The DC Outsider

Time to Say Goodbye

2008-12-17T16:23:00.008-05:00

As you may have noticed, it's been about a month since I last posted on the Outsider. Between applying to law schools, the craziness that is the holiday season, and a general aversion to spending any additional time in front of a computer after work, the site has taken a back seat to other things going on in my life. To be sure, there has been no shortage of topics to write about - cabinet appointments, political scandals, financial scandals, athletes doing stupid things, shoes flying at the president's head, etc - but to be honest, the motivation to post early and often just isn't there anymore.

So, as of today, I'm suspending the DC Outsider indefinitely.

It's been a great ride and I've been thrilled to see the site grow from something I created to keep myself sane during the job hunt to being a blog that has been quoted numerous times in the Washington Post Express, the DC Blogs Noted page, and on other influential sites. Thank you for reading, commenting, and making this page a part of your web routine.

And who knows? Maybe the Outsider will make a comeback someday like a well-known celebrity who shares my name. But for now, it's time to say goodbye and so I'll leave you with the immortal words of Neil Sedaka: "Breakin' up is hard to do..."

But it's time.

Sarah Palin Embarrasses Herself

2008-11-21T15:19:00.005-05:00

Have you felt an emptiness in your life recently? A void in your soul? No, it's not because it gets dark around 4:30 or because the weather is turning frigid. It's more likely because you are not getting your daily dose of Sarah Palin that you were so used to during the campaign season. Those winks. Those glasses. Those shout-outs to Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder. Admit it, you miss her, if only for entertainment's sake.

Fortunately, there's an interview that hit the web today that reminds us why we love Sarah Palin so much. The interview takes place - where else? - at a turkey farm in Alaska where Palin looks like the quintessential hockey mom: winter coat and scarf on, cup of coffee in hand, standing in front of turkeys being slaughtered in a machine. Wait? What? Here she is in all her oblivious-to-what-is-going-on-behind-her glory. Close your eyes at 1:52 if you love turkeys:

Alaska may be "the land of opportunities and possibilities" as Palin says, but apparently not for that turkey. Is this what happens when McCain's handlers aren't around to script her every move?

Thanks to Ashley for the tip!

(CNN covered the story here)

Brian Williams Embarrasses Himself

2008-11-16T19:06:00.006-05:00

For being one of Time's most 100 influential people, newscaster Brian Williams sure knows how to make a fool of himself.

Many of you know my Sunday weakness for the free Parade magazine stuffed in the newspaper with the comics and Best Buy ads. Today as I opened up the Post, I saw Brian Williams staring up at me on the cover of Parade with the goofiest grin on his face and a slice of pizza in his hand:

"What America Eats" it reads on the cover. And apparently, Brian Williams is an expert. Where were his handlers and publicist on this one? In an additional article titled "I'm Blissfully in Love With Food Courts," Williams writes:

My problem is limiting the choices. I will do a slice at Sbarro, or I’ll go to A&W—their cheeseburgers are underrated, and need I say more about a cold mug of frosty root beer? Cinnabon exhaust fumes have a hold over me like crack cocaine would over an addict. And when I’m on the road and see that friendly Arby’s, Cracker Barrel, or Waffle House sign, it might as well read, “Brian, Welcome Home.”

I've always been slightly put off by Williams ever since he replaced Tom Brokaw on the NBC Nightly News. I've never really taken to the guy and after seeing that ridiculous picture (there's an even better one in the print version of the story with coffee and a doughnut) and reading his I-love-Cinnabon article, I don't think I ever will.

To read Williams' full story (and you know you want to), click here.

"Kicking It" at Georgetown

2008-11-11T21:41:00.011-05:00

Tonight, the Georgetown University Library Associates screened the documentary "Kicking It" at Georgetown's Gaston Hall. The film tells the story of the 4th Annual Homeless World Cup held in Cape Town in 2006 through the eyes of players from the US, Ireland, Kenya, Russia, Afghanistan, and Spain. The tournament, played on a street soccer pitch, hosted 500 homeless players from 48 countries that year.

"Kicking It" does a fantastic job of showing the humanity of these men who have spent time on the streets and in jail and rehab, yet all with the goal of improving their lives through sport, exercise, and teamwork. At the end of the film, which features extensive interviews, training, and actual tournament footage, I felt as if I had made the journey with them even though I'll never be able to fully comprehend the challenges and struggles these men have faced.

Producer Ted Leonisis (of AOL/Lincoln Holdings/SnagFilms fame) and director Susan Koch led a Q&A session following the screening where they discussed the power of film as a catalyst for social progress and what Leonis calls "filmanthropy." "Kicking It" is a great example of the ability of the documentary genre to educate, entertain, and, hopefully, create a force for positive change. It's a must see, especially in these tough economic times which are disproportionately affecting the most needy.

To watch a 20 minute excerpt on SnagFilms, click here.

To visit the official "Kicking It" website, click here.

For more on the Homeless World Cup (to be held next month in Melbourne, Australia), click here.

***UPDATE***: Ted linked to this post on his great blog, Ted's Take (thanks!)

Time to Do This Change Thing

2008-11-05T20:38:00.005-05:00

My apartment is back to normal. The beer and champagne bottles have been recycled. The mini keg has been taken out. And the spinach dip that spent the night congealing on the kitchen table has been tossed. Last night's festivities felt like a joyful mix of New Year's Eve, Super Bowl Sunday, Christmas morning, and - oh yeah - Election night, all rolled into one. November 4, 2008 will be one of those dates that you'll look back on and say, "I remember where I was when the American people elected Barack Obama the president of the United States of America."

I'll let the pundits and the historians explain the significance of last night's victory. What does it mean for American politics? What does it mean for race relations? What does it mean for the US's connections with the rest of the world? What does it mean for you and me? Time will surely tell. But those of us living in the United States today will forever be linked to a moment in American history when we smashed the status quo and said we can do better. Nothing is ever going to be the same again - and that's a good thing.

But let's be honest - we just gave Barack Obama a damn difficult challenge. Two wars. The threat of terrorism. An economic meltdown. An environmental crisis. What a reward for almost two years of campaigning non-stop. But I feel Obama is ready - particularly if he surrounds himself with intelligent and dedicated people. I just finished reading James Mann's The Rise of Vulcans: The History of Bush's War Cabinet, a well-crafted, highly-detailed, and fascinating look at George W. Bush's inner circle during his first team. Simply put, you are who you surround yourself with. Every cabinet secretary, administrative assistant, and aide brings a personal history with them when they arrive at the White House which shapes the persona of an administration.

Bush didn't do such a good job of picking his advisors. Over the next few weeks, we'll see who Obama chooses. Joe Biden was a good start. And Rahm Emanuel is a get-things-done kind of guy. So stay tuned to find out who else rounds out Team Obama.

And then let's do this change thing...

Johnny Cash Says Go Vote!

2008-11-04T06:49:00.006-05:00

Now I'm not going to guess who Johnny Cash would vote for in this year's election (some guy was bold enough to do that already and was rightly rebuked by Roseanne Cash for doing so), but all I can say today is go out and vote! You're not too busy, it's not too rainy, the lines aren't too long (though they are long), and your vote truly does count. Don't let history pass you by - let your voice be heard and fulfill your duty as an American:

Disgraceful

2008-10-31T13:04:00.005-04:00

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but felt this was the only way to ensure fairness to the complete electorial process." 1. America deserves better than this. 2. Electorial process? Check your grammar if you are going to fake an announcement when trying to rig an election.

Click here for the back story. And show up on November 4th.

One Week to Go

2008-10-28T17:27:00.003-04:00

One week from today, we go to the polls in what may very well be the most important election in which we will ever cast a ballot.

Many of you received an e-mail I wrote a year and a half ago from my dorm room in Dublin asking you to support Sen. Barack Obama as he took his first steps towards the presidency. I wrote about my belief in Obama's ability to be a transformative leader: someone who has the courage to restore America's image throughout the world, promote transparency and accountability in government, and tackle the challenges of our time with creative strategies and ingenuity.

Now, as Mr. Obama nears the finish line of a race that he began in February 2007, I ask you once again to support him - this time in the voting booth. As the senator has said throughout his campaign - this election is not about him - not about the yard signs, the bumper stickers, or the t-shirts - it's about an opportunity for us to reach our full potential as Americans and global citizens. It's about giving the middle class a fair chance, providing health care for all, and promoting American military and diplomatic influence with responsibility and respect for the rest of the world.

I hope you feel the same way and cast your ballot for Obama/Biden on November 4th.

From the State Department to Candlestick Park?

2008-10-27T15:55:00.006-04:00

While I'm sure many big-shots in the Bush administration will have corner offices waiting for them at the American Enterprise Institute come January 2009, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice might have a different option: president of the San Francisco 49ers.

A top ranking official with the team was quoted by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network as saying, "If she's interested in talking to us, I'm interested in talking to her." Today, though, the State Department tried to squash the rumors by saying that Rice was planning on returning to Stanford University where she was provost from 1993-1999.

So who knows what lies in store for Condi? On the surface, going from trying to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict to running the 49ers should be a piece of cake. But then again, the 49ers are such a mess this season, too. With a 2-6 record, a fired coach, a disruptive player, and press conferences like this, she would have a lot on her hands in San Fran:

Coach Singletary wants winners!!! And given Condi's record over the past few years in the failed Bush administration, she doesn't quite fit that job description.

Must See Election Night TV

2008-10-24T18:54:00.007-04:00

On November 4th, I plan on tuning into CNN for my election night coverage. You can't mess with the "best political team on TV," right? (Even if Wolf Blitzer reminds us of that every 5 minutes). And that "magic map" is so...magical. Still, viewers tuning into the other major news networks are in store for some special coverage, as well. This morning, Variety reported:

ABC will be broadcasting its proceedings in Times Square on its 43rd Street JumboTron, while just across the street, Fox News will be beaming down from the Square’s gargantuan Astro Vision monitor. NBC, meanwhile, plans to superimpose a gigantic national map on the Rockefeller Center skating rink and project Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s escalating electoral vote counts on the facade of its 30 Rock HQ.

Given the political fever gripping the country (and the world), I'm sure the ratings will be through the roof - and I'm sure local pizzerias will be making a killing delivering to Election night parties.

Still, my biggest hope for that night is that the skaters at Rockefeller Center will be whizzing by on a predominantly blue ice rink if you know what I mean...

To read the full Variety article, click here.

The Real McCainiac

2008-10-21T21:36:00.004-04:00

Country First? Um, not so much. As a recent article by Tim Dickinson in Rolling Stone reveals, Sen. John McCain is "a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather."

Dickinson continues the fine (and in-your-face) political reporting that Rolling Stone has produced over the course of the campaign season (did you read Matt Taibbi's "Mad Dog Palin" yet?). After finishing Dickinson's "Make-Believe Maverick" you'll be hard-pressed to find a reason why this man and his wife belong in the White House. Check out the article online here and see why former Republican senator Lincoln Chafee said "McCain is putting himself first. He's putting himself first in blinking neon lights."

Choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate is merely the most recent calculated move in a lifetime of self-promotion and looking out for #1 at any cost. America, let's not reward this man with the most important job in the world. Turns out, he's not as qualified as he would like you to think. And a pretty poor pilot to boot.

To read the article, click here (and get a printer ready, it's a long - but necessary - read).

When the General Speaks...

2008-10-19T19:02:00.004-04:00

...you should listen. Today, Sen. Barack Obama received perhaps his most important endorsement to date during his campaign for the presidency. On "Meet the Press," Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Tom Browkaw that he was going to vote for Obama on November 4:

"So, when I look at all of this and I think back to my Army career, we've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world--onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

Powell said he didn't plan on campaigning for Obama with two weeks to go, but this very public endorsement of the senator is better than twenty stump speeches. Undecideds and independents, take note - Powell has been through the trenches and back when it comes to foreign policy. Sure, he's made mistakes (remember this?), but in terms of an awareness and understanding of how to promote and improve America's role in the world, Powell knows what he's talking about. So while many people tomorrow morning at work might be talking about this video clip from another NBC show, this is the one that really has significance (though it is arguably not as funny):

Click here for the entire transcript and more video from Powell's appearance on Meet the Press.

Time to Make Up Your Mind

2008-10-13T17:01:00.005-04:00

During the last three debates I haven't been able to take my eyes off the rising and falling lines at the bottom of the screen during CNN's broadcasts. The graphics supposedly show the instant reactions of a handful of undecided Ohio voters who turn a dial depending on their feelings about the candidate's responses. For some reason, I have paid more attention to those spikes and dips than the candidates themselves.

But with all due respect, why should I care what those people think? Yes, I know about the importance of undecided voters, independent voters, swing state voters, etc. But honestly, with 3 weeks until Election Day what are these people waiting for to make a decision? This has been the longest election season in history. What could Obama or McCain possibly say or do at this point besides personally finding a cure for cancer that would better help these "not sure yet" voters to finally make up their minds?

Still, there's one more chance for those who still don't feel they fully know the candidates to get a better look. On Tuesday night, PBS's FRONTLINE will air "The Choice 2008," a two-hour in-depth look at the candidates, their policies, and their worldviews. It kicks off the fall season of FRONTLINE, perhaps the best current issues programming on television. From the press release:

It has been called one of the most historic presidential elections in our nation’s history--Barack Obama versus John McCain. It is a race that pits the iconoclast against the newcomer, the heroic prisoner of war against the first African American nominated by a major party. FRONTLINE's critically acclaimed series The Choice returns this election season to examine the rich personal and political biographies of these two men in The Choice 2008, airing Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings).

The Choice 2008, part of "PBS Vote 2008" election coverage, draws on in-depth interviews with the advisers, friends and those closest to these unlikely candidates, as well as with seasoned observers of American politics, who together tell the definitive story of these men and their ascent to their party's nominations.

FRONTLINE has an online archive of almost all of their programs from the past few years, available free and on demand. The videos are accompanied by a website with extended interviews, in-depth analysis, and commentary on the issues from each program. Here are a few of my favorites worth checking out:

Endgame (2007)
News War (2007)
The Insurgency (2006)
The Storm (2005)
A Company of Soldiers (2005)
The Man Who Knew (2002)

For more on "The Choice 2008" click here.

Philadelphia = Obama Country

2008-10-12T02:46:00.005-04:00

Philadelphia made me proud and brought their "A" game Saturday night. Notice the Obama/Biden posters at 44+ seconds:

Way to bring it, Philly.

Make Me Proud Philadelphia...

2008-10-09T17:29:00.006-04:00

...and do not give Sarah Palin a "brotherly" welcome this weekend when she drops the first puck at the Flyers' home opener Saturday night.

Philadelphia sports fans aren't known for being, well, diplomatic (after all, this is a city that threw snowballs at Santa Claus) and I hope they send a message loud and clear to Palin to hit the road and get back to Wasilla.

“We are very excited she has accepted our offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey," said Ed Snider, the owner of the Flyers. Wait, did I miss something? Is Palin now running for the commissioner of the NHL? On second thought, that may not be a bad idea after all. I'd trust her more with Zamboni machines than our nuclear codes.

[Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News weighs in here, calling for fans "to stand up Saturday night and turn their back on Sarah Palin and especially turn their back on Ed Snider," who is apparently a major funder of the ultra right-wing organization Freedom's Watch.]

