text:
Soccer teams at this point in a season are merely hoping to catch a break, but North Medford's girls team has the misfortune of having to deal with one.
In a scene that sent the Twitter world buzzing last Wednesday, North Medford senior Anna Smith suffered a gruesome compound fracture with about 10 minutes to go in a 5-0 triumph over Grants Pass at Spiegelberg Stadium.
For someone who has never really been hurt in all her years of soccer, the timing couldn't be worse.
"It's pretty heartbreaking," Smith said shortly after being released from the hospital on Monday. "To have it all over just like that, in my senior year, it's just awful."
The 17-year-old defender earned second-team all-conference honors a year ago and again was serving as an anchor on the back line for the Black Tornado when tragedy struck last Wednesday.
"Because it happened so fast, it's kinda hard to remember," said Smith. "I'm pretty sure my foot got planted in the turf and I was going one direction and the other girl was going another way and it all went bad from there."
So bad, in fact, that the severity of the injury — a fractured tibia and fibula on her right leg — seemed obvious to even those in the stands.
"They said you could hear it in the stands and they knew right away that it was broken," said North Medford head coach Emily Miller, who was dealing with late-game substitutions and actually had to go back to the game tape to see what transpired.
On the play, Smith was shielding the ball with her back to the field as it rolled toward the end line in order to gain a goal kick. As she was doing this, a Grants Pass player went into a slide in an effort to save the ball and potentially center it toward the goal.
"When she did that, she came through and struck Anna's right leg right in between the ankle and mid-shin area," said Miller. "Then Anna went down right away."
When Miller looked over, she initially thought another defender who had been battling an ankle injury was the one down on the field after possibly tweaking it again. Once she noticed it was Smith, the mood changed.
"I knew right away to go out because she's just one that never goes down or stays down," said the coach. "In the last four years, I've never seen her hurt or go down and stay down; she's a pretty tough player."
Once she got to Smith, Miller encountered a scene she had never experienced in all her days of playing or coaching.
"She was complaining about her right leg and wanted her shin guard off because I think she thought it was digging in or something," said Miller. "When I looked at her leg, you could tell the foot was hanging there and not supported or anything. The tibia and fibula were both protruding toward the inside, they weren't out of the skin but you could tell the leg bone just got shifted over."
Miller quickly tried to cover up the sight but Smith leaned up to look and got enough of an image at the bump on her leg that she admittedly "freaked out."
"My coach had me turn over and I saw how deformed my leg looked and I was just freaked out," said Smith, an outside defensive back. "It was just bent and messed up and all I knew was it was weird."
In fact, "It's weird, it's weird," was repeated over and over while Smith waited for paramedics to arrive after someone called 911. The only other thing she could mutter was that it was her senior year, and now it was over.
"That's tough for anyone to have to sit and listen to because you really can't say anything," said Miller. "It was just a bad time and it sucks that had to happen to her. We were just trying to get her to stay calm."
In about 25 minutes, Smith was fitted with an air cast and given an IV and some pain medication. Game referees came to an agreement with Grants Pass coach Hector Cruz that the game be called at that time, which was the least of Miller's concerns as she turned toward a sobbing group of players who had been huddled together since Smith's injury.
"It was traumatic, too, for the team because they were all worried for Anna," said Miller.
Smith underwent surgery to set the bones in her leg on Thursday and was surrounded by her teammates and coach later that day as Miller canceled practice so all could be by Smith's side.
"My family and my team have really been here for me," said Smith, who faces a three-month recovery period. "I really appreciate all they've done."
The Black Tornado's players kept their fallen teammate at the forefront of their minds by writing her name and number 9 on their wrists for Saturday's game in Roseburg, a 3-2 loss.
North Medford, the three-time defending Southern Oregon Hybrid champion, will take a 3-3-1 overall record and 2-1 SOH ledger into today's 5 p.m. clash with crosstown rival South Medford (7-2, 3-0 SOH) at Spiegelberg Stadium.
While Smith would rather be on the field for North Medford, she's still trying to do all she can to help lead her squad.
"She's been doing a nice job of trying to also motivate her teammates," said Miller. "In that situation, it would be easy to feel depressed and sad and no one would hold that against her, but she's been trying to send her teammates messages to make sure they play hard, even in practice, because you never know what will happen."
If anything positive can be taken from her injury, Smith hopes that theme is the one that prevails.
"Everyone should not take for granted doing something they love because you never know when it can be taken from you," she said. "I've just wanted them to keep going and not take any moment for granted. I wish I could be right next to them along the way and keep going at it, but mostly I just want them to win and keep going and be strong."
Miller said some adjustments will have to be made to the back line of the defense, which switched this year from a sweeper and stopper system to a four-back system, as well as to substitution patterns, but little has needed to be done to the team's mindset thanks to Smith's guidance.
"I was worried if they would play timid from seeing something like that but they've gone the opposite route and they really want to win these games for Anna," said Miller. "I think what they're feeling is just a sense of urgency. They've said it a number of times that they want to win for Anna and win as a team. It really has brought them closer together."
Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, firstname.lastname@example.com, www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry
Smith, Tornado girls suffer bad break
Soccer teams at this point in a season are merely hoping to catch a break, but North Medford's girls team has the misfortune of having to deal with one.


text:
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
My Vegan Philosophy (and Some Delicious Olive Cream Cheeze)
One comment warned me that a wax coating on some ramen noodles can cause cancer. This claim originated from a hoax email and the claim has been dis-proven (see the Snopes article here). But just so you know, I've never been one to stress over negative health claims, whether research backs them up or not.
Another commenter claimed that Morningstar Farms chick'n strips were not vegan because they contained GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Just because a product contains GMOs doesn't make it un-vegan. It may make it bad for your health and the planet, but so long as the food is animal by-product-free, it's vegan. And those strips are definitely vegan.
You see, I am a vegan because I love animals. I don't eat animals or their by-products because I practice a life of compassion for all living beings. I believe eating meat is immoral. That is the ONLY reason I'm vegan. I do care about my health, but I also care about enjoying life and eating things that make me happy. Occasional fried foods, processed junk food, candy, sweets .... these are things that make me happy.
But don't get me wrong. Ninety percent of time, I eat uber-healthy — whole grains, no high-fructose corn syrup, no soda, as little refined sugar as possible. But when I want to splurge, I do. If I spent all my time stressing about this health claim or that health claim, I'm fairly certain it would suck all the fun out of life. And we're only here for a short time, so let's live it up. Laissez les bon temps roulez, right?
That being said, I do also try to avoid GMOs most of the time. Not for me, but for the planet. But I'm not going to deny myself a treat because it MIGHT contain GMOs.
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. I totally respect health vegans. I get it. But that's just not me. It's a big topic, but I didn't want folks to worry when I post photos of processed food or healthy no-no's.
For example, my breakfast had a little processed food thing going on. I had some leftover Tofutti Cream Cheese, but I didn't want plain cream cheese on my bagels. So I looked for mix-in ideas in Vegan Brunch and found this idea for Olive Cream Cheese:
It's schmeared all over a Whole Foods brand sprouted wheat fiber bagel. Olives may seem weird for breakfast, but I love those salty little things so much, it doesn't matter what time of day they end up in my mouth. It was like cheeseball for breakfast!
What's your vegan philosophy?
31 comments:
- Mihl said...
Geez, I am sorry you had to deal with those comments. You should't have to justify your eating habits on your blog. I like your style, keep doing what you do!
Btw, I think Olives are great for breakfast!
- June 2, 2011 at 3:46 AM
I'm with you Bianca.
I avoid animal products to be kind to our furry friends too, and whilst generally I eat healthily, I'm not going to beat myself up if I have a little something 'less healthy' occasionally.
The choice is ours and ours alone. And let's remember, being vegan we're ahead of most of the world when it comes to healthy eating anyway. We can afford a little bit of cheekiness every now and then.
- June 2, 2011 at 3:56 AM
- JL goes Vegan said...
This is a really great post. I confess that I started out vegetarian for animals but vegan for health...but it sure didn't take me long to jump 100% into the "it's about the animals" camp. Knowledge = power.
I'm amazed by the people who think that because I'm vegan I only eat "healthy" sandwiches. Nope, I can scarf down a jar of vegan queso and have been known to throw together a vegan marshmallow sandwich. AND I try to eat healthy. I can be both.
- June 2, 2011 at 4:46 AM
- Rick said...
fyi snopes is targeted disinformation. check out who funds it. it's used to make ppl who trust "authorities" look past otherwise harmful and often times truthful info.
knowledge is power, do your research.
once a person does as much research as i have, it's impossible to just turn on the blinders when eating unhealthy food. i just can't do it. i still splurge, but it doesn't mean refined sugar or gmo's or msg or aspartame...i just can't do it.
i don't agree with a couple comments from both yesterday and today, but hey, that's what makes life special. we're all different and we all get freedom of choice, which makes all the difference.
kudos for your honesty.
- June 2, 2011 at 6:39 AM
- Susan G said...
I love olive cream cheese on cinnamon raisin bagels. Love that sweet and salty combo.
- June 2, 2011 at 7:34 AM
- VeggieLow said...
olive cream cheese sounds dreamy. must try.
my vegan philosophy is similar to yours. i am mostly about animals, somewhat about the planet and a little about health. we are bombarded every day with chemicals in the air, in food and in buildings, so enjoying food (in a compassionate way) is key - a few vegan cupcakes or some ramen noodles are essentials to that brain balance that is key to happiness :)
recently i've met a few vegans really bother me. they are constantly telling people what foods have carcinogens or what foods aren't vegan because of some dough conditioner that has a remnant of bone char in it... etc. it really frustrates me because when people choose to eat less/no meat or animal products, they are doing really really good things, and they shoudl be praised and encouraged, not denigrated. so i've tried to tone down some of my comments about what is and isnt vegan lately. i've stopped beign that person who asks to see bread ingredients at restaurants... i'm choosing to go to a place that doesnt cater specifically to my vegan-ness, so i'm not going to cause a scene by being preachy.
i get some sideways glances from my over-the-top vegan friends, but i feel more content and i feel like i make more of an impact on the omnivores in teh room by not making them feel bad or angry. anyway, that's me. if it means i'm only 99.7%vegan, i can deal w/ that :)
great post - keep it up!
