chances are excellent

2011 travel

2012-01-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn once said or wrote "Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.”

2011 was such a poor year for me professionally that for some time I forgot what a excellent year it was for travel.

Feb – Miami
March – Miami, Chicago, Daytona Beach
April – Mazatlan
May – Medellin, PANACA
June – Houston
July – Los Angeles
August – Bogota, Cali, Chicago
September – Merida
October – San Salvador
November – Miami
December – Toronto, Mexico City

Instead of saying 'woe is me' I feel fortunate to have some highlights. The best trip of the year was the May trip to Colombia. I'll have to write
another blog about that.

White Shadow season one, episode 15 Le Grand Finale

2011-09-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

I must admit by the end of season one I became disillusioned with the quality of the show. The final epidose was mostly just a throwaway where the season comes to an end and the team forms a doo wop group.
The only serious topic was about Morris dating a white girl with a bad reputation.
At this point I don't intend to watch or blog about season 2. If I am laid up with some illness or injury it could be possible.

White Shadow season one, episode 14 - Little Orphan Abner

2011-03-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Plot - The show opens with Carver making an improbable comeback at the end of the game. Goldstein is a little overzealous after the win and keeps the other Carver players from looking "cool". Reese in particular is cold to Goldstein. As the episode develops we learn more about Goldstein and see a pattern in how he is a loner on the otherwise close-knit team. Goldstein's parents died in a car wreck years before and now he lives with his doting but over-protective grandparents. They are very proud of their Jewish roots and impart their values onto young Abner.
Grandpa falls ill and suddenly Goldstein has the house to himself. Reeves implores his team to help keep him company, but first Hayward and then the rest of the team take advantage of the situation to party with girls. Finally Reeves gives him some tough love and at the end of the episode Goldstein rants at the team and they accept him. Grandma comes home and the team surprises them with dishes to pass.
Observations- The two main themes are social isolation and self-confidence. We watch Abner slowly mature through the episode and come to the realization he must be more assertive in life. His goofy, happy go lucky persona does not play well with the mean streets of urban LA. Reeves gives another stellar performance, this time knowing when to hold back and push the kid forward to face the world alone.

White Shadow season one, episode 13 - Mainstream

2011-02-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Plot - Coach Reeves attends a faculty meeting and implores the teachers to show more school spirit by attending the basketball games. This however was not the key moment of the meeting. Just before Reeves' impassioned plea, Prinicipal Willis told the teachers about the Mainstream program, where disabled/handicapped/special needs students would be assimilated into the Carver student body. Only later does Reeves take an interest after one of the teachers committed an autistic boy named Tom Hendricks to the team despite his repeated refusals. The experiment did not go well as the team was less than supportive and Reeves thin on patience.
Finally Reeves, made a "breakthrough", getting Tom to dribble after badgering him with passes and talk. By the time he realized what he'd done, Tom was tranferred back to the school and then Reeves worked to get him back, culminating in Tom getting into a game at the end of the episode.

Observations - I don't think the episode realized its potential. There could have been more exploring of the Mainstream program at the school and less about Tom and the team. However, this was a basketball-themed show so we did get to see how it might have played out in that arena.
The best part was the end, which was classy. Carver had a dominant performance, and at the end of the final timeout, Coolidge carried Tom onto the court. Then Coolidge passed the ball to Tom and screened off what seemed like the entire other team. Tom finally took a shot but the camera froze just as the ball left his hands, with some type of crowd cheering noise in the background.

White Shadow season one, episode 12 - The Great White Dope

2011-02-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

***the author watched this episode a couple of weeks ago, but was not moved to blog about it. After moving on to the next episode, he found inspiration again and is now belatedly writing this.

Plot - This episode centers around Mario "Salami" Petrino. He is one of two "white" players on the team, and plays to the stereotypical archetype of an Italian-American kid. He is extremely stressed out in this episode, and it is because he ardently wants to become a boxer. He takes his lumps in the backrooms of bars for $15 a fight. About midway through the episode we learn that his father was once a little-known boxer from New York, and that they have communication problems.
Coach Reeves of course does his usual job of putting the pieces together, working through the issues with the other characters, and eventually bringing us to a satisfying conclusion. In this case Mario and father are reunited in the corner of the ring, and father is reminding son of all the boxing techniques they reviewed years ago.
Observations - At this point in season one it is painfully clear that Timothy Van Patten, son of Dick, is the least talented actor in the series. His lack of range, facial expressions, and vocal intonations make him the direct forebearer of Keanu Reeves. Coach Reeves is the only one that made this episode bearable, and he was even uncharacteristically morose about inserting himself into Salami's woes. We were due for a Salami-centered episode at one point, and this was it.
One mildly interesting aspect to this was the club-fighting scene that was around these times in Los Angeles. The club he fought at was on Western Avenue, a long, well-known street in the city.
Some special cameos - Former welterweight boxing champ Carlos Palomino had a small role with some dialogue. Coach Reeves listened to a faux radio interview between Chick Hearn and Artis Gilmore where Gilmoer 'disses' Kennie Reeves.

White Shadow season one, episode eleven - Spare the Rod

2011-01-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

Plot - Coach Reeves is volunteered by the principal to be the substitute gym teacher. Lucious Robinson, a menacing ne'er do well is a student in the class who refuses to participate. Reeves cajoles him into standing up at which point he lashes out at Reeves. Reeves catches him and sends him off, and then receives a cheap shot punch in the face from Lucious. Reeves quickly retaliates with a sharp right to the mouth and we are on our way to a compelling episode about corporal punishment.
There are different camps around the school. The team is unhappy about it and question Reeves' intentions. Reeves is mad at himself and really broken up about the incident as he opposes getting physical. The adminstration supports Reeves and moves to expel Robinson. The faculty treat Reeves as a hero. Reeves was willing to "spare the rod" until Robinson makes a very unwanted advance on Ms. Buchanan and loses all hope.
Observations - A welcome return to a quality episode after the last two turkeys. The director did excellent with some different camera angles. The lack of music augmented the tension rather than detracting from it. Solid acting all around from the cast.
At one point Reeves visited the Robinson house expecting to see a rat-infested house with an abusive drunk father. The parents were humble and admittedly had struggled with raising Lucious. In the small but well-kept house there pictures of JFK and MLK on the wall. I've seen this before on TV and movies from that era. It used to be ordinary for people to put a picture of the president or other figure on the wall. Today it would appear odd to see a picture of a national figure such Dubya, Obama, or the Grizzly Mama and would seem to cause serious tension with half of the people that see it. Such is the divisive country we live in.

Turn the page

2011-01-17T19:28:00.001-08:00

Is a half-hearted attempt better than none at all???
For some odd reason I prefer the concept of finishing a book more than the act itself. Tonight at the library I resisted the temptation to check out a book since I have some I'm currently reading but haven't finished yet. I estimate I finish about a fifth of the books I start.
This has even reached to my two sons to whom I was reading Treasure Island and an abridged version of The Jungle Book. Needless to say we're not reading them anymore.
Here are some books I'm working on that hopefully will make it to a review on this blog:
The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam - Covers history of decisions leading to and keeping US in the Vietnam War.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle- New Age book was recommended to me to ease occasional insomnia.
The Rhythm of Life by Matthew Kelly - recommended to me by a co-worker. Pretty good but like most self-help books they are hard to finish as their is no storyline.
The Everything Chess book - The only thing harder than playing chess is reading about it. I just need someone to sit down and teach me how to play better.
These are just the bedside books. There are more scattered around the house.
Two that come to mind quickly are Sense and Sensibility and The Great Train Robbery.

I have mixed feelings about this. First of all no one cares, much less me. But there is some small voice telling me I should plow ahead and by doing that I will come across something valuable. Finally, to paraphrase a airline magazine article, "if there were so many good books, then why are you sitting here reading this blog?"

White Shadow season one, episode nine - We're in the Money

2011-01-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

Plot - The Carver team is invited to play in an invitational tournament in Las Vegas.
Coach Reeves acts as the coach and chaperone. The players hatch an idea to win money gambling and are able to raise $420 from the student body. Eventually they sneak out of the hotel,find a minor-league casino, and eventually lose most of the money. Reeves does not explode as expected but seems resigned to this type of behavior. They lose both of the tournament games. Near the end, Goldstein finds a wallet with $6000. Reeves forces them to return it and the collect a finders fee.
Observations - This episode was poor but relatively better than Airball. For the second straight episode there was no basketball action. The casino scenes were fairly well-done and shows that Vegas hasn't really changed, just evolved. I can't explain why the producers felt these two episodes were necessary. Perhaps they felt that we'd had too many serious topics and needed a break.

White Shadow, season one, episode nine - Airball

2011-01-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

Plot - The team is invited to play in a tournament in San Jose and the episode consists of the preparation for the flight and the flight itself. This creates a great deal of excitement with the players because none of them had flown before. There are problems with the landing gear and the flight is forced to return back to LA because "there aren't enough rooms in the hospital" in San Jose.
Observations - It's taken me a week to write this because I was so disappointed with this episode. It seemed like the producers were given a bigger budget and the writers were told just to make something up. This showed in the vacuous plot and dialogue. Without going into too much detail, there are four items to share. First, Coach Reeves told the team to be ready to leave from Carver to LAX by 8am for a 9:20 am flight. Simply impossible. Second, air travel seemed to be slightly tamer at the time and more of a novelty for everyone involved. Nowadays it seems most fliers and flight crews are weary and stressed out. Third, the plot itself was something of a ripoff of the disaster movie genre of the 70s. By the time the public had seen Airport, Airport 1975, Airport '77, and would soon endure The Concorde...Airport '79. Luckily this episode was only 45 minutes long rather than a full-length movie. Finally, if I had to pick a best actor for this episode, it would be Erik Kilpatrick, who portrays Curtis Jackson.

