:: Life on Planet Dan-E ::

:: U2 Still Freakin' ROCKS ::

I haven't blogged much about "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" by U2 since I've been too busy to really immerse myself in it the way I normally do with every new U2 album. But I am going to talk about my favorite song: "City of Blinding Lights." I sing this song in the car when I'm driving every chance I get. It's that good. If you're wondering just how a bunch of guys in their 40s can still be relevant after almost 25 years together. listen to it and you'll understand why.

It starts slowly with a gradual buildup of The Edge's guitar, reminiscent of "Where the Streets have no Name." That driving guitar crescendos into this wide-open sound that evokes visual images of a summer sun rising over a city. Grand, magnificent, and it's going to just ROCK live.

As much as I love the sound, it's the lyrics that get me. Interpret them as you will: is he mourning a loss of innocence? Is it about where he grew up? A song for his wife? That's the cool thing about many U2 songs, everything is open to interpretation. These are the lines that get me every time:

I've seen you walk unafraid
I've seen you in the clothes you made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me

And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

Bono, Edge, Adam, Larry; they all still got it.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:43 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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To all my loyal readers (all seven of you... and anyone else who might accidentally stumble across my page), Merry Christmas! =)

(And Shaq? Roast in hell you fat turd. No I'm not bitter, why?)

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 4:00 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Other things I missed about L.A.:
- The sound of waves crashing onto the beach.

- The "local" feel, or rather, the feeling that I'm not living on some island called "Tourist Trap."

- Driving.

- Changes in elevation: just driving around Redondo Beach and having to navigate through hills is kinda cool since most of Florida is flatter than my ex-girlfriend.

- The climate here is almost as dry as my humor.

- The fact that most of the essential stores like Target, Albertson's, and Guitar Center are so close.

- Good friends

- Alcohol is so much cheaper here than South Beach. Four bucks for a Guinness! FOUR!

Things I don't miss:
- The traffic. Freeways aren't as bad as I-95 and Miami drivers are worse than anything here (which is truly frightening) but still.

- The rent. Not that I have to worry at the moment but I did a quick browse through a renter's guide and HOLY CRAP is it high. Not like, New York City high but compared to my $600 for my studio, it's ridiculous.

- Can't find a decent Cuban sandwich anywhere.

- Living with the parents.

- The little twin size bed I'm sleeping on right now. I'm surprised I haven't fallen out yet.

- Using a PC.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 3:49 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Three days back in LA and in some ways, it's like I never left. I'm sleeping in, my mom is yelling at me to get out of bed, my best friend is calling me a jerk (in return, I call him a dork), and I've had my fill of pretty good local food.

I've already been to In 'n Out. Tuesday night, I went to another well known LA burger joint called Tommy's. All I need to do is go to Pink's Hotdogs, after which my heart is gonna explode out of my chest, grab me by the neck and pummel me into ground while shouting "what the hell are you doing to me?!?!"

I still haven't had fish tacos yet nor have I been to my favorite Mexican place and while there's a lot more to being here than just eating at my favorite places, it is something that I was looking forward to.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 3:28 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Back Home ::

I'm back in LA and I gotta tell ya, it's weird being back in my parent's house. Being away for a year only to come back to my old room... almost feels like a type of regression. It's not like I'm moving back home or anything and I'm only here ten days but...

Still, it was nice to see an old friend again. BN was nice enough to pick me up from the airport and drive us down to In 'n Out right after, mostly because I demanded that he do so. That first bite into my Double Double was a little bite of heaven. Two Double Doubles with grilled onions, and fries well done. It's like I never left.

I don't really have anything planned other than see a few friends. Even if I don't go anywhere, it's nice to be back in LA.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:04 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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One of the nice benefits of living in a community that caters to students carrying on a symbiotic relationship with their laptop is the ability to find an Internet wireless zone in unlikely places. Ever since Taste Bakery offered free Wi-Fi to customers, other places have tried to follow suit (though Starbucks still makes you pay for theirs, those greedy fascist bastards) by installing their own Wi-Fi. One of the unintended benefits is that places neighboring these restaurants also receive the signal and anyone with a laptop can browse freely. That's why I used to be seen at Dewey's Tavern all the time at odd hours.

So right now, I'm in a laundromat, which shares a wall with a little empenada joint called Go-Go. As a lure for Miami Ad School students, they installed wireless about two months ago. Nice thing is that I can bring my laptop here and do research - or rather, "research" - while my cleaning my underwear.

There are some odd side effects; people look at me funny. Like they've never seen a guy with a laptop before. Others ask me about computers and stuff, which in itself isn't a bad thing but none of the people that approach me are cute girls. Another thing is the proliferation of computer-geek-speak from people who try way too hard to be cool. One time at Dewey's, one guy asked me "hey is it hot in here?" "Excuse me?" I ask. "Is it hot in here?" (Puzzled look) "No, sitting under the fan helps..." "No I mean is this place a Hot Zone." "No." What I wanted to say was "this isn't Starbucks you pathetic nerd." Which is ironic given that I was the dork with a computer inside a bar. But still.

When the hell did I become such a nerd?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:56 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: What's Wrong with Me? ::

It's a quarter after eight in the morning, a day after the official last day of school and three days after when I thought I'd be "done." And here I am, still working on my projects. Not that I missed a deadline or need to finish up any last-minute stuff, but I'm tinkering and nit-picking over stuff that I already turned in. I just dropped off a friend at the airport for his 7:00am flight and I could be sleeping now but NOOOO. I'm acting "responsible" and "ambitious." Seriously, what's wrong with me?

Not that I need to further perpetuate that question but my friend JK and I shared a quintessentially Ad-geek moment yesterday. We were sitting in his truck waiting for another friend outside when a DHL van pulls up, a few parking spots away from a UPS truck. The DHL guy steps out of his van, walks up to the UPS truck and exchanges a few friendly words. We start yelling things like "FIGHT! FIGHT!" and "THROW DOWN!" loud enough that both delivery guys turn to look at us with "what the hell are you two idiots blathering about?" expressions on their faces. We start laughing hysterically. If you saw the commercials, you too would have found that uproariously funny. I know you're wondering and yes, we were both very tired.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:13 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Blade gone Sideways ::

Going to school with a bunch of artsy types affords me the luxury of easily finding people willing to see independent films.

I recently saw "Sideways," a little buddy movie about a couple of late-30 guys who drive up to California Wine Country for their bachelor party of sorts. One's a struggling, yet cocksure actor about to get hitched and looking for that "last fling" before giving up his freedom. The other is a morose English teacher who's waiting to hear whether a publisher will take his latest attempt at a novel. Mr. Writer is a devout wine connoisseur whose zeal extends beyond mere affectation and snobbery. Mr. Actor enjoys wine as well but more for its inebriating effects and in truth, prefers putting other things in his mouth; specifically, women. Mr. Writer is getting over a recent (two years ago) divorce and is apprehensive when it comes to dating and unintentionally sabotages any attempts at a relationship. Mr. Actor thinks he has women and life completely figured out when in truth, he's actually about thirteen years old.

Oh by the way, this review isn’t going to contain any faggoty, banal wine cliches like "aged to perfection," "wonderfully flavorful," "full bodied," or "only good for getting hammered."

This is by far my favorite movie of the year. It's a great story about believable characters and it's funny in a way that's intelligent without being smarmy. And in contains one of the more horrifyingly funny, fifteen car pile-up of nude scene ever captured on celluloid. If you're wondering what the hell I'm talking about, just go see it.

Yesterday, I saw "Blade: Trinity." Not exactly an arthouse film. For that matter, it's not much of a film. It's more of a two-hour highlight reel of fight scenes, witty repertoire, and a hot chick in spandex looking, um, hot. Not that there's, given the proper mindset, anything wrong with that. Like most third movies of trilogies, this one blows, but in an immensely enjoyable way.

It's the umpteenth retelling of a vampire slayer revenge story. In this case there's quite a bit of camp thrown in for good measure, perhaps because the filmmakers ran out of ideas. I'm just saying. Quite possibly due to my mental exhaustion from studio week, I found this movie far more entertaining than it has any right to be. Not that I was blind to its flaws - Blade is now a one-dimensional, monosyllabic thug; Jessica Biel kicks some righteous ass and puts her own on fine display but her character just isn't very interesting; the gang of vampires isn't very scary; the lead Dracula "Drake" (see what I mean about running out of ideas?) is the 27,987th variation of a harangue-spouting, barely in-the-closet, blustering pile of Eurotrash; and what the hell is Parker Posey doing in this movie?!? - but the tone of the movie and the funny one-liners by the Hannibal King character - "We call ourselves the Nightstalkers. We were gonna go with the Care Bears but that was already taken," and "I just ate a ton of Garlic and I farted" - pretty much made it for me. That, by the way was one hell of a run-on sentence.

If you're gonna see a movie, go see "Sideways." It's one of the best movies of the year. But if you want some brainless fun, check out "Blade."

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 11:29 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Finished! ::

I'm done! Final projects are finished! I'm gonna go home now and sleep. Maybe till Friday. 2005.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 11:53 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Brrr... ::

It's gotten pretty chilly here. Today's high is only 68 and the low got down to around 54 and before you northeasterners start complaining, that's pretty frickin' cold for Miami. Seriously, last year the temperature was at least 10 degrees higher.

I realize that most of my posts this month must seem inane but it's only because I've been mired in schoolwork for last 12, well, months. That and I've been lazy with just about everything else so they're bound to get better. Eventually.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:06 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Whoa ::

I'm not worthy. I'm so not worthy. This is just astounding. Just absolutely astounding. Just read the list of "accomplishments." I'm not worthy.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:08 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: On Second Thought ::

... then again, there are signs that I've been here a little too long. A couple of weeks ago, I went to Wild Oats (similar to Whole Foods, for you West Coast folks) to get a snack. It wasn't quite dinner time and I was thinking smoothie but they're ridonkulously expensive there. I noticed a sale for cartons of soy milk for $1.25 each. Last time I had soy milk, I was nine and I almost threw up. I don't even care for tofu either. But I figured, what the hell why not.

Not only did I like it, but I've bought it again several times since. Of course the absurdity of a hardcore meat-and-potatoes guy, after shunning healthy crap all my life, drinking and enjoying soy, naturally (pun not intended) didn't occur to me until someone asked "Dan-E what the f*** are you drinking?" At which point I did my standard blank stare, double blink, dorky look at the box, followed by an "oh, umm..."

