This old heart of mine...

If there are Death Panels in Obama's health care plan, I'm pretty sure I'm a goner.

I woke up Sunday morning with excruciating pain in my chest, like someone had stabbed me in the ribs and then left the knife in to twist a bit. I initially thought it was because I'd fallen asleep on top of a PS3 controller, but that's as stupid as it sounds. Then I thought it was maybe because I over-danced at a party on Saturday night. If you've seen me drunk-dance, you know this is a more plausible source of my agony. The pain abated a little, enough for me to go out on Sunday night, but it came right back in the middle of the night...with the pain starting to radiate to my arm. Yes, my arm. Have no fear, however, it's not a heart attack. It's something called costochondritis, evidently common for people aged 20-40 (not to be confused with CostcoHondritis, which is inflammation from picking up a 20-pound tub of mayonnaise). The cause is unknown and it simply goes away in a few days. Let's hope so. I'm not good with pain. I can handle all sorts of emotional pain (I welcome it!), but physical pain...not so much.

Friday Night Video

This week's video in the completely unironic 10-week march to Rick Springfield's September 25th concert at The Borgata, a concert for which I'm slowly but surely accumulating something resembling a male posse, is yet another unqualified YouTube gem. It's the only cover song to appear on this list, and it's also the only duet.

The 70's and early 80's were great for many reasons, but the thing I miss most about that fabulous era was the bizarre string of variety shows in which celebrities doubled as singers and comedians on their very own primetime special. They were cheesy, but man they were fun. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey attempted to revive this practice a few years ago, but that was a total disaster. Perhaps Zoey Deschanel would be best suited to pick up this long burned-out torch, but I gleefully digress. Today's clip is from the 1982 special "Cheryl Ladd...Scenes from a Special." And yes, that's the correct title. I didn't even have to add the ellipsis. This special starred Cheryl Ladd, Carol Burnett and Rick Springfield. I'm just gonna let that last sentence sit there for a moment.

The clip is Rick and Cheryl doing a cover of the Kenny Loggins tune "Whenever I Call You Friend," which just so happens to be one of my favorite songs. In all seriousness, once you get past Rick's bright pink (leather?) suit and the fact that he's singing a duet with Cheryl Ladd, this is actually a really good performance. Even the New York Times agreed, and they're never wrong. Rick can sing. Period.

The Muppets Take "Mahattan"

Woody Allen's "Manhattan" meets The Muppets Take Manhattan.



(via Morgan)

Yankee, Go Home. And then lose.

So much for a late August fade.

The Rangers came into Yankee Stadium this week, home to the team with the best record in baseball (by far), and proceeded to take two out of three games...the first home series the Yanks have lost in almost two months. Yesterday's win, fueled by outstanding relief pitching and three homers, two by the recently DL-activated Ian Kinsler and one by the recently AAA-recalled Chris "Crush" Davis, is a big one. They've now completed the most difficult part of their remaining schedule and find themselves still just 1.5 games behind Boston in the Wild Card race, and they've inched up to 4.0 games behind Anaheim in the AL West race. If only the Rangers could play as well against the lesser teams of the AL as they do against its elite, they'd have the best record in BASEBALL.

As mentioned previously, this is a newly dangerous lineup that more closely resembles the one which was expected to be an offensive juggernaut when the season began. No small part in the Rangers' two wins over the Yankees was the return of Chris Davis. Davis hit safely in all three games against the Yankees, going 4 for 12 with a walk and a 3-run HR. He did strikeout four times, which has been his bugaboo all season long (despite missing about 40 games while in the minors, he's still eighth in the AL in most strikeouts), but there are few #8 hitters who provide his kind of back-of-the-order power. And defense. Davis made several great defensive plays in the series, some routine...some exceptional. His best play began as mistake, but he quickly recovered. Follow the link below to see for yourself.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6334267

Next up for the Rangers, three road games against the Twins.

The First 10,000.

It took a little over eight months for this blog to attract its first 5,000 visitors, but it's taken less than three months to bring in the next 5,000. Moments ago BHG hit the 10K milestone, due in no small part to the month of August which has seen nearly 3,000 visitors alone---nearly triple the traffic of any previously month. Most of this is attributable to searches on James Cameron's Avatar, for which I wrote a few posts about, but traffic is generally up and more consistent. 10K visitors in the first year was my personal goal, and it got there with about a month to spare. Thanks! I probably won't bother you with the next milestone until I hit 25k visitors, hopefully less than a year from now.

1901

Too lazy to scrawl anything resembling a real post today, but here's a song I've been obsessing over for the better part of a month now. It's Phoenix doing their song "1901" on David Letterman. It's a great song, and the drummer totally kills his part. Awesome.

38.

Well, that was something now, wasn't it?

Did anyone else stay up late to watch the breath-taking conclusion of the Yankees v. Rangers game last night? Jeesh. Sitting in the stands, one row in front of the MOST obnoxious fan from Texas I've EVER had to deal with (think Eric Cartman as a red-haired frat boy), I almost was rooting for the Yankees to pull off the miracle comeback in the 9th inning. And they almost did.

Down 10-5 going to the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees quickly cut the lead to 10-9 thanks to a microscopic strike zone, a little bit of luck, and a few solid hits. With two on and NOBODY out, it was looking bad. Very bad. The Yankee faithful were gleefully taunting Cartman with chants of "Gin-ger! Gin-ger!", a chant he thought had something to do with sushi. At this point I deftly went into silent fan mode, not wanting to be confused as a brother-in-arm with this schmuck. Luckily, as quickly as the Yankees seized the upper hand, they suddenly gave it away. A popped-up bunt and a line-out double play and then...poof! The game was over. It was a remarkable finish to a remarkable game. More importantly, it was a Ranger win...in a game they would normally have found a way to lose. It wasn't pretty, but a win at Yankee stadium in the heat of a playoff race is huge. No doubt about it.

A few thoughts about the game:

* I got my wish and was lucky enough to see Neftali Feliz pitch up close (I swear he even tipped his cap at me as he came off the mound in the 8th inning). He's damn impressive. He reached as high as 101 mph on the radar gun, and he struck Alex Rodriguez out on a 100 mph fastball. Two innings, one single, no walks, two K's. He also smiles a lot. Gotta love this kid.