White Shadow season one episode eight - Just One of the Boys

2010-12-27T19:32:00.000-08:00

Plot - When this episode opens we see Coach Reeves wearing a bad-fitting floral apron and teaching a cooking class to a well-behaved Carver class. The apron was not coincidental, for the wrenching topic du jour for this installment was homosexuality. Carver recently received a transfer student/basketball player from Palisades High named Collins, played by Peter Horton. At first only the administration and Reeves were aware of Collins' alleged homosexuality, but later the team and the school found out as well. Reeves and Miss Buchanan worked through the delicate issue throughout the episode with the confident yet confused Collins. Ultimately, Reeves used the topic to teach his team a lesson in tolerance, and Buchanan took a star turn in her closing heartfelt conversation with Collins that convinced him to return to Palisades High.
Observations - I was impressed with this episode as it clearly was not a typical topic for a drama series in 1979. Reeves captured his generation's ambivalence and inarticulateness towards homosexuality early in the episode but ended up taking the high road and teaching us all a lesson.
The well-behaved class was refreshing to see. It seems all classroom tv shows since this time have had disruptive and disrespectful students trying to one-up each other.
Reeves paid a visit to Collins' parents. His father was the kind of old-school So Cal power player that was common on tv in this age. He dismissed his wife from the room and was disrespectful to Reeves. He also wanted nothing to do with what was going on with his son.
While this was not the most entertaining episode it was certainly well-acted, thanks to Peter Horton and Reeves and Buchanan upping their game.
Horton was 25 years old at the time of the episode so he fit in with the other members of the team.

White Shadow season one, episode seven - This Old Gang of Mine

2010-12-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

Plot - Ricky "Gogo" Gomez has been kicked off the basketball team due to poor grades and then falls back into hanging out with his old gang called "The Aztecs" who speak a blend of Spanish and accented English. Enter Coach Reeves. Reeves is visibly upset by the decision and goes about uncovering clues and fighting for Gomez throughout the episode.
Gomez is seemingly one of the only Hispanics at the school. He struggles to read books such as Little Women and understand the nomenclature of biology class. Reeves fights on two fronts to restore Gomez to Carver and the team: one of getting him safely away from the Aztecs and the other to fight the Carver administration and faculty to cater more to Gomez. It works and at the end everyone is happy.
Observations - This is an interesting look at multi-culturalism and takes us away from simple black and white as the show is sometimes viewed. Gomez is proud of his Mexican heritage.
Reeves and an LA detective spend some time driving around LA at night looking for a "rumble" that Gomez was a part of. Some of the exteriors were reminiscent of "Grease" and others of The Terminator movies.
The Mexican actors were not very convincing. First, Gomez' mother made a terrible grammatical error when speaking to Reeves through an interpreter. Second, the Aztecs actors didn't look Mexican or menacing at all for that matter.
I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt as this is not the White Shadow's strength, and the producers and writers were willing to go out of their comfort zone to try to create a compelling episode.

White Shadow season 1 episode 4 - Bonus Baby

2010-12-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Plot - Warren Coolidge stars at the Inter-city tournament and becomes MVP despite Carver finishing second. This attracts the attention of unsavory sports agents that want him to forego college and declare for the NBA. Never mind that he is nowhere near that level of player. They just want a piece of his bonus. Coolidge aids them by become prideful and arrogant.
Coolidge is seduced by the fast talking agent and sexy lady who shows him around town. Luckily Reeves and a certain dishwasher were able to prevent Coolidge from making the wrong decision, and by the end he had shunned the agent and returned to his simple life.

Observations - This is another example of White Shadow being before its time. Nowadays this would be a blah story as we've seen so many real-life Coolidges either succeed in the NBA or fall way short.
The agent wore an suit, unbottoned shirt and gold chain.
Many references that Coolidge was the nest "Dr. J".

WS season one, episode 3 - The Offer

2010-12-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

Plot - Coach Reeves is approached by a lovely local newslady named Sally Adams to be part of human interest story. The turning point of the episode is when she reviews raw footage of Reeves with her producer. He was enthralled and wanted to push Reeves into being a color commentator for NCAA or NBA games. Backing up a pit, Reeves was never really comfortable with the concept. He lost his cool and was ejected from a game with cameras rolling. Later he blew off a phone call from Gomez because he was on his way to a swanky party with the TV people.
That foreshadowed why Reeves ultimately rejected the offer. He lost the team after Gomez was sent to juvenile detention from shoplifting. Gomez was in jail when he called. Reeves' focus was on winning back the trust of the team, and less and less on the tv project. Finally, he parted ways with the lovely blonde and coached his team to a close loss at the end of the episode. All is well at Carver High.

Observations - I liked seeing how the TV producer dressed, which was eerily similar to Sean Penn in Carlito's Way. When did white guys stop unbuttoning their shirts and wearing gold chains? I guess when leisure suits and disco went out of style.
As in Pregnant Pause we are treated to a shower singing scene, only this time it takes an ugly turn. The wood board that was placed to cover private parts didn't work this time, as there was "something" showing with Goldstein. It wasn't clear but it was fleshy and unappealing. I hope that doesn't happen again.

WS season one, episode six - Wanna Bet?

2010-12-12T19:04:00.000-08:00

Plot - Coach Reeves is on a picnic in the park with a pretty blonde but doesn't pay much attention to her. That's because he's watching Bobby Magnum, played by Michael Warren, hustling others in basketball for cash. Reeves takes an interest in him and then cajoles him into enrolling and playing for Carver. Bobby has a lot of baggage, mostly owing money to loansharks. The other Carver players don't immediately accept him.
Eventually Bobby's past catches up with him, and despite Reeves best intentions it just doesn't work out. The show ends with Bobby heading back to Oakland pledging to be a better person.
Observations - this is the least satisfying episode so far. First of all, Michael Warren, a former UCLA player and character on Hill Street Blues, was 34 when the episode aired, yet claimed to not be 18 yet in the show. Two parts of the plot were never tied up. First, what happened after Reeves dined with his date. Second, Bobby still owed some $880 when the show ended.
One thing I did like was how Bobby called Reeves and the pawn shop owner "old folks." I will try to use that term at some point if I can find the right situation.

WS season one, episode five - Pregnant Pause

2010-12-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

Plot - Milton Reese is enjoying a fine season and even attacting the attention of college scouts. As the episode opens we see the closing of a game in which Reese improbably scores four points and gets an assist in literally seconds. Reggie Miller would have been jealous. He is quickly brought back to earth after the game when his girlfriend informs him she is pregnant.
The rest of the episode goes back and forth between the young lovers' predicament and Reeves doing some thinking and investigating. Reeves discovers, perhaps even before the audience does, that Darlene is not actually pregnant. She is the oldest of eight or nine siblings and doesn't want to lose Reese to a scholarship, and concocted the plan to trap him into marrying her.
Thanks to coach Reeves, with a minor assist from Miss Buchanan, the problem was averted.
Observations -
In the pilot Reeves drove a nice convertible Roadster; in this episode he drove a massive Woody.
The principal changed. It was no longer his benign buddy from the pilot but a more intense man who seems more likely to bend to Miss Buchanan but is still somehow Reeves' old friend, although they have little rapport or chemistry.
Teen pregnancy was not a typical topic on tv in 1978, so this was considered a bold episode at the time.

WS season one, episode two - Here's some mud in your eye

2010-12-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

Plot - One of the Carver players, Curtis Jackson, has a drinking problem. Reeves is the first one to figure it out and later proves it to the rest of the doubting team. As Reeves seems to be at loose ends all day except for practice time, he has the time to drive around LA to resolve the situation. What does this entail? He visits Jackson's father, who is a preacher, and some honest, heartfelt dialogue is involved. He visits and later dines with a mildly attractive psychologist who eventually helps him break through to Jackson. He somehow is present hours after practice when the other players hatched a successful intervention on Jackson.
Observations
As I watch the show sometimes I envy Reeves, as he must have saves tens of thousands of dollars from playing pro ball, which allows him to coach the game he loves and help troubled youth in the process. It really is noble. Also, he always has a good deal of witty dialogue with others, which obviously doesn't occur that often in the real world.
The dollar was stronger back then. Jackson was in hock to some of the other players; one a dollar, another 60 cents, and another 40 cents. When the players hit up Reeves for $26 in their intervention scheme, it really appears to be a significant amount, even for a former NBA player.
The pace of the show is leisurely, allowing sufficient time for plot and character development.
I don't understand the why the episode is titled as it is.

White Shadow - Season one, episode one - Pilot

2010-12-01T19:37:00.000-08:00

Plot - The show starts with Ken Reeves playing basketball for the Chicago Bulls and for the first five minutes we only see action with music in the background. Reeves is injured, rehabs, and then sits on the bench. After one game an old college friend joins him in the empty arena and convinces him to become a high school basketball coach at Carver High in Los Angeles.
The rest of the show consists of cursorily meeting the other characters in the show; school administrators, students that play basketball, and family.
The main plot is how Coach Reeves helps a talented player named Hayward to not quit school despite their initial differences and Hayward's family issues. The team loses their first game but wins the second. As the show closes, Reeves tells the players he has their back and will watch over them, to which Thorpe responds, "like a white shadow". Hence the name of the show.
Observations-
The pilot likely had the biggest budget and highest production value.
The drive-thru at Jack in the Box had a jack in the box.
Everyone is relatively thin.
70s soundtrack music permeates the show.
Reeves roughs up Hayward at one point but dismisses it as no big deal with the assistant principal and the issue is dropped.
Currently the 'elite' media seems to have grown tired of the white savior concept as evidenced by their criticism of Avatar last year. In effect, Reeves plays this role, but it is subtle and seems genuine and wholesome in the show.

Hillary - blah blah

2010-11-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

My initial thought on WikiLeaks is that they are doing a public service. If you can get Hillary Clinton to say such obviously hypocritical statements then you must be doing something write. It's very frustrating that the mainstream press just takes her blather verbatim without any context or analysis.
I love America but I do not support most US foreign policy. This is the kind of crap that makes foreigners dislike us.

Rich Rodriguez

2010-11-29T20:25:00.001-08:00

Writing about Rich Rodriguez doesn't justify much effort, so I will write in phrases and utterances:
15-21 overall record
lost last two games by a combined 50 points
not a "Michigan Man", which almost makes sense to me now
porous defense
Harbaugh is worth a look and would hire if available.

