Stuff I Got in the Mail Yesterday

Newly released SCTV DVD set

Contains the first nine 90-minute episodes aired on NBC beginning in 1981. Haven't watched any of it yet, but read the liner notes in which Conan O'Brian, Ben Stiller, Fred Willard, et. al. attest to the show's preeminence in the canon of sketch comedy. I have to say that just reading some of the character's names had me laughing out loud: Skip Bittman, Count Floyd, Dr. Tongue (and his hunchbacked assistant, Woody Tobias, Jr.), etc.

The new Beastie Boys album

I really, really enjoyed listening to this. Probably their shortest album since Licensed to Ill (at just over 42 minutes), so there's no dross, or much experimentation. They get back to basics, kick it Old School, rock the party, and pimp-slap W. on the political tip. Word. Just good clean fun, with a message of peace and tolerance, except for the Bush administration and, naturally, sucka' MCs. (Cheney == "Sucka' VP?")