***UPDATE***: This post was featured on the DC Blogs Noted page today. Thanks, again!

John McCain Hates Space

2008-10-07T22:05:00.007-04:00

Add planetariums to McCain's growing list of things he wants to cut spending money on. From tonight's debate:

He [Senator Obama] voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects including, by the way, $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois.

What's wrong with planetariums, Senator? They give us an opportunity to expand our knowledge of the universe around us, give kids a chance to have a day out of school at the science museum, and have also provided the backdrop for one of best knife fight scenes in movie history:

You would thing someone who calls himself a "maverick" would be down with James Dean. Apparently not.

***UPDATE*** Here's the inside scoop on the projector situation from the Chicago Tribune's The Swamp.

W. Is Coming!

2008-10-07T21:14:00.005-04:00

Though George W. Bush will thankfully not be running for office this year, director Oliver Stone is hoping that the president will bring in big numbers in a different sort of race: box office returns. Stone's latest biopic "W." will hit screens on October 17 across the country right in the middle of the campaign fever that is gripping this nation. While many Americans and people throughout the world might feel that the past 8 years of the Bush presidency have been like a horror film, many are curious to see what Stone's cinematic portrayal will be like. With over a week until its release, I can honestly say I have no idea. Fortunately, Variety (E's paper of choice on Entourage) released a review this morning to provide a glimpse into what we may expect from W. Here are a few of the highlights:

[The Setting]
Opening with a post-9/11 cabinet meeting in the Oval Office in which the phrase “axis of evil” was concocted, then jumping back in time to begin a procession of key events in the life of a privileged party boy with something to prove, Stone and his “Wall Street” scenarist Stanley Weiser position the film, above all, as a father-son story.

[The Man]
Most scenes are devoted to illuminating particular aspects of George W. -- examined in pithy interludes are his recklessness, people skills, insecurities, reliance upon Laura, impatience, belief that good will prevail and unwillingness to deviate once he’s made up his mind.

[The Performances]
One can’t say Brolin is George W. Bush -- the real one is still all too noticeably with us -- but the actor offers a more than reasonable physical approximation and an interpretation that’s convincingly boisterous and determined...
Along with Brolin, top performances/impersonations are provided by Banks, whose Laura Bush goes a long way toward clarifying the close marital bond; Cromwell, who may not be a dead ringer for George H. W. Bush but delivers the full intended force of his character in several key scenes; Toby Jones as the ever-present Karl Rove; and, despite hints at editorializing, Dreyfuss, who may only present a caricature of Cheney but seems so physically and attitudinally on the money that he’s instantly recognizable and acceptable.

[The Verdict]
Oliver Stone’s unusual and inescapably interesting “W.” feels like a rough draft of a film it might behoove him to remake in 10 or 15 years...
For a film that could have been either a scorching satire or an outright tragedy, “W.” is, if anything, overly conventional, especially stylistically. The picture possesses dramatic and entertainment value, but beyond serious filmgoers curious about how Stone deals with all this president’s men and women, it’s questionable how wide a public will pony up to immerse itself in a story that still lacks an ending.

So we'll have to wait until the 17th to find out for ourselves. Until then, take a look at W.'s trailer or visit the official website here.

To read Variety's full review, click here.

***UPDATE***: This post has been linked to CNN.com under the "From the Blogs" section.

Their Votes (Unfortunately) Count, Too

2008-09-30T15:20:00.004-04:00

Recently, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press released a report called "Presidential Race Remains Even." Part of the report included a section on "Candidate Traits" which revealed this sobering statistic: 13% of voters believe that Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim. Furthermore, the report states that "54% identify Obama as a Christian, while 16% say they do not know Obama's religion because they have heard different things about it." In last Sunday's (9/21) New York Times, Nicholas Kristof commented on these statistics and the conspiracy to "Otherize Obama." Kristof wrote:

When I’ve traveled around the country, particularly to my childhood home in rural Oregon, I’ve been struck by the number of people who ask something like: That Obama — is he really a Christian? Isn’t he a Muslim or something? Didn’t he take his oath of office on the Koran?
In conservative Christian circles and on Christian radio stations, there are even widespread theories that Mr. Obama just may be the Antichrist.

When I hear stories like this and look at the 13% statistic, I can't help but wonder, "Who are these people that are so misinformed? Where do they live? What do they look like? What the hell have they been reading and listening to on TV and the radio? Fortunately (or unfortunately), I came across this video which provides a brief glimpse into these answers. (As a heads up, there is some obscene and racist language)

Disgusting, isn't it? I'm sure Hillary would be disgusted as well to hear that some of her supporters were spewing this hatred and ignorance. But what can you do really? The woman in the video is so beyond reason that there really aren't many options. Let's just hope she's appearing on Jerry Springer on Election Day and forgets to go the voting station.

To read Kristof's full article, click here.

Jonathan Capehart, Blogger Extraordinaire

2008-09-26T16:07:00.005-04:00

Jonathan Capehart, editorial writer at the Washington Post, gets an A+ for his contribution this morning to the Post's Post Partisan blog. I now understand why this guy won the Pulitzer prize in 1999 after reading today's spot-on analysis of Gov. Sarah Palin's response to an oh-so-obvious question from Katie Couric. Capehart wrote:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin should have seen the question coming. But when Katie Couric pressed her to explain what she meant about Alaska's proximity to Russia informing her foreign policy experience, Palin's answer was startling.

And now for Capehart's knockout punch:

This nails-on-a-chalkboard response, and the speed with which it ricocheted in cyberspace, reminded me of another embarrassing video clip of another woman aspiring to a higher position. I'm talking about 2007 Miss Teen South Carolina Lauren Caitlin in her quest to become Miss Teen USA.

How true, right? I think Obama's ad team can go on vacation from here on out. Just show Palin's response to Couric's question and the American public should have all the information they need to understand what a mess it would be having Palin anywhere near the White House. Palin's performance was a disaster and should be highly concerning for all Americans. To be sure, Obama must focus predominately on McCain and his policies, not on Palin and her (substantial) shortcomings. But Palin was McCain's choice, and this decision reveals the type of person he would surround himself with as president.

Let's just hope that Lauren Caitlin wouldn't be offered a cabinet position, too.

To read Capehart's post, click here.

Friday Night Fight

2008-09-26T12:09:00.005-04:00

It's on. The University of Mississippi and the rest of the country can breathe a sigh of relief.

And we can now officially say that McCain suspending his campaign and "rushing to Washington" was a ridiculous publicity stunt. But apparently a desperate campaign calls for desperate measures.

An Iota Evening with Murry Hammond

2008-09-23T22:36:00.013-04:00

On Monday night I headed over to the Iota Club in Clarendon to see Murry Hammond, a member of the alt-country band the Old 97's. He's been on a solo tour lately to promote his new album "I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way," a beautifully crafted work of traditional and original country, folk, and gospel songs.

The Dallas-based Old 97's are one of my favorite bands, who, despite putting out countless highly-acclaimed albums and building a dedicated fanbase, have never really "hit the big time." (Though you may have seen them in the comedy "The Break-Up" - they are the band that Jennifer Aniston goes to see when she gets stood up by Vince Vaughn). I saw the 97's at a sold out 9:30 Club this past summer who were on tour following their new release "Blame It on Gravity." The show was a high energy affair with all four bandmates - led by singer Rhett Miller - rocking the house to an amped-up DC crowd.

Monday's show was a totally different vibe. While the 97's music can be described as an amalgamation of rock, country, and alternative styles, Murry's own musical focus is firmly rooted in gospel and folk music which he has been able to continue to explore with his first solo album. After hanging out at the bar before the show talking with fans, Murry took the stage with 2 guitars and a melodium in front of about 40 people. For the next hour and a half he played many songs from his new disc and a few of the ones he sings with the 97's. It was a truly moving performance - his voice, songwriting skills, and simple yet full guitar style come together to create a very rich sound. After the show, he stuck around and signed copies of the new album (which is surprisingly hard to find anywhere else) and chatted with some us. A true son of Texas, he was extremely approachable and more than happy to talk with us who came out to see him that night.

Without a doubt, this highly unpublicized solo tour must be a very different musical experience for him. Going from playing sold-out shows at the country's top music clubs with the 97's to singing alone in small cafe joints like the Iota Club must be like night and day for him out on the road. On Saturday, he'll be back with the full band at the Austin City Limits Festival, but last night it seemed like Murry was enjoying a quieter, more mellow side of show biz at one of Arlington's coziest music venues.

To listen to "I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way" online, click here. (Some of my favorite songs include "Wreck of the 97," "Next Time Take the Train," "Lost at Sea," and "Other, Younger Days"). You can also download the album from Amazon here.

For an exclusive interview with Murry about the new album, click here.

For more on the Old 97's, click here.

Resigning: Everybody's Doing It!

2008-09-21T17:45:00.006-04:00

One weekend. Two major resignations from influential world leaders. There must be something in the air these days. With the news that both South African president Thabo Mbeki (corruption charges) and Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert (corruption charges) both resigned from their posts this weekend, one can only wonder if the "resignation bug" is contagious and may reach our own shores. It might be wishful thinking, but perhaps President George W. Bush ("lying to the American people" charges) might want to hang up his boots a few months early and get in some quality golf time with Mbeki, Olmert, and maybe even ex-Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf (corruption charges - duh).

In all seriousness, though, I've never been big on the "impeach Bush" argument mainly because getting rid of W. would have elevated Dick Cheney into the Oval Office. Officially that is, since we all know he was calling the shots during the past eight years. Plus, the whole process would have been a politicized, cumbersome, next-to-impossible mess. And let's be honest. Right now, Bush is essentially off everybody's radar screen and the era of reflecting on his presidency has already begun (two good reads are here and here).

The American people have already moved on and are thinking of the future and who is the best man to pick up our country up after Bush's disastrous two terms. That being said, why would anyone choose a candidate who voted with Bush 90 percent of the time?

McCain's Makeover

2008-09-18T23:12:00.006-04:00

On the drive in to work today, I was following a car that was sporting both "McCain 2000" and "John Kerry" bumper stickers. At first glance, seeing a McCain sticker sharing the same bumper as a Kerry one seems strange. But there used to be a time when it would have made sense. McCain in 2000 was indeed a real "maverick," one who would reject party politics and pandering in order to promote what he thought was the best direction for our country. A McCain supporter in 2000 would find much in common with John Kerry in 2004.

How times have changed.

The candidate on that "McCain 2000" sticker is not the same candidate on the "McCain/Palin" one of 2008. First off, McCain 2000 would not in a million years have picked anyone as conservative and extreme as Sarah Palin to be his running mate back then. But that's just the tip of the iceberg- from taxes to abortion to campaign finance reform to embracing religious fanatics, McCain has changed his position on all of these issues.

It's hard to figure out how this McCain makeover happened. Fortunately, Jon Stewart and Co. at the Daily Show put together a humorous (and accurate) "documentary" about McCain's changes of heart. Here's "John McCain: Reformed Maverick:"

As for the driver in the car in front of me, I would have loved to find out who he is voting for in November. Unfortunately, at the next stop sign, he turned off to the left.

Well, maybe that's a good sign...

Shame on the GOP

2008-09-17T18:39:00.010-04:00

Much has been made about the potentially high turnout rate for this year's presidential election. Both the Democrats and Republicans are revved up and ready to go, with intense voter registration drives and canvassing underway. But recently, it has been disclosed that the Republican party in Michigan has devised a shameful plan to deprive those Americans who lost their homes to foreclosure from voting. Democracy Now! reported this morning:

"In other campaign news, the Obama camp has filed a suit to block a controversial voter suppression tactic in Michigan. The Republican Party in Macomb County admitted this week it plans to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting on Election Day. The plan is likely to disproportionately affect African Americans who are overwhelmingly Democratic voters. In Michigan, more than 60 percent of all subprime loans were made to African Americans. McCain’s regional headquarters are housed in the office building of foreclosure specialists Trott & Trott."

What an absolute disgrace. These Republican "strategists" should be ashamed of themselves, but after 8 years of Bush-Rove politics, what else have we come to expect from the GOP when elections are close? This evening, I received a forwarded e-mail from the organization ColorOfChange.org, which has been closely monitoring this story. The e-mail provided a context for the Republicans' tactic:

"For years, Republicans have engaged in "caging"--challenging the eligibility of voters on election day to suppress turnout and intimidate voters. They'll often try to reject voters by claiming they don't live at the address where they're registered. This year, they've taken it to a new low--the chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan said last week, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses.""

What type of people in this country sit around and come up with plans to disenfranchise others? They are the ones who should be evicted from their homes, not hard-working Americans who were preyed upon by a gluttonous economic system.

Well, it's not enough just to be angry. Sign the Color of Change's petition calling for Sen. McCain to "publicly denounce the use of foreclosure lists as a basis for challenging voters." Click here to read the mass e-mail and here to sign the petition.

DC on the Silver Screen

2008-09-14T21:52:00.011-04:00

Our fair city of Washington has been quite the movie star as of late. From Traitor to Burn After Reading to the upcoming Body of Lies, DC has been getting its fair share of screen time. And she looks pretty good up there.

It is definitely a kick sitting in a movie theatre near where the action is unfolding up on the screen. During Traitor, there was an audible murmur in the theatre in Court House when the camera panned across the Potomac to Rosslyn where the FBI headquarters supposedly was located. (Who knew that Guy Pearce worked one Metro stop away?)

And tonight it was great to see DC featured in the Coen Brothers' new Burn After Reading. While most of the filming took place up in New York, it was a pleasure to see all of scenes filmed around Georgetown. The shot of George Clooney running up 35th Street towards Prospect hit close to home in a good way. Many a weekend in college my buddies and I would trek up that same steep incline with a case of beer from Dixie Liquor at the bottom of the hill on M Street. So there you have it: George Clooney has followed in my footsteps...

Yeah, I know...who am I kidding?

She Did What?

2008-09-10T21:13:00.005-04:00

You might say this blog has become somewhat "Palin-centric" as a late. And while I have been trying to limit my exposure to the VP candidate, it is hard not to run into her every day. There she is on CNN! There she is on the cover of Newsweek! There she is at the supermarket checkout counter in US Weekly (yeah, I took a look). And while everyone is in an uproar today about some pig wearing lipstick, I was more appalled by another story that was reported this morning in the Washington Post. Karl Vick wrote on page A4:

"Gov. Sarah Palin is being asked by a local Republican activist to release more than 1,100 e-mails she withheld from a public records request, including 40 that were copied to her husband, Todd."

Very unprofessional, given that Mr. Palin is not an elected official and has no business dealing with internal state functions. But it gets better:

"Palin also routinely does government business from a Yahoo address, gov.sarah@yahoo.com, rather than her secure state e-mail address, according to documents already made public."

Are you serious?! This is shocking on two levels. 1) The governor of an American state is using a Yahoo account to conduct state business? I recognize we are talking about Alaska here, but still - this woman is asking the American people to vote her second in command and is using Yahoo to communicate with her staff? Even Osama bin Laden knows better than to use unsecured electronic communications because they can easily be traced (also reported today in the Post). And 2) Who still uses Yahoo for e-mail? She's definitely out of touch with the mainland US.

So while I have been doing my best to avoid Palin, she keeps popping up with more and more outrageous material. Whether it is her stance on the "Bridge to Nowhere" or her (is it really that interesting?) life story, Palin continues to deliver. But we aren't looking for human interest stories to run the country. We need genuine, organized, and visionary leaders (who also happen to use secure e-mail accounts).