People are attached to the sports teams. I suppose it fulfills some primal need to identify with an army or whatever. Some consider being a fan a virtue, I liken it to a disease. Why? Because I become physically ill when Michigan loses certain games. One that stands out was the loss to Purdue in 2000, a game they would have won if Lloyd Carr had a killer instinct. I was inconsolable after that game. Of course there have been many highs over the years, but they have been in short supply lately. I see why some people get riled up over particular sports teams. They identify with it so deeply that they feel injured when things go badly, or that something precious has been taken away from them without their consent.

Back to Rich Rodriguez. I'll simply state that I won't be upset if he is fired. If he comes back for another year then I will expect more than seven victories and fewer blowout losses. Anything less will require therapy.

author notes/White Shadow project

2010-11-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

The author has been spreading himself too thinly lately and hasn't been able to post anything lately. Travel season is over but now basketball season has started. In keeping with my interest in basketball I will soon be blogging about The White Shadow. I just ordered the 1st season on DVD and will do an episode by episode analysis of the show.
I won't share too much about it now as it will be an act of rediscovery for me.
Hopefully in the next week or so this project will begin in earnest. Just to give you a taste, here is the original intro.

Goodbye Ryno

2010-11-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

I'm saddened to see that Ryne Sandberg will not be returning to the Cubs next season. Luckily for me I've never been a Cubs fan as this would really bother me if I were.
Growing up in Michigan I got more exposure to the Cubs than just about all the other teams combined. I used to watch the Cubs games with Harry Caray and Steve Stone announcing and Ryne Sandberg seemed to be the 2nd baseman forever.
What happened? Ryne retired and eventually was voted into the Hall of Fame. Four years ago he took a minor league managerial position and worked his way up to AAA. The Cubs recently used the recycled Dusty Baker and Lou Piniella as managers. Piniella abruptly retired this season. An interim manager was named, and after the season the interim tag was removed.
Needless to say Ryne was disappointed. These types of these happen all the time in corporate America when promotions are given out. One day you can be too young and the next too old. Or be in favor with a boss and then out of favor with a new one. The list goes on. Some seem to have a better go of it.
I guess I identify with this case from growing up with Ryne and then living and seeing these disappointments in Corporate America. I hope he finds a better opportunity, and another team takes him on. It will be strange to see him in another uniform.

Andres Carne de Res

2010-10-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Probably the highlight of my recent trip to Colombia was a visit to Andres Carne de Res. Let me preface that this was recommended to me by Colombians, not American tourists. And I went there with Colombians.
Once I got over my self-consciousness about sticking out so much, I started to enjoy myself, and even hit the dancefloor during MJ's Don't Stop ('til you get enough). More on that later.

The bar/restaurant/club had three floors and three themes: hell, purgatory, and heaven. Staff are dressed up in costumes and wait on you or just act weird. It had as much 'flair' as a American restaurant but it didn't seem so calibrated. Also, the patrons seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Great food, too.

As far as the dancing, I explained to my two Colombian companeras that I've really only been comfortable dancing to disco music. I also think that disco was popular partly due to the fact that it is fairly free-flowing and free of rules. History has been kind to disco and will only get better. 15 years ago in college I have fond memories of going to Disco Night and getting dressed up as a disco dancer.

Colombians definitely have some of the same spirit that Americans did in the disco era.

Bogota, Colombia part one

2010-10-19T19:52:00.001-07:00

I just completed what will hopefully just the first of many trips to Colombia.
First impressions: I arrived to Bogota at 6 am on a Wednesday morning and was shuttled from the airport to the Radisson Hotel. It was a cool cloudy morning in the city of 7.3 million people. It is temperate year round because it is 2640 meters above sea level.
The hotel is beautiful. After a nap I went to the office for a few hours and was immediately struck about by how kind everyone is. That was a recurring theme on the trip.
The rest will have to wait until tomorrow.

Pane e tulipani/Bread and Tulips

2010-10-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

Bread and Tulips in an Italian movie from 2000. It's a slow, enjoyable movie about a lady that is left behind by her family on a vacation and then goes to Venice for a vacation of her own. My favorite character from the movie is Fernando, played by Bruno Ganz. Two adjectives used to describe him in online reviews are wistful and diffident. Fernando plays an Icelandic immigrant that is a waiter. He speaks in a roundabout way that seems from a time long since past.
I recommend it unless you're bored by slow, foreign films. Aren't almost all foreign films slow?

Sarcasm and irony

2010-10-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

At dinner tonight the family had a short debate about the difference(or lack thereof) betweeen sarcasm and irony. As is common it was everyone against me. I was told that they are essentially the same. Eventually a dictionary was pulled and out and I'd say we reached an uneasy stalemate.

Let's first discuss the first point, and then we'll get to the dictionary. I strongly feel irony is an overused word. I regard it as a theme in a play or movie. I was taught that it simply means when the result is the opposite of what was hoped for. I don't throw the word around lightly. Many people mistake irony for coincidence, like when two people unexpectedly see each other in public. They say it's ironic when it's really just coincidental.
Sarcasm is different. I know it because I have been afflicted with it since I was a child. I guess it's part of having a dry sense of humor. Sarcasm usually shows itself in insulting remarks, sometimes exposing naivete or vanity. The tone of voice or inflection makes all the difference between someone being tiresome and negative or irreverant and funny. One can be sarcastic, but irony just is. It's not something you can be.

I suppose the dictionary is a good reference point for this type of debate. However I do feel there are nuances and that English is constantly evolving, so I don't put all my stock in what Webster says.

towards danger?

2010-09-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

When I was around 18 I remember watching a documentary that interviewed war journalists. The part I recall was about a Central American conflict and an interview with a blondish, smiling Australian. They asked him what it was like to be in the middle of a gunfight and he happily remarked that he "felt very alive".

I think what's at play here is the need for adrenaline. Whether it's gambling, bungee jumping, or hunting crocodiles, people have long enjoyed the rush of nervious anticipation.

I'm not particularly one of this lot, but I do like to travel and see places that are unfamiliar. Next week I'll be taking a 10 day trip to Caracas, Venezuela and Bogota, Colombia. The other day I got a call from the Security department of my employer advising me not to visit Caracas unless necessary. He was just doing his job.

I never even considered asking out of the trip. I've been around a little bit. I've not been to the Middle East,Sudan or Afghanistan, but those are the places that would give me pause, not Caracas. Besides, I'm not looking for trouble, maybe just a nice meal, a drink, conversation, and some people-watching.

finding that elusive nugget - Steve Winwood

2010-09-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

If you asked 100 teenagers today if they know who Steve Winwood is, you could probably count the ones that do on one hand and still have 4 or 5 fingers left over. Nevertheless, chances are excellent they've heard two of his biggest hits on the radio: While you see a Chance and Higher Love are both staples on light rock radio.

I've always thought of Winwood as sort of British equivalent of Joe Walsh. He was part of various groups before going solo, and then finally came back to others later, Walsh with the Eagles and Winwood with Eric Clapton. Both had hits sporadically over long careers. Walsh is known more as a great guitarist and Winwood a singer and arranger.

Here are some nuggets from Youtube about While You See a Chance. I sometimes enjoy finding a comment where a listener tries to interpret a song or shares some other interesting info:

1)@BrokenneckYgor it is foolish to build an aircraft that has no buyer, it would be the same to design An automobile that has A buyers list of one. in music in America, we get A vocalist together with A guitarist and A percussionist, and you all sit around perfecting each others shit. that's how it's done. the other way is the European way, the ONLY I am allowed to be wonderful, selfish snob, my shit doesn't stink way. we have A saying for folks like that here, "GET OUT"! don't blame Steve at all

I found that Winwood played all the instruments for the album Arc of a Diver, where this song is from.

2)I've finally taken this advice; after 20 years.

Come on! If you don't tell us more I doubt it's true.

From Higher Love
3)Chaka also arranged the vocals on Robert Palmer's number 1 hit "Addicted to Love"

I'm not sure if Chaka Khan was a vocalist on either of the songs but I'll find out at some point when I'm at work.

These are the fruits of how I sometimes while away evenings, neither reading, watching TV, nor socializing with my family or friends. It's not very productive but I enjoy it and sometimes find an opportune moment to share this useless information with like-minded individuals.

about movies

2010-09-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of thoughts regarding two of my favorite movies and application to my life.

First, today my six year old son spilled water on himself today. He missed badly and got his shirt very wet. At that point I told him he had a drinking problem. He smiled. When I recounted this to the other two kids they both smirked too.
This was of course was a reference to the movie Airplane! None of them liked the movie when I showed it to them about a year ago. In fact the 6 year old was the only that stayed through the end only because of his aversion to going to bed. When I used the line in real life it was funnier than on film. This ties loosely to my next point.

Second, whenever I read the Life section of USA Today I'm reminded of the following dialogue from Sideways.

Jack and the Erganians surround Miles as he eats from a plate
with two pieces of CAKE -- one white, one dark.

MRS. ERGANIAN
Jack tells us you are publishing a
book. Congratulations.

MR. ERGANIAN
Yes, congratulations.

Miles shoots Jack a look. Mr. Erganian gets some ice cubes
from the refrigerator door.

MILES
Yeah, well, it's not exactly finalized
yet, but, um, there has been some
interest and --

MRS. ERGANIAN
(to Jack)
Your friend is modest.

JACK
Yeah, Miles, don't be so modest.
Indulge them. Don't make me out to
be a liar.

MR. ERGANIAN
What subject is your book? Non-
fiction?

MILES
No, it's a novel. Fiction. Although
there's a lot from my own life, so I
guess technically some of it is non-
fiction.

MR. ERGANIAN
Good, I like non-fiction. There is
so much to know about the world that
I think reading a story someone just
invented is kind of a waste of time.
MILES
That's an interesting perpective.

I tend to agree with Mr. Erganian. Sometimes I'll be in the Life section and will be reading an interview with and actor/actress about their made up character and I say to myself, "WTF?! Why am I wasting my time reading this?" And then I hear Mr. Egranian and close the paper and move on.

instrumentals

2010-05-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of instrumentals that can give you a break from what you're hearing on the radio:

1. Love's Theme - Barry White
2. Chase - Giorgio Moroder
3. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
4. On Earth as it is in Heaven - Ennio Morricone
5. The Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch version
6. A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
7. Blue Danube - Strauss (2001 A Space Oddyssey soundtrack)

You may say I'm excluding some and it's highly likely. What I like about instrumentals is that they allow me to think more clearly then when there are lyrics.

