Bieber Fever?

I get pop music. I don't have to love every pop song, but I understand why they are here - to make us dance, smile, and have fun. The music is not deep, but is generally enjoyable. However, someone will have to explain to me the fascination with 16 year old Justin Bieber. I decided to finally listen to his music after I saw his album is number one on the charts. It's not that he is 16 and looks like he is 12. Another Justin (Timberlake) was 16 when he was in the studio recording the first N'Sync album 15 years ago. The difference is that at least most of the songs during the boy-band era were moderately fun. Justin Bieber's music is just terrible. Maybe I just don't understand how this little white kid from a wealthy Canadian suburb is doing all these collaborations with Ludacris, Usher, Sean Kingston, et cetera. I get that the music is not marketed towards people who are half my age and of a different gender. Bottom line, the music sucks and I sure hope this trend fades away quick.

1. Speaking of music, has anyone seen the new controversial video by M.I.A. for "Born Free". It is definitely not safe for work. With several graphic nudity scenes and brutal violence, the video was definitely eye-opening. The video lasts nine minutes. I guess I am just puzzled by what kind of political statement she is making. I would try to see it soon before youtube bans it.

2. I miss Minneapolis in the Spring.

For sale: One kidney

Yesterday my friend Josh Koo had a kind of tongue in cheek one-liner about the tooth fairy teaching children about selling body parts. The line got me thinking about the actual sale of body parts - in particular kidneys. According to the National Kidney Institute (NKI), there are over 60,000 Americans currently waiting (dying) to get a new kidney. These people wait desperately for young Americans to perish and give away their organs. These patients are currently suffering and living only through a kidney dialysis machine. (These machines, by the way, according to the NKI, cost the government 18 billion dollars a year!) Most kidney patients would do, and pay absolutely anything for a functioning kidney. Do you all remember the story a few years ago when a woman put one of her two kidneys up for sale on eBay and the price reached six million dollars? This got me thinking... We live in a free-market, capitalistic society. I currently have two functioning kidneys. If I get very down on my luck, and I want to donate one of my kidneys to save another life and maybe pocket a pretty penny or two in the mean time, why should the government stop me. I can just hear the critics yelling, "It's cannibalism!", "It's gross.", "It is immoral." So? When did the government get to decide what is gross and immoral? That's my job. As for cannibalism, if my sister gets ill, I have a right to donate my kidney to her. Is that cannibalism? However, after a 1984 law introduced by your Albert Gore passed 396-6, giving my sister one of my kidneys is benevolent and giving my kidney to an ill neighbor is a felony. I have always said the number one role of government is to protect its people? Protect us from bad drinking water. Protect us from crime and terrorism. Et cetera. Who is the government protecting on this one? The Bible belt? The law is not going to be changed anytime soon. I just feel this is a time when I agree with social conservatives/libertarians that argue that sometimes our federal government becomes too activist. If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one. If you don't like sick kidney patients buying healthy kidneys from willing donors, then when you get sick, wait on the donor list. But don't judge me.

1. I love the story of the Missouri man who won one of the biggest Powerball jackpots ever at $258 million. He is from a tiny town in central Missouri, has little education, only has a few teeth left, and works at a gas station. He now is worth a quarter of a billion dollars.

2. I was not even paying attention and I just ate a whole tub of hummus this evening. I'm not even mad. Hummus is that good.

3. Speaking of food, did you see there will be a Food Network 2. The Food Network has described the new network as "grittier, edgier, and hipper." Huh?

4. Did anyone else read in the paper about 7/11 beer? Natural Light and Keystone Light could have a competitor in Ames, IA.

Mediocre people do exceptional things all the time

I had a really pleasant surprise Saturday night. A few weeks ago Allie asked if I wanted to join her roommate and her to go see Ok Go live. The tickets were inexpensive, the venue (The Metro) is across the street from Wrigley Field, and I did really like Ok Go when I was in high school. To my pleasant surprise, they were spectacular live. It helped that we were only 15 feet from the stage. The guys were really witty, engaged the audience, and did a variety of creative things. For instance, they played one of their songs, What To Do, using only handbells for instruments. On another occasion, the band came into the audience to play a couple of songs. They also did a cover of the song Debaser by The Pixies that I actually thought was better than the original. And I love the song Debaser. The rest of the weekend was pretty chill. Went to a fun bar Sunday night called Matilda. Watched The Usual Suspects. Had some muffins with Jim and Sarah. Yeah, it was a really nice weekend.

