But coverage of the NBA had already started to shift to the big names in free agency, and as soon as the Lakers were crowned champs the headlines became about Lebron, Wade, and Bosh all the time. All three decided to sign with the Miami Heat (with Lebron announcing his decision on a polarizing ESPN special) to create an Eastern conference superteam. Lebron clearly quit in the playoffs, and by joining Wade's team has basically admitted that he cannot be the primary option (a.k.a. alpha dog) on a championship team. While this hurts his legacy as an individual player, there is no doubt that the Miami Heat are transformed into a championship contender immediately. Pat Riley has already filled out the remaining roster with sharpshooters and wily veterans. His handpicked successor is coaching the squad, and you can never rule out the possibility that he may return to the sidelines himself. Other top Eastern teams such as the Celtics and Magic have kept themselves mostly intact, but I'm not sure they are capable of defeating the Heat in a 7 game series.
In the Western conference, the playoff teams from this year are likely to back in the playoffs next year (save perhaps Phoenix), but none have improved enough to beat the Lakers at full strength in a playoff matchup. So I think a Lakers-Heat final is quite possible.
If we are looking at a Lakers-Heat Finals next year, I think the Lakers are well equipped to handle it (barring injuries). Matt Barnes and Ron Artest will provide the pesky defense on the wings to make Lebron and Wade work hard for their points and Bosh will struggle against the length of Gasol and Bynum in the post. Steve Blake (from Maryland, Go Terps!) should help keep the ball moving and drain open 3s along with the ever reliable Derek Fisher.
Even Wade had to admit that the two-time defending champions are still the favorites next year, despite the Miami hype. I think the Heat will win championships -- likely even multiple championships. But only after the Lakers reign is over. And its not over yet. Threepeat here we come!
This years Celtics rely more on the playmaking of Rajon Rondo who has blossomed into the leader of the team. The future hall-of-fame "Big 3" (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce) remain mentally-tough, battle-tested veterans who can erupt for big games and hit clutch shots. And they are still playing great team defense.
But I think this is the Lakers year. Here's why:
1) The Lakers have home court this time around. The Celtics are a very good road team, but the Lakers role players have played consistently better at home. The Lakers have not lost a home playoff game this year.
2) The Lakers have Bynum available to play this year. His knee injury has limited his mobility, but along with Gasol and Odom he gives the Lakers plenty of size to match up with Garnett, Perkins, and Wallace.
3) The Lakers now start true a defensive stopper (Artest) rather than a defensive liability (Radmanovic). Artest provides the kind of toughness that Lakers lacked against a physical Celtics team in 2008. And when he plays within the system, Artest can still provide the kind of 3-point threat that Radmanovic did.
4) The current version of the Celtics don't have as good of a bench. Nate Robinson and Rasheed Wallace are decent, but not quite James Posey and Eddie House (who combined for 29 points to spark the Game 4 comeback win in LA back in 2008).
5) The revenge factor. The Lakers were outplayed in 2008, and while they won it all last year, it was against the Magic. This is their chance for redemption.
I think this will be a classic series. The Celtics are (rightfully) convinced they can win this series. They will execute their game plan and avoid mental mistakes. They will play tough D.
For the Lakers to win, they will need Kobe to continue to play like the best player in the league. At the start of the postseason I thought his injuries were too much, but he has been scoring 30+ regularly while maintaining a high shooting percentage and getting his teammates involved. He's nearly had a triple double twice. Gasol and Odom will have to contribute consistently and Bynum will have to prove himself capable of mixing it up inside. Artest will have to earn his defensive-stopper credits. And Fisher will have to continue to be the level-headed rock that keeps the team on an even keel.
This will be Fisher's 7th Finals. His matchup with Rondo will be a tough one, but he's got the guts, heart, and experience to do his job. Gasol and Odom have 2 years worth of Finals experience to draw on. I think they will come through as well. Artest is the wild card. Can he harass Pierce (or whoever he is chosen to to guard) as well as he did Kevin Durant? Can he choose his shots wisely?
