July 21, 2009 Archives

July 21, 2009 11:06 PM

You Review Il DivoYou Review Il Divo

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Ladies of Fresno, are you done swooning yet? Il Divo -- the dapper international charp-topping crooners -- were at Save Mart Center on Tuesday night and we'd like to hear what you thought of the show.

Did they sound good? Sing your favorite songs? Put on an engaging show? How was the crowd? Hootin' and hollerin' like a pop show, or quietly sophisticated like they were at the opera? Was it worth the money? Any male Il Divo fans out there? What did you think?

Chime in on any of that and whatever else you want in the comments.

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Mike Oz

July 21, 2009 5:33 PM

Budget bluesBudget blues

I know that the subject of the state budget is not 1) funny; 2) sexy; 3) sardonic; 4) entertainment-related; or 5) just about Fresno. Which are all qualities that drive this blog. But I feel like I have to at least acknowledge the immensity of the event that happened last night in Sacramento when the budget deal was finally hammered together. It's going to impact us all, big-time. And I'm grim about it. The New York Times, always quick to slip on its East Coast beret of peckish paternalism and wax philosophic about the craziness of the Golden State, has already unleashed a story that sort of captures my mood. Jennifer Steinhauer writes:

The California dream is, for now, on hold, as demonstrated by the state budget that lawmakers and the governor agreed upon late Monday. At no point in modern history has the state dealt with its fiscal issues by retreating so deeply in its services, beginning this spring with a round of multibillion-dollar budget cuts and continuing with, in total, some $30 billion in cuts over two fiscal years to schools, colleges, health care, welfare, corrections, recreation and more.
The rest of the nation, which has historically looked to California as a model for fierce economic independence and free-wheeling innovation, may now see that the state looks like every place else -- just with better beaches.

A bulletin on fresnobee.com this afternoon announces a 20% fee increase at Fresno State. (That's on top of a 10% increase already approved in May.) Professors will probably be furloughed, 20% of class sections have been cut for the fall semester, and no new students will be accepted in the spring. And our local university is just one of the casualties.

Continue reading Budget blues.

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Donald Munro

July 21, 2009 4:20 PM

To-Do Tonight: Bartending, boom-bap and a few other thingsTo-Do Tonight: Bartending, boom-bap and a few other things

We're late in the game on this Tuesday afternoon, so it's a good thing we already told you about the Bartender Challenge tonight at Palomino's. That seems like where a big chunk of the young professional crowd will be this evening. (And I bet many young and not-so-young professionals will also be at the Il Divo concert at Save Mart Center).

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Continue reading To-Do Tonight: Bartending, boom-bap and a few other things.

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Mike Oz

July 21, 2009 3:47 PM

SciFi Channel now 27% less watchable, and that's saying somethingSciFi Channel now 27% less watchable, and that's saying something

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Allow me to let my nerd flag fly for a moment, won't you?

It annoys the s*** out of me that the SciFi Channel has changed its name to Syfy.

Apparently, abbreviating the too-geeky phrase "science fiction" to SciFi wasn't hip enough, so the name had to be dumbed down yet further to trick the masses into tuning in to reruns of "Battlestar Galactica" and "Stargate SG-1." What annoys me most is the fact that my brain chooses to read "Syfy" as Sy-fee, and I refuse to watch a channel called "The Sy-fee Channel."

I'm also irritated that Bravo has changed its tagline from "Only on Bravo" to "Only by Bravo," but since I expect Bravo to try too hard to be original, this doesn't bother me as much. Not as much as, say, losing "Project Runway" to Lifetime, for crap's sake.

Admitting publicly that I watch both Syfee and Lifetime has pretty much guaranteed that I'll be single for the rest of my life, but at least I'll have my television to keep me company. From here on out, however, it will be tuned to TNT and the Weather Channel, at least until it changes its name to the "The W.C." or "Temps."

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Heather

July 21, 2009 2:23 PM

I Hate You, Mike Oz: Vol. 6I Hate You, Mike Oz: Vol. 6

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Here's a friendly e-mail in response to last Friday's column proposing a no-talent tax for the likes of T-Pain and Ryan Seacrest. I did also suggest I'd be taxed, so dissing me with my own zingers isn't all that special.

Nonetheless, I will do my best to stay off this gentleman's lawn.

Continue reading I Hate You, Mike Oz: Vol. 6.

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Mike Oz

July 21, 2009 12:58 PM

Talking pointsTalking points

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AMAZON AS BIG BROTHER: I'm a huge fan of Orwell's "1984" and Huxley's "Brave New World" -- what can I say, I have a thing for brilliant dystopian novels -- so my eyes perked up when I saw this headline about a new Amazon scandal. From MSNBC's Helen A.S. Popkin:

Last week, flummoxed Kindle owners came upon the group realization that Amazon went and deleted their downloads of George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" and "Animal Farm" ... and the story just keeps being funny. Seriously. Of all the downloaded books in all the InterWebs, how can it be that these two dystopian classics are the ones that are mysteriously removed. (Beware the two-legged merchants!)

As one customer noted, it'd be like employees of Barnes & Noble coming into your house and removing copies of books you'd bought at the store. I'm fascinated with the idea of Kindle, but it scares me, too. I like my books too much. And now this Amazon-intrusion thing. Can anyone out there talk me into Kindle?