- June 2, 2011 at 8:16 AM
- Brian Woz said...
Thanks for this post! It's cool to hear other vegans share why they choose to eat animal-free. As you know, I recently got personal about my reasons for practicing veganism on my blog a few posts ago (thanks again for your comment BTW).
I do it mainly for my health, but have come to grow intolerant of animal cruelty and the effects factory farming has on the environment.
- June 2, 2011 at 8:43 AM
- panda with cookie said...
heh heh. My vegan philosophy is cookies. Cookies, my friend.
- June 2, 2011 at 9:06 AM
- *Autumn Tao* said...
Your philosophy is extremely close to mine, more than any othher blog I read. I enjoy vegan junk food on occasion. And I do it for the animals too. I think you rock. You are articulate, fun, and honest. Keep it up mama.
- June 2, 2011 at 9:39 AM
- Alan Roettinger said...
I agree with Mihl: You shouldn't have to justify your eating habits ANYWHERE! However, I think it shows both openness and class that you do, because this helps people to understand a little more, and keeps a conversation going that eventually will bring people together. Well done.
On the other hand, I do want to throw my two cents in for the health aspect of a vegan diet. If we're about compassion for all sentient beings, we mustn't forget human beings (ourselves). Just as we would object to feeding unnatural and harmful stuff to animals, I think we should stand up for our own rights too, and insist on the very best when we eat. As with all things, compassion and kindness begin and end with the self.
I agree with you 100% about eating whatever brings you joy (which is the whole point, let's face it). But speaking as a 58-year-old, I highly recommend taking the best care possible of your health now, so you can continue to enjoy it all the way to the end ;-)
- June 2, 2011 at 10:22 AM
- Babette said...
Great post, Bianca. I think I agree with everything you said.
Being vegan doesn't necessarily mean being healthy.
I wish I always ate healthy vegan food, but I'm not there yet! I enjoy junk good.
When I was a vegetarian AND a smoker, people were often surprised to learn I smoked cigarettes... hehe
That breakfast looks great, but I'm not a big fan of olives though. I bought a tub of french onion tofutti cream cheese last weekend and I finished the whole thing so quickly!
- June 2, 2011 at 10:32 AM
- racheyalex said...
everything in moderation, even moderation ;)
almost all the time I eat high raw, ultra-healthy vegan food, but like you, I think some occasional junk food is not only ok but damn fun. if I overdo it I can immediately tell, my tummy protests! but everyone needs to eat what makes them feel best (mentally, spiritually, and physically)- we all have our own journey on this planet!
that said, I could never eat flesh again, for moral reasons.
excellent dialogue here btw!
- June 2, 2011 at 11:12 AM
- ward said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- June 2, 2011 at 11:25 AM
- dreaminitvegan said...
No one can attain perfection and I don't think being vegan is about being perfect. There are always going to be those people who are finger pointing. Oh well.
Personally I've been trying to live a healthy life for years due to my families health(dad's, aunt's, grandparents). Going vegan was the next step to obtaining even better health but it was at that time I found out about how animals were treated and how our choices also affect the planet.
Do I eat a sugary treat now and again? Sure. Do I have an alcholic drink now and again? You bet I do!
- June 2, 2011 at 11:27 AM
- missmuffcake said...
I buy organic, I support local farmers, eat fruits and veggies every day and I am vegan for the animals.
I eat whole grains, good fruits and veggies but I buy snacks and vegan candy. I spent years starving myself to death to be the American size 2 dream...After years having anorexia I just ate all the vegan crap I could.
Now I am conscious of what I eat without stressing over what is right or what is wrong.
- June 2, 2011 at 12:53 PM
- Holy Moly said...
I have the same philosophy as you! I find it hard to debate with people about veganism, because, for me, it's a simple "I like animals and I don't want to contribute to their misery."
Those comments (whether from vegans, veggies, or omnis) tend to be rooted in the idea of "being perfect." Omnivores grab onto 'inconsistencies' as a way of devaluing your judgment and, at least in my experience, vegans who are about perfection need to get some perspective.
- June 2, 2011 at 1:11 PM
I can not stand people who see themselves as "vegan police" or "better" vegans,there is no perfect vegan. No matter what the way you eat and sustain yourself is going to have some impact on animals. Weather they are loosig their habitats for farmland or getting run over by tractors that farm the land it would be impossible to be a "perfect" vegan. Just doing the best you can and listening to your body is all that really counts! You don't have to put a lable on your eating habits or justify them to anyone else. Good for you for sticking up for yourself!
- June 2, 2011 at 1:11 PM
- Tapioca said...
This looks so delicious! I love your blog, and you're adorable! :D
Please visit www.tapiocasoul.com for more great vegan recipes!
- June 2, 2011 at 2:21 PM
i recently became vegan, mainly for health reasons. i am loving it because i still enjoy variations of my favorite processed foods and "meat" but without the problems i was having before when my body was literally suffocating in animal waste. i have been reading your blog for sometime (even in my pre-vegan days) and always enjoy your fun, relaxed take on being vegan. i identify with your healthy/unhealthy days and applaud your positive attitude and energy toward living (and eating your way through) life with no regrets. keep goin' girl!
- June 2, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Awesome post! You'll all want to read this article:
- June 2, 2011 at 4:33 PM
- The Edgy Vedgy said...
i'm in total agreeance with with your vegan philosophy...maybe because I hold the exact same one. I just wanted to let you know that your blog is definitely an inspriation to me and helps me out with great vegan ideas. I'm heading to Memphis in two weeks from here in Nashville and I'm SUPER excited to try some of the restaurants you've blogged about.
- June 2, 2011 at 5:07 PM
- Jessica said...
Nitpicky comments are the worse. Olives are awesome.
- June 2, 2011 at 10:15 PM
- Sharan said...
I think this is a wonderful post. To begin with, it is quite uncomfortable when people throw the "so why are you vegetarian/vegan..." question. To be honest, we are all perfectly capable of deciding what to put in our bodies. Sometimes it appeals our palate and sometimes its just good for you. Thank you so much for doing this post. You go girl!
- June 3, 2011 at 8:47 AM
- KTBuns said...
It's like you crawled into my mind! Thanks for this post, Bianca... people chose veg*n lifestyles for many different reasons.
It's difficult for me to understand those who value health over animal rights (I'm currently struggling with this while speaking with a friend who's going to try vegetarianism), but all perspectives are valid as long as they don't become spiteful of others, I suppose.
Thanks for the post!
- June 3, 2011 at 8:45 PM
- John McDevitt said...
You took the words right out of my mouth. Amen.
- June 4, 2011 at 1:49 AM
- morganbb said...
I totally agree with your philosophy! When I first decided to go vegan I tried to be all uber healthy (like eating super foods from the kind diet) and quickly my life revolved around being so picky about my food- it was time consuming & I wasn't enjoying my food. And I LOVE food! Yeah I lost a ton of weight being "uber vegan" but I wasn't happy. I now know the love of vegan cookies and all the fantastic faux meats out there, I'm still vegan & I'm enjoying life. My primary reason for being vegan is my love of animals as well- yes I care about my health & environment too but those were secondary reasons for becoming vegan. Keep rocking out Bianca!
- June 4, 2011 at 9:54 AM
- thedalyn said...
Interestingly, I got interviewed for a show on food trucks yesterday and veganism came up. After the interview, I cringed knowing that if I make it on the show, the vegans are going to take issue with some of my responses. Fact is, you can't please them all and I'm a bit tired of having to justify my eating habits--even to those who are vegan.
- June 5, 2011 at 11:26 AM
- Erin said...
Great post, Bianca! You certainly shouldn't have to explain your choices to anyone, but those anon comments can be grating. I first went vegan for preference/health reasons, but have definitely come around to the ethical side. I'll probably never be an animal activist or anything, but I can get down with being kind to animals and the earth!
- June 7, 2011 at 1:23 PM
- nadiwoo said...
For me it's a simple economic equation-I don't want my money to go to people who use animals as tools, because animals are not tools that are inferior to humans and exist for us to use. Even if an animal was treated well its entire life and died of natural causes I still don't want to eat it, same as how I would not want to eat a human.
It's the same as not buying many clothing brands, because I don't want my money going to companies that exploit child/third world workers.
I guess for me it is just not using other living creatures for my own base pleasures (like palate and ego), and that includes humans.
That having been said, I also really really appreciate the health and cost benefits I've experienced since going vegan! :D
- June 16, 2011 at 9:01 AM
- nadiwoo said...
Oh, and if you slapped some capers on that olive concoction it would be my idea of heaven! Olives + capers = HEAVEN!
- June 16, 2011 at 9:03 AM
- Get Skinny, Go Vegan. said...
I think I am getting hubby to go to Whole Foods today to buy some GF bagels, olives, and Tofutti. Which I almost never eat, but CRAVING this stuff now!!
I also am TOTALLY vegan for the ANIMALS!!!! But, over the last decade I have slowly eaten healthier & less processed food. So now I do not buy Morningstar & try to buy organic, in general. I will eat that stuff when I'm out or if hubby brings it home, but I do try to buy less packaging. But for sure, I'm vegan for the animals.
But it is a time when the planet & our health is in crisis so think these are also good reasons to advertise veganism also.
But I think that even packaged vegan food is still better for our health & planet than cow.
