A Superfluous and Gratuitous Randomocracy

2009-10-17T20:46:00.004-04:00

in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

Wait... for what?

2009-10-09T13:36:00.004-04:00

Nobel Peace Prize? Really? What exactly has Barack Obama done to earn that award? Even more so, what had he done back in February, not even a month into his presidency, to even warrant a nomination? Didn't his entire campaign revolve around change and action and doing things to correct what he considered to be wrong in our country and the world? In spite of being nominated in February, what has he done in the months since to earn this honor? His expeditious policy ramrodding and liberal rhetoric has raised ire and rage across the country, not peace.

Then again, Al Gore made a movie and wrote a book....

So what's the moral of the story? The Nobel Peace Prize is a joke? The veritable 4th Grade "Good Job!" sticker of global awards?

So, why was Obama nominated and then ultimately crowned winner of this award? According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee's explanation, Obama is to receive the award "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Ok...

Apparently, the Nobel Committee received a record 205 nominations for the Peace Prize this year. Out of those 205, they were unable to find one nominee that actually accomplished something furthering world peace and met Nobel's standard for receiving this award? Someone who lives life fighting for change, not just talking about it?

What about someone like Greg Mortenson? Mortenson, nominated for the prize by members of Congress, is a former army medic and mountaineer, who has made it his mission to build schools for girls in places where opium dealers and tribal warlords kill people for trying. His Central Asia Institute has built more than 130 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan - a mission which has, along the way, inspired millions of people to view the protection and education of girls as a key to peace and prosperity and progress.

I don't know. Sounds like he deserves some recognition to me. And I am sure the other 203 nominees have done equally impressive things for peace and humanity globally. I'm going to get off my soapbox in a just a moment, but first, I would encourage you to scan the List of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and maybe click on a couple and read their stories. And after you have absorbed the tradition of the award and the type of individuals and groups it typically rewards (from Mother Teresa to Martin Luther King, Jr. to Amnesty International), ask yourself if this year's winner fits that mold, based on his accomplishments, not his campaign promises.

Actions speak louder than words...

We both like smoking cigars...

2009-10-08T12:29:00.005-04:00

So what's the problem here, huh?

Oh. Right.

That reminds me (as many things do) of Eddie Izzard's Dress to Kill stand-up show... which was filmed in 1999, coincidentally, in San Francisco... hmmm

"What the f*** have you been smoking, eh? Certainly you haven't been smoking in a bar in California, that's for certain!"
‘Cause you can't! No, no smoking in bars now, and soon, no drinking and no talking! Be careful, California! You're supposed to be the crazy state, the out there, the wild ones, you know?..." [full transcript]

People need to get over themselves and lighten up a bit. First of all, it's Jordan. I don't think I'm going to tell him what not to do, but that's just me. Secondly, it's a golf course. Apart from a dark, hardwood gentleman's club or maybe your own backyard, a golf course has to be one of the few remaining places a cigar can be enjoyed without significant social backlash. Tobacco is the latest societal scapegoat and cigars the most heavily scrutinized.

Let him enjoy his freaking cigar and get over it.

Just like Sesame Street

2009-09-13T06:27:00.003-04:00

I've decided, the Letter of the Day is "B"

Therefore, today's Playlist of Productivity includes:

Band of Horses
Band of Skulls
Beirut
Belle & Sebastian
Ben Folds
Ben Harper
The Beta Band
Beulah
Blue Merle
Bon Iver

Not too shabby...

2009-09-13T06:23:00.001-04:00

City sounds are humming around
I'm sitting on my doorstep
Watching the world go round

When the crowd is dragging you down
I'll give you my street address
You'll take a ride downtown

The sun is out

Plenty of Hiding Places

2009-07-23T13:39:00.003-04:00

1,018 pages. That's plenty of room to hide unsavory regulations and edicts.

Interestingly enough, only 16 pages into the massive "health care for all Americans" bill, there is a restriction that should outrage any free people. Walking hand-in-hand in the setting sun of a democratic republic are mandatory state-run health care and individual insurance deemed illegal.

Shouldn't we, the people, be concerned by the incredible amount of pressure and force applied by the Obama administration and leaders in Congress to get this bill passed in an expeditious manner? Why such a huge document? Why push it through so fast? Is it cause you're afraid people might figure out what you're really up to? Afraid the warm, fuzzy feelings will wear off and your starry-eyed faithful will finally start questioning you and your motives?

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.”

-Thomas Jefferson

Where is the healthy cynicism and distrust of a rapidly expanding federal government? Where is the accountability and transparency?

25 Steps to a More Perfect World

2009-07-17T09:35:00.002-04:00

I like this guy's ideas... Also the Ralph Steadman picture.

Ok. Maybe not all of his ideas, but most of them. Here are my faves:

#1 - "No more bathroom attendants. They're just creepy. And hell, no more charging money for stuff that used to be free. Now give us our little bag of peanuts, airlines."
Not just creepy, bathroom attendants also create awkward situations in a place where awkward situations should be avoided like the plague. Do I tip you for doing something that I can do myself? Do I feel obligated to buy your little travel size mouthwash and then tip you? Why does this make me feel like I am in pre-civil-rights Alabama?
#2 - "Carpentry, plumbing, and electrical courses would be mandatory for all boys in middle school."
Couldn't agree more. I would add basic auto repair to the list. Our generation does have to (or get to) work on cars the way our dads did and I think that ultimately that is a bad thing. And don't get up on your high horse (or any horse for that matter) about "how come it's only for boys?" It's because boys grow up and become men (theoretically) and are immediately expected to know all of this stuff. If Sally wants to work in the machine shop to pay for her Doc Martens and Godsmack concert tickets, have at it.
#10 - "Men would be permitted to admit uncertainty, and women would find this hot."
Why are we expected to have everything figured out all the time? Also, do we always have to be thinking about something deep and philosophical? I submit that "Nothing" should be an appropriate answer to "What are you thinking?"
#12 - "Women would start with the climax of their stories, and then go back and fill in the details (if we ask)."

#19 - "Singing 'Happy Birthday' at the office (with or without cake) would result in immediate termination."

Corvette Still Best GM Product

2009-06-26T12:14:00.004-04:00

This is really good news. To have JD Power & Associates rank the Corvette as the best product in the GM line, in spite of the tough economic times and the push for greener, more efficient cars, is a ray of hope for the car industry. The Corvette also made Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars of 2009. And with the Z06 and ZR1 (Nurburgring Record) models continuing to catch the attention of global media, Chevy/GM need to ride the popularity of this car to the bank.

It shows that people still want power and style. The Prius has its own benefits, but it is not powerful and it is not sexy. The worst thing that GM could do in this restructuring time is to back off the development of the Corvette, emasculate it, and release some toned-down, super-efficient version. On the flip side, I don't know much about the promised, but delayed Volt, but there is no reason why they couldn't make that car fast, powerful, and "green." That is not the Corvette market, but there is definitely a desire for that. I think plenty of people would buy a stylish electric car that was easy to use and recharge, even more if that car had some kick to it. The old EV1 was apparently very fast, especially the acceleration. And just look at what Tesla has come out with. We are Americans, we love our cars, but I think we love to feel like we are driving a real car more than anything.

I have been shocked at how many people have jumped on the Prius bandwagon, seemingly out of necessity instead of desire or to feel better about themselves or better than other people. Sure, gas prices were skyrocketing, but it felt kinda like the Emperor's New Clothes where no one stood up and said "This car is ugly and boring. I'm not buying it. Give me a better option." And high-quality American muscle cars have gone by the wayside. Uber-generalization: Domestic cars in recent years have been cheap and crappy and feel that way. By comparison, when you get in a BMW or Benz or even VW, you feel like you're sitting in a car that was well-designed, well-engineered, and well-built. You feel like the additional cost of buying a foreign car is more than justified by the quality of the product. I just don't get that feeling in American cars. And don't tell me "that's like comparing apples to oranges, you can't compare a Ford to a BMW." Why not? Why can't you? Isn't that feeling the fundamental problem in all of this? Domestic cars are not competitive with imports because they aren't even on the same level. Doesn't that need to change if GM or Ford or Dodge is to succeed going forward?

Go watch a couple episodes of Top Gear (one of my favorite shows) and see and feel the passion the Brits have for cars that are impressive and inspiring and combine breathtaking beauty with exhilirating power. GM should hire Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond to restructure their product line cause I think it's that kind of love and passion that has been lost amidst a push for profit and productivity and economy.

I think the bankruptcies will be a good thing as long as the companies that emerge on the other side of these restructuring processes are better and have focus and drive. American cars had an image and purpose back in the day, but politicians and the EPA neutered them and the result was low-cost, low-quality vehicles that all look the same. I think the Corvette was the one exception (or one of the few) and I hope that GM realizes that people want power and performance and are willing to pay for it. Don't forsake your heritage, don't eliminate the one good thing you've got going for you. Go back to making exciting, badass cars that are stylish and can haul off the line.

Just found this page about the C7. Don't know what I think about the style of the nose and grille, but it sounds like the "SS" model will be quite a beast. Good work GM. Keep it up.

What should be done?

2009-06-17T09:04:00.003-04:00

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achieving world peace.

Yet, amid the turmoil surrounding the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran, with protests erupting in Tehran, the forceful suppression of which continues to worsen (extending now to threats against media reporting), it is the leaders of the European Union that are taking a stand and speaking out. Vocal concern and opposition from Europe in stark contrast to the cautious response from the United States.

Obama's response: "I have deep concerns about the election... When I see violence directed at peaceful protestors, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed, wherever that takes place, it is of concern to me and it's of concern to the American people."

As is pointed out in the WSJ article, Obama seems to be back-tracking from his recent statements in Cairo, where he committed to support "governments that reflect the will of the people." Now, in front of a different set of cameras, he is more concerned with not "meddling in Iranian elections."

Is this about the elections or is it about the Iranian people wanting the right to be heard in their "democracy?" Should the US be the leading voice against Iranian violent oppression? Maybe, but not doing so alone. The US needs to be one of many, including the leaders of Europe, who stand up for the rights and protection of the Iranian people and call for a fair and transparent election process. This brings up a lot of questions and frustrations concerning the mission and actions of the United Nations. Shouldn't the UN facilitate and lead cooperative action against oppression around the world? Shouldn't it be a collaborative effort with some teeth to enforce resolutions?

I don't think it's an exaggeration to see a similarity with another political protest that an authoritarian government tried to suppress.

I'm just saying...

Oh thank you XM...

2009-06-16T09:24:00.006-04:00

I'm still not sure which of the following was the best thing about this morning's XM radio offerings:

Naughty By Nature's "Hip Hop Horray" on the 90's channel and memories of awesome Kool-Aid commercials (maybe I'm not remembering correctly...)
Wyclef Jean hosting a show on E Street Radio (yup, you guessed it, an entire XM station dedicated to Springsteen). Nothing like a stoned hip hop/reggae artist talking about how much he loves The Boss and playing his favorite Springsteen tracks. Pretty surreal.
Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" on the 80's station... So horribly fantastic.
Greg Giraldo's stand-up bit about feeling like a pedophile going into Abercrombie & Fitch after the age of 30.

Either way you look at it, I feel like this morning gave me confirmation that the monthly fee for my XM subscription is definitely worth it in light of the amount of enjoyment it brings.

Also, I got a surprise treat on Sunday when friend and W&M alumna Thao was co-hosting a show with Jake Fogelnest on SiriusXMU, one of my favorite XM stations. Way to go, Thao!

Something's in the air tonight...

2009-05-20T09:18:00.007-04:00

...mark my words, something's about to break.

Yeah, my eardrums.

Last night's concert (Keane and Mat Kearney with The Helio Sequence opening) at DAR Constitution Hall was, in all honesty, painful. At the risk of sounding like a lame old man, it was just too loud. I have been to a lot of concerts over the years, many of which were hard rock and were very loud, but I think last night was the loudest of all. And for what? We are talking about Mat Kearney here, whose set was the loudest of the three, not Black Sabbath or Rage Against the Machine. Do you really need to bludgeon our ears to death with excessive volume for a set by a relatively mellow artist? Keane and Mat Kearney do not warrant that level of volume, not to mention the interior of Constitution Hall has really good acoustics. It's not an open-air arena where you have to worry about sound escaping. In this case, it had nowhere to go other than make the audience wince and look for earplugs.

And it wasn't just loud, it was bad. I'm not talking about the performances, necessarily (although that is another issue), I am talking about the musical experience for the audience. In addition to the master volume being way too high, the balance and mixing of the instruments and vocals were way off. The bass was way too high, drowning out the vocals and all other instruments, risking to bring down the structure of the theatre due to the consistently powerful vibrations. The bass guitar and the bass of the drum were way too high. Painfully so.

It's just too bad that the audio levels and volume were such a distraction from what could have been a great concert. Kearney played some new songs and seemed genuinely excited about releasing his new album. His quick comments about one of his songs being featured on Grey's Anatomy (and therefore popping up on radio stations across the country) was funny and I personally appreciated it. It was something to the effect of "You work so hard on these songs, pour your heart into them, write them about life and love and friends and family, and then some producer comes up to you and says 'We should have doctors make out to that,' and you say, 'uhh... ok?'" The new songs sounded good, albeit moving closer to the pop rock genre in my opinion, and I wanted to go out and buy his new album and have him sign it, but that didn't happen.

Then there was Keane. The cherubic Brits rocking out on pianos and now guitars as well. Tom Chaplin clearly has a great voice that creates the signature sound of the band, I'm not going to contest that. But he sure does love the spotlight and the attention. He started out buy winning over the crowd by talking about how excited they were to be here in DC again and to be playing here. His bubbly demeanor made everyone think he was in a great mood and was loving life and loving sharing this experience with us, the audience. But the extended pauses after the songs so that he could soak up the applause got a little old after, say, the third time he did it. This wasn't after the final song or after the encore. It was after every song. That comes across as a but egotistical to me.

Regardless, they put on a good show, played everyone's favorites, had people singing along, although I am sure it was difficult because of the beating our ears had taken during Kearney's performance. The only other comment I will make is that even though it is understandable, it still annoys me when a band takes time out of their concert to wax political. If you have a strong opinion about political issues or countries or foreign policy, fine, you're welcome to have an opinion and use your status as a rock star to talk about it (as I am sure I would do if I were in their position), I just wish you wouldn't do it during the concert. Tell Rolling Stone what you think about Obama and the political climate in America. I paid money to hear you play your music live, not get a political lecture from a musician from Britain. That's all I am saying.

