Reading stack: Bacon cheeseburgers, Superman and credit unions

• I've never listened to "The Fast Food Show" on Sirius XM, mostly because I don't subscribe to Sirius XM. But it sounds like an enjoyable show, hosted by Jon Hein of "Jump the Shark" fame.

So here was the argument posed on a recent show. Does bacon on a cheeseburger "ruin the integrity" of the cheeseburger? I know some love it. Me, I prefer a pretty plain burger. (Lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion.) Toppings have gotten out of control. Onion rings? Pineapple slices? No thanks. [JimRomenesko.com]

• Superman's jawline and hairstyle have undergone another adjustment with the new DC Comics reboot that features a younger Man of Steel. (By the way, I've read a few of those comics and keep meaning to post some thoughts here.) 

No more hair lacquered down with pomade and molded into that signature spit-curl. That looked particularly ridiculous when Superman was adapted to live-action, as with Brandon Routh in Superman Returns.

Artists also tended to draw him with a receding hairline that made him look way too old-fashioned. Then there was that mullet he had in the '90s. Awful. But he's got a full, tousled head of hair now. NPR's Glen Weldon does a... super job of cataloguing it all. [Monkey See]

• Until this week, I was pretty happy with SunTrust as my bank. They had branches and ATMs all over Asheville, which seemed convenient. The people at my local branch are really nice. And their online banking features are pretty user-friendly.

Read More >>

But I got a letter this week telling me that I'll now have to maintain a minimum balance to avoid a monthly fee. The letter informed me the fee was implemented as of Nov. 10. I got the letter on Nov. 28. When I went online to view my transactions, I saw I'd been charged the fee on Nov. 23, even though my account had the minimum balance. However, it was under that amount on Nov. 1. So I got charged. But didn't the fee go into effect on Nov. 10? By then, I had the minimum balance.

The whole thing is making me consider taking my money to a credit union. It's not my statement against big corporate banks. I understand we got a good ride the past decade with free checking (except with those harsh overdraft fees), and banks need to make money. But I just feel like my bank's not being straightforward with me. Would that be as much of a concern with a credit union?  [Slate]

• I'm obviously biased, but I think I have the cutest baby niece on the planet. The kid could totally go Gerber if that's the way her parents wanted to go. I tell her how cute and beautiful she is every chance I get. (Except when she's pulling my hair and throwing blocks in my face.)

But this essay by Lisa Bloom definitely gave me something to think about for the future. When Baby Niece gets older and is able to have conversations with us bigger people, do we need to stop talking about looks and stuff like that? Does that eventually contribute to self-esteem issues with little girls?

I'm not terribly worried. We already praise Baby Niece often for how smart she is. (She's getting a little too smart, if you ask me.) Besides, she seems more likely to sock someone in the face if they're not talking about what she wants to talk about. The kid loves when we read to her, and I'm betting she'll enjoy discussing books with us big kids in the future. [Huffington Post]

Reading stack: Tuesday's links

• "Do you have any problems with fans who refuse to differentiate between you as an actor and your role? Elina Shatkin asks Nick Offerman, who plays — do I even need to say it — Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. Yeah, I'm sure I'm guilty of that. As well as deep mustache envy.

Offerman also compares Swanson to Superman in this interview, which is stunningly appropriate. Now that I think about it, Offerman should be playing Superman instead of Henry Cavill. [LA Weekly]

• Remember when Kurt Loder was the face of MTV News? (Remember when you watched MTV? They brought back Beavis and Butthead, and I barely click over.) I forgot that Loder also wrote for Rolling Stone, but he now has a book of film reviews out. In an interview with his old employer, Loder talks about some geek favorites that he either didn't like or has changed his opinion on over time. [MTV.com]

• I think I speak for a majority of Michigan football fans who are happy to see former coach Rich Rodriguez get hired by Arizona as its next head coach. The fanbase seemed pretty split among those who wanted Rich Rod fired and those who thought he deserved one more year. (The "must go" crowd may have been bigger after Michigan's 52-14 loss in the Gator Bowl.)