Seriously, eating healthy is one thing but jeebus cripes I'm drinking soy. I really do need to get off this island.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 9:41 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Home Sweet... Home ::

I got my plane ticket and I'm going home on the 20th. I'm ready for this quarter to be over but at the same time... I'm not that eager to go home just yet. I felt this way last year in December but it's magnified more now since I've spent an entire year in Miami Beach.

I can't explain it... actually I can... it'll just take too long. Part of it is due to my independent nature and having to go back to living at home for at least 11 days, it makes me feel... claustrophobic.

On the other hand, it'd be nice to see Colette again after a year away from her so that'd be cool. Colette is my electric guitar.

Anyway, back to work.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:55 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Good Lord ::

It's not that someone would actually sell this thing as much as the fact that there are, at this moment, SEVEN bids on it. Good gawd.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:10 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Unless you've been stoned out of your mind or happen to be an overworked Ad School student, you know about the big fight at the basketball game in Detroit and the following suspension of Ron Artest, arguably the main instigator of the fight. Well, apparently he was back at the arena recently to encourage his teammates to continue playing hard through the rest of the season. However, he left early.

Apparently, he wanted to beat the crowd.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:26 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: HUH? ::

It's December. It's already f***ing December.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:13 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: When I Run... ::

One of the presentations I saw in class was for Brooks running shoes and a human truth about runners they mentioned were the thoughts that go through a person's head while they're running. Here's a partial list of what went through my head yesterday while I went running.

- It's nice outside. I'll need my Oakleys.

- Streeetch

- I'm feeling good. Maybe I can do more than a mile.

- Good, there's no one else at the track. No one will see how slow I run.

- Did I turn the stove off?

- My knee hurts.

- Two more laps. It's only two more laps.

- I hate running.

- It's really muggy today, I can't believe how salty my sweat is. This is gross. Or it should be.

- Seriously, did I turn the stove off?

- Almost done. I need water.

- I'm feeling better. Time to run the bleachers.

- There's a girl running the track now. I should pick up the pace.

- She's not that hot. Never mind.

- Another girl. Nice ass. I'll do the stairs two at a time.

- Hmm. Her first lap, she ran on the inside part of the track. Her second, she took the outside part, right past me. She about to do it again. Oh yeah, she wants me. Look focused and determined. Pretend not to notice her. (Only in retrospect does this mindset seem really, really lame.)

- By the way, if any guy denies doing something similar while working out, they're lying.

- Just did three sets on the bleachers. This is so much more fun than just running.

- My knee hurts again.

- Ok, I did turn the stove off, but did I refill the Britta?

- Ok, a splash of water and I'm running home.

- Ugh. My legs are tired.

- Ok, if that light stays red I have a valid reason to stop and take a breather.

- Dammit.

- My knee is fine but my calves are burning.

- Ok, green light up ahead. Turn red. Turn red! TURN RED!

- YES! Thank you, Jesus.

- Hot chick at twelve o'clock. Ignore pain, run faster.

- Two more blocks. Don't pass out. That'd be just embarrassing.

- Home sweet home. I realized something, my mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely. Oh yeah, I need to stretch. And my shirt smells.

So there you have it. Some further insight into my mind. I'd write more but I gotta run.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:54 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Things I'm thankful for:

- My friends

- My health

- The new U2 Album (seriously, it's really good)

- Miami weather

- Bacon

- Ribs

- Pork chops

- Pretty much the pig in general

- My guitar, Lilly

- Knowing I have what it takes to make it in this business

- Beer (but that's every day)

- Fat guys who play football

- Old guys who still plays sports

- Holly McPeak's abs. I mean, golly

- Fresh Krispy Kremes. I mean, holy crap

- Latin girls in mini-skirts in the middle of November

- Really, life in general

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. =) And remember everyone, it's not all about eating turkey. It's also about eating mashed potatoes, butternut squash, creamed corn...

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:25 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: See Lance Ride ::

Trying to go into the business of making commercials, there are always a few I can think of at any given moment that I like. But there's one that I've been watching over and over again that is, is my opinion, is one of the best sports commercials out there. It's Nike's "See Lance Ride" spot.

The opening, an aerial shot over the Northern California surf and flying in on Lance, is epic and yet, intimate. The enormity of his accomplishments over the last six years is obvious. But just as prominent are the sacrifices he made fighting his personal battles and the isolation that followed.

No voice over. No explanation. Just the pounding surf, and the only soundtrack are some simple chords picked on a guitar and some subtle humming woman's voice. There are no lyrics, and it embodies his journey: quiet, yet intense, unwavering. You're drawn in.

Then he's speeding alongside a train. There's a flock of geese flying in formation with him as the lead, a gang of Hell's Angels riding with him mimicking his support team, and a group of cancer kids rushing to the hospital window for a mere glimpse. You see a herd of buffalo stampeding across the plains, kids chasing him through the rain, fireflies and bats guiding him through a tunnel, a pack of city cyclists through the hills of San Francisco, all following his lead eager to share his journey. Finally, a little boy wearing a football helmet riding a BMX, straining to catch up with Armstrong.

My first viewing of this spot gave me goosebumps and... I admit, it got my eyes a little watery.

You slowly realize that this isn't just about a multiple Tour de France winner. It's about the connection between him and his influence on the things that surround him. It works both ways, really. The old man on the train watches him with a quiet serenity. When Armstrong raises his fist, it's both to inspire the kids to keep fighting as well as a gesture of gratitude for sharing his journey. There are more kids leaving the shelter of a tunnel to brave the weather hoping to somehow extend their few moments with greatness. The enthusiasm of his fellow cyclists in San Francisco, none of who will ever win even one title, yet they use him as motivation to pursue their passion for no other reason than their love of cycling. Their drive and fervor in turn feeds him.

My favorite part: in the final moments, when the boy in the helmet rides up, when you see the shot of his front wheel pulling up to Armstrong’s bike, you wonder whether the hero is pulling the kid or the kid is pushing the hero.

Armstrong's battles with cancer is there, as well his personal battles and sacrifices – the way he's inspired others to stay strong in their own battles, and the way those stories fuel him through the pain of hard climbs and long hauls on the course.

I'm not a cyclist, I never wore those yellow bracelets, and for that matter, I don't own anything Nike. I've never suffered through any life-threatening illness and the most debilitating sports injury I've had is a sprained knee. But like Lance Armstrong, I'm just another guy living a life with numerous peaks and valleys. And like anyone, when I'm in a valley I look to something... anything... to give me a lift. A sign, a rope, an outstretched hand to pull me out of the miry clay. Anything that can elevate me so I can get ensconced in a peak before the bottom falls out yet again.

And in many ways, this commercial does that for me. I know I'm gushing and some of you might think I'm just a sucker for a promotion of capitalism disguised as art. Yeah, you see that ubiquitous "swoosh" at the end but it's not about that. It's an inspiration as much as it's a firm kick in the ass. And the reason it works for me is it doesn’t make me want to buy anything. It makes me want to do... something. Anything. Go for a run. Read a novel. Work on concepts till my ears bleed. Take steps to become a better man. Or maybe I'm in one of my moments where I need some inspiration.

I've been watching this spot a lot lately.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:47 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Just... so South Beach ::

I would have posted this sooner had I not been so busy this week (pulling my hair out).

Imagine if you will, four shirtless guys in pants and sandals hanging out behind the Mirador Apartments... fishing. We went snapper fishing off the pier behind the pool area last Friday to and while none of us thought twice, it probably made for an odd sight. Seeing a group of shirtless guys is quintessential South Beach. Just not when they're fishing, drinking trailer-trash beer (Miller High Life), and gutting fish for bait - which entails having to touch "icky stuff" in gay-speak - while sporting face scruff and untouched body hair.

It was catch-and-release since everything we caught was rather small but that wasn't the point. There's that old saying: "the worst day of fishing still beats the best day at work." None of us had particularly great weeks and EJ and I were especially tired since we were up until 5:30am finishing up stuff for that days's presentation.

By the way, my life at this point, is reduced to doing projects and counting down the days till I can go buy that new U2 CD. I can't wait.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:03 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Such a Fucking Klutz ::

It's weeks like this that remind me why I should never get drunk again. Ever.

I bought my first pair of Oakley's in 7 years from ebay 2 months ago thinking I was free of my "sunglass curse" - my propensity for losing, breaking, or irrepairably damaging expensive shades.

This happens last Saturday: I'm walking with some friends on the sidewalk. One of the guys behind me asks me a question so I turn around and reply to him. I end up walking with my head turned around for a good ten feet or so on a narrow sidewalk. Our chat is over, I start to turn back forward, only to walk face-first into a signpost. And I walk pretty fast.

So now there's a two deep, nasty, inch-long scratches on the left side, right in my field of vision. Unlike the Bambino, my curse seems to be alive and well. Fortunately, the lenses are easily interchangable, but still.

Wednesday, I'm at class at the Crispin office. It's held in a conference room with all glass doors. Back up to earlier that day, when I drag myself out of bed after going to sleep around 6:00am.

So now its about 8:30, I'm a little tired, and I have a lot on my mind. I'm walking back to the conference room after a bathroom break. Thoughts about Friday's presentation is first and foremost in my mind. I'm the type to put my hand on my head when I'm deep in thought. As I approach the room, I start rubbing my eye... only to walk face-first into a glass door. Again, I don't walk slow so I'm honestly surprised that the door didn't break. So now I have nice little knot on my forehead right above my left eye. I can honestly say that's my first classroom-related injury.

This is why I don't get drunk. I'm dangerous enough sober.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:18 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Oh by the way, on the off chance that anyone who read the previous post has any idea what/who the hell I'm talking about, I implore you... SHUT UP.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:00 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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Buddy: So what are you doing tonight?

Me: I'm gonna stay home and do homework. What about you?

B: I'm not sure yet.

M: Weren't some of you talking about [going out] tonight?

B: Yeah, Cathy* (* = name has been changed) is all about the [going out].

M: (Chuckle) Yeah.

B: You should call her and see what's up

M: I don't have her number.

B: I can give it to you.

M: Nah.

B: You sure?