- June 23, 2011 at 12:17 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
So I set out to make caramels. Truly not knowing what I wanted when I first poured the sugar and milk into the pot what was going to come of it. (I love making new recipes that way--going in totally blind when the thermometer gauge is ticking away). I did have a little bit of inspiration from an article in the NYT article about a famous chocolate-caramel recipe from 1881? Wild, from 1881. So the first batch was awful, very molasses overpowering, and no chocolate taste whatsoever. (sorry NYT, but still love you and look up to you). I know I followed everything to the T and know you have to literally "set up camp by the stove, do not leave pot" when making candy and/or caramels. The end result needed a lot more "ummphf". So the second batch I added in more butter, more salt, used half & half, and added in salty peanuts. BINGO. This recipe is a keeper. And I swear the second day they tasted even better. Everyone who was my taste-tester loved them. So I renamed them molasses-peanut chews because, well, thats what they taste like.
Super easy to make too. If you are familiar with making caramels then these will be a breeze for you. Are there some of you out there that still have last minute baking gifts to give? Use this. Trust me, these will knock their socks off.
I don't know if I will have another post before Christmas...Sooooo. I want to wish you all a merry christmas, happy holidays, etc... But more importantly: thank you truly for being such wonderful, awesome, incredible and loving fans. As I've said before "you guys rock my world"!
Cook Notes: if you have trouble with caramels here are a few things I can suggest to help you out. Get a good candy thermometer. Do not leave the stove when your mixture starts to boil. Set up camp at your stove until it's ready to pour. Stir like crazy. Be patient, it takes a good 15 - 20 minutes to get your caramels at the right temperature. The right temperature is 248 degrees (maybe minus 1 or 2 degrees)--watch that thermometer; anything higher in temp and you'll have hard candy.
molasses peanut chews
Inspired from 1881: Chocolate Caramels as seen in NYT
print recipe
4 TB salted butter
About 1 TB butter to grease ceramic dish
4 ounces high quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup half & half
1 cup molasses
1 cup white sugar
1 ts high quality vanilla extract
Giant pinch of sea salt
½ cup of salted, roasted peanuts
Wax paper squares for wrapping caramels
Extra butter for greasing up your knife when cutting caramels
Remember this is hot sugar, never touch the hot sugar, never be tempted to taste test, and always use oven mits.
Butter an 8-by-8-inch or 8 x 9 baking dish. Get out a candy thermometer and clip onto pot.
In a large heavy duty pot (with high sides preferably) combine the butter, chocolate, milk, molasses, sugar, and salt. Place over a medium heat and stir constantly and CONSTANTLY scraping the bottom of pan. (You will be doing this for a while). Let it boil and cook until the temperature reaches around 247 -249 (soft ball stage). Once it hits this temperature remove from heat
And add in the vanilla extract (it will make a lot of noise and sizzle, just add in and stand back then stir in)
Once mixed, pour the hot mixture into your prepared buttered baking dish.
Sprinkle the peanuts on top of the caramel. Push peanuts down into caramel using rubber spatula—do not use your hands!
In about an hour or 45 minutes you should be able to handle caramel. Gently lift if out of baking dish and transfer to a wooden board or plastic cutting board.
Using a sharp knife cut long strips about ¾ of an inch, then cut those strips into 1 or 2 inch pieces.) Wrap in wax paper.
Should make about 70 pieces; all dependant on how you cut them (what size).


text:
Before the award presenters open the envelopes on Oscar Sunday, before the actors and producers take a single step on the red carpet, and even before the films hit theaters, the trailers for these films grace the big screen.
These previews have the power to send audiences flocking to theaters or keep them away altogether.
"You really want to get butts in the seats and you want to highlight the best parts of that movie," says Stephen Garrett, the founder of the trailer production company Jump Cut Creative.
He tells NPR's Neal Conan that there's a fine balance between enticing the audience to theaters and spoiling the plot twists.
"That's one thing that always makes me cringe, when I'm in a movie theater and I overhear people after the trailer saying, 'We'll, I won't see that movie because it's given everything away,' " he says.
He points to Silver Linings Playbook as an example of a Best Picture nominee with a trailer that walks that line really well.
"It's hitting story beats, one after the next," he says. "And it kind of gives you a very clear overview of what this movie is like and what to expect when you go see the movie."
He says this trailer also makes it clear that this movie isn't a traditional romantic comedy. The trailer includes the scene where a teenager knocks on the door and asks if he can do an interview for a school project on mental illness.
"And then the door is slammed, and then the music kicks in," Garrett says." That's what you would call a nice little punctuation for the trailer. You start with this kind of cold open, and then you go into the body of the trailer, which is, this is a movie about mental illness but it's going to make you laugh."
Garrett's production company specializes in trailers for foreign, independent and documentary films. He has received 11 awards at the Golden Trailer Awards, an annual show that recognizes excellence in motion picture marketing.
He says generally, different strategies are employed for different genres of film. For a historical drama like Lincoln, the trailer has to draw viewers who may already be somewhat familiar with the plot.
"This is a man who's larger than life. So the treatment is very reverential," he explains. "They're already prompting you with the suggestion, 'This is an important movie. You need to go see this.' "
The most intriguing aspect of the trailer for Garrett is the fact that the voice of Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln isn't heard until after the one-minute mark. He thinks that was done intentionally.
"You hear this thin, reedy voice," he says. "If that was the first voice you'd heard or the first one you've seen if you watched the trailer, you might have giggled a little bit."
Garrett says the editors likely asked this question: "How do we introduce him without scaring everybody away, or making them laugh or making them think this is a comedy instead of a historical drama?"
Garrett says there's a lot of pressure on the editors putting these packages together. "There's so much money involved with some of the larger, big studio films, that I think there is an anxiety about people not quite knowing what to expect."
Before they tear open the envelope, before a single step on the red carpet, before the nominations, before we see the two-hour movies, comes the two-minute trailer. Best picture, best schmicture(ph). What's the best movie trailer you've never forgotten? 800-989-8255. Email us: firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also join the conversation on our website. That's at npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION. Yesterday, The New York Times dissected movie trailers with, among others, Stephen Garrett, founder of Jump Cut Creative, which specializes in trailers for foreign, independent and documentary films. And he joins us now from our bureau in New York. Thanks very much for coming in today.
STEPHEN GARRETT: Thanks for having me.
CONAN: And where do you start to make a trailer? From the print of the film?
GARRETT: Well, I mean, it's actually - it's what you would think, actually. We take the best parts of the movie, and we assemble them all together in a nice, neat, tidy two -minute trailer.
CONAN: The best parts of the movie. What are you trying to convey? The plot?
GARRETT: Well, it depends. You know, if there's a movie that's very plot-heavy, actually, the selections - you know, the best picture nominees, it's a great field this year. And there's a wide diversity of storytelling going on. There are a lot of very traditional narratives, and then there are other films that are, you know, kind of various to your(ph) art house films that don't follow the same sort of story beats that you would expect from a Hollywood movie, so to speak.
CONAN: Well, we're going to play just a couple. These are among the favorites. First, from the "Silver Linings Playbook" trailer. The movie stars Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, nominated, of course, for best picture.
ROBERT DE NIRO: (as Pat Solitano, Sr.) Pat?
BRADLEY COOPER: (as Pat Solitano, Jr.) Hey.
NIRO: (as Pat Solitano, Sr.) What's this? You didn't tell me you him out.
JACKI WEAVER: (as Dolores Solitatno) The court said yes.
NIRO: (as Pat Solitano, Sr.) Yeah. But what did the doctor say?
MATTHEW RUSSELL: (as Ricky D'Angelo) Can I do an interview for a school project on mental illness?
NIRO: (as Pat Solitano, Sr.) No.
COOPER: (as Pat Solitano, Jr.) I'm ready. I feel motivated. I don't feel so angry all the time.
(as Pat Solitano, Jr.) No. The whole time you root for this Hemingway guy to survive the war and to be with the woman that he loves.
WEAVER: (as Dolores Solitano) It's 4 o'clock in the morning, Pat.
COOPER: (as Pat Solitano, Jr.) I can't apologize. I will apologize on behalf of Ernest Hemingway, because that's who's to blame here.
NIRO: (as Pat Solitano, Sr.) Yeah, have Ernest Hemingway call us and apologize to us, too.
CONAN: Well, that's just the first 40 seconds or so. It goes on for two-and-a-half minutes, and pretty much in sequence. All the stuff we heard was right from the beginning.
GARRETT: Yeah, it is. I mean, that's in the first maybe 10 or 15 minutes of the film, and the whole trailer is actually structured that way. It's hitting story beats, one after the next. I wouldn't say that the movie's traditional, by any means, in terms of the characters. They're so eccentric, and they're very lovable and endearing in their own ways. But you do follow a story beat-by-beat when the trailer progresses, and it kind of gives you a very clear overview of what this movie is like and what to expect when you go see the movie.
CONAN: What is the purpose of a trailer? We often don't see that two-and-a-half-minute version.
GARRETT: Well, you want to sell tickets. So that's...
CONAN: (unintelligible)
GARRETT: I'm sorry. I don't mean to be...
GARRETT: ...pedantic, but you really want to get butts in the seats and you want to highlight the best parts of that movie. This movie, "Silver Linings," for example, the comedy is really fun, but also somewhat different. And it's making - I don't want to say making light of, but there is humor that is couched in fundamentally serious issues, mental illness, you know.
And you'll see that the way that they introduce the concept of mental illness, they do it in the first five or 10 seconds of the trailer. You hear that ding-dong, and then you hear a kind of a teenager's voice saying, oh, I'm doing paper on mental illness, and then you hear the father say no. And then the door is slammed, and then the music kicks in. So that's what you would call, like, a nice little punctuation for the trailer. You start with this kind of cold open, and then you go into the body of the trailer, which is this is a movie about mental illness. But it's going to make you laugh.
CONAN: Yeah. Is there a risk - because I've seen some movie trailers in theaters, and after I've seen it, I said, I've seen that picture. I don't need to buy a ticket.
GARRETT: Yeah. I mean, that's a huge risk. And it really - it's a fine balance. You want to give people as much as possible to entice them, but you don't want to give them such a feast, such an overload that they think, oh, well, you know, you've shown me every single beat, the first act, the second act, the third act, you know, the big climax. You know, that's one thing that always makes me cringe when I'm in a movie theater and I hear - overhear people after the trailer and saying we'll, I won't see that movie, you know, because it's given everything away.
