“You are a mashup of what you let into your life,” artist Austin Kleon recently proclaimed. this encapsulates the founding philosophy behind Brain Pickings — a filtration mechanism that lets into your life things that are interesting, meaningful, creatively and intellectually stimulating, memorable. Naturally, I was thrilled for the release of Clay Johnson’s The Information Diet: a Case for Conscious Consumption — an intelligent manifesto for optimizing the 11 hours we spend consuming information on any given day (a number that, for some of us, might be frighteningly higher) in a way that serves our intellectual, creative, and psychological well-being.

Johnson — best known for directing Sunlight Labs at government transparency operation Sunlight Foundation — draws a parallel between the industrialization of food, which at once allowed for ever-greater efficiency and reined in an obesity epidemic, and the industrialization of information, arguing that blaming the abundance of information itself is as absurd as blaming the abundance of food for obesity. Instead, he proposes a solution that lies in engineering a healthy relationship with information by adopting smarter habits and becoming as selective about the information we consume as we are about the food we eat. in the process, he covers the history of information, the science of attention, the healthy economics of media, and a wealth in between.

in any democratic nation with the freedom of speech, information can never be as strongly regulated by the public as our food, water, and air. Yet information is just as vital to our survival as the other three things we consume. That’s why personal responsibility in an age of mostly free information is vital to individual and social health. If we want our communities and our democracies to thrive, we need a healthier information diet.

(For a piece of timely irony, consider the fact that the book came out at a time when the U.S. government is considering a policy that not only attempts to regulate access to information, but does so for the purpose of force-feeding the public Hollywood’s entertainment lard.)

Johnson begins with a familiar quote from Steve Jobs:

when you’re young, you look at television and think, There’s a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. but when you get a little older, you realize that’s not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That’s a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! but the networks are really in business to give people what they want. It’s the truth.

He builds on the analogy between food and information by arguing that just like we know we’re products of the food we eat, we must understand just how much we’re products of the information we consume — and consume accordingly. Yet the sheer amount of information available to us — 800,000 petabytes (a million gigabytes per petabyte) in the storage universe and 3.6 zettabytes (a million petabytes per zettabyte) consumed by American homes per day, expected to increase 44-fold by 2020 — is mind-boggling.

Using Google’s n-gram viewer, which searches the occurrences of a particular phrase in a corpus of English books from the past 150 years, Johnson points out that the term “information overload” became popular in the 1960s, surging 50 percent by 1980 and then again by 2000.

But, Johnson is careful to point out, the term itself is semantically broken:

The concept of information overload doesn’t work, however, because as much as we’d like to equate our brains with iPods or hard drives, human beings are biological creatures, not mechanical ones. Our brains are as finite in capacity as our waistlines. While people may eat themselves into a heart attack, they don’t actually die of overconsumption: we don’t see many people taking their last bite at a fried chicken restaurant, overstepping their maximum capacity, and exploding. nobody has a maximum amount of storage for fat, and it’s unlikely that we have a maximum capacity for knowledge.

Yet we seem to want to solve the problem mechanically. Turn it the other way around and you see how absurd it is. trying to deal with our relationship with information as though we are somehow digital machines is like trying to upgrade our computers by sitting them in fertilizer. We’re looking at the problem through the wrong lens.

Johnson argues that instead of the lens of productivity and efficiency, which have become a false holy grail for our inbox zero-obsessed culture, we should consider this through the lens with which we assess what we consume biologically: health. Because the problem is now larger than a mere matter of getting things done:

It’s a matter of health and survival. Information and power are inherently related. Our ability to process and communicate information is as much an evolutionary advantage as our opposable thumbs.

Still, Johnson cautions that we’re wired to love certain kinds of information, most notably affirmation, so we seek out information that confirms, rather than challenges, our existing beliefs. (Cue in Eli Pariser’s The Filter Bubble.)

Just as food companies learned that if they want to sell a lot of cheap calories, they should pack them with salt, fat, and sugar — the stuff that people crave — media companies learned that affirmation sells a lot better than information. Who wants to hear the truth when they can hear that they’re right?

Ultimately, at the heart of The Information Diet lies an urgency to not only recognize, but also act upon, something we all intuit but have a hard time enacting:

Like any good diet, the information diet works best if you think about it not as denying yourself information, but as consuming more of the right stuff and developing healthy habits.

To aid in that, Johnson has provided a toolkit of helpful (mostly) free software for a healthy information diet on the book’s site, ranging from productivity apps to ad blockers to various setting hacks to make your favorite services and social web platforms more conducive to info-wellness.

Image: O’Reilly Media.

This post also appears on Brain Pickings, an Atlantic partner site.

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KEITH URBAN PLANS RETURN Country star Keith Urban is still recovering from the throat surgery he had late last year to remove a polyp. However, he announced that he’ll be sufficiently recovered to make his first concert appearance since November on Feb. 3 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, according to the Boot.

The surgery forced the postponement of the 44-year-old Aussie singer-guitarist’s third annual “All for the Hall” all-star show benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. the bash has been rescheduled for Apr. 10. Other performers include Alabama, Vince Gill, Allison Kraus & Union Station, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert’s side project the Pistol Annies and Lady Antebellum.

BONO APPEARS DESPITE RISK Bono appeared at an African music fest despite considerable dangers involved, reports Britain’s Telegraph.

In past years, the Mali Desert Music Festival in that African’s ancient city of Timbuktu, drew thousands of music fans each year. However, years of violence and strife with neighboring Niger, as well as terrorism from the Saharan branch of al Qaeda and the frequent kidnapping of tourists and international aid workers, have done much to curtail attendance at what was a major world music gathering.

Bono flew in to lend his support for the festival and despite Mali and Niger ending hostilities several months ago, only about 300 paying music lovers saw the U2 singer’s appearance on opening night, where he sang with African musicians.

ALLMAN BROTHERS FEST SET each year, the Allman Brothers host the Wanee Music Festival at Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla. This year’s fest, set for Apr. 19-21, is a bonanza for fans of the Allmans and the Grateful Dead.

The Allmans will be joined by the Electric Hot Tuna; the Grateful Dead spinoff, further, with singer-guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Phil Lesh; the Mickey Hart Band, led by the former Grateful Dead drummer; Allman Brothers’ guitarist Derek Trucks’ spinoff group, the Tedeschi Trucks Band that he leads with his wife, blues singer Susan Tedeschi; another Trucks band, Gov’t Mule; Allman Brothers drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson’s Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band; blues legend Buddy Guy; former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek with the Roy Rogers Band; the North Mississippi Allstars; Cajun bluegrass band Leftover Salmon; Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk; Bruce Hornsby, who played keyboards for the Dead from 1988 until the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995; and Trigger Hippy, featuring Joan Osborne, who sang with the Dead in 2003.

NEW RELEASES Among the new CD releases and re-releases are “Head: Limited Collector’s Edition,” a 3-CD set from the Monkees; a remastered and expanded “The Concert Sinatra” from Frank Sinatra; “Decades of Worship” from Christian singer Michael W. Smith and “Three” from the Refugees, featuring rocker Cindy Bullens, former Animal Logic singer Deborah Holland and singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman.

“Music from & Inspired by Pan Am,” contains songs used on the ABC TV show. Among the artists and ‘50 s and ‘60 s standards emblematic of the times during which the series takes place include “Around the World” by jazzy lounge singer-pianist Buddy Greco; “Blue Skies” by Ella Fitzgerald; “Call Me Irresponsible” by Bobby Darin; “The Girl from Ipanema” from jazz saxman Stan Getz and “New York City Blues” from Peggy Lee. Other performers featured include jazz and blues singer Dinah Washington, pop singer Connie Francis, Count Basie and His Orchestra, rockabilly, country and pop singer Brenda Lee and Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66.

GARTH BROOKS TRIAL Trial proceedings resulting from a lawsuit by Garth Brooks against Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon, Okla, has begun. the jury selection process has started, according to Tulsa World. Brooks is claiming the hospital reneged on its promise to name a building after the country superstar’s late mother in exchange for a $500,000 donation. the hospital denies any wrongdoing, claiming Brooks’ contribution was “anonymous and unconditional.”

JOHN SEBASTIAN HONORED Former Lovin’ Spoonful leader John Sebastian was awarded the 2012 Silver Eagle Patriot Award by the United States Armed Forces in a ceremony in Oceanside at the Mira Costa Concert Hall.

Sebastian, who left the Spoonful in 1968 for a solo career, still stays in touch with the band’s bassist Steve Boone.

Boone resurrected the Lovin’ Spoonful in 1991 with singer-drummer Joe Butler and singer-pianist Jerry Yester, formerly of the new Christy Minstrels and the brother of the Association’s Jim Yester. Boone told the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner, “Every time I sit down with John, it’s like no time has passed.”

The 68-year-old bassist said of Sebastian, “he was one of the premiere songwriters of the era; we went out of our way to make our music radio-friendly. We were the kings of singles.” He’s right. the Spoonful’s first seven singles all hit the Top 10, including their 1965 debut, “Do You believe in Magic,” and subsequent hits like “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” “Daydream”and “Summer in the City.”

The Lovin’ Spoonful just played two shows in Florida. Sebastian, 67, continues to perform as well. He’s got concerts set in new Hampshire, Massachusetts and new York in March and April.

HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW LINEUP SET the big Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced its lineup. the annual event, set this year for Feb. 28-Mar. 18, will feature some of the biggest names in country music, including Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, the Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, the Band Perry, Jason Aldean, androckers ZZ Top, pop artists John Legend, Train and Enrique Iglesias.

SPRINGSTEEN SHOWS UP as he’s done on many occasions over the past dozen years, an unannounced Bruce Springsteen performed at the 12 th annual Light of Day Parkinson’s benefit at the Paramount Theatre in his hometown of Asbury Park, NJ, according to Rolling Stone. the bill included ’s’70 s singer-songwriter David Bromberg, reggae rocker Garland Jeffreys, singer-songwriter Willie Nile, and fellow Jersey Short rocker Southside Johnny and his new band, the Poor Fools.

Highlights from the marathon seven-and-a-half hour concert included Bromberg closing his set with Sam the Sham & the Pharaoh’s 1965 party anthem, “Wooly Bully; Springsteen’s guitar work backing Jeffrey’s on his biggest hit, “Wild In the Streets,” from 1973, and his getting the crowd going with his cover of question mark & the Mysterian’s 1966 garage rock classic, “96 Tears.”

Nile blistered through a Ramone’s medley of “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” and “California Sun” that was a biggie for the Riviera’s in 1964.

The Boss dug deep, performing a solo acoustic take on his “Incident on 57 th Street,” from his second album, “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle,” in 1973, for only the second time in his career. he was then backed by his Pittsburgh-based friends, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, with whom he’s played several shows in recent months. When they performed the event’s theme song, “Light of Day,” E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg ran onstage and handled the drumming. the night ended with an extended rave up on “Twist and Shout” and a sing-along version of “Thunder Road.”

VELVET UNDERGROUND SUES the Velvet Underground, i.e., Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker, was managed and produced by pop artist Andy Warhol and was the house band at his studio in new York City. nearly four decades after its breakup in 1973, Morrison died in 1995 at 53.

The band is suing the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, saying the foundation didn’t have the right to sell Warhol’s iconic banana image on the cover of the group’s 1967 debut album, “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” to the maker of cases for Apple, inc. iPods and iPads, reports the Wall Street Journal. the foundation has yet to comment.

