2008 – A Year in Review

I’m trying something new.

A few of my more  industrious friends  send an “end of the year” letter in which they recall the triumphs, tribulations and mundanity of their personal years.  Some of these, I’ll admit, are incredibly boring; others are rather enlightening.  Having never written one myself, I figured this is as good a year as any to try to write my own.  Follow me over the fold for “2008 – A Year in Review.”

I’m Serious This Time…

You’ve heard it here before, but this time I mean it. I’m serious. Don’t look at me that way!

I am going to re-re-rededicate myself to posting here more often.

Those of you reading this who know me personally – probably all of you – know that I’m not usually at a loss for words/funny stories/details of funny videos/political opinions/Philly sports team angst or euphoria, etc., to share.

To spare my darling wife Erin – and my lunch buddies – I’ll put those items here. They may be short quips, insights, videos, thought purges, or long-winded rants, but at least the intertubes will have a little more content in them.  If I can keep it up, this blog will be updated daily.

I mean it.

Star Wars Trumpet

This literally made me cry with laughter.

The United Countries of Baseball

I saw this image this morning on DeadSpin.

Since I love maps – and I love baseball – I think this map is pretty fantastic.

(Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Genius from The Onion

This is yet another example of why The Onion is truly one of the funniest media sources out there.

Activision Reports Sluggish Sales For Sousaphone Hero

Thoughts on the ‘Social Networking’ Phenomenon

I just created a profile on Facebook.com. To be perfectly honest, everything involved with the process is a little bit daunting.  This got me thinking about the concept of social networking in the 21st century, in general.

My first foray into social networking was Friendster, way back in late 2003/2004. It was all very new and exciting…until it wasn’t anymore. There entered an anxiety about trying to add as many friends as possible, of building up my comments section. That anxiety grew old, so I deleted my Friendster account a few months ago. By then, I had created a MySpace account. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the thought of deFriendster-ing people who were no longer in my life. Seemed a little passive/aggressive and petty. It was a much better thought to delete the profile entirely. I mean, I’m in my 30s. Why must I worry so much about these things?

Fast forward to today, and I’m on both MySpace and Facebook. Maybe I should complete the cycle and re-up for Friendster?

Or maybe not.

Ewok song…in barbershop style!

What’s wrong with us?

Does anyone else think it’s completely ridiculous how much attention has been paid to the very-public meltdown of Britney Spears and the mysterious death of Anna Nicole? Either Anna Nicole or newly-bald Britney have graced the covers of the New York Daily News and the New York Post – though it should come as no surprise on either of those. These stories followed the lurid details of the diaper-wearing astronaut and her 900 mile drive to attack her “romantic rival” that captured America’s attention. Jeez…

Isn’t there some more important news to report? Is this where we, as a culture, have come? We’re in the midst of a disastrous war, enduring the worst presidential administration in our nation’s history, and front page news is Britney’s shaved head?

Guh.

P.S. I’m actually the father of Anna Nicole’s baby.

Overheard in New York

On my bitterly cold walk to work this morning, I witnessed a twenty-something couple having an argument. It caught my attention, as the woman was grabbing at the man’s jacket, and they were tussling a bit. But their language caught my attention even more:

Her: “Don’t you play me like that! Don’t you play me!!!”

He: “You don’t respect a nigga.”

Why would she?

(Bill Cosby would have been pissed.)

100 Things

My friend Amanda Martinez, part of my daily lunch crew at Rockefeller and easily one of my favorite people, did a list of “100 Things” about her on her MySpace blog. I enjoyed reading hers, learned a lot about my friend, and immediately wanted to do one. Amanda’s boyfriend Jorge referred to it as “a good exercise for the mind and soul.” I agree!

In no particular order of importance, here are my 100 things:

1. I genuinely love my life right now.
2. I have two brothers – Matt, who is 26, and Kevin, who is 24 – who are both very different from me.
3. My favorite sports teams are all Philadelphia-based, even though I have lived in New York for 8 years.
4. None of them have won a championship since 1983.
5. This makes me very sad.
6. I DVR Molto Mario every weekday, and usually watch it when I come home from work.
7. Cooking shows make me happy.
8. When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor, a weatherman, a broadcast journalist, and a sportswriter.
9. I didn’t want to be a singer until I was a senior in high school.