The DL

Attention Bay Area Sports Fans

2012-01-23T22:36:00.000-08:00

Shut up. Get a grip. Seriously. That's a killer loss, and I understand that. Any one of us who has ever been a fan of anyone or anything knows that feeling. It sucks. I get it. However, there is no excuse for ever issuing a death threat or wishing someone or someone's family physical harm over the outcome of a sporting event. Seriously, someone (@javpasquel) tweeted "I hope you, youre wife, kids and family die, you deserve it."

No, sir. You deserve to be taken to task and to have every media outlet from here to Siberia post your Twitter handle, so reasonable human beings can tee off on you and make it crystal clear to you what a piece of shit you actually are. (And what do you know? Looks like it happened, since you no longer have an active Twitter account.) Do us all a favor, and don't come back to social media until you grow up. Also, mix in some research because Kyle Williams is single and has no kids. He might even know the difference between "your" and "you're." Though, to be fair, you used neither. You made one up. Combine that with the impressive comma splice and the aforementioned factual inaccuracy, and you have done an unprecedented job of branding yourself an ignorant fuck. Nicely done!

Kyle Williams is the son of White Sox GM Kenny Williams. Kyle's older brother Kenny Jr. played for the Duluth Huskies, and from what I understand, the fact that he couldn't catch up to Northwoods League fastballs didn't deter him from being a total douche. Good to see he's lighting it up in double-A for daddy's organization. I would be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for the Giants and shouting "Kenny Williams' brother" whenever Kyle showed up on screen. Put those two things together, and it was kind of funny at the how his mistakes had such a central role in the outcome of the game. Call it a guilty pleasure.

But clearly my sense of perspective is all wrong! How dare he rob those poor, suffering SF sports fans of a trip to the Super Bowl that they so richly deserve for doing...oh wait...absolutely nothing! I never played at the professional level, and I don't claim to have a particularly good idea of what professional athletes do in the way of training and work, but I was close enough to big time NCAA athletics to realize that athletes aren't circus animals. We're very well aware of the stakes during games, and have always had (and WILL always have) more invested in the outcome. Period. So, "dear" Bay Area sports fans, save the histrionics because, to quote the immortal Bull Durham, "You don't know shit, meat."

Disclaimer: I have facetiously mused in private conversations to a couple of my friends and family members who are 49ers fans that I hoped Jim Harbaugh got hit by a Muni train. It was a joke. Everyone knows a Muni train would simply break down and never hurt anyone anyway. He didn't know what I said. He wouldn't care anyway. And anyone who knows me, knows that I don't wish death on anyone--even someone as douchey as Jim Harbaugh.

Furthermore, as much as I can't stand him, Harbaugh does deserve a ton of credit for his ability to coach and get his team to buy into the true team concept and culture--no small feat with a bunch of guys getting paid millions of dollars. The way Williams' teammates jumped to his defense and picked him up in the face of it all says way more than all the tears currently filling up the bay. But I guess it's easy to keep perspective when you're not the victim.

US Government is Dropping the SOPA

2012-01-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

Stories have flown in from all over the Interwebz, and as you would expect with that particular medium, most of it universally positive about how the evil SOPA is no more, and the Internet triumphs over evil corporate agenda-driven Hollywood. That's all well and good, and I do believe that on the aggregate, this is a huge win for numerous reasons. Here are a couple links to stories about it:

Mashable: SOPA Is Dead: Smith Pulls Bill
Techcrunch: SOPA Scorecard: Internet 1, Lobbyists 0

However, (and there is always a however), one of the better articles I read in response to the whole ordeal came from one of the trade pubs I work with for my job, Digiday. Here are a few highlights from the article:

"In reality, the only thing worse than the potential damage that SOPA might inflict is the wave of misplaced earnestness and hypocrisy displayed by much of the tech industry of late."

"In fact, however misguided some of the safeguards built into SOPA and PIPA are, it’s fundamentally about catching bad guys, not destroying free speech. And you should care about that more than you do.

"It’s striking still to this day how naive some in Silicon Valley can be when it comes to the media industry. Many in the business still parrot the libertarian thinking from the Napster era — information yearns to be free, you can’t cut off ideas, the Internet is a utopia, etc.

"Aren’t those days over? Google and Facebook are billion-dollar companies. This is about business, not philosophy or sociology. It’s time for some folks to ditch the bottle and start drinking from a big-kid cup."

I would encourage you to read the whole article to get it all in context, but the point about the Internet being a huge business is spot on. Just because we use it and don't pay a monetary fee to Google doesn't mean that it's not a business that is looking at ways to make money. The difference is that we don't understand how it works, so it's not "real" to us. We understand the transactional nature of paying for a movie. That's our money. We grasp that concept.

Yes, the Internet is a whole new world that plays by different rules, and yes, SOPA and PIPA amounted to Hollywood lobbying Congress to swing at a piñata. But Hollywood wasn't wrong to want to protect its investment any more than Internet companies are wrong wanting to protect theirs.

The fact that the MPAA has the balls to come out and say that SOPA protests are "a gimmick" and that they turn people into "corporate pawns" is patently ridiculous. Do you know of any person or group of people more ridiculous and myopic than movie/entertainment fanboys? Oh wait, maybe ~~tech~~ Apple fanboys....nevermind...

The overriding point is this: whichever side of this debate you fall on, you need to have a good reason for it, and "not having Wikipedia for a day pissed me off" is not any more valid than any argument the MPAA, RIAA or whomever hell else has made. Read articles. Form your own opinion. Educate yourself, so you're not part of the faceless masses who bitched and squawked because you didn't have Wikipedia for a day.

SOPA and PIPA are dead for the time being, but that, in and of itself, is not cause for celebration. As great as the response was across the country and as inspiring as it is that people found a voice, the reality of the situation is that it's like the rest of life--not a black and white issue in which one side is right and one side is wrong. Read up kids. This is just the beginning.

Fighting Back by Going Black

2012-01-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

So as anyone who hasn't lived under a rock the last month knows, there are a couple pieces of legislation circulating in Congress that are aimed at targeting ~~pirates~~ rogue sites that infringe on copyright. They are called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). Across the Internet publishers and companies protested this in various ways--the most extreme of which were blacking out their sites for the day. It has become so hotly contested between Silicon Valley and Hollywood that it is (rightfully) being framed as an incredibly divisive issue, but I have a different take on the entire situation. This SOPA madness is exactly what this country needs.

Let's start with where we all agree. Pirating is bad. For our own selfish reasons, at times we like pirated copies of things because it's a benefit to us, but we also recognize that this has a negative impact on those who produce and copyright the work that is pirated--namely movies and songs (which is why Hollywood is understandably pissed). Clearly, the fundamental problem with the whole SOPA deal is not the idea behind it. That's fairly sound, and there really isn't much debate around that.

The true root of the issue is that the rogues who are collectively wiping their ass with the whole concept of intellectual property are outside the US. How, then, is Congress going to change any of that by enforcing laws on US companies? Furthermore, how qualified is Congress to even discuss the Internet, let alone regulate it? Anyone who has paid attention to any portion of the Net Neutrality debate knows that the answer is "not a lot."

To their credit, though, some members of Congress seem to be treating this differently. Assuming motivations are pure (which they never are in politics) and not financially-driven (which they always are in politics), it's admirable that they want to do something to protect the copyrighted work of artists in this country. We want to foster that type of creativity and innovation within our own borders. It's part of what makes this country great.

But SOPA isn't just a shot into the dark. It's a firestorm, and the collateral damage could be catastrophic.

Remember the part about fostering innovation and promoting creativity? There's this thing called the Internet that has led to a lot of that, and it's the innocent bystander that gets slaughtered if this legislation passes. How is a search engine supposed to continue to drive innovation when the government is telling it to waste its time picking through its index for something that may link to something from a rogue? How is a blog supposed to purge all images/references to brands because it hasn't gotten the "expressed written consent" of the people in charge of it? Am I getting shut down and arrested for using this image? What about this one?

The Internet age has completely obliterated the old model and restructured way people receive information. That's a good thing. Since when are options for alternative viewpoints bad? Yes, I realize print journalism is "dying," but aggregated media is a huge opportunity, and the pubs that are smart enough to innovate can capitalize on the new distribution--and monetization--models that are emerging.

There are plenty of phenomenal resources that discuss the bits and bytes and the legal arguments for why this whole thing is a complete mess. I won't rehash all that, and if you really want to talk about the viability of endpoint security solutions and packet flow evaluation, I would be happy to discuss (before informing you that you need serious help). But I would encourage all ~~three~~ ~~five~~ seven of my readers to read every last one of them. Here are a couple links to get you started: Ars Technica, Google, and the New York Times. (There's a reason Ars is first. If you read no others, read that one.)

We all have that one "friend" who is just sure that he/she is always right and will argue and argue until everyone else gives up, which of course will only continue to feed that person's self delusion that he/she was, in fact, right. Everyone silently hates that guy/girl and just brushes the whole deal off, knowing that nothing will really change and, for the most part, arguing is futile. That's usually how Congress works. But this SOPA thing is a whole different animal, and the results have been astounding.

Creative: To further drive its point, Google locked this image. Had to take a screenshot of a screenshot to get this image.

Some members of Congress are realizing they're way out over their skis and are backing off their stances, accordingly. The most vicious competitors in Silicon Valley and beyond are on the same side of an issue, are pissed and rallying supporters to let the government know about it. Household brand names all went dark for a day purely to protest. We got fun things like this. And this. And, of course, this.

Some of it was done in silly ways, but the fact of the matter is that it's all serious. The reaction from a generally complacent demographic in a generally complacent nation has been strong, unified and heard at the highest level. To me, that's the most impressive thing of all. I love this SOPA deal.

UPDATE: Looks like I'm not the only person who feels this way. PC World does too. Take a look.

Random Stuff

2012-01-16T17:31:00.000-08:00

Knowing full well that it's been too long since I posted and needing inspiration, I sought the advice of a friend, who said she had no inspiration for me...and then proceeded to give me inspiration. "There's nothing going on...nothing to read about other than Golden Globes coverage. Also Madonna looks terrible." Win. Thanks, Nicole!

Let's start with Golden Globes coverage. I don't even know what the Golden Globes actually are. Seriously. I grew up in LA, and I have no clue. As far as I'm concerned it's just another of the anonymous Hollywood awards shows, which are generally full of the toolish douchebaggery that viewers fawn over. I know what the Emmy's and the Oscar's are, and I know what the Grammy's are. (I know what the CMA's are because their name is self-explanatory. Other awards shows should look into this naming convention.) Here are two headlines from the LA Times that jumped out at me.

"Golden Globes Irrelevant? Maybe. But not the speeches"

"Censors have no problem with penis jokes"

Seriously. This is what the ~~only~~ largest newspaper in this massive media market has to say about this awards show. Good to know that I'm on par with the rest of the population, and I'm not missing anything relevant. Frightening to know that, as a former Crespi student, I am qualified to be a censor for said awards show that I know ~~dick~~ nothing about. Print news may be dying, but I wish there was a way to see the pass along rate because I can pretty much guarantee people ate those stories up.

(Nicole is now telling me how Meryl Streep said "shit" because she forgot her glasses and couldn't read her speech. Clearly, that is frowned upon, but you can decide if it's frowned upon because you're not supposed to say that or because any moment of authenticity is verboten in the context of an entertainment event.)

So what I'm surmising is that this is one of the many screen-focused awards shows. But then there is this Madonna thing that I was informed about. And now we're back to being confused.

However, my confusion surrounding the awards show pales in comparison to my confusion about the Super Bowl halftime show. (I'm not making money off this blog. Fewer than 10 people will read it. It is not the "Big Game." It is the Super Bowl.) Who in their right mind thought that Madonna would be a good idea for that? Seriously, after Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson Nipplegate, the whole concept of the halftime show has floundered and just been a directionless mess (kind of like my blog but MUCH more expensive and MUCH more visible).

Though I'm not a Springsteen guy, he makes sense. Prince didn't really make all that much sense to me, but I thought it was good. But then there are the Stones (who are awesome but what the hell are we doing putting a British band on stage at the freakin' Super Bowl?) and the Black Eyed Peas and whoever the hell else has been on there. It's all over the map and seems to be more miss than hit. Yes, Madonna is a legend. I get that. But does anyone really want to hear "Like a Virgin" or "Vogue" at halftime of the Super Bowl? If you do, I refuse to watch the game with you.

I may refuse to watch the game altogether if it's going to be ~~LSU and Alabama Part 3~~ the 49ers and the Ravens. Unless Ray Lewis tackles Jim Harbaugh. That I would watch. But since that's unlikely, please, for the love of ~~God~~ ~~offense~~ something watchable, we need a Giants-Patriots rematch.

So there you go. Huge thanks to Nicole (whose bosses are apparently racist and whose former coworkers think I'm racist), who had to work today and hit me on gchat when I logged in to check mail. Goes to show...you never know who you might inspire (or "inspire").