VELVET REVOLVER REUNITE Velvet Revolver, the rockers comprised of former Guns ’sN’ Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland and rhythm guitarist Dave Kushner,, reunited for the first time in four years, reported Rolling Stone. the group helped raise money by headlining a benefit concert at the West Hollywood House of Blues for the family of Kushner’s best friend, composer John O’Brien, who died recently.

Other acts performing included Maroon 5, local alt-rockers Fishbone, and guitar wizard Tom Morello of rage against the Machine, who performed as the Nightwatchman. Stephen Stills joined Cheryl Crow for four songs. the duo’s set included Stills’ Buffalo Springfield 1967 classic, “For what It’s Worth,” about the teenage riots on the very Sunset Strip that is home to the benefit’s venue, that Stills dedicated to “the 99 percent.” They also ran through Still’s 1970 solo smash, “Love the one You’re With” and a couple Crow biggies, “If It Makes You Happy” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road.” the evening ended with Velvet Revolver appropriately covering Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”

NOW PLAYING Classic acts from the ‘50 s, ‘60 s and ‘70 s continue to perform. Here’s what some of them are doing.

The Association has a couple of shows set in mid-February in Virginia and Maryland.

The Turtles hit the Sycuan Casino in El Cajon near San Diego on Mar. 31 with guests 38 Special, and again on Apr. 1 with their pals the Grass Roots.

Mickey Dolenz announced that he’s on board again for the Turtles’ annual happy Together Tour with tour repeaters the Grass Roots, the Buckinghams and newby Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. the happy Together Tour will make a stop on

July 14 at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa.

Speaking of Dolenz, the other Monkees are also busy. Peter Tork just played gigs in Delaware and Arizona and Davy Jones is set to play shows in new York and Oklahoma in February before headlining a Mar. 31 concert at the La Mirada Performing Arts Center.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Little Anthony & the Imperials will undertake a five-night residency at Feinstein’s at the Regency in new York City beginning inValentine’s Day. Also, you can make your reservations now when he headlines the gala new Year’s Eve 2012-13 show at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon.

Country legend Charley Pride will be in Oklahoma for two shows next week, before heading to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for a couple of nights the first week in February. He’ll be across the pond on Feb. 26 at London’s Wembley Arena for the International Festival of Country Music that also features Reba McEntire, Ricky Skaggs, Asleep at the Wheel, Rockabilly Hall of Famer with the falsetto Narvel Felts, Lonestar, Cajun singer-accordionist Jo-El Sonnier, and Sandy Kelly with ‘50 s teen idol and the International Ambassador of Country Music George Hamilton IV.

Johnny Winter has a half-dozen gigs in new England before the end of the month before playing a couple of shows each in Texas and Louisiana in early February. then, it’s off to Europe for 17 shows from Feb. 23 – Mar. 18. He’s playing the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point on May 19.

Diana Ross is heading to the Deep South at the end of February. She’s got six concerts in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina through Mar. 3.

Tommy Roe, who scored with major hits like his first, “Sheila,” in 1962 through “Dizzy” in 1969, has two concerts set at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside, Iowa in early April.

Tommy James was only

Readers, email your questions and comments to Steve Smith at . Read this week’s complete Classic Pop, Rock & Country Music News online at presstelegram.com.

<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyle/ci_19774894tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyle/ci_19774894Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:12:53 GMT”>STEVE SMITH: Classic rock, pop and country

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The Sports Guy rids his inbox of pigskin-related questions and makes his wild-card weekend picksBy Bill SimmonsPOSTED JANUARY 6, 201220th Century Fox

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Ahhhhhh, Round 1 of the playoffs. My annual dream to finish 11-0 against the spread. My beloved Patriots getting a much-needed week off. Four games in 28 hours. What’s better than this? To celebrate, should we bang out an all-football mailbag before diving into the Week 1 playoff picks? I’m on the fence. Let’s take one or two e-mails from readers and see how it goes.

Q: I was in a meeting this week where the head hancho wanted to chew some people out and burn them. what did he say? He said, “Sit down fellas, it’s about to get crispy!” can we turn “It’s about to get crispy” into an everyday saying? — Michael S., Chicago

SG: great start. Really strong. Just need a little more prodding and we should be good.

Q: STOP WRITING ABOUT BASKETBALL. No one gave a flying poop about the lockout, and people give even less of a flying poop now that it’s back. If you want to write an entire book about something no one cares about, try environmentalism or something. Please go back to doing mailbags. It’s one of the few things you’re still good at. — Sam, Edison

SG: Fine, Sam — you win. Just know that, as far as motivational speeches go, that wasn’t exactly Al Pacino’s locker room speech in Any Given Sunday, more like every Santonio Holmes speech during the 2011 Jets season. As always, these are actual e-mails from actual readers. and please, you better hold on to something — it’s about to get crispy.

Q: Heard you talking on your podcast about adding a second bye week in the NFL (instead of going to an 18-game schedule). Here’s my twist: for both bye weeks, EVERY team would be off. Not only would it eliminate the advantage of some teams having better bye weeks than others, but we could call them “Save the Marriage” weekends. Or, we could make a mandatory rule that all weddings would have to be scheduled for those 2 weekends only. — Mike T., Danville

SG: As much as I love the idea of “Save the Marriage” weekend … I mean … no football on Sunday? come on. That’s a little overboard. Allow me to tweak your idea: 18-week schedule, two bye weeks per team … but we’d have to pick one Sunday in October, November and December with a shortened schedule (maybe 12 teams get a bye), then everyone else plays in games starting at 4 p.m. EST or later. Couldn’t that work as three pseudo-”Save the Marriage” days? Hey honey, you have me until 3:45 today! what are we doing?

One other note: If the NFL extends its regular-season schedule to 18 games while pretending to care more about violent hits, concussions and player safety, we can all agree it would be one of the five or six dumbest decisions in the history of mankind. It’s like going through chemo for treatable lung cancer while also upping your cigarette intake by an extra pack per day. If they want more TV money, they should chop two preseason games, extend the season by an extra bye week (making it 18 weeks in all), and add two more playoff teams. You know who wins in that scenario? us!!!! the players get a little more rest. we get an extra week of fantasy/gambling/television during the regular season, then a Round 1 weekend football marathon with SIX playoff games in 34 hours. Everybody wins. Shouldn’t we try that idea for one year before we add two more games to the schedule and double the chance of playoff teams being Caleb Hanie’d?

Q: Watching all of those offensive records fall in Week 17 made me think we need a new designation for NFL records. Just like we have the Dead Ball era and the Steroids era in baseball, we should have the Dead Receiver and Live Receiver era in football. the defining line being that small wideouts who used to go over the middle back in the old days were more likely to end up dead. You agree? — Andy, Austin

SG: so we could say things like, “I know it doesn’t seem like Stanley Morgan was a Hall of Famer, but trust me, if it wasn’t for the Dead Receiver era, his stats would have been so much better”? Absolutely. I’d argue that it’s actually three different eras, though — the Dead Receiver era (everything up until the early ’90s), the Wide Receiver boom (when Cris Carter, Andre Rison, Andre Reed and everyone else caught up to Jerry Rice), and then, of course, the Touch Football era.

Q: Doesn’t Tim Tebow remind you of Tom Cruise? There’s a hyper, uber-personality to both. They’re both devoted to small, intense religions (Scientology and the Church of Bob Tebow), yet we know very little about what goes on in both religions. neither person seems quite “normal.” It’s almost like both are acting and saying things that they expect real humans would do and say. their careers don’t really make any sense anymore, yet they’re still considered successful. their fans are cult-like in their devotion and their inability to question either. oh, and they’re probably both repress— — Adam, Tampa

SG: I’m stopping you right there. great call with Tebow and Cruise, although you could have added that (a) they both have names that sound like they were made up in a Hollywood pitch meeting; (b) they make the same face when they’re running; (c) Cruise’s euphorically over-the-top performance as the cornerback in All the Right Moves was a dead ringer for Tebow’s euphorically over-the-top performance for the 2011 Broncos;1 (d) Tebow grew up wanting to be a missionary and Cruise wanted to be a priest (true story); (e) and (f) Cruise’s infamous jumping-off-Oprah’s-sofa video is undeniably Tebow-esque (right down to him practically Tebow-ing with the on-one-knee-fist-pump move).

Q: Nickname for Tebow: “Tim Placebo.” Spirits are up. Players are blocking and making plays. they have started winning. in spite of all that, he’s not actually doing anything!!! — Eric Distad, San Rafael

Q: is it time to note that Tebow’s career arc is tracking Netflix’ career arc? Hot internet start-up with severely flawed business model takes the world by storm, because no one has ever seen anything like it. with each passing week, more and more people jump on the bandwagon. As the stock contines to perform, even former critics are convinced otherwise and the stock begins to appreciate hyperbolically. soon, people begin to forget the fatal flaws and even the biggest short (Elway) changes his tune. Yet, in the back of our minds, we all know this story is doomed to fail and it’s just a matter of time. so, is this Sunday’s game the first crack in the facade? I don’t know, but I’ll definitely be watching … — Carl Chious, Mountain View, CA

SG: so if you’re keeping score, three readers just successfully compared Tebow to Tom Cruise, Netflix and a placebo drug in back-to-back-to-back mailbag e-mails. Really, I’m supposed to take Pittsburgh laying 9 against Netflix Placebo Tom Cruise???? Speaking of Cruise …

Q: we all know that Tom Cruise runs in all his movies. He runs aggressively and earnestly. There are countless youtube montages of him running. in MI4:GP (Imax) he outran an exploding Kremlin. but, how fast is Tom Cruise? He’s obviously in great shape and does his own stunts, so he can’t be slow … but he’s also 5′6″, so he has short legs. Still, I argue that he’s actually really fast. like a former DI defensive back who’s now 50 fast. Not necessarily NFL fast, but still fast. is there an answer to this? how disappointing would it be to find out he was actually just average speed? — Max, NYC

SG: You can’t answer this question without stumbling into a larger debate that has vexed Cruise fans for decades …

Is Tom Cruise a good athlete?

For instance, I know that Jason Priestley was a good athlete — during his epic reign as Brandon Walsh on the original 90210, I watched that guy win flag football games and track meets, play ice hockey pretty competitively, dominate in backyard H-O-R-S-E and nearly win California University’s 3-on-3 tournament before his friend Dick overdosed at the Peach Pit. Priestley left no doubt: If not for acting, he would have played sports in college and possibly won us a few golds in the Olympics. but Cruise? It’s a little murkier. I have seen the case made for both sides of this debate.

Argument of the Pro-Cruisers: Cruise always stayed in great shape (he’s pretty ripped in the football movie) … when Cruise runs in movies, it LOOKS like he’s running fast … he played an extremely convincing cornerback (in Moves) … in The Outsiders, he does a crazy Bart Conner-like flip off a railing as they’re leaving somebody’s house … he pulled off the volleyball scene in Top Gun, the boxing scenes in Far and Away and the pool scenes in Color of Money … and he cranks a few softball line drives in A Few Good Men.

Argument of the Anti-Cruisers: He may have used a stunt double for some of the football scenes in Moves, and when he runs back that one interception TD, they have to throw the ball right at him for him to catch it … the Top Gun volleyball scene was edited pretty carefully (and there’s no way Cruise was spiking balls over a regulation net) … during the basketball scene in Cocktail (with Koglan), his shooting form is undeniably horrific (and even worse, he seems to think it’s fine) … you can teach anyone to look like they’re running fast (especially in a movie).

