just watched the first episode of utopia which is a british sci-fi conspiracy thriller mashup. the second season (of six episodes, damn those brits and their short seasons) just wrapped up quite possibly today. it definitely got my attention, and hbos, too, as they are developing an american version with david fincher on board to produce and direct.

you know how to whistle, dont you? just put your lips together and blow.

jeez. robin williams dead of apparent suicide.

one of the podcasts ive long appreciated but have tired of somewhat is men in blazers, a soccer podcast featuring two enthusiastic british ex-pats who have made it their mission to spread their love of soccer to an american audience. mib got a big boost by being featured nightly during espns world cup soccer broadcasts. they stood out as they got to be the comic relief juxtaposed against all the self serious former players doing analysis. there was talk in the afterglow that bigger and better things were afoot and that foot turns out to be a regular gig on the nbc sport network  which currently broadcasts the english premier league.

American painters on technique

any response from our driving expert on the unfortunate series of events at a race last night beyond the obvious stupidity of a driver walking on to a track to confront another driver mid-race? im not talking about the stupidity that racing appreciates whatever controversy fuels fandom and thus quietly applauds any and all testosterone-fueled confrontations. moreso to the notion ive read online that stewart acted equally as impulsive and could have avoided the driver but was intent on scaring him. then upon accelerating, he accidentally fishtailed the life out of the 20 year old. i actually dont want to watch the video, but you should for me!

the australian open of golf, the pga championship, finishes up the grand slam season this afternoon. of interest because golf is begging for a new star and 25 year old rory mcllroy is suddenly living up to that possibility. this would be his second major of the year, his fourth overall,  and his third straight tour victory. that he broke off his engagement earlier this summer and won a tournament that same week proves once and for all that girls are icky. augusta national really dropped the ball by allowing them to become members. how is serving drinks to and getting ass slapped by rich southern white men not validation enough? for more on that and the dulcet tones of jim nance, tune in to cbs at three for four hours of rollicking good fun. oh yeah, nine golfers are within four strokes of the leader, mcllroy, including doughy republican superdad, phil mickelson.

timbers lore.

ive seen only very positive reviews for steven soderberghs turn of the 20th century medical drama the knick which premieres tonight on cinemax. its already been greenlit for a second season. sure you can find it if you look hard enough.

if you liked Lilyhammer you will love Welcome to Sweden.

And then there is Klovn, the Danish Larry David.

land shark

raye's down east mustard
for those of you do-gooders out there, my buddy andrew is seeking KIVA investors for his new farm in north carolina. he has the green thumb and business savvy to make it work.
say it ain't so, Joe.

more nyc heading to pdx

Huge news from the cocktail world: Jim Meehan of the legendary NYC cocktail bar PDT is moving to Portland, Oregon with his family next month. Eater spoke with Meehan on the phone this afternoon to find out what this means for his NYC bar, and what Portlanders can expect from him when he gets to town (a bar, maybe?). "If there's ever going to be a good time to leave it's now," he says. Meehan is moving in early August.

flyer for Kembra Pfahler at Pompeii Gallery for sale.

netf1ix original documentary the Battered Bastards of Baseball is about Portland's single-A team the Portland Maverics in the mid-1970's. I saw most of their games and collected all their autographs on my mitt. Kurt Russell was on the team and his father was the owner, that was news, but either I wasn't aware of them being any kind of sensation or I have forgotten.  My memory had it that they usually played in the rain to an almost empty stadium and lost most games.  Guess I was a cynical, glass-half-empty kind of kid.

$3 a month phone plan?
The rip Steve Post, post.

guess its your average fall saturday crowd for college football in michigan but 109,000 plus were in attendance for a soccer exhibition match in august making it the largest crowd ever for a soccer game in the us.

Soy Cuba
Hear Roland Barthes Present His 40-Hour Course, La Préparation du roman, in French (1978-80)

so, this was a thing & so was cheryl stoppelmoor.

RIP Margot Adler central park enthusiast