To read the full article, click here.

Joe Biden to the Rescue

2008-09-08T19:30:00.007-04:00

I've tried my best to keep my personal life off the pages of this blog. Sure, political opinions, commentary on life in DC, sports affiliations, and musical tastes can all be considered "personal," but they aren't really, you know, personal. That being said, I can't help but write about a dream I had this past weekend. Not a dream in the figurative sense, but a real, REM style, sleeping-in-bed dream. Here it goes:

I'm standing outside on the front lawn of my childhood home in suburban Philadelphia. It's late afternoon. Everything seems calm and normal. Then, out of nowhere, the sky turns dark and a tornado touches down in the distance, heading in my direction. I start running across the lawn when all of a sudden I see a helicopter come flying over the horizon. The helicopter touches down in front of me, piloted by...Sen. Joe Biden. (And yes, he had on shiny aviator glasses). "Get on board!" he yells. I hop on the helicopter, buckle up, put on my headset, and give the thumbs up. "Thanks, Joe!" And then we flew to Florida.

Bizarre, I know. As soon as I woke up, I started analyzing it. Why the tornado? Why Joe Biden? Why at my old house in PA? Why did we fly to Florida? I never bought one of those dream interpretation books so I couldn't come up with anything concrete. All I can think of is that this means the Obama/Biden ticket is going to "rescue" (read: win) Pennsylvania and Florida in November (Amen). Or perhaps it just means that I've been watching too much CNN lately.

Either way, I'm just glad Biden showed up in the helicopter to save me since we all know that Sarah Palin wouldn't have been able to since she got rid of that "corporate jet" on Ebay (or did she?)

I Went to Bed Angry

2008-09-04T17:55:00.008-04:00

I went to bed angry last night. Gov. Sarah Palin's acceptance speech was, simply put, insulting and demeaning to any American who has worked to improve his or her country through community service or volunteerism. Remarking that a former community organizer like Sen. Obama doesn't really have any "actual responsibilities" while serving his or her neighbors and fellow Americans is downright wrong. But what other viewpoint can we expect from a member of a political party that has single-handedly smeared the good name of the United States over the past 8 years?

Republicans are quick to tout the military record of Senator McCain as reason enough for him to be the President of the United States. While the military has a very important role in maintaining peace and security throughout the world, joining the armed forces is not the only way that an American can serve his or her country. Unfortunately, Bush-McCain Republicans don't seem to understand this and look down on Americans who contribute their time and energy in other ways.

Ms. Palin, don't tell me that community organizers, civil rights activists, environmental advocates, and soup kitchen volunteers don't have "actual responsibilities." As someone who spent the year after graduating from college working countless hours in an inner city high school in Boston, I can say with confidence: "You just don't get it."

I don't normally read the e-mails that Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe fills up my inbox with every week (I'm sure you get them, too). But today I happened to read the one he sent out early this morning. His response to Palin's comments were right on the mark:

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies. And it's no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. That promise is what our campaign has been about from the beginning. Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America's promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

The GOP does not have a monopoly on the idea of "service." All of us can contribute to this country in our own way - it can be with a gun and a Humvee or it can be with a piece of chalk and a blackboard. We need leaders who understand this. We need leaders who understand that the promise of America is built by all kinds of Americans, with different talents and skills.

McCain and Palin don't understand this. Obama and Biden do. Where do you stand?

Under the City

2008-09-03T21:25:00.012-04:00

Most of us spend a lot of time beneath the streets of Washington, DC. Whether heading to work, going to a Nats game, off for a few drinks, or out to see a movie, the Metro gets us to where we need to go. But most of the time, we are either in such a rush or so engrossed in our newspaper or entranced by the song on our iPod that we don't really take the time to look around us. Fortunately, one of DC's rising amateur photographers recently focused her lens on the Foggy Bottom station as two trains were passing each other, capturing a fantastic image of what for that girl on the bench might have seemed like just another passing second at a train station:

Say what you will about the Metro system's failures (and I've said a lot), those underground stations are pretty neat looking places and this photo proves it. I've always pictured them in my mind as a possible set for a futuristic neo-noir film, what with all those geometric shapes and interesting shadows.

My parents went to college in Washington before they built the Metro system but I can't even comprehend getting around the city without a subway. "How did you do it?," I asked my dad. "We used to hitch-hike to class sometimes," he said. Very Edgy. And while it might have worked in 1972, I won't take my chances today.

Anyhow, next time you're underground take a moment to really look around...and just be happy you aren't in a stranger's car.

Thanks to Amanda for allowing me to post her photo. You can check out her great photograpy blog here.

***UPDATE*** This post has been featured on the DC Blogs Noted page. Thanks again for another shout-out!

Wasilla Bait Shop, Part Two

2008-09-02T18:28:00.006-04:00

Last night's post about James Carville's strong performance on Larry King received a lot of interest. Unfortunately, I don't have TiVo so I had to wait until today to get the official transcript and video. But it was worth the wait to see it all over again. According to CNN's transcript, here's what Carville said when he held up the picture of Wasilla City Hall:

And we're going to have her be vice president of the United States based on a 15 minute conversation she had with Senator McCain?I mean I'm -- this is -- she was touted experience as mayor of this town in Alaska. This is a picture of the city hall. It looks like a bait shop in South Louisiana, all right?This is executive experience to be vice president of the United States, to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, to have to take over the country when we're fighting three wars, where we have the biggest credit crisis we've had in this country?

Take a look at the video clip below. Carville pulls out the picture at minute 5:55, but the whole video is worth checking out just to see Rep. Michele Bachman's vain attempts to defend John McCain's VP choice, stooping as low as to accuse Carville's comments about Palin's inexperience to be "offensive to women." Hopefully this "you are being offensive to women" response isn't a sign of things to come in terms of the Republicans' strategy for responding to Democratic criticism about Palin.

Something makes me think we won't be so lucky.

To see the transcript of the entire Larry King show last night, click here.

Carville Brings His "A" Game to Larry King

2008-09-01T21:21:00.013-04:00

James Carville is tearing it up tonight on Larry King. Larry obviously wants to talk about Gov. Sarah Palin's teenage daughter's pregnancy, but Carville keeps going back to the fact that Palin is utterly unqualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

To drive the point home even further, he held up a photo (similar to the one above) of Wasilla City Hall, Palin's place of employment when she held the position of mayor in that town of 6,715. Carville compared this City Hall to a bait shop in southern Louisiana and though I've never been to Louisiana, I think he's on to something. This photo speaks volumes about Palin's lack of experience and limited qualifications to hold the office of vice president of the United States, and tells us so much more about her than that beauty queen head shot which has been splashed over the Web during the past few days.

Check back for video later (if it's available)

The Best of YouTube, Guardian-Style

2008-09-01T00:57:00.010-04:00

Just like the Internet as a whole, YouTube can be a tool that on one hand enlightens and inspires and on the other makes the general population slightly stupider. It can be used to watch news clips and documentaries, but it can also be used to watch videos like this. Fortunately, the good folks at the Guardian newspaper over in the UK put together what they consider to be "the 50 greatest arts videos on YouTube" which range from music and literature to film and stage. The list is by no means exhaustive - and doesn't even come close. But there are a few gems on there. Here are some of my favorites (favourites) from their list:

John Coltrane performs "My Favorite Things" in Germany in 1961
Jack Kerouac reads from "On the Road" in 1959
Aretha Franklin sings on a TV special in Stockholm in 1968
Martin Scorsese mini-documentary to promote "Mean Streets" in 1973
The Beatles perform their 1969 Rooftop concert

Here's one I would add myself - Stevie Ray Vaughan's performance of "Riviera Paradise" in Austin, Texas. So much heart and soul put into every single note, especially the softest ones:

To see their full list with descriptions, click here. And put the Guardian on your "favorites" list for news websites. It was my newspaper of choice while living over in Ireland. Politically, like a New York Times with an accent.

Talk About a DC Outsider

2008-08-29T10:59:00.003-04:00

I might have to change the name of this blog after John McCain picked Governor Sarah Palin, the ultimate "DC Outsider," as his running mate. Outsider because she is the governor of Alaska (which is practically in Russia), outsider because she is so unknown that the analysts on MSNBC didn't even know how to pronounce her name correctly, outsider because she is a hardcore conservative on so-called "family values," and outsider because she has practically no foreign policy experience.

McCain has taken a major gamble here and is ready to fire up that conservative base that was booing him just a few months ago. But there are some major, major questions about Palin's ability to come almost 3,400 miles to Washington, DC and serve as an effective vice president and, in the event that McCain is unable to serve, as president of the United States. This choice is either a genius political tactic or a complete misreading of the mood in this country.

I'll still keep the "DC Outsider" tag for this blog, but my money (and support) is for Biden in the debates. And after last night's energy and excitement in Denver, I've got a good feeling about November 4 for the Obama/Biden ticket. But there is still a long way to go to the White House. At least now all sides of the equation are in place.

The Best Blues Guitarist You Don't Know About

2008-08-28T20:32:00.003-04:00

Last night, the blues band Indigenous rocked the State Theatre in Falls Church. Indigenous is led by guitarist Mato Nanji, a member of the Nakota Nation who grew up on the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The original band, which was comprised of Mato's brother, sister, and cousin, broke up in 2006. After the split, Nanji decided to reform the band under the same name with new musicians to continue his own career. His musical influences are clear from his own style of playing: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Albert King:

I have listened to Indigenous for years, but had never seen them live. And while I originally had mixed feelings about seeing Mato with a new band (I'm a purist, I guess - 1998's Things We Do and 2000's Circle are must have albums), the new guys did not disappoint. All five members were a tight unit, but still allowed each other to demonstrate improvisation on creative solos.

The State Theatre was on fire. But unfortunately the place was also eerily empty. Looking around, it looked like no more than 150 people had shown up for a night of searing blues. And that's too bad, because Mato and Indigenous are truly some of the strongest blues musicians playing today. Despite the weak turnout, the band - true professionals - still seemed to be having a great time on stage and put on a great show for us in attendance. Hopefully they'll swing back again this way on their next tour - and hopefully the DC area will come and support them.

Maybe on a Saturday night next time, though?

For more about Indigenous, click here.

More of the Same from McCain

2008-08-25T16:45:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to John McCain's media team for putting out yet another tasteless ad attacking Barack Obama. First, it was the "shame on Obama for being popular" ad that Paris Hilton so eloquently (or should I say beautifully?) responded to a couple of weeks ago (Yesteday Matt Bai also made the "case for cool" in the New York Times Magazine). Now, McCain's most recent piece of wasted commercial time uses comments made by Sen. Clinton during the primary season. McCain obviously does not have anything positive to ad to his own campaign, so he has to go dipping into obscure sound bytes to critique Obama's choice of a running mate:

With all do respect, Senator McCain, mind your own business. And if you choose Mitt Romney as your running mate, remember there will be no shortage of sound bytes the Democrats can choose from to fight fire with fire. Hopefully, though, they won't decide to do so.

We've all had enough of this type of campaigning.

The Ball Is Rolling...

2008-08-23T13:26:00.009-04:00

Get ready to put another bumper sticker on the back of your car. With Barack Obama's announcement this morning that Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware will be his running mate for the upcoming election, the country has officially moved passed the idyllic two weeks of Olympic euphoria to gear up for the campaign ahead.

(On a side note, I'll definitely be missing the Olympics. There is always something comforting about having something to cheer for every night on TV, kind of like the routine of a mid-summer baseball schedule. A "security blanket" of sports, if you will)

But alas, I digress. It is time to move on from the duos of May-Treanor / Walsh and Rogers / Dalhausser (gold medalists all) to Obama / Biden and McCain / Question mark. I'm excited about Biden and looking forward to seeing what he can add to Obama's campaign, particularly during the debates. Let's just hope the media doesn't adopt a "Team Obiden" moniker.

So goodbye Water Cube and hello campaign trail... it's going to be a marathon race for sure.

What Did Sports Illustrated Do To Michael Phelps?

2008-08-19T18:01:00.008-04:00

Today, Sports Illustrated unveiled this week's cover which features - who else? - Michael Phelps. The photo has the Olympic champion posing with 8 gold medals around his neck in a tribute to Mark Spitz, the man whose record he broke last week. Unfortunately, while Spitz's 1972 photo makes him look somewhat hip (even for the 70s), Phelps' setup has more of a cross-dresser vibe.
Those huge red ribbons all linked together make it look like he is sporting some gawdy Project Runway dress rather than decked out in Beijing bling. Like everyone else in this country, I've become a Phelps fan (though maybe not a phan) during the Olympics. I just wish SI could have showcased him and his medals in a better way. Next time, "make it work."

The issue hits newstands on Friday.

I Almost Dropped My Dinner

2008-08-15T13:08:00.007-04:00

Remember those scary times a few months ago when there was a big concern that Hillary Clinton supporters would either not show up in November or vote for John McCain after it became clear that Barack Obama would secure the nomination? All we heard about then were nightmare scenarios and people planning to move to Canada and so on. As the Democrats head into the convention in two weeks, it seems, however, that the party is extremely united and energized around Obama (as they should be). But no, there are still some Hillary supporters out there who - going against the wishes of "their candidate"- are still attempting to derail Senator Obama's campaign.

I was cooking dinner last night with Hardball on in the background when I heard this interview session with Will Bower of Just Say No Deal and Darragh Murphy of People United Means Action. (I know I've included links to their organizations, but they really aren't worth your time).

Now, I am all for believing in a cause and sticking to your guns, but what are these two thinking? It is borderline treason what they are saying two weeks to Denver. The time for debate and discussion has ended and it is now time to rally around the Democratic candidate for the showdown in November. Murphy really sums up her madness at minute 5:33 with, [I would accept a McCain presidency] "because it will change the leadership of the DNC." She continues: "All I care about is the Democratic party, the democratic process, and Democratic voters."

I almost dropped my dinner. With that attitude she should have just said, "It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it." But we all know how Hillary feels about villages. In all seriousness, though, it's time to unite not only the Democrats, but other Americans who believe that now is the moment for a new direction in American leadership - one that promotes peace, security, and hope not only throughout the world, but here in the United States, as well.

Hillary Clinton has done a fantastic job in supporting Obama since she dropped out of the race in June. I would hope all of her former supporters would do the same. As I wrote a few months ago, let's get it together, Dems. There's too much at stake this time.

The Power of the Doc

2008-08-13T20:09:00.006-04:00

Last night, the Library of Congress wrapped up their "Summer Surf" film series with a screening of Stacy Peralta's 2004 documentary "Riding Giants" at the Mary Pickford Theatre. The film traces big wave surfing's colorful history and characters. Now the closest I've come to being a surfer is listening to Surfin' USA, but the film appeals to both surfers and non-surfers alike. Supported by an eclectic soundtrack, fantastic archival footage, and interviews with the pioneers of the sport, "Riding Giants" is a 104 minute joyride. (Geez, I'm sounding like Roger Ebert, right?). It's definitely worth checking out sometime if you get the opportunity. Here's a sneak peak from the trailer:

On a similar documentary-note, take a look at SnagFilms, a new website launched by Ted Leonsis, formerly of AOL. At SnagFilms, you can watch 225 documentary films for free (with a few commercials thrown in) on a variety of topics ranging from politics to music to sports. The titles range from documentaries you may have seen in the theatres (Super Size Me and Paper Clips) to ones you saw at 2 am on PBS (Inca Mummies: Secrets of the Lost World and Africa's Blood Diamonds: Diamonds of War). The best part about SnagFilms is that they encourage sharing the movies with others on blogs, Facebook, and other social networking sites. So without further ado, here's the critically acclaimed Heavy Metal in Baghdad:

***Update***: Ted Leonisis gave the Outsider a shout-out on his blog, Ted's Take. Click here.

Worlds Collide in Beijing

2008-08-11T21:45:00.011-04:00

Saturday's post, "W. Loves Beach Volleyball," broke all sorts of personal records for the most hits per day since I started this site back in October. Thanks for all the support, which I owe mostly to the Express Blog Log that featured the entry this morning. Apparently there is a huge demand out there for pictures of President Bush...

