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November 28, 2005
London Bound, Nationals Stadium, Music & DVD
I'm going to London from the 24th of December to the 31st. Main purpose of the visit: Seeing my wonderful sister and Brother-In-Law. Real reason for visit? To be photographed on the pier that hosted the Fish Slapping Dance 35 years ago and to be photographed in the crosswalk in front of Abbey Road. I do plan to bring my laptop, so I will be writing from London - that is if I'm not too busy trying to stalk Michael Palin.
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MLB made a mistake. They didn't count on the Miami stadium deal collapsing. Now the District has the upper hand. Bad (comparatively) for MLB, good for DC. They're still getting a stadium, but their greed has resulted in it going from being free to them having to pay for some of it - only because they refused to guarantee to pay their rent (I have to guarantee to pay my rent!!!).
I did, however, buy the new hat today. I feel special. Plus now I can wear a red hat without feeling like an accessory to the Bush Administration (I know, I know, but here in DC these kinds of appearances matter).
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Music of the moment? Travis. Even when they rip-off the Loving Spoonful, they're still quite awesome. DVD? Arrested Development season 2. Why is it I only seem to get into shows once they're cancelled. The same thing happened to me for Futurama and Family Guy. Speaking of, Family Guy Season 3 is out tomorrow and Simpsons Season 7 is out in a few weeks. Mwah ha ha... fiscal discipline - you have no chance in the face of crass commercialism and DVD Box Sets.
Posted by MikeSager at 10:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 21, 2005
Worthy Causes
I was recently riding the Metro when I saw a poster for the "Help the Homeless Wakathon". Now normally I don't pay much attention to subway ads regardless of their content. But this caught my eye for an obvious reason - the Nats logo was on the bottom in the list of sponsors. Except there as some text next to it. I decided to investigate (from my seat - I didn't need to get up to read this thereby proving I can continue only wearing my glasses when I'm driving or want to look intellectual for "da ladies"). Anyhow, the small text said "Marlon Byrd of the Washington Nationals". Marlon Byrd? As in part time major-leaguer, part time minor-leaguer Marlon Byrd? It turns out that Marlon is the honorary chair of DC's Help the Homeless chapter. He did this to bring some attention to the cause, but did it with little fan-fare - no apparent cameras, other than the PSA he shot. And his name was in small letters on a subway ad. It seems to me like Mr. Byrd did this out of the true kindness of his heart - something that seems exceedingly rare these days, especially amongst professional athletes. As far as I know, Marlon didn't even bank 7 digits last year - and yet he's the premiere sponsor of a major DC charity? That's refreshing, and classy.
Speaking of worthy causes, I decided in the spirit of the holiday season, I would make some charitable donations. Plus I just paid off my credit card, and I thought the best way to reward myself for the hard work and fiscal discipline is to give some of my money to those who truly deserve it. Previously, Democratic Campaigns & the ACLU have been the recipients of choice. But this year I felt the need to really make a global difference. My list this year?
The Southern Poverty Law Center
These guys fight hate. Plain and simple - they keep extremeists and hatred in check. It was a toss up between them and the ADL - but I happened on to the SPLC's website this morning in my blog surfing, and it reminded me that I've been meaning to donate money to them.
The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief and SaveDarfur.org
Speciifcally, I gave money to their Sudan/Darfur fund. In Judaism, we have a saying - Never Again. Never Again does not just apply to Jews - never again shall anyone commit Genocide against anyone. At least 50,000 people have been murdered in the Darfur. This isn't a situation where warring tribes are killing each other - one tribe is massacreing the others. While we've been wasting our time in Iraq, there's been a real humanitarian disaster that requires our attention and intervention, and yet the world has been silent. I urge you to make a donation to any of these causes, and to write your legislators and press them to please push for some global intervention - As free people with an awareness of history and the knowledge of the crimes that we are capable of commiting against one another, it is our duty.
Posted by MikeSager at 9:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 17, 2005
My Lack of Sports Skillz
Alright - we got this Ping Pong table at work. The official line is that it's our new conference room table, but let's face it - it's a way kick ass Killerspin Ping Pong table. And yet suddenly, I find myself at a major disadvantage.
I often tell the story of the greatest game of bowling I ever rolled. Very first frame I was up, I rolled a strike. And that was the only scoring I did the entire game. Sports and me...well let's just say that it was never really meant to be. I'd spent my childhood dreaming of being a professional ballplayer, but recognizing that if I was going to do anything in sports, I would be the young Jewish GM wunderkind. Wait - that's Theo (Please please PLEASE come to DC...that's for another post). Often when I play MVP Baseball on my Playstation, I find myself more interested in pretending to be the General Manager - making trades, signing free agents, drafting new players, working on building a farm system. Sure the gameplay is fun, but the business side is so interesting. I once built a Washington Nationals roster with Mark Loretta, Lance Berkman, Nick Johnson, David "Big Papi" Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Chad Cordero, & Albert Puljois. Noticeably, I had a LOT of firstbasemen. But that was more interesting to me than actually playing.
I'm getting off my rant and talking baseball.
Anyways - so we have this Ping Pong table. Suddenly I'm transported back to Elementary School. I was ALWAYS the last kid picked. I was in Gifted classes. There were LOTS of nerdy unathletic kids in there. And I was always the last one picked. Alright - so I was destined to own the team, not play on it. I often could console myself with the fact that I was smarter than the other kids.