In all, good night in general. Note for future DAR shows: don't plan on eating the food provided downstairs. Options are lukewarm italian sausage in a soggy bun with some onions and peppers sprinkled on top or awful tasting, bone-dry chicken tenders with no dipping sauce. Both come with fries and cost $13 each. There is no way that was worth 13 bucks, even for the convenience of eating at the show.

Guilty

2009-05-19T11:51:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite blogs, Stuff White People Like, hit the nail on the head yet again with this analysis of a staple status symbol for white people: the Moleskin notebook.

When I was working at Barnes and Noble, we had a large feature display of these small, overpriced notebooks of varying sizes, binding and ruling. I thought they were ridiculous. But for one reason or another, when it came time to get a new notebook/journal for Bible study purposes (and possibly also for jotting down the endless stream of brilliant ideas I was planning on generating), what did I go with? That's right. The Moleskin. I'm not going to say I have regrets, but as Mr. Lander points out, there is a pretty distinct assumption made about individuals seen flaunting these notebooks at the local all-organic-free-trade coffee boutique. Favorite quote:

"One of the strangest side effects has been the puzzling situation whereby a white person will sit in an independent coffee shop with a Moleskine notebook resting on top of a Apple laptop..."

And there you have it. Called out. This guy right here. That's what I love about Lander's blog though. As a white man, reading the blog and thinking "man, that is so true," and realizing that he is saying I am pretty much the epitome of excessive creative/uber-educated postulating, I don't get mad, I think it is funny and healthy to accept objective criticism.

That particluar comment, however, immediately reminded me of one the funniest lines from Best in Show:

"'And I walked across the street and there you were...' 'Working on my Mac...' 'And I had my Mac..."

Hilarious. And this is why there are blogs like Stuff White People Like.

So if you see me or any other white person at your local Slutbucks or other indie/anti-mainstream beverage establishment with my Mac laptop open, furiously and insightfully scribbling in our Moleskine, if you choose to interrupt us midstream-of-consciousness, do so at your own risk. The results may be unpredictable and could be catastrophic.

Above the Law

2009-05-19T10:13:00.003-04:00

Apparently the DC cops are whining about these things called laws being enforced... oh, the difference is that this time, they are the ones breaking the rules, not a member of the general public. So, of course, they expect special treatment. They think that since they have a badge, they can park illegally in Judiciary Square and not get a ticket.

“I just couldn’t believe a fellow police officer would tell me he was giving me a ticket without even let me explain some of the circumstances,”

Yeah, about that. The way it works for the "rest of us" is that if there isn't a legal parking space open in front of the place we need to go, whether that is the courthouse or Dr. Spanky's Waffl-o-rama, you go find a space that may in fact be farther away!! Get used to it coppers. Get your panties out of a wad and go park around the corner. Or better yet, lobby for specially marked "cops-only" spaces right in front of the courthouse. That's ultimately what you want anyways, right? To make sure everyone knows you're special? The gun and badge aren't enough validation for you?

2009-04-10T13:53:00.003-04:00

"Placing a fake news article on A-1 makes a mockery of our integrity and our journalistic standards"

Aw that's cute. The LA Times staff still thinks there is journalistic integrity and standards that need to be upheld.

Sigh.... oh to be young and naive.

silence

2009-02-27T23:00:00.003-05:00

for whatever reason, tonight Silence by Jars of Clay became my song of the moment.

I'm not going to overanalyze the reasons or meanings behind that, but tonight, chilling on the back porch, intentionally being still and soaking in the experience of nature accessible to me, Silence stuck out amid all the other great tunes that Shuffle brought my way.

It is what it is. I will leave it at that.

man can now fly

2009-02-24T12:35:00.003-05:00

BASE jumping with wingsuits

If it's this exhilarating to watch the video, I can only imagine what it actually feels like. Reminder, these are actual people doing this.... not Superman or Iron Man with special effects.... Insane

Sorry, Clint...

2009-02-11T09:36:00.006-05:00

So, I know I haven't seen all of this year's Oscar nominated movies, but after watching Gran Torino this past weekend, I am appalled that it isn't even nominated. Not for Eastwood's compelling performance, nor for his directing, and not Best Picture for the film as a whole. Honestly, I am very disappointed in the Academy.

Gran Torino is a truly great movie. It is Clint Eastwood at his best. Even as the sun sets on his acting career, he still has that same badass, gritty nature that lets you know not to mess with him. It says something when an almost-80-year-old can still kick your ass. But it wasn't just the hardness and grit of his performance, it was also the raw emotion, the comical political incorrectness and racism used to represent his character's culture and war-hardened disregard for social norms. Yet he hasn't completely given up hope on future generations and still wants to do what he can to make a difference and instill his traditional values and integrity on the boys and girls in his neighborhood.

Eastwood's performance is gripping, the directing is very well done, and the story incorporates both action and suspense with humor and heart-rending emotion.

So, my question to the Academy is why not? Why does this film not even get a nomination? Are the other movies you have nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor really more deserving than this farewell performance from Eastwood? I haven't seen Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, The Visitor, or Benjamin Button. Frost/Nixon was really the only one of those I had significant interest in seeing. I did see Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler, both with Oscar nods. I think Rourke does deserve a nomination for his performance, but if it were between him and Eastwood in Gran Torino... Clint might win in a very close vote in my book. Slumdog was fun and moving and a good story that was well-done. But I would take Gran Torino for Best Picture over it any day.

As far as the rest of the nominees, I can't comment cause I haven't seen them, but the curious case of Eric Roth, writer for both Benjamin Button and Forrest Gump, leads me to believe I have seen this one before. See below for a quick synopsis.

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

Whether or not you like Forrest Gump 2 or Slumdog or Milk or whatever, I think Gran Torino and Clint Eastwood deserve to be in the discussion and I am disappointed that they are left on the outside looking in.

a couple things...

2009-02-10T14:36:00.006-05:00

Obama, meet the Press... Press, Obama...

"You have some people, very sincere, who philosophically just think the government has no business interfering in the marketplace..."

Yeah, people who believe that smaller government is better government, less taxes encourage more spending and growth. But that doesn't really fall in line with your socialist agenda does it? How is this governmental intervention not legalized federal theft? It is redistribution of wealth taken from all and given to some, the recipients of which the Government decides. As Frederick Bastiat said,

"...the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime..."

Another person who thought the government shouldn't be involved in the marketplace was John Locke, whose opinions and theories heavily influenced our Founding Fathers in the writing of the Constitution. Their assertion was that the role of government is to protect (not interfere with or intervene in) the God-given right to life, liberty, and property.

The American people are right to worry about this package. In light of where the government is taking this money from, we deserve to know precisely what they plan on doing with it and why. Make an argument to us that your billions of dollars are not pork. We should be worried that politicians are taking advantage of the economic climate and the fear of Americans to push their own agendas and skim off the top... Even Rahm himself said it:

"...it's an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before..."

This seems like a good reason to watch CSPAN more often...

Has Schumer never heard of Thomas Jefferson? If good ole TJ were here today, he might say something like:

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

So whether or not you believe the American people (the "governed") have any interest in what is going on in the government and where all this money is going, your responsibility as the Government is to ensure that they have easy access and ability to find out what the Government is doing with their hard-earned money. The sheer brashness of this comment makes me sick. The American people are not an endless resource of money that you can utilize for your pet projects, arrogantly assuming that you don't need to be accountable to the electorate.

Seems Obama is talking out of both sides of his mouth.... I already found it hard to trust him, but in my opinion, he isn't getting off to a great start. New Sheriff in town is takin' everyone's money and deciding how to distribute it... Where is Robin Hood?

Another thing hidden in the bill is new health provisions written up by Tom Daschle. Restrictions and controls and penalties for doctors, a new powerful appointed body....? Does this bother anyone else?

And even though Senator Leahy's "truth commission" sounds dangerously Orwellian, maybe there should be an outside governing body keeping the government in check and disseminating true information to the "governed." Problem of course is that everyone has their price...

Get the most out of your HDTV

2009-02-09T22:54:00.009-05:00

Be still, and know that I am God

Peace
Beauty
Serenity

This is what I continue to experience in the mornings from my TV of all places. My living room, the grey local light creeping in, is bathed in the sun's warmth from halfway around the globe. Discovery HD's Sunrise Earth is, in my opinion, one of the greatest, most beautiful shows on TV right now. The cinematography is amazing. The tangible sense that you are out in nature on some remote corner of the world, or possibly watching the sun rise over the Vatican or a silent Siberian village. It is calming, serene, and awe-inspiring. Although not always silent, the stillness can be deafening.

So, my recommendation is, turn off the morning edition of Sportscenter, turn off Mike and Mike or Today or Weather channel. Take a moment while you're scarfing your granola and yogurt or eggs and bacon, switch over to Sunrise Earth, and soak up the beauty of God's creation.

lyrics of the moment

2009-02-04T11:30:00.003-05:00

You keep pretending I'll keep you around

Remember when you said you'd try that

Remember when I'd call and I'd say

The best girls that I love won't be ashamed

Believe me when I call and I say

The next girl that I love won't be a saint

Now go away...

Burt Rutan

2009-01-28T00:51:00.001-05:00

Inspiration at the gym tonight...

Dark Was the Night

2009-01-27T10:27:00.003-05:00

pretty excited for this charity compilation... the list of artists contributing is absolutely sick! I pre-ordered mine this morning... Not only is it great music by great artists working together, it is also for a good cause.

Idioteque

2009-01-21T15:51:00.005-05:00

Almost a week after the frightening, but impressive, series of events surrounding the emergency ditch landing of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, the shock and relief have worn off (some have even made light of the pilot's impending legal issues...). But I find it interesting, surprising, and somewhat offensive that a minor aspect of this story is being questioned, to the extent of outrage, instead of applauded. See below.

From Daily News article "Miracle on the Hudson" about Flight 1549 (emphasis added)
"Passengers described the scene moments after the plane hit the water as "organized chaos." Yet, there was little panic as they helped each other reach the exit - allowing women and children to go first."

From a New York Fox station's website Q&A about the crash
"Q: When a plane goes down, are flight attendants trained to evacuate women and children first? Or do they evacuate based on who's nearest the exits?
A: Flight attendants are trained to react and make decisions based on the severity of the situation. In case of a fire, those nearest the exits will get out first.
But in a case like the US Airways flight, where there appears to be more time, then children, women or people who need assistance may be evacuated first.
Lonny Glover, national safety coordinator for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said crews at American Airlines, where he works, are trained to let children, the elderly and injured people board inflated slides and rafts first.
If rafts fill up, physically able passengers should be told to hold onto the life lines on the sides, he said."

Then a low murmur starts to build in the blogosphere (I really hate that word...). Instead of "glad everyone's safe" or "thank you for your chivalrous and selfless act" it is "WTF is up with this 'women and children first' shit?? I thought we were past that??" There was even an email circulating earlier this week reporting that The National Organization for Women (NOW) was enraged by a man yelling "women and children first" and "will consider a lawsuit against him for defaming an entire gender." (Turns out it was one in a clever series of satirical faux newswires on politicalmavens.com)

Oh boy.

Granted, not all bloggers I read who brought up the topic were negative. Some actually appreciated the gesture. Some even connected it to Confucian ideals. Some even argued from the other side. This is getting messy.

Of course the comments on blogs like Gothamist and elsewhere were all over the place. As are most comment sections.

So, what do you think? What is your reaction? Does the edict of "women and children first" demean women (and children?) and undo all the hard work of the feminist and women's lib movements? Or do you not see a problem with it?

Cause I wasn't really outraged or upset either way when I read this swelling outcry, I just furrowed my brow and said... "Wait... seriously??"

Car Companies and Government Economics

2008-12-09T09:38:00.003-05:00

In case you're in the mood to hear grown men argue and interrupt each other over economic issues, here's a video:

Peter Schiff is a very smart man and has been saying things along these lines for almost two years now. The beauty and danger of the free market capitalistic system is the lack of ceiling and limit, but that comes with no safety net. The government has to let these companies fail so that they can re-structure and re-adjust to the current circumstances.

And why not have Ron Paul weigh in on the issue? No matter what everyone thinks, when it comes to finances and economics in our country, Ron Paul has always sounded much more knowledgeable than Obama or McCain. Worth listening to at least.

And here's Jim Rogers talking about the market and learning economic lessons from the past, and teaching the CNBC anchors some lessons along the way:

So.... let the market handle it, stop the bailouts, keep the government out of it, abolish the fed and its horrible system, go back to a gold standard? Sounds like some difficult and unpopular decisions for the long-term success of the country. We'll see if politicians start thinking further down the road and not just till the next election.

Thanks for the tip...

2008-12-08T17:17:00.002-05:00

Just a friendly reminder from your neighborhood Metrorail map:
"Don't eat or drink cigarettes while riding our trains. This is offensive to other riders."

Mmmmm delicious cigarettes. Is this good enough for Failblog??

On the road... this time

2008-12-04T09:16:00.008-05:00

While I personally don't agree that the federal government and American taxpayer should bailout the automotive industry, at least when Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, was planning this second trip to DC to beg and plead for billions of dollars, he picked a car instead of his private corporate jet. (Story: Breitbart | FoxNews)

Maybe a little humility is what the Big Three need right now. No, check that. They need a fresh start. Clean house and start over.

I think it is a good thing that the big dogs are starting to think about the way they present themselves a little bit. Flying to DC in a private jet was a bad move. This choice to drive is an improvement. And he is driving a Malibu hybrid... which sends a good message as well. Granted, even though it is a hybrid, combined fuel economy still doesn't break the 30 mpg barrier. In his caravan of vehicles, there was also a Chevy Cobalt XFE, which Wagoner frequently boasts is the most fuel efficent in its class. Once again, a good message to send, but bottom line, even the XFE gets only a combined 29 mpg (mpg estimates provided by fueleconomy.gov). Yes, he always cites the 36 hwy mpg, but that's not the whole story is it? Maybe someone should have driven alongside him in a Prius or Insight and kept track of who had to stop for gas more and whose trip cost the most. Maybe then the reality of GM's product line shortcomings would set in. But probably not. Ooooh, or even better, pull one of the secret, remaining EV1s (Who Killed the Electric Car? | 20 Facts about EV1) out of mothballs and take it for a spin. Hm, right.... 120 mile capacity.