Don't tase me, bro!

2010-05-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of nights during a Philadelphia Phillies home game a 17 year old fan ran onto the field. This practice of running onto the playing field during a game dates back to the 70s, when they usually were naked, too. Baseball's expansive outfields are the best spot to run on the field as they allow for plenty of time in the limelight as the players just look on passively.

Normally this wouldn't be newsworthy but in Philadelphia the fan was "tased" by a cop. Wikipedia says,
"A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles...Tasers were introduced as less-lethal weapons to be used by police to subdue fleeing, belligerent, or potentially dangerous subjects, often when what they consider to be a more lethal weapon would have otherwise been used."

My dispute with the sentence above is that it should be "and" instead of "or". Philly fan was fleeing and belligerent but not dangerous. If someone is dangerous than I'm all for a tase. I think they should have just caught him and removed him from the field.

Take a look at another video...do you think he deserved it?

Jimmy John's and Subway

2010-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

It takes a whole lot to change this loyal foodie from one restaurant to another. I am one that relates faraway cities to the restaurants they have. Frequent trips result in frequent visits to the familiar, trusted venues. For example, on a recent 3 day trip to southern California I went to El Torito three times. If a Panda Express were nearby that would have seen more business, too.

So it's worth noting that I'm now sharing the love between Subway and Jimmy John's.
This took a long time to even get started. I passed JJs dozens of times and just noted the 'free smells' signs in the windows. I don't care for the black and red color scheme either. It reminds me of slackers with goatees and weak attempts at being hip. I guess what finally broke through was the 'extremely fast delivery' sign. I don't even remember the first occasion but I wandered into the Eastown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastown) location and am slowly getting hooked.

There are a few reasons. 1)I've grown tired of Subway. I've been eating it since they upgraded the breads and remember it before Jared Fogle who has been around too long. 2)I get tired of standing behind slow or indecisive people at Subway and also the back and forth with the sandwich artist. Too many questions and answers (bread, cheese, toppings, make that a meal, just one cookie?, etc... 3)Jimmy John's makes it simple a la hamburger joints. Just order the sandwich and customize it my holding certain toppings.
4)Quality, taste, and price are close enough.
5)Jimmy John's is FAST. They have more than one cashier to take orders. By the time you pay and stoop for the chips the sandwich is typically ready. What a concept!

If you're impatient, interested in straying from the usual food stops, and you like sub sandwiches, give Jimmy John's a try.

running a half marathon

2010-04-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

As I write this I'm icing my calves because Saturday I ran a 13.1 mile half-marathon. I undertook this masochistic activity as a means to the end of finishing a 15.5 mile race on May 8th. I've been doing this race for about 12 years and my feet and legs are still holding up fairly well.

The rewards of running a long race is an inward and outward experience that can obviously only be achieved by throwing yourself into it. Some inward rewards are the illusion of prolonging youth and being able to do something others can't or don't care to do. External rewards are the kinship with other struggling runners, the cheering crowds, helpful aid station workers, and all the odd things you see and think about in a normal race.

I'll write more about this in the next two weeks and will share more of those oddities.

stuck in traffic

2010-04-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks I have been in some monumental traffic jams. I still feel a little numb but I'm sure I'll come back for more.
First was Mexico City. I'd say this was the most difficult because it was the most time to cover the least distance and also had the worst air quality. The upside to Mexico City is that there's always something to look at. Worst drive - a 90 minute drive from the south of the city to the zoo in the center.
Seoond was Chicago. I arrived to the city on 94 west at 5 PM on Friday, admittedly not the best time. It took two hours to get from Comiskey Park (where the White Sox play) to the hotel near the airport. No upside to traffic in Chicago.
Finally now I am in Orange County. Today it took me over two hours to get from Burbank to Santa Ana, a distance of about 42 miles. I usually don't mind driving around So. Cal. because I try to pick off-peak times and there the highway can have up to 6 lanes and all the drivers are fast and alert like me. The upside to So. Cal. is the talk radio.
I'm not complaining. The first was part of a vacation and the latter two work-related. I don't have sympathy when people complain about traffic or when I see the periodic story in USA Today about long commutes. People choose to live and work in these cities and really no amount of incentives or urban planning will lessen the traffic. There are just too many people in too small of an area.

stop and think

2010-04-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have an epiphany on how I can make life easier. Unfortunately I didn't invent the Internet (like Al Gore) or Facebook or Twitter. and I probably won't be in on The Next Big Thing.

No, I think of really simple things that could never be patented. Tonight I became irritable when my wonderful wife asked me to go to the basement to get toilet paper. And I thought and said something to the effect of "Why in the bleep is the T.P. down there? We don't have a bathroom down there. ALL the T.P. should be stored near the bleeping toilets!!! I didn't actually use the salty language, but you get the point.

Another idea is to only do one thing at a time. Or to put it even simpler, finish one thing before taking on another. One scenario is during the trip from the basement to the upstairs, I'll carry multiple rolls and then try to pour myself a glass of water when passing through the kitchen while holding onto the rolls. Inevitably I'd spill water or drop the rolls, yell an obsenity, and have to clean up. Why not just set the T.P. down first? Or skip the water?

I hope you can find a way to incorporate this advice into your life and lower your stress and anger levels. Occasionally I'll think first and am almost always grateful.

La Marquesa

2010-04-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I returned from an 11 day family vacation to Mexico City and Acapulco, along with a day trip to a national park called La Marquesa, just west of Mexico City. La Marquesa is in a temperate valley surrounded by rolling mountains of pine trees and the day there was one of the highlights of the vacation. There are a multitude of activities there: soccer, hiking, kite flying, frisbee, football games, fishing, 4 wheelers, horseback riding, and more.
After throwing a football around for awhile we sat down outside a restaurant and ate tacos, quesadillas, tlacoyos, and huaraches. I chose to wash it down with a michelada, a beer with salt on the rim of the bottle and lemon juice and hot sauce added to the beer. After that we rode four wheelers and then played a game of touch football with about 15 kids and adults. Finally we went back to the picnic tables and took about another 90 minutes to finally pick up and leave.
It was one of those long, sunny days where you forget about time and stress and just have fun. As a youth I spent summer days like that in the towns of Alaska and Holland State Park, MI. Now that the weather has turned for the better I hope you'll plan a day trip somewhere near you and enjoy some leisure time in the great outdoors.

Down Mexico way

2010-04-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Having a great time in Mexico and will have lots to share next week.

iPod and classic albums

2010-03-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

I was a bit perplexed this evening when my tween daughter asked me to pull out some of my favorite albums so she could download some of it them onto her iPod. Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Joe Walsh in particular. I was pleased by her interest but perplexed by the word "some" in the preceding sentence.

I gave her the CDs assuming she'd download all of them only to see her first downloading Abbey Road and picking out about 8 of the 17 songs. Personally I'll usually only listen to it when on a road trip or doing a project in the yard because that's the only way I can listen to it all at once. I asked her how she could load Mean Mr. Mustard, not load Polythene Pam, and then load She Came in Through the Bathroom Window. It made no sense to me. I have other examples from other albums but I'll just stop there.

There are pros and cons to being part of the iPod generation. One pro is that they don't have to suffer through some of the bad songs on great albums. A major con is that they miss what it's like to know an album's time and place and how it was part of an artist or group's career. For now I'll try to get her download whole albums and there's nothing to lose because I already paid for them.

Mel Kiper Jr.

2010-03-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

If you listen to sports radio even just a little bit you'll eventually hear Mel Kiper Jr. Mel is what is known as the "NFL Draft guru". He knows just about everything no correct that everything there is to know about every NFL team and every Division 1 college football prospect. This time of year leading up to the draft is Mel time and you'll see and hear him seemingly everywhere.

The little I've thought about him in the past is that he's slightly nutty but now I'm starting to think he's a genius. He is so specialized in his knowledge that I think he could translate to almost any medium. I could just hear Mel handicapping the Oscars, the midterms elections, or even the weather with the same passion he does with NFL draft. Joseph Campbell once said "Follow your bliss". Mel Kiper Jr. certainly has.

Here's a video of Mel talking about Tim Tebow. This is a three minute interview. Mel could do this for hours without coming up for air!

an apple a day

2010-03-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

One of the first things kids learn about health is "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." It is one of those phrases that becomes ingrained in the psyche. I've never paid much mind to it myself as I only eat them sporadically. I started to take another look at apples recently because of reading about their benefits to the teeth. According to ezinearticles.com,

"In addition to their basic health benefits, they have numerous dental benefits. Apples are a mildly acidic fruit. Because of their slightly astringent quality, they are an ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth. The acidic nature of an apple is not enough to make a person's teeth pearly white. The acid needs the help of the fiber-rich flesh of the apple."

I've been eating one per day for 10 days and I think my teeth look whiter. I've been fanatical about my teeth since having braces as a teenager and hearing the horror stories about what effect poor habits would have on my teeth. I imagined myself with yellow teeth around the white square that was the brace on each tooth. The only thing I do knowingly that is harmful to my teeth is drink diet pop at lunch and dinner.

I'm planning to keep up the habit and will know for sure if anyone comments on my whiter smile. Even if that doesn't work they have other less vain benefits.

Napoleon Dynamite

2010-03-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

For a time back in 2004 one could barely go anywhere without seeing some reference to Napoleon Dynamite or a Vote For Pedro t-shirt. My tendency is to resist being sucked into these trends and just let it ride out. I rarely get to see an "adult" movie and don't know much about modern music. And that's ok. Sooner or later if a movie is good enough I'll check it out. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Last night I viewed Napoleon Dynamite for the first time. I could tell within the first five minutes that it was going to be a gem. Like the best comedies, the movie keeps your attention despite a thin plot because you anticipate that something funny is coming often.
Without being a spoiler, I'll just share a list of the top five characters: Napoleon Dynamite, Uncle Rico, Kip Dynamite, Deb, and Pedro. If you enjoy slow-paced movies with nuanced, tongue-in-cheek humor, then check it out. Here's a look at Uncle Rico.

Bossa Nova acai juice

2010-03-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Anything containg the words antioxidants, superfruits, exotic tropical locations, and better health made easy will get my attention. Enter Bossa Nova acai juice.

