More Than the Meat Off the Grill

Saturday was one of those mornings when I woke up drenched in my own sweat and immediately regretted leaving the windows open. But the first and most brutally hot day of an expected 4-day heat wave didn't stop thousands from flooding Madison Square Park for the 6th annual Big Apple Bar-Be-Cue.


Every year the the nation's best pitmasters tow their gargantuan smokers across the country and converge in Madison Square Park. The event is not much of a competition but rather a showcase and celebration. There is no better venue for a BBQ event of this magnitude than NYC. The success of such Manhattan BBQ joints such as Blue Smoke, Hill Country and Dinosaur, have ignited a new appreciation in NY foodies for the meticulous cooking methods, various styles and spices that define American BBQ. A recent article in New York Magazine asked if BBQ was the new deli.

Among the many highlights of the event was a Q&A with 10x World BBQ Champion pitmaster Chris Lilli and 3x Grand Master Champion of the Memphis in May (aka the "Super Bowl of Swine") Mike Mills. To say these men know BBQ would be an understatement. These men do more than smoke meats for a living, they are true ambassadors of a great American tradition. They spoke of flavor profiles, described competitions, and in his closing statement Mills summed up what BBQ was all about. Mills said it best when he described the Big Apple BBQ. He explained that winning the competitions are such a small part of BBQ, he emphasized how great BBQ doesn't require the best equipment and that the best and most significant part of events like these was bringing people together. Here people of all cooking styles, tastes, preferences and backgrounds can come together and fill the hot and muggy Manhattan air with a single plume of smoke for which all mouths water. "It's about the friends you make... and the joy you get from giving people tips and helping them".

Rule # 2

Never trust a grown man who refers to the men's restroom as the "little boys room"

Reborn

One saturday morning when I was 12 my dad woke my brothers and I up with great news. He was taking us to meet the Lakers. We made the drive out to Inglewood and I had no idea what to expect. I still remember looking out the window from the back seat of my dad's car and seeing airplanes fly low to make their approach into LAX.

Every year the Lakers had a "Jam Session" where a couple of hundred lucky kids got to meet the Laker Girls, see cool exhibits and meet and greet with their favorite Laker. The hype at that year's Jam Session was the recent acquisition of a superstar center from Orlando by the name of O'Neal and a 17 year old high school kid who the Hornets drafted but refused to play for anyone but the Lakers. That summer Jerry West traded Vlade Divac for Charlotte's third string guard with a Japanese name who spoke Italian. It was this summer that two key pieces of the rebirth of the Laker Dynasty fell into place. In the next two years plans for a new and improved arena in downtown were underway and a legendary coach from Chicago would come out of retirement to help a troubled but talented young team.

Tonight millions of Angelenos will tune in and watch something much more than just a basketball game. When the Lakers dominated the finals in 2000, L.A. was in desperate need for a championship team. The city came together and almost didn't know how to handle it. It was the turn of the millennium and with economic development that came with the Staples Center in and around the downtown area people could see the city transforming. Lakers flags waved from nearly every car on the street. The city was alive again! After a 3 years absence from the finals LA is hungry again.

Whether you love them or hate them. The Lake Show... Showtime... The Los Angeles Lakers are more than just a franchise.. They are a Dynasty. They add to the NBA real-life drama, scandal, heartache, passion and tradition.

Five Food Factories

Unfortunately I don't know 10 different food places to eat with the name "Factory". Truth be told, if I did know 10 places these five would be the only ones I would suggest. So this Wednesday I can only do a top 5 list.


5. CheeseSteak Factory (New York, NY) - Great for late night eats in SoHo

4. Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (New York, NY) - Rich old-fashioned ice cream with traditional and exotic flavors (e.g. mango, pina colada, taro)

3. Cheesecake Factory (various locations) - The one thing that puts this place at number 3 are their fried macaroni balls (pictured above). Try them!

2. Taco Factory (Tustin, California) - I've only been once, but they've got huge servings for cheap and delicious carne asada.

1. Kebab Factory (New York, NY) - The best new thing on Curry Hill. $6.95 for unlimited kebabs, naan and basmati rice!!

The Rules of Game: Rule #1

Starting today my blog will feature what I like to think of as "rules" that all of us should at least take note of, if not live by. (I think I just broke ten grammatical rules in that last sentence).

Sometimes these rules will spawn from my extreme responses to daily events (like my bad posts) and sometimes they will be completely random (like my worse posts). And yes, if you're wondering, this is a shameless imitation of Esquire's rules and the "Man Law" in recent Budweiser commercials. I can only hope to be as egregiously sexist and witty as they have.

Without a better way to explain these rules, I'll just give you one already:


RULE #1: If Alton Brown and Anthony Bourdain ever fight in a cage match for rights to the nickname "A.B."... put your money on Tony.



                 

               VS.

Half-time: Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals

Vorrei scrivere questo post in italiano in modo che possa parlare ai miei visitatori internazionali. Questo è anche un buon opportunita' di praticare italiano.

Stasera, se sei una bambina di età tra 19 e 23 si sono probabilmente in linea di attesa per ottenere le "Carried Away" nella parte prima di "Sex and the City Movie". Questo è perfetto, perché la loro boyfriend's sono probabilmente, come me, stanno guardando la gioco dei Lakers.

Se si è italiano o parla italiano scusa me perche non parlo bene ancora. Me dispiace per miei errori. Sono solo un principiante.

Fino a quando la prossima volta! In inglese ho promessa.

The Return of the Top 10 List!

It has been a long time since I've been able to whip up a clever new weekly top 10 list. But I'm glad to say that at least for today... It's back!

While on the subject of triumphant returns today's list highlights my top ten favorite movie sequels.


10. Rocky II - Mr. T as Clubber Lang

9. Toy Story 2 - Classic Pixar

8. X2: X-Men United - Very cool finally seeing my favorite comic book characters in action

7. Kill Bill vol. 2 - My favorite style of fight choreography

6. Batman Returns - Great Tim Burton film

5. Back to the Future Part 2 - I can't wait until the auto adjust Nikes come out

4. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey - I have "God Gave Rock n' Roll To You" by KISS on my iPod because of this movie

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Non-stop action from beginning to end

2. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - Billy Dee Williams (that's all I need to say)

1. Terminator 2: Judgement Day - This is just one of my favorite movies period.

6 Degrees

In recent months, more so than at any other time I can recall, I've realized that the world is a smaller place than everyone probably thinks. I used to think of the "size" of this world in a physical way. I imagined obscure patches of wilderness in far away places that few have laid eyes on, animals deep in the Amazon that have yet to lay their eyes on modern civilization etc. However, now I tend to think of this world in terms of human relationships. You might say that this sounds very obvious and simple given the highly advanced communications technology of today. You would be right. But what I mean by "human relationships" is
the fabled six degrees of separation that connect all people on earth. I don't exactly know the origins of that theory, which initially caused me to be a skeptic. If you really think about it, according to this theory, there is a new-born baby in the middle of China somewhere (hopefully far from the wreck left from the recent earthquake) that is connected to you via 5 degrees of separation. This isn't easy to swallow.

But like I said- more than ever I have come to observe the truth in this. For example, I'll turn on the TV and see a people I can trace my connection to and watch movies based on stories based on those people, I'll turn on my iPod and hear People Under the Stairs rap about my after-school hang-out in middle school, I'll eat on campus at a popular chicken sandwich place that owes it's existence to a friend of a friend. At the train station last weekend on the way to Fire Island, a young girl enters the same car as my friends and I. She attended the same high school as one of my other friends and was going to meet the same group of people we were. The week before that, while in San Francisco I came across an old friend who currently lives in a remote village in Germany.

These are just a few arbitrary and for the most part material examples of the point I'm trying to get at. I guess the real meaning of my post tonight is that the world is a more interdependent and connected community than we think. Don't be the person who goes day-in and day-out with a care-free attitude that is supposed to be an excuse to be bitter, or lazy and complain about everything. Anyone can not give a damn about anything. I hate when people justify their apathy with a false sense of "freedom" and a wise-ass smirk that leads them to believe they know something no one else does.

