Boston to Washington

NFL Lockout

2011-03-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

The NFL owners and players agreed to extend the deadline for negotiations one more week and therefore averted a lockout. President Obama chimed in by saying that he would not get involved in a dispute between millionaires and billionaires when he needs to worry about Americans that are out of work and instability in the Middle East and North Africa. However, he does need to consider the economic engine that the NFL brings to cities across the United States and how it is woven into the fabric of American culture. I do remember President Clinton getting involved the baseball strike negotiations.

Charlie Sheen

2011-03-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

Unlike what this guy thinks he is not #winning as he tries to say in his tweets. He is a self centered egomaniac who put the crew of Two and a Half Men out of work with his antics. Unfortunately since the show was about two brothers I don't know if they can continue it without him. I have been enjoying the comparisons of him to Gadafi.

APPA Leg Rally

2011-03-04T17:54:00.001-08:00

APPA had our annual Legislative Rally this past week. I didn't go to as much of it as usually do but we had a few good speakers including Paul Begala and Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Our National Conference is in Washington this year and I am looking forward to welcoming everyone back to DC for that.

Violence in Libya

2011-02-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

The Crisis in Egypt is starting to have a domino effect on the Middle East. There have been protests and demonstrations in nations like Bahrain, Iran and Libya. Only problem-these nations are not close to pseudo democracies that Egypt is. In Iran they are calling for the deaths of protesters and Libya is actually doing air raids on the protests. I don't have a good feeling that these are going to go as well but to see this spectacle of change and people having a voice in this nation is impressive, the more they crack the "iron fist" eventually it will break.

February is dead month in sports

2011-02-21T18:26:00.001-08:00

This post is just to state the obvious. After the Super Bowl February is the dead month in sports. There are no major championships until you get to March and the NCAA Tournament. There are, however, important college basketball games that start to separate the good teams from the great teams. The top four teams in the nation all last week and they need to watch their records going into the conference tournaments if they plan on getting an number one seed (not to mention they do not want to lose momentum). This will no doubt be a very wide open tournament this year with any Big East team having a chance to make a run as well as no clear top team. Even when there is a top team (see Kansas 2010) that is not even a guarantee. At least this month give us something to look forward to.

Down goes Egypt!

2011-02-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

After days of protests and even violence at times, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak finally resigned ending 30 years of rule with an iron fist. We had a relationship with them as they were a democracy, however they were a "puppet" democracy.

It will be very interesting to see how this change of power plays a role in the future of Egypt and, more importantly, the Middle East as we have many foreign policy interests there and the stability of this part of the world is a huge part of the War on Terror and national security.

Overall, the events here were more fascinating than anything happening in Boehner World or in Richmond for that matter. I also hopes this is a turning point in the role of the Middle East in world peace.

Green Bay wins Super Bowl

2011-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

As I predicted, Green Bay one the Super Bowl over Pittsburgh 31-25. It did not seem like there was a memorable play like the past few years that defined this one but the game was close and entertaining so I cannot complain about that. Green Bay was the better team throughout forcing three turnovers and capitalizing on a lot of opportunities.

Unfortunately, this Super Bowl will probably be remembered much more for the snafus than anything that happened in the game. Christina Aguliera botched the national anthem, 400 people were denied admission, weather, a not so great halftime show, and controversial commercials. Hopefully there will be one next year with the lockout looming.

Super Bowl weekend

2011-02-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Even though it isn't official this an an American holiday. Getting ready for parties and all of the pregame, game and post game rituals are as much of a tradition as putting up a Christmas tree or serving turkey on Thanksgiving.

This year's game features the Green Bay Packers vs. The Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. While there is bitterness that it isn't the Patriots, I have taken a step back and realized that this year's version is America at its finest. Tradition is meeting progress. The Packers and the Steelers are two of the NFL's most storied franchises and have combined for nine Lombardi trophies. Most importantly, this game is about the fans. On one side it is the steel workers from western Pennsylvania vs. the farmers and meatpackers in Wisconsin. These are the people that define America and they do deserve to watch their team play in this game. Cowboys Stadium is also the most state-of-the-art stadium built in the world and represents American progress.

As for the game, I like the Packers 33-30. Aaron Rodgers is determined to get out of the shadow of Brett Farve in this game and their defense will step up.

Egypt getting very dangerous

2011-02-03T09:40:00.001-08:00

The level of violence in Egypt has escalated beyond normal but it is not a war. I cannot define what it is. All I know is that it will continue until Mubarak steps down from power. Also, it is very difficult to categorize this as a Democratic society with this level of violence and defacto revolution. I feel bad for Americans who are studying abroad in Egypt as it is a very exotic and interesting place as it has storied history.

Snow

2011-02-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Half of the nation was paralyzed under a winter storm this past week that stretched from the Midwest to New England. The DC/Arlington area was left out other than a light freezing rain. While a snow day is nice every now and then, this magnitude of a storm would have paralyzed the city for almost a week. Unfortunately I have a feeling that we will get one really big storm before the winter ends.

End of the month

2011-01-30T17:36:00.001-08:00

Okay, so much for that resolution to post more in 2011. However, I have decided that this will get me back on track. So here is a summary of my thoughts on the events of the past two weeks.

Super Bowl XLV will be Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay. I am thrilled that the Jets went down and it pits two of the NFL's most storied franchises at their premier stadium. It should get the most fan interest of Super Bowls in recent years.

The State of the Union speech was last week and he delivered what the voters wanted, a good middle of the road speech although there was a lot of stuff he said that won't even come up for a vote. However, it struck the right tone given it was post Tuscon and post "shellacking" midterm election.