* The return of a seemingly ready-to-produce Chris Davis can not be underestimated. You basically have a hitter with clean-up type power hitting in the eighth spot in the batting order. He went 2 for 4 with a walk, but more importantly he didn't strike out, he looked very comfortable at the plate, and his defense was as good as I remembered. Welcome back.

* I loved the lineup the Rangers had out there last night. Julio Borbon is the newest rookie to join the lineup and he looks like he's going to be a great leadoff hitter...something the Rangers have sorely lacked. In just 14 games since being called up from the minors, he already has 9 stolen bases. He's hitting, he's walking, he's smiling. You know you have a good leadoff man when his uniform is covered in dirt by the second inning. He's 23.

But beyond that, this is the healthiest the Rangers have been since the opening of the season. Kinsler is back from the DL, Nelson Cruz is back from the DL, Chris Davis is back from AAA, Josh Hamilton, while his bat still seems slow to me, is hitting well, and the addition of Pudge Rodriguez also improves this team on offense. Last night they combined for 10 runs, 16 hits, and walked 7 times against a pitcher who was one of the best in baseball over the last month or so. I think they're on the verge of busting out all over.

* Never go to a baseball game with my boss. If you're a young child or an elderly woman, he will find you and destroy you. So very awkward. My boss is basically Clint Eastwood from Gran Torino.

In terms of the playoff hunt, since the Monday update, the Red Sox and Devils Rays have each won two games, but the Angels have lost two games. That means the Rangers are 1.5 games behind Boston for the wild card spot, but they're now only 4 games back of Anaheim for the AL West division title.

38 games to go.

Instructions: Watch and Repeat. Do Not Avoid Contact With Eyes.

Today is a big day---one I've waited countless years for. The television show "thirtysomething" is finally being released to DVD some 18 years after its final episode aired. It's been a frustrating experience waiting for thirtysomething to get the DVD treatment, especially when lesser shows from the era (1987-1991) have already been released, but it sounds like the wait will be well worth it. The biggest obstacles the Emmy-award winning show faced in trying to make it to DVD were the expensive music-rights clearances for various episodes, as well as a lack of master copies that would allow for easy transfer to DVD. The busy schedule of the show's creators, Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick, also complicated matters, but all the hurdles have been cleared and the first season arrives today. Each of the following three seasons will be released every six months.

Up until the arrival of Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing," thirtysomething was my unambiguous choice for the best television show in history (or at least my personal favorite). While I only watched a few episodes during its initial run, I became a devotee of the show in the mid to late 90's when Lifetime Television aired re-runs five nights a week. I watched the series from start to finish at least three times in a row, always careful to note the date when an especially memorable episode (this was often) was due to be repeated (there were 85 episodes in all). This experience also became a bonding experience for me and my writing partner from college. We had discovered the show independent from one another (a remarkable enough coincidence) and both concluded it was genius. Our tumultuous relationship as friends and creative partners was also closely reflected in the one shared between the characters Michael and Elliot. Anyone who has ever seen the show and also seen the two of us at work would get chills.

If you're not familiar with the show, or if you've only ever dismissed it as self-indulgent yuppie angst, do yourself a favor and stick this in your Netflix queue. The pilot is a little rough, but once the show gets going you'll be treated to some of the most fully realized characters ever seen on the small screen. While there are serialized storylines to a degree, the show is principally an on-going slice-of-life. For four years you follow an outstanding ensemble cast through the highs and lows of marriage, parenthood, aging, birth, death, and every other human frailty that makes life simultaneously intolerable and invaluable. I have never been more invested in a show and its characters. If you give thirtysomething a chance, I suspect you'll feel the same.

The 39 Steps

"What are the 39 Steps?"

Yeah, going all Hitchcock on you today, but Mr. Memory doesn't have the answer to this one. The 39 Steps is the number of games left in the season for the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the three principal teams contending for the lone American League wild card spot. At the moment, entering tonight's play, Boston holds a one-game lead over the Rangers, and a three-game lead over the Devil Rays. While not impossible, none of the three teams stand a "good" chance at contending for their division title. The Yankees and the Angels have simply been too strong over the last two months and now maintain, respectively, 7.5 and 5.5 game leads over their nearest challenger.

First, let it be said now and forever that the Wild Card, in use since 1995, is perhaps the most important change to the game since the sport's advent. Without realignment and the wild card, the American League would be finished at this point. Yes, either the Yankees or Angels could collapse down the stretch, but the odds for such a catastrophe are weak. Instead of that wishing-on-a-star non-excitement, you get a minimum of eight teams believing they have a shot at the playoffs. That's good for baseball, and it's good for this fan right here.

Tomorrow I'll have the pleasure of seeing two of those teams live and up-close...Rangers vs. Yankees in the Bronx. The bad news is that the Rangers have struggled of late, losing 2 of 3 to Tampa and going just 2-2 at home versus the Twins, a team with a below .500 record. Rubbing some extra salt in the wound, the Rangers were ahead or tied entering the 6th inning in three of those four losses. The good news, however, is that the Rangers, somehow, keep sticking around. Scott Feldman improved to 13-4 yesterday on the strength of seven shutout innings and, once again, the Rangers prevailed when they most needed a win. If they can survive three games with the Yankees, the rest of the schedule is decidedly soft---save for six games with the division-leading Angels, a team the Rangers have remarkably owned thus far.

There's 39 steps left to the playoffs for the Rangers and tomorrow they'll add some new feet to help do the stepping; Chris "Crush" Davis rejoins the team to take over first-base duties (that's him in the picture above jumping about 20 feet in the air). Davis was demoted several months ago after an abysmal start to his sophomore season, but he thankfully seems to have regained his stroke in the minors. If Davis is right, this is a huge addition. Davis has as much natural power as anyone in the bigs...and he's got a glove to match. In just 157 career games, basically one entire season, Davis has already slammed 32 home runs and 33 doubles. He's 23.

I'm also hoping to see my man-crush, Neftali Feliz, pitch tomorrow. With two days of rest under his belt, odds are good that Feliz will see some action a mere 10 rows away from me. How's he been doing? Sadly, he's been rather human of late. He even gave up a (gasp) walk in his last appearance. Feliz has now pitched in 8 games, tossed 14.1 IP, given up 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, and has 19 Ks. Few pitchers in history have ever started their career with this much dominance. It's not just the power, it's the pinpoint control. I can't find the source, but I read that Feliz was the first rookie pitcher since the 1950's to not give up a walk in his first seven appearances. In fact, he only reached a three-ball count once in those first seven games (3-0). And, oh yeah, he came back to strike that dude out. The enthusiasm will naturally diminish the first time he's touched up for an ERA-destroying appearance, but until then, his continued debut is one of the best things to watch in baseball. This kid is special.