Before this post itself becomes a bitter tirade I'll stop at this: Someone I respect once explained to me how he made the most of his improbable life. He broke it down simply and thought that we could all make the most of our lives simply by thinking hard, feeling deeply, and continuing to build positive relationships with the people that surround us and always thinking about the future.

As little as the world is today, there aren't many things out there that should keep us all from being at the very least, considerate.

Al Prossimo Anno

As I battled a vicious cold last weekend I began to wonder if Bay to Breakers would live up to all the hype. After a long night of improbable events in Berkeley, two friends and I made our way back into an unusually quiet San Francisco. Because on the third Sunday in May, the freaks don't come out at night in America's favorite city by the bay... they come out at the crack of dawn.


A few hours later we woke up and rode a bus into the "panhandle". The rest was really all a blur. It's funny watching the sea of runners pass by and evolve from serious packs of runners to middle aged walkers in costume- then come the younger crowd of people who are just old enough to have a good time and dress up but too old to get wasted in the street. At this point nudist pepper the crowd on the street that is now twice as dense as half an hour ago. By 9:30 locals on Fell St. were blasting "Rhythm of the Night" and sending people out on beer runs. Somewhere along the way a photographer from the chronicle took a picture of my friends and I pouring beer down our throats from some bizarre frat-house contraption.

Hours later I sat around a cramped table at Blue Front Cafe on Haight (go there) and stuffed my face with a Chicken Ranch Wrap (order one), which pretty much epitomizes my idea of comfort food. They're massive wraps stuffed with lettuce, tomato, grilled chicken, ranch, bacon, ham and topped with melted provolone. The best part is this semi-spicy orange sauce that comes on the side.... mmmmm...

Now that I've finally fully recovered from all the weekend's festivities my friends and I are already talking about next year. But until then I'll have the fifty thousand pictures that have been tagged of me online to remind me of what I'll be doing next May...

Another Perfect Day

In 9 hours I'll be on a plane back to LA. There is nothing like leaving cold, damp New York City for time in the best city on the planet. Great weather, amazing food and home of the Lakers, the soon-to-be 2008 NBA Champions.

This video says it all...

Countdown to Bay to Breakers 2008

It's just one of those things that everyone should do at least once in their life. The world's oldest consecutively held annually foot race across San Francisco has drawn in millions to be part of the spectacle. The anticipation is killing me as the third Sunday in May quickly approaches.

For the past couple of years my brothers and I have made it a point to be a part of the festivities. It seems like every year the group that makes the trip to Bay to Breakers has gotten a little bigger, a little crazier and a lot more fun. This year it looks like that trend will continue as our group grows by the day!

As a token of appreciation for reading this post I would like to invite you to join in on the party. I know it might be hard for that reader in Florida (thanks by the way)... but for those of you in California (Valley Village, Los Angeles, Fountain Valley, Alviso, and especially San Francisco) feel free to come to the corner of Fell St. and Stanyon on the morning of Sunday May 18th. We will be raging. Expect the 7 B's : Bands, Booze, Blueman Group, Babes, Byron and of course... Balloons... of the water variety.


See you there!

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize!

When finals week rolls around every semester I get a little overwhelmed with work and find myself in a constant battle trying to stay motivated. I always end up trying to get my roommate hyped up on finals too. Last semester we really got into it. We jokingly wrote the most corny inspirational quotes we could think of on our Dry Erase board. Every day leading up to finals week we had a theme to mentally prepare ourselves. For example, Tuesday's theme was "Eyes on the Prize", Wednesday's theme was "Stay Hungry" and Sunday of course was "Show Time!"etc... The whole thing was hilarious... Completely over-the-top, cheesy and pretty silly.

The point I'm struggling to drive at tonight is that there is this saying we have in wrestling that says, "Misery loves company"... but I find it much easier to plow through the "have-to" ("Rookie of the Year" reference) by remembering that humor, silliness or just a positive attitude also demands company. No one ever said that misery is the only path to success.

Blog of the Week & Daft Punk

I totally forgot feature a weekly blog in my last post. Well this week check out one of my "go-to" blogs, Grub Street. It's under the food tab on the home page for New York Magazine. The site has introduced me to great places to eat in the city and they usually post when there are open tables at the more exclusive restaurants.

Last night ... or technically yesterday morning, I mentioned a Daft Punk song on my "Top 10 Songs to Ring in Spring"... I mentioned it because I heard it at a party over the weekend and it was like the first time I heard it. It was stuck in my head all day yesterday and today I found myself listening to the song on my iPod at work. Maybe it's one of those songs you have to hear at a party to really appreciate.

I know I've featured a Daft Punk song recently (see Something About Us)... but this is the last time for a while.

I'm sure you'll enjoy this one, and if you don't then maybe this will give you a good reason to throw a party this weekend and kick spring off with some sweet jams.

Enjoy.

Update

At the risk of sounding like negligent parent I honestly have to say I've been swamped with work in the past couple of weeks so I haven't been able to blog so much. I apologize and will make it up to you.

Summer is approaching fast and the stress of finals, papers, locking down a (paying) summer job, and organizing my annual trip to Bay to Breakers is falling on me way too fast... much like the feeling you get when you play Tetris on level 10.

So I'm trying something new tonight. This may be a little weasley but surely a better alternative then seeing the same Curb Your Enthusiasm clip every time you visit. in a nutshell here are abbreviated versions of blogs I would have posted in the last couple of weeks if I had so much time. (Press play down below to que the old school "frantic" music)

Soooo...


-Uma Thurman's new movie "The Life Before Her Eyes" is prettaaay prettaaay good. Definitely recommend it. Be advised. I don't remember coming out of movie that mesmerized since Donnie Darko... Yea its like that.

-Lake Show Baby!! Woo Hoo! Need I say more. Nothing better than kicking off summer with the Lakers in the playoffs with a solid chance at taking back the champiionship.

-Pope was in town a week ago but unfortunately wasn't able to see him at Yankee Stadium or sneak into the UN to see the speech he delivered to the General Assembly. I did however see some excellent pictures. I'm not too worried about it since I'll most likely visit the Vatican in my time abroad next semester.

-For those of you reading this from NYU... (roomies, Dack Attack, Magill) All-Sports party is back in full effect. Looks like it's going to happen after all... Wrestling team holdin' it down keeping the party alive.

-Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour is receiving great reviews. A-Rey, my LA source checked the concert out last weekend and said it was "Craaaaazy"... Too bad the tickets are ridiculously expensive or sold out.

-I really want a road bike.

-Top 10 Songs to Ring in the Spring 2008

10. Jurassic Park Theme Song (I guess?)
9. Journey- Any Way You Want it
8. Janet Jackson- Someone To Call My Lover
7. The Beatles- Here Comes the Sun
6. Estelle- American Boy
5. Daft Punk- Digital Love
4. Justice- D.A.N.C.E
3. Tom Pety- Free Fallin
2. Bill Preston- Nothing From Nothing
1. Naughty by Nature- Feel Me Flow

Curb

In attempt to mix things up I won't post a "make up" Top Ten list for this week instead I chose to share a clip from one of my favorite shows on television, Curb Your Enthusiasm. If you haven't heard, this show is written and stars Larry David, the creator of a little show from the 90s called Seinfeld. I think of it as the "real-life" visualization and reenacting of events in David's life that have inspired the type of comic genius of Seinfeld.

I know it's hard getting into a new show. It feels like you're so behind that it's too late to appreciate it so you just forget about it. That's why I don't watch "Lost". Not to worry, that isn't an issue with "Curb". Much like its predecessor each episode is a completely random series of events.

This is one of the funniest musical montages I've ever seen! (check out John Legend's get up too.)

Try This!