...or of volleyball players in bikinis.

Anyhow, the Bush / May-Treanor/ Walsh photo-op is but one of the many "athlete meets politician" stories to come out of the Games. The Washington Post reported this morning in an article about President George H.W. Bush a juicy little tidbit that you wish has been caught on film: The moment the former president met NBA star LeBron James. Michael Abramowitz writes:

Meeting Team USA with Bush 43 before the game, Bush 41 gave a warm hug to Lakers star Kobe Bryant and received an affectionate greeting from Cavaliers hero LeBron James: "What's up, pops?" the massive James asked.

Classic. Where are those citizen journalists when you need them? They'll catch George Allen or Barack Obama in awkward moments, but they're not around for perhaps the greatest line ever spoken to a living U.S. President. Maybe next time.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the uncanny resemblance between U.S. beach volleyball player Phil Dalhausser and Democratic strategist James Carville. He looks like Carville with a six pack, but of a different kind. Josh Brolin may pull off a decent Bush impersonation in Oliver Stone's new film, but if they ever put together a movie about the Clinton years, I'd get Dalhausser on the phone for the Carville part. He might have to work on the accent, though.

W. Loves Beach Volleyball

2008-08-09T15:59:00.017-04:00

Being the president of the United States has a lot of perks. Sure, there are some challenging decisions that need to be made now and then: questions of war and peace / taxation / social services / health care / etc. But all the stress is apparently worth it if it gains you access to a private beach volleyball lesson with Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh at the Olympics:

I'm not sure what's going on in the last picture, but I have a feeling it will go down as one of the lasting images of the Bush presidency, up there with the oh-so-wrong Mission Accomplished photo.

For more pics from W.'s day at the beach, click here. And don't be surprised if the George W. Bush Presidential Library has a beach volleyball net out back.

***UPDATE***: This post was mentioned in today's Washington Post Express Blog Log. You can read the online version here.

Sometimes Sports Isn't Enough

2008-08-08T11:55:00.004-04:00

The Olympics kick off today in Beijing and it is fair to say that the whole world is watching. While these Games are not without controversy particularly on China's part, for the next two weeks the big stories will be about the athletes, competition, and medal counts. And that's a good thing. The Olympics remind us every 4 years that it is possible to compete not only on the battlefield or in the conference room, but also on the field of play. To be cliche about it, sports can bring us all together. And perhaps the best example of that is "soccer diplomacy," the possible improvement of relations between countries stemming from cultural and competitive exchange from international soccer competition.

But sometimes sports just isn't enough to surpass the political barriers. On September 6, the U.S. Men's National Soccer team travels south to Cuba to compete in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier. Unfortunately, Sam's Army (the National Team supporter's club) and all other Americans have to stay home. According to a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Association:

U.S. Soccer has been informed by the United States Department of Treasury (the United States Government agency of jurisdiction with respect to regulating travel to Cuba), that travel to Cuba for tourism or for the purposes of observing specific public performances, including sporting events, is prohibited under U.S. law.

Talk about home field advantage for the Cubans. Fortunately, a month later, the Cubans will travel here to Washington, DC to play the Americans in the home-leg on October 11 at RFK Stadium.

So while we celebrate all of the "pageantry" and "unity" of the Olympic games over the next few weeks, let's also keep in mind the limitations of the event and realize that it won't change everything (or possibly anything). Still, the more we all get to know each other - whether at the Olympics or down in Havana - the more possibilities there are for a positive future based on mutual understanding.

(President) Dukakis?

2008-08-05T22:33:00.015-04:00

The first presidential election that I was aware of as a kid was the 1988 contest between President George H.W. Bush and Governor Michael Dukakis. I was almost six years old at the time and twenty years later I still have the distinct memory of riding the yellow school bus one day and getting caught up in a yelling match that spontaneously erupted. "BUSH!" half the kids yelled. "DUKAKIS!" responded the other half. (This being the nature of political discussion that takes place at the kindergarten level). Coming from a loyal family of Democrats, I was on the "DUKAKIS!" side, but the three-syllable Greek name just didn't have the same ring as the incumbent's. Dukakis, as we all know, lost.

But what if he hadn't? What if 1988 belonged to Michael Dukakis, as it looked like it might that spring according to the polls? That is the subject of this week's Boston Globe Magazine cover story, "What If?" (I was up in New Hampshire for a wedding this weekend and picked up a copy at Logan Airport). Part alternative history and part profile, Charles P. Pierce's article is a fascinating look into what might have been. Here are a few of the highlights, as explained during the hypothetical dedication of the Dukakis Presidential Museum and Library in 2008:

[The dignitaries arrive at the museum]: President Al Gore got off the train first, followed by former president Jack Kemp, who'd succeeded Dukakis in 1996. Kemp came down the stairs with Dick Gephardt, whom he'd defeated, Gephardt having replaced Vice President Lloyd Bentsen on the ticket when Dukakis was reelected in 1992. The two were heard to joke about the now legendary problem that Gephardt had had with his original choice of a running mate, Arkansas governor Bill Clinton, who was forced to resign from the ticket after a tabloid TV program caught him leaving a Little Rock hotel at 5 in the morning in the company of a failed lounge singer.

[Some of the exhibits in the museum]: On a television screen on one wall of the museum, CNN anchor Bernard Shaw is shown asking Dukakis if he would support the death penalty for a criminal who had raped and murdered his wife. "If this were anyplace else and any other time, Bernie," Dukakis memorably replied, "I'd ask you to step outside for a minute." Raucous applause broke out in the studio audience. Not far away, on another wall, was the famous photograph of Dukakis riding in a tank outside a General Dynamics plant in Michigan. The visual might have become a blunder of historic proportion had Dukakis not deftly saved the situation by quipping, "I looked silly in a tank for 15 minutes. George Bush has been in the tank for 30 years." Both incidents had worked to undermine the image of Dukakis as a bloodless technocrat and are widely credited with helping him to his narrow victory.

[What became of George W. Bush]: Next to him [in a photograph] is the former co-owner of the Texas Rangers who became the baseball commissioner, George W. Bush, the son of the man Dukakis had defeated in 1988 and widely regarded as the man who saved baseball from its own folly.

The imagination sure gets going, doesn't it? Alternative histories are a bit of fun, but Dukakis points out what was at stake in 1988. "As I say to people, kiddingly, blame this mess on me. If I'd beaten the old man, we'd have never had this kid and this stupid war and all." Something tells me, though, that Dukakis isn't really kidding.

To read the full article, click here.

Who Needs Screen on the Green?

2008-08-04T14:42:00.005-04:00

For many in the DC area, Monday nights in July and August mean watching movies down at the Mall during the annual Screen on the Green. It's a great chance to get together with some friends and family and take in some of our nation's cultural treasures (as long as you don't end up sitting near some of these types). Tonight they are showing The Apartment and next week is the series finale, Superman.

I started watching older movies a couple of years ago during a random trip to Blockbuster when I came back with Casablanca. It's been a great trip ever since, a "hobby" that combines my love of history with the movies. The stories, the acting, the music, the dialogue - many of today's movies don't even come close to some of the products of the studio system during the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood. So while Screen on the Green is a fun way to catch a few great films and meet the rest of the city, for classic movie fans every August means something special on Turner Classic Movies, the Summer Under the Stars programming. Every day this month, TCM airs a full day's worth of films dedicated to a different movie legend. (Say what you want about Ted Turner, TCM is one of television's finest channels).

Here are a few of my top picks for this month:

Claude Rains (Tuesday, August 5)

Peter Lorre (Wednesday, August 13)

Rita Hayworth (Friday, August 15)

Barbara Stanwyck (Tuesday, August 19)

Edward G. Robinson (Wednesday, August 20)

Ava Gardner (Thursday, August 21)

Ingrid Bergman (Monday, August 25)

Marlon Brando (Friday, August 29)

Katharine Hepburn (Saturday, August 30)

Spencer Tracy (Sunday, August 31)

To check out the rest of this year's Summer Under the Stars schedule, click here. Look at that one-two-three punch at the end of the month...Not a bad way to end the summer.

Cheesecake Factory Wreaks Havoc in Clarendon

2008-07-30T20:55:00.004-04:00

We've had a Cheesecake Factory gift certificate lying around the apartment for a few months and decided to cash it in tonight for dinner. Very bad idea. Pulling up to the Cheesecake Factory in Clarendon, we were greeted with throngs (yes, throngs) of people outside the restaurant. There was a line to get in the door to even put your name in. [Note: The picture above was NOT taken tonight; just imagine mass humanity outside] It turns out July 30th is National Cheesecake Day which means that any slice of cheesecake is $1.50. Who knew?

That's all well and good, but you had people hanging out of the place like they were giving away free steak dinners and trips to Cancun. Making matters worse, traffic in the area was a mess, as people apparently flocked from far and wide to enjoy (according to the company's website) a slice of cheesecake at "1978 prices." Unfortunately gas isn't at 1978 prices for dealing with the gridlock and the seemingly endless driving in circles in the Market Commons garage trying to find a spot.

We settled on Bertucci's instead.

***UPDATE*** This post has been linked here at the DC Blogs Noted page (thanks, guys!)

More "Celebrity" Sightings

2008-07-29T14:16:00.005-04:00

So I'm sitting in 30th Street Station in Philadelphia yesterday waiting for my train when this really tall guy sits down in front of me. I felt short. Literally a second later, a kid comes up to him and shyly asks for an autograph. "No problem," says the Tall Guy. I then notice he has a small Sacramento Kings backpack with him. NBA player, maybe? Not wanting to look like an idiot, I just sit there rather than pulling the "Are you a professional basketball player?" question which would be more acceptable for an attractive twenty-five year old woman to ask. But me? I'm a baseball guy so I just sit there. He then gets up a few minutes later and heads for the train. I forget about it.

Fast forward to today. I'm sitting around writing some cover letters with ESPN on quietly in the background. I happen to look up and there's Tall Guy on my TV. It turns out he is Jason Thompson, the 12th pick in this year's NBA Draft (for the Sacramento Kings). Maybe I should have asked for the autograph after all. He was riding first class on the train and I have a feeling if he lives up to the hype, he'll be getting used to it. Good luck out West, Tall Guy.

To check out the video clip I saw, click here.

Good Stuff Eatery Lives Up to Its Name

2008-07-23T17:11:00.013-04:00

I finally got to Good Stuff Eatery last night for dinner following a screening of "Endless Summer" at the Library of Congress. A free movie + dinner at Spike's new hamburger joint = a perfect downtown date with my girlfriend. Good Stuff Eatery opened a couple of weeks ago with a great show of support from the DC community; lines to get in went down the street. We figured that a Tuesday night meal around 9:30 might be a little quieter, and while the lines weren't as bad, they were still practically to the door. And with good reason - the whole experience was great.

Walking through the door, we were met by Spike's father Harvey who greeted everyone with a smile and kind word. He seemed so happy to be there and it is evident he is so proud of his son who was working hard behind the counter making milkshakes, pulling pints, and handing everyone their meal. I knew that Spike would be working in the kitchen, but I didn't expect him to be right out front in the thick of it. I actually saw his hat first when I walked in the door and jumped back a second thinking "Aren't you supposed to be on Channel 39 on my TV, not 10 feet in front of me?" (What can I say? I get a thrill out of celebrities, even if they are of the reality-show kind)

I ordered my meal, a Farmhouse Cheese Burger (tomatoes, onions, pickles, lettuce, and "good stuff" sauce) with a side of handcut fries and a Red Stripe beer and took in the scene. Two levels, well-lit, lots of seating upstairs and outside, and a quality soundtrack provided XM Radio's Top Tracks. About 15 minutes later (I said it was busy), my pager was buzzing and we went to pick up our food from Spike. "Thanks for coming to DC," I said shaking his hand. "You guys been working hard?" "Oh yeah," he said. Though you can tell just from looking at him it's been a long few opening weeks. "Is it good to have the whole family here?" I asked. (His mom and sister are also involved in the venture). "Definitely," Spike responded. "People say, 'Why would you want to go into business with your family?' I say, 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'" I agreed with him, noting that my family had run a business together for over fifty years. "Enjoy your meal guys, thanks for coming in," he said.

My girlfriend and I grabbed seats out on the street and dug in. Now I'm no food or burger connoisseur, so let me just say simply that the burger (and particularly the fries) were great and I definitely recommend anyone in the area to go check it out. Though there are no shortage of burger options in the DC area, it is well worth investigating. Before leaving, my girlfriend wanted to get a menu signed and Spike happily obliged (though we aren't sure what he wrote under his signature - "I'm the Weab" or is it "I'm the Weaz"? - is that chef-speak for something?) We'll find out next time we stop by.

It was a great end to our little date and we both agreed that Good Stuff Eatery lives up to its name.

Good Stuff Eatery is located at 303 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. You can check out their menu here.

***Update***: Famous DC linked this post to their website here.

Brooke Hogan Should Be Disenfranchised

2008-07-22T00:10:00.011-04:00

I made the mistake of surfing through the channels tonight on TV and stopping on VH1's "Brooke Knows Best," Hulk Hogan's daughter's new reality show. I tuned in just in time for this enlightening comment:

"You know what? I am actually not that much into voting. I think it’s kinda crazy that a woman is running, because I think that women deal with a lot of emotions and menopause and PMS and stuff. Like, I’m so moody all the time, I know I couldn’t be able to run a country, ‘cause I’d be crying one day and yelling at people the next day, ya know?"

You always hear people ranting about the sex, violence, and profanity on TV, but let's be honest, comments like this are what should be bleeped out for the viewing audience. Sorry Brooke, but your voting rights should be revoked. But apparently you already did that to yourself.

Happy Moon Landing Anniversary

2008-07-20T21:41:00.006-04:00

Today is the 39th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Given that this anniversary is not a multiple of 5, the milestone has not gained much attention this year. Expect the documentaries, magazine features, and interviews to be out in full force next year for the 40th, along with the obligatory Woodstock nostalgia-fest. In many ways it seems like the 60s are back considering this year's obsession with 1968 and the inevitable comparisons in the fields of politics, culture, and sports.

Not being around in 1969 for the moon landing, it is hard to grasp what the atmosphere and drama was like at the time, an episode in history when the whole world looked up with awe and amazement. In some ways, I must admit that I'm jealous I wasn't around for it. It is hard to believe that there was a time and event that could link people and cultures across the world for something so very positive and enriching. That "small step" was a true celebration of humanity.

