Stop the Subtitles

Posted inAmerica, Columns, TV

Against my better judgment, I turned on TLC the other night. You know, the channel which takes the worst part of American society and glorifies it through reality television.

But the old “even a blind squirrel finds an acorn” adage certainly rang true as I sat down to watch the exploits of five Amish folks headed to the big city in “Breaking Amish.” Then we sat rapt as episode after episode of the show chronicling the lives of the conjoined Hensel twins.

I could not help myself even if I can’t stand what the channel has come to stand for. The little binge doesn’t change my belief that TLC is responsible for most of the bad things in this world. That isn’t 100 percent tied to the Honey Boo Boo show, but the true evil of TLC is represented in that program.

They really need to stop using subtitles when people are speaking English.

Thursday TV Roundup

Posted inTV
I will occasionally review my favorite TV shows, sometimes a few days late. These won't be recaps, but general and specific observations from someone who thinks way too much about…

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Posted inColumns, TV

I love this time of year. You can feel the difference in the air. A special electricity surrounds us.

You could blame it on the change from summer to autumn, but something else gives me this feeling – I can see the new television season on the horizon.

I have not had as hard of a time coping with the loss of my favorite shows this past summer. Maybe the Olympics filled enough of the void. Maybe the Orioles’ run to first place has distracted me. Maybe I just put myself in a good place last spring when all of my favorite shows survived cancellation.

Whatever the reason, I head into this new season with my usual sense of excitement, but without the signs of withdrawal which I sometimes go through as the summer comes to a close.

Book Review: Peep Show

Posted inBooks
I hesitated before picking up a copy of Joshua Braff's novel "Peep Show." On one hand, I didn't really like his first book. On the other hand, I had two books…

Wakeup Call

Posted inColumns, Travel

Traveling often puts us at the mercy of other folks. You have to hope that the person in the seat next to you on the plane isn’t a jerk. You have to trust the taxi driver doesn’t try to rip you off. And you have to believe that the person who had the hotel room before you didn’t set the alarm to try and wake you up unexpectedly in the middle of the night.

Based on my recent trip to Arizona for work, two out of three ain’t bad.

The Magic Has Returned

Posted inBaltimore, Baseball, Columns

As I got ready for work the other day, I spotted something hidden behind a chair in our computer. Once I realized what it was, I knew I had to make a change.

So I found an empty nail in the wall and hung the frame which held some special memories for me. I figured with the Baltimore Orioles actually in the hunt for the playoffs, I could return the tickets for the final three games at Memorial Stadium, the first game at Oriole Park and the 1993 All-Star Game back to a place of prominence.

Book Review: Candy Everybody Wants

Posted inBooks
Even though I know better, I am putty in the hands of book marketers sometimes. "Candy Everybody Wants" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell stands as a perfect example. All the marketing department…

A Day at the Beach

Posted inBeach, Columns, Travel

My big mouth gets me in trouble sometimes. That should not shock anyone. I have learned over the years, however, to not promise things I might not do.

I did not follow that guideline earlier this summer during a conversation with my daughter. She loves our family’s annual beach week as much as I do, so I told her we could make plans to head down to the beach for a day trip sometime.

I didn’t regret things at that point. When I saw a free Saturday on our schedule and proposed the trip, I felt a little guilty, but not enough to worry.

At that point, I felt fully confident I could get organized and pull off the trip. My only concerns at that point were ones out of my hands, specifically bad weather or rough surf which would keep us from enjoying the actual ocean.