1. Here’s Mario Tarradell’s review of U2’s show last night at Cowboys Stadium. Skip to the last paragraph for the only thing he had to actually attend the show to write. Skip to another review if you want to learn anything about the show, beyond generic platitudes and boiler-plate. Seriously, guys: Hunter Hauk. He’s right there in the same building.
2. A Fort Worth man was sentenced to 25 years in the fatal beating of his 18-month-old stepson. Why did he do it? The boy — who, again, was 18 MONTHS OLD — spilled food on the carpet. I’m sorry. Did I wake up in an alternate universe where the phrase “life in prison without the hope or prayer of parole” is pronounced “25 years”? Because if I didn’t, then I’m confused as to how a man with a history of violence could punch an 18-month-old child to death for spilling food on the carpet and get 25 years, with a shot at parole in half that time. I don’t care if he’s remorseful. I don’t care if it was an accident. You can explain it to me however you like; not bending on this.
(Sorry. Got off on a bit of a rant there. Let’s all take a moment and catch our breath. I’ll try to leave you with something a bit more positive.)
3. How about a picture of Oprah at the State Fair, wearing a cowboy hat and eating a corn dog?
10 comments
That poor corn dog never had a chance.
And let’s hope Mr. Parker gets everything he deserves during his incarceration.
I have wondered if you actually have a vendetta against MT. After reading the U2 review, I see that you DO NOT. He’s a horrible writer. In addition to the Bono = Messiah section, my “favorite” parts:
The floor, which was standing-room-only and surrounded the mammoth stage, was an ocean of human beings.
Then we have that platform contraption. Let’s call it a spaceship merged with a spider, its four claw-like structures flanking a circular riser and an outer ring.
#2, Yep, Zac, we live in a world where three strikes can put an offender behind bars for 25 years (no parole) for theft of a Snickers, but another can be out in time to go OCD on a baby for dropping a bowl of Jello. (Sidedish, please weigh in on food and crime in Texas…)
#1? U2’s best Dallas show? That would be the Bijoux on NW Hwy (now an Applebees). They opened for a wet t-shirt contest. One album and a pending EP. That was awesomeness.
#3…Steve Blow just doesn’t get Oprah’s popularity. Sunnyvale has spoken.
Ah yes; another in a long line of incredibly awful pieces put out by the DMN that is supposed to count as music criticism.
Their pop music reviews have been just this side of ridiculous for about 20 years now.
Best U2 show ever was in 1982 at University of Illinois in the Rotunda on the Quad. They had just come out with the album October. The ads in the student newspaper said something goofy like “The last hope to save rock and roll.” Bono went by Bono Vox back then and had long hair (and no sunglasses). He wore black cowboy boots with his jeans tucked into the boots. He had a red bandanna rolled and wrapped around one boot, which kept sliding down during the performance (causing him to keep stooping over to tug it back up). The small stage was elevated only about three feet, and we were all crowded around the stage. They gave a totally awesome garage band performance. (It was short. They barely had any songs back then.) Bono pulled about eight people onto the stage near the end and it turned into a big dance fest. Best performance ever.
I’m sorry. Did I wake up in an alternate universe where the phrase “one-two punch” is pronounced “leaving you with something positive”? Because if I didn’t, then I’m confused as to how any image of Oprah Winfrey, let alone one of her in a cowboy hat and eating a corn dog* at the State Fair of Texas, is supposed to cheer me up. I don’t care if it was an oversight. I don’t care if you’re remorseful.
_____________________________________
* Which she calls a “corn doggie,” ostensibly by way of laying on a thick Texas drawl. Oh, the lightness in my frickin’ heart!
P.S. Amanda, everything you just said is wrong.
I applaud your courage, Daniel.
Dear Daniel,
You just miss all the fussin’ and fightin’ on this, the kinder, gentler Frontburner Lite. *
*trademark pending**
** format ripped off from Daniel
Love,
Me
#2 – Parker’s strategy must be to plead out, make a deal and hope that some attention starved, aging hippie in Austin comes up with a theory that 18 month old children can slip on spilled jello and punch themselves in the stomach hard three times on the way down causing accidental death.