impetuous

After another few hours and several hundred more dollars at the Toyota dealership, I think my Scion is finally healthy. My car just recently hit 60k miles so it is just beginning to break down in not so subtle ways. My hamstrings are extremely sore. I participated in sixty minutes of Hatha Yoga. This is the fourth time in my life I have done it and every time I come away amazed at how difficult yoga is. It takes strength, flexibility, and my downfall... balance. While middle aged women easily glide from position to position, my quadriceps shake until I eventually fall down into a heap of chagrin and humility. Like all things, practice makes perfect so I have decided starting yesterday to go three times a week and see if I enjoy it more in a few weeks. I really feel I would enjoy yoga once I master the basics. Until then, I will be the maladroit dude struggling with his downward dog.

1. I watched the Spike Lee movie The Miracle of St. Anna yesterday. The movie is about a group of Buffalo Soldiers (an all black military unit) during the invasion of Italy in World War II. The movie is good but very depressing and emotionally draining. I give it a B+. Not a bad rental, but timing is key. While returning the movie, I rented the movie Choke. I am very excited for this movie. It's in Indie movie based on the Chuck Palahunik novel. He's the author of Fight Club. My guess is Choke will be excellent, but gritty and disturbing. I just bought a new bottle of Chianti, and I am ready for a quiet evening of excellent cinema.

2. Today I watched the Sage Rosenfels press conference where he was introduced as the new Vikings quarterback. As thrilled as I am that an Iowa State quarterback will be the Purple's QB, I am luke-warm at best. He doesn't need to be anything spectacular. I just want Sage to throw limited interceptions, have decent accuracy, and know when to throw the ball away or take a sack.

3. Currently listening to "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys. Album: Pet Sounds.

You done done me.

Oh what a joyous time we live in! Everywhere I look I see communities holding hands, singing folk songs, and dancing. There is dancing everywhere. People dancing, animals dancing, even the trees seem to be dancing. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and life is good. Why is this? Because President Obama has discovered a way to fix the economy. He is printing money like there's no tomorrow because he has apparently found a giant tree that rains money. After congress committed $787 billion to the Stimulus, and a few months ago to a $700 billion financial bailout, and a multi-billion dollar bail-out money to the auto-industry, he is also talking about a $654 billion dollar health care bailout, a multi-billion dollar real estate bail-out, and a second stimulus plan... And this is before we even begin talking about next year's annual budget!! Last year's budget was 3.6 trillion. I am not kidding. Next year's total spending could be around 6 trillion. That is outrageous.

1. Harvard is the place to be nowadays. According to Bloomberg, eleven Harvard professors have been hired recently to positions in the Obama administration.

2. Even though I have not bought a Bare Naked Ladies CD in years, it was a little sad reading in USA TODAY this morning that they have officially broke up. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-02-25-barenaked-ladies_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

3. The best news of the day is Michael Cera has agreed to do the Arrested Development movie. That means the whole cast is on board!! Yay. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b101449_sources_michael_cera_joins_arrested.html

4. Currently listening to DMB's "Gray Street"

When you aint got nothing, you got nothing to lose

"The day of reckoning has arrived," preached President Obama last night in front of both houses of congress, the supreme court, and other guests. As any of you who read this know, I have been obstreperously opposed to Obama's stimulus plan; as well as generally critical to mostly everything he has done his first month in office. Needless to say, yesterday night, as I sat down with my Dad to watch his speech, I had low expectations. I was blown away. It is well known that Obama is a transcendent orator. What I liked about this speech was the meat and potatoes of his speech. Nobody was safe. The banks were called out for the predatory nature that led to their collapse. Children were called out and said they are unpatriotic if they do not at least graduate high school. This was a speech about patriotism, and country. Somewhere in heaven, Jack Kennedy has a big smile on his face. My only criticism is when Obama talks about his stimulus creating or saving 3.5 million jobs. When you can find a way to accurately record how many jobs were saved, you get back to me. Until then, it seems you are just making up numbers.