Here’s my take: You know those short guys in high school who stayed in great shape, played D-back in football, served as a co-captain for the wrestling team, tried really hard with everything they did … and yet, if you played hoops with them, they were all over the place? That’s Cruise. that means he probably topped out at a 4.9 in high school, maybe a 4.85 in college, a 5.0 in his 30s, and now, probably something in the 5.3 range, only every time he finishes the 40, it seems like he did it faster than that (only he didn’t).

Q: I have a theory for why the 49ers won’t make it to the Super Bowl. Basically, Jim Harbaugh is like a father who failed at something and is now going to take it out on his kids by being overly aggressive in his tutelage. think about what he used to do in the playoffs as a Colt — getting a beat down from the Steelers, for instance, until he was falling all over the field with blood running down his face and jersey. He never made it to the big game. now Harbaugh is an overbearing, overly aggressive and excitable coach who will freak out if his “charges” slip up. Just sayin’ — watch what happens when the 49ers need to come from behind against the likes of Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. the disgruntled “I never made it, so you have to do it for me or I’ll make you feel like crap” father figure will show his teeth and not be able to motivate. — Adam Perry, Boulder, CO

SG: That’s a pretty good theory. Mine is a little simpler: their quarterback is Alex Smith.

Q: is Tommy Boy more or less funny now because he was trying to save the town of Sandusky, OH? If find it less funny now, in light of the sullying of the name of Sandusky? — Jeff H., Mableton, GA

SG: Here’s how I know it’s less funny — i am typing so fast tht i don’t even care aobut misspellings b/c I wnt to get away from this qeustion so badly.

Q: I enjoyed your tribute to San Diego (in your Week 17 column). in my sophomore year at San Diego State, I lived in an apartment complex near school; my next door neighbors were three guys who left Bates College (in Maine) to spend one year at SDSU. it was October and we had an Indian summer heat wave. we were hanging out at the apartment’s pool (yes) with about 50 other students including a good number of hot coeds, when one of them turned to me and said “When I was back at Bates, I would have never imagined that you could live this way and go to college. I just didn’t know it was possible.” He turned away, looked around, took a hit from his bottle and said, “I’m never leaving.” Those three guys still live in San Diego. — Matt H., Petaluma, CA

SG: I still can’t believe the NBA failed in San Diego. If I were an evil kajillionaire, I’d build a state-of-the-art NBA arena downtown — only 10,000 seats, suited specifically for basketball — almost like a killer college hoops arena but with a few more suites — and steal someone else’s NBA team and rename it “The San Diego Zoo.” what marquee free agent wouldn’t want to play for the San Diego Zoo? Who has a better chance of getting Dwight Howard next summer — the Milwaukee Bucks or the San Diego Zoo?

Q: Egregious Oversight Alert: in listing off all of the atrocities to befall the Vikings over the past 24 months (in your Week 17 column), you somehow forgot to mention that THE ROOF OF OUR STADIUM COLLAPSED LAST DECEMBER. If there was ever a real-life analogy for a team’s precipitous decline, it has to be that. — Alex, Minneapolis

SG: That’s an excellent point. I also forgot to mention Randy Moss’ cameo that cost them a third-round pick and led to a two-week long debate about the quality of the chicken and ribs from Tinucci’s Restaurant.

Q: do you realize you wrote this in your Black Friday Half-Mailbag?

You got everything right except for the Giants upsetting Green Bay — and they almost did! I can’t even decide if this is amazing or not because the Giants do this every year. — Tim, Hoboken, NJ

SG: it wasn’t amazing. the Giants do this every year.

Q: a few years ago you wrote about overused and/or annoying phrases such as “literally” or when broadcasters answer their own questions (“You don’t think so-and-so cares about winning?”). I’d like to add to the list and welcome others to chime in on what is annoying lately: “I get it” – i.e. “I get it. Tim Tebow is not a great QB but something magical is happening with him this year.” — Deli Man, NY

SG: Thanks for bringing up our 2011 winner of the prestigious Dan Dierdorf Award for “Most Annoying Broadcasting Crutch that Somehow Took On a Life of Its Own.” why is the award named after Dierdorf? Because of his career-long habit of halfheartedly giving opinions that start with the disclaimer “I’m not so sure,” as in, “I’m not so sure that Eli Manning isn’t the best quarterback in football right now.” I’m not so sure that even makes sense. oh wait, I’m totally sure. it makes no sense. Anyway, I get it — when you start a sentence with “I get it,” that means you’re acknowledging somebody else’s side before you disagree with it. and I get it, sometimes annoying vocal patterns can spread like the virus in Contagion, which, ohbytheway,2 definitely happened in Bristol these past few years. but it’s been an “I get it” frenzy these past few months. I blame Phil Simms — I’m not so sure that he wasn’t the first one who started it.

Q: Glad the Pats got the #1 seed, but do you realize that the Patriots did not beat a single team with a winning record this season? — Jonathan, San Francisco

SG: You think I don’t know this? You think there’s a single Patriots fan strutting around this week with his chest puffed out? You think there’s one Pats fan out there saying, “I don’t care if we only have one pass-rusher, or that we play wide receivers in our secondary, or that we spotted teams gigantic leads in our past two games … this is gonna be totally fine”? the Pats might be the first no. 1 seed eligible for “Nobody Believes in Us” status.

(For the record, here’s how I make myself feel better about this: Potentially, the Pats could play Andy Dalton in Round 2, Joe Flacco in Round 3, and if they make it past those two games, the next stop would be an indoor Super Bowl against Green Bay or New Orleans that will end up being a defense-doesn’t-matter shootout no matter who’s representing the AFC. and the other teams don’t have Rob Gronkowski. so there.)

Q: is it just me or does it seem like a rain cloud and eerie piano music follow Tom Rinaldi everywhere he goes? — David Sparks, Scranton

SG: It’s not just you — that’s in his contract and everything.

Q: After watching my Broncos somehow (painfully) back into the playoffs, I had a thought: what if teams could trade their playoff spot? Here’s how it would work: any team that makes it to the playoffs with a .500 record or worse would be eligible to trade their playoff spot to any team in their own conference in exchange for that team’s first round pick. the cost of the spot goes up by a set amount as the team that traded into the playoffs advances. Make it to the conference title game? That’s a first this year and a second rounder two years later. Make it to the Super Bowl? That’s 2 first round picks — one now, one two years from now. take this year for instance: Wouldn’t the Broncos trade their spot in a heartbeat? Wouldn’t the peaking Chargers (who have a coach and GM on the hot seat) make that trade in half-a-heartbeat? Wouldn’t it make the playoffs better? Wouldn’t it cause 45 different ESPN talking heads to explode over the last week of the season? TELL ME THE DOWNSIDE!? — Brett, Bentonville, Ar

SG: I can’t. I really love this idea, and not just because it would lead to someone on ESPN or the NFL Network popping a blood vessel in his or her eyeball on live TV as he or she screamed about Denver giving up a playoff spot. Wouldn’t Houston at least consider that trade as well? and also, wouldn’t Philly make that trade with either Denver or Houston, if only so its fans could be even more tortured by Andy Reid? I don’t think it should be limited to conferences. If the Eagles want Denver’s Round 1 AFC home game, they can trade for it. Anyway, I threw this idea at my buddy Gus — a lifelong Broncos fan — who texted me back in 1.993 seconds, “Yes. I make that trade. we have no chance this year but good pieces. Draft picks would help us build.” and I’m still thinking about taking the Broncos +8½ on Sunday? what the hell is wrong with me?

Q: is there any way that we, as a society, can agree to stop pretending that a quarterback throwing a block for a teammate is the most remarkable thing that has ever happened on a football field? — Danny, Ithaca

Q: SI this week ran a feature about how Brady’s Michigan experience helped Brady become the great QB he is now. I think I have read this story or seen a TV feature about it maybe 300 times in my life. but in the last 3 years alone someone has written a story or done a feature about how dropping to 24 made Rodgers the great QB he is now at least 150 times. of course Rodgers is younger than Brady and has a longer career ahead. My question is this Sports Man — in 2030, when we finish counting these stories up after their careers, which story will have been beaten into the ground more? Would you go Rodgers or Brady? — Frank, Lansing, MI

SG: what a great question. My gut reaction for an answer? Rodgers. Longer career, more media outlets now, and he’s on a phenomenal pace — the beaten-into-the-ground Rodgers story from 2008 to 2011 crushes Brady from 2001 to 2004. I am making the beaten-into-the-ground Rodgers story a 37.5-point favorite over the beaten-into-the-ground Brady story. Let’s revisit this in 2030 when — wait, if I’m still writing this column in 2030, you have permission to shoot me in the head like Tom Walker.

Q: Can we incorporate the NFL’s “physically unable to perform” list as a euphemism for impotence? think about it, your buddies ask you how it went with the girl you brought home the other night. You just kind of shake your head and say, “Little too much to drink that night … had to go on the PUP list.” way more clever than “Whiskey Dick,” right? — Scott, Austin

SG: Settle down. We’re not getting rid of “Whiskey Dick,” although I do like the concept of the PUP list trickling into real life. Wouldn’t it work better for a non-whipped friend who’s missing from a night out or a guy’s weekend because he had to put in overdue family time or girlfriend time? for instance, let’s say your married buddy Cliff just came back from a weeklong golfing trip in North Carolina. the following weekend, there’s a birthday party and someone asks where Cliff is. If someone answered, “Cliff just came back from that crazy golf trip, he’s on the PUP list this weekend,” everyone would get what that meant.

Q: it is kinda hard taking you seriously in your playoff podcasts when you did so poorly in Week 17 and fell below .500 in your column for the season. Next year, rather than playing against your wife, how about playing against at dartboard? when Chad Millman told you that no one gets 60% correct and noted that if you get 55% you make money, you should have jumped in to say you were lucky to break 45%. — David, Long Island

SG: before answering this very fair question, I spent about two hours consulting with Norv Turner, Andy Reid and Mike Tannenbaum . Here’s what we came up with …

“David, thanks for your e-mail and we appreciate your concern. Just know that I was more unhappy about 2011 than anyone — my goal every year is to finish 30 games over .500 in the regular season and 11-0 in the playoffs. when that doesn’t happen, I’m as ticked as anyone. sure, I finished 47-36-2 (11 games over .500) in the Las Vegas Hilton’s SuperContest; had you followed those picks, you would have won about 58 percent of your 2011 wagers. but the real problems were my Grantland responsibilities and the NBA’s abrupt return in early December. looking back, I took on more than I could chew with the “12 Days of NBA Christmas” gimmick — heading into Day 1 (which coincided with my Week 13 picks), I was 88-82-6, coming off a 10-6 week and ready to make a run. I finished 32-45-3 those last five weeks. Not to make excuses, but it’s pretty clear what happened. Just know that I’m shaking things up for the playoffs — I fired the USA Today Sports Weekly, I’m no longer consulting my gardener for his picks, and I’m going to start watching Inside the NFL again. Please, give me the courtesy of appreciating the past and not the present. I need you to believe in my picks again, even if there’s no real reason to do so. Thanks for writing in and thanks for the support.”

Q: It’s too late for a Christmas mailbag, but I figured I’d ask anyway. what type of gift says “I have liked having sex with you for the past ten months, but I don’t love you and there is no chance of us getting married?” — James, Philadelphia

SG: what about what appears to be edible cancer? Would that work?