I think he'll manage it well enough. My prediction: Lakers in 7
]]>With division rivals making knee-jerk moves (Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a 5th rounder -- really??) and Ozzie Newsome's history of excellent draft choices there are lots of reasons for optimism. Go Ravens!
]]>If Phil can get the team focused, and Kobe is able to heal sufficiently, they are still capable of another Finals run, but it's going to be an uphill climb.
]]>| "The Heat" | "Love Songs" |
|---|---|
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Higher Than The Stars EP - A blend of the best of 80s indie-pop with 90s noise-pop/shoegaze touches. Their debut album is loaded with first rate songs -- so many, in fact, they spilled over into another EP of strong material. If being shamelessly retro is so easy, why can't other bands do it this well?
| "Young Adult Friction" | "Higher Than The Stars" |
|---|---|
Girls - Album - Exudes a warm, druggy, D.I.Y. San Francisco vibe. J.R. White and Christopher Owens are neo-hippies for the indie set. What really sets them apart is the ability to write deceptively simple, lo-fi songs that are brimming over with genuine emotion, compassion, and humor. A winning debut.
| "Hellhole Ratface" | "God Damned" |
|---|---|
The xx - xx - The xx specialize in a post-punk minimalism that recalls Young Marble Giants. But they add a modern, glitchy edge similar to recent work by the Notwist. What makes them unique is the strikingly mature songwriting and restrained, yet emotive boy/girl vocals. Yet another excellent debut album.
| "Crystalised" | "Islands" |
|---|---|
Passion Pit - Manners - My favorite electronic/synth pop album since The Postal Service released Give Up back in 2003. Michael Angelikos' falsetto vocals take some time to get used to, but there is no denying the insanely catchy wall-of-sound surging behind him. Hard to believe the whole project started with him trying to record a song for his girlfriend on Valentine's Day and ended up with the release of this debut album. Elvis started out recording songs as a gift for his mother, so I guess it's a time honored tradition.
| "Little Secrets" | "The Reeling" |
|---|---|
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz - The first album of theirs I've enjoyed all the way through. The neo-new-wave sound suits them well. Karen O is in fine voice, and the songs are catchy and memorable. Many of their older fans don't like the more "commercial" sound. But if this is selling out, I'll take some more please!
| "Heads Will Roll" | "Zero" |
|---|---|
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Crisp, direct pop/rock that sounds both fresh and classic at the same time. They make it seem effortless and fun. Not a clunker in sight, even the diffuse, largely instrumental two-parter "Love Like A Sunset" is effective. This album is their second straight home run.
| "Lisztomania" | "1901" |
|---|---|
The Mary Onettes - Islands - If you can overlook the crappy pun of a band name and their heavy indebtedness to their forebearers (The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, countless other first-wave bands), there's a lot to like here. Many of the songs sound like half-remembered, lost classics of 80s alternative, rather than modern day mimicry. For anyone who has a soft spot for that era, be warned, this might get stuck in your tape deck... er, CD player... er, iPod.
| "Puzzles" | "Dare" |
|---|---|
Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts - They bring together so many musical elements, the album can almost seem disjointed. But shining through all the classic rock, jazzy pop, new wave, and neo-disco styles are the soul-infused pipes of singer Shingai Shoniwa somehow making it all work together. Nothing else quite like it.
| "Never Forget You" | "Don't Upset The Rhythm" |
|---|---|
Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers - The Manics are not an easy band to appreciate, and this is definitely not the place to start. That said, if you already understand why their 90s work is essential, you need this album. They've dug back into the lyrics of Richey Edwards, and consciously produced a sequel to their most harrowing album The Holy Bible. But as the AMG review so eloquently put it: Journal for Plague Lovers winds up being The Holy Bible in reverse: every moment of despair is a reason to keep on living instead of an excuse to pack it all in.