1. I think this week's dumb ass word belongs to Kentucky Republican senator Jim Bunning publicly saying that he thinks Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg "will die within a year." Bad form Mr. Bunning. Senator Bunning is more famous for being a former MLB pitcher, than for his medical background. I suggest he get back to worrying about our nation's crumbling health care system, and less about the mortality of of Justice Ginsburg.

2. The best story in yesterday's Obama speech was about Leonard Abess Jr. Abess is a Miami Bank President who a few weeks ago cashed out his stock with the company and gave the $60 million he received to the 400 employees of the bank. That comes out to over $100,000 each. That is a great boss.

3. Currently listening to "Troublemaker" by Weezer. Album: Weezer (Red album)

People are strange when they are strangers

I'm crabby. If you add it all up, I have spent about forty hours in a car in the past week or so. I just got back from February Chicago trip #2. The trip went fine. I spent Friday and Saturday night with my Grandparents in Milwaukee, and headed down to Chicago Sunday night. Monday morning I had a networking meeting and Monday afternoon I had an interview. I thought I did well but I am so-so on the position.

1. I was reading Sports Illustrated while getting an oil change and I saw that thirty couples got married at the Daytona 500 two weeks ago. Do you think that set the record for most tuxedo t-shirts in one venue? I'm thinking yes.

2. I have to agree with Roger Ebert that this year's Academy Awards was the best in their long history. It was entertaining, had nice acceptance speeches, and Hugh Jackman was pleasantly surprising as host. However, what was the deal with Philip Seymour Hoffman? It was like he was doing a bad Rosie O'Donnell impression with the cap, and all black attire.

3. 2725 shows later Conan O'Brien taped his last episode. It was a very funny, touching ending. If you did not get to watch it live, here is the link with the full episode: http://www.nbc.com/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/video/episodes/#vid=1032001

4. The stock market is at its lowest point in twelve years. No end in sight.

5. Currently listening to "Right Round" by Flo Rida

If you can't love the one you have, love the one you're with

In about a half hour, I leave for yet another trip to Chicago. After a few days in Milwaukee with the grandparents, it is back to the Windy City. I have two interviews Monday and I am desperately hoping that I return to Minneapolis with an offer (or two!) I have had a great time the past few months being laid off. I have been able to sleep in, watch movies, relax with friends, but for several reasons, I need to get back to work. My saving account is waning at a rapid rate, and I am just ready to have a purpose; even if it is to make a multi-billion dollar corporation more money. I might have voted for Obama but I am certainly pro-capitalism.

1. Mike, Elsa, and I saw the movie W. I really liked it and I give it an A-. I thought it would just be a typical left-wing hack job on the former president but I was pleasantly surprised at how deep the movie got into Bush's mind, his need for approval from his father, his confidence, and his disappointments. I would highly recommend this Oliver Stone movie.

2. There is only one more Conan O'Brien episode tonight. I am very anxious to see him at his new time slot and I really enjoyed his last few shows where he basically reflects on his favorite moments. No guest has been announced yet so I am excited to see what happens. I think it will be Will Ferrell but I have nothing to base that on. The good news about the show is the whole writing staff, and it took until TODAY before Max Weinberg agreed to move to California. Apparently he is from NJ, and has season tickets to the NJ Devils and really didn't want to move. Who wants to guess NBC got out their checkbooks for Weinberg?

3. I would like to thank Mr. Brand for getting me hooked on the show Big Bang Theory. There are very few good comedies on TV right now. The Office, Rules of Engagement, and How I Met Your Mother, as well as Big Bang Theory are probably the only watchable programs on TV right now. However, I did watch Demetri Martin's new show on Wednesday night's at 9:30 on Comedy Central and I think that has potential to be excellent. I have also heard the comedy Party Down is good but I don't know much about it.