In our own somewhat troubled and uncertain era (by no means as volatile or transformative as the 1960s) it is still comforting to be able to look back to a period in our history when our country struggled and still came out on top. We now take the moon landings for granted, but when President Kennedy made a commitment to reach the moon by the end of the decade, some at NASA and in the space community essentially freaked out, believing that such a goal within that time frame was nearly impossible. Others embraced the task at hand and got to work. As it turned out, the good folks at NASA were able to do it with 5 months to spare, despite many setbacks and challenges:

The success of NASA in putting a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s has served as a strong analogy for many policymakers today who have made calls to find new ways of providing alternative energy for our country. The moon landings were proof that with political will, sufficient funding, and a "think outside the box" mentality, anything could be accomplished. Last year while speaking about finding solutions to climate change, Gov. Bill Richardson said, "When John F. Kennedy challenged this country to reach the moon, he challenged us to get there in 10 years, not 20 or 30 or 40.” It is this sort of urgent thinking that is needed to ween our country off its addiction to oil in order to find sustainable ways to power our country and the planet.

So while there have been the Obama-JFK comparisons on style and attitude, perhaps the best Kennedy-esque element a President Obama could bring to the White House is a similar sense of urgency and national unity to address the pressing challenges of our time. That would be something to truly celebrate next year on the 40th anniversary.

The Godfather Test, Part Two

2008-07-20T12:47:00.007-04:00

It appears that Garry Trudeau, creator of the Doonesbury comic strip, agrees with George Stephanopoulos' "Godfather Test" for deciding on a political candidate to support. (More on that here). Check out today's Doonesbury strip below. I wouldn't be surprised as to how many similar conversations like this have occured around our country in the past few years. "Competency" beats "beer-worthy" any day. Let's not make the same mistake again.

To see a bigger version of the comic, click here and go the July 20th posting.

R.I.P, Runner's Wave

2008-07-17T23:17:00.008-04:00

So I haven't been able to button the top button on my dress shirts lately which told me two things: 1.) My neck is getting fatter and 2.) It is time to start running again. Growing up, I spent my summers on the Jersey Shore and was able to run along a great bike path that ran parallel to the beach. After the move to the DC area, I've now settled for the streets of Arlington. Unfortunately, not only has the scenery been downgraded, but the friendliness and camaraderie of the runners has fallen off, as well.

Now I don't want to get labeled as "the guy who writes about how anti-social DC people are" (i.e., the "Metro Moment"), but I can't tell you how many times I've been snubbed on the streets here by other runners. Jogging past, a little nod, smile, or wave goes unnoticed since these "fellow runners" are so intent on staring straight ahead or glancing down in an attempt to avoid eye-contact. It is a great analogy for the worst of the professional culture in this city - focus straight ahead and ignore others around you.

In Jersey, there was something that resembled a community of runners who would at least acknowledge the presence of each other when out on the path. It's like, "Hey, yeah it's 90 degrees and humid as hell and we're both out here doing this together." Apparently, San Diegans suffer from the same disease afflicting DC runners. Up Before the Sun in San Diego expressed a similar sentiment two years ago. She wrote:

Is the world becoming more and more guarded? Are we all simply too focused, too busy to extend a kind word to others who are in the same beloved sport? It rattled me a little, I must admit, that time after time I raised a hand and a smile, and those gestures were returned by a downward glance or a blank stare.

At least we have some things in common with San Diego. I just wish it were beautiful beaches and 365 days a year of sun.

Back Door Jam

2008-07-14T13:07:00.004-04:00

I spent this weekend in Philadelphia (well, Camden) at the XPoNential Music Festival, the annual concert weekend organized by 88.5 WXPN, a member-supported public radio station based out of Philadelphia. The festival was four packed days of music on two stages with acts ranging from local groups like The Brakes and Kuf Knotz to well-known performers such as Shelby Lynne, Matt Nathanson, and Amos Lee.

While all the groups were great (you can't really beat live music, right?) two in particular really got my attention: Back Door Slam, a blues trio from the Isle of Man and The Budos Band, an 11 piece Afro-funk outfit from Staten Island. Back Door Slam's guitarist, Davy Knowles, is one of the best up and coming blues guitarists out there (think Kenny Wayne Shepherd who also sings). They're in DC tonight at the Rock and Roll Hotel and I have a feeling they are one of those groups who you have to see live to really appreciate - the CD doesn't do them justice. Here's them at the SXSW Festival in 2007. They've cut their hair since, but still have the same great sound:

The Budos Band were also great live, like watching an army of musicians on stage in a hypnotic trance. The rhythms and beats were infectious, though I don't think some of them have had a haircut in years:

For more on Back Door Slam, click here. For Budos Band, click here.
Check out 88.5 WXPN, one of the best remaining radio stations out there, streaming live on the web here.

Punky Brewster Takes Over Crate and Barrel

2008-07-09T18:37:00.009-04:00

I'm almost finished watching Season One of "Miami Vice" on Hulu and I must say I have a new appreciation for the 1980s. While the show by no means reflected the "real Miami" of the mid 80s, it is hard not to get caught up in the style, atmosphere, and music on the show. Still, I can only take my appreciation so far.

The latest CB2 catalogue (Crate and Barrel's hipster spin-off brand) arrived yesterday and you would have thought Punky Brewster became the new CEO of the company based on some of the new designs and patterns. Trust me, I'm no interior decorator, but these patterns scream 1985 Boy George to me. (Whatever happened to Boy George? Oh yeah, he's busy getting his visa denied by the State Department). Anyhow, here are the offending items:

If you like what you see (I shudder at the thought) or are getting nostalgic for the Reagan era, you can check out the rest of the catalogue online here.

Stephen Hunter and the Washington Post Miss the Point

2008-07-07T16:44:00.013-04:00

With both parties locked in with their "presumptive presidential candidates" for the upcoming election, the media has entered a summer vacation of sorts in terms of reporting on the race. Sure there have been speeches and rallies here and there, but the real juicy stuff doesn't happen until the end of the summer with the conventions in Denver and Minneapolis. That said, it shouldn't be surprising that there has been a deluge of silly and unnecessary articles to fill up space in newspapers and magazines.

Stephen Hunter's "Leading Men" piece in Sunday's Washington Post is no exception. Given, it was in the Style and Arts section, but Hunter's comparison of Obama and McCain to movie stars past and present was a bit over-the-top and, I would argue, flat-out wrong on one important point. You can read the article here, but the general gist of his piece is that John McCain's image parallels that of the the cinematic "tough guys" of the past - John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Clint Eastwood, while Barack Obama is similar to some of the young rebels of the 1970s and 80s such as Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro.

Fine, that's all well and good. I'm sure the editors of the Style and Arts section loved it. What bothered me was a constant motif that Hunter continued to return to throughout the article, inspired by a comment from John Wayne's character Ethan Edwards from the 1956 film The Searchers. Here's how Hunter begins the article:

Wonderful moment in John Ford's "The Searchers," from way back in 1956: John Wayne, as the surly, violent Ethan Edwards, signals to his young compadre that it's time to move on in their pursuit of Scar, the Comanche chief who's murdered their family and kidnapped the youngest daughter, Debbie.

"Let's go, blankethead," he scowls to the young Martin Pawley.

I love the Duke's pronunciation of the word "blankethead"; it radiates contempt for the young and the untested. Ethan is using the blast of scorn to tell the young man not only to get going to his horse but to get going in growing up, to acquire sand, grit, salt and all the other granular metaphors for old-guy toughness and savvy. Blankethead: It's a three-syllable telegram on the theme of the fecklessness of youth, and nobody but Wayne could turn it into poetry.

Sorry Mr. Hunter, but you are waaaay off the mark. A little more insight into the movie would reveal that Ethan Edwards is a bitter racist who can barely hide his contempt for Native Americans. The Martin Pauley character is Ethan's adopted nephew who happens to be part Cherokee, part Welsh and English. "A fellow could mistake you for a half-breed" Ethan says to Pauley during dinner. How Hunter interpreted the "blankethead" comment to be a "three syllable telegram on theme of the fecklessness of youth" is beyond me.

While I couldn't find any information on the origin of the term, it is fairly clear that it is being used in this context as a flat-out racist insult. It must have been many years since Hunter saw the film if he believes Wayne's comment "radiates contempt for the young and untested." Further on in the article, Hunter writes, "It's not hard to see Sen. McCain calling the young, fresh-faced Sen. Barack Obama a "blankethead" just as it's easy to imagine Obama interrupting his opponent in a debate with a hectoring, "Hey, old guy" " (a reference Hunter made earlier about a Will Smith quote from Men in Black). This is like pouring salt in the wounds of the reader - Hunter just doesn't get it. And if I were McCain, I would be heated for being compared to such a character.

It's still many more days until McCain and Obama accept the nominations from their parties, and even more until Election Day. Let's only hope that the inevitable pop-culture comparisons and human interest stories are kept in check. They do have a role to play for sure, but it does a general disservice to the public if the media stretches the analogies too far.

On another note, The Searchers is one of John Ford's best films and arguably John Wayne's finest performance. The two disc 50th Anniversary edition DVD is worth checking out and is loaded with great bonus features and a new transfer. You can find it on Amazon here. Trust me, it's a better use of your time than reading Hunter's article.

***Update***: The DC Feed linked this post to their website here.

Happy Birthday America

2008-07-03T11:18:00.006-04:00

How is tomorrow July 4th already? This summer is flying by. Anyhow, I'm heading out for the weekend this evening, but here's something to think about from Bruce. Recorded September 30th, 1985 during the height of Reagan's America. Have a great holiday weekend and don't let the best of us slip away.

Live Hope Love

2008-07-02T11:52:00.008-04:00

No one ever wants to become a statistic. But for many people living with HIV/AIDS (particularly outside of the United States), their daily struggles and challenges living with the disease have been relegated to being charts and bar graphs in United Nations and World Health Organization reports. While these organizations have played a very important role in providing assistance to these men, women, and children in need, it is important to remember that behind every "statistic" are real lives, hopes, and dreams.

Using the power of the Web and other multimedia outlets, journalists and activists have been able reach a large audience to tell these often forgotten stories. In 2006, NPR aired the audio diaries of Thembi Ngubane, a young South African woman living with AIDS. She carried a microphone and recorder around her small village outside of Cape Town documenting her daily experiences and reflecting on her life. When she came to the United States that spring for a tour, I was able to see her speak to a small gathering in Boston. Her courage, optimism, and strength touched everyone in the room.

More recently, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has launched a new interactive website called "Hope: Living and Loving with HIV in Jamaica" which utilizes interviews, videos, images, poetry, and music to reveal the complexity of the AIDS experience in Jamaica, a country that has felt the full effects of the disease. At the core of the site are poems written by Kwame Dawes that were inspired by his five trips to Jamaica at the end of 2007. The stories he heard there were, in his words, both "anthems of hope and alarms of warning." Dawes is a fantastic writer and poet (author of one of my favorite books, Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius), and his work brings to life the experiences of these Jamaicans in a way a 2 minute BBC report simply can't.

"Hope: Living and Loving with HIV in Jamaica" can be found here. For more about the Pulitzer Center, a leading sponsor of independent journalists who cover under-reported stories and conflicts, click here.

The Godfather Test

2008-06-29T18:55:00.008-04:00

Admit it. You probably read the free Parade magazine that comes with your Sunday newspaper. Stuffed in there with the TV Week, the circulars, and the comics, Parade is about as Sunday as church and football games. For me, it's normally the first thing I look at in the morning, especially if the brain isn't yet functioning properly from a successful Saturday night. And let's be honest, it's 20 pages of human interest stories and stuff you probably already knew, but occasionally there are a few decent articles that show up. Today, George Stephanopoulos had a piece in there called "How To Be a Better Voter" which was pretty interesting. It had 6 "tips" for making yourself a more informed voter come November. I particularly liked the second one, "Use the Godfather Test." Stephanopoulos writes:

"Political pollsters love the beer-buddy question—namely, to ask voters which candidate they’d most want to hang out with over a couple of cold ones or a cup of coffee. But I prefer to use the Godfather (or Godmother) Test. What that means: Pick a candidate as if your child’s life depended on it. While liking the politician should be part of your thought process, having a Best Pal in the Oval Office isn’t enough. The decisions made by the next President will help determine whether your children will have to fight in wars, how dependent they’ll be on foreign oil, and whether Medicare and Social Security will be there when they retire. Vote for the candidate who has the competence and character to guide your child—and the country."

That's pretty good advice, George. If I had a dollar for every time I heard "I hate President Bush's policies but I would still have a beer with him"...well, I would have a lot of dollars. And to be honest, I have said it in the past myself, mainly circa pre-spring 2003. But elections are not about drinking beer or picking someone you want to have at your July 4th party, they are about choosing who has the best judgement to lead the country. This is why it was so frustrating to hear all that talk a month or so ago about the "elitism" of Senator Obama.

Anyone who runs for president - let alone becomes one - is an "elitist." Once you hit the national scene and have thousands of people chanting your name at rallies or driving around with your name on their bumper stickers, you have given up your "common man" status, period. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Being in a position of power does not mean you can't still look out for the public good or connect with everyday people. It just means you do so from a different position within society. So let's take all this elitism talk (whether it's about Obama or McCain or whoever) and send it to sleep with the fishes and Luca Brasi.

To check out Stephanopoulos' other ideas, click here for the article.

Run for Cover

2008-06-26T15:26:00.006-04:00

It may be 93 degrees and sunny in Washington, but it is a dark day for the city and the nation as the Supreme Court ruled that the DC ban on handguns was unconstitutional.

The shame of Georgetown University, Justice Antonin Scalia, wrote in the majority opinion that "the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home." Almost all of the supporters of the decision talked about the need for "self-defense in the home" (or some variation of that). The plaintiff, Dick Heller, said he was "very happy" that he would be able to protect his family "in my own home." But let's be honest. What's keeping these weapons in the home and not out on the street where they can destroy lives and communities? It's not as if you can put something like an electric dog collar on these weapons and zap a gun owner if they take it out of the house. It is time for our country to have a serious, far-reaching debate about this issue - one that goes beyond the slogans and banner waving.

If you are on the fence as to who to vote for in the 2008 general election, just think of three words: Supreme Court appointees. Presidents and congressman may come and go, but justices are there for life and make decisions that affect us in ways that politicians simply can't.

***UPDATE - Apparently a "serious, far-reaching debate" may be out of the question if commenter "philippine lottery" (see comment below) is any indication of who's out there.

Way Better Than Muzak

2008-06-26T14:01:00.004-04:00

For most people, Jack Johnson's music conjures up feelings of summertime, kicking back with some friends, and enjoying a relaxing sunset. Think beaches, surfing, and backyard parties. But how about adding this spot to the list: the Trenton train station.

I was waiting for my train Monday evening after a quick visit back home and was ready to plug in my earphones when I heard Johnson's "If I Had Eyes" emanating from the the platform speakers. It sure beats Muzak, right? Perhaps it's part of the $74 million renovation plan that aims to transform the station from a dump into the shining jewel of New Jersey's capital. Or perhaps it's a scheme to allow travelers to forget they are in Trenton. Not sure when the completion date is set for, but they seem to be on their way.

So check out the song, and let the soothing melodies transport you to...Trenton, New Jersey.

First Day of Summer

2008-06-20T13:38:00.004-04:00

What better way to celebrate the summer solstice today than with Philly's phinest - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince? The beats and rhymes are timeless...but thankfully not the clothes. For a (slightly cringeworthy) trip down memory lane, click here.

