Rock Banding

Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune

If you're not a resident of Illinois, give thanks this election season. In a state that's trying [and succeeding] to catch up to California in terms of debt and budget crises, we've been left with candidates that all have their hair caught up somehow in the political machines that run the Land of Lincoln. And with all of the hundreds of cheap political ads airing during commercial breaks currently [unfortunately no Illinoisians have kicked children in the face], it could not be a better time to have the newest installment of Harmonix's Rock Band franchise arrive.


In addition to an impressive setlist [25 or 6 to 4, Freebird, Bohemian Rhapsody... yes please!], Rock Band 3 also includes a few new features. As in The Beatles: Rock Band, there can now be up to 3 people singing in harmony [Good Vibrations] at once. A new peripheral was introduced as well: the keyboard. So now any song with a piano part has a home, too. So including the original guitar/bass/drums combo, at any given time you can have 7 people rocking out. We may need a bigger television.


And for those that want to learn the guitar, if you can find a $150 RB3 Fender Mustang or Squier Stratocaster that's not out of stock, Rock Band 3 will teach you how to play all of the songs on the disc. I don't think I'm quite there yet... I'll rest on my plastic-button laurels for now.


Last week in a final goodbye to Rock Band 2, a few Rockers gathered at my place to tackle the Endless Setlist II. It took almost 6.5 hours to play through the 84 songs on the disc, but in the end victory was ours. I'm itching to schedule a day for Endless Setlist III... but first I need to find a good deal on that keyboard. C'mon Black Friday!

Endless Setlist II complete!

Past Blast: Cefalù

A piazza on the Mediterranean

Located in the center of Sicily's north coast, Cefalù is a small yet frequently touristed city. It has an odd mix of buildings, thanks to the Normans [French] stopping by Sicily on their way back from crusading in the 11th century. Although the medieval and modern day Cefalù are directly on the sea, the remains of the original ancient Cefalù sit on an impregnable rocky hill overlooking the bay. There are a series of winding paths atop the hill, and the ruins are perfect for soaking up some Sicilian sun.

Hills, beaches, sea... it's all good

Just looking at any of my Sicily pictures can take me away from a dreary, breezy midwestern autumn day. The entire week we were there, it was 70+ degrees and sunny. Despite mafioso risks, Sicily is a must-visit for all at some point.

A view of the new from the ruins

Taste of Rome

Nothing too crazy today, just an old video I shot on a typical walk from our Hotel in Rome to our studio... The school recently purchased a newer studio, as well as student apartments, so soon this route will be outdated. However, I'll still remember when the walk was uphill- both ways. And watch out for motorini!

Past Blast: Trieste

The Castle Miramare

Trieste is located in far northeast Italy, facing Venice from across the top of the Adriatic Sea. It is also along Italy's border with Slovenia, and it became part of Italy only after WWI. Its multicultural heritage is clearly seen among the numerous Roman ruins, Austro-Hungarian downtown, and Venice-like waterfront.

A long, 4-mile stone-paved coastal walk called the Barcola leads from downtown Trieste to the Castle Miramare. Originally built for a Habsburg Archduke, the castle stands on a point looking out at the Adriatic and is surrounded by an extensive garden.

Trieste's Municipio

Downtown, the Piazza Unità d'Italia [The Plaza of United Italy] is said to be Europe's largest open urban space facing a body of water [mmm... qualifiers!]. Guidebooks only called it Italy's largest piazza. Either way, the sea breeze kept the plaza nice and cool. The city's Municipio [City Hall] dominates the short closed end of the space. There is a funicular train up the hills around the city as well, allowing for grand panoramic views of the city and sea.


For a day trip between Italy and Slovenia, Trieste worked. I still remember the pesto & salami lunch we enjoyed on the Barcola hike, and the downtown is small enough to see in a few hours. If you stay the night, you can watch the sun set over the Adriatic Sea, this being the only city in Italy you can do so.

Sunset!

Smarter than the Average Phone

The Motorola Backflip

After 3+ years of owning the cutting-edge Razr phone V3, the battery had dwindled to a point that I needed a trip to my friendly local AT&T outlet bazaar [side note: I recently saw a 2005 episode of How I Met Your Mother featuring a Razr. And that was 2 years before I got mine]. Although there was a bit of a wait due to so many people trying to pack it like an Apple Store, we found out that 'upgrading' to a smart phone only requires the added data plan... so after purchasing their finest, cheapest smartphone and data service plan I was officially part of the 21st century again.

I could have obtained an iPhone for a similar price, but already was leaning [due to some Mark-brainwashing?] toward an Android. So far I've used it almost exclusively on wifi networks, where it helped me keep track of da Bears when out of town last weekend. Haven't downloaded too many apps: so far only Twidroyd [twitter], Gmail, and Google Skymap [I'll let you know next time I'm somewhere I can see the stars clearly].


For now, I'm keeping Facebook and Foursquare off... The former I may as well save for my computer, and the latter still seems a bit TMI for me. Although I do love 'achieving' things. We'll see; if it turns out to be more convenient to pop on Foursquare to figure out where everybody is, things may change.