4. Currently listening to The Rental's featuring Rivers Cuomo "I just threw out the love of my dreams".

A night at the opera

It has been a while since I lasted updated my blog and I have much to report. I left last Thursday for Chicago for what I thought would be one interview but I ended up doing a total of three interviews. I arrived to Illinois Thursday afternoon. After hanging out in Evanston, Illinois for a bit, Sarah informed me that her landlord is a musician with the Chicago Opera and could get us free tickets. She asked if I wanted to go with her. I had never been to an opera so I thought, "Why not?" It was quite an experience. We sat in free $200 tickets and watched Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde". It was five hours but an experience I will never forget. The vocal endurance, the lighting, the stage design, and The Chicago Opera House (aka The Lyric) was all resplendent. I would not go as far as to call myself an opera fan but I am glad I went and I would go again. After the show, we met Jim and caught up for a bit. Friday morning I slept in until mid-morning where I began to get ready for my first interview. I met with a recruiter downtown, had lunch with friends, walked around downtown and then met one of my Dad's friends about potential opportunities at his company before I headed back to Evanston. Evanston is a first-tier suburb of Chicago and home to Northwestern University. I really liked Evanston and I could see myself living there. Later that night, I met more Chicago friends in Evanston for a great dinner, and we then headed to Jim and Sarah's for a fun party. Everybody got a bit tipsy, and the night ended with many laughs and of course, my dancing. Saturday was Valentine's Day so all the couples did their thing and Nim and I hung out for the day. Saturday night we rented Zack and Miri make a Porno. It's a Kevin Smith comedy starring Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogan. I give the movie a B. It's worth renting. Keep in mind, the movie is very lewd. The rest of the weekend was just relaxed, and fun. I had a really fun time exploring the city, meeting new people, and I am really starting to feel good about my decision to move to Chicago. Earlier this week I had one more in person interview and one phone interview. Both went well. I actually have another interview in Chicago a week from yesterday and I am not at all excited to spend more time in my poor Scion.

1. I watched all the NBA festivities and for the first time in years, I thought everything was great. The HORSE contest was fun. The skills competition was fun. The Slam Dunk contest was awesome and the All Star Game was really entertaining.

2. I see that Hillary Clinton is currently touring Asian countries. This of course gives Bill a great opportunity to tour Asian massage parlors. (I apologize; I had to.)

3. I think I would like to try acupuncture. Does anyone have any advice? Are there any drawbacks? What would something like that cost?

Glass Onion

I was flipping channels the other day and I saw this thing on E about ComicCon. For those of you who don't know, ComicCon is this giant nerd celebration every year in California (San Diego I believe). It celebrates comic books, Star Trek, Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, et cetera. It is now part of pop culture as a festival for all things geek. Now lots of cities are having them. NYC just had a major ComicCon. I would like to know where one is so I could go and people watch. I'm not hear to judge. For purely sociological purposes, I would enjoy the experience. Although I often describe myself as nerdy or geeky due to my outer exterior as a short, unathletic, white male, with spectacles, I rarely actually participate in geeky activities. I don't think I have ever actually read a comic book. I have never actually played Dungeons and Dragons. I find Star Trek uninteresting. I do, however, very much like Lord of the Rings but I have only seen the movies. And I liked the Star Wars movies (all six of them) but I would not dress up as BoboFet just to get in better touch with my inner George Lucas. Here is ComicCon's official link: http://www.comic-con.org/

1. Yesterday was a unique experience. While watching the Gophers basketball team destroy Indiana, former Gopher All-American Trent Tucker got his jersey retired. He is only the fifth Gopher to have that honor. Many sports greats were there including Rich Gannon, Ralph Sampson, Flip Saunders, and Kevin McHale to congratulate Tucker. The Gophers are now 19-5 and barring total collapse should make the tournament. Considering they were 9 - 22 two years ago, and finishing in last place in the Big 10, this is a major two year turn-around.