CUSTOMER CARDS: Speaking of invasion of privacy, a letter writer in today's Bee complains that the drug store CVS makes customers apply for a discount card in order to get sale prices on items. Anne Murphy of Clovis writes:

This request to fill out an application to receive items that are advertised as "on sale" disturbs me and seems to be unfair, as well as an invasion of privacy. What do you think?

I agree. But it seems to be the trend. What annoys me as much about the privacy thing is having to carry around all those cards.


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Donald Munro

July 21, 2009 12:55 PM

Here comes the cartoon brideHere comes the cartoon bride

archie.jpgOne of the panels to be held this week at Comic-Con in San Diego will discuss the wedding of Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge. Archie popped the question in issue 600 of their comic book. My money had always been on Betty Cooper and you never know what could happen.

This union could lead to a trend of other comic book characters tying the knot.

Nancy and Sluggo: Although the look 8, they are actually 95 years old. With only a few good years left, they finally wed. The union is short as Sluggo finally admits he can't stand Nancy's hairdo.

Dennis the Menace and Gina Gillotti: Having finally grown to adults, the pair are married in a quiet ceremony in Butte, Mont. The relationship is initially threatened by Margaret Wade who had always thought she would be the wife of the Menace. Margaret decided to break the couple up and seduced Dennis during a business trip to Cancun. When Margaret ends up pregnant, Gina shows Dennis he's not the only one who can be a menace.

Heathcliff and Felix the Cat: The felines travel to New Hampshire for a wedding attended by Garfield, Marmaduke and Krazy Kats.

Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk: Everyone was shocked when these kids got together because they had lived in such different worlds. They met during a battle with aliens and fell head over green heels in love. The latest news is they will star in a new reality show for MTV called "What a Woman."

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Rick Bentley

July 21, 2009 11:04 AM

On TV tonightOn TV tonight

Talent.jpgHere are a few shows to check out tonight:

"America's Got Talent," 8 and 9 p.m. KSEE (Channel 24): The search continues for the performers who will advance to the real showdown in Las Vegas. The structure of this show should be obvious by now. Most of the program is a blend of performers with some skills and those who should only perform in a dark closet. It all leads up to a dramatic finale.

"Big Brother," 9 p.m. KGPE (Channel 47): The big twist for this season was dividing the contestants into high school cliques. That created some natural rivalries. Otherwise, this is the same mix of contests, back-stabbings and conversations hosted by the wooden Julie Chen. If you want a good cure for insomnia check out "Big Brother After Dark" on Showtime. All of the dull moments have been left in the program.

"Tour de France," 9 p.m. Vs.: The bike race is in its final days with Lance Armstrong in second place. Today's stage tests the riders with a long downhill run to the finish. Even if you aren't a fan of cycling, this is the Super Bowl of the sport.

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Rick Bentley

July 21, 2009 10:30 AM

The Great Fresno TweetupThe Great Fresno Tweetup

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The Fresno Grizzlies and The Beehive are partnering for The Great Fresno Tweetup -- a chance for Fresno-area Twitter users to meet, mingle and enjoy a Grizzlies game at The Chuk.

It's happening July 30, which just happens to be a Thirsty Thursday**.

Here's how the Tweetup will work:

  • There will be a special $5 ticket available to local Tweeps. It included a $1 drink ticket good for your first $1 beer or soda.

  • You MUST message the Grizzlies on Twitter (@fresnogrizzlies) and reserve a space for the game. There will be a special will-call table to pick up tickets.

  • Everybody gets a nametag and sits in the same section, so we can build some Fresno Tweep camaraderie.

Continue reading The Great Fresno Tweetup.

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Mike Oz

July 21, 2009 8:27 AM

It's a loser-off: like a dance-off, only lamerIt's a loser-off: like a dance-off, only lamer

It's 8:30 in the morning, and I've already been assaulted by three head-shaking videos of celebrities embarrassing themselves and their loved ones.

Tell me who you think comes across as the biggest loser.

Cue card-reading Chris Brown, who has finally apologized for beating Rihanna:

Continue reading It's a loser-off: like a dance-off, only lamer.

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Heather

July 21, 2009 7:52 AM

Concert News: Kelly Clarkson hooking up with Fresno again?Concert News: Kelly Clarkson hooking up with Fresno again?

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According to a tour itinerary released this morning by her people, Kelly Clarkson will be back in Fresno this fall as part of her "All I Ever Wanted" tour.

She's due at Save Mart Center on Dec. 1, according the tour release, which didn't include details on ticket prices or when tickets would go on sale.

Of course, we must remember that Fresno was on a tour list that Clarkson announced in 2007 and that date ended up getting canceled. That was during a pretty rocky point in her career, though. Now, The Original "American Idol" is doing pretty well for herself with her current hit single "I Do Not Hook Up."

We'll keep an eye on this one for ya, much like we're still keeping an eye out for more on the Kanye/GaGa show. Here's the full list of Clarkson tour dates:

Continue reading Concert News: Kelly Clarkson hooking up with Fresno again?.

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Mike Oz

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