M: Yeah, I'd feel weird calling someone unless I got the number from them.

B: You know Cathy is single again.

M: (Pause) Again? Wait, what?

B: Yeah, her and [that guy] broke things off.

M: Oh...

... (pointless inane chatter about [that guy])

M: Why are you telling me this?

B: You guys seem to really hit it off the other night.

M: Oh...

B: She's really pretty.

M: (Sarcastically) I saw that.

B: You date [ethnicity deleted] girls?

M: I have.

B: There you go.

M: Oh...

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:29 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Four More Years Pt. II ::

I can understand the bitterness expressed by some Democrats I know over the election results but what I can't understand is their desire for the President to fail. Really? It's one thing to spew hyperbole when you're angry but is the collapse of the Administration in anyone's best interest? I never once voted for Clinton but as long as he was in office, he's my President and a fellow resident of the United States and never once did I want him to fail. (I just never got that vibe.) Sometimes, I don't understand Americans.

For that matter, I'm never more ashamed of our country than when national elections are being held. From the perspective of some of the foreign students in my school, our level of apathy and ignorance is appalling and I couldn't disagree. There isn't anything wrong with the Electoral process, per se. It's the way candidates run that makes me want to vomit. It's a throwback to high school popularity contests where the absolute worst thing a candidate can do is - get this - look bad on TV.

This was never more apparent than in 1992 during the Quayle/Gore/Stockdale Vice Presidential debates. The media lambasted VP nominee James Stockdale after that for simply saying he needed to turn up his hearing aid. Given the utter lack of civility during the debate, it's a wonder that anyone with normal hearing was able to comprehend anything. But let's ignore that and pick on the old fart with the earpiece. Let's also ignore the fact the guy was a decorated (two Purple Hearts, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, four Silver Star Medals, and the Congressional Medal of Honor) war hero in Vietnam. He was one of the first ones in and the last ones out in a conflict that our past two Presidents were too chickenshit to sully their hands with. Let's also forget that he's a published author and highly respected Professor at Stanford University. Forget that he was the Vice Presidential nominee, a backup position - something he was grossly overqualified for - that's little more than a glorified advisor that could probably be held by some idiot picked out of the Sox lineup. Let's ignore all that and focus on his most heinous sin: he looked bad on TV.

If anyone has any right to be bitter it's Howard Dean. One Democrat I would have voted for without hesitation because he's the one Democrat that actually might be looking out for the little guy. He had a plan; he not only pointed out what was wrong but offered solutions, he didn't vacillate wildly on issues, and he spoke with an almost unpolished candor that expressed his genuine desire for a better America. And what was his downfall? That yell. I admit, I laughed when he became fodder for late night monologues but when it became the subject of derision on CNN, MSNBC, and local news, my heart sank. I mean geez, even Kerry was mocked for being too stodgy. Yeah? When the hell did charisma become a job requirement?

There's nothing wrong with our electoral process. The fault lies with the majority of the voters out there who continue to sleepwalk through the process and go with the tide of popularity instead of the guy with substance. It almost seems like Americans would rather vote for the guy that lets them bitch about politics than the guy that might elevate the office to something more respected than, say, lawyers or gay porn stars. To the few out there who also try to vote with substance, well, I suppose it could be worse.

ANYWAY, rant over, I'm getting off the soapbox. Here's to four more years. I need a drink.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:50 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Four More Years. Greeeaaaat. ::

So it's starting to look like four more years of Bush, though it's still a little too soon to tell. As a lifelong Republican, I should be happy about this but I'm not. I was never a Bush fan, having voted for McCain back in 2000 but he was still a better option than Gore.

This time around, I was really hoping Kerry would give me a good reason to vote for him but his entire platform was "I'm not Dubya." No mention of any plans to fix what's wrong, no firm platform, endless streams of vague answers, and constantly vascilating on issues. Nothing but "I'm not Dubya." This guy reminds of the guy who's most vocal when complaining or pointing out other's flaws but shuts up when asked how to make it better. You know the type and you all know at least two or three people like that.

This is what it came down to for me: If I voted for Bush, I'd feel dirty. If I voted for Kerry, I'd feel like an idiot. Now, I've felt like an idiot before and more than likely will again in the future. I hate it, but I can deal with it. However, I don't like feeling dirty. This is by far the worst case of "lesser of two suckfests" I've seen in a while.

Four more years of... what? God only knows and indeed, God help us all.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:19 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Boo! Or not. ::

This year's Halloween wasn't as odd as last year's but it was still fun. I wasn't sure what to dress up as until I got an invite from a student to a pig roast. Right then I thought "Luau!" "Hawaiian theme!" I got a costume!

My original plan was to wear a grass skirt and a white shirt with a coconut bra painted on the chest. It went awry when I discovered that the skirt I bought wouldn't go all the way around my waist. (I guess I'm a little bigger than your average hula girl. What only girls wear grass skirts?! Oh really? Never mind.) I improvised by cutting it in half turning them into grass leggings hula-boy style. I finished it off with a blue lei that matched the flowers on my board shorts.

All of the partying was done on Saturday. A few of us went to that pig roast first and stuffed ourselves full of swine. I gotta tell ya, few things are better than a chunk of pork sliced fresh off the pig after it was cooked over an open fire. I ate quite a bit, which I'm pretty sure you assumed already.

The party at school later that night was a little blah but the costumes were pretty cool. There were a couple of, um, couples that paired up. One had a guy dressed as a plug and the girl dressed as a socket. The another couple dressed liked they were from ancient Rome. My favorite was the husband dressed as Samuel Adams and the wife dressed as the St. Pauli Girl.

Today was relatively mild. Only thing students had to do was show up at soccer Sunday in some sort of git-up. I played in my grass leggings which made an amusing swishing sound whenver I ran. They didn't really help much though when I was playing goalie and got a soccer ball in the "man-berries" as one girl called them. Other than the fact that I'm singing soprano for the next week, it was a fun weekend.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:15 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

Congradulations to the Boston Red Sox and the highly devout people of the Red Sox Nation. You did it the hard way and you truly earned that World Series Championship. Now stop whining about the Yankees, Steinbrenner and the Curse and get on with your lives.

I was looking at Derek Lowe's stat line from last night's game and was impressed he pitched so well after a horrible regular season. When I saw he allowed only three hits through seven scoreless innings, it reminded me of a conversation I had last year:

I was working on a lengthy scoreless streak of my own when a friend asked me "so Dan-E, you gonna get back in the dating scene time soon?" Having had a couple of Guinness while watching the Dodgers lose after a crappy day at work I replied "yeah, when Boston wins the world series."

Gawd Dammit.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 5:44 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

So my sobriety streak has finally come to an end. What killed it? It was a combination of factors but ultimately it was me saying to myself "f*** it. I'm 30 now, why the hell not." I was out last night with some friends from class. We have a guest teacher named Kash who's not a only a brilliant creative but a really, really cool guy. We like him so much that we invited him to hang out with us for an evening before he took off on Friday.

It started out inauspiciously enough with us meeting at Dewey's to catch the rest of the World Series (WOO SOX!). WHen I arrived there were already a couple of guys there and they got an early start. We wanted to give Kash the "South Beach" experience, pretentious warts and all, so after the game we headed over to the Delano. Great place to go if you want to see pretty people act like they're somebody. Everyone got mixed drinks, I had a beer, and Kash, being the responsible type, stuck with Diet Coke. We stayed there for a little bit before heading to this rooftop lounge called the Townhouse.

That's when things got interesting. Somebody suggested tequila shots and somehow convinced Kash to get in on it. The bartender accidentally poured an extra so I got an extra shot. We stood around talking some more before they closed at 2:00. So naturally, we couldn't call it a night just yet so we went to the Liquor Lounge.

We naturally had to keep drinking after another few rounds of beers and shots I was gone.

I'm not sure how to describe being drunk other than saying I felt really, really lightheaded. I'm sure you guys out there who've been drunk could explain it better. All I remember is that after all those drinks, when I tried to stand up to go to the restroom, it felt like my legs gave out. That's when I thought to myself "ok, I'm a little bit past tipsy." However, I wasn't completely hammered since I still remember most of that night (thought details are fuzzy) and I wasn't stumbling too bad. I know that for a fact since I made it to Jerry's Deli without tripping. I didn't get home till after 6:00am.

I don't know if this is an actual category but I think I'm a rational/mellow drunk. Rational since once I self-diagnosed my drunkenness, I immediately went into shutdown mode as to prevent myself from doing anything that would embarrass myself. Not an easy thing given my abilities to embarrass myself even while sober. Mellow since I didn’t really say much and stayed slumped in my seat. (I may have tried to make out with one of the girls there but that could just be bad recollection on my part.)

I felt fine when I woke up this morn... afternoon, thanks to the two glasses of water I drank before passing out. So thankfully, I've yet to experience a hangover.

Still, now that I’ve gotten that "get drunk" out of the way, I'm really not eager to do that again. Seriously, it wasn't that fun.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 3:53 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

I hung out with a few of the new students last night to go see a movie ("I 'Heart' Huckabees," excellent, quirky, go see it). One of the scrubs that I met was this cute blonde chick from San Francisco. She's really friendly and talks in that "like, ohmigawed" sort of way but being a copywriter, possesses an impressive vocabulary and occasionally throws in multisyllabic words. An interesting combination.

The point of the story, right. We were talking after the movie and maybe five minutes into it, she asked me if I was from California.

"Yeah," I reply. "How'd you know?"

"You have this thing about you. 'Cuz I'm from San Francisco and I can tell."

"Really?"

*Nod*

"How can you tell?"

"I don't know if it's your diction or your accent or your attitude but I sorta caught it"

Of course I took it as a compliment, being very proud of my Californian ethnicity. But it made me wonder: what is it about me that conveys that? I'm curious because it's not the first time I've been told this. Other times, when I tell people I'm from Los Angeles their response is "yeah I can see that." Huh???

Actually, back up a little. What the hell is a "Californian" accent? Is that even real? I can understand people picking up on the fact that I say words like "dude," "sweet," and "totally" a lot but... I have an accent?

Seriously, what is it?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:51 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Don't Trip ::

Note to self:

- When jogging around your neighborhood, keep in mind that the sidewalks aren't in the best conditions and some of the cracks are pretty deep.

