A World of Pure Imagination

Not a particularly good night for the Cubs. Wood gave up three solo homers, he never pitches well again the Reds, and left after three with "soreness in his shoulder." This guy just can't get healthy. We're a long way removed from the 20K game and I would be surprised if the Cubs didn't trade him next year. He's come about as far as he can in Chi-town. He's never won more than 13 games and its looking like he'll never live up to his potential. It's sad, really, but I don't know how much longer I can stay on the Wood bandwagon. He wouldn't be the first young arm to flame out, but still it's disappointing. Nevertheless, the Cubs are in same position they were last week against the Pirates, won the first two, lost the third, a day game tomorrow to take three out of four against a weaker opponent. That will do as long as they win the season series against the Cards.

Saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last Friday. Not bad, very different. That's the best I can describe it. I had a really difficult time comparing the two versions. Johnny Depp wasn't as annoying as I thought he would be and I enjoyed the added layers of depth to the title character even if the flashbacks were a bit cheesy.

A dutiful Hi-Plains reader informed me that I left out The Dukes of Hazzard in my most disappointing summer stakes. I can't believe I missed it. My first ever car was a modification of the General Lee, pictured above, and I even rode in one of the originals when I was about seven, so there's no excuse. But this remake has very little to live up to, other than political incorrectness in which case it has far less work to do than Bad News Bears, so I make the Dukes the longest shot yet to be disappointing at 7-1. Sure it takes place in modern day and stars Jessica Simpson, but it should be guilty pleasure all around.

Beyond that, I came to two important realizations today. The first one I can't remember, but the second came to me after work when I had my ears plugged in to my iPod and a co-worker asked me what I was listening to. I replied: "The new White Stripes album." That's not a bad answer because their new album is phenomenal, but what if I had been listening to a guilty pleasure? What if Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night" or "Fields of Fire" by Big Country had been playing? I would've seemed like a big dork and I like to think I'm not.

This made me realize that my stock answer from now on to the question of what I'm listening to will be Johnny Cash. This seems like the perfect encapsulation of my musical tastes: a dash hipster, a tad traditional. A little bit country, a little rock and roll. Young and old. Urban and rural all rolled into one. Everyone loves Johnny but still feels they're sharing a secret with you. It's not like saying "Well, I'm listening to the Beatles." Yeah, you and everyone else buddy. But Johnny, oh Johnny, he's like the not-so-secret secret we all share. You can't go wrong with Cash. People love Elvis and hate Elvis, but nobody hates "Ring of Fire," and if you do, don't bother to write, you're just wrong.