Today is the Autumnal Equinox

Yes, it is that time of the year again.  While in reality,  it has felt like summer ended after Labor Day weekend,  the change in seasons becomes official today.

At 4:02 pm EST,  summer will yield to the fall season.

What is a bit unusual is that while we have had a cooler than normal summer,  it has grown quite warm lately. It feels more like summer now than it often did in July and August.

Guess we will start the autumn here in the greater New York and New Jersey metropolitan area with Indian summer!

Thursday Night Football Wrap-Up: Rams Survive 49ers Comeback Attempt

One game down, 15 more to go. 

After one game, my predictions are so far accurate - albeit barely! Indeed, the Rams won, but they had to withstand a furious comeback rally at the end of the game to do so. 

The Rams had built up a considerable lead, aided in no small part by capitalizing on San Francisco mistakes, including a pick six on the 49ers first play of the game. Los Angeles had one of the lowest scoring offenses last season, and there were concerns that offensive production would continue to be a problem this year.

However, the Rams exploded yesterday. In fact, both teams did, combining for a total of 80 points overall, as the Rams eventually outlasted the 49ers for a 41-39 win. Neither team went into the game with impressive looking offenses, but both offenses showed something by producing some great numbers last night.

So yes, my prediction was accurate...sort of. I never would have expected for either team to put up the kinds of offensive numbers that each team did, let alone both teams. I never would have expected this game to be a wild, wild NFC West showdown being the highest scoring game thus far in this young season to date! And I must say, I am a bit surprised by it.

Los Angeles rebounds from their loss to Washington last week, to raise their record to 2-1, while the 49ers remain winless at 0-3, but easily put up their most impressive game this season, which has to give them some sort of a lift. 

One more thing: both teams wore their "color rush" uniforms. The Rams one was extremely bright, as they wore their older helmets, the ones that are dark blue with the bright yellow rams horns that they used to wear until after the Super Bowl season in 1999. San Francisco, by contrast, wore very dark uniforms, wearing black jerseys and pants. I prefer the Rams old look, the one that they wore up until that 1999 season, while the 49ers just look better with their traditional, standard uniforms.

Am I the only on getting a bit tired of these color rush uniforms? Seems like just another money making gimmick to me, a reason to try and sell more jerseys, these ones with a different feel. But there is nothing radically different about the NFL's self-serving greed over the years, is there?

NFL 2017-18 Week 3 Predictions

Okay, the season is starting to take shape. We have an early glimpse of teams that are doing as well as expected (the Raiders, Steelers, and the Falcons are the best examples), the teams that are surprising at least some people with how well they are ding (the Lions and the Chiefs would be the best examples here), the teams that are doing as poorly as expected (the Jets and the Browns would be the prime examples of these), and the teams that are surprising some with just how poorly they are playing thus far (the Colts and, unfortunately, the Giants would be prime examples of this). 

Yet, the season is far from over, and these trends still might reverse themselves. Week 3 is upon us now, starting with a NFC West game later today, and another early game in London to kick things off on Sunday.

As for my predictions, well, I also got off to a rough start in week one, getting eight right and seven wrong. Last week, I got 11 right and five wrong. Better, but still quite a few wrong. 

Can I do better with my picks this weekend? Time will tell, of course.

So, here are my predictions for week 3:

Thursday Night Football - L.A. Rams at San Francisco - Last year, the 49ers won only two games all season long. Unfortunately for the Rams, both of those wins came against them. In fact, the 49ers might have done the Rams no favors last season, not only sweeping them, but also in being the last place team in the division, which meant that the Rams could not even excel at being the worst team, only really bad. San Francisco had a higher draft pick, and Los Angeles went through the turmoil of a coaching change and some personnel change. Now, Los Angeles had an impressive debut this season, obliterating the Colts and looking sharp. But they came back down to earth last week in losing at home to Washington. Now, they have their first chance at revenge against the Niners, but they will have to try and win on the road in San Fran. Still, San Francisco has some serious issues on offense, as they are one of two teams that I know of who have yet to score a touchdown this season (the other being the Bengals). The Rams might be inept, but they are not that inept, and they have had an entire offseason to prepare themselves not to repeat the embarrassment of being swept by an otherwise winless team. I am predicting the Rams to take this one on the road in San Fran. My pick: L.A. Rams