National "Championship" Game Tomorrow Night

2012-01-08T23:34:00.000-08:00

Who's pumped up and ready to watch what will, undoubtedly, be an absolute shootout?! Yeah...me neither. And at the end of it, one team will hoist a crystal football and celebrate an NCAA title...except that there is no NCAA title in ~~Division IA~~ the Bowl Subdivision. Just take a look at how many of these were awarded by the NCAA. Yet, at the most critical juncture of the season, it delegates the "championship" of its prized product to multiple third parties. Clearly I'm no expert, but to me, that is the very definition of a lack of institutional control.

New Year, New Geography, New Resolve

2012-01-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

Ah, a new year. A time to reflect on the previous year and to look forward to what lies ahead. This time, it's 2012. I need to say this because, it was damn near 2010 the last time I posted anything on this blog, so I need to remind my legions handful of readers that we have, in fact, skipped 2011. Seriously. DL blog years are like anti-dog years. They're not uniform, and they're often comparable to 2x one calendar year...or the time it takes a page to load on Internet Explorer. I hereby resolve to reverse that trend in 2012...keeping in mind that resolutions are always a work in progress.

Speaking of New Year's resolutions, I ran across this great article, which was posted by one of the folks I follow on the intense time suck known as Twitter. I pass along to you 20 New Year's Resolutions For 20-Somethings. I'll leave it to you to read, but it basically is supposed to give you a positive outlook and, right off the top, warn you not to post things to social media platforms unless you absolutely have to share them. Well, I absolutely had to share this article. I, along with 17 thousand other people have shared this on my Facebook page already, but I've shared zero commentary about it. Until now.

Some of these are no-brainers. Some of these are borderline revolutionary. Some are easy. Some are difficult. They're all worthwhile. It's a good blend of reminders and suggestions--all written in a witty, conversational tone that speaks directly to the audience. Great read. And it made me think of my own resolutions.

Clearly, one of them is to get back on the horse with this blogging thing. There are days when I come home from staring at a computer screen at work, and the last thing I want to do is to stare at a computer screen at home and write. This is obviously not one of those days. In evaluating why I fell off the blogging horse to begin with, I came to the conclusion that I had spread myself too thin in a lot of ways, and the personal writing is what I sacrificed. It's a matter of prioritizing differently, and my goal is to update more regularly. Stay tuned. (You'll know in a month if you can change the channel.)

Another thing I have been working on but need to continue to push myself to keep working on is reducing my reaction to negativity. Things happen. Sometimes those things suck. Sometimes they suck a LOT. A lot of the time, we can't do a thing about it. Most of the time, though, they go away and we realize that they weren't all that big of a deal in the first place.

That said, how stupid is it to fight it? We drive ourselves crazy trying to control things that we can't control and lose control of the things we can, thereby driving everyone else around us crazy. To some extent, we are all guilty of this. I firmly believe that it's impossible to completely eliminate this because it's partially human nature. But there's always room for improvement. I resolve to help others and myself trend in that direction.

Speaking of room for improvement, I got my first piece of mail since I've lived here! Yay! I've been here two months. I don't know what the eff the US Postal Service has been doing with my mail, other than returning it to people who put the correct name and address on it. It's an annoyance when it's Christmas cards. (Sorry Grandma, Uncle Greg and Aunt Linda, Dave and Erin and Mr. and Mrs. Caton...don't know what to tell you, but Merry Christmas anyway!)

However, when I set up my utilities for this apartment, I wanted to set things up to manage them online. Save paper, not deal with the lag time of snail mail, etc. I was told that to do so, I would need the account number that would be at the top of my first statement. They obviously have my address and my name right. There is power in my apartment, but for how long? At some point, they're going to get pissed that I haven't paid my bill.

So I spent my evening filling out yet another change of address request online before I was assaulted by ads for magazine subscriptions and coupons for that racist home "improvement" wasteland Lowe's. I'm really glad that the postal service can't figure out my address, but they can strike a number of ad deals and use them to piss off the very people they're supposed to serve! America! No wonder they're going broke. So anyway, I did what any reasonable person would do. I filled out their survey and blistered them. I'm pretty sure no one will ever read that (kind of like my blog). Then I sat down to write this blog and talked about how I'm working toward eliminating negativity. Whoops. I guess this resolution thing really is a work in progress.

I got a car

2011-04-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of it. I really want my license plates to come in the mail, so I can get rid of the stupid dealer ones.

No, it's Not a Late April Fool's Joke

2011-04-03T21:49:00.001-07:00

It really is me...I'm blogging...kind of. Just to catch you up on things, my NCAA basketball bracket went down in flames. Kentucky getting to the Final Four probably saved me from finishing in last place at my office. Oh well. Other than that, work is pretty solid.

The Pilots have finally shown some signs of life and are sitting at 6-3 going into the second round of league games that we might actually get to play because it seems to have stopped raining finally. Seriously. It's stupid up here. No way should there be water falling out of the sky for as prolonged a period of time as has been the case here.

Oh yeah. My car got totaled. Here are the pictures:

Yes...that is a fire hydrant laying in the ground, and yes, it is laying on the ground because my motor vehicle struck it.

Weather

2011-03-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

In short, it sucks up here. Seriously, if this keeps up, I may be on my way to the Sheen Zone. I went to the grocery store tonight (because, you know...all the cool kids go grocery shopping and blog on their Friday nights), and I got peppered by hailstones on my way back to the car. Forecast calls for rain for the next week straight. I hate this place. And I gave up alcohol for Lent again. Not gonna lie...I might not make it this time.

Now Entering: The Sheen Zone

2011-03-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

I want to coin this term so that it applies to any and all people who have just gone so absolutely batshit crazy that there are no words to describe them.

But don't take my word for it. Take Charlie's.

Hey! Remember me?!

2011-02-26T22:38:00.000-08:00

It's ok if you don't...I totally understand. Half the time, I don't even remember me at this point, but the quick and dirty of what has been going on in DL land is that work is taking me behind the woodshed, and I'm trying to get out and coach as much as I can, but the shitty nocal weather is not cooperating.

However, since blogging and computer activities are best performed indoors, I have put together a site for the SJND baseball program. The roster pages will get a little more elaborate as I have more content, and once I have someone to take pictures, we will have some of those too.

Join the party. Subscribe to the blog. Follow the Twitter. Go Pilots!

(Also, for those of you who are into the reasons behind everything ever, I changed the color scheme on this blog when Pilots baseball activities started.)

Arizona...the many levels of FAIL

2011-01-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

So other than watching high school girls' basketball, drinking ridiculous amounts and eating horrifically, I got to experience the "great" state of Arizona. Here are the ~~low~~highlights:

Arizona State undergrads: This is a special breed, here. It's widely known how much for Arizona State kids are, (after all, we did only get the "temptations of the flesh" speech twice when traveling for baseball--both trips down here), but until you have sat in a freshman writing class and heard the questions asked and the obnoxious tone in which it is asked...you really haven't experienced it. Also, Mill Ave. is soul crushing. Not unexpected on any count, but FAIL.
Immigration policy enacted: The greater Phoenix area has a great light rail system, which we rode to campus for class the first Tuesday of the semester. It was packed. The train operator was angry. Students didn't care. That was the good half of the journey...but then came the ride back to the car. Like many light rail systems, they have a security guard checking tickets. Fine. Officer Banuelos came and checked my ticket. Then she checked the ticket of the gentleman across the aisle. Then she asked to see his ID. Then she asked to see his green card. I shit you not. He handed them over like it was no big deal while I'm sitting there with my jaw on the floor at the blatant racial profiling by a Mexican. Hey, Banuelos...let me see your green card. Unbelievable. I hate the state of Arizona. EPIC FAIL.
Fender: Corporate offices for Fender musical instruments (guitars) are located in Scottsdale...which would be cool, but there is no store associated with them. So the address we found was simply a large office suite with a ridiculous amount of parking. Seriously. If I was their neighbor in the complex, I would be pissed. Mild FAIL.
Friday/Next Friday: Apparently no one has ever heard of these movies here. Regulation FAIL, but when considering that they hate minorities here, I'm going to chalk it up to that and rebrand it a strong FAIL.

While this particular post followed the formula of most of what I write, this vacation was actually awesome. After being sick the whole time I was home, it was great to hang out with Sarah (who is due for another guest post on the DL), hit a hockey game in which America's hero, Ilya Bryzgalov was between the pipes and to just check out for a while. That being said, I still got a little bit of work done to keep things moving, so I don't have to start from scratch when I get back tomorrow. Call it a win.

Brand Overhaul

2011-01-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, readers!

If you read this, you know me. And if you know me, you know that 2010 was a year of major, life-altering changes. I left the comfort of a sizable office at DJA and the familiarity of coaching at Crespi to move north and become a cube monkey at EPR and join the staff of a new (to me) program at SJND. And just for shits and giggles, I decided that I would join the 7 p.m. Sunday mass choir at St. Joseph's just because when I went to mass, it appeared that they were lacking a guitarist.

As much as I squawk about how much I dislike NorCal (which I still do...let's not get carried away with this optimism stuff), half a year removed from this decision, I can look back and know 100 percent that it was the right call. That's right kids. If I had it to do over again, I would do exactly the same thing. In fact, I would have circulated my resume sooner. It's a moderately frightening thought, actually.

The weather up here still sucks. People still don't know how to drive. My apartment is still ghetto. I'm just getting to a point where none of that matters.

I'm operating under great people--at the office, on the field* and at the basilica. That alone makes it all worth it.

I came up here with friends few and far between but have been able to grow the numbers exponentially. My colleagues have been great, and both of the junior staffers I work with on accounts have been promoted (deservedly) from intern to AC in the time I've been here. The Pilots are a great group of kids with a solid amount of talent...cannot wait until March, because it's going to be game on. St. Joseph Spirit Ensemble is just flat out legit any way you slice it. Onus falls on me to do my part with all of them.

2011 is already trending in the right direction...time to be better manager, better coach, better musician and a better individual. With support from my growing network and renewed drive, I have everything I need to take it head on.

*Please note: Despite being the least tenured coach on staff, I consider only one coach my superior--the head guy. The JV coaches are cool...we collaborate, but we're kind of like church and state on game day. Same deal with the pitching coach. My qualifications are not questionable. The rest of the staff knows that.

Shortest (but Best) Update Ever

2010-12-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

SoCal!

Short Update

2010-12-22T22:37:00.000-08:00

Nation is done. One day of work left. SoCal tomorrow night. Foursquare check-in from Cowschwitz coming tomorrow night.

FF Playoff Update - Round 2

2010-12-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

And we continue in the semis. And since I know you guys love it, here's some more Jim Mora.

1. Hoya Paranoia

5. Bitzy's Bashers

2. CotonHeadedNinyMugin

3. Probation Nation

QB:

Brady (vs. Packers)

WR:

Johnson (@ Titans)

Fitzgerald (@ Panthers)

Branch (vs. Packers)

RB:

Rice (vs. Saints)

McCoy (@ Giants)

Moreno (@ Raiders)

TE:

Pettigrew (@ Bucs)

Bryant (@ Seahawks)

Def:

Pittsburgh (vs. Jets)

Game Notes:

Coincidentally neither team has any starter playing on a day other than Sunday. Thursday and Monday night games will have no impact on the outcome this week.
The NinyMugins lost out on more than 55 points, as Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson absolutely torched the 49ers Thursday night, combining for three TD passes.
Pittsburgh's defense will be without its best player (and former Trojan), Troy Polamalu--a fact that will be mitigated only by the fact that it's opponent is (former Trojan), Mark Sanchez, who has developed a bad habit of throwing the ball to the wrong team over the last couple weeks.
Upon further review, NinyMugin receiver DeSean Jackson is still a huge douche.
Speaking of douches, Titans CB Cortland Finnegan may get his ass kicked (again) by Nation receiver Andre Johnson resulting in both players getting ejected (again). Just get your numbers first, Dre.
This is the second round of the playoffs. You kiddin me?!

Interesting - Testing a new Feature

2010-12-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

Or it's mean, it's fantastic and it's the entire basis of this blog...

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T <--fancy

Fantasy Football Update - Playoffs

2010-12-10T23:48:00.000-08:00

It's playoff time for the Engage PR fantasy football season, and as of this writing, Probation Nation is down by 27.26 to the Meanie Mathenys, courtesy of Peyton Manning and the fact that the Tennessee Titans are a dumpster fire. The Nation entered the playoffs as the #3 seed, narrowly missing out to the first week bye. Coincidentally, three of the newest Engage employees are leading the standings. The fourth...well...like a good captain, she went down with her 1-12 ship.

Seedings are as follows:

FIRST ROUND BYE

1. Hoya Paranoia - Molly Reynolds

2. CotonHeadedNinyMugin - ~~Courtney Pecora~~ Courtney Pecora's boyfriend

MATCHUPS

3. Probation Nation - me

6. Meanie Mathenys - Neila Matheny

4. Shake'n'Bake - Suzanne Panoplos

5. Bitzy's Bashers - Jeannette Bitz

So, here you go. In the quarterfinals of the EPR playoffs up against a tough team, with which the Nation split this year, the lineup is:

Brady (vs. Bears)

Johnson (vs. Ravens)

Fitzgerald (vs. Broncos)

Driver (vs. Lions)

Rice (vs. Texans)

McCoy (vs. Cowboys)

Moreno (vs. Cardinals)

Pettigrew (vs. Packers)

Bryant (vs. Panthers)

Def

Pittsburgh (vs. Bengals)

PLAYOFFS!