The Egypt situation is very difficult as they are a close ally of the United States. I think that Mubarak should resign and let a new government come in. I think a leader stepping down is better for American and other Middle East interests than increased volatility.

Patriots once again, FAIL

2011-01-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

The New England Patriots lost to their hated division rival New York Jets in the playoffs 28-21 on Sunday. During the regular season they achieved a 14-2 record and home field advantage throughout the playoffs but that wasn't enough to stop the Jets yesterday. New York trashed talked a lot the entire week but backed it up with simply put, clutch play, in all aspects of the game yesterday that the Patriots could not match. Someone forgot to tell the Patriots that regular season accomplishments go out the window once the playoffs start and that going to the Super Bowl wasn't their birthright.

I have felt that the fourth title was the most difficult to win of all and had reservations about this game. Everyone said this would be the year that the Jets would get by the Patriots and they had their one chance on Sunday-they took advantage of it.

At least this is a young team and they have a lot of draft picks this year so I think there is still one more Super Bowl left in them.

Tuscon one week later

2011-01-17T18:11:00.000-08:00

America is moving on from its most recent tragedy. Congresswoman Giffords is recovering at a pace that is exceed the expectations of her doctors and is inspiring the nation in this way. President Obama spoke at the memorial service this past week and called for the nation to come together and see democracy in a way that children, particularly the young nine year old victim saw it, as a place of civilized discussion and leadership. In another touching story, the organs of the nine year old victim were donated to a girl in Boston. One can only hope that this event will change the course that the nation is going in as it wasn't going in the best direction prior to the unfortunate events of January 8.

Tragedy in Arizona

2011-01-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, was shot in the head today along with six other people. Giffords is still fighting for her life but the other six individuals, including a federal judge and a nine year old girl, were killed.

This is difficult to comprehend for our generation as we are seeing our elected officials become victims of hate and divisiveness for the first time just as our parents saw in the 1960s. There is not doubt today's events will change the current American climate in some way whether the people start to view the Tea Party differently, security of Congressman, or if this is the beginning of violent activity to resolve our political differences-which would be unthinkable.

Ohio State wins Sugar Bowl

2011-01-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

Ohio State won the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night 31-26 over Arkansas in a thrilling Sugar Bowl Classic matchup. They jumped out to an early lead and let Arkansas back in the game. They almost blew the game when they had a punt blocked with less than a minute on the clock. Oddly enough, all five players that received suspensions next season for ethics violations played huge roles in the game including the player that made the game winning interception. This marks their first ever win over an SEC team and second consecutive BCS bowl victory.

112th Congress in Session

2011-01-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

It is looking like it will be a crazy two years with the new Congress. The session kicked off with the reading of the Constitution during the session. Both Republicans and Democrats participated but the spectacle of it was something that could only be handcrafted by the GOP. Ironically, the violated the Constitution by letting two members of Congress introduce a motion and they had not been sworn in yet-they were attending a fundraiser. Next step-repealing healthcare reform. Good luck on that one guys.

back from holiday break

2011-01-02T16:47:00.001-08:00

Happy 2011 to all my readers. I am back from holiday break ready to hit the ground running in 2011 with work and other personal activities. It always seems like the holidays go by too fast but life is not a holiday unfortunately. I went back to New England and got to see family and even enjoyed a snowstorm. It had been a while since I actually shoveled snow so I could not complain about doing it when assigned. Other than the New England snowstorm (it did not come to DC) not too much happened in terms of news. In sports, the Patriots clinched the top seed in the AFC playoffs so the Super Bowl is essentially theirs to lose. However, it will be a tough road to get to Dallas.

The Big Ten took a beating in New Years Day bowls and hopefully Ohio State can salvage the conference in the Sugar Bowl versus Arkansas. Speaking of the Buckeyes, several starters (including Terrell Pryor) got into hot water with the NCAA for selling souvenirs to pay for, of all things, tattoos. They will be suspended the first five games of the 2011 season but can play in the Sugar Bowl.

I hope for the best for all of you this year.

Happy holidays to all

2010-12-23T16:11:00.000-08:00

It has been a very exciting 2010. I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and happy and healthy 2011. I look forward to sharing the news and my thoughts throughout 2011 on Boston to Washington. One of my New Year's resolutions will be to post more! Thank you for your suppport this year.

DADT Repealed

2010-12-18T18:40:00.000-08:00

Today the Senate made a historic vote to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Under this policy, gay and lesbian servicemen could risk discharge from the military if they revealed their sexual preference. With this repeal, they can now serve without being discriminated against based on their sexual preference. It will also encourage more highly skilled officers to enlist and provide necessary skills to help the armed forces. This is especially satisfying as this was the change that President Obama promised during the campaign. For those that are complaining, he has delivered in a few ways on that.

Turning a page

2010-12-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

The year has come to an end for Arlington Young Democrats and my role with the Careers and Networking Group. I take a lot of personal pride in building the online groups, first introducing the group, organizing and promoting all of the events, and plugging members into other AYD events. However, I feel it is time to move onto other ventures including putting more time into my job. It is bittersweet to step away from this role but it was a great ride and good experience for me. My good friend and roommate Shawn will be taking over responsibilities for now with this group. He will be serving as Secretary so he hopes to pass the chair of this onto another person.

Most importantly, I ended my term on a high note. I received the Community Service Award for 2010 and was very honored and humbled to get this. We have a lot of great people in this organization and I took a lot of pride in this recognition. Between my recognition my colleagues and friends Gordon and Lauren getting AYD of the Year and Unsung Hero, respectively, we established a legacy and of course, we went out on top! Thanks to AYD for a memorable year and this recognition. I won't go to far and look forward to sharing my new experiences with those I met and got to know this year.

