Links

Menomena, 'Mines' [Tunes]: The Portland based trio, Menomena, are the artisanal bakers of the music world, painstakingly crafting hundreds of musical loops using its own self-created music software to eventually pattern songs together. Would you expect anything less from a band that named itself after that famous Sesame Street Tune? The new album took three and a half years to put together, and will be streaming at NPR until its release on July 27th.

The Miseducation of LeBron James: An inside peek at the melodrama of LeBron James' free agency, including how Coach K nearly left him off off the Beijing Olympic Team due to his immaturity. This summer's biggest trends: 1) Wayfarer Sunglasses, 2) Cut-off shorts, 3) Dissing LeBron.

Your City in Zelda Format: Check out your city in the form of a 1980's Nintendo video game, with fully functioning GPS, and surprising detail on parks, street names, etc. There are ten cities currently online (ranging from Austin to Paris)...apparently 8-bit is the new Mac product.

The Wrist Bone's Connected to the....Hamstring?: An interesting write-up on Tim Hudson and how Tommy John surgery has given him more strength in his arm than he's had in years. With TJ surgeries being commonplace and successful enough that pitchers routinely throw faster after surgery, we've flown right past the "we can rebuild him" concept from the Six-Million Dollar Man. Not surprisingly, Tim Hudson is making Ten Million Dollars this year.

Peter Venkman Will See You Now: An interview with Bill Murray, the one where he doesn't give any answers, doesn't remember anyone, and stays as mysterious, and therefore as intriguing, as ever. Is it me or has Bill Murray turned into the Dalai Lama of the modern world? Everything he says is touched with zen - none of it makes any sense and yet he seems to be the only one speaking the truth. Also, Ghostbusters 3 may or may not happen. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

They're Back: Speaking of comebacks, MTV announces the return of Beavis and Butthead. No confirmation yet on when the highly anticipated Jersey Shore episode will be revealed.

They're Just (Not) Like You: There was a time when Sports Illustrated's annual athlete earnings edition made the front page of the magazine, and America would be shocked to hear about how Mike Schmidt would make $3000 per at bat. Nowadays the numbers are simply impossible to comprehend. I have the same reaction to hearing that Tiger made $90M last year as I do to hearing that our deficit is in the trillions. Inconceivable.

It's a Triple Crown of Some Sort: After Sweet Lou Pinella announces his retirement, a reporter reminisces fondly of an interview with the man...at a urinal....while holding a lit cigarette.....while holding a turkey and swiss hogie in hand. Pretty impressive, Sweet Lou should have a fine career ahead of him giving corporate seminars on multi-tasking.

Benny the Bull Mistaken as "Bloods" Gangmember: This report on the Bulls mascot being attacked at an amusement park by an enraged couple brings up only one question: what the hell kind of place is Odyssey Fun World? Color me terrified.

Thank Goodness His Name Wasn't "Heady O'Hallahan": The left arm of Lefty O'Doul was returned to the San Francisco bar bearing his name after some dudes from Iowa stole it, flew it on a plane back to Des Moines, and snapped photos partying with it on a three year joyride through the Midwest.

Some people think this drummer is at the wrong gig. I think he's at exactly the right place at the right time. Enjoy: