Get Out and Romp

Photos of UGA at ASU

2008-11-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

These are some photos from our recent travels to see the Dawgs play...first in Tempe and then Between the Hedges in Athens against Tennessee!

Just needed to stop before heading into Sundevil Stadium...at 4:30p, it was upwards of 100 degrees. Just another beautiful Fall Saturday in the sun!

Our view from the SW corner of The House of Heat as ASU likes to call it.

As you can see, to our right and to our left we were seeing lots of RED and BLACK! Dawg fans headed to Athens West in droves, and we had a great time!

Job Interview Advice

2008-10-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

No, I am not looking for a new job, but I am getting pretty fed up with this campaign process, which seems to me like a pretty wide- and large-scale job interview that presidential candidates have.

I am wondering why, outside of our own job interview, what seems to be the most important job interview we experience (ok...every 4 years) is not about telling you and me why we should hire / elect them, but why we should not hire / elect his competition.

I am going to guess that if you or I were to take this strategy into our previous or next interview, we would probably not be asked for a 2nd interview. However, in the interview that shapes our country, being vague about oneself and poignant about why the other guy sucks is the one of the best tactics.

Is this just me?

I want a candidate who says screw what the other candidate utters...I am going to tell you what I have done, what I am going to do (at least plan to do), and here is why you should hire me. Sure, the other guy just said crappy things about me, but this is not about him...this is about WHY ME, and I am going to tell you why me! Sure the other guy has done some screwy things...but this is what I have done. Vote for me.

Do we have any luck of that ever happening...of actually knowing the real candidate without having to wade through the watery muck? Is this even possible? I would almost think that the other candidate would having nothing more to do than take the same approach, which would mean we would get a clear picture of the what and who and more when we cast our ballot.

This has no intention or leaning to one guy or party or the other...it happens on both sides equally. I just want to know what is up with this and would it ever work in another job interview...say when the president hires someone. Argh...

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Down 316 in 28 Minutes

2008-10-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

If anyone were to ever make it down GA 316 from Athens to Atlanta in 28 minutes, then you are smokin'! However, falling 316 points in the last 28 minutes of the business day on Wall Street today means that they are taking Snoop Dogg's 2004 #1 hit single too literally! I am feelin' Snoop's dancing though...and just know that I am trying to dance like that right now.

This is getting uglier by the the minute...or 28 minutes on Wall Street.

I am glad that the wife and I get to take in a weekend of good times and great eats, great eats, great eats, great eats, and Little Italy (great eats, but no good links / website) in The Classic City watching The Red and Black welcome Rocky Top to the lovely gridiron Between the Hedges.

Go DAWGS!

Wow...when times get stressful and you cannot head to Athens, we have to take a breather and...

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We Saw this Coming...

2008-10-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Almost 9 years ago to the day, Steven A. Holmes of the NY Times wrote an article that predicted the mess in which we find our economy. The article was titled an anything but scary "Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending," and it most vividly states that,

"In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn [HELLO, were are right here 9.30.99!], prompting a government rescue [beam me up $700b Henry P] similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's."

Maybe the article should have been "Fannie Mae Gives Homes Now, Steals Hearts Later;" "Fannie Whippin' To Be Had: Just You Wait and See;" "When You Touch the Fannie, Payback's Hell!"

While the prediction was dead on, I do not think it could have predicted, due to the disturbing amount of greed that ensued from 1999 until now, the potential Global Recession that is being discussed.

Since the stock market tanked nearly 400 points on Monday (up from -800), went under 10,000 points for the first time since 2004, and dropped another 508 points (-5.11 percent) to land at 9,447 Tuesday, I wonder how many of our Congress peeps are rethinking their Yay vote on that little $700,000,000,000 bill of last week? So much for the idea that Making It Rain will solve the years of Wall Street's and Congress' greed! Imagine how many times Pacman Jones could have made it rain with $700b.

And now that Bernanke hints that interest rates are likely to go down again, I have to wonder how long it will be before those of us who save will be rewarded with higher interest rates. Americans should revolt and SAVE anyway! Stop spending! SAVE your money! Buy things when you can pay cash for them! Do away with credit cards! Stop paying the self imposed Stupid Tax! Start figuring out how to Get Out of Debt and being financially responsible!

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Why?