I intend to give a (brief) Ranger update every day until the end of the season...at which point the 39 steps will have hopefully turned into a Deion Sanders-like high-step into the playoffs.

Guess Who's Turning 60?

Rick Springfield!

Yes, as hard as it may be to believe, today is Rick's 60th birthday. Let me repeat that. SIXTY. Dude is fucking old, but we should all be so lucky to still be as limber at that ripe old age. I mean, really, 60?

Anyway, to celebrate his birthday, I have an extra special video for you which didn't quite make my weekly countdown. This one is priceless, however, and I've been saving it for just this occasion. Today I have Rick Springfield performing Jessie's Girl...with Mike Huckabee on bass. Yeah, that Mike Huckabee. In the pre-song banter you'll learn the story behind the song (it's exactly what you think), you'll learn that Rick used to take glass staining classes (weird), and you'll discover he's now a US citizen (an Obamacon?).

But more importantly, you'll discover how much Huckabee hates fat chicks. If he runs for President in 2012, I suggest we use this video to besmirch his name with the fat community. I don't care if he himself was once fat, he now holds those people in obvious contempt and should be held accountable! Interestingly, Huckabee's birthday is tomorrow. He'll turn 54...a full SIX YEARS YOUNGER than Rick.

This is actually a really nice acoustic version...even accounting for the broken guitar string, wretched playing by Huckabee, and the cutaways to the dullest-looking audience in history. Enjoy!

Friday Night Video

Arguably Rick Springfield's second most famous song, Don't Talk to Strangers reached as high as #2 on the billboard charts back in 1982. It's catchy, singable...and creepy. In short, Rick is singing from the perspective of an obsessed ex-boyfriend who's having trouble letting go of the woman he still loves. Things become so bad at one point that he starts imagining this "slick continental dude" romancing his girl in French:

*fais lamour avec moi (*make love to me)

What's he saying, baby

*viens dormir, mon amour (*come to sleep my love)

I asked you not to talk to him

*je taime donne moi ton coeur ce soir (*i like you to give me your heart this night)

I'm begging you

The best part of this song, however, is the video. Hands down. There are two awesome can't-miss moments. The first is when Rick follows his ex to a restaurant on her date and strokes her leg underneath the table. The second is when, after following the lovers to a motel, he jumps through the window shattering it. These were the 80s when videos were awesome. Enjoy.

A Liberal's Response

I don't think this discussion could've timed out any better. Jeff commented on a blog that was over a month old, but the news this week has brought the issue right back to the front page. It's now being reported that the CIA employed the private contractor Blackwater to engage in covert assassinations of terrorists. While there may be nothing illegal about the arrangement, it certainly leads directly back to the discussion on CIA power and Congressional oversight.

The first point I take issue with in Jeff's response is his reference to the fact-finding investigation that I support as some sort of a "witch hunt." Witch hunts are the "act of seeking and persecuting any perceived enemy, particularly when the search is conducted using extreme measures and with little regard to actual guilt or innocence." Jeff seems to be confusing this investigation with the interrogations at Guantanamo. While this "witch hunt" mentality may be true for some of the people who called for the investigation, I don't believe it's true of intellectually honest liberals. Yes, I admittedly have a strong preconception of what's gone on here, but I'm also more than willing to let the facts lead wherever and to whomever. I think this is a key distinction. I accept facts, even when they are counter to my expectations---or even my possible desire for some Schadenfreude. I neither want, nor do I support a witch hunt. A bi-partisan investigation hardly meets the criteria for a witch hunt and it's disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

Jeff's main argument, however, is that investigations of this sort, and I presume generalized scrutiny, too, will make the CIA less willing to act decisively in moments of legal and moral ambiguity...a hesitation which may have the practical result of not keeping us safe. Specifically he says, "individuals should be given some leeway to make those decisions without some goody two-shoes coming in after the fact and second-guessing their decisions and threatening punishment or sanctions." Fair enough, but I don't think Jeff is saying in clear enough terms what he actually endorses. Specifically, if you read between the lines, Jeff seems to believe that the CIA should be above the law, beyond reproach, and beyond prosecution. Jeff and I both believe the CIA is comprised of good men and women charged with some of the most important, most difficult work imaginable. And, like Jeff, I don't believe things are always black and white when it comes to some of the tough decisions those people must make. That said, the rule of law exists for a vital and undeniable reason...which is that without limitations, without accountability, without oversight, the "little leeway" that Jeff wants very quickly expands into an all-out Machiavellian paradigm in which the only thing that matters is the end result. That is not acceptable. Quite frankly, CIA agents should contemplate their actions through the lens of existing law. Being a good person is often not enough to ensure good behavior. Good intentions matter, but that's just not enough.

Jeff will likely disagree and suggest that I'm going from one extreme to the other, that a "little leeway" is not all-out lawlessness, but I would then simply ask, "Which are the laws the CIA doesn't have to obey?" If Jeff thinks the CIA should not be required to report its clandestine activities to Congress, which is the principal conflict in our discussion, then let him say so and let him suggest that that provision of the National Security Act be eliminated. That's an honest debate. Say what you mean. It's simply not enough to ignore a possible violation of well-established law by glibly saying the CIA means well and Democrats are on a witch hunt. Jeff wants to have it both ways. He wants to show his support for the rule of law, but he only wants that law followed when it's convenient. If you read his response, while his intentions are honest and admirable, it's a decidedly wishy-washy non-specific discussion of the issue. He uses such phrases as "some leeway, " and "some degree of accountability," and "balancing act." None of that is wrong, but it's also not helpful. I gather Jeff wants things to proceed on an ambiguous case-by-case basis but, in this particular instance, Jeff doesn't even support a basic investigation to find out the facts of the case in question!

