Sports, sports, sports... is that all you care about?!

It's not everyday I agree with the Yankees. I think the fact that MLB does not have a salary cap is a disgrace and one of the reasons why baseball's popularity in comparison to sports like basketball and in particular football continues to dwindle. However, I give Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman credit for how they are dealing with Derek Jeter's outrageous demands. The Yankees have made Jeter a wealthy, wealthy man. He is currently coming off a ten year, $180 million dollar deal. This not too mention the endorsement opportunities that come along with playing in New York City and being a Yankee. (Good luck banging celebrities as the shortstop of the Pirates or Royals!) Despite being 36 and having numbers that have gradually gone down the past couple of years, the Yankees predictably made Jeter an insane off of three years, $45 million. This would give Jeter a little walking around money plus allow him to retire with his pride intact as a Yankee. However, being a greedy bastard, Jeter (through his management team) publicly reject the offer claiming he "deserves" a deal for six years at around $23 million a year. Yeah right! To give the Yankees credit, they have said enough is enough and he can go ahead and test the free agent market because they are not adjusting their offer. I hope Jeter and his ego can fit through the door when they realize no other team in the country is going to give him the type of offer and opportunity to play for a consistent winner like the Yankees can. Don't get used to me complimenting the Yanks. The compliments are few and far between.

1. Despite the Gophers being just terrible, I will always, always cheer for them extra loud when they are playing Iowa. Hawkeyes were exposed big-time today. I don't know how they beat Michigan State (and kept them out of the national championship game) because they are a very average 7-5 team.

2. I just don't understand Gene Chizik. He goes 5-19 at Iowa State and Auburn goes out and hires him to be their head coach. What does he do in his second year? Lead them to an undefeated record, recruit Cameron Netwon (the Heisman front runner), and now he will lead War Eagle - barring a major upset next - to the national championship game. He ended his second year at Iowa State with a record of 2-10... I just don't understand. I will give the Athletic Director of Auburn credit. The man has cajones and intelligence.

3. Currently listening to "Be Calm" by Fun.

An Indian Thanksgiving

Sometimes in life, all you have to do is ask. After I spent yesterday whining about American music in 2010, I was handed an album to listen to by a co-worker. She and I had spent a while talking about our shared interests in music. We both like a style of music that doesn't really have a name (Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Vampire Weekend, et cetera). It's not really rock... not pop... not alternative... hmm.... Pop-Rock? I don't know. I think more of bands like Panic at the Disco or Good Charlotte as pop-rock.

Anyway.

I digress.

I was handed a copy of a CD by the band - Fun - called Aim and Ignite. The lead singer is Nate Weuss of The Format "fame". WOW!!! I have not been this blown away by a new band since Vampire Weekend a year or two ago. Fun has the vocals of a Damien Rice with the Vampire Weekend band in the style of Queen. Weird? Kooky? Yeah. Awesome? Fuck yeah! It's awesome. Another thing I really like about Aim and Ignite is that it is an album. The first couple songs are a little out there but that is because the album is not a collection of ten singles like so many albums are in the 2010 iTunes world that have two or three good songs and the rest is a bunch of insipid garbage.

1. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had a very unusual Thanksgiving. Every year growing up, my family and I would drive to Menomanie, WI on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate family at my Mom's Aunt's place. We would eat pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, watch football, and basically have the traditional American holiday feast. After recovering from our food coma, we would drive to Milwaukee to do the same thing with my Dad's side. This year was quite different with the move to Chicago and my Mom's Aunt basically retiring from Thanksgiving. I actually ended up having Thanksgiving with Nimit's family yesterday. His family was incredibly gracious and I feasted! After dinner, I met my family at a hotel in Wisconsin. We woke up the next day, caught a movie, did some shopping, and then had a dinner at my Dad's sister's house. It was a magnificent dinner (minus a few key cousins) and after dinner I drove home and I am back on my couch. Don't get me wrong. I had a nice break from work and enjoyed seeing my family. I guess I am just a guy who likes the tradition of Holidays and am sad to see some of my favorite traditions disappear.

2. My family and I saw the movie Morning Glory this afternoon. It's the comedy about a newsroom with Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, and Diane Keeton. It's not terrible but certainly not worth your time at a theater. I give it a C+. Wait until it comes out on DVD.

3. Currently listening to "I wanna be the one" by Fun.

C'mon American People... not again.