2008-10-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

I firmly stand behind 25 Senators and and 171 State Representatives, 3 of which are from Oregon. Thank you doing what was right for our country! Thank you Ron Wyden (Oregon Senator). Thank you for your Nay votes on the $700,000,000,000.00 allocated to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA 08). Thank you for doing what was right.

See how your Representatives voted - Representative Roll Call. Two out of five OR Reps. did the right thing. Thank you Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio!

I struggle to see how this is an "Emergency." When loads of greedy people in our government, on Wall Street, and in our neighborhoods have been over zealous about spending and owning homes for the past couple of years, then we end up in the situation in which we - our gov't, Wall Street, our family and neighbors, and our economy - find ourselves right now.

Rather than trying to wrangle in the vast array of thoughts I have on this topic or trying to turn a buffet joint into a tapas restaurant, which I could attempt to do from now until my next birthday (359 days from now), I just want to pose a few questions, probably questions that my 196 Congressional friends asked along the way...

- Foreclosure
- Does this bill in any way make financially over-extended Americans any less in debt?

- Credit Card Debt - Unabridged vs Abridged
- Will this bill guide people who were paying for their Credit Card Christmas in March and later of this year into fiscally responsible people who will not do the same this year or in the future?

- Unemployment
- How does this bill impact the 157,000 people who lost their job in September?

- Stock Troubles
- The NYSE struggling before the thought of the EESA 08 was discussed, and it is struggling now that Congress has passed it. So what...I have not seen anything that suggests that the Stock Market's - locally and globally - will be righted by this bill.

- Does this Big Mac make me look fat?
- Does this bill bring sense to crazy Americans? If I cannot afford this house with a normal mortgage, then I should be able to afford this house at the same price with a convoluted mortgage, right?

- Personal Savings Rate
- Sure it was ok at one time...say when my great grandparents were kickin...but over the past 3 years, the savings rate is less than 1%. So much for that retirement concept, eh pal! Sounds like we really need this EESA 08 Bad Boy to re-open those lines of credit, right Congress? And if our taxes go up, will we continue to save that 1%?

The questions could go on and on and on...but I will spare you my frustration. I am simply frustrated with the idea that this bill will in any way deal with the actual problem at hand - financial responsibility. How is the EESA 08 going to change this issue? Our spending habits are out of whack - Congress' and Americans'; impoverished, middle-class, and wealthy; minorities and majorities; Southern folk, Atlantic people, New Englanders, Midwesterners, and West Coasters; corporations, individuals, and government. We are all to blame. Yes, credit cards are too easy to get and use. Sure, home mortgages about which we are clueless and unwilling to understand are / were (we will see on that) too easy to get. Right, banks were willing to take the risk on people willing to buy more than they could afford. And Washington, DC was there encouraging this along the way.

But at some point, we as citizens and individuals have to take responsibility for our own actions and lives, which we have failed to do. Now we are in our current situation in which we are left looking like a water-drenched and mud-covered little kid looking for help. Since the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 is not going to get us out of predicament, we need to figure out how to clean ourselves.

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These directions say we go to [Tempe] Arizona!

2008-09-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from 19 Sept 2008 - To The Heat I Head...

I am jacked beyond belief about Tailgate 2008 - Desert Dawg Edition. While this may not be tailgating as we know it under the shade of UGA’s beautiful North Campus and amid Athens’ gorgeous co-eds, we are slated to have a spectacular weekend in Tempe. A few friends and hordes of the Bulldog Nation are ~~converging on~~ invading Athens West for the weekend. We will feel at home when we make Mill Street resemble Broad Street - red and black clad fans barking loudly, discussing the finer points of our beloved Dawgs, and shouting Go DAWGS! We will make do with what ever Tempe Tailgating has to offer and represent Georgia well. Now which way to the Taco Stand?

Let me say it again...I am stoked out of my gourd about this weekend. I have been reading blogs and newspaper articles online most of the week, and thanks to a last minute grab of the Mac and PDX's free Wi-Fit, my 90-minute flight delay spent reading about the Dual in the Desert seemed much shorter - reading more blog posts and newspaper articles. Enough of this reading I say...get me to Tempe. The excitement is so rampant around the House of Davi that even The Wife is singing songs about "going to see the Doggies!" I am not making up this my friend. It is a beautiful sound to hear!

The trip has started well...Jen is safe in Tempe, and I am safely on my way now. Dinner was eaten at a red and black table with red chairs. What a wonderful start.

So I am off and going, having talked with a few people on my flight who are aware of the excitement that surrounds this Dawgs in the Desert Weekend, so this should be an indicator that things will be nuts in Athens West / Tempe. Go DAWGS! Now it is time for the Bulldog Nation to show Sparky how to...

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SEC Back-Up

2008-08-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings from high above the Midwest as Jen and I make our way to Charlotte before our travels take us to Myrtle Beach - Charleston - Peachtree City - Alpharetta - Oakboro (rural Charlotte). Another trip on crack, but at least I will not return to Portland and return to school.

But I digress before I even start. Is that possible? Anyway…my musings today stem from two factors. (1) I finally took the advice of my buddy Andrew and purchased Dixieland Delight (by Clay Travis), which has been part of my entertainment on my flight thus far. The book tells the tales from Clay’s 8,000 mile tour / road trip through the Southeast and the 2006 SEC football season - 1 home game at each member school - and (2) I had to be calmed while violently shaking my cozy plane seat as I was cheering on LSU who staved off elimination from the College World Series by plating 4 runners in the bottom of the 9th to beat and eliminate Rice (6 - 5).

So where does this leave us you ask? Primary colors are great - red, yellow, blue - but seeing additional / secondary colors is a plus…they make life more, well, colorful. That being said, we all have primary colleges for whom we devote much time, energy, and money, but I think we, like the color wheel, need secondary options, too. What happens when you have a hankering for Chick-fil-A on Sunday when you know they are closed? You do not vouch to never go again. You simply find another yearning to supply your gastronomic craving and know that this is neither the first nor the last time you will encounter this exact same dilemma. You have your primary desire, which is closed, so you find a secondary option to quench your thirst even if it is not as good as your primary drink of choice.

I am not here to help you lay out rules and hash through your options to find an alternative school for whom to cheer, but I have come to realize over the past couple of years that the Bengal Tiger Cats of Louisiana State University are my secondary color of choice. But LSU is an SEC school you quip. Right you are my friend, but I am not going to deny my primary Georgia squad when they meet in competition. That would be like amputating your arm because you jammed your finger. No way baby…that’s just not going down. But when LSU is playing Rice, why should I not cheer for them? My friend Molly is a Cajun, and she is one of the coolest people I know. I have heard good things about LSU folk, and I hope to experience a night in the Bayou this October when the DAWGS head to Baton Rouge for what is expected to be a slugfest and a key game in Georgia’s run at a national title.

Quality, wholesome, jambalaya- and gumbo-making Cajuns are quality people on whom I wish no evil unless they meet my beloved Red and Black clad brethren from Athens. You, my Bengal Tiger Cat friend, you are my Kid Sister to Georgia being My Buddy!

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Tuesdays

2008-08-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

Most high school students are not fond of reading. However, a random moment sparked a conversation between a student and me about Jon Krakauer’s work. Krakauer happens to be my favorite author [“Into Thin Air” being my most preferred book]. Therefore, when asked for my thoughts on my favorite book, I was stoked out of my gourd.

I have no idea what prompted the Krakauer question, but I spewed my thoughts about “into Thin Air,” “Into the Wild,” “Under the Banner of Heaven,” and Krakauer’s writing in general. After sharing my thoughts, class continued with no further thought about the author.

Or so I thought.

At class’s start A few days later, the Krakauer asking student handed me “Tuesdays with Morrie” (by Mitch Albom). “You should read this,” he stated confidently. “You will enjoy the book.”

I stared at the book, read the title and back cover, and quickly reasoned that this book was similar to my favorite Krakauer works in one fashion only - human suffering. To my initial disliking, the book did not include the outdoor elements, the real danger, the sport, and the unexpectedness of humans trying to conquer nature that keep me glued to Krakauer’s every word. I had emphatically emphasized the great qualities that I drew me to Krakauer’s writings. Nevertheless, I took the book and lackadaisically suggested “I would read it when I am done with my current reading material.”

Fast-forward a week. I am bored with my book “Last Dance” (by John Feinstein), a book on the Final Four that I should love and read quickly. However, this book did not stimulate me or hold my interest, so I was left trying “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

Reading fast and Todd are antonyms, but I have read 3/4 of the book in a few days. Granted, it is a small book, and I was able to read on my flight from Portland to Atlanta.

