Blogcritics Author: Dr. Blogstein

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Pepsi Presents: Sellout Ball

Dr. Blogstein — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:12:08 EST

This morning, the Mets held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new ballpark named CitiField. The name, of course, is derived from CitiGroup, the company that purchased naming rights from the Mets for a cool $20 million per year.At first I was outraged that my Mets would sell out and become the first New York team to play in a corporate sponsored stadium. However, over time, I’ve come to terms with the cold, harsh reality that money rules the world. I’m also making my way towards the point of embracing the cold, harsh reality that money rules the world. I’m thinking, why stop at stadiums?If I were a company, I’d inquire about buying naming rights from Major League Baseball for Major League Baseball. Imagine Starbucks League Baseball where the Starbucks World Series is played between the winner of the Caffeinated League (obviously the new name for the American League what with its DH and all) and the Decaffeinated League.How about signage on the bases? The catcher would set up behind Home Depot Plate. The batter would hit the ball and run to First National Bank Base, then onto Buick presents Second Base and he’ll slide safely into 3Com Base for a triple.I would also want to buy naming rights to the players. I’d sign up these players right out of high school. The ones with more promise would demand more money. Imagine the public address announcer in Citi Field saying “Now batting, for the Dunkin Donuts Red Sox, First National Bank Baseman, Kevin ‘You’re in Good Hands with All-State Insurance’ Youkilis.”As long as we’re selling out, why not go all the way?

Dr. Blogstein is the web destination for all those who like serious satire and opinionated coverage of current events, entertainment, politics and sports. He's a genius and he proves it time and time again.

Ryan Seacrest is an Undercover CIA Operative

Dr. Blogstein — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 07:18:12 EST

The title of this piece is ridiculous and obviously not true (I think). However, it is there to demonstrate a point.A new book claims famed escape artist Harry Houdini was a spy for Scotland Yard, monitored Russian anarchists, and chased counterfeiters for the U.S. Secret Service. According to The Secret Life of Houdini, the magician used his act as a front for his real career in espionage and law enforcement.All of this is fascinating and is making big news today, a full 80 years after the death of Houdini. There is probably nobody left alive who had ever watched Houdini perform, yet we all know who Houdini was. And we're all intrigued by these new revelations.Is there anyone alive today you think we'll be interested in 80 years after they die? I've been thinking about it all day and can't come up with a single one.Maybe Madonna. Maybe.They don't make famous people like they used to. Guys like Harry Houdini and Babe Ruth were larger than life. They were legends while they were still living. Celebrities of today are lame and disposable.Are our great-great grandkids going to care when a book comes out proving Ryan Seacrest was an undercover CIA operative using American Idol auditions as a front to hunt down terrorists? No. They'll probably ask, "Ryan who?" Will they care when the definitive Oprah biography claims she was the driving force behind the War in Iraq?We are still in awe of Harry Houdini -- a man who has been dead for almost thirty years longer than he was alive. Who will our great-great grandchildren be in awe of?Probably Harry Houdini.

Superman Returned But What Is With the Suit?!?

Dr. Blogstein — Tue, 4 Jul 2006 19:26:36 EDT

I have a problem with Superman.The movie, Superman Returns, was good. I enjoyed it quite a bit even though it may have been a good 40 minutes too long.I thought Brandon Routh was an excellent choice to play the "Man of Steel" even though at times he looked like a mannequin. Kate Bosworth made a believable Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey was at his best as the evil Lex Luthor.The movie and its cast were not my problem. I had a problem suspending my disbelief at certain points throughout the film, though not when you might think.I can accept that Superman came from another planet. I can buy that he can fly, has x-ray vision and super strength. I can even believe that nobody can figure out that Superman is Clark Kent. But what is with the suit?!?How can a man in blue tights, red underoos and a red cape can go around fighting crime and be taken seriously? It bothers me that in all the years that Lois Lane has been covering Superman she never once asked him what the deal was with his uniform.I'm also troubled by how Superman gets that suit on. Does Clark Kent wear the Superman outfit under his business suit? If so, how does he get his shirt over the cape? And when he quickly changes into Superman, what happens to his business suit? Does it lay in a wrinkled heap on the floor of the phone booth? Does Superman have to retrieve his clothing when he once again disguises himself as a mild mannered reporter?If this stuff bugs me, then perhaps I'm too old for Superman. And if that's the case, thank goodness for Jack Bauer! No matter how old I get, I like to have a hero.