Acai berries are purplish and come from the Amazon jungle in Brazil. People native to that area are allegedly healthier than most. Bossa Nova is a California-based company markets acai juice in a 10 oz. bottle for $2.99. I've been drinking 3-4 ounces every day and it tastes pretty good if you drink it like a shot.

There are several superfruit juice products like this. You may have seen juices with pomengranate, goji berry, or mangosteen. According to Consumer Reports none of them can really claim anything but that won't stop me from buying it. I guess it's just part of being human. People have been concocting elixirs, panaceas, and magic potions for centuries. If they at least make people think they feel better then perhaps they serve a purpose.

Daytona Beach, FL

2010-03-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to Daytona Beach for the first time. It's a well-known destination for spring breakers, NASCAR fans, and cars on beaches. The little I got to see of it made it seem like a slow-paced, sleepy beach town which didn't jibe with its reputation.

To begin with, the airport is small and easy to get in and out of. I had a friendly cabbie named Pierre that took me to the Hilton which is right on the beach. Pierre left Haiti in 1980 and spent 24 years in Miami. He speaks French, Creole, Spanish, and English (decently).

I'm definitely looking forward to going back there sometime in a non-Spring Break week.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_Beach

St. Patrick's Day & being American

2010-03-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today is the day when many people suddenly become proud of their Irish heritage whether they're Irish or not. Others use St. Patrick's Day as a reason to go drinking or to pull something hideously off-green out of the closet.

Over the years I've become a bit ambivalent identifying myself as Irish-American. Sure, I wore a green shirt to work today and said "probably" when people asked me if I was going to drink beer today (although I had no intention of doing so). My policy has been just to acknowledge it if asked. There are some people that make a big deal about it but who really cares if you consider yourself Italian, Irish, Polish, etc.

There are two things that caused me to think about this: one to do with Theodore Roosevelt and the other Christoper Walken. Interesting pair, eh? Roosevelt said:

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all."

"This is just as true of the man who puts “native” before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and of the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States. We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance."

"But if he is heartily and singly loyal to this Republic, then no matter where he was born, he is just as good an American as any one else."

Finally there was a scene in The Deer Hunter where Christopher Walken was being questioned by a doctor after being rescued as a POW in Vietnam. He was asked if his name was Russian and he said in an proud, certain tone that it was American.

Harrumph!

to health care to not health care

2010-03-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

If you haven't taken a side in the health care debate, ask yourself these two questions and it may clear it up for you:

1) Is health care a right that should be provided to you by the government?

If yes, move to #2. If no, call your congressperson and ask them to vote no on the deem and pass vote coming soon.

2) Should a country already $12 trillion in debt tax or borrow another $950 billion to provide health care coverage to the populace?
If you say yes again, call your congressperson and ask them to vote yes.

If you're still confused, the tiebreaker is whether the picture above scares you.

March Madness

2010-03-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Every March real and casual college basketball fans take part in what is called March Madness. The madness is that there are 64 teams and after 63 games there will be one champion. There are typically upsets and dramatic finishes.

What I think people tune into is to see the emotion. Unlike football, one can see basketball players clearly from a closer vantage point. I have no idea whether I'll fill out a bracket tomorrow or even see many games as I have nothing invested in any of the teams. It makes a big difference if you have someone to pull for.

I hope you have a fave team and have fun with it. Also it's always great to see the One Shining Moment video at the end. Here's the 2009 version.

31 down 19 to go

2010-03-14T17:20:00.001-07:00

This weekend I made a short business trip to Baltimore, Maryland and I'm debating whether this even counts as a visit to the state. I was only there 15 hours, it was overcast and raining, and all I did was go from the airport to a downtown hotel and back.

I'd like to go back sometime for a couple of days, catch a baseball game, and go outside the city too. The word to describe this affliction is wanderlust. I always thought the word had Irish roots but it actually comes from Germany.

Here's the proof from dictionary.com which proves again that Wikipedia is right:

wan·der·lust /ˈwɒndərˌlʌst/ Show Spelled[won-der-luhst]
–noun
a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

Origin:
1850–55; < G, equiv. to wander(n) to wander + Lust desire; see lust

Today my wife was trying to cull books from our bookshelf. I have many travel books of places I've never been and for languages I've never even attempted to learn. A person that doesn't care to travel would think I'm slightly mad but another like-minded individual would understand completely. Needless to say, I wouldn't allow her to remove any of them.

muscle memory

2010-03-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I read about an Olympic figure skater whose mother passed away shortly before her competition. She was out of sorts mentally so she was going to do her routine on muscle memory. I don't know but it turned out but this interested me because I've heard the term before but didn't really grasp it. I've been training for a 25K race in May and have noticed that even if I'm tired or unmotivated that my legs will carry where I need to go. Muscle memory also explains why I'm no longer good at basketball or golf. My muscles don't remember all the motions that I'd done so often when I was young.

Wikipedia says "When an active person repeatedly trains movement, often of the same activity, in an effort to stimulate the mind’s adaptation process, the outcome is to induce physiological changes which attain increased levels of accuracy through repetition. Even though the process is really brain-muscle memory or motor memory, the colloquial expression "muscle memory" is commonly used.[1]"

Now I understand better what I need to do to improve in one activity and also not to get so down on myself now when I do dabble in basketball, golf, or another sport. Since the brain is also a muscle it seems like it would make sense that we can improve our minds through repetition too. I'll leave that to the Tony Robbins of the world.

RIP Merlin Olsen

2010-03-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share some IMing I did on news of the death of Merlin Olsen.
What do you think?

Michael Corcora... Merlin Olsen died
Tom Cathey/Sal... heard that at lunch. used to like him as an announcer.
Michael Corcora... yeah I liked him too. He just sort of disappeared 20 yrs. ago
Tom Cathey/Sal... i think the ftd ads killed him
Michael Corcora... actually it was asbestos
Michael Corcora... you should be a media advisor. You could tell ex-jocks which endorsments to do.
Tom Cathey/Sal... not a good idea for a lineman to do flower commercials and little house. you lose the respect of who made you famous in the first place. no self-respecting man was gonna take him seriously after that, hence end of career.
Michael Corcora... that's the genius of Merlin Olsen. He didn't play to his type.
Tom Cathey/Sal... carved out his own niche......nice.

self analysis

2010-03-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

I think it's good for everyone to analyze themselves from time to time.
I decided to look at this blog and I noticed I tend to write about the same topics: observational humor, human behavior, food, music, movies, traveling, and shopping. I've tried to keep it away from being directly about me, or contemporary news or pop culture because I think we all get enough of that in our daily lives. Part of this blogging experiment has shown me that most people probably have a defined realm of thought, and I'm going to try move beyond that.

I'll still do some of the above but I'm going to try to introduce some new subjects and ideas. It may be quasi-journalism, or biographical information about someone you or I don't even know yet, or who knows what.

from one side to the other

2010-03-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

A slender middle-aged man paces leisurely in front of the Grand Hyatt Irvine lobby on an occasionally breezy Saturday afternoon. Nobody really notices him. There are millions of unremarkable men like him. When the wind picks up he deftly pulls his hand over his head. The first time he did it his sleight-of-hand was so good I didn't notice. But inevitably the wind picked up again I got to watch him do it again from start to finish. And then another time. By then I noticed the man had a combover. Men with combovers loathe windy days.

According to Wikipedia (believe it) a comb over or combover is a hairstyle worn by bald or balding men in which the hair on one side of the head is grown long and then combed over the bald area to minimize the display of baldness.

After noticing this man I noticed three more combovers at the LAX airport later that day. One was a man that couldn't have been more than 35. Men with hair can't fathom why others do that. They say "I would never do that, I'd just accept my baldness." Judging by all the combovers my guess is that it's easier said than done.

Next time you see a combover instead of grunting some condescending comment please just try not to stare and change the subject in your mind. The combover man will appreciate your indifference. It's 2010 and he's still far from the endangered list so just let it be.

IHOP could be dangerous to your health

2010-03-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

If the professional bureaucrats at the FDA are making fast joints print their nutritional information for consumers then surely IHOP should have a bright neon light on their menu to alert their customers about how much they're about to ingest.

I'm not in favor of any disclosure requirements but if you're going to do it for the supposed good of others then please include restaurants like IHOP too. When I travel I much prefer IHOP to Denny's and I'm always amazed by the breakfast menu.
I used to think that there were two basic choices: go the eggs, meat, toast, and o.j. route OR with pancakes or french toast and chocolate milk. At IHOP you get both! And you have to work hard to avoid it with little incentive. If you read the pancakes as an entree description you'll notice you also get eggs and meat. If you look at eggs or omelletes and meat, you also get three buttermilk pancakes. I was able to find the quick two-egg breakfast that excluded the pancakes and it cost almost the same as the others that with 100s more calories.

Until people at IHOP and fast food places have to pay according to how many calories they consume you'll see stories about how America is too heavy.

Going to California

2010-03-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

On my list of favorite states California is second only to my native Michigan. Friday I'm headed out to sunny southern California for a short weekend trip. Some travelers are more attracted to the known and others to the unknown. For me it's both. I like knowing my way around the John Wayne airport and all the intersecting highways near there. It's also nice to know I'll see something new or meet someone new while I'm out there.

It's always fun to sample the local cuisine. I asked a friend where the best tacos are in that area and was told to go to the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach and/or La Salsa in Irvine. Something valuable I've learned while on these business trips is to have a little fun by catching up with old friends or at the very least eat a good meal.

I hope to have good things to report from the road. Until then, enjoy this quintessential California video and song.

odd jobs - part 2

2010-03-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 1992 I worked at a cemetary for $5 an hour. It was a mostly solitary job where I spent most of my time on a riding grass mower trying not to hit the headstones and their accompanying adornments. Other duties included sweeping the mausoleum and an occasional cremation. Once in awhile when I was lucky I got to ride on the big combine and try to steer and while changing gears.