1. Has anyone had a falafil before? If so, shame on you for not introducing me to this Middle Eastern fast food equivalent before. Not only is is decently healthy, vegetarian, but falafils are filling and really tasty. Of course I might have ruined my healthy eating day by trying more than one of the new Taco Bell tostado. Which, by the way, is also good. Speaking of fast food, despite highs in the mid-forties in Chicago, summer is approaching. You know what that means? Frequent trips to Dairy Queen. I was excited to read that they are now finally going to start offering mini-blizzards. Even the small size they currently offer is too much of a good thing. This is obviously the trend in fast food. McDonald's offers their snack wraps, Burger King follows by offering their Burger Shots. Quizno's has their Sammie and Dunkin Donut's has their munchkins.

2. This might surprise you, but I do not really know anything about moisturizers. As I get older, and I start to care more about my face, and aftershave, and all that good stuff, I find myself clueless as to what kind of moisturizer I should be using on my face. Does anyone have any good suggestions?

It's that time again

You know what I have not done in a while? Remind myself why I am not a Republican. This week, two of the most popular, and actually two of my favorite, Republicans showed their true colors. While the Democrat party has shifted to be more centrist, and left-leaning TV stations like CNN have become centrist, the Republican Party and Fox News has answered by moving further and further to the right. On Monday in New Jersey, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was asked his thoughts on gay marriage. Instead of just saying he disagrees with the idea of gay marriage, he felt the need to say, "Well there are a lot of people who use drugs so let's accommodate those who want to use drugs. There are some people who believe in incest, so should we accommodate them? There are people who believe in polygamy? Should we accommodate them?" After a few minutes of research, I found out that this view is right in line with Huckabee's views on homosexuality. Earlier when asked about the idea of gay adoption, he said, "Children are not puppies." I don't even know what he is implying. Or in an interview several years ago about allowing gays in the military, he said, "We should not legitimize immorality. I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle". I can continue with other examples but I think you get it. Huckabee hates gay people. I also found out he feels we should round up all the people suffering from AIDS, or "carriers of the plague" as he liked to call the infected, and make them live in one area so after a generation, we will have killed off the disease.

Then we have this little gem from Senator McCain. While being interviewed about Iran, he said that diplomatic relations have failed with Iran. He then said, "We have a loaded gun pointed at Iran but we fail to pull the trigger." What is he saying? We should go to war with Iran? We should bomb them? Aren't we a little busy with Afghanistan, and Iran? What about the Taliban moving to Pakistan? Isn't that more of a concern? I am not entirely sure what McCain means, but I sure as heck hope he is not implying another war.

1. I went to my first ever Bulls game Tuesday night. Not only was it an awesome game, not only was Marissa Miller in attendance, not only did Derrick Rose have one of the sickest dunks I have ever seen, but Scottie Pippen was recently inducted into the basketball hall of fame and they did a really sweet honor for him at halftime.

2. Currently listening to Mi Dulce Nina by Kumbia Kings.

In defense of capitalism

Last night Nimit and I rented Michael Moore's latest movie, Capitalism: A Love Story. We both thought it was complete garbage. Eight years ago, Moore was a man to be admired. His movie Bowling for Columbine was the most brilliant documentary I have ever seen. His book, Stupid White Men, was inspirational in getting me to shake off my political apathy and take an activist role in the 2000 and 2004 election. However, the last seven or so years, Moore has turned from someone I looked up to, into a buffoonish character. His movies Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko, both had interesting points that for the most part I agreed with. However, the tone was so sardonic, and far-fetched, that the movies made me uncomfortable. In a way, this is a sequel to his 1989 movie, Roger and Me, in which he said that General Motor's poor mismanagement will eventually lead to their downfall. He was right. His new movie though just goes through sob story over sob story about how the big bad banks came and foreclosed people's houses after they were laid off. Moore's tone is less witty, and more sardonically cantankerous. The movie was boring, factually questionable, and uninspiring. If I were Moore, I would go back to being an author and chill with the obnoxious documentaries.

1. I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I had a lovely, but cold weekend. Friday night I ended up working late and then I just went back and watched the Twins game on TV. Saturday night, Anay, Nimit and I went to a really fun party at Jim and Sarah's. Out of control... in a good way. Sunday, I actually save another movie that I really liked. I watched American Psycho with Christian Bale. It is dark, twisted, violent, but absolutely brilliant. I give it an A.

2. President Obama's approval rating has hit a new low - averaging around 45%. It just proves that although the economy is up huge in 2010, unless the unemployment numbers make a drastic turn, the Democrats will be in big trouble in the mid-term elections in November.