Cold in DC

2010-12-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

It is going to be very cold for the next few days in DC/Arlington with highs in the 20s and low 30s. This was the weather I was supposed to have for New England in a few weeks. All I care is that the snow stays away and I can get home safely for Christmas. Looks like I will be wearing sweaters to work for the next several days.

Brett Farve Streak ends

2010-12-13T17:55:00.001-08:00

Brett Farve's streak of consecutive games started ended today at 297. We knew it was going to end sometime and his injury was too much to overcome. It was definitely a strange sequence of events with the dome collapse and all as to how it came to an end. Not surprisingly, ESPN spent the first 20 minutes of the Monday Night Countdown show talking about it. They weren't even covering the rescheduled game.

Roof Collapse

2010-12-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

This weekend's Giants-Vikings game had a crazy set of events unlike most games have ever seen. The Giants had their flight diverted to Kansas City due to a major snowstorm in Minneapolis and the plan was to delay the game one day. Then on Sunday morning the roof of the MetroDome collapsed forcing them to move the game to Detroit on Monday night. Talk about a logistical nightmare to try and plan for. There was always talk about a new football stadium in Minnesota. Maybe now is the time for action in the Twin Cities.

Patriots on a roll

2010-12-12T17:49:00.001-08:00

The New England Patriots are looking like the best team in the AFC and the NFL after beating the Jets last week and then doing the same to Chicago this weekend. They are playing well in December, the time of the year you are supposed to be hot and as of now they are officially in the playoffs. The playoffs could be a huge wake up call as it looks like any potential game will be a rematch. However it seems like this team is very hungry to get back to the Super Bowl especially after their difficult loss in the opening round of the playoffs last year.

WikiLeaks

2010-12-06T17:08:00.001-08:00

It is plan and simple, releasing this information is a matter of national and worldwide security and those doing it should be punished to the fulllest extent of the law. I rest my case.

I'm back

2010-12-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. Holiday season activities have started to get in the way. I had a great Thanksgiving holiday at home and got to see family, eat, watch football, and go to my high school reunion. All were enjoyable. Andover won its Thanksgiving high school game and conference title. Ohio State beat Michigan (again) and will play in the Sugar Bowl as Big Ten conference champions. It was after Thanksgiving so I actually got to watch with my grandfather on his new big screen TV.

Great weekend

2010-11-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

I had a great mid November four day weekend. I took care of a lot of domestic chores around the house and did get out a little bit as well. Saturday I did a community service event raking leaves and mulching at homes of folks with disabilities which was enjoyable given the weather. Sunday morning I ran the Veterans Day 10k and logged a fairly good time. Looking forward to a "7 day week" leading up to Thanksgiving next week.

Patriots on a roll

2010-11-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Patriots had a huge win at Pittsburgh last night after losing to Cleveland last week. That win could decide some significant home field advantage at some point. There are many saying that this is his best coaching job given all of the new players that came to the team this year. However, we still have December and January to judge the season and these players. Keep in mind the Patriots were in a similar position last season going into the game against Indianapolis and all it took was one call that changed the season.

Annoying Commercials

2010-11-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

Here is 2010's version of Saved by Zero-courtesy of Geico. We are officially in the post election slow news cycle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F_G2zp-opg

Election 2010 Recap

2010-11-04T18:19:00.001-07:00

This was a very bad night for the Democrats as the Republicans gained 60 seats. I still went 3-1 in the campaigns that I worked on. The only setback was Tom Periello in Virginia and he was an especially talented public servant so that was a difficult loss. Despite the wave and the "Scott Brown" effect Massachusetts held serve with all seats staying in Democratic hands, particularly my home district where Niki Tsongas won decisively. Despite a rocky term, Deval Patrick will also be governor in Massachusetts for another four years.

Now it is up to President Obama and the administration to work hard on compromises with the House leadership. I still feel that he was right in pushing through health insurance reform as he had the political capital and legislative backing to do this. It will be difficult to repeal with the checks and balances system getting in the way. Going forward, he will have no choice but to work with the other side in passing legislation as the "shove it down your throat" option won't work anymore. We will also get to welcome Tea Party members to DC, fortunately Chris Coons and Harry Read staved off a total influx of tea partiers. As Ted Kennedy said, the work begins anew starting now.

Giants Win World Series

2010-11-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series Monday night beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 to win in 5 games. It was the first World Championship for the Giants since moving to San Francisco and the franchise's first in 56 years. It was sure worth the wait and good to see a bunch of "no-names" do this in the era of high payrolls and free agency.

John Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally this weekend

2010-10-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Washington will be the John Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally-The March To Keep Fear Alive and March to Restore Sanity. It is a somewhat of a response to the Tea Party with a liberal twist. The only comical part of it is that rally attendees will not be making phone calls or doorknocking the final weekend of the campaign. Hopefully it will draw some attention to the current state of politics however I do not think it will sway too many opinions.

6 years ago this week

2010-10-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Boston Red Sox win the 2004 World Series...enough said. As for this year, Fox must be cringing about two teams from the West in the World Series between the Rangers and Giants. I myself am not really watching but I wouldn't mind seeing the Giants win. I would rather not see George W Bush celebrate any more than he will be on Election night.

Election Day is a few weeks out

2010-10-15T16:36:00.001-07:00

We are just a few weeks out from the November 2 midterm election and people need to realize that no matter where you live it is important to get out and campaign and more importantly to get out and vote. Even Jim Moran, the Congressman in Arlington, is having a much closer race than in past election cycles and it has to do mainly with the possibility of low voter turnout-which has somewhat to do with the fact there is no presidential or statewide race for the 1st time since 1998. Democrats should not take any seats for granted or give up, Republicans cannot think that a most likely House or possible Senate takeover is a forgone conclusion either. It will make for a busy and exciting election night!

Miners rescued in Chile

2010-10-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

All 33 miners trapped in the Chilean mine were rescued today. As much as they tried to keep the media away from it, it seems they find a way to provide extensive coverage of it no matter what. I found the miner rescue count on CNN.com quite amusing.

No hitter!

2010-10-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Roy Halladay threw a no hitter last night in his first postseason start with the Phillies. It is only the second post season no hitter in baseball history. However, I hope Philly fans don't get too carried away with this-they still have to win 10 more games to have full bragging rights. All Halladay has to do is give up a grand slam to (A-Rod, Jeter, or Cano) and opinions will change very quickly.

Westboro Baptist Church

2010-10-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard the case of the Westboro Baptist Church, the Kansas church that protests outside of military funerals that the death of soldiers is America's punishment for tolerating gays. I cannot predict how the court is going to rule especially since a liberal/conservative opinion dividing line is blurred. However, the Justices were responding to the arguments of Westboro very harshly. The decision should be quite interesting.

I have returned

2010-10-06T17:21:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the hiatus. I have had a busy couple of weeks. I may have missed stuff but here is a quick recap of recent events that might be of interest:

Europe wins Ryder Cup-They won 14.5-13.5 over the United States this past weekend at Celtic Manor in Wales. It came down to the final match and Hunter Mahan could not get the half point needed against Graeme McDowell to win. Frustrating loss for the United States but it was a great competition overall and it isn't appopriate to express to much nationalism for this event.

Patriots improve to 3-1-The Patriots beat Miami on Monday night to improve to 3-1 on the season. It was good that in their first shot in the division they only dropped one divisional game and the New York Jets and Miami have to come to Foxboro near the end of the season-advantage Patriots although there are several tough games even before you get to December.

Campaign season in high gear-Every seat is up for grabs, I am making sure I do some door knocking in Arlington for Jim Moran who is in a closer than usual election. Be sure to vote on November 2!

Pats lose to Jets

2010-09-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Patriots lost to the Jets today 28-14 after leading at the end of the first half. I didn't get a chance to watch the game myself but it looks like it is back to the drawing board for the Pats while New York backed up their talk with a win. Maybe New York will get cocky and think they can wrap it up in September and won't realize that all the chips will be on the table come December-when they come back to Foxboro.

Primary Recap

2010-09-16T18:02:00.001-07:00

September 14th was the last day of primaries in the nation now onto the general election in November. Among the highlights:

Christine O'Donnell, the Tea Party candidate in the Republican primary, upset establishment candidate Mike Castle. The political world, including some Republican partisans, declared that it was a virtual lock that the Democrats would win/keep that seat. Having said that, Democrats, please still run that campaign hard. If this win left everyone shaking their heads, imagine if she did not role over and found a way to win the seat-remember what happened in Massachusetts? Let's not underestimate the Tea Party.

Vincent Gray defeated Adrian Fenty in the DC Mayoral race. I would always watch Mayor Fenty on TV and he never seemed like he could get to the point and dodged questions. There were always questions about the ethics of his office and his administration. I really don't know how much better Gray will be but it looks like he can bring a new type of administration to DC.

There were even some exciting hometown elections in Massachusetts involving people I know as well. First of all congratulations to my classmate Paul Adams for winning the (GOP) nomination for the 17th Essex House of Representatives seat. While I may not agree with his politics, I am thrilled to see a young voice and a classmate shaking up the political landscape. It is time for our generation to pick up the torch and have a real voice for our ideas. Also congratulations goes to my former colleague from my internship days with Marty Meehan Chris Doherty. He waged a great State Senate campaign in Middlesex County Massachusetts. I am sure he will have a bright future.

In addition to the Virginia races I will also be supporting Niki Tsongas who is the congresswoman in my home district. My first campaign was for her husband Paul Tsongas, a former US Senator from Massachusetts who ran for president in 1992. It is important to campaign for as many Democratic seats as possible to hold the majority in the House.

On to November, Democrat or Republican let the excitement begin!

Update on stuff

2010-09-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

Gee, I didn't think I have been that busy but apologies for the lack of postings. Here is a quick update on things:

9/11-We will never forget and the Koran burning was called off. We essentially avoided an international crisis with that.

Ohio State beats Miami, Alabama beats Penn State, Michigan beats Notre Dame-There is still a long way to go but Denard Robinson could be the real deal. Ohio State survived an early test as well. However, they need to cover on special teams better. When the games get bigger, it is usually difficult to overcome big special teams plays.

Patriots win-Always good to get the season off to a positive start. You never want to be in a position where you have to win in week 2 to avoid starting 0-2. This weekend-the Jets, a traditional hate fest but this would also give them a huge leg up in the division.

Primaries-More on that in a later post. It has set the stage for November.

Burning the Koran?

2010-09-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

A minister in Florida is organizing a Koran burning on the Saturday's 9-11 anniversary. This is wrong on so many levels. It is also during the end of Muslim Ramadan and during the Jewish High Holy Days. It will only fuel the fire and anti-American sentiment that lead to the attacks in the first place. When you have Obama administration, Department of State, Department of Defense and General Petreus condemning the actions out of concern for national security and American interests abroad you know that you are barking up the wrong tree. Religious leaders from all faiths are coming out against the actions. Authorities really need to step in and stop this from taking place in the name of what America stands for.