In a recent issue of Esquire I stumbled upon a section dedicated to sleep trivia. It was a collection of cool little facts about sleep, tips on how to get to sleep (i.e. when you toss and turn all night or if you're on a plane) and why we need it. The article came to my attention with perfect timing since I was on a plane where I rarely get decent sleep.

Within that special section I was given what is quite possibly the most valuable sleeping advice I have ever received. I was skeptical at first when I read about a guaranteed method of falling asleep so I had to see for myself. I have to say that after trying it myself on several occasions it has yet to fail me. I am confident this strategy will be as useful to you as it has been to me if executed properly. I encourage you to try this....


Before completing these seemingly arbitrary tasks you should note that a major reason it can be hard to fall asleep is because when we lay down and are left alone with our thoughts, we tend to think mostly about stressful issues. Even if your life in general may not necessarily be stressful you can still think of things, people or situations that evoke anxiety and make it difficult to doze off.

A great way to keep your mind off those type of thoughts is to do the following

1. Focus on a color- think of a color, any color and visualize it. concentrate (e.g. yellow)

2. Begin to list (in your mind) as many objects as you can that are that color. These can be anything at all. So for yellow I would think of Lakers jerseys, my pair of Iversons in 6th grade, the van in Little Miss Sunshine, The McDonalds arches etc.

3. Once you feel you have listed for a long time, then begin to think of categories and then name every thing in that category that is the color you have chosen. Ex. Food- yellow bell peppers, mangoes, mustard, butter. When you can't think of any more think of a new category like animals, articles of clothings, cars,

4. If you can make it this far (I never have) then you have to start thinking of phrases or names that contain the color you are thinking. Ex. Follow the Yellow Brick Road, Yellow Fever, etc.

The last stage is very difficult and I have on all occasions fallen asleep in the middle of stage 2. But I challenge you to try this trick and enjoy the benefit of never having trouble getting to bed.

Good Night!

Blog of the Week

I've been thinking of whether or not to take advantage of my acceptance to a program abroad... I'm not sure where though.. tons of factors going into this situation but in the process I finally found a new weekly gimmick! Do you ever think of just how many web-pages there are in existence? How every general thing I can think of is probably floating out there, maybe it was written years ago or maybe being created just as you think about it. The internet is the ultimate source of information. I enjoy stumbling across the most obscure web-sites and blogs. So from now on I'll feature a blog that I think is pretty cool or noteworthy.


This weeks blog is something I recently discovered but find amazing! It's definitely one of my new favorites. You can find this blog on the International Herald Tribune website under the "Culture" tab... (or by clicking HERE).... It's called Globespotters. It's a community of contributors around the globe who share their local insights to would-be travelers on topics like dinning, nightlife, special events, shopping and hotels.

Check it out if you are planning a trip in the near future. You can even post questions.

The Opportunity Cost & A Belated Top 10

One thing that is always tough to do (at least for some of us) is to sit down and calculate expenses. Recently I have found myself staring down a huge list of both expenses and some very important decisions that will have lasting affects on my life. As these plans and big decisions become more concrete I'll share them with you all, but the point I am struggling to get at today is that things cost a lot!

Every thing we do costs something whether it be time, money or the infinite other opportunities we let pass up. Yes we've all heard this the first day of Econ. right? "No such thing as a free lunch" that is, unless you are with Dickie Shiriani : )

With that in mind I had an old friend over the other night who apparently has not taken full advantage of his own educational opportunities here at NYU. To put it bluntly this person is a poster child for neo-conservative America and his views on social issues mirror those of a Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan. It's more sad than it is shocking when I think about it.

We had a little "debate" on issues that I haven't expressed about ever before on this blog. We talked about the "War" in Iraq (If that's what you want to call it) and it made me think... I remembered hearing how much the war costs a day and it turns out that it is estimated to cost US tax payers 341 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY!.... that is depending who you ask because some statisticians have incorporated the costs Americans have incurred as a result of the increase in the price of oil...

I'll stop here before I fill up my whole home page trying to express a frustration that statistically you most likely share with me. but before I go I will imagine the TOP 10 things I would do with the $508,000,000 million the US has spent on this war.


TOP 10

10. Pay off student loans

9. Hire a personal chef and a full cooking staff

8. Buy a building in Manhattan and get Bobby Flay to open a Thai restaurant downstairs

7. Pay Bravo to take "Millionaire Matchmaker" off the air

6. Loan money to the Dodgers so they could build a championship team

5. Build a network of energy efficient schools in developing countries

4. Sponsor the education of every child in Haiti for a 20 years... and throw in some Nike Frees for all them while I'm at it.

3. Customize a space shuttle with an elastic cord that would pull 100 tons of waste and make daily trips up to space so I could sling the waste toward the sun

2. Hire a marching band to follow me and play songs at my request. (e.g. The Imperial March, Final Countdown, The Gap Band, Stevie Wonder etc.)

1. Throw a party a party on a deserted island and have the theme be "Castaways from Gilligan's Island"

Magic Mike

I love magic. I wish I had the time and patience to master the finesse and timing of slight-of-hand magic, but until then I'll be content watching my good friend Mike (aka Magic Mike) do his thing. 

Check out his website at  www.magicmichael.com! 

Here is his promo video. Watch the stunned faces of the two guys at the end : )

After Hours at Cafe Du Monde

Two weeks as ago a friend and I were stranded on the streets of the French Quarters without shelter  and dwindling funds. Bourbon Street got old after the first night and after witnessing a sloshed spring breaker nearly fall to his death from a balcony the night before, we were ready for a tame night. We managed to kill a few hours on 2 cent slots at Harrah's casino, but eventually decided to make the trek up Dacateur Street for a late night snack.

 

We walked toward the world famous Cafe Du Monde without a clue if they were open. The streets were empty and if not for the faint drum and bass of Lil' Wayne blasting from clubs on Bourbon St. they were also quiet. I didn't know the streets well so I found myself peering around every corner trying to catch a glimpse of the large open air patio and green and white awning hoping that the lights would be on. 

Moments later we were sitting inside the cafe (the patio was closed) ordering what would be my first* beignet ever. The menu was simple and the food was cheap... really cheap. I began to realize how this place became so popular. I noticed immediately however this place was nothing like I imagined. When I heard about the world famous cafe in the French Quarters renowned for their beignets I pictured a dim, cozy Victorian style building with balconies and cast iron corinthian style patio seats. At least that's what New Orleans looks like at Disneyland. Instead I was sitting in a cafe crammed with seats, the floors were sticky, the water warm and our waitress was sitting down having a midnight snack two table away from  us. To cap off the whole experience she scoffed at our 2 dollar tip (for 2.00 beignets!) and at no point did her actions even slightly come close to customer service.

The beignets were excellent but I hate when famous places think they don't have to pay attention to details. They become complacent and feel like their product alone does service to the customers. You see this at Lucky Boys (Pasadena) and Buffalo Wild Wings (Brooklyn), don't even get me started on "street wear" and their so called "boutiques" (aka Supreme, Union, Wesc etc.) They just bring customer service down to a whole new low. 

I realize that 30 minutes before closing isn't the best time to come into a place and expect excellent service, however it isn't hard to greet a customer with a smile or just greet them at all. Cafe Du Monde did boast some pretty delicious pastries but the service was borderline insulting.

*Truth be told, my first beignet was consumed earlier in the day from a friend who had just come from the Cafe.

Τεταρτη 10 Λογοι

If you are my age or older than you might find this next list amusing.

During my travels last week for spring break I frequented various different bars, clubs and lounges etc. in and around New Orleans, Los Angeles and New York. Being the observant blogger that I am, I took note of specific characteristics that I always notice when going into a place I won't enjoy.

Since I promised two lists this week I have made one multifaceted list.