The case in question is a perfect example of a possible abuse-of-power that need not have happened. Specifically, I've not heard of a single Democrat who said they were opposed to the idea of a secret hit squad out to kill members of Al-Queda. This is significant. The GOP would like to paint the Democrats as weak on terror, but breaking laws which need not be broken to keep us safe is far from being tough...it's just being stupid. What's so dangerous in requiring the CIA, as we've done for over a half century, to report on its activities to the House Intelligence Committee? Why does this case qualify for the leeway Jeff wants? What's so special about it? Jeff also included a link to a story which suggests the program in question was really no big deal...nothing more than a $1 million PowerPoint presentation. Even if we assume that's all it was, so what? That's the kind of thing that a bi-partisan fact-finding investigation would reveal, would it not? There's a resistance to process in Jeff's response that I find deeply troubling. Conservatives typically portray themselves as anti-big government, yet Jeff seems to want to give unlimited power to the government when it comes to fighting terrorism. Again, if that's what he believes, he and other conservatives should state it in no uncertain terms: "We are for illegal wiretapping. We are for extraordinary rendition. We are for torture. We are for the CIA being allowed to do as it pleases." That's an intellectually honest debate I'm willing to have.

And finally, while Jeff makes no specific mention to Nancy Pelosi, her name has been routinely used as the reason Democrats are persisting in this investigation...to provide cover for her. Look, if Jeff believes the CIA should have leeway, that presumably means he thinks the CIA should be allowed to lie about certain things if they think it benefits our national security. It's not even a baby step to then imagine the CIA lying to Nancy Pelosi about what interrogation techniques were being used. She may very well be bullshitting about the CIA lying to her, but it's absurd for the GOP to try to hang her over a statement which is CLEARLY plausible.

Good intentions matter, but adherence to the law matters more. Good intentions may mitigate certain instances of illegal behavior, but Republicans (and Democrats) should never stand in the way of finding out the truth.

Avatar Trailer is Here! Meh.

Update: Looks like the YouTube version has been taken down due to a copyright violation. The trailer can still be seen at Apple.com, however: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/index.html

I suspect the 3-D aspect is what will really make this movie sing, but the preview doesn't look all that special to me. It reminds me of the Star Wars prequels. This is not a good thing. For all the talk about the film's new technology and its ability to finally cross the chasm separating real characters from digital ones, there is NOTHING in this trailer which suggests that to be the case. It looks entertaining, and I'm sure it will have some thrilling sequences, but consider my expectations greatly diminished.

Rush Limbaugh...staying classy.

One of these days I'll wise up and stop posting the insane things that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck spew, but that day is not today.

Some of you may have seen the clip from Barney Frank's town hall meeting in Dartmouth in which he pretty much said what I wish every other politician who is getting ambushed with illegitimate questions would say. A woman holding an Obama-as-Hitler poster asked Frank why he continues to support Obama's Nazi policies. Ah, power to the people. The clip below from the Limbaugh show has the audio, which is wonderful, but the main thing here is the joke Limbaugh makes. It comes at the very end and it's as offensive as it is obvious and unfunny. I love off-color humor more than anyone I know, but this is just lame. So lame.

Update: White House Reads My Blog...Shifts Strategy

Or so I'm going to tell myself.

But no, this Washington Post article signals an intelligent shift, I think, in the way Obama will try to sell health care reform. As I wrote about here, he's not going to prevail by focusing on the details. His best hope to pass legislation will be to focus on the moral imperative. Here's a snippet of what I wrote:

"I think Obama's greatest argument for health care reform rests on his ability to convince America this is the right thing to do...the Christian thing to do, if that's your guiding principle. Obama excelled during the campaign at getting people to imagine themselves as part of a greater whole. That's what he needs to do here. The average voter has a hard time envisioning how this will help themselves, even if it does so in the long-term. No, it's far easier to get the average voter to envision it helping the millions of uninsured adults, seniors and children who would immediately benefit from reform. And that should be the focus. Doing what's right. Helping those who need help. Caring for the sickest, weakest, most wretched among us. It's a patriotic argument, it's a religious argument, and it's a moral argument. We must do what's right."

According to the article, Obama will now do just that...focus on the basic issue of doing what's right. It's easy for critics to complain about the costs, or to fabricate horrific tales of what life under "Obama-care" would truly entail, but they should no longer get to do so without first reconciling the inherent conflict with the basic principles of helping your fellow man. Health care reform does not have obvious benefits for those who are presently satisfied with their own situation, but undertaking questions of morality means thinking less about oneself and more about others. I say this with no mockery intended, but the implicit question should be, "What would Jesus do?" The answer may not be the Obama plan as presently constructed, but the question should at least prompt its opponents to act in good faith. The goal should not be to defeat the plan at all costs, which certainly seems like the GOP strategy, but rather to find a way to pass sensible legislation that helps those who need help.

That's what Jesus would do.

A Conservative Response

My friend Jeff, an intellectual conservative from Texas whom I had the pleasure of being on the high school debate team with, finally posted a comment to a blog I'd secretly written with him in mind. The post, as you may recall, was one of several I wrote which detailed claims that the CIA possibly lied to Congress at the direction of Dick Cheney. The blog is over a month old now, but the philosophical differences laid out between my original post and his thoughtful response are eternally relevant.

Since few people would ever see his comment deep in my archives, I've decided to go ahead and give it a more public airing with its own post. I'll eventually post a direct response to his comment, but I find the differences between our views to be a question of degrees---important degrees, but not as vast a gulf as one might presume. The post he commented on here, but that post was preceded by this and this, and had followups here and here and here. His full comment is below:

"Perhaps your morale narrative is entertaining, but it's not a convincing argument.

The problem with the witch hunt against the CIA is that it will likely cause individuals within the CIA to become more risk averse and, a result, refrain from taking actions necessary to save American lives and to protect this country.

We live in a dangerous world. In the midst of this mess, CIA agents and officers have to make difficult decisions everyday. These individuals should be given some leeway to make those decisions without some goody two-shoes coming in after the fact and second-guessing their decisions and threatening punishment or sanctions. You demand accountability. I agree we want some degree of accountability. I just don't think these issues are so black-and-white. There are many shades of grey, and particularly in that grey area, the CIA needs freedom to operate.

It's a balancing act. The political parties differ on where that balance should be struck. More likely, a lot of this is just plain politics--Democrats seeking to investigate a Republican administration.

Further evidence that everything isn't so black and white:
www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-18/spy-agency-fiasco/full/ "

Friday Night Video

A longer-than-expected trip to Atlantic City delayed this until now, but posting it on a Sunday seems more appropriate as it turns out. Today's song in the Rick Springfield concert countdown, now just seven weeks away from appearing at The Borgata in, yes, Atlantic City, has a definite spiritual bent to it. While most people instinctively assume that Jessie's Girl was Rick's first big hit in the states back in 1981, the truth is far different...and sort of shocking.