Nevertheless, I am engrossed in a book I thought I would not like, that is unlike Krakauer’s books, and that is emotional and touching, and I am ok with these facts. I look forward to finishing the book and concluding my lessons with Morrie, and I suggest you start your class with Morrie soon…before or after reading the three aforementioned Krakauer works.

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Masu Experiement

2008-05-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

I was hooked from my first sushi bite. It was Van Pelt who did it to me...spicy tuna, a California roll, and possibly some tuna nigiri. Kedron Kroger, no some fancy sushi joint, is where this all went down. Van Pelt dropped by my parents place to let me know he was going somewhere and that I should go with him, which was a common occurance. "Sushi?" I responded with a befuddled look on my face I am sure. He just chimmed "get in the car and let's go." The car was not some super nice ride, but rather a matte gray color Chevrolet Cavalier he called The Gray Ghost. So off we went to open my world to sushi, which I am yet to stop eating.

Fast forward many years to last Friday. After a round of frisbee golf in Laurelhurst Park with KG and a round of Carcossonne on a beautiful afternoon, thoughts, er stomachs, turned to victuals. Sushi at Masu East was the unequivocal desire of KG and Courtney.

Yes...we ate the fried bones, and they were delicious!

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FREE Cone Day :: Ben and Jerry’s

2008-04-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 29 :: 12pm - 8pm

I shared this with you last year, and I will share it with you again this year…and every year that we keep in touch for crying out loud. What a great way to celebrate the starting of Ben and Jerry’s adventure into the ice cream business. Most places have sales to celebrate special events, but Ben and Jerry’s does it right with FREE Cone Day. The best part of this (for those who want lots of ice cream) is that you can eat as much as you want. At my first stop and Jen’s only stop last year, we saw a high school student working on his third round…of trying ALL of the flavors. You read that correctly…this guy had eaten a cone of every flavor twice, and he was now working on round three of EVERY flavor. You just have to go to the back of the line after each scoop.

On April 29, find the nearest scoop shop and celebrate with Ben, Jerry, and the throngs of fans who appreciate the best corporate [albeit green friendly corporate] ice cream. I hope to find a Ben and Jerry’s close to downtown Atlanta…where will you be enjoying your FREE cone?

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A Melodious Fabric of Society

2008-04-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Jen and I were outside a few days ago when we were suddenly taken back to yesteryear by a melody we heard from a few blocks away. We were so shocked at what our ears were telling us that we looked at each other to make sure we on our own were not going crazy.

The sweet, melodious music we heard was from none other than The Ice Cream Man. You got it…the ol’ white truck with pictures and prices of his goods on the outside and quality frozen treats on the inside. It was almost 80 over the weekend in Portland, so The Ice Cream Man was making his rounds and blaring the unmistakable tunes. I can taste a Rocket Pop right now.

While this is the first Ice Cream Man sighting this year, this is not the first time we have seen and heard The Ice Cream Man in Portland. However, every time we see and hear him, Jen states that this is another one of the great aspects of Portland that helps us realize we live in a pretty cool city. Additionally, it is unfortunate that what was once an integral part of life, our childhood, and the American summer is now a shocking occurrence.

The Ice Cream man is a pretty neat guy peddling top-notch product.

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Better than Expected

2008-03-31T16:57:00.000-07:00

What a fun Dance this has been...and if only a pair of shots could have found the bucket for Davidson, but what an incredible game we witnessed last night! While Stephen Curry was highly touted by CBS, he lived up to his hype in the first half before being put on lock down by Rock Chalk's Box & One D.

Nevertheless, ALL Four 1 seeds made it to the Final Four for the first time, which is pretty remarkable since they should be the best teams in the tournament in the first place, but we all watch to see (a) big time upsets and big time little guys in the first weekend, (b) Cinderellas give it their all in the second weekend, and (c) top quality hoops the final weekend. I think we can put a big fat YES for (a) and (b), now we just have to wait to see if we get the quality hoops this coming weekend as CBS salivates over 2 games - 1 actual and 1 potential game - (1a) Roy Williams (who did not give a "shit" about UNC following the 2003 NCAA Championship game) vs. His Former Team and Bill Self and (1p (for potential)) Tyler Hansbrough vs. Kevin Love. The stories within a game aspect that CBS craves are there...let's hope that CBS broadcasts the games rather than talks obnoxiously about the stories...then again, who am I kidding!