I can't deny that I'd had enough of Rodriguez after two years (I could hear my father saying, "A coach should get five years," though I seriously doubt he'd have liked Rich Rod either) and was happy to see him go. But my sympathy for him increased after reading John Bacon's book "Three and Out." I'm sure he'll have a much easier time in Tucson. [AnnArbor.com]

Read More >>

• You've probably seen lists like this before, but I bet the particulars have changed over time. Here are Netflix's top 10 most rented movies. I wonder what that list would've eventually looked like if Netflix had followed through on plans to go all streaming content and kick DVDs over to Qwikster. Anyway, the top three movies are abysmal choices. Well, less than good, at least. [Hollywood Reporter]

• Would you see a third installment of the Before Sunrise-Before Sunset movies with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy? I enjoyed both, though probably liked "Sunset" more because it was a look at how the two characters had changed over a decade, and it wasn't as romantic as many may have imagined.

I also liked how "talky" a movie it was, how Richard Linklater treated it like we were just following these two through Paris. (When I saw it in Kansas City, I distinctly remember at least a half dozen people walking out around 30 minutes into the movie.) And I loved the ending. 

So it looks like Linklater, Hawke and Delpy are up for making a third one. What are they going to title this one? [Slashfilm]

• I'm not usually interested in album reissues with previously unreleased tracks. Most of the time, as with deleted scenes from movies, those songs make it clear why they were left off the original album. Plus, isn't the whole venture just a money grab? Of course, if you're a diehard fan of a musician or band, you're probably buying in. 

When it comes to The Rolling Stones, I might qualify. I enjoyed the reissued "Exile on Main Street" (thanks for the gift, A) quite a bit. So I'll probably pick up the "deluxe edition" of "Some Girls." If the other unreleased songs are anything like "No Spare Parts," which was just released, I'll be thrilled. [The Amplifier] 

Reading stack: Thursday's links

• Anthony Bourdain is coming to Asheville next Saturday for a lecture and Q&A. I've been a fan of his since "Kitchen Confidential" came out and "No Reservations" is still must-watch TV for me. So I got my tickets as soon as they went on sale. (There's also a foodie VIP event afterwards. I'm sure the food will be great, and it would be cool to get a book signed, but it sounds more like a "scene to be seen" kind of event.)

Asheville's best food writer, Mackensy Lunford (a local Bourdain, really), interviews him in anticipation of his visit. As always, his candor makes for great conversation about the food business, what his life has become, the socio-economic debates over food, and a shot at Paula Deen. [Mountain Xpress]

• "Pardon the Interruption" has been on the air for 10 years? It's not the must-watch for me that it used to be, either because my life and daily schedule has changed or maybe I'm not as ravenous a sports fan anymore, but it's always been one of my favorite shows. That's largely because I've always enjoyed Tony Kornheiser as a writer, radio host and TV personality.

I was certainly excited when the show was first announced, reading Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon go at it in "The Chat House" every Monday at washingtonpost.com. But the reason "PTI" has endured is probably because of its fast-paced format, a perfect way to catch up on the day in sports in 30 minutes. And the rundown sidebar on the screen lets you know if the show will discuss something you want to hear. If not, come back in two minutes.

That format — along with smart conversation and a refusal to take itself too seriously — has been highly influential. You can see it being copied on a number of shows, whether they deal with sports, politics, or pop culture. Here's an interview with "PTI" executive producer Erik Rydholm. [Washington Post]

• More "PTI": Here's a podcast interview with producer Matt Kelliher (also a regular on Kornheiser's radio show to review the topics of the day), who talks about some of the show's signature touches, such as the "nuggets" which peek back into the show for "off-camera" conversations during commercial breaks. [ESPN Front Row]

Read More >>

• Those who aren't watching the World Series are missing a great one. But just because the ratings don't match up with the NFL doesn't mean baseball is suffering in the public consciousness. As Jeff Passan points out, what people have to remember is that baseball is largely a regional sport — and extremely popular at the local level — during the regular season.

So maybe Tigers fans, for example, aren't watching the Rangers and Cardinals. But plenty of people are still watching the sport played at its highest level in the postseason. [Yahoo! Sports]

• This is a long read, but the question of why most people are right-handed is an interesting one. Turns out it may be evolutionary. I've become even more intrigued as it appears that my baby niece might be left-handed. Almost immediately, her left hand looked like her stronger one.