Article of the Day - About a man of the decades

2010-12-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've sat down and written here on the DL, and to all two or three of my readers, I apologize profusely. But something happened today that has prompted me to sit down and hit the keyboard.

Los Angeles is a giant city, full of ~~douchebags~~ giant egos that are euphemistically known as "big personalities," but unfortunately, it often seems that behind the personality there is little character.

That could not be further removed from what we're talking about here.

(When you're on the masthead of the LA Times homepage, and it links to a post about how you were pretty much universally revered, you're a legit big deal.)

Joe Cerrell will be remembered by the world for his contributions to politics, PR, the city of Los Angeles, the state of California, etc. His accomplishments are well-documented, as is the fact that he was one of the most genuine and likable people you could ever hope to meet.

He will be remembered by me as the man who not only gave me my start in PR but was a shining example of what all young professionals should aspire to be.

While I'm sure the facts that he was a huge baseball fan and the most loyal of Trojans didn't hurt, in the spring of 2005, he took a chance on a young and rudderless undergraduate PR major/student athlete, who was desperate for an internship to finish out his final semester.

Oh yeah, it was also baseball season. Judging by the fact that I had an awful time finding an internship that spring, not too many employers were willing to take on a candidate with the extremely restrictive schedule that I was facing. He had no such qualms.

When it became clear over the course of my internship that public affairs was not what I was going to end up doing with my PR degree and, therefore, I was not a prospect for a full time position, he counseled me on building my network and navigating the job market.

When my internship was long over, and I was firmly entrenched ~~in misery~~ at my job at Crespi, he wrote me a persona, hand-written note and invited me to the Cerrell Associates holiday party, where he greeted me as though I was still one of his own.

I could go on all night, but that's just how this man was, and I'm sure he never even gave it a second thought. He was a shining example of how to be a well rounded individual: an outstanding professional, an outstanding family man and an outstanding mentor and friend.

No, we definitely didn't lose a big personality today. We lost a true giant. Rest in peace, Joe. Everything I am as a professional, I owe to you. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Joe Cerrell, political consultant to the likes of John F. Kennedy and Jerry Brown, dies at 75

Joe Cerrell, a legendary political consultant and consummate schmoozer whose unrelenting but principled style won respect from allies and opponents, died Friday of complications related to pneumonia at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo. He was 75.

Cerrell’s list of clients and friendships read like a who’s who of politics from the 1950s forward — John F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Al Gore, Dianne Feinstein, Willie Brown, Jesse Unruh and both Pat Brown and his son, Gov.-elect Jerry Brown. Instrumental to the careers of numerous politicians, he counted their triumphs among his greatest pleasures and their setbacks among his greatest disappointments.

"Joe Cerrell was a great personal friend and one of the pioneering political consultants in California and the U.S.,” Gore said. “Throughout his life, he was also a great champion of progressive political causes. He advised presidents, candidates for many offices at the national, state and local level, and used his skills and knowledge to help average Americans through times of triumph and trouble.”

In a recent video tribute to Cerrell, Jerry Brown said Cerrell “was around before even the term political consultant was invented.” He added: “When I first thought of running for office for the junior college board of Los Angeles at the end of 1968, he was the first person I spoke with.” With Cerrell’s help, recalled Brown, he finished "first among 124 candidates" for the community college board. (more)

SoCal...

2010-11-19T22:30:00.000-08:00

...this time next week! Family time, over-the-line tourney, trip back to the scene of the college shenanigans, reunions with friends...it needs to be Thursday NOW!

Fantasy Football Update - Week Whatever

2010-10-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've been bad about updating this, but Probation Nation is 4-2 and awaiting the outcome of Monday Night Football to see if it will be able to escape with a win against a struggling team. If history is any indication, PN will be 4-3 with all three losses coming to the bottom third of the EPR standings.

Ray Rice, my first rounder, has been an absolute abortion this season. He's too good and has too many tools not to break out of it eventually...right? He's been the third best back on my team. Unacceptable. I was projected to get about a 104 points out of my team this week. I didn't even break 70. If not for Knowshon Moreno's garbage touchdowns in a route at the hands of the Raiders (yes...the RAIDERS), my team wouldn't even have broken 50.

I think the most frustrating thing about FF is that I'm used to coaching. You can tweak and make adjustments along the way. Here, you set your lineup and hope for the best. It's complete and utter powerlessness. But I guess you do have control over some things...like drafting Ray Rice.

USC Football

2010-10-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

is so fucking horseshit I can't stand it.

Loving the game, working hard, getting better - the right way

2010-09-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

The three basic tenets of the Navigators fall baseball program are:

Love the game
Work hard
Get better

Loving the game is self-explanatory. If you don't love it, you don't want anything to do with it. It is a game that will kick your ass and render your love unrequited at times, but in the end, it's your love that keeps drawing you in. When you love the game and are around others who do as well, that's when your team and your program become special. Then (and ONLY then) do guys put their egos on the shelf and work hard to improve as a unit. Speaking of working hard...

Working hard is necessary--also because of the "failure" driven nature of this game. As in life, it's easy to show up at the yard and crank it up when things are going well. But when the most successful players in this game are unsuccessful seven out of 10 times, "going well" is an extremely relative phrase. No one is successful all the time. Anyone who thinks he is, is lying to himself, to his team and to the game that we love. The best among us simply have a plan and work toward executing it. Nothing goes smoothly all the time, but when you are continuously working toward that overarching common goal and going about your business the right way (more on that in a second), you never really fail. Only when you put yourself ahead of the team and that common goal are you a failure (and an epic one at that).

Getting better at this game is difficult. The only thing more difficult is being able to help others get better at it. All of us who coach played at some level and, for whatever reason, had to stop playing. We all have our own little pet causes, sets of neuroses and internal demons that were developed over the course of our respective careers. The biggest challenge we face is not to project all of those onto all of our players or let them impact the common goal.

In the case of the Navigators, our common goal is to get better before the spring season. Since baseball is a mental game, that means we need to teach our players to think through certain situations. In order to do that, we need to let them think. Otherwise, they are mindless drones who have no ability to find their way through the situations in which they find themselves during the games.

I realize that I may be a tad unorthodox on this particular point, but I invite my players to question everything (within reason). I demand that it's done correctly--my equivalent to the Navigators' three tenets was "In baseball, as in life, there are two ways to do things: the right way and the wrong way. We will do things the right way."--but I want them to think through everything they do. Their actions need to have a purpose, and the onus falls on me, the coach, to teach them that purpose. The only way to do that is to empower them to think on their own.

While I wasn't directly responsible for any of these fellas getting D1 scholarships, I was on a staff that has produced more than a dozen of them since I started coaching there, so I figure I've learned to do something right.

Matt Scioscia ('07) - Notre Dame

Carlos Lopez ('08) - Cal State Fullerton

Jeremy Rodriguez ('08) - Cal State Bakersfield

Sean Gilmartin ('08) - Florida State

Tyler Johnson ('08) - SUNY Stony Brook

Tony Goebel ('08) - SUNY Stony Brook

Ryan Hawthorne ('08) - Loyola Marymount

Sean McIntyre ('09) - Loyola Marymount

Zack Wiley ('09) - LeMoyne

Dylan Jones ('09) - Oregon

Austin Walker ('10) - UC Irvine

Kevin Williams ('10) - UCLA

Michael Hubbard ('10) - SUNY Stony Brook

Josh Mason ('10) - SUNY Stony Brook

Ryon Healy ('10) - Oregon

ADDENDUM:

There are a couple more guys who made D1 rosters:

John Kearns ('10) - Holy Cross

Ryan Brockett ('10) - St. Mary's

Yeah...I have coached at the high school level, and I've had some success doing it. I guess I know what I'm talking about.

It's a privilege to be able to be involved in this game--not a right. Ask the guys at Cal what it means to them. (That's another topic that pisses me off that I'll rant on another day.)

The Navs can achieve our goal of making the Pilots good, but some addition by subtraction is necessary first.

EPR Fantasy Football - Week 2

2010-09-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

So I forgot to post a recap of week one, but Probation Nation took an L (despite a 103+ point output). Bummer.

However, this week, things are looking a little better. Forgot to post my lineup when I set it, but here it is.

Brady

Johnson

Fitzgerald

Driver

Naanee

Rice

McCoy

Shiancoe

Vinatieri

Pittsburgh

Things I've learned since last week:

- Projections are BS

- The Raiders defense sucks and had NO ANSWER for Chris Johnson

- Life sucks when you are the only dude in the office, and you lose week one of FF

- Life will be infinitely better tomorrow unless Frank Gore goes all Arian Foster on the Saints defense (which I don't see happening) on Monday Night Football.

EPR Fantasy Football - Week 1

2010-09-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

With games starting tomorrow evening, the time came for me to set the lineup for Probation Nation, my first venture into the strange world that is fantasy football. Yes, as Benson noted, hell has indeed frozen over. Here's my lineup.

QB
Tom Brady

WR
Andre Johnson
Larry Fitzgerald
Donald Driver

RB
Ray Rice
LeSean McCoy
Jerome Harrison

TE
Visanthe Shiancoe

K
Adam Vinatieri

Defense
Pittsburgh

Yahoo has me projected to drop 97.5 points on my opponent...and lose. This is all very mysterious to me, as I have no idea where the projections come from (or even how the points are calculated), but since it is something that is going on in the office, it's going to be chronicled in the blog. Game one tomorrow night. Let's hope the Saints D gets torched and Shiancoe has like 5 TD receptions.

Summarizing my career

2010-08-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Now that I am a month into my new job at Engage PR, and I have taken on new accounts and new challenges, it seems like an appropriate time to look back on my career thus far. In doing so, I realize that it can be summed up in one phrase: Hating on Cisco.

Cisco Systems is a giant vendor of technology equipment. We've all seen their ~~lies~~ commercials on TV welcoming us to the human network. However, I have learned over the course of my career that, like many giants, this one isn't particularly agile, and the human network works a lot better with other vendors' equipment.

Every non-wireless network vendor with which I have worked, ~~kicks the crap out of~~ competes with Cisco. Their solutions are better. Cisco just got there first and has the most market share. They're like the wired network equivalent of the iPhone. People think it's great. Once upon a time, it was the best solution available, but now it's been surpassed by other products and lives on name recognition and reputation only.

I am currently out of the enterprise data center game (sad face...I miss it), but I'm hoping that my absence doesn't last too long. Fulcrum was the only client I had my entire time at DJA, and I want to get back into the areas where they play. It's been far too long since I've had an opportunity to tee off on Cisco and get paid for it.

Haiku of the Day - Back to the Grind

2010-08-16T09:01:00.001-07:00

Jordty leaves today
BC is already back
My place is a mess

One year ago today...

2010-08-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it has been a full year that my grandpa's been gone, but as of today, it has. All who had the pleasure of knowing this great man, knew a man of strong principles and values who was also a kind-hearted and personable jokester.

I went into a lengthy description this time last year (and you can read that entire piece here if you'd like), but much of how we live our lives comes down to the simple dichotomy of right or wrong.

This great man was a shining example of what is right, and the values and principles I learned from him will continue to carry me through the rest of my life. For that, I am forever grateful.

Rest in peace, grandpa. You are forever remembered.

I'm on a train!

2010-08-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

So it's not quite up to par with being on a boat, but in the ongoing process of acclimating myself to living in the bay area, I feel as though I have pretty much mastered BART. Thanks, in no small part to @BARTAdventures, my weekend included a couple trips to the city. After work Thursday night, I caught my train at Fruitvale and ducked off at Montgomery to meet up with her for drinks. After a minor detour (because I'm a moron and went the wrong way), I strolled up to the Irish Bank and had a couple black and tans.

About the time I was finishing drink #2, @kellymatney dropped me a text to let me know she was done with dinner and heading out to meet us. Jackie made the call that we would hit up Katana-Ya for some ramen and Sapporo. Kelly joined us, and after some issues with chopsticks, napkins and a couple appearances from the awkward turtle, we walked Kelly back to her hotel, Jackie to her bus stop, and I hit Powell Street to head home.

Friday at work sucked.

I should have taken a nap before Friday night, but c'est la vie. After an awkwardness-driven dinner excursion with a motley cast of characters that left Kendall and I shaking our heads on more than one occasion, we headed for the city to meet Kelly. This time, we hit up the Thirsty Bear and Kate O'Briens. Other than a creeptastic urban cowboy-looking individual standing at the corner of 1st and Howard, that was uneventful.

Kelly BARTed it over to the east bay today, and we took a quick tour through Alameda before I took her down to silicon valley to @donnamatney's. It was great to see someone from the home half of the state--even if she was up here for a conference. More visitors coming in next weekend...not even sure who all is going to make it. Good thing I have lots of space!

Chinese food (so you know what that means...)