Just in case we forgot how the last visit to Washington went:

So who knows how this will all work out. I don't think the Big Three deserve a bailout, but at least they are starting to think a little bit about how they present themselves and what the American public thinks. The Big Three CEOs even offered to cut their multi-million dollar salaries down to only $1 as a display of good faith and to try to win the public's approval and support. Once again, that is a wise PR move (Flip-flopping, a little desperate). These guys are trying to make a case for the bailout, but I think it is still an uphill battle. Not to mention, their salary isn't the the only source of revenue. Most of these guys are making even more in bonuses and benefits and such, just look at the Forbes breakdown of Wagoner's total compensation. He is getting over $6.3 million in "Bonus" and "Other" categories, so cutting his "Salary" to $1 is nothing more than a placating photo op and headline. He is still racking in the dough.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed your heavily documented road trip to DC, Mr. Wagoner. We'll see what other tricks you got up your sleeves in the upcoming weeks and months.

The Way I See It #17

2008-10-27T10:03:00.005-04:00

The World bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough.

On occasion, some may be correct.

But do not do their work for them.

Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal.

Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes."

-Keith Olbermann

I am not a huge fan of Olbermann, but I thought this quote was pretty good and pretty inspiring.

Spanking

2008-10-15T12:07:00.003-04:00

This always makes my day. Oh memories...

But seriously, Matty Mo... You wanna talk smack, when it comes down to it, I spanked your ass. Bad. End of story.

Was Ron Paul right?

2008-10-08T15:49:00.002-04:00

Looks like we shouldn't be so surprised about what is happening if we had been listening to the right people... Seems this guy would have been a better financial advisor than anyone Obama or McCain picks.

Maybe Ron Paul wasn't so crazy after all... He sure sounds like he knows what he is talking about, much more so than Obama or McCain.

Why I love Scott Van Pelt

2008-10-01T11:55:00.003-04:00

You can always count on Scott to make obscure, but awesome, cultural references.

That's of course from Flight of the Conchords, see below:

2008-09-29T16:15:00.001-04:00

Travis Jammin

2008-09-08T11:02:00.003-04:00

Video confirming my belief that Travis Barker is one of the best drummers in all of music. He definitely makes my top five, which include, in varying order, Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band), Chris Tsagakis (RX Bandits), Darren King (Mute Math), and Brian Rosenworcel (Guster). But man... this is a pretty tight video.

Fix Your Face

Rage on the rise

2008-09-04T16:26:00.002-04:00

Man I wish I was there.

The rumor slipped that Rage Against the Machine was going to make a surprise appearance and perform in St. Paul, MN following the scheduled concert by Anti-Flag, but the local police pulled the plug on the concert (literally, they shut off power), leaving a very volatile situation. The audience was in a state of unrest after their anticipation and excitement was broken by the very "machine" they were hoping to "rage" against. Zack and Tom and the rest of RATM didn't disappoint, but instead came out and spoke to the crowd and led an acapella chant of "Bulls on Parade" and "Killing in the Name Of" (Local news reports here and Rolling Stone reported the incident here).

Now... lemme be clear. I don't agree with or align myself with all of Zack and RATM's political views and stances. I don't agree with them marching on the RNC. But I also don't agree with the police shutting them down and prohibiting them from performing, even if it is in a concert that is meant to be a demonstration against a particular political party. They were trying to demonstrate and protest peacefully (like anything that happens associated with RATM music is ever peaceful) and really played into Rage's hands by doing something that they could build off of. So the result ended up being a march on the RNC instead of a peaceful (albeit loud and chaotic) concert of opposition.

The reason I wish I was there is not because I wanted to go demonstrate and protest against the Republican party or Bush or McCain. I just love Rage Against the Machine and their music. And since their re-formation as a band (which Zack said involved the members putting aside their differences and disagreements to lead a movement against what they saw as wrong, because America "needs us now more than ever") I have been dying to see them in concert. The one time I did get to see them, it was incredible and still ranks as the greatest live performance I have ever witnessed.

Anyways. Rage is back. They are making some waves and stirring up fire in the bellies of some. I just wish I could have been 3 feet away while they performed via megaphone.

Sweetwater Stories

2008-08-29T11:33:00.003-04:00

I met these guys in Houston! It really is a great story, a small town saved from extinction by harnessing the wind that blows freely overhead. New jobs, new infrastructure, and best of all, an atmosphere of excitement and new life. If they can do it in west Texas, why not elsewhere?

Now, I am not going to say the Pickens Plan is perfect, and there are some political issues that are being overlooked, in my opinion, but at least T. Boone is doing something about it. He has come up with a plan and he is pushing to make a difference, instead of just sitting on his butt and complaining about the state of affairs.

My main contentions:

Yes, reliance on foreign oil is bad. Both in the amount of money we are sending overseas and the fact that most of the world's oil is controlled by countries that we don't get along with. Being independent and self-sufficient is what this country was founded on, and losing the ability to support yourself and your citizens is what ultimately brought about the fall of Rome. So, do we need to curb our appetite for oil? Yes. Does more of the oil we do consume need to come from our resources that we can control? Yes. Do we also need to launch a recipe of alternate sources of energy to reduce our reliance on and use of oil? Yes. So, I think wind and natural gas are great answers, but so are solar and nuclear. So... should we use our oil resources? Yeah, I think so, but that's not the real answer.
Yes, harvesting natural gas is a big deal and a big part of it. But then we need cars that run on natural gas. We know they exist, but just not here in this country. Whether it is because there are lobbyists and corporations that are keeping gas-based cars on the road (see also: Who Killed the Electric Car? lest we forget...) or because GM and Ford don't think there is enough of a market or what... we need to replace gasoline and diesel cars with natural gas cars.
CNG needs to be widely available. Just like there are tons of gasoline stations everywhere (far more than we actually need), there needs to be an abundant and convenient source for CNG to make these cars practical.
CNG cars isn't the whole answer. If we are generating clean electricity with wind and solar and nuclear (I know Pickens doesn't care as much about the environmental side as he does about the energy independence side), then that energy needs to be utilized in our vehicles, our primary source of energy consumption. This clean electricity needs to not only go into the grid and into our houses, but into our cars via plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles. The technology is there, it just needs to be rolled out and made practical and accessible to the public.
Boone. Look. You can't keep your hands in all the same pockets you have in the past if you want this plan of yours to work. You may be a Republican/conservative politically, but in order to get something like this to work, you have to lobby both sides of the aisle. Really, you need to get the support of the Democrats even more than you need the support of the Republicans. You support McCain and the Right, but they have historically opposed all the things you have in your plan. Their solution to the energy crisis is to drill off-shore. Sure, that might be part of the solution, but a minor answer to a major problem. If your plan is so progressive and different, and you say that this issue should not be a partisan one, then stop being partisan. Support both sides of the aisle, especially individuals that align with your views and are trying to make a difference.

Progressive enlightened individuals or brain-washed followers?

2008-08-14T10:33:00.005-04:00

So, is the environmentalist / green energy / tree hugger movement really about being more educated and knowledgeable about the world and everything in it? Or is it just the illusion of being educated and in the know? Do these people really care about what they stand for (and petition and protest against) or are they just followers, trying to find something to agree with and belong to?

Penn and Teller put this to the test with one of the oldest tricks in the book:

So, do "green people" know what they are standing for, or are they just falling for anything? Is it a stance against something they believe is wrong, or are they just part of something that is "cool" or "sexy" and makes them feel better and smarter and more culturally evolved than those gas-guzzling meat heads? Is it to feel like you are making a difference with the added perk of feeling at home at summer music festivals and being able to say things like, "Dude, you have no idea..." "If you really knew, it would change your whole perspective..." and "Well, good for you. I guess ignorance is bliss, right?"

Tainted Ratings

2008-08-12T12:10:00.005-04:00

Opening Ceremonies Pull Record US Audience

Yeahhh..... but:

Dancer Seriously Injured in Opening Ceremony Practice, China Keeps it Quiet

Ceremony Mastermind Regrets Injuries, Arrogantly Challenges Brits

Fake Fireworks and Coverage Make Ceremonies, China, and NBC Less Impressive

Chinese Patriotic Anthem Lip-synced, Fake Girl Picked for Looks

So the question is now, have the Chinese found their Ministry of Truth accomplice in NBC? Seems like there is a lot of covering up and a lot of mis-truths being broadcast.... In my eyes, the games continue to be tainted.

The Way I See It #76

2008-08-11T10:27:00.006-04:00

The side of my non-fat caramel kick-in-the-butt this morning reads:

The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love.
The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation.
To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

-- Anne Morriss

Well said, Anne. As scary as the "C" word is, there is some comfort in the idea of it. The concept of commitment and decisiveness. The lack of fluidity and unpredictable change, the degradation of chaos. My only caveat would be that there is nothing wrong with commitment, in my opinion. The fear and avoidance associated with that concept (typically with men mostly) I propose is not due to an unwillingness or lack of interest in committing, but rather a desire for assurance in committing to the right thing (or person). Maybe instead of being accused of being indecisive, we should relish the title of overly-decisive. Weighing the factors, the pros and cons, scrutinizing and analyzing, but ultimately wanting to make sure you have come to the right answer or solution, and then (and only then?) dive in head-first.

I think Morriss' observation is full of truth if you are confident that this venture or this relationship is worth committing too. And the journey that takes you to that realization is unpredictable and requires participation on both ends. Perhaps culture and relationships are not frozen by fear of commitment, but rather fear of committing incorrectly.

more Beijing developments...

2008-08-06T10:12:00.004-04:00

Outspoken Olympic gold medalist kept out of China.
Because clearly, anyone who is "outspoken" about anything, other than singing the praises of the Chinese state, needs to be silenced and will not be welcome. It is yet another example of the Chinese government clamping down control on the dissemination of information. I hope these games expose these issues, if for nothing else, to make us grateful for the freedoms we do have and be willing to fight to defend them (from our enemies, but more likely from our own government).

Beijing a great choice in disguise?
This interesting article takes a different look at the Olympic debate, saying that the fact that we know so little about China and their people and government, coupled with the fact that our interest in the Games largely hinges on needing "bad guys" to defeat, makes China the perfect choice to hose these games. According to the author, it is just the shot in the arm the Olympics needed to get people to watch.

President Bush's clarification of his stance on China and the Olympics and his reasons for attending. Ole W gets a little fired up answering this one...

Big Brother Mao

2008-08-04T11:48:00.004-04:00

As the Beijing Olympics rapidly approach, I personally can't help but have an uneasy feeling about this whole thing. Unlike any other Olympics I can remember, something about Beijing just doesn't seem right to me. I can't put my finger on just one thing that is causing me to feel this way, because there have been so many incidents and issues. I can't list them all here, but the serious controversy surrounding the international running of the torch, protests and police crackdowns. Mostly because of outrage over Darfur, Tibet, Taiwan, and the oppressive and restrictive human rights abuses and religious persecution inside China itself. Then there is the Chinese government's censorship of the internet and surveillance of the streets. Numerous groups in America have called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies (which he decided to attend), which Steven Spielberg decided not to be a part of. It just seems like a laundry list of one controversy after another surrounding China and these games.

Then I read this article in the New York Times today, which I suppose is intended to make people feel more secure about the safety of the games? Or is it intended to have the opposite effect and make people feel the games are unsafe and it's inevitable that a terrorist attack will occur? Either way, after reading most of the article outlining all the terrorist groups that are pissed off and potentially will attempt an attack, and the Chinese military response (are you sure these games are about athletic competition and not flexing military and political muscle?), I found a couple interesting sentences buried at the bottom of the second page.

The Chinese government has also been installing tens of thousands of surveillance cameras on lamp poles and in Internet cafes and bars.

Critics of the measure say the cameras can be used not only to track potential terrorists, but also anyone who opposes the nation’s one-party rule. Western companies like I.B.M., General Electric, Honeywell and United Technologies have been shipping their latest computer tools to automatically analyze video images from thousands of cameras and alert computer operators to patterns that might indicate a threat.
...From 2001, when Beijing was awarded the Olympics, China spent as much as $6.5 billion on security in the Beijing area alone. The bulk of the spending is for extensive video monitoring systems that will stay in place after the Games.
Largely separate from the Olympics, China is moving to install video monitoring systems in its 600 largest cities, and some are already far along.

Dr. Mulvenon said the sales from foreign companies raised the risk that Western equipment would be used to spy on Chinese dissidents after the Olympics.

“The longer-term implications are less positive,” he said. “Whereas the legacy of previous Olympics was sports stadiums, the legacy of the Beijing Olympics will be a high-tech police state.”

Doesn't this raise concern? Shouldn't there be more opposition and more outcry on behalf of the Chinese people, the athletes, and all the spectators? And why is the International Olympic Committee not coming under more serious scrutiny?? What's even worse is the fact that our Western companies are supporting and sponsoring this. As we all know Visa and Coca-Cola have been huge sponsors of running the torch and the games themselves. And then to hear that our technology companies are providing the means for a government to spy on its people? It seems wrong. No one around the world apparently has the balls or backbone to stand up to the Chinese. There have been a couple boycotts and protests here and there, but the big names don't raise a finger.

In my opinion, they are one of the primary culprits here. They need to be held responsible for selecting a city and country, which in my opinion, is not ready or suited to host the Olympic games. And then the IOC caved in and wouldn't take a stand against the government control and censorship.

I really hope the games go well, but I can't help but be worried and also disappointed that more wasn't done to restrict or oppose the things the Chinese government has done and stands for. But even if something does happen, I am sure the Thought Police will make sure no negative press about The Party ever reaches the international community and that all egregious acts by Big Brother Mao will be swept under the rug by the Ministry of Truth. So are we Winston or O'Brien?

Owner Swap?

2008-07-30T15:19:00.004-04:00

Check out this article on DCist that proposes the solution to at least half of the Washington sports woes is to switch the team ownership: Trading Places: Sports Ownership Edition

The author makes a very good point, proposing this scenario of an owner swap, Snyder leaving the Redskins and taking ownership of the Nationals. I can only imagine how good ole Danny Boy would drool at the thought of no salary cap. He could throw all the money he wants at old, difficult, controversial, and worthless players and not have a league telling him he needs to stop. Now... "buying" a championship is the main reason so many people (myself included) hate teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Yankees. But it is clear that the reason we hate them is because they aren't our team and we have this feeling of "That's not fair. They shouldn't be allowed to just buy a trophy like that." But a championship is something DC sports fans haven't seen in a while (sorry DC United, I wish you were a legitimate sport consideration in this city and country too, but the truth is we don't care about your MLS Cups). DC is a city of "what have you done for me lately?" and a city caught up in what's going on politically that supporting sports teams is done on special occasions, not as a way of life. But would this change if Snyder owned the Nationals and was paying big money for big names? If it comes down to the highest bidder, we all know Snyder has the bankroll to land names like A-Rod, Soriano, Sabathia, maybe even Pujols... Just think how different the concept of Washington Nationals baseball would be if you had some big time players at the plate every night?