2. I see Brett Favre is retiring again? Does anybody care?

3. I am off to Chicago tomorrow morning for a while. Hopefully I come back with a job offer!

4. Currently listening to The Beatles: (White Album)

Let all things now living

I'm disappointed. As a baseball fan, to read Saturday morning that the best baseball player in Major League Baseball cheated by injecting himself for three years with anabolic steroids is not shocking, but certainly disappointing. Major League Baseball has had a black cloud over it for the past five years with reports that some of the best (Roger Clemens, A-Rod, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, among others) have all been juicing. Hopefully with the very strict punishments put into place about a year ago, the reports of players on the juice will wane. How was everybody's weekend? Mine was excellent. Friday night, Mike and I saw the movie Milk. I thought it was good. I give it a B+. Sean Penn was masterful as usual as the community activist/first gay democratically elected politician. Saturday afternoon I ended up seeing another movie, Not That Into You. I was pleasantly surprised. It is definitely a "chick-flick" but I give it a B+. It is witty; and the storyline was enjoyable. Saturday, some friends and I got together to watch basketball and drink beer at Buffalo Wild Wings. Andrew also created one of the coolest books I have ever seen. He made a photo album with cool quotes. It must have taken him a long time and I am very grateful. Sunday was a little racquetball followed by the annual tradition of a variety show called Coffeehouse Cabaret that I participated in all through high school. As a cabaret alum, it was fun to see the younger generation's skits and talent. All in all, another successful weekend.

1. 14 days into the diet and all is going well. I am down another two pounds this week and well on my way.

2. I missed the Grammey's. Was anything worth going back and watching?

3. Darnit! Timberwolves star Al Jefferson tore his ACL. He was one of only three NBA players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He could be out all of next year as well depending on how bad the ligament tear is. Well, back to the lottery for the T-Wolves.

4. Currently listening to Lilly Allen's "Smile" from the album: Smile.

a billion here, a billion there, after a while, we are talking about a lot of money

The news has been dominated by the Stimulus package. Considering we are talking about almost a trillion dollars, I thought I would do a bit of research and break down for you exactly how much money will be spent and where it is going. I would love your opinions, either pro or against, certain spending.

1. The biggest chunk will be in tax cuts. About $145 billion in tax cuts (or about $500 per person.) These would last for two years. This will come out to the average worker paying about $20 less a week in taxes. Sorry rich people, those individuals making more than $70,000 or couples making a combined total of $140,000 would be phased out quicker. Meaning they would only get tax cuts for a few months. (The exact time is being debated in the senate right now.)

2. Education. $79 billion to states in financial relief to ensure there are no further cuts in education. Another $25 billion would go toward increased funding for special education. $14 billion in additional Pell Grants and $1 billion for the Head Start program. Another $14 billion would go towards a $2,500 tax credit to those paying for college tuition.

3. The poor. $47 billion would go toward increasing the pay-out for the unemployed by $25 a week. $16.5 billion would go toward an increase in food stamp benefits. $3 billion for welfare. In additional $18.3 billion would go toward a $1,000 tax credit if you have a child and are "poor".

4. Infrastructure. $46 billion would go toward transportation projects including bridge repair, road repair, and other mass transit projects. $6.4 billion would toward clean water projects.

5. Health care. $21 billion would go towards subsidizing health care insurance for the unemployed through COBRA. An additional $100 billion dollars would go towards Medicaid and improving health technology systems.

6. Cash. $17 billion dollars will go toward one-time payments of $300 to a veteran, a person on social security, or someone on welfare.

7. Homebuyers. If you buy property in 2009, you will receive a $7,500-15,000 tax credit. There also will be a smaller credit if you buy a car (the details are still being worked out.)

8. Business. Another $15 billion towards failing companies to offset previous losses.

What do you think? Overall, I give the bill a D+. There is a LOT of money being spent here and I am not sure how much of it will actually create jobs and stimulate economic growth. If I were the government, I would greatly increase the spending on infrastructure and reduce the amount of money being spent everywhere else. I think the tax cuts will not work. We have had six years of the Bush tax cuts. I can understand why fiscal conservatives hate the plan. It is outrageously liberal. The bottom line is I think this is mainly wasteful spending but as I have said before, I am not a great economics mind and the most brilliant economists in America are all saying we need some sort of a stimulus plan.