2010-08-01T14:40:00.001-07:00

With two weeks of work in the books, my first paycheck in my [landlord's] pocket and some laundry going, it's time to finally get to the blog post about lunch with Kendall (who spends her free time doing fun things like this and this) last Thursday. We met for Chinese food, so of course, it's time for another installment of...ridiculous things said in fortune cookies!

You will be awarded some great honor.
To be fair, I think Kendall should have gotten this one, since she is being "awarded" the "great honor" of her first tag in a DL post. However, it was I who opened up this cookie. I'm being placed on a new account this week, which I guess, is something like being awarded a great honor. Third week, third account...complete with a road trip to Santa Clara pending. Gotta love that. "Some" is a fun choice of word, but in the overall scheme of fortunes, I suppose this is not such a bad one. Not a whole lot I can do with this. Kendall's, however...

Your good listening skills will open many doors.
To be fair, Kendall is a great listener. I am as well. The issue becomes retention...specifically, selective retention. We'll listen (to you, to each other, etc.), there is just often going to be a disconnect on what parts we retain. It may be a picky distinction, but it's not selective hearing. It's selective retention and processing. A lot of people have the issue of thinking what they say is really important and that all people everywhere should care. Sometimes, they are right. Most of the time, they are not.

I would like to delve further into this topic (and will at some point), but I am off to watch the Doyers get swept (hopefully).

So, as I promised...

2010-07-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here is some more info on the new location. Alameda is a city (in Alameda County) that is basically two distinct areas. One is an island (ZIP code 94501), and one is adjacent to Oakland (ZIP code 91502). I live in 01 and work in 02...and can hear planes fly by my office regularly. I think almost all of you are friends with me on Facebook, so you can get to the complete album there, but for those of you who aren't for some reason, here are the photos.

Welcome to Benton Street. As you notice, trees are big here in Alameda.

Really big. And in driveways. (Yes, I really do have to slalom around it at least twice every day.)

Come in the door and up the stairs and take a look at the USC baseball schedule posters.

To the left, you will see a hallway that leads to, among other places, my room. Lined with baseball pictures ('06 Crespi freshmen, '04 USC in Cuba, '04 Duluth Huskies)

Nothing fancy here. Bed, nightstand and dresser. That's it.

Here is the futon in the guest room. You know you want to come visit now!

You can sleep under the Led Zeppelin poster!

Here is a closer look at said poster.

And here is what's across the room.

Got all the guitars (that remain outside the closet) in this pic.

And here is what is between my room and the guest room...it is actually nice to the point of being incongruous with the rest of the apartment. As pops noted, legit ceramic tile.

Here's the living room. TV is now up and running, but I still need something to put it on.

Page may have gotten the spot above the futon in the guest room, but Hendrix gets the spot above the couch in the living room.

And I have a kitchen. Yes, that is a rice paddle you see to the left. Yes, I am that Asian.

So there you have it, kids. Come on up to NorCal and check into The DL Domain on foursquare...you know you want to! Bonus pics...here's my cubicle. Here's my "personalized" corner of my cubicle. Try not to be jealous!

Apparently even Blogger wonders where I've been

2010-07-23T18:05:00.001-07:00

Seriously...they went and changed the site, and added some widgets that will enable my ~~armies~~ ~~hordes~~ couple of readers to easily post and share. Mostly, though, I think it will just make it easy for me to post it to my Facebook page.

So it's been a while, and the reason it has been a while is that I have been without Internet for the last week. The reason I have been without Internet is that my new apartment doesn't have it yet. The reason I have a new apartment is that I moved for a new job. This new job is in Alameda. Yes, Alameda is a city. It is in the bay area--directly across the bay from San Francisco. It is adjacent to Oakland. (Yes, I know. No, it's not scary...at least Alameda isn't.)

That's right, kids. I'm an official NorCal resident. I have a BART card and everything. I never thought I would see the day either, but after four fantastic years learning the field of tech PR at the DJA down south, I've made the transition to the bay. I'm a senior account executive at Engage PR, here in Alameda. Bay area traffic sucks. I don't want to deal with it. It takes me 10 minutes to get to work in the morning if (when) I hit every red light on this island. (Yes, I live on an island.)

Other than the fact that moving into my second-floor apartment was a horrific experience that began with me dropping a box down my pretty, hardwood stairs (and shattering the hell out of everything that was in it) and the fact that it's apparently the coldest winter in the history of the bay area, it's been a great transition. Alameda is a cool little place, and you should come visit. I have a two bedroom apartment that is walking distance from a handful of bars. It's a little longer walk to the main drag in town, Park Street, but it's definitely walkable. As drunk as we will get if/when any of you come visit, it'll be a piece of cake.

Pictures and more updates to come soon...when I don't have to come to the coffee shop down the street to get Wi-Fi. Send me a text or drop me an e-mail if you want my address.

This is SO TRUE

2010-07-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

For all of you who wonder why I hate mac products and people who use them, this (NSFW) video explains it.

This is what mac people do. They are sheep. Thank God I will not have to use one at my new job.

The David James Agency

2010-06-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

The mission of The David James Agency is to "know technology and know the business of technology." While this is 100% accurate, it could just as easily be "know the people associated with technology."

While this obviously applies to clients and partners in the professional arena, that's not what I'm talking about right now.

I just finished four of the most critical years of my life--the beginning of my career--learning technology and the business of technology. When I came out of school with my (very expensive) degree, I had always envisioned that I would cruise into the workforce, handling consumer accounts and having a great time doing it. Then reality struck, and I couldn't find a job, so I worked at Crespi for a year while continuing to look. Then I caught a break.

David James Rodewald (and Erin) had worked at a large agency with Jennifer Floto, one of my professors (who became one of my references), before splitting off to start their own agency. As they grew from a simple partnership with a handful of clients, they built their business, and in the spring of 2006, they were looking to bring someone on board.

They could have held out for someone with more of that tech-focused experience, but because of that connection, they opted to bring me in for an interview. After a couple meetings and a writing test, they offered me the account executive position--their first hire and my first real PR job.

For the last four years, I have had the privilege of learning the field from Dave, a true professional and a faith-driven family man. He's taught me everything from the proper way to deal with clients and difficult media to the tricks you can use to rearrange your schedule to give yourself more time for work-life balance--that latter of which I am still working on :)

In short, the DJA has been my family for the last four years. I've grown as a professional and an individual under its watch, and I am forever indebted to Dave and Erin.

But new challenges await.

I've lived in southern California my entire life. That is about to change. I've accepted a senior account executive position at Engage PR in Alameda and will be moving to the bay in a week and a half. At Engage, I will start off working with telecommunications and wireless solutions providers--building from the experience I've gotten the last four years.

While it was difficult to pack up and leave the DJA for the last time today, I was reminded of encouragement I'd received about three years ago. "When you have an opportunity, you have to take it." True to his word to his still relatively new employee, Dave has been behind me 100% of the way--a consummate professional and dedicated mentor to the end.

Updates Coming Soon...BIG BIG Updates

2010-06-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

But this is all you get for now...sorry. At work and trying not to get fired. I'm still alive, though! Love you guys!

DL

Haiku of the Day

2010-05-05T08:39:00.001-07:00

Sorry I have been
Missing in action for months
Life's whipping my ass

Wondering Where in the Hell I've Been?

2010-02-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

The answer is here. And here. And here. Aaaaaaaand here.

Taking on the PRSA-YP blog and Twitter account was a great move that's been a lot of fun, but the DL has gotten sacrificed in the process. A number of random things have happened as well. Here is a small sampling.

Coaching
Mobile World Congress
USC Alumni Game
Visit from Marisa
Ash Wednesday (hey, that's today!)
Drinking in preparation for Ash Wednesday (hey, that's over!)

Yes, it is now Lent. Yes, I have given up alcohol...again. I realize that this coincides with the beginning of high school baseball season, and there is another trade show (CTIA) and a bachelor party staring me in the face. Furthermore, both are in Vegas. It's gonna be rough, but it is what it is.

Article of the Day - Washington Post on Tebow Ad Controversy

2010-02-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

This article gives some rare, lucid commentary on this "controversy," but suffice it to say, this is a macro level example of a micro level problem. People can't get over themselves. No one likes to admit that he or she is wrong. The point, in this context, is that people are so neurotic about being right that they can't process any viewpoint other than their own. I'm right, so everyone else must be wrong.

This controversy isn't about pro-life vs. pro-choice. Roe v. Wade was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that exists and is probably not going away any time soon. Whether you like it or not, that is the fact of the matter. It exists regardless of your beliefs.

So does the first amendment.

I'm as sick of the media fawning over Tim Tebow as anyone else. It's actually made me dislike an otherwise perfectly likable individual who has given his life and his passion to living his faith while competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. My issue here is not with Tebow. It's with the media sycophants constantly kissing his ass and giving him a pass that other players didn't get. It's sickening, but now that they've put him on that pedestal, why is it a problem that he uses that to stand up for what he believes in? Isn't that what this country is all about?

People are trying to shut his ad down before it's even aired. Why? Because you don't like him? Because you can't relate to him? Because he's Mr. Perfect, and he makes you hate yourself a little? Maybe all of the above to an extent, but I think the real issue is that people can't climb out of their own little egocentric viewpoints long enough to realize that the truth only comes from multiple perspectives.

It's called freedom of speech, and it's one of the things that makes this country great. Tim Tebow can say whatever the hell he wants, and the fact that women's rights groups want to shut him down on the grounds of his statements being intolerant is nothing short of hypocritical.

Oh, by the way, it's also illegal.

Per the decision in another landmark supreme court case, Near v. Minnesota, prior restraint is unconstitutional. This commercial hasn't run, therefore tabling it before it does, is a no-no. Bitch and moan all you want, women's groups, but you have no legal basis to do so. You don't like it? Fork out some cash and air your own ad. It's the American way.

This is one post on which I would be very interested to see some comments. I know it's not as much fun as fortune cookies or one of my many bitterness-fueled rants.

Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are

By Sally Jenkins

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I'll spit this out quick, before the armies of feminism try to gag me and strap electrodes to my forehead: Tim Tebow is one of the better things to happen to young women in some time. I realize this stance won't endear me to the "Dwindling Organizations of Ladies in Lockstep," otherwise known as DOLL, but I'll try to pick up the shards of my shattered feminist credentials and go on. (more)

Haiku Verdict

2010-01-31T22:54:00.000-08:00

It's not very popular. In fact, it's just been a vehicle for my friends to point and laugh at my Asian-ness. It'll probably resurface every so often, but with a rousing zero comments, I gotta get back to basics. Panda express and fortune cookies this week.

Haiku of the Weekend - Matt and Stef's

2010-01-31T00:55:00.000-08:00

Drink with Matt and Stef
Solving all the world's problems
One drink at a time

Haiku of the Day - Thurs. Jan. 28

2010-01-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

Big, scary spreadsheet
Welcome to my Thursday fun
It follows me home

Haiku of the Day - Wed. Jan. 27

2010-01-27T20:44:00.000-08:00

Canceled on for lunch
Valentine's alumni game
I'm going to suck

Haiku of Yesterday

2010-01-27T20:32:00.001-08:00

No glasses at work
Love for Sarah and Haiku
But poetry sucks

Article of the Day - SJ Doin' Big Things: Speaking

2010-01-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

Four months after freak accident, Johnson hopes to prove NFL worth

By: Andy Staples (who, by the way, is a great dude)

MOBILE, Ala. -- We hang on first words.

Before the bar crashed and changed everything last Sept. 28, the word USC tailback Stafon Johnson wanted to hear most was the first one uttered by his son, Stafon Jr. Like any good namesake, Stafon Jr. didn't disappoint.

"It was 'daddy,'" the elder Johnson said this week. His voice barely rose above a whisper, but his smile explained he would shout it from the rooftop if he could.

Read full article...

Laaaaaaaane Kiffin

2010-01-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

Laaaaaane f--kin' Kiffin (link NSFW) is the new football coach at USC. You may have heard this news break in the last 48 hours, provided you follow sports and/or don't live under a rock. While this has been met with some mild criticism in certain regions of the south...and...the rest of the country, including southern California. Here's what we know.

He brings in a legit staff with his dad and Orgeron. There was talk that he was trying to bring in Norm Chow to be his offensive coordinator, and from the start, I thought that was about as likely as me leaving the David James Agency to go become the sports information director at Crespi. Tomorrow.

To USC: Yes, there are NCAA secondary violations on his record from Tennessee. Yes, there are questions about his experience. We may even lose a handful of games next year. I know...God forbid. But will everyone please just calm down? We're turning this thing into the Salem Witch Trials all over again. Wait and see what happens before you go into a panic. If you're a real fan, you support your program. If you don't like the hire, fine. That's fair, but you're not in charge. Your choices are to either accept it, or abandon ship. If you're even considering abandoning ship, do it. We don't want you anyway, if that's the case.

To Tennessee: There is only one group of characters in this whole soap opera for whom I feel bad. The Tennessee football players. They got thrown under the bus. Plain and simple. But the fans who are rioting on the street and the athletic department that had jettisoned Phillip Fulmer the year before have no reason to expect loyalty. This is division I athletics. This is how things work. Never again will we see another Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno...at least not at that high profile of a program.