And that's why baseball is a totally different playing field for the team owners. Now, would the opposite work in the favor of the Redskins, to whom I devote my loyalty? Well, as the author notes, Ted Lerner is pretty new to this ownership thing, so how could we know? But, considering the track record of Daniel Snyder, his over-involvement, his poor decision making, his seemingly indifferent disposal of NFL Draft picks year after year, his financial investments in NFL fossils.... I can't see how Lerner would be worse than Snyder is. Perhaps his lack of experience as an owner would be to the advantage of the Skins organization because he would be forced to keep his mouth shut and let other people do the thinking and deciding for the team's best interest. A novel idea for an NFL owner...

So, would it work? For the Nationals, potentially yes. They could go from the worst team in baseball to the best in a matter of a couple years. Would they be vilified by the rest of the MLB fan base? Probably. No one likes a team that buys a championship. Unless that team is your team. So I think the DC fans would be fine with it and would pack the Park in Southeast every night for years to come. So that would be good for DC sports in general. For the Redskins, it is possible it could be a good thing too, hinging on the question of exactly what kind of owner would Ted Lerner be and would he let the coaching staff build a championship caliber team without his interference?

A murky response

2008-07-17T16:46:00.005-04:00

Here's a T-shirt idea in response to the Murky Coffee customer service meltdown from earlier this week. Nothing quite like being savvy of local cultural news and have a shirt to match! Thanks, Nick Cho! Priceless!

Great grammar in advertising

2008-07-16T12:38:00.003-04:00

Yes. That is right. "We The Best" is the official slogan of this custom wheel dealer. Wow. Classy. I am not going to sit here and make assumptions or stereotypes about your target audience for this piece of marketing, but I think by emblazoning that on the side of your van, you have said plenty. Wow. Good work.

"What's the deal with Richmond??"

2008-07-15T14:33:00.006-04:00

Marc Fisher of washingtonpost.com wrote a great, mocking article about the Virginia state legislature's inability and unwillingness to pass any bill to help solve the painfully horrible Northern Virginia traffic problems (the DCist commented on this epic fail here). Fisher referenced Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine's, soundbite equating the ineptitude of the Good Ole Boys in Richmond to an episode of Seinfeld, saying "it was doing nothing taken to an art." But then Fisher goes on to spell out the incredibly important things that the General Assembly did get done during these sessions. Much much more important than investing in the reform of roads and transit in the most densely populated portion of the state. Things like tributes to high school golf teams and dedicating overpasses are the kinds of bureaucratic BS that mean nothing ever gets done.

The traffic situation in Northern VA and the DC Metro area as a whole is atrocious. The fat cats down in Richmond can be shielded from our saturated and antiquated roads, from the excessive and ever-increasing volume our bridges and overpasses have to bear. They can take the taxpaying dollars from all across the state and pad their pockets while wasting time patting their buddies on the back and handing out medals. Is that what these people are elected for?

But sadly, as Governor Kaine knows, this was expected. The General Assembly has vigorously and continuously opposed funding any sort of change or help for the transportation in NoVa (or Hampton Roads for that matter). As my continuously-brilliant father says over and over again, it comes down to the fact that all the legislators from all the small, rural jurisdictions in Virginia don't want to pay to fix the roads up in Northern VA because it doesn't impact their constituents at all. In their eyes, those fast-talking, crazy-driving, sonsa-bitches up thar in The North have grown up and grown up and it's their own damn fault that they don't have enough roads built fast enough. Me and the residents of Dickenson County aint gonna pay for no high-falutin' Lexus drivers to have better roads.

And while that is a valid point, the rural folks and the General Assembly continue to advantageously ignore the fact that the majority of Virginia state taxpayer dollars come from Northern VA. So they just want to sit back and rake in all the money from the successful business people and government workers up in the DC area (who are paying a butt-load more in cost of living and Dickenson County, thank you very much) and then distribute it throughout the state as they see fit. Not allocating an equal percentage of funding and legislation to support their sugar-daddies in Fairfax and Arlington. No, essentially the General Assembly and all the other counties in the Commonwealth stick their hand out for cash like an ungrateful teenager (sorry dad) and then take the keys, flick off the parents, and go out on the town with their friends, spending the money on whatever the heck they want. Anything and everything but that which is most important to the people who pay them the most.

All this talking about the General Assembly makes me wonder about a couple things. Firstly, I am reminded of a news piece about the Texas state legislation's voting practices and whether taxpayers can really trust that their legislators are really voting for the bills that are getting passed. At the time a local news station featured the video below and followed up the piece by saying Virginia and Maryland legislators anonymously admit the same practice often happens in their sessions. See the video below:

Secondly, it makes me quietly wonder if the General Assembly, or the state capital for that matter, should still be located in Richmond. I mean, is it still there because of secessionist nostalgia when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy? I mean we have to pay homage to Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, right? Is it because of geographic location? Somewhat central in the state, on the James River (which ceased being important with the invention of the railroad), and yet far enough away from Washington, DC so them Yanks can't tell us what to do.

I propose we re-evaluate the location (and therefore local influence and experience) of the capital and General Assembly, picking the most advantageous and politically relevant location. Yes. I am proposing Fairfax become the new capital of the Virginia.

Now... is that a joke? Somewhat. Would it be a nightmare? Probably. But, I am trying to make a point, so hear me out. Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington, Prince William, and Stafford counties (as well as Fairfax and Falls Church cities) ranked at the top of median household income in 2003. Therefore residents of Northern Virginia continue to pay more taxes and have a higher cost of living than the rest of the state, so the Assembly's funds are coming from Northern VA families. But how do legislators from Richmond, let alone rural Virginia, understand the issues and pressures felt by their most wealthy and financially-supportive constituents from so far away? Don't you think that if the General Assembly met in Fairfax County and had to drive on these roads and in this traffic every day, they would be more willing to invest in reform?

It is questions like these that have led many Virginians to question the fairness of the Assembly's representation and lawmaking. There is even a group called the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, which strives to fight for fair taxing in Virginia and keeping the legislators accountable. Talk of this kind always rekindles the flames of Northern Virginia seceding from the Commonwealth due to tax and revenue disputes with the legislature (also see this blog post devoted to the concept. The logic isn't flawless, but it is interesting). Wikipedia has a concise description of these dissenting remarks, even if they usually only go so far as tirades and grumbling over a beer:

In nearly all recent cases of efforts at state secession, the impetus for the proposal comes partially from strong regional identities within the state, coupled with a frustration from one region that the state government, in the other region, is out of touch with and underserving the disgruntled area. Conversely, more urban regions may mull secession ideas over tax flow issues, where the urban side disproportionately subsidizes government spending on the rural side. Often these regions also hold distinct political values from each other, usually with rural/conservative areas seeking to split from urban/liberal areas or vice versa.

That seems to sum it up pretty well. The political, economic, and social climate in Northern Virginia is significantly different from the rest of the state, specifically Richmond, the seat of the Legislature. Is that cause for secession? Probably not, but the fact that there is such discussion and dissention among the residents of this Commonwealth should be noted and taken into consideration by the General Assembly. You can't turn a deaf ear and a cold shoulder to the seat of your wealth and population. You can't pull a Seinfeld and just do nothing. It is almost comical (if it weren't so infuriating) that they spent weeks and months agreeing on recognitions and awards instead of working together to affect change where it is needed most. Isn't it time for the people of Northern VA, repeatedly scorned by the lawmakers, to demand fair representation? What would the rest of the state do without our tax dollars? No, seriously. Think about it.

Seriously?

2008-07-10T09:42:00.002-04:00

And now for an installment of "Oh come on, are you serious?" A couple news items from today that make me feel like our culture, egged on by media coverage like this, has become way too sensitive about way too many things. I was starting to think that obsessive political correctness was starting to fade in popularity, being replaced by people simply thinking before they spoke. But now it seems that I may have spoken too soon.

"Men At Work" Signs Discriminate Against Women

Correctly Using "Black Hole" for an Analogy is Racist

CT Attorney General Comes Down Hard on 'Beer Pong' Game

eh... whatever.

Blindness - the movie

2008-07-09T09:32:00.006-04:00

Oh wow. I am both excited and somewhat hesitant and scared of what this might be like.

Jose Saramago's book, Blindness, is one of the best books, both powerful and chilling, that I have read in a long time. The intentionally ironic eye-opening nature of this novel and it's social commentary on human nature is so raw and well done, in Saramago's own unique style, that I am afraid that even acclaimed director Fernando Meirelles will be unable to capture the true essence of the book.

Sure, we all "know" that in general the book is better than the movie version. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to lead us to read more and watch less. But I feel that when certain film adaptations come along, particularly when it is a book we have always loved, they bring with them an increased level of trepidation and doubt. I would love to see this movie, because, as I cannot say enough, I absolutely loved this book. But will the movie live up to the awesome power and composition of the book? Almost assuredly not. So... why should I wipe away the images and emotions and raw feelings generated by my imagination while reading this book, that would be otherwise forever associated with that world, and replace them with what could turn out to be a well-attempted, but vapidly poor collection of images and feigned emotion? Can film ever come close to paying homage to the original literary work?

This is why I have reigned back in my initial burst of excitement at seeing this trailer. I am worried it will be a disappointment. It won't be as good as the book. And the frightening, intricate mural that Saramago painted in my long term memory will be wiped away and painted over with a county-fair-air-brushed summary. A poor excuse for a representation of the original work. Of course there have been other films that have awoken similar fears, such as Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, even Into the Wild. Of those, I guess LOTR was the only adaptation that I thought was done well enough to justify its production.

The underlying question to me about our culture in general is, if we know that the film isn't going to be as good as the original piece of literature, why do we continue to go see the movies instead of reading the books? Is it because we are too busy and don't want to sit still for hours or days to read a book when we could just sit in a dark theater with hundreds of strangers and see the "whole" story (or at least the good parts) in a matter of hours? It is because we want to be visually stimulated, as in being force-fed the reality of the story, instead of mentally stimulated such that our imagination is the one painting the vivid pictures for us? Do we just want to see our favorite actors and actresses (each bringing with them a veritable train of subconscious character associations from previous films we have watched) slide into a new costume and claim the face of a character we previously pictured as looking very different? Or are we on some level convinced that our own perception and the images we generate while reading could not possibly be as good as those manufactured and created by a film producer with the help of special effects? After all, he is a professional... right?

I don't know. I guess I need to leave it at that, but as you can tell, I am really worried about this movie. A feeling that has suppressed my excitement about seeing this amazing story on the big screen. I have felt the same way about other film adaptations in the past and I just hope this one can live up to the greatness of the novel.

2008-06-30T14:58:00.001-04:00

That's right. Suisham is sick nasty. All you NFL jokers best realize and respect. Elam's got nothing.

Beckham in his prime

2008-06-25T08:42:00.004-04:00

Instead of going to bed at a reasonable hour last night, I was drawn in by a replay of the classic 2001 World Cup Qualifying match between England and Greece. To set the stage, the die hard British fans were hungry for some football glory. After losing to the West Germans in a shootout in the semis of World Cup 1990, they failed to qualify in '94, got to the second round in '98, and had a couple poor Euro Cup performances sprinkled in between. The loyal fans demanded better.

So here, in 2001, with the fickle Brits reluctantly putting their faith in David Beckham as captain, the English faced potentially not qualifying for the World Cup once again. With Germany, Finland, Greece, and Albania in their qualifying group, England arrived at this last game having done well (5-1-1) but still facing potential elimination dependent on the outcome of the Germany v. Finland game that was being played simultaneously. If England won, or if both games resulted in a draw, they would ensure top spot in their group and have a direct entrance into the World Cup Finals without needing a playoff game.

Even though the announcers and some of the fans were monitoring the Germany v. Finland game, most of the players didn't know that their score was remaining 0-0. But they had the more pressing issue of being down 1-0 to Greece at halftime. How would they pull it together? They couldn't fail to qualify again. They had to find a way.

The answer came from their epic leader, number 7. He had been playing hard in the first half, but from the whistle in the 46th minute, Beckham went nuts. He was all over the field, stealing the ball, playing in crosses, through balls, making runs (it was refreshing to see him actually playing soccer instead of just jogging around the pitch waiting for a free kick to take or flash bulb to smile for) and his whole team followed his example. The English side came out like gangbusters in the second half and cranked up the offensive pressure on Greece, getting chance after chance, but just couldn't break through.

But Beckham wouldn't be denied. He wouldn't let his country down again. Finding the substitute Sheringham's head on a free kick, England drew even in the 68th minute. But that didn't last long. Greece struck back a minute later, with the help of some poor defending, sucking all the excitement out of Old Trafford. The rest of the match played out full of tension and anxiety. The Brits couldn't seem to slow the clock down or find the way through as the Greek keeper continued to have a stellar performance. So this is what it comes down to, England down 2-1 after 90 minutes played. Four minutes of stoppage time added on. The fans, the whole country, praying for a miracle. And the chance comes in the 93rd minute, a direct free kick from 30 yards out. Beckham steps up, takes the hopes of millions on his shoulders, shakes his head at the fans who had already filed out of the stadium, and with his right foot brilliantly seals his fate and legacy in the annals of English footballers.

When his team, his manager, and his country needed him to step up and earn the title of captain and leader, Beckham answered the call and slotted a sick free kick into the old onion bag. This game, in my opinion, is who David Beckham was as a soccer player at his best. Very unlike what we saw at Real Madrid or now at the L.A. Galaxy. He was a leader, he worked hard on the field, he earned the respect of his coaches and teammates, and ultimately, he produced results when it came down to it. Say what you want about his photo shoots, frosted sunglasses, rail-thin high-maintenance wife, Hollywood lifestyle, or global reputation. As a soccer player, at one point in his career, he deserved every ounce of hype that he got. He was money and everyone knew it.

That is what made it totally worth it to stay up late last night and watch the replay of that match and see him at his best once again. It had been awhile, but it was enthralling. Here are some clips from that match. Doesn't do justice to the drama of it, but still great.

This is Congress' energy policy?

2008-06-24T09:31:00.003-04:00

Congressman Ted Poe explains Congress' plan to solve the energy crisis, by forcing the American people to buy florescent light bulbs instead of incandescent. Since when was it the federal government's job or right to tell its people (government of the people, by the people, and for the people, right?) what light bulbs to buy?

And is this really a solution to an energy deficiency? In light of the gas prices and the strain on our economy, the American people are looking to the government and asking them to "Do something!" Pressure on OPEC, pressure on the corporate oil conglomerates making massive profits, sanctions and penalties for the speculators driving the price up, investigation and justice for price gouging, working to pursue alternative energy options and alternative modes of transportation. But forcing the American people to buy florescent light bulbs instead of incandescent? Come on.

