Upon further review

Once I again I forgot to change my voter registration to Democrat. I am currently unaffiliated. In Maryland, that means I get no say in the Primaries. But I'll be sure to vote in the election, come November.

Those of you who took my false lead and voted, good for you. For most of us, voting is the only way to give back to the "government of the people" that we enjoy so much. That, and paying taxes. But if you think about it, all that tax money you're paying is actually coming right back to you, albeit indirectly. Theoretically, the more taxes we pay, the better our schools, police and fire departments, transportation systems, etc. are. Wouldn't it be great if it really showed a noticeable difference?

I won't pretend to know how the government works, or how trustworthy it really is. But if we can't trust the government to do what is in our best interest, then our country is absolutely screwed. And I'd much rather enjoy my ignorance than worry about my future in this regard.

And besides, how can you fault a government that allows things like this to happen in one of our finer states:

Ex-Florida prison boss: Drunken orgies tainted system. Talk about a headline that jumps out and grabs you.

Apparently, the Florida prison system had modeled itself after the petty thuggery that the mafia introduced to the US so many years back. Beatings, drunken orgies, and shady dealings highlighted the career of a corrupt boss who is now serving time in a federal prison himself.

What, you ask, was the focal point of all this crime? Yup, you guessed it. Company softball leagues.

"Corruption had gone to an extreme," [new boss James] McDonough said, saying it all began at the top. "They seemed to be drunk half the time and had orgies the other half, when they weren't taking money and beating each other up."

Any warden, guard, or other employee of the system who could hit was treated like a movie star. Those who didn't play and didn't attend the games were beaten or ignored on the job.

It's kind of like The Longest Yard, except no Adam Sandler.

Politics Galore

I'm not political by any means. I am capable of having strong opinions, but when it comes to government and politics, I usually let it run its course without me. I got my first taste of true politics (on a very small scale) while helping my dad with his Mayoral campaign in Annapolis. It was an interesting experience, and one that I wish I had been more involved with on the whole.

I know that it is my right as an American to vote, and I've always enjoyed that right. It's harder to think of it as a privilege, because I've never known any other way. When you view voting as a privilege more than a right, it makes the Democratic process a little more significant.

Now, with all the primaries and campaigning going on, I am left--as usual--cramming all the information I can about each candidate in to my head so that I can make an educated choice. For the rest of you who would like to vote but don't know a thing about your candidates, there are a ton of sites out there designed to help you.

Votegopher.com (thank you, Mom) has a decent breakdown of each candidate's background, controversies, etc. Worth a look for a pretty good summary of your options.

If you're like me, you'll enjoy a site like this one because it is a little more personalized and hands-on: Politicalquiz.net offers a survey. According to your answers, it analyzes your political preferences. The percentage by each candidate shows how closely they match your answers.

My results:

Conservative/Progressive Score - 7 - Social Moderate
Capitalist Purist/Social Capitalist Score - 9 - Social Capitalist
Libertarian/Authoritarian Score - 4 - Libertarian-leaning
Pacifist/Militarist Score - 3 - Moderate-Pacifist
You are a Democrat.

John Edwards - 96%
Barack Obama - 94%
Chris Dodd - 88%
Bill Richardson - 83%
Joe Biden - 81%
Mike Gravel - 81%
Hillary Clinton - 79%
Dennis Kucinich - 73%
Ron Paul - 65%
John McCain - 63%
Romney, Huckabee, Brownback, Thompson, Giuliani, Hunter, Tancredo range from 63%-31%.

I think I'm happy with that result. I've been leaning towards Obama without really knowing much about anyone. I think his lack of experience won't be as big of an issue as people are making it. He will have so many experienced Cabinet members and advisors to make sure he isn't being an idiot. Most of the people whose opinions I trust are prO-bama (I've coined a new catch phrase right there, by the way). He is spiritual and religious, but according to his bio, he studied all of the religions before deciding on which one best matched his ideology, and I can respect that. I am not religious by any means, but I can make that claim with conviction because I have studied all of the major world religions and can confidently say I disagree with most of them. Buddhism is the closest match for me, but I wouldn't dare call myself a Buddhist.

Back on track, I have decided to involve myself a little more in the political process. I might as well enjoy the privileges of being a US citizen as much as I can.

On another, government-control related note, the new smoking ban is phenomenal. I completely understand people's issues with the government controlling private business practices, but at the same time, I am all for abolishing people's right to smoke. It may be the most ridiculous habit imaginable. I am usually good at understanding why people do the things they do, but smoking will always baffle me. It isn't mind-altering. There are no benefits. It makes everyone and everything around you smell horrendous. If anyone can explain to me the purpose, I'm open to suggestions. But for now, I'm going to openly applaud the government for stepping in on this one. It makes my bar experience infinitely more enjoyable.

So, anyone who takes the quiz and wants to post their results, feel free. As always, I want feedback. It's nice to know people are reading.