Way back in 1971, ten years before Jessie's Girl, Rick released a song called Speak to the Sky, a song which topped out at #14 on the US billboard charts. By that standard, Speak to the Sky was Rick's fifth biggest hit of his US career. The song itself is unlike almost every song you may ever have heard from Rick (as my poor friend Rich can attest to---he suffered through my entire lecture thanks to our room in Atlantic City coming equipped with an iPod dock). How different? So different that it's one of the most covered songs in country music, and it's now considered a standard song for line dancing. I'm not making this up. If you don't believe me, go to YouTube and do a search on "Speak to the Sky." Rick's name barely shows up, but in his place are dozens and dozens of different line dance videos from all over the world performed to his song. Crazy.

To better demonstrate my point, I've got two videos for you today. The first is a choppy recording of Rick doing the song with his band---interesting to watch because of how happy and good-boy he seems when singing about the lord. Compare that to later in his career when he basically simulates sex to his audience. The second video is from The Lucky Boots Club, a French line dancing group doing a choreographed jig to the song. This is interesting because it's a French line dancing group doing a choreographed jig to a Rick Springfield song...and it's considered normal.





Crazy.

Man Crush.

Ranger pitcher Neftali Feliz appeared in his fourth game as a big leaguer today. The result was 2 perfect innings and 5 strikeouts...against the first five batters he faced. Going back to his last appearance, he actually tied NOLAN RYAN for the team record for most consecutive strikeouts (7). For those keeping track (me!!!), here's how his major league career has started out so far:

6.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 13 K (1.35 ERA)

He's 21. Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my mouth.

And if that wasn't enough to get excited about, here's a question for you. What do Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia and Scott Feldman all have in common? They're tied for second place in the American League for most wins by a starting pitcher. Feldman, of course, makes only a fraction of what those other two guys make, but with his win today to improve to 12-4, he's proving to be one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. He's 26.

But let's not forget about Tommy Hunter. After his seven shutout innings yesterday, he lowered his ERA to 2.26 and improved his record to 5-2. He's 23.

And Josh Hamilton is starting to hit. And Ian Kinsler comes off the DL just in time for the series against the Red Sox. And, and, and god damn I love this team.

Always turned on.

Always turned on. That's the current motto for Atlantic City. It's clever because it never closes, but also because Atlantic City is just so damn sexy...what with its legion of senior citizens in scooters attached to oxygen tanks, the skanky Jersey girls for whom chewing gum is as much an accessory as their push-up bras, homeless people, fat tourists, drug-addled hookers, the serial killer of those aforementioned drug-addled hookers, and guidos with enough hair product to permanently reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Yes, Atlantic City is always turned on.

But that's where I'll be tonight and tomorrow, simultaneously enjoying myself and being disgusted by myself. Probably more of the latter than the former. I may not write anything until I return tomorrow night (if I return?), but fear not. The Rick Springfield countdown will continue. Just you wait. This week's installment will be...shocking.

That crazy thing that the crazy lady said.

It's been a good week for humorists like John Stewart and Bill Maher as the fringe right continues to offer up comic fodder with their increasingly vitriolic and non-sensical attacks on health care reform. Sarah Palin chummed up the waters real good when she jumped into the fray with her Facebook (omg!) posting in which she spoke of Obama's "death panels" getting to decide whether her baby gets to live or die. But as nutty and hyperbolic as some of these claims are, I wonder if the war of words is ultimately being won by the crazies simply by virtue of acknowledging them through satire and rebuttals.

The evocative phrase "death panels" has dominated the news cycle and public "discourse" this past week. From internet searches, to cable news pundits, to political satirists, to President Obama himself, much time has been spent (and will continue to be spent) debunking, ridiculing and poking fun at Palin's fear-mongering claims of what the Obama plan for health care reform would resemble. Oh, it's been a good time for us liberals, alright. There's little we enjoy more than a good dose of extra-crazy from Palin, except, of course, for the inevitable skewering she'll get from John Stewart. The problem, however, is that "death panels" has risen from the obscure to the well known.

For those with a brain, the concept of a death panel is easily dismissed as so far beyond reality as to barely register as anything more than "that crazy thing that the crazy lady said." But for those, shall we say...less book-inclined, the very fact that the phrase merits such self-perpetuating discussion is, perhaps, evidence of its truth. While not on the same level, obviously, the problem in dealing with Palin's remarks is not entirely dissimilar to the problem posed in dealing with Holocaust deniers. Certainly they have the right to express such a bizarre view (unlike in certain European countries where that's a crime), but how far should one go in opposing such a meritless argument before the opposition itself gives the issue some sort of false credibility? It's a tricky issue. Say too little and it seems as though you're afraid to defend the facts. Say too much and it might come off as overcompensation. The same predicament was also true on the "birthers" non-story. And it was also true on the Swift Boat fiasco for John Kerry. A small, ultra-crazy minority has tremendous power in the 24-hours news cycle to dramatically influence perception.

In the case of Palin's "death panels," I fear the war of words has been lost. Astonishingly, Obama's health care plan has been successfully associated with Palin's words. The left will associate the words as a prime example of the lunacy of those on the right, but many on the right---it's always impossible to know how many---will now associate it with the plain-spoken truth about Obama's plan. One of the main refutations being offered to Palin's words is that nowhere in any of the bills being reviewed do the words "death panels" appear. I've literally read this a dozen times in mainstream articles. While that's true, of course, it's one of the most pointless truths I've ever read. If anything, using that to refute Palin's claims only makes her seem saner. Even the dumbest of the dumb are smart enough to know that Obama wouldn't use those words in the bill...even if that was his intention. Making this argument only makes it seem even more so that Palin is cutting through the legalese to tell it like it is.

Some would say that Palin's remarks are a good thing...that they make the right seem crazy, and that they force the left (and the media) to give a clearer explanation of what the plan would really do. Wishful thinking. The battle for health care reform is not going to be waged over specifics---at least not in the public domain. I consider myself a bright fellow who has read a good deal about health care these last few weeks, but even I feel ignorant in the face of such complex issues. I understand the broad strokes, but the finer points are, for the most part, incomprehensible to all those but an extreme minority. No, the battle for health care reform will be won with perception, not necessarily truth. Right now, the prevailing perception, artfully created by the right, is that the plan is dangerous, expensive, and ill-advised. Some of that perception is valid. Most is not.

