PGA West – hosted numerous PGA tournaments and also where Anthony Kim honed his skills.

Westin, Mission Hills – Where Michelle Wie is trying to earn her LPGA card.

Classic Club, home of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. (see pic below)

mikey - tee shot - classic club

http://thegrowinglife.com/2008/08/why-i-almost-shut-down-tgl/

That’s the picturesque seventh hole at the Resort course of La Cantera, San Antonio. It’s a short par 4 with hazards all around and a great look at Fiesta Texas as the backdrop. What you see above are our tee shots, where I was able to pull out a par. Also, big-ups to Hy for completing four years of dental school and getting his license. He’s something like Lieutenant Ben Giang D.D.S. now. Congrats buddy!

Podcasts

PTI and The B.S. Report

Both of these are sports related as they are ESPN products, although in the B.S. Report, Bill Simmons will delve into pop culture on occasion. Highly entertaining but steer clear if you’re not remotley interested in sports. (Yes, you could count PTI as either a video podcast or TV show.)

Filmspotting and Slate Spoiler Special

These two are movie related. Filmspotting is an hour long weekly podcast with two regular Chicago guys getting into a discussion about 2-3 movies per show. The first couple will usually be a new release, and the later review is something from a whatever themed marathon they are on. Currently it is the films of Pedro Almodovar. They also have a pretty cool bit called “Massacre Theater” where the two hosts re-enact a scene from a movie and listeners try to guess what film they are “massacring”. Winners get a free DVD.

Slate Spoiler Special is just about how it sounds. Dana Stevens and a rotating second reviewer go over a movie they just saw, typically a new release, and give away just about everything. It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation between two friends that just left the theater.

The Moth

I just came across this one recently. The Moth is a cool place in New York were famous folks and average joes alike step to the mic and share a story to a live audience. How much is true and how much is exaggerated? It’s hard to say, but it’s always entertaining.

The Onion Radio News

If you are familiar with The Onion, then you will know what you are getting here. The short (usually less than a minute long) little blurbs by ace reporter Doyle Redland are always good for a chuckle.

Video Podcasts

Tiki Bar TV

Following the adventures of Dr. Tiki, Johnny Johnny and LaLa, the trio that makes up the main cast of Tiki Bar TV as they reference old school TV conventions and concoct tasty beverages.

Ask A Ninja

Everyone’s favorite question answering ninja. I thought I had plugged this podcast before, but a look through the archives turn up empty. For those who don’t know, a masked ninja takes in a question(s) supposedly from actual viewers, and answers them as only a ninja can.

Comics strips

Wulffmorgenthaler

A daily strip that has a decidedly skewed sense of humor. I think it’s pretty funny, but it’s probably not for everyone.

Wondermark

Describes itself as “illustrated jocularity”, it is wonderfully wry. I’ve posted the Valentine’s Day strip below.

Email subscriptions

Ruminations by Aaron Karo

The self proclaimed “recovering frat-boy” now writer and stand-up comedian, you might have seen his stuff on College Humor. His weekly Ruminations column is always good for a laugh. Whether he’s going over “brogreements” (a business arrangement between good friends) or the differences in NY and LA, he gives a entertaining view on twentysomething life.

Dear Prudence

I think my interest in this one is less about manners and more about seeing how jacked up everyone else is. I know, I’m horrible. It’s probably the same reason I read PostSecret.

Actual TV

America’s Best Dance Crew

MTV… you always get me with one show somehow. The last one was Pimp My Ride, and before that it was The Inferno Challenge. Now it’s ABDC. Was it the curiosity of seeing 5 dudes dancing on skates, or that 6 asian kids are actually one of the best groups? I blame Hy for getting me on this.

5. Daniela Pestova

Cover model in 1995, 2000 and 2006

4. Josie Maran

Was briefly on Dancing With the Stars, getting knocked out in the first show. I guess they are serious about the dancing.

3. Marisa Miller

The 2008 cover model was probably born in a bikini and looked good doing it.

2. Laetitia Casta

Somehow, never made it to the cover. Also seen in various VS and Guess ads.

1. Petra Nemcova

2003 cover girl, better known now as a tsunami survivor and for her charity work.

Passes the time
TMNT
The Simpsons Movie
Eye In The Sky

Entertaining enough
Live Free or Die Hard
Transformers
Ocean’s Thirteen
American Gangster

Interesting
The Lookout
Waitress
Black Snake Moan
King of Kong

On the way to greatness, but got derailed in the end
Knocked Up
3:10 to Yuma
Sunshine

Well made
Hot Fuzz
300
Zodiac

A cut above
Rescue Dawn
Eastern Promises
The Bourne Ultimatum
Ratatouille

Way cute
Juno

Exploitation cinema
Death Proof (Grindhouse)

Lo-fi love story
Once

Super vulgar and super funny
Superbad

Superbadass!
No Country for Old Men

Leftovers from 2006
The Lives of Others
After the Wedding

Meiko – Meiko

Single: Piano Song

My favorite cuts: Reasons to Love You, Sleep

Member of my “Jenny Lewis All-Stars”* (top 5 female, indie singer/songwriters likely to have or already have had their music on a prime-time TV show, ie: Grey’s Anatomy) Solid album overall. Could very well be my favorite from 2007.

Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

Single: Dashboard

My favorite cuts: Missed The Boat, We’ve Got Everything

Kanye West – Graduation

Single: Stronger

My Favorite Cuts: Stronger, Everything I Am

Feels like two Kanye albums in one, and splits neatly right after Can’t Tell Me Nothing. Starting with Barry Bonds we hear a more experimental Kanye.

Feist – The Reminder

Single: 1 2 3 4

My Favorite Cuts: 1 2 3 4, My Moon My Man

I used to think Let It Die was better. That notion may have been pre-mature. Also a member of the Jenny Lewis All-Stars.

Wilco – Sky Blue Sky

Single: You Are My Face

My Favorite Cuts: Sky Blue Sky, Hate it Here

OK, this is my favorite of 2007.

Honorable Mentions

MAE – Singularity

Radiohead – In Rainbows

Sara Bareilles – Little Voice

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Lupe Fiasco – The Cool

Guilty Pleasure: The Graduate – Anhedonia

Song Everyone Loves: OneRepublic – Apologize

Franz Ferdinand award for catchiest song: Metro Station – Shake It

Disappointing

Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City

Dashboard Confessional – Shade of Poison Trees

Give or take a second. Quan was able to get a capture of Tin and I at the Mavs vs. Golden State game.