But there is pressure - there's so much involved, there's so much money involved with some of the larger big studio films, that I think there is an anxiety about people not quite knowing what to expect. You know, one trailer which I thought was a very well-cut trailer, and there are a couple of trailers for it, but the Marc Webb "Spider-Man" reboot that came out I think last summer had a bunch of different trailers.
But I remember seeing at least one of the trailers, if not two, literally give you every single beat of the movie, all the way through to the big climax, you know, at the end of, I think on top of, you know, probably the Chrysler building or something like that or the big evil scientist's lair. But yeah, you see that kind of thing, and you think, oh, I've already seen it. But then again, with "Spider-Man," you kind of already have seen (unintelligible) the movie.
CONAN: (Unintelligible) Tobey Maguire (unintelligible).
GARRETT: Yeah, exactly.
CONAN: We're going to play another one, and this is the - part of the trailer for "Lincoln," nominated for 12 Oscars this year, including best picture.
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS: (as Abraham Lincoln) We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.
HAL HOLBROOK: (as Francis Preston Blair) We can't tell our people they can vote yes on abolishing slavery unless at the same time we can tell them that you're seeking and negotiating peace.
DAVID STRATHAIM: (as William Seward) It's either the amendment or this confederate peace. You cannot have both.
JACKIE EARLE HALEY: (as Alexander Stephens) How many hundreds of thousands have died during your administration?
LEE PACE: (as Fernando Wood) Congress must never declare equal those whom God created unequal.
BYRON JENNINGS: (as Montgomery Blair) Leave the Constitution alone.
DAY-LEWIS: (as Abraham Lincoln) We've stepped out upon the world stage now, with the faith of human dignity in our hands. Blood's been spilled to afford us this moment. Now, now, now.
CONAN: Well, that's a little bit different from the "Silver Linings Playbook."
GARRETT: Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, it's a kind of film that is, you know, it's a, you know, capital I, capital F important film. This is dealing with Lincoln. This is an American icon. This is literally a chiseled statue that you can go visit in Washington, D.C. This is a man who's larger than life. So the treatment is very reverential. You hear those first opening chords of the music, and I think it's a piano tinkle then accompanied by strings, you slowly, softly are let into it. But it's a very classical sort of cue.
It's almost very, frankly, and I think probably quite consciously, reminiscent of the Ken Burns documentary about the Civil War. So orally, they're already prompting you with the suggestion this is an important movie. You need to go see this, you know. But they're also...
CONAN: In fact, you're probably a ratfink if you don't.
GARRETT: Yeah. You're pretty much, you know, a traitor to your country if you don't see this movie. But they are setting up some, you know, again, all these trailers are made masterfully, and they're made very consciously with a very specific structure. They are presenting an idea, immediately, that is the idea of the movie of the movie, the concept of the movie, you know, whether it's doing a paper on mental illness, you know, this is a movie about mental illness.
The first opening lines of this trailer, you know, let the dead not be, you know, have not died in vain. This is a new birth of freedom. I'm assuming that's the Gettysburg Address, although it's been a while since I've read it.
CONAN: You're right. You got that one right, yeah.
GARRETT: Yeah. And, you know, those are the Great Ideas, and again, capital letters on both those words, that is what the movie - is the reason that the movie exist. And then you hear a music break and then new voices come in. You know, you can either abolish slavery or you can have a negotiated peace. You cannot have both. And that's the fundamental tension in the film. They're not necessarily giving you the plot, they're giving you a broad outline of what the movie is about.
But, you know, you're not really getting the horse trading, which is what the bread and butter of this whole film is, in Tony Kushner's screenplay. But I think the most intriguing about this trailer is that it's introducing iconic images, sounds, ideas, but you're not actually hearing Lincoln until about the one-minute mark.
CONAN: Yeah.
GARRETT: And you hear him very - at the, you know, in your excerpt, he's right towards the end. And you hear this thin, reedy voice, you know, we've stepped out onto the world stage now. If that was the first voice you'd heard or the first one you've seen if you watched the trailer, you might have giggled a little bit.
And I think they were very conscious about how do we - we are being meticulous in our recreation of Lincoln, and we have documents showing that he had a high-pitched voice. How do we introduce him without scaring everybody away, or making them laugh or making them think this is a comedy instead of a historical drama?
CONAN: Yeah. We've asked listeners: Which movie trailer will you never forget? This is an email from Kim in Wichita: Movie trailer I'll never forget, 1980s, "The Shining." The elevator full of blood is something that caught my attention right away. On the other hand, the teaser for the first "Scooby Doo" made us think a new Batman movie was coming. I think it might have driven away more customers than it attracted. But getting back to "The Shining," there were a couple of different trailers for "The Shining," one we had a lot of Jack and one didn't.
GARRETT: Well, you know, the most famous one is the one that the listener is referring to which is the - it's a static shot, and of course, the best way to build tension - it's ironic because you see a lot of fast cutting in trailers, and that's meant to build tension. And it does to a certain extent, but another really insidious way to build tension is not to cut all. And it's a one-shot take. And it's a special shoot.
Actually, they use some of the footage in the film itself, because it's Danny's nightmarish vision of the elevators opening up and blood gushing out. But in the film, it's chopped up. And in the teaser, you are just stuck there watching the doors of the elevator. And for a while, it's very placid. But then the doors open and then the blood comes out, and then it keeps coming out.
CONAN: And then you see it splashes against the sides of the walls, and then splashes up against the camera lens. So it's literally bathing everything in red. And while you're watching that, you're hearing - Tangerine Dream composed the music for the film. I don't know if they quite did it for the trailer as well, but its high pitch kind of a drone screeching synth string cue that is incredibly disturbing. I mean, it's - I wouldn't say it's nails on a chalkboard, but it's pretty close in terms of unsettling you and making your, you know, hair stand on end.
GARRETT: And then also while that's going on, you're seeing credits roll backwards, which again subverting what you're used to because it's creating a sense of unease. That was the big thing with Kubrick in "The Shining." And you're watching these credits roll backwards. So already it feels weird, like, why are they rolling the wrong way? And that's, of course, giving you the information, the basic information. This is a movie that...
CONAN: Oh, backwards that way?
GARRETT: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
CONAN: Not just a giant picture of Westrex Recording System.
GARRETT: Oh, no, no, no. These are - I'm sorry - it's not the actual credits but the rolling of the screen instead of rolling down the screen, and it's giving you basic information based on Stephen King's novel, or it's a new film of Stanley Kubrick and then "The Shining" and every like that. It's very - it's there, which also very gothic and very baroque in a lot of other ways visioning this.
CONAN: We're talking with Stephen Garret, founder of Jump Cut Creative, which specializes in trailers for foreign, independent and documentary films. You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News.
And let's get Adan on the line. Adan with us from Elkhart, Indiana.
ADAN: Hi.
CONAN: Hi. Go ahead.
ADAN: So the trailer that stuck with me this season was the trailer whenever the "Die Hard" number 16 is coming out.
ADAN: And it was just because of the "Beethoven 9" underscoring all of Bruce Willis (unintelligible).
CONAN: Probably used to the first time in a trailer since the Charles Grodin movie "Beethoven."
GARRETT: Yeah. I mean, it's a great...
ADAN: That's just the musician I have listened to what the music is in the trailers more.
CONAN: Yeah. And music is really important in a lot of these.
GARRETT: Oh, it's paramount. I mean, music will make and break certain types of trailers. And the trailer for "Die Hard," the latest "Die Hard" - well, first of all, there are two reasons why they're using it. The first is, of course, it's the signature piece of music from the original "Die Hard" film 25 years ago. So there's a certain, you know, it's very - apropos to use it in the latest film.
But it's got everything you need if you're cutting a trailer. It's got very fast syncopation. It's got, you know, a really staccato sort of beat to it. You've got voices hitting, you know, persistently and excitingly. You can cut a really good action montage - a lot explosions. I mean, I don't think, in particular, that's what Beethoven intended, but...
CONAN: No.
GARRETT: ...but a lot of skimpy ladies and explosions go well with his music.
CONAN: Oh, let's see if we can get another caller in. This is Morgan. Morgan with us from Oklahoma City.
MORGAN: Yeah. Hi. I'm glad to be on.
CONAN: Go ahead, please.
MORGAN: My most memorable movie trailer is definitely "Cloud Atlas" for me, because it's the longest one. I think it was like six minutes and 30 seconds, and I think they could have done a lot better if they just didn't the movie and just did the trailer.
GARRETT: Well, the trailer is funny. It's really complicated - I've been told, I haven't read the book, it's a bit daunting - but I hear it's incredibly complicated novel. And it was quite a Herculean, maybe Sisyphean task, to actually make it into a movie. But I kind of agree with you. You know, the trailer, it was a longer trailer. I think they - that I first saw it on iTunes and it's very unusual to see a six minute trailer anywhere. That's usually what they generally call a promo that they show at - they show sales agents, they show at film markets during film festivals, they show potential buyers who want to see the movie but they don't actually have the film finished editing yet, so they put together a six minute, sort of, sizzle reel.
So I don't quite know the origin of this, but certainly it works quite well. And actually, time wise, all trailers, for the most part, are no longer two and a half minutes. That's a - if you're a signatory of the Motion Picture Association of America, they put a cap at two and a half minutes. And they'll give studios waivers for one or two films a year, I think, where you can go three minutes or three and a half minutes. So I have to imagine, Warner Bros. probably asked for a waiver for the "Cloud Atlas," you know?
I would say very quickly with that. You know, the movie is so hard to explain, but the concepts, freedom versus tyranny through the ages, through the centuries, and the different lines of dialogue they used for that trailer, all these people emoting and emoting, earnestly these ideas. And so it works quite well. It's very effective visually and thematically, in terms of the dialogue. But it's hard to really say what the heck is going on in that thing.
CONAN: As what's with the movie - Morgan, thanks very much.
MORGAN: Thank you.
