I think about blogging all the time. I think about how much I love doing it, how much I hate it and how much time it requires. The time factor is what always stops me dead in my tracks. It’s not really about how long it takes to write. That part is easy. It’s about how much consideration I pour into writing. It may not get written about but whenever I sit down to think about all the wacko things I think about, I end up spending 2, sometimes 3, hours on a single Aye Wonder post. Wouldn’t you agree that it’s difficult to carve out an extra 2-3 hours out of your day? All that aside, if it appears here, sometimes it becomes a weight that has been lifted, if you will. I think about it less. I feel like – if you are thinking about it now too that somehow it lightens the load for me. I know it’s not true. I was telling a friend of mine that sometimes I think of the strangest things. For example, on a recent trip to St Barth (alternatively spelled St Barths, St Bart or St Barts), I began thinking about why some of the towns named after a saint have a “s” at the end; St Andrews immediately comes to mind. Was the town named after 2 or 3 or more St Andrews? I know that’s not true, so why the multiple insinuating “s?” Was it possessive and over time the apostrophe was dropped? Try googling that one puzzle-master. I don’t know what to say. My mind is constantly in motion and I suppose…it beats the alternative. Over the past several months while I wasn’t writing, I have been thinking and thinking and thinking. Sometimes I ponder about the most mundane of issues and other times, most other times, about the issues that plague us as a nation and as a world. Lucky you. I am sharing today.
☞Since President Obama was elected, I thought his demeanor and thoughtfulness would win over some of his detractors. So far? I couldn’t be more wrong. Yesterday, the Pew Research Center produced a study that shows that the partisan gap in approval ratings is the highest in 4 decades. In other words, 88% of Democrats think that the President is doing a bang up job while only 27% of Republicans think the same. How is it possible that we can all look at the same body of work and come up with such disparate opinions? I know the argument; Democrats think that government is the solution and Republicans think that government is the problem. Is it possible that we are all mired in thinking that is conventional and not reflective of the times? Just wondering.
☞Bernie Madoff is really the scum of the earth.
☞In 1976, George Harrison lost a lawsuit that claimed Harrison’s My Sweet Lord was plagiarized from the Chiffon’s He’s so Fine. Since then, there have been many claims of copying songs but the most recent instance will definitely draw a lot of publicity. Coldplay was in court yesterday defending themselves against claims that their Viva la Vida was directly copied from Joe Satriani’s If I Could Fly. Have a listen for yourself and remember….there are only 8 notes.
☞Many of you have asked about how my recent foray into band management is going. Hmm…great, terrible, rewarding, frustrating, exciting, depressing…well you get the idea. It’s like parenthood. ENDWAY is five incredibly talented, mid-twenty guys who want success and they want it now. We have had some exciting moments together. The band played SXSWin Austin, TX., the largest independent music festival in the world. Tomorrow, Morgan Dorr, ENDWAY’s lead singer, belts out the National Anthem at Fenway Park where the Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays in the night game home opener. But in fairness, we also have had our struggles. In all, I love doing it. The guys are genuine, big-hearted and open to learning the process. We have a plan that requires execution and will surely give us a leg up in the industry. Stay tuned for the unearthing of the plan. Below is the press release for tomorrow and underneath that is a clip of Morgan singing the Anthem.
***MEDIA ALERT***
MORGAN DORR TO BRING ENDWAY TO FENWAY
Lead Singer, Boston Favorite to Sing National Anthem at Red Sox Game
WHAT: Morgan Dorr, lead singer of Boston’s very own Endway will make his “major league” debut as he sings the National Anthem at Fenway Park in Boston, MA, as the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays for the first night home game of the 2009 season.
WHO: Morgan Dorr, lead singer of Endway will perform the National Anthem, with the sideline support of band members, Kevin McHugh (Guitar / Vocals), Scott James (Drums), Brian Lempert (Keyboard) and Alex Sandman (Bass / Vocals). Their album, Action, was released in the summer of 2008 and follows their successful self-titled 2005 release. Following their recent performance at SXSW in Austin, TX, the band drove an additional eight and a half hours to go to New Orleans to volunteer for the Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) with animals that were abandoned and lost during Hurricane Katrina.
Also, while touring in Costa Rica in January 2008, Morgan, Kevin, Brian and Scott worked hands-on with the Roberta Felix Foundation, a charity that benefits underprivileged children with special needs. “During the day we were contributing in any way that we could,” says guitarist Kevin McHugh. “It was an eye-opening experience to see that every little bit counts.”
Four songs from the debut album are featured on five successful MTV shows including The Real World, Road Rules, and The Hills. Endway has shared the stage with national acts: All Time Low, Brand New, Boys Like Girls, Hoobastank, Dashboard Confessionals, A New Found Glory, Fair To Midland, Damone, The Lost Prophets, and The White Tie Affair.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 8, 2009
7:00 pm National Anthem
WHERE: Fenway Park
4 Yawkey Way
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
CONTACT: Traci Coulter / traci@tcopr.com / 917.776.9184
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
☞Two weeks ago, a senior Chinese official floated the idea that the dollar should be dropped as the key reserve currency. While our financial leadership, Geithner & Bernanke, rejected the Chinese proposal, don’t think for one second that issue is going away because we want it to. Given our domestic financial conundrum, we are no longer dictating policy to the world. Expect China to push this issue. What happens with it may be the key to our future.
☞In my last post, I mentioned my disappointment over Scarlett Johansson’s decision to trade in her blond locks for brunette ones. I misreported and I am happy to say, she is not brunette but a redhead. I am perfectly fine with this. That is all.
☞I just made myself a lovely little sandwich for lunch. It had soppressata, provolone cheese, oregano, fresh basil and a glisten of extra virgin olive oil. I would have loved to put it all on a richly sliced French boule but I settled for a more diet conscious wheat wrap. I think I mentioned this awhile ago here that I love to make sandwiches. Combining ingredients across a variety of different cuisines to make a mouth watering lunch appeals to me. If you are ever in Boston, venture over to La Verdad on Lansdowne St. Make certain that you are hungry and then order Ken Oringer’s Chicken Milanesa Torta. It is a griddled sandwich that has oaxaca cheese, molasses-chipotles, avocado, Mexican herbs, refried bean & mayonesa. (It is also served with Yucatan slaw and spiced plantain chips.) It is an amazing amalgamation of heat and cool, firm and messy, contrasting textures and all round goodness. It is without question the best sandwich I have EVER had. So there.
☞My friend, Mary Grace knew North Carolina was going to win the NCAA Championship last night. And while my hat is off to her, I will go out on a limb and predict that your Boston Red Sox will win the 2009 World Series. Jed Lowrie will turn out to be the second coming of Dustin Pedroia. Jacoby Ellsbury will be the league’s most potent leadoff hitter and his play in centerfield will be a marvel to watch. Most importantly, the pitching staff will be the envy of all. 100+ wins is within reason. You heard it here first.
Aye wonder if I should be in the prediction business.
And so should you.
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