Q: in your half-baked ideas podcast, you and Wildes missed the easiest pick for a new holiday: what about the Monday after the Super Bowl? What’s worse than going to work or class ten hours after a Super Bowl party? think how much more drunk everyone would get if they didn’t have to work the next day. Also weren’t you the guy who once came up with the idea that the day “Madden” comes out should be a holiday? old Simmons would have remembered that, now you’re just old. That’s all right it happens. — MD, Scottsdale

SG: Thanks for the support, MD. Here’s how we could pull off the Super Bowl holiday: Lincoln’s birthday of February 12 is already a holiday in certain states (California, Connecticut, New York, etc.), while George Washington’s birthday (February 22) is a federal holiday in every state and celebrated on the third Monday of February as Presidents Day. what if we just moved Presidents Day to the second Monday of every February, celebrated both Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday on that day, then extended the NFL season by an extra week (with the aforementioned second “bye”) so that the Super Bowl always landed on the second Sunday in February? Then, to replace the void of Lincoln’s birthday, we make Cinco de Mayo a federal holiday — an even bigger victory because that’s a better month to celebrate a holiday, anyway. Everyone wins.

Q: why don’t we have a Saturday morning cartoon in which Tebow and his sidekick Jimmer team up to constantly foil the sexcapades of Tiger Woods? — Jared Robinson, Terre Haute

SG: You just gave someone the best idea for a four-minute Internet cartoon ever. Actually, I probably shouldn’t be the arbiter for this topic. Let’s just move on.

Q: I just had an epiphany while watching the clock tick closer to quitting time today at work. the easiest pick of the Round One weekend is the Denver Broncos. this whole thing is playing out just like any sports movie ever made. You’ve got a QB in Tim Tebow that overcame all kinds of obstacles to get the starting job on a crappy team. Then he leads them to unbelievable win after win. He has the team playing hard for him and everyone is starting to love him, even those in the media who were so against him. Then just when everything is going great things start to fall apart. Key players get injured, none of his tricks work anymore, and they go on a horrible losing streak. now, just when there is no hope and everyone has counted them out the “Nobody Believes in Us” speech is delivered by Timmy Tebow. the team rallies behind him and they pull off a miracle comeback to beat the Steelers. I’m telling you … it’s the easiest pick of the weekend. If Disney’s already making the Tim Tebow movie there is no way the Broncos lose. — Jason H, Dayton, OH

SG: Remember the 2008 playoffs, after Kurt Warner had told his kids he’d buy them a puppy if the Cardinals won the Super Bowl, then I had a Pakistani reader send me an e-mail urging me to bet on Warner’s team because “you never bet against God and puppies”? I kind of feel the same way about Jason’s Tebow/Disney e-mail. He’s right … this is a sports-movie script. and we all know how sports movies play out.

The best point of Jason’s e-mail: “Then just when everything is going great things start to fall apart. Key players get injured, none of his tricks work anymore, and they go on a horrible losing streak. now, just when there is no hope and everyone has counted them out the ‘Nobody Believes in Us’ speech is delivered by Timmy Tebow.”

Seriously, how many times have we seen that sequence in a sports movie? Fifty? Seventy-five? One hundred? it always happens around the 1:15 mark of the movie; even better, you KNOW it’s coming and somehow still enjoy it. I don’t know whether the inevitable Tebow/Broncos sports movie would be called God’s will, Faith Healer, Divine Intervention, And a Tebow Shall Lead Them, White Bronco, or my personal favorite, Fourth-and-God, but it’s definitely been a sports movie — you have a polarizing/mesmerizing lead character, the mandatory “this team’s coming together!” and “this team’s falling apart!” sequences, crazy amounts of media scrutiny, and the whole damned thing is just implausible enough that you find yourself saying, “I wish this movie was about 18 percent more realistic.” If you pick against Denver this weekend, you’re picking against every sports movie ever made, as well as the $86 million opening weekend Disney is about to have for Fourth-and-God in 15 months. As always, tread carefully.

Q: the best part of reading your mailbags was scrolling to the bottom to see what nutjob earned the last place spot and was granted the infamous, “Yup, these are my readers!” tagline. why did it randomly disappear? has your new fancy website changed you that much already? how am I supposed to know when the mailbag is over now? — Amy, Jacksonville

SG: Fine, fine. We’ll make it happen this time, if only because you’re the first Jacksonville reader who ever wrote in without calling me an obscenity.

Q: Have you noticed the “Thank you for watching the NFL on CBS” clip that runs after the late game? As the NFL shield comes down, it looks like a pair of white boobs in a black cocktail dress. — Morgan C., Portland, OR

SG: and just like that, we’re in range.

Q: I don’t like the comparison of Alex Smith to Meg White (in your Week 17 column). If you’re going to compare Alex to a drummer, I think it’s got to be Rick Allen (the guy from Def Leppard with one arm). came in with a lot of talent. Didn’t do a whole lot. Suffered through some bad experiences (multiple bad coaches and coordinators, lost an arm). Then, despite all odds, gained success with the same supporting cast. Not saying I want the Niners to be the Def Leppard of football (I’d prefer Van Halen if we’re going hair metal), but the parallels are undeniable. By the way, it’s 4:19 a.m. right now, and I’m drunk on Johnnie Walker Black label (official sponsor of the ESPN happy Hour, where PTI lets you appear when they’re hard-up for subs), which explains why I’m suddenly full of sports knowledge. — Josh Bartz, Missoula

Q: nobody has ever come up with a satisfactory answer to this question for me. If a Siamese twin committed murder, and the other twin did everything in its power to stop the murder, what should be the punishment be? (Presuming that they can’t be split). — Sean, London

Q: Had morning sex with the girlfriend while she was wearing her original Dream Team t-shirt with the cartoon drawings of each playeron the front. I looked down, and saw Larry Legend with an ear to ear grin and his fist in the air. I kept looking down, seeing Larry giving me the victory fist pump and thought: life is good. — mark, Madison, WI

SG: Yup, these are my readers. Let’s get to my Round 1 playoff picks.

(Home teams in caps.)

TEXANS (-3) over BengalsJake Delhomme’s shadow is lurking. I am well aware. every time they show Jake wearing his headset and a “I really hope I don’t come in” look on his hangdog face, I will mutter to myself, “I really hope I didn’t make a tragic mistake here.” There’s also the nagging problem of Houston being unable to crack 23 points since Week 10 — if Andre Johnson isn’t 100 percent (or close), that Texans offense can’t stretch the field and goes into “we’re just going to run the ball, and if you stack the line on us, we have to go into dink-and-dunk mode and we’re kind of screwed” mode.

And yet, the Texans are my favorite Round 1 pick. a legitimately good defense playing at home against a rookie QB running a fairly limited offense … and the line is only three? Delightful! the 2011 Bengals played five “big” games (both Pittsburgh games, both Baltimore games and their Week 14 Houston game) and lost all five.3 maybe that’s why the Bengals went into playing-not-to-lose mode against Baltimore in last weekend’s exceptionally uninspiring performance. If one thing stood out last week, other than Marvin Lewis playing not to lose for the umpteenth time of his career, it was that Andy Dalton actually had time to throw against Baltimore (all game, by the way) and just couldn’t make plays. why should we trust him in a big game? Check out his game log for Week 3 (San Francisco), Week 10 (Pittsburgh), Week 13 (Pittsburgh) and Week 17 (Baltimore) — suddenly he’s going to turn it on in Week 18 with MORE pressure?

Think of it this way: Dalton needs to play well for the Bengals to prevail; his rookie counterpart (T.J. Yates) needs only to avoid driving Houston’s boat into an iceberg. I just don’t see the Bengals bringing enough to the table, especially in Houston against a rabid crowd that hasn’t even seen a Texans playoff game before (much less hosted one). we also know that Houston’s running game can protect and extend any lead; nobody else in the playoffs has anything remotely approaching that Arian Foster/Ben Tate combination. Please, Lord, keep Delhomme on the sideline.

The pick: Houston 23, Cincy 10.

SAINTS (-10.5) over LionsYou’ve heard the case for Detroit: It’s going to be a shootout, the Lions are going to throw on New Orleans, they’re used to playing indoors, and even if they’re getting mildly blown out, that extra half-point is a biggie (they can always pull off a backdoor touchdown (a Calvin Johnson specialty over the years). My counter in three parts …

1. You shouldn’t pick any playoff team unless you think it can win. You’re telling me this same shaky Lions team that just made Matt Flynn rich is beating a juggernaut that’s been ripping through everyone in football for two solid months AND has a scorching-hot QB? we just watched Flynn shred that depleted Lions secondary for 16 touchdowns and 987 yards (all numbers approximate). Brees’ past eight games: 2,430 yards, 22 TD’, 3 picks, 5 sacks, 8-0 record. Brees at home this year: 2,864 yards, 29 TDs, 6 picks, 8 sacks, 8-0 record. what am I missing?

2. You beat the 2011 Saints (and the 2011 Packers, and maybe even the 2011 Pats) with the old Super Bowl XLII game plan that the Giants used to break my sports heart: Shorten the game, run the ball, move the chains, keep their offense off the field, and when they’re out there, hit the crap out of the QB. the Lions don’t have that type of team. To say the least. All the Lions have going for them is that extra half-point and the “Weird things usually happen in Round 1 on Saturday night” thing going.

3. New Orleans won nine of its 13 victories by 11 points or more. every time the Saints went up by double digits in the fourth, they eventually won by 11 or more. By contrast, in 11 of Detroit’s 16 games, the Lions trailed at some point in the second half (seven times by 10 points or more). we know all about their penchant for comebacks, but that’s the thing about the 2011 Saints: You don’t come back against Brees. Not this year. Given the recent history of these two teams, there’s an excellent chance the Saints will be leading in the fourth quarter by double digits — let’s say, 30-17 — and will have the ball with a chance to go for the kill. You really want to bank on a backdoor cover at that point? come on. Don’t try to be a hero. It’s the playoffs.

The pick: New Orleans 37, Detroit 17.

GIANTS (-3) over FalconsOn Tuesday’s B.S. Report, Aaron Schatz revealed that the Falcons were the most consistent team from week to week that Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings had ever measured. that made sense: After all, the 2011 Falcons beat up bad teams, played mediocre-to-solid teams close and lost to good teams. By contrast, the 2011 Giants zigged every time you thought they would zag and zagged every time you thought they would zig. Add everything up and the Giants need only to play well to win; their best is better than Atlanta’s best. Or so it would seem.

Well … I’m not even sure the Giants need to play that well. the Falcons were predictable mainly because their environment was predictable: they played a whopping 12 games indoors (eight home games plus games in Indy, New Orleans, Detroit and Houston), and three of their four outdoor games happened in the first four weeks in warm weather in Chicago (loss), Tampa (loss) and Seattle (barely won), with a comeback December win in Carolina being the other. Sorry, I’m not impressed. they also played four playoff teams (New Orleans twice, Green Bay, Houston and Detroit) and finished 1-4, failing to crack 17 points in three of the games. Picking them outdoors against a Giants team that can do two things really well (throw the ball and rush the passer) and has the best three players on the field (Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul and the electric Victor Cruz) seems like a stretch, especially when they’re getting only a field goal.

There’s also something happening with the Giants, which is a different story altogether: My buddy Hirschy (a lifelong Giants fan) attended Sunday’s Dallas game and came away raving about a Giants crowd that everyone had secretly feared (because of the design of the new stadium, the PSL’s and the departure of many “old-school” fans) was gone forever. “I’m telling you,” Hirschy said, “when Cruz was breaking away on that long touchdown, the roar was like the old roar from the old place. we still have it.” and they’ll have it again this week.

The pick: Giants 31, Falcons 20.

