July 21, 2008 at 8:17 am · Filed under movies
Andy Buening, author of the now infamous The Simpsons Movie review, returns with a review of the summer sensation The Dark Knight. No spoilers included…
Two words: WOW!
Now, if you have been reading my movie reviews on a regular basis you know I’ve been dropping hints at my eager anticipation for this film. Let me say this, it did not disappoint. The Dark Knight opened everywhere July 18th, so this is a late review. Sorry, my press pass never showed up. Damn Joker.
Like a modern rollercoaster The Dark Knight does not need time to go up a hill before it starts to move fast. The film makers shoot you off right from the start. When the ride does slows down you check your pockets to make sure your keys and loose change have not fallen out just as the well-orchestrated ride suddenly pulls you back in the air and you forget about anything in your pocket just to hold on. There was a point at which I thought the movie was ending, thankfully it kept going. The film did not feel nearly as long as its almost 3 hour run time.
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July 15, 2008 at 1:55 pm · Filed under soccer
Superliga is a tournament contrived by SUM (Soccer United Marketing) for the sole purpose of making money. It pits the top four Mexican teams from the Apertura against the top four teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) during the MLS regular season, before the Clasura begins. While the meaning and timing of the tournament can be debated, its quality cannot. As I wrote last year, the matches are absolutely captivating affairs full of fast-paced, hard-fought football. The first four matches over the weekend lived up to last year’s standard. DC United had a pk saved and hit the post twice in a 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara. My brother went to the match and said the environment was excellent, lots of fans from both sides having a good time. My mom, who had watched the match on television, said the Mexicans’ feet are like lightning. Once DC found a way to get a hold of the ball, they got the upper-hand. Unfortunately their goalie is terrible and was unable to save an underpaced free kick from 25 yards and their finishing was just off.
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June 16, 2008 at 10:08 am · Filed under soccer
© Howard C. Smith/isiphotos.com
It took the US just over a minute to break the seal in its first World Cup qualifying match of the 2010 cycle. Captain Carlos Bocanegra played a long, diagonal ball that Clint Dempsey chested down and then drilled through the legs of the onrushing Barbados goalkeeper. From there the floodgates opened. In addition to opening the scoring Dempsey tallied the fifth US goal. Brian Ching also had a brace while Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson and an own goal accounted for the other goals. The highlights are posted here.
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June 8, 2008 at 10:34 pm · Filed under soccer
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
If the US continues to improve at the rate it did over the course of three powerhouse friendlies, it should be the hands-down favorite to win the World Cup in South Africa in two years. In a wildly entertaining match the US created numerous scoring opportunities, pinged the crossbar and reduced the world’s top-rated team to a chasing, hacking ragtag bunch over the last 10 minutes. Argentina created its fair share of chances as well and was unlucky to not have gotten a penalty when it appeared Tim Howard clipped Sergio Arguero when Arguero was in alone. Howard also stood on his head to make two other saves in difficult moments.
When asked to comment on the team’s improvement from match to match, Tim Howard said, “Tonight it was about standing up for ourselves, believing we can get a result…We stood up to the challenge…If we can take those performances into CONCACAF qualifying, I think we’ll be alright.”
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June 5, 2008 at 12:42 pm · Filed under soccer
© Scott Bales/isiphotos.com
A technically superior Spain defeated the US 1-0 on the strength of a late Xavi goal. The US played much better than it did a week ago against England but its players lacked the confidence and technical ability to compete with one of the best teams in the world. Only Freddy Adu consistently displayed the characteristics necessary to win at this level and he was substituted at half-time after two harsh tackles–one ill-timed, one cynical–left him hobbled. Adu sought out the ball and distributed it efficiently and dangerously, partnering well with Eddie Johnson. Johnson should have done better in his three clearest opportunities, the best a relatively free header from five yards that he sprayed wide. I haven’t given up on Johnson but I don’t think he is the best choice for the US right now. A healthy Landon Donovan partnered with Brian Ching should be the first choice tandem. The purpose of these friendlies is to see who is able to stack up against the best. In that regard, yesterday’s match was a success.
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June 3, 2008 at 10:55 am · Filed under soccer
During last week’s England/USA friendly John Harkes broke the news that Brian McBride has decided to leave Fulham and return to Major League Soccer. I’ve always been a big fan of McBride’s commitment and fearlessness. My favorite goal of his was, of course, the first goal against Mexico in the 2002 World Cup round of 16 match.
After returning from a devastating knee injury this season, McBride led Fulham on an unprecedented run to avoid being relegated. In a classy move Fulham posted a tribute video set to the tune of the Foo Fighters’ My Hero. Check it out.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2008/May/McBrideSalute.aspx
May 28, 2008 at 8:14 pm · Filed under soccer
Today’s 2-0 loss to England at the new Wembley was a difficult match to watch. It reminded me of the old egg frying commercial: (”This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs”) rather than making a statement about drugs, the lesson learned was about Landon Donovan. This is your team. This is your team without Landon Donovan. There was no real outlet for quick play and fast counterattacks which can do so much to unbalance a team. England was able to congest the midfield and apply high pressure and the midfielders and forwards of the US were unable to absorb the pressure and maintain possession. The quick interchanges that were so successful against Poland, that are the hallmark of Bob Bradley teams were absent for large stretches of the match. The high pressure, up-tempo style was also missing.
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May 20, 2008 at 11:16 am · Filed under books
Saturday my wife and I celebrated our fifth anniversary by going to Bluepointe, an Asian fusion restaurant in Buckhead. We thoroughly enjoyed all the best Bluepointe had to offer. Inspired by advice I read in Tyler Cowen’s book I ordered something I’ve never ordered before: duck. In his book Discover Your Inner Economist Cowen makes some peculiar suggestions regarding what to order at nice restaurants; he suggests ordering the item on the menu that you are least likely to order. The general idea is not to order food you will dislike, but to order food that the chef at the particular restaurant where you are dining prepares well and will take care to prepare well. He implores you to never order chicken: anyone can cook a chicken. On this first occasion following this advice I was very pleased with the result, a delicious dinner of melt-in-your-mouth duck. The fact that the duck was served in a Panang curry, my favorite, made the decision easier to make. Even with this positive experience behind me I don’t plan on taking much more of the advice that Cowen offers in his glorified self-help book.
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May 1, 2008 at 9:01 am · Filed under life
I read a fantastic Reuters article that was picked up by one of my favorite online magazines this morning. It just so happens that my lovely wife was interviewed for it.
Desensitization effective for women with metronidazole hypersensitivity
http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/reuters_article.asp?id=20080430clin005.html
From the article:
“CDC currently recommends either the IV or oral desensitization protocols that are reproduced in the paper,” Donna J. Helms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia told Reuters Health. “These are both also referenced in the 2006 STD Treatment guidelines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 2006;55:No.RR-11:52-53).”
Helms and her colleagues investigated the effectiveness of the metronidazole desensitization protocols as well as the alternatives to nitroimidazoles for the treatment of trichomonas infection in women with suspected metronidazole hypersensitivity.
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