Showing posts with label March Madness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label March Madness. Show all posts

Monday and a new week begins...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, March 12, 2012 4 Of Your Sparks

Tonight on Music On The Couch I welcome Sandy Atkinson. Her new album Collection is filled with blues of all kinds; electric, acoustic, blues rock, jazz-influenced blues, and ballads.

I will sit with Sandy and discuss her career, her new album and the road she is traveling.

Then Boy Wells takes his seat on The Couch.

Boy Wells started playing guitar at the age of 16 when he heard a Duane Allman solo on The Allman Brothers Band classic, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”

He has a new album entitled Blue Skies Calling. I will sit with Boy and discuss his difficult road and where he is today while playing tunes from the album.

"Musicians You Should Know"


Today, all over the United States people are looking at their computers, beginning the pursuit of the holy grail. The perfect March Madness bracket. One in which their selections earn them the points needed to win the pool they have joined.

Check that, to win the POOLS they have joined. I know few people who do not join at least one pool.

One friend, who is a HUGE college basketball fan does a bracket, but it is only for his own satisfaction and joy.

I will do one or two in 'fun' leagues - where no money is wagered or won and one pool that benefits the booster club for Matt's former HS Baseball team.

How many pools do you enter?


LOL, in the background the TV has the movie "Social Network" is playing and the just showed the scene where Zuckerberg tells Edwardo that "The Facebook" will never be finished...this as they roll out the new Timeline format, which has caused many people to be upset.

I guess some people feel like they can never sit still and let something just mature...well except those who distill Jack Daniels and fine wine...


Watched "Game Change" on Saturday. Very much enjoyed it...I think John McCain would be sitting in the White House right now if he had made a better choice for Vice-President.

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Musical Monday On The Couch

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, March 22, 2010 4 Of Your Sparks


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MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010
10pm Eastern - 9pm Central - 8pm Mountain - 7pm Pacific

CMorris

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This week:
CHARLIE MORRIS
SITS ON
THE COUCH

Charlie Morris, guitar player extraordinaire, will join us to talk about his musical journey and where the road ahead is leading him.

As I reviewed on The Big Leather Couch in January 2009 - "He knows how to pick a guitar and make it sing. There is that down-home blues/rock and roll quality about his songs that makes my feet begin tapping as soon as he hits the first note. In concert, he and the band have that funky tightness that might remind you of bands like Little Feat."

Fresh from another tour of Switzerland (his 10th year doing so), Charlie will be calling in from Florida with stories of the tour. As always, we will share music from Charlie and the band and I will take your calls at 1.347.633.9400.

The live interactive chat room opens 20 minutes before show time. Follow this link HERE and click on the Chat Now icon.

Remember, unless you take the two minutes to register, you will not be able to participate in the chat room or send me questions to ask Charlie, but you will still hear the show.

So tune in on Monday evening or, you can always listen anytime after the show ends from the player HERE or the one over on the top left and you can download from my iTunes page HERE. You can even subscribe there and the show will be downloaded to your iTunes every week...no muss no fuss


Excellent news...Mr. Chris Huff was released from the hospital yesterday and is now home with his loving wife and beautiful daughter. I am hopeful we can arrange a new date for Chris to sit on The Couch very soon.

I know he appreciates all the good thoughts sent his way.


Tomorrow, pictures of the infamous meeting last week with Annie & Burl and Kimmehkins - though she did not include ANY of herself when she sent me the shots...GIRL...Get me a picture with YOU in it!


How badly did your NCAA Bracket get blown apart this weekend? All I kept hearing in my head was Bill Murray from the movie "Stripes" when they are asked where their Sargent is and Murray yells "BLOWN UP SIR!!!" cause mine took a flaming dive with the ouster of G'Town and Texas and then Kansas (even though I still have W. Virginia winning the whole thing)

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Tuesday...Dancing, Ruby and otherwise...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, March 17, 2009 20 Of Your Sparks

Remember to get over and visit TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts", because NO ONE does a DWTS recap like our buddy Travis...





Went into the archives because last week I showed these pots empty and cold looking. Click on the logo above to see the other lovers of Mary/The Teach's weekly photo meme...

This is from the past summer...the deck at Nancy's...when the flowers are beautiful! And there is some green in there for the St. Paddy's day theme...



So, I made the post copy bold and added a slight tint behind it to make it easier on the eyes.

Other than that...any suggestions, loves, hates, cash?

It looks like a food blog will be forthcoming...now that it is in my brain, I am liking the idea more and more. As I said, it will not be a five day a week posting...more like one and two some weeks.


It is that time of year again...and I know many of you have your pools you are in every year, but if you are looking for ONE MORE...then, maybe this one is for you...

The March Madness Pool is back and it will, once again, help raise funds for the continued success of the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South Baseball Program.