The idea of the American Music Awards is an interesting concept. While awards like The Grammy's, Tony's, and Oscar's are all voted on by a mysterious "academy" the American Music Awards are determined by a poll of actual music buyers. The awards are based on sales, online voting, and airplay. Although I can't recall watching any episode in the past, I was a little intrigued to watch it this year. I ended up missing it but went online the next day to see who won.

Justin Bieber swept every category he was nominated in.

Justin fucking Bieber.

I have tried to listen to his music. I don't necessarily buy a lot of pop music but if it's catchy, I will at least hum along. I get it that I am an old man at 25, but I just don't understand how the American public could even nominate Justin Bieber for Artist of the Year and Male Entertainer of the Year. I mean, from everything I have read, Bieber seems to be a decent dude (he's 16... not a man). He treats his fans well and is active in various charities. But his songs are terrible! I don't know. I just don't get it. American pop music has never reached a lower point.

1. I'm watching Sportscenter. The Miami Heat are 8-7 this year. Really? One game above .500? I have to remind myself that it is very, very early in the NBA Season. The playoffs don't even start until mid-May!

2. Did anyone watch The Neon Trees on Conan tonight? Absolutely A+ performance of "Animal"!!! When I heard their songs on the radio I liked it but wrote it off as another pop-rock group that are a dime a dozen these days. But wow!! They absolutely rocked Conan tonight!! They look and sounded like The Strokes with a in your face homosexuality slant. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Just thought you should know, Shatner

Oh yeah. I forgot how much I hate winter. I usually walk to work - about a two mile straight shot. As I was greeted by a non-stop onslaught of freezing rain and 35 mph wind, I once again questioned why I moved to Chicago. I can't whine too much, though. I had a pretty awesome weekend. First time I ever played beer pong in the morning. Not going to lie... I kind dug it and want to do it again. Something about waking up at 7:3o in the morning after and being greeted by a screwdriver and muffins really starts the weekend of nicely. For the context, a bunch of us were at Allie's to pre-game before the Northwestern vs. Illinois game at Wrigley Field. (Which in its own right, was pretty awesome.) Saturday night kind of rocked, too. I don't go downtown too often but it was Ann's birthday after all so I made the trek to a bar called Swirl. It was small but the people were awesome and they had live Spanish music and a Flamenco dancer. The highlight of the weekend definitely was Sunday night. I have to work and won't be going home for Thanksgiving. However, I celebrated Thanksgiving on Sunday night when Allie and her roommates made one of the most sophisticated and awesome dinners I have ever seen. There were about eight friends and after a whole day of cooking the end result was just perfect. I don't know if I have ever been that full!! It was just perfect.

1. I watched a lot of movies this weekend. First up was Sorority Row. It was exactly as I hoped for... an awesomely bad horror movie. But don't see it. It's terrible. I give it a D+. Seeing that horror movie did make me want to see the original Nightmare on Elm Street. I don't know why but I had this craving. I actually really, really liked it. It's not scary and has a young Johnny Depp. I give it a B+. Last but not least was Kick Ass. Um... It's kind of dumb but not a bad rental. I give it a B. I will give credit where credit is due. Nicolas Cage is one of the worst actors of our generation but he was awesome in Kick-Ass. For sure his best role since The Rock.

2. I have no idea what to ask for for Christmas? What's on your lists?

Cuckoo for Loco?

Have you guys heard of this drink called Four Loko? It seems everyday in the paper there is a new article about some college banning it, or some politician that wants to ban it. I have never had it but - to be honest - all of the publicity just makes me really want to try it. From the little research I am done, it appears to be like a can of Red Bull but with about two to three times the amount of alcohol as can of beer.

So?

It's fine for me to go to a bar and order a jagerbomb or a red bull and vodka, but if some entrepreneur sells the two together, then that is just too outrageous for college kids to handle? Yes, I have read the articles that say caffeine can enhance the effects of alcohol. Yes, I have seen the recent University of Florida study that says that when people mix alcohol and caffeine, they are more likely to drive drunk. However, I just think that, like my views on marijuana, as long as the risks are made aware to the public, it is not in the best interest of the government to tell me what I can and can't imbibe.


1. Last night Nimit and I rented the movie, Get Him to the Greek. After really enjoying Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I was pretty excited about the sequel. Well. Um. It was okay. It has a lot of slapstick humor. It's not that it wasn't funny, but I actually felt myself getting dumber as I watched it. It was just bathroom joke after bathroom joke. It felt like the kind of movie I might have really enjoyed when I was 13. I give it a C+.

