MATT & BEN==>B+

Saturday==>Today is going to be jam-packed with lots of things and stuff for your favorite blogger, sports and theater, so let’s see if we can get this posting finished before it’s time for the noon GATOR/TOLEDO game.

Let’s start with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

MATT & BEN, when the screenplay for “Good Will Hunting” drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they're being tested by a Higher Power==>B+

It is funny, well acted, informative and thought-provoking as it deals with the interpersonal relationship between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck at the beginning of their professional careers.

I would give the two female actors credit, but there were no programs and/or Playbills available ... so ...

It is performed at The Network Theater, a very uncomfortable small space with folding chairs for seats, has a running time of 70 minutes, without intermission, and runs through this Sunday.

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show ...

8:00==>TCHAIKOVSKY - A NEW PLAY - “The life, loves and death of one of the world’s most influential composers, covering his traumatic childhood, his homosexuality, his failed marriage and his untimely death - featuring over 15 pieces of his music.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This has a very limited run. Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite classical music composers.

The show is playing at the American Theatre of Actors Chermuchin Theatre on West 54th Street, not one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 2:00, with an intermission, and runs through September 1st.

Now ... for Marty ... some sports ...

Last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, The Bronx Bombers won game 1 of the 3-game series against The Orioles by a score of 8-5 on the long ball from Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki.

Unfortunately, the struggling CC Sabathia continued to struggle, lasting only 5 2/3 innings. He did get the win.

Game 2 is at 1:05pm this afternoon with Ivan Nova (7-4) on the mound for The Bombers vs. Scott Feldman (11-9) for The Orioles.

It is still an uphill battle for one of the wild card spots. According to Manager Joe Girardi The Yankees will have to go 22-6 for the remainder of the season to stand any chance of making the post-season. Not good!

As you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, at noon, down in The Swamp, The Gators will face The University of Toledo. We are favored by 24 points.

The game is carried locally on MSG, so I will probably watch the game on the tube, with the mute button on, while listening to The Yankees game on my Walkman.

Whew ... I think I will be able to post this before the Gator game starts ... whew ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.89 miles (or, 6,318 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>219.17 miles (average 3.59 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

YANKEE WIVES==>B

Friday==>A huge TGIF shout out to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks. 

Your favorite blogger up here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, hopes each and everyone has a great weekend, extended, of course, by Labor Day.

Billi Pod has entertainment events already scheduled for most of the upcoming 10 days and will share the details with you loyal and faithful readers and followers later in this blog.

So ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

YANKEE WIVES, about six women thrown together because their husbands play for The Yankees==>B

Decent acting saves the kinda unbelievable story line. There is way too much yelling and screaming, that ultimately ends in gratuitous physical violence. Despite this ... 

Billi Pod says==>worth seeing.

The show is playing at the Hudson Guild Theater on West 26th Street, has a running time of 1:45, with intermission, and runs through September 15th.

Before the show I walked down to the theater. The weather was really nice. When the show was over it was still nice out, so I walked back to the apartment. It felt great.

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway comedy ...

7:00==>MATT & BEN - “When the screenplay for ‘Good Will Hunting’ drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they're being tested by a Higher Power.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

The roles of Matt & Ben are played by female actors.

I saw this show about 2 years ago in a workshop version and remember liking it.

It is playing at The Network on West 36th Street and has a running time of 70 minutes, without intermission.

Moving on to a bit of sports for my theater-buddy Marty Kosarik aka Whatever ...

The Bronx Bombers had yesterday off.

Tonight at 7:05pm, out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, The Yankees play game 1 of a crucial 3-game series against The Orioles.

On the mound for The Bombers will be the struggling CC Sabathia (11-11) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (8-6) for the Orioles.

Hooray==>the college football season has finally arrived.

As most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Billi Pod is a H U G E college football fan but not-so-much a pro-football fan. I like watching college football, regardless of who the teams are and/or where they rank.

Tomorrow at noon the tenth ranked Florida Gators will play Lake Howell High School and ... what? Oooooops ... sorry ... the team is the University of Toledo, at The Swamp. We are favored by 24 points.

Moving on ...

As promised, this is your favorite blogger's entertainment schedule for the upcoming 10 days ...

Friday - 7:00==>MATT & BEN (Off Broadway)

Saturday - noon==>GATORS/TOLEDO (locally on MSG);

8:00==>TCHAIKOVSKY-A NEW PLAY (Off Broadway)

Sunday - 8:00==>THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST HEMINGWAY (Off Broadway)

Monday (Labor Day) - 8:30==>EVERYTHING IS OURS (Off Broadway

Tuesday - 9:00==>appointment with my cardiologist for an echogram;

7:00==>AMERICAN GAMES (Off Broadway)

Wednesday - 7:30==>THE MACHINE (Off Broadway)

Thursday - open at the moment. Will probably stay in to watch the 7:05pm YANKEES/FUCKSOX game.

Friday - open at the moment. Will probably stay in to watch the 7:05pm YANKEES/FUCKSOX game.

Saturday - noon==>GATORS/MIAMI (on ESPN);

8:00==>BIG FISH (Broadway)

Sunday - 1:05==>stay in to watch YANKEES/FUCKSOX game;

8:00==>A USER’S GUIDE TO HELL (Off Broadway)

Yeah ... I hope you agree ... a pretty interesting schedule.

On this happy note, will end this posting with ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Oh, yesterday was a good walking day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.03 miles (or, 11,010 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>216.28 miles (average 3.60 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Updates & A Serious Syria Question

Thursday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, must admit that yesterday’s second consecutive “entertainment day-off” was a massive boring bummer.

The weather for most of the day and into the evening was yucky. Billi Pod stayed in the pleasant confines of PHC and then spent the evening in front of the tube watching the 7:00pm YANKEE/TORONTO game, from Toronto.