Broncos (+8.5) over STEELERSThe case against Pittsburgh: 5-3 on the road this year, beat only one home team by double digits (Arizona by 12), ridiculously banged-up, no Ryan Clark, no Rashard Mendenhall, a painfully hobbled Ben Roethlisberger, a hobbled LaMarr Woodley, a hobbled Maurice Pouncey, a little too much Isaac Redman, more than a smidge 2010 Colts “Why is everyone giving us so much credit? We’re not the same team anymore” potential … and they just love playing these ugly 13-9-type games and letting inferior teams hang around, only now, they’re playing against an inferior team that loves winning ugly.

The case for Pittsburgh: They’ll turn it on when it matters, they’ll be fine, it’s Pittsburgh, Denver sucks, just stop it.

The case against Denver: every gawd-awful football moment from the past three weeks, everything we already covered in the mailbag, the fact that they’re being led by Netflix Placebo Cruise.

The case for Denver: Pittsburgh isn’t Pittsburgh right now. and also, we’re entering the last 20 minutes of Fourth-and-God, starring a bulked-up Zac Efron as Tim Tebow.

(I can’t resist … )

The pick: Denver 19, Pittsburgh 17.

Last Week: 4-10-2Season: 120-127-9

Bill Simmons is the Editor in Chief of Grantland and the author of the recent New York Times no. 1 best-seller The Book of Basketball, now out in paperback with new material and a revised Hall of Fame Pyramid. for every Simmons column and podcast, log on to Grantland. Follow him on Twitter and check out his new home on Facebook.

Previously from Bill Simmons:

B.S. Report: Kevin Wildes

B.S. Report: Mega Playoff Podcast

B.S. Report: Cousin Sal

Breaking Down Week 17

<a href="http://grantland.com/story/_/id/7432606/all-football-mailbagtag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://grantland.com/story/_/id/7432606/all-football-mailbagFri, 06 Jan 2012 22:25:22 GMT”>It’s an All-Football Mailbag!

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‘Dickens was the most gorgeous person you could possibly meet. He was just amazingly affable. your day would be absolutely made if you bumped into Dickens. more than that, he possessed the power to make you funnier and more attractive. He would laugh so generously that he actually empowered you. What a gift. No wonder that even during his lifetime people knew he was one of the immortals.”

Simon Callow is explaining a lifelong fascination that has led him to write about Charles Dickens, to adapt his work, and to play the man – twice in episodes of Doctor who alone – as well as his characters on both stage and screen. It is an engagement that reaches something of a culmination next year with the Dickens bicentenary, when Callow will publish a new book about the writer as well as performing a series of one-man shows. But in effect the celebrations have already begun: this year Callow has performed two rarely staged Dickens stories, “Dr Marigold” and “Mr Chops”, and is currently appearing at the Arts Theatre, London, in a stage version of A Christmas Carol.

Just like Dickens himself, who used to begin his legendary public readings with a version of a Christmas Carol, Callow is alone on stage from “humbug” to “God bless us, every one”, conjuring along the way ghosts, the Cratchit family, the transformation of Scrooge, the prize turkey and all the rest. on top of that, Callow also conjures the person of Dickens. It is a theatrical ebullience that Callow best summed up when writing an introduction to a book about acting. “All our lives in the theatre we have heard this maxim: LESS IS MORE … But very often less is simply less, and more is actually MORE.”

On stage Callow made his name in the late 70s with performances in Brecht’s Arturo Ui and Shaffer’s Amadeus. a few years later he was in the film version of Amadeus, though not playing Mozart as he had on stage. He appeared in Merchant Ivory’s a Room with a View and, in perhaps his most memorable film role, as Gareth in Four Weddings and a Funeral, in which he was delighted to play a gay man who died of something other than Aids – “an excess of Scottish country dancing”.

As a director and adapter, Callow has done everything from grand opera to one-man shows, and all the while he has conducted a literary career that would be sufficient in itself for most professional writers: it includes reviewing, biographies of Charles Laughton and Orson Welles, a revelatory account of the acting life, a memoir of his intense relationship with the great theatrical agent Peggy Ramsay, as well as guides to Shakespeare, film acting and Oscar Wilde’s circle.

His new book will be called Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World, and is essentially an account of the writer “on the stage of life. People have already written brilliantly about the theatricality of the novels,” he says, “so rather than do that again it is about his theatricality as a man. his self-dramatisation and the way in which he seemed to live his life in front of footlights.”

Callow approached the subject as an actor would a character. “And that is not so easy. How do you comprehend the sheer quantity of things he achieved on an almost daily basis? Part of it is physical. He was a little chap, but he would go up mountains and down glaciers and so on. his physical stamina was extraordinary. The criticism he hated more than anything was that he wrote too much and was uncritical of his own writing. But I’m afraid it’s true. He sometimes did just throw down a string of adjectives. But within the best of him is an intense sense of compacted life in the same way that that it is in, say, the music of Beethoven. The life is in the work, and he identified himself so completely with his society and the world in which he lived that he became its living representative. And for that I utterly love him in a way, for example, that I don’t love Welles or Laughton, deeply interesting as they are. But all these lives have been fascinating to me in different ways, and a great deal of the work I have done stems from my passion for biography. From an early age that was my preferred reading matter. I wanted to know about other people’s lives, and I still start with the obituaries when I open a newspaper. I always want to see where people came from and what they made of themselves.”

Callow was born in 1949 in Streatham, south London. When he was 18 months old his father left home, and he was brought up by his mother with the help of his grandmothers. When Callow was nine, he and his mother travelled to what was then Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in the hope of a reconciliation with his father. things did not work out, but his mother stayed on and Callow was sent to boarding school in South Africa for three years before they returned to Britain when he was 12. on the ship home, he recounts in his 2010 memoir-cum-selected journalism, A Life in Pieces, he enjoyed early stage success when he won a fancy dress prize dressed as a cancan girl: “The best thing was being wolf-whistled as I went up to collect it”.

He admits he was a slightly odd child whose youth was spent discovering classical music, “so I was a bit deaf to pop in the 60s. But while I didn’t set out to be different, I also didn’t mind that at all.” He and his mother “had a very difficult relationship. We were so temperamentally opposed, and she was a very odd woman. there is something terrible about a quirky parent for a child. I couldn’t really understand what she was driving at a lot of the time. But having said that, she also served me incredibly well. she thought a child had to be both disciplined and stimulated. so when we got to Africa, despite the trauma she was undoubtedly going through because it was evident that my father was not sincere in his attempts to revive the relationship, we went on safari and I had to learn about these extraordinary animals. she always made me give an account of myself. I had to be amusing and intelligent and have ideas about things. there was no indulgence. you couldn’t be boring. I had to justify my place in the conversation.”

Although aware of the potential for emotional damage, Callow says his childhood left him largely unscarred. “There is something essentially sanguine about me, which I am inclined to attribute to the fact that I was born by caesarean section. It must affect you. Most children have to fight and kick their way into the world. I was serenely lifted out. a lot of untoward things have happened to me, but I’ve usually risen above them.”

Most recently he had to deal with his mother’s decline into Alzheimer’s, and he has written and spoken movingly about both her condition and the practical aspects of care that have forced him to sell his own home to help pay the bills. his openness about his finances matches an openness about other aspects of his life: he was one of the first and highest-profile public figures to come out as gay in the 1980s. “I am a person without secrets. Which might be to the detriment of my art. Artists probably should have some impenetrable aspects of themselves.”

It was this impulse to openness that led him to write being an Actor in 1984. “I wanted to describe the experience as it was happening. I wrote that the power of directors was out of hand, and the balance had been skewed, which wasn’t good for acting or writing or performance. Michael Billington said it was a ‘tragically misguided conception’. But so many actors wrote to thank me for saying it, and people like Branagh went off and tried a new approach. that wasn’t specifically because of my book, but I had articulated something.”

He says that coming out as gay in the book was part of the same process. “If I hadn’t said anything I wouldn’t have been doing the job I had set myself. you couldn’t ignore that at that time 99% of gay actors were in the closet. But it was never that difficult for me to say it. I’d always rather liked the idea of being gay, but I wasn’t sure I was very well qualified for the job. I didn’t think I was attractive enough, and I was very shy about making moves. some people have a real gift for being gay, and are terribly good at it. that wasn’t me. But I have been lucky in having some wonderful relationships.”

Callow had found his way to the stage after leaving school in London in 1967. “I actually wanted to be a writer long before I wanted to be an actor. Not because I didn’t want to act. But I couldn’t see a way in which it would come about.” his way in was via a three-page letter to Laurence Olivier, which resulted in a job in the box office at the National Theatre, then housed at the Old Vic. Fired by exposure to theatre, he took a place at Queen’s University Belfast, ostensibly to read French but really to act. It was a disappointment academically, but Callow did meet and work with the great Irish actor Micheál Mac Liammóir, whose one-man show The Importance of being Oscar can be seen as a major influence on Callow’s subsequent explorations of the lives and worlds of Wilde, Dickens and Shakespeare. “I did rather fall in love with this form he had invented – the biographical tour. you are the narrator and you impersonate the characters and sometimes you are the subject himself. It’s an antidote to those deadening biographical shows when someone comes along and says “I was born in a cabin in Massachusetts …”

After leaving Queen’s, Callow enrolled at the London Drama Centre, before making his professional debut in Edinburgh in 1973 and joining the Gay Sweatshop theatre company. Bit parts on TV followed – including an episode of The Sweeney – but his first major success was playing Mozart in the 1979 National Theatre production of Amadeus. “Paul Scofield, who played Salieri, refused point-blank to do interviews. Felicity Kendal was at the height of her fame but had probably given too many interviews, so I was the one who spoke to the press. I didn’t really want to be famous as such. I wanted to be well known as an actor in the way that, say, Maggie Smith was well known as an actor, and I still generally avoid premieres and showbiz events. If a movie needs to be promoted I’ll do it, but apart from that it never seems like time well spent. What I didn’t anticipate coming from this new fame, such as it was, was that I would become a public figure, although it was really inevitable given my compulsive desire to communicate on any number of subjects.”

Callow began to write book reviews in which “I simply tried to puzzle things out. I asked what’s going on and what is meant. I do it as an actor and I do it as a reviewer.” It was his interest in “how things work” that prompted his move to directing. “I love it when I do it, but you shouldn’t really dabble at it and I do dabble. I write full-time. But if you only direct every few years then you tend to forget all the things you should anticipate. I have had a few major car crashes, some of them just critical disasters but some actual disasters too.” his 1999 revival of the musical The Pajama Game lost about £3m. “You do go around for a while feeling a bit like a criminal. It doesn’t matter who is to blame – you as the director are to blame.”

As his career has progressed, he says, his view of acting has changed. “While it started as a type of escape, it has now become the exact opposite, in that I’m actually trying to connect to the centre of myself rather than creating a periphery. so my final considered thought on the theory of acting is that it is ‘thinking the thoughts of another person’. The thoughts of the writer must pass through my brain and body to come out as something interesting for the audience. And that means I have to bring me to the performance every day. you can’t let a performance just do itself.” He cites the teachings of GI Gurdjieff (Peter Brook is an even stronger devotee), “who says we are all essentially asleep. so my great job as an actor is to be awake when I’m on stage. Utterly, 100% awake, which then yanks the audience into time-present as well. that is traditional mystical wisdom, but this business of the now is genuinely important and rather exhausting – if you pull it off it does release something rather fantastic.”

In practice this means he does not attempt to reproduce the way Dickens conducted his readings. “What interests me much more is trying to make the work completely surprising again. that is very hard to do with something like a Christmas Carol. I’m interested in recreating the innocent ear or eye, so that the work is de-patinated, that it comes to you as fresh as the moment it was written. And what this implies is a search for simplicity. Perhaps simplicity is not something that people think about when they think of my work, and yet that is what I am now striving for.”