Let's Party Like Brazilian Soccer Players

2008-06-17T16:40:00.012-04:00

Have you seen the new Nike commercial airing during the Euro 2008 matches on ESPN2? (Note: There is a European soccer tournament taking place in Austria and Switzerland for those of you whose sports attention span stops at the border). It's a great little ad that tracks a fictional Dutch kid's rise from playing for a local team to signing with Arsenal in England and eventually getting called up to the Dutch national team - all from the point-of-view of the player (let's call him Rutger - that's a good Dutch name). Take a look for yourself:

It is a great piece of advertising. What made me smile the most was at the 51 second mark when Rutger gets out of the limo with his girlfriend. He is greeted by adoring (mostly female fans), and is only too eager to cheer up one who apparently has a lot on her chest that day. Girlfriend looks over disapprovingly...

I got a real charge out of that moment because four years ago I was fortunate to get into the Brazilian national team's post-match VIP party in Dublin following their exhibition match against Ireland. All I can say is that the Nike commercial is obviously tame given what goes on during a soccer player's extra-curricular time. It's a great story that gets better after a few drinks, but here's what happened:

I spent my junior year abroad living in Dublin and was fortunate to get tickets for Ireland's exhibition match against the mighty Brazilians at Lansdowne Road on February 18, 2004. There was excitement in the air and a definite festival vibe in and around the stadium. Just having the Samba Kings in town was enough to get everyone in the partying mood. The game ended in a nil-nil draw, but we all felt the Irish outplayed the Brazilians on that night and deserved a win.

Following the match, my buddies and I went back to have a few drinks at a bar near my apartment. We were a couple beers deep when my friend received a text from his girlfriend ("she's not my girlfriend") which read: "Come over to Lillies Bordello now." Lillies Bordello is one of the most famous nightlife spots in Dublin - a place where Britney Spears, movie stars, and other assorted rich and beautiful people like to hang out with each other when they are in town. We weren't interested. A few minutes later his phone goes off again with this message: "I'm with the Brazilian team in the VIP section - I can get you guys in."

Needless to say, we didn't even finish our beers and were out the door running across town to Lillies. We met the girlfriend outside who whispered something in the bouncer's ear and we were in. Dark lighting. Comfy sofas. Private conversations in corners. Men in expensive suits. Women in short dresses. And us, a bunch of American college kids in t-shirts, starry-eyed. It was around 1:00 AM and most of the team had cleared out, but there were still plenty of players, trainers, and agents walking around.

Ronaldinho, considered by some the best player in the world at the time, was hanging out with a hoodie pulled over his head. I walked up to him and introduced myself, asking if I could get a photo. "Later, my man," he said, which apparently is Portuguese for "no way." But a least he was nice about it.

Anyhow, I was so thrilled to be in that room that it didn't hit me that I had entered the soccer equivalent of being backstage at a Van Halen concert circa 1984. Women were everywhere and they were practically throwing themselves on the Brazilians. Flirting. Giggling. Whispering. (Apparently there aren't any blonds or redheads in Brazil). I went upstairs to use the bathroom which apparently doubled as a hotel room on that particular evening. (You can use your imagination). I half-expected Wilt Chamberlain to show up. It was one of those nights when you take a step back and say, "How the hell did I get here?"

The night went on and there were rumors that the members of U2 were going to show up. (They didn't). After 3 in the morning we stumbled out into the cool Dublin air, already trying to make sense of the evening. I had class the next morning at 8:45 and managed to drag myself to the lecture hall. The topic was US-Canadian relations. My mind was elsewhere.

Rutger has much to look forward to...

Job Ops at Gitmo, E-mail Immediately!

2008-06-15T21:13:00.011-04:00

Apparently, the folks running the Guantanamo Bay detention facility have been communicating with the prisoners via charades if a recent classified ad on Craigslist is any indication. On Friday, I came across this listing in the "Government Jobs" section:

Pashto Interpreter (Cuba)

Reply to: mailto:job-718809045@craigslist.org?subject=Pashto%20Interpreter%20(Cuba) Date: 2008-06-13, 3:49PM EDT

Immediate search for TOP SECRET/SCI cleared (or eligible) linguist/interpreter who speaks the PASHTO* language for ongoing work in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Must be a United States citizen. Competetive compensation. Full benefits, travel and housing included. Please reply with an email immediately if you would like to apply. * Also looking for TOP SECRET/SCI cleared linguist/interpreters who speak: Uighur, Swahili languages.

Call me crazy, but I would hope that the U.S. government has more effective ways of recruiting staff for "top secret" positions than advertising for them on Craigslist. Plus, there's a sense of desperation in the tone of the ad: "e-mail immediately if you would like to apply." And one more thing, let's do a spellcheck on competetive [competitive], shall we? Things must be getting pretty desperate down in Gitmo.

I'm also curious what an Uighur-speaking interpreter would be asked to say. There's been a lot of talk lately in Washington about the status of those Chinese prisoners. Maybe the interpreters will be brought in to share some good news about a release to the U.S.? Who knows what's going on down there.

Anyhow, if you are interested in any of these positions - and honestly, why wouldn't you be? - click here for the posting.

Love Hurts

2008-06-13T20:00:00.002-04:00

On more than one occasion, my girlfriend has pointed out that given the chance, she would leave me for Barack Obama. And to be honest with you, I don't have a good response to that. I can't really compete with the good senator from Illinois, though I am happy to say she hasn't left me yet.

Unfortunately, it appears that Rachel Keller's former boyfriend actually went through with it, kind of. She's recently posted a video on YouTube describing her experience fighting with Obama for the attention of her (now ex-) boyfriend. Speaking recently with Politico, Keller, 27, said her former boyfriend became "all wrapped up in the campaign" despite the fact that he was just a health care consultant and had no connection with the Obama camp or politics. "I'm your average girl who likes Us Weekly. And I read the headlines in The New York Times, sure, but I'm not as in-depth as that. And so there were times when he wanted to go canvass Ohio and I wanted to just hang out with my friends."

Needless to say, the relationship didn't work out, but Keller has become a mini-Internet phenomenon with her video "I Got Dumped for Obama."

She says she doesn't talk politics with her new boyfriend.

To read the full article, click here.

Big Papi's Big Day

2008-06-11T22:24:00.004-04:00

Although David Ortiz may still be on the DL, he achieved one of his proudest accomplishments off the field today in Boston. Along with 226 others, Big Papi became a U.S. citizen during a ceremony this afternoon at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester. "My whole family, kids, and everyone have been born here," Ortiz told the Boston Globe and other reporters. "It's a great country, proud to be here, now proud to be a part of it."

So does this mean that Ortiz might get caught up in the election fever gripping the nation? Not necessarily so, says his wife Tiffany. "We haven't really talked about the whole voting thing," she said. Hopefully, however, he won't be swayed by Curt Schilling's influence in the locker room...

For more photos of Big Papi's big day, click here.

The Democratic Primaries: The Abridged Version

2008-06-10T19:43:00.008-04:00

It's pretty hard to avoid politics these days. Even if you stay away from CNN, the Internet, and news magazines at any cost, chances are you have somehow been inundated with stories from the primary campaign over the past year and a half. A recent article in Newsweek discussed that the campaigns have put energy into targeting "low-information voters," i.e. those people whose world view is shaped by The Tyra Banks Show (pun intended). Their votes count, too.

However, with the recent discovery of a "lost tribe" in the Amazon, it has been proven that there are indeed people out there who have never heard of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama (or John McCain). Fortunately for them, the good people at Slate put together "The Democratic Race in Eight Minutes." Priceless.

So, Amazon people - this one's for you. Or for anyone else who wants to take a fun little trip down memory lane. Where did the time go?

The Coolest Thing Since the Remote?

2008-06-09T18:31:00.006-04:00

Recently, I received a forwarded e-mail with the subject line "What a handy website!" Hmm, could be interesting. So I scrolled down to the bottom of the e-mail until I got to this:

What A Handy Tool! WOW!!!!!!! THIS IS THE COOLEST THING SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE TV REMOTE CONTROL Just Point and click ! CLICK HERE > http://www.allmyfaves.com/ Pick a site ! "BOOM" There it is !

So I clicked and BOOM there it was: Perhaps the most pointless website I've ever come across. Apparently the folks at allmyfaves.com haven't heard of the "bookmarks" or "favorites" functions on a web browser. By the time you scroll down the page to get to, say, Travelocity, I could have booked a flight to Miami had a just typed t-r-a-v-e-l-o-c-i-t-y-.-c-o-m in the first place. And the "coolest thing since the invention of the TV remote control"? How about the Internet? Or cell phones? Or HDTVs? I'm all for a little over-exaggeration now and then, but this is too much.

Anyhow, that's my rant on allmyfaves.com - Check it out and then bookmark it. Oh wait...

The Strangest Job Title Ever

2008-06-04T20:40:00.003-04:00

During one of my daily searchers for jobs on Idealist today, I came across one listing that caught my eye. It jumped out not because I thought it would be a great fit for me, but rather because of the title of the position:

"Director of Abuse of Power"

Hmm. I wonder if Hugo Chavez, Robert Mugabe, or Kim Jong-il sent in their resumes? Or maybe those crazy military guys in Myanmar? Reading on, it turns out that the position is to head the Abuse of Power campaign spearheaded by the organization Common Cause to "highlight abuses of power by the Executive Branch and the abdication of power by the Legislative Branch and what it means for the survival of the Constitution and our democracy."

So I guess that means Vice President Cheney is barred from applying. But if you are interested in the position, check out the posting here. It would be pretty neat to have "Director of Abuse of Power" on your credit card, wouldn't it? (And if you get the job, please hook me up).

Mr. Mendelsohn Goes to Washington

2008-06-03T22:06:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow night begins the final round of Top Chef on Bravo (10 pm). While I'm disappointed that Spike Mendelsohn missed out on the finals, I'm happy to hear that he will be opening his new burger joint on Capitol Hill sometime in the next few weeks. Called Good Stuff Eatery, Spike told New York Magazine last week:

I’m about to launch Good Stuff Eatery in about three weeks. I found the location in D.C. and thought it was amazing. It’s right on the Hill, at Pennsylvania and C. I wanted to do something really simple to capitalize off the publicity of the show. I’m really young, 27, and I didn’t want to open my fine-dining restaurant yet. All the critics would have been really on top of me, and I would have driven myself crazy. I’m giving it the branding of Starbucks; it’s a very well-branded store.

Hopefully his new restaurant will bring some funk, flavor, and edge to Capitol Hill. And who knows? Maybe he'll even influence some of the fashion trends around this city. Can't you just picture Senator Akaka in one of those hats?

Check out the Good Stuff Eatery website here, though there isn't much up yet. The menu should be out in a few weeks.

Get hungry.

Manny Joins the 500 Club

2008-06-01T15:09:00.002-04:00

Utter pandemonium. That was the reaction in Camden Yards last night when Manny Ramirez hit his 500th career home run, joining a club of only 23 other players in baseball history. Walking around Baltimore yesterday in the rain, it didn't seem like the game was going to get played, but about two hours before first pitch the sun came out to the relief of the many Sox fans who made the trip to Balitmore for the games this weekend.

Everytime Manny stepped to the plate, the flashbulbs went off all over the ballpark, making it look like mini-lightning storms throughout Camden Yards. You could feel the anticipation with each at bat and then finally in the 7th inning, with one pitch from Chad Bradford... a swing and 410 feet into history.

We were on our feet for the next five minutes, just screaming and chanting Manny's name. Ian Browne of MLB.com wrote:

With a large group of Red Sox fans at Camden Yards for this weekend series, the historic homer elicited roars that felt like they were right out of Fenway Park. It was so loud after Ramirez made contact that it was hard to believe the majestic shot came on the road. "That's why they call it Red Sox Nation," Ramirez said. "They follow us everywhere. Everywhere we go, we get big support."

Here's to the next 100.

Richard Misrach's "On the Beach" at the National Gallery

2008-05-28T20:17:00.009-04:00

Today the National Gallery held their press preview for Richard Misrach's new exhibit "On the Beach." The exhibit opened to the public on May 25, but with all the hoopla surrounding the Afghanistan opening, the "preview" got pushed to today. It was worth the wait. Here's a little snippet from the press release:

From 2001 to 2005, Misrach made a series of large-scale photographs of swimmers and sunbathers in Hawaii that he titled On the Beach. Shooting from an upper floor of an oceanfront hotel, he eliminated all references to the horizon and sky in order to record people immersed in the idyllic environment. Yet despite the beauty of the scene, a strange sense of disquietude pervades these photographs: Lone swimmers are often presented without reference to the shore, as if drifting far out at sea, while groups of waders frequently appear to be fleeing some unknown danger. And even those on the beach can look drowned and washed ashore.

Simply put, the photographs are phenomenal - and huge. One is even six feet by ten feet. The pictures on the web like the one above do not do these works of art any justice. Standing in front of them you do get a sense of man's utter "smallness" in the world and a strange feeling of loneliness and insecurity. And that is exactly what Misrach was trying to portray. He began the project shortly after September 11 and wanted to capture the mood after those stunning events. Misrach has written: "My thinking about this work was influenced by the events of 9/11, particularly by the images of individuals and couples falling from the World Trade Towers."

Misrach told us that he was in Washington, DC on 9/11. Disoriented like the rest of the nation, he headed back home to the West Coast and out into the desert, a location he has made a career of photographing. Not able to find a subject that fit his mood, he decided to continue with a pre-planned vacation to Hawaii where he found the inspiration he was looking for.

None of the nineteen images are posed and none of them have names, though Misrach said he has given them nicknames such as "Handstand" and "Falling Girl." He is right that naming them would take away from their power and influence on the viewer. Instead, he wants his photographs to be "Rorschachs" that allow each person to feel something unique and personal while gazing at these images.

Like so many works of art, the best thing to do is just go and see them for yourself. At the National Gallery through September 1. For more information, click here.

On a side note, Misrach was inspired to name his exhibit after the book and film "On the Beach," a story that tells the experiences of Australians waiting for the nuclear fallout to reach them after World War III destroyed the Northern hemisphere. You can watch the trailer here:

Hillary's Legacy

2008-05-27T22:37:00.003-04:00

June is only a few short days away and, by most accounts, will be the final month of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the White House (barring any VP nod). However, while she hasn't yet pulled out of the race for the top slot, pundits and commentators have already started to assess her campaign's legacy. Here are two of the most interesting I've come across. One is fairly positive, while the other is...not so much.

"The Highest Road" (Anna Quindlen in Newsweek, May 26, 2008): "Senator Clinton is the most prominent woman in America. She needs to think outside the hermetically sealed bubble of her campaign and begin to develop a strategy now for the way in which she wants to use that: to unify the party, to galvanize her base of voters, to make certain the Democrats prevail in November and perhaps to play a powerful leadership role in government in the years to come."

"Clinton has run her campaign the same way Bush has run the country" (Gary Younge in the Guardian (UK), May 26, 2008): "As the primary season draws to a close it has become increasingly apparent that Hillary Clinton has run her campaign with the same contempt for intelligence, decency and democracy that Bush has run the country. Like the Bush administration, her campaign has been sustained by cynicism, divisiveness and fear-mongering, leaving a toxic and rancorous rift in its wake. Like the White House, her aim has been to win at all costs. And like the White House, it has produced the same result. Failure." [Thanks Joe for the link]

It is important to remember that while there are so many unpredictable components to an election, the candidates can control one thing - their tactics, behavior, and character during the contest. Let's hope that the "better angels" are in play for the general election - it's what America deserves.