- The sidewalks aren't lit well so when jogging at night, keep your eyes in front of you and not on, say, an attractive women in a sexy dress who's walking her dog since that's a good way to step into one of the aforementioned cracks and sprain an ankle.

- You may look impressive to women when running with your hair flying in the wind and muscles glistening with sweat but when you're hobbling around like a gimp after almost spraining an ankle, not so much.

- Grow a brain and don't make the exact same mistake when running back home. No, it doesn't matter that she was wearing really tight pants.

- Be thankful that you just stumbled and didn't break that damn ankle that second time.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:11 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: More Baseball ::

If you're following the Sox-Yanks series, you'd understand why all the hype for tonight's game is, for once, justified. Something tells me we're in for another extra-innings game but this is how it's gonna end: after running out of bench players Francona is going to call up Adam Vinateri to knock in the game-winning run at the top of the 17th inning. Tom Brady is going to pitch at the bottom to attempt his first Major-League save but Larry Bird, subbing in for Johnny "Captain Caveman" Damon, is going to hit the jump shot at the buzzer to throw out the runner at first ensuring that the Sox advance.

Now after reading that, let me ask you, did you notice the terrible grammar?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 4:25 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Old and Proud ::

Now that my beloved Dodgers have been soundly eliminated (read: called the Cardinals their "Daddy"-among other things) from the playoffs I've jumped on the Houston Astros bandwagon. Not that I feel any connection to Houston or anything but I've always had a lot of respect for Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt is one of my favorite pitchers. Even back in his Yankees days when he was reviled just as much as he was revered, I loved his hard-nosed, win at all costs approach to the game.

Another reason, and this is more esoteric, is that the core members of the Astros is one of the oldest in baseball. Let me explain. I've always been a sports fan and for a while I rooted for the young guys coming into the game since they're more exciting, quicker, faster, and a few other "-ers" and also partly because I imagined it was me out there dodging tackles, throwing sliders in the 9th inning, or driving the game-winning spike into the sand. Eventually these young guys became "veterans" and while still at the top of their game, their hyped faded as more new players entered the game.

It hit me a couple of years ago: Some of these "veterans" who've been playing the game for a good five years or so, have now reached the ripe old age of 25-26. I was 28 at the time. I don't remember whose stats I was looking at when that realization hit me but I recall thinking out loud "this guy's only 25?!? Holy crap, I'm 3 years older than this 'veteran?'" I got over it. Eventually.

So now that I'm 30 I find myself rooting for the old guys more. Randy Johnson pitching a perfect game this season at age 40 was sensational. Emmitt Smith, defying odds, age, and naysayers rushing for a 127 yards at an age when most other running backs are out playing golf. Jerry Rice, my favorite athlete of all time, still doing it and doing it well at age 42. And I can't forget Holly McPeak, finally winning the Olympic medal she's dreamed about since beach volleyball became an Olympic sport. And at 36 years old, she has a better body than most chicks ten years younger. Seriously, look at this wallpapaer. I don't know any 36 year old, man or woman, that has abs that flat.

I find all these stories inspirational. Not that I need any additional motivation to keep playing sports and working out and I'm probably not going to pitch a perfect game anytime soon. But it's nice to know that I can still be the fastest guy on my friend's flag football team, or that I can play better tennis now than I played in high school, or that I can still squat 300+ pounds.

Yeah, yeah it's a long way to go to explain why I'm rooting for the Astros, I know. But still just so you know, hitting 30 isn't bad at all.

40... THAT'S gonna suck ;)

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:09 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: The Dodgers WIN! ::

The Dodgers win their first playoff game in 16 years! The Dodgers win their first playoff game in 16 years!!! THE DODGERS WIN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN 16 YEARS!!!

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 11:06 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: The Dodgers win the Pennant! ::

The Dodgers win the pennant! The Dodgers win the pennant! THE DODGERS WIN THE PENNANT!!!

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 7:56 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Hurricane Hangover ::

I'm going to be happy once hurricane season is over because waiting one out can really, really suck. Not that South Beach has been in any real dnager since none of the four hurricanes have come that close to Miami, fortunately. But they've all been close enough that we've received warnings and evacuation orders at one point or another. Sitting around, doing nothing and drinking beer is fun but only on occasion and for guy like me who likes being outdoors, it can feel stifling.

So imagine how happy I was when Hurricane Jeanne took a little loop and decided she wanted to see the sights in Florida. Again, there wasn't any real threat here but there was still both an evacuation order as well as a curfew for people like me who didn't want to leave. So once I again get a few cans of food, a couple of jugs of water, and some other stuff just in case it does get real bad but... it doesn't. Forunately.

Still, I don't know what it is but just like last time, I had everything I needed to do some work but all I did was either watch sports, sleep, or eat. And I still woke up this morning feeling sluggish. What's that all about?

I shook off the cobwebs by going for a run this morning and like most day-afters, it was quite nice outside. Seriously though, no more hurricanes.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:14 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: One Year in Miami and all I got was this Stupid T-Shirt ::

Today marks the One Year anniversary of my move to South Miami Beach (technically, I arrived September 23rd but I spent most of that day on a plane so it doesn't count). Looking back, I can't believe it's already been one year while at the same I time, I can't believe it's only been one year. What a change, what an adventure. Knowing that this day was coming up, I spent some time ? mainly trying to avoid doing schoolwork ? reflecting on some of the differences in my life.

- Let's start with the easy stuff: In SoCal, I had a car; now I walk a lot more.

- My hair is considerably longer, not surprising since I haven't cut it since I moved.

- My exercise routine has changed, in that I actually exercise now. Kidding. Before I was something of a gym rat but now that I don't have a gym membership, I've resorted to running around a track at the nearby park. Something of a minor feat since while I like working out, I hate running. Even more than I hate light beer.

- I'm more disciplined now. It all started when I tried out the Atkins diet a couple of years ago and I've maintained (most of) that discipline to this point. And yet...

- ...I can be such a lazy bastard. Never more apparent then my sleeping pattern when school is not in session. Sleeping in till 2-3pm isn't uncommon, and even then it's still another couple of hours before I drag my lazy ass out of the bed.

- I use a lot more profanity. I'm not really proud of this nor can I pinpoint when this started back up. It doesn't bother me really that I cuss more; it gives me pause since it probably should.

- I eat healthier. Not Atkins or anything but, healthier. I'm also thinner. Or rather, less fat.

- As if it was possible my humor has gotten even drier.

- I've discovered I really like bars, though I still don't like clubs. Not really surprising considering one my of my favorite places back home is Hennessey's Tavern.

- I used to play tennis, volleyball, football, and softball fairly regularly. Here I play soccer. I hate soccer. Almost as much as I hate running. And NO I will never call it football.

- I've discovered that I can be a pretty good server so if the economy tanks again or this advertising thing doesn't work out, I can always make a decent living working at a nice restaurant. I'm still wondering if that's a good thing.

- Despite my dryness, I'm funnier here. While I still get plenty of blank stares, I tend to garner more laughter than back in LA. I wonder if it's an East Coast thing.

- I flirt a lot more. It's not really a case of women of the East Coast vs. West Coast but rather, my old circle of friends contained way too many uptight women.

- Going the first 9 months here without a TV, I've learned that I have a unique ability to find new ways to goof off. Again, I don't know if this is a good thing.

I could probably go on but this list is long enough as it is and sometimes, it gets a little dull writing about myself.`

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 7:23 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

Thanks to the requisite scheduling changes resulting from the onslaught of several unwelcome hurricanes, I've spent the last few days finishing up final projects and tying up other loose ends for school. I should be at the beach soaking up the rays or at the bar watching a ball game or something but this unintended extension has the benfit of fewer people running around school stressed out of their minds, almost ready to sucker punch the next person that even looks at them funny.

Most of the work I've been doing the last week has been with partners who were/are taking off during the break so we can finishing up stuff before they leave. Anal-retentive perfectionist that I am, I've been tinkering endlessly with stuff I'm doing on my own and it's proven to be... frustrating. And yet, not unlike the breathless pace I was going on last quarter, there's still that warped side of me that's enjoying this.

There really is something wrong with me.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:24 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

I just got off the phone with my parents. I told them I'm on break for the next two weeks and they offered to buy me a ticket back to LA so i could stay for a week or so. I declined.

Is that wierd?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 3:41 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
.....

it's a moot point now but stuff like this isn't really encouraging. I mean, I know hurricanes are difficult to predict but, come on. My personal favorite is "UKMET."

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 3:26 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: WTF??? ::

Move over "Women of Home Depot," "Women of Enron," "College Hotties" and even "Women of Starbucks." Playboy is now in search ladies to grace it's latest gimic: "Women of McDonalds." I couldn't make this shit up if I tried.

Now, based on my many, many, many (many, many) trips to the golden arches in years past, this is going to be the most grotesque things to come out of Playboy, surpassing even the microbe-laden oil slick everyone is covered with when emerging from their infamous grotto.

Unless of course, you're aroused by overweight chicks who lack the aptitude to make it in any other line of work. I'm not uncluding the hard-working teens who work there to earn a little extra cash and learn a thing or two about hard work but it begs the question: how many people seek employment at McDonalds thinking "today, fry cook. Tomorrow, cheesy magazine pictorial!"

One can only surmise that Hefner is finally succumbing to the effects of either Alzheimers, dementia, or quite possibly, pity.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:32 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: So Miami's Going to Hell in a Handbasket ::

"It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine" - Michael Stipe

So the entire Florida peninsula and a considerable part of the Caribbean is doomed to a fate of fire and brimstone, only instead of fire and brimstone it’s high winds, heavy rain and flying lawn furniture. Or at least that’s the prevailing mentality of some of the more melodramatic Miami natives. You can see why they might feel this way - hurricanes are a major a factor in Florida the same way earthquakes are in California, tornados are in trailer parks, and inbreeding in the deep south – you typically only see storms Category 4 or higher once every few years but to see three in such rapid succession would make one wonder if they somehow pissed off God in ways unimaginable. You know, unpardonable sins like red wine with fish, white pants after Labor Day, ordering steak well done, that sort of crap.

Some of this mentality has permeated to the people who run the school. When we returned to school earlier this week, we were told the due dates for our assignments were moved back a week to next Monday. Now, everything has been moved back to the “first day of the next quarter.” Also, the graduation scheduled for next week is postponed until December.