The real point of this thought is to say a half-hearted I was not 100% correct to CBS...at least through the first 2 weekends of The Dance, which is why I might be partially correct. However, I want to applaud CBS for (a) having new Masters commercials and (b) not running them over and over and over and over and...you get the idea. However, CBS has one more weekend during which it can cram The Masters...A Tradition Like No Other down our throats. Here's to not allowing that to happen as I dream again about next year's perfect bracket.

With one more weekend, the goal is still the same...Stay As Long As You Can!

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Blinking Yellow

2008-03-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Driving can be a pain in tush at times because of all of the reasons that flow through your mind and my mind. Thankfully, though, I am not driving in Atlanta anymore!

However, while driving today, again I encountered (though I did not get to use) what I have before thought to be one of the best driving aspects ever programmed. What is this you ask, what can be so wonderful?

The blinking yellow turn signal my horsepower pumping partner.

Why do I, or we, need to wait through, at worst, both directions green lights just because I am turning left? That is like being penalized for not using change to purchase something that costs $1.55.

I do not know if there is a council to which I can ask for more blinking yellow turn signals, but I might start to look for them. When ever I spot these, I get a little tingle of happiness because I know at least one traffic signal oriented intersection is doing things right! If only there were more.

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Corporate Sponsorship...It Can Get Worse

2008-03-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

When I think naming rights (or group's putting corporate names on structures) cannot get any worse, I open AdAge this morning only to read the following article.

*Note 1 - AdAge does not leave its articles online for long, so the short article is below as well.
*Note 2 - I am not going to subject you to senseless links that would lead you to corporate websites.
*Note 3 - My one musing is in red. The article should provide enough fodder.

Children's Hospital in Hot Water Over Corporate Sponshorships (from AdAge)

*The New York Times ran an article on this hospital as well.

Published: March 12, 2008
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- What's in a name? If you're a Columbus, Ohio-area children's hospital, plenty of donations.

The Nationwide Children's Hospital, so called in recognition of the insurance company's $50 million donation, is drawing fire from advocacy groups for its embrace of corporate sponsors. The facility is preparing to break ground on the Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center. Another retailer, Limited Too, will be recognized for its $5 million donation with the Limited Too & Justice Main Lobby. [Next up - a new OshKosh retail spot that you walk through as you leave the B'Gosh Delivery Room and the Gerber Dining Hall in the Gerber Life Insurance Wing.] [In its current naming situation, this is the future of the building and its make-up.]

But it is the affiliation with Abercrombie, known for its not-exactly-child-friendly advertising, that is drawing the most criticism. Abercrombie donated $10 million to the hospital in 2006 for the construction of the center.

Not kidding around
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood sounded alarms this week with a widely distributed press release detailing its position, as well as a letter sent to hospital officials. The group also began a letter-writing campaign today in opposition of the use of the retailer's name.

The advocacy group earlier created a public-relations nightmare for McDonald's over its sponsorship of student report cards. The fast-food chain discontinued that program in January.

Susan Linn, the group's director and a psychologist at Judge Baker Children's Center, said the group took action after it was contacted by a concerned hospital employee. "[Our] stance is that selling naming rights is a terribly troubling trend," said Ms. Linn. "It gives corporations a veneer of respectability that, in fact, they may not deserve, and this is a good example of that."

Incensed by A&F
"Abercrombie & Fitch is really among the worst of corporate predators," she continued. "A company with such cynical disregard for children's well-being shouldn't be able to claim the mantle of healing. ... And, personally, I find it very concerning that they named their hospital after an insurance company."

Jon Fitzgerald, president of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation, explained that the hospital is not selling naming rights but recognizing donors for "transformational" gifts. "It's a very common practice that when an institution is fortunate enough to receive a significant gift, or any gift for that matter, it requires some sort of recognition," he said. "If you took a look across universities and other hospitals you would see many retailers involved in naming opportunities at those institutions."

Mr. Fitzgerald also said the hospital, not the corporations, made the decision to rename or name certain areas in their honor. He noted that because design plans for the new building have not been finalized, he could not comment on how the Abercrombie & Fitch name would be used.