CONAN: A couple of emails. This is from Ingrid in Custer, South Dakota: The trailer for "Jaws" and the music were chilling. We're used to sail our Hobie Cat in Southern Jersey shore, and the entire summer, I would recall the trailer and the haunting music each time we sailed.
Wileen(ph) in Austin: The best trailer was from my favorite movie "The Matrix." When I saw Neo, Keanu Reeves, bend backwards and the bullets fly by, I said, I have got to see this.
And then this is from Sarah in San Diego: What's the movie trailer you'll never forget? The "Watchmen" by director Zack Snyder, trailer number one this page. And there's been a couple of people who nominate that but I have to ask Stephen Garret. Are there awards for trailers?
GARRETT: There are. They're called the Golden Trailer Awards, actually, friendly enough. There's also - that's been around for, I think, close to 14 years at this point. I think it started '98 or '99. The Key Art Awards are an award show sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, I think, and that's been going on for a few decades now. And what they recognize is the entire marketing campaign. They do the one-sheets, the actual posters you see, the television spots, the ads in the newspapers, you know, the whole thing and not just the trailers, but they do have an award for trailers. But it generally tends to be one or two awards. I think they have expanded it slightly.
But the Golden Trailer Awards are little more dear and hear to - near and dear to the hearts of kind of trailer editors like myself because they have more categories, so that's...
CONAN: Gives a better chance to win.
GARRETT: Yeah. Better chance to win, frankly. They're better odds. But you also get a little bit more recognition by your peers and four specific type of work. If you're cutting a romance, you're not going up against an action movie. It's a different, different set of priorities.
CONAN: Well, good luck at this year's Golden Trailers.
GARRETT: Thank you.
CONAN: Stephen Garret, founder of Jump Cut Creative, trailer house in New York. He joined us from our bureau in New York. Tomorrow, Jennifer Ludden's with the look at what's changing for gay military spouses and what isn't. Join her for that. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Course Catalog
INFS6421 - Admini MS Windows MS 7 Server
Spring 2014
This course provides the student with theoretical and practical knowledge required to configure, install, administer and troubleshoot networks utilizing Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. The course content is patterned after the material required to pass the Microsoft certification exam on Administering a Windows 2003 Server Environment with additional coverage of theoretical and practical materials in order to provide the student with a well-rounded understanding of this technology. Windows 2003 Server is addressed as both a network operating system and as a base for implementing client/server based applications. Areas of emphasis include the structure and capabilities of Window 2003 based networks, planning, installing, and configuring Windows 2003 Server environment and key areas of system management including security, reliability and performance. The subject of Active Directory is presented in the context of how an individual computer running Windows 2003 Server is integrated into an overall network that utilizes Active Directory. The course includes a significant laboratory component to provide the student with practical experiences working with the technology.
Prerequisites: INFS-6420 or passing Microsoft Certification Exam 70-270
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with INFS6421
No Courses Found


text:
Ben Fainer has a light in his eyes and a skip to his step that you don't usually see among most men in their 80s. Unlike the 11 million others who were killed during the Holocaust, Fainer's story has a happy ending. He lives his life with that morbid truth in the back of his mind and the numbers 178873 tattooed on his arm.
Fainer was liberated by American troops on April 23, 1945 as a 16-year-old in Cham, Germany. And on April 26, 2013, Fainer spent the day on Fort Leonard Wood, thanking the troops for their service and telling his story of tragedy and triumph.
The light in Fainer's eyes grew dim quickly when he briefly spoke about the atrocities he witnessed during the six years he spent as a forced laborer in concentration camps, having witnessed his fellow man being shoved into gas chambers and exhausted workers being shot in the head. He became especially emotional when he spoke about losing his mother and family.
"The dearest thing to my heart was my mother and she's gone now," he said. "She was the greatest mother in the world. But life goes on and this world keeps on turning, right?"
Fainer spent most of his time speaking about his well-rounded life in America with his wife, Susan, who was "sent from the heavens" and their seven children.
"I have a wonderful life in America that's beyond compare," he said. "People here just don't don't realize how great this country is. I've been all over the world and America is the greatest."
After his wife passed away in 1995, Fainer moved to a retirement community in Florida where he befriended a rabbi and asked him to give him his Bar Mitzv, since he missed the opportunity, spending most of his teenage years at in concentration camps. The local newspaper covered the story of a 74-year-old's Bar Mitzvah.
A few weeks later, Fainer received a phone call.
"I see in the West Palm Beach newspaper a Holocaust survivor was liberated in Cham, Germany by the 26th Infantry Division of the United States." The voice said. "I happened to have liberated you."
"Sir, you just gave me a heart attack." Fainer replied.
Fainer and the man, Norris Nims became great friends until he passed away a year ago, just a few days short of 100 years old. Fainer said he was very grateful for men like Nims.
Fainer thanked the troops for their service.
"I do a lot of things with the Army," he said. "The Army did a lot for me."
He also complimented the soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood specifically and said the installation has a lot of very intelligent soldiers.
"You do a lot of great things here," he told the soldiers in the crowd. "I think you guys should tell the civilians of all the wonderful things you did here.
Fainer also said that he doesn't hold any grudges against the German people for what happened to him during the Holocaust. He said that a German woman once cried in his arms, apologizing for what her people did to him.
"Your people did not do anything to me," he told the woman. "It was Hitler and his Nazis. The Germans didn't do anything to me. Don't cry."
Fainer recently wrote a book, "Silent for Sixty Years," which he will be dedicating the proceeds to soldiers, the Holocaust Museum in St. Louis, and schools.


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Friday, November 30, 2007
Looking for Peace and Quiet
So anyway, I'm sitting here at Panera and behind me is a table of like 400 teenagers. At least that's how it sounds. Who'dve thunk that Panera was a teen hang-out? They're all talking really loudly to make sure that everyone can hear how cool they are. After all, they're teenagers and they know everything, of course. I mean, I knew everything when I was a teenager. I knew everything and my parents were decidedly stupid. I'm not sure when that changed, but my parents have actually become pretty smart now. Wise, even. I, on the other hand, have lost intelligence daily since my kids were born. Just yesterday, my son informed me that I was wrong and that 25 degrees is not cold. It's warm, he corrected me when I told him to put on a coat so he wouldn't be cold. I used to know this stuff.
Or like this morning when Clay was on all fours kind of walking around on top of the toy box. He said, "Mom, what am I?"
I replied, "You're silly."
"Noooo! Mooom! I'm not silly! I'm a dancing pig!"
Well, of course you are. I guess I'm the silly one.
So anyway, my reason for getting out was to
1. try out my laptop and be all cool-like sitting here typing away in this restaurant, and
2. get away from the noise and interuptions and distractions in my house.
However, as I pulled into the parking lot, my cell phone rang.
"Mom, I was playing on Webkinz and now I can't click on anything. What do I do?"
So much for getting away.
I sat down and started typing and before I'd even finished my first paragraph, an IM popped up.
"Hi Mom. "Whatcha doing?"
Would it be bad to log off and ignore them?
Five minutes later, another IM...
"Mom, how do you turn the computer off? This game isn't working right."
Meanwhile, 800 more teenagers have showed up here. I think it's time to pack up and go back home. Either there or to the airport. ;)
P.S. I just realized that tomorrow is December! Eeeeeee!
Posted by Dawn at 8:47 PM
45 comments:
- Lucille said...
Hey Dawn - Good for YOU for getting out. Might as well before the storm of 07 hits, right? This storm better produce they way they are playing it up - it is like SWEEPS week for the weather guys!
Figures - my one night OUT with adults is tomorrow and it will probably get cancelled!
Oh well - back to what I was saying - I'm glad you are MOBILE with your laptop. I'm not. Sometimes I drag it to another room but that's about it!
I had no idea Panera was the hip place to be for kids! Better than the malls I guess. :)
Hope you won some Solataire and got a few pages done!
- November 30, 2007 at 9:59 PM
- suburbancorrespondent said...
You know, I bet Tolstoy hung out in the Russian equivalent of a Starbucks and played word games while trying to write War and Peace. And Hemingway! He was sitting there at Paris cafes and eying all the pretty girls while he wrote, right? So you're on the right track.
- November 30, 2007 at 10:12 PM
- Sharon said...
I just love ya Dawn. I am so totally there with you and you speak my language. I pray that the Good Lord bless you in all that you do. Keep writing!
- November 30, 2007 at 10:16 PM
- Manic Mom said...
SOOOO Funny cuz the other day I snuck out of the house too and I thought it would be cool to go to Noodles and Company to get something to eat by myself before I went to get my hair cut and colored.
WHO the heck knew that kids like noodles?!?!?! I called a friend, and she was like, "Are you at a party?" I was like, "NO! I wanted to go somewhere quiet!"
I chose the wrong place too!"
I think we might need to sneak into ... let's see... hmmm... churches... nah...
LIBRARIES!!!! No one's gonna be hanging out in libraries!
- November 30, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Congrats on getting your laptop! You've been told about getting a wireless mouse, which is a great idea. Now I'm going to tell you what I wish someone had told me before I spent three weeks using only my laptop because we were traveling. If you're going to do a lot of typing, get a simple USB full-size keyboard to plug into your laptop. Three months and a diagnosis of bursitis later, I am still taking Alleve twice a day and discovering how many things you need your shoulder for you never knew you needed your shoulder for!
I hope telling you about my pain can save you from having any yourself.
- November 30, 2007 at 10:26 PM
- Nicki said...
Are you in O'hare with your laptop yet? Next time turn your phone off;)
- November 30, 2007 at 10:32 PM
- janel said...
You might as well try the french toast bagel while you're at Panera. Well worth braving the 400 teenagers.
- November 30, 2007 at 10:32 PM
- Lynn said...
So what does it mean when I started laughing when I read the subject of today's blog? I have 6 kids, too...it's amazing I even knew what those words meant!
- November 30, 2007 at 11:04 PM
may i suggest the book, a gift from the sea. its a nice read...