The Top Ten Signs You Need to Leave a Bar/Club

AND 

The Top Ten Signs You are at the Best  High School Party Ever

10. Beers and cocktails are being served in plastic Solo cups

9. By cocktails they strictly mean either vodka and orange juice or vodka and cranberry

8. There is a lady selling flowers on the dance floor (I think this is an LA thing)

7. They played the "Superman" song twice

6. There are 18 year old girls riding a mechanical bull

5. They played the "Superman" song once

4. It is located in a strip mall (unless the strip mall has a 24 hour Taco Bell)

3. After you get passed the bouncer you are approached by a scrawny frat boy asking for a $10 dollar cover charge

2. There is an obnoxious emcee on stage screaming obnoxious things like "Wanna take it back to the 80s ladies?!" and belting the lyrics to every song.

1. The DJ is using his iTunes to play music


* Note: There are definitely exceptions to some of these rules. I have definitely been to fun places with plastic cups... and I even know of a cool place that happens to be in a strip mall.  I also don't believe there is a place that possess all 10 of these characteristics and if it does exist then I'm glad I am not aware of it. 

Estelle!

This is the song I hope to be partying to in a few months...

It's been a while since my last post.. quite possibly the longest time without a new post this year. I have been all over NOLA and LA over spring break and have plenty of new food reviews as well as some funny stories that I'll be sure to post about in the next month.. I missed a wednesday top ten list this week but I'll make up for it this week with two top ten lists or even better... A top 20 List!!!

until then here is a catchy tune...

Top Ten Elenco di Mercoledì

As promised here is this week's Top Ten. In light of recent scandals involving Governor Spitzer and a 5"4' brunette named Kristen.. I wanted to feature a list of our "favorite" (aka those that are most comically offensive) R&B lyrics. You know the ones I'm talking about... "Feelin' on yo booty".... "Feel a lil' poke coming through"... etc... but then I realized Jodeci and Joe dominated half that list... So that category will have to be put on hold until I have the time to do some research...

As for right now it has just come to my attention that my blog is now being read in 14 different countries! So in honor of the international subscribers out there, here is a list of top ten countries I would like to visit among the 14 countries that have visited me.

10 to 1, last to first.

10. Canada- Sorry eh.

9. Colombia

8. Norway- way too cold.. and I wouldn't be able to handle all those hours of night,

7. Romania

6. Netherlands

5. Australia

4. Spain

3. United Kingdom

2. France

1. Japan

Countdown to NOLA

This March, instead of joining in on all the traditional spring break festivities (a.k.a. navigating overcrowded multilevel clubs in Mexico that are overflowing with dudes and on a good day, peppered with girls that are way overdressed for a place with sand dance floors and who all think they're classy by double fisting plastic cups of moonshine and blue food coloring) I'll be in New Orleans developing a my commitment to action.

What do I mean by commitment to action? About a month ago I, and over a thousand other college students from around the globe proposed commitments that would address the most pressing global issues of today.These commitments address four focus areas (global health, energy & climate change, human rights, poverty alleviation). Around 500 of these students were selected to participate in the latest project of the Clinton Global Initiative, CGIU- a conference that will bring together students, university presidents and their commitments and help put them into action.

I won't disclose the full details of my commitment here since it is not a finished product and is at a point where it can go in one of two very different directions. However, what I will say is that my commitment is to energy and the climate crisis. I would like to collaborate with an existing organization to reach out to middle schools students and create a school wide program aimed at finding simple energy saving and environmentally friendly solutions in schools. I've got great ideas and will surely share them with my loyal readership as they slowly become a reality in the next few months.

I'm really excited to kick off spring break in New Orleans and be a part of a project that has already proven to be a huge success in engaging young people and shedding light on global issues that our generation must begin to act upon. As if the star studded guest list were not enough the great music, cajun food, Southern belles, mint juleps and "Hurricanes" can only make it better ... I can hear the trumpets blaring now.

This week I have some serious midterms so I'll get back to you on Wed. for a half-assed Top Ten list. And to that I will say, in the words of my favorite Cajun cartoon character, Leatherhead.... "I GUA-RAN-TEE!!"





(Sorry Gambit)

Mercredi- La Liste Des Dix Premiers

I've been contemplating this all day and I decided to rank my top 10 teachers (K-12). Unlike Ratemyprofessor.com I ranked these instructors based on personality, raw teaching ability and the ex-factor... (as always)... corniness.


Since most people have no idea who these people are I have included a tag line that explains what earned them their spot among this special group.



Ascending from great to greatest:

1. Mrs. Steben (1st Grade)- Eucharistic minister who taught me how to tie my shoes

2. Mr. Nielsen (5th Grade)- The stereotypical "cool" teacher at every school.

3. Dr. Hatch (6th Grade Math) - Took me out of a traditional math courses

4. Mr. Luce (7th Grade History)- Main vocalist of the all-teacher cover band, Teacher's Pet.

5. Mrs. Porner (4th Grade)- Took me to Huntington Gardens 3 times.

6. Mr. Nitzani (7th Grade P.E.)- SPMS P.E. legend and inventor of 'Nitzani Ball'.

7. Ms. Fieblekorn (6th Grade P.E.)- She made me want to be an athlete.

8. Mrs. Bran (K)- All kindergarten teachers are nice, but not all of them can wear bell bottoms and sport an afro in '94!

9. Mrs. Fullinwider (Math 9th/10th)- Spent her weekends on a touring motorcycle. She was one of those teachers you hated for pushing you.

10. Mr. Ring (12th Bio)- I got a 'D' in his class and an 'A' in college level biology. He is a all around a great guy. Not to mention extremely corny.

I realize this list is completely useless and not entertaining for readers outside of the South Pasadena Unified School District loop... but my hope is that after reading this you think back to your Top Ten Teachers and the funny catch phrases and memories you've shared with them.

Lastly, to express my gratitude for these teachers here is a hit from my elementary school days. And yes, those are khaki shorts, plaid vests and ties.

"Hi Liar!": The Best of Ralph Wiggum

Have You Heard?

At work, when you get bored of reading blogs or hunting down videos of fighting giraffes on Youtube you should check out "Over Heard In New York", a website where New Yorkers post things they over hear everyday in the city. The website is a hit. I love people watching, and I am guilty of eavesdropping on occasion... Just a few moments ago I overheard a girl standing on a corner explaining how horrible her date was and that she was desperately trying to fake sick.

One of my all time favorite things over heard was couple's conversation in Central Park playing Scrabble...

(Girl just wins)

Girl: Yay!... Wait,hey hon, does your butt hurt?

Guy: Haha no. Why?

Girl: Oh because that's where I just raped you!

Guy: God I love you.


The site is really addicting and gives you a glimpse of the thousands of the stupid, funny and terrifying things we say to each other everyday. At the very least you'll learn to watch what you say the next time your on the phone or think no one is listening.

Wednesday Top Ten List

This week's "Top Ten" is dedicated to words or phrases that make me cringe. Some of these are just subtle word choices that I for some odd reason always pick up, sound awkward or bother me. You hear them all the time. Others on the list include words or phrases that are overused or misused and end up sounding stupid or corny (but not corny in a good way).


Ascending in order from bearable to "I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that"

1. "Next on the line"-  (as oppose to "in line") I think this is a regional thing.

2. "Who of you" (ex. "It would be who of you to make sure you arrive on time.")

3. "Inebriated"- You were not that drunk after 1 and a half cranberry vodkas

4. "Berate"- This is directed to my teammates, but seriously... What happened to "bagging"?

5. "Blast Dookies"- (ex. "Dude, I gotta go blast some dookies.) I actually like this one.. I just wanted to share it : )

6. When girls or homo-normative males use "bitch", "slut" or "whore" as a term of endearment.

7. "Preggers"- That doesn't even make sense.

8. "Party Foul!"- That's just old... and come on it was an accident.

9.  When people announce uncomfortable situations by saying "Awkward!"-  That is just plain immature whether you are completely unaffected by the situation or if it actually makes you       uneasy.

10. Ending correspondence in "Cheers" or "Best" (and you are not from London, Ireland or Australia)- Best what? And unfortunately I am not reading your Email at a bar.