Hippies Head to Iceland

2008-05-26T14:01:00.005-04:00

Last week, the Institute for Economics & Peace released the second annual Global Peace Index, a ranking of 140 countries "according to their relative states of peace." Using 24 quantitative and qualitative indicators such as "level of violent crime," "military expenditure as a percentage of GDP," "relations with neighboring countries," and "number of jailed population per 100,000 people," experts at the Economist Intelligence Unit have created the equivalent of the US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges for information about peace and conflict throughout the world. How did the United States fare? A dismal 97 out of 140. But is that really surprising? Here are the top and bottom 10:

The Top 10

1. Iceland

2. Denmark

3. Norway

4. New Zealand

5. Japan

6. Ireland

7. Portugal

8. Finland

9. Luxembourg

10. Austria

The Bottom 10 (Book your travel reservations now)

131. Russia

132. Lebanon

133. North Korea

134. Central African Republic

135. Chad

136. Israel

137. Afghanistan

138. Sudan

139. Somalia

140. Iraq

For more information about the Index, click here. It's a pretty interesting read - hopefully there will be enough funding and interest to make this an annual report for years to come.

A Metro Moment

2008-05-21T22:11:00.005-04:00

Heading home yesterday after a post-work happy hour around 8 o'clock, I descended into Dupont Circle Metro station and was faced with a frustrating situation. The train board (is that what you call it?) looked like this:

-- Train 12

No passenger 14

Glenmont 18

Ouch. For those of you outside the DC area, -- Trains are what I like to call "phantom trains" - sometimes they come on line, other times they won't pick up passengers and just speed on by. So it looked like I was in for an 18 minute wait.

Grunting, I sat down on a bench and was joined by two other commuters. Another guy on a Blackberry came over and asked about the -- Train. "50/50 chance it will pick us up," I said. From there, the ice was broken. While we waited, the four of us chatted about the sad state of the Metro system, the NBA Playoffs (the guy next to me was concerned he would miss the game unless the train showed up soon), the presidential primaries (with updates from the Blackberry guy), and the impact of racism on American politics.

It was good conversation for the Metro, a place where friendliness and eye-contact go to die. But it ended as soon as (thankfully) the -- Train pulled in and with passengers. We then got up and went our separate ways...

Afghanistan's Treasures Come to Washington

2008-05-20T21:51:00.006-04:00

On May 25, the National Gallery of Art's newest exhibit, "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul," will open to the general public. I was fortunate to get a sneak-peak this morning when the museum opened its doors to the press for a preview of the exhibit and the 228 artifacts on display that date from 2200 BC to the 2nd century AD. These pieces include bronze and stone sculptures, gold jewelry, and painted glassware that demonstrate "a synthesis of Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, Chinese, and Siberian styles," a result of the country's centralized location on the famed Silk Road. They truly are the crown jewels of Afghanistan.

As beautiful and interesting as the artifacts are, the story of how they survived the decades of war and violence in Afghanistan is just as amazing. Here's Roger Atwood's explanation in the June 2008 edition of National Geographic:

First came the Soviet invasion in 1979, followed about ten years later by a furious civil war that reduced much of Kabul to ruins. As Afghan warlords battled for control of the city, fighters pillaged the national museum, selling the choicest artifacts on the black market and using museum records to kindle campfires. In 1994 the building was shelled, destroying its roof and top floor. The final assault came in 2001, when teams of hammer-wielding Taliban zealots came to smash works of art they deemed idolatrous. When they finished, more than 2,000 artifacts lay in smithereens.

Throughout those dark years, Massoudi [the director of the National Museum of Afghanistan] and a handful of other museum officials kept quiet about the hoard of museum artifacts - among them the crown jewels of Afghanistan, the famed Bactrian gold - that they had hidden in vaults under the presidential palace in 1988, as the Soviet occupation gave way to civil war. Researchers the world over despaired of ever seeing the objects again, thinking they'd been sold piecemeal into the illicit antiquities trade or destroyed by the Taliban in their final, iconoclastic frenzy.

By October 2003 - more than two years after U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban regime - most of the key holders had disappeared or had fled Afghanistan. Massoudi felt it was time to see if the objects had survived the war. When a team of locksmiths wrenched open the safes that month, every last piece of the Bactrian gold was there, trussed in the same tissue paper in which the museum staff had wrapped it. Five months later, researchers opened a set of footlockers stashed in the same underground vault and made another jaw-dropping discovery: priceless 2,000-year-old ivory carvings and glassware that had been excavated in the 1930s from a site known as Begram and given up for lost. Massoudi's staff had cloistered those away too, and they were remarkably well preserved.

So if you are in the DC area between May 25 and September 7, make sure to check out the exhibit. For more information, click here. It will also be traveling to San Francisco, Houston, and New York. It is an amazing story out of a country that has suffered so many setbacks over the past few decades. A banner hangs outside the National Museum in Kabul that reads "A nation stays alive when its culture stays alive." There's hope yet for Afghanistan.

Wednesday Night Revolution

2008-05-20T21:32:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow night, the Goethe-Institut Washington is screening Gillo Pontecorvo's 1966 film "The Battle of Algiers" as part of its "Revolution is in the Streets: 1968 Film Series." Shot in semi-documentary style, this film is truly a work of art and is a must-see regardless of your political leanings. Though it portrays events from the Algerian War of Independence from 1952 to 1960, there are many similarities that can be drawn between that conflict and the current ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon even screened it for their staff in 2003 to put the events in Iraq in context. For more information about the program, click here.

Lester Legend!

2008-05-19T22:10:00.003-04:00

He beats cancer and pitches a no-hitter. A real-life Iron Man (and without the CGI).

Scottish Soccer Hooligans

2008-05-17T16:10:00.006-04:00

Growing up, I spent my summers working for my family's business on the Jersey Shore. For years, Irish students would come over on the J-1 visa to work in the hotels, restaurants, bars, and arcades in the area. Many of the guys would bring over the jerseys of their favorite soccer clubs and one in particular caught my eye. It was the white and green "hoops" of the Scottish club Celtic who played in Glasgow. I had always enjoyed soccer as a kid, but talking to the Irish kids about Celtic and their storied history, I really took to the team. Some might say it even had a (small) influence on my decision to go to Ireland for my junior year abroad in Dublin.

I quickly learned about Celtic's long and lethal rivalry with their cross-town rivals, the Rangers (boring jersey below). For Americans it is difficult to understand the complex and deep-seated rivalries that exist in the soccer world. Sure, we have had Red Sox-Yankees, Eagles-Cowboys, Michigan-Ohio State, and Lakers-Celtics, but soccer rivalries many times bring competition to a whole new level. (Check out Franklin Foer's How Soccer Explains the World for a good, though very basic, introduction to the politics of the game. It's good beach reading).

Anyhow, the Celtic - Rangers rivalry stems not only from the fact that both teams are from Glasgow, but that historically, Celtic draws it support from Catholics (hence the Irish connection) and Rangers from Protestants. So think Red Sox - Yankees with hundreds of years of bigotry and sectarianism thrown in. It's often not a pretty sight and nothing to be romanticized when fans clash in and outside the stadium. So while I in no way condone the hooliganism that sometimes breaks out when these teams meet up, I can't help but say "stupid Rangers fans" (that's the PG version) when I saw this footage of them running wild and fighting police on the streets of Manchester, England following their team's 2-0 loss to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final last week. Shameful.

For a more light-hearted, though vomit-inducing, take on Scottish hooligans, take a trip down memory lane to Mike Myers' skit on SNL. Strangely enough, the scarves they are wearing are of English clubs. Artistic license, I guess.

Fareed Zakaria and the Red Sox

2008-05-17T13:05:00.012-04:00

What do Fareed Zakaria and the Red Sox have in common? Well absolutely nothing as far as I know. (However, Zakaria did get his Ph.D. from Harvard, so he may have gone to games while in Boston. But he has settled in New York City with his family, so who knows if he's a fan.) Anyhow, I've been meaning to write a couple posts this week, but haven't gotten around to them until now. So why not lump them into one post? There's no rules in the blogosphere, right?

First, the Sox. I took the afternoon off on Wednesday to head up to Baltimore for the second of a two game series against the Orioles. Start time - a bizarre 3:05. These trips to Baltimore when the Sox are in town have become an annual tradition, and given the fact that seeing the team play in Fenway is about as difficult as winning Powerball, it's best to see them on the road. Looking at the number of Sox fans that show up in Camden Yards (aka "Fenway South"), proves many others have the same idea. The Orioles fans are never pleased to watch the sea of red and blue enter their home turf, though. And this time I did see a few fans get into a scuffle. Something about someone pouring beer on another guy. At 6 dollars a bottle, that's just bad economics in my opinion.

The game was good for six innings until middle relief came in and blew it with a grand slam by Jay Payton (a former Sox himself). But Manny did make a great play in the outfield - and high-fived a fan after making the catch - before turning a double play. (Can this at least put to rest all the critcism of his fielding skills?) So it was a small victory on an otherwise medicore performance overall by the team. But there is no question that the Sox are in a major slump going into this weekend's interleague play against the Brewers. Still, I'm looking forward to heading up to Baltimore again for the weekend series at the end of May.

Now on to Zakaria. I went to Brookings on Thursday to cover the discussion of his new book The Post-American World. I haven't yet gotten to reading it yet, but given the huge media coverage of it (book reviews, TV appearances, and a cover story in Newsweek), I feel I've gotten a pretty good feel for the thesis. Which in a nutshell is this: A post-American world doesn't mean the tragic decline of the United States, but rather the rise of other powers in the world such as China, India, and Brazil, creating more centers of power than ever before. The US will still dominate the scene militarily, but in terms of economic and cultural influences, the rest of the world is catching up.

It is an optimistic thesis, and a nice departure from all the doom and gloom talk we constantly hear from the pundits. But is it right? I'm in no position to say, but given the current economic woes in this country, the influence of sub-national groups throughout the world, and an over-stretched American military, it will be interesting to see if Zakaria's thesis plays out. In some ways I hope so, because it would mean a new era of cooperation and intergration in which many nations are at the table benefiting from the global system. And this time around, more powers may actually mean cooperation, not conflict. Now that would be refreshing...

Outsider Exclusive! Is Hillary Moving Out?

2008-05-13T14:34:00.013-04:00

The closest I have been to participating on a political campaign this year is by living near Hillary Clinton's national headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. I walk by the building everyday which - go figure - used to be an immigration and naturalization office. It's probably the ugliest building on the block and will probably be knocked over when Hillary moves out.

Which may be sooner than you think.

Though the polls are still open in West Virginia today and Hillary is expected to have a big victory there, it seems the cards (and the math) are stacked against her for winning the nomination. Hillary says she will keep on truckin', but for the past week, there have been two Budget rental moving trucks parked out back. (Thank you Tatiana for the pics!) Call it wild speculation or a case of unsubstantiated evidence, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary in fact is ready to pack it in and get out.

Bring in the bulldozers...

One Sure Sign You're Not Getting the Job

2008-05-08T20:21:00.005-04:00

I've had quite a few interviews since the fall for various job openings throughout the city. Some were better than others. And as I'm still looking for my "big break," I am no expert on the ritual. But if there's one thing I learned during this job hunting process, it's this: If the person interviewing you drops the "F bomb" during the interview, you're not going to get the position. Trust me, it's happened twice already.

These were two different interviews with two different professional organizations. And on both occasions, I felt the interview was going great. There was good conversation, a little laughter, eye contact, head nodding – all the ingredients of a good interview. During the first one, everyone was so relaxed and comfortable that the two staffers interviewing me were tossing around the f word like it was a preposition. It felt like happy hour in Adam's Morgan. (I refrained from joining in, naturally). And the whole time I was thinking, "Yeah, they really like me. We're meshing. I'm practically part of the team already with all this banter." Next week I received an e-mail that ends with thanks for your interest and we "wish you great success in your future endeavors." Ouch. Not a happy hour for me.

And then it happened again last month. This time the interviewer was talking about the former co-worker who had the position I was applying for. And there's the F-bomb again, this time to describe the previous person's work ethic. And again, I think, "Yeah, they love me. I'm already included in the workplace gossip circle." I was told I would hear back from them the following week. Still haven't heard a thing over a month later.

So while I can say that you probably won't get the job if you say "f*ck" during your interview (unless you are applying to be 50 Cent's bodyguard), I guarantee you that if your future employer says it, you didn't make the cut. And that's a f*cking shame.

What About 3 Flags?

2008-05-05T19:41:00.005-04:00

Summer is almost here. Which means warm weather, tourists, sitting by the pool, and ridiculous commercials imploring us to go to Six Flags. This year the good folks at Six Flags have decided to hire some guy to scream at us about how much fun their amusement park is. And compared to sock puppets, it does seem like a lot of fun.

But I'm curious, though. We've seen both "1 Flag" fun and "6 Flag" fun. What about 3 Flags or 4 Flags? There's got to be some fun somewhere in the middle that doesn't cost $49.99 plus gas, food, and drink, right?

Was this worthy of a post? Probably not. But it's Monday and the energy is lacking. Still, turn it up LOUD!

Who's Smoking in the Office Bathroom?

2008-04-28T19:56:00.004-04:00

Walking into the bathroom today at work, I saw a sight I hadn't seen since high school – cigarette butts and ashes scattered all over the floor in one of the stalls. Talk about a flashback. But it got me thinking. What's the back story on this one? I work in a nice professional office building off Dupont Circle, so who exactly is smoking in the bathroom? We've got a really nice smoking patio out back with chairs and a garden. Why get your fix in the stall, then? Here are all the scenarios I could think of:

- One of the executives is having a mid-life crisis and instead of buying a Porsche, decided to smoke in the bathroom to feel 16 again

- The office building hosts proms on the weekend (They do have a great catering service)

- The cockroaches in D.C. have a nicotine habit

- A plumber was smoking on the job (most probable, right?)

- Someone just wanted to piss off the janitors with extra clean-up duty

Oh well. We'll never know. Some things are best left to speculation. If you have any other ideas, post them below. And lay off the smokes...at least in the bathroom.

Hugh Hefner Buys Out the New York Times

2008-04-27T23:44:00.006-04:00

I sat down today with the the old Sunday standard, the New York Times, to catch up on what's happening in the world. What I wasn't expecting was to see old man buttocks and a topless woman playing volleyball in a pool at a nudist resort in Mexico. Yet for five bucks (since I'm very much outside the New York City metropolitan area), that's what I got. I haven't yet read Michelle Higgins' front page piece in the Travel section, entitled "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Worries," but I think the 12" x 12" picture on the page tells the whole story: people are going on nudist vacations. Thanks for the heads-up, NYT. (Click here to read the article).

I have a second confirmation that there is indeed nipple showing on the woman in the back on the left. (It's harder to see on the Web than in the print version). Which raises the question: What exactly is the Times' policy on nudity? (And trust me, I'm not blushing or offended- living in Ireland for 2 years it was hard to open up a newspaper and not see someone topless). But while we have come to expect topless photos of "exotic tribal women" in, say, National Geographic (it's their culture, after all), I'm not so sure nudists in Mexico fit that same category...but I'm sure Hugh Hefner would be proud.