| "Journal For Plague Lovers" | "Jackie Collins Existential Question Time" |
|---|---|
Honorable Mention
White Lies - To Lose My Life
Bell X1 - Blue Lights On The Runway
Rupesh Cartel - Anchor Baby
Pony Pony Run Run - You Need Pony Pony Run Run
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Morrissey - Years Of Refusal
Annie - Don't Stop
Zambri - Bang For Changes [EP]
Free Energy - Free Energy [EP]
Spoon - Got Nuffin [EP]
Reissues
Big Star - Keep An Eye On The Sky
Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos
Pearl Jam - Ten
Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart
Def Leppard - Pyromania
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
Just as the '85 Lakers rebounded from the previous year's Finals defeat, I think these guys are poised to win a championship. My prediction: Lakers in 6
]]>Pros:
- The car is fast. BMW claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds, and it seems even faster. The massive torque makes passing at any speed effortless.
- The fuel economy is amazing, especially on the highway. I got 40.5 mpg on a 250 mile, uninterrupted drive while averaging 80 mph! Even in mixed driving I have not seen less than 30 mpg.
- Because of the excellent mileage, the car has a range of over 500 miles. Fewer visits to the gas station!
- As of right now, in my area, diesel is running anywhere from 5-15 cents cheaper than premium gasoline. This is likely to change, but I'm enjoying it right now.
- The clean diesel moniker is accurate. No black smoke, except from the tires when peeling away from a light with the traction control off!
- The handling is up to BMW standard. Which is to say awesome :)
- The interior is nicely appointed, again up to BMW's usual standards.
- The new iDrive is pretty good. Apparently the previous generation model was a pain, but this time they've separated out climate control and added hard buttons, making the current setup quite usable.
- The music options are plentiful (iPod, satellite radio, HD radio), and worth it, especially if you're a music nut like me.
- The navigation system is solid and the Bluetooth integration works smoothly and provides decent voice quality even with ambient road noise.
Cons:
- The car requires very high grade diesel, which is hard to find in the U.S., especially since the law doesn't require labeling of pumps like gasoline. In practice this means you will usually have to use a cetane boosting additive (which ends up costing about $1 or so extra per fill up).
- From the outside, at idle, and especially on cold start, the car is noisier than a gasoline powered car. From the inside, at highway speeds, the noise levels are the same or possibly even less.
- It's expensive. But if you're considering a high end BMW, what's an additional couple grand, right?
In sum, the car is a brilliant blend of performance and economy provided you are willing to deal with the inconvenience of tracking down good quality diesel fuel and/or using cetane boost additives. I, for one, find it a worthy trade off.
Glasvegas - Glasvegas - While they may have been overhyped by the UK press, Glasvegas deliver the musical goods. They are heavily indebted to the cool, detached sound of the Jesus & Mary Chain, but with their heartfelt songs and widescreen production values, the end result is more epic than insular. James Allan's thick Scottish accent takes some getting used to, and his lyrics are sometimes simplistic, but there's no doubting his passion. And ultimately the album is successful because the majority of the songs are very, very good.
TV On The Radio - Dear Science - TVOTR have always been critics darlings. But this time around, they've nailed the balance between the "art" and "pop", and the result is amazing. By injecting brittle funk grooves into the mix, they've made their music danceable and appealing to both head and heart.
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound - In a nutshell they're like Bruce Springsteen fronting a muscular punk band (think Social Distortion, not Blink-182). The well-written songs are full of covert and overt references to not only the Boss, but everyone from Tom Petty to The Clash. What makes the album great is that the songs sound genuine, lived-in, and absolutely perfect on the car radio.
The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event - Talk about your diverse influences -- 80's alternative, SoCal punk, dance-rock, and garage-rock stylings are all featured within the first half of the album! But many of the songs work so well that watching the band try on different styles is quite entertaining. And when the styles blend into an ace track like "Sometime Around Midnight" you know the album is a keeper.