2. On Sunday night, Allie and I watched the movie, The Girl Who Played With Fire (the sequel to the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). I liked the second book better than the first one but I liked the first movie more than this one. It's not bad... I give it a B+.

3. Huge congratulations to my buddy, Aaron Robbins for proposing to Lauren!! It is always wonderful to see two people I like so much end up together. After years of dating, they are finally getting hitched and packing up their bags and moving back to Minnesota. Aaron, you have spent seven years in Iowa. You did your part - time to head home. Stillwater misses you and so do I, Huggy Bear, so do I.

Conando

I wanted to wait a couple of days of viewing before I write my opinion of the new Conan show on TBS. So far I give the show a B+. The good news is that the show most closely related to his Late Show at 11:30 Central, than the more conservative Tonight Show. I also like that he didn't make any giant production about being back on the air. He has basically treated the episodes as if he never left. The reason I don't give it a higher grade is that I am really tired of all the NBC, Jay Leno, basic cable, jokes. Sorry Conan, after being handed a check for... $30 to $40 million to not work by NBC, they don't deserve to still be made fun of. Let's move on.

1. Allie and I saw Toy Story 3. I enjoyed it. Maybe it was because I didn't see it on the Big Screen but I certainly would not consider it an Oscar front-runner. I would give it a B. It is worth renting, for sure.

2. I am back on the Glee bandwagon. Yesterday's episode was really good.

3. Is it weird that I actually have a strong interest in reading President Bush's new book? I mean, I spent years of my life being a politics junkie with Bush being enemy number one. But, I have been reading his interviews and although I strongly disagree with most of his philosophies, I am a little interested in hearing his side on the war, Katrina, et cetera.

4. No, thank you McRib. Thank you.

Remember remember...

I don't often celebrate my roots, but being almost half English, I was excited to be invited by Allie (who is English) to go to a Guy Fawkes Party. For those who are unfamiliar, Guy Fawkes was a 16th century English mercenary who was hired by some Nobles to blow up Parliament. He was caught, drawn and quartered, and then burnt to death. This was on the 5th of November and the English celebrate by burning an effigy. I do not fully understand why the English celebrate this holiday, but regardless, I like it. What can go wrong with a bunch of friends burning things and drinking English beer? A bottle of Bass? Don't mind if I do. Saturday, after a typical college football viewing day of watching NU, ISU, and Minnesota lose and watching Iowa, and Michigan win, Allie and I had a nice dinner at Rockit. Ordering the pitcher of margaritas at Rockit was a great decision! Mmmm....

1. I finished the second Stieg Larson book, The Girl Who Played With Fire. I thought the first book was good. The second book was fantastic! I give it an A+.

2. Can I pull off wearing a white belt? They look so cool... but I have only seen them on models in magazines. I don't actually know anyone who owns one.

3. Nimit and I just rented the movie, Youth in Revolt. We both really liked it. Actually, I really, really liked it. I give it an A-. Find your nearest RedBox and rent it. It's a comedy that stars Michael Cera with great cameos from Ray Liota, Steve Buschemi, Justin Long, Zach Galifinakas, and more.

4. Currently listening to "Touch and Go" by Stacy Clark.

Electyle Dysfunction

One reasons that President Obama did so well in 2008 was he and the Democratic Party did a marvelous job of inspiring the young, the poor, and others who rarely voted to cast a vote for the first time. In 2010, the American public basically said we are completely sick of politics and we are just going to stay home. Unfortunately, that fell perfectly into the Republican trap. It was clear in 2008 that the Republicans came up with a brilliant political strategy. They were going to be the party of "No!". They refused to play nice, refused to do anything to move the country forward. They unanimously said we will not let President Obama accomplish anything. Then, two years later when it was election time, they would produce ad after ad proclaiming that nothing happened and it was the Democrats' fault.

The strategy worked.

What happened is that Republicans still came out to vote in similar percentages as most elections. However, Democrats stayed home. The poor stayed home. The youth, in particular stayed home. I am watching CNN and they said statistically only 11% of Americans between 18-30 voted yesterday. 11 fucking percent. I would think a conservative estimate of 2008 would be that triple the amount of young people voted. But, when I think about it, that percentage is probably right. My roommates voted for Obama two years ago. Yesterday they stayed home. High School friends, college friends, co-workers, et cetera who went out and almost all voted for Obama in 2008 decided to stay at home. The Millennial generation basically said we don't give a shit. This was not an issue of the moderates or the centrists all going towards the Republicans. This was an issue of the Democrats not caring about the future of the country. That is shameful. It is shameful for so many of my friends who I volunteered with during the Bush Administration, who raised money with me to put Obama in the White House, just two years later, said we are so apathetic, that we don't care what happens to the country. Excuse me for still caring what happens to the United States. If you vote for Republicans because you feel they have the best plan to fix the country, I can run with that. Discussion and disagreement is what makes this country special. But to have 89% of the youth sit at home is just downright shameful.