Red Sox Nation in Malawi

2008-04-26T12:57:00.006-04:00

My friend Joe who is working with UNICEF in Malawi recently sent me this photo of a car he saw parked next to his. It appears Red Sox Nation is making inroads on the African continent, as well. Say what you will about American exports and "cultural imperialism" - spreading the gospel of the Red Sox worldwide is a noble calling.

In other baseball news, I attended my first game at Nationals Park last night. Great weather, great atmosphere, and a fantastic walk-off home run to wrap things up. I can't wait to see what that neighborhood will look like in 4-5 years. "If you build it, they will come..."

Leaked! McCain's Tour Itinerary

2008-04-23T18:04:00.009-04:00

While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to battle it out for the Democratic nomination, John McCain has been touring the country like he's in the Dave Matthews Band during the summer season. The "Biography Tour" apparently wasn't enough to quench his thirst for travel, so McCain recently launched his "Forgotten Places Tour" to visit folks in… forgotten places.

The Outsider was fortunate to obtain a leaked copy of McCain's travel itinerary. The following are some highlights:

Nationals Park: After a sell-out crowd on opening day (41,888), attendance fell to 20, 487 for the next game. Forgotten. (Full disclosure: I haven't been to a game yet this season, but I've got tickets for Friday night against the Cubs).

The Moon: No one has set foot on it since 1972. Definitely forgotten.

A fanny pack factory: Times have been tough on the industry since the early 1990s when people realized this was the worst trend in recent memory. Thankfully forgotten.

Record stores: Teens today are unaware of the existence of compact discs. Music apparently is made inside a computer at the Apple Store. Sorry, Tower Records.

The Maxx Diner: Since the gang graduated on Saved by the Bell, the number of patrons has dwindled significiantly. Where's Screech? (Oh yeah, he's here.)

Any other places you think McCain should visit? Post them below.

Obama-crombie?

2008-04-22T22:47:00.008-04:00

I'm not one of those "blog it as it happens" people. Sometimes things need to settle first in the brain before you can start typing about it. But what's with the 3 Abercrombie and Fitch "models" standing behind Obama in the audience at his speech in Indiana? Check out those hideous shirts! Who did those guys have to beat up to get those seats right behind the senator? A college prank or shameless corporate promotion?!

Well, at least it's good to see that Obama is bringing all sorts of types into his campaign. You can't ignore the jock vote, right?

Anyhow, I'm going to stop typing and pay attention to what Obama's saying. The primaries continue...

Saving the World One Prom at a Time

2008-04-21T19:53:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, the Washington Post ran a front page story entitled "Popping the (Prom Question)." It turns out high schoolers these days are getting mighty creative with their techniques to ask out that special someone to what a friend of mine senior year called "The most important event of our high school experience." (I could name maybe half a dozen more important ones, but I didn't want to rain on her parade).

Inspired by a 2005 episode of the trend-setting cultural phenomenon that is Laguna Beach, high school kids are upping the ante big time in methods for getting a date to the dance. The article cites one guy who taped a message to the sail of his family's boat, another who hung a spray-painted sheet over a highway overpass asking the question, and yet another who bought a dozen red balloons with the lucky lady's name on them.

I'm impressed. I really am. Because all three of those examples are light years better than my awkward, non-eye contact prom proposal back in high school. I wonder, though, if this much effort goes into the prom, what do they have to do to get engaged?

Still, this creativity gives me hope that the future generation of leaders really has it together. There's not much difference between using your family's boat to get a prom date and designing an effective exit strategy for Iraq, right? I just hope by the time these kids are old enough to be running our country, we've got most of our troops out of there.

84 Degrees in Washington Means...

2008-04-18T16:27:00.006-04:00

...no post from the Outsider. Because the higher the temperature equals the lesser the blogs. So shut down the computer and go enjoy the weather! And of course some classic Beach Boys:

Jaywalking in DC

2008-04-16T19:03:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I almost received a ticket for walking across the street in Dupont Circle against a red light. I was reluctant to post about the incident, mainly out of a fear that the DC Police regularly check blogs to find jaywalking confessions. That fear has now subsided after I saw three cops today cross the very same street (Q and Connecticut) against a red light. And they weren't in hot pursuit of anyone, either.

So back to the original incident. I get to the corner and notice tons of people on either side not crossing, despite the fact that there were no cars in sight. "Stupid tourists," I think. "Don't know how to cross a street." So I proceed to make my way over, when halfway across I notice a cop standing on the corner. We make eye-contact.

"Please come here, sir," she says.

I walk towards her, head down like a school kid who knows he's about to get detention.

"Do you know it is a ticketable offense in the District of Columbia to jaywalk?" she says.

"No ma'am." (That's a lie.)

"Well it is. And I could write you up but I will let you off with a warning this time."

"Thank you ma'am." And then (I was really pushing the limit here):"You know, I'm really hungry and it's lunchtime. I was just trying to get to -"

"It's better to be hungry than hit by a car," she cuts in.

"You're right," I respond. And I walk away, half-hoping she had given me a ticket because that would be a great story to tell the grandkids.

Anyhow, I've been paranoid as hell crossing Q and Connecticut ever since. That is until today, when I see these three cops go lollygagging across the same street without a care in the world. So much for setting a good example...

The Latest from Silly Season

2008-04-14T20:38:00.006-04:00

It was inevitable - Hillary Clinton released an ad today in Pennsylvania criticizing Barack Obama's comments made at the now-infamous fundraiser in San Francisco. (And yes, you have to click the link to watch it because I'm sure not posting it here). You would have thought it was produced by a Republican attack squad. And it might as well have been. What was she thinking? A couple of over-dubs at the end changing "Hillary" to "John" and there's a McCain ad all wrapped and ready to be opened for the general election campaign. Makes me cringe.

This whole "elitist" garbage is way out of line and unnecessary. To me, being "elitist" is believing that you were guaranteed the nomination this time last year and didn't have to do the legwork to secure the vote of everyday Americans. But let's not get into that. Let's instead turn to page 57 of The Audacity of Hope (or am I not allowed to mention that title because "you know who" came up with it?). Let's take a look at the bottom of the page:

"But our democracy might work a bit better if we recognized that all of us possess values that are worthy of respect: if liberals at least acknowledged that the recreational hunter feels the same way about his gun as they feel about their library books, and if conservatives recognized that most women feel as protective of their right to reproductive freedom as evangelicals do of their right to worship. The results of such an exercise can sometimes be surprising."

If those are the words of an "elitist" then it's time to re-think what that word means. Let's get it together, Dems.

Drinking With Hagel

2008-04-09T20:59:00.005-04:00

A few months ago, I wrote about how you could feed yourself just by attending all the various events on the DC think tank scene. And the same apparently goes for reaching your drink quota, as well. Tonight I attended a talk by Senator Chuck Hagel at the National Press Club, sponsored by the Eisenhower Institute. Hagel was promoting his new book, America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers. (I haven't read it yet, but it has to be good simply because it has two sub-titles).

The Eisenhower Institute and the Press Club put together a really nice event. The drinks were flowing and the appetizers were being scarfed down way before Hagel took the stage. Simply put, a couple of glasses of wine and a lecture by Senator Hagel = a quality evening. Not quite sitting around the pub swapping stories with Uncle Chuck, but still a nice, relaxed night of "straight answers." Hagel is one of those great politicians who speaks his mind and says what he believes. In a sense, he rises above party politics because a random guy who walked into the talk off the street tonight wouldn't have been able to identify his affiliation. He cares about this country and that's the most imporant thing.

Hulu Nation

2008-04-06T14:23:00.005-04:00

In today's New York Times, Randall Stross reviews the TV and film video site Hulu.com. You may have come across it during its construction period, but Hulu is now up, running, and ready to go. And, most importantly, it's free. However, Stross is critical of the site, founded by News Corporation and NBC Universal, and writes it "has serious limitations." He complains that "its offerings are surprisingly meager." And he may be right. Most of the movies available for viewing are fairly weak, or merely short video clips. The TV options are more extensive (from the 50s-present) and interesting (ex. Arrested Development), though once again some of the videos are only clips, not the whole episodes (look for the little TV box next to the name for the full-length options).

But lets not complain too much, Randall. It's free. And the site is obviously growing, so stop whining. And I don't mind watching 30 second commercials because... it's free. And at least I know the videos will work, unlike our old, illegal, and now-defunct friend, tv-links.co.uk.

So check out Hulu.com - it's not perfect, but it is still a great (and growing) resource for TV shows and average films (though there are some gems like The Usual Suspects). Plus, it's got full-length episodes of What's Happening! (!) You can't beat that. Enjoy:

A Letter to Red Sox Nation

2008-04-03T18:35:00.009-04:00

Dear Red Sox Nation:

Good to see you again. Looking pretty good - you been working out this past winter? Well it's hard to believe a new season is upon us. Looking forward to some good times ahead. Some no-hitters, a couple of grand slams, Gold Glove-style defense, and some rookie of the year caliber play from the young ones. You know, the usual.

Anyhow, the reason I'm writing has to do with our dress code. Sure, I'm no fashion guru by any means, but this is something I've been thinking about for a long time. It's a simple rule that President RemDawg should put to a vote: Don't overdo your Red Sox wardrobe on days when you aren't attending a game. More specifically, unless you are going to see the Sox play live and in-the-flesh, limit your Sox apparel to one item for daily use.

I can't tell you how many times I see some random guy just walking down the street somewhere on the East Coast all decked out in a cap, jacket, t-shirt, socks (and underwear, I imagine) on a day when the team is playing a 10:05 game in Seattle or Oakland.

Unnecessary. And more importantly, it takes away from the importance of suiting up for the real thing when you miraculously get a ticket to actually see the team play live. In other words, if we wore tuxedos all the time, it's not a big deal wearing one when you get married. But if you've got tickets - go to town with the Sox gear. Facepaint, too. And the underwear.

I will offer two exceptions, however. Going out to the bar to watch an important game - against the Yankees, the Blue Jays (maybe this year they will be contenders?), the playoffs, or the World Series, - can warrant a cap and t-shirt. But wearing 20 pieces of Sox stuff to watch a game against the Royals at your local bar in May - a bit too much.

Second, tattoos don't count as apparel. So if you've got Sox ink, you can still go for an additional piece of flair anytime. (Plus, if you have a Sox tattoo you could probably beat me up so I won't argue with you).

That's about it, really. To quote Manny, "When you look good, you play good." But walking around town like you stepped out of the MLB catalogue doesn't necessarily count as looking good.

Sincerely,

At War With Canada?

2008-04-02T20:33:00.004-04:00

That got your attention, didn't it? I recently came across a provocative piece about global warming written by Leon Fuerth, a former national security advisor to Al Gore and currently a professor of international affairs at George Washington University. Fuerth, writing in a CSIS / Center for a New American Security report, outlines possible security implications that could occur due to changes caused by global warming.

Some of the greatest hits:

- "If the United States decides to divert water from the Great Lakes to compensate for the effects of climate change, the makings are in for a fundamental clash of interests with Canada."

- "Severe climate change will likely be the deathblow for democratic government throughout Latin America, as impoverishment spirals downward. In these circumstances we should expect that populist, Chavez-like governments will proliferate. Some regions will fall entirely and overtly under the control of drug cartels."

- "War between Israel and Jordan over access to water is conceivable. Moreover, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey are likely to be enmeshed in an escalating struggle over the latter's command of waters feeding the Tigris/Euphrates systems.

- "Russia will return to its roots – to a czarist-like system in all but name, with the wealth of the country divided among a new "boyar" class as payment for loyalty."

- "From one end of the African continent to the other, severe climate change will become the common denominator of turbulence and destruction."

Scary, huh? Who needs Hollywood disaster movies when these could become a reality? Check out the rest of Fuerth's chapter here (it starts on page 71).

All is not lost, though. See what you can do to make a positive difference at the We Campaign.

Welcome Aussie Readers

2008-04-02T00:00:00.004-04:00

Somehow, yesterday's "party boy" post was picked up by the Australian website Crikey for their daily Blogwatch page. I love how the offbeat pieces always get so much attention. No one cares about my commentary about the Iraq War or the presidential election - instead they are fascinated by random observations about teenage dirtbags (and I mean that in the nicest way). Either way, publicity is publicity, right? So thanks, Crikey.

Anyhow, welcome readers from Down Under. Throw back a pint of XXXX for me - I miss that stuff.

Class Warfare Declared

2008-04-01T18:56:00.009-04:00

In a recent interview for Sportscenter, Memphis coach John Calipari provided us with a Marxist interpretation of the Final Four:

"I say there's the blue bloods and the blue collars. You got the Kansas. You got the North Carolina. You got the UCLA. And you got the Memphis. And there's one blue collar in there and I think that's us."

Nothing like a bit of class warfare to make the tournament exciting. There is no question that there will be a lot of blue on the court in San Antonio.

Bodes well for the Democrats in November, perhaps?

Champions (for a day)

2008-03-31T18:32:00.003-04:00

Not sure if you saw the end of last night's Nationals home-opener, the first ever regular season game played at the brand new Nationals Park. Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off solo shot to cement his place in Nats lore. Pretty impressive.

The front page of today's Washington Post featured a picture of the team so big and so bold you might have thought they won the World Series. But why not celebrate? It could be years until the Nats give their fans something to truly cheer about. But with a new ballpark and some young, promising talent, they could well be on their way.

What Happened to Party Boy?

2008-03-31T18:20:00.004-04:00

I went to Brookings today to hear Prime Minster Kevin Rudd of Australia give a speech about the future of Australia's foreign policy. It was a fine presentation. Rudd was elected late last year and it is exciting to see his enthusiasm and willingness to establish Australia as a "creative middle power" in the international arena.

During the whole speech, however, I kept thinking of party boy Corey Delaney. What is he up to these days? According to Adelaide Now, it turns out he signed a deal with O2, one of Britain's top mobile phone providers. "If you thought you'd seen the last of Corey you were sadly mistaken – this is only the beginning," says his agent. Oh dear.

On a more serious note, check out Prime Minister Rudd's apology speech from last month. If you think Obama's race lecture in Philadelphia was impressive, take a look at Rudd's remarks about the "Stolen Generation" of Aborigines. Amazing. And sad.

W's Folks on Film

2008-03-27T19:55:00.006-04:00

Variety reported today that Oliver Stone has cast James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn to play George H.W. and Barbara Bush (respectively, I think - unless Stone isn't going to push the limits of all reason) in his upcoming film "W" about you-know-who. Josh Brolin is playing the lead. Filming begins in April, and release is expected before Bush leaves office.

I wonder if there will be a special screening in the Oval office. I'm sure Oliver Stone and President Bush have a lot to talk about. Like both being Vietnam vets.

Oh wait, I guess not.

Keeping on Rocking in the Israeli/Palestinian World

2008-03-26T20:05:00.002-04:00

My buddy Aaron is currently over in Israel and Palestine on a Fulbright scholarship. His current project is what I like to call "Making the Band" – Middle Eastern style. Aaron writes:

"I'm using my Fulbright-mtvU award to create an ensemble of about 10 Israeli and Palestinian high school students. The ensemble is a chance for students from opposite sides of the conflict to come together to learn, write, play music and create something extraordinary."

I'm really proud of the work he is carrying out over there. This is something Aaron has been talking about since I first met him freshman year at college. Take a look at his blog to see the good work he's been doing (includes some footage of a couple jam seasons - a must see).