Like most of my odd jobs the most interesting part was the people I met along the way. It was an opportunity for a young greenhorn like me to see and hear how adults were in the real world. The two men I worked with were both drug burnouts but they had a dignity about them. Paul was the smarter and more charismatic one, who loved to do a hearty smile and laugh where he forced himself to show his teeth. Dave was quieter, reserved, and slower, but would occasionally say something funny. They were like a Midwestern version of Jay and Silent Bob. Dave also had a half-brother Carl who was on some form of disability (although I think he was just lazy) who would visit us daily in the garage. His stories were forgettable but he had a way of telling them that kept me hanging on his every word.

Occasionally I get nostalgic about these old jobs and the people. Perhaps it was just my age and inexperience but I found these people much more interesting and entertaining than the people I work with in the white collar world. The slow pace, the unpretentious conversation, and one sunny day after another made this one of the better odd jobs I had.

On Demand - Blame It On Rio

2010-03-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today I had the occasion to speak to one of my "followers". He or she was critical of the blog and didn't really understand what it was about.
That will be dealt with in good time.
Tonight, in the spirit of not taking oneself too seriously, I want to inform you Comcast customers that the 1984 classic Blame It On Rio is now available free on demand.
It's hard to describe its greatness to someone who hasn't seen it. Is it the comedic timing, the music, cinematograpy, dialogue, or the Michael Caine/Joseph Bologna combo? You just have to see it for yourself. If you don't like it at first you just need to keep watching it and it will conquer you.
Instead of being a critic, just say "Blame It On Rio".
For a taste of the fun I've included the closing credits, which capture the spirit of the movie in the same way as Cannonball Run's unforgettable closing credits.

ground beef

2010-02-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas/New Year holidays I went to the doctor for the first time in many many years. I am not fond of the sterile environment; drab uniforms, needles, boring artwork, certificates on walls, etc. I also dislike the forms, the waiting and waiting, and the lame magazines. More than anything I detest dropping trow and turning my head to the right and left and coughing while a doctor touches my privates. I'm 36 now and don't believe it's necessary anymore. TMI???

At this visit I did blood tests and have high cholesterol of the bad kind. The doctor asked me if I exercise (yes), told me to watch how much fat I eat, and was nice enough not to tell me to lose weight.

Tonight I was grocery shopping and I needed some ground beef for tomorrow night's spaghetti and meatballs. I forced myself to look at the nutritional labels. First was the 80/20 ground beef at $3.29 a pound. I didn't have a calculator with me but I deduced that it meant 80% fat and 20% meat. I set it down and picked up the beef with about half the fat as the other which was $4.99 a lb. I struggled between my frugal nature and the images I could recall from the novel The Jungle. Finally I thought about the doctor's office and put the expensive meat in the cart and moved on. Score one for good health!

30 down, 20 to go

2010-02-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

A goal I have in my travels is to eventually to see all 50 states. This week I was lucky enough to see arguably the hardest to reach, Hawaii. I spent my time on Maui, which is the second biggest island in the state.

I still haven't figured out how I feel about Hawaii. It's definitely a beautiful place with many natural wonders. There's plenty of sunshine and the people are friendly. For whatever reason it just didn't feel like America to me. I'm sure there are people that will argue that but there are also native Hawaiians that resent the US turning their kingdom into a state. There are still many reports of tensions between native Hawaiians and the "haoles" as white folk are called.

The intent of this post is not to discredit Hawaii as a state. It's just to remind people that all of what is called America, whether Jamestown, Texas, or California, used to belong to someone else.

Also, one other point is that being in an airport in a certain state doesn't count as visiting the state.

The Blind Side - book

2010-02-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I finished reading The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. It is the interesting story of a teenager from Memphis named Michael Oher. He was headed towards a very uncertain future when a man named Big Tony took him to a born-again Christian school. He enrolled and was eventually cared for and adopted by the Touhy family.

Lewis is adept at weaving Michael's story with that of the evolving NFL and how the left tackle position became so important. Michael ended up being a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens. It runs a little long at 329 pages but I recommend it to anyone interested in football or just a unique story about someone overcoming the odds with strong support group. There is also a movie which I hope to see in the near future.

Molokai

2010-02-24T01:40:00.000-08:00

I've been out in Maui, Hawaii the last few days. It's my first time here and it's kind of like the land of the lotus eaters. It's so beautiful that it dulls the senses and makes your lose track of time. Nice!

All the islands came to be 1.5 million years ago. Today I went on a helicopter ride around Maui and to the sparsely populated island Molokai. Molokai has everything: waterfalls, valleys, cliffs, beaches, and is as green as Ireland.

Here's a short slide show for your enjoyment.

The Stepfather - movie

2010-02-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

Daddy's home.

Danger lives closer than you think.

Last night I went to Blockbuster Video and on the request of my wife rented The Stepfather. On the cover it looked like the same ol' predictable suspense movie that has been recycled for decades. It surely was but it was well-done and fairly entertaining, too.

Dylan Walsh is the psychotic killer. Sela Ward is the divorced mom who is denial. Penn Badgely is the son who is skeptical of his new stepfather and Amber Heard is the attractive girlfriend that looks great in the pool scenes.

Dylan Walsh was the one who made the difference. He portrayed a man that seemed in control but also just a moment or two from becoming violent.

If you're at a loss for a movie to rent and like these types of movies then I recommend it.

a sunny day off

2010-02-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

Today I took the day off. Besides not being in the office, another benefit is the slower pace and all the things one doesn't notice on a typical, hectic day, One example is other people. Also, the sun was really shining for the first time in a long time.

I was able to drive my daughter to school without cursing every slow or imcompetent driver on the road. Just every other one.

I went grocery shopping at 8:30 AM instead of after work. The store was much calmer and I sensed less stress in the air. Also the cashier was folksy unlike the night cashiers. I guess it's easier to be that way because your customers have nowhere else they need to be.

Speaking of folksy, the lady at the McDonald's drive thru window was downright giddy. Her window was facing east.

I was stood up for lunch (OK they honestly mixed up the date) and I didn't really even care.

I got my haircut and the comely stylist turned out to be a big microbrew drinker. She really pepped up when we started talking about beer.

On my second try for lunch the cashier at the nearly empty Mexican restaurant walked over to my table to chat about the Olympics. That wouldn't have happened at rush hour because he mentioned they were really busy.

I went for a 5 mile walk/jog.

To top it all off, when my daughter and I were shopping for sporting goods the R.E.M. song Shiny Happy People was playing in the store.

under the weather - back soon

2010-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

chances are excellent will be back soon.

all's well that ends well

2010-02-15T20:42:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the last game for the 5th grade basketball team I have coached for the last three months. We were able to pull out a 17-12 victory in a hard-fought game. I really enjoyed coaching this group. They are seven carefree, happy-go-lucky kids that had fun learning how to play. As if that wasn't enough the parents were supportive and encouraging, too.

When people learn of me coaching a team the questions are almost always, "Did you win?" or "What's your record?" as if the only thing that matters is winning or losing. I wouldn't have traded these kids for seven all-stars,and I like to win as much as anyone. We only won 3 out of 10 games but who really cares. We were competitive in all but two of our losses and nobody cried or got hurt the whole season. Besides that, they got involved in youth sports.

I strongly believe that youth sports are important for two reasons. 1) it gives them a chance to play a sport they can hopefully enjoy their whole lives, and 2)they learn what it's like to be part of a team and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with it.

Please support school athletics! There's more to growing up than what you learn in the classroom.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - movie

2010-02-14T19:46:00.000-08:00

Usually when I take the kids to a movie I fall asleep within 30 minutes and don't wake up until the beginning of the end. True to form I did doze off but just for a few minutes which I suppose speaks well of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
This movie will interest kids that enjoy Harry Potter or that sort of thing. Besides the special effects and action I liked the way they wove Greek mythology into the story line. I've always had an passive interest in it and appreciated learning a little about it through a movie (assuming it was accurate of course!).
Kudos also to the writer who kept the dialogue from becoming too staid like an old epic and also from being sarcastic and smarmy. The gods spoke like gods and the kids like kids for the most part.

Rather than include the trailer I'll instead put a clip of Hercules against Moon Men. This was part of the classic 90s Comedy Central show Mystery Science Theater 3000. You can see how much movies have improved. Also, when was the last time you heard someone make a reference to Gymkata?

Sin Nombre - movie

2010-02-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Sin Nombre is a one of those movies that dares you to turn it off. It's set mostly in Mexico about a young woman from Honduras named Sayra and a young Mexican man from Chiapas named Casper. The first half of the movie takes turns telling their stories until their paths cross. Sayra is riding on the top of a freight train on her way to New Jersey and Casper is running away from his gang trying to escape almost certain death.

Rather than going into details about the movie I'll just set out the criteria for who probably will and won't like this movie. If you like suspenseful, gritty, and violent movies this is for you. If you also like seeing people perservere through very difficult situations you'll enjoy it even more. If you you're turned off by tattoes, blood, and brutality, you'll hate it.

My wife and I were riveted by it and then afterward all we could say was how horrible it was. Kind of like the old ladies who complained about the bad food that was in such small portions, too.

For a peek here's the trailer:

the missing ingredient in today's music

2010-02-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

Many music lovers that came of age any time from the 50s to the 90s will lament the state of pop/rock music today. It's almost as if it doesn't exist anymore. People keep listening to the same ol' songs on light rock and classic rock stations while almost nothing is being added to the canons of music. I think the problem is that artists don't play the music anymore. For instance American Idol is just vocalists. In the past those vocalists were also accomplished musicians.

When you listen closely to some of the greats it's easy to hear the guitars and drums, and a little harder to pick out the bass. The instrument that gets missed the most but is arguably as important as guitar is the piano. So many of the greats wrote and played piano: Brian Wilson, Lennon, McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, Freddie Mercury, Eddie Van Halen, and Prince are just a start. Even those Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd had a cool piano solo at the end of Sweet Home Alabama. Next time you're listening to a classic see if you can hear some piano. Chances are you will.

So what's a way to get music going again? Has it all really been done already as some say? I think it's possible. There are still great songs to be written. But to really make those songs great the right music has to be made to accompany it.
The game Guitar Hero gives me hope. Hopefully in the future there will be Piano Hero so that there are some pianists to go along with all the guitarists.