My advice for President Obama at his town hall meeting (provided the audience allows him to speak) is to spend more time addressing the valid concerns (cost mostly), dismiss the invalid perceptions with little comment (death panels), and focus more on what this is really about: COMPASSION (no, not reparations, Glenn Beck). In the end, I think Obama's greatest argument for health care reform rests on his ability to convince America this is the right thing to do...the Christian thing to do, if that's your guiding principle. Obama excelled during the campaign at getting people to imagine themselves as part of a greater whole. That's what he needs to do here. The average voter has a hard time envisioning how this will help themselves, even if it does so in the long-term. No, it's far easier to get the average voter to envision it helping the millions of uninsured adults, seniors and children who would immediately benefit from reform. And that should be the focus. Doing what's right. Helping those who need help. Caring for the sickest, weakest, most wretched among us. It's a patriotic argument, it's a religious argument, and it's a moral argument. We must do what's right.

That's the perception Obama must continue to drill home. We can laugh at Sarah Palin's lunacy all we want, but those jokes may end up written on the tombstone for health care reform: "Here lies the second major effort by Democrats to reform the broken health care system. They died laughing."

OPEN FIRST!!!!

The subject heading will make more sense shortly:



Never turn your phone off. Never.

Or do.

New Rule: Smart President ≠ Smart Country

I know Bill Maher isn't everyone's cup of tea---a bombastic know-it-all with a smug, ultra-crass sense of humor---but I love him (go figure). But if you're not a fan, I suggest reading the text of some of his "new rules" instead of watching them performed on camera. Removing his persona from the equation might help you to appreciate him a bit more (looking at you, JMW).

This past week he did a "new rule" on the intelligence (or lack thereof) of our country. It's hilarious, but it's also very much on-point. The entire text is here, but here are a couple of my favorite parts:

"I'm the bad guy for saying it's a stupid country, yet polls show that a majority of Americans cannot name a single branch of government, or explain what the Bill of Rights is. 24% could not name the country America fought in the Revolutionary War. More than two-thirds of Americans don't know what's in Roe v. Wade. Two-thirds don't know what the Food and Drug Administration does. Some of this stuff you should be able to pick up simply by being alive. You know, like the way the Slumdog kid knew about cricket."

"And these are the idiots we want to weigh in on the minutia of health care policy? Please, this country is like a college chick after two Long Island Iced Teas: we can be talked into anything, like wars, and we can be talked out of anything, like health care. We should forget town halls, and replace them with study halls."

"Until we admit there are things we don't know, we can't even start asking the questions to find out. Until we admit that America can make a mistake, we can't stop the next one. A smart guy named Chesterton once said: "My country, right or wrong is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying... It is like saying 'My mother, drunk or sober." To which most Americans would respond: "Are you calling my mother a drunk?"

What's In Common? (part 2)

Part 2 of 4 coming at you. As with part 1, your task is to identify each of the three movies in the question (for one point total). For a second point, figure out what the common trait is between all three movies. For a more detailed explanation with a sample question, as well as the first three questions, see part 1 here. Answers will be listed in the comment section. Enjoy!

*note - you can click on an image to see a larger version, but in some cases the URL might reveal an answer, so do so at your own quiz-ruining-risk

4)

5)

6)

Unidentified Speeding Object

I realize this blog is tilting heavy towards baseball of late, but with the Rangers now tied for the Wild Card with Morgan's steroid-addled Red Sox, I think it just might stay like this for awhile. I'll try to keep it snappy and diverse around here, but the Rangers haven't made the playoffs since 1999 (I was there), and even that triumph is now undeniably tainted by mass steroid use. In other words, sorry, but you'll just have to endure my excitement for as long as these scrappy Rangers hang around. And around. And around.

To that end, a couple of Ranger follow-ups:

1) I briefly mentioned the young phenom Neftali Feliz here and here. As I noted in that last post, he struckout the first four batters he faced in his major league debut last week. What I hadn't realized was that that had not happened in over 50 YEARS. All the K's were swinging, and he hit 100 MPH on six pitches before his final pitch...which was clocked at 101 MPH. Over his next two appearances he hit triple digits another 11 times, and he also tossed a couple of 91 MPH changeups for good measure. Good pitching is about so much more than throwing hard, but when you're consistently hitting 100 MPH on the radar gun, throwing hard might be enough. There's nothing more fun than watching a guy with a blazing fastball just rear back and let it rip.

2) I'm glad to see the response to Josh Hamilton's relapse has been thoughtful and measured. Most media outlets aren't even reposting those embarrassing pictures from Deadspin. I now, of course, feel like a jerk for having leapt at the chance to post one of those salacious images. I think Hamilton's contrite and honest response resonated deeply...especially in light of all the hand-wringing and double-talk that other players use when they try to explain their way out of failed steroid tests (I'm looking at you, Big Papi). Hamilton's press conference, for which you can read the entire transcript here, is the way most public figures should handle their dirty laundry---out in the open, honest, no excuses. Nobody wants Hamilton to fail. But everyone now wants Papi to fail. Err, I mean continue to fail.

One criticism which has been made about the Hamilton relapse is the decision to wait until the photos came forward. The suggestion is that there was some sort of cover-up. Well, of course, there was a cover-up. The man is married with three kids and this incident was maybe viewed by 20-30 people. The matter had already been dealt with privately (he told his wife, the Rangers and MLB the day after), so why make a national story out of it if there's a chance it never becomes public? They were obviously prepared for it come out eventually, but this is one of those situations where nothing is gained by making a preemptive declaration. You can't fault someone for hoping these pictures never came forward. I'm in the same boat. (fingers crossed)

Best Broadway Poster Ever

I know this was also the cover for her book, but is there a more perfect poster? Yes, I think I shall be seeing this one-amazing-woman-show.

Roy Halladay who?

This is why the Texas Rangers were in no rush to trade for Roy Halladay. I know he's a great pitcher and all, but giving up Derek Holland and two other elite prospects to get him would have been pure folly. The kid may only be 12 starts into his major league career, and he may still be sporting a not-so-hot 5.04 ERA, but here are his pitching lines from two of his last three starts:

9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (96 pitches!)

8.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

Today's game, a road game against baseball's highest scoring team and the team currently dueling with the Rangers for first in the AL West (the Angels), is about as money as a rookie can get. He'll continue to be inconsistent, as rookies are wont to do, but I'd rather this guy be inconsistent for my team than the Blue Jays.

