Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after winning last weekend's time trial.
David Millar's response pretty much sums it up for me: "Jesus Christ, I'm speechless."

I mean, WTF? We're just trying to get through ONE clean year here. Just ONE! Last year was going pretty well (if you don't count Operation Puerto) until that whole Floyd Landis debacle. Who won last year's Tour anyway? The world may never know.

There is the problem of these guys pretty much being guilty until proven innocent. Vino's 'B' sample hasn't even been tested yet! What happens in the albeit unlikely chance that the 'B' sample comes back negative? He and his team have already left (been kicked out of) the Tour! "Uh, sorry about that. See you guys next year!"

On the other hand, if you delve into the shady, shady recent past of the sport, you may come to the conclusion that the riders have brought it upon themselves. And I'm not talking about Lance. If anything all of these more recent positives only strengthen his claim that he was always clean. He never even produced a 'false positive' in during his 7 year winning streak.

However, the Tour officials probably have it right. First on the agenda is cleaning the sport up, then we can worry about 'rights' and 'fairness'. Get that ONE clean year and then build off of that. Guess we'll have to wait until next year. The real question is: What the hell are these guys thinking?? Do they think they're going to get away with doping in this day and age? And... blood transfusions? That's one of the oldest tricks in the book...

At least Tour officials are TRYING. Although it kills the (former) sportsman in me to think that maybe Floyd is/was clean. The stage he rode last year to put him in the yellow jersey for good was epic. On of the best stages EVER. If he's being prosecuted unfairly, that's terrible.

And the problem is unless Floyd was dirty and admits it, we'll never know for sure. It's hard to positively prove that you didn't do something. And Vino- his blood "contained an imbalance of young and old blood cells". Could this have been caused by the crash and subsequent bleeding during the time trial? He also had about 60 stitches when he crashed earlier in the week, and I'm sure there was a lot of blood loss there too. Knowing nothing about this stuff, his body would have regenerated new blood, and therefore had "young blood cells" right? I'm sure we'll all learn more than we want to about it over the next few days, just like we did with the testosterone / epitestosterone test.

This is hilarious. Robot Chicken did a whole half-hour of Star Wars riffs (they even got Lucas' approval!)
This is the best one:

You can see the whole episode here:
Adult Swim.com
-boosh

I'm sure somehow Dubya is to blame for this:
Ex-Enron officials get probation after cooperating
Nice. Help defraud a state of 42 BILLION dollars, help send the country into a recession, and get: 2 years probation and a $10,000 fine. That about evens the score, right?

Just months after expressing support for their head coach, the San Diego Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer. I guess someone has to take the fall for da Chaga's losing in their first game of the playoffs. Still, not classy, San Diego. Not classy, Dean-o.
Source: Marty odd man out

This guy is my hero! Of course I wouldn't recommend writing this on any checks to S.F.'s DPT, but everyone in San Francisco has considered it...

Man May Get Jail for Ticket Expletive

-boosh

P.S.- I can understand being mad about the parking signs being gone, but the ticket was for $10??? Here in The City a street sweeping violation is $40! And a parking meter violation is $50! Now that is a "BULL (expletive) MONEY GRAB."

Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious
Great SNL skit...

So The Strokes recently (03 Jan, 2006) released a new album to a wave of absolutely no press at all. The surprising thing is... it's actually pretty good. I sound surprised because, if you will recall, The Strokes we're "Rock's (Newest) Greatest Hope" back when "Is This It" was released, and that title is usually a kiss of death. (Think The Stone Roses).

Now, unlike the 'Roses, The Strokes came out with a second album within 4 years of their first (it was actually about 2 years later).

"Room On Fire" was not a great leap forward artistically, in fact it was almost identical to "Is This It". But at least it got made and was a solid album (yeah, I'm talking to you, Ian Brown!).

Anyway, the new album is a nice step forward for the band. The opening track "You Only Live Once" starts much like many other Strokes songs, but the lyrics seem stronger, and the band (notorious for being on the "loose" side) is very tight and together. It's a very strong start to the album.

The second track "Juicebox" is the first single (I believe) and is actually _not_ one of my favorites. The opening guitar riff just seems kind of cliche. Props to the band though, as the track definitly does not sound like _anything_ from the band's first two albums.

First Impressions then settles down to form a solid core for the album. 'Razorblade' and 'On the Other Side' are nice power-alterna-pop, that sounds familiar, but fresh. 'Vision of Division' is a bit cliche (as the title might suggest), but is still enjoyable to listen to, especially when Julian Casablancas breaks into his pateneted sing/speak/yelll at the end.

But then we get to the quite boring statement song, oh so cleverly called 'Ask Me Anything'. The answer to any and all questions, however, is "I Have Nothing To Say". This track is a response to the critics that have said Casablancas' lyrics lack substance. Not really helping his case here (yes, I understand the irony, the song is just _boring_).

The biggest problem in putting out your best album since you went solo from your old band is... What happens when you release your next album? It's more than likely not going to live up to your previous masterpiece, so what can you say?

Well, I can say that this: 'Ringleader' is the best Morrissey album since his last album (2004's outstanding 'You are the Quarry'). But that is just to say it's a respectable follow-up to an opus.

The difference is right there on the cover of the repective discs. 'Quarry' was emblazoned with Moz with a machine gun, while 'Ringleader has Moz with a violin. Inside the jewel-case, 'Quarry' was immediate and electric and engrossing. 'Ringleader' is mopey and even a bit dull. 'Quarry' had biting, scalding, relevent lyrics. 'Ringleader' has your typical gloom-rock Morrissey cliches.

'Ringleader' isn't bad, per say (and at $9.00 it's a good buy at Amazon), it's just that I got so excited about this "new" Morrissey on 'You Are The Quarry'. Great lyrics and word-play wrapped into current events and it actually sounded passionate.

Ah well, at least his next album will probably also be called "the best since 'You Are The Quarry'", except it will mean just a little more.

-boosh

ps- Next up on the "Best album... since their last album" train? The Streets with "The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living". I don't know that the new a

Clerks II: Good idea, or Quest for More Money?

The official Clerks II trailer has been released, and can be seen here:

YouTube.com

I'm not sure how I feel about Kevin Smith revisiting Dante and Randall... Didn't he say he was done with that "Universe"? The trailer shows he has wrangled many of his old friends into the movie. We see Banky (Jason Lee) and I'm sure he can get Ben Afflek to come back.
Also- look close at the scene with Jason Lee, and you'll see he brought his "Earl" "brother" with him! That's awesome, I LOVE that guy in that show!