New Music Tuesday: If you talk too much... edition

Wind Up finally decided to release a worthwhile project which wasn't a movie soundtrack this morning. People in Planes full-length debut As Far as the Eye Can See hits shelves today. I should have reviews this week for two Texas products: Faktion's self-titled Roadrunner Records debut and Edgewater's self-produced and released We're Not Robots.

Finally, the countdown continues... 7 days

Song Lyric of the Day
"I've tried to make things perfect
But I can't seem to get it right
Only steps away from the answers
But I can't reach them"
Faktion -- "Answers"

Mid-major madness continues...

Quick question: Anybody in the readership have Bradley, George Mason, and Wichita State in their sweet 16 bracket?

I had the Shockers but the Patriots and the Braves have wrecked my bracket to the point that it is resting comfortably in the recycle bin. Now, George Mason or Wichita State will have a shot at the final four. I look forward to matchups like this, though I may be in the minority of basketball fans. I know many people would prefer to see the power conference teams fight it out for a national title ahead of the little guys, but the fact that the smaller schools have a chance is what makes this 3 week stretch entertaining. If you require the major conference schools with national TV deals, check in during football season when the BCS cartel is in charge.

Meanwhile the rest of us will be entertained.

Song Lyric of the Day (As I look at the ashes of my bracket)
"I'm not gonna let this phase me
'Cause I've learned the beauty of letting go"
Socialburn-- "Cold Night"

NCAA Tourney review: The "Shut up Big East homers!" edition

For three days since the announcement of the field, all I have heard from sports commentator types is how Cincinnati got left out and the Big East deserved 9 teams. Well, 3 Big East teams play... and three Big East teams lose. Syracuse, after a meteoric rise from bubble team to 5 seed, came up against an underrated 12-seed in Texas A&M and Acie Law stepped up to drop the Orange. Most of the criticism of the committee after teams from larger conferences were left for the NIT focused on the Missouri Valley getting 4 teams. The Valley's initial response 5 words 2 numbers: Wichita State 86 Seton Hall 66... scoreboard.

Yes I know my Sooners lost. I picked them to lose because I didn't like the matchup against a team that presses constantly.

And finally... Adam Morrison is a sick basketball player and I must extend personal thanks to him for personally keeping my bracket viable.

Song Lyric of the Day
"Hope it dangles on a string
Like slow-spinning redemption..."
Dashboard Confessional

The countdown to musical insanity begins

After hitting a lull in my music calendar, I have one week left before the chaos begins. At this time next week, Faktion's self-titled debut should be in my hands. This will be followed in subsequent weeks by People in Planes' As Far as the Eye Can See and of course Blue October Foiled. Let the impatient waiting continue...

Song Lyric of the Day
"For three weeks she sleeps
Through the rain
I've gotta try to keep her dry
Run out of ways"
Blue October -- 3 Weeks, She Sleeps

Finally fed up with news and political commentators

... so I put my frustrations on paper. As usual feel free to comment and show me where I'm wrong.

Balance

Alternating mono in a stereo world
Mindless chatter seems endless
With opposing goals unfurled
Each wants a boosted signal
To reach more hearts and minds
So they promise everything
And then leave you behind
Black and white images
Of a world dressed all in gray
One channel stormy nights
The other sunny days
They manipulate opinions
Like puppeteers with strings
And blame you for the chaos
The tipping scale may bring.

But opinions are too complex
To contain in the end
Strong enough to change the world
But balanced on a pin

The pictures on the TV
Recount news of the day
More important than what’s said
Is what they didn’t say
The color table’s twisted
Distorting every view
Full color scenery
Reduced to red or blue
Although I wish for unity
And stay out of the game
It’s just a vicious cycle
Where characters change names

What will it take
To salvage the wounded dream?
A unity which was once great
Now hides rarely seen
I know power corrupts
But I just cannot see why
We’re always out of balance
Until we’re forced to cry

The strength of our beliefs
Built an empire from the ground
Now similar forces
Seem poised to burn it down
Discussions are all healthy
But not the vitriolic hate
Push the balance past the tipping point
Watch the foundation break

Because opinions are too strong
To contain in the end
Strong enough to change the world
Or bring it to an end

Lord... Please give us the strength to not get blown out by 30 in the first round

In a brief moment of insanity, I would like to congratulate Oral Roberts University on winning the Mid-Continent Conference basketball tournament last night and collecting their first NCAA tourney bid since 1984. Normally at 21-11 and Mid-Con champ would be looking at a 15 seed so ORU's post season may be short and quite graphic but it's better than their cross-town rivals (and my alma mater) have to look forward to this year.

Song Lyric of the Day
"With the stars to see me
Liberation lifts the shell that's on me
In a newborn image
I'm the only one who sees"
Faktion -- "Control"

My college sports nap has come to an end

It's March and as a result I can rightfully focus on college sports again after a post-Rose Bowl hiatus. This weekend has been a good weekend for entertaining basketball and yes even a good college baseball series.

The highlights thus far have included:

• #1 Duke after losing to Florida St. Wednesday completed to week of failure by losing on senior day at Cameron to archrival UNC
• The Winthrop Eagles won the championship of the Big South conference. As a Tulsa fan, however, it made me more happy to see former TU coach Buzz Peterson's Coastal Carolina Fighting Chanticleers denied an NCAA bid.
• Congratulations to Belmont, Murray St. and Penn for their NCAA bids
• Former Tulsa assistant Billy Gilespie has his Texas A&M team at 20 wins and headed for the NCAA tournament for the first time in my memory.
• Finally for the baseball, the #4 Rice Owls have won the first 2 of a 3 game set with #7 CS-Fullerton Titans in a series which matches 2 of the last 3 teams to win the College World Series, the other being Texas who plays at Rice Tuesday night.

Predictions for tomorrow include Southern Illinois winning the Missouri Valley Tournament but the Valley will get five teams in on Selection Sunday. The Sooners will take out the Horns in Austin. and Rice, despite my current losing streak at Rice sporting events, will complete the sweep of CSF with me in attendance.

Better structured rant will be posted after homework and baseball tonight.

Insomnia and a warped mind is never good

As a begin this, it's 3:47 am and I can't sleep. So as I sit here on the computer listening to news both from here in Houston and back home in Tulsa. Again I find evidence that both locations are qualified for most backward political city nominations.

Whether it be councilors whose staff members received thousands of dollars in unauthorized bonuses as has been alleged in the case of Councilor Carol Alvarado here in Houston, or the case of Tulsa mayoral candidate Kathy Taylor's various issues.

Welcome to another long election year of creative and disturbing stories.

Alas, this is a normal day for me as class work has me scrambling. So my happy reviews of Blue October at Galveston Mardi Gras or Wideawake at Fitzgerald's will have to wait for a more functionally caffeinated time.

Song Lyric of the Day
"Under the surface
We're all the same
Searching for purpose
Running from shame"
Wideawake -- "Misunderstood"