Happy Tuesday! & Del Posto

Tonight a few friends and I decided to go to celebrity chef Mario Batali's Del Posto. The decor was stunning.  Everything about the interior from the elegant marble staircase and  grand piano to the mini ottomans set beside womens' chairs to hold their purses made this scene one of the best looking indoor spaces in the city. The menu showcased authentic, rich italian dishes with an excellent wine and rare beer selection to top it off.

Del Posto is definitely a date scene. This is a place to go for the experience, not if you're hungry. The servings were disappointingly small but offered a unique take on Italian and exemplified the detail and intricacies that characterize Batali's trademark style. The excellent service including compliments from the chef before and after dinner were another highlight of the night.

Go to Del Posto and see smell and taste for yourself what many acclaim as one of NYC's premier dining Establishments. 

Happy tuesday.. hang in there only a couple of more days of this week to go. Here is a song to help you unwind after a shitty Tuesday at school or work or wherever you are.

Personal Belongings

Every year the equipment room at the gym issues all athletes new work out clothes (e.g. Powerliners, socks, towels, shorts, shoes, jump rope, shirts, etc.) and a personal laundry bag so that after you work out you can have your sweaty clothes washed. However, the equipment room that issues the gear and does the laundry has strict rules when it comes to the laundry bags. Come to think of it there are really only two things to remember. 1) don't forget to seal your bag 2) Never put personal belongings in your bag.- The following account is true although some names have been altered. -


It all began last December... It was finals week. I had two of the hardest finals of my life coming up and I was operating on little sleep. I left the gym that day in a hurry because I had to make it up to Harlem for an interview. It would be my last work out until I returned to NY after break. Now I don't remember this happening, but apparently when I sealed my bag I left a huge hole in the opening... I broke the first rule and I was going to pay.

In January I got back to the equipment room and requested my laundry bag. It was all in slow motion as "Baron" the equipment room guru came from behind the steel cage with an empty laundry bag. It was like he was playing a practical joke on me. "I know he doesn't think I turned in an empty laundry bag." I thought to myself. I opened up the bag only to find a lone shriveled sock. My gear was lost in the mystery that lurks behind the steal cage at Coles Sports Recreation Center, in a sea of random sports equipment that only a select few can navigate.

I was pissed so I decided to start working out in my own workout clothes, and washing them in my laundry bag. I blatantly broke the second rule in retaliation for my lost clothes. Little did I know that the equipment room Nazi, "Gulliver" and his loyal wench "Tina" had other plans...

I had a perfect plan. I would only put shirts in the laundry bag that looked like the issued shirts so my bag wouldn't stand out... and then when they least expect it I would get bold and sneak in a white shirt or maybe a blue shirt. So my plan worked well until about a week ago.

I got my bag back after the long weekend and to my surprise I was missing some clothes again (my shirts and a towel). Baron and I trade glances as I quickly grab the bag and retreat to the locker room to investigate what happened. There have beenrumors of the equipment room confiscating personal belongings in laundry bags but I never really believed them.

"They took my shirts!" I announced in the locker room and I couldn't even ask for them back without awkwardly admitting that I have been in violation of their strictest policy. Out of principle I would not admit my wrong-doing and let them keep the shirts.

In the waning days of the season the running gag in the wrestling room was "What the hell is Byron wearing today?".. I had no issued clothing left and resorted to sweatshirts, t-shirts from home and on one occasion, the top we use for competition.

Yesterday was the last workout of the year and I decided to admit defeat, bite the bullet and ask the equipment room for my shirts back. As I made my way into the equipment room a figure emerged from the steal cage behind the counter. It was Baron... and he was wearing my shirt!

Season's End Pt. 2

Another year and another season under my belt. Thankfully this year my record has improved significantly, but enough about me... with a 16-1 record and the UAA championship this year's team is the best in NYU history! Who would have thought after our rough home opener against TCNJ that we would end the season in the top 15 teams in the nation?



Last night as I walked backwards westbound on 14th street trying to watch the lunar eclipse I realized that I don't have much to complain about nowadays. Now that wrestling is out of the way I already feel like I have so much more time to do things that I never had the chance to do. More food, more happy hour, more studying even. Just more time makes me so happy.

To celebrate my first week free from wrestling I''ve decided to go see "Be Kind Rewind" this weekend. I'll make sure to post a review.

Meanwhile.... enjoy ringing in another great Spring... here is some music to help you visualize some happy spring gatherings.

Wednesday's 10

I might have mentioned before that I listen to music constantly. It's just a habit I picked up in the city to make the commute a little more bearable.

I'm not saying I have a better taste in music than anyone else. In fact, all I am is a music fan.. I'm no aficionado. In my eyes, or I guess I mean to say to my ears, good music is relative. Like the way 90s alternative rock sounds so much better when being blasted in a bar or the way Eye of the Tiger only sounds good when your about to work out or before a big game.


Every morning I make it a point to put on music that gets me ready for the long day ahead- "Morning Motivators" if you will. Here are my top 10. (#1 Being the best.)

1. Raphael Saadiq- Doin' What I Can
2. Shuggie Otis- Inspiration Information
3. Father MC- I'll Do 4 U
4. Bill Withers- Lovely Day
5. Jay-Z- December 4th
6. People Under the Stairs- Hang Loose
7. Phoenix- Long Distance Call
8. Steely Dan- Peg
9. Bruce Springsteen- Hungry Heart
10. Electric Light Orchestra- Don't Let Me Down

Happy Valentine's Day!

That catchy guitar part in that Sting song a couple of days ago got me thinking of another classic hit. This video speaks for itself. No drawn out back story needed. Just enjoy the holiday and take a break from watching Serendipity, put down the Oatmeal Cookie Raisin Ben & Jerry's and peep this motivational video. This one is for all the ex's out there.

Until next time...

Wednesday Top Ten List

One thing that I've always envisioned for my blog was a weekly tradition... you might recall "Champ/Chump" of the Week" or how I tried to designate a day to post about food. That is, until I realized I think about food too often to limit myself to blogging about it once a week. Those weekly initiatives failed. So I'm going to start small and commit myself to posting a "Top Ten" list every Wednesday.

My first top ten list needs a little back story. It is an homage to a popular wrestling t-shirt (folkstyle/collegiate. Not WWE). To a certain extent this t-shirt may very well be the one common bond that brings high schools wrestlers across the nation together. I speak of course of the infamous "Top Ten Reasons To Date a Wrestler" shirt. Every kid who has wrestled in high school either owns this shirt, knows someone who owns it or wishes they owned it. I could probably name five people who own it not including myself. To call the shirt corny would be an understatement and there really wasn't anything special about it. The shirt is simply ten common wrestling facts turned into sexual innuendoes (e.g. "#4 always wears his head gear", "#7 will eat anything" and my personal favorite "#6 Knows How To Ride"). You get the picture. In retrospect, wearing the shirt was really more like wearing a "badge of loyalty" if you wil. The shirt is so popular that it has become more of a token to the wrestling community.

A Mason once told me that all Masonic brothers learn secret codes that are made to act as beacons. There are secret gestures or code words that one can say when they are in distress so that if a nearby brother is present they can assist their fellow Mason. So, wearing the shirt is kind of the same thing. It's like a shout out to any wrestlers who might be around. you're saying to them "Hey, I too was stuck in a gym on a Saturday so long that I actually thought this was cool and buying this lame ass shirt was the best part of my day."

In honor of the Top Ten Reasons to Date a Wrestler shirt... here are the Top Ten Signs Wrestling Dictates Your Life:

1. You have a Wrestling USA tattoo or a tattoo of equal insignificance somewhere on your body
2. You have special underwear for weigh ins/ pajama pants for tournaments
3. You can't stand to eat energy bars between March and September
4. You have posted on a local wrestling forum
5. Your high school wrestling coach is in your cell phone.
6. You haven't had a real Thanksgiving dinner in more than 3 years
7. You know the name of every Gatorade flavor (e.g. Riptide Rush, Fierce Melon, X-Factor etc.)
8. You have torn your ACL or know someone who has
9. You have a pair of jeans that don't fit in the winter
10. You own a Top Ten Reasons Shirt

"The Professional"

Here is a really catchy Sting song I first heard at the end of the movie "The Professional". The movie is about a hit man, Leon, employed by an Italian mob boss (a.k.a Sal from Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing"). He takes in a mischievous young orphan girl (Natalie Portman) who quickly takes an interest to Leon's "line of work".

