Hannah Does Avril

My niece Hannah is a huge Avril Lavigne fan. So my sister-in-law did this video of her signing one of Avril's songs. The audio's hard to hear, but I wanted to show off my niece. And seeing has my sister-in-law is the one who posted this on YouTube, I don't think she'll mind my putting it here for you to watch.

Logan's Re-Run

I read the other day that they're remaking Logan's Run, a cult sci-fi movie from the mid-70s. And I have to ask: why? Can't they come up with some kind of original sci-fi movie to make?

Logan's Run isn't the greatest movie ever made. I've seen it several times, and it's rather enjoyable, but there's nothing screaming remake. And I've not seen any sci-fi fanbase demanding that this movie be remade.

Oh well, since when has my opinion actually mattered, anyway? Right?

The Astros Draft -- Preparing To Screw It Up Again

So, even with the Astros having a nice draft position this season -- because of their suckiness last season -- it's still looking like they are going to screw things up. From MLB Fanhouse comes this scouting report on their projected pick, Arkansas 3B Zack Cox:

"Not only is this a fit because Houston has been on Cox heavily all spring, but it's also a match because the Astros are a team that has been quiet and Cox is a player on which there seems to be no consensus. Some scouts have described Cox's defense as borderline "comical" and others believe in his bat enough to overcome that. Houston may be one of those teams. They are in on several guys for this spot, including Choice, Brandon Workman, and Josh Sale. They'd prefer a college arm but the ideal guy may not be there."

The Astros supposedly won't give Chris Johnson a chance to play 3B in the majors because he's awful with the glove, though it's proven he can hit AAA pitching. But they want to risk a high draft pick on a guy with a "comical" glove who might be able to his enough to overcome this.

Does this sound familiar? Like a guy the Astros have down in Round Rock right now named Chris Johnson. Maybe, instead, the Astros should consider UT-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice, or a pitcher, then use their very high draft choice next year to nab Rice 3B Anthony Rendon, whom I've seen a lot and is a legit stud with the bat and with the glove.

Then again, I would have given Johnson his chance this year, and instead of signing Pedro Feliz, I would have gone after the likes of Orlando Hudson or Orlando Cabrera, both better players who can field, hit, get on base, and are making about the same amount of money. But what am I thinking, those guys never played for the Phillies, and Ed Wade is all about the failed Phillies.

And Now The Trade Demand

So Roy Oswalt has officially demanded a trade. I would feel really good about this -- the Astros need prospects after all -- but Ed Wade is the GM. So I expect to see him traded to the Phillies for a benchwarmer.

Just A Word To Say Hello

It's been awhile since I've really blogged anything, so while I'm getting my car looked at, I thought I would take advantage of the free wireless to check in. So how is everybody? I thought I would throw some stuff out via one of my favorite methods...a list.

1. My car air conditioning decided to go out, just as it's beginning to get really hot and muggy in Houston. There's one necessity you have to have in Houston, and that's A/C in the car. So I'm having it checked out today. Since I'm broke, I'm hoping the problem isn't major and that it doesn't cost that much. If not, I'm just going to find out what the problem is and get it fixed later.

2. Here's a word of advice. Never, ever bug me while I'm listening to side two of Abbey Road. To be on the safe side, assume that I'm always listening to side two of Abbey Road.

3. You know, I thought the Astros were going to be bad this season, but I didn't think they were going to be bad. Who would have thought that the entire starting lineup, except for Michael Bourn, would be in a slump at the same time. A slump that nobody really appears to be ready to break out of.

4. I found myself listening to some Voodoo Lounge-era Rolling Stones yesterday. You know, it's not as bad as I remember it being. Then again, it's been awhile and maybe I just remember it as being worse than it was.

5. I want to apologize for not writing more. Life interferes with the blogging, you know? I've got to crank out my mothership posts every night, and I'm week six of my current temp job -- though I'm going broke quicker than ever. The job should last through the end of this month -- at least that's what I'm hoping. Who knows what happens after that.

6. And lucky me, I get to work on all of the Medicaid renewal forms for my father. It's funny, they demand all of this info from me in a quick and timely fashion, yet they have the time to answer my phone calls, or return said phone calls.

7. I'm angry at NBC for delaying the return of Parks and Recreation until some undefined mid-season date. Here's hoping that that return is soon, and that the program taking it's place, a sitcom about jobs being outsourced to India, is itself outsourced rather quickly.

8. I'm afraid that the ending of Lost is going to really, really disappoint me.

9. It's time for me to pay my Bar Dues and my Attorney Occupation Tax. I've spent my entire life as an attorney trying to figure out what it is, exactly, that my state bar does besides take my money. They sure haven't done anything to help my make life as an attorney easier.

10. So, with all of this stuff in Arizona, is it safe to call Cheech Marin a prophet?

11. I like the Big Bang Theory, but I don't think I'll be watching this fall since CBS is moving it to Thursday, and at the time it's airing, I'm already watching Community on NBC and Bones on FOX.

12. Seeing how many of these posts are about TV, maybe it's time I do more to get a life.

13. Seriously, does the State Bar of Texas really do anything besides extort money from me each year?

Great Day?

I think I worked for this guy.

What Did They Do?

I couldn't help but notice that the Astros and Giants are a nationally televised game on Fox Sports today. And I can't help but wonder, just what is that the rest of the nation did to be punished by having to watch the Astros? It's bad enough that we've got to watch them in Houston, but what did the rest of the country do? And does this mean that the Kansas City Royals are soon to be a nationally televised Saturday-afternoon team?

Let It Be Already

I read the other day that Liam Gallagher, ex-front man of Oasis, has optioned the rights to a book about the last days of The Beatles in hopes of making it a movie -- he's supposedly working with British director/producer Michael Winterbottom. That's all fine and dandy. I'm a Beatles fan, and info on the band fascinates me. But...

If someone wants to really do a film on the band breaking up, well, forget it. It's already been done. All they need to do is restore the film and get around to finally releasing Let It Be on DVD. I've got to admit that I've never seen it in full -- I've mainly seen the rooftop concerts and some of the studio/recording bits, but I've never seen the movie in full. And since the documentary was made when the guys were at that period when they probably hated each other the most, then this would be better than any film waiting to be made.

So what say, get it done already. Please.

Just A Moment To Say Hello

Just checking in. I've been busy -- still got the temp job -- and I've been dealing with some other things. I'm still writing my stuff for the mothership every day, though, so keep reading over there.

I'll try to see if I can get some stuff up here over the rest of the weekend. But no promises.