- November 30, 2007 at 11:16 PM
- Heidi said...
A dancing pig--I love it!!
- November 30, 2007 at 11:17 PM
- Marta O. Smith said...
Hi, Dawn. I'm a regular lurker here and get such a kick out of your humor. And I agree with Sue in Dallas. Get a full size keyboard to plug in to that laptop if you plan to do a lot of typing. (Did you know your carpal tunnel goes from your wrist through your elbow and all the way to your shoulder? I do NOW.)
Anyway, this year I'm inviting my friends, family, and all my favorite bloggers over to visit my blog to see my musical advent calendar. (It's cheaper than sending out Christmas cards.) It starts on December 1 and runs through Christmas Day.
- November 30, 2007 at 11:30 PM
- ACB said...
OMG Webkinz!! My 5 year old loves Webkinz...and I will secretly admit, I have one too. But it's just because his friend bought him one that he already had. Yeah, that's it. Not because I wanted my own room to decorate or anything. Really. LOL
- November 30, 2007 at 11:46 PM
- Sleeping Mommy said...
Silly woman, I thought you realized that there is no escaping one's family these days.
Ah teenagers...I'm so glad I don't have to hang out with any of them for another 7 years.
- December 1, 2007 at 12:04 AM
- All moments remembered said...
LOL!!! I soooo know what you are talking about! There is NO such thing as really getting away!!
I would just like five minutes to scrapbook these days. I run my scrapbook store but never get to use all my goodies because LIFE is so busy and when it is not so busy it is busy! You know they say some day when our kids are grown and out of the house we will be BORED STIFF!! I think I can handle some down time. :)
Hope life is going wonderful for you Dawn! I think about you often when I am about to ring my childrens necks! LOL
- December 1, 2007 at 12:19 AM
- Rick said...
Welcome to the world of the "Way Too Connected."
I recommend deleting the IM program on your computer and no more "Moooom!" will be popping up on your computer screen.
- December 1, 2007 at 12:21 AM
- valerie said...
just wanted to say hello and a big thankyou for brightening my day for the last few days spotted a link to you on a friends blog and have been chuckling ever since
- December 1, 2007 at 1:14 AM
If you love distractions, try pogo.com. It's perfect for that, and has a wide variety of stupid games. I should be working right now, but I'm learning that one of my favorite distractions is your blog. I love your writing style!
- December 1, 2007 at 2:05 AM
- Karen said...
Next time try Starbucks. They've got better Chai Tea Lattes anyway. Maybe the teens haven't discovered them yet.
- December 1, 2007 at 7:09 AM
- Patty said...
I wonder if your mall is one of them that now has the teenage curfew, where no one under 18 can be in the mall without an adult after 6 pm, and thats why the teenagers are hanging out at Panera?
Yum Panera.... We don't have one of those around here, or at least not close enough to have me going, even once since our move here 2 1/2 years ago.
The children thinking the parents don't know anything just gets worse as they/we get older. My 14 yo is sure that DH and I are the stupidest things on the planet most days.
- December 1, 2007 at 8:14 AM
- Bald Headed Geek said...
I feel your pain. My wife and I took our collection of little heathens--I mean, KIDS--out for dinner last night. And, because having four isn't enough (I know, I know, I'm an amateur compared to you guys!), we invited another couple out with their kids, too. I would have had pity on the waitresses who had to deal with us, except for the fact that the waitresses also had to service a table right next to us with (no exaggeration) 28,934,723,948 teenagers. Okay, maybe I'm off by one or two, but I'm close! They made enough noise to drown out a jet engine (only the sound wasn't as soothing).
- December 1, 2007 at 8:34 AM
- gggarden said...
Dawn-I know no other way of asking your permission to mention your name and blog name in the intro to a blog I am planning...I'm calling it "Barely Controlled Chaos"-which aptly described my life. May I link you the blog once I get it started?
I have recently been intrigued with blogs. The introduction was a slow process…following family members through their journey of life…keeping informed of travels, adventures, life's changes. It reminds me of my best friend, who for years wrote me on a daily basis as life separated us. We lived for the mails arrival! Some letters were just a page or two, a note to let us know we were thinking of one another. Others were incredibly long…I remember a twenty something page letter. Separated by a mere 3,000 miles at this time, we rely on computer technology to communicate today…and she's the reason why I became interested in blogs! Well, not entirely, she just started it. She sent me a copy and link of Dawn Meehan's blog, "BECAUSE I SAID SO". I've become a fan of both Dawn's blog and of blogging in general. Once again, the reason behind this is my friend. Dawn's blog reminds me of when this friend and I first met…of what our life was like anyway. Barely controlled chaos would be descriptive.
It was nearly thirty years ago when we met outside a college supported day care center, dragging huge bags of newly purchased books with a barely four year old kid in tow. Some sort of instant bond occurred between us. She was divorced, two kids, working part time and going to school…starting over. I also was divorced, , but living with someone, had two kids and was returning to school. In a sense we were starting over. Our friendship has lasted nearly 30 years! We've endured the pains of another divorce (both of us), loss of a child (hers), joys such as the births of grandchildren (she has one, I have seven), another marriage (mine)…basically all of our adult lives have been shared together. I need to dedicate this blog to her. Life without her would have been very dull and lonely!
So…here I am…ready to go…enjoy…or not!
- December 1, 2007 at 10:20 AM
- Sherry said...
Hey there girl. I just love your blog. Wow, aren't teenagers a pain! I tell my kids to never become teenagers. :) LOL
- December 1, 2007 at 10:32 AM
- Mary said...
I use my laptop in my mini-van. It's the best retreat! I sit in the back seat with my laptop and get a lot done. I also take naps in my van.
You just have to find a parking lot that has lonely parking spaces in either the sun or the shade, depending on the weather.
Good luck and let us know when you buy a nice mini-van!
- December 1, 2007 at 11:06 AM
- My Semblance of Sanity said...
I found myself in a Panera - kidless the other day. I had a babysitter for the baby while my older two were in school so I could run some errands on a rainy day w/o hauling him around.
I did my errands rather quickly b/c I was in the speed mode we are usually in so we don't hit WARP TAMTRUM before leaving the check out lane...
So, I had some extra time to kill before I had to go home....PANERA!
But, b/c that wasn't part of my plan, I didn't have my laptop, a book or a magazine with me so I ejoyed my food and then looked around for about 5 minutes and left...BEST LAID PLANS!
Hope you didn't go RIGHT home! A good place to write is Barnes & Noble, ya get the writer "vibe" there! ANd some killer chai!!!!
- December 1, 2007 at 12:16 PM
- Veggiemomof2 said...
Silly girl! If you want peace & quiet, you stay home & send the rest of the family to Panera! LOL
- December 1, 2007 at 1:07 PM
- Mabunny said...
Yay for you being able to get out by yourself! Sounds like fun , I get to do it tonight, while hubby stays home with semi-sick kiddo.
What website do u play Canasta on? Please let me know, I LOVE Canasta and haven't gotten to play much , can't find anyone that knows how to play, so I just play on my Hoyle card games.
- December 1, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Hi Dawn, I don't know if you've seen this before, but I wanted to pass it on to you. It's hilarious. If we could say everything that we needed to say to our kids in less than 3 minutes, just think of all of the extra time we'd have to ourselves!!! Enjoy!
- December 1, 2007 at 2:27 PM
- Brenda said...
I always say "You can run but you can't hide." Bathroom, Panera Bread, coffee shop. doesn't matter. They find you.
- December 1, 2007 at 3:02 PM
- KellyJean said...
You crack me up. I can't wait until you have three or more teens in the house. The early teen years aren't too bad and... one teen isn't too bad. I've got 15, 17 and 18 year olds right now. I started a blog in November since this is the first year with all of them in school in ten years. On Thursday I had a post and because my kids read my blog... I thought I'd be slick and post some of what is really going on in our house in a paragraph that I told the readers would be removed at 2 pm before I went to get the kids from school. Well... I got a surprise comment from my 17 year old who checked my blog from the lab at school. So busted!!! I removed it right away and paid her $10 not to tell her brother and sister what that paragraph said.
Yeah, I'm a real good mom.
- December 1, 2007 at 5:57 PM
LOL! Being so accessible can be both a blessing and a curse, for sure. Thank God my kids aren't old enough for the computer yet, although, my husband is!!!!
- December 1, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Too funny! It is great that you got out, even if you didn't get away lol. Now how is it that she can figure out how to IM, but not how to turn off the computer, sounds like a reason just to talk to you lol. Hopefully you had fun without screaming kids!
- December 1, 2007 at 8:19 PM
- ~Jenifer~ said...
Thanks for visiting my blog. I was so surprised to to see that you visit "jailed" I know that you are so busy with all the other 10,000 things that you do. As for buying a crate for the kids just let me tell you it is great no I do not put the kids in (even though the thought has occurred). Just put a blanket over and instant cave and they go in willingly (yeap just like that) it can also be a rocket ship, racecar, or anything else that their little minds can come and sometimes that can be good or very, very bad. By the way my Doberman has outgrown her stupid puppy stage so she no longer uses it anymore unless she scares company. She is red and looks like the dogs from the "Resident Evil" video games the Hell Hounds ( her name is Ember). Anyway again thanks again for visiting and I will keep reading.
By the way as popular as blogs have gotten over the past couple of years you would think that spell checker would not flag it anymore????
- December 1, 2007 at 9:21 PM
- VanDerHoekArt said...
Aw, come on Dawn, you know that once you find a quiet place to write it will be too quiet. Kind of like when a New Yorker goes to the burbs and can't sleep because there are no sirens or honking horns.
But, if you must...I agree with one of the comments posted here, try the library.
- December 1, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Ok, and tonight I have to say, do you sleep only 3 minutes a night?!? (I guess I'm really "asking", aren't I, as I used a question mark.) How do you manage 7 kids (you know what I mean here ;o) ), write a post virtually every day - and an awesome one at that, write a book... and procrastinate as you say you do? (My procastinating consists of reading all the great blogs out there.) But how can you play all these on-line games and still write the quantity/quality you do, AND take care of your family? You're a wonder!
