NFC North Number 1
2001, Taqueria La Unica, Paramore, Dan Campbell, Prickly Proctology
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue includes the five offensive linemen who helped lead the long-suffering Detroit Lions to their first NFC North Division title, a prophetic sci-fi novel, the taqueria next door, a band whose online presence just vanished, a Detroit Lion who went from playing on the 0-16 team to coaching the division champions, and a coughing cactus. I hope you like the picks and pics.
It’s a very rough time for professional sports fans in Detroit. Last night, The Pistons broke the NBA single season record for consecutive losses with their 27th. The Lions last won a division title 30 years ago. So the Lions’ division-clinching victory on Sunday was a huge deal in the Motor City.
Fave Five 65: NFC North Number 1. Harbinger Hal (2001: A Space Odyssey), Taco Tuesday (Taqueria La Unica), Pop-Punk/Power Pop (Paramore), Champion Coach (Dan Campbell), and Prickly Proctology.
Fave Five List: Formidable Front Five
I have mentioned the Detroit Lions five times this year in this newsletter:
In the first of these, on September 5, 2023, I asked:
Is it possible that the Detroit Lions could win their division this year? That could be too much to expect.
The unthinkable actually happened on Sunday, when the Lions clinched the NFC North by narrowly avoiding defeat in Minneapolis, 30-24. The Lions will go as far as their stellar offensive line can take them. When all five of their starters are able to play together, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs deliver big runs, and Jared Goff has time to pick out an open receiver. Hence, a tribute to that formidable front five.
Detroit Lions’ Offensive Line
Taylor Decker, Left Tackle
Jonah Jackson, Left Guard
Frank Ragnow, Center
Graham Glasgow, Right Guard
Penei Sewell, Right Tackle
Book Best Bet
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
We recently finished watching the series A Murder at the End of the World. We found it entertaining, but the ending was disappointing. Without revealing too much, I will say that the final episode appeared to borrow heavily from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
I saw the film version of 2001 in 1968 and was enthralled by the story, the cinematography, and the music. I then bought the book, read it, and loved it. I also read two Clarke’s subsequent sequels, 2010 and 2061.
From Amazon: The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of Stanley Kubrick’s immortal film—and changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves.
From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
This allegory about humanity’s exploration of the universe—and the universe’s reaction to humanity—is a hallmark achievement in storytelling that follows the crew of the spacecraft Discovery as they embark on a mission to Saturn. Their vessel is controlled by HAL 9000, an artificially intelligent supercomputer capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning that rivals—and perhaps threatens—the human mind.
Grappling with space exploration, the perils of technology, and the limits of human power, 2001: A Space Odyssey continues to be an enduring classic of cinematic scope.
From Wikipedia: 2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. It was developed concurrently with Stanley Kubrick's film version and published after the release of the film. Clarke and Kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only Clarke ended up as the official author. The story is based in part on various short stories by Clarke, including "The Sentinel" (written in 1948 for a BBC competition, but first published in 1951 under the title "Sentinel of Eternity"). By 1992, the novel had sold three million copies worldwide. An elaboration of Clarke and Kubrick's collaborative work on this project was made in the 1972 book The Lost Worlds of 2001.
The first part of the novel, in which aliens influence the primitive ancestors of humans, is similar to the plot of Clarke's 1953 short story "Encounter in the Dawn".
Themes
Perils of technology
2001: A Space Odyssey explores technological advancement: its promise and its danger. The HAL 9000 computer puts forward the troubles that can crop up when humans build machines, the inner workings of which are not fully comprehended and therefore cannot fully be controlled.
Perils of nuclear war
The book explores the perils related to the atomic age. In this novel, the Cold War is apparently still on, and at the end of the book one side has nuclear weapons above the earth on an orbital platform. To test its abilities, the Star Child detonates an orbiting warhead at the end of the novel, creating a false dawn below for the people on Earth. Roger Ebert notes that Kubrick originally intended for the first spaceship seen in the film to be an orbiting bomb platform, but in the end, he decided to leave the ship's meaning more ambiguous. Clarke, however, retained and clearly stated this fact in the novel.
Evolution
The novel takes a panoramic overview of progress, human and otherwise. The story follows the growth of human civilization from primitive hominids. Distinctively, Space Odyssey is concerned about not only the evolution that has led to the development of humanity, but also the evolution that humanity might undergo in the future. Hence, we follow Bowman as he is turned into a Star Child. The novel acknowledges that evolutionary theory entails that humanity is not the end, but only a step in the process. One way this process might continue, the book imagines, is that humans will learn to move to robot bodies and eventually rid themselves of a physical form altogether.