Bonds' 715th Shows How Far We've Come

Dr. Blogstein — Mon, 29 May 2006 22:40:39 EDT

Lost in the hoopla and/or outrage over Barry Bonds hitting his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth into second place on the all-time home run list is what that hoopla and/or outrage says about how far we've come as a nation.In 1935 when Babe Ruth, then of the Boston Braves, hit his 714th home run, African Americans weren't even allowed to play baseball with white people. They had their own league, the Negro League.Then in 1973, Henry "Hank" Aaron began closing in on The Babe's precious record. As the chase for 714 and beyond began heating up, so did the pens and pencils of thousands of racists across America. Aaron received hate mail and death threats, sent to try to intimidate him, so perhaps he would quit before overtaking Ruth. Here is a sampling of those racist letters, courtesy of ESPN.com:"Dear Nigger Henry,You are (not) going to break this record established by the great Babe Ruth if I can help it. ... Whites are far more superior than jungle bunnies. . My gun is watching your every black move." "Dear Henry Aaron, How about some sickle cell anemia, Hank?"Instead of being intimidated, Aaron was motivated and on April 8, 1974, in front of 53,775 Atlanta Braves fans, he hit 715 and took over first place on the all-time home run list.Today it's 2006 and again it seems that nobody wanted Barry Bonds to hit more homers than Babe Ruth. Bonds has been mercilessly booed and heckled in every visiting ballpark he's played in. He's been vilified and asked to retire and I'm sure he's received his fair share of death threats and hate mail. But what makes this different than 32 years ago, is that the hatred does not come from Bonds being a black man. It comes from Bonds being a cheating bastard.Bonds used performance enhancing drugs. Its as obvious as the number 25 on the back of his jersey. Bonds is also -- for lack of a better word -- a prick. He's nasty to his fans, he's nasty to the press and as reported by the best-selling book Game of Shadows, he wasn't that great to his teammates, family or friends either.Nobody wanted Bonds to hit his 715th career home run yesterday and nobody wants him to play long enough to approach Aaron's 755. But what's great about this is that people don't want him to do it, NOT because he's black, they don't want him to do it because he's an asshole.We've come a long way as a nation, and for that, we should be proud.

Book Review: Takedown by Brad Thor

Dr. Blogstein — Fri, 26 May 2006 19:24:22 EDT

Takedown, the latest thriller by super-author Brad Thor, was shipped early by Amazon.com. I'm not sure whether that was by design or by mistake, but either way I was excited to receive it earlier this week. My plan was to read it during my holiday weekend trip to the beach. My plan failed.It's no secret to regular readers of Dr. Blogstein (hi, Nana Blogstein!) that Brad Thor ranks top shelf in my bookcase, so it shouldn't come as a shock that I couldn't resist starting the book. So I popped it open and before I knew it I was halfway into it. At that point, there was no stopping me. Takedown is awesome. I read it in two sittings. You've got to get it.Takedown is about a systematic and highly coordinated attack on New York City by Al-Qaeda for the purpose of rescuing one of their own. But what I didn't realize is that the attack on NYC occurs in the beginning of the book! What follows is a harrowing mission through a devastated Manhattan to bring the terrorists involved to justice by counterterrorism hero Scot Harvath and a group of random soldiers he was able to recruit along the way.But, the best part of Takedown is a little man known as "The Troll." Be honest now, who doesn't love a midget villain?The Troll is a tiny, evil Scottish dude who keeps huge, rideable dogs as pets and peddles intelligence to the highest bidder. In this case, the highest bidder is Al-Qaeda. Not since White Castle introduced the Slyder has something so small caused so much damage. With all the action and scary thrills in Takedown, The Troll steals the show.But, hey, don't take my word for it, I'm just a doctor. Let others tell you too: Bookgasm says, "Takedown served as my first experience with Thor's work, and the kick-to-the-testes ending all but guarantees it won't be my last," while The Tennessean of Nashville says, "If you're the type who enjoys the TV show 24 and other high-octane thrillers, Takedown is the summer book for you."