I said it to Trojan fans when the news first broke. Stop acting like a psycho ex-girlfriend. Colin Cowherd used a similar analogy on his show this morning: Tennessee is bent because Lane Kiffin dumped them before they could dump him. The end. That's it.

Don't feed me, a former D1 athlete, some line about loyalty in NCAA athletics. It, like the rest of the world, bows to the almighty dollar. And the almighty dollar comes from wins and marketability. That's what it's about. You want loyalty? Get a dog. Truth.

Article of the Day - PRSA-LA YP Board

2010-01-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

It's not really an article, but it's the posting of the new Young Professionals Board of PRSA-LA that appeared on "The Next Generation," PRSA-LA YP's blog.

President and PRSA-LA Liaison
Kerry Slaughter
Chandler Chicco Agency

Vice President
Kristin Wood
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Program Co-Chairs
Eva Groves
Hill & Knowlton

Amy Pandya
Freelancer

Communications Co-Chairs
Dale Legaspi
The David James Agency

Jessica Barraco
Excel Public Relations Group

Membership Chair
Caitlin Mattias
Consensus Planning Group

Treasurer
Ashley Montopoli
Chandler Chicco Agency

Collegiate Outreach Chair
Dillon Bianchi
VMS

Professional Outreach
Medhanie Habte
Freelancer

Trevett Chair
Jessica Peres
State Farm Insurance

Yes, you read that correctly. I am one of the communications chairs. I was bullied into it by the intimidating quartet of Amy, Ashley, Kerry and Kristin. It also means that if/when you read anything off of this, there is a good possibility that I wrote it...or at least posted it.

Celebrating 200 and 2010 with a List of 10

2010-01-08T00:05:00.000-08:00

There were a number of directions I could go with this, my 200th post. It's the first post of 2010, so I figured since 10 is a timely number, I would do a top 10 list of the first 199 posts on this site. For those of you who were waiting for the next installment of the "name everyone mentioned in previous posts" a la post #100...well...you're just going to have to keep waiting.

So without further delay, here they are. My top 10 blog posts since I started this stupid thing a little over a year ago.

10. Friday Zen Moment (2/6/09)
What can you say about the great Earl Weaver that he hasn't already said in an unnecessarily high volume in the face of an umpire and laced with multiple F bombs? It's debatable as to how much he really contributed to the greatness of the Orioles teams who had so much success under him, but one thing is not debatable. Earl was not boring. Or PC.

9. Things that are Overrated (9/17/09)
I'm kind of surprised this one didn't start more fights than it did...clearly an indication that I have no readership. Yes, SoCal. I said it. In N Out is the most overrated thing on the planet. More overrated than those little candy hearts that taste like chalk. More overrated than U2. It's even more overrated than Starbucks.

8. Conficius Say... (7/1/09)
Fortune cookies are a source of endless amusement for some people. Many of us add "in bed" onto the end of the vague and ambiguous statements on the little paper inside the cookie and laugh like middle school kids. Good times, but that's not what this post is about. It's my own running commentary on them in the context of my life. Better times.

7. Myspace Sucks (11/12/08)
This is where it all started. I used to blog occasionally on this God-forsaken den of virtual child predators, but one day their blog function wouldn't work for me. I realized that, by then, the occasional posts were all I was really using the site for anyway, so I put up a bulletin to notify people and 86ed my profile about a week later. I posted my first blog here, and now were are at #200.

6. Song of the Day - "Simple Man" (2/25/09)
Ash Wednesday, 2009...the birth of Jophes. Enough said. (Also pertinent, as the songs became a running feature...usually indicative of my mood at the time of the post.)

5. New Place Power Rankings (2/24/09)
This one made the cut primarily because my roommate loved it. She loved that she and Spuds beat out multiple other people for the ~~burden~~ privilege of being my roommates. Clearly this has worked out well for all involved, since we are now in a house and finally have Internet (so I can post this!)

4. People of Subway (1/9/09)
This one is especially pertinent on workdays, as I frequent this establishment and consider it one of my staple lunching options during the week. I love Subway. It's a great quick, reasonably healthy food option for the busy professional. You see a wide cross section of people in there: from the buttoned-down executive types in suits to the high school kids working as seasonal employees across the street at Best Buy during their holiday break. However, as is the case with any grouping in the middle of a workday, there is always some form of "that guy" involved that has to go in and screw up everyone's otherwise peaceful lunch experience. This day featured a few of them.

3. Urinal Etiquette (2/5/09)
I'm peeing. You're peeing. We're already standing uncomfortably close to each other while this is going on. Don't talk to me. Don't talk to anyone...this goes for the phone as well. Just. Don't. Do. It.

2. Letter from a Great Man (8/11/09)
My family suffered a great loss this calendar year--my grandfather passed away as a result of cancer that one had been able to find until it was way too late. On the upside, once we knew what was going on, we got to say our goodbyes and he went quickly. Like really quickly. While it's obviously been a difficult time for all of us, I took a post to reflect on my relationship with this great man and the invaluable life lessons he taught me in a style and tone that only he could. He was a man universally loved by those who met him--including a number of my friends who make up my readership. This post is just a little shout-out to my Grandpa Jerry. As it turned out, he passed away just two days after I wrote this. Rest in peace, G-pa. You are missed always but forgotten never.

1. 5 Tools (2/9/09)
And here is #1...the post that combines the thought process, snark, language elitism and baseball jargon that are essentially my personality.

Coincidentally, as I was polishing off what has become the #1 post, some drunk idiot was driving his automobile into mine, fleeing the scene and pretty much setting the tone for the rest of my 2009.

Here's to better this upcoming year. Lots of good stuff going on...housewarming party, new clients, out of town visitors, natives returning, etc. I wish all of my readership the best this upcoming calendar year. I sincerely hope 2010 is great for all of you! (Or at least I hope it doesn't suck.)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone's Christmas wishes come true! My Christmas miracle was finding my way out of the midwest despite ridiculous weather delays in Minneapolis and Chicago.

I had a blast in Duluth, though, and want to send out a ton of love and holiday wishes to all my friends and family back there who are the reason I go to northern Minnesota in the middle of winter (where I'm pretty sure it's eight months a year snow). To all of you here who read this and think I'm nuts, make the trip with me once, and you'll get it. The end.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and my next post will be #200, so I'm thinking I may save that until the new year (or at least way at the end of this year as a retrospective). I know my blog output this December has pretty much sucked, but you know what? Too bad. I'm over it. You'll get there too. Don't be mad. I'm a good guy. Truth.

Love you guys!

-DL

Article of the Day - H Town What?!

2009-12-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Prep boys hockey preview: Hermantown has big expectations

Hermantown has a chance to contend for a state boys hockey championship.

By: Rick Weegman, Duluth News Tribune

Perfection is a tough act to follow.

That’s what Hermantown’s boys hockey team found out the past two years in following up on the school’s undefeated, Class A title-winning season in 2006-07.

This season’s team, however, has a chance at a championship sequel.

Led by high-scoring senior center Adam Krause, a future Minnesota Duluth player, the Hawks hope to contend for a second state title. (more)

Photo of the Day - Operation Trainwreck

2009-12-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

in T-minus three days...

Article of the Day - LA Times Fabulous Forum

2009-12-04T12:33:00.001-08:00

If anyone wants to know where ~~kickball~~ ~~futbol~~ soccer ranks in this country, look no further than the headline to this headline from the LA Times. What is the first country listed? (This was the lead story on the Times home page at the time of this post's publication.)

Addendum: Love @jennicake and think Jeremy Reed is a baller, but I still hate soccer.

If you don't want my opinion...

2009-11-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

...don't ask for it.

If you are a female, and you send a text/e-mail/letter/telegram/smoke signal to a guy and expect something in return, you are testing him. Whether you realize/acknowledge it or not, that is what you are doing. If you really want a guy that is intelligent and in tune with what's going on around him, he will recognize this. It is a leverage play.

Some of those intelligent, nice guys that you claim you want, don't really take kindly to that sort of thing. If you want someone you can just push around and exert your will on, then, by all means. Knock yourself out with the leverage plays (which range from passive aggressive behavior to blatant ultimatums), but at some point, though, any guy of quality will recognize it for what it is and rid himself of it/you.

Truth.

Addendum: If you are a girl I met at a wedding, got your number and then went out with you once the day after my birthday before you dropped off the face of the earth and reappeared today on Thanksgiving...why? Seriously. You're confusing.

Article of the Day - People who Deserve Got It: Jimmy Clausen

2009-11-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

Source: Clausen punched by irate fan

By Joe Schad
ESPN.com
Archive

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was punched in the face by an irate fan outside a South Bend restaurant early Sunday morning and has a swollen eye, a person briefed on the incident said on Monday.

Read full article...

...although past the first 10 words, it's just speculation and lack of facts. Do you really need to read it? Probably not. Plus it's from ESPN, so it's probably not credible anyway.

Also, the title of the blog is a play on this site's content. See disclaimer below.

DISCLAIMER: I've poked fun at this story because I am not a Jimmy Clausen fan, and the first 10 words of the article are "Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was punched in the face." However, it's pretty bush that this happened if it went down the way this ESPN story is making it sound. If he got into a fight and got drilled, well, then I feel better.

Confessions of a Social Media Junkie

2009-11-18T21:07:00.000-08:00

Those of you who read my blog regularly are well aware that I am a social media ~~whore~~ user. Those of you new people who may be followers of @jennicake on Twitter and have stumbled into the blog of @dlegas05, welcome. She makes me sound pretty interesting...hope I can deliver for you. (Also, if you are a blog regular, follow her on Twitter. Do it.)

Since there may be this ~~major influx~~ smattering of new readers coming it, I figured this was a good time to re-introduce myself and publish the bio I wrote for a PRSA-YP profile that never made it to print. It ties directly to the content in this blog and the link I have to USC (and, thus, the folks who brought you here).

--
Dale is a Sr. Account Executive at the David James Agency, a boutique agency focused on cutting-edge high tech. As a former baseball player at USC, Dale brings to his work a tangible competitive streak that greatly benefits his client base of primarily startup and emerging companies.

In his SAE role, Dale has handled media and analyst relations for a number of B2B accounts ranging from semiconductor and enterprise software companies to network systems integrators—all the while being amazed at the number of high tech companies located right here in the greater Los Angeles area.

Even growing up locally in Burbank, Dale shared prevailing perception that high tech was completely dominated by Silicon Valley. However, with only one northern California-based client, it's clear that tech is alive and well all up and down the west coast, and he's confident that the DJA is in a great spot to thrive right along with it.

On weekends in the spring, you can find Dale on high school baseball diamonds sharing his passion and imparting his competitive fire on the freshman team at his alma mater, Crespi Carmelite. He splits the rest of his free time among spending it with friends, trying to learn new songs on one of his four guitars and complaining about the lack of a playoff in college football.

--
For the record, it's weird writing in the third person.

But the major takeaway is that I am a former USC baseball player who is now a tech geek PR guy dealing with all kinds of complicated stuff I never knew existed before. I broke this down in a post when I was added to the PRSA-YP blogroll, but as you peruse, you will see c lient-inspired tech acronym explanations, general musings about sports-related topics, rants about non-sports related stuff, articles, songs and some actual real-life issues.

I hope you enjoy your stay, and please feel free to leave comments. I love comments. I love them so much I removed the obnoxious "word" verification thing. Even when you're telling me that I'm an idiot.

It's a Celebration! (Kind of)

2009-11-12T22:25:00.001-08:00

I had designs on putting together an aggregated history of the DL on this momentous occasion of ~~my angry defection from myspace~~ its first birthday (even though this is a rather nondescript 191st post), but that's just not going to happen. This week has included pitching a story of a multi -vendor latency/features test of a 48-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet switch that scales to offer data center architects the density necessary to enable cloud computing. Apparently, the pitch went over so well with one pub that it decided to break my embargo. (The full announcement doesn't go until Monday.)

Now, in this gent's defense, this is not exactly his area, and it was a mistake that he pulled quickly. But as my gchat status said, when the morning starts at 6-something with a broken embargo, it does not bode well. Small victories by getting a major analyst firm to agree to stop by the Fulcrum booth next week at SC09, but other than that, the day was rough.

On the way home I called Ganser, with whom I have been playing phone tag, and found out that there is some crazy all-you-can-eat deal on Thursday nights at Acapulco. So, I met him over there crushed some ridiculous amount of Mexican food, rolled back to see his new place and have a beer. This now brings me to this minute...in which I am trying to write a blog post but have pretty much zero motivation to do so.

So...happy birthday, DL from DL. Congrats on one year and 191 (mostly inane) posts about sports, work, tech, friends, family, fortune cookies, songs, articles, rants, raves and just general stupidity. It's been real, and...let's not kid ourselves. We'll be right back here tomorrow.

Article of the Day - Dear Cisco...

2009-11-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

...Bite me us.

Love,

HP (and 3Com)

--
HP to Acquire 3Com for $2.7 Billion

Will create networking industry powerhouse with a proven, edge-to-data center set of solutions and global reach

HP and 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ: COMS) (“3Com”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase 3Com, a leading provider of networking switching, routing and security solutions, at a price of $7.90 per share in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $2.7 billion. The terms of the transaction have been approved by the HP and 3Com boards of directors.