Over the last 6 years, a total exceeding $5000 has been raised. The donations have helped build dugouts, buy a scoreboard and purchase equipment to help improve the skills of the players. In addition it has provided scholarships for players who have difficulty participating in the teams annual spring training trip.

The pool will be managed on the CBS Sports Line website.

There will be a $20 entrance fee with the distribution of your donation as follows:

$10 will be donated to the West Windsor-Plainsboro Pirate Baseball Team
$10 will go towards the bracket pool

If you participated in our pool in previous years, you can log on to the CBS Sports Line web site using your previous user id and password. There are instructions on the web site to help recover them if you cannot remember them. The other alternative is to create a new account. If you have any questions, please email

You can email me for the password and League ID

The pool distribution will be as follows.
1. 70% Winner Share
2. 20% Runner-up
3. 10% Third place

You must be at least 21 years old to play. This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the West Windsor-Plainsboro School System.

Please make checks payable to the WWPHS Pirate Baseball Booster Club. Checks must be received by March 28th.

I will send you the snail mail address to send the check.


I made something for the first time this weekend...it is called "Deer Duey"...Do you know what it is? Do you have a guess?

Well, it will be the subject of my first new food blog...which will happen soon...

bwahahahahahahaha...


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LIVE BROADCAST: March 17, 2009 @ 9 PM ET
PODCAST AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:
Immediately following the live broadcast
Become a Radio Happy Hour subscriber
Add to iTunes
for free !
This week on Dr. Blogstein’s
Radio Happy Hour:

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Stacey Oristano plays “Mindy Collette” on NBC’s critically acclaimed drama, Friday Night Lights.

Her character is described as a “stripper with a heart of gold.”


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Jamie Masada, founder of the world famous Laugh Factory comedy club, is calling on Congress to act immediately on a $700 Thousand Comedy Bail-Out.





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Brian Fischler is a legally blind comedian.
The one-time Maxim Magazine Comedian of the Month is the Founder/President of Comedians Unite For Sight, a not for profit that produces Laugh For Sight, a yearly comedy benefit that raises money for retinal degenerative eye diseases.

  • Justin the Weatherman delivers a forecast
  • A quick and dirty March Madness preview with Chris Datres
  • and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804


Hope you scrolled all the way down for a treat...a well written song, the perfect pairiing and the most incredible interpretation...usually credited to Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt. The lyrics were written by Gus Kahn. This is the version recorded by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald in New York on August 25, 1950 and released on Decca 27209.

ENJOY....







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Dear Bond's Boss...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Wednesday, March 12, 2008 19 Of Your Sparks



TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
<-----------------------------------------------
Build your vocabulary, feed the hungry...
21,957,026,530 grains donated at this point!


Yup....We is sick....rapid test came back 'no flu', but Doc hit me with the Tamiflu and Augmentin and a 'sinus-cocktail' in the upper right arse cheek and the words "Can you work from home?"
"Yes"
"Do so for the rest of the week..."

And then he actually gave me a note! "Excuse From School/Work" note ....bwahahahahahahahah

Anyhow..we did work most of the afternoon...which was not fun...ended up giving instructions on how to use a vendor-partner's web site....sigh....

We really hate this...now, tell me there is no work and we are feeling great and the sun is out and it is a beautiful day (as it was today) and WOOOOO

But to have to stay in and pretty much - in bed - well that really sucks...

We are fine Mom....Kiss

darlin' Nancy took us to the doctor's....it was very sweet of her to ask...



OK...how come only ONE person pointed out the typo in one of our Message In A Bottle meme's below? huh?

And that one person sent us an email to point it out ....we told him me actually meant Mever...that it is a special word to us ... he did not buy it....

OK...OK...you were so overwhelmed by the sentiment that you never even saw the typo...that's it ..... right?...right...right?

bwahahaahahahahahahaha - guess we will have to fix that one...



Sorry...just sneezed...excuse me while we grab a tissue...

OK, back...We have ants in the apartment...mainly upstairs in the bedroom...We just cleaned the whole place, so it is not our messiness...good thing the pest-control comes today...One of the hassles of apartment living....



Thinking about your "March Madness Brackets" yet??? We know Travis is...This is one that we have never done real well in....sure we get through some of the early rounds then we blow up!

Have never really followed College Basketball in the past, but now living here in the Mid-South where it is huge - and especially so this year with the great run by the Memphis Tigers - and new friends who are big Ole Miss fans - well, let's say we are more attuned to the dynamics of the teams than we have been...

does that mean we should do better this year?...NOT A FREAKIN' CHANCE....

does it mean we are not going to give it a try?...NOT A FREAKIN' CHANCE...we will be in somewhere....

OK...rambling now...Feeling light-headed...(and not in the charmin' normal way either!)...



Music...music...music...

We just looked and we have not played anything from this incredible group. THE IMPRESSIONS while Curtis Mayfield was writing much of their music and leading the group...