Big Ten stays Big

2010-09-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

College football season kicked off this past Thursday with a full slate of games this weekend. Ohio State began their quest for a national title with a convincing 45-7 win over Marshall. It is always nice to get the first game under your belt in college as you never know how things are going to unfold. Among the highlights this weekend include UConn's first trip to Michigan Stadium and of course Notre Dame opening up their season-I have been to their campus and had lots of friends who went there. It should be a great ride.

There was news this week from the Big Ten. Nebraska joined for the 2011 season bringing the total number of teams to 12-which meant the would separate into two divisions. There was talk that Ohio State and Michigan would move into different divisions and changing the rivalry dramatically-possibly moving it to the middle of October which would be like Santa Claus coming on Labor Day. They did wind up putting the teams in two divisions but said that they would continue to play on the last Saturday of the regular season. There might be a possibility that they would rematch in the Big Ten title game.

My thoughts on this is that this rivalry being played on the last Saturday of the season is a time honored tradition and kudos to the Big Ten for putting the interests of the fans over money in this one. The nature of the conference is that nine times out of ten a team will have to win on the final Saturday to earn a spot in the title game so a rematch of OSU-Michigan will happen once a decade at most. If it does, whats wrong with an extra OSU-Michigan game, especially if your team wins!

Standoff at Discovery Channel

2010-09-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday there was a standoff and hostage situation at the Discovery Channel building in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was resolved by the end of the afternoon. Unfortunately the gunman died. He had a long history of protesting the cable station since it did not carry enough program discussing global warming. As far as I am concerned-give me a break! They carry shows that make people think a lot about the world around them and will inspire them to protect the environment. If you are looking for a place to protest, go to E! Entertainment Television or CNBC. At least the fatalities were minimal.

College football season starts Saturday

2010-08-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

With this not being the Red Sox year, it gives me all the better reason to look forward to football season. College football season starts Saturday and in my family that is especially exciting as we have Big Ten ties. My cousins went to Penn State and my uncle went to Ohio State. Given how high expectations are for Ohio State (#2 in the nation) I cannot help to start dreaming of the national championship game in January. However there is still a long trip to get there. These days in college football there really aren't any cupcake teams anymore-not to mention the BCS computers. It will be a fun ride and with the way college football is-being the last team standing is especially rewarding. College football 2010-dreaming of the desert!!

Katrina five years later

2010-08-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It was very surreal to see all of the events unfold at the time. One could only wonder where our world was headed with 9-11, natural disasters, and other unprecedented events that were going on.

A lot of people blamed George W. Bush and his incompetence for the failures of Katrina. However, it was such a complex and unprecedented disaster that required coordination at unprecedented levels, one can wonder if President Obama would have been able to do a significantly better job with handling the disaster. Obama had an advantage with a national network such as Organizing for America that would have been a first step in some level of organizing at the local level which could have communicated with emergency personnel about he situation, although their job is not to respond to emergencies.

Roger Clemens indicted

2010-08-21T11:53:00.001-07:00

How baseball's great stars have fallen due to steroids. Roger Clemens, the legendary pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, has been indicted for lying to Congress under oath about using steroids. While Clemens might have been a polarizing player, this is very little debate over his behavior under oath. This was unbecoming of an athlete and charges should be pursued to the fullest extend of the law. It is important to send a message to younger people that doing drugs and lying to authorities is not acceptable and no one can get away with it.

Out of Iraq

2010-08-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

This past week the United States ended combat missions in Iraq. I supported the war at the beginning, but then I realized that it wasn't the right mission as it turned into a quagmire wasting a lot of money and leaving many soldiers dead. At least it did depose a dictator but it did become a harbor for Al Qaeda so I do not feel that the war did anything to eliminate the threat of terrorism and tyranny. We should have been out of there a long time ago but I cannot complain now that we are no longer there. Hopefully the nation building phase will help to make it a more stable democracy.

On The Mosque

2010-08-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

The big story of the past few weeks has been the report of the building of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.

First of all it is not even supposed to be a mosque but rather, an Islamic center. Secondly, I think it is shallow to associate the Islamic religion directly with the 9-11 tragedy. The majority of Muslims are peaceful people and Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are mainly extremists.

If the leaders of the new center are moving there as a business decision (rent, proximity to target audience) they have every reason to move there. However, if they are doing it to make a statement then there is a problem. It is not like they are putting it right next to Ground Zero where they are planning on building the memorial and museum.

Also, the Obama administration needs to work on messaging. President Obama should not come out with an unclear statement and then have to go back and clarify it. This isn't the first time his communication did not come off the right way (see Henry Louis Gates).

Martin Kaymer wins PGA Championship

2010-08-15T17:43:00.001-07:00

Chalk up another prediction that I did not pick. Martin Kaymer of Germany won the PGA in three hole playoff over Bubba Watson today. The championship was mired in some controversy as Dustin Johnson was disqualified from the playoff after he grounded his club in what was a bunker on the 72nd hole-another heartbreaking finish at a major after he collapsed at the U.S. Open in June.

This championship showed there is a new crop of talent taking over the game and they will be fighting for my attention (and major championships) over the next decade. Tiger Woods is now at the point where he is the victim of his own success. The players in their late 20s who took up the game around when Tiger burst onto the scene are coming of age. I sometimes wonder where I missed the boat.

It was another PGA with drama and I can hardly wait until next season where we see this new generation duel it out for the next set of major championships.

Storms and Fires

2010-08-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

The rash of storms continued in DC/Arlington last week and affected me personally for once. The early morning thunderstorm last Thursday lit an underground electricity transmitter on fire that was right near my office building. It was evacuated and I was sent home last Thursday. The office did open on Friday. There was a storm near Washington's W Hotel on Saturday as well. However, with the storms it did cool down the weather for a short time.

