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Email: rgu@TheWorld.com

Horrors! I've lost The Golf Channel in a recent cable listings change. Instead, I now get MSNBC. The golf station is now a 'premium' channel, which I can probably get a la carte, or as part of some other package (on par with ESPNews and CNNSI).

On the side of cable operators, it makes sense to make this change now (in the middle of New England's winter, with no golf in sight for another three months). But I will surely miss it during the heart of the PGA Tour golf season.
posted by Rick Umali at 11:12 PM | link |

I listened to country music during my drive home from work tonight. My boss suggested it, and I took him up on it. Every once in a while, I'll listen to the country station for a few days at a time. It had been a while since I did that.

WKLB was doing the "Top Five at Five" and I liked every one of the songs they played. The songs were:

5. Riding with Private Malone (David Ball)
   
   This was a tear-jerker of a song, involving the owner of a classic car and the gentle ghost who rides in it.
   
   
4. I Don't Have to Be Me (Until Monday) (Steve Azar)
   
   A very jaunty song about a man who takes Friday off and hits the open road.
   
   
3. I'm Tryin' (Trace Adkins)
   
   A very sad song about how all the singer can do is try, despite everything going against him.
   
   
2. I Wanna Talk About Me (Toby Keith)
   
   My favorite: a country "rap" about how the singer wants to talk about himself instead of just listening to his girlfriend.
   
   
1. The Long Goodbye (Brooks and Dunn)
   
   I didn't hear much of this song, as I was pulling into my driveway, but it was sad. Chances are, I'll hear it tomorrow.

In college, I DJ'd at an alternative music station, and I asked someone there what constitutes 'alternative'. He said that alternative music was music that was different from what you listen to. If you listen to rap, then listen to rock. If you listen to rock, then listen to classical. Tonight, country was my alternative music. And it was good!
posted by Rick Umali at 11:29 PM | link |

I take some solace that I am younger than Brad Pitt. He turned 38 today.

I first really noticed Brad in the movie Fight Club. He played his character with such enthusiasm that I took an instant liking to Brad Pitt. When I read that James Gandolfini (who plays Tony of the Sopranos) liked Pitt in Kalifornia, I made it a point to rent it. Brad Pitt was just as crazy in that movie as well ("Reebs. That's beers backwards.")

Yes, he's a "handsome man" (and nothing is wrong with that), but as an actor, he's taken on some non-handsome roles. For some reason, that's quite appealing to me. My favorite Pitt performance is in Twelve Monkeys. It's a Bruce Willis movie, but Pitt stole the scenes with his over-the-top performance as a lunatic.
posted by Rick Umali at 11:57 PM | link |

The good news: the umali.com is up for sale. The bad news: The present owner is selling it for $950. C'mon!
posted by Rick Umali at 12:21 AM | link |

A wet, snowy day. The snow flakes were heavy with precipitation. Driving home was an exercise in caution.
posted by Rick Umali at 12:16 AM | link |