Many of the banks that fought to undermine the proposals by some regulators are now either out of business or accepting billions in federal aid to recover from a mortgage crisis they insisted would never come. Many executives remain in high-paying jobs, even after their assurances were proved false.
But… but… I thought the mortgage mess was all Bill Clinton’s fault! Or maybe Barney Frank’s?
And why is Hillary looking as dour as she did after the Iowa primary, way back in January? Secretary of State isn’t exactly a comedown from senator.
Growing up, I had absolutely no interest in football at all, and even if I had I didn’t have the ability to play it very well. I enjoyed playing baseball a lot, but I was born left handed and in first grade was forced to bat rightie, so I was never good at hitting. Then I became nearsighted, and after getting glasses the summer between fifth and sixth grade I never wore them in gym, to avoid breaking them, so I couldn’t see the ball anyway.
So by the time I got to high school I wasn’t good for much in gym class. I knew Ed Leary was a great football coach, but because I wasn’t into sports I wasn’t tuned into his wavelength. What I enjoyed doing was running, and only running. I wasn’t even exceptional at that, but I enjoyed it, and I looked forward to track in the spring.
Edward Leary, Acton-Boxborough (MA) Regional High School
By the eleventh grade Mr. Leary and I had reached an understanding, and he’d sometimes let me run laps around the track instead of whatever else I was supposed to be doing. I couldn’t believe that doing lots of laps was considered to be some sort of a punishment. I loved it. With the pressure off, I actually started to enjoy basketball, beyond just shooting baskets.
If PE could have been all about running and nothing else, I would have been happy. Frankly, I think the concept of team sports being equivalent to physical fitness is bogus. It seems schools have caught onto that, and now health and fitness doesn’t demand kids knowing the rules of American football.
My senior year in high school I didn’t have to take gym, so I didn’t, and that was very good for me. The summer after graduation I had a job working with two guys who had been on the track team. One of them was the star runner, and he got me started with long distance running, and 35 years later I’m still running.
One of my regular routes took me past Mr. Leary’s house, and one time when I was home from college I saw him outside and I waved. He looked amazed, and with a big smile on his face he shouted, “Pratt… is that you??” “Yes sir, Mr. Leary!” I think he said something like “Good man,” but I was moving and couldn’t really hear him.
At my high school reunion five years ago I was saddened to hear that Mr. Leary had suffered a stroke, and now I’ve read that Mr. Leary died five days ago. Obituaries are here and here. Even though I was a different sort of kid, Ed Leary was always fair and honest with me, and I’m glad to have known him. God rest, Mr. Leary.
With Studio 100 turning K3 into an international franchise, and girls in England recently auditioning for UK3, it’s fitting that today I saw Blue Man Group. The Blue Men, who are not Blue Meanies, are in various cities, with interchangeable, essentially anonymous performers.
Blue Man Group has been at the Charles Street Playhouse in Boston for almost fifteen years. Carol saw the show with a friend more than ten years ago, but today was the first time for Eric and myself. If you’ve ever doubted the entertainment potential of so-called performance art, Blue Man Group will erase all doubt. We loved it!
There’s a video featuring the current Boston trio, which makes them less anonymous, that will give you an idea of what it’s all about. (The program book lists two other Boston Blue Men, so I assume there must be some rotation.) Once again YouTube has the video aspect ratio wrong, so I’ll put it here with the correct shape.
[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2008/NOV/BlueMan.flv 448 252]
My post last night about French pop star Alizée elicited a comment from Joachim Mairböck in Germany Austria. (Google translation into English of his blog is here.) Joachim pointed out a YouTube link from Studio 100 UK.
I had talked about Studio 100’s ambitions of expansion beyond Belgium and the Netherlands, yet I’m disappointed that even as they were promoting K3’s tenth anniversary they were auditioning for an English-speaking K3, to be called UK3.
In September, Studio 100 posted a video of Wir3 from Germany with an English overdub. The caption reads “Basic version of U.K audition pop song. Learn the words and the basic dance moves to increase your chance of being chosen. Good luck. Best Regards Peteer”. As often happens, YouTube got the shape of the image wrong, so I’ve corrected it here.
Then, just a week ago, Studio 100 posted the results of that audition, with this caption — “Emily, Lauren and Tahnee, 2 days after meeting for the first time ever, create a decent music video in less than 4 hours. Amazing!”
Well, there it is. The house that K3 built moves on. Karen, Kathleen, and Kristel are now all 30 and over, and it’s time for younger women, who are native English speakers. UK3 looks like just another fabricated fluff girl group, and I couldn’t be less interested. Again I say it’s the people, not the package. Studio 100 got lucky with K3, who were already together before Studio 100 found them. Less than six months ago I didn’t know K3 existed, and now it’s disconcerting to contemplate that they may be getting closer to the end of their run.
All of my K3 posts combined haven’t equaled the online hits to my single mention of Alizée three months ago. Five years ago, Alizée had a mega hit with “J’en ai Marre!” or, in English, “I’m Fed Up!” Is it French vs. Flemish that makes Alizée so popular compared to K3, or is it the way she dishes up sex so shamelessly, yet sweetly? And what is the significance of the cute sailor’s collar and the fanny fish?
I haven’t done a lot of background reading about Alizée, and I’ve watched only a few videos of her doing other songs, but I have to say that Alizée in “J’en ai Marre!” is unforgettable if not sensational, and the song itself is an excellent piece of pop penmanship and production. This performance in French is from Top of the Pops.
K3 found success in going for the kid’s market, and Alizée also took a crack at it, albeit in a more modest costume.
I think it loses a lot in English, so it’s just as well that’s an abbreviated take of the song. The charm just isn’t the same, leading me to wonder if K3’s appeal for me as an American would suffer if their songs were in English?
The introduction to this live performance of “J’en ai Marre!” demonstrates how effectively a simple, well-constructed song can pull in an audience.
Every time everybody gets worked up writing comments arguing about politics, my inclination is to post a K3 video. Not as punishment, even if you feel that way! 😉
The Belgians of French Wallonia and Dutch Flanders don’t get along, so it’s nice when Karen, Kristel and Kathleen do something that’s a bit Frenchy, as in this thoroughly delightful homage to Georges Méliès. This is one of their softer tunes. As you can see, Kristel was pregnant at the time. Watch this and fall in love with the three K’s. And if you don’t, well…. there’s just no hope for you! 🙁