Keep it up - you're my daily entertainment.
- December 1, 2007 at 11:53 PM
I take my laptop to the kids adventure play. Unfortunately they haven't twigged on to the fact that wireless internet would have parents in there by the bus load so I can only do other stuff, but I can have a coffee and at least an hour while my youngest runs around like a banshee.
As for supervision, I'm tuned into his screams, yells and 'I'm really hurt' cries so react as a parent should when necessary!
- December 2, 2007 at 2:33 AM
- Big Pumpkin said...
LOL!! I'm like that too, can't focus on ONE task at hand. I always have to do a few things or it'd be too boring!
Honey....you have six kids.....try flying to the next planet for some peace *smile*
- December 2, 2007 at 2:43 AM
- Jen said...
Kids! You can run, but you can't hide.
- December 2, 2007 at 8:03 AM
- iowaguy said...
Bungalow Mom had the perfect link to what should be your theme song! I loved the YouTube mom song she sent you the link for - it was perfect!
I do agree that Panera isn't the best place to go but they do have good food and drinks. Starbucks is good but the one by my house doesn't have free Wi-Fi. One suggestion I have is a local restaurant with free Wi-Fi especially if you hit it between 1:00 and 4:00. It's their slow time - they'll get you what you want, check if you want refills & get them for you, most have some sort of music playing in the background and most of the time you will only run into people like you looking for a little piece and quiet. Plus - if you get a little hungry you can try one of their desserts that you wouldn't usually get if the kids were with you but always wanted to!! That one was taught to me by my mom!! :o)
You are great! Keep up the good work and I can't wait for the book!
- December 2, 2007 at 8:14 AM
- Jen and Erik said...
Too funny. As a first time mom I am just starting to really get this. Just wondering what you plan to do for your Christmas card. With SIX kids...I cannot imagine! I had a hard time taking a picture of one. :) Here's the picture, in case you are interested:
It only took us 57 pictures to get this one!
I enjoy reading your blog,
- December 2, 2007 at 7:34 PM
- Katherine said...
I have a fool proof way to stop your kids from IMing you. You need to start IMing them-- "James! Get off that computer and do your homework. I'm watching you!"
They'll cut you off so fast! (yes, I know Clay is too young but I can't remember your older kids' names! CRS hits again.
- December 2, 2007 at 8:56 PM
- Becky said...
LOL on your son IMing you.
Just start assigning random chores. That'll learn him, lol.
Loved the posting, Dawn. Your sense of humor always makes me smile (or snort). Have a blessed day!
- December 3, 2007 at 10:20 AM
- Adrian said...
I personally think Instant Messaging and any form of texting is one of the major banes of modern existence. It basically gives anyone you know free license to interrupt you any time they please at all hours of night and day.
I've banned it from my computer completely with no apologies. Oddly enough, you can't actually delete the program because it's so ingrained into the whole Windows Suite, but I keep it disabled at all times. The annoying thing is that the only place I have to hassle with it is at work, where I'm REQUIRED to have it active at all times - argggh! Oh well, I haven't given my husband or kids the address for that one, so at least it's only my boss and cow-orkers pestering me.
- December 3, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Your post about finding everything under the sun to do BUT type your column struck a note with me. I am currently enrolled in an online college, and until recently had the husband, step-son, daughter, 2 yr old grand-daughter and new baby all under one roof....4 rooms total. Talk about never getting work done! Now that I have quiet, a friend I have made in Georgia that is taking classes also, we both always find reasons to wait til the last minute to do assignments. As we speak she is supposed to be working on a assignment (well, so am I), but needed an icecream and watching hero's break. It must be a mom thing, we are always going in so many different directions that to sit and concentrate on one thing just can't be done!
- December 3, 2007 at 8:07 PM
I have found that writing without internet access causes everything to take much longer, since I am constantly going to dictionary.com and thesaurus.com to double-check everything while I type up the first draft of my book, and do some editing in the process...
Things like, when Microsoft Works Word Processor is telling me that a word does not exist or is misspelled... 9 times out of 10, I am correct and it's the program that's wrong, but I just HAVE to check!! and hauling out the outdated paperback dictionary & thesaurus is just too much hassle : )
Good luck on your book; I can't wait until it's published : )
- December 4, 2007 at 12:38 AM
- Leila said...
No, you are not abnormal. I am in the computer lab in my school and this person next to me is driving me crazy with her crunching. That is one of my biggest pet peeves. How many chips can she chew at one time?
- December 13, 2007 at 6:14 PM


text:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
It's Opening Day For ESPN
The on-track action may begin on Friday, but all hands are on deck for ESPN's opening day TV special from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday. NASCAR Now will be one-hour long and will air at 5PM on ESPN2. Unfortunately, the show does not re-air.
Late afternoon on a Thursday is not perhaps the timeslot NASCAR deserves, but fans have learned over the last three years to take what ESPN gives them. The good news is that what ESPN is promising to give is something different.
What the network desperately needs from NASCAR fans is a clean slate. The embarrassing TV fiasco called the Chase for the Championship did almost nothing last season but make everyone mad.
Fans of non-Chase drivers saw them slowly slip off the ESPN radar until they were never seen again unless leading a race. Fans of Chase drivers were hit over the head constantly with the meaningless "points right now" stat as if the race were suddenly going to be halted by locusts.
Even fans of Jimmie Johnson chimed-in last season on ESPN's overkill of that team. There is now a word for what ESPN does when it zooms-in on one topic and beats it to death. It's called "hyper-coverage." No one seems to know quite where it came from, but it's rapidly becoming the thing to do.
This season, ESPN has done all the right things during the ramp-up to these final seventeen races. Feisty Marty Reid is in the broadcast booth, dependable Allen Bestwick will host from the Infield Pit Studio and Dr. Jerry Punch has finally returned to pit road.
Thursday will be the first time ESPN will come on the air as the Sprint Cup Series network of record this season. NASCAR is in a TV tailspin. Critics are coming out of the woodwork because they smell blood in the water. It will not be an easy task to turn this ship around. The good news is that ESPN has the manpower, technology and talent to do just that.
Handcuffed by no online video streaming or RaceBuddy style application, picking the right thing to show to viewers is going to be the key that will either unlock the door to success or send fans running to the NFL when that season opens. The time to show NASCAR fans that things have changed is now.
These final races deserve to be presented as events with a singular focus on the actual racing. The Chase will take care of itself. The points will take care of themselves. Detouring again from the action on the track to tell stories that fit the ESPN script is going to doom this season to failure from the start.
No one is better at setting the tone for a race than Bestwick. His ability to offer exciting and informative commentary is well-known. The fact that ESPN chose to pass him by in the hunt for a new play-by-play announcer continues to amaze many folks.
However, without Punch to drag the telecasts down, this may be Bestwick's best season to date with ESPN. Reid and Bestwick know their respective roles and know how to fill them. Reid said in interviews this week that this is the biggest TV opportunity of his life. Count on him to make the best of it.
Fans who saw Punch at Gateway this past weekend know how he can draw emotion out of NASCAR personalities. Punch is the quintessential reporter. Instead of hanging his head after being replaced in the booth, Punch has used the Nationwide Series races to get back his credibility on the air. His timing is perfect.
Reid has already proven his ability to draw Dale Jarrett out of his polite shell and get him to speak his mind on the air. This was one of the greatest fundamental failures of Punch in the booth. Jarret and Andy Petree spent a great deal of time trying to add play-by-play commentary instead of simply being race analysts.
I will agree to give ESPN a clean slate. Start again, focus on the racing and show us that you know the sport and love it like we do. The NFL opens on September 9 with a special Thursday night game. That gives ESPN six races without competition.
There is perhaps more on the line than ever before as the sport heads down the stretch. NASCAR is counting on ESPN this season to deliver the goods in a season of uncertainty. The talking is over and the first pitch of the regular season is 5PM on Thursday.
We welcome your comments on this topic. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
31 comments:
- ikilgore said...
JD, I like how you are giving ESPN a clean slate. Can you please review the races more in-depth? I like how you have the interaction with the fans on this website, so keep up the good work!
- July 22, 2010 at 2:41 AM
- Anonymous said...
What I wished we would've seen Sat night at Gateway was the Jamie Little from a few years back ... when she was a pit reporter for the IRL ... and they were at Texas ... and Dan Wheldon had a bad race & was storming off ... and Jamie ran after him & grabbed his shoulder ... and he swung around about to clobber her til he realized he'd be hitting a girl on national tv ...
That's the girl who should've been in Wrecker's Lane ... err, Victory Lane ...
Not the drooling, blithering fan gurl who threw the softball questions ...
I have absolutely NO faith in Danielle being able to ask hardball questions of Tim Cindric for Thursday's Race Hub ... Too bad he's not going to be in the studio, but will be a canned interview ... But, the IRL's in Edmonton and Nascar's in Indy, so he's spread thin ...
- July 22, 2010 at 3:28 AM
- Anonymous said...
i wish but i dont see it happening, ESPN has let me down the last few years
- July 22, 2010 at 4:43 AM
- Jonathan said...
JD I have to say you sure are on hell of a writer! Theres nothing else to say this is a make or break year for ESPN and here we go! I couldnt be more pumped up after the off week
Everyone I hope you have as much fun as I know im going to have this weekend!!! INDY BABY ;)
ps I hope JPM does what he should have last year WIN @ The Brickyard
- July 22, 2010 at 6:48 AM
- Anonymous said...
ESPN has 1 race to prove its not same old same. Each week is a new test. And last year I quit watching races week 1. I can get race info elsewhere, & like most fans - will.
Thanks for all your hard work JD its appreciated!
- July 22, 2010 at 8:55 AM
- Bryan said...
