- The Los Angeles Galaxy’s signing of handsome David Beckham is this decade’s version of the New York Cosmos and Pele (described wonderfully in the documentary Once in a Lifetime.) I still don’t know if it will be enough to make Americans care about a sport they inherently hate, or which bores them to tears. At the very least, it should the Galaxy the edge over their hated crosstown rivals, Chivas USA. I assume they hate each other.
- One other item from CES — I sort of fulfilled a dream of hearing Brian Wilson sing "Good Vibrations" live. Wilson was in the Gibson tent for the 4 p.m. Happy Hour. I couldn’t go because I had to staff a meeting at the Corel booth (note: the reporter never showed). But at around 2 I was able to sneak out and hear Wilson’s sound check, from outside the tent (it was closed off for soundcheck). I was able to walk around the back of it and stand by the rear door which was right behind the back of the stage; the glass was blacked out so I couldn’t see (except when the Gibson people would walk in and out, and my badge couldn’t get me in). Anyway, it was amazing — he still sounds great and, as I’ve said before, is the king of writing those sweet-sounding melodies that have influenced a host of modern rock and indie bands I enjoy today.
- This whole El Nino thing kicks ass! Al Gore is such a crybaby. I kid, although I do like the warm weather here, despite the hideous effect it creates on the rest of the world.
- Despite this AP story from good guy Ted Bridis (at least he was when he’d return my Lycos calls in the 1990s) that suggests the potential malevolence of Canadians through their use of spy-coins, I just returned from a few days with Canadians (and some of their near-brethren, Minnesotans), and still find them to be among the nicest people in the world. (An excessively polite tip of the hat to the WordNerd for the heads up).