Do these light bulbs reduce energy consumption? Sure they do. Does that mean that people are choosing to purchase them instead of regular light bulbs? Yes it does. Does that give the Government the right to mandate purchasing of only those bulbs? No, it does not. As Congressman Poe goes to great length to point out, these are very different bulbs than Edison's invention and they have inherent dangers and logistical nightmares that aren't thought of by people buying them to save energy. Ultimately, whether the energy advantage of these bulbs outweighs the potential risk and danger they could cause, Congress cannot mandate their use in our country. They are over-stepping the boundaries of their role in the management and future development of our country.

RIP George

2008-06-23T10:34:00.003-04:00

George Carlin just passed away yesterday. Now, I know there are a lot of people out there that won't be too sad about that. They might actually be happy to have his fowl language and abrasive demeanor off the stage and airwaves. But me, I am going to miss him. I am going to miss his honesty and fearless desire to "say it like it is." And yes, he did use very colorful language, but you got used to it and saw it as his way to express his anger and frustration about politics, religion, and people in general. And as a person who often gets frustrated and pissed off when I see things that don't make sense or aren't done well, I enjoy comedians like Carlin and his pupils Carlos Mencia and Lewis Black, cause they put into words all the things that piss me off.

The great thing about any artist, though, is that their art will continue to live on after they have died, making them immortal. But in an ironic twist, one of his most recent routines is a bit was titled "Life is Worth Losing." I checked it out this morning as a somewhat morbid, but in my mind appropriate, tribute to George. Check it out here.

Bringing the world together by dancing...

2008-06-21T12:53:00.001-04:00

Basically this is the coolest thing ever. I want to be jealous that he got to do this, but honestly, I can't. It makes me smile and makes me too happy to be jealous. I just can't help but feel good inside while watching this.

Simply awesome...

Edelweiss....

2008-06-17T14:15:00.002-04:00

As much as I love the Euro Cup 2008 coverage, with Switzerland and Austria as the co-host nations, the games being played in Salzburg sure do make me miss that city. What a great place.

This ESPN Travel Guide to Salzburg really brings back memories of some of my favorite places around town.

oh no....

2008-06-16T01:10:00.002-04:00

As if Congressional productivity wasn't already incredibly low.... now they have found out about Twitter. It is kinda comical to think about legislators tweeting from the floor... but don't they have better things to do? Goodness. What's next? Getting a Facebook account so you can change your status every three minutes to things like "Frank Wolf is wishing these tree-huggers would get off their soapbox already... sheesh" Sometimes it is best if our government policy-makers stay in the dark on some of these new, popular technological advances.

Rapid Commercialization... and Cheerleaders

2008-06-13T08:41:00.002-04:00

This is a fun little ad that is very well done, I am assuming with stop motion photography. Very cool. But it is also kinda ironic seeing as this is a commercial that talks about over-commercialization ruining the beauty of nature, as you search for a quiet, peaceful getaway. Or at least that is what I got out of it. But still, very cool, I think.

This round goes to the Old Dominion

2008-06-12T16:06:00.002-04:00

Finally, there is some resolution to the historic feud between Maryland and Virginia drivers. Which one is worse? Virginia drivers think that Maryland drivers are insane and dive dangerously. Maryland drivers make identical claims about their Virginia brethren. So who is right?

D.C. Council member Jim Graham lays it out there for us: Maryland Drivers = The Devil Incarnate

As a Virginia driver, I could have told you that years ago... but now we have an objective perspective.

There won't be any Poland Spring left...

2008-06-10T10:30:00.004-04:00

As I always say, I am a self-professed sucker for great marketing. If a commercial or marketing campaign is targeted at me or does a great job communicating or pitching a product to me, I feel obligated to respond and give that company my business. Sure it might sound like I am being a sheep and am totally gullible for commercials, but really it is a conscious decision to reward the hard work of the marketing team behind that commercial. Since my brain thinks along those lines anyways, I really like it when someone does a great job.

The Refill Not Landfill ad / action campaign is no exception. You may have seen the commercials (can't find one online, but will add later if I do). Simple, but powerful, showing a brief activity where someone is drinking bottled water, and then the background fades out to show just the bottle, with the bottom line being the fact that the bottle will stay in a landfill long after the basketball game is over. It is a whole new perspective on drinking responsibly. This isn't about cutting yourself off after a few beers so you can drive home safely, it is about taking into account the impact of our desire for convenience and avoidance of perfectly good, potable tap water.

First of all, I think we are spoiled. When individual sized bottled water first came on the market, people mocked it because they couldn't imagine someone actually paying for water when we have plenty of water available pretty much everywhere. I mean come on... compared to a lot of countries in the world, our tap water is incredible. It is clean, drinkable, and it even has minerals and nutrients that are good for us. Are we really that spoiled that we don't like the taste of it? It is water, people. Now, remember back to when I would visit my grandmother's house and also when I worked at a summer camp in rural PA, both of which got their water from a well, I can see how the taste of that water would take some getting used to. But ultimately, that is exactly what I did, I got used to it. It is water... I mean, what do you want? Something completely devoid of taste? Is that really refreshing? We should stop being such high maintenance elitists and drink the water that we have.

And speaking of which, if we increase our reliance on Aquafina (aka Pepsi) and Dasani (aka Coke) for our water, our amazing water filtration and refining system that provides clean water to your kitchen will fall into disrepair and neglect. Then when bottled water prices skyrocket, we will be left without recourse (like our dependence on oil).

And I know that there are some steps being taken to change the impact of these plastic bottles on the environment and our landfills. Poland Spring, for instance, is marketing their eco-friendly bottles that require less plastic. Clearly they aren't going to encourage you to drink water from a re-usable bottle instead of theirs, but they are trying.

Now that I work at a company deeply involved in the green, renewable energy industry, ever since I got here I have been trying to find ways that we can be more responsible in our own facility to mimic our actions out in the world. These ads really hit home for me and seemed to be a simple way to make a difference. In spite of the availability of soda at work, it really is great to see that most people choose a bottled water over a Coke. But that means hundreds of bottles a week are going into the trash, or hopefully recycling. And yes, we do recycle, and yes, that is great. But it still requires tons of energy to produce these bottles and then to recycle them. Is it really that hard to bring a Nalgene to work instead?

So, starting today, I am drinking from my Nalgene. Every bottle-full of water means two fewer plastic water bottles that go in the trash or recycling. I know I can't make a huge difference by myself, but I decided it is time I do what I can.

Additional Links:
For more info on the Refill Not Landfill campaign, visit their website: http://www.refillnotlandfill.org/

Check out this interesting article (from Fox News of all places) about the impact of America's obsession with bottled water: Green Alternatives to Bottled Water

As seen at Nationals Park and Windpower 2008, plastic cups made out of 100% biodegradable corn are now available and in use.

sick + nasty

2008-06-09T19:03:00.001-04:00

at least John Mayer got something right. Martin Sexton is amazing. Best recognize...

Putting it in perspective

2008-06-09T11:26:00.005-04:00

Looking at the price at the pump is one thing. But as painful as that can be, it is all about context. These graphics show what the nationwide impact of gas prices are, showing prices, average income for the areas, and then the percentage of income spent on gas. It is eye-opening to see that while we are all getting hit with high gas prices, some people are struggling to keep the wheels turning more than others.

Impact of Gas Prices

AWEA Windpower 2008

Attending the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) Windpower 2008 conference last week was an eye-opening and exciting experience. The industry is growing so quickly and there are so many different aspects and facets of what makes wind energy grow and operate. It was really cool and exciting to talk about our product with these industry professionals from many different walks of life and explain how we can improve and maximize their production. It was a long week and the months leading up to the show were stressful and crazy, but ultimately we had a great show and definitely raised interest.

AWEA put together a video recap of the show that is pretty cool, so check it out.

Learn something new every day...

2008-05-31T15:18:00.004-04:00

Fact: I love Old Spice deodorant.

Also fact: I love Old Spice's website and commercials.

Newly realized fact, thanks to Old Spice's incredible website: I now know what my chest and body hair profile is compared to the global hairchetypology database. Who knew?

Whether it is accurate or not, it is awesome. And that's what I'm all about.

Sexism has nothing to do with it...

2008-05-25T11:24:00.002-04:00

A couple interesting articles on Hillary Clinton's manipulative playing of the "gender card" instead of being a true leader that Americans would vote for, regardless of sex.

Feminist Movement Takes A Step Back by Camille Paglia

Thatcher Would Be Ashamed by Peggy Noonan

"Might as well call themselves Slutbucks"

2008-05-16T07:27:00.005-04:00

And now the uber-conservative Christians have gotten in the middle of it. It was only a matter of time. Considering the original logo was changed to something more "PC" (or in this case is it "CC"?) because they knew people would get upset.

Christians to Boycott Floozy-branded Starbucks

Whatever. I am sick of talking about this. I just think it is sad and makes me upset sometimes. As Starbucks founder Howard Schultz explains in his book, there was a perfectly good reason and thought process behind the logo selection, including the fact that the company name itself is a nautical reference (maybe if you ever read Moby-Dick, one of the greatest pieces of American literature, you would know that) very appropriate for Seattle, where it was founded. Whatever, I am not going to defend their logo. I just wish they were allowed to stay true to their original identity and the reasoning behind it, or at the very least have the occasional throw-back reference to their founding, without getting flack from the panties-in-a-wad crowd.

Luke, I am your father...

2008-05-15T14:02:00.004-04:00

God, I hate the Patriots. Thanks for getting our hopes up Matt Walsh and then producing nothing. Maybe Goodell could posthumously strip the Pats of their Super Bowls... and ban Moss and Brady to Elba. Yes... it is all coming together now.

Regardless, I don't think this Pats fan is going to find anyone around the league that disagrees with his assessment. Hatred of the Pats overshadowed many other stories last year, including Michael Vick. Who's in the doghouse now??

The Patriots are Darth Vader

So, if the Patriots are Darth Vader, then who is Padmé who hooks up with the young, immature, and recklessly angry Anakin? Walsh? Man-genius? Bill Simmons? Maybe his analogy wasn't as well thought out as it seems...

Summer Movie Preview

2008-05-13T09:18:00.020-04:00

As always, there are a lot of new summer movies this year. And as the trend seems to be going, the summer is for the over-the-top, fun and exciting, kick-ass action and comedy movies, while late fall and winter is time for the more emotional and dramatic movies (trying to stay as fresh in the minds of Oscar voters as possible). And while I get frustrated with Hollywood's endless sequels and re-makes (I think last summer had at least 10 sequels/series/remakes) there are still some movies I am excited to see.

So here is my list of must-see summer movies in order of release (clearly not a preview of all movies, just the ones I am looking forward to):

Iron Man | Release Date: May 2
Yes, I know, it has already been released and been in theaters and has done well. Partially because I think people love the Iron Man character, partially because they hear Robert Downey Jr. does a great job playing Stark, but in my opinion, mostly because people (like me) were looking forward to this and wanted a blockbuster action movie. Still haven't seen it, but really want to. So... anyone wanna go?

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Release Date: May 16
As I have said before, as much as I loved C.S. Lewis' books, I was disappointed by the first Narnia movie. I know some people loved it, and that is their opinion, but I was disappointed. Regardless, Prince Caspian was a great book... dare I say my favorite of the series, so I think I'm gonna try to see it. Right now, I feel like it falls in the wait-for-Netflix category, except for the large epic nature of it, which means you have to see it on the big screen.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Release Date: May 22
Despite the questions and controversy, despite the uneasy feeling in my stomach telling me that they shouldn't have done this re-make, I still want to see this movie and hope that it isn't embarrassingly horrible. Harrison Ford is old... and Indiana Jones may be asking too much of his frail self. If this film falls flat on its face, I think Spielberg should take the blame for trying to resurrect a popular character and series almost two decades later with an aging actor. It just doesn't sound like a recipe for success, but I have to see for myself.

Honorable Mention Mid-Summer Comedies
Kung Fu Panda and You Don't Mess With The Zohan | Release Date: June 6

They are both coming out on the same day. They both have a ridiculous premise. As much as I love Jack Black (and attempt to remain a loyal supporter of all his movies... except for The Holiday. I mean, come on Jack) and want desperately for Adam Sandler to make another great comedy (it's been ten years since The Waterboy, with only Big Daddy and Anger Management worth mentioning afterwards)... I don't see the need to pay for a theater ticket to see either of these this summer. Am I curious? Some. Will I rent these? Maybe. If I am bored. And in the mood for mindless comedy. That I might regret afterwards. Then yes.

The Incredible Hulk | Release Date: June 13
I'm interested to see Edward Norton's try at this. Yes I think it is stupid that they are making ANOTHER Hulk movie so soon after the last one, and no, unlike the original plan, this is not a sequel. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a big, action-packed thriller, this time possibly including a deeper psychological and emotional aspect, this is a good one. Not the top of my list for the summer, but one that I would like to see on the big screen instead of rent.

The Love Guru | Release Date: June 20
Probably not worth it, but this comes out during a summer movie lull. So who knows. Maybe I will watch it. More likely, it will be rented later. Kinda like Adam Sandler, I am pulling for Mike Myers on this one. I am really hoping he can come up with a funny comedy to match his Austin Powers greatness. Or maybe I should just go back and watch Austin Powers.

The Dark Knight | Release Date: July 18
Finally. July 18th. The wait is over. By far, the newest Batman movie is the one I am looking forward to the most this summer. Ever since seeing the super short, super teaser last year with the eerie, chilling laugh of the Joker, I have been counting the days. Yes that was before I knew Heath Ledger was playing the Joker, yes that was before he died. No, I am not going to watch this movie as some sort of act of sympathy because of Heath's death. I have always respected him as an actor and was looking forward to this movie after seeing sneak peeks of his performance in the trailers. And yes it is sad, but honestly if his death did stem from the passion and heart he put into this performance, then it sounds like he died doing what he loved and I want to see him at his best. And yes, initially, before seeing Batman Begins, I was very skeptical about Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader... but now, I like it and I am stoked to see him again, this time darker and more menacing than before. This one is a definite must for the big screen. If possible, the biggest screen, IMAX. Can't wait.

Step Brothers | Release Date: July 25
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up again for what could be a funny and silly comedy. Probably not worth seeing on the big screen, but from the trailer I saw, it does look funny. And I am sure it is stuffed with one-liners like all their other movies. Verdict: wait for Netflix or a rainy day in late summer.