Over the years he has worked with Peter Ackroyd on Dickens and with Jonathan Bate on Shakespeare. “And then these things are rewritten over and again, because in the end they also have to fit me and so they have to be teased out over time. being Shakespeare, as The Man from Stratford finally became, is probably my proudest achievement in the theatre. It has been refined and distilled and it is now just itself – a perfect conjunction of form and content. We’ve been through the same process with a Christmas Carol to make this very over-familiar story work. looking at the structure of sentences, deciding whether to move a clause, finding a different adjective – it has been a little nightmarish, but part of the joy is in the detailed working with these texts.”

Callow’s upcoming work includes a first novel and a book of pen portraits of people he has known who have died – “when I thought of the idea it was intended as just a little book, but now it has sadly become a much larger thing”. He will also be touring both Dickens and Shakespeare and “has to” finish the third volume of his Welles biography. “And now I can do it, because one way and another my life and my finances have regularised themselves. The problem with writing such a big book is that it takes a long time for not much money. a £25,000 advance paid in three tranches basically means £8,000 for a 700-page book. And taking nothing for granted about Welles in among all the sometimes confusing myth-making is a job that cannot be rushed. But I’ve never minded hard work. It was my mother who instilled in me that you shouldn’t waste a single second. she had no ability to relax and still doesn’t, and she now constantly pushes these little blocks around on a tray at her home. When I was young, at the end of every day, she’d always ask me what I had achieved. even now, if I’ve had a very nice time with friends, which is exactly what I needed and wanted, but I’ve done no acting or writing, then I am left with this slight feeling of guilt. It’s not really a problem and I certainly get a lot done, but I do admit that I might not be the most relaxing person to go on holiday with.”

<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/dec/23/life-arts-simon-callow?newsfeed=truetag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/dec/23/life-arts-simon-callow?newsfeed=trueFri, 23 Dec 2011 22:51:03 GMT”>A life in the arts: Simon Callow

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Southampton – ‘Tis the season to be merry and what’s more merry than holiday cocktails! whether you need a quick and easy holiday gift for your fancy mixologist friend or some cocktails to serve at your own party, VnC Cocktails and VuQo Premium Vodka are great crowd pleasers. Nothing is worse than being stuck playing host when all you want to do is enjoy your holiday party. VnC Cocktails takes the brunt work off your plate so you can focus on enjoying your friends and family. Their all-natural cocktails are lightweight, pre-mixed and ready-to-serve making them easy to pour and store at any occasion. Available in six ready-made flavors, VnC is all-natural and made with 100 percent fruit juice plus all flavors are preservative, additive, color-free and under 150 calories a serving so say goodbye to hangovers and bloat. Serve these affordable drinks at your Holiday soiree so you can stay out of the kitchen and be the life of the party!

White Christmas. (Courtesy Photo: from EFG)

VuQo Premium Vodka is the only vodka distilled from coconut nectar by using a modernized version of the old world Filipino technique of distilling coconut nectar to make tequilas. Only the best ingredients are used to make VuQo Premium Vodka. the sweet coconut liquid is extracted, fermented and then introduced to a thorough process of continuous distillation and multiple filtrations. the end product is vodka of exceptional smoothness and clarity at the affordable price of $24.99. Mistleto-Mato  • 2 oz. VuQo Premium Vodka  • Splash of V8 Tomato Juice  • Calories: 95 White Christmas  • 2 oz. VuQo Premium Vodka  • Sugar Free Red Bull  • Calories: 80

VnC Cocktails. (Courtesy Photo: EFG)

VnC Cocktails All of these cocktails are 150 calories or less a serving are made of 100 percent atural fruit juice and contain no artificial preservatives, additives, or colors. they are available in six flavors – Mojito, Margarita, Pomegranate Cosmo, Pacific Breeze, Strawberry Daiquiri, Banana Daiquiri. For a fun holiday twist, crush up some candy canes to add some more minty flavor to the Mojito. if you want to be fancy, dust the rims of a martini glass with the crushed candy canes and call it a Mistletoe Mojito or a Merry Peppermint Mojito. Their pomegranate cosmo is perfection on its own but you can jazz it up with a splash of champagne for some fiz and a few pomegranate seeds. Call it the Sparkling Celebration and call it a day! Available in two sizes: 1 liter bottles ($13.95 Retail) and 200mL mini shaker cocktails ($3.45 Retail).

<a href="http://www.hamptons.com/Food-And-Wine/Mixology/16151/VnC-Cocktails-And-VuQo-Premium-Vodka-Are-Great.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.hamptons.com/Food-And-Wine/Mixology/16151/VnC-Cocktails-And-VuQo-Premium-Vodka-Are-Great.htmlTue, 20 Dec 2011 14:09:58 GMT”>VnC Cocktails And VuQo Premium Vodka Are Great Crowd Pleasers

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By Natalie Finnigan Thursday, 24th November 2011 11:57AM

The Unfaithful Ways are a self described

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Unti Vineyards Wine Dinner. Gather restaurant is hosting a four-course prix fixe menu, with wine pairings and the chance to chat with Unti Vineyards winemaker Mick Unti. Open seating from 5-10 p.m. Dec. 1. Reservations: 510-809-0400. Gather Restaurant, 2200 Oxford St., Berkeley. $65, excluding tax and gratuity. 510-809-0400, gatherrestaurant.com.

Holiday Cheese & Cocktails Tasting. Who knew cocktails and cheese made such a splendid pair? Now the Cheese School’s “Startenders” have elevated the cocktail from bar fly to culinary celebrity. Cheese educator and spirits aficionado Wil Edwards will lead you through a side-by-side tasting. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 2. the Cheese School, 2155 Powell St., San Francisco, $75. 415-346-7530, thecheeseschool.com.

Wine Wonderland. Taste wines from Rock Wall Wine, Blacksmith Cellars, Carica Wines and other Alameda wineries during this special holiday event (for ages 21 and up), which includes tasty bites, sweet treats, live music and holiday cheer. 1-5 p.m. Dec. 3. Rock Wall Wine co., 2301 Monarch St., Alameda. $30-$45. 510-522-5700, rockwallwines.com.

‘Extra Virginity’ book signing. Meet Tom Mueller, olive oil expert and author of “Extra Virginity: the Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil,” during this book signing and discussion of what “extra virgin” really means, and what happens when an expert — Mueller, of course — blows the lid off corruption in the olive oil world. 3-4 p.m. Dec. 4. Omnivore Books on Food, 3885A Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. Free. omnivorebooks.com.

‘Kitchen on fire!’ book signing. Meet Kitchen on fire chefs Olivier said and Mike C., the founders and instructors of the distinctively named Berkeley cooking school and co-authors of the new “Kitchen on fire!” cookbook. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Free. 510-849-2087, moesbooks.com.

Holidays in the Vineyards. Celebrate the holiday season at the wineries of the Livermore Valley Wine Country. each winery will be celebrating the season by sharing special holiday wines, offering festive activities, extending wine discounts, hosting artisan craft vendors, and more. Bring an unwrapped new toy to any winery and receive a complimentary wine taste. Noon-5 p.m. Dec. 3-Dec. 4. Livermore Valley Wine Country, Livermore Valley, Livermore. Free-$10. 925-447-9463, LVwine.org.

Two Mile wine tasting. Sample the Sangioveses and Syrahs at this urban winery in downtown Oakland. Tastings held 2-6 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 15. two Mile Wines and the 25th Street Collective, 477 25th St., Oakland. 510-868-8713, twomilewines.com.

To list your event, go to events.mercurynews.com, click “add to our listings” and follow the instructions under “Food & Wine” events.

<a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/food-wine/ci_19440787tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.mercurynews.com/food-wine/ci_19440787Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:03:00 GMT”>Food & Wine Events: East Bay & Beyond, Dec. 1-15

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LES KINCAID TO INSTRUCT CLASS ON SOUPS AND STEWS

Les Kincaid, host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Wines Du Jour," plans to host the class Soups & Stews from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today and Nov. 8 at the Ferguson Kitchen & Bath Gallery, 4175 S. Grand Canyon Drive, no. 109.

The cost is $89 per person (cash or check only). To make a reservation, email .

For more information, call 871-5145.

COAST CASINO BUFFETS OFFER MILITARY PERSONNEL DISCOUNT

Active-duty and retired military personnel can receive one complimentary meal at any Coast Casino buffet —- the Orleans, Gold Coast, Sam’s Town or the Suncoast —- on Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day.

B Connected club membership and a military ID, or DD-214, are required. Buffet hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Orleans, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gold Coast, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Suncoast and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Sam’s Town.

LUTEFISK DINNER SET FOR SATURDAY

The Sons of Norway Desert Troll Lodge plans to host its traditional lutefisk and meatballs dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 1217 Nevada Highway in Boulder City.

Dinner is set for 5 p.m. the meal will also include pork roast, potatoes, vegetables and lefse, a traditional Scandinavian potato flatbread. Dessert will be homemade Norwegian cookies, and Aquavit, the traditional liquor of Norway, will be available at the bar.

Lutefisk is made from aged, air-dried whitefish or dried and salted whitefish and lye.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $5 for youths 5 to 12. Raffle prizes, door prizes and gifts for the children also are planned.

For tickets, call 294-9911 or 617-8898.

BEER FESTIVAL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NEW VISTA COMMUNITY

The Village Lake Las Vegas plans to host the Winter Brew’s Best Hand-Crafted Beer Festival from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 12, featuring more than 50 beers for sampling from local and regional breweries. last year’s participants included Boulder Dam Brewing, Gordon Biersch, Stone Brewing Co., Tenaya Creek, Joseph James and Nevada Beverage.

The event will benefit New Vista Community.

Tickets are $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door.

For advance tickets or more information, visit newvistanv.org. Guests must be 21 or older.

ROY’S ANNOUNCES MONDAY PRIX FIXE MENU

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $35.95 per person on Mondays.

Choose any appetizer, any entree and any dessert, such as Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle.

The offer is available for a limited time. For reservations at Roy’s Summerlin, 8701 W. Charleston Blvd., call 838-3620. For reservations at Roy’s Flamingo, 620 E. Flamingo Road, call 691-2053.

ENJOY MEMORABLE MEAL FOR TWO AT FLEMING’S

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 8721 W. Charleston Blvd., is offering a three-course menu for $99 per couple through Nov. 15.

The Memorable Meal appetizer is spinach salad, followed by an entree of beef Flemington and shrimp scampi. the side is roasted vegetable trio, followed by white chocolate bread pudding for dessert.

For reservations, call 838-4774.

LEARN TO ROLL SUSHI AT HACHI

Hachi Modern Japanese, inside Red Rock Resort at 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., offers monthly sushi rolling classes. the next one is set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17.

The two-hour class will offer each participant his own work area with all ingredients at arm’s length. the cost is $85 per person, plus tax.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 797-7054.

SAMPLE TEQUILA, SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS

The College of Southern Nevada’s wine and tequila tasting fundraiser and auction is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Blue Martini at Town Square Las Vegas, 6593 Las Vegas Blvd. South, no. B-214.

The event also is set to feature a silent auction with local artwork. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Tickets are available at the door for $40. Proceeds from the event will go toward a scholarship fund.

CHURCH TO HOST FOOD FESTIVAL

St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church’s annual International Food Festival is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church, 5400 Annie Oakley Drive.

The festival is set to feature food from Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Romania, Russia, Serbia and the United States. planned activities include church tours, a choir concert, games, ethnic dancing, Russian acrobats, a raffle, a silent auction and a performance of David Poe’s Dixieland Band.