Welcome to Washington, Jim

He's not quite the flashy, young hotshot I was hoping for, but I won't write Jim Zorn off just yet. After a long, frustrating process, the Redskins finally chose a head coach. Their methods were a little odd; tactics, questionable. They fired both their offensive and defensive coordinators before they hired a new coach. Then, they promoted a new defensive coordinator and hired a new offensive coordinator without a head coach. Once it was clear that Pete Carroll, Jim Mora, and the rest of the big names weren't coming, the 'Skins had to look a little deeper. Spag's wouldn't come from the Giants for whatever reason. And the fans would have rioted had Fassel been named the head coach. So, the Redskins take their newly anointed offensive coordinator and, two weeks later, name him head coach.

Zorn takes over a team that exceeded expectations, going 9-7 and losing to Zorn's former team in the wild card game.

Zorn is bringing a West Coast spread offense to DC, and obviously our personnel isn't quite suited for that. Expect a lot of players to be sent on their merry way during the offseason. Take the new offense and add in the fact that we are significantly over the salary cap at the moment, and it's pretty clear that this summer is going to be tumultuous at best.

Get ready to buy a new jersey, 'cause there is a good chance your favorite Redskin might be changing uniforms really soon.

So, Jim Zorn, good luck to you. You're not young, by industry standards, but you seem youthful enough. Here's to not having to hire a new head coach for a long time.

Applications for Inspiration

I realize I don't have a very wide readership, but I'm hoping for some feedback on this one. This has been nagging me a little, and reading my brother's recent posts about finding inspiration for writing has increased the nagging a little bit.

What I have come to realize is that I can't write well without a muse. I need someone to bounce ideas off of. Partly, it's an inert desire for praise, I suppose. Partly, I want to make sure I'm on track. I don't have the self discipline to finish a story without someone checking to make sure I'm working on it. In school, I could finish things, because I had a deadline. On my own time, I start strong and taper off just as quickly.

So, the result is that I have the beginnings of tons of stories, but hardly a middle, and never an end.

I need someone to be my muse. I am going to set some prerequisites, but anyone is welcome to apply:

1. A strong understanding of the rules of English, which includes an understanding of how they can be broken successfully, is a huge plus.
2. Applicants should have experience with reading and writing in a variety of styles and genres. An appreciation of this variety is important.
3. Applicants should, but are not required to, have a desire to improve their own writing.
4. Applicants should be able to provide positive feedback, whether it be praise or constructive criticism. On a side note, this feedback should be returned in a timely manner.
5. Applicants should be patient with my nitpicking and indecisiveness when it comes to my writing.

Anyone interested, and I don't care if it's a complete stranger who stumbles across this blog or a close friend or family member, let me know. If you write and want to bounce ideas right back at me, I'm happy to oblige.

Texas-sized catch up post.

Part 1: El Paso

Who knew this place was so close to Mexico? The coworkers and I considered a journey in to Juarez, but a lack of passports and an ongoing gang war in the streets of that fine town discouraged us. Not only did we want to avoid being stuck in Mexico, but we also valued our lives.

So, we stayed in El Paso, in the general region of the UTEP campus, except for one journey towards downtown to eat dinner at The Dome in the Camino Real hotel lobby. For a $50 meal, the steak was just average.

Filming practice for the Texas vs. The Nation game was interesting. Got to see a new side of college football, deal with scouts and agents a little bit. I learned how to break down practice tape using our software, which was handy to know, since I'm being paid to know it.

The food in El Paso was a little disappointing. I was hoping for some real deal Tex-Mex cuisine, but we didn't find much worth writing home about. The gay (note: only I noticed the gayness of this place, everyone else just found it inconspicuously filled with men only) steakhouse had the best food by far. The filet there was exquisite.

Highlight of the trip: Gene Stallings telling Chad to stop eating his ass. Over and over again. It sparked the catch phrase of the week: anything including "Texas-sized" and an insult in an old, gruff southern accent.




The stadium had a gorgeous view of the shanty-field that was Juarez. Built in to the barren rocks of El Paso, it provided a pretty good photo-op with the clouds rolling over the mountains.


Part 2: Super Bowl
Parental warning: this section contains alcohol abuse. Reading may not be a good idea.

I...don't remember much. I know the Giants won (big boooo). And I put together most of the night from stories I've heard, pictures, and my own recollections. Open bar for me meant liquor all night. I rarely drink at this level, but I thought the situation was perfect. I just finished reading Tucker Max's book while in El Paso. I knew that the next day was going to be marred with pure pain and soreness from the flag football tournament (we went 1-1, but I played well I thought). I was hanging out with people that I don't necessarily 'like' all the time. Some are great, but others, like the one who threatened my life on my way home for hitting on her younger and more attractive sister, are not.

Countless shots, shooters, and rum and cokes later, I found myself home and in bed. After a dangerous altercation with a cab driver that probably should have ended with me apologizing to the police, I called it a night. Somehow, I woke up the next morning at 7am without a hint of hangover. Thank you, smoking ban.

