A (not quite) meaningless friendly

With MLS out of season, U.S. Mens' coach Bruce Arena has called a large number of MLS players into camp in Los Angeles, looking to keep them fit in the off-season. Normally, this time of year would see the Nats playing a few meaningless friendly matches against other countries. But this year is different. Because it's a World Cup year, each and every player called into this camp is fighting for one of the precious few remaining spots on the 23-man roster that will travel to Germany this summer. Some of the players in camp now have no chance of making the squad, but there are quite a few "bubble" guys who are doing everything they can to catch Arena's eye. One of those players is Taylor Twellman (in the center of that celebratory sandwich). Despite the fact that Twellman plys his trade for the New England Revolution and has scored some big goals against DC United in the past, I'm a fan of his play. He's a scrappy striker who is always willing to give up his body if there's a chance to score. He's been fairly prolific at the MLS level when healthy, but until recently, was never quite able to translate that scoring ability to the international level. After 11 scoreless appearances, some very bad luck, and one great goal called back by a laughable offsides flag, Twellman finally got his first goal last October against Panama. But today he showed the type of play National Team fans have been hoping for, putting home a hat trick as the US dominated Norway 5-0. All the more impressive considering two of his goals were headers. Taylor is (rather generously) listed as 5' 11" in his US Soccer profile, while the average height of the Norweigian defense today appeared to be 6' 7", so the fact that he was dominant in the air today tells you something about his play. But what I really like about Twellman is that he also plays pretty good defense for a goal-scorer, buzzing around the opponent's half and often pressuring defenders into turning the ball over. In one sequence today, he chased down two Norweigian players, eventually slide-tackling the ball away in the US half of the field. Sometimes his enthusiasm gets the best of him, but he's not the type of striker who drops his head and stops running when the other team has the ball, which makes me respect him.

Overall, it was a pretty good showing for a very young US squad. Granted, Norway didn't bring much in the way of experience, and I would have liked to see the US's passing be a little quicker and sharper, but there was an obvious quality difference between our B team and Norway's B team. After a yawner of a scoreless tie against Canada last weekend, today's result should be a welcome confidence boost, since the spring friendlies should get more difficult as the World Cup approaches. In February, the US takes on a World Cup-bound Japan squad and a local rival in Guatemala, and in March they travel to Europe for matches against Germany and Poland, as well as a chance to get a look at the stadiums where they'll be playing in June. By then, the competition should be pretty fierce, since those games will likely be the last chance for players to make an impression before Arena locks in his final roster.

Oh crap. I'm old.

Sweet Jesus. I just made the mistake of looking at the Top 100 songs on the iTunes store. I really try to be open-minded about music and not be a snob, because I've owned plenty of questionable music in my day (anyone remember Ray Parker, Jr.?), but this list is just a big steaming pile of crap. I found 11 songs out of the 100 that I can bear to listen to, but everything else just sounds horrible. So, am I losing it, or is it just that the average iTunes customer is a teenager cursed with horrible taste? I think I feel bad for the kids.

(Songs in bold are the ones I own)