"People Get Ready" was released in 1965 as a single and aslso the title track to the follow-up album. The single reached #3 on the Billboard R&B Chart and #14 on the Billboard Pop Chart. The gospel-influenced track displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in Mayfield's writing.

Rolling Stone magazine named the song the "24th greatest song of all time". The song was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Enjoy...





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The weekend comes to an end

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, March 27, 2006 0 Of Your Sparks

Well.. what a fleeting weekend... it was over before it began it feels like.

I guess this is what happens when you are selling your home and spend half your life cleaning and prepping for people to come and look.

We had another open house on Sunday, so Saturday we were outside doing some cleanup and Sunday morning the inside cleaning. Then, pack the car with the dog and off we go to waste 3 hours of our time. Went looking for some townhouses. The power of a picture is incredible..what looks great can be the dumps...

Now, why do people go into a home to look and open the drawers of the owners? I understand lookIng in cabinets and closets, but why do you need to be looking in my dresser drawer? Are you really interested in what color my boxer briefs are????

My brother RICHARD is an editor at the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWSPAPER and he and a few others there have come up with a blog idea that is a gas. You must check out their TIME WASTERS and especially their newest entry. It really does make you smile...

March Madness is certainly just that this year, without a #1 moving into the final four. A 2,3, 4 and wait...typo alert?...nope that is accurate..a #11!!! GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY has made an incrediible run through the bracket this year and deserve a standing ovation. NOW, if you have G.M. on your sheet going to the final four, it is time to purchase that MEGA-MILLIONS ticket today!

It is JACK BAUER night... 24 starting at 9:00pm eastern.

Love American Idol? Big fan of TAYLOR HICKS? Then check out the OFFICIAL SOUL PATROL website. Some incredible pictures there, along with forums and a brand new chat room area.

Off to actually do some work now...it appears this blog is my favorite TIME WASTER...

Has Barry Bonds retired yet? No? Too bad.


Keep that spark of insanity kids...it helps keep you an individual.

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Monday Moments

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, March 20, 2006 0 Of Your Sparks

Good Monday to all....

So, The USA is out of the World Baseball Classic. Two teams in the final... CUBA & JAPAN... Now, I am thinking about this on the train this morning and I actually think it is a good thing. If the USA had breezed through and kicked everyone else’s butts...well then the magic might be gone from the res tof the world. USA gets knocked out and it builds BUD's little World Game up.

Message to the INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITEE... OK folks, wanna go through why you cancelled Baseball as a sport? Or for that case... Softball? What, the USA is too tough in these sports? hummmmm....what do you think now dudes and dudettes of the IOC?
Wondering why sports that other countries dominate in never get spoken about regarding dissolving them?

FIFTIES WEEK for the American Idol Contestants... should be a fun week. I think that Lisa might be in the crosshairs as should Kevin, but his fan base is still very strong.

How are you doing in your basketball pool? I have 30 games correct and I am sitting in TWENTY-FIFTH PLACE in my pool! I guess it is not bad for someone who does not even follow college hoops.

Need to bow my head here for a second and say a prayer for my friend Ed's family. Ed passed this Saturday of Leukemia... A great man with an incredible sense of humor...you will be missed my friend...

Jack Bauer continues on his mission to save the world this evening... Love the concept...love the show...

Another day... remember to smile all the time...even when it hurt, because that is when it most useful.

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Ah... Friday

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Friday, March 17, 2006 0 Of Your Sparks

Well.. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all....

So, the US team is out of the World baseball Classic... why am I not surprised... Now we can get down to some real baseball... I mean did ANYONE stay awake until 4:00am to watch any of those Japan/Korea matches?

I see the FCC fined CBS and it's affiliates for showing teenagers in semi-dress, partying and alluding to sex during an episode of "WITHOUT A TRACE". So, a show that airs at 10:00pm with the premise that teens need to be watched closer by their parent s gets fined?
Really now... let's think about this...Oprah had a show where it was discussed in graphic detail what happens at teen sex parties and she was not fined because it was educational. The same information on "Without A Trace" is indecent... say it with me...HUMMMMM
A man touches a woman's chest on "Will & Grace" is funny, but the same thing on "A Surreal Life" is indecent. (OK, I know the whole concept of that show is indecent, but that is another story).
Has the FCC completely lost their minds? Do they understand their job is not to cower before a small group of zealots, but to represent all of the people of the US? Something needs to be done here or they will continue to get even more close-minded.

Big Dance is going on... as usual, I grabbed a sheet and picked...Should be funny, as I have little interest in College Hoops, but will put a few sheckles down to make it interesting.

Players Championship going on now... love that tournament. Most likely since I actually have played the TPC Sawgrass Course. Will you be able to find me on the couch this Sunday watching...

Well... I will touch base with you over the weekend.

Hope you enjoy the rants...

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Music On The Couch