Read full release...

Article of the Day - The Dogpile Continues...

2009-11-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Since I'm just dogpiling on conservative media anyway...

NEW YORK POST LAWSUIT: Shocking Allegations Made By Fired Employee Sandra Guzman

The New York Post editor fired after speaking out against a cartoon depicting the author of the president's stimulus package as a dead chimpanzee has sued the paper. And as part of her complaint, Sandra Guzman levels some remarkable, embarrassing, and potentially damaging allegations.

Guzman has filed a complaint against News Corporation, the New York Post and the paper's editor in chief Col Allan in the Southern District Court of New York, alleging harassment as well as "unlawful employment practices and retaliation."

Read full article ...

Perspective I Gained Today

2009-11-09T20:29:00.001-08:00

I learned something today. There is no constitutional amendment mandating that a news outlet be credible. Truth. It is not against the First Amendment to suck at your job--even if you claim to be a news outlet.

It's been well-documented that the advent of social media and advancement of all forms of other technology have driven a vast change in the way people get their information. How do you filter out the commentary from the news? Frighteningly, most people don't.

Shocking as it may be, at the center of this controversy is Fox ~~conservative propaganda passed off as factual~~ News, which is attempting to block Google from using "news" content from its companies. While part of me is inclined to argue, "Who cares? They're not credible anyway," the fact of the matter is that we all should.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a leftist-leaning, First Amendment as a shield and a sword journalism guy. I love the free exchange of information afforded me by the Constitution. Per the (then) groundbreaking decision in Near v. Minnesota, it is in violation of said First Amendment to stop people from saying something before they've said it. This is known as prior restraint. It's a no no. Has been since 1931.

What am I missing? How does this business about Murdoch trying to block Google spiders from picking up information and disseminating through the same channels as...oh I dunno...everything else on the Internet not violate this Supreme Court decision?

Furthermore, in what context is this even smart? Google has kind of become the ubiquitous search engine, and when people want to find something, it's where they go. Microsoft and Yahoo couldn't compete, so they combined to produce Bing...and got to about 26% market share. (They're still separated out in the graphic as the rollout is still in process, but I combined the numbers.)

As I reread the article, I suppose it never does specify that this is taking place in the US, but it's the Internet. It's ubiquitous and omnipresent. I just fail to see how this works or in what context this is a good idea. Sell ads like everyone else on the Internet. You have a ready-made market segment just by virtue of your content.

Oh, and since you're in Australia, if you get an iPhone and jailbreak it, you may end up with wallpaper that's never gonna give you up and never gonna let you down.

Article of the Day (again) - Cloud Computing in Plain English

2009-11-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

A trip into the secret, online 'cloud'

By John D. Sutter, CNN

November 4, 2009 1:00 p.m. EST

San Jose, California (CNN) -- One day, while uploading yet another text file to the Google Docs Web site, I started to wonder: When I save this file online, where does it actually go?

I store tons of information on the Internet instead of just on my laptop or work computer. Often, I do this specifically so I can access information from both places, or from my mobile phone if I need it on-the-go.

Without realizing it, I'd started cloud computing, that nebulous term that refers to the idea that computing power is moving off home PCs and laptops and onto the Web.

Read full article on CNN.com

This is a pretty good overview for non-geeks...solid vid embedded as well.

Article(s) of the Day - PRSA Quality Time

2009-11-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Just noticed that these hit the Interweb in the last couple days/weeks. Good times!

Saturday Shift: PRSA Quality Time Event
What do supporting underprivileged children in Mexico, giving up a year of one’s youth to serve the community, helping others battle through addiction and saving the arts in the face of education budget cuts and stiff competition have in common?

On one sunny Saturday in October, the answer was the Public Relations Society of America—specifically PRSA’s “Quality Time with PR Minds” event.

Read full post on DJA Blog...

What'd you do this weekend?
Guest blog post from PRSA-LA YP member Dale Legaspi:

It’s a common question asked on Mondays in offices everywhere. A few weeks ago, though, my answer was an enthusiastic “work!” The quotes are certainly apropos, though, as I “worked” at PRSA’s Quality Time with PR Minds event, which was certainly nothing that resembled the weekday norm. I could not be happier with my decision to participate, and I wasn’t alone.

Read full post on Next Generation blog...

Photo of the Day

2009-11-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

Halloween. Brothers and Barley (even though he looked away from the camera)

And, yes, I did flag Tania for dressing that poor defenseless animal in a costume. Repeatedly.

I don't hate the Yankees...

2009-10-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

I hate people's excessive fawning over them when it's a product of them not knowing the game. Props to Keown for breaking it down simply by illustrating one example of good, smart baseball being packaged as something superhuman. Derek Jeter is an incredibly smart baseball player, but he's not the only one in this series (let alone the big leagues) who would have made that play. This is an indictment of the coverage of this series and, really, the sports media as a whole.

The people reporting on sports don't know the games on which they are reporting. A first baseman trailing a runner and calling for a backpick is not uncommon. I get on my freshmen if they DON'T do that. I could cite a million different examples of this, but the point is that commentary has actually gotten to the point of detracting from the game and making fans dumber. Stop it. Most fans are dumb enough already.

Debunking the Church of Jeter

By Tim Keown, espn.com

Here's one reason so many people love to hate the Yankees: The lovefest for Derek Jeter knows no bounds. It's natural to attempt to find fault with a guy who is constantly praised to the heavens and beyond, and that's why so many people get so excited in the effort.

And this isn't a criticism, just an observation: If I had watched Bobby Abreu's Game 3 baserunning mistake -- back-picked at second by Jeter and Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the 8th -- with the sound down on the television, I would have considered it a perfect example of the Yankees' ability to execute defensively. They're pros.

But since the sound was on, it's a different story. We were shown replays of the play and told over and over how brilliant Jeter is because he thought the play was at third but the play ended up being at second and there was nobody there to tell him.

Nobody there? Really? Even though Teixeira was right there to take the throw and apply the tag? I mean, let's get real: Jeter is a great player, but sometimes things happen on the field -- really cool things -- that don't center on him.

Teixeira followed the runner, just like every first baseman is supposed to do but not all do. He was right there. He made the play. Jeter would be the first to admit that.

FIRED UP!

2009-10-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

There's nothing else to say. This video speaks for itself.

This Just In from...Boston

2009-10-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Got some sweet headlines from Alex and wanted to pass them along. Her blog usually has nothing to do with baseball, but check it out anyway!

Love it!

Article of the Day - SJ Going Home

2009-10-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

Stafon Johnson to Head Home

By: Jonathan Lloyd

Updated 8:13 AM PDT, Wed, Oct 14, 2009

Two weeks after a heavily loaded barbell fell on his throat, USC tailback Stafon Johnson plans to leave the hospital

Doctors called Johnson's progress remarkable, considering his throat and larynx were almost completely crushed by the bar. He was expected to go home Wednesday.

In a Twitter post Tuesday, Johnson said, "CANT SWALLOW YET SOO DIDNT GET THE PLEASURE OF EAT THAT GREAT FOOD LOL."

Read full article...

Things that are Underrated

2009-10-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Bagpipes. Specifically their use in rock music videos.

Word of the Day - "Semantics"

2009-10-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

A conversation with my guest blogger:

me: semantics

Sarah: HAHAH

Sarah: i love that you and i are the only two that know what that means

me: my status or the word semantics?

Sarah: semantics

me: is it an indictment of my life that i always want to spell that word symantecs?

Sarah: HAHAH

Article of the Day - Revenge is Sweep

2009-10-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Revenge is sweep for the Angels

They rally in the ninth inning to eliminate the Red Sox and advance to AL Championship Series.

By Mike DiGiovanna

October 12, 2009

Reporting from Boston - The Angels danced all over their demons Sunday, and when they were done with their little jig on the Fenway Park field, they drowned them in beer and champagne.

In the ancient stadium where their pennant hopes usually go to die, the Angels came to life in dramatic fashion, scoring five runs in the last two innings for a stunning 7-6 American League division series-clinching victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Read full article...

Article of the Day - Stafon Johnson Update

2009-10-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

A few more of the scary details of what all went on during surgery, but the biggest news is that the progress and the prognosis are both still very good. Also, the doctor noted he's had an extremely positive attitude...as though we would expect anything less :)

USC football: Surgeons update Stafon Johnson's condition

October 9, 2009 | 3:29 pm

Several USC players visited tailback Stafon Johnson at the hospital today after the Trojans completed their final bye-week practice.

Two surgeons who were part of the team that operated on Johnson after a weightlifting accident on Sept. 28 issued a statement today about his injuries and recovery.

Drs. Jason S. Hamilton and Ryan F. Osborne said:

Read full article from LA Times...

I Need Help!

2009-10-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

I need a Halloween costume idea, but not just any Halloween costume idea. I need something legit. The last three years, I've had solid costumes, and with it falling on a Saturday this year, I gotta follow up. One idea I've kicked around was Jimi Hendrix, but I cut my hair, so that won't work.

Possible partners in crime could be Jordt or Gina (depending upon a number of factors like whether or not people are in town, how things go over the course of the month, whether or not ARob actually has a party, etc.). Put your thinking caps on, folks. Movie/TV characters, rock stars, generic things...I'm open to any and all ideas. For reference, here are photographs of my last three costumes:

2008

2007

2006 (This pic kinda sucks, but it's all I've got...sorry)

Too Tired...

2009-10-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write a post ripping Brett Favre and the way his whole multiple debacles have been covered by the fawning sports media, but I'm too tired. Go Aaron Rodgers! (Hopefully he fares better than his alma mater did yesterday.)

Regardless, the real main event at the dome doesn't happen until Tuesday. I don't care if you like baseball or not. Tune into at least a part of that game and hear how loud it is. Go Twinkies.

Video of the Day - To Jordt...

2009-10-02T15:26:00.001-07:00

Because he's a goo guy! Why you have to be mad?!

And because Canadian slappy stick season starts this weekend.

B-Day Present

2009-09-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

The padres split the cost of it with me. It's pretty...and it's twice the size/power of the little Fender midget thing I've had for a few years. Keep checking the blog, and I'll post my eviction notice.

Thanks, mom and dad! And all you guitar people, (OK...pretty much just you, Grant), come over and let's make some noise!

More Stafon Coverage

2009-09-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

The hard work he did ended up being what saved his life. Wow.

Stafon Johnson's fitness saved his life, doctor says

Stafon Johnson's fitness saved his life.

The USC running back was able to survive a weightlifting accident because the muscles around his neck helped him keep open a breathing passage, Dr. Gudata Hinika, trauma director at California Hospital Medical Center, said at a news conference today.

"Had that been any one of us, meaning me, I would not have survived," Hinika said. "His neck was so solid and so muscular, that actually helped maintain his airway."

Johnson was injured Monday during a weightlifting session. He was performing a "bench press" lift when the bar apparently slipped from his hand and landed on his throat. Initially spitting blood from his nose and mouth, he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where he underwent more then seven hours of surgery.

Full article here.

Article of the Day - SJ to Make Full Recovery

2009-09-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

USC football: Tailback Stafon Johnson's prognosis for full recovery is good

September 29, 2009 | 6:37 am

As The Times reported Monday night, doctors do not expect USC tailback Stafon Johnson to complete the season, but his prognosis for a full recovery is good after undergoing more than seven hours of throat surgery after a weightlifting accident.

Johnson, a senior, was injured while performing a bench-press exercise in USC's weight room below Heritage Hall. The school said an assistant strength and conditioning coach was acting as a spotter for Johnson, but the bar accidentally fell on Johnson's throat.

Full article here.

Far and away the best birthday present I could have gotten!

You Never Know...

2009-09-28T22:33:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, I was an athlete. I played baseball in college at USC and in the summers in Duluth, Minn. While it made sense to me that fans in Duluth (where I actually saw the field) would ask for autographs and high fives and such, I never understood why anyone cared about someone who lived in the virtual anonymity that I did at SC.

Until this happened to one of my favorite players today. Then it made sense.

Fans identify with athletes for different reasons--not always associated directly with on-field performance. Stafon Johnson happens to be an outstanding running back, and I would argue the best of the bunch at SC. I am, however, nowhere near impartial. He's my favorite player, but his on-field performance is only a small part of that story.

When I was in school at SC being the anonymous student-athlete that I was, I spent Friday nights during the fall covering high school football for the Los Angeles Daily News. As a matter of convenience, whenever one of the teams from the DN's coverage area (the valley) would play Dorsey High School, I would take that game since it was right down the street. My junior year at SC, I watched Sylmar get shredded on the ground by a running back tandem that included a polite, otherwise unassuming sophomore running back--Stafon Johnson.

When I was trolling the sidelines before games when teams are warming up and doing their thing, I would talk to players when I was able to do so without being a distraction. Some were rude. This one wasn't. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he was a sophomore on the varsity club. Maybe it was because I was a reporter, and he thought I would give him some good coverage in the paper.

I don't believe either of those for a second.

I believe Stafon Johnson is a good kid.