We stand alone together

The summer before my third year at Iowa State, my roommate Jim got a DVD from his Dad. It was a ten part HBO mini-series called Band of Brothers. Based on the Steven Ambrose book by the same name, the book/mini-series focused on the men of Easy Company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th parachute infantry division assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (aka the Screaming Eagles.) Basically, it was about a group of paratroopers during World War II. I immediately became captivated by World War II military history, and in particular this group. I just finished reading Easy Company Soldier by Don Malarkey. This is the fourth book to come out about the Screaming Eagles after the movie. Basically, this group was the most bad-ass military group I have ever read about. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, every able bodied man enlisted. There was no choice really. If you didn't enlist in the unit you wanted, chances are you were going to be drafted anyway. The 101st airborne were 13,400 men who volunteered to be the first official paratrooper unit in American military history. They were dropped into enemy territory on D-Day. They were the front lines in the Battle of the Bulge and Bastogne. They liberated Holland. They were the first American unit into Germany. The book/movie focuses on a specific 150 men (Easy Company). Easy Company was also the first military unit to take Hitler's Eagles Nest. His home and the SS's final stand. Easy Company also discovered a concentration camp. What I have really enjoyed about the books is learning about what these 19, 20, 21 year olds were like. What did they do in their spare time? What were their emotions? What was it like not seeing their family for two and three years? I have incredible admiration for the patriotism of these men. Think about how crazy you must be to volunteer to be on the front lines when America invaded Germany? Think about how even more crazy you must be to be parachuted right down on top of the enemy on D-Day. I have been fortunate that my Dad's Dad, is very open about talking about his time in the service during World War II. He was a bombardier in the Army Air corp. He had two choices: join the army or navy. He didn't know how to swim so he joined the army. He knew he did not want to be an infantry foot soldier so he joined the air corp and he was one of the lucky ones. He had hot meals, a bed to sleep on instead of outside in the winter, and he was much safer. The name Band of Brothers comes from Shakespeare's Henry V:

"From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother."

pay your taxes

Am I the only one asking if Obama did any research before choosing his cabinet? Yesterday Tom Daschle withdrew his name from the Secretary of State position for allegedly not paying $150,000 in back taxes. Nobody forgets to pay that much in taxes. Daschle now makes the fourth person that Obama originally named to his cabinet who cannot accept the position due to issues with paying taxes. Again, I have outrageously high expectations for Obama; and I acknowledge that. He has a long way to go before I will feel satiated. I have to keep reminding myself he hasn't even been president for a month. However, his cabinet positions has left much to be desired. Perhaps Maureen Dowd in today's New York Times said it best, "It took Daschle's resignation to shake the president out of his arrogant attitude that his charmed circle doesn't have to abide by the lofty standards he lectured the rest of us about for two years... The Democratic president has been spending so much time trying -- and failing -- to win over Republicans that he may not have noticed the disillusionment in his own ranks. Betrayed by their bankers and leaders, Americans were desperate to trust someone when they made Barack Obama president. His debut has left them skeptical about his willingness to smack down those who would flout his high standards or waste our money."

1. One idea that now has Obama's backing is an idea by Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. His plan is that any executives that work for companies that are receiving federal bail-out money should have their salary capped at $500,000 a year. YES!! What Americans want their tax money going to the salaries of crooked, idiotic, CEOs who have run their companies into the ground?! And again, if these executives want to make more money, than simply they cannot accept any federal bail-out. Again, this law has not been passed yet but Obama has openly encouraged the senate to begin legislation on this. Yes, this will be primarily a PR move, but it is a PR move that I badly would like to see.

2. Currently listening to Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes". Album: In Between Dreams.

Don't fear the reaper

Did everyone have a wonderful Superbowl weekend? Saturday morning I rented the movie The Basketball Diaries. It is a 1994 movie starring Leonard DiCaprio. It doesn't really have anything to do with basketball but more to do with the underground coke and heroin scene of Manhattan in the 1980s. It is really dark, and depressing but the acting is fantastic. Leonardo DiCaprio, to me, is one of the five best actors in Hollywood. I would give the movie a B+. Saturday night, I ended up seeing another movie, The Wrestler. I give the movie a C-. I thought the plot was uninspiring, and I felt mildly disgusted by the main character. I didn't hate him, or pity him... I just felt mildly disgusted. I guess don't take my word for it since it seems everyone else in the world loves it. Sunday morning I woke up early, went to church, worked out, and then helped my parents cook the rest of the afternoon. Later in the afternoon/evening, we hosted a small Superbowl party. It was fun, the game was excellent, and it capped off a very nice weekend.

1. So far so good on the diet front. One week after the diet began and I am down to 156.6 (158.7) lbs and down to 18.1% body fat (from 18.7%) last week. The goal is to lose one to two pounds a week; so I am right on track.

2. Rush Limbaugh needs to be pushed off a cliff. This trencherman has too big of ego and too much power for his own good. He is currently listened to by over 20 million people every day and he is probably the most powerful Republican in America. I will give you an example. Last week, he un-patriotically said he wanted the Obama presidency to fail. (By the way, can you imagine if a liberal commentator said that about Bush? Rush would have wanted him strung up!). I digress. Anyway, Republican congressman Phil Gringey from Georgia when asked about Rush's comments basically said it is easy for guys like Rush and Sean Hannity to sit on their soapbox while lawmakers are in the trenches trying to get the real work done. He is absolutely right by the way (and that goes for both liberal and conservative commentators.) Anyway, he got so much hate mail from his constituents that he was forced to call up Rush and offer an on the air, boot licking, head up his ass, apology. It was disgusting that a grown men and women in the senate who are Republican can't offer their opinions when they disagree with the corpulent one or they will be subjugated to intense criticism from their constituents, donors, and the Republican media. This is just another step backwards for America.

3. From http://www.minnpost.com/, writer David Brauer has an interesting take on Norm Coleman: The New Republic's Jon Chait does the deed, and Norm comes out the worst. Here's just a taste of "Spare the Rod": I can't think of a good reason why Rod Blagojevich has become the most hated man in America while Norm Coleman still walks the streets with his head held high. What, you say — Norm Coleman? Yes, Norm Coleman! Let me explain. The soon-to-be-former senator's scandal is pretty simple. Nasser Kazeminy, a wealthy businessman and close Coleman friend, allegedly paid him $75,000 under the table. And by "allegedly," I mean "almost certainly." Some differences in the scale of relative guilt do present themselves. In Coleman's defense, he's currently just a subject of an FBI investigation, while Blagojevich has been voted out of office. And, of course, Coleman hasn't been caught boasting about his scheme. On the other hand, Coleman is accused by a Houston businessman of having actually accepted illicit funds, while Blagojevich is merely being accused of harboring an intention to sell his Senate seat. It's risible by design, and almost gleefully unfair, but the problem with this final assertion is that it's simply wrong. Paul McKim, the businessman making the DonorGate allegations, has not accused Coleman of accepting the funds, only that Kazeminy tried to throw the money Norm's way. Don't misunderstand; I think DonorGate stinks and I'm glad the FBI, the Senate, a Texas court and McEnroe & Kennedy are on the case. But the reason the public doesn't equate these cases isn't just that Norm Coleman's made less noise. There's less proof, for now, and that's worth respecting. If the evidence emerges, few will Spare the Norm.

4. Did anyone watch the episode of The Office after the Superbowl? The episode was decent and the Cloris Leachman/Jack Black love affair was absolutely hilarious. When she gets stuck riding up the stairs, I almost fell off my chair laughing.

5. Did anyone have any favorite Superbowl ads? My favorite was the Conan Bud Light commercial followed closely by Pepsi's McGruber.

6. Currently listening to Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat: "Lucky". This song has been stuck in my head all day; not that that is a bad thing. It is catchy in the good way. How can you not feel happy after listening to it?