Four years in DC

2010-08-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

This week marked my four year anniversary of arriving in DC. While a four year anniversary isn't significant, when it involves midterm election cycles (this will be my second midterm election here) a four year anniversary is fairly important. I recap my thoughts in this Facebook note. Here's to four more years here in DC!

PGA Championship picks

2010-08-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Here we go with my final major championship picks of the year. This week is the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, an Irish style links course located right on Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisconsin. This is the second time that it has been played there.

While the PGA has always been the red-headed stepchild of the four majors, with nothing that distiguishes it or makes it special, it has improved in course quality and, in some years, provides the highest drama of the four majors, particularly last year when an, Y.E. Yang, an unknown Korean player came from behind to knock off Tiger Woods.

This is a course that is not that well known to players so the safe bet is a dark horse actually winning this year's edition. Once I say that, it will be a top ranked well known player. Anyway, here we go with the picks.

Five favorites
1. Rory McIlroy-He is familar with this type of course coming from Northern Ireland and he is considered the "next big thing." It will be sooner rather than later that he breaks through and wins his first major.
2. Phil Mickelson-You would not think this course would suit his game, but he can be hot and cold so he might as well take over the World Rankings in stellar fashion.
3. Hunter Mahan-Two wins this year including last week at Akron, it would be good to see a rising American star complete the set of unlikely major winners.
4. Ernie Els-I expect he will solidify his FedEx cup lead in Wisconsin and this will be one of his last great opportunities to get the fourth major.
5. Justin Leonard-He had a putt to win in here 2004 and played strong in Akron. He should be in the mix on Sunday.

Five dark horses
1. Sergio Garcia-This is still the summer of Spain and I want him on this list when he wins.
2. Bo Van Pelt-Always on and off the leaderboards and I need to pick a legit dark horse at least once.
3. Jim Furyk-He has been consistent all year but has never been able to cash in when given an opportunity to win a second major but this will happen at some point.
4. Sean O'Hair-Also a consistent journeyman player that could break through anytime
5. Tiger Woods-His game is in shambles but still needs to be on the list. If he were to win it would not be a surprise either.

It all starts Thursday on the shores of Lake Michigan.

back from Massachusetts

2010-08-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a mid summer trip up to Massachusetts. When it gets really hot in DC, it is always nice to escape to the quiet neighborhoods of my hometown of Andover and spend time at the ocean. I was at the beach on the North Shore of Massachusetts where I had been going since I was a toddler. Vacations always come and go really fast but I guess there is always the next one to look forward to.

Shirley Sherrod

2010-07-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

What a travesty that the Shirley Sherrod case has turned into. She was an black woman and an official at the US Department of Agriculture that was fired for remarks she was seen making about not helping out a white farmer in a position she held 24 years ago. This case could not have been handled worse. First of all, the USDA could not have handled it worse, being let go without an improper investigation and not realizing it was more than two decades ago. Secondly, she said later that after consideration she did wind up helping out the white farmer.

It is ironic that an administration that consists of the first black president has had to deal with more hot button racism issues than other administrations. It shows that despite breaking the glass ceiling on race, we still have a long ways to go.

There should be some very swift action taken and it needs to come directly from the Oval Office in order to send a message to resolve this situation.

Fun fun weekend

2010-07-19T18:31:00.001-07:00

I had a great weekend despite it being really hot. Friday night we had happy hour in town and Saturday I went to the Young Democrats of America convention. Saturday night was really fun as we celebrated the birthday of one of my really good friends here in DC. We had a rooftop party and then went out in Cleveland Park. He really appreciated having all of us come out for him and said that the night was not for him but for all of us. That made the night right there! It is my turn to put on a good show in August for my big day.

Louis Oosthuizen wins British Open

2010-07-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

This is not an Onion headline. Louis Oosthuizen from South Africa won the British Open by 8 shots last Sunday at St. Andrews, Scotland. Again, he was not on my list nor was he on anyone elses except the one that counts the most-his. He played that course better than most established veterans have ever played it. As for Tiger and Phil-disapointing performances at majors again. One can wonder if Tiger will ever reach that mark of 19 majors that many thought was his birthright. I am still holding out hope but with the parity in golf only getting greater it may just be a dream for him. Now I wonder if predictions are even worth the time and the energy? Another point-with all of the first time major winners, we are asking if they are just one hit wonders or could it be the birth of a star.

The oil well has been capped

2010-07-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

Yes they have capped the oil well today. However no time to wave flags and start chanting "Yes We Can!" with the way BP has handled it. Hopefully this will be the answer and the environmental (and political) nightmare will be over at least for now. Stay tuned!

RIP George Steinbrenner

2010-07-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

Even as a Red Sox fan I do have to pay my respects to him. He found a way to rebuild a dynasty in New York and took the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry to its highest level ever. Of course, the Sox finally got the upper hand but that would not have happened without the actions of The Boss. The best part of Steinbrenner were the Seinfield spoofs.

Wall Street Reform passed

2010-07-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Senate passed Wall Street reform today. It is incredible that the Obama administration has made sweeping changes but my concern is how can you really enforce all of these-especially the day that the political climate and administration changes. There will also be legislators that will want to overturn some of these regulations. However, if any of the changes don't allow for a free market (but still play by the rules) economy I would support repealing any of the reforms.

2010 British Open

2010-07-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

Okay time for my British Open picks. This year's championship returns to St. Andrews Scotland, the home of golf. As I say every year it is unique as this tournament celebrates pure history and tradition-small historic English and Scottish towns, cramped hotel rooms, travel by train, and, for what it is worth, unspoiled seaside scenery and tradition links golf courses. Oh, and my favorite tradition, the plane from the John Deere Classic in the heartland to England and Scotland-there is no more a culture change than this.

Without further delay, here are my picks. Again, unprecedented parity in golf have made majors impossible to predict, I have yet to have a correct prediction since I started this blog and my expectations are not too high for this week. Links golf is even more of a crapshoot then other events because it is played in weather and course conditions that most players do not regularly deal with. I do not mind that as it shows there is a deeper talent pool in golf.

Five top contenders
1. Phil Mickelson-He has already won the Masters and the wide open nature of this course gives him the best chance to win a British Open. He also is on the lookout for No. 1 in the world. This isn't the Open he wants but he will take it.
2. Tiger Woods-Tiger has not been Tiger as of late but he is the two time defending champion at St. Andrews and a third would put him in a class by himself.
3. Lee Westwood-He has been knocking on the door at majors the last few years and will break through at some point.
4. Steve Stricker-He has the game primed to win a major someday and he has been consistent in terms of contending and winning tournaments. He won this past week at John Deere and this week he could get it done.
5. Ernie Els-Strong play at the U.S. Open and British is where he has his best record. He is positioning himself for an elusive fourth major and this could be his year.

Five Sleeper Picks
1. Graeme McDowell-Never look over the most recent major champion. If there is one title he wants more than a U.S. Open at Pebble, a British at St. Andrews would be the one.
2. Stewart Cink-It is his title until someone takes it away.
3. Sergio Garcia-Not playing well but Spain is on a roll right now.
4. Rory McIlroy-The next big thing. Not a bad place to break through than the British Open at the Old Course
5. Justin Leonard-I am still waiting for a second major from him.

It starts Thursday, should be a memorable week.

Spain wins World Cup

2010-07-11T15:50:00.001-07:00

What I always thought about Spain is now true. Spain is on top of the world. They won the World Cup with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in extra time. It wasn't the cleanest game but they found a way to win. There is not doubt I am sharing their excitement with them and it brings back a lot of great memories. The Spanish have found a way to lose on the biggest stage finally found a way to win. They will enjoy this for a long time. Viva Espana!

LeBron James special

2010-07-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

ESPN is doing an hour long TV special where LeBron James will announce where he will be playing next year. ESPN is a self promoting machine and giving a celebrity like him that kind of coverage is stooping to new lows. Shame on them!

First of all there are many other important things going on in the news right now where it is outrageous that he is getting this kind of coverage. It seems like I say this all the time. Additionally, he can talk about all the money he is making and if he goes to a large media market he will be larger than life. However Paul Pierce and company are holding championship rings and turned down money to try and win a second ring with the Celtics.

World Cup Final!

2010-07-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

Spain has advanced to the World Cup final for the first time with a 1-0 win over Germany. Sunday's game is sure to be Spain's most exciting day-even more than any championship series or game in the United States. Whenever I am watching them compete in a sporting event it brings back a lot of memories from my time there. They will be taking on the Netherlands which is also making its first appearance. Let's Go Spain!

Heat Wave in DC

2010-07-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

The last few days it has been over 100 degrees for a high in the DC/Arlington area and up and down the East Coast. Even the evenings have been in the 80s and low 90s at times. A lot of places are having power issues as everyone wants to run their air conditioning. I am fortunate that my apartment has air conditioning and pool. At least I am not getting ready to move at this time. Stay cool and drink lots of water.

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

I want to wish all of my readers a happy and relaxing Fourth of July weekend. If you are in small town America or our nation's capitol, I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend and take time to celebrate our great nation.

RIP Robert Byrd

2010-07-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

West Virginia senator Robert Byrd passed away this week at the age of 92. He was the longest serving U.S. Senator and was able to get a lot of federal money for one of the poorest states in the nation. He was also influential in helping pass health care reform and standing up for Democratic values. Although he was a Ku Klux Klan member, he was able to disengage from that group and change his views on racism and hate.

Russian spies

2010-07-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Russian spies were arrested in Boston, New York and the DC area last week. The ones living in the DC area were actually living in an apartment complex in Arlington in the next neighborhood over from where I live. Ironically, my last roommate left to do an internship in Moscow, Russia. I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt and hopefully I won't get any calls from any curious FBI or CIA agents.

Spain!

2010-07-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

The United States went belly up at the World Cup against Ghana last week losing 2-1 in extra time (no surprise, I saw it coming) so now it is time to turn my allegiance to my adopted nation of Spain. They advanced to the quarterfinals and will play Paraguay on Saturday. They are one of the favorites to win the World Cup this year. Viva Espana!

General McChrystal canned

2010-06-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

General Stanley McChrystal has been relieved of his duties of command in the War in Afghanistan after making controversial remarks in a Rolling Stone magazine article about the Obama administration. Did he really think that he could get away with something like that as a general? He has given these responsibilities to General David Petreaus, former Iraq commander. I do not know if switching generals will be the answer, but saying stuff like that about the commander-in-chief and his "civilian" administration does not entitle you to be heading a war (if you can call it that).

U.S.A!!

2010-06-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

The United States soccer team beat Algeria in the World Cup today in extra time. With this win they advance to the next round. Given that this is not even our game, they reached their goal and everything after this is gravy pretty much. Go U.S.A!!