In response to the letter, Mr. Fitzgerald expressed concern. "Clearly we're open to talking to anyone who has issue with the directions we take to support our mission," he said. "And clearly we'll take into account what their concerns are. But this is a 2-year-old decision."

Tom Lennox, a spokesman for Abercrombie & Fitch who has also served on the hospital foundation's board of trustees since 2005, said, "We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the hospital and pleased to help secure its bright future." He declined to comment further.

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A Ruining Like No Other

2008-03-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to one of the most beautiful, most wonderful, most amazing times of the year my friends. In actuality it started a few days ago for our small, Cinderella hopeful friends (including the local Portland State Vikings!) who are hoping the shoe fits, but in reality, it all starts today as the Big Boy Conference Tournaments tip-off and teams make that one final push to get an invite, sure up an invite, or move up their invite number to the Big Dance.

March Madness.

I need not utter anything else(!), but I will...although not about the tournament itself. Wait...man, March Madness sounds so pleasing to the ear as the words bring back so many memories, sounds, smells, brackets - good and bad - bracket busters, buzzer beaters, couches, and ouches. But I digress.

March Madness (MM and More) does not bring just the pageantry of hoops and all that college ball has to offer. Unfortunately, March Madness also marks the rebirth of CBS's ability to ruin a beautiful event (if not more since CBS stands for Can't Broadcast S#@*), CBS's efforts to hawk an event we all love, and CBS's bullying ways that mean cramming an event down our throats. Unless you are going to be watching your first NCAA Basketball Tournament, then you know I am talking about The Masters.

During the tournament, you will watch more golf coverage than you will the rest of the year if you are not a golf fan. You will see almost every inch of Augusta National. You will quickly figure out that you are watching basketball and golf simultaneous. It gets that ugly. As we all know, the commercials end with A Tradition Like No Other, but I am not sure if the reference is to The Masters itself or CBS's annual muscle job of running the commercials incessantly. BUT WAIT...CBS could not wait this year. Some CBS marketing person decided that starting the cram job during March Madness simply did not give them enough time. While I do not have an official date or reference to prove this, my jaw dropped when I saw a Masters commercial during the NFL Playoffs. I kid you not my Bracketville Friend. Evidently CBS took Bracketville's "Stay as Long as You Can" slogan.

The Masters is simply a great event, and now we can watch more of it thanks to ESPN's coverage. However, I am simply not ready to digest a fist full of The Masters, A Tradition Like No Other. I can always count on CBS for being great at Ruining Like No Other, so thanks for being good at it!

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Allez Cuisine!

2008-02-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, Chris Biddle [grad school roommate] and I decided to have a Christmas party for our friends and neighbors before we went home for the holidays. Nothing simple was really going to work for us since both of our minds tend to think in much more grandiose terms.

I do not know the hows, whys, or whats, but we decided on an Iron Chef Battle as the theme for the event - he would cook at his girlfriend's apartment while I cooked at our place. With both of us being poor, we opted for noodle as our theme ingredient. So much for inexpensive as I dropped $150 on my shopping spree. Ouch to a poor grad student, but I bought some great ingredients for what it's worth. As ameture culinary people, we had a great time making our food, battling, and sharing with our friends, and it was an EXCELLENT Christmas party to say the least. (Feel free to ask me about the details of this event as this thread is not about my experience...)

If only we could do this as experienced cooks, which I am not at this point...and I do not know about Chris. However, I read about this awesome throw down (sorry Bobby Flay) that happened between two chef brothers here in Portland. Read more about Iron Chef Portland.

It would simply be awesome to have battles like this between local chefs. They could promote their restaurant(s), show off their skills, and test their wits under the pressure cooker of a Kitchen Stadium Portland. Nevertheless, after reading the article, I am ready for my next battle! Allez Cuisine!

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Food 101

2008-02-21T18:29:00.000-08:00

I am not a foodie by any stretch of my imagination, but I love cooking in that it brings friends together and it is fun and yum, especially when it involves a grill! However, I came across some thoughts on people who are taking the "let's make up new words and ways of doing things" way too seriously. I am all for doing the local thing - shopping, eating, buying - but do we really need a word for it?