Well - the NGP Ping Pong table (and by some extension softball team and whatnot) have served to transport me back to that simpler time of always being the last one picked. Except there's one problem - I work in an office of exceptionally intelligent people. Dear God - I'm not the smartest one here! Not by a LONG SHOT! Oh man. For a fleeting moment those feelings of insecurity came back - I wasn't much of an athlete, and I had nothing to console myself with. Then I beat one of the web developers. Ha ha! I wasn't the worst player! Then I played the lead web developer (and blog roll member) Chris. He kicked my ass. Then we played a rematch. He didn't quite kick my ass as much - but still kicked it thoroughly!
Yes I lose - but then I came to a realization. I'm not a loser - I'm just streaky. I have moments of sheer brilliance on the table. I can take a 7 point lead against some of the best players....well alright, against the web developer guy again. But then I still choke! I still lose!!!! This is Washington! There must be SOME way I can spin this!
So I reached a conclusion. I blame my parents. Instead of getting me a Ping Pong table they got me a computer. But then if I wasn't good with a computer, I wouldn't have this job - and therefore I wouldn't know how much I sucked at Ping Pong. Alright - so I can't blame them (I like the job after all). Hmmm...
Wait! I've got it! I blame bowling!!!! That accursed sport made me realize that I'm terrible at sports! That must be it! I hereby shoot the messenger!
Posted by MikeSager at 9:42 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 15, 2005
The Soundtrack of our Lives (or commercials shouldn't drink & drive)
Being part of Generation iPod is in general, quite awesome. A playlist is the score to the film that is your life. Your mood can be set by the melody that accompanies your Metro ride. Sigur Ros makes me feel wonderfully lost in the sea of humanity that is the city. Autolux transports me back to the Kerry campaign last year. The Beatles are my father and I making mix tapes off of his records. Pinback and Wilco are my summer fling. My Morning Jacket is quickly becoming the soundtrack of NGP. And The Postal Service and Trail of Dead are Rolling Rocks with Adam at Bar-BQ-Bar. Except that The Postal Service is a Honda commercial.
Wait a second - a HONDA COMMERCIAL!!!???!!???
Alright look - musicians selling their music in itself is not inherently evil. I have no problems with them getting their payday! But how dare they! They are trying to equate the new Civic with drunken debauchery with Adam, Jim, & Leah! They have no right - that's my music!
I now realize why my ex used to always get so pissed off at commercials - they're manipulating the emotional value that music has to sell me a car.
I will note that I have test driven a Honda Civic Hybrid - it was as uncomfortable as my current Altima. I even did a couple of shows for them at the Orange County Convention Center! I bare no ill will towards them. Except that they're trying to use Bar-BQ-Bar to sell me a sedan! They should know better than to promote drinking & driving...
Posted by MikeSager at 10:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 13, 2005
Winning Feels Good...
I could definitely get used to this whole winning thing. But win or lose, some things don't change.
Immediately following the end of the campaign last year, I locked myself in my apartment and played Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for approximately 72 hours straight. I don't remember whether I actually slept or not. I would go out to drink with the other staffers, and then retreat into the living room of my apartment where I would plant myself in front of the television with a cat in my lap.
This year, things such as work interefered with my video game playing during the week - but oh how I've made up for it this weekend. Civilization IV - thy name is synonymous with Electronic Crack.
And now I will attempt to conquer the Persians yet again...
Posted by MikeSager at 11:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 9, 2005
Better Than Last Year
I like this feeling. Yeah Tim & Creigh!
Posted by MikeSager at 12:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 7, 2005
Election Eve
I've felt this feeling before. It's a nervous anticipation - a restlessness. Last year I worked on election day with about 2 and a half hours sleep - only for everything in the technical world function properly and allow me the luxury of a mid-afternoon 25 minute nap on the floor of my office. I'll be in another campaign office starting around 5 this morning - here we go again.
Last time, there was a sense of optimism. The feeling that history was going to change. And then there was the scrutiny. The feeling of being watched. In the I-4, all eyes were on us until we dropped Florida and the stoic glance of the pundits and politicos shifted to Ohio. This time, there's nowhere else to look. Sure there's also elections in Jersey and New York, but those are not considered bellweathers. Victory brings a Democratic mandate - a rebuff to a corrupt Presidency and a Crooked House. Defeat continues the downward decline of everything that I believe in. Is it possible to feel as though you're responsible for your destiny, and yet simultatenously feel completely out of control? Surely those thousands of voters I talked to this summer will take something away from our conversation.
I can smell the desperation. The last minute GOTV rallies with an unpopular President. The spliced robo-calls. The fake literature drops. They know what's riding on this one. These people will stop at nothing - they desperately cling to their power.
It's go time. Let's kick their crooked ass.
Posted by MikeSager at 11:17 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 5, 2005
Surreal, Scooter Libby, JDate Pays Dividends
It was a bit on the surreal side returning to VA Victory today. The place was totally different, and a large group of people I didn't recognize seemed to be in important positions. Most of the people I knew weren't there - they must've all been out dropping lit and doing GOTV. Perhaps I'll see a couple of them on Tuesday. Oh and I voted today - straight Democratic ticket, of course.
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Speaking of surreal - my Uncle got a call on his cellphone asking if he was Scooter Libby. When he replyed no, and asked "Who is this?" the caller hung up. This makes a little sense because my Uncle works at Deckert - the same firm Libby worked at before he got his job with the Bush Administration. Here's my theory. Guy tries to get quote from Libby, so he calls an old number he had from Deckert. Guy misdials and get my Uncle's voicemail - which says his name Stuart. Guy does not pay attention to Scooter/Stuart - they sound slightly similar. Uncle has cellphone on his voicemail. Guy calls cellphone number. Sur-real.
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I finally have a date off of JDate - sometime next week. She seems cool, though she is a Yankees fan. But I think we can work around that.
Posted by MikeSager at 7:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack