Plum Crazy

The Pop Culture Grid 8/13/07

Gossip story that fascinates me the most: former NBA referee Tim Donaghy
Number of TVs I own: 1
I get nervous when I think about: driving
Favorite thing to chew: gum
In sushi places I always order: the sushi deluxe
Finish this song lyric: 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky

Only one of our sports stars, Paul Byrd of the Indians, could finish the Hendrix lyric.
Sports stars own a lot of TVs, with the exception of Stacey Dales of the WBNA's Sky. She owns 1.
Dales orders a well-rounded sushi meal consisting of tuna shashimi, the rainbow roll, ginger salad, and red wine. I'll have to try it.
Placido Palanco of the Tigers owns 32 TV sets or so he claims. He can't enough of the O.J. Simpson story, is afraid of snakes, chews gum, and orders the tuna roll.
Jason Kendall of the Cubs is a tobacco man and likes beer.

The Pop Culture Grid 8/6/07

Favorite quote: ". . . the readiness is all" (Hamlet)
My summer reading list consists of: Harry Potter
Best TV I watched last week: None
A way to a woman's heart is: Kindness and compassion
When I'm bored, I really like to: Read
Celeb I'm dying to hang out with: Paul O'Neill (the ex-Yankee, not the ex-Secretary of the Treasury)

Some select answers from sports stars:

Penny Taylor of the Phoenix Mercury of the WBNA is reading Harry Potter and says being sincere is the best way to a woman's heart.

Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers wants to hang with Nolan Ryan and doesn't have a favorite quote. Listening is the best way to a woman's heart. My wife agrees.

Jeff Cunningham of the NBA's Toronto Raptors answered some variation of David Beckham to all questions. My guess? He's goofing around.

Name That Tune 31

Can't help but give a hint of my own on this one. The actor who played Jonathan Kent in Superman starred in the movie that launched the song into the stratosphere.

Lyrics please:

Put your glad rags on and join me, hon

That's all you get. Anything more would give it away in a tick of the clock.

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

p.s. Bonus points if you can name the 1955 movie the song was used in. Leave a clue here, too.

And The Answer Is. . . 30

Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg. Judy listens to 106.7, Lite FM, and we've heard the song a few times on the radio. I'm not a particular fan of his, but I do like the bittersweet melancholy of this song.

When I heard these lyrics - She said she saw me in the record stores/And that I must be doing well - something clicked, perhaps not for the first time, that the song is probably autobiographical. It is. In Fogelberg's own words:

In 1975 or 76 I was home in Peoria, Illinois visiting my family for Christmas. I went to a convenience store to pick up some whipping cream to make Irish coffees with, and quite unexpectedly ran into an old high school girlfriend. The rest of the song tells the story.

For more on Fogelberg, for the interested, go here. Just turn the volume down on your computer first.

Pop Culture Grid #4

More of how I fit in.

If I were James Bond I would. . . sorry, but I'm married
Favorite comfort food: mashed potatoes
Time your alarm clock goes off in the morning: it's not set
If Britney Spears called, I would. . . hang up the phone
Last movie you saw in the theaters: The Departed
Person you'd most like to see in the S.I. swimsuit edition: Heidi Klum. (What's that? She's in it often? Your point?)

Pop Culture Grid #3

How do I fit in?

News story I can't get enough of: Iraq
Last time you voted: earlier this month
One thing you refuse to eat: there are a lot of things I refuse to eat because of the Crohn's disease
Most expensive traffic ticket: never received a moving violation
Favorite dance craze: Yankees Stadium grounds crew doing the YMCA
Nothing annoys me more than. . . inconsiderate people

And The Answer Is. . . 29

Piece of pie (pumpkin, that is) this time around. Used the same tune last year and will probably use it again next year. Alice's Restaurant, the old Turkey Day staple.

Name That Tune 30

In the holiday spirit, name this tune:

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Name That Tune 29

A little Thanksgiving flavor for this installment. So many excellent lines to choose from. I opt for:

Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog. And then at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one. . .

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Name That Movie #1

Different game this time around. Name the movie the following quote is from. (Lesley will know this one.)

Now, a staple of the superhero
mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego.

Batman is actually Bruce Wayne,
Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker.

When that character wakes up
in the morning, he's Peter Parker.