“Locavore” was 2007’s Word of the Year, according to the Oxford University Press. If you need to know more, you can learn how to eat like a locavore and become a locavore.

Really? Do we really need all of the verbage. What about just saying "Buy, Eat, Shop, Love Local"?

But wait, it gets even worse in 2 Ought Ate. Let's not forget our Vegangelicals & the Retrovores, eh? What in the world is a Veganelical you ask? Well, here you go - http://www.eatingliberally.org/tags/vegangelical

I (er, we if you include the link) am asking...do you think this is too much, too?

Buy, Eat, Shop, Love Local! That is my easy Food 101 Local lesson.

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The Salt of the Earth + The Sweet of the Fruit

2008-01-21T13:10:00.001-08:00

At some point on Thursday I started to think about my weekend plans that had changed from snowshoeing in Bend to chillin' in Portland. My first thought went to having a mellow night and making homemade pizza with friends, but then I thought I would step up the fun and have an informal wine tasting to go along with the homemade pizza.

The result was a wonderful event that would not have happened in the same spectacular fashion had it not been for the awesome girls from the Yo-Home and their Washington visitor along with my wife who gave her approval!

As you can see, people were screaming about how much fun we had...that's a Yo-Homer and my wife trying to make sure our neighbors did not get any sleep. They forgot that we no longer live in an apartment where you can hear everything that your neighbors do. Our house withstood the sound check!

My wife was in charge of keeping order in the kitchen, but as you can see, the pizza was so unstinkingbelievable that people had to use the Orcas to fight off the attaching food fiends. Come on Yo-Homer #2, be a little more friendly. I thought you learned how to share in kindergarten. Maybe next time we will have to hire kitchen security.

While pizza was the main ingredient, the added fun came in the form of a flight of 8 wines that the Yo-Home and the Davi shared with guests. People's palates were pleased by 4 whites and 4 reds that included the following...

Biltmore Estate - Chenin Blanc - circa 2002 - North Carolina
Capitello - Pinot Gris - 2006 - Willamette Valley
Badger Mountain - Organic Riesling - 2006 - Columbia Valley
Cooper Mountain - Chardonnay - 2006

WillaKenzie - Pinot Noir - 2005 - Willamette Valley
Chateau Ste. Michelle - Merlot - 2003 - Columba Valley
Glorioso - Reserva - 2001 - Rioja (Spain)
Rondan - Crianza - 2001 - Rioja (Spain)

Thanks to all of you who were able to make it, and the Yo-Home and Davi look forward to providing you (and us of course) with more fun in the future. It is us great people that another Davi claimed to be The Salt of the Earth while I noted that we, too, are The Sweet of the Fruit.

Thanks Yo-Homers, and next time will be better!

Get Out And Romp

Dr. Martin Luther the King Junior

2008-01-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

At times my wife and I struggle to understand the focal point of the sermon we listen to at church, which makes going to church hard some Sundays. While we did not know what yesterday's topic was going to be, we did not struggle with going to church, and we are both glad we were there.

Growing up in the churches and region we did, hearing about Dr. King was not typical outside of American History class in high school and Black History Month (February). Thus, we were not accustomed to a message that was focused on Dr. King's prophetic words in "I Have a Dream" speech on Sunday. Rick (Imago Dei) opened with some sincere bits about himself and challenges to us the church relating to civil rights and racism (passive or active), even noting that he thought about speaking on a topic that was easier on him and his audience. However, he stood up to make a difference within the congregation and himself. He then turned to Amos 5:21-24 and Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech and encouraged us to listen to the prophetic words that sadly sing true even today, 44 years after the speech was made. I have never been in a church as quite and focused on the message as our church was yesterday. Rick, thanks for stepping up to the challenge and delivering the right message on Sunday. Now if only we can "let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream" (Amos 5:24), to which Dr. King make a direct reference (intentionally or unintentionally I do not know).

On a personal note, I am glad that we have the grasp of the south that we do because the message spoke even louder to us than it did some of our friends who do not have the understanding of life and evident racism that live on in the south.

Enjoy and savor today, the day at least one race recognizes as Dr. Martin Luther the King Junior Day!

Get Out And Romp

Perk Up Afternoon Business

2007-12-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

Pass the Cheer...that is the current Starbucks tagline and part of the company's current, and first national ad campaign. If you have seen the ads, you were probably not motivated to run out and get the entire family a beverage, but you heard the name Starbucks again and had your mind rattle with what ever you think of Starbucks.