The X Files: I Want To Believe | Release Date: July 25
An unexpected sequel. I just found out recently that there is a new X Files movie coming out later in the summer. Now, it has been a long time since I was really into The X Files, but I loved the first movie and used to follow the TV show... when I was allowed to watch it. So, I am really excited about this and definitely want to see it on the big screen. Flying mostly under the radar, but still could be really awesome!

And really, that's it. At least as far as I know. There may be a couple other ones that sneak out this summer that I might want to see, but really, after the X Files sequel, the rest of the summer kinda runs out of steam.

So to rank them by priority and importance, not by release date:

The Dark Knight
The X Files
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones
Chronicles of Narnia
The comedies.... I guess Step Brothers, Love Guru, Zohan, and then Panda

Should be a good summer...

rainy day lyrics

2008-05-12T00:00:00.004-04:00

Made an on-the-go playlist that ended up being very close to the one I came up with last week. Some lyrics that stuck out in the car as the rain drenched our clothes and spirits...

God forbid you call their bluff.
Like the nightmares ain't enough.
Remember when we used to think that we were tough?
God forbid you call their bluff.

First they make you out to be the only pirate on the sea.
Then they say Danko would have sounded just like me.
"Is that the man you want to be?"

You'll be loved like you never have known
The memories of me
Will seem more like bad dreams
Just a series of blur, like I never occurred

You may feel alone when you're falling asleep
And everytime tears roll down your cheeks
But I know your heart belongs to someone you've yet to meet
Someday you will be loved

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
Las cienega just smiled... "see ya around"

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
And raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La cienega just smiles as it waves goodbye

I'm waiting for someone who just wont show
And every night it feels like there's no tomorrow
Not that you will ever know,

Where ever you are I hope you're happy now
I'm caught in a dream and I cant get out
I'm caught in a dream
I'm caught in an endless dream

Well it's life informing art, informing life again
Like every stupid kid that thinks that they're the first in pain
The first to rip themselves apart
The first to try and live without a heart

I got a choke chain
Made out of nightrain
To keep your memory down
Quicksand from the main man
To drown everything out
We were out on a joyride
Fucked up from insides
Always at a dead stall
From sticking pins into miniature men
Who can't feel it at all

And the picture frames are facing down
And the ringing from this empty sound
Is deafening and keeping you from sleep.
And breathing is a foreign task
And thinking's just too much to ask
And you're measuring your minutes by a clock that's blinking eights.

Goodness knows its been a wonderful run
The autumn lakes where the children were swans
Your mother's convictions and your father's predictions dont seem so insane
They laugh they say your treasures are fake but dont throw it away

You've been framed with a beautiful name
You've been saved, but you've lost your head
With halos and friends, the trinity saves, but three is a crowd

far far away

2008-05-06T23:04:00.000-04:00

Throw it all away
Let's lose ourselves
'Cause there's no one left for us to blame
It's a shame we're all dying
And do you think you deserve your freedom

How could you send us so far away from home
When you know damn well that this is all
I would still lay down my life for you
And do you think you deserve your freedom

No I don't think you do
There's no justice in the world
There's no justice in the world
And there never was

straw + camel's back

2008-05-05T09:48:00.001-04:00

So, we're talking forever and you almost feel better
but, better's no excuse for tonight
you see, it's never bad enough to just leave or give up
but, its never good enough to feel right

Now I'm lying on the table with everything you said
it will all catch up eventually
well, it caught up and honestly
the weight of my decisions were impossible to hold
but they were never yours...

Well I, know you know... everything

in the news

2008-04-29T08:37:00.002-04:00

This is disgusting, sad, and makes me really angry: Teen girls from cult were impregnated
And they were up in arms about their rights being violated and how they had the right to practice their religion and their traditions. Well, I am sorry, but horny 50 year old men creating a religious cult just so they can fulfill their fetish to have sex with young girls is not ok. I don't care what the religion is, someone needs to step in and protect these girls from this abuse, not to mention the fact that they got pregnant and supposedly carried their babies to the full term...

Bad idea: More Accessible Viagra

I think in general, the idea of Viagra is a bad one, but making it freely and readily available... I don't see that ending well. Granted, I am not in the position of some of these men (or their wives for that matter) so I can't really speak to it or identify. But... I think at some point you have to think about why there are so many people having trouble. Is it psychological or maybe emotional? Maybe they just aren't as turned on by their wives as they used to be but want to pass the buck and blame something or someone else. Having a disorder to point to and a pill that fixes it seems to be the easiest way. I don't know. If it is increasing intimacy and enriching the relationship of older couples, then I guess that is great. I just wonder if we really can or need to fix everything by popping a pill and over-medicating. Maybe there is a reason for the problem and a pill isn't going to fix that.

That darn global warming... We are surely doomed: Record snowfall in Alaska | Rough winter in Michigan | Famous meteorologist getting cut off for his views

Now, I am not going to go off on a tirade about global warming or Al Gore making millions of dollars and receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for what could turn out to be brainwashing propaganda, fear-mongering, and lies. In my opinion, the jury is still out on this whole issue. There is too much conflicting evidence, too many scientists and meteorologists on both sides to know which is right. And since Gore's movie came out and made such a huge splash (aka the public sat and gobbled up what they were spoon-fed) more and more scientists have come out against global warming and climate change. It is hard to know what to think when very respected experts in the field say that global warming is false, or claim we are about to go into a severe cooling trend, some calling it the "greatest scam in history." I am just skeptical and don't like that one person takes his opinion and presents it as fact, when the experts aren't in agreement...

rainy monday lyrics

2008-04-28T11:00:00.002-04:00

I don't mind
You're someone who ain't mine
But someone that I'll get
And you don't know how hard I've tried
To convince myself that I
Can easily forget

But you left this feeling here inside me
One that never fails to find me...

On a rainy Monday ...a feeling inside me
Like the days of summer

On a rainy Monday ...I feel it inside me
In the hopes of one day

I won't lie
I still can't say that I
Admit we went too far
And you won't see me change my mind
But I really wish that I
Could forget the way you are

But you left this feeling here inside me
The battle in my mind still fights me

I can see that you're not beside me
But I still feel you shine inside of me

I will dig a hole
Savin pennies for a rainy day
I'm not scared

I will build a wall, sensing trouble from a mile away
I will build a wall, saw it comin from a mile away
I'm not scared

I will just play dumb
I won't hear a single word that's said
I will bite my tongue, never sing another song again
I'm not scared

Try wearing my insides out
I don't even try, I know I have seen the best I'll have
I don't even try, never been one to take my chances
I don't even try

Clouds are comin, air gets heavy
Looks like trouble on a rainy day

Sun starts sinking, can't see my shadow
Looks like trouble on a rainy day

Holes uncovered, walls will crumble
All spells trouble on a rainy day

Face-off

2008-04-17T09:12:00.003-04:00

The ultimate head-to-head comparison to answer once and for all which one is better.

Mac vs. PC Performance Review

And not to ruin the surprise, but here is what the PC-lover Popular Mechanics people had to say:

"In our speed trials, however, Leopard OS trounced Vista in all-important tasks..."

Trounced. I like the sound of that.

a few things...

2008-04-10T12:27:00.002-04:00

Are you allowed to refer to someone as "some dude" when you are working for a news radio station? I mean it is one thing if you are some trying-to-be-cool-and-hip disc jockey. Then, of course you're going to throw out every word you can think of that will give you street cred (like saying everything is "so hot" or adding "izzle" to the end of every word).

But if you are on the radio, a news radio station, and on top of that, you are the traffic lady (I use that term lightly), you can't say "dude," I'm sorry. That is completely unprofessional. And I know you are trying to sound younger than your 50 year old self feels, but what if your kids were to ever actually listen to you on the radio. "Mom, did you say 'dude' on the radio this morning? Everyone at school was talking about it. So embarrassing."

Even worse, Miss Jive Talker, this was in the middle of a serious traffic report... for people going to work and sitting in rush hour traffic. And then in the middle of your report you go "oh yeah and over on 270, some dude is getting arrested in the right lane, so watch out for that." And then continue to say dude three more times! Ridiculous!

Moving on.
I will once again contend that the workplace should not become your daycare center. This stance was supported by none other than Jack Bauer and the CTU team. Chloe had to bring her baby into the office in the middle of a crisis (surprise) and she got reprimanded for that behavior. If Jack were actually there in the office (and not out saving the world, getting caught by terrorists, and killing people like he always does) he probably would have dropkicked the baby out the window and said something like "Goddamnit, Chloe!! We are at war here! If you bring a baby to work, the terrorists win! Not today, Chloe. Not today." Classic.

And thanks to a tip off from a co-worker, I started watching a new tv show called Top Gear. It airs on BBC America, so not everyone gets it I guess, but it is an awesome show. The hosts primarily test new (amazing) cars from all over the world and talk about how amazing they are (salivary glands activated) but then also try to be objective and actually find things wrong with the cars, ie the things you would notice after driving it for a couple months and the glow of how awesome the car looks has worn off. They also usually have a celebrity on the show, talk about cars, and then send the celeb out on the track to do a lap in an economy car (everyone drives the same car) and see how they stack up against the other celebrity guests. And then sometimes they have shows that are fun, crazy challenges (like buying a 2WD used car in Africa for under $1200 and then driving it across Botswana) that are really entertaining to watch. So, if you get BBC America, you should go check it out. Cause you can only watch so many re-runs of Pros vs. Joes before you get sick.

i know you know

2008-04-02T09:35:00.002-04:00

So, we're talking forever
and you almost feel better
but, better's no excuse for tonight
you see, it's never bad enough
to just leave or give up
but, its never good enough to feel right

Now I'm lying on the table
with everything you said
it will all catch up eventually
well, it caught up
and honestly, the weight of my decisions
were impossible to hold
but they were never yours...

Drop everything, start it all over
remember more than you'd like to forget
Would you like to forget?

tuesday lyrics

2008-04-01T09:25:00.003-04:00

I can prove anything
I'll make you admit again and again

I have no idea how you know
When I dip my toes
In other people's oceans

I've got wider knowledge of the world
I just can't face another argument about the rent,
It all seems so important
In the grander scheme of things
But I was purpose-built
To not feel guilt

Slow-ly end-ing at the end...

When the heat dies down,
I'll be back in town,
But until that time,
I'll be round at mine

Though the ghosts of redemption
might whisper odd promises,
I for one don't put much faith in them specters.
Now the blueprint for sorrow
is just to put off the hurt
'til the price of tomorrow becomes
more than love's worth.

ryan

2008-03-28T11:00:00.002-04:00

Ryan and the Cardinals (w/ Catherine Popper stepping in on the background vocals instead of Kim Richey) performing on Letterman. Dave does seem to really love Ryan's music. And I love that he chose to play this instead of one of his other songs. I mean he was touring to promote his new album, but decided to play a song from Heartbreaker instead. Rock.
If only the FCC would get a life and stop censoring everything, then we would get to hear the whole song without vocals cutting out. Grow up, there are more important things to fix in this world than a couple bad words.

I found this interesting music video on YouTube as well. It is actually the original video shot for Ryan's song "New York, New York" on Gold. But the album release date and video editing all fell right at September 11, not that they could do anything about that... When they decided to re-edit the music video and use the original "performing" shots, in spite of having the Twin Towers in the background, they used different footage for the B roll. The video they released was really good, but I like this footage a lot too. I can see why they changed the focus of the video and because of that, the song was a very popular song to rally around following the tragedy. Putting the music for "When the Stars Go Blue" over top of the video creates an oddly intense effect. Also, having the whole video be "silent," in the sense that it has no shots of Ryan performing or singing, really adds to the power of the lyrics.

For good measure, here's the video they released for "New York, New York"

supporting thirst mutilation worldwide

2008-03-26T21:51:00.003-04:00

Ok... so I can't believe I have been missing out on this, but thanks to some Ultimate frisbee friends, I was tipped off to the existence of Brawndo.... clearly the most awesome anything EVER! So, I found their awesome commercials and died laughing (literally, I was crying cause I was laughing so hard, but didn't actually die like in the Monty Python sketch). Check them out, as well as the College Humor video spoof at the bottom.

2008-03-13T22:09:00.000-04:00

Am I making all the right moves,
Am I singing you the right blues,
Is there a chance that I could call you,
Just to see how you are doing?

blindsided on some idle tuesday

2008-03-11T02:07:00.002-04:00

if dreams are like movies then memories are films about ghosts

last time I checked, ghosts were scary... so Adam, I think you are even more right than you think. nostalgia is a dangerous and powerful thing. heart wrenching and melting all at once. drive a spike deep, run through and through, but shed a tear and a smile for the better days...

2008-03-06T09:31:00.002-05:00

dear iPod,
as much as I normally hate it when your shuffle function gets lazy or doesn't work well, playing multiple songs by the same artist, as if you can't find anyone else in your thousands of songs.... the fact that today you played 5 Ryan Adams songs in a row didn't bother me. in fact I liked it. so, good job... keep up the good work.

later,
Dan (aka your owner and music supplier)

rarely

2008-03-05T01:28:00.003-05:00

rarely do trees cut such stark silhouettes in the night sky

'neath man-lit clouds, the city sleeps restlessly

the taste of "the beautiful hollow by the broad bay"

Islay meets Fuente and melds with angel tears
not just close to nature
soak it up and let it soak in
in it and among it and imbibing it
late nights with light skies

that's why i sing

lord, i wanna yearn for you

i wanna burn with passion over you

and only you

your strength is made perfect
when i am weak
and all that i cling to
i lay at your feet
your grace is sufficient for me

It's almost too cute...

2008-03-01T01:49:00.001-05:00

She's on par with that adorable Welch's grape juice girl... Except less exploited for childish cuteness...

life's soundtrack from the driver's seat...

2008-02-27T10:19:00.002-05:00

But I sing glory from my lowest
And I will say peace to the people I meet
While the world waits for an explosion
That instant of life
That wipes the slate clean

So don't be fooled
No don't get lied to
Love was always cruel

I don't know what I'm doing in this city,
The sun is always in my eyes
It crashes through the windows and I'm sleeping on the couch
When I came to visit you, that's when I knew, I could never have you
I knew that before you did
Still I'm the one who's stupid
And there's this burning... like there's always been
I never been so alone. And I've never been so alive.

We saw the western coast
I saw the hospital
Nursed the shoreline like a wound
Reports of lover's tryst
Were neither clear nor descript
We kept it safe and slow
The quiet things that no one ever knows

So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
If today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals

Mike and Mike lose their way...

2008-02-26T09:33:00.002-05:00

It all started yesterday with this...

Erik Kuselias steps in for Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning." He then reveals, during a discussion of the upcoming Oscars, that he has never seen Gladiator or 300, both being instant classics, and quintessential "man movies." The implication, of course, was that any "real" man would have seen those movies. It is mandatory fare in order to receive your Man Card.