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic - Hands down, the most fun and danceable indie-pop album of the year. They sound like Robert Smith fronting the B-52s, with frothy, hook-filled songs and touch of wacky soul. It's a heady brew that can still be enjoyed as pure pop.
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - Another in a string of amazing albums. If you haven't warmed to Craig Finn's speak-singing yet, you're missing out on another stunning batch of carefully observed character sketches and short stories masquerading as songs. And the music, informed by punk/alternative, but distilled from classic rock sounds is more powerful than ever. There's so many great songs it's hard to pick standouts, but I've got to mention "Lord, I'm Discouraged" where Finn's matter-of-fact lyrics about watching the woman he's in love with sink into drug addiction are countered by the finest, most emotive guitar solo I've heard in years. It's as if the guitar is expressing all the emotion that Finn's narrator can't.
The Virgins - The Virgins - Ten sharp, punchy, and well-produced tunes that bring to mind the catchiest, classic "new wave" artists (The Cars, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads) as well as their more recent offspring (Strokes, Marvelous 3). I'm still confused as to why they didn't get more promotion. They're as radio-ready as they come. Nearly every song sounds like a top ten hit (in my mind, anyway).
M83 - Saturdays = Youth - Compared to previous albums, the shoegaze-y fuzz has been toned down, but the swirling synths, cinematic feel, and pop hooks are intact. The result comes off as an affectionate tribute to the 80s. To their credit, it never sounds like pastiche and yet several of the songs could fit seamlessly in a John Hughes film.
Santogold - Santogold - She was compared to M.I.A. at first, and while that comparison is somewhat valid (especially on "Creator"), Santogold's sound is a lot more varied. Elements of reggae/dub ("Unstoppable"), R&B ("My Superman"), and straight-ahead pop/rock ("Lights Out") shine through on different tracks. Others, including the brilliant "L.E.S. Artistes", are difficult to categorize. Nearly all are excellent, making this a superb debut.
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours - Adding a touch of 60s pop melodies to their signature sound yields fantastic results. The strong singles "Hearts On Fire", "Lights & Music", and "So Haunted" are the high points, but the rest of the album is very nearly as good. They've successfully expanded their sound from the 80s-retro fixation of their well-received debut.
Honorable Mention (a.k.a. The Next Ten)
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
The Bell - Make Some Quiet
Killers - Day & Age
Bloc Party - Intimacy
CSS - Donkey
Kooks - Konk
Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse & His Men
Reissues/Live/etc.
Adorable - Footnotes 92-94
The Smiths - The Sound Of The Smiths
Pavement - Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
The Clash - Live At Shea Stadium
Final Solution - Brotherman (soundtrack)
The Replacements - Let It Be/Tim/Pleased To Meet Me
U2 - Boy/October/War/Under A Blood Red Sky
In comparison, the premium gasoline-powered 335i is rated at 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and with the automatic transmission does 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. However, it is rated by the EPA at only 17 mpg city / 26 mpg highway.
So let's do the math. On the highway (where most of the big mileage is racked up for me, and in the U.S. overall), based on the EPA rating, the 335d gets about 27% better mileage. Right now, diesel fuel is about 15% more expensive than premium gasoline. So it makes financial sense, per-mile. The penalty performance-wise? The diesel is 0.6 seconds (roughly 11%) slower to 60 mph.
Many of the other traditional disadvantages of diesel have been overcome with new technology. AdBlue-injection and the availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel have reduced emissions to meet even strict California standards. Noise and vibration issues have been reduced to the level of typical gasoline engines. With modern engine designs and better glow plugs, cold-weather starts are not a concern unless the winter temperature is regularly below zero degrees Fahrenheit. BMW has a lot of experience manufacturing diesels in Europe, so the 335d should be fairly reliable.
