Getting Ready for Patriot's Day

So what if the Pope* is rolling through New York City this weekend? Spring is in the air and on Monday, Boston will celebrate Patriot's Day. I had the pleasure of attending last year, seeing my first Boston Marathon and 11am Red Sox game.

The re-enactment of the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" takes place at 5:30am according to my friend Mark Kates, who grew up near the Green in Lexington, MA and The Old North Bridge in Concord. Mark has a label called Fenway Recordings you might enjoy.

Is anyone else digging John Adams on HBO as much as I am? It seems like you have to watch each episode a few times to catch all the lines but I like that they give you at least one or two iconic visuals per episode, such as Adams' Inauguration, where he is framed by Washington and Jefferson, the reading of the Declaration of Independence and the White House under construction.

It's not The Sopranos or Curb Your Enthusiasm, but I'm enjoying it.

How about three cheers for the original Minutemen?!

* - Sinéad O'Connor was right on the whole Pope/child abuse thing. I would say she was early but people have probably been complaining about this as long as there have been priests. Let us recall great women:

Post-Stubb's R.E.M. Alternative Gold Flash Mob

As mentioned, seeing R.E.M. at a convention is like taking a trip in the Time Tunnel. Except for Bill Berry's retirement that is. Somehow, they really lost their zing when he left. Well, their show attracted a Night Watch of Alternative Rock Journeymen, as portrayed in this photo above. left to right:

Front Row: l to r: Dan Mackta; Jim Merlis, Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan

Back Row: l to r: Peter Standish, Alan Wolmark, Dennis Dennehy, Jim Pitt, Mark Kates, Jo Lenardi

Dennis is jeering me for street teaming for a Red Sox video last summer, I am replying as I take the picture that he's a fat bastard. Literally. It's not that often I call someone that to their face but I must admit that I've gotten a few pounds over my usual weight during the past few months! Probably takes one to know one.

This picture contains some alternative rock royalty from the 90s, folks who helped launch that part of the music business and bring it to its peak around 1995.

The week got considerably better after a good night's sleep and the Embassy breakfast.