Yet when it was mentioned, my sister's mother-in-law would say things like "You can train her to be right-handed." What is she in, the 1930s? (OK, maybe it's a pain to deal with those school desks. I don't know; a left-hander will have to tell me.) I'm still baffled by that. As if being lefty is a bad thing. Although maybe it does seem a little weird because you don't see it in many people. [io9]

Reading stack: Tuesday's links

• I'm really eager to read John Bacon's book on Rich Rodriguez's tenure as Michigan football coach. (Even though I realistically won't get really into it until after baseball season ends.) Not only do I expect it to confirm several beliefs I've long held, but it sounds like there's plenty of other inside stuff that is rankling a lot of people close to the program. [MVictors]

• The list of movies currently in theaters that I want to see is growing. (No, I haven't seen "Moneyball." Yes, I know I write about baseball.) That concerns me since the baseball playoffs are about to begin. Between that and sneaking in some Michigan football, I don't know how much "leisure" time will be available. I just hope "Drive" stays in theaters for a week or two.

Oh, this is an interview with the director, Nicolas Winding Refn. He shoots his movies in chronological order. [The A.V. Club]

• With DC Comics rebooting its entire comic book line (I've read a few of them on the iPad, out of curiosity, and intend to write about them soon), a trio of forensic psychologists would like to see comics creators be more responsible about depicting mental illness. They feel the Batman line, in particular, with several "criminally insane" villains in its rogues gallery (i.e., The Joker) perpetuate dangerously negative stereotypes. [New York Times]

• I already wasn't thrilled about my height. But apparently, I have some getting shorter to look forward to. And it might be happening sooner than I would like to admit. Actually, it may already be happening. To you, as well.

But if height loss indicates all the other stuff that's going wrong with you, you might be ready to die anyway. So get some smokes and a bottle of whiskey and just ride it out. [Wall Street Journal]

• As a comic book-loving kid, one of my absolute favorites was "The New Teen Titans" by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. At one point, my life's ambition was to draw like Perez.

If you'd have told me those two were coming out with a new Teen Titans story — 25 years after they first began working on it — I would've been excited to read it. And I was, for many, many years. Even within the last six years. But now, I'm not sure I can work up too much excitement for it. [The Beat]

Reading stack: Tuesday's links

• Should ordering a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks put your Man Card in jeopardy? That is the question many male coffee lovers will surely face this fall, as the drink returns. (I can still hear the shriek of joy from a female customer two years ago at a Barnes & Noble when she was told the Pumpkin Spice Lattes were returning the next week. The entire store seemed to stop and turn. Way too excited, lady.)

I think we've progressed as a culture enough to give guys a break on this one, however. After all, pumpkin is delicious. (Unfortunately, it's in just about everything this season, ruining the novelty.) But just in case, maybe you should order it as a "Pumpkin Latte." [Gawker]

• Did Netflix split its DVD and streaming businesses because of the U.S. Postal Service ending Saturday service and raising the price of postage as it tries to stave off bankruptcy? So maybe it's not so much that Netflix doesn't believe in the DVD business anymore (which many believe). Instead, it's that Netflix doesn't think the USPS will allow it to provide good service through the mail? [SLOG]

• Of course, The Oatmeal has captured the idiocy of this new Netflix business model perfectly. ("See, if you just buy the bun, it's only $7.99!") [The Oatmeal]

• I wonder if I'm in the minority on this, but I do not want to see the helmet stickers return to Michigan football. Getting rid of those decals was one of the best decisions Lloyd Carr ever made. That helmet is a thing of beauty. Why mess it up with a bunch of stickers? Here's one Michigan fan who definitely disagrees with that. [MVictors]

• Apparently, the next trend in tentpole blockbuster movies will be properties in the public domain, as studios are weary of paying rights fees for comic book superheros, literary adaptations, boardgames and toys. So expect more Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland and Snow White types of films. First up might be a futuristic version of The Count of Monte Cristo or a retelling of Pinocchio. [Vulture]

• I've never understood why Rick Santorum insists on continuing to run for the Republican presidential nomination. He has a better chance of winning than I do, but only because he's actually running. But after reading that he contacted Google to deal with the "problem" of the raunchy results that come up when you search his name, I think he should stay in the race. Go ahead; type in "Santorum." [Mediaite]

Reading stack: Tuesday's links

• I probably shouldn't admit this, but I have a mancrush on Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila. I even have an Avila shirsey, which I proudly wear to the gym with absolutely no fanfare. (Asheville is Atlanta Braves country. And a little bit of Cincinnati Reds territory, too.)

