wiht all theirlions and all their might and all their thirst
I was thinking about something a wrote a few posts ago, about how Obama was making mistakes I would make. And though I haven't been paying much attention, it does seem like the spirit of that post, that he was going to be ineffectual, was wrong. It does seem like he is passing his agenda. I think his incorrectly associated all his 'splaining with a lack of willpower. I mean, Bill spent a lot of time trying to convince people of the merits of his program, and if he couldn't, then he changed his program. I assumed Obama would do the same. Unfortunately, he seems to largly stick to his guns. I like it, I just don't like his guns.
Here is something from the new WFB anthology:
"What then is the indicated course of action? It is to maintain and wherever possible enhance the freedom of the individual to acquire property and dispose of that property in ways that he decides on. To deal with unemployment by eliminating monopoly unionism, featherbedding, and inflexibilities in the labor market, and be prepared, where residual unemployment persists, to cope with it locally, placing the political and humanitarian responsibility on the lowest feasible political unit. . . . And then let us see whether we are better off than we would be living by decisions made between nine and five in Washington office rooms, where the oligarchs of the Affluent Society sit, allocating complaints and solutions to communities represented by pins on the map.
all their lions and all their might and all their thirst
Crosfit Atlanta Got 8th in the Affiliate competition. I am proud. That they got first in the obstacle course makes me even prouder.
Mike G Finishied in the top half of the Men.
Karen and I had a great weekend in Austin. I had two of the most memorable meals ever: Heirloom Tomato salad, Figs and young goat cheese, and Paella at fino, the the sunday brunch at Fonda San Miguel. The breakfast fixing at Brunch were extrodinary. Wow. Don't come to Austin for a weekend and not eat and Fonda San Miguel for brunch. Don't.
Just saw Inception. I may need to see it again before commenting. It was very good, for sure
I went to Peeche and wasn't suprised to see the Unusual Negroni named "The Peche Negroni". I wasn't surprised to see the peniccillin on the menu either, but Rob is making 'em without ginger. Yeah, the dude plays fast and loose with his menu. I don't approve.
The Dutch came in second. I am sad the World Cup is over but glad that my brief affair with the Oranjemen is over. Now I can go back to hating them. Iniesta had a good game and I am glad he got the goal.
I am in Austin. Bootcamp has started.
One of the Bootcampers from the previous year has lost 30 pounds in the last few months following my dieting advice. No exercise, he just eliminated sugars and starches. That's it. "It was so easy" he said. The total pounds lost this year by following simple evelutionary principles is encouraging. That a freind of this colleague remarked to him, "your cholesteral is probably though the roof", reminds me of how much work still needs to be done.
Tara's wedding was perfect. A good Catholic wedding, and a beautiful and fun reception. Lots of open bars. She looked great. The more I think about it, the more I love her dress.
Saw Predators in Austin at the draft house. It was almost as good as anything like that could be. I enjoyed it.
I was at BarChef in Toronto and was very impressed. While there I read an issue of imbibe, and came across this:
Dave and I watched the game while chatting with eachother on YIM. I was at the cabin ( I had been since Firday night) and by the end we were conditioning ourselves for the loss: He texted 'Sign', and I responed 'oh well'. By the Very End I was screaming and hollering, but, alas, I was alone at the cabin so there was no one to hear me scream.
I spent the last couple of night sitting on the deck tending the grill a watching movies on my laptop. No need for a plate, I'd just eat right off the grill. Saw Book of Eli and and the Ugly Truth. First lets get it out of the way, yes I was watching the ugly truth by myself, and no, I didn't think it was a response to Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. I KNEW it was a rom-com, but I kinda have a thing for the lead I like that guy. Anyhow, it was unoriginal (arn't theny all) (No! Wedding Crashers and maybe sarah Marshal... and 40 year old virgin.. my point is that sometimes they are good). This one wasn't but I enjoyed it.