Space exploration
When 2001: A Space Odyssey was written, humankind had not yet set foot on the Moon. The space exploration programs in the United States and the Soviet Union were only in the early stages. Much room was left to imagine the future of the space program. Space Odyssey offers one such vision, offering a glimpse at what space exploration might one day become. Lengthy journeys, such as crewed flights to Saturn, and advanced technologies, such as suspended animation, are described in the novel.
Artificial intelligence
The book raises questions about consciousness, sentience, and human interactions with machines. Hal's helpful disposition contrasts with his malevolent behavior. Through much of the movie he seems to have malfunctioned. At the end of the novel we learn that Hal's odd behavior stems from an improper conflict in his orders. Having been instructed not to reveal the nature of the mission to his crew, he reasons that their presence is a threat to the mission, which is his prime concern. Hal's reversion to a childlike state as Dave shuts him down mirrors aspects of human death, and his expressed fear of being shut down causes Dave to hesitate.
Accoutrements of space-travel
The novel is deliberately written so as to give the reader an almost kinesthetic familiarity with the experience of space travel and the technologies encountered. Large sections of the novel are devoted to detailed descriptions of these. The novel discusses orbital mechanics and the manoeuvres associated with space travel with great scientific accuracy. The daily lives of Bowman and Poole on board the Discovery One are discussed in detail and give the impression of a busy yet mundane lifestyle with few surprises until the malfunction of Hal. Dr. Floyd's journey to Space Station One is depicted with awareness of fine points such as the experience of a Space Shuttle launch, the adhesive sauces used to keep food firmly in place on one's plate, and even the zero-gravity toilet.
Arthur C. Clarke
From Wikipedia: Sir Arthur Charles Clarke CBE FRAS (Born December 16, 1917 in Minehead, Somerset, England; died March 19, 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host.
He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, widely regarded as one of the most influential films of all time. Clarke was a science fiction writer, an avid popularizer of space travel, and a futurist of a distinguished ability. He wrote many books and many essays for popular magazines. In 1961, he received the Kalinga Prize, a UNESCO award for popularizing science. Clarke's science and science fiction writings earned him the moniker "Prophet of the Space Age". His science fiction writings in particular earned him a number of Hugo and Nebula awards, which along with a large readership, made him one of the towering figures of the genre. For many years Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.
Clarke was a lifelong proponent of space travel. In 1934, while still a teenager, he joined the BIS, British Interplanetary Society. In 1945, he proposed a satellite communication system using geostationary orbits.[8] He was the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society from 1946 to 1947 and again in 1951–1953.
Restaurant Recommendation
Taqueria La Unica 3771 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Two years ago, we spent the winter in nearby Goleta, just blocks away from Old Town, home to many authentic Mexican restaurants. Every week we tried a different place on Taco Tuesday.
This year we are very fortunate to be renting a condo right next door to an outstanding taqueria that opened just after we last left Santa Barbara in March. We plan to take advantage every Taco Tuesday, and we started yesterday with their delicious Tacos Al Pastor for the whole family. Their salsa bar offers a great selection, with the grilled pineapple (black) and tomatillo (green) being our favorites.
De Trompo - Tacos Al Pastor: soft taco with onion, cilantro, pineapple “La Unica recipe”
Torta Al Pastor: Mexican sandwich with sour cream, chihuahua cheese, tomato, onion, avocado, pineapple
Alambre Que Me Ves: al pastor, chicken, picaña steak with onion, bell peppers, and bacon
From the restaurant: Authentic Flavors, Modern Ambiance. Discover La Unica, a contemporary taqueria located on Upper State Street in Santa Barbara, CA, where authentic Mexican street food meets a modern, clean interior design. Both dine-in and take-out options are available, allowing you to enjoy our delectable offerings such as spit-roasted al pastor tacos, pollo adobado tostadas, norteño alambres, and birria tortas, all crafted with the freshest, high-quality ingredients.
Marvelous Musicians
Today is Hayley Williams's 35rd birthday. I became a fan of Paramore when I heard “Still Into You.” There is concern about the band’s future after they wiped their social media and website content yesterday.
Paramore causes stir online after deleting content
American rock band Paramore caused stir among fans after they wiped their social media accounts clean and took down their website.
The group, comprising of lead singer Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro, has removed the profile picture on their official YouTube and Facebook page while the content om their X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram have completely been deleted.