I've held that torch since he was called up from the minors in 2009 and hit five home runs in 29 games. Two seasons later, Avila has developed into one of the best catchers in baseball. This year, no one's been better.

As I said on the Knee Jerks podcast last night, I think he's the Tigers' most valuable player. That's not an exclusive opinion, by any means. ESPN's Steve Berthiaume is the latest to show Avila some love. [Sweet Spot]

• I'm something of a clean freak. I like to keep a tidy household. And often, I probably get downright anal about it. But alphabetizing your alphabet soup is taking things way too far. Besides, I'd get too hungry to finish off such a project. [Krulwich Wonders]

• The flagship Borders bookstore in downtown Ann Arbor closed for good on Monday. Here's another great eulogy for Borders, which is really a eulogy for bookstores, as well. For longtime Ann Arbor residents and followers of the book chain, the history of the company laid out in this article is already well-known. But there's a nice personal touch here, with quotes from several former employees, including one who's something of a legendary figure at the original store. [CNN.com]

• For me, Moneyball is one of the most anticipated movies of the fall. I'm sure many baseball fans and movie buffs feel the same way. I'm curious how much of a mainstream audience Brad Pitt will attract. (I'm guessing a sizable one.) It'll be interesting to see how film critics and baseball writers each view the film. Red Sox beat reporter Scott Lauber posted his take. [Boston Herald]

• And here's a film critic's perspective, courtesy of HitFix's Drew McWeeny. If most critics and filmgoers feel the same way he did, this thing might be a hit. [Motion Captured]

• Note to authors, prospective or otherwise, out there. Even if your book is lucky enough to see print, you might want to make sure the e-book edition gets a proper edit. Or you might miss a typo like the one in this romance novel, which would likely drastically change your visualization of the scene. Or maybe you're into this kind of thing. (Thanks, A!) [The Guardian]

Reading stack: Thursday's links

When planning to fire up the Casselbloggy again, I thought it would help if I kept a regular schedule. My part-time neighbor, who blogs at Biddy Bytes, posts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a schedule which seemed like a great idea to me.

So I'd like to try something similar, though I'm sure I'll have trouble sticking to it on the days when the paying gigs require more attention. What I have in mind is for there to be posts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And then on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'll post links to articles that I think are worth reading.

Lazy? I don't know. Probably. But I write daily Detroit Tigers links posts every other week for MLive.com, and enjoy doing them. I loved posting links at Bless You Boys and in the earlier incarnations of my personal blog, too. So we'll try it here.

I promise the intro to links posts won't usually be this long.

• One of the reasons I used to hate getting scolded or lectured by my father when I was a kid was that it would usually happen while he was eating his dinner. And I could not stand the sound of him chewing. If he was checking my homework or something like that, I would have to leave the table. "Hey, where are you going?" Just call me when you're ready. God.

As it turns out, there's a name for this: Misophonia. And many people have it much worse. I don't hate the sound of everyone eating, though. (I'm sure it generally applies to people I don't like very much anyway.) Unless you chew with your mouth open. Then I would like to stab you in the hand with a fork. [New York Times]

• There have been some fine eulogies written for Borders over the past couple of months. (Here's my take on Borders' downfall, as someone who used to work there.) Keith Phipps laments the loss of a place where you could once find damn near any book (or be helped by someone who could get you there.)

Two things I think he gets right: The difference between Borders and Barnes and Noble, and how Borders' demise kind of resembles what's been happening in this country. [A.V. Club]

Read More >>

• Here's a melancholy slideshow of photos with the World Trade Center far off in the distance. How often with these photos taken without giving much thought to the two towers in the background? (On a personal note, I certainly remember seeing the towers off in the distance the first time I visited New York City.) [Slate]

• Will Leitch has been the most entertaining and insightful film critic writing on the web for the past couple of years. Rightfully, that got him a gig with Yahoo's new film blog.

His latest review is for "Warrior," which I definitely want to see this weekend, even though I know the story will be predictable. All sports movies are. (But they have to feel authentic.) According to Leitch, this is no exception. [The Projector]

• Martin Scorsese's documentary on George Harrison premiered at the Telluride Film Festival last weekend. It sounds like there will be some tough moments to watch, including tearful interviews and a recounting of the incident in which Harrison was stabbed several times by a crazed fan.

But I'm certainly looking forward to learning more about the making of "All Things Must Pass." The film will play on HBO October 5. [Rolling Stone]