Baltimore at Jacksonville at London's Wembley Stadium - Jacksonville got lucky in week one and caught the Texans by surprise. But last weekend, the Titans exposed them, limiting their offense and exposing weaknesses on their defense. Now, they have to face a very tough Baltimore Ravens team that may be having some issues on offense themselves, but who also seem to have a legitimately wicked defense. Frankly, it is hard to see how the Jaguars can win this one, as almost every advantage that comes to mind seems to favor the Ravens getting off to a 3-0 start. My pick: Baltimore

Atlanta at Detroit - This suddenly feels like a feature match for this week! The Falcons are off to a solid start, avoiding an upset at Chicago in week one, and then stomping on the Packers last weekend. Once again, they play an NFC North team this week, but it should be their toughest test yet, because the Lions look really, really good thus far. They beat the Cardinals in week one, and then went on the road and dominated the Giants on the road last Monday. Their offense has looked very good in the process, and Matthew Stafford could be a candidate for the MVP award this season if he continues to play like this. They have home field advantage, and they have to feel hyped for what is now a huge game. Tough one to call, but I'm going to have to go with the home team here. My pick: Detroit

Cleveland at Indianapolis - Two winless teams go after each other, both pursuing their first victories of the season. The Colts have home field advantage, but with so many question marks on their offense without Luck, it is questionable how much of a home field advantage it really is. For Cleveland, two tough losses to the Steelers and the Ravens have nevertheless revealed that this team might not be as embarrassing as they seemed to be last year. This might be an upset pick, but I will do ahead and predict that the Browns will get past Indy for their first win of the season in this one. My pick; Cleveland  

Denver at Buffalo - The Broncos look good again. Their defense is predictably tough, and Siemian seems to be coming into his own as the starting quarterback. Denver won their first two games, although both of them were in Denver. Now, they go on the road to Rich Stadium (or whatever it is called these days) to face the Bills. But at least it is not December or later, with that trademark frigid weather. The Bills won their first game against the Jets, but then fell short in a tough game against Carolina. They have a tough defense, not having yielded a touchdown yet. That will likely change this weekend, but can the Bills actually pull off a win? This is a tough game to call, but I suspect that the Broncos are the better team, and so it is hard to predict against them. My pick: Denver

Houston at New England - The Patriots lost a tough surprise game in week one, but if their victory over the Saints signified anything, it is that they are back. And the Texans look filled with issues and question marks, as their offense looks predictably atrocious thus far. They had a very embarrassing loss in week one, followed by an ugly win. Their defense is good, but the offense is a liability. Historically, they have never done well against the Patriots, especially up in Foxboro. Frankly, it is hard to see that changing for this upcoming weekend. My pick: New England 

Miami at N.Y. Jets - The Dolphins earned a tough win against the Chargers last weekend, largely due to a missed field goal. They are on the road again, but they take on the likely cupcake team of the AFC, the Jets. I would love to say that I could in good conscience boldly predict the Jets to win this one, but it is difficult to see it happening. They got walloped in Oakland last weekend, and both their offense and defense looked pathetic. They will likely play better this weekend, but good enough to pull off a win against Miami? Not likely. My pick: Miami

New Orleans at Carolina - How will the Panthers do with Olsen in the line-up? Well, that question will begin to be answered in this game, as the winless Saints come to town. New Orleans has the talent on offense, but their defense, once again, looks very bad. They cannot be feeling too good, after dropping both of their first two games. Carolina has a lot of question marks, but they have a familiar opponent coming into their home stadium. This will be a surprisingly close game, and in fact, I will go out on a limb and go ahead with an upset prediction here. My pick: New Orleans

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia - The Giants are in trouble here. They have dropped both of their first two contests, and now have to go to Philly, a team that seems to be brimming with confidence. Often, the Giants struggle in Philadelphia, and as much as I would like to suggest that this time will be different, it appears that the G-Men have a lot of issues to iron out, and especially on offense. Hard to see them pulling this one off, and that means that the Eagles should win, and the Giants will fall still farther behind in the NFC East. My pick: Philadelphia