He has to put on a costume
to become Spider-Man.

And it is in that characteristic
Superman stands alone.

Superman didn't become Superman.

Superman was born Superman.

When Superman wakes up
in the morning, he's Superman.

His alter ego is Clark Kent.

His outfit with the big red "S" -
that's the blanket he was wrapped in
as a baby when the Kents found him.

Those are his clothes.

What Kent wears - the glasses,
the business suit - that's the costume.

That's the costume Superman wears
to blend in with us.

Clark Kent is how Superman views us.

And what are the characteristics
of Clark Kent?

He's weak...

...he's unsure of himself...

...he's a coward.

Clark Kent is Superman's critique
on the whole human race.

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Pop Culture Grid #2

This week's installment of the Pop Culture Grid:

Favorite blonde: is Heidi Klum blond?
City where you'd most like to retire: Vancouver
Still own a VCR: yes
At Starbucks I always order. . . I never go to Starbucks
At 10 I wanted to be _______ when I grew up: a baseball player
Naomi Campbell is: a model

I Have A Northeastern Accent

No surprise there since I'm from New York.

via Solonor.

Name That Tune 28

Riddle me this:

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And when I looked the moon had turned to gold

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

And The Answer Is. . . 26 & 27

New goal: to post at least once per day. No promises, but I will try.

Let's start here: I forgot to post answers to the last two Name That Tune posts.

#26: Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon. Hat tip to Solonor for an excellent clue and teaching me something I didn't know.

#27: Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah. Elayne's clue was so subtle that I didn't even get it until Lesley clarified.

Name That Tune 27

Haven't done one of these since April Fool's Day. So in the vein of jokes, try this one on for size:

I went hiking with Joe Spivey
He developed poison ivy
You remember Leonard Skinner
He got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Favorite Superhero?

Viewing Superman Returns leaves me pondering who my favorite superhero is. Is it Superman or Spidey? By a slim margin, I'll give the thumbs up to Spidey, since he's more of a real person than Superman - his real persona is Peter Parker, where Superman's is Superman (hat tip to Quentin Tarantino for that one) - and since I'm kind of like Peter Parker. Nerdy, smart, bookish.

Your turn to vote:

Me? I'm the Green Lantern

You are Green Lantern

Green Lantern 80% Spider-Man 70% Superman 60% Hulk 40% Robin 32% Supergirl 30% The Flash 30% Batman 25% Wonder Woman 20% Catwoman 20% Iron Man 20%

Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.

I was hoping for Spidey. Came close but no cigar.

Anyone Know Where I Can Find Her Bustier?

Your results:
You are Wonder Woman

You are a beautiful princess
with great strength of character.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Via someone special.

Snakes On A Plane!

No, really. Well, snake on a plane, at any rate.

Name That Tune 26

For some odd reason, the following lyrics popped into my head the other day:

Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you been messin' around

Name that tune, but remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

And The Answer Is. . . 25

Like a Rolling Stone. Kudos to AC and Just John for their deep knowledge of Bob Dylan's career and their excellent clues. AC's was especially creative.

I've learned a lot about Dylan in recent weeks. I watched the DVD of No Direction Home recently, the Martin Scorsese documentary of Dylan's early career (through 1966), followed by D.A. Pennebaker's documentary of Dylan's 1965 tour of England, Don't Look Back.

Being a relatively baby (I was born in 1966), I only know Dylan as both an acoustic and electric singer. It wasn't until I watched No Direction Home that I learned there was such a backlash against Dylan for switching to electric. The exchange at the concert in Manchester revealed just how fans reviled him for allegedly betraying them by going commercial.

Personally, I don't see the big deal. As wonderful as Dylan's acoustic music is, artists are constantly evolving to stay fresh and current. Look at how U2's or Bruce Springsteen's music has changed over time. Does anyone revile U2 for getting away from their political message or the Boss for getting away from his rocker sound to a more mellow and introspective sound? Maybe some people aren't crazy about it, but I don't think anyone has branded them a Judas as the recently identified Keith Butler branded Dylan, whose electric music is as compelling as his acoustic music. In fact, Like a Rolling Stone was voted the number one rock song of all time by a group of industry insiders. I can't say whether I agree or disagree, but I do know it's my favorite Dylan song, one which drew the applause of the audience despite their overall feelings of betrayal.

Netflix Top 25

It's list time. Below are the top 25 movies on Netflix. Here's what you do with it if you choose to play along: Bold the ones you've seen and liked, strike through the ones you have no desire to see, underline the ones you've seen but don't like, italicize the ones you haven't seen but want to see, and do nothing to the ones you've never heard of. Although how I haven't heard of any of the top 25 movies in pop culture is beyond me. I must be on a different planet.

The Aviator
Million Dollar Baby
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Hotel Rwanda
Mystic River
The Notebook
Ray
Sideways
Finding Neverland
Collateral
Hitch
National Treasure
The Terminal
Man on Fire
Spanglish
Ocean's Twelve
The Bourne Supremacy
The Manchurian Candidate
The Day After Tomorrow
I, Robot
Troy
Cold Mountain
Napoleon Dynamite
The Last Samurai

Name That Tune 25

I'm digging real deep (not song wise, for the song is most well known, but lyric wise) for this entry. The lyrics aren't actual lyrics from the song; instead they are an exchange between artist and audience in a live performance of the song. Curious to see if anyone knows the artist's history well enough to be able to peg the song based on the exchange.

Audience: Judas
Artist: I don't believe you. You're a liar. (Addressing the band) - Play it fucking loud.

Don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Whoops

Apparently, I have screwed up my trivia question on Steven Spielberg's directorial debut. I always thought the first full-length film he directed was the made-for-TV effort Duel starring Dennis Weaver. The clues people have left seem to point to another film: Firelight, a flick about a favorite subject of his: UFOs and aliens. Next time I do my research better.

Update: one of the clues references Firelight, the others reference The Sugarland Express. So this one failed on many fronts.

Movie Trivia

What was the first full-length movie that Steven Spielberg directed?

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Top 10 Toys

Here's VH1's list of the Top 10 Toys of all time:

10. Wiffle Ball & Bat
9. Slinky
8. Yo-Yo
7. Star Wars Figure
6. Monopoly
5. Mr. Potato Head
4. G.I. Joe
3. LEGO
2. Barbie
1. Hula Hoop

You Predict

After perusing the last 90 toys, I have come up with a list of 10 which are missing but which seem like they ought to be on the overall list. So I'm going to let you, my 7 loyal readers, decide which toy you think will be the number 1 toy of all time.

BTW, I've thought about it some more, and I'm changing my own prediction. I'm going with Legos now.

My Prediction

VH1 is counting down the top 100 toys. This is kind of cool, so I might actually watch it. Well, TiVo it, which is kind of like watching it. Eventually.

The linked article gives you the last 90 toys. To find out the top 10, you must watch the special. But, I'm going to go out on a limb here with a prediction as to what will be the number 1 toy of all time.

What walks down stairs
Alone or in pairs
And makes a slinkety sound?
A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!
Everyone knows it's Slinky!

It's Slinky! It's Slinky!
For fun, it's a wonderful toy.
It's Slinky! It's Slinky!
It's fun for a girl and a boy!

Let's see if I'm right.

And The Answer Is. . . 24

Baba O'Riley by The Who. Gahrie posted the incorrect name of the song, which prompted Lesley to post the correct name. This one was a total debacle. From now on, I post the rules in case there are any newbies like Gahrie.

Name That Tune 24

Name this one:

Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven

You know the deal.

Update: Gahrie's clue sounds like a possible attempt to provide the title of the song. Not sure 100% because it's not actually the title of the song, but it's close. So to be clear: don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

And The Answer Is. . . 23

Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel.

The admonition to Mom that she better play this round is because she went to Forest Hills High School with them. Best clue was from Rick, whose "plastics" clue we all remember from The Graduate, the movie for which the song was written.

Top 5 iTunes Meme

Im home on a Wednesday afternoon doing odds and ends. Game plan is to crack open a good book in a few minutes. But while futzing around my computer I looked at my Top 25 Most Played on iTunes, which gave me an idea for a meme. What are the top 5 most played tunes in your iTune library and how many times have you played them? Here's mine:

Thunder Road - 48 times
Born to Run - 48 times
Back to Me by Kathleen Edwards - 44 times
Baba O'Riley - 39 times
Won't Get Fooled Again - 32 times

While I do love all these songs, especially the Springsteen tunes, the main reason I've played these so many times is because they're great to row to. Fast-paced and long. Makes the time go by much quicker.