For an example of some good piano in a Bob Seger song check out the video. It starts at about the 2 minute mark.

check yourself out

2010-02-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

Tonight at the local grocery I was presented with the difficult choice of waiting in line for a cashier to scan and bag my groceries or to do it all myself. It's difficult because I'm impatient and I'd be ruing myself if I made the wrong decision. Normally I'm happy to while away a few minutes looking at magazines like People, Us, or In Touch. But tonight the only cashier line was three deep, and from sizing up the cashier and the customers I decided I could do it faster myself. Luckily it worked out for the best as I left the store before the person who would of been ahead of me in the other line had even finished paying.

I've watched the store evolve from a cashier with a bagger who loaded your cart to a cashier that bags and you load the cart to offloading all the work on the customer. Many customers have complained every step of the way. I think it's great because it theoretically keeps prices lower and it gives the customer more choice. ATMs, pay at the pump, and airport kiosks have also been great inventions for consumers.

Some will say that it is making society impersonal. I'd argue that people have plenty of chances for personal interaction during the day. They could talk with co-workers, eat lunch with a friend, join a club, or call someone on the phone. The list goes on. So if you're quick to complain about what you have to do as a customer think a little deeper because it may actually be for your benefit.

odd jobs - part 1

2010-02-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hearing so much about jobs (or lack thereof) in the news lately caused me to reflect on some jobs I've had in the past. I think it's important for teenagers to have at least part-time jobs to cover some expenses and learn about the real world. I have lots of memories of the different places I worked. Some still bring a smile to my face.

One of the interesting jobs I has was two summers in college working at a windowless warehouse with adults anywhere from 18 to 60. Interesting not so much for the work but for the other workers and the things I saw and heard there. The first shift consisted of what were called the "lifers", or the people that had been there long enough to move up to normal working hours. They were surly but dependable so they would stay there until retirement. Next was second shift where I worked. These people were mostly from the edges of society; busted for drunk driving, messy divorces, white collar and high school dropouts, and a handful of college students like me. They had colorful personalities, interesting life stories full of bad decisions, and were mostly hard workers and trying to make a living. Third shift was 'Night of the Living Dead' because of the trance-like state in which they entered the building. They were either stoned or had been under the stoned so often in the past that they were burned out.

2nd shift was definitely the best to work on. I liked the way people were given degrading nicknames and mocked at every opportunity but also that no one ever took it seriously. I think that's why everyone had a persona, which worked like a plate of armor against outside attacks.
Since then I've always appreciated people like the ones I met in those summers. They were 100% genuine.

Less is more

2010-02-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

Maybe the world is moving faster than ever, maybe people just have shorter attention spans, or maybe something that takes too long gives the audience the time to daydream about what they'd rather be doing.

Whether it's a presentation, movie, wedding toast, commencement speech, blog entry, news article, or a meeting, less is usually more. I don't understand why people feel that a certain time period or length is necessary for anything. Remember when a book report or term paper had to be x number of words or pages? Unless the express purpose is to have fun, I think there should be an effort to abbreviate whenever possible.

Some industries and people and industries get it, others don't. Some examples and exceptions:
Music - most of the Beatles songs were shorter than three minutes. The long ones were usually the worst on the album (see Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road).
Newspapers - USA Today usually has the highest circulation. Most stories are short.
Sports - Fans can tolerate a long football game but baseball not so much.
Movies - People will still sit through a long movie if it's great. If it's not then 90 minutes is a good length.
Photography - How to get viewers to focus and pay attention to your photo.

At the risk of going on too long I better stop now!

Super Bowl commercials past and present

2010-02-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

As I sat through an above-average Super Bowl yesterday I slowly realized one of the reasons I hardly ever watch TV: commercials. Super Bowl commercials cost $3 million per 30 second spot so they have to get their brand into your consciousness as quickly and effectively as possible.

Again I had to watch Madison Avenue attack it's favorite target: white men. Apparently one ad agency was sharing the idea with multiple clients that showing flaccid white men in their whitey tighties was good stuff. We had Career Builder, Bud Light, and Dockers. Also there was the spineless shopper and the men that control nothing in their life besides driving a macho car. To their credit I pretty well remember the brands now.

My theory is that someone with some clout at the ad agencies got tired of all those Old Milwaukee commercials (it doesn't get any better than this) or the Miller Lite ads (tastes great, less filling)and wanted to take over not only beer advertising but all advertising. The final straw of course was the Swedish Bikini team ad. Here's a look at one of many Old Milwaukee beer commercials. Is it that bad?

Beer - Can't we all just get along?

2010-02-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

For my own benefit I've never really liked mayonnaise, the Detroit Lions, or the taste of beer. However, I've always have had an admiration of the people that drink cans of Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, Pabst, Old Style, or any other low quality beer a la Homer Simpson and his beloved Duff beer. They seem to be purists and don't worry about what people think of their beer of choice. They just enjoy it in it's most basic form.

Until the last couple of years, microbrew fans have always struck me as snobbish and smug like the people that know what kind of wine tastes better with a certain type of food. I have no idea! For me life is too short to keep track of all these different kinds of beers and wines. I just want to get an occasional healthy glow and avoid a hangover.

A couple of events in the last year or so have changed my opinion on microbrews. One was at an barbecue on a beautiful fall day when the hosts served homemade beer. Delicious and strong! Then last night I drank a pair of $6.50 micro beers with some friends and actually enjoyed the taste. Well, I realized, gol' dammit, microbrews are much better than regular beer and I just have to concede that those pompous microbrewers have better taste than Joe Six-Pack. Hopefully someday the two different worlds will come together so I can enjoy a tasty microbrew with beer-drinking people that wouldn't even consider it.

Super Bowl memories

2010-02-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday is somewhere on my top 20 list of great things about America. It's a virtual holiday that brings people together to watch the nation's favorite sport and all those wacky million dollar commercials. Tomorrow the favored Colts and the underdog Saints will duke it out in the 44th edition. It should be an exciting game.

I have many great memories of this game. I can remember at least one thing about the last 30 games. My first memory was Super Bowl XIV (14) when the Steelers beat the Rams. I remember my dad and all the other men watching the game being pumped to see the Steelers' defense. And of course the classic Bradshaw to Stallworth pass that put the Steelers up for good in the 4th quarter.

Some interesting facts about that game and tomorrow's game:

Halftime show - 1980 Up With People presented "A Salute to the Big Band Era"
2010 The Who (so old they were already almost retired 30 years ago)
National anthem - 1980 Cheryl Ladd (my older brothers had a Cheryl Ladd bikini poster next to a Loni Anderson poster and I spent a lot of time looking at them both. Couldn't do it at home now...I guess my parents were more laid back than my wife).2010 - Carrie Underwood
30 second commercial - 1980 $222k 2010 $3 million.

Office Space - clean or clutter?

2010-02-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

There seem to be three types office and cubicle dwellers in the workplace; 1)clean and organized, 2)unabashedly messy, 3)those that vacillate between 1 and 2.

This week I had two people comment on my work area. The first was a first-time visitor that complimented me for my messy area. He said there were too many clean people and that it was good to see someone like him. The second was my next-door neighbor who visits just about every day. She said I need to clean up my act.

This is a topic that occasionally causes me some angst. But who's really to say which is right? Does it really matter? Isn't practically everything on the computer anyway so is filing and organizing that important? A double whammy that people like me encounter is the constant bombardment of people dropping stuff in my space and all the mostly useless handouts received at meetings.

I'm going to continue as a vacillator for the time being but I think as I get older and care less and less what others think I may just become and unrepentant slob!

the beauty of a nap

2010-02-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

A good nap is one of the most underrated and under-utilized gifts a person can give to themself. According to Wikipedia (so it must be true):

Napping has been found to be beneficial. Napping for 20 minutes can help refresh the mind, improve overall alertness, boost mood and increase productivity. Napping may benefit the heart. In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of heart-related death.

The Greeks have been around long enough that I'll take their word for it.

Today I took a 30 minute nap after dinner and I feel so much better. Typically I'll only take a nap on vacation or a weekend but sometimes you just have to do it whereever and whenever. Another testimonial: my 71 year old father-in-law takes one like clockwork after lunch every day and he seems happy and healthy. A fringe benefit is that by the time he wakes up everything has been cleaned up.

When was the last time you took a nap? I hope this motivated you to go lay down and fall asleep.

McGuire brothers & quotes from Al

2010-02-03T20:15:00.000-08:00

This morning Dick McGuire died at the age of 84. He was a Hall of Fame basketball player for the New York Knicks and the older brother of fellow Hall of Famer Al McGuire; former player, Marquette coach, and TV analyst. Dick and Al both grew up in Rockaway Beach (part of Queens, NY),worked at the family saloon, and played basketball among other things. Their Irish father once said "the difference between Dick and Al is that Dick can play."

Since Dick was shy and quiet, I'll take this opportunity to sample a few of Al's 100s of famous quotes.

1) You've got to remember, it's a game. If we lose, a new star will appear in the east.
2) Winning is only important in war and surgery.
3) All love affairs end. Eventually the girl is gonna put curlers in her hair.
4) My personal style is not negotiable. That's how I fly. If you don't like my onion sandwiches, too bad. I can't change.

So much to think about. I think Al was not only entertaining but also a very wise man. He was never as good as Dick at basketball but was able to carve out his own niche. See Al dance at the end of this video with an ecstatic Syracuse team. There's also a current NFL quarterback in there if you look closely.

"real" Mexican food

2010-02-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

Since I am married to a lovely native of Mexico City, I am often asked where is the best local Mexican food and which is the most authentic. Sometimes people really want to know and others are just waiting to tell me about their favorite Mexican restaurant. The answer is not as simple as it sounds.

To begin, for me growing up in Michigan, Mexican food was when Mom put some taco seasoning on ground beef, stuffed it into hard shells and topped it off with cheese and lettuce. And we liked it. As teenagers we moved on to Ole Tacos and Taco Bell and it was all good. So that was the original Mexican food for me.

Later, after experiencing food all over Mexico, I gained an understanding of real Mexican food, and it is as varied and complex as any other cuisine. Also it is usually quite different than what you find in the USA. Two basic distinctions are ground beef and burritos, things you won't see in Mexico.

My recommendations are to be open to try new things and figure out what you like the most, and then don't worry about whether it's authentic. The important thing is to get value for your money and to enjoy the food. ¡Buen provecho!