It's been well-documented that he had some struggles at SC when he wasn't getting many touches as a freshman, and he was discouraged. Who wouldn't be? He went from being the man in high school to being a face in the crowd (and seemingly on the fringes even at that). Oh yeah, the opening day starter that year was a kid from the same Sylmar team he had run wild on in the game I covered in 2003--C.J. Gable. That's tough on a kid trying to transition into life in college and living in the fishbowl that is the USC athletics department.

He didn't pull a Whitney Lewis and fade into obscurity or quit (or whatever the hell happened to Whitney Lewis).

He didn't pull an Emmanuel Moody and transfer.

He worked harder, and he kept at it until he became one of the go-to guys. What a cruel irony it is that he sustains a horrible and life-threatening injury from a freak accident doing exactly what it was he did to achieve his goal of being a top back at USC--working.

I had extremely limited interaction with Stafon Johnson on the field at Dorsey High School in 2003, but he earned himself a fan for life. I realize now that this brief interaction with that anonymous beat reporter on that anonymous fall day was why. I guess even from anonymity can come an enormous impact.

There are a number of elements in this story that hit close to home with me. Obviously there is the USC student-athlete connection, but the story outlined above is one that no one really knows. I am praying that Stafon Johnson is able to fight on and battle through adversity. After all, it's nothing he hasn't done before.

(Lots of) Things that are Underrated

2009-09-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Haven't done this since one of my very first posts, so there are a number of things that I have come up with in addition to my shoe polish, Thermos beverage bottles and cruise control posting. Here they are (in no particular order):

Dry erase boards/markers
Refrigerator magnets
Rice
Pears
Jet Dry
Ziplock Bags
Tupperware
Funnels
Garbage Disposals
The state of Minnesota
College baseball
Dryer Sheets
Speed dial
Paper clips
Post-it notes
Midwest girls
Sports Illustrated
String cheese
Thin Lizzy
Mark Knopfler

I'm sure there are more...feel free to add.

Things that are Overrated

2009-09-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

In honor of the upcoming baseball playoffs, I decided that I would mock up my own playoff. I've arranged things that are overrated into the Food League and the Pop Culture League. Each division has five "things" in it. Not all of these things completely suck (although many do), but they are all overrated. A lot.

Food League

Seasonal Division
candy corn
pumpkin pie*
conversation hearts
peeps
fudge

Restaurant Division
Chipotle
In & Out*
Baja Fresh
Panera
Starbucks#

Side Dish Division
potato salad
macaroni salad
sweet potatoes
stuffing*
cranberry sauce

Pop Culture League

Music Division
Coldplay
U2*
The Doors
"American Pie"
Katy Perry

Movie Division
Anchorman
Wedding Crashers*
The Notebook
He's Just Not That Into You
Zoolander

Celebrities
Jessica Simpson
Angelina Jolie#
Megan Fox*
Bono
Jimmy Fallon

*Division Winner
# Wild Card Winner

Per the rules in baseball, a division winner will not face off against the wild card if it comes from the same division. Since there are no records from which to draw on this, it is my opinion on how overrated each item in contention is, and I will power rank them accordingly.

Food Division
1. In & Out
2. Pumpkin pie
3. Stuffing
WC. Starbucks

In & Out sweeps stuffing 3-0
Starbucks upsets pumpkin pie 3-1

In & Out wins the Food Division Pennant 4-2

Pop Culture Division
1. Megan Fox
2. Wedding Crashers
3. U2
WC. Angelina Jolie

Megan Fox beats U2 3-1
Angelina Jolie pulls an upset sweep over Wedding Crashers 3-0

Angelina then turns around and knocks off Megan 4-1 to claim the Pop Culture Division Pennant

That brings us to the World Series of overratedness. While these were all strong candidates, as a kid who grew up in southern California, I am supposed to think In & Out is the greatest thing ever. I am also supposed to worship celebrities. I do neither. However, my disdain for pretty much all things pop culture and entertainment pretty much keeps it off my radar. I love to eat.

Congratulations, to In & Out for being the most overrated thing in the world, according to the DL! (Bring on the hate mail.)

Articles of the Day - AirHop Coverage

2009-09-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

AirHop Communications got some good press today on their first announcement. They're still stealth mode with respect to product stuff, but there has been some good coverage in key pubs today. Looking forward to building on this momentum this week. Also, as soon as I have a better grasp on exactly what a "self-organizing network" is, I'll be sure to pass it along.

AirHop Adds $1M Investment and Expands Team to Pursue LTE SON Market

Posted September 14, 2009

San Diego, CA – September 14, 2009 – AirHop Communications, a developer of systems software that enables the deployment of high performance and highly differentiated 4G wireless networks, announced the close of a $1 million financing from a syndicate of wireless industry luminaries and the addition of several industry veterans to its management team. The company also announced several additions to its board of directors (see separate release).

AirHop Nabs $1M

San Diego-based AirHop Communications announced this morning that the firm has raised $1M in a financing round, from unnamed-wireless industry executives. The firm said it is developing systems software that enables the deployment of 4G wireless networks, including the LTE SON Market. As part of the funding, the firm said it named Garrett Choi as its Chief Operating Officer, Jerry Hall as its Vice President of Marketing, and Anand Parikh as Vice President of Business Development. Choi comes from Continuous Computing, Hall from PriveSec, and Parikh from Cartiza Networks.

http://www.socaltech.com/airhop_nabs__m/s-0023971.html

SAN DIEGO -- AirHop Communications, a developer of systems software that enables the deployment of high performance and highly differentiated 4G wireless networks, announced the close of a $1 million financing from a syndicate of wireless industry luminaries and the addition of several industry veterans to its management team. The company also announced several additions to its board of directors (see separate release).

Read more: http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=181777

Article of the Day - 9 Ways to Celebrate 9/9/09

2009-09-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

And though the date lacks the pizzazz of the lucky sevens (07/07/07), that isn't stopping marketers, mathematicians and the marriage-minded from dressing it to the nines.

Hotels are offering discounts, couples are wedding in droves and "9/9/09" was among the top 100 search terms on the search engine Google on Tuesday.

Lottery users will undoubtedly try their luck by playing 999 Wednesday, and a lucky mother might see herself profiled on the news should she give birth at just the right time: 9:09.

So why not get in on the act?

After all, you're unlikely to experience another single-digit date in your lifetime. The next one won't roll around for 92 years -- until 1/1/2101.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/09/999.date/index.html

...or you could not celebrate it because it's a stupid distinction. The choice is yours. Choose wisely. At least they got the baseball thing right.

Article of the Day - AP Poll (Week One)

2009-09-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (AP) -- BYU jumped 11 spots to No. 9 and Alabama received two first-place votes Tuesday in the first regular-season AP Top 25.

The Cougars pulled the biggest upset of the opening weekend of the college football season, beating Oklahoma 14-13 on Saturday. Sooners Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury late in the first half. Oklahoma dropped 10 spots from No. 3 to No. 13.

Florida was still an overwhelming No. 1, receiving 56 of 60 first-place votes. Texas held steady at No. 2, with two first-place votes.

USC will be No. 3 when it visits No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday in one of the biggest nonconference games of the season. The Trojans moved up a spot this week and the Buckeyes fell two after withstanding a strong test from Navy and winning 31-27.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/09/08/top-25.ap/index.html#ixzz0Qd09gbCY

Video of the Day - Happy Football Season!

2009-09-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't fire you up, you're either a bruin/irish supporter, you hate football or you are dead. Fight on, y'all!

Addendum: If you listen carefully during "Tusk" you can hear the student section version of the words that includes the "U-C-L-A SUCKS" call. I love it!

Ahead of the Times

2009-08-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

You might be that guy if you're a half a year behind the DL. Nonetheless, it's still a quality post from a quality site. Would have liked to see some guidelines spelled out for the two-man trough, though.

Word of the Day - clarity

2009-08-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Merriam Webster OnLine defines it as:

'kler-ah-tee (noun)
the quality or state of being clear: lucidity

Well, since "the quality or state of being clear" is a sucky definition that leverages the root word to define the derivative, let's go with "lucidity"

lü-'si-dah-tee (noun)
1: clearness of thought or style (there's that damn "clear" word again)
2: : a presumed capacity to perceive the truth directly and instantaneously: clairvoyance

Well since I am definitely not clairvoyant, and I could pretty much give a rat's ass about "style," let's go with the "clearness of thought" definition.

Two words you don't see anywhere in that definition are "smoke" and "stars," but they both factored prominently into the hour I stood outside tonight trying to refocus. Romeo y Julietas are amazing and apparently lead to the kind of serene relaxation that drives contemplation. It seemed strangely apropos that I could stand out on my porch here in Ventura and see stars, and then some things started to make sense.

One of the major problems I have had in the last month plus is that I feel like I haven't stopped. I haven't been home for a weekend. Sometimes it was for factors beyond control, and to be fair, all the time it was with some of the most important people in my life. But the fact of the matter is, that I wasn't home. I was either in locations where I couldn't see the stars or didn't stop to look at them. Both of which are problems but raise a couple important points.

1. I think of this place as home. This is a credit to the laid back environment in both the city and the apartment. My ~~roommate is~~ roommates are baller. After the absolute debacle post-ARob, I have a place to live that is comfortable and a person (and dog) to share it with. Bonus points for the neighbors being cool.

2. I like seeing the stars. I grew up in a place where I couldn't, so I never really thought about it before, but tonight I decided I really like it.

3. Even when I was places I could see them, I didn't stop to do it. This is perhaps the most disconcerting part of the whole thing. Something as simple as taking a minute to myself was something that I let get buried and lost. For a guy fighting burnout, that's pretty stupid.

I love my family and friends, and I am happy to put them before myself. But in the process, I'm realizing that I've lost sight of myself in a way. Happiness is nebulous, fleeting and difficult to pin down without some sort of roadmap. How do you develop that roadmap without some sort of introspective lucidity to give you direction? I don't know how, but I do know that the first step is coming to this realization.

This is the realization I came to...at home...looking at the stars in silent lucidity.

Experimenting with reBlog

2009-08-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago, I read a fascinating article in Wired Magazine on Craig Newmark and why his Web site has turned into such a train wreck. Today I found a blog posting from a VC in New York analyzing the article. His insights are highly thought-provoking as well.

I found this fascinating quote today:

The much more interesting conversation is about the appropriate economic model for a social network that depends on the contributions of its participants and increases in value as more people use it. One possibility is that the economic models of these networks will look more like Craigslist than Yahoo. Recent estimates peg Craigslist's revenue at more than $100,000,000. Not much compared to Yahoo's billions, but Craigslist still employs only 28 people. Even allowing for substantial bandwidth, and server costs, it is still hard to imagine how their costs are more than $5,000,000. Since Craigslist collapsed a multibillion dollar classified advertising business into a fabulously profitable $100,000,000 business, perhaps we should be talking about the potential deflationary impact of more "zero billion dollar" businesses. As the radical efficiencies of the web seep into more sectors of the economy, and participants in social networks exchange attention instead of dollars, will governments at all levels need to make do with less tax revenue? That's a scary thought in an era of high deficits unless traditional governments can learn from the efficent governance systems of social networks and provide more for less.avc.com, A VC, Aug 2009

You should read the whole article.

The title of this post refers to a function attached to his blog called reBlog, which is essentially the bloggers' equivalent of retweeting on Twitter. I'll play around with it when I have more time, but it looks fascinating. So, then, Fred Wilson, if you should happen to backtrack to this post, thanks for your insights. I'm definitely adding your blog to my blogroll and RSS readers.

Toph's BDay Weekend in the IE

2009-08-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

Brief Summaries:

Topher:

kegs and eggs
bbq
drinking games
girl on girl action
Simpler Times
"We Built this City"
Journey
Cawlfield and Matney outed (DL: twice)
blondes
vial shots
Jager bomb
dance mania
lap dance
brawl
Breakfast Jack!
strawberry shake
papsan down

DL:

Yard House
trotting out a four starter against staff aces and #2's
Datsun is
silver bullets
Bitch U Ride the MARTA Bus
knee to the spine

Yas:

regular ID (DL: racial profiling)
lemon drop martinis
"Shit...they're at my car now."
baseball
side beef
crazy bitches
cougars

Jordty:
"Don't forget about our discussion of the importance of diversifying the rotation behind a clear-cut staff ace. Lincecum stuff...backing the hammer with 97+. Then running out a solid Cain-esque #2 and a #3."

From Facebook: My Life According to The Offspring

2009-08-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 10 people you like and include me (presuming I'm someone you like). You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "My life according to (band name)"

Are you a male or female:
Pay the Man

Describe yourself:
Defy You

How do you feel:
Gotta Get Away

Describe where you currently live:
Crossroads

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Never Gonna Find Me

Your favorite form of transportation:
Nitro

Your best friend? (brother)
Dirty Magic

You and your best friends are:
Worst Hangover Ever

What's the weather like:
Burn it Up

Favorite time of day:
Time to Relax

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Conspiracy of One

What is life to you:
Why Don't You Get a Job?