Name That Tune 23

Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes.

Mom had better post a clue for this one. She knows why.

And The Answer Is. . . 22

Splish Splash. . .

I was taking a bath, long about a Saturday night.

From Bobby Darin. Hat tip to Lesley for her clever clue.

Something very cool about the song: Darin wrote it (co-wrote it actually) on a bet that he couldn't write a song that started with the words splish splash. Hah! He came up with one of the funnest rock and roll songs of all time and one of my favorite tunes. I am a huge Darin fan, though I've yet to see Kevin Spacey's hommage to him, Beyond the Sea. I shall post it on my Netflix queue.

Name That Tune 22

Psst, mack, can you name the following?

Bing bang, I saw the whole gang
Dancing on my living room rug, yeah!
Flip flop, they was doing the bop
All the teens had the dancin bug
There was Lollipop with-a Peggy Sue
Good Golly, Miss Molly was-a even there, too!

You know the rules.

And The Answer Is. . . 21

Ages since I posted the last installment of Name That Tune, and I remembered this morning that I never put up the answer. Better late than never. It's Suzie Q by CCR. Only one person got this one and that wasn't Lesley, who I thought would get it with ease. It's on her iPod.

Name That Tune 21

I was looking out my back door when the following came to me for the latest installment of Name That Tune:

Oh say that you'll be mine
Oh say that you'll be mine
Oh say that you'll be mine Baby all the time

Go ahead and name it. But remember not to blurt.

And The Answer Is. . . 19 & 20

No one had any problems recognizing the song featured in Name That Tune 19. The Thanksgiving Day must-play Alice's Resutarant Anti-Massacre Movement. It's pretty much a tradition in our family to play it every Thanksgiving. We've skipped some Thanskgivings, mind you, but play it more often than not. This year we listened to the revisted version, done 30 years after the original incident. He made some changes, including a riff on the 18-minute gap on the Watergate tapes (turns out Nixon had a copy of Alice's Restaurant in his record library and Arlo Guthrie got to wondering how many things in the world are exactly 18 minutes and 20 secods long), that are a riot.

Name That Tune 20 was tougher. Following up on Name That Tune 18, it was another Band song: Life is a Carnival. Since people got Up on Cripple Creek with no problems, I wanted to see how deep the knowledge of Band music went. Not as deep as I had thought.

Name That Tune 20

While you're chewing on Name That Tune 19, let's try this brain teaser that's keeping in spirit with Name That Tune 18:

Hey, buddy, would you like to buy a watch real cheap
Here on the street
I got six on each arm and two more round my feet

And whatever you do don't blurt.

Name That Tune 19

A special Thanksgiving Day version of Name That Tune:

[B]ut when we got to the police officer's station there was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon, and we was both immediately arrested. Handcuffed. And I said "Obie, I don't think I can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on." He said, "Shut up, kid. Get in the back of the patrol car."

Remember. . . ah you know the rules.

And The Answer Is. . . 18

Up On Cripple Creek by The Band. The choice was inspired by my watching The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese's film of the group's final concert on Thanksgiving 1976. I confess that I decided to have a little fun with this one. The clue left by Robbie R (that's defacto band leader Robbie Robertson for people not familiar with The Band's line-up) was actually left by me and references another Band song, The Shape I'm In.

When I put up the posting, I didn't know that much about the history of The Band, but after a little research, I learned that they were much more than Bob Dylan's back-up group before making a name for themselves. They started life as The Hawks, the back-up group for singer Ronnie Hawkins. They outgrew their partnership with Hawkins and eventually struck out on their own before teaming up with Dylan for his 1965-1966 concert that marked his shift from acoustic to electric music. That shift was not embraced by fans, who booed Dylan for "selling out" and felt The Hawks were a "corny" back-up group.

Ultimately, The Band decided to make its own music, beginning with 1968's Music From The Big Pink, a reference to the house they rented in Saugerties, New York. The album was a critical if not commercial success and marked their emergence as one of the premier groups of the time. It included my personal favorite The Weight. The Band was of such significance that they were able to command a star-studded line-up to accompany them in The Last Waltz. Aside from a reunion with Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins, and many more were featured in the sensational concert.

After the break-up, The Band reformed in the 1980s, sans Robbie Robertson, and continued to perform together up until the death of bass guitarist Rick Danko in 1999. They released three well-received albums in the 1990s, and just this year, Robbie Robertson released a 5-disc compendium of their work dating back to their days as The Hawks. Something that I plan on picking up as a Chanukah gift from some member of the family. (It's on my Amazon wish list as my number one choice.) I have always loved the music of The Band and can't wait to hear music from their other incarnations.

Name That Tune 18

Who can name the following?

When I get off of this mountain
You know where I want to go
Straight down the Mississippi river
To the Gulf of Mexico

As always, don't blurt. . . you know the rest

And the Answer Is. . . 17

The latest Name That Tune puzzler wasn't such a puzzle after all. Seems that there are several fans of modern punk rock reading this Blog. All of them identified the tune as Green Day's Basket Case. At least I think all did because I don't have enough Green Day knowledge to understand Dietz's clue. He will need to 'splain to me the reference. I liked AC's clue. Clever. Though I confess that I thought the album title Dookie referred to a joint. Obviously, I was thinking of a doobie.

Name That Tune 17

It's been a long time since we've played Name That Tune. For version number 17, try this on for size:

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Or I'm just stoned?

Remember, don't blurt, be subtle, leave a clue.

Movie, TV, & Book Meme

Hey, I’ve come up with my first idea for a meme, and it’s a good one. List favorite movie series, books/authors, and TV series where you’ve seen or read every one and where you’ve missed some along the way. To qualify, there must be a minimum of three movies, books published, or seasons aired.

Favorite Movie Series Where I’ve Seen Every Movie
Harry Potter
Star Wars
Die Hard
Lord of the Rings
Scream
Lethal Weapon
Mad Max

Favorite Movie Series Where I’ve Missed Some Flicks
Superman
Batman
Indiana Jones
James Bond
The Terminator (missed T3)

Favorite Books/Authors Where I’ve Read Every One
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings (only counts if you’ve read The Hobbit)
Sue Grafton
Tony Hillerman
Robert Crais
Michael Connelly

Favorite Books/Authors Where I’m Not Caught Up
Reginald Hill
Bruce Alexander
Patricia Cornwall
Walter Mosley

Favorite TV Series Where I’ve Seen Every Episode
The Wire
Six Feet Under
24
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Homicide

Favorite TV Series Where I’ve Missed A Few or A Lot
Seinfeld
The Rockford Files
Cheers (faithful during the first five seasons, not after)
Law & Order (watched until Michael Moriarty bailed)
The Twilight Zone
Angel

Damn Her

Lesley beat me to the punch with the latest meme. Mine was in process when I had to leave for softball this morning, giving Lesley her window of opportunity. Here for your consideration are the top 100 songs from 1984, the year I graduated high school, and my take on them.

1. When Doves Cry, Prince
2. What's Love Got To Do With It, Tina Turner
3. Say Say Say, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
4. Footloose, Kenny Loggins
5. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), Phil Collins
6. Jump, Van Halen
7. Hello, Lionel Richie
8. Owner Of A Lonely Heart, Yes
9. Ghostbusters, Ray Parker Jr.
10. Karma Chameleon, Culture Club
11. Missing You, John Waite
12. All Night Long (All Night), Lionel Richie
13. Let's Hear It For The Boy, Deniece Williams
14. Dancing In The Dark, Bruce Springsteen
15. Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper
16. <The Reflex, Duran Duran
17. Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper
18. Jump (For My Love), Pointer Sisters
19. Talking In Your Sleep, Romantics
20. Self Control, Laura Branigan
21. Let's Go Crazy, Prince and The Revolution
22. Say It Isn't So, Daryl Hall and John Oates
23. Hold Me Now, Thompson Twins
24. Joanna, Kool and The Gang
25. I Just Called To Say I Love You, Stevie Wonder
26. Somebody's Watching Me, Rockwell
27. Break My Stride, Matthew Wilder
28. 99 Luftballons, Nena
29. I Can Dream About You, Dan Hartman
30. The Glamorous Life, Sheila E.
31. Oh Sherrie, Steve Perry
32. Stuck On You, Lionel Richie
33. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Elton John
34. She Bop, Cyndi Lauper
35. Borderline, Madonna
36. Sunglasses At Night, Corey Hart
37. Eyes Without A Face, Billy Idol
38. Here Comes The Rain Again, Eurythmics
39. Uptown Girl, Billy Joel
40. Sister Christian, Night Ranger
41. Drive, Cars
42. Twist Of Fate, Olivia Newton-John
43. Union Of The Snake, Duran Duran
44. The Heart Of Rock 'N' Roll, Huey Lewis and The News
45. Hard Habit To Break, Chicago
46. The Warrior, Scandal
47. If Ever You're In My Arms Again, Peabo Bryson
48. Automatic, Pointer Sisters
49. Let The Music Play, Shannon
50. To All The Girls I've Loved Before, Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
51. Caribbean Queen, Billy Ocean
52. That's All, Genesis
53. Running With The Night, Lionel Richie
54. Sad Songs (Say So Much), Elton John
55. I Want A New Drug, Huey Lewis and The News
56. Islands In The Stream, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
57. Love Is A Battlefield, Pat Benatar
58. Infatuation, Rod Stewart
59. Almost Paradise, Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
60. Legs, ZZ Top
61. State Of Shock, Jacksons
62. Love Somebody, Rick Springfield
63. Miss Me Blind, Culture Club
64. If This Is It, Huey Lewis and The News
65. You Might Think, Cars
66. Lucky Star, Madonna
67. Cover Me, Bruce Springsteen
68. Cum On Feel The Noize, Quiet Riot
69. Breakdance, Irene Cara
70. Adult Education, Daryl Hall and John Oates
71. They Don't Know, Tracy Ullman
72. An Innocent Man, Billy Joel
73. Cruel Summer, Bananarama
74. Dance Hall Days, Wang Chung
75. Give It Up, K.C.
76. I'm So Excited, Pointer Sisters
77. I Still Can't Get Over Loving You, Ray Parker Jr.
78. Thriller, Michael Jackson
79. Holiday, Madonna
80. Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us, Ollie And Jerry
81. Nobody Told Me, John Lennon
82. Church Of The Poison Mind, Culture Club
83. Think Of Laura, Christopher Cross
84. Time Will Reveal, Debarge
85. Wrapped Around Your Finger, Police
86. Pink Houses, John Cougar Mellencamp
87. Round And Round, Ratt
88. Head Over Heels, Go-Go's
89. The Longest Time, Billy Joel
90. Tonight, Kool and The Gang
91. Got A Hold On Me, Christine McVie
92. Dancing In The Sheets, Shalamar
93. Undercover Of The Night, Rolling Stones
94. On The Dark Side, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band
95. New Moon On Monday, Duran Duran
96. Major Tom (Coming Home), Peter Schilling
97. Magic, Cars
98. When You Close Your Eyes, Night Ranger
99. Rock Me Tonite, Billy Squier
100. Yah Mo B There, James Ingram and Michael McDonald

Wow, I didn't like an awful lot of them.

Six Feet Over

In about ten minutes from now, I will sit down and watch the final episode of Six Feet Under. I am not sure how I will feel when the episode is over. Usually, when the season ends for a show I regularly watch or the show ends all together, I feel an emptiness, like a friend has left. Chances are that I will feel the same way about Six Feet Under.

I have watched the show since it's inception and have never missed a single episode. While never my favorite show - that honor belongs to the dearly departed Dead Like Me and Street Time - it has been among my favorites for reasons that I am too tired to enumerate right now.

Yet, I haven't enjoyed this season. It has been too full of conflict, too melodramatic, too chaotic, and too depressing. The characters have became caricatures of themselves. Never a fan of Ruth or David, I have found them to be especially strident and loud this year. The writers have magnified their faults to an extreme, making them especially annoying and unlikable. Don't get me wrong, Francis Conroy and Michael Hall are outstanding in their roles, but the characters irk me more than ever.

I have watched more out of a grim curiosity to see the show through to the end than because I enjoy what I am watching. It is possible that I will feel relief more than anything else when the show is ended. I will know soon enough, for now the show is on in two minutes.

And The Answer Is. . . 16

I believe three weeks is sufficient time to give everyone a chance to figure out which song was featured in version sixteen of Name That Tune. The song, of course, is Monday, Monday by The Mamas and The Papas.