1. Breaking Free, Gabriela & Troy, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
2. Check On It, Beyoncé & Slim Thug, #1's
3. Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten
4. Get'cha Head In the Game, Troy, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
5. Grillz (Dirty), Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp, Sweatsuit (Explicit Version)
6. Start of Something New, Gabriella & Troy, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
7. Dirty Little Secret, The All-American Rejects, Move Along
8. We're All In This Together, High School Musical Cast, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
9. L.O.V.E., Ashlee Simpson, I Am Me
10. Dance, Dance, Fall Out Boy, From Under the Cork Tree
11. What I've Been Looking for, Ryan & Sharpay, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
12. Stick to the Status Quo, Martha Cox, Ryan, Sharpay & Zach, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
13. We Belong Together, Gavin DeGraw, We Belong Together - Single
14. I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper), T-Pain & Mike Jones, Rappa Ternt Sanga
15. Photograph, Nickelback, All the Right Reasons
16. Temperature, Sean Paul, The Trinity
17. You're Beautiful, James Blunt, Back to Bedlam
18. Stickwitu, The Pussycat Dolls, PCD
19. Shake That, Eminem, Curtain Call
20. Laffy Taffy, D4L, Laffy Taffy - Single
21. Everytime We Touch (Radio Mix), Cascada, Everytime We Touch
22. Run It! (Featuring Juelz Santana), Chris Brown, Chris Brown
23. Bop to the Top, Ryan & Sharpay, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
24. What I've Been Looking for (Reprise), Gabriella & Troy, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
25. Pump It, Black Eyed Peas, Monkey Business
26. When There Was Me and You, Gabriella, High School Musical (Soundtrack)
27. Gold Digger (Featuring Jamie Foxx), Kanye West, Late Registration
28. Yo (Excuse Me Miss), Chris Brown, Chris Brown
29. My Humps, Black Eyed Peas, Monkey Business
30. Sugar, We're Goin Down, Fall Out Boy, From Under the Cork Tree
31. Upside Down, Jack Johnson, Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George
32. Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard, Lights and Sounds - Single
33. Perfect Situation, Weezer, Make Believe
34. Beverly Hills, Weezer, Make Believe
35. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, Trace Adkins, Songs About Me
36. There It Go (The Whistle Song), Juelz Santana, What the Game's Been Missing!
37. Grillz (Clean Version), Ali & Big Gipp, Nelly & Paul Wall, Sweatsuit
38. Goodbye For Now (Radio Edit), P.O.D., Goodbye For Now
39. Who I Am Hates Who I've Been, Relient K, Mmhmm
40. Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz, Demon Days
41. 100 Years, Five for Fighting, The Battle for Everything
42. Don't Cha, The Pussycat Dolls, PCD
43. Because of You, Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
44. Jesus, Take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood, Jesus, Take the Wheel - Single
45. You're Beautiful, James Blunt, Back to Bedlam
46. When I'm Gone (Explicit Version), Eminem, When I'm Gone - Single
47. Better Days, Goo Goo Dolls, Better Days - Single
48. Boyfriend, Ashlee Simpson, I Am Me Pop
49. Yeah!, Usher featuring Lil' Jon & Ludacris, Confessions (Special Edition)
50. You and Me, Lifehouse, Lifehouse
51. Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It (Explicit Version), Dem Franchize Boyz Featuring Peenut & Charlay, Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It (Explicit Version) - Single
52. Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
53. Mr. Brightside, The Killers, Hot Fuss
54. Fireman, Lil' Wayne, Tha Carter II
55. Move Along, The All-American Rejects, Move Along
56. These Words (I Love You, I Love You) [Manny Marroquin Mix], Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten
57. Stay Fly, Three 6 Mafia featuring Young Buck & Eightball & M.J.G., Most Known Unknown
58. Rompe (Explicit), Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino en Directo (Explicit Version)
59. Fresh AZIMIZ, Bow Wow, J-Kwon & Jermaine Dupri, Wanted
60. Hollaback Girl, Gwen Stefani, Love, Angel, Music, Baby
61. One Wish, Ray J, Raydiation
62. Unpredictable (Main), Jamie Foxx & Ludacris, Unpredictable
63. We Be Burnin' (Legalize It - Album Version), Sean Paul, We Be Burnin'
64. Don't Forget About Us (Radio), Mariah Carey, Don't Forget About Us - Single
65. Soul Survivor, Young Jeezy & Akon, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
66. Chariot, Gavin DeGraw, Chariot
67. Boondocks, Little Big Town, The Road to Here
68. Hung Up, Madonna, Confessions On a Dance Floor
69. Gold Digger, Kanye West & Jamie Foxx, Late Registration
70. Georgia (Explicit), Field Mob, Jamie Foxx & Ludacris, Ludacris Presents...Disturbing Tha Peace
71. Heard 'Em Say (Featuring Adam Levine), Kanye West, Late Registration
72. Turn It Up (Explicit Version), Chamillionaire, The Sound of Revenge (Explicit Version)
73. King Without a Crown, Matisyahu, Live At Stubb's
74. Bat Country, Avenged Sevenfold, City of Evil
75. Soul Meets Body, Death Cab For Cutie, Plans
76. Be Without You (Kendu Mix), Mary J. Blige, The Breakthrough
77. If It's Lovin' That You Want, Rihanna, Music of the Sun
78. Collide, Howie Day, Stop All the World Now
79. Walk Away, Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
80. I'm Sprung, T-Pain, I'm Sprung - Single
81. Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day, Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Single
82. Just the Girl, The Click Five, Just the Girl - Single
83. When I Get Where I'm Going, Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton, Time Well Wasted
84. Kerosene, Miranda Lambert, Kerosene
85. Behind These Hazel Eyes, Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
86. In da Club, 50 Cent, Get Rich or Die Tryin'
87. Laffy Taffy (Explicit Album Version), D4L, Down for Life
88. One, Two Step, Ciara featuring Missy Elliot, Goodies
89. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right, Billy Currington, Doin' Somethin' Right
90. The W.A.N.D., The Flaming Lips, The W.A.N.D. - Single
91. Someday, Nickelback, The Long Road
92. There It Go! (The Whistle Song) [Radio Edit], Juelz Santana, There It Go! (The Whistle Song) - Single
93. Live Like You Were Dying, Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying
94. Bless the Broken Road, Rascal Flatts, Feels Like Today
95. Beep, The Pussycat Dolls, PCD
96. Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, Joe Nichols, III
97. Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day, American Idiot
98. Switch, Will Smith, Switch - Single
99. Have a Nice Day, Bon Jovi, Have a Nice Day
100. Let's Get It Started (Spike Mix) [Bonus Track], Black Eyed Peas, Elephunk

And as long as I'm complaining, I think it's time for iTunes to rethink how they categorize their songs. There is not a single thing "Alternative" about Fall-Out Boy. There's not even really anything "Alternative" about Green Day anymore, either.