The Dukies

Seeing Duke play Iowa State in Chicago a few months ago, it is of little surprise that the Blue Devils came away with the national basketball championship. While at the game, we noticed a couple of things: Without any true superstar, there is incredible balance on the team. No one player is more important than the other. Two, they almost never make a mistake. Duke almost never has a double dribble, travel, or other unforced error. Three, they make their free throws. They did not miss a free throw until the very end where they missed on purpose. Four, more than any other team they rely on fundamentals. They execute pick and rolls perfectly. They play exceptional team defense. This is not to take anything away from Butler. I actually doubt coach Josh Pastner will leave Butler after this year. He will get a huge contract extension and he will eventually be the next head coach at a UNC, UCLA, or maybe even Duke? Does Coach K have anything left to accomplish? The Nets are offering to triple his salary to be their next head coach. Despite what he says, he will definitely consider the offer.

1. I had an absolutely perfect weekend. I worked Friday and then drove to Minnesota with Allie and her roommate. Saturday during the day I watched some of the Twins game, made pie with my Grandma, watched some basketball with my Dad, and then met about a dozen friends at a various bars downtown. It was so much fun. Sunday was Easter church, Easter brunch, and then back to Chicago.

2. The Twins play at the White Sox this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Anyone have any interest in watching the game with me?

3. Currently listening to "Soul meets body" by Death Cab for Cutie.

the cost of a stamp

From my resistance to technology upgrades, to the way I drive, to the way I talk, in a lot of ways I am old-fashioned. One way I am old fashioned is I appreciate the long lost art of the letter. This is why I was frustrated reading the latest Newsweek's article about the decline of the U.S. Post Office. Despite a variety of changes, and likely cutting Saturday delivery, the USPS is on pace to lose $23 billion in the next ten years. According to the writer of the article, Matthew Phillip, if the USPS goes under, it is because of years of poor management, and a union that is out of control. Why they are losing money is quite simple. Fewer companies, catalogs, and people are using mail - instead switching to the cheaper online delivery options. The Post Office has rewarded its customers by hiking up the cost of stamps to 44 cents (it was 32 cents when I was in high school) to now likely cutting Saturday delivery. The problem is that, according to the Newsweek article, this will likely only save them a billion dollars a year. What about the rest of the money. Here are the real problems: The average postal service delivery person makes a whopping $83,000 a year. Yes, you read that correct. Plus, don't forget the incredible pension and health benefits that federal government workers make. Oh by the way, 80% of the Postal Service's costs are labor related. There are also 34,000 branches around the country. That is more than every single Starbucks, McDonald's, and Walmart's... combined!! Unfortunately due to political and archaic contract reasons, it is almost impossible to close an office. The answer is simple. Postal workers need to take a 25% pay-cut, they need to have realistic retirement benefits, and at least 10% of the branches need to be closed. The Post Office does not need to go away. It just needs to be better managed.


1. There is a sitcom on TBS called My Boys. It is about a female sportswriter in Chicago. I have only seen a few episodes, but I think it is really funny. One episode came to mind last night while I was enjoying the 70 degree weather. The episode shows how the city changes and comes alive during the first real warm day of the year. Someone gets married, someone buys a house, and wackiness ensues. That was kind of what it was like yesterday. Living in Wrigleyville and working in Boystown, I could not believe how loud, and active, and fun the city was last night. Summer is coming. I'm excited.

2. Of all the good stuff to come out of the Health Care bill, I am most excited that the nation now has to follow New York City's law of requiring restaurant chains that have more than 20 restaurants to require calorie content on their menus. I think this has to start by 2014. In addition, every chain has to have available other nutrition information including fiber, carbohydrates, protein, and sodium. I love the idea. My whole point is there are times when I am going to eat unhealthy and I am fine with that. If I go into Applebee's and I want to eat unhealthy, I can order the bacon cheeseburger and fries for 1100 calories. That's okay; sometimes I crave a burger. But what if I go in there wanting to be healthy and I order the Oriental Chicken Salad? That salad actually has 1300 calories!! I just do not want to be tricked. I applaud President Obama, congress, and the National Restaurant Association for acknowledging that this is good for business and good for the health of the country.

3. Yikes! Did anyone read the new reports in the latest Esquire magazine about Tiger Woods? Paying for sex, paying a mistress $10 million to keep quiet, having sex in public places including a golf cart(???), gambling huge amounts of money with Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan, all the personal problems his father had, and more. Yeah, he definitely needs the Masters so people can get back to talking about his golf game, and not his infidelities.

4. Obama's approval rating is up seven points in the past month. Interesting.