Now I understand the “better safe than sorry” mindset and all and this has been a freakish season but some people really need to calm down. The Doppler has Ivy (Ivan) skirting the west coast of Florida sometime next Tuesday and it’s still an iffy thing. I really don’t mind the inclement weather; if it happens it happens; it’s the whole thing of putting your life on hold for a few days that’s driving me a little stir-crazy.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:34 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Back Home ::

I'm back in South Beach simply riding out the tail end of Frances... that doesn't sound dirty does it?... and waiting for normalcy to return, at least what passes for normalcy in this city. This whole experience is pretty much what I expected it to be; not much excitement, nothing to write home about. Still it's better to be safe than sorry and I did take precautionary measures like everyone else. Given the nature of the people I was traveling with, we wanted to make sure we had everything we would need to survive, as well as enough booze for a hurricane party. Before heading out to Plantation, RB and I made sure we had enough beer (as well as some choice tequila) to last two hurricanes. We brought food, too.

What's a hurricane party like? If ours was any indication, there's a lot of drinking, sitting around, drinking, talking, and drinking, Is it sad that I still didn't get drunk over the weekend? I guess it's nice to have about 200 pounds worth of flesh loaded up with a large dinner to absorb a large intake of alcohol. Then again, I don't know too many people who get drunk off beer. Tequila on the other hand...

What is sad that all four of us brought our laptops so we could get some work done (ostensibly) but didn't actually do anything of substance. We talked a lot about it, and discussed ideas but actual work? Nah. There's something about being cooped up in a large, comfotable house sheltered from gloomy weather, listening to the steady pounding of precipitation and swirling wind that can cause a high degree of lethargy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway, I hope everyone out there makes it back safely.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:56 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Evacuation Complete ::

I've evacuated South Florida with three other friends from school and we're now out in Plantation, Florida in my friend's sister's place. I gotta tell ya, this house is much better than any shelter I could have gone to. It's a spacious, two story, five bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood and unlike, say, a shelter, it has carpeting and Internet access. This should be an interesting weekend.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:36 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ya gotta Hate Being Right all the Time ::

The Florida Marlins are currently on a seven-game win streak, as well as having won 10 of their last 12 games. Thanks to Frances, most of the weekend's games have been postponed. They've been playing solid baseball since the all star break and one local reporter, with a penchant for hyperbole and conjecture, quipped a couple of week ago that the only thing that could stop the Marlins from making the playoffs was an "act of God."

Sometimes, you just hate being right.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:59 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: What, Me Worry? ::

If anything good comes out of Hurricane Frances for me on a personal level, it's that it's nice to know that I have a few friends that are concerned for my well being. Even though it's mostly because I'm responsible for finishing up the final projects, I'll take it. (Just kidding Carolina.)

I was doing a little walking around today trying to finish up some filming for a project and one can't help but feel the tangible difference in, for lack of a better word, atmosphere. People are harried. The usually jovial looks are replaced by anything from denial to concern to fright. Going back to yesterday's earthquake analogy, no one can predict and earthquake so there aren't steps that people take to prepare for one. Here,there are people walking around with water jugs, luggage, bags of canned food, and heavy faces.

Yet, I've been feeling strangely, relatively nonchalant, almost incousiant about this. My partner MK has been nagging me about putting together a plan to get the hell out of Dodge. Plan A was always to take myself to a shelter and wait it out there but it seems almost everyone else here is trying to get a carpool together to, well, anywhere else so I've spent the last few hours seeing if anyone else is leaving and if they have room for one more.

Maybe it's because I've been through natural disasters, having grown up in earthquake country. I've experienced the tremors firsthand (and yeah, I'm on of those freaks that doesn't feel anything under 5.0 on the Richter Scale) as well as having friends who've lost valuable prosessions. Fortunately, I haven't lost any actual friends to earthquakes. I guess I've accepted the idea that natural disasters, however unfortunate, are a part of life.

i should probably mention that I do appreciate the people who are looking our for my personal safety. And don't worry, the projects are gonna get done =P

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 5:09 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: We're gonna get some Weather ::

I never bothered mentioning the last hurricane that came through Florida since Miami was never really in any danger. Hurricane Francis seems to be another matter, being as it a few of the South Florida natives have expressed some concerns to me. I suppose I should be more worried but having grown up in earthquake country, I've gotten used to experiencing violent forces of nature. Then again, I've never had the experience of being bused to a hurricane shelter either so we'll see how that goes, should that need arise.

One major difference between earthquakes and hurricanes; no one can predict when an earthquake will occur but hurricanes, while not completely predictable, does give you a few days warning about where and when it'll strike. (Well, that and one is a ground tremor and the other is really, REALLY windy.) As it stands now, Frank is supposed to hit the Palm Beach area, which is a good 60-70 miles north of us. That doesn't mean Miami is completely out of the woods, since we'll experience some heavy precipitation, high winds, possibly a swarm of locusts, and maybe, just maybe, the death of every firstborn child. So I found it interesting as to how many people in our area is hoping that it stays its course. It’s that "yeah they're screwed but better them than us" mentality and I caught myself thinking the same thing. I was joking earlier tonight with a friend of mine saying "doesn't this hurricane know that we have finals next week?! The nerve!"

I guess it boils down to which area God hates more: West Palm or Miami Beach? Who'd he rather take out: rich, stuffy old folks or a city full of self-indulgent hedonists? Come on now, if you can't find humor in a natural disaster, you're just not trying. Yeah, I’m going to hell.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:11 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: A few Changes ::

Another post with a collection of random thoughts...

Did you hear about this? The Dave Matthews Band is being sued for dumping human waste into a river. Their tour bus decided to lighten their load when driving over a bridge and some of the falling excrement landed on a tour boat.

I've heard of celebrities shitting on their fans but it's usually metephor for denying autographs, acting full of themselves, etc.

Besides, didn't Dave Matthews already do this when they released their last album?

When told that the falling poop came from a DMB tour bus, one of the boaters asked if this was their way at retaliating against those who downloaded "The Lillywhite Session" illegally off Napster. Seriously, what would you say (pun intended)? I mean, other than don't drink the water (pun intended).

All other DMB fans were too stoned to comment.

Known for being eco-friendly, when tree hugger organizations found out about this the... wait for it... shit hit the fan.

Remember the good old days when the worst thing that could fall out of the sky was pigeon crap, hail, and maybe a busted satellite (pun not intended)?

ANYWAY...

I changed some of the links on my website. I took out some of the dead links, kept the blogs I still find interesting enough to read, and added a few humor links. Enjoy.

Apparently, it's not just me. A lot of people in my school don't care for sitting inside a classroom located in Miami Beach 7 blocks from the ocean on a 90 degree day when they'd rather be doing something else. Going to school during the summer SUCKS.

On the other hand, football season is about to start! Woohoo!

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:52 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: So Anyway... ::

Our school recently merged with a highly regarded local ad agency called Crispin Porter + Bogusky. They've sent a few of their creatives here to teach some classes and they've been well liked among the students. So the presidents of both our school and the ad agency decided to combine their resources. The resultant changes to our school would probably be too arcane to mention and probably wouldn't mean anything unless you went to our school.

Anyway, the point of that little history is explain that thing about last nights "prom." A couple of students at our school, after an alcohol-fueled evening of banter, got the idea that it would be cool if they were the celebrate the merge by throwing a prom. At least that's what I've heard. That they still thought this was a good idea after sobering up and somehow convinced the school presidents that this was a good idea is another matter.

My initial reaction to this was an incredulity-laced "are you f***ing kidding me?!" (I think in pretty much those exact words.) I eventually got convinced that this wouldn't be a complete disaster ("Dan-E, this is gonna be just like your high school prom." "Great, I won't have a date for this either.") and I figured it might be cool to pick the heads of some of the creatives that work there.

Somewhere between the first announcement and the actual event, this became, at least for the students, a retro-80s costume party. The assortment of costumes, dresses, and hairstyles alone made this thing worth attending, for no other reason than I now possess incriminating photos of come of my peers. I played my part and dressed up in my own version of archaic 80s fashion: Don Johnson from Miami Vice. I had the white suit with the rolled up sleeves, blue sleeveless shirt, white shoes and no socks. I packed a fake holster to add to the effect.

It didn't garner as much of a reaction as some of the more outlandish outfits that night but I got my share of comments. What was disheartening was that my costume was a little before the time of some of the younger students, whereas I'm old enough to have scene "Miami Vice" on the original air date.

Still, it was a fun evening, thanks to the unlimited free beer (Molson, eh?).

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 10:36 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Geez ::

You couldn't possible feel all the sarcasm dripping from what I'm about write:

I'm going to our school's "Prom."

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 7:00 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Slackers ::

I can be such a slacker sometimes but it's nice to know that there are others who mirror my occasional indolence towards schoolwork. I just finished meeting with a partner and just before I left we discussed when we should meet again:

"When's good for you?" I ask.

"Sometime in the morning?"

"That's cool. Not too early or anything."

"Oh definitely not."

"Yeah. (Thinking.) How's noon sound?"

(Enthused) "Noon works for me!"

It takes a certain type to plan a "morning" meeting at noon. I'm proud to be one of them.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 9:07 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Tired ::

I don't know if I was experiencing lingering burnout from heavy workload of last quarter, or the fact that I haven't had to sit in a classroom in the months of July and August for over ten years, or maybe the murky weather that we had not to long ago but I again started off this quarter a little sluggish. I got my second wind a few weeks ago and I'm really starting to hit my stride now but I'm hoping that this whole thing of starting each quarter half-awake isn't a recurring theme for me.

On a side note, i read in the paper that famed genius Stephen Hawking is now retracting one of his theories. Specifically that one matter gets sucked into a black hole, there's no way it'll ever come out. Now he's trying to reverse that theory, saying some things might in fact, be able to escape.

Really? then how the hell do you explain my life after age 26? Huh? Dumbass.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 9:47 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Take him, Please ::

So I was watching the news and found out that one of those boybands (N'sync? Backstreet boys? I couldn't tell you) is touring parts of Asia. Here's several thoughts that popped into my head upon hearing that news:

- They're calling it the "Our 15 Minutes in America are up, so we're Trying Another Country, One that doesn't Speak English" Tour.