Admission is $2 or free for kids 7 or younger. Festivalgoers with a valid military, police, fire department or Clark County School District identification get in free. For more information, visit lasvegasorthodox.com or call 898-4800.

CARL’S JR. OPENS DURANGO DRIVE LOCATION

Carl’s Jr. plans to celebrate the opening of its newest Las Vegas Valley location at 6949 N. Durango Drive at Deer Springs Way in Centennial Hills with activities on Saturday.

Eddie Powers will appear as Elvis Presley and plans to arrive in his pink Cadillac for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. Pony rides, balloon art from Dr. B.A. Loonatic, a performance by Steve and Delly’s All Stars and a drawing for a new Kindle fire also are planned.

For more information, visit carlsjroflasvegas.com.

VEGAS STREATS FESTIVAL SET FOR NOV. 12

The El Cortez, 600 E. Fremont St., plans to host the Vegas StrEATs food truck, arts and music festival from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Nov. 12.

The event is presented by the El Cortez, Slidin’ Thru and Insert Coin(s) VideoLounge Gamebar. Drink specials include $3 Bud Light, Shock Top and Bud Light Lime, $4 Jameson Irish whiskey, Jagermeister, 1800 Silver Tequila shots and $2 Pepsi products.

For a list of participating food trucks and vendors, visit facebook.com/vegasstreats.

FRESH52 FARMERS MARKET TO PRESENT AUTUMN HARVEST FESTIVAL

The fresh52 Farmers and Artisan Market plans to host an Autumn Harvest Festival from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at Tivoli Village, 302 S. Rampart Blvd., and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 13 at Sansone Park Place, 9480 S. Eastern Ave.

The festival will feature pumpkin decorating, a pie-eating contest, a petting zoo (only at the Tivoli Village location), live music, face painting, kids’ arts and crafts, games and prizes. All events are free.

The pie-eating contest is scheduled for noon at both locations. the Tivoli Village contest is open to those 18 or older, but the Sansone Park Place contest is open to children accompanied by an adult.

For more information, visit fresh52.com or call 900-2552.

SWEET RUBY JANE CONFECTIONS OPENS IN PARADISE

Sweet Ruby Jane Confections, a candy shop/bakery, has opened at 8975 S. Eastern Ave., no. 3-B. Candy and baked goods are handmade one batch at a time.

Old-fashioned treats available include peanut brittle, fudge and divinity. European chocolate is used for barks, nut clusters and hand-dipped chocolate pretzels. the shop also offers caramel corn, cookies and cakes made on site.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 648-1000 or visit sweetrubyjane.com.

HARD ROCK HOTEL OFFERS GRAVEYARD SPECIALS

The Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, is offering Graveyard Happy Hour from midnight to 8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday at all casino bars.

Specials include two-for-one ultra-premium cocktails, domestic and imported beers and wine.

Guests must be 21 or older.

EL CORTEZ PLANS DINING PROMOTIONS

The El Cortez, 600 E. Fremont St., plans to serve free White Castle cheeseburgers in celebration of Veterans Day Nov. 11.

Club Cortez members can enjoy free White Castle cheeseburgers from noon to 6 p.m.

On Nov. 19, El Cortez plans to serve free slices of Marie Callender’s pumpkin pie to all Club Cortez members from noon to 6 p.m.

PARLOUR BAR & LOUNGE INTRODUCES NEW COCKTAILS

The Parlour Bar & Lounge at El Cortez, 600 E. Fremont St., has introduced three new drinks.

The Scottie is a combination of SKYY cherry vodka, Chambord, triple sec and splashes of cranberry and lime juice. the Parlour Refresher is SKYY vodka, Blue Curacao, Midori, lemon juice and a splash of Sierra Mist. the Fireside Manhattan is original MOONSHINE and sweet vermouth.

BORDER GRILL PLANS DAY OF THE DEAD MENU TODAY, WEDNESDAY

Border Grill in Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is offering a special Day of the Dead-themed menu today and Wednesday.

The appetizer will be black tamales, slow-cooked duck with black bean masa, orange chile salsa, black mole and carrot chayote salad for $12. Entrees will be herb-roasted lamb torta with goat cheese, sundried tomato aioli and cumin fries for $19 and pork in mole with Oaxacan mole sauce, achiote corn huarache, tamale peppers and escabeche vegetables for $24. Dessert will be ancho chocolate pudding cake for $8.

For reservations, call 632-7403.

CHINA POBLANO TO SERVE DAY OF THE DEAD MENU

China Poblano at the Cosmopolitan is offering a Day of the Dead-inspired menu today and Wednesday.

The menu includes mole amarillo con puerco, pork loin and pickled chayote with Oaxacan yellow mole; mole negro de Oaxaca con tamal de pollo, chicken tamale with Oaxacan black mole; and tamal de Acelgas, a tamale. Prices range from $12 to $14. For more information or to make a reservation, call 698-7900.

EL SEGUNDO SOL TO OFFER LOCO HOUR PRICES ALL DAY FRIDAY

El Segundo Sol at the Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans to offer Loco Hour prices all day Friday.

Specials include spicy Atomic cheese nachos for $2.75 and chicken or beef ($5) or cheese ($4) quesadillas. Drink specials include tequila shots for $3 and $5 margaritas.

HARD ROCK CONCERT TICKET STUBS CAN EARN DINING DEALS

The Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, announces the Show Your Stub promotion, which allows concertgoers to obtain food and beverage discounts when they show their ticket stub up to 24 hours after the concert.

Deals include two-for-one drinks at all casino bars, two-for-one Dos Equis, Tecate and Peligroso Blanco shots at the bar inside Pink Taco, two-for-one drinks at Starbucks Coffee, $3 pizza slice and $2 beer and wine at LTO Pizza & More, complimentary Blood Mary or milkshake with purchase of any appetizer or entree at mr. Lucky’s and $9 meal deal including sandwich, chips or potato salad, cookie, soda or beer at Espumoso Caffe.

For more information, visit hardrockhotel.com.

ROY’S WINE CLUB TO MEET

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, 620 E. Flamingo Road, plans to host a waina hui (wine club) tasting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

Each tasting features a sampling of Roy’s signature appetizers. Members receive a wine glass, an invitation to all wine club events, an invitation to Roy’s select seasonal events, a 10 percent reduction on bottled wine purchased at Roy’s and reduced pricing for select Roy’s wine dinners.

The cost to attend a tasting is $20 for wine club members and $25 for nonmembers.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 691-2053.

PALACE STATION EATERIES SERVING HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS

Cabo Mexican Restaurant offers happy hour from 4 to 9 p.m. daily at Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave.

Specials include nine items for 99 cents, such as shrimp cocktail, ceviche, cheese quesadilla, beef taco, bean tostada, 12-ounce domestic draft beer and mojitos.

Traditional beef taco, 12-ounce mojito and chicken quesadillas are $2.99 each. Pequeno bean and beef burrito and pequeno taco salad and Cabo margaritas are $3.99 each.

Jack’s offers happy hour specials from 4 to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. they include half-off appetizers (fried dill pickle chips with mustard sauce for $3, Guinness hot wings for $4 and chicken quesadilla for $3.50), $2 well drinks, Budweiser and Bud Light drafts and house wine and $3 higher end liquor, including SKYY and Jameson.

BLUE AGAVE OFFERS UNO, DOS, TRES MENU AT FIESTA RANCHO

Blue Agave at the Fiesta Rancho, 2400 N. Rancho Drive, is offering an Uno, Dos, Tres menu for happy hour from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tacos asada, barbecue pulled pork, chips and salsa, frozen margaritas and domestic draft beers are $1 each. Chorizo cheese fries, beer-batter onion rings, chile con queso, barbecue bacon cheddar burger, fruit frozen margarita, imported drafts and Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila shots are $2 each. Grilled cheese quesadilla, fried avocado wedges, nachos, chicken wings, domestic and import beer bottles and specialty margaritas are $3 each.

MRKT SEA & LAND SERVING SNACK MENU

MRKT Sea & Land is serving a snack menu for happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at Aliante Station, 7300 Aliante Parkway.

The menu features $5 items, including garlic truffle fries, tater puffs and fried cheesecake; $6 items, including Wagyu sliders, sweet and spicy fried shrimp, prime rib dip and stuffed oysters; $7 items, including calamari, tuna tartare and asparagus fries; $5 martinis, including pink grapefruit, cherry blossom, MRKT Mochatini and Washington apple; and $5 beers, including Sam Adams, Widmer Pale Ale and fat Tire, and select wines by the glass.

SMALL BITES PLATES ARE $4 AT PASTA CUCINA

Pasta Cucina is offering a Small Bites menu from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Aliante Station, 7300 Aliante Parkway, and Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road.

The menu includes $4 items, including meatball or chicken Parmesan sliders, crispy five-cheese ravioli, mac and cheese, fried artichokes, chargrilled tomato on Parmesan crouton and crispy petite potatoes.

GET HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS AT SANTA FE STATION’S CHARCOAL ROOM

Happy hour specials are offered from 5 to 7 p.m. daily at the Charcoal Room at Santa Fe Station, 4949 N. Rancho Drive, including $5 martinis and wine by the glass.

BARLEY’S OFFERS HAPPY HOUR DEALS

Barley’s Casino & Brewery, 4500 E. Sunset Road, no. 30, is offering happy hour deals from 3 to 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.

Specials include $1 Barley’s drafts (brewed on site) and margaritas and a $5 bar menu, including pulled pork sliders, barbecue meatball sliders, potato skins, chicken wings, chicken fingers, pretzel bites and chicken quesadillas.

<a href="http://www.lvrj.com/view/a-la-carte-132979618.html?ref=618tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.lvrj.com/view/a-la-carte-132979618.html?ref=618Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:24:27 GMT”>A la carte – View – ReviewJournal.com

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1. Food & Wine Events: East Bay & Beyond, Dec. 1-15

Attended by more than 475 guests, the 33rd annual Casa Youth Shelter Commander’s Ball set a fund-raising record of more than $200,000. Executive Director Luciann Maulhardt called it, “… a truly magnificent night, made all the more memorable by Casa’s supporters who gave so generously to support us in our mission to provide shelter and counseling to homeless teens.”

Maulhardt was grateful for the exceptional turnout and support, saying “This is a night to remember. I thank not only the dedicated supporters for their countless hours of service throughout the year. I also want to thank the wonderful ladies of the National Charity League whose support is invaluable to me.”

Guests were given the royal treatment as they walked down the plush red carpeted grand halls of the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, on Oct.1. Velvet ropes guided them to a paparazzi’s dream — a Hollywood style 10 x10 backdrop emblazoned with Casa Youth Shelter’s logo in black and white. it was a perfect setting for attendees to practice their celebrity pose, as the photographers clicked away.

With flashes from the cameras flickering in the background, guests enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres as they perused the treasure trove of items on the silent auction tables, including vintage jewelry and shiny iPads to priceless handmade quilts.

A beautifully decorated ballroom with flickering candle-light at each table cast an elegant collective glow on tables adorned with gorgeous red roses in full bloom in sparkling three-tiered centerpieces.

Scott Rifkin and Karen Klabouch, auction co-chairs, welcomed guests.

Retired Los Alamitos Police Chief Michael McCrary gave the invocation prior to a dinner of filet mignon and sea bass. a decadent dessert of chocolate Pots de Crème with Chantilly Cream was a perfect ending.

During dinner, guests enjoyed the musical stylings of the vocals-only sextet group “Simply put.” The acappella group brought guests to their feet with their soulful compilations and intricate harmonizing of jazz, pop and rock standards. they kept energy high and spirited, a perfect compliment to the live auction excitement to follow.

