Say It Ain't So! [Steve Jobs, The Simpsons, NBA Preseason, and Arrested Development]

"Say it ain't so, Joe. Say it ain't so!"

Though apocryphal, that's what a young boy reportedly said to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson in regards to his involvement in the 1919 World Series Black Sox scandal (in which Joe hit .375, hit a home run and 3 doubles, and had 6 RBIs).

Clip from the movie "8 Men Out", about the Black Sox scandal.

And so, in the spirit of that little heart-broken boy, I will start another semi-regular series on my blog.
When things happen that actually or sort-of break my little heart, I'll blog about it. Right now there are several, but luckily one positive news story has softened the blow somewhat.

RIP Steve Jobs
This is by far the biggest and saddest "say it ain't so" story of the week. He was a remarkable man who revolutionized our technological world. Our nations' president summed up Steve Jobs' impact well by saying,

"The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented." - President Barack Obama

You will be missed, Steve

In the wake of his passing, many of Steve's quotes are being shared, and I find this one to be especially telling of how clearly he saw life as he neared the end of his own (due to a rare form of pancreatic cancer).

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." - Steve Jobs (Stanford's Commencement, 2005)

No more episodes of the Simpsons?
After 23 seasons, Fox is considering canceling the Simpsons. The studio wants the voice actors to take a 45% pay cut in order to continue making new episodes. The voice actors offered to take a 30% pay cut, if they could also get a small percentage of other revenues (which are undoubtedly massive).

Don't go! We'd all miss your broad topical range!

The Simpsons characters cover the spectrum.

All I know is that Fox and the voice actors had better work something out, because a world devoid of new Ralph Wiggum quotes makes me want to hasten the new Apple Siri's development into Skynet and subsequent hostile take-over of the planet.

Update: Many of the show's top-level producers have offered to take a pay cut [source]. No final word yet, but I sure hope their offer can be worked into the deal somehow and the show can be saved.

Update2: I heard on the radio that an agreement has been reached at least through 2013. Crisis averted for the time being.

No NBA preseason?
The NBA owners and players are embroiled in a lockout and it looks like the real losers will be the fans. Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA preseason was officially cancelled.

Are regular season games next on the chopping block? I sure hope not, but it doesn't look good [source].

Update: The first two weeks of the regular season have been cancelled [source]. Idiots.

On the bright side...
Arrested Development is returning!

According to the tweet below from Jason Bateman, they'll be back for another 10 episodes and then a movie. We're already planning to watch them, and possibly in costumes. I'm gonna need some blue paint to go along with my jorts...