Your relationship:
Million Miles Away

Your fear:
Feelings

What is the best advice you have to give:
Leave it Behind

Thought for the Day:
Get it Right

How I would like to die:
Total Immortal

My soul's present condition:
Mission from God

My motto:
You're Gonna Go Far, Kid

Video of the Day - MARTA Shout-out...sorta

2009-08-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not familiar wiht Atlanta (which, I believe, is all of you), MARTA stands for Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. As I'm sure you can imagine, all sorts of colorful people ride MARTA, as it is definitely viewed as a stepchild. Thus, it is apparently a grave insult to insist that someone take it. That being said, I took it voluntarily to lunch with Loudy on Thursday, and it was an experience but not the awful one that I'd anticipated. We took it again on Friday to the game, and it seemed fairly benign then as well. Perhaps I simply missed out on the REALLY fun people who take it, but in any event, here is a sampling of the locals' thoughts on the MARTA bus.

Video of the Day - Chuckles the Chicken

2009-08-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the weight room on campus at Emory University, and unfortunately, there was not a Chuckles sighting. There was however some random, sporadic clucking. Go figure.

Video of the Day - "Welcome to Atlanta"

2009-08-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Self explanatory. I am in the dirty...love it. Looking to bring home one of these. I, too, am puzzled as to why Fernando Viña is in the screen shot of the video.

Letter from a Great Man

2009-08-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

12-2-00

To my Grandson Dale:

Thank you for being such a fine man and upholding good standards. It has been such a joy for Grandma and I to have shared so much of your growth.

I thank God that we were able to follow you around on the baseball circuit.

The time is coming in your life that you will have to make big decisions, so make sure that you make good ones. If you're not sure it's right, just slap yourself. (haha)

Just want you to know that Grandma and I love you dearly.

Love,

Grandpa and Grandma

--
As you can tell by the date, this letter came to me a while ago--my senior year in HS. Those of you who went to Catholic high school know all about why and where this comes from, so I will divulge no further details on that.

The important part, though, is the focus on decisions, and this is a topic near and dear to me as I just attended the going away party of one of my former players who leaves for college this week. Another leaves next week, and the rest will be on their way too. Clearly as my knuckleheads take off for college, they will be faced with many decisions, and while I certainly had my share of shortcomings as a coach/mentor for my boys, the overarching point I always tried to drive home was that there are two ways to do things.

The right way and the wrong way.

What do you know? That point extends to more than baseball. I hope and pray that my boys always continue to work to do things the right way. It's not always going to work out perfectly for them, as it certainly hasn't always for me since I received the above letter eight years ago when I was their age. But as I told my grandpa in the response I wrote him, I know that in the big picture I've gotten more right than I've gotten wrong.

To me, it's a testament to the strong principles and family values he helped instill in me. While I could never measure up to the example he set for me with respect to impacting future generations, I hope that someday (maybe in eight years), my boys can look back and think that the lunatic freshman coach from 2006 taught them a thing or two about how to do things.

Live life with a passion for others and see God in them, because you never know when you'll lose them. Play to win, because playing not to lose is for...well...losers. Have each other's back always because you better believe I have all of yours. That's doing things the right way.

Web Site of the Day

2009-08-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

For all you grammar and usage snobs out there (yes, I'm talking to you, Sarah, Catherine, Paula, Monica and anyone else who reads this and hates people who can't command the English language). <--Yes, i know that is a fragment. Save it. http://funnytypos.com/

A Couple Weeks Ago

2009-08-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I posted my college entry essay, verbatim. It was about family and the wisdom and guidance that my parents have given me. It cited a specific example, and you can read the whole thing if you'd like, but the takeaway was that when I was in 3rd grade, my parents hit me with a lesson in priorities and proper behavior that has resonated more than any others and will stick with me for the rest of my life. I mentioned the scorekeeper, but the focus was primarily the coach...aka the guy who benched me.

This one's about the scorekeeper.

I use this blog (and facebook and twitter) to whine and moan and generally just bloviate about anything and everything. You all have a right (and are encouraged, really) to leave me comments to weight in or tell me to shut up and stop my complaining or any of a number of things you may want to sound off about. I love the dialog.

No one has as much room to tell me to shut up as the scorekeeper.

One word that never appears in my college essay is "strength." My parents taught it to me, but were so covert about it that I never really recognized it...until a few years ago when the scorekeeper and i nearly lost the coach. Then it became crystal clear.

In early September '05 (my first year out of school), I had gone back to spend a night with one of my college buddies and some of his friends from his apartment building. It was a prototype evening of college shenanigans and I woke up to a phone call from mom. She then proceeded to tell me that my father had a massive heart attack the night before, and they were at the hospital in Hollywood because that's the venue with the great cardiac team, apparently.

After I picked my jaw up off the floor, scrambled to say goodbye to everyone and violated a couple traffic laws to get there, I was greeted by my dad hanging out in his bed drinking some water and my mom hanging out talking to him like we were at home in the living room or something. Outwardly...not fazed. Pretty amazing. It put me at considerable ease and really eliminated any sense of immediate panic I had going in.

So they scheduled pops for surgery for later in the week. Mom worked out a deal with the office where she could work part of her day remotely, so she could spend as much time with dad as possible.

When he went into surgery, she was there, and she told me to just go to work and not worry about it.

While he was in surgery, she waited in the waiting room.

When I called after work, she told me not to worry and to just go home. (I ignored her...I always did have selective hearing.)

When the surgery went past the estimated time, she was glad that I'd ignored her, but if I hadn't, she would have hung in there.

When the doctor came to talk to her once he was out of surgery, she listened to every word and calmly asked questions.

When he was in the hospital for a couple months after surgery in constant danger of taking a turn for the worst, she was right there all day during visiting hours.

When things started to get a little better, the stoicism turned into a smile.

And when it was time for him to come home, it was like a party.

Since then, through good days and tough ones, she's shown the same kind of selflessness no matter what's been going on around her. Going in early, staying late, working through lunch...whatever she needs to do to finish her paid job as a CPA to get home to her unpaid job as a wife and primary care physician, she does with a faith-driven grace that I don't believe can be replicated.

This is why it didn't surprise me a whole lot that when she called me a few hours ago to tell me that her father (from whom I get my personality...I'm convinced, anyway) had been diagnosed with cancer that is believed to be terminal, she spit out the facts like a doctor without a hint of weakness in her voice.

My grandpa has always been the active type, quick with jokes and stories and all about fixing (and "fixing") things. He's as strong-willed and stubborn as they come, the larger than life personality and the commanding presence that you would expect out of a former Navy guy and head of a household with five kids, but with a heart of gold. Even in the face of the worst news someone could possibly get from a doctor, he wore it to stay strong for his family.

I guess we all know where the scorekeeper gets that from.

Please say a prayer and keep good thoughts for the Power family. As tough as we are, we could really use it, and it's much appreciated. God bless.

Photo credits to my cousin Crissy and her blog and my cousin Courtney and her Facebook page.

Article of the Day - Suffering from 'roid rage'

2009-07-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

Haven't watched the video, but anything that beats up the (dirty) crimson laundry, I am all for. So, here you go...Ortiz being the catalyst for them getting worn out in their own home paper--complete with a video (that I haven't watched yet, but I imagine it's more of the same).

There is also, of course, a highly valid counterpoint that is being beaten to death in baseball circles (and I happen to agree with the sentiment). It is completely bush that the results of an anonymous test have been leaked to the press...repeatedly. I don't blame the form of media that is in an inescapable death spiral for running with the story in an attempt to make itself relevant again. At this point, though, I have to side with Ozzie Guillen. Just throw the list open and get it over with, so we can all move on.

"If you're going to divorce me, divorce me," Guillen said. "Don't just keep telling me you're going to leave me." <--AP Style (for all you haters out there)

David Ortiz lied to you.

It seems safe to say that his entire Red Sox career is a lie.

And those life-changing Red Sox championships of 2004 and 2007? Are they forever tainted?

You bet. (more)

Sarah's Top 10

2009-07-30T09:07:00.001-07:00

I was going to propose that she submit this as a guest blogger again, but I just posted it myself instead. Here are her top 10 quotes, noises or otherwise obnoxious things the DL says/does repeatedly. Brief DL commentary included for each.

10. You gone. <--also, "You can put it on the booooooooooooard, YES."

9. Wastey (especially when followed by "That is all.") <--usually in a text

8. F-ck my couch. <--or anyone else's

7. Zoo/Circus <--put a tent over it

6. Tie between brrrrrdb and there's that. <--brrrrrrdb...no contest, so there's that

5. Wear it. <--tried and true

4. Good for you. <--we appreciate what you're doing

3. Fire drill <--closely tied to zoo/circus

2. Trrrrrrble <--like my blog

1. Jaaayyss<--courtesy of Grant...gotta cite my source

New Link

2009-07-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

http://emailsfromcrazypeople.com/

We all have experiences with this. Here is a collection of not just e-mails, but voicemails and all other modes of communication. Here is a direct link to one snippet of the insanity. It's in an e-mail exchange touched off by a letter describing neighbors' complaints about hearing a dog in his apartment.

Money Quote: No. I have a goldfish but due to the air conditioner in my apartment being stuck on a constant two degrees celcius, the water in its bowl is iced over and he has not moved for a while so I do not think he is capable of disturbing the neighbours. The ducks in the bathroom are not mine. The noise which my neighbours possibly mistook for a dog in the apartment is just the looping tape I have of dogs barking which I play at high volume while I am at work to deter potential burglars from breaking in and stealing my tupperware. I need it to keep food fresh. Once I ate leftover chinese that had been kept in an unsealed container and I experienced complete awareness. The next night I tried eating it again but only experienced chest pains and diarrhoea.

http://emailsfromcrazypeople.com/2009/07/28/no-pets-clause/#more-65

Datsun is...Datsun is...

2009-07-18T12:46:00.001-07:00

Holding my car hostage right now. Not only are they violating me for four bills for the two-year service, they are not even being couteous enough to do it quickly.

This blows but is, of course, necessary with the Humboldt trip pending. This is also a test to see if the number of characters mandating this to be sent in multiple texts also means it will be multiple posts on the blog. It's an experiment. If it sucks, sorry and I'll take it down as soon as possible.

ADDENDUM: It worked, so I edited it, and it's staying. Thanks for the comment, Toph. Word.

"And That's the Way it Was"

2009-07-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

American journalism lost a legend today. Below is a link to an impressive piece from TV critic Robert Lloyd that not only details what made Walter Cronkite so great but also issues a ~~bitch slap~~ challenge to today's news media.

News in the 24/7 cycle has become commodity. How does one stand out with class and elegance when the whole world is just a constant barrage of information? While we as media professionals struggle to figure that out, we will be doing so under the watchful eye of Walter Cronkite looking down from above. RIP.

Walter Cronkite: And that's the way it was

The mix of eloquence and authority that the CBS newsman embodied is a far cry from today's anxiety-provoking TV outlets.

By ROBERT LLOYD, Television Critic
5:30 PM PDT, July 17, 2009

For many who grew up in the 1960s and '70s, Walter Cronkite was the voice of unfolding history. On the "CBS Evening News" and on the spot, his eloquent mediation of the great events of an age almost pathologically overflowing with them was essential to the way those events were understood. Even when he was temporarily at a loss for words -- his tears at the death of John F. Kennedy, his inarticulate glee at the moon landing ("Whew, boy!") -- he somehow spoke for the nation he spoke to.

Cronkite was not just a newsman; he was -- like Edward R. Murrow, who brought him to CBS and television -- as close a thing to the idea of a newsman as his age imagined. Except perhaps for Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, his high-powered NBC competition, all TV news anchors, news readers and news reporters, even the most august of them, seemed like variations on his theme, shadows of his Platonic ideal. A decade after his retirement from the anchor's chair, he was still being named the most trusted man in network news. (more)

More Nostalgia

2009-07-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

Last night as I was searching around on the Internet, I stumbled upon the Web site of one Nick Fera. Now, as you all know, I am a ~~terrible~~ novice guitarist, and what many of you probably don't know, I was in a band once. Don't get excited. It was the 2005-2006 school year when I worked at Crespi, and we were the house band/soundtrack to student life--The Bungalows (named for our practice facility). I played the bass because it was handed to me two days before the first event of the year. (Thanks, Coach Muck.)

What I did in this band was irrelevant. What Dom (keyboard), Tony (rhythm guitar) and Coach Muckey (drums) did in this band was irrelevant. The guy who carried us was our lead guitarist (a senior at the time), the aforementioned Nick Fera. Anyway, young Mr. Fera let me know that he is now in a jazz fusion-ish type group called ChromoSphere. They're legit, and as soon as I get word that they're playing a show locally, I am there.

However, I don't know that they really give you a feel for just how well Nick plays a guitar, so check these sound clips from his site. I'm partial to Little Wing (weird) and Long Hard Ride (because it was part of the Bungalows set list).

"All Along the Watchtower" (I think this is the cover U2 did)
"Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix)
"4 on 6" (Wes Montgomery)
"Long Hard Ride" (Toy Caldwell)

Nick Fera...great musician, and even better dude. Keep up with him on his sites, and the DL will continue to post and tweet with updates on Nick and ChromoSphere.

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