Also took care of my lack of portable digital camera... I tried it out this past Columbus Day golfing with Grandma. FYI: her tee shot here landed on the green, and she got par [3]. Not bad for 80 years young.

Right down the middle!

Join or Die

Paul Giamatti as J.A.

We've been on a history kick recently. After uncovering the still-plastic-wrapped John Adams HBO miniseries at my parents' house, Cas and I decided to give it a go. It definitely lived up to the hype I had heard; although anything based on a David McCullough book can't go too wrong. I found the earlier episodes dealing with the Boston Massacre, Declaration of Independence, and early ambassadorships the most interesting. It's easy to forget that it was just a group of educated, principled colonists that got the ball rolling. At the time, it was treason and meant fighting the most powerful empire in the world.

David Morse as G.W.

Rather than just presenting history as it unfolded, the miniseries also illustrates John and Abigail's relationship, as well as down-to-earth representations of Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington [although it appears even back then G.W. was kind of a god-among-men due to his quiet humility and simple dedication to the principles of the new land]. Seeing Franklin as an Enlightened-Scientist/Ladies-Man gives hope for today's Nobel Prize winners.


Unlike most of today's blind 'Merica patriotism, John Adams presents a founding-fathers story that makes you appreciate and proud of the country we live in. It wasn't all perfect- people were vain, power-hungry, and jealous. John Adams clearly wasn't a perfect father figure. The Continental Congress danced around the issue of slavery, leaving it as something their descendants would have to figure out on their own time. Which is why it is not surprising we were soon watching Ken Burns' epic film series The Civil War. But I'll save that dispute for another day.

Past Blast: Napa Valley

View of Napa Valley, from J. Phelps Vineyards

It's hard to be in Italy for so long and not leave with an appreciation for Vino. So I had an opportunity a couple years back to visit USA's answer to Tuscany: the Sonoma & Napa Valleys just north of San Francisco. Today just features a couple of the Napa wineries we visited, perhaps Sonoma will get her own post on down the line.

Inside J. Phelps; I'll take a barrel to go, please

Our first stop of the day was a winery my friend Rob had set his eyes on, famous for their blending capabilities. Instead of just a single grape dominating whatever you're drinking [Cabernet, Merlot, etc.], a blend delicately balances several grape types to produce an all-around tasty beverage. Usually there is no harsh aftertaste or dominating tannins. Joseph Phelps Vineyards produces the much-touted Insignia blend. Set up on the hills above Napa Valley, you get a great view as well as a great tasting. We left the winery with a bottle each of the heftily-priced drink, and I'm still searching for an event worthy of its uncorking! Of course, it's still doing some much-needed aging, so maybe I'll figure something out in a few years.

Inside Mondavi's Winery

After driving along the bottom of the valley along the Napa Valley Wine Train route, we also hit up the Robert Mondavi Winery. Practically a Mecca for wine enthusiasts, Mondavi helped start the entire Napa Valley wine business 40-something years ago. Empty of major wineries since Prohibition, Mondavi built the first in Napa in 1966. 10 years later, his 2 American vintages won in a Paris tasting of red wines from around the world, and Napa was officially on the oenophile map. The main winery is on the valley floor, surrounded by grapevines. Mondavi Winery is large enough for group tours if you want to hear some more of the history, and if you want to peek inside the cask storage buildings.


You can't go wrong in Napa, as long as you have a designated driver. We visited in early Spring to beat the heat & tourist season. The tastings were outstanding; the wines were certainly worthy of Italia. And there are so many wineries, you'll always have something new to see.

Mondavi's Winery, where it all started

Un-Bear-lievable

Atop the NFC...

You'd think I'd learn to just not care at all, eventually. It's the same story, year after year. Da Bears on paper look like nothing special, average at best. Nothing showy, no talking heads addressing them more than 'equal coverage' requires. Sportswriters downplaying all expectations, saying the coaches are on the hot seat, and an expected poor year will finally root them out.


And then the NFL regular season starts, and da Bears start to collect their improbable wins. Victories snatched from the jaws of defeat. Special teams blocking kicks, and returning them to the house. The defense getting that unexpected, last-minute turnover. Coaches and players smiling post-game, saying "I don't want to say I told you so, so Welcome to Miami." Yes, Lovie, that is Chicago Bears football. And here's your contract extension.


Unfortunately, this story ends the same way every year. Luck starts to run out. Just as the pundits begin to hail da Bears as legit, reality comes knocking. While it may not be as much a game of averages as baseball, things do start to even up. In 2006 that didn't happen until after Hester ran the opening kickoff of the Superbowl back for a TD. Last year, da Bears were 3-1 before eventually finishing 7-9. Da Bears turn out to be who we thought they were.


Just once, I'd like to enter a season with confidence as a fan; know what it's like to be an AFC powerhouse team where everyone fears and respects you to a certain degree. Where victories aren't flukes, what-ifs, gifts. Don't get me wrong, da Bears are great entertainment. And I'll tell you they're going to win against whoever is next on the slate. But for now, there's always a part of me just waiting for that oblong ball to bounce the wrong way, like it always eventually does.


C'mon Bears!