"Fans of Chase drivers were hit over the head constantly with the meaningless "points right now" stat as if the race were suddenly going to be halted by locusts. "
As usual, you nailed it on the head JD. I'm like you, for the first time I'm actually excited to see what ESPN has changed. FOX was disappointing, TNT was TNT, but they had RaceBuddy which is hands down the best way to watch the race. Now it's ESPN's turn, the network that routinely belittles NASCAR (and any form of racing) on SportsCenter, making quips the entire 30 second "highlight", which is more often than not just showing clips of the final 10 laps and someone's tire blow halfway through the race. Even though their biggest show still doesn't respect our sport, at least the NASCAR on ESPN crew has tried hard to change. So far, they have succeeded, and are making me eat my words the last few years. I'm just glad they listened, and we have places like your site to thank. They have made Nationwide races watchable, let's see what they can do with the Sprint Cup.
- July 22, 2010 at 9:06 AM
- GinaV24 said...
JD, a picture of my favorite car! Yay. OK, I can agree that ESPN has all the pieces in place to cover the races right, but based on last year's "hyper-coverage" and just plain bullheadedness, that window to impress me is small.
I won't be home to watch the 5 p.m. opening show since it isn't possible to get home in time.
Yes please, no more "if the race ended now".
BTW, in case I haven't said it lately - great articles, great topics for discussion and thank you, thank you for your efforts on behalf of the race fans to help us get the attention of the powers that be.
- July 22, 2010 at 9:29 AM
- Ken said...
I think we are missing the most important aspect of the coverage that needs changing. I will base my judgement on the quality of the camera work and which shots are shown on TV. If we see a lot of follow the leader cameras as well as in-car and bumper cams, the coverage will be a failure regardless of who is in the booth or what they are saying.
- July 22, 2010 at 9:45 AM
- Donna in FL said...
More likely brimstone than locusts LOL... I agree that where TV is concerned: This. Is. It. I've come to believe that NASCAR fans, where the media is concerned, were among the most ignored. The difference today is that fans no longer have to take it. There are more outlets than ever to get news & info, we have recording devices to bypass advertisers. I think in the past few years the fans have made it pretty clear how they expect to see their sport presented & respected on the small screen AND on their computers. It would be grand to see it realized. For NASCAR's sake, it better be soon.
- July 22, 2010 at 10:23 AM
- Longhorn Race Fan said...
I just hope we get to see the Bristol race in Houston. The local ABC station, KTRK, will be airing a Houston Texans preseason game in its time slot. They have digital subchannels, hopefully they will use them.
- July 22, 2010 at 10:35 AM
- Tim in Ohio said...
Marty Reid better step his game because he looked like a complete amateur during the 4 IRL races. The comments were ferocious on trackforum and the numerous blogs that cover IndyRacing (no more IRL after Jan 1st). The whole production came off as unprepared and amateurish. The sad thing is the only diffence between VS and Espn is the producer and on-air talent, the rest is the same crew for all races.
- July 22, 2010 at 10:37 AM
- Vicky D said...
Longhorn, I'm here in Houston and I had no idea about the Texans pre-season game being on the same time as the Bristol race. I'll have to look into that, but my guess that there are more football fans here than Nascar fans. This will be interesting.
- July 22, 2010 at 11:15 AM
- Big Jon Medek said...
Friendly warning to race fans who stop (or have stopped) watching bad race telecasts: be prepared for the consequences! The bulk of all money comes to the sport because of television and the ratings which set ad prices. If the core fans who are mad at bad TV coverage stop watching, then you eliminate any reason for the races to be broadcast live on TV. The same thing happened to the National Hockey League and it still hasn't recovered. Better to keep working to fix the problems than lose TV coverage. The lack of fans in the stands, especially in the core region, is a big problem. However the TV networks only broadcast races to make money, not to help our sport. If we want races to be shown on TV we must support the crummy networks and work to help them fix the problems. Not fun but watch what happens when the TV contract is up if we don't!
- July 22, 2010 at 11:59 AM
- allisong said...
Can I just say that I like the "points as they run" drop-down? If my guy is in the chase, I appreciate that information. Yes, I know the race won't end now, but it tells me, for example, how many spots on the track he needs to gain to take over a position in points, or what he stands to lose if he drops back.
If he's not in the chase or no longer in contention, my eyes don't wander over there. No harm, no foul.
- July 22, 2010 at 3:06 PM
- Ziggy said...
Wow, while reading the article on NASCAR.COM about what RJ Reynolds meant to NASCAR all I kept thinking were those good old days of racing on ESPN.
Please Mr Disney Sports Channel give you us some of that classic production from the '80's & '90's ?
Is it that difficult ??
- July 22, 2010 at 3:52 PM
- GinaV24 said...
allisong, but don't you think its stupid when they do it 4 laps into a 500 lap race?
I guess for me its just one of those meaningless stats they want to hit us with since it doesn't matter UNTIL the race is over. If a driver wrecks on the last lap and can't get across the start/finish line and 30 cars pass him, well, it changes everything.
- July 22, 2010 at 5:04 PM
- GinaV24 said...
Big Jon -- you make a good point, but the fans have been pretty patient and the broadcasting has gotten worse, not better. I'm no longer willing to waste my time if the broadcast is poor.
Best example from JD's column - he ended the blog early on the 600because the coverage from Fox was so unbearable.
Life's too short.
- July 22, 2010 at 5:07 PM
- Vicky D said...
Gina I agree with you re points as of now. Even Kenny Schrader complains about that because he says - but the race isn't over yet. Also, the interview with Jerry Punch & Keselowski's dad was on tv where he said he's not going to kill my boy. JP's on the lefthand side and the look on his face tells a lot.
- July 22, 2010 at 7:06 PM
- red said...
allisong, nascar.com does a live points standing thru out each race so you can check lap by lap if you're interested.
espn could actually refrain from the constant points/chase "as they stand right now" theme at least until the last 10-15 laps of any race. up to that point, too many changes to make it meaningful. and if fans want in-depth info such as who has to pass who (whom?) to gain/lose points, the nascar.com page is a better option.
as for how espn will do: i'm reserving any judgement in either direction. each network gets 2 races to impress me or i turn into a "hit or miss" viewer.
- July 22, 2010 at 8:30 PM
- mkrcr said...
ESPN has the easiest contract of all the Media outlets. After all, they only have to show 12 cars in the Chase. The rest don't matter, except to the sponsors.
- July 22, 2010 at 9:40 PM
- Anonymous said...
Great article JD. I'm kind of looking forward to ESPN Coverage of the Cup series since their Nationwide coverage have improved this year. Like you said I hope they focus on the racing and show it whether is for 25th position and not get caught up in focusing on five cars like it have been in previous years. With the post race thing on Sportscenter, is it going to be an extended one or five minutes and Sportscenter return to their beloved NFL and Baseball?
- July 22, 2010 at 9:58 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
ESPN's promise is to use SportsCenter to deliver a complete post-race show each and every time.
Let's see if they can deliver.
- July 22, 2010 at 10:30 PM
- Anonymous said...
Am looking forward to the telecasts.Too bad R.Craven isn't included.
- July 22, 2010 at 10:39 PM
- Matito said...
The only time that the "Points as of now" graphic should be used is during the second half of the final races before the Chase and at the end of the season. I can understand wanting to know how many positions my driver needs to gain to get into the Chase or stay in the points lead.
- July 22, 2010 at 11:11 PM
- Vicky D said...
Just watched dvr'd Nascar Now and Rusty is already screaming at us and it's only Thursday. Maybe we'll be lucky and he'll lose his voice by this weekend. Thought the interviews were good but maybe they didn't need the 4 guys there I think 3 would have been better. And Ganassi's interview was very good. Looking forward to see what the tires will do this weekend too, but we certainly don't need to see Points As Of Now with 5 laps into the race.
- July 23, 2010 at 7:36 AM
- allisong said...
Red, yes the info is available online, but isn't the goal to NOT have to multi-task while watching a race? I don't find the drop-down box to be so obtrusive as to prevent me from seeing the racing. It's easily ignorable if you're not interested.
- July 23, 2010 at 10:06 AM
- Anonymous said...
We can only hope that ESPN can offer us better than we have seen thus far in 2010.
Rusty Wallace is the equivilent of Darrell Waltrip with his babbling and self promotion of himself and his race teams. Hope they review his role and reduce it or cut him out.
- July 23, 2010 at 12:32 PM
- Anonymous said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- July 23, 2010 at 3:03 PM
- red said...
allisong, oops! you'e right: i've been at this "multitasking race watching thing" for so long i forgot that the idea is to be able to just watch the race.
interesting how things have changed, eh?
- July 23, 2010 at 6:53 PM
- earl the pearl said...
Soo everyone is FAWNING over the
" Suspend " coverage ooops I mean
the ESPN coverage from Indy. Are we
all on the same planet ( daily) ?
First of all we DONT NEED MORE
play by play !!! We dont need more
analysis - especially from Jabber
Jarrett. We need LESS.
And then comes Marty Reed.He always
seems to be in the audition mode
in Broadcaster School..
As for Handy Andy. Actually he is
semi ok .. Does not go on and on
to fill up time.
What we need is SOUNDS OF THE
ENGINES -- Not sounds of the
Oh golly how could I forget ..The
boys in the booth are just going
crazy - telling us that Brad and
Carl will meet again - in the
Nationwide race tonight. Gosh I
know I cant wait - I love a good
fight staged for folks in tv land
- July 24, 2010 at 11:03 AM
- Anonymous said...
How nice.. oh perfect comment by
brother Burton. While talking with
Dave ( giddy to the max )
Jeff says we were pissed off !!
lovely isnt it. Perfect
- July 24, 2010 at 11:10 AM


text:
River Rats to perform 11th annual Love Notes
The Turner Hall River Rats for the Arts will host its 11th Annual Love Notes Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m. Love Notes will be performed at Turner Hall located at 581 Vine Street.
"Love's Ups and Downs" will be a tribute to the ups and downs of love. Love Notes features a local cast of original characters singing favorite old and new love songs. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. Dessert included in the price of admission. Tickets are available at Family Shoe Store and at the door.