The movie has always been a favorite of mine because it's not just a shoot-em-up action movie like the Matrix. It's a great story about friendship, loyalty, revenge and personal growth. You see a young girl who learns to be a professional killer and a professional killer rediscover a life he once had.

The movie is a must-see. This is Sting with a cool acoustic version of "Shape of My Heart" off "The Professional" soundtrack.

Enjoy!

Another Way Google is Slowly Taking Over the World

News about Microsoft's recent plans to acquire Yahoo! in attempt to compete with the rapid growth of Google made me realize that Google is doing everything... literally. The word "Google" doesn't even show up underlined red when I type it. Wait... infact, the website I use to post this blog (Blogger.com) is now run by Google! That says something.

I find myself repeatedly amazed by the ingenuity and technological advancements of Google's new online services. As if Google Earth and Google Talk didn't leave me speechless (no pun intended), the other day at work I was introduced to what is now my favorite Google application of all time, at least until the Google Chili Cheeseburger comes out next May.

I've been working with a popular website at work lately and one of the ways the marketing team tracks the site traffic is with a tool called Google Analytics. I am a fan of metrics and useless specific data as nerdy as that sounds so this is right up my alley!

I can't even begin to explain the capabilities of this program. You put a tracker on your website that detects the visitors' IP address, and the next day you can use Google Analytics to view reports on very very specific details about the site traffic. So for example, the other day at at work I was playing with an account and was able to see stats like average page views per visitor, average time each page was viewed, how the visitors found the site (including what key words they used to find the site), trends in traffic over months, visitors broken down by region and even by city. So if I wanted I could view how many people in London visited my site for the first time on February 2nd.

It's a really amazing tool. Hopefully one day if my blog gets popular I'll use it to track site traffic on this blog. As of right now I wouldn't be able to stand seeing how few people read this... and even if I did get a good amount of views the brutal honesty of Google's analytical prowess would reveal it was only my roommate's computer that I used to check my own blog.... : (

Super!

I hope you'll forgive the incredibly dull title. That's not to say that any of my other titles are any more clever ( see previous post). But I simply have so much to talk about that I might blow your mind with everything that has been going on.

I'll start with Sunday. The performance of the New York Giants was simply inspiring. I imagine every sports analyst/columnist in the country lost a little sleep on Sunday night thinking of what they would say after they had just been proven wrong. I have always been a fan of the underdog. Maybe its because I've been the underdog a few times, or maybe its my competitive side that wanted to see the Patriots lose for once more than anything else. When it comes down to it I have nothing but respect for the Giants who despite the critics and analyst, played football with a sense of urgency and desire that is rarely seen in professional sports these days. The Giants win on Sunday showed the world that sometimes statistics and predictions should be taken for exactly what they are.. statistics and predictions. Which is exactly what we saw two days later, on Super Tuesday

I spent my evening at a campaign headquarters tonight (The one not in Chicago) and waited as results came in. The atmosphere was something familiar I just couldn't put my finger on it. The distinct feeling that I've been to a similar event lingered as I watched the media, supporters, donors, elected officials make their rounds in the packed ballroom. I thought back and as the chants and cheers grew louder it hit me. I realized where I had seen this before...

At my high school the most anticipated day of the year wasn't homecoming, not spring break, not even prom. In South Pasadena there is an age old tradition that dates back to the pre war era.The day of the first home football game is Color Day. The students come dressed in completely orange and black costumes. They plan ahead for months even years thinking of costumes. On a side note, in many ways the group of people you dressed up with and the quality of your costumes seemed to be some sort of symbol of social status, which in retrospect makes me cringe but that's another story. The main event of the day is held in the gymnasium where the bleachers are sectioned off by graduating year and a series of competitions take place center stage that pit all the grades against each other.

In many ways the campaign celebration tonight was a lot like Color Day. The deafening roar of the crowd and the clever chants that make your throat feel soar and your ears ring were all a familiar feeling, the energy level and the overall positive atmosphere were all so familiar. Except there were more drunk people there tonight. Overall it was a memorable night and I'm glad I had the opportunity to go. Plus, Bill was there.

Chimay on Down!

"The day you meet the unique richness of a Chimay will be unforgettable. After that, on special occasions you will meet it again with pleasure"

Only 6 beers bear the title "Trappist"... these beers are brewed within the confines of a Trappist monastery. Unfiltered. Never pasteurized and made with the protected water from the abbey's wells. A percentage of revenue support the charitable works monks.



Okay I'm pretty short on material, I know. But there are so many things going on right now that I don't have a place to start. Don't lose faith though. Pending the result of tomorrows big game I'll have some historic posts coming your way!

"Bose"ting the Best In Sound Technology

Ever since I bought the Bose Sounddock in 2006 I've been spoiled with excellent sound quality. I'm addicted to great sound quality. First I bought the travel case so that I could take my Sounddock with me on trips. Then I began to resent the tinny sound quality of my headphones so I saved up for the OE Triport Headphones so I could experience the magic of Bose's superior sound quality on my daily commute.

The only problem I've ever had was that I used my headphones so much that the cord became worn and I lost sound on the left ear. But when I called Bose to tell them about it I was amazed by their extraordinary level of customer service. I wasn't kept on hold for more than 30 seconds, the representative was very polite and eager to resolve my issue. He quickly replaced the defective part and expedited the shipping. He even sent an extra cord so it wouldn't happen again.

If you do not care for excellent quality then you must not have listened to music on Bose headphones and I strongly recommend you do so. If the prices aren't worth the sound quality than the customer service definitely is.

Strictly Business

Dress codes can be tricky. When it comes to dressing up for specific occasions many people make the mistake of dressing up too much. I hate the saying, "It's better to be overdressed than underdressed". I would hate to be the only guy in a 3 piece suit at a bar as much as I would hate to be the only guy in sandals at a wedding. My point is, that it isn't just a matter of "Formal v. Informal" , "Tie or no tie" and "Dress shirt or T shirt".

In what I like to think of as a "Dress Code Continuum" there lies "Black Tie" on one end and "Casual" on the other. In between these two extremes are distinct dress codes that are separated by distinct elements. Here are some general rules that my tailor, Joseph gave me:

-"Business Casual" means don't wear a tie
- The coat of a 2 piece suit cannot be doubled as a sports coat/blazer
-Bring your dress shoes to the tailor when altering dress pants
- When wearing a tie, the point should fall towards the center of your belt buckle
- Suit pants with tapered legs are more for parties or social events rather than the work place
- always button the middle button of a 3 button coat or the top button of a 2 button coat. Never button the last button.
-It's better to have a better fit than a better brand
-Casual means jeans are allowed (but only dark washes)

It is important to fall within the constrains of the appropriate dress code for many reasons. 1) Being dressed inappropriately can be embarrassing 2) Ignoring the dress code of a party might offend the host and therefore be disrespectful 3) Dressing appropriately shows you are mature, pay attention to details and professional in the work place

In general, it is best to follow dress codes out of respect and to make sure you are comfortable in a situation. Of course these rules only meant to be strictly followed for things like the workplace and large social functions. When you are with friends family you can use your best judgement on what is appropriate attire.

The Anchor Bar and the Queen of Wings

In Buffalo everyone has a favorite wing place. I was torn, there were a couple of places the locals mentioned but we only had time for one place. Where would I go for wings on my last night in Buffalo? I had to get an expert opinion. I decided to take this question to The Wing King.

On Food Network, Bobby Flay hosts a show called "Throw Down". He travels the country and challenges people to a cook-off of their award winning dishes. In the first season he challenged the "Wing King of Buffalo" and lost.