The group's official website paramore.net is currently inaccessible.
The move comes after the band revealed in a media interview that “there's a level of uncertainty” on Paramore’s future.
“Now that Paramore has spent the year touring behind This Is Why (and making sure to take better care of themselves while they're at it), a chapter of the band's career has come to a close. They've now fulfilled all label obligations and are effectively free agents. As for the future of Paramore, all three members agreed that there's a level of uncertainty,” the excerpt of article posted on the group’s Instagram page said.
The unexpected scrubbing of content pulled mixed reactions from fans. While some worry the rock trio has called it quits, others are hoping it merely signals a new era for the band.
From Wikipedia: Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, while York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007. The band is signed to Fueled by Ramen, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, both owned by Warner Music Group. Williams was separately signed to Atlantic as she was scouted when she was a teenager, and they were the only label to let her stay in the band instead of going solo, but Atlantic said the rest of the band had to sign to Fueled by Ramen. She is also the only member to appear on all six of Paramore's studio albums.
The group released its debut album, All We Know Is Falling, in 2005, with the album reaching number four on the UK Rock Chart in 2009 and number thirty on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart in 2006.
The band's second album, Riot!, was released in 2007. Thanks to the success of the singles "Misery Business", "Crushcrushcrush", and "That's What You Get", Riot! was a mainstream success and was certified Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Paramore then received a Best New Artist nomination at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Their 2009 follow-up, Brand New Eyes, is the band's second-highest-charting album to date, landing at number two on the Billboard 200 with 175,000 first-week sales. It produced the top-forty single "The Only Exception" and went platinum in Ireland and the UK, as well as gold in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Following the departure of Josh and Zac Farro in 2010, the band released their self-titled fourth album in 2013. It gave the band their first number one on the US Billboard 200 and was also the number one album in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. It included the singles "Still Into You" and "Ain't It Fun", with the latter winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for Williams and York as songwriters, making it Paramore's first Grammy Award win. The band's lineup changed once again after this album cycle, with bassist Jeremy Davis leaving the band near the end of 2015 and former drummer Zac Farro rejoining the band in 2017. Their fifth and sixth studio albums, After Laughter and This Is Why, were released in May 2017 and February 2023, respectively, to critical acclaim.
Still Into You
My Playlist
Sports Star
The Lions head coach was widely ridiculed about the remarks he made at his introductory news conference two years ago. Now he is being praised for leading the team to its first-ever NFC North Division Championship.
I enjoy watching him coach, talk, and hand out game balls after wins. He seems smart, humble, and willing to both admit and learn from mistakes. He communicates candidly and honestly and has earned the respect of his players.
For many years I followed a rule: Don’t waste time watching the Lions. This season, I abandoned it and have followed the team with a mixture of anxiety and dread, but also joy. Credit for their success goes to their owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, their general manager, Brad Holmes, their coaching staff, their talented and gritty players, and their loyal and loud fans. But it mostly goes to their head coach, Dan Campbell, who is the right man for Detroit and for its NFL team.
Dan Campbell is teaching Detroit Lions how to be winning franchise
Dan Campbell dedicates Detroit Lions' NFC North title to 'old guard' in locker room speech
From Wikipedia: Daniel Allen Campbell (born April 13, 1976 in Clifton, Texas), is an American football coach and a former tight end who has been the head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) since 2021. He previously served as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020 and also served as an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2010 to 2015, most recently as the interim head coach and tight ends coach.
Campbell played college football for Texas A&M. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft, and subsequently played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints. As a player, Campbell played in the Super Bowl with the Giants in 2000 and won the championship with the Saints in 2009.
Known for his high energy, passion for the game, aggressive play calling, and memorable quotes, particularly when at his introductory press conference for the Lions, he famously remarked that his future teams would "bite a kneecap off" their opponents, Campbell has become one of the more recognizable coaches in the NFL, and a fan favorite of Lions and NFL fans alike.
Campbell is a noted fan of Metallica, and during his time at Texas A&M, he was nicknamed "Dantallica" by his roommate Shane Lechler. He also enjoys country music and classic rock. During his playing career, he was nicknamed "The Dude", due to his resemblance to Jeff Bridges' character in The Big Lebowski. Upon joining the Detroit Lions as head coach, he gained the nickname "MC/DC" by Pat McAfee on his daily radio show. The nickname, a play on AC/DC, is short for Motor City Dan Campbell.
Picture Pun
Preparing for the dreaded cactirectal exam.
