RIP Sir Bobby Robson 1933-2009

I was saddened to hear this morning of Sir Bobby Robson's death at age 76 after a long bout with cancer. Sir Bobby was a former pro but, of course, rose to fame with the Ipswich Town side of the 70s. He also took England within a goalpost of reaching the 1990 World Cup finals, the closest that the Three Lions have been since 1966. He'll be missed.

Spot the Classmates

This classic image from a field trip led by the inestimable Madame Thompson, is still my all-time favorite from our Feltwell days. How many of our classmates can you still name?

P.S. Nice slacks, Dave!

LOB Book Club - The Big Sort: Part II

In Chapters 4, 5 and 6, Bill Bishop surveys a period of forty years that led to the current trend toward "sorting" based on ideology and culture. In Chapter 4, he writes:

"The collapse of social institutions, the dropping levels of trust, and the abandonment of political parties beginning in 1965 all contributed to a decline in partisan political behavior. White people continued to leave both the Republican and Democratic parties. Ambivalent, they split their vote"(p. 103).

This made me curious about our early political experiences and choices. I've long thought that our early experiences with current events mark us too a great degree. As someone who grew up politically during the Watergate scandal, I had an early distaste for the Republican party, which I associated with Nixon and corruption in general. So, when I first had the chance to vote for President in 1984, I did so for the Mondale/Ferraro ticket. My students who were largely born in the mid to late 80s, grew up politically in the wake of the "Reagan Revolution" and thus tend to be heavily influenced by the "small government," supply-side economics of that era.

So what about the rest of you? What events marked you early on?

What You Talkin' Bout, Sarah!?

Sarah Palin Will Be Missed

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Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

A pint to the first person who can figure out whatever the hell Sarah Palin is talking about in this rambling clip from her "farewell address" roasted by Colbert last night. Best of luck!

USA vs. Mexico Live!

Bob Bradley's plucky young side have made their way through to a Gold Cup final match-up with their main CONCACAF rivals Mexico. It'll be an interesting tune-up for the real business of a World Cup qualifier against El Tri in the Azteca later in the summer. Join me for all the fun from 3 p.m. on FSC.

Straight Outta Bristol...it's Purple!

If the current wave of Autotuned zombies has turned you off r'n'b lately, never fear. Bristol, the town that brought you the likes of Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead and Roni Size has coughed up another dance music trend that's sweeping the UK club scene. It's called "Purple" and it's great stuff for those late night drives.

You can download a several fat mixes (about 30 minutes each) for free at the following sites:

Guido's High Rise Mini Mix is at: bit.ly/guido1
Joker's Mix is at: bit.ly/joker1
Gemmy's FACT Magazine Mix is at: bit.ly/gemmy1

Happy listening!

Stevie G. Gets a Pass

A jury deliberated for a mere ninety minutes before clearing Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard of all affray charges. His criminal music taste is still up for debate, though. Your thoughts?

Summer Transfer News

It's time to take stock of all of the Premiership transfer news. It's been a slower than usual summer with Premiership clubs suffering the effects of the economic crisis. However, there are still plenty of good stories out there. Michael Owen to United, Thomas Vermaelen to the Arse, Dean Sturridge to Chelski, Tevez, Adebayor, Barry et al. to Citeh. Who's had the best summer so far? You can follow all the summer moves here:

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8750_5366630,00.html

I'll look forward to your comments.

LOB Book Club - The Big Sort: Chapters 2&3

I thought I'd push the discussion of "The Big Sort" along today by taking up Chapters 2 and 3. In this section, Bishop presents evidence that Americans have migrated to certain areas based on lifestyle choices. I was particularly interested in his contention that people consume the news that fits their ideological inclinations. So I've devised a brief quiz:

Can you match up these following headlines about the health care debate with the newspapers and websites where they appeared today?