Rod & Kenny & deejay

2010-02-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

Rod Stewart once was the cause of a broken relationship for me. In college I was at a party with a new girlfriend when her best friend, she, and I started looking at the CD collection of the host. One of the CDs we saw was Rod Stewart and I commented something to the effect that Rod was good. I got a look from both of the them that put me immediately on the defensive. I stood my ground and started talking about The Faces and some of Rod's hits from the 70s and early 80s. But alas, they weren't having it, and that was the beginning of the end of the relationship that had really only just begun.

What's this have to do with Kenny Loggins? Before Kenny started doing hit songs on movie soundtracks, he had a solo career in his own right and even won a couple of Grammy's. So if someone just evaluated Kenny (like Rod at the party) on the latter part of his career, they may not get it quite right. I think musicians should be judged on their entire body of work, and not just on when one started watching MTV or VH1.

Finally, kudos to the deejay who played 'This is It' on the radio tonight. I appreciate you making the effort to play a song that's not on the heavy rotation list. Hearing a nearly forgotten oldie but goodie is like running into an old friend.

California Route 91 American Flag painting part 1

2010-01-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

I can't find this anywhere on the internet. It's probably the largest thing not to be on the internet.

On California Route 91 west of Riverside there is a huge painting of an American flag and the words 1776-1976 200 Years of Freedom. When it was done it must have been a large undertaking. I've driven by it many times and often thought it needed a fresh coat of paint. I'm amazed I can't find it because it's one of the busiest freeways in California and tens of thousands of cars drive by it every day.

I hope to find out more about this in the near future. If I were a TV reporter in California I'd do one of those stories where they wander around asking people on the street about it on camera and getting lots of "I don't know" and "Never really thought about it." At some point I'd also go to a city or county building looking for answers.

Below is a funny British parody of TV reporting.

Only charcoal!

2010-01-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

Tonight at dinner I met someone that shares my love of charcoal barbeques and disdain of gas grills. This happens from time to time and validates all the grief I get from my wife about the lack of timeliness of my grilling. His idea of good grilling night is that it's long enough to drink two beers and listen to four innings of Tigers baseball on the radio. He also likes the challenge of controlling the coals depending on whether it's fish, chicken, red meat, or vegetables. It was fun to hear his perspective.

Grilling on charcoal requires skill, finesse, patience, and persistence while gas grilling requires almost none. I've been to a few barbeques where the man of the house likes to put on his grilling apron and use the big fold out gas grill with two levels and knobs to control the flame. Sometimes people will gather around and watch while sipping beers. Little do they know they're being duped.

My vote will always go to the charcoal man, even though you'll rarely see more than one or two people watch him toil. Political candidates should be asked 'gas or charcoal?' rather than 'boxers or briefs?'. Last but not least, it tastes better!

So next time you're at a barbeque/cookout with charcoal instead of sniffing about the simple old charcoal grill please just say thank you.

dance classics

2010-01-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

By now if you probably know what the Cha Cha Slide is. I did it tonight at the conclusion of a grade school talent show. If you don't then you don't get out enough. First created in 1996 it slowly became one of those songs that will get people to dance because it's hard to mess it up. There is a long tradition of these songs, and they definitely serve a purpose. Some of them will ignite even the most hardened wallflower to move at a school dance, party, or wedding reception. The mother of these is the Hokey Pokey which originated in the 40s. Even when I was a kid it seemed quaint but everybody did it at skating parties and weddings. It was just assumed and if you tried to get away you were shamed into doing it. The 50s brought us the Chicken Dance and the 70s A Fifth of Beethoven and The Hustle. In the 90s possibly the most popular of them all arrived in the Macarena, not to mention Achy Breaky Heart. Now we have the Cha Cha Slide. I'm sure there are others I'm missing, or that just haven't made it to the heartland yet.
Again, these songs are easily dismissed by some but they really are great in the sense they get people to dance together, which seems to happen less and less in the US.

let us wink

2010-01-28T19:20:00.000-08:00

As I walked through the halls of my employer today I realized that people would be more at ease and thus morale would improve if there was more winking going on. I occasionally wink and when I pull off a good one I realize I should do it more.
I'm sure you could go across the country and be able to classify most working people into just a few classes:
- no eye contact makers
- read blackberry while walking
- the smile/grimace. It's so hard to force the smile that it looks painful
- hi, how are you? fine, you?
- bluetooth guy already in conversation
- winkers

Winking is superior to the others (in order) because it's more social, safer, easier to do, not empty and meaningless, and more in the present. A wink simply says, "I acknowledge we are crossing paths and perhaps we'll exchange words another time. Until then, here's a wink."

Not everyone should do it though. I recommend it mostly to the smile/grimace and the hi, how are you? fine, you? groups. If one doesn't know where they fit then a simple rule would be to wink if you're in a non-technical field. If you're technical then follow your instincts.

to barber shop or hair salon

2010-01-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

That is the question. For years and years it was barber shop until the local grocery had a hair salon open up inside the store and started to threaten the barber shop throne.
Pros for the barber shop are price ($10 inc. tip) and the all important man factor. The barbers and customers are men, there are newspapers laying around and even a laddie magazine or two. Your more likely to hear a crude joke or sports talk and you get a straight razor shave on the back of the neck with a nice musky smell. A barber once told me "it's getting harder and harder to keep you from looking ugly." See the barbershop scene in Gran Torino for more of the same.
The most glaring con is the quality of the haircut which is important.

Pros for hair salons are that the quality is much better and the ladies clip the all-important ear hairs and long eybrows. This is getting more important every year.
Cons are the price ($15 inc. tip) and the sterile atmosphere where I feel pressure to keep the conversation interesting.
I still favor the barbershop experience but the hair salon has been gaining since they opened. If only I could just take a pill to slow down the eyebrows and ear hairs.

tater salad

2010-01-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Every six weeks or so I'll watch TV from about 10-11 pm. For TV watchers you probably know what's out there. Scripted dramas on major networks, reality shows on VH1 and MTV, cable news, TV movies, etc. I finally settled on a country channel called CMT with the Ron White Tater Salad comedy concert.
I saw a documentary on Ron White awhile back and he has an interesting story. He was in the Navy and in later years was arrested for drug and alcohol abuse. Part of his rehab terms was that he would have to speak to high school kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. He turned out to be a funny speaker and that's what started his stand up career.
To see Ron's act just put Ron White into YouTube and you'll have many choices.

small victories

2010-01-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

When I was in college I remember this one older lady
(meaning maybe 25 at that time)constantly saying "small victories" in a way that always made people happy. Tonight was a night of small victories.
I just returned home from some rough and tumble full court basketball. Tonight I matched up against two guys that are shorter, quicker, and stronger than me. My skills have deteriorated to the point where I'm usually at a disadvantage. The only thing I had going from me was a few more inches and a higher BMI.
So what were the small victories? One behind the back dribble that prevented a sure steal and a 15 foot jumper to win a game. Also burning 100s of calories. Having a few laughs.
I believe the key to small victories is to take the time to think of them and then enjoy them. They happen all day long but are easy to miss.

mixed messages in my shower

2010-01-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

This morning I was enjoying a really nice shower at the Westin Airpor Hotel in Atlanta. The the difference between a good shower and an average one is underrated. You need a generous water flow, the right temperature, and the head above you so you can stand erectly and not have to bend to wash your hair. This shower met all three criteria and even had dual shower heads which I rank almost as high as pay at the pump for advances in quality of living.

During this shower with not one but two Heavenly Shower heads I read the following message plastered on the wall near the shower head.

refresh yourself

restore our world

One of our Heavenly Shower heads has been turned off to minimize water usage and protect one of our most precious natural resources.

To experience the most out of your Heavenly Shower you can turn the second shower head on by pushing the small button below the lower head.

I still feel kind of bothered by that sign. It had two opposite calls to action.

Give the man a tip!

2010-01-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was on the shuttle bus from the Atlanta airport to the Westin Airport Hotel. The friendly (people in the South are generally friendly) driver announced upon departure and arrival that “I’ll be happy to assist you with your bags.” He was quick on his feet and aiming to please.

I observed from the back of the bus that none of the other passengers tipped the man, whether he handled their bags or if they just grabbed their own and uttered “I’ve got it.”

I handled my bag and gave him dollar. He smiled and thanked me.

If you ever raise the issue of tipping with others you’re almost sure to get opinions. There’s a scene in the movie Reservoir Dogs where they talk about it at length in an animated way. I’m not a former or current waiter that gets too excited about this, but I think it should be something you be aware of when you receive services from others.
Follow your conscience. If your inner voice says you should tip, then maybe you should.
It’s always good to have a couple loose dollar bills in your pocket.

In defense of loud people

2010-01-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

In preparation for a short weekend trip to Atlanta, I recall my last trip there a few months ago. While on the rental car shuttle bus I noticed almost everyone was on a cell phone, reading something on the phone, or staring unsmilingly in some direction. However, there was one large, cheerful, slightly sloppy loud man near the front of the bus who I slowly found to be entertaining. He started out by good-naturedly ribbing the driver about "not being big enough to handle that rig." He then proceeded to go on and on to another passenger but loud enough for everyone to hear about "getting a big van" and going "all the way to Ocala". I made eye contact at one point with a slight smile and he quickly asked me if I was going to Ocala too. We had a friendly chat for just a short while about our plans before disembarking. He wished me a good time in Atlanta and I said the same for him and Ocala. I felt better getting off the bus than I did when I got on.
On my journey this weekend I'll keep my ears open for some other loud people. Sometimes it's fun to meet people in public.

Tony Bruno - Into the Night show

2010-01-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

I've always thought of myself as someone with impeccable taste.
There are so many sports radio shows where hosts, guests, and callers take sports and their conversations wayyyy too seriously. Many of them live in a seperate universe where discussions of current events, politics, economics, reality, etc. are non-existent.
If you are someone that enjoys good humor and sports then I highly recommend The Tony Bruno Show - Into the Night. It is on Fox Sports Radio from 10pm to 1am EST. You can also catch the show via podcast on tonybrunoshow.com. It's hip, irreverant, and biting, sarcastic, ironic without really being biting, sarcastic, or ironic.
Give it a try...and see what it says about your taste and mine.