Of course, diesel is only available at one out of four gas stations nationwide. The fuel is "messier" in that it doesn't evaporate if spilled and has a distinct smell. The diesel engines themselves are heavier and more expensive, too.
Taking all this into account, the 335d is hardly a slam dunk, but is worth considering. I know it will be on my car shopping list next year.
]]>The most recent version adds some nice new features, including the ability to open multiple files in tabs (similar to Safari or Firefox). However, one of the Emacs features which I rely on appears to have been changed. When I open a file, I expect a certain context highlighting style, depending on the type of file. Now, I am not an Emacs expert, but years ago I had defined the styles I liked and put them in my .emacs config file. When first switching to Aquamacs, I ended up dropping some of that info and using some of the many built in themes.
However, with this new release (1.4) it seems to ignore that information entirely, and opens files up in some default style. I am not clear why this behavior was changed. I had to dig around the Aquamacs site a bit to find the solution, and I thought I'd post it here, so it might help someone else.
The solution was to add an Aquamacs-specific line to the bottom of my .emacs:
(setq aquamacs-styles-mode t)
This made Aquamacs once again honor the style information I had set.
]]>The only solace for this long-time Laker fan is that the team is young, Bynum will be back next season, and hey, even the Showtime Lakers lost to the Celtics in '84 with Magic looking overmatched. Just like them, I think this current group will be back.
]]>And since I am tired of listening to conspiracy theorists, it was NOT the refs that gave them Game 4. The last play where Fisher bumped Barry may have been an uncalled foul, but on the immediately previous sequence Fisher's shot definitely grazed the rim and the 24-second clock should have been reset. Instead Kobe had only 2 seconds to throw up a shot to beat the clock. If the clock had been reset, the Lakers would have been able to run out the clock or been intentionally fouled. In either case, the last sequence wouldn't have even occurred. This is somehow never mentioned, I don't understand why. The Lakers are simply a better team right now and that is why they advanced.
]]>In the East, The Celtics can only seem to win at home. That won't get it done against the Pistons. I think they'll finally win one on the road, but so will the Pistons, so this one will go the distance, and once again the Celts will pull out a Game 7 on their home floor. Prediction: Celtics in 7
For old-school fans like myself a Celtics-Lakers Finals would be a blast!
]]>Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - It took Boston seven games to eliminate the worst team in the playoffs. Even though they crushed them at home, they were unable to win a single game on the road. This does not bode well. Boston is a better team on paper, but it all comes down to how well they play defense on Lebron James. I think their best strategy is to try and make LBJ a passer by doubling him, and then rotating to the other guys fast enough so they don't get clean looks. Make those other guys try to beat you. The Cavs need to move without the ball and make Boston pay for doubling James. Too often they just stand around and let LBJ work on his own. That will not get it done against the Celtics. Prediction: Cavs in 7.
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic - The Pistons have the physical toughness to handle Dwight Howard down low, and the mental toughness to execute down the stretch. The only way Orlando can make this a competitive series is if Turkoglu or Lewis come up huge. So far, that doesn't seem likely. Prediction: Pistons in 5.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz - Simply put, Williams-to-Boozer ain't Stockton-to-Malone just yet. In the first game, the Lakers handled the physical play of the Jazz very well, but if they let the Jazz pound them on the boards again, this could be a long series. Ultimately though, the Lakers have the soon-to-be MVP, and that will be the difference in this series. Prediction: Lakers in 6.
New Orleans Hornets vs. San Antonio Spurs - Man, I hate the Spurs. They have to be respected as repeat champions, but I hate their boring style, their borderline dirty play and most of all their big stars Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan. So as an avowed hater, you'd probably expect I am rooting for the Hornets. And mostly, I am. But if the Spurs slip by the Hornets, I'd love to see my Lakers get the opportunity to knock them out. But the Hornets already smacked them up once, and they've got the talent and chemistry to do it three more times. Prediction: Hornets in 7.
]]>