Being a marketing fan, I no longer watch ads for the sake of buying products but to analyze the value and quality of what is being thrown at me. I am not fond of the ads, and as an AdAge article's title suggests, we can "Forget the Cute TV Critters; Starbucks Needs a Happy Hour."

The article begins by stating that "What Starbucks needs isn't an ad campaign set in fantasyland (however tastefully executed). Maybe what it needs is a real-world idea that could actually get people to buy and share more coffee: a Starbucks happy hour. ..."

I could not agree more about this. I will not go on and on about this topic as I did on my buddy Otis' blog - you can read it at www.otiskimzey.com/2007/12/12/starbucks-happy-hour - but I will give you the gist of what I said below...

I do not know what Starbucks used to be like. From what I gather though, Starbucks shops and the idea from which they started - small, Italian cafe - used to be much more simple & organic & anything but corporate. Starbucks is now the corporate giant & lacks the local coffee joint vibe, feel, & scene. Maybe a happy hour is the kick in the arse that the company needs to increase its profits, (re)gain new customers, and resurect its falling stock price. I do not think the critter friendly ad campaign and Pass the Cheer will do the job.

Get Out And Romp

Kids Who Change Their Own Rules

2007-12-02T21:14:00.001-08:00

I just looked at the newly released polls (before the BCS games are unveiled), so you know the joy ends here.

We know that seemingly every year, someone gets screwed, but the system stays together because we typically have at least 1 dominant team. In other words, the recipe appears to work even if the ingredients are not exactally the same from year to year, which is like figuring out your family's long, lost recipe for dressing, sweet potato souffle, pumpkin pie, etc. The unfortunate piece is that at least one team (or person in the family) gets jobbed.

Welcome to 2007 college football, which, from Appalachain State's week 1 upset of Michigan in the Big House, has been unlike any college football season that we have seen in anyone's memory. Therefore, why would we expect to have a BCS situation that makes senese?

When we watch any sporting event, one essential is consistancy from the officials. If you call it one way in the 1st qtr, you better call it the same way in the waining and critical moments of the 4th qtr. We can swap officials, calls, and qtrs for pollsters / computers, rankings, and weeks to get the concept that...

Since we as college football fans are going to be screwed by a flawed BCS system, then we as fans deserve to be screwed by pollsters (and a system) that rank teams after week 1 in the SAME manner that they rank teams after the season's last weekend. The situation in which we find ourselves is reminiscent of life when we were KIDS for crying out loud. Pollsters, BCS people, and fans all hated that kid growing up who SUDDENLY and UNBEKNOWNST to the whole world changed the rules in his favor when his winning situation looked bleak to non-existent. The end result was that if things did not change, tht kid took the ball and went home while everyone else got pissed. Are you following me here?

I really feel like we are in that situation...yes as a Georgia fan...yes as a college football fan, too. The pollsters have simply changed the way they vote for what ever reason they have...maybe to ensure that the national champion is also a conference champion, which does not have to be the case as AGREED upon by EVERYONE invovled the BCS system. Nothing is stated about conference champion in BCS 101 (rules) - http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bcs_explained.html - so why does that argument suddenly come out now when the system is showing more flaws. Maybe because LSU vs OSU is sexier than UGA vs OSU. Mabye as additional repayment for the government's total botch of Katrina. Maybe the pollsters are really Cajuns. Maybe this is all about Les Miles giving ESPN great ratings for his impromptu press conference. My guess is that like all things inexplicable about the system that always screws somebody, we have we will never know...and they will decide to tweak the rules again to try to get that family recipe almost right without having a playoff.

No matter how you look at them, losses are losses...in regulation or overtime. Deal with it. Timing is (or used to be) everything with a loss. Now the pollsters will save those they want to save. Are the Dawgs better than LSU this year? We will never know, but the Dawgs have just as much right as ANYONE else to play for the national title.

"When you lose a game, you are at the mercy of the BCS system" Richt stated. Oh how true that is, but it does not make the pain any less bearable.

No matter how big or small the screwed helping your team gets, hopefully you can stomach your portion of another BCS heeping helping of Mush.

Get Out And Romp