Bruni on Obama's Date Night

Frank Bruni gives us his take on the Obamas' dining choice.

Funny People Viral Marketing

The Apatow machine begins its marketing for the upcoming Funny People with a website and these clips of the Mark Taylor Jackson (i.e. Jason Schwartzman's character in Funny People) starring vehicle Yo, Teach! The show, complete with its laugh track, pays homage to NBC's memorable Saturday morning high school sitcoms (Saved by the Bell, Hangtime, California Dreams).

The first clip is a behind the scenes look at the series, complete with Schwartzman waxing rhapsodically about the series.

The second clip, a poignant moment in class -

Well done, Mr. Apatow.

(Hat Tip: Paste Magazine)

Richard Avedon and Wes Anderson

Interesting writeup on Richard Avedon's influence on Wes.

A Summer Anthem

Did Michael Steele fund this?

(Hat tip: talking points memo)

There Will Be Blood

Sonia Sotomayor likes herself some blood.

The Ying and Yang

Two game winning shot celebrations:  Lebron's 3-pointer against the Magic last night, Kobe's jumper against the Suns in the 2006 Playoffs.  Notice a difference?  One lets out his exuberance, the other lets out a scowl honed on the mean streets of ex-pat Italy and suburban Philadelphia.  Perhaps even more telling is each player's first instinct.  Upon realizing his shot had gone in, Lebron's first instinct is to turn towards his teammates and dash over to them.  He literally cannot wait to celebrate with his team.  Kobe, on the other hand, has turned to look at the other side of the floor (it's not even the Jack Nicholson side; perhaps he had beef with Doug Collins again that night).  He is basking in the tao of Kobe.  Had the Lakers bench not half heartedly mobbed Kobe, the Black Mamba might still be standing there.  Perhaps Kobe was trying to figure out what Jordan would do in the situation.  Well, Kobe I think late vintage Michael would do this:  
Very close, Kobe.  Don't get me started on the ridiculous heart pounding that ensued.  Two sets of players, two sets of priorities.  I don't care how Kobe seems in Spike's movie (others have well documented the "performance"), I haven't seen that much delusion since General Idi Amin Dada.  

See for yourself...

On the Roto

Turns out Kerouac was a fantasy baseball junkie.

Sadly, this is not a joke

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Moral Kombat
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'The Andy' - Selima

Available now at blackbird are these glasses from Selima. Andy Warhol would be proud.

Ellie Goulding - "The Wolves"

For fans of Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, here is an excellent cover from Ellie Goulding I stumbled across over at Neon Gold. For more on Ellie Gould take a look at Neon Gold which has been hyping Ellie for awhile now.

MP3: "The Wolves" - Ellie Goulding

Burrito War

Leave it to Jonathan Gold to reignite the SF v. LA burrito war.

Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"

Bloc Party, 'This Modern Love' - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

courtesy of blogotheque

No Degree For You

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Arizona State Snubs Obama
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El Bulli ... the pizzeria?

Having mastered the hamburger and other American fast food fare at Fast Good, the founder of molecular gastronomy now seeks to conquer the pizza.  

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Looks like there won't be any good vibrations between the Giants' beach boy and the Dodger third basemen.

Update: 

Blake was only having fun, fun, fun.

The Lions run by monkeys

The Lions' first round picks during Matt Millen's tenure:

2001 - Jeff Backus (18th)

2002 - Joey Harrington (3rd)

2003 - Charles Rogers (2nd)

2004 - Roy Williams (7th) 

2005 - Mike Williams (10th)

2006 - Ernie Sims (9th)

2007 - Calvin Johnson (2nd)

2008 - Gosder Cherilus (17th)

2001

Players available: Casey Hampton (19th), Adam Archuleta (20th), Nate Clements (21st), Will Allen (22nd), Deuce McAllister (23rd), Reggie Wayne (30th), Todd Heap (31st), Drew Brees (32nd), Steve Smith (74th)

2002

Players available: Roy Williams SS (8th), John Henderson (9th), Dwight Freeney (11th), Jeremy Shockey (14th), Albert Haynesworth (15th), Ed Reed (24th)

2003

Players available: Andre Johnson (3rd), Terence Newman (5th), Jordan Gross (8th), Kevin Williams (9th), Terrell Suggs (10th), Marcus Trufant (11th), Troy Polamalu (16th), Willis McGahee (23rd), Larry Johnson (27th), Nnandi Asomugha (31st)

2004

Players available: DeAngelo Hall (8th), Jonathan Vilma (12th), Vince Wilfolk (21st), Steven Jackson (24th)

2005

Players available: DeMarcus Ware (11th), Shawne Merriman (12th), Jammal Brown (13th), Roddy White (27th)

2006

Players available: Jay Cutler (11th), Antonio Cromartie (19th), Joseph Addai (30th), DeMeco Ryans (33rd)

2007

Players available: Adrian Peterson (7th), Patrick Willis (11th), Marshawn Lynch (12th), Darrelle Revis (14th), Michael Griffin (19th), Jon Beason (25th)

2008

Players available: Joe Flacco (18th), Chris Johnson (24th), Dustin Keller (30th)

Run by a few monkeys, the Lions could be fielding the following team:

QB - Drew Brees (2001 draft)

DT - Albert Haynesworth (2002 draft)

WR - Andre Johnson (2003 draft)

CB - DeAngelo Hall (2004 draft)

OLB - Demarcus Ware (2005 draft)

CB - Antonio Cromartie (2006 draft)

RB - Adrian Peterson (2007 draft)

TE - Dustin Keller (2008 draft)

Ocean's 14?

What about 4 million?  Will you do Ocean's 14 then? image courtesy of the President's flickr

Justin Upton - sound the Griffey alarm?

After extending his hit streak to 18 on Monday, the 21-year old Upton's season numbers rest at .307, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 3 SB. This puts him on pace for 37 HR, 95 RBI, 16 SB in his second full season (disregard the 43 games he played in 2007 as a late season call up).

Griffey's stats during his second full season (also 21 at the time) - .300, 22 HR, 80 RBI, 16 SB.

Of course, I'm assuming defensive skills have been disregarded in the comparison.