Pittsburgh at Chicago - Years ago, this might have been a slugfest between two heavyweights specializing in strong defenses and conservative, run-oriented offenses. That is not so much the case this time, as the Steelers have an explosive offense (as well as a solid defense), while the Bears have...well, they have limited talent on both offense and defense. The Bears have home field advantage, but that appears to be the only advantage that they have here in this game. My pick: Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay at Minnesota - The Vikings are hard to figure. They beat the Saints in week one, but the Steelers made short work of them. Still, Minnesota is not an easy place to play, and it will be the first real test for Tampa. Going on the road to take on a team of the Vikings's caliber will be a huge challenge for them. The Vikings have the talent and home field advantage to win, but I will go out on a limb and predict a Bucs victory in this one. My pick: Tampa Bay 

Seattle at Tennessee - Wow! Tough game to call! Seattle is a good team, but they are clearly going through some issues. And the Titans are up and coming, but this will clearly be a tough test for them. They have to feel confident after beating up on the Jaguars last week. But will that be enough to knock of the Seahawks? Seattle still has their defense, but nothing else is looking especially good for them right now. I suspect that the Seahawks are still the better team, and should sneak out a tough win here in this one. My pick: Seattle

Cincinnati at Green Bay - The Packers have an explosive offense and the considerable home field advantage going into this one. The Bengals have a disappointing team that seems on the verge of some major collapse. Some players from Cincy last week were evidently suggesting that Colin Kaepernick should be their quarterback, which is not exactly a vote of confidence for Andy Dalton. If this team does not do something soon, this season will likely spiral out of control. However, it is difficult to see them pulling this one off, or even really keeping it close. My pick: Green Bay 

Kansas City at L.A. Chargers - The Chargers are losing games once again in strange fashion, much like they did last season. They now get to host perhaps the hottest team in the league in the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, KC has a solid offense with a strong running game, and they have an innovative coach in Andy Reid. The Chargers right now have talent, but some major issues. They should keep it close, but somehow, I see another strange loss with something truly bizarre preventing them from winning this one yet again. My pick: Kansas City 

Oakland at Washington - These two teams do not meet very frequently, yet they will take the field together on Monday Night in Washington. The Raiders still look like they are justifying their status in the minds of many experts as one of the elite teams, and a serious contender for the title this season. Washington earned themselves a good, tough road win against the Rams last weekend, but Oakland? Even with home field advantage against them, the Raiders will prove to be a challenge, one that I suspect Washington will not be up to the task to meet. My pick: Oakland

Today is Muḥarram (Arabic: مُحَرَّم‎‎)

Today is Muḥarram (مُحَرَّم‎‎ in Arabic), which is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar.

September 21st - Today is International Peace Day

September 21st - Today is International Peace Day.

It was established as this back in 1981, through a United Nations resolution that was passed unanimously. The idea is for people the world over to focus and dedicate themselves to peace, between nations and between people. 

Paul McCartney in Brooklyn- September 19th 2017: Concert Review

I had the privilege of taking my son to see Paul McCartney yesterday, and the word privilege truly is fitting. After all, this guy is a legend, truly and surely. It goes without saying that he was a former member of the Beatles. He not only came up with some of the most beautiful and iconic songs to have graced the world over the past half a century and change, but he worked with some truly legendary artists as well, not least of all his former bandmates in the Beatles. Then, of course, you add to that his work with Wings, as well as his solo projects and collaborations with other incredible artists (such as Michael Jackson), and what you have in obtaining tickets to see this man is really a chance to see some veritable rock, and indeed music, history.

That was why I really wanted to make sure to that I took my son to see him. Already, I have taken my son to some concerts that he will likely remember for many years, even decades, to come. That includes having taken him to see Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band last year, as well as seeing Temple of the Dog last November (on election eve, as it turned out). Seeing how much Chris Cornell means to both of us, and his tragic death by suicide earlier this year, I feel particularly good about having taken him to see that one. I almost went with another friend who had expressed interest, but taking my son seems like a very good decision in retrospect, because as it turns out, there was not going to be another opportunity - something that I would not necessarily have believed had someone told me that last year.

It was with that frame of mind that I obtained these tickets for Paul McCartney four months and change ago. I knew that I wanted to get my son the opportunity to see both of the surviving Beatles while the opportunity was there. There were other people who expressed interest in seeing Paul McCartney, but this night was going to be reserved for my son - school night or not (and it was). After all, again, this should be a memory that lasts literally for decades. Hopefully, he can tell his children and grandchildren, truthfully, that he saw the last two surviving Beatles.