- They want to find out why none of the Chinese are pirating their CDs.

- Doesn't most of Asia hate American enough as it is?

- Only Nixon could go to China... but then he wasn't nearly as annoying... and he probably sang better.

- Tell you what. You can return them as long as you take back William Hung and keep him sequestered there.

Never mind that there's a tropical storm about 400 miles north of us. This is the kind of crap that sticks in my mind.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:27 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: WTF? ::

Whoa, it's already August?!?! Aww shit.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 1:25 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: More LA Players to Florida ::

First Shaquille O'Neal, and now Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, and Juan Encarnacion, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers have moved to South Florida.

WTF?!?

I didn't mind Shaq leaving too much since the Lakers were about due for a rebuilding but this Dodger trade... we got rid of a great defensive right fielder, one of the best middle relievers in the league, and an all-star catcher who also happens to be the clubhouse leader as well as the heart and soul of the team.

First it was Mike Piazza, the greatest hitting catcher ever. Now, Lo Duca who, while not quite as offensively capable, is more well rounded, having excellent defensive skills as well.

I can understand the desire to make a move to improve a team but really, did we improve? Let's see. We got Brad Penny, a good, young pitcher who's only going to get better and should he sign long-term with LA, could be a solid #2 starter.

We also get a lefty first baseman whose stats look decent on paper but strikes out a lot and doesn't hit well with men in scoring position. Did we just acquire another Shawn Green? The only difference between our current 1B is one is Jewish and the new guy is Korean. Which is great if you want a guy cutting really nasty farts in the locker room but not good for improving offense.

I just hope this works out.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:46 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: I mean, really ::

I'm sure people might have asked this question sometime in the past but I've been wondering myself for last couple of weeks so I might as well ask myself: how the hell does Krzyzewski become "shuh-shef-ski"?

If you have any possible explaination that seem reasonable (or funny, or ridiculous, I'll even take stupid) post in the "comments" thing.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 5:18 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Coke's New C2 ::

I bought a bottle of Coca-Cola's new C2 last Sunday before soccer just to see how it tasted. I tried it once before but it was only a sip and I couldn't remember much about it. I've been drinking diet sodas for the last 3 years or so ever since I started the Atkins Diet so I'm accustomed to the slightly blander taste that most diet sodas have.

The new C2 is, as far as I can remember, quite similar to tasting to regular Coke since I had the same reaction to it after drinking a can of regular... "whoa this is sweet." So of course I finish it off and it kinda reminded me of of drinking regular milk after drinking the fat free stuff.

It also made me wonder if this whole low-carb thing has gotten a litte out of hand. Now, I've reaped the benefits of it as much as the next person and unlike what some might predict, I've kept the weight off. So while I'm not on it as much any more - (chips and beer are decidedly not Aktins-friendly) the stuff I eat nowadays is healthier... or at least less bad... than what I ate pre-Atkins - I'll happily be its posterboy. But some of the stuff that's trying to pass itself off as lo-carb seems a little ridiculous to me.

For starters, lo-carb beer doesn't make any sense, not just because it tastes nasty but also from a physiological standpoint. (I could go into the science of that but I won't.) Then there was that near-debacle where KFC tried to pass itself off as lo-carb which nobody fell for. Lo-carb wine? Lo-carb ice cream, chocolates, chips, and fast food? Come on. Now, I love the above mentioned items as much as the next person (especially fast food... mmmm french fries) but come on, a little self-control never hurt anyone and it's as much a factor in losing weight as any lo-whatever food stuff out there.

The really odd thing is that this "craze" didn't really start until Dr. Robert Atkins himself died. Go figure.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:08 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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I haven't written a decent entry in a while since the baseball park stuff... oh by the way, if you wanna see the photos they're up on at http://photos.yahoo.com/dan_hyphen_e/ ... since school and trying to find a job has been keeping me pretty busy.

Even those who are sports-retarded know by now that Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the MIami Heat recently. Seriously Shaq? Quit following me. In a similar way that I'm now a Marlins fan, I'm also a Heat fan and I couldn't help but get caught up in their very surprising and impressive season. Now, as much as I love the Lakers, I just wasn't sure that they'd win the NBA title so naturally I needed a backup.

So I'm probably the only (admittedly casual) Heat fan here that feels blasé about the Shaq trade. LA had seven good years with him and everything points to the fact that since his best years are behind him, the odds of the Heat winning everything this year or next are still slim.

Which bring me to my rant: NOW he wants to get in shape? NOW he's motivated? NOW he's hungry. NOW he wants to be part of a "team?" Where was this last year? Or the year before? This is the guy who, missed a part of the first half of the 2002 season due to toe surgury. A surgury for an injury that he had for most of the previous season that he could have had performed immediately after the season ended. But no, he put it off till September 11, 2002 knowing full well that he'd miss significant time. His rationale being (paraphrasing) "since I got injured on company time I'm gonna heal on company time."

His lack of fitness is well known. As much deserved flak Kobe receieved for being shut down during the finals, Shaps lack of conditioning gave him on one big game, since he's now unable to recover as quickly as he used to...

I'm watching a rerun of the ESPy's (the sports version of the Oscars) right now as I type this and I just saw a moving tribute to former football player and war hero Pat Tillman and a feature on a guy named George Weah. You guys who read my blog on Tillman a couple of months ago know about how I feel about the guy. On the other hand, George Weah is someone I've never heard of since he's considered one of the greatest soccer players in the world. (I'd rather watch paint dry than watch soccer.) Weah comes from a war-torn part of Africa the feature on him showed how he used his wealth and influence to to try to right the immeasurable injustices that's tearing apart his country. He sacrificed his own safety and that of his family to try to influence this change. I'm not doing it justice. All I know is that when he came up to receive his award, that moment simultaneously rendered sports irrelevant while showing that sports just might be able to change the world. Beautiful.

What was I talking about?

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 2:47 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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I finally have a TV! Wait, back up. I've had TV for a while but I haven't gotten around to hooking up the cable. I still don't have cable but I finally hooked it up to an antenna cable that seems to be randomly sprouting out from the side of my apartment. I thought (and hoped) it might be a pirated cable from my neighbor or something but it's only four network channels. So I have four channels now, which isn't much but it's better than nothing and at least now I can watch Dave and Conan. Still, I need my ESPN.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:58 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Tour Wrapup ::

"There's much to love about a ballpark -- even the homeliest, most desolate one,"
- Eric Neel

I didn't realize until I was sorting through the photo of the trip over the weekend but there's a small part of me that can't believe that we did this thing. I remember a series of Mastercard "Priceless" commercials about three years ago and it was about a couple of guys going around the country trying to visit every major league ballpark. Guys like us can't help but think that something like that would be royally cool but unfortunately for most, it's mostly a dream. If you were to tell me then that I would do what I just did, I'd probably laugh.

As great as the trip was, it'd be almost pointless unless you shared the experience with a good friend and fellow baseball enthusiast. It's better when someone else is there to take in the sights and sounds... and smells (mmmm Fenway Franks)... of your surroundings.

It's just different in there. We live in a country that rightfully encourages individuality, and yet when you're inside a ballpark you're part of a mass that gloriously wishes misfortune on their hated rivals. Even when rooting for the visitors, you're still a part of a pocket of individuals standing firmly behind your guys. On the way there, you're just another guy in traffic or some anonymous passanger on a train. But once you step into a ballpark, you're part of a common vision.

On any given day, there's going to hundred of kids (of all ages) waiting eagerly for their chance to catch a fly ball that in reality, your odds of catching one is almost up there with buying the winning ticket. But that's what it means to love baseball. Having an unwavering faith and an undying loyalty, not just in your team, but in looking forward to and hoping for those brief, historic moments of greatness that stick with your forever.

There's that hallowed *crack* of the bat when your outfielder hits a homer. There's that righteous *pop* in the catchers mitt when your ace strikes out the guy to end the inning. The palpable murmur among fans waiting in anticipation whenever there's a meeting on the mound. And you can't help but smile whenever some diehards start that rally cry of "Yankees suck!"

At PNC, you have Manny's. Camden has Boog's, and Citizen's Bank has Bull's. All serving chunks of meat slathered in a sweet and salty barbecue sauce that would do most restaurants proud. There's the near-infinite varieties of sausages you can try (Italian, Polish, Bratwust) and sandwiches you can scarf (BBQ, Cuban, cheesesteak, and Primanti's). But you can't forget the one ballpark mainstay: the glorious, all-American hotdog. It's the perfect reason to order yourself a third beer. If I may paraphrase Gordon Gecko, gluttony is good.

These things are all inherently good. If Webster was a baseball fan, you'd see a picture of a baseball diamond next to the word "good." Even when the baseball is bad, people will still show up in droves because it's still good. This is what something as storied as baseball can do. It inspires. It draws people together and unites them. People will revere it, people will write songs and create movies about it. Families and friends will not only go to a ballpark, but will a make pilgrimages to one.

Baseball is good.

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 8:22 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part VI ::

At last, the final review for our final stop. After this I can go back to being my arcane self and continue obfuscating the details of my what I laughingly refer to as my life.

TURNER FIELD - ATLANTA

Monday, June 28.

Watching the game at Turner Field turned out to be one of the more memorable nights of our trip due to factors completely unforeseen. For starters (pun not intended) all that talk about Atlanta being a furnace turned out to just that. It was our first game that was threatened by cancellation due to rain. It was the only place where we had direct contact with drunken fans (not to say there weren’t drunken fans at other parks; we just didn’t see them). It was the only place where we were rooting against the home team (they played the Florida Marlins). It was the only place where ordering a Pepsi might get you kicked out of the park. It was the only place were you could call in an order to the concessions and have an entire pizza delivered to your seat.

Architecture:
What started off as Atlanta's Olympic Stadium became the theme/ball park that it is now thanks to an extensive renovation in 1996. What opened up in 1997 is a strikingly attractive ballpark. It has an old-school feel with its brick, limestone, and steel construction in the enduring colors of red and green with some blue throw in.

Walk in through the main entrance and you see statues of Former Braves greats Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, and Phil Niekro. Above the main ticket booth is an impressive fascia with “Turner Field” across the top.