The rest of the details of the night that I have put together are probably not good for blogging purposes, so I'll keep them as personal tidbits.



Part 3: Never drinking again.
Ehm...enough said.

Lost my way...

I almost forgot how to get back to my blog...it's been so long. And unfortunately (for me and for my readers), I haven't had a whole lot going on.

I got a nice little boring break from work after bowl season. I'm still picking up some slack at the newspaper, but am waiting for my official start date at a new high school sports website that pays better.

Law school applications have been taking up all my conscious thought. I haven't worked on them as constantly as I make it seem, but they have been festering in the back of my mind for about a month straight. But, as of today, I am an official applicant. My papers are being processed at UCLA and Texas. Tomorrow, Arizona State, Berkeley, and USC will be getting theirs, too. Then, I get some time off before apps. are due at Maryland, Villanova, Boston U., and Colorado.

My constant struggle with these personal statements has been frustrating. When every school asks for me to write a personal statement that explains how my background and experiences will contribute to diversity, and asks for me to write all about the various hardships and adversities I overcame in my life to get me to where I am today, I'm really at a loss for words. I can't think of an upbringing more typical and American than mine. Very little adversity, very little hardships, very little diversity. My one diversity card that would normally work is being part Jewish. Obviously, at law school, being Jewish is hardly diverse. I'm slightly Native American, but not enough to claim/prove it.

So, my life is in their hands now. We'll see where I end up.

As for sports...a quick recap.

I hate the Giants. I especially hate Eli Manning. I hate that Peyton didn't win and his brother is in the Super Bowl. I hate that Brett Favre, with all his age and experience, folded under the pressure (and possibly the weather) and literally threw the game away. I want the Patriots to win by a huge margin.

Virginia Tech basketball is having a good season, considering our team is comprised almost entirely of freshmen. We just gave up a tough one to Duke tonight, but I'm proud of the way we played. We were missing our idiot inside post presence because he elbowed an official last time out in Atlanta.

I was happy to see Nadal go down in the semis in Australia. Rooting for Federer to take another title, but I like Djokovic. Very personable and charismatic. I think Federer is too good to lose. I might even go as far as saying Federer is the most dominant player in any sport at the moment.

That's about it. I don't have much to write about. I felt bad for not posting in weeks.

Leaving for El Paso on Monday for the Texas vs the Nation game (college football senior bowl game). I'll be there with Jay for a week. Hopefully, despite it being a dumpy border town, we'll have a good time.

Moving and shaking in Mobile

Welcome to the original home of Mardi Gras. Mobile, Alabama is where it all started. People describe the Mobile Mardi Gras as a family version of New Orleans. I'd say they have it just about right. I haven't been to Mardi Gras in NOLA, but I think I get the basic premise. Mobile is all the parades, the beads, the drinking, and the fun, with none of the gratuitous nudity and debauchery.

We (us GMAC Bowl officials) were reserved a balcony over the GMAC Bowl Parade on this second night of the three week Mardi Gras celebration. Turned out the balcony was four stories up, and we had more fun (despite the open bar) on the street level. I had a teddy bear and a moon pie (Mobile tradition to throw moon pies at the parades) snatched out of my hand, but I came up with several beads strands and some little novelty footballs. Highlight of the parade was the high school band drumlines. Pretty impressive.

The officials welcomed us in to their daily activities, which was nice. It gave our trip a little structure and a little more social networking. We had dinner at Felix's Seafood (we were told they had the best seafood in the country). I thought the food was average at best. The filet was fatty, and the crab meat on it was not tasty and was full of shell pieces. But the experience was nice.

Spot of Tea is our favorite restaurant. We have had lunch there twice now, and plan on returning tomorrow for a final Spot of Tea experience before we reluctantly depart from Mobile.

The hotel we are currently residing in is the Malaga Inn. On the outside, it looks rustic at best. However, its historic qualities make it an endearing place of residence. The central outdoor courtyard is cozy, with a fountain proclaiming itself the centerpiece of a well designed landscaping job. The rooms are a bit old, but in a nice way. The hotel was originally two townhouses built by brothers "during the war when the south was doing well" according to the pamphlet.

Bowl gifts were decent this time. I got a nice carry-on sized Nike duffel bag, and a souvenir football that will soon be autographed by all the officials. Andrew and I will have to fight over the watch and the noise-reducing headphones.

The Redskins, in what I considered an attempt to redeem the sport of football, laid an egg against the Seahawks. I was depressed after my Hokies blew an opportunity to prove their worth, and thought maybe the Redskins could salvage some of my faith in the sport. But, once again, it wasn't meant to be. I wish I could have grown up in an area where my team has been and always will be good. At least with the Redskins I wasn't expecting the Super Bowl.

The GMAC Bowl is tomorrow, then I head home early the following morning (the 7th) for the first time since late December. The New Years Resolutions begin promptly upon my return.

First order of business is to reintegrate myself in to a satisfactory social life. Gym time and a healthy diet are also on the to do list.