I'm still not quite sure who the Osmonds are or why I might be aware of them.

The Osmonds were the Mormon equivalent of the Jackson 5.

I'm still not quite sure who the Osmonds are

Nobody important, they live up the hill from me and I see them at the mall occasionally. Them and Bob Redford, though he generally doesn't wave back when you yell "Hi!" at him.

Okay, and now having read the article, these people need to stop bitching and instead just read the fricking amenities lists before they check in. The way to protest a charge for internet access is to stay at a different hotel. Complaining about the bill after the fact because you didn't read the directions before you logged on? LAME.

When I was little, I alway thought Donny and Marie were boyfriend/girlfriend, and not brother/sister. I am not sure if I was picking up some weird vibe, or I was just confused because Sonny and Cher and Captain and Tenille were couples.

Jessica, maybe. but hotels have pulled a bait and switch on me. They have a different rate plan for phone calls (and internet access) listed in the room then what I was charged at the front desk. I have had to argue with the front desk people about the rate I should have been charged for crap.

This has happened more than once and probably happens 1-2 times a year that I travel for work.

Happy Birthdays, Cashmere and Matt!!!

(I listed you alphabetically, to be fair.)

The Osmonds were the Mormon equivalent of the Jackson 5.

I didn't know who they were either! (until much later.)

Instead, I knew Woody Guthrie, Baez, Paul Robeson, Kingston Trio, Beatles, Creedence, Buddy Holly,Vangelis and um....you get the idea. And a boatload of classical. Betcha can date my parents based on that!

What can I say, my mom fed me whole wheat carob cookies at one point.

Even my parents owned a Donny Osmond album (Sweet and Innocent, IIRC). There was supposed to be a reason behind it (my parents' tastes tending more toward Hank Williams and similar country), but I've forgotten.

Birthdays galore! Excellent. Party time.

The ump made a good call in the Sox-Angels game. Why the hell didn't Josh Paul tag him out? WTF?

Well, there is the part where he did the fist that usually means "you're out." Watching the replay without closeups or slomo, I actually had no idea what was going on -- the umpire made a couple of gestures, only some of which I understood. All other eight Angels on the field thought Pierzynski was out, anyway, so it's reasonable to expect Paul thought he had been called out as well.

OTOH, I'm used to watching a catcher tag the batter if there's even a scintilla of doubt, and sometimes if there's not. On the other-other hand, I'm also used to watching a catcher skedaddle on the third strike to end an inning, as if getting out of position faster will mean that the umpire won't dare call him back and tell him it was a ball instead.

Anyway, something to keep it all exciting, and to make sure Mike Scioscia is doing his slow-burn routine in the dugout.

Happy Birthday Cashmere and Matt!!!!