International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Now you will have a real excuse to wear that parrot on your shoulder, time to breakout that eyepatch, and call everyone matey or wench like you really mean it! This Sept 19th is the third annual Talk Like a Pirate day. Is this the beginning of the next Oktoberfest, just another reason to party? Argh...

Man, this looks like the beginning of a slow oppinion-worthy week. I did go see Resident Evil 2, but nothing too memorable except for the one line after the policeman shoots the infected dog - STAY! Oh yeah, Milla was in it too. Dissappointed by Starsky & Hutch DVD. I will probably write a blog on the pending NHL/NHLPA strike/lockout/stoppage/whatever-you-want-to-call-it. Either way, no NHL hockey except of the EA variety on my gamecube.

Sarah Sings Succinctly

Now say that quickly five times... It's been pretty much ten years since I had first seen Sarah McLachlan live. My how things have changed... Five albums later (Fumbling Towards Ecstasy just came out), three Lilith Fair tours (which I never attended), from a small Western County Fair outdoor show to the cosy confines of the Saddledome.

Was more impressed with her earlier songs, Hold On (which she began by singing You Are My Sunshine - her baby's favorite lullaby?), Possession, and an inspired version of Witness. She saved fan-favorite Ice Cream for the encore (intro: "You all have been good... Here's Dessert!"), but it didn't seem that there were too many hardcore fans who knew to sing along.

The stage was quite cool. Three giant pillars that supported the backdrops upwardly turned into trees which it branches covering the main stage. There were also two small stages setup on each corner which allowed for more intimate numbers.

Being the pentultimate show of her tour, it seemed a bit too polished and rehearsed to me along with all the motherhood jokes. The only thing that seemed fresh was the song the the roadies choose during their introductions - So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music. Don't get me wrong, Sarah still sounded great, especially when she went solo on the grand piano.

Upcoming CD Releases

Here are a few CDs that I'm looking forward to finish up the year:

• Lucinda Williams - Live [2 CD] (9/14) - seeing her live was a treat [Update 9/13 - Live at the Fillmore West will not be coming out tomorrow after all... either late October or 2005 now :-( ]
  
• Jimmy Eat World - Futures (10/19) - more edge and less poppy than Bleed American,but still going to be one of the top 10 albums of the year
  
• Paul Westerberg - Folker (9/07) - can't wait for another lo-fi disc from the former Replacements frontman
  
• Other September Releases: Tegan & Sara, Bowling for Soup (one-hit wonder?), Green Day (still alive?), Elvis Costello (which direction will he go this time? rock? mellow? jazz?), Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama, Joss Stone (R&B diva?)
  
• Other October: Fatboy Slim (has his time come and go?), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (never passes spellcheck), Duran Duran (never passes spellcheck), Beck, Simple Plan, The Donnas
• (gone til) November: U2, Offspring
  

As for the CDs from my last mention, Finn Bros collaboration is very mellow and above average, Gavin Degraw's acoustic Chariot is great (but ineligible for my year-end Top 10 as it is a re-release), Taking Back Sunday is another EMO band that has finally broken out, and one more to note that somehow escaped mention was the latest from K-OS, Joyful Rebellion, the best hip hop record that I've heard this year.

2004 Athens Summer Olympics

TV coverage was sporadic this year. I was quite happy with the NBC's coverage for once. Once I turned a blind eye to their blatant patriotism, I was able to enjoy all their volleyball, both beach and hardcourt, coverage. I still don't understand why they don't broadcast enough events live. I know there is a 9 hour difference, but you'd think they would broadcast the premiere track & field event, the mens 100m sprint, live like CBC did. I remember last time around in Sydney, when CBC was showing the live gold medal match in tennis featuring American superstar Venus Williams, NBC was showing some cheesey dramatic peace on some weightlifter.

All the media covers how poorly we did, but did we really do that badly? Or was it just a case of high expectations? We did finish tied for 19th in the medal standings. Considering how few athletes we sent, did we sent enough support staff as well? Is that the main reason why those that were expected to medal didn't? With so many fourth place finishes, maybe they should hand out Copper medals in Vancouver 2010?

Are there too many sports and events being held? So many athletes and events get overlooked as there is only so much broadcasters can show. When a single swimmer can win more medals than 176 of the 202 participating countries, is it time to take a closer look how many swimming events are there? Just like figure skating was put to shame in Salt Lake, it's obvious that the judging in gymnastics need to be overhauled. Have it skip 2008 if it is unable to put its act together.

The Olympics do always provide some inspirational moments:

• Shotput being held in the original sacred Olympic grounds
• Wrestlers taking off and placing their shoes in the centre of the ring after completing their final match of their careers
• All the hugging after each and every point in women's beach volleyball

Can't wait for Turin's, Beijing's and Vancouver's turn, but all the pre-game negativity towards Athens should be erased with how everything went so well in the 2004 Summer Olympics. It is one of the smallest countries to ever host the games and after all the delays and the post-9/11 security concerns, they still pulled it off and deserve a hearty efharisto (thank you).

PS. Sorry it took awhile for this blog to be posted.