Move past the turnstiles and you’re greeted by an enormous billboard of a baseball and the number "715" next to it, paying tribute to Hall of Fame slugger Henry "Hank" Aaron. Walk around a little bit and you notice that the impressive sea of blue seats offer a pretty good view from everywhere in the park. Go up to the left field terrace and treat yourself to a great view of the Atlanta Skyline.

While it doesn't quite achieve that intangible "thing" that makes Camden so magical you’d still be hard pressed to point out any real flaws. It has a very modern layout and it's retro without being up front about it. And there's always that kids area above left field that features a giant coke bottle made from old baseball gear. How cool is that?

Ballpark Experience:
About those drunken fans - actually, back up a little - about that rain delay. We arrive plenty early for our game that was originally scheduled for 7:35. Right after all the pre-game ceremonies were over, in comes the downpour. The behind-the-scenes people were nice enough to broadcast a game going on elsewhere on the jumbotron. The people of Atlanta are either used to rain delays or are rabid Braves fans since it seemed like most of the crowd stuck around for a good hour and a half.

At around 9:00, it looked like it was going to finally let up and the groundscrew (who were applauded) went to work drying out the tarp. Right when the tarp was halfway removed, the sky decides to open up again. Ugh. This is where the crowd started thinning out.

The game finally started at 10:55 pm Eastern Standard Time. Yeah. For our patience, the announcer made known that everyone remaining is welcome to take any seat that wasn't occupied. Amazingly, there were enough people left to nearly fill up the first tier. And you kinda figured they're the hardcore fans. That or they didn't have jobs. Of if they did, it was of the variety that didn't need much sleep to perform.

We made our way down from the upper deck down to right field just behind the foul pole. It's a human truth that most bleacher seats house the rowdy fans and it was no different here. I've never seen a group of people so eager to be seen dancing around on the jumbotron. Not really a knock per se since I was a little louder than normal. Maybe it was the long day, the late hour, or perhaps that I finally got to root for my "real home team" but I was really into the game. It helped that there were maybe five other Marlins fans in the crowd and Atlanta isn't the kind of place were cheering for the visitors would might result is personal harm.

So there was this group of guys behind us that clearly hung out near one of the many beer concessions during the delay. They were, in a word, amusing. A bunch of drunk, fun-luvin', redneck good ol' boys specializing in disjointed heckling. Depite it being against our team, we couldn't help but laugh. They even had some good-natured fun with us, a couple of them introducing themselves and one of them offering me a sip of his "special" coke. I declined.

Good thing they were there to liven things up since the game was a 6-1 blowout of the Marlins with our guys looking rather lifeless. That tomahawk chop that they do during rallies must get annoying after the first couple of times. Still, it ended up being a lot of fun. ****

Beer Selection:
Clearly, our new friends in the bleachers enjoyed what Turner Field had to offer but I was disappointed. It had the typical markup but the so called "Beers of the World" stand had only two imports: Heineken and Corona. I hate Corona. *

Quality of the Food:
One of the thing I noticed while touring the stadium was the remarkable selection of hot dogs available. Kosher Dogs, Bison Dogs, Chili Cheese Dogs, as well as Italian and Polish Sausages. Don't forget the pizzas that you can have delivered to your seat that one guys I asked said were "as good anything from Domino’s or Pizza Hut." The spendier types can even find things like BBQ ribs, burgers, and garlic fries.

I was impressed that they also had a few smoothie stands that sold them at a relatively cheap $5. Had it been as hot as it might get, it would have been a tempting choice.

Still, I went straight for the regular hot dog, which was still hearty and tasty. Good enough that despite all the other options available to me, I got myself another one. *****

Intangibles:
This was our last stop on our tour so we were hoping for a good one and overall, it was pretty damn good. As a baseball fan, if you can't have fun here, you're just not trying. There's a huge scoreboard at the entrance that's always on, a percussion band that featured a bongo drum bigger than a hummer, picnic areas, a stand were you could see bats and ball made right in front of you, and Looney Toons mascots roaming the area. There was a speed pitch game but there was another one that took it a step further by having showing you your speed as well as calling balls and strikes while you throw against a projected image of either Barry Bonds, A-Rod, Chipper Jones or Darin Estad (???). I was up 0-2 against Bonds before he blasted a homer off me.

And the fans. Year after year of winning their division might have jaded them by now but you'd have loved how the fans made a racket that belied that fact that only 5,000 or so remained. They cheered for almost anything that might start a rally, even a walk, after which they were chopping away. There was no time to let up, with the between innings entertainment coming the moment the third out was recorded. Those games and quizzes might seem silly to some, but that night, almost everyone was into it. I even got a few high fives from strangers when I properly guessed the hammer (you had to be there).

A hell of a way to end a trip. *****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:47 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part V ::

Almost done. Only place left is Turner Field. I went back and added the dates we attended each place so you could track our progress.

ORIOLE PARK at CAMDEN YARDS – BALTIMORE

Saturday, June 26.

For a place that's still relatively new (opened in 1992) Camden Yards has an amazing classic ambiance. Perhaps it's the magnificent warehouse that serves as the right field backdrop. Perhaps it's feeling that you're surrounded by art and history. Perhaps it's probably the park itself. There's a sense of the days of old walking around the venue. And no wonder, since this is where Ryan Minor, Harold Bainse, Roberto Alomar, Albert Belle, Eddie Murray and the near-immortal Cal Ripken once called home.

Architecture:
Camden’s unique feature is that old B&O Warehouse - built in 1905 and restored brick by brick - that stands proudly alongside the park. As for the stadium itself, it's constructed of steel and brick that shares it's style and tones with the old buildings that surround it. Like PNC, it blends in quite well with its surroundings but PNC stands out as a piece of postmodern art. Camden on the other hand, feels familiar, like you've seen this place before. Like you've been here. The earth-toned brick, the green steel gates that swing wide open to welcome you in, the brick wall up behind home plate. It's as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans.

Between the park and the warehouse is Eutaw Street. There are food and beverage stands and little shops so it’s fun just to stroll around and admire your surroundings.

If you go to a day game, get a seat high up along the third base line so not only are you treated to a scene of the warehouse and the skyline behind center, as well as a good view of the field, but it's probably the coolest spot in the park with the awning overhead. The seats themselves were quite comfy and those along the baselines were angled toward home to ease its guests from sore necks.

But no matter where you sit, the beautiful aesthetics invite you to look around and take in the sights, even after you've been there a couple of hours. Once there you can't imagine a better place to watch a good game... *****

Ballpark Experience:
...or so I imagine. Despite being twelve years old, Camden can still stand tall next to the newer ballparks. The only thing it can't do, is guarantee a good game. One negative part of this review is that the game was a snoozer. It ended up being a 5-0 loss to Atlanta. A couple of stolen bases couldn't help the fact that the Orioles fell behind early and never recovered.

But there was that party before and during the game. In an effort to get people back to Camden, Orioles execs sponsored a summer concert series just outside and we were treated to some great ska music by a band called... something something Senators (I can’t quite remember). It featured a guitar, bass, a horn section and a drummer who also happened to be the lead singer (hard to do). During one of the solos, we witnessed a cowbell exhibition that would have brought tears of joy to Christopher Walken.

There were vendors out on the street that were selling not just hot dogs and burgers, but chicken and steak sandwiches and at surprisingly low prices. Combine that with the park’s policy of allowing outside drinks in and we took full advantage. ****

Quality of the Food:
As good as everything looked outside, there were some wonderful smells emanating from with Camden and we, or rather, I had to try some stuff out. The hot dogs here, considering how great everything else was, were merely ok. I think it may have been a conspiracy to lure the attendees into buying the higher priced albeit better tasting alternatives.

That smell I was alluding to earlier came from Boog's Barbecue out on Eutaw St. Like the BBQ places at PNC and Philly, they sold pulled pork and beef sandwiches. My inquiries into their quality resulted in a some enthusiastic comments. Unfortunately, my budget only allowed one indulgence and I chose to do so in the form of a pretty good crabcake sandwich. After all, this was Maryland. I can only imagine just how tasty the other items on the menu might be. ****1/2

Beer Selection:
There's the standard selection of beers around the concourse as well as the numerous beer stands (you really have to try to get dehydrated here). But beer snobs are in for a treat if they stop by the Baltimore Brew Pub, right inside the warehouse. Nice and all inside but you notice an impressive eight different beers from around the world available at the bar. Reasonable prices too. Nothing you can't find at an average restaurant but a particularly nice touch at a ballpark. *****

Intangibles:
Had the game been a little bit better I'm sure my overall impression would have been a little better, but that’s like saying my project could have been a 99 instead of 90. Maybe because the game was boring the audience was surprisingly placid. Even when introducing the starting lineup the cheers weren’t what you’d expect of a near capacity crowd. And it was in stark contrast to the boisterous mood of the crowd out on Eutaw as well as before the game.

Still, this was beautiful Camden Yards. Those who don't know would be surprised to find out that it's twelve years old, with an equal mix of "it's already twelve?" and "it's only twelve?" Somehow the designers of this place achieved that magical "just right" feel. History was made here. History will continue to be made here. And in the meantime this will be a place where kids will go to dream the dream; where fathers take their sons and daughters to teach them the joys and intricacies of America's pastime; where fans come to witness the great moments that can happen during a ballgame. *****

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 12:18 AM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part IV ::

Happy 4th of July everyone! I don't know if you guys heard about this but the now (in)famous Takeru "The Tsumani" Kobayashi from Nagano, Japan has once again won the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition. He did once again in spectacular fashion by beating his old record of 50 1/2 hot dogs with a total of 53 1/2... in 12 minutes. Somewhat impressive for a guy that's 5'7" and 132 pounds. Seriously, my right leg almost weighs that much.

I really shouldn't be as impressed as I am but I just can't help it. This guy is my idol. I mean, i can wolf down a large meal as well as the next fat guy but... geez. I'm not worthy. Anyway, here's the next ballpark.

SHEA STADIUM in NEW YORK CITY

Thursday, June 24.

Like Fenway, I wasn't expecting much from Shea Stadium. Even less and as it turns out, I was right to, only not so much. Shea has been around 1964 and like Fenway, it shows its age but unlike Fenway its owners haven't done too much about it. Like many of the stadiums built back in the 60s such as the now-imploded Veteran’s Stadium, it was designed to be massive enough to see a mile away while housing not just baseball, but football and other sports. Like the Vet, it’s shaped like a huge bowl. Appropriate in this case since it’s located in Flushing.

