Friday, December 28, 2012

College Football Spotlight:Bowl Game Action

A very late and protracted game delayed publication tonight.In an earlier contest,Virginia Tech had edged Rutgers 13-10 in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando,Florida.The game was decided in overtime when VA Tech made their field goal attempt,but Rutgers missed theirs.
Later,Texas Tech and Minnesota engaged in a very scrappy battle at the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in Houston that saw a lot of penalties and booth reviews of close calls.Texas Tech was booked for five personal foul penalties of unnecessary roughness after the whistle.
Despite the superlative effort of graduating senior Michael Carter,who made five tackles and two interceptions,as well as a pass broken up,and was ESPN's Player of the Game,Minnesota was slightly outplayed by the more experienced Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The Seth Dedge pass to Eric Ward in the end zone with 1:10 left in the game was the beginning of the end for the Minnesota Golden Gophers,and an interception by Texas Tech's D.J. Johnson at 0:43 led to Ryan Bustin's game-winning field goal.The final score was 34-31,giving the Red Raiders a good record of 8-5 on the season,while the Golden Gophers failed to break even,closing out with a disheartening tally of 6-7 for the year.
Winter weather plastered the US with everything from tornadoes to blizzards this week.At least 13 storm-related deaths were reported in the East alone.More snow is expected in the East for Saturday morning.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Fine Arts Review:The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour

It is almost the 45th anniversary of the first airing of Beatles' short film "Magical Mystery Tour."On December 26,1967,the BBC broadcast the film,which was Sir Paul McCartney's brainchild,to a national audience.The film was panned by the public and savaged by critics.It lacked a clearly defined plot,they complained;it was just a load of rubbish.
That was before the era of music videos.Clearly,sensibilities have changed.Today,it's hard to understand what the British were so outraged about.Watching a newly restored colour edition of the film proved to be a thoroughly entertaining experience.
To begin with,the music is as strong as ever.Classics such as "I Am The Walrus" and "Fool On The Hill" haven't lost any of their clever appeal.This witty film only accentuates them.
Some of the dialogue between Ringo Starr and his Aunt Jessie:
"I've had enough of it.I can't stand it anymore."
"Don't get historical."
It does indeed have a plot and a fine sense of place,although not completely linear.There are several dream or daydream sequences in the course of a grab bag sort of bus ride from the city into the British countryside.There is a distinct carnival atmosphere pervading the mystery tour."Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour.Step right this way."
The picture is a montage of fun moments and songs that arise as the bus careens and cruises into the countryside:a game of tug of war;a love sequence between Aunt Jessie and the bus driver Mr.Blood Vessel;a manic army sergeant portrayed by comic actor and Beatles favorite Victor Spinetti;John Lennon's fatherly affection for a little girl on the bus;a singalong with an accordionist;even a fairly graphic striptease in a nightclub when darkness falls and the bus returns to town.
You feel you really have felt some magic,peering through a window at the vivid colours of the British imagination in the 1960s.It's a pity the original showing was met with such a lack of one.
"Magical Mystery Tour" is available on DVD.It runs about 53 minutes.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Fine Arts Review-Annie Leibovitz:Pilgrimage

I started at the top.The first photography exhibition I ever attended is by the brilliant and controversial American portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz.Oddly enough,there isn't one portrait in it.Leibovitz has photographed celebrities from John Lennon to Queen Elizabeth II,but took a break from her metier this time.
"Annie Leibovitz:Pilgrimage" is a fascinating ramble through the worlds of some celebrities she didn't get to photograph,including American writers Emily Dickinson and Ralph Waldo Emerson.She photographed Dickinson's last surviving dress-a white lacy affair-and Emerson's hiking hat.
She visited Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and captured a television he shot a hole in.She took a picture of Thomas Jefferson's experimental garden and Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat that he wore the night he was assassinated.
This exhibition is an historical magic carpet ride,principally through Americana,with a few diversions such as Sigmund Freud's famous couch in London.There is a soft,painterly quality to the photos.Indeed,Leibovitz began as a painter while attending the San Fransisco Art Institute.
It's something I will reflect on for a number of days,at the very least.In my book,that's a considerable success.
Leibovitz,63,was the longtime chief photographer for Rolling Stone magazine and,more recently,Vanity Fair.She was the subject of a PBS "American Masters" program,and received the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship(HonFRPS) for a sustained,significant contribution to the art of photography.
The exhibition is at Gettysburg National Military Park's Museum and Visitor Center through January 30.Admission charge.No flash photography or videotaping is permitted in the Museum.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lakers Lose Again;Senden Leads Aussie Open

This guy is off the charts,said  commentator and NBA great Magic Johnson of Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook.All season long,he has been in control,leading in points and assisting,too.He learned from losing to the Miami Heat last year and worked on his game all summer.
The Thunder are too fast and too athletic for the Los Angeles Lakers,Johnson added.
The Thunder edged the Lakers 114-108 Friday night at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City.It was the Thunder's seventh straight victory,bringing their record up to 16-4.The Lakers are bitterly disappointed with their 9-11 tally.
Kevin Durant was the standout for OKC with his 36 points and 9 rebounds,while Westbrook added 33 points and 1 rebound.For the Lakers,Kobe Bryant scored 35 points with 3 rebounds.
At the Emirates Australian Open at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney,Australia's John Senden shot a third round 7 under par 70 Saturday to surpass England's Justin Rose's 5 under par 70.The late spring sky was clear,but blustery winds marred the Saturday afternoon play.
Justin Rose said the boys are having a tough time.It's difficult to hit the ball in from 3 feet.I think everyone's gonna have problems like that out there today.
Rose had ended his round with a double bogey.
Colorado's ski resorts are looking forward to more snow this weekend.Steamboat Springs,Vail and Aspen may get 6-12 inches through Sunday.Northern Minnesota is also expecting snow.The Midwest has been gravely short on snow so far this year.