So today on the program, Mike and Erik tried to come up with the Top 5 Movies Every Man Must See. A good thing to do, fun to think about and debate, and the overwhelming email response the show got (myself included) is a testament to the fact that men across the country wanted to chime in on this important issue.

By the end of the show, here are the 5 they came up with.
Animal House
Braveheart
Godfather
Caddyshack
Remember the Titans

Now, I am not going to argue that these aren't great movies, because they are. But the original motivation behind making this list was for the Top 5 "Man" Movies, not their favorites or what they think are some of the best ones out there. It is a really hard task, but these movies should be action-packed, bloody, gory, epic films that are essential experiences in being and becoming a man in today's culture OR they have to be films that speak to what it means to be a man and typical male experiences.

Some of the suggestions I sent to them:
Braveheart, Fight Club, Godfather, The Matrix, Boondock Saints, 300, Gladiator, Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Rudy, Apocalypse Now, Rocky, Rambo, Sin City, Die Hard, Goldfinger, Thunderball (to represent the 007 contingency)

These are "man movies." And no, you don't have to make a concession and have a comedy and a sports movie just so you have a representative from every genre. If they deserve to be in the list because of their merit as a "man movie" then they will make it. But if there is a more deserving selection that gets cut because you only allow one "warrior epic" then that's wrong in my opinion.

But what pisses me off the most is that I feel like they had to back down and change the scope and focus of the list so that it wasn't gender exclusive, as if it is a crime to discuss movies that are made primarily for men and men enjoy more than women. Why do you have to apologize for that and change it from Top 5 Movies Every Man Should See to Top 5 Mike and Mike Movies? Then it becomes a completely different list. If you made this change because you thought you would exclude your female listeners who wouldn't engage in a conversation about movies men love, isn't that over-generalizing a bit (especially considering these would be women listening to a sports radio show on ESPN)?

Maybe you should consider that there are some women out there that enjoy these movies too, or at the very least would be interested in engaging in the discussion because they know what kinds of movies are "man movies" just as well as we do. But speaking of women, Mike Greenberg, the normal co-host, emailed in his Top 5 movies into the show. And I don't know if he was joking or was just going over the top with his picks to support his "sensitive metro-sexual" role on the show, but come on. These aren't anywhere close to man movies... If he does still have his Man Card, it should be revoked.

Greenberg's Picks (I can't remember the 5th one, but you get the idea):
Gone With the Wind
When Harry Met Sally
Sleepless in Seattle
Bridgette Jones' Diary

Golic needs to step up and make the list what it should be, Mandatory Man Movies (alliteration always helps.)

I was hoping to learn a few things like...

2008-02-25T09:23:00.002-05:00

I've been scheduled to work but I'll call in
and my friend isn't busy, he'd be happy to join me
and maybe my friend and your friend will hit it off...
or maybe... we will...

I'm dying to know:
do you, do you like dreaming of things so impossible
or only the practical or ever the wild
or waiting through all your bad bad days
just to end them with someone you care about
and do you like making out and long drives
and brown eyes and guys that just don't quite fit in...?

Thanks Indie, Zexy, Petey, B-Shwaw, and Chris for the nudge in the right direction...

2008-02-14T00:52:00.000-05:00

i am listening
i'm hearing every single word
i see breath... and sighs... and changing minds
i told myself not to remind me of the things i could've been
i told myself not to remind me

today's lyrics of note

2008-02-03T02:32:00.000-05:00

Fighting for prime real estate with all the other things swirling around in my head...

I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed,
They're spreading blankets on the beach.

Now I don’t know where I am,
I don’t know where I’ve been,
But I know where I want to go.

With these things there’s no telling
We just have to wait and see.
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery.

So I packed my car and I headed east
Where I felt your fire and a sweet release
There's a fire in these hills that's coming down
And I don't know much, but I found you here
And I cannot wait another year
Don't know where you're coming from, but you're coming soon

I'll always remember the sound of the stereo,
the dim of the soft lights,
the scent of your hair that you twirled in your fingers
and the time on the clock when we realized it's so late
and this walk that we shared together.

I can see a bed and make it too.
I can see a fireside turn blue.
And I can see the lot of life in you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.

When the world looks back,
when the face looks after that,
I can see a lot of life in you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.

The new mix-tape

2008-01-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

"The real beauty behind the making and the receiving of a compilation tape is far beyond that of the songs itself. A good mixtape facilitates a wonderfully diverse type of communication, where each selected song sings its poetry within the context of a greater meaning."

"The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules." High Fidelity (great review of the movie)

I think any of us who love music also love sharing it with others. Unfortunately, in recent years, the amazing technological advances, which seemed to promise greater ease and freedom for sharing music and ideas, have been squashed, shut down, or restricted. Yet, the original art form of creating a mix-tape has carried on in essence, even if not in reality. I doubt there are many cassette tapes being used or made these days, but a mix CD is easier to make than ever. And beyond that, there are ways to share playlists online, allowing for immediate sharing as well as a limitless number of tracks.

So, since I love music and the way it moves me and inspires me at seemingly just the right moment, I wanted to share that with family and friends. Do I burn countless mix CDs? Maybe... I am still willing to do that, but this time I thought I would try the newest mix-tape evolution, the iTunes iMix. This allows you to publish your playlist to the iTunes store for others to view, listen to previews, and download the songs.

It's definitely not the same as a mix-tape or CD, because really, it ends up being just the track listing of your musical poetry collection, coming with only 30 second preview clips. You don't get the satisfaction of giving another person a piece of yourself and the soundtrack to your life. All that time invested into planning and deciding which tracks go in what order, when to "take it up a notch" and when to cool it down, seems wasted because your audience doesn't get to listen to the whole song and go from one track to the next, the aura of the previous still hanging in the air. So, just to be clear, the iMix does not replace the mix CD, nor does it really capture the mix-tape art in its presentation, but during the creation process it is still there.

But, since I don't have a girlfriend to share my thoughts and feelings with through the musical poetry of a hand-made mix CD, and since I want to share my favorite songs with everyone immediately without having to burn CDs and mail them... I'm gonna give the iMix a try and see if it can communicate a fraction of what I'm feeling.

January Song-a-Day | And we're off to the races...

This iMix is a collection of the songs that have recently hit me and moved me, whether because of how I was feeling at the time or a particular lyric seemed to echo throughout me or as I drove, it matched the scenery perfectly. For whatever reason, these are some of my current favorites. I decided to pick 31 tracks, one for each day of January, kicking off 2008 in style.

Like I said, I would much rather be handing you a CD of these songs (well, it would have to be more than one CD) and letting you experience and explore the music. Who knows, maybe I still will. But for now I wanted to get this up, maybe whet your palate for the whole thing. Lemme know if you're interested...

Oh Dana...

2008-01-25T02:26:00.000-05:00

ESPN sports anchor and co-host of ESPN2's First Take, Dana Jacobsen, has been suspended for comments made earlier this month at a roast of ESPN's Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg (of ESPN Radio "Mike & Mike"). Many reports from the roast have confirmed that Dana was drunk and "made an absolute fool of herself." Mike and Mike were both visibly embarrassed as Jacobsen drank vodka straight from the bottle and cursed like a sailor.

Most notably, also the reason for ESPN's disciplinary action, Jacobsen (University of Michigan alumna) said to Golic (former Notre Dame football star) "F--- Notre Dame! F--- Touchdown Jesus! F--- Jesus!" (click here for more of the story) I think ESPN was right and acted appropriately. This was inappropriate behavior and she deserved to be punished for it.

Most interesting to me is the general public reaction. It has been varied, to say the least, but consistently I have heard and read people saying things along the lines of "It was a roast, all bets are off, stop being a party-pooper" or that since she wasn't on the set of First Take, she can do whatever she wants. Others think that it is about political correctness and Bible-thumpers having too much say in politics and media in our country.

But really, in my opinion, it comes down to appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior. You're right, in general, if you are of legal drinking age and you want to have a drink after work, your job shouldn't punish you for your behavior. But the thing is, Jacobsen is a public media figure, a face on TV, and she was attending a public event hosted by her company honoring some of her co-workers. So whether you like it or not, you're still at work, and your behavior should reflect that. A public ESPN event is not the place to get trashed and curse out other guests, let alone Jesus. Show some restraint, conduct yourself with dignity, maybe even try acting like a lady.

And secondly, just because you're at a roast, that doesn't mean anything goes. Please note, this was an ESPN roast for radio hosts, not a Comedy Central roast of a comedian or actor. Inherent in that is that this roast would not be as vulgar or obscene as the Pamela Anderson roast, for example. Secondly, it is one thing to say that a comedian's material for "that" kind of a roast has no limits, but as an anchorwoman going to a roast is not the equivalent of a vacation in Vegas. What happens at that roast does not stay at that roast. You still have to act professional and not like the world is without consequences.

Look, she made a mistake, she made a fool of herself, she made some offensive remarks, and embarrassed herself, the guests of honor, and most importantly, her company, the hosts, ESPN. She deserves to be punished and possibly even fired if ESPN deems this as damaging enough to their reputation and appearance. It's not about religion or the Catholics in control. It is about inappropriate behavior at a public event and the just punishment for that.

The Fuhrer on Amerikanische Fussball

2008-01-25T01:29:00.000-05:00

Funny video of Hitler's reaction to the NFL playoffs. Even "ze Germans" know that dating a celebrity like Jessica Simpson doesn't work for an NFL quarterback...

Oh snap!

2008-01-22T00:26:00.000-05:00

Well, as sad as I am that the Packers' post-season hopes, and that of seeing Favre in the Super Bowl against The GQ-B, Brady, fade into the cold Wisconsin night, the one thing that does make me happy is the thought of Tiki Barber eating his words. Back in August, in his newly-acquired lucrative role as NBC football analyst (as if I didn't hate the new Sunday Night Football enough...), Tiki used the platform to bad-mouth his former coaches and teammates, with direct attacks at Eli Manning's ability to lead.

I never really liked the arrogant, former Cavalier running back in the first place, seeing as he had quite a few big games against the Redskins over the years. But to spend your career working hard to get a chance to start, have teammates and coaches support you and believe in you when you were struggling (am I the only one who remembers how much he fumbled back in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, which ultimately led to the firing of coach Jim Fassel?), and then halfway through the season announce that you're going to retire and

then stab your coaches and teammates in the back once you become a corporate-hired suit on Sunday? It aint right Tiki... How can you rip on Eli's leadership abilities when you were one of the team's leaders and you backed out and let your team down halfway through the season?

Either way, it's not right to come out of the NFL (or any team sport for that matter where other players trust and count on you) and turn right around and spit in the face of the organization that got you where you were. Publishing a book, getting on talk shows and magazine covers, all because you stabbed your brothers in the back. It's shady at best, but I guess that's what they teach down in Charlottesville...

And for these reasons, I am thrilled that the Giants are in the Super Bowl. Yes I would rather have Iron Man Favre in there, fighting the good fight and riding off into the sunset, but I hope this is just a solid slap in Barber's face. Because what really got the Giants into the playoffs and now through to the Super Bowl was Eli Manning's calm, cool leadership under pressure. In the freezing cold of Lambeau, Manning put together some very impressive drives, was throwing the ball really well, and had excellent control of the game. His stats would have been even more impressive if his receivers would stop dropping passes. So, good for you Eli, and as for as you go, Tiki, how does that foot taste?

Same route, new adventure

2008-01-18T01:15:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I took a random, spontaneous trip South to visit and revive a too-long neglected friendship. But what I found along the way was unexpected. It wasn't just a 4 hour drive through the middle of nowhere, this was an emotional, and somewhat painful at times, trip down memory lane through some of Virginia's most beautiful real estate.

The trip along Route 29 South from DC or from the I-64 interchange in Charlottesville is soaked with memories and the Deja Vu gnomes lurk around every corner. But the circumstances were much different this time. These familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer build a sense of anticipation, excitement, and joy. Instead it filled me, as I drove sans-passenger, with a sinking feeling of dread and sadness, a drenching aura of loss and nostalgia. Dreading the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that the light burns. It was somewhat akin to driving by the site of a car crash that claimed the life of a friend. You remember the life of that friend, the good times that were shared, and the feeling the first time you drove past after the accident. It is the kind of sinking feeling of sadness that seems to push the slow motion button and turn the radio volume down a few notches.

Once I pulled out of that oddly-appropriate-song-induced haze, the rest of the drive was wonderful. Route 29 South and then Route 15 South take you through the heart of Virginia. You skirt the Blue Ridge off to the West and pass through town after town, each rich with stories and character. So many little general stores, antique shops, and watering holes. Small brick houses with rocking chairs on the porch. Old, run-down houses that undoubtedly hosted family and friends in years past, but now are only containers where films about ghosts reside, remembered and referenced occasionally many miles away. But they have character, they have substance. Southern Virginia isn't plagued by McMansions overlapping each other and popping up every month. No, the pace of life is slower, the things valued don't have a brand name or a price tag. It was just nice to see a part of the Old Dominion that I feel more connected to and enjoy more than Northern VA.

Not to mention the beautiful scenery and the accompanying music. All in all, the trip was fabulous. In spite of getting lost on Memory Lane and winding up in a dark alley, the clouds and sunset and great music paired perfectly with the constant hum of the road and the bastions of tradition along the roadside. Route 29 and Route 15 south, definitely a drive I recommend.

Don't like it one bit!

2008-01-10T00:47:00.000-05:00

Big Brother is Watching... You Surf

Frightening article about net neutrality issues and the power corporations and ISPs will soon be given (or maybe they will just take it). It comes down to our civil liberties and right to privacy. The big suits see something that people enjoy and use often for entertainment, education, and socializing, and they want to get their hands on it and control it (and us by association). Who is standing up for the consumer's rights in all this? Who believes that the internet should be free and open for all to use (however they wish)?

And really, on the issue of media piracy... you are fighting an uphill battle. Do you really think you are going to beat it? NBC, you shouldn't be complaining because you're the one that cut its nose off to spite its face by ditching a contract with Apple and iTunes for all your shows, not to mention your heavy hand down on YouTube. And why? Because people were enjoying your videos through some other medium than your own website?? Note: on iTunes, they were paying for the episodes.... the exchange was that the consumer got to watch the episode they paid for whenever they wanted to without commercials. I guess that was too much of a concession to the viewer.