Oh, and Neftali Feliz---the stud rookie recently called up who was also a rumored piece in any possible Halladay deal---yeah, he struck out the first four batters he faced and now has 8 K's in his first 4.1 IP, giving up just one hit in those first three appearances out of the bullpen. He's been clocked as high as 101 MPH during those games. Good god, this team finally has some genuine pitching talent. Even better, the Rangers seem to know it.

My Universe.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, a blogger I follow over at The Atlantic, visited The Met earlier this week and had some very nice things to say. The best part, which I think captures the essence of The Met perfectly, is this:

"The Met is a universe, and each wing is a galaxy, and in each galaxy there and stars and planets tugging at the imagination. You come in with your heart set on seeing Hercules shooting his bow, but instead you end up staring at a nomad queen's golden crown."

Granted, my office is more like the black hole of this universe, but if you're going to be sucked into oblivion, I can't think of a better universe in which it could happen.

More On: Josh Hamilton

The Texas Rangers and Josh Hamilton wasted no time in responding to the published photos of him cavorting at a bar, calling a press conference to discuss the issue just a few moments ago. The bad news is that Hamilton did relapse back in January and he admits to being drunk in those photos. The good news is that he evidently informed his wife, the Rangers and MLB the day after it took place. He has also not failed any drug tests. While the pictures are unfortunate, this is mostly positive news. It was a relapse, yes, but he had the wherewithal to immediately get in touch with his support system---not conceal the truth. As far as relapses go, this is about the best way it can happen. It was isolated, and he immediately accepted responsibility.

It's the Fall That's Gonna Kill'ya.

Troubling photos of Josh Hamilton have shown up today on the sports blog Deadspin. Hamilton, the star slugger for the Texas Rangers, was last year's unambiguous feel-good story---a talented outfielder who overcame his drug and alcohol addictions to emerge as one of the league's best all-around players. This victory saved his life, his marriage and his career. The culmination of his comeback was at last year's All Star Game in Yankee Stadium. Taking part in the home run competition, Hamilton's performance was the stuff of legend as he launched 500-ft HR after 500-ft HR. In the first round, with his elderly Little League coach throwing to him, be smashed 28 homers into the night sky, most of which were epic. He ended up losing the overall competition (something I hope does not become a metaphor for his life), but Hamilton's story is all anyone will ever remember about that summer day in New York.

This year tells a different story. While the Texas Rangers are on the rise, they've done so without the support of Hamilton who has been both ineffective and oft injured. The numbers don't lie:

(2008) .304 BA, .371 OBP, .530 SLG, 32 HRs, 130 RBIs

(2009) .235 BA, .289 OBP, .394 SLG, 8 HRs, 33 RBIs

There's been a lot of speculation as to why he has struggled so dramatically this year. Hamilton himself points to some ADD medicine he just stopped taking (his numbers have started to improve off the meds) but, secretly, people have been wondering if the reason was something far darker. While the photos on Deadspin prove nothing (you don't see Hamilton actually drinking), and while it may have been an isolated incident almost seven months ago, it certainly adds fuel to the speculation and can't help but make one sad.

More importantly, Hamilton's story has been an inspiring one that has helped remove some of the taint from the steroids-era of baseball. MLB needs Josh Hamilton. The battle against addiction is a never-ending one, so falling off the wagon is not something which should be completely unexpected. If that's what has happened, however, I can only hope he's back on...less so for the Texas Rangers and Major League Baseball, and more so for himself and the countless others who look to his example in their own struggles with addiction. Here's hoping.

Only 127 Shopping Days Left Until Hanukkah

And I totally know what I want:



If someone buys this for me, I promise I will take it everywhere I go for an entire week---plus relevant feedings.

Friday Night Video

This is obviously the day of the week I most look forward to as evidenced by a bizarre dream I had last night. The details are sketchy, but somehow I was responsible for making sure Rick Springfield got to his dinner reservation at The Borgata on time. No, really. My dad was there, too, but he kept distracting me...so much so that I utterly fucked up this simple task and Rick was left wandering around lost and hungry. I finally located him near the slots (machines), but by the time I got him to his table, the restaurant had closed. My heart started racing and I woke up in a panicked sweat. I'd normally invite dream analysis, but I think we can just move on.

On to #8 in the countdown this week, that is. And, rather than show a concert video or something similar, I've opted for a scene from Wet Hot American Summer. Rick's song "Love is Alright Tonight" is the soundtrack for a hilarious montage of the camp counselors going into town and having fun...because when I think of Rick Springfield, I think of Janeane Garofolo and Amy Poehler tweaking. The song is an odd choice for the scene, but anytime the cast of The State uses a somewhat obscure Rick Springfield song as the centerpiece for a montage, I can't help but feel this lends Rick some sort of reverse cred. Or so I like to believe.

What's In Common? (part 1)

Last night was my team's turn to host trivia at Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg. I'm happy to report it was not an unmitigated disaster. Some might even call it a modest success. As with the last time we hosted, I was responsible for the preparation of the visual round. And, as was the case last time, I stuck with what I know and what I like---MOVIES. I posted the entire visual round from last time here, but this time around I'm going to roll it out a bit slower. There were 12 questions in all, so I'm going to break it down into four parts over the next few days.

The rules are simple. For each question you will see three pictures taken from a movie. For one point, identify all three of the movies. We didn't give partial credit for knowing two of them. We're serious about our trivia. For a second point, and really the harder part of the question, identify what the common thread is between the three images/movies. The commonality is not something superficial like "they're all men," or "they're all blond," or anything basic like that. For an example, see below:



The movies from left to right are Ghostbusters, Caddyshack and The Royal Tenenbaums. And what do those three films have in common? Bill Murray...who had major roles in all three of the movies. Got it? Good. Let's play. I'll put the answers in the comment section. Let me know how you all do on these. FYI, even though some of these questions were quite hard, at least one team always managed to get the right answer. Have fun!

1)


2)

3)

I'm Spartacus.

More on: NASA's Lost Luggage

Remember back in November when I posted an Onionesque story about NASA astronauts allowing a $100,000 tool bag to float away while on a space walk? Good news. The bag has come home. In a fiery blaze, yes, but home it has come. What's interesting to me about the story is that "amateur skywatchers" had been tracking the 30-lb bag as it circled the Earth for the last eight months. This is what space exploration has become.

