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I'm a big 1st amendment guy. When I considered careers in law and journalism, it was to protect the 1st amendment. The right to free speech, free press, and the ability to practice religion of my choice is maybe the single reason that makes this country fantastic. However, I realize that this means I have to realize that even when things are created that I find morally disgusting, I have to at least try my best to look the other way. This brings me to the website, www.ashleymadison.com. I first heard about it when Fox banned its ad during the Superbowl. Tonight I decided to check out for myself what the commotion was about. Basically, it's a dating site with a distinct purpose - it's a place for married people to discreetly meet and cheat on their husbands or wives. I spent some time reading about the founder, Noel Biderman. Apparently he spent a long time working as an agent in Chicago. One of his responsibilities was to help find some of his clients, primarily professional basketball players, discreet one-night stands, affairs, mistresses, et cetera. Apparently, after reading somewhere that 30% of online daters are actually married but pretending to be single, he named the website after the two most popular names of the year, Ashley and Madison (year 2002). Nine years later it now has almost nine million members and generated almost 60 million in revenue!! I guess I'm fairly naive about how much cheating really goes on. I just think the fact that people are profitting on it is absolutely disgusting.

1. Have any of you been following the new drama on Fox, The Chicago Code? It's awesome! Really awesome!

2. Yesterday night, after an incredible dinner prepared by Allie and Brittany, we watched the Academy Award winning movie - Boys Don't Cry. It's certainly the type of movie that the academy loves. I can see why it was Hillary Swank's breakthrough role. However, I don't know if I actually enjoyed myself. It's so sad and there were some parts that were so revoltingly heartbreaking, after the movie was finished, I just left feeling depressed. I thought movies were supposed to be entertaining? Bottom line, if you are looking for a brilliant film with phenomnenal writing and acting, Boys Don't Cry is for you. If you are looking to be entertained, I would stress going in a different direction.

3. Hopefully everyone had a great weekend. Friday night was pretty relaxed. After a really long day at work, Allie and I had a great dinner at one of my new favorite restaurants, Taco Joint, had some margaritas and went to bed early. Saturday was full of shopping at the mall, making dinner, and watching The Pacific. Saturday night, some friends and I decided to go downtown. Now normally I don't really like going downtown. I feel it's over-priced, claustrophobic, and un-enjoyable. I was proven right at the first bar we went to Manor. The staff was so incredibly rude to my friends and I that eventually I suggested we go across the street to Kerryman. Kerryman was a fun, cool Irish Pub. We relaxed there before heading home at about Midnight. Sunday I worked.

4. I'm just happy the Carmelo Anthony trade is finally complete! I was so sick of reading about it. Everybody wins. New York now has two superstars in Carmelo and Amar'e Stoudamire, plus Chauncey Billups. Denver gets to rebuild with talented young players like Galinarri and Raymond Felton, plus three draft picks. I think it's good for both teams.

Glee(ked) out!

It's no doubt that the show Glee is a huge hit. It's ratings are enormous but I had no idea how popular the show actually is. Last night while watching the show with Nimit and Ann, I just googled Glee to see what came up. The headline was that Glee, in only its second full season, has surpassed Elvis with the most songs ever on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Elvis had 108 songs and Glee has 113 (and growing). Obviously they are all cover songs, but when Glee's reign is done, it will just obliterate many music records. I just looked at iTunes. Five of the top ten downloads in America were recently performed on Glee. Plus everytime Glee performs an artist's song, it skyrockets up the charts. This just makes the Kings of Leon complete idiots for not wanting to "sell out" and let Glee cover their songs. Apparently they are uninterested in more people hearing their songs and making money.

1. I just read that this upcoming Fall, NBC is bringing back the show Wonder Woman. Her "weapon" is a rope... Well, I just don't see how this show could possibly be interesting. Who knows? Maybe it will be the next Alias.

2. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. Mine was fantastic. Allie surprised me with the HBO mini-series Pacific, which I had wanted for months, and she made an awesome beef tenderloin dinner. I'm very lucky. Speaking of Valentine's Day, one of my favorite VD stories was about... White Castle. Stay with me here. I was vaguely aware, but mostly unfamiliar until I saw on ABC, what White Castle does for Valentine's. Basically they shut down for the whole morning while they completely revamp the Castle into a fancy restaurant. White tables cloths, roses, waiters, BYOB, et cetera. I think it's awesome and hilarious. Apparently this is a very popular tradition. The menu does not change.

Keepin' up with the Emmanuels

Chicago is a big Rahm Emmanuel city. I get it. He's Obama's guy. He will be the next mayor of the 3rd biggest city in Chicago. However, I was doing a little reading on our next mayor and came away with the impression that he is arguably the least impressive of his siblings. I mean, he's only the former Chief of Staff to President of the United States. However, let me tell you about his siblings:

A) Ari Emmanuel - the basis for Ari Gold from Entourage. Ari Emmanuel is the uber super agent of the stars. He represents Martin Scorcese, Matt Damon, Conan, Mark Wahlberg among others. He is now the CEO of his own talent agency.

B) Ezekial Emmanuel - Has a M.D. and a Ph. D. from Harvard, and is current Bioethics chair with the U.S. Institute of Health. He is probably the leading proponent euthanasia in the United States. Well known author and world renown physician.

Wow!! That is quite the family. I would love to have Thanksgiving with the Emmanuels.

If you believe you can or you can't. You're probably right.

Crazy weekend. Friday night was Nimit's birthday so we had to celebrate in smile. After a delicious dinner at Wildfire, a group of friends and I went to Max Bar in Lincoln Park and had a little bottle service - Grey Goose style. I've only had bottle service a few times in my life. I felt like a rock star. Saturday was much more chill. Nimit, for his birthday, got Netflix so I basically spent the day watching movies. Sunday was the Superbowl.

1. What were your thoughts on the Superbowl? I give the game a B+. It doesn't get more dramatic than a team getting the ball down six with 1:59 left on the clock. I didn't really care who won but I was surprised. For a sixth seed to win is nothing short of remarkable. The Packers had to win their last two games of the regular season (beating the Giants and Bears), then go to Philadelphia and beat the Eagles, go to Atlanta and beat the Falcons, go to Chicago and beat the Bears and then beat a really good Pittsburgh team in the Superbowl. It just proves that to win the Superbowl, all you really need is a decent defense, a great quarterback and a good coach. And, unfortunately for the Vikes and Bears, the whole team will be back next year and will likely not have half as many injuries.

2. The commercials were underwhelming. I did like the Ozzy Osbourne and Justin Bieber commercial but that's about it. I did like the movie previews for Thor, Captain America, and Cowboys vs. Aliens, too.

3. Speaking of TV, the hit of the week was Community's Dungeons and Dragons episode. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. However, what was that Glee episode? Besides the Whirlers singing Destiny's Child, I was very underwhelmed.

4. New beer of the week: The Bitter End from the Two Brothers brewery. It's a pale ale that I thought was fantastic.

5. Mick Jagger is performing at the Grammy's. Please, please tell me this means that the Rolling Stones will do one last tour. The 2011 tour list, so far, is pretty underwhelming. If the 'stones toured, I would be excited for months.

6. I've put on seven pounds since Thanksgiving and 12 since August! DAMNIT!!! That means it's diet time. Apparently eating pizza, potato chips, and beer is not going to work. I am not excited to diet again.