With the help of my roommate I was able to track down the Wing King and get his number. The phone rang and a woman picked up. It was the Wing King's wife. I explained to her that I was a life-long wing lover and was in Buffalo in search of the best wings the town had to offer. She said that the Wing King had "just stepped out" ( the Wing King is a very busy man). She was happy to help me and informed me that the Wing King would send me to Duff's, a local favorite. I thanked her and told her to give my regards to the King.

In the end the decision was out of my control and our coaching staff had it's heart set on Anchor Bar. I was okay with that. I figured that everyone real wing fan had to make the trip at least once.

On October 3, 1964 Frank Belissimo, owner of the Anchor Bar (Buffalo, NY) had some friends over after hours and served them up a special dish. They were fried chicken wings dipped in a mixture of Frank's special hot sauce and butter. The wings were a hit and the rest is history.

Almost 44 years later, I had finally arrived at the birthplace of my favorite food. The building is a lot bigger than I ever imagined. The walls were covered in license plates and vintage motor cycles were proudly hung on the walls surrounding the bar.

I had a split a bucket of 50 wings with my teammate. They were big, meaty wings, fried to perfection. The sauce was comfortably spicy and didn't over power the taste of the chicken. Initially I was afraid that the sauce would be too buttery, but to my surprise the consistency of the sauce was thinner than typical wing sauces.

Although it may be hard to admit, the wings alone were not anything spectacular. They were better than the average wing of course, but had nothing that set them apart from all the other good wings I've had. My trip to the Anchor Bar was symbolic, more of a formality for me, I had to try the original.

Now that I've tried the original the next step is finding the best. I've heard of a chain called Quaker Steak and Lube that has boasted "America's #1 Buffalo Wing"... My quest continues.

Buffalo, NY... Home of the Wing

It seems like every weekend I find myself closer and closer to Canada. This weekend I'm in Buffalo, NY for the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championships, but more importantly I am in the birthplace of the Buffalo wing!

As my close friends could tell you, Buffalo Wings have always been a favorite of mine. I order them everywhere and have become kind of an unofficial Buffalo Wing authority. On Saturday evening we have made plans for dinner at the Anchor Bar (home of the first Buffalo Wing) and you can count on a thorough review of those wings on Sunday Morning.

Something About Us

As I woke up this morning and opened the blinds this song immediately came to mind. Maybe it was the weather or the blur of radiant colors on the crowded street below that reminded me of the first time I watched Interstella 5555.

This is the song that made me a Daft Punk fan. An instant classic. Note that I have chosen to display the episode from Interstella 5555 as oppose to the other video. I hadn't seen Interstella 5555 (the visual realization of the "Discovery" album) until long after I had first heard the song. When I saw the way the song was interpreted through anime and in the context of this story the song took on new meanings and I was able to appreciate it on another level. If you haven't seen it yet then I hope it does the same for you.

Enjoy!

Two Boots Pizzeria

I'll always remember my first slice of a real New York City pizza. It was a humid August day. I had just moved to the city and finished unpacking my room. I was excited to explore my new neighborhood and begin my hunt for go-to food spots. I flipped through a stack of menus on the kitchen counter when a bright yellow brochure caught my eye. It wasn't a typical pizza place. It was an Italian pizzeria with a Cajun flair hence the name "Two Boots", as in both the boot of Italy and Louisiana (which is also boot shaped). The menu boasted specialty pizzas with ingredients like shrimp (Bayou Beast), bacon cheeseburger (The Dude), and buffalo chicken (The Bird). I liked the concept of the pizza place. The pizzas were named after characters from TV and film classics like "Mr. Pink" from Reservoir Dogs and "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski.

Even after tasting some of NY's award winning pizzas, I'll always be able to appreciate the latest concoction from the kitchen of Two Boots.

Hungry for Haribo

For the past week I've been craving gummy candy. It all started a few months ago when one of my roommates came back from Germany with bags of candy. We had candy for days.

Some of my favorite candies were these gummy candies made by a German company called Haribo (my French teammate Clem informs me the correct pronunciation is "HAW-gle- Bo"). They make everything from gummy bears, gummy frogs, gummy cherries and gummy coke bottles.

I recently discovered that they carry Haribo candies at the bodega downstairs and ever since then I've been snacking on gummy frogs like it was my job.

Like Clockwork

Since I've arrived back in New York my life has consisted of three things. Wrestling, eating and sleeping. Through winter break our team trains twice a day at the same exact time 6 days a week. At this point its not so much a physical challenge as it is a mental one. There is little room for anything other than these practices nowadays so everyone has their daily routine.

My day begins at 10am. The alarm on my phone vibrates twice then plays "The Entertainer". I hit snooze twice and get out of bed. My roommates are all just getting out of bed too. Together we get on the 6 train and when I get out and walk up the stairs I smell the breakfast from the Noho Star. On cold days my roommate points out his favorite patch of ice as we cross Crosby and then we go to practice. We leave the gym at around 12:30 go home and watch TV until the next work out. We repeat the subway ride at 3:45 and go back to the gym. After the afternoon workout we grab a slice at Two Boots and fantasize about the Hickory Burger at Houston's.

It finally occurred to me today that these things I have described happen literally everyday at the same time! It's kind of like that mid 90s comedy Ground Hog Day, starring Bill Murray. Remember Punxsatawney Phil?

I never thought having no responsibilities other than wrestling could be so depressing! Well the good news is that this weekend will finally bring a change in scenery as we leave to the Plymouth State Invitational in New Hampshire tomorrow.

Unless the hotel in NH has free WiFi I won't be able to post until Monday. Adios!

Equivocally "Changing" the Game

Unless you've been in a coma for the last year or have been watching too much Survivor Man on your DVR than you've heard about the heated battle for the White House unfolding in recent months.

As we all know often times in elections (especially modern presidential elections) , rhetoric is the weapon of choice for candidates blazing the campaign trail. While logic and reason can change the voters' mind, rhetoric and emotion can change their hearts. This is not to say that anything is wrong with the use rhetoric and as history has shown, the best leaders have mastered its art. However, what a candidate gains in eloquence by the use of rhetoric is lost in ambiguity. This, I believe, is where the true danger in the power of rhetoric in politics lies. With so many clashing opinions on subjects across the board it is hard for one to keep track of each candidates unique definitions or terminology. For example in the 2004 elections words like "patriotic", "support for troops" and "national security" meant completely different things to John Kerry and George W. Bush.

In 2008, already in the primaries we've seen a similar effect take place. Specifically with the word "change", a bizarre shift in meaning has taken place between different candidates. It is a word that is being heard in every speech and on seen on every poster. Barack Obama introduced the idea of "Change We Can Believe In" to symbolizes a vision of "new politics" characterized by bipartisan politics and broader coalitions. Then just before the Iowa Caucuses Sen. Hillary Clinton positioned herself as a candidate for "change". The Clinton campaign however, uses the phrase "Ready for Change" to illustrate a need for change in status quo (i.e. the current administration). She also uses it to mean that she is ready to make changes on the first day and to promise immediate results or changes when she takes office.

After the success of Obama's campaign for "change" in the Iowa Caucus several other candidates have adopted the idea of "change" (e.g. Romney, Huckabee, Edwards). Romney's says "We all want change... not necessarily in the White House, but inWashington". While it might not be perfectly clear what Mitt Romney meant by that, what is important to note here is that we see multiple meanings in the word "change". Each candidate has shaped its meaning in order to fit their campaign.


When the exit polls showed that voters were responding to Obama's message of "change" all the other candidates wanted to cash in on the momentum and somehow incorporate "change" into their own message. Now all we hear about is change.

With all the talking heads and pundits in the media paired with the vague rhetorical messages of candidates deciding on a candidate can be a puzzle. Today's elections are no longer about who is right, but who can seem right. That is precisely why we rely on the rhetoric. In the end we're all playing the same game-the candidates, both parties, the voters- everyone. We can only hope that in 2008 people will vote on the side of the real underdog this year... truth.

A Little Ear Candy

You may have noticed a sweet new addition to the blog. What you are hearing is "Fall in Love" by Tortured Soul, a house/Soul/R&B group based here in NYC.

In 1992 two college students, John Christian Urich (aka Cooly) and Angela Johnson formed an R&B group that would echo the sounds of soulful R&B groups of the 70s. The group was called Cooly's Hot Box. In the past 15 years Cooly's Hot Box gained international acclaim and toured the UK, US and Japan.

Tortured Soul is one of the duo's more recent projects featuring Urich song writing and vocals.

If I had some sort of rating system for music this would receive top honors. I think Lenny Kravitz said it best when he described Tortured Soul's sound as the type of music he wakes up to on Saturday morning when the sun comes through the window.

Tortured Soul will be playing in Brooklyn on February 10th if anyone is interested in joining me!

Drivin' Me Wild

Tonight I cannot stop thinking about Lily Allen

I was first introduced to Lily Allen last summer. I have to admit that at first I had trouble taking her bubble gum pop beats seriously. I was quick to brand her as some sort of British Gwen Stefani that curses like a sailor. But then I heard a track called "Littlest Things" (easily the best track on the album). The ballad showed a softer side to the foul mouthed brit pop sensation and also showcased her vocal range.

I first saw this video on a plane to LA. The song is really catchy and I like when artists with such unique sounds collaborate. As if Kanye West and Common were not a enough, throwing Lily Allen into the equation makes a sure fire hit.

I guess what it comes down to is three things:

1) British accents are cute...
2) She has a nice voice
3) She some how makes wearing an astronaut suit and aviators sexy

Enjoy!

And the Home of the Free!!!

This guy is awesome... I wonder if he woke up that morning and thought "When I get to the part I don't know I'll just wing it"

Rejected

Five months ago on a sticky summer morning I was startled awake by a bang on my door. It was Adam, a young designer who used to sublet a room in my apartment. "Rise and shine Goliath! It's gladiator time"

Hours earlier I had stumbled into the apartment and he told me he was going to try out for American Gladiators and that I should come. After reminiscing about "The Eliminator" and our other favorite Am Glad (yea I call it that) games I promised I would come along and try out with him. We entertained the dream of being selected and even thought of gladiator names. I was Goliath and he was Gigantor. I didn't think he would actually expect me to go with him the next morning at 8am, but there I was half asleep without an excuse.

The audition went well. We were clearly the smallest people there but I didn't mind the skeptics who thought we were wasting our time. I finished the physical fitness test with a fast time and better than average reps on the pull up bar. I tried my best and thought I did well so I was happy.

Adam, my roommate and I felt proud walking out of the gym that morning and quickly found the nearest McDonalds.

I never heard back from NBC and frankly never really cared... that is, until tonight. All I wanted to do was order in some dinner and watch the BCS championship. After realizing I had an hour to kill before kickoff I decided to watch the premier of American Gladiators which I recorded last night. The show wasn't bad and it was nothing special. The interviews between games were cheesy but I let them slide, because I think they were done in authentic Am Glad corniness.

However, I had one major problem with the show that came in the second half. The third male contender was a undersized Asian guy called Moley. Immediately my roommates and had the same thought. That could/should have been me! I was supposed to be that little asian guy with speed and agility who could beat the Gladiators! Was it because Moley wore glasses? Or was it because he was soft spoken and exuded the demeanor stereotypical of Asian males in Hollywood. Did he know some Martial Art? Whatever it was that made them pick Moley over me it won't take him to the championship and in the end it was Am Glad's loss by not picking me.... right? : (

All I know is they better hope I don't try out for season 2. Because my quest isn't over and one day I will prevail. So watch out Titan! With your bleached eyebrows and chiseled features... You too Wolf guy! and don't think I've forgotten about you Toa... Mr. Subtly-racist Polynesian stereotype who chants gibberish... Goliath will not rest!

Happy New Year!

Just when I thought my blog was forgotten like an old acquaintance, I decided to bring this blog back to life!

It's a new year and the curse that has plagued previous New Year's Eves has finally been broken. As my friends and I rang in the New Year dancing to Justin Timberlake under the fireworks that lit Central Park South I couldn't help but think about the year that lie ahead. I'm starting a new internship, I'll be traveling to Europe and I'll begin my senior year at NYU..... Oh! and how can I forget.. I'm back on facebook in 2008! That's right after a 5 month hiatus, Byron Tuyay is back on Facebook : )

With frequent updates this next year these exciting new adventures will surely make for amusing stories and commentary amidst the vivacious setting of Manhattan.

Re(dis)covery

There is a line in a song called "luv [sic] Part 3" by a Japanese DJ named Nujabes. It says: "It's funny how music puts time in perspective... Adds a soundtrack to your life and perfects it."

I know (from a deodorant commercial) that smell is the sense most strongly related to memory, but I bet hearing a familiar tune can have an equally strong tie to one's memory.

A few nights ago I decided to do something I haven't done in a while. I was going to run with my iPod. Rather than taking time to make a playlist I decided to keep it on 'shuffle'. Towards the end of the run I came across a song that I haven't heard in a very long time. Maybe it was because I'm out of shape and was lightheaded from the run, but for some odd reason this song seemed to lift a curtain and unveil memories I had completely forgotten. As I warmed down and continued to listen, the song not only evoked images but also emotions and a sense of excitement.

The same way that certain genres of music define a generation (i.e. disco and the 70s) certain songs can define times, events and people in one's personal life. And when I reflect on my own soundtrack, it really is something funny whenever I hear Coolio and think of my first grade class, or how John Lennon makes me think of my mom teaching me to play the piano.

It is common, at a party or among friends to have a conversation that begins with "Dude, do you guys remember...(fill in the blank)" This is when someone decides to recall their favorite childhood cartoons, old teachers, or toys. Everyone erupts in laughter and applause and contributes to the subject. "Or what about... (another blank)" Then there is that one person who didn't have cable or went to a private school and has no idea what everyone is talking about but has fun laughing along anyway. Songs can be the same way. I can hear a song and be back in seventh grade and lip-syncing on stage with my two best friends. I hear another song and taken to Hollywood, the time I saw it live in concert.

As a fan of music, and a sucker for sentimental value I find it more and more difficult to take songs off my iPod or delete songs from my library. I like to believe that although I may never care to hear Lil' Zane again, maybe someday I'll come across that song and appreciate what it will bring back.

More Fun with the Baptizer

My room mate often says I'm a the "perfect consumer". He means to say that I'm a sucker for good commercials and easily persuaded by advertisements. But who cares what he says? He has a bowl cut. [Haha only kidding Andrew : ) ] There is some truth to this. I have been known to make some unnecessary purchases, and after all most of my blogs are mere endorsements and analysis of products that I buy or food that I taste or music that I hear. Such is the nature of commentary. However, I must say that it takes a lot for something to make its way from a fleeting opinion in my incessant internal monologue to the topic of my latest blog. That thing must have held my attention or triggered a strong reaction.

A few posts ago I mentioned a 200 yd. water balloon launcher that I call "The Baptizer".The water balloon launcher is basically a really long surgical tube with two handles and a pouch that cradles the balloon. It's a three man operation two men each hold a side of the sling and one man pulls back the loaded pouch like a catapult. My brother and I recently discovered a two-man method in which one man on a knee holds both ends and raises his arms above his head as the other cocks back the pouch. The 200 yd. part, by the way, is no exaggeration. This is probably the only thing worth mentioning twice in my blog. The past few weeks I've had this thing and it has been a blast. Not only was it a hit at Bay to Breakers but it's been a hit at every summer gathering this year. The launcher is instant fun in any setting. They are good for parties, picnics, the beach, parades or even just in the middle of night under the cover of darkness.

The launcher can be found online or at any Sports Chalet... Note that there are two ranges. The 100 yd. and 200 yd. launcher. I have never seen the 100 yd. launcher in action but imagine that can only be half as fun.