1. By the way, it was not just the house and the senate that Republicans did well. They picked up a net 11 governor seats. Republicans also did really well in state races (state senators, state representatives, attorney generals, treasurers, et cetera.) Even in a liberal state like Minnesota, the Republicans will now control both chambers of the Minnesota congress, and the governor race is going to re-count.

2. Kim Kardashian is recording a pop album. Hopefully it is as awesome as Paris Hilton's "When Stars go Blind" album. (note sarcasm)

3. George W. Bush has a new book coming out and he is just starting his press tour. He was on the Today show today and Matt Lauer interviewed him and asked him what his worst moment was. He said it was when Kanye West said he does not like black people. Really, W. Really. Not the war? Not how you handled Katrina? I could go on.

failure to communicate

Please go vote. Regardless of who you vote for, please don't just sit at home and watch the world change while you do nothing about it. Voting is free. You have to legally be allowed time off to vote. You have no excuse not to vote. I know that I have been a critic of the Democrats and Obama but that doesn't mean I am still not a progressive. The health care reform was imperfect but it was better than nothing. The stimulus package that was passed was not enough but it was enough to stop a complete depression. The bailout of the banking industry was a success. The bailout of the auto-industry was an incredible success - saving hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of jobs. Although unemployment has not gotten better, it has not gotten worse and I would have to think that in the next six years we will have made a full recovery. The bottom line is with the Democrats controlling congress, and Obama in the White House, the country is slowly cleaning itself up and getting back on course. We, as Americans, are not a patient people. We are frustrated with Obama that unemployment is still high. We are frustrated that Guantanamo Bay is still not closed. We are frustrated that our men and women in uniform are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as frustrated as I am with our current leadership, I feel nothing like the frustration I felt in 2002, 2004, and 2006 when the other party was in power. What the Democrats have done is have a failure to communicate. Your uncle who is a firefighter and your aunt who is a teacher. They might still have jobs because of the stimulus. The fact that you graduated college but still can be on your parents' health insurance until you are 26? That's the health care plan. Well, at this point all I/we can do is wait and see what happens.

1. Ames, Iowa high school graduate Harrison Barnes, and current UNC freshman, became the first ever true freshman to be named to the first team pre-season All-American team. He joins Duke's Kyle Singler, K-State's Jacob Pullen, BYU's Jimmer Fredette (Yes... Jimmer), and Kevin Garnett clone JaJuan Johnson of Purdue.

2. Does the term "cult classic" really mean that the majority of people hated it?

The eve of the takeover

When all is said tomorrow, the good news is that I think the Democrats will still maintain control of the senate. The bad news, I see little chance of them controlling the House. A couple of races in the senate that really disappoint me are Russ Feingold (my favorite) in Wisconsin likely losing badly and Admiral Joe Sestak losing to crazy tea party guy Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania. Sestak is such a bad ass. I will not however be disappointed to see Democrat Alexi Giannalonous lose to Mark Kirk in Illinois. Giannalaonous is the type of guy who gives politicians a bad man. He just seems so slick. The thing is when the Tea Party started gaining momentum, I got all excited. I thought the Republicans were going to shoot themselves in the foot by nominating lunatics as their candidates. Unfortunately, for America, the Democrats are so unpopular, that crazies like Sharon Angle in Nevada, Rand Paul in Kentucky, Ken Buck in Colorado, and Marco Rubio in Florida will likely become senators. The problem is we already have way too many crazy, radical right-wingers in the senate! (See Jim DeMint in South Carolina, Tom Coburn in Oklahoma, okay let's be honest, every Republican senator in the deep south!)

1. The real winner after the 27 day experiment for Randy Moss? The Patriots. Once again, they prove that they are the smartest guys in the room.

2. Did everyone have a great Halloween? I had an awesome, awesome, awesome Halloween. I worked all weekend but Saturday night. Allie and I went as a goth couple. It was fun. I had never worn make-up or nail polish... so that was different. I can say that that will be the last time I ever wear eye-liner. I did not like having a colored pencil coming at my eye! And besides accidentally lighting myself on fire after a small Bacardi 151 incident, I had a really fun Halloween.