Architecture:
Large, grandiose even... and a little bland. It looks impressive from a distance with the different tiers having their own color but it can’t compete with Dodger Stadium’s classic yellow-orange-blue-red arrangement.

Up close, it seems like one massive structure that architects raised just for the sake of putting something there. At least the relatively new blue paint on some of the outside panels give you the impression that Mets owners are actually trying. Within the panels are minimalist line drawing art of players in various action poses, which I thought were a nice touch.

Walk inside and you’re treated to more of the same: otherwise dull expanses of concrete with a blue trim on the posts, piping, and other places to try to liven things up a little. Walking around inside gives you the impression of walking around in a factory instead of a sports stadium. Part of this is because of the miles of ramps, the dark lighting (despite being a day game), and because the ushers and other employees don’t seem nearly as cheery as those at the other parks. You look around and you’d be hard pressed to blame them. On the plus side, the bathrooms weren’t nearly the stomach-churning hellhole that I heard they’d be.

It didn’t help that the grass lacked the typical checkerboard pattern that you’d find on other fields. Instead, there was an oddly spaced series of “V”-shaped marks pointing towards home that didn’t even line up properly. A rather half-hearted attempt at best.

Still, better than what I expected since, from what I was told, they cleaned it up quite a bit recently. ***

Ballpark Experience:
It wasn’t the quietest game with planes from the airport flying overhead every few minutes. Our seats were in the uppers tier, right behind home plate and we had an almost directly overhead view of the field. (And at $12, a little overpriced.) At least the game was pretty interesting. We were treated to a pretty good pitching duel between future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine vs. Cincinnati’s Cory Lidle. We anticipated maybe an historic moment beforehand in being able to see Ken Griffey Jr.’s 500th homerun but he already hit it a view days before. What he did first time up was an unexpected, and amusing, attempt at bunting down the third base line to thwart the Met’s infield shift.t

Funny moment came when Mets center fielder Mike Cameron dropped a routine fly ball in the sun and allowed two runs to score. Funny because Cameron is a two-time Gold Glover and you wouldn't expect something like that from him. Did I mention that he also stuck out three times? For a stadium that was less than helf capacity, the boos were quite loud. ****

Quality of the Food:
You hear about how New York City is home to some of the best hot dogs in the country and if that’s true, they didn’t make their way into Shea Stadium. Don’t get me wrong, they were fine but for $4.75 they should have been larger and grilled. Maybe the kosher dogs might have been better.

I also tried an Italian sausage that smelled good when I walked past the stand but it ended being, like so many things about Shea, a little bland. For $6 I should have been able to choose a spicy sausage and it also should have been a little larger. I left the game hungry.

Which brings me to my next point: this being New York, be prepared to pay a little extra if you show up hungry. Most items h, ere are anywhere from fifty cents to a dollar more than what you’d find elsewhere. It’s not bad, just pricey. ***

Beer Selection:
You know whenever someone in a movie orders a beer, all they say to the bartender is to give them a “beer?” It’s like that at Shea. And like the movies, it was yellow, slightly bubbly and drunk by people who just want something alcoholic. **

Intangibles:
Despite all of Shea’s shortcomings, there’s still something cool about watching a baseball game in New York City. The place was quite barren for our midweek day game but the people who were there, at least in our section, were cheerfully rowdy. The fans certainly knew the game and the heckles thrown down upon the visiting team reflected that. There was even a particularly diehard Mets fan who started chants of “Yankee’s suck!” Never a bad thing.

There isn’t much to do before or after the game once you’ve checked out the stadium and even that isn’t very interesting. Shea is enclosed in a labyrinth of streets and freeways and if not for our mapquest directions, we would have easily gotten lost coming and going. It does have a nice view of the Arthur Ashe (tennis) Stadium across the highway.

From what we experienced, it was clear that we came on the wrong day. One can only imagine just how fun it might be to see a game against the Yankees or the Atlanta Braves. But I can’t judge it on what might have been. And the best I can say about it is that it was better than I expected. ***1/2

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 11:26 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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:: Ballpark Review Part III ::

FENWAY PARK - BOSTON

Wednesday, June 23

I admit I wasn't really expecting much from Fenway Park other than being swept up in the history and atmosphere of the place. I couldn't have been more wrong and even GB, the native Bostonian and Red Sox fanatic, was surprised at how nice the place had become.

When new owners bought the Red Sox a few years ago, there was talk about building a new, larger stadium with either a replica of the Green Monster, or even the possibility of moving the Monster and incorporating it into the new place. Considering what a dump some older stadiums have been and just how nice most new ballparks turned out, there was, and still is some temptation to follow through with this plan. Now take it from someone who’s only been there once:

That kind of talk needs to die and die now.

Yeah, Fenway is almost a century old. Yes, its seating is crowded, obstructed, and has the potential to give you splinters but there is the history; there's the unrelenting, almost inveterate loyalty of the fans who've suffered through things like the Curse of Bambino, Bill Buckner, and Grady Little (who really didn't deserve to get fired, but that's another post). It's because of great moments like Carlton Fisk's homer off the left field foul pole. It's because you can still feel the ghosts of Ted Williams and Cy Young roaming the field. And then there's the Park itself.

Ask a Bostonian about Fenway and their typical answer is something along the lines of "it's a dump, but it's our dump." Usually with stronger language. So anyone who isn't from Boston who takes the time to visit Fenway knows it's history and what to expect and in many ways, that's a good thing.

Architecture:
Walking up to it, quite frankly, isn't really all that special being as it's surrounded by a bunch of buildings of similar height. From some angles, parts of it look like just another building.

Then you notice the back of the Monster. Walk around the entire facility and you admire the brick exterior, which looks like it was raised using good ol' fashion hands and elbow grease. The front entrance, with "FENWAY PARK" across the front, is as postcard-worthy as any neon hotel sign on Ocean Drive.

Go inside and gaze upon the field, the first thing your eyes are naturally drawn to is the famed Green Monster looming in left field. Look around a little more and you almost can't believe that it seats a little over 33,000 people. Then you notice that almost everything is green. I don't know what it is but green just seems to be the perfect shade to color a baseball park and here it's everywhere.

The seats themselves are pretty tiny. Our right field grandstand seats were in the first tier, blue section, which means we sat on the very same flat, hard, wooden seats that were around since 1912 when Fenway first opened. For a guy my size, who's of average height and (slightly above) average width, the seat itself was alright, but I was constantly rubbing elbows with the guys next to me and the person in front would occasionally back into my knees when leaning back a little too far. Not only that but our seats were one of the many with the "obstructed views" and sure enough the support beam to my left Still, I couldn't complain just because I felt like I was sitting on a piece of history.

Quality of the Food:
Unlike the newer facilities, which try to bring some local flavor to their menu, Fenway sticks with the tried-and-true Fenway Franks. You could get Papa Gino's Pizza or chicken fingers but people everywhere were chowing down on Fenway Franks.

Some elucidation: New England hot dog buns are a little different from what everyone else is used to. Take a regular bun, trim off about a quarter inch of the edges, and instead of opening it from the side, there’s a slice right down the top of the bun. (Not just Fenway, most of New England.) In it you plop in a thick, juicy sausage that's been grilled to perfection and you have what just might be the best ballpark hot dog on the east coast.

A surprisingly recent addition to the concessions is clam chowder (or "chowda") from the local Legal Seafoods restaurant. Surprising because you'd think they would have had it all along. I didn't have any since I just had some excellent chowder from the Boston Chowda Co. earlier but from what the locals told me, it's as good as anything you can get in the state.

Out on Yawkey Way, there are rows and rows of street vendors selling sausages, sandwiches and burgers. While it doesn't have quite the aroma of a good BBQ stand, what's there is still hard to resist. I wolfed down on a huge Italian sausage with peppers and onions before the game and it was the best non-hotdog sausage I had on the trip.

Just don't miss out on the Fenway Franks. *****+

Beer Selection:
Yes, they do sell Sam Adams and not too overpriced at $6.25. You could even get Guinness on tap if you desire something heavier. Otherwise, the same old selection. ****

Ballpark Experience:
You haven't been to a ballgame until you've sat in Fenway and went along with the fervent chants of "YANKEES SUCK!" Bear in mind, the game we saw was vs. the Twins. Having said that, no group of fans was as behind their home team as this group was. Starter Derek Lowe struggled (not unusual) through seven innings and while, say, Philly fans might have booed him when he came out in the seventh, the only thing you heard here was cheers of encouragement.

ESPN columnist Jeff Merron said it best about Red Sox fans: "suffering leads to insight." There wasn't a more knowledgeable, passionate, and loyal audience on our trip and because of that the game itself was fun, despite the Red Sox losing (also not unusual lately) thanks to some late hits that threatened to score. And the atmosphere created by the boisterous fans that by far was the best. *****

Intangibles:
Remember those idiosyncrasies I alluded to earlier? Fenway is full of them. The three of us decided to take the tour to check out the innards of Fenway. It was like the one at PNC, only not nearly as comprehensive and more costly. What we did see was the .406 club behind home plate, the gallery of former Red Sox greats, and views from almost everywhere. Having been up there, I can say the seats atop the Green Monster presents the most unique left field views anywhere. We also saw the brand-new right field rooftop section that should also provide a new and different viewing experience.

And there's Yawkey Way. Not only is it the best-named street address for a baseball address but also two hours before game time, they close it off to automobiles becoming a street festival with food vendors, souvenir shops, and a cheery crowd that is Red Sox Nation. You could easily spend an hour or more here, admiring the park, browsing the souvenirs, and eating till your waistline resembles the one on Mo Vaughn.

Unlike other venues, Fenway doesn't try to bombard you with between-inning entertainment. It lets the game speak for itself. There is music between the innings but it wasn't overwhelmingly loud. Plus I have to give it bonus points for playing "Sweet Caroline" during the seventh inning stretch.

Pittsburg and Philly might have newer, grander parks with more amenities and for that matter, seats that are comfortable neither compares to the ambiance at Boston. You haven't seen a game till you’ve seen a game at Fenway Park. *****++

:: Miscellaneous Ramblings by Dan-E at 6:20 PM [+] :: | 0 comments
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