Shin-ippets

* One of my goals for 2009 is to post a blog for every day of the year.  I’m still sticking to it eleven days in, which I suppose is a good thing. True — some of them have been posted slightly after midnight EST on the next day, but at least it’s a post for a specific day. And Wordpress allows me to fudge the publish date, so all is good in love and forgery.

Now — all I have to do is answer my comments in a timely fashion…

* You know what movie was on our local MNTV affiliate last night? The Commitments. I remember seeing it for the first time at the newly opened Union Station theaters in downtown DC during my sophomore year of college. Since then I’ve seen it time and time again — but I probably haven’t stumbled upon it for at least five years now.  It’s a comedy directed by Alan Parker (Fame, Pink Floyd: The Wall, Evita) about a bunch of working class north Dubliners who decide to put together a band that plays soul music.  A bit cheesy at times, but also very funny and powerfully charged. And the music is pretty amazing as well.

I wish I could find the scene where they perform “Chain of Fools” and a fight breaks out on YouTube but, alas, I can’t. The trailer is still pretty indicative of the tone of the film. (And yes, that is Colm Meaney of Star Trek goodness.)

Direct YouTube Link

* You know what else was on last night? Saturday Night Live with guest host Neil Patrick Harris.  Possibly the most solid SNL this season. Why? Because NPH gets it. He knows the show. He’s versatile. He’s okay making fun of himself.  It was nice watching him in just about every single sketch — rather than some of the hosts who appear in less than half of the show.

His reference to the show hosted by Fred Savage in 1990 during his monologue was intriguing to me because I actually remember that show. In fact, I’m probably the only person who remembers that the musical guest that week was Belgian dance band Technotronic. (The folks who gave us “Pump Up the Jam.”) The reason I remember it so well is because I was spending a few months in Jerusalem, and my roommate Jeremy received a cassette tape in the mail with the audio of the show on it.  Good times…

Here’s the SNL Digital Short starring Neil and the ensemble. Brilliant. Watch it before the NBC folks make YouTube take it down:

Direct YouTube Link

* I can’t wait until January 20, 2009 has come and gone.  Inauguration Day here in the DC area is expected to be a madhouse as never seen before.  For crowd-control purposes as well as security concerns, there are many, many road closures in the area, and the two metro stops closest to the festivities will be shut down as well.  There are five bridge crossings between Virginia and Washington, DC, and all five of them will be closed to regular traffic. Some will be designated for buses only, and some will be earmarked for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.  The latest suggestion made by the powers that be is that as many people from Virgimia walk, if possible, if they want to attend the inaguration festivities.

I’m just happy that Av has school that day, and that I work far enough away from the center of all the hoopla.  The Interstate our neighborhood sits on will be shutting down inbound to DC, but at least we can use it to drive away from the madness that morning.  Getting back home might be an issue — who knows?  Guess we’ll have to see.

I really, really hope that things go well — but not too well. I’m looking forward to this being enough of a pain in the ass to as many departments as possible. Because if everything is all smooth sailing — people will advocate that we are, indeed, a city which can handle such a large influx of visitors.  And then they’ll be vying to get our name on the short list for an upcoming Olympic Games. Which would be a living hell.

And that’s all I’ve got.