Professional auctioneer Jeff Tanenbaum brought his fast-talking wit and high energy to the live auction, creating suspense and excitement to the line-up of premier items.

High bidders included Kevin and Jane Boylan, who will attend the star-studded Directors Guild of America Awards Dinner and Ceremony with donors Kathryn and Doug Partis; Jillian and Dale Reid, who will enjoy five days and four nights at a seaside villa in Coco Beach, a surfer’s paradise in Nicaragua, donated by Chris and Brenda St. Hilaire; Dr. Wayne and Karen Freeman, together with Gary and Kristine Howard, who will be enjoying golf at beautiful Chambers Bay golf resort, host of the 2015 US Open Championship; and Carl and Linda Shay, who opened their hearts and their happy home to adopt a beautiful Labradoodle puppy.

This year’s Sponsor-A-Kid segment of the live auction raised over $82,000, demonstrating that guests such as Phillip and Sandra McElroy and Dr. Nasir and Dr. Sabira Tejani were truly inspired to give generously to support Casa’s shelter kids.

For more information about Casa Youth Shelter including crisis counseling and other outreach services, please visit casayouthshelter.org.

Sailing fund-raiser

Jo and David Murray were the proud high bidders of a wonderful mad Men party that was one of the auction items at the Long Beach Sailing Foundation Fundraiser that raised more than thirty thousand dollars this year. Jo said, “What fun that our guests embraced the theme with such enthusiasm!”

In keeping with the theme of the popular television show that takes place in the 1960s, the men all wore skinny ties. Joan Knight included the “belly bump” — the ‘with child’ look she sported during the ‘60 s. The guests enjoyed vintage style martinis, Beef Wellington, wedge salad and baked Alaska. a guitarist played Bossa Nova music.

Donors support the Foundation’s mission to promote national and international amateur sailing, enhance maritime education and create sailing opportunities for people of all ages. The Foundation’s activities are built around their fleet of 11 identical Catalina-37 racing yachts donated by Catalina Yachts for world-class Match Racing.

Maintained to the highest standards for the annual Congressional Cup regatta, the yachts are used extensively for the other outreach Foundation’s programs.

Guests included Joan and John Knight, Sheryl and Doug Pearl, Melva and Dick Miller, Debi and Bud Lorbeer, Suzanne and John Fleishman, Adele and David Stotler, Denise and Mike Van Voorhis and Bob and Barbara Graham.

Fine Arts Affiliates

The sunlit garden of the Miller House, home of CSULB President F.King Alexander, was the setting for the Fine Arts Affiliates annual Membership Coffee on Sept. 30. over 200 members and guests enjoyed a breakfast buffet and were welcomed by FAA President Erlene Minton.

Dr. Alexander expressed his appreciation to the group for the 16 annual scholarships they give and their support of the many events given by the College of the Arts. FAA Scholarship winner Nina Kang performed on the violin. CSULB Provost and previous Dean of the College Don Para introduced Raymond Torres-Santos, who became the new Dean on Aug.1. Torres-Santos is a renowned musician, composer and arranger as well as an educator. He also thanked the group for their many contributions to the College and how delighted he is to be in Long Beach and at CSULB.

FAA Excursion Chair Gail Schmoller announced several of the up-coming excursions for the group which help to fund the scholarships. Reports on the recent and future activities of each of the departments of the College were given by Associate Dean Cyrus Parker-Jeannette, Art Chair Chris Miles, Dance Interim Chair Andrew Vaca, Design Interim Chair Jose Rivera-Chang, Film and Electronic Arts Chair Micheal Pounds, Music Chair Caroline Bremer, Theatre Arts Professor Anne D’Zmura, University Art Museum Director Christopher Scoates and Carpenter Center Executive Director Michele Roberge.

Coates and Roberge announced the special funding they had received from the Doris Duke Foundation for the B Word Project — Banned, Boycotted and Blacklisted Censorship and the response to it. Information is available at bwordproject.org/index.php.

Fine Arts Affiliates is a support group for the College of the Arts at CSULB and provides scholarships for students of the arts. For information, go to fineartsaffiliates.org.

Seen at the scene: Jerry and Flora Loeb; Christie and Gary Roeber; Natalie and Joe Lissak; Bob and Joan Inselberg; Undine Wildman; Lorraine Ward; Pauline Strong; Susan Rose; Dee Barnard; Nancy Higginson; Thea Kaltkoff; Sherry and Len Jacobson; Mary Lou Hauser; John Britton; Elaine and Tom marks; and new members Judy and Gary Cooper, Joyce Krauss and Penny Wilds.

News of social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at presstelegram.com/social.

<a href="http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyle/ci_19158118tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyle/ci_19158118Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:10:17 GMT”>Shirley Wild: Casa Youth gala sets a fund-raising record

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1. Shirley Wild: Justin Rudd’s Giving Project helps many

Rome has been welcoming travelers for over two millenniums, going back at least to the bacchanalia of the Caesars. It’s a place to indulge in the title of one of the most famous movies about the city, “La Dolce Vita” – “the sweet life.”

Movies about the Eternal City truly will last forever. Rome has been the scene of hundreds of films, both Italian and foreign. everything from the heavy realism of “Open City” to the frothy tourist bait of has relied on the city’s shadows and light to tell stories of intrigue, betrayal and above all, romance. in a nod to Italian director and longtime Roman Federico Fellini, here are eight and one half (I’ll explain later) films connected to Rome. Some were filmed in the city; others are Hollywood’s version. each film comes with a treat nearby or along the same theme as the film.

“Roman Holiday” – Bocca della Verita (the Mouth of Truth)

Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn star in a 1953 romantic comedy about a runaway princess and the American newspaperman who first tries to use her for publicity, but ends up falling in love during romps around Rome. my favorite movie spot in Rome is actually an ancient drain cover or fountain shaped like a face with a hole for the mouth. It’s set in a wall outside the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, legend had it that if you placed your hand in the mouth and told a lie, your hand would be eaten.

Best bet: Hotel Margutta 54. part of the Rome Luxury Suites collection, this address is three doors down from where Peck’s fictional Joe Bradley lived at No. 51. It’s near the Spanish Steps. Rooms from about $450 per night. romeluxurysuites.com

“Angels & Demons” – St. Peter’s Basilica

The 2009 thriller is the second installment of “The Da Vinci Code” conspiracy thriller series. This time Tom Hanks & Co. go to Vatican City as the Catholic Church picks a new pope against the backdrop of the massive St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s often silly, but the mystery of the church’s cathedrals is marvelously portrayed.

Best bet: the crowds can be crushing and the lines hours long in Vatican City. You can buy your way out through small after-hours group tours where you’ll be among a dozen or so whisked into St. Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel. the price is steep: $359 per person for a tour through italywithus.com.

“Three Coins in a Fountain” – Trevi Fountain

The 1954 story of three women who find love in Italy is more than a bit hokey and dated, but the wide-screen views of Rome – especially the Trevi Fountain – are worth the lark. the legend says if you toss in a coin, you will return to Rome one day. It inspired a whole generation of women to go to Rome in much the way “Eat Pray Love” caught the fancy of a later, different generation.

Best bet: most people throw in a small-denomination coin or even a U.S. quarter. If you want the travel gods to smile on you, plunk in the top-value 2 euro coin. Remember, it’s thrown from the right hand over the left shoulder. the estimated $4,500 a day that goes into the water is used for a food bank for the poor.

“La Dolce Vita” – via Veneto

Maybe I just have a weakness for films about journalists in Rome, but critics agree this 1960 film is one of the top movies – many say the top movie – set in Rome. Marcello Mastroianni trolls the celebrity circuit around the via Veneto in Fellini’s jaded but ultimately sweet (“dolce”) take on life. Worth watching if for nothing else than Anita Ekberg’s dancing and her clinch with Mastroianni in – yes, in – the Trevi Fountain.

Best bet: the Westin Excelsior, next door to the U.S. Embassy, is an expatriate favorite that embraces the Fellini film as part of its experience. 800-937-8461 or westin.com

“Eat Pray Love” – Piazza Navona

The 2010 movie isn’t as good as the book, and some people didn’t think much of the book in the first place. But it’s hard to fault the beautiful scenes of Rome and its eye for food from the “Eat” (“no carb left behind”) portion of the movie about a woman’s search for identity and true love.

Best bet: Sant’ Eustachio Café between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon serves the best espresso in a city of great espressos. And I was saying it long before the New York Times. Piazza Sant’ Eustachio 82.

“Ben-Hur” – Circus Maximus

The movie was filmed in back lots, but the pinnacle of the action is the chariot race in the Circus Maximus. You can still visit the grassy sunken field where the teams of horses once raced and the golden dolphins kept track of the laps. It’s one of the most historic places in the world for a jog or game of catch.

Best bet: La Bottega del Marmoraro. Bring a hefty piece of old Rome home from this shop, where you can have anything chiseled into marble plaques befitting a Caesar’s palace. No. 53B via Margutta, Rome. It’s next door to the Hotel Margutta 54.

“Gladiator” – Colosseum

What “Ben Hur” did for Circus Maximus, “Gladiator” did for the Colosseum. the computer-generated world brings to life the famous ruin in a literally glittering arena of blood and triumph. Russell Crowe stars, but I loved watching Joaquin Phoenix chew the scenery as the mad emperor Commodus, who ended the string of “good emperors” that had kept Rome rich and safe for 200 years.

Best bet: Hostaria Antica Roma. You’ll need a cab to get to this Appian way restaurant that serves recipes from ancient Rome. It’s not just a gastronomical history lesson, but a fantastic meal. via Appia Antica 87. anticaroma.it

“Bicycle Thief” – Trastevere

The harshness of post-World War II life in Rome is told in this 1948 film by Vittorio de Sica that is considered a classic of the “new realism.” Filmed in streets, homes and churches, it tells the story of a poor man who needs a bicycle in order to find work, and the effect of events on his son. that this hardscrabble view of Rome and the swinging, rich city in “La Dolce Vita” are only 12 years apart speaks to the postwar boom that reshaped the city. Trastevere is the neighborhood where they lived, and it’s one of the most unchanged in the city.

Best bet: Antica Caciara. Every trip to Rome should include an al fresco lunch of meats, cheese and wine in a park, square or sheltered church step. This 111-year-old shop in Trastevere has all the goods, or can show you where to get them nearby. via di San Francesco a Ripa, 140. anticacaciara.it.

“Mad Men” – Cavalieri Hilton

Now for the 1/2. It’s not a movie, it’s a TV episode. And like so many, it’s just sets, not really Rome. in the third-season “Souvenir” episode of “Mad Men,” Don Draper takes his wife, Betty, to Rome and stays at the Cavalieri Hilton. the retro luxury made me want to check into the 1960s pleasure palace – which I did last year. It’s now part of Hilton’s Waldorf-Astoria collection. unfortunately, I saw no Betty, in that pile of blond hair and black dress, shooting down some Italian pseudo-suitors at the outdoor restaurant. via Alberto Cadlolo 101. romecavalieri.com or 800-925-3673.

Best bet: La Pergola. the hotel is home to the only Michelin three-star restaurant in the city. La Pergola’s wine cellar has 53,000 bottles. Reserve well in advance and try not to look at the bill too hard. romecavalieri.com.

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<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/travel/rome-321134-city-best.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.ocregister.com/travel/rome-321134-city-best.htmlSun, 09 Oct 2011 02:05:50 GMT”>Rome on film

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