heavy rotations 20:32

it's no secret that I love this record. Fort Nightly had some tremendous high points, but it wasn't that complete. It's Frightening lacks in the high points, but is a very thorough album. opener "Percussion Gun" blows you out from the beginning and is met w/ great tracks like "The Lady Vanishes" and "The Salesman (Tramp Life)" before coming to a close w/ "Leave It at the Door". what's even better abt this band is that I just realized that they are finally trekking down south, stopping @ the Variety Playhouse August 20. so stoked!

I stumbled upon this one a couple of months back when I heard "Coast of Carolina" on XMU. thinking it was a semi-decent indie-pop-rocker, I basked in the glory of what the internets has to offer and did a downloading sample of the self-titled album (i.e. downloaded that mother like it was nothin'). what I found out was that it was a nice, poppy record w/ awesome tracks like "Foreign Room" and "Tokyo". there's nothing ridiculously dynamic about Telekinesis!, but it sure is a fun-as-hell record in the summer time.

after my initial exposure w/ Old World Underground... and appreciation for Live It Out, I was finally thoroughly waiting for a new Metric album, hoping that they would deliver the goods. I didn't know whether I should expect some masterpiece due to tension (Emily Haines drifted away for a while w/ her good solo stuff and apparently the band had trouble during the song-writing for this album) or some dancey good-times. seems that I got a nice mix of both w/ Fantasies. I love love love "Satellite Mind" and shake my tuches to "Gold Guns Girls". there are certainly some great parts of the album, and I really enjoy hearing what I imagine to be Metric playing these songs, back-to-back-to-back in a room, just having the time of their lives.

it's hard to say what I prefer more - the beginning tracks of Lost Souls or Kingdom of Rust. I always thought the first few tracks of their debut swept me off my feet and pulled me out into the ocean to just drift away. but I really am taking a liking to the four or five tracks of their latest effort, w/ the jaw-dropping "10:03" taking the cake. there's something abt this band that is so perfect and you know that they will always get just the right mix of soft and structured songs to complement the pounders. and, seriously now, does "Jetstream" NOT sound like a Depeche Mode Exciter-era b-side or something?!

I'll never claim to be a fan of the hype machine. as a matter of fact, as a pseudo-hipster, I think it's mandatory to flick off the hype machine. and while I'm finding more and more to appreciate about Veckatimest, it doesn't mean that I'm succumbing to the almighty hype machine. I cannot find any flaws w/ "Two Weeks"... and I really think it could be song of the year quality. believe me, it's hard to come to terms w/ something that I've detested so much and now I'm close to head-over-heels w/ this record. it's hard to get enough of this album, and it's very relieving to say that... esp w/ something that's been so... neglected... by me previously.

sunny Vesa!

hope for aneternalsummer 22:29

trip to New York? check.

trip to Lake Wedowee? check.

trip to Mexico Beach, FL? check.

it absolutely sucks that these wonderful summer days are limited. you just want to cram everything into the coming days, knowing that it will come to an end eventually. so, it's just natural to think of the NEXT thing immediately following yr previous excursion. you spend those dreaded work-filled days longing for something else, something that's somehow a little more exciting than the aforementioned vacation/event/happening/etc.

that's why I came up w/ a list of a few things that I want to accomplish before summer's end. fortunately, I still have some time left to achieve these as summers in GA aren't over until, like, Christmas eve or something. :P

1. river tubing in north Georgia

I first found out about this bit of amazingness when I worked @ a school during the spring and early summer months of 2007. I absolutely hated being the, uh, chaperone, driving around a short-bus that had zero air conditioning and was filled w/ the most delinquent teenagers in the country... in Helen, GA... and watching everyone and their mother having the time of their lives, being completely effing lazy and cool in the Chattahoochee River. it was cruel, cruel punishment and I'm ready to get over it by joining the masses!

2. Zoo Atlanta!

this will probably be something saved for later on as it does get quite hot in Atlanta in July and August. but it's a zoo I've wanted to see for a while now. I've been to the Georgia Aquarium enough times that I think I know the daily food specials and when the sea otters take their naps. but I love zoos and it's seemed like the last one I went to was the Bronx Zoo, and that was when I lived in NY. besides, what's cuter than a panda? EXACTLY.

3. ATL Bravos

for a Thrashers fan (or hockey fan, in general), the summers suck. save for free agency, the draft, or prospect camps, there is a complete lack of hockey. there are no games, there are no words, and there are no signs of it existing anywhere. that's where something else has to fill the void, albeit temporarily. enter yr Atlanta Braves. it's hard to say what interacted w/ me first, hockey or baseball, but I think I'm going to have to go for the latter. even though I admit how boring the game is, baseball an essential summertime event and I love the combo of cheap seats, beers, and hot dogs, no matter what time of the year it is.