...and Double Blah

Not much happens in this town in the winter. Now that the holidays are past and the Colts are out of the playoffs, we've sort of descended into a city-wide malaise. Despite some weirdly warm weather, it's been pretty gray and crappy here, and it seems to be sucking the energy out of everybody. I've definitely been feeling the effects. Work has been kind of shite lately, and I've been doing a lot of reading and sudoku, as well as little projects around the apartment. I'm finally getting around to framing some posters I bought last year, reorganizing my cabinets and closets, and replacing some household necessities like towels and pillows. The excitement just keeps coming.

Not much to report on the pop culture front. I did get some good tickets to Oasis's show at the Murat in March, and both Matisyahu and Sigur Ros are playing here in February. If I'm lucky, I'll make it to all three shows. Otherwise, I'm very slowly working through my Netflix queue and list of movies to see in the theater. I want to try to see some of the major Oscar flicks in the next few weeks. I've already seen Walk the Line and Syriana, so it looks like it's true crime and gay cowboys for me!

Um... I probably won't ever repeat that.

Blah

Gray winter days suck.

Looking into the future

What with movie award season in full swing, I thought I'd give you a glimpse at what's guaranteed to be 2006's biggest blockbuster. Superman Returns? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix? A Narnia sequel? Spielberg or Jackson's next epic? No, my friends. Following Woody Allen's cue, this director is making a return to form, going back to what made him famous in the first place... filthy dialogue and trivial geek-speak spewed forth from the mouths of New Jersey slackers. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Kevin Smith's Clerks 2. This trailer got me so fired up, I had to buy the song from iTunes. (That would be Anthrax's re-recorded version of "Among the Living" from their 2004 album, The Greater of Two Evils.)

Speaking of geek-speak, it seems Chuck Klosterman (who I usually find a little tiresome in Spin and Esquire) is now writing a column for ESPN.com's Page 2. His topic? Why we feel the need to compare white athletes to other whites and black athletes to other blacks. Aside from being one of the weirdest and most thought-provoking columns I've ever read on ESPN's site, I challenge anyone to find another sports-related article which quotes the editor-in-chief of Slam magazine and Malcolm Gladwell. And as a second challenge, try to find at least 10 regular ESPN.com readers who know who Malcolm Gladwell is. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece.

And while on the subject of thought-provoking articles, I couldn't pass this one up. On Sunday, the New York Times ran the ultimate typography-nerd story. Unfortunately, it's already gone into their pay archive, but the gist of it is, a small segment of designers and type nerds are up in arms about the anachronistic use of typefaces in movies. The current example? In Good Night and Good Luck, the CBS logo, shown prominently in the studio where much of the film takes place, is set in Helvetica. However, the movie takes place in the early 50's, and Helvetica wasn't created until 1957. For more on the misuse of typefaces in period movies, see Mark Simonson's Typecasting. As a bit of a type nerd and also someone who examines printed materials on film much more closely than the average person, I find this whole thing very interesting, but also somewhat funny. Perspective, people.

Year-end, shmear-end...

So I thought about doing a 2005 wrap-up like I did last year, but to be honest, I'm kind of tired of year-end lists. Instead, here's a few things I covered at one point or another this year. Some of them were released in years prior to 2005, but they're all things that made my year enjoyable.

• sudoku
• going to England for the first time
• Bloc Party's Silent Alarm/Silent Alarm Remixed
• Sufjan Stevens's Illinois
• Danger Doom's The Mouse and the Mask (and all of MF Doom's music that I heard this year)
• Eric Johnson's Live from Austin, TX
• Matisyahu's Live at Stubb's
• Gorillaz's "Feel Good Inc"
• Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek"
• Weezer's "Perfect Situation"
• Doves at the Vic Theater, Chicago
• the 2nd night of U2 at the Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
• Gift of Gab & Lateef/Mike Relm/Twilight Sentinels at the Patio, Indianapolis
• Kings of Leon at the Music Mill, Indianapolis
• discovering Last.fm
• Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
• the last two minutes of Layer Cake
• the fact that Batman Begins was nothing like Joel Schumacher's Batman movies
• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
• Chuck Dugan is AWOL by Eric Chase Anderson
• Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
• My Name is Earl
• Arrested Development, on TV and DVD
• the Freaks and Geeks DVDs
• the Spacecataz bonus feature on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume Four DVDs
• Cartoon Network's Star Wars: Clone Wars series

What?

All you kids who unwrapped iPods under the tree this year, beware. A Rolling Stone article says recent studies are determining that most people who listen to their iPods frequently are doing damage to their hearing. Pete Townsend, who's been outspoken on the subject of hearing loss since announcing he was suffering from tinnitus in 1989, has spoken out on the subject, warning iPod owners to take care lest they suffer the same fate he did. Personally, I have a little trouble believing that an hour of daily iPod use will have the same effect as years of standing in front of Marshall stacks cranked to 11, but hey, I'm no audiologist. The article also makes it seem like the overall ambient noise the world deals with on a daily basis has increased in recent years, so I would imagine that has something to do with it too. And if scientists are looking for someone to blame for hearing loss in young people, forget iPods. How about going after the kids with the window-rattling amps in the back of their crap-ass hatchbacks? Damn punks and their rap music!