The BoormanBlog

Updated: I heard back from CT Weblogs and I’m on the blogroll!! Woo hoo!! Here comes the readers!!

Condolences to the Boston Celtics after their heartbreaking loss tonight to the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston is still up in the series 3-2. Here’s hoping they can win game 6. Go Bahstahn!!!

Today the world lost a giant among journalists. REAL journalists, not amateur bloggers
‘Meet the Press’ host Tim Russert died today at 58 of a heart attack. He and his family had just returned from Italy celebrating his son’s graduation from Boston College.

Sundays are much busier for me these days, but back when I had few cares, I would watch ‘Meet the Press’ after ‘Fox News Sunday’. Russert was always dogged in his interviews, always pressing for an answer when politicians gave him double talk. Tim didn’t always get his answer, but at least he always tried.

Of course, it is always tragic when someone is taken from us so young. Russert’s death is even more poingent happening so close to Father’s Day. Russert was not shy about his father’s positive influence on him, and was a fiercely devoted family himself.

Tim will be sorely missed. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Russert family in this sad time.

I’m seeing the previews for Mike Meyer’s new movie ‘The Love Guru’, which opens this month. This is looking like a complete train wreck. Remember how terrible Austin Powers 3 was? Me neither, because I didn’t see it. It looked that bad.

‘Love Guru’ is going to make ‘Goldmember’ look like ‘Citizen Kane’

Now for a GOOD summer movie, go see Iron Man! Watch for the special cameo appearance by my main man Jim Cramer!

It was over 90 degrees here in Connecticut yesterday and today, with a heat index of over 100 degrees. Tomorrow isn’t looking any different. The heat has brought some heavy thunderstorms. Sadly, one person was killed by lightning today at a Connecticut state park.

Try to stay cool people!

I’ll admit, I’ve never been a basketball fan, but it’s good to see the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals again. What’s it been, like 21 years? To make it that much better, they’re playing against their longtime rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers!

This should be an exciting series. Go Bahstahn!

For my readers outside of the Nutmeg state (which is, ironically, all of them ), this story will not be of much interest (are any of them? ‘) ). The house/museum of overrated dead author Mark Twain is in dire financial straits. According to whatever local news I watched tonight, attendance for the guided tour has never been better (more on that later), but costs are rising much faster.

Five years ago, the Mark Twain house added an addition costing $5 million, which was supposed to house all kinds of interactive Twain related exhibits and special events. Utilities costs have tripled, however, since the addition opened. The electric bill alone is over $3 million. Staff cuts have left just 17 full time employees out of 48. Connecticut governor M. Jodi Rell found $50,000 to help keep the organization going.

Several things on this one:
1) Is the Mark Twain house some kind of state run charity? Why is it getting government money (i.e. MY TAX DOLLARS) to keep it afloat when the market is speaking loud and clear that it is neither needed or wanted?

2) Attendance has never been better? News flash. This is due to natural population increases. Nothing more. The Mark Twain house’s bread and butter is fifth grade field trips. Population increases. There are more fifth graders now than ever before, so there’s more fifth grade field trips. That pretty much explains the shattering of your box office records.

3) Let’s be honest. Unless I’m mistaken, this is not the house that Twain was born in, or died in. This is just a house that he lived in while he wrote some of his famous books. The only reason why this “attraction” gets any attention at all is because it’s in Hartford, the lamest city on earth. How lame? We STILL miss our Whalers! I’ve been to the Mark Twain house. On a fifth grade field trip. It’s not exciting. It’s a house. Of a dead guy. Who wrote books.

Bob Dylan once said that if you want to get to know him, listen to his songs. Want to get to know Mark Twain? Pick up a used dog-eared paperback copy of ‘Tom Sawyer’ or ‘Huckleberry Finn’ for $3. Knock yourself out.

I really should set up a “dead celebrities” category. Here’s to Bo, one of the founding fathers of Rock and Roll. Sad to see that he was so bitter about not getting the money he thought he deserved. I guess it’s like The Beatles. They were so good, nobody thinks twice about ripping them off. Noone shoplifts from the dollar store.

Bo Diddley died of heart failure today at age 79. He will be sorely missed.

Woke up to some great news this morning! On June 10, Rhino is re-releasing Warren Zevon’s ‘Mr. Bad Example’. Woo-hoo! This album has been out of print for years! Actually, for me it’s been out of print forever since I’ve only been a fan these last 4 years.

I’ve only heard the title track off Zevon’s Greatest Hits album, but if that is any indication, then this is a classic that will stand up with other Zevon classics like ‘Exciteable Boy’, ‘Sentimental Hygiene’ and ‘The Wind’.

At press time, this looks like a simple re-release. Nothing about extra tracks, remixing/remastering or deluxe packaging. However, some of the folks who would be “in the know” about these things over on WarrenZevon.com aren’t exactly confirming that there are no extras. Still, Rhino does a great job with reissues (check out the Monkees ‘Music Box’ box set for proof), and there may very well be some extra tracks on there.

In any case, even though my funds are limited, I’m warming up the Visa as we speak!

I know I’ve been lax in posting lately (stay tuned for a bunch of back-filled posts!), but I did not want to let this holiday weekend go by without giving a big thank you to all the men and women, past and present who are part of our armed forces. So many have paid the ultimate price so that we can enjoy the freedom we have. We owe them a debt that we can never repay.

Here’s to those who served.

P.S. Extra special shout out to Angry Jack. Stay angry dude!!