4. SixFlags White Water

I cannot stand amusement parks (except any and all Disney parks). hate the rides, hate the screaming children, hate the cheesiness. none of it appeals to me. however, when you substitute AMUSEMENT for WATER, I find diff results. I love water slides, lazy rivers, and splashing into pools @ the very end of a ride. would love to check this place out, and soon!

5. Douchebaggery 2009

hopefully there will be more tk in the next few weeks abt this splendid happening!

you know you want to...

welcome back to SONIC!

prospect camp 2009 00:15

DSCF2180.JPG, originally uploaded by robbie dee.

one of the things I love abt the summer is vacation, esp the beach. strangely enough, another thing I look forward to during these ridiculously hot and arid times (at least in ATL) is hockey. about a month out from the Stanley Cup playoffs and just as the FREE AGENT FRENZY (emphasis added, w/ reverb) starts dying out, prospect camp comes around and diminishes those horrible hockey withdrawals for a little while... until September.

every July, some of the Atlanta Thrashers' youngest prospects come to Duluth's Ice Forum for about a week and take part in a camp, the Thrashers' Prospect Development Camp... like a sleep-away camp... only yr parents aren't trying to get rid of you for the summer and there are no pillow fights (yet to be confirmed) and there's no sneaking over to the girls' cabin and there's no horrible camp food, etc. these young'uns are out to prove their worth to the pros that are invested in them. you see, players like recently-drafted Evander Kane have yet to even taste what professional hockey has to offer. while this isn't exactly a crash-course of the NHL life, it provides these kids w/ a glimpse of what it could be like to run w/ the big leagues for a while.

for the past two, maybe three, years, I've made the trip to, a. reduce the noted hockey withdrawals, and, b. see the possible future of my beloved hockey team. every year, there's something/one special. for example, you get sneak-peeks @ players like Toby Enstrom or Zach Bogosian and before they get to skate w/ players like Ilya Kovalchuk or Slava Kozlov on a full-time basis, or, you get to witness some early hazing - as I once witnessed a fellow-camper taking the stick of then-recently-drafted Boris Valabik and put it into the protective net above the boards that are behind the goals, only to have Boris take advantage of his ridiculous height and grab it down, which caused a significant amt of laughs from players/coaches and fan-attendees alike.

it's always a treat to smell a hockey rink during the hazy days of July, hear the sounds of skate-on-ice action instead of the splashing of pool water (not that that's a bad thing), feel the cold sticking to yr bones as opposed to the sweat that lines yr forehead, and see the sport that you love so much when the only sport that gets the attn this time of year is baseball.

up for tomorrow is the first of three scrimmages that are due to take place over the week. the kids have practiced together for two days now and it will be interesting to see who will step it up early and make an impression and who clearly needs more work. there are always surprises @ camp b/c when you usually assume that the "bigger" names (i.e. Kane) have the best game there, some unknown kid to everyone will come and steal the thunder and leave an impression. I cannot wait!

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU! or blue?

strange hitch

Atlanta's achilles heel gets closer 18:26

Antero Niittymaki, originally uploaded by Bydand!.

Thrashers fans of the world are slightly upset. I come home from work today to finally find out that the Tampa Bay Lightning officially signed Antero Niittymaki to serve as back-up to Mike Smith.

this is terrible news out of Tampa and let me tell you why. Niittymaki's career numbers against Atlanta are

did you get that?
12 wins and 0 losses!

the streak against Kari Lehtonen runs even longer than that, dating back to their AHL days in 2004 (or, for that matter, BACK WHEN THEY WERE IN FINLAND!). those 12 wins contribute to Philadelphia's overall record of 25-4-6 against the Atlanta Thrashers.

ALMOST HALF OF A FRANCHISE'S WINS AGAINST A TEAM ARE B/C OF ONE GOALIE.

well, maybe Niitty's presence isn't the ONLY reason why Atlanta has done horrific versus the Flyers, but it definitely plays a large part. there's something about the Thrashers (and Lehtonen in particular) that causes a rise in Philly and Niittymaki is certainly it. each time the Thrashers attempt to play Lehts against his Finnish rival to try to PROVE something or OVERCOME some sort of PERSONAL/TEAM STRUGGLE, it fails miserably. even when Lehts DOESN'T get the start, Niittymaki has a career performance against the Thrashers.

do you see why this move by Tampa should bother Thrashers fans? we play the Lightning eight times over the season. EIGHT. you better believe that Niittymaki will start each and every one of those games until he loses (if that ever happens).

let's hope a change of scenery does Niittymaki terrible and he porks it up while lounging on the beach instead of hanging out by the Liberty Bell and running up and down lots of stairs.

an open letter to Mexico Beach, FL 23:35

DSCF1666.JPG, originally uploaded by robbie dee.

Dear Mexico Beach, FL:

Next week, it's on.