Now, here's the thing. technically, he had already been to a Paul McCartney concert. Yes, indeed, he went with us (his mom and I) when we went up to Quebec City in 2008, and Paul McCartney gave a free concert on the Plains of Abraham on the occasion of Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Ever since going, my memories have remained strong, and I remember this concert very fondly, in large part because my son, then a toddler, was there with us. He was too young to remember it, though.

Also, too young to really appreciate it. We stayed away from the massive crowds, choosing instead a place along Quebec's famous walls, and enjoying a more distant, but still good, view. It still can bring a smile to my face to remember that day, and how my son fell asleep after maybe the fourth song. He remained asleep for the duration of the concert, including the loud pyrotechnic fireworks during "Live and Let Die." It has kind of been the source of some jokes ever since, that he slept through all of that, as well as the fireworks display that came right after the show, even when we tried to wake him up, because he has always loved fireworks, even back then.

Now, of course, my son is older. He was old enough to really know some McCartney and Beatles music, as well as to appreciate a show like this. And looking back on the memories of this recent show in Brooklyn, it seems safe to say that he did indeed enjoy it. Hopefully, these are memories that will last a lifetime, and perhaps even be a story that he can truly pass down to his own children and grandchildren.

McCartney opened this particular concert up with an old Beatles classic, taking the stage to thunderous applause, before going into "A Hard Day's Night." It was clear that this was an enthusiastic crowd, eager to participate. The whole arena seemed to sing along throughout the entire night, and that included yours truly, much to the detriment of my neighbors, surely.

There were some surprises. This was the first time that I heard "Mr. Kite" from the Sgt. Pepper album performed live, and it was a great version!

He finished off with a flurry of classics, including "Let it Be," "Hey Jude," "Live and Let Die," "Yesterday," and then the clump of assembled songs that serve as the effective finale from the "Abbey Road" album, much like he did for the Quebec concert nine years and change ago.

Seeing him in Brooklyn was pretty cool, as well. After all, New York City has a lot of history intertwined with the Beatles. That includes some tragic history as well, because this was where John Lennon was slayed by an insane man who had asked for his autograph not too long beforehand. Later, he also performed "A Day in the Life," a brilliant and iconic Lennon contribution to the Beatles body of work. McCartney sang an emotional song in tribute to his fallen former bandmate. He also performed "Something" by George Harrison, using the same ukulele that Harrison had given him many years earlier. Also, McCartney performed "Here Today," the song that he wrote to honor Lennon after his untimely death.

As I watched McCartney on the stage during the show, some thoughts and personal memories came to me at various points. At one point, I thought about this guy, and how he and the rest of the Beatles were at one point in time relative unknowns, playing in clubs in Germany, and restricted to the tiny and overcrowded Cavern in Liverpool. And I remembered those clips of the screaming girls while the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show during their first, landmark tour of America, back in February of 1964 - well over half a century ago already! Those early years, when they were unbelievably popular, and then the change to a scruffier, more rebellious look, which coincided with their dramatic experimentation with music and philosophy. McCartney was kind of the heartthrob of the band, at least early on. And while he was the genius behind some of the band's most iconic tunes, which he played here, I also remembered the tensions that tore the band apart, and the rivalries that followed. Sometimes, it got very personal. I also recalled my own surprise at the video clip of McCartney seeming to be almost indifferent in response to the assassination of Lennon in 1980. He seemed to regret that video clip later on, but I suspect that, on some level, he took some of Lennon's attacks quite personally.

And really, it would be hard to blame him? The Beatles had all sorts of internal drama, and they had this dirty laundry aired before the entire world. They broke up, ultimately, but there were years of frustrations and in-fighting first. This was all new, because for the most part, this kind of thing tended to not be in the public eye so prominently before this. After all, popular culture was very different before the Beatles, and after the Beatles. But the Beatles changed how popular culture is perceived, much like they changed music. These were the guys who pioneered much of modern rock and pop. These were the guys who had so many number one hits, where almost every album is not only top quality, but historically good. These were the guys who were the first to have modern outdoor concerts. These were the guys who started the trend of incredible experimentation with their music, and became hugely influential as a result. 