Don't you people see that this whole issue of media piracy isn't all bad? People hear about new bands, share songs, share videos, and in doing so share excitement and passion and a part of themselves with their friends and family. What do you (and your brilliant marketing execs) think is the best form of marketing? Your annoying, repetitive, bludgeon-me-to-death TV commercials? Or a friend saying "hey you should check this out." You just don't get it. Look at viral videos. People have tried to create videos to "tap" into this viral craze, but it doesn't work. If something is good, or funny, or entertaining on some level, people will enjoy it and then will want to share it with friends. Stop trying to hinder the consumer from enjoying and sharing your product with other consumers.

Look at Radiohead.... They essentially gave the finger to the music industry and all the crap they are pulling with copyrights and sharing restrictions, and instead they focused on what matters, the fans. Before releasing the hard copy of their latest album "In Rainbows," they offered a digital copy of the entire album on their website for download. The pricing, they left it up to the fans, who could decide how much they wanted to pay for the download, or pay nothing at all. Essentially, Radiohead was saying, "Here is some music we made because we are passionate about music, and we think it is really good. If you like it too and want to support us as a band, then pay what you would like." This revolutionary way of releasing an album is almost close to a charity accepting donations, yet I think the message hits home. It shows confidence in your material, respect and appreciation for your fans, and it also makes the consumer really think about what it means to buy music.

It makes you think about the work and creativity that goes into a full length album and about the fact that the artists should be compensated for that. Or maybe you want to listen to the digital version for free and then buy the CD when it comes out, either to support the band or to have the full-quality studio recording. But regardless, whatever Radiohead did, they must have hit a chord or found a niche somewhere, because in spite of the open digital release, "In Rainbows" is #1 on the music charts. (see also NY Times article) And that is the CD, list price of $13.98. See? Letting the consumer decide doesn't undermine the music industry, in fact, it seems quite the opposite. How much would you pay an artist for an album if you could buy it for free? What if you new the majority of the money was actually going to the band and not to the label?

Anyways, from internet censorship and filtering to Radiohead and the music industry, I think we've come full circle...

I don't buy it...

2008-01-08T00:34:00.000-05:00

It seems the end of the road is near for Hillary Clinton. For whatever reason(s), the voters have shifted their approval away from her and now support Obama and Edwards. The momentum is definitely not on Clinton's side.

Yet on Tuesday, in what seems to be a last ditch effort to redefine herself and save her campaign, she didn't talk politics from a podium, she spoke from the heart, with emotion, to a small group of voters in a coffee shop (see video here). Ok sorry... I can't keep that up any long... and I think I might have just thrown up a little bit in my mouth. I can't keep up the facade and try to talk about this photo op PR scam as if it were merely a "moment of weakness." Come on! It was planned, calculated, fabricated acting meant to tug at the emotions of voters and make them feel sorry for her. Clinton is campaigning for sympathy votes now. Wow, that is really reassuring. She is running for the President of the United States, right? Not junior class SGA rep?

The tears and emotion look so fake and so rehearsed that it is as comical as it is underhanded. The setting is of course staged as well, a small, intimate coffee shop setting, where she will supposedly be able to "let her hair down" and interact closely with the women joining her there. ABC news had a reporter stationed there as well, whose article is very clearly pro-Clinton. It is a step short of campaign propaganda. Is ABC on the Ice Queen's payroll? Or maybe they just expect to be able to cash in on covering her favorably and Obama negatively when (if) Clinton reaches office.

Another disturbing part of this, ya know apart from the blatant, almost-begging, nature of this latest campaign stunt, is that she is targeting women so hardcore. It is as if she has decided to just focus on the female vote and try to go after that. She warms up those Clinton lying and acting genes (she did learn from the best after all) and goes right to work, convincing these women that she is human and emotional and that she is really having a tough time campaigning. She is trying to remind them, "Hey, remember, I am a woman over here? You should be voting for me cause you're a woman too." The implicit message is that she sees herself as a viable candidate only to the female population and is now complaining, almost whining like a spoiled little girl who didn't get her way, because the big, bad men are picking on her.

During the video she repeatedly says "us" when talking about struggles and things that need to be changed in the country. It sounds like she is talking about the nation as a whole, but I think the double meaning or perhaps actual meaning, the context of which this clip has been plucked from, is that she is speaking to the women in the room and all female voters, trying to rally them around her as a "band of sisters" who need to care for each other and support each other. It has now become an "us" vs. "them" battle that is no longer Democrat-Republican, Liberal-Conservative, or even Obama vs. Clinton. Instead she tried to paint a new dichotomy, female against male, to inspire women to vote for her as a step of unity and empowerment against male societal and political bullying.

It is no longer about comparing candidates on their character, experience, policy stances, or even past record. She is shedding some "woe-is-me" tears and trying to get the female pity vote. More so than ever before, I can see that she isn't fit for the office of President.

Time to step down...

2008-01-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

While ringing in the New Year with some friends, the consensus was that Dick Clark needs to stop hosting the New Year's Eve countdown show. I thought that after the pitiful performances the last two years, the TV execs would realize that it was time for Dick to retire. After his stroke in 2004, Dick hasn't been the same. He has returned to TV for a couple appearances, none of which have been good. He doesn't look or sound the same, once known as "America's Oldest Teenager," Clark is now barely able to put together a sentence, read from a teleprompter, or keep from slurring his words. This video confirms that he actually said "Happy Dew Year!" which may in fact be Mountain Dew's new promotional slogan... It is really sad, depressing, and painful to watch him struggle and ultimately fail to coherently host his popular (still?) New Year's show.

I am really sad that he suffered a stroke, but as he was recovering, everyone should have been able to see that he was no longer fit to be on television. That is a fact. That isn't being inconsiderate or discriminatory or anything like that. It is a fact. There must be some publicity agent or fit-for-film filter to put a stop to this. Just let the man retire and let us keep the memories of the eternally youthful Dick Clark who hosted a cultural tradition every year with incredible energy. As much as I hate Seacrest, if he is going to be the heir to the throne, let him take it now. Dick, it really is time to sign off.

Those is fightin' words

2007-12-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

The debate over the new Knight Rider series rages. An article in Popular Mechanics breaks down the new KITT and compares it to the old one. The best part is all the comments at the bottom of the article. In my opinion, I think it is stupid. It all goes back to the fact that our entertainment industry falls apart without good writers. They deserve to be fairly compensated for their creativity and hard work. Without writers, we get horrible re-makes of 70s and 80s shows, more reality TV, more game shows... barf. No wonder TV shows on DVD are doing such good business.

First of all, NBC shouldn't be doing this re-make. They are too commercial, they are too corporate. Shows like this have a solid, cult following and their fans don't want to see something from their past violated and transformed (pun intended) into a crappy corporate pawn, used for advertisement and promotion of a new model of car. Shouldn't it be a fun and entertaining show, not a season's worth of commercials for one car company? How much did Ford pay for that product placement? And seriously, a Mustang? I mean it looks nice and all, but it isn't the same. It doesn't look like KITT. The Trans Am was solid, imposing, but still accessible by the common man, unlike the Batmobile or this glossy POS. You can't replace KITT, so why have just have a newer, updated version of him? Shiny, maybe some nicer wheels, some extra gadgets, but still the same KITT. That is what people want. Refresh and renew the old, good memories, but don't change them or exploit them for your own gain.

NBC just doesn't get that. They start drooling when they see dollar signs...

In a similar article, Moviefone.com ranked the Worst Movie Remakes of All Time.

Nooni and Nooni

2007-12-17T18:30:00.000-05:00

So as I was walking around IKEA the other day, looking for a couple items for the house, I couldn't stop thinking of the Swedish neighbors SNL skit. I remember that at the time I thought it was ridiculous and stupid and didn't get it. But within a week I was dying to see it again because it was so funny. So after many searches on the web, I finally found it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The BCS Computer's Feelings are Hurt...

2007-12-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

So, as the BCS debate rages on, using this upset-filled season as Exhibit A, more and more people are calling for the playoff system to be implemented ('December Delirium' as some have put it). There are people on all sides of the ball upset about how the bowls are being divided up and how the rankings came out at the end of the season, but is the bracket-based playoff really the answer? Well, if you wanna see what a playoff scheme might look like, check out the College Football Playoff Simulator on ESPN. It is awesome. See how the probabilities stack up, the simulated stats and occasional upsets lead to what would be a very exciting postseason. It didn't take very long for me to generate a Virginia Tech national championship (pictured). The computer knows what is up. But this does raise some questions and concerns...

How many games are you going to ask these teams to play? Are you going to cut out some of the out-of-conference games during the season and back up the conference championships (well, that is if the conference has a championship instead of letting their top team take the last three weeks of the season off)? So what does that do to the chances of the "little guy?" If the season is going to be primarily conference games, then a championship, then seeding and bracket play (potentially 4 more games??) then were do the smaller programs get a chance to show they deserve some recognition on the national stage? Is this just about making the big names bigger and the small ones smaller? Would it become a 16-game season? Possibly more? Would it take away coverage and hype from the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl?

And what about these players? We all question if they are still studying with all that practice and traveling. But if you add another three or four weeks of football onto the season, should they just take the fall semester off academically? I mean how do you expect them to be able to do that and still study? Or do they just get to float by and pass the classes, "for the greater good?"

Can I Get a Witness?

2007-12-12T02:46:00.000-05:00

Wow... I had no idea Bill Maher actually felt like this. This video alone almost makes me want to like him. I was with him, wanting to yell out "Preach it, brother!" for the first five and a half minutes. After that it gets more political and he starts dropping the F bomb left and right. But still....

The only sad thing is that there is so much truth to what he is saying that the audience was almost silent during the pauses. The men should have been standing up and giving him an ovation, but instead they respectfully applauded at the properly timed moments. Were they there with a girlfriend or wife and only clapped and laughed when she did, to avoid a tongue lashing at home or passive-aggressive manipulative silent tension around the house. This is an issue that I have been talking about for a long time now it seems, but no one seems to agree with me. They just nod and smile and either think I am some chauvinist pig or I am going to die alone and single in a monastery. I see it especially in commercials and TV shows. The characters are so stereotypical, it is really offensive to me.... but everyone else sees it as normal or just listen and humor my tirades...

That fear of agreement and the ensuing retaliation is so prevalent that I hesitate to even post this on my blog. I know there aren't too many people reading it regularly, but still, why have I been trained to be afraid of agreeing with something like this, which I believe is true? I feel like I am going to be flooded with hate mail and death threats or permanently shunned by the female gender (I know all about your secret gossip networks and listservs) Why are we trying to make men more like women? Aren't our differences the most attractive part? Why has the widely accepted "truth" of "if momma aint happy, aint nobody happy" been applied to all walks of life and all situations? Such that men in our society have to walk around on eggshells to make sure they don't offend a female nearby.

Anyways. I don't usually like Bill Maher and I know he has said a lot of dumb and offensive things over the years. But it is refreshing to hear someone tell this side of the story and uncover the reality sitting right before our eyes. Feminism may have done some great things for the furtherance of females in society and the workplace, but I think it has also had a very negative affect on men, culture, and our society as a whole.

Best Endorsement of All Time

2007-12-11T23:48:00.000-05:00

I guess that's how it's gonna be. Seems like my vote is already decided.

Back to you, Kirk...

2007-11-25T00:20:00.000-05:00

It is pretty much widely accepted to have a female commentator on the sidelines for every football game to give us an in-depth look into the game (is this because we assume women can sense or feel the emotional charge of momentum and passion on the sidelines better than a man can?). Personally, I have always been opposed to this attempt to freshen and lighten the broadcast with a sweet female voice and some pretty "eye candy" to throw up on the screen.

Granted, I am not as opposed to the sideline reporters as I am the women who actually do the play-by-play sportscasting (you know who you are, Pam Ward), but with their Captain Obvious comments and observations, I wonder if the sideline reporters are anything more than a pretty face to put in front of the camera and talk about football (with their seemingly elementary understanding of the game). Sadly, there are many whose looks have gone the way of the buffalo, and by that I mean both relocated to the mountains of Wyoming and also covered with hair.

So, should they be pulled? Maybe they understand football and can talk into a microphone, but does the audience really want that or do they just want some hottie with words pertaining to football coming out of her glitter-glossed mouth as we zone everything out and stare at the screen?

Well, apparently a couple individuals have taken it upon themselves to answer this question by compiling lists of the hottest sportscasters currently on the tube. I found FoxSports list first as I was looking at some fantasy football scores (yeah, this kinda gives a whole new definition to fantasy football... or football fantasy rather). It seemed pretty good and I don't have too many complaints. I do hope that this list isn't in order because Shana Hiatt, Erin Andrews, and Rachel Nichols should be higher. Speaking of which, why not let us vote or rank? I want my opinion to be heard!! What about Suzy Kolber? Or the little known NASCAR reporter, Shannon Spake? Even Michelle Bonner and the inner monologue battling to convince you she actually is hot?

Well as you would expect, there are many people in the web community that have weighed in on the issue. Here are some links to more female sportscaster content.

Sideline Hotties (website dedicated to sexy female sportscasters)
Erin Andrews Slideshow (a little creepy...)
A Blog List of Hottest Sportscasters (I don't agree with this list at all, but whatever)
Survey: Favorite Female Hotties at ESPN (Andrews and Nichols clearly running away with it... but what caught my eye was that Nichols was in Maxim? And this didn't get her more votes??)
The One and Only Maria Sansone... Sideline Reporting??

Maybe at some point I will make my own list, but for now, I am glad people are willing to admit why they really like having a pretty female face on the sidelines telling them about football.

Old man bites tenderly...

2007-11-07T02:48:00.000-05:00

This is one of the funniest Japanese game shows I have ever seen. The contestants are in a library and have to be quiet, no more than a whisper. The rest is pretty self-explanatory...

Senor Mathador Attacks!

2007-11-06T17:04:00.000-05:00

I finally uploaded Benji's Senor Mathador video to YouTube, so now all the world can see the awesomeness. I also just uploaded a couple other videos. It's so easy, I don't know why I waited this long to get into it...

a dropped call can ruin a conversation...

2007-10-31T18:31:00.000-04:00

THE UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
The “FLAG CODE”

§171. Conduct during playing The Star-Spangled Banner

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

What part of that don't you understand, Obama?

You are not in uniform, you are a United States Senator, and you are one of the Democratic candidates for President of the United States, yet you refuse to place your hand over your heart during the National Anthem? If you are unwilling to pledge your allegiance to our nation, then whose nation are you pledging your allegiance to?

Sure some people have made a big deal out of your stance on not wearing an American flag lapel pin. I was surprised that you would come out and declare that you will not wear one as opposed to just deciding privately that you don't need excessively patriotic "flair" on your suits.

Do you have a problem with our flag? With our country? With being a citizen of this country? You're not making a very convincing argument for why America should vote for you.