That game was a major bummer. The Wankies lost 7-2 as Hiroki Kuroda imploded for his 3rd straight start. Folks, we are in deep trouble. 

These are the headlines in today’s papers ...

“CANADA FRY. Yanks’ playoff hopes all but cooked as Hiro roasted.” - back page of The New York Post

“‘RODA TO RUIN. Jays pound Yanks as reeling ace struggles again.” - back page of The Daily News

“As Yankees Head Home Lagging in Race, Girardi Says It’s Now or Never.” - inside sports section of The New York Times

The Wankies have the day off and then begin a 10-game home stand: Baltimore (3); White Sox (3); and, Boston (4). This will make or break our chances for the post-season.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is a sports related Off Broadway show (how ironic) ...

7:00==>YANKEE WIVES - “An irreverent look behind the scenes at six women thrown together because their husbands happen to play for the same Major League baseball team. The often comic side of being married to big babies with big egos, who often succumb to big temptations on the road.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket). 

The show is playing at the Hudson Guild Theater on West 26th Street, has a running time of 1:45, with intermission, and runs through September 15th. This is the first preview performance.

On a much more serious note ...

I want to ask you loyal and faithful readers and followers the following questions, in all seriousness ...

When was The United States of America designated/elected to be HALL MONITOR OF THE WORLD?

Yes, the use of nerve gas/chemical weapons against innocent civilians is a despicable act ... but ... seriously ... think about this ... what if ...

Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, orders the use of nerve gas against protesters and rioters in Shanghai==>does the US make a preemptive strike at Beijing?

or,

Viadimir Putin, President of Russia, orders the use of nerve gas against protesters and rioters in Kazan==>does the US make a preemptive strike at Moscow?

The answer to both questions is NO, of course ... so ... Why The Fuck are we planning a preemptive strike against Bashar al-Assad in Syria?

Jus askin’

On a much lighter note to the 

Syrian crisis ... the following was sent to me by my former law school roommate David West, who now lives in Paris ... 

***********

“Many of you have asked me (or moi as they say here in Frogland) about the reactions of Europeans to the crisis in Syria. Well, John Cleese has pretty much adequately summed up the posture of Europe. So from the banks of the Seine I pass along the results of his survey (to which I concur)

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels ..

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

European wannbe Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level.

Au revoir

David

******************

Thank you David.

Moving on some more ...

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to my soul mate Judge Rosemary Barkett, presently of Miami, Fl, but soon-to-be of The Hague, Netherlands.

Have a great day, Rosemary.

Love and hugs.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.42 miles (or, 3,106 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>211.25 miles (average 3.58 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Billi Pod Takes A Day-plus Off

Wednesday==>OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace ... yes ... your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is well aware that he hasn’t posted today and that the afternoon is grinding down.

I know you are all commenting to your inner selves ... what the fuck is going on? Well ... inner selves ... the issue is ... he doesn’t have a hell’va lot to share with you at the moment. Boring!

What? Yeah ... I know ... that’s also why he is taking up space now with all of this drivel ... so ... Boring!

The bottom line ... yesterday Billi Pod basically gave himself the day off entertainment-wise. Yes, he had multiple options from his various ticket services but none of the available shows turned him on. Boring!

He also wasn’t in the mood for a movie.

Oh, during the day he had and did plenty of things and stuff, including the weekly trip to the grocery store to take advantage of the additional 5% senior discount. He saved a total of 11% and, you know, over a year’s time that adds up to some decent money. Boring!

So ... what did your favorite blogger do? He ... gasp ... opted to stay in the pleasant confines of PHC and watch the 7:00pm YANKEES/TORONTO game, from Toronto, which the Bronx Bombers won 7-1 on the long ball from Alfonso Soriano, who hit 2 HRs and drove in 4 runs. Andy Pettitte had an excellent outing and picked up the win. Not boring!

The final game of the 3-game series is tonight at 7:00pm. On the mound for The Bombers will be our ace Hiroki Kuroda (11-9), who has won just one of his last five starts vs. rookie Todd Redmond (1-2) for the Blue Jays.

The Yankees are still technically in the race for the second wild card spot. Very not boring!!

So ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ... as of 3:30pm it looks as if Billi Pod will stay in for the second consecutive night to watch baseball, that is ... unless something really really interesting shows up at the last minute.

Hey ... don’t judge me ... just live with it ... OK?

Moving on ... 

I am happy to report that today two major theatre critics followed Billi Pod’s lead in their reviews of the mess known as THE CHEATERS CLUB.

Charles Isherwood, writing for the New York Times, panned it ... saying: “... the would-be cheaters don’t end up getting much action. For all the convoluted trappings stuffed into ‘The Cheaters Club,’ neither does the audience.”

and,

Frank Scheck, writing for The NY Post, trashed it ... saying: “But for all its ‘Haunted Mansion’-style special effects, ‘The Cheaters Club’ is really just an incoherent hodgepodge of stylistic effects. You won’t be titillated, you won’t be scared. You’ll just be bored.”

Yeah ... right on guys ...

In closing ... I want to take this opportunity to attempt to make up for a very serious omission in yesterday’s blog posting ... 

I forgot to post anything about John Scott Reed’s birthday ... so ... a day late ...

A major HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to John Scott Reed aka Fabson, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday. 

As many of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Scott is originally from Lakeland, FL, and he has been a resident of NYC since he graduated from High School. In a major upward career move, he has just become a member of the Facebook team and is located in their New York office on Madison Avenue.

Scott is truly living life to its fullest here in The Big Apple and I am so happy for him and proud, too!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>2.16 miles (or, 4,740 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>209.83 miles (average 3.62 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”