Suck it. I -do- drink beer for tatse, so I got that going for me. But then again, i sometimes carry a carry all/
Alex had told me to watch Eli, and it is obvious why. Well done theme. You all know I am touchyy about how christianity is portrayed in movies. Still enjoyed this movie , despite its implication (That Chirsitian fevor is responisble for an apocalyptic war). It's not that movie is so good despise that implication, its that the movie is otherwise as pro-christian as they come. Seriously. Add it to NRO's list of all time most conservative movies. (Pure coincidence that I mention NRO's culture section in subsequent posts, but while I am on the subject, that list of theirs doesn't include Demolition Man, which is by far the most conservative movie of all time. What did I call them? Rubes? RUBES!)/
Steve Matt and Dave just left. I don't get a chance to brag about game night much, since I am not actually that good, but I came in 1st and 2nd today, out of two games. Dave got skunked. That never happens in small group play.
Steve though. He's a gamer.
OK. cabin again this weekend. Toronto this week. Atlanta for a week. Then Austin (with a brief stop in Kansas City to see Tara get Married).
But really I should be documenting this world cup. I have seen all but seven or eight games. well, they have been on in the background at least. I love it. I would like to see more definitive outcomes but whatever. I love it.
I still hate the haters. I listen to local sports radio on the drive back from Blue Ridge, and lo-and-behold the only soccer they were discussion was wether or not America gives a shit I wanted to call in and tell them soccer isn't in the dock and pretending it is demostrates their ignorence and insecurity, but then I thought, why the hell am I listening to sports talk, and oh my god did I actually consider CALLING sports talk? Is still feel lame, and I probably exagerated how close I was to calling..
World Cup is the greatest sporting even in the world, by oh, a few thousand decameters (I hope that is far, I have no idea). If you don't recognize that, you are being obtuse (OBTUSE, is it intentional?). Its fine if you don't like it, it really is. But it is not in the Dock and maybe if you stopped pretending it was you would start to enjoy it. If that's too much to ask, at least let the casual listener in on the scores of the active games once in a while. From Eli's sake, thats what sports news is ostensibly for, isn't it?
swinging the world by the tail bouncing over a white cloud killing the blues
Outside of Norlinger's writings on Classical music, the National Review's cultural musings have always been booring and uninsightful. It's hard for me not to impugn their motives, and also call it apologetic or reactionary, but the hidden message behind NRO's collection cultural articles seems to be "Don't worry, keep doing what you are doing you arn't missing anything".
I've felt that way since the first cultural articles were posted, and feel compelled to write it now, because they insist on patting themselves on the back for not liking soccer. There is nothing more tedious then people explaining why they don't like soccer. IT IS A SPORT, you arn't obliged to like it. There is no justification necessary! I am reminded of the gradeschool loudmouths who, not knowing what particular jet was flying overhead, would list loudly all the planes it wasn't, for that at least afforded them the chance to talk about things they knew. Such it is with people who feel compelled talk about World Cup in any way other than engaged.
I love you NRO, but SHUT THE FUCK UP. Really. SHUT UP. Finding some other commentator on the other edge of the internetverse who also doesn't like soccer isn't an excuse to regurgitate your own feelings on the matter. What purpose is served by posting polls showing that soccer still hasn't caught on?
Karen lent me her Allison Krause and Robert Plant collaboration. ("He was in some band called led zeppelin", she said. Yes, I replied, and then cautioned her against ever describing them aloud as "Some Band" while in the South, though it was college before I knew any of their songs myself). I haven't got a feel for the whole album yet, but the song "Killing the blues" is INCREDIBLE. There is also a moody cover of townes's Nothin and another good song called "Read the Letter".
I don't normally give these "Designed to win an Oscar" records a chance, but I am glad I did in this case.
YOu know what other song is good. Lost Cause by beck. "killinge the blues" reminds me of "lost cause" for somereason.
