questions was, what was the backwards voice saying to Kate on the phone in her "dream?" As with so many of life's mysteries, the answer you seek can be found on YouTube...



By the way, did you catch the ad for Octagon Global Recruiting? Their website says they're looking for volunteers on behalf of the Dharma Initiative for "an important new research project." The ad said they'd be in San Diego July 24-27.

Those are the same dates as Comic-Con 2008 in San Diego. Coincidence? I think not!

That's quacked up!

CORRECTION: The Times Union story I linked to below has since been clarified. As the Aqua Ducks website points out, the business also offers trolley tours -- and that's what will be driving around Schenectady. The $23 fee also gets you into the Schenectady museum. So I guess that's not so bad.

Former Albany Police Chief Bob Wolfgang is bringing his Aqua Duck business to Schenectady. Soon you'll be able to hop on one of his amphibious vehicles for a tour of historic locales like the Stockade, the GE Realty Plot and the Union College campus. Presumably you'll spend some of the tour on the Mohawk River.

Wolfgang retired from the police force five years ago and started Albany Aqua Ducks, offering tours of Albany from land as well as the Hudson River.

I never really understood the idea of $23 a pop for a duck tour of Albany. Boston? Sure. Albany? I don't think so.

But I really don't get the idea of a paid tour of Schenectady. Schenectady!?! Don't get me wrong, I love walking around the Stockade and checking out the historic homes. But I'd rather be on foot, up close to the buildings -- and I certainly don't want to shell out $23 to see the Electric City.

Maybe I'm wrong. After all, it's been five years and the business is still afloat. But would you shell out cash to ride around Albany or Schenectady?

Happy retirement, Mrs. B!

Last night I did something I haven’t done in a very long time – performed at Niskayuna High School.

A former music teacher of mine, Paula Brinkman, is retiring. I had her as a teacher in elementary and middle school. After I graduated she later took over the choir and Studio Singers (in addition to numerous other duties) after the retirement of Bob Christensen (who was in attendance last night – great to see you again Mr. C!).

So on the occasion of her final school concert, a number of current students and alumni pulled together to perform a few songs for her. It was fantastic to see the look on her face as we paraded into the auditorium!

It was also quite a trip to be up on those risers and singing in that auditorium again for the first time in 18 years. (I forgot how hot it gets up there!)

I think it’s safe to say I was the oldest in the group. At one point she referred to the group as “kids,” then corrected herself to say “young adults.” At that point she looked over shoulder and said, “Rooney, you’re getting to be a middle aged adult.”

It was a real pleasure to be a small part of the tribute to a great teacher.

Here are some highlights put together by Paul Conti, my former boss and a friend of Paula’s, who helped organize the event.

Indiana Jones and the First Facebook Review

I addded a version of my "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" review to the Indiana Jones Facebook page.

I had to edit it down quite a bit. Facebook kept rejecting it, saying it was too long. I guess I have a tendency to go on and on -- there was actually even more I could have said!

But I'm proud to say that mine appears to be the first review published on the official Indy Facebook page! Yay me!

The morning after

OK, some time has passed and I've formed some criticisms of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (see my earlier review from last night).

My biggest nitpick is that Karen Allen, returning as Marion Ravenwood from "Raiders," is grossly underused. She and Indy have some worthwhile exchanges after she first shows up about halfway through the film. But then for the rest of the movie she has nothing to do but alternately stand around or run behind the other characters. There is a big action sequence about two-thirds through involving a chase through the jungle, culminating in a fist-fight between Indy and a big Soviet soldier while surrounded by a swarm of killer ants and then a tumble over a waterfall. From that point on, I'm not sure I can recall Marion having any significant dialogue in the rest of the movie. It's as if they needed her as the catalyst to introduce the Mutt character and then she wasn't needed anymore.

I was also expecting a little more from composer John Williams. His scores from the first three movies are etched in my memory. This time around he does a lot of recycling. Obviously we hear plenty of "The Raiders March" and some of the other themes from "Raiders" and "Last Crusade" are used again. That's fine. But there is nothing new that stands out in my mind. Nothing like the memorable music from the motorcycle chase in "Last Crusade" or the slave children music from "Temple of Doom."

There are a couple of other plot holes I'm wondering about, but I don't won't to get into them without giving too much away.

But for the most part, what I wrote last night still stands. I still loved it!

I'm a very happy Indiana Jones fan!

Remember back when I was saying that they should leave well enough alone and never make a fourth Indiana Jones movie? Yeah, what the hell was I thinking?

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” lives up to the hype…every last bit of it. When I walked out of the theater I think I felt a little numb (in a good way). I just couldn’t believe that for the first time in 19 years I had watched a new Indy movie.

So what’s it all about? I’ll try to avoid spoilers. Shia LaBeouf plays a young man named Mutt who’s connected to two old friends of Indy (spoilers in invisotext: is one of those old friends Marion Ravenwood? Yes, he’s her son. Does that make him Indy’s son? It sure does.). One of those old friends disappeared and the other has been kidnapped. Mutt turns to Indy for help. The mystery leads them to South America first to search for a strange crystal skull and then deep into the Amazon jungle to find the ancient Mayan city the skull came from.

One of my first impressions when I walked out of the theater was that it was classic Spielberg. This is the kind of stuff he was doing 25-30 years ago. It’s in the spirit of “Close Encounters,” “E.T.,” “Amazing Stories” and, of course, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Not just in terms of the story, but in the overall tone too. The opening scene shows teens out for a joyride in a hot rod jalopy, weaving in and out of an Army convoy and trying to get the lead car to drag race with them – with Elvis Pressley’s “Hound Dog” playing in the background. I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something about those opening moments that had this classic vibe to it – that I knew I was in for the kind of fun I hadn’t had watching a Spielberg movie since “Jurassic Park” (it also harkened a bit to George Lucas’ “American Grafitti”).

That brings me to another thing I loved about the movie – the era it was set in. The movie takes place in 1957, a good 20 years or so after the earlier movies. It completely embraces this setting and that’s great. Indy gets caught up in the Red Scare and has a near miss at an atomic testing site. The Nazis have been traded in for the Russians. At one point as Indy stares into the face of a KGB agent holding him at gunpoint (played by Cate Blanchett) he patriotically proclaims “I like Ike!”

There are references to the earlier movies – some subtle (he still has his students reading from the Michelson textbook) and some not so subtle (the passings of Marcus Brody and Henry Jones Sr. are noted – also the Ark of the Covenant does make an appearance, but it’s not central to the story). There is also a reference to one of the storylines from “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” TV series.

And yet, despite these references, by embracing the 50s era, particularly in the first part of the movie, you get the impression that George Lucas isn’t just trying to reinvent the wheel. The character and the story are advancing. You know when a TV show you really like has been on for a long time and you go back and watch some of the earlier episodes and you realize how much its changed and evolved? That’s what’s going on here. Indy has evolved – we just didn’t get to see what’s happened between now and then. But if there had been a bunch of Indy movies over the last 19 years, I suspect this is where we would have ended up (we do get a little bit of back story – apparently “Col. Henry Jones” served in the OSS during World War II).

One last note on the storyline – as has been hinted in some of the interviews Lucas has given and as I alluded to earlier – the crystal skull is very different from the artifacts Indy chased after before. The earlier movies had him hunting down religious items. But this is something quite different. Once again, it’s very fitting for the 50s era and the B-movie sci-fi flicks of the day – much the same way the earlier movies paid homage to the Saturday matinee serials of the 1930s. I was braced for it because I had read up on the movie ahead of time (although I was careful to avoid major spoilers), but it might catch some moviegoers off guard.

So to sum up, I’ll make a bold statement: my judgment may be clouded because I just saw it, but if you asked me right now I’d tell you that “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is the best of the sequels. Better than “Temple of Doom.” Better than “Last Crusade.” Will my opinion change once I come off my Indy Jones high? Perhaps. But that’s how I feel right now.

Now that I’ve seen the movie, it begs the question “Now what do I do with myself?” Unfortunately, unlike the earlier installments, I probably won’t ever see this one on the big screen again – because I’m old and I’m broke and I just don’t get the movies that often. So now I’ll count the days to the DVD release, because you can bet I want to see it again – several times again!

UPDATE: Here are some follow up thoughts...

Show time!

Tonight is the big night - I'll be attending an early screening of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!"

Once I've had time to digest it and compose my thoughts, I'll provide a review. I'm trying hard to keep an open mind. As many of you know, I was skeptical of the idea of a fourth Indy movie for a long time. But, as predicted, I got more and more excited as the movie approached.

Last week Kris warned me that there is a good chance I'll be disappointed, seeing as how I've built this movie up so much.

She also made this comment last night: "I can't wait until you see this friggin' movie so I can stop hearing about it."

Perhaps I've allowed my enthusiasm to get the better of me. Either way, I'm very excited for tonight!

Fill 'er up!

Ok, time for another gas price rant. I came dangerously close to putting $50 in my Honda Civic this morning. Not some gas-guzzling SUV or minivan -- a Honda friggin' Civic!

Granted my car was on fumes when I pulled in to the gas station. I got about 370 miles out of more than 11 gallons of gas.

I think it's time for a new strategy. I've been trying to stretch out the time between fill ups as much as possible. In this case I think it's been nearly two weeks since the last time I put gas in the car. I'd have to double-check my receipts, but in that time I think the price of gas has gone up 15-20 cents. So maybe going so long between fill ups isn't the best thing to do. I'm probably better off topping the tank off every few days, or at least once a week.

Has anyone else experimented with this? I'm always looking for ways to get the most bang for my buck when it comes to gas (except for when it comes to the lawnmower -- Kris wants to abandon our gas-powered mower for a push one, but I'm not wild about that).

In related news, we walked to church Sunday morning. This was part of a promoted "Walk, Bike or Carpool to Chuch Day" event. It's about 1.5 miles round trip for us. The weather was nice and no one seemed to mind the hike too much. I think we'll do this more often.

Back to the drawing board?

I'm starting to think it's time for an overhaul of the blog. I've been living with this layout and while now and I'm starting to get bored with it.

I think I'll keep the picture of me, since I like it and I've received many positive comments on it. However, everything else is fair game.

Any suggestions?

From the Free Stuff files...

Don't forget to get your free iced coffee today at Dunkin' Donuts.

Stop by any Dunkin' Donuts today until 10 p.m. and get a free 16 oz. cup of Joe Cool.

You can also choose from one of our 9 flavors (French Vanilla, Toasted Almond, Raspberry, Hazelnut, Coconut, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Caramel, and Blueberry) or create your own flavor by combining 2-3 flavors.

This makes up for me forgetting to get my free Starbucks coffee yesterday.

Raiders of the Lost Cereal

Kris and the kids went grocery shopping yesterday. When I got home from work the boys were very excited to tell me about the cereal they picked out -- since it had Indiana Jones on the box (or "Indian Jones" as Thomas often calls him)!

Thomas even said I could keep the toy inside all for myself.

Unfortunately, there is no toy inside. You need four proofs of purchase to send away for the "Indiana Jones search light." Oh well. It's the thought that counts!

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

We headed over to Proctor's Theatre with the Brownells last night to see "Movin' Out."

The show was fantastic. It's essentially a "rock ballet" set to the music of Billy Joel. They quite cleverly tied together about two dozen Billy Joel songs to illustrate the story of a group of friends experiencing love, war, death and redemption during the turbulent 1960s and on into later years.

The dancing was amazing. There was little to no dialogue in the show. The story is entirely conveyed through the movement of the dancers and the lyrics of the songs.

Speaking of the lyrics…I've always been a big Billy Joel fan, but I admit it's been a while since I sat down and really listened to his music (it's been about 15 years since his last pop album was released). The show really helped remind me why I liked him so much back in the day and what an incredible songwriter he is.

You name the classic Billy Joel song and it's in there. With the exception of "Allentown" and (believe it or not) "Piano Man," most everything else is included - every hit from "Captain Jack" to "River of Dreams."

One of my favorite songs of his has always been "Goodnight Saigon," and the rendition of it here does not disappoint. It's haunting and almost moved me to tears.

Although most of the show is pretty dark, there is fun to be had with some of the more upbeat numbers like "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "Uptown Girl."

The show is actually heavy on Billy's better older stuff and doesn't have quite as much from his later albums. But that's ok. If you're a Billy Joel fan you should get yourself to Proctor's before the show closes on Sunday. You won't regret it.

Wake up call

It's May 14 and the Tampa Bay Rays are in first place in the AL East.

In related news, Hell froze over today...

Life with Beaver

I watched an episode of "Leave It to Beaver" during my lunch break today. I still love that show! There's a simplicity to it that just can't be beat by most of today's so-called family programs (I just went back and re-read that sentence -- man, I sound old!).

In this particular episode, Beaver's friend Richard heads to the Laundromat with a sack full of his family's dirty clothes and Beaver in tow. Along the way Richard realizes he's lost the money his mom gave him (three whole dollars). He fears what will happen when he returns home with the clothes still dirty and no money ("Dad's in a hitting mood today." Cue the laugh-track). So Richard convinces Beaver to let him use the Cleaver family's washing machine.

If you've ever watched a TV sitcom, you can imagine what happened next. The boys use far too much soap (not to mention starch) and wind up filling the kitchen with suds.

Wally and Eddie Haskel help the younger boys clean up the mess (Eddie protested, but he owed Wally a favor) and Wally even loans Richard $3 out of his own pocket to go to the Laundromat and get the clothes cleaned properly.

When Ward and June get home they're dumbfounded at how clean the kitchen looks. They have a hard time believing the boys' story that they decided to clean it all on their own out of the goodness of their hearts. Eventually the parents figure out what happened, but decide to keep it to themselves since the boys did such a good job of solving their own problem.

You've got to love the Cleavers - the ideal TV family of a bygone era. Beaver and Wally are always worried their antics will result in their parents yelling at them or worse. However, I can't recall a single episode where Ward or June ever raised their voices. That's no small feat!

I used to watch "Leave It to Beaver" with Nolan when he was really small. The show came up in conversation the other day while I was waiting with Nolan for his bus and he didn't remember watching it. I'd love to introduce the show to the boys again. Imagine how great life would be if we all acted a little more like the Cleavers.

Ebert, Roeper & Nolan

Nolan thought "Speed Racer" was the best movie EVER! As promised, here's his brief review...

Start your engines

I'm jealous of Nolan because he's going to get to see "Speed Racer" today. He's going after school with some of his friends.

In the meantime, I'll just have to settle for the first seven minutes, which are now available online...



If this is any indication, he is going to love this movie! I'll see if I can get him to provide a review later tonight.

As for me, I shouldn't feel too bad. Sitting on my desk in front of me right now are two passes to an early screening of "Indiana Jones" on May 19!

UPDATE: I had hoped I could show the kids some of the original "Speed Racer" cartoons, but they're not on TV anymore. But there's good news! Who needs TV? "Speed Racer" is now available on Hulu.

Going, going, gone!

It's official. I hate driving my car. Every time my foot touches the accelerator I feel like I'm flushing money away!