"Okay, son, now just to the left of Orion's belt you'll see a shiny object in the northern sky--just beyond the horizon."

"Is that Mars, daddy!!!"

"No. It's a bag. A very, very expensive bag."

"But not as expensive as a Hermès Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag, right?"

"Close...but not quite."

"Wowwwwww."

"I know. Cool. right?"

Yoga Kiddie Porn with Farm Animals

UPDATE: The video was removed due to a copyright claim. Hope you all got a chance to see it, though I don't know why anyone would claim authorship of that video. Balls, man. Balls.

Some sights can't be unseen.

Some sounds can't be unheard.

Fair. Warning.



Look, I gave you fair warning. Don't blame me if you go to bed and imagine Rasta Rooster leering at you from a distance. Just don't. The time for recriminations is past. All we can do now is just come together to eradicate Yogi Ogi Dogi. People, this is where your farm subsidies are going. What's worse is that these kids were obviously abducted from various extra-curricular activities. There's a karate kid, a ballerina, and a soccer player. These children were last seen doing a downward dog.

Dora, meet Neftali. Neftali, Dora.

Yes, two baseball posts in a row, but this one is too cute to resist. The Texas Rangers called up prized pitching prospect Neftali Feliz yesterday, yet another positive move as they try to get their top prospects more work down the stretch. He's the #1 Ranger prospect according to Baseball America, and the 10th best in all of baseball. The Ranger bullpen just got more talented, obviously. It also got more colorful. Here's a picture of Neftali on the field yesterday. Why yes, that is a Dora the Explorer backpack.



(via RangersBlog)

Update: Evidently this is a hazing ritual that all Ranger rookie pitchers have to endure. I dunno. I think it's adorable. How can you not like these guys?

Texas Rangers: In it to win it.

I last wrote about the Texas Rangers on May 31st, back when they were 30-19 and sporting the second best record in all of baseball. This was obviously very early in the 162-game season, but it was an encouraging enough start to merit an optimistic post. Besides, given the team's track record come the long, hot summers in Texas, this was likely my best chance to celebrate their being in first. At the time of that post they had a rather sizable 5.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for best record in the American League West division. Now, exactly two months later, they find themselves in second place three games back. Sounds like they've finally come down to earth, right? Not exactly.

The Angels have been, unfortunately, the best team in baseball the last two months. With a record of 61-40, they trail only the Los Angeles Dodgers for major league supremacy. In fact, since the Rangers took two of three games from them in Anaheim, the Angels have surged ahead with a 15-3 spurt. If there was ever a time for the young Rangers to fail, this was it. Except they haven't. After a 1-5 stumble following the successful series against the Angels, the Rangers have now run off a 10-2 record over the last two weeks, including an impressive sweep of the Boston Red Sox. This leaves the Rangers with a record of 58-43, sixth best in major league baseball. With July having been a scorcher in Texas, temperatures routinely over 100 degrees, it's safe to say the summer heat is not impacting this team. No team in baseball has more home wins (36) than these Rangers.

Perhaps most impressive is how well the Rangers have done against the elite teams in baseball. Consider the following:

Boston Red Sox, 5-1
LA Angels, 7-2
NY Yankees, 2-4
LA Dodgers, 1-2

Those are four of the five teams with records better than the Rangers. The fifth, the Philadelphia Phillies, have not played them. So, against four of the truly elite teams in baseball, the underdog Rangers have managed to go 15-9. That's outstanding.

With the Rangers in the thick of the playoff hunt, there was much speculation this week that they might try to improve their chances by trading for ace pitcher Roy Halladay. In the end, the Rangers stood pat...refusing to trade away multiple prospects from their #1 rated farm system. It's a move I agree with. It's not that the Rangers couldn't use a guy like Roy Halladay, or a guy like Cliff Lee whom the Phillies traded for, but one of the main reasons for this year's success is management's willingness to let the kids play...to let them succeed, and to let them fail. It's a philosophy which started last year, and this year it's paying huge dividends. With strong results from kids like Scott Feldman (9-4, 3.99 ERA) and Tommy Hunter (3-1, 2.00 ERA), along with top prospect Derek Holland, whose last start pretty much made him untouchable in trade talks (a dominant one-hitter into the 9th inning), it's better these guys see as many meaningful innings this year as they can. Even with a trade for a guy like Halladay, the odds are against the Rangers making the playoffs. Best to not sell the farm for a short-term run at the playoffs.

So what is the key to the success for the Rangers? Three things:

1) Chemistry
2) Pitching
3) Defense

Yeah, you heard me. PITCHING. They now have the 11th best ERA in all of baseball, 6th best in the AL. And if you were worried about them getting tired, think again. Since the All-Star break, the Rangers are sporting an AL-best 3.23 ERA, fourth best in baseball over that time period. It's here where I should mention that the Rangers had the WORST pitching in baseball last year---30th out of 30 teams. The pitching on this team isn't just adequate---it's good. And getting better. The Rangers did it right last year by getting some of their kids innings and sticking with them. This year they're seeing those efforts rewarded by seeing the natural progression of talented pitchers. Add in a rookie stud defensive shortstop (Elvis Andrus) who is helping the Rangers turn more double plays than any other team in baseball, and add in a very good bullpen with lots of depth, and voila. You have this year's biggest surprise.

Now, if only they could hit! The one thing they're known for, they no longer can do! Sure, they lead all of baseball in home runs, but they're 24th and 25th in batting average and on-base-average. Yikes! Still, if hitting is the biggest problem the Rangers have, the future looks very, very bright.

NYC: Four years in and the beat goes on.

Today marks the four year anniversary of my move to New York City on August 1st, 2005. I figure after five years I'll just stop mentioning it, but four years in it still seems a bit like a waking dream. Things here are as good as they've ever been. I've got a good job, various circles of friends I admire and enjoy, an apartment better than the three which preceded it, an active lifestyle (well, not like active active), and I feel more rooted to this place than any other city in which I've previously lived. Still, it's astonishing to step back and realize it's been four years. Frightful, really. That's the length of one presidential term in office. It's the length of one undergraduate college degree. It's enough time to get pregnant and give birth five separate times. In short, it's not so short.

Anyway, thanks to all my friends and family members who supported the move over the years, and apologies to those whom my fancy schmancy lifestyle has kept me from staying in better contact with. You're all important to me and I thank you. I truly have become one of "those people" who adores New York City in all its urban greatness. It'll never be for everyone, but it ought to be.