I know some people who actually hated, or possibly even still hate, the Beatles. But I do not know any major musicians who feel this way, and frankly, I am a bit surprised when I find some people that I otherwise respect and value, who nonetheless seem to have it in for the Beatles. How can you hate a band like this? First of all, every member is likable, with colorful personalities, and a deeper side when you dig a little deeper. But they were also musical geniuses, and together, they were able to get past their egos (more or less) to produce some of the most brilliant and lasting music of the latter 20th century. They fed off of one another, brought out the best in each other and in their musical ideas and innovation. For the most part, they did all of this while more or less remaining down to earth, at least in comparison to many of the over the top musical acts to come in the future. They still seem pretty down to earth, all things considered. 

So, McCartney had been through all of that, and had come out better, seemingly for it. He was the center of the Beatles, along with Lennon. They had a well-known and much talked about rivalry and quarrel, and this went on for years after the break up of the Beatles. And through the hard times, he and Lennon and Harrison and Ringo remained friends, and continued to collaborate. Now, McCartney pays tribute to his dead friends and bandmates during each full-length concert that I have seen him in. He played one song by Harrison, and another by Lennon, along with the "Give Peace a Chance" tag. He also played a song in tribute to Lennon, written not long after Lennon was killed right here in New York City. In fact, McCartney probably played that song specifically because he was in New York, and it was more fitting than it would be elsewhere. What they had, and what they went through, was real. It was not always pretty, and indeed, much of it has been immortalized in tapes. I remember seeing some of the infighting while watching the Anthology videos, and seeing the process of creating music interrupted because someone or other wanted to voice their complaint, or it did not sound perfect, or perhaps even because their ego was getting in the way. And yet, when you boil it down, the music that they did manage to create was incredible, timeless, almost perfect, on many levels. It is why the Beatles continue to live on. 

Setlist From 9/19/17 at the Barclays Center (taken from setlist.fm:  https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2017/barclays-center-brooklyn-ny-7be21aa8.html)

:


A Hard Day's Night (The Beatles song) 

Junior's Farm (Wings song) 

Can't Buy Me Love (The Beatles song) 

Jet (Wings song) 

All My Loving (The Beatles song) 

Let Me Roll It (Wings song) (followed by 'Foxy Lady' jam)  

I've Got a Feeling (The Beatles song) 

My Valentine 

Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five (Wings song) 

Maybe I'm Amazed 

We Can Work It Out (The Beatles song)  

In Spite of All the Danger (The Quarrymen song)  

You Won't See Me (The Beatles song) 

Love Me Do (The Beatles song) 

And I Love Her (The Beatles song)  

Blackbird (The Beatles song) 

Here Today 

Queenie Eye 

New 

Lady Madonna (The Beatles song)  

FourFiveSeconds (Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney cover) 

Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles song) 

I Wanna Be Your Man (The Beatles song)  

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (The Beatles song) 

Something (The Beatles song) 

A Day in the Life (The Beatles song) (with Give Peace a Chance snippet) 

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles song) 

Band on the Run (Wings song) 

Back in the U.S.S.R. (The Beatles song) 

Let It Be (The Beatles song) 

Live and Let Die (Wings song) 

Hey Jude (The Beatles song) 

Encore: 

Yesterday (The Beatles song)  

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (The Beatles song)  

Helter Skelter (The Beatles song) 

Birthday (The Beatles song) 

Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill cover) (for Jimmy Fallon)  

Golden Slumbers (The Beatles song) 

 Carry That Weight (The Beatles song) 

The End

This was a great t-shirt for this particular series of McCartney concerts in New York,  portraying the subway system codes. It sold out in a hurry,  though. 

The following were pictures taken by my son during the concert. The first one, which I posted above, was probably the best picture either of us took during this concert. He really has a good eye for picture taking. It seems to be a natural talent that he has, and certainly, the interest is there!

Here are some of my own video clips from this incredible concert!

Here is the clip of the pyrotechnics display during "Live and Let Die." I had told my son about the fireworks display, and how he slept through them during the Quebec concert in 2008, when he was still basically a toddler. Well, he jumped during the first explosion, and that made me laugh. That is essentially what this clip reveals, as you hear me laughing, and then a snippet of conversation afterward between us. 

Paul McCartney in Brooklyn - September 19th 2017

Paul McCartney in Brooklyn-  September 19th 2017


I am at work right now,  and so can't really write about this concert in any great length. I will write more about it later when the opportunity presents itself.

However,  it seemed like a good idea to publish some of the pictures from the show. That includes a few pictures from my son,  including what was probably the best picture of the night from my cellphone.

Enjoy!

Ooo