Not my car...

Just posting a video as a test...

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Yes, it's a fact. That is me...


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For Hayden...

Because some of my very loyal readers might really miss (or in at least one case, not even notice that I haven't really posted anything new for the last three months but I won't name any names) my expert and genius insights, I offer this vague explanation for my sudden and unexpected silence. Everybody seems to have an opinion on everything and with the way the World is today, people seem more willing now than ever to share it. While there are certainly thoughtful and insightful discussions amongst all the intellectual garbage on the internet and beyond, I have wondered if perhaps everyone is too busy talking past each other rather than listening. So even though I still feel I have much I can contribute to the World, certain events over the last few months have brought me to a point in my life where I feel I need to listen and leave the talking to others.

The only thing I can offer at this time is hope, at least for my fellow Eagles fans, in the form of Desean "Hope" Jackson. Who, despite a completely boneheaded and potentially disastrous mistake on Monday night, is only the second player in NFL history to have over 100 receiving yards in each of his first two career games.

You Know Football Season is Here When...

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

Week in Review

In order make note of the numerous experiences and observations I have each day, I have decided to do a post each Monday that reviews highlights and thoughts from the previous week.

Top Gear Returns!
Season 11 of Top Gear kicked off last Sunday with another brilliant performance by the blokes from Britain. Captain Slow, James May singlehandedly made the first episode with his quaint British descriptions of criminals as "crims" and "miscreants." And the upcoming U.S. version is actually looking somewhat promising with Adam Corolla as the host (see a recent interview here). I'm actually cautiously optimistic.

Nationals Still on my S*** List
The Diamond and Presidents seats were still only about half full at Tuesday night's Nationals game. If you're going to charge $170 and $325 per game for seats to a lowly Nationals game, you'd better make sure they're used. Shame on the Nationals and the various corporations/lobbyists/firms for not putting them to good use. If nobody is sitting in them, at least give them to someone like the troops, kids, seniors, etc.

Revenge of Cici's
I attended the quarterly dinner at Cici's. Thanks go to my mom for including a random roll of Tums in my Christmas stocking. It was still good, but in a greasy, gross way.

Baltimore Inner Harbor
I took my friend Linz to Baltimore for her first time and, like everyone that goes there, she loved the Inner Harbor. Going to Baltimore reminded me about how underutilized the waterfronts of other east coast cities are. DC is working on improving things with the development of Nationals Park and various proposals for Georgetown. PennPraxis unveiled an action plan for the Philadelphia waterfront last week. And although I'm not too familiar with what's going on in NYC, I know there have been efforts to connect the city to its rivers (something Jane Jacobs suggested almost 50 years ago). For all of Baltimore's other faults, it has done a phenomenal job with the Inner Harbor and I'm hoping other cities follow its lead.

DMB Still Rocks...
For some reason, my enthusiasm for the Dave Matthews Band has waned over the last few years. But I went to their concert on Saturday night and fell in love with their music all over again. With the exception of a brief performance at Live 8, this was the first time I'd seen DMB in person. Their musical skill, melding of styles and the chemistry of the band members to improvise is likely why DMB has been such a hit on tour over the last 15 years. My taste in music has evolved over the last few years, with a greater appreciation for musical complexities rather than just a catchy tune or melody. Listening in this new light reminded me just how good the Dave Matthews Band is.

...but Nissan Pavilion is a Hell Hole
It has got to be the worst concert venue in the World. Ok, the venue itself is fine but the traffic and parking is a nightmare. I truly wonder why people actually attend concerts there. Getting in took a couple hours and we were stuck in the parking lot for over an hour after the event. And when we left, the parking lot was still half full! I'm going to try my best to never go there again. It is unbelievable. I think a boycott of Nissan Pavilion is in order. It is completely irresponsible to build such a major venue without providing sufficient transportation infrastructure. I blame it on the backwards mentality of Price William County. Compare the mess of Nissan Pavilion to the visionary leadership in Arlington and it is easily apparent which county is more progressive.

Top Gear Season 11

This one's for you, Lakers guy!

As the final seconds wind off the clock in any deciding championship game, in any sport, I always feel a bit sorry for the losing team, even if I actually care who wins. Its sad to see their hopes and dreams dashed after a long season of arduous work, ending in utter disappointment. Perhaps I feel this way because I have experienced my fair share of losing as a sports fan, so I can sympathize with that empty, gut-wrenching feeling. But last night was a first. I felt nothing but absolute joy and jubilation at the Los Angeles Lakers' expense. Seeing them get completely annihilated brought some much needed poetic justice to the 2007-08 NBA season, much like the Patriots' loss in the Super Bowl (and I still felt at least a little sorry for them).

I was thrilled to see KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce get a much-deserved championship, but to me, it wasn't ever really about the Celtics. It was about a city, team, and fans that were too arrogant to give any other team an ounce of respect or a show of class, and as it turns out, it came back to bite them in the ass.

Over the last few years, I have worked hard to not become so emotionally invested in my sports teams. After all, its just a game. Entertainment. So when one of my favorite teams is playing a friend's team, I'll have fun talking a little trash beforehand, but if my team wins, I respect my friend by keeping my mouth shut, not feeling it necessary to rub salt in the wound. Unfortunately, this courtesy is not always reciprocated, as was the case when the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz earlier in the playoffs. All the Lakers fans I know (which is far too many) strutted around like Hollywood skeez-balls with highlighted hair and fake tans, beating their chests, extolling the greatness of the LA Lakers, Phil Jackson, and the "next MJ," Kobe Bryant. No respect or class in victory was shown to Jazz fans, in fact, some Fakers fans proceeded to pile it on several days after the series was over.

But where are they now? Lakers guy is eerily silent. Humbled? Not likely. But its good to see them shut up once and for all. Sure, we'll still have to hear the excuses, and the promises of future glory with a no-show MVP and a Center of the future that has never played a full NBA Season. They'll extol Kobe's virtues while conveniently forgetting his continuous piss-poor behavior and lack of class.

In the meantime, I'll be reveling in LA's misery. Thrilled that their season couldn't have ended more painfully. And as I reminded Bill Belichick after losing the Super Bowl, Karma's a bitch! Then again, the Zen Master should have known that.