1. Obama Raises His Personal Stake In Health Care Overhaul

2. Challenge to Health Bill: Selling Reform

3. Obama Seeks New Heath Care Momentum

4. Obama Courts Health Care Skeptics Tonight

5. Obama Makes Heath Care Personal

6. Romney to Obama: Slow Down on Health Care

7. Demint Takes the Bait: "We've Got to Stop the President"

8. Obama's Health Mandate Has Support

9. Some Democrats "Baffled" By Health Care Plan

10. White House Declines to Disclose Visits By Health Care Advocates.

Key:

a. Washington Times
b. Daily Kos
c. Boston Globe
d. LA Times
e. CNN
f. Washington Post
g. Drudge Report
h. NY Times
i. Huffington Post
j. Fox News

Good luck!

Getafe's New Kit sponsored by the Creepy King?

Worst. Kit. Ever.

See for yourself

U Bin Rick-Rolled! ROTFLMAO. LOLZ.

Good News! The Vuvuzela not banned from SA2010

Paaarrrrrrp! I know the DevilGator and UWS will be delighted to hear that FIFA have tackled this issue head-on and those Solomon-like justices have decided "the Vuvuzela is in!" Expect next summer to sound louder than a 70's killer-bee based disaster movie! Paaarrrrrrp!

LOB Book Club - The Big Sort: Chapter 1

In Chapter 1, Bill Bishop puts forward his central argument that given increased financial independence, "The old systems of order - around land, family, class, tradition, and religious denomination - gave way. They were replaced over the next thirty years with a new order based on individual choice" (p. 39).

What are your initial thoughts about this thesis?

Pre-season Arse

Oi! Anyone interested in Barnet vs Arsenal? Oh, well join me anyway. Tomas Rosicky is making a very uncommon appearance and we're wearing our tragic Wimbledon "Crazy Gang" era blue kit that Nike has foisted upon us.

A Playlist From Nick Hornby

I am always intrigued by what my favorite musicians and writers and actors are listening to. So I was very interested in this playlist from the man who wrote one of my favorite novels ever, High Fidelity. I don't know all these songs, but I'm gonna look them up.

READ MORE HERE

Beckham: The Sequel

David Beckham returns to the LA Galaxy side tonight - though goodness knows why - after a week of having to defend his buggering off to Milan last season. We'll see the fireworks live on FSC. Care to join me?

LOB Book Club - The Big Sort: Introduction

I'm kicking off our second book discussion of the summer season today and I hope all of you will consider chipping in on the discussion, whether you have a chance to read the book or not.

I've been reading accounts of Bill Bishop's book "The Big Sort" for quite some time now and I thought it might appeal to a lot of us who have migrated quite a bit in our lives. The book has resonated with lots of people because it corresponds with what they've experienced themselves. He opens with an anecdote about his family moving to the Travis Heights area of Austin, TX, long known as a liberal bubble in the heart of the Lone Star state, so let's start there. Does Bishop's account jibe with your experience in Austin, Bivalve?

Gold Cup Update Quarter-finals

The Gold Cup enters the quarter-final stage this weekend. Here's the draw:





Saturday, July 18

5 p.m. Canada vs. Honduras

8 p.m. U.S. vs. Panama

Sunday, July 19

4 p.m. Guadeloupe vs. Costa Rica

7 p.m. Mexico vs. Haiti

See you there!

The Goldenballs Has Landed!

David Beckham is back in Los Angeles today, but for how long? His first order of business was to hit back against Landon Donovan's very reasonable criticism of his utter lack of loyalty to the Galaxy as "unprofessional." I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the dressing room for their first training session. Read more by cutting and pasting the following:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=660369&sec=global&cc=5901

LOB Book Club - The Big Sort

As the second book of the summer for the LOB Book Club I'm suggesting Bill Press's "The Big Sort," which looks at the trend of Americans living in self-imposed enclaves. As you'll note from Press's map from the book, I've recently made the move from "Dementia" to "Downward Mobilia."

I've just got the book from the SUNY Library system and am ready to rip at the beginning of the week. Join me for what promises to be a lively discussion.

Gold Cup Update #2

I'm still having trouble catching these matches live with my life in relative chaos right now, but I'm still enjoying keeping up with it on-line. I'm especially amused by the plight of the Mexican side whose draw with Panama last night means that the rampant Guadelupe side could put them out with a big win on Sunday night.

