Longhorns, Bruins and Tigers, Oh My!

Featured Story

Two Words For You: J.J. Rejection. Now you know why J.J. Redick will be a nonfactor as an NBA player. Forget all the talk about his pure shooting stroke translating to the next level. How will he get that beautiful shot off? Because in a game against precisely the kind of long, quick athletes he'll meet all over the place in the NBA, Redick was lost. - ESPN's Page 2

Last night was an amazing night of basketball that left the nation's two best shooters in tears.

First, I gladly watched LSU, my pick for the National Champion, derail Duke, the team everyone was ready to hand the crown just because J.J. Redick plays on the team. As great of a player as Redick is, he was terrible last night, shooting just 3-for-18 from the field. Instead, it was LSU's sophomore "Big Baby" Glen Davis and freshman Tyrus Thomas that stole the spotlight. Thomas came up with two huge free throws and 5 blocks in the win, while Davis, with his 320 lb. frame, outhustled everyone in the last minute of the game.

Later, I jumped out of my chair when Texas senior Kenton Paulino hit a 3 at the buzzer to give Texas the 74-71 win over West Virginia.


Defense proved it can win games when UCLA's Farmar stole the ball from Gonzaga's J.P. Batista and then hit Luc Richard Mbah a Moute underneath the basket with 10 seconds left to put the Bruins up 73-71. Mbah a Moute then stole the ball from Derek Raivio with 2.6 seconds left to seal the win.

Luke Winn discusses the Texas and UCLA wins at his Tourney Blog.

Redick and Morrison go out with a whimper, writes Seth Davis.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for the night, Golden State's Jason Richardson hit a 3-pointer with seconds left to give the Warriors a win over Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki scored 51 points in the loss.

Politics

Women wage key campaigns for Democrats:

"If the Democrats have their way, the 2006 Congressional elections will be the revenge of the mommy party," writes Robin Toner for the New York Times.

A portrait of the blogger as a young plagiarist:

As a college student Ben Domenech lifted arts criticism; as a GOP henchman, he was accused of fabricating a Tim Russert quote. What was the Washington Post thinking? [Salon]

Journalism

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. We don't need no water let the motherf*%#@ burn...

New York Hack has been one of my favorite daily stops ever since it was recommended by someone else on some other site. Every post is great, and today's post is no exception.

Featured Album: The Flaming Lips At War With the Mystics

IGN.com - Given their unbridled enthusiasm for every project they get involved in, it should come as no surprise that frontman Wayne Coyne sat down and documented what was going through the band's mind while they worked on the album.

Here then is a song-by-song breakdown, penned by Wayne his ownself, of what you can expect when At War With The Mystics hits stores in April (that would be April 4th, 2006 for those who are particular about such things).

SONG NOTES FROM THE SORCERER'S ORPHAN:
Understanding At War With The Mystics

1. THE YEAH YEAH YEAH SONG (WITH ALL YOUR POWER)
Steven had been recording in a separate vocal booth on his computer and I walked by and heard the crazy grouped vocals doing the "yeah yeah yeah" part and I was immediately hooked. This is one of those songs that points the finger at the pettiness of those in power but also points the finger back at ourselves - what would YOU do? Power in the hands of the inexperienced (which is what we would be) is very dangerous...

2. FREE RADICALS (A HALLUCINATION OF THE CHRISTMAS SKELETON PLEADING WITH A SUICIDE BOMBER)
I had a dream in which Devendra Banhart (the weird singer/songwriter) is pleading with a suicide bomber (who is about to go blow up something or somebody) to change his mind. And once he changes the deranged zealot's point of view, he (Devendra) immediately sympathizes with the frustration (mostly aimed at George W. Bush) that could make someone long for such exaggerated revenge...(Keep in mind that this is just a funny dream - these suicide bombers are clearly brainwashed religious fanaticals that are insane with their own agenda...they are beyond any pleads of reason and are not worthy of any sympathy.) [full article]

*Tracks for preview, available for a short time only!

Flaming Lips - "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
Flaming Lips - "Free Radicals"
Flaming Lips - "My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion"
Flaming Lips - "Vein of Stars"

From the Inbox: Jeff Merchant Windows Rolled Down

Jeff Merchant is a purveyor of slickly arranged orchestral indie pop with jazz and folk undertones. His new CD Window Rolled Down is one remarkably smooth listen, carrying the listener effortlessly along from auspicious start to fine finish. It features performances by members of Brian Wilson's band, Stew's band and Listing Ship as well as other distinguished Silverlake/Los Angeles musicians.

This Los Angeles-based songwriter is best known as a member of the cult fave psycho-eclectic group, the Lullabies - which features the notable and renowned Stew & Heidi Rodewald (of The Negro Problem) and Michael Whitmore (of Listing Ship). Their debut CD Lullabies' Lullaby was released in 2004.

Jeff Merchant - "Lil Miss Riding Hood"
Jeff Merchant - "Landlord Song"
Jeff Merchant - "Sick of It"

Also in the Inbox:

Nathan Asher and The Infantry - "Sex Without Love/A War"