Six hours away,
foocow

the new accessory 22:58

every so often, I splurge on sunglasses. a few years ago, it was a pair of rockin' Arnette Catfish (!) shades, only I ended up losing 'em somehow.

and thus is my problem w/ this type of purchase. I actually shell it out (b/c, you know, spending between 50-100 $ isn't THAT much, but I consider that a luxury), my plan of owning a bitchin' pair of shades works out for an extended period of time, and then it somehow ends up crashing and burning and I either lose 'em or break 'em or do something stupid.

however, I just can't get into simply owning a crappy pair of glasses from, you know, wal-mart. there's zero style w/ their selection, they end up breaking much sooner than my EXPENSIVO glasses would (I'm sure), and they probably cause me to look like a douche. if I'm gonna look like that, I better do it in style, right?!

that's why I'm so very excited to add these to my wardrobe:



hecks yes! can't wait to start sportin' these in the near future!

pontoonin'

greetings from Lake Wedowee!

d-r-a-m-a 23:49

Dany Heatley #15, originally uploaded by Bydand!.

and then there's the drama of the day.

Dany Heatley. where have you gone wrong? well, besides the obv. but not going there.

you get traded out of Atlanta as a, uh, "favor" to Ottawa. you voice lots of sorrow about leaving the South and how you'll somehow make due in Canada's capital... NOT.

things seem to work out for you for the first few years. then things start turning, slowly. your magic chemistry w/ the PIZZA line dissipates, your beloved coach disappears, as does your time on the ice. you cry, throw tantrums, wet the bed @ nite, etc.

from this seemingly PERFECT ENVIRONMENT, you request a trade b/c little Dany doesn't get what he wants, and that's to be a part of a winning team and to have the pucks bounce to you and get the same chicks that Dion Phaneuf and Miikka Kiprusoff get.

but little Dany forgets that w/ his last contact w/ Ottawa, he included a NO-TRADE CLAUSE b/c he loved it so much back in the day! so little Dany dares to provide a list of teams that he wants to play for... which I'm POSITIVE include Atlanta and Edmonton (ha). he doesn't realize that he has a massive contract and not that many teams can take on that kind of attitude salary. as a result, there aren't that many teams just begging Ottawa to take him on.

finally, things appear to work out w/ the blue-collar Edmonton Oilers and they offer a nice deal that makes everyone happy (maybe w/ the exception of Ottawa adding the Dustin Penner deal from a couple of seasons ago) - BUT NOT LITTLE DANY. he moans and squirms and kicks @ the air (a la Martin Havlat, only w/o a body present) and flat out says, "NO!" little Dany gets exactly what he wants - a ticket out of bloody Ottawa - and he STILL denies it b/c little Dany must be sleepin' around w/ Chris Pronger's wife.

basically, Dany Heatley, you're dead to a lot of people. this whole soap opera that you're playing out is absolutely ridiculous. grow up and take what you're given. or, you know what? JUST PLAY HOCKEY AND SHUT EVERYONE (INCLUDING YOURSELF) UP BY PROVING EVERYONE WRONG. I mean, it's your career - is it that difficult?

hey, UFA Day, what'll ya have, what'll ya have? 23:28

Pavel KUBINA (Czech Republic), originally uploaded by Patxi64.

it's UFA Day in the hockey world and that means that you shell out the $$$ for the players you want. if you're in Atlanta and you shell out the $$$, that's still not enough, as evidenced by last year's attempt at trying to secure Brian Campbell.

so what do the Atlanta Thrashers do knowing that they were hard-pressed to lure anyone over here? TRADE! and trade they did, adding a blueliner from Toronto by the name of Pavel Kubina. the move came @ a cost, however, w/ the departures of Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart. we take away a nice, young PKer in the form of Stuart and a somewhat declining XLB and add a puck-mover that's, as a result, offensively-minded... like Kubina.

in all honesty, I'm saddened by the loss of those two players. XLB was certainly a fan fave in Atlanta and it will be interesting to see how he performs for the Toronto crazies. Stuart has nice potential to become more and more in the league, a la Marc Savard when he was w/ Calgary and the NYR's. who knows how he'll turn out in a few years, but he displayed a lot of promise whenever he was up in the NHL and playing.

but adding Kubina is a step in the right direction. granted, I'm not the IN DEPTH fan I might've been a few years ago, so w/ that said, I'm not too familiar w/ Kubina and his style of play... or his playing habits of the past few seasons. what I keep on hearing is how this move will pay off for Atlanta in the immediate future. hearing that Kubina has another year remaining on his contract, I'm wondering how that will play out in the coming days, up until the end of '09-'10 (if he isn't given an extension before then). I still have yet to see any sort of reaction on his end, so who's to say how Kubina feels about this deal.

while the Thrashers didn't add a single soul from the UFA marketplace, I still feel fairly positive about this first acquisition. there's still the rest of the summer to pluck out some UFAs and we'll see what happens w/ the field as it starts to dwindle. but I think that for once, this first step is the best first step the Thrashers organization has taken in the summer in quite some time.