I just notcied the Andy made an elliot smith comment... funny. You know who -is- good? Miike Smith (no typo, has two 'i's).
I have now missed 2 and half world cup games. I have seen all the rest and am watching the dutch opener right now at Meehans in Sandy Springs.
I should have wrote this before the cup started, but I can reference my Espn bracket if it ever becomes a point of centention: My teams are USA, Chile, England, Netherlands and Ghana.
Had a big planned dinner at Holeman last night, 8 beers, 4 courses. Lots of parts of course. It was hard to get up to watch the Dutch this morning, but I knew I would toss and turn in indecission if I didn't get up. So here I am. rooting for the Dutch in an empty bar that I don't even like. What the hell was I thinking?!
Still. Its the World Cup!
Went to a party beforehand and the host had a coffee roaster. a ROASTER. and a 5 gallong bag of unroaster collumbian beans.
Crazy Heart was good. Very much inspired by Billy Joe Shaver (who I wrote about a few posts ago). The link was made explicit when Duval sang "Live Forever" while fishing. I have had just read on a friends blog that robert Duval sings, acapella, Shaver's 'Live forever' in a fishing boat on a lake with the Dude, I would immediately rent that movie, but if you need more incentive, you should know there are at least two obvious Big Lebowski reverences.. For instance, one of the first scenes is a reverse angle shot of the Bad Blake, sitting at a bar in a bowling alley.
I'll let you find the rest.
There was also a Townes burnt into Bad Blake (the movies fictional musician), but the only townes song in the movie seemes a little out of place. Go watch already.
UNSATISFIED , A WORD HE OFTEN USES IS NEED, HE'S USUALLY WIRED ON THAT CHEAP TRUCKERS SPEED
Dr Saturday wrote the it was like America's funniest videos except Bob Sagat got to be himself, not Danny Tanner. So I checked out Tosh.0 and was pretty impressed. One episodehe showed this clip and said that it was like watching colege girls run away from Bill Mahar:
Now, I can't stand Bill Maher, and my dislike predates his repulsive political 'humor'. In fact, it predates the now agreed upon definition of Douchebag. I know because in college I was at the mellow mushroom with some friends and he walked by outside, and though none of us were familiar with the man, we were all instantly put off, but silent for want of adequete vocabulary. No more will be caught unprepared.
Spent too much time fiddling with the St Petersburg paradox this week.. just trying to get my head around the issue, and then I bought St petersburg the game and got schooled by Dave 3 to 0. Ugh.
Saw three comedians at the Laughing Skull. Gram Elwood was the headliner, but his opener Trevor Williams was the most impressive. He's routine needs a little work, but his stage presense is perfect. He made me spit Guiness out of my nose, calling himself on some particularly poor audience interaction. Gram was good too once he warmed up (I suspect coming out while everyone was fullfilling their two drink minimum, and then have to slow play his start until he had everyone's attention did him in). Everyone in atlanta should get out and support the Laughing skull comedy club (at the votrex in midtown). I know , I know, I go to one comedy show and now I am coming on like the fucking ambasssador of the arts, but its such a small place, your attendence really counts..
Margaret Cho did a surprise set. It was the Bluest bit of comedy I have ever seen. That she didn't end it with an aristocrats joke suprised me. It was very well done though.Outclassed the other two. But not for long, Trevor will make a name for himself.
Oh, I also saw Imogen Heap. Not a great concert. Not enough atmopshere.
Oh wait, one last thing. At the end of Gram's act he empahsized that everyone should say hi after the show.. " i'll be right over there, so when you leave don't feel like you have to just walk past, even if you dont want to buy any of my merchendice I'd love to thank you for coming out", which was a classy send off. Except he set up at the entrance, which was oposite the club's exit. So no one existing walked past him. I did walk past him because I was going the other way, and in my head I wanted to joke with him about the mistake.... What I SHOULD have said was "Not gonna move a lotta tape this way", but I totally didn't think of it till I passed him.