The final round of matches is relative clear cut. Canada and the U.S. have already qualified for the next round and will almost certainly top Groups A and B respectively. That leaves El Salvador and Costa Rica to duel for second place tonight in their final group matches. That'll be followed tomorrow night with the U.S. facing Haiti and Honduras facing lowly Grenada. You'd have to pick Honduras to go through second. Finally on Sunday, we have that titanic match-up between Guadelupe and Mexico as well as the winner of Panama and Nicaragua having a chance to slip into the final rounds at El Tri's expense. Should be fun.

LHS Blog!

The LHS alumni group seems to have ramped up their activities recently as I've been getting a lot of messages about an upcoming reunion in November in San Antonio. I'm not sure that I'm up for that as I've got to be at a conference in Atlanta around that time, but one of the messages linked me to a blog that I hadn't seen before. Kept by a Class of '77 alum, Kelly Russell, it's got some pretty cool pictures of some people you'll no doubt remember. Check it out by cutting and pasting the following link:

www.lakenheath77.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday, United We Stand!

Hello, hello! Someone's hit the big 4-5 today. Happy birthday, mate - many happy returns!

No-one expects the Milanese aquisition!

File this under "the craziest s**t I've ever read." Milan flogs Kaka off to Real, flirts with Adebayor, and then this morning, signs Gooch. Has Maureenyo hacked into Milan's bank account and created a Trojan horse bot that sells class and replaces it with clumsy? If not, I cannot see the pro-Milan argument here. Unfathomable.

It makes no sense!

Gold Cup Update

I can't say that the Gold Cup tore me away from the holiday weekend festivities but I have been following the tournament through newspaper accounts and FSC re-runs. Thanks to Gooner, I caught the replay of the U.S.'s performance against Grenada where the youngsters ripped it up against frankly inferior opposition. So the tables look like this after round one of games:

Group A Played Points
El Salvador 1 3
Canada 1 3
Costa Rica 1 0
Jamaica 1 0

Group B
U.S. 1 3
Honduras 1 3
Haiti 1 0
Grenada 1 0

Group C
Mexico 1 3
Guadelupe 1 3
Panama 1 0
Nicaragua 1 0

Next up in the schedule of games is Jamaica vs. CR at 7 p.m. and El Salvador vs. Canada at 9 p.m. tomorrow night. The U.S. are up at 9 p.m. on Wednesday against Honduras.

Bjork Guest DJs on All Songs Considered!

NPR's All Songs Considered already brings the tastiest pop via their podcast every week. But host Bob Boilen asks Icelandic pixie Bjork in to guest DJ, you can bet that she'll open up your earholes to something new and wonderful. From Syrian hip hop to Stravinsky, Bjork brings the weird. You can download All Songs Considered from iTunes or the usual suspects. Listen up!

Wee Mikey to Sign for United?

What are we to make of the shock news that wee Michael Owen is in Manchester to undergo a last medical ahead of a move to ManYoo? Your thoughts, gents?

Read more about it by cutting and pasting the following link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/03/michael-owen-manchester-united-transfer

Landycakes calls Becks out

It's as if I woke up in Bizzaroworld. First, Donovan finally shows some heart and leadership in the US's transforming Confederations Cup, and now he's giving Becks a deserved shoe-ing for bad faith and behavior at the Galaxy. I am bracing myself for Freddy Adu's next 5 consecutive hat-trick games if results like this keep turning up.

Read Article

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Off season be damned! The Gold Cup starts tomorrow and continues through a final on July 26. After taking much of the summer off, FSC will be covering the matches, which start with Canada vs. Jamaica from the Home Depot Center at 9 p.m. EST tomorrow.

Footie Gets the Colbert Bump!

Is it Time to Care About Soccer?

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Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

The good feelings engendered by the U.S.'s thrilling run to the Confederations Cup final reached the desk of the Colbert Report last night. While Stephen traded in some of the usual stereotypes about the Beautiful Game, he also gave us a laugh or two and ended the segment by interviewing Lexi Lalas and predicting a win for the U.S. next summer. Enjoy!