U.S. Open

2010-06-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

Graeme McDowell won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He was the first unlikely champion at arguably the U.S. Open's crown jewel golf course. This adds to my streak of never having a winner on my list of contenders for a major when writing this blog. I really do not mind this streak as it shows there is parity in the game and this is not going to be Tiger Woods being chased by the rest of the pro golfers any more. Having said that, I am confident Tiger will break Jack's record of majors and that is the ultimate barrier to pass in professional golf.

Back from conference

2010-06-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

I returned from the APPA National Conference yesterday. It was a tiring but rewarding week. I had a chance to meet the members and customers that I communicate with on the telephone every day and they enjoyed getting the chance to meet me as well. I had a chance to see the vendor expo that I help organize every single year. My main goal was checking in the vendors and answering their questions. It was important that I do this since I work on this aspect of the conference from start to finish. At the meeting, a 70th anniversary time capsule was unveiled and a documentary film (produced by two APPA staffers) was premiered. Nothing to newsworthy happened at the event. I also got to enjoy evenings out at restaurants meeting with members and vendors. I am looking forward to next year's conference in Washington, DC. I will get to take people I know to favorite hangouts and other places around the city. See you in Washington in 2011!

APPA National Conference

2010-06-18T13:19:00.001-07:00

I am off to APPA's National Conference in Orlando, FL this weekend through Tuesday. There will be a lot of great presentations, a huge vendor expo (which I will be helping out with) and a lot of functions and other events. This is my first business trip and first conference, so I am looking forward to this.

Celtics come up short

2010-06-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Celtics lost to the Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last night 83-79. It was a great defensive game and the Celtics had the lead throughout most of the game. While it was disheartening to see them let a championship get away, to the Lakers of all teams, the Lakers weren't going to be denied on their home court. Additionally, they were without Kendrick Perkins and that played a factor as well, especially since the Celtics were outrebounded. This could be the last time we see the Big Three core together. There are also questions about whether Doc Rivers will come back as well.

U.S. Open picks

2010-06-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Not really supposed to do this because the tournament is underway but there are my U.S. Open picks for the 110th tournament at Pebble Beach:
Top Favorites
1. Phil Mickelson-seems like something is in the cards for him to win this year.
2. Lee Westwood-He has come close, maybe this is the time.
3. Ernie Els-Two wins this year puts him on the top tier
4. Jim Furyk-He will add another major before his career is over
5. Tiger Woods-Struggling, but something to be said for a 15 stroke victory 10 years ago

Four that could surprise
1. Sergio Garcia-I want him on my list when he wins a major
2.Rory McIlroy-The "next big thing"
3. Justin Leonard-Strong and steady and has contended in some majors, maybe he will get a second one
4. Lucas Glover-Can't say that I didn't put the defending champion on this list
5. Y.E. Yang-Contended in Masters so PGA Championship win not a major fluke

Safety prediction-the winner will not be on this list. But if they are I will be happy.

World Cup

2010-06-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

The World Cup began this weekend in South Africa. It is the first time this event has come to the African continent so it is really exciting for the nation and the continent as a whole. It would sure have made for an exciting trip to go to one of the games and then on a safari. The U.S. opened up with a 1-1 draw against England. Considering that England was heavily favored a lot of soccer fans were pleased with this outcome. While expectations are very high for American soccer, they still are not at the level with the rest of the world so and result like that against a team like England is very positive.

Alvin Greene

2010-06-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Amongst the victories by women candidates in the primaries this week there was a strange development in South Carolina. Alvin Greene ran for the Democratic nomination and got over 60 percent of the vote. However, he did not even run a campaign operation and when he was asked questions about it in interviews, he sounded like he was woefully unprepared to campaign in a general election for a U.S. Senate seat. At this point, even if he wins the seat, it would still be a loss because the Democrats would have someone in the Senate that is not ready to serve their state, country, and party. However it is difficult for the DNC or DSCC to tell him not to run because he did win a nomination and it would make the party look weak not having a candidate in the race.

Staying In Crystal City

2010-06-07T18:40:00.001-07:00

Good news. It looks like I will be staying in Crystal City after all. A friend of mine had a lease end in June and my (now former) roommate got offered an internship in Moscow, Russia. He will be there for the summer. I wasn't ready to leave this neighborhood of Arlington just yet. Hopefully this time next year I be able to move to a "bigger and better" opportunity. I am not sure what that will be just yet.

Helen Thomas retires

2010-06-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

Legendary White House correspondent retired from her position today (allegedly) after she made antisemitic remarks on a streaming video in light of the situation with the flotilla attack in Israel. She said that Jews should go back to Poland and Germany and leave Israel.

While there has been a lot of criticism on Israel's government, including a less than warm relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the reference to Germany and Poland (alluding to the Holocaust) is way out of bounds and unacceptable for a journalist, especially of her caliber. However, I hope it just puts a small dark cloud on her accomplishments and this is not her lasting legacy.

Floatlilla raid

2010-06-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

The Middle East conflict is back in the news once again as Israel raided a supply flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip. As with anything, this is an emotionally charged issue given the whole history of the conflict. I feel that Israel sometimes can act almost as belligerent as Palestine and still feel they have the support of free nations. However, when you act recklessly support like this usually drops quickly. President Obama, who campaigned on "hope" and "change" and got the largest percentage of the Jewish vote of any recent Democratic president, has wavered in his support of Israel. You know that you are in trouble when you cannot get full support from the President of the United States.

June at work

2010-06-06T18:01:00.001-07:00

June is the busiest month at my job. We are getting ready for our National Conference in Orlando so things can be hectic. However, I get to go this year so the preparations give me a rush of excitement. I am looking forward to getting to my first national conference this year.

Celtics vs. Lakers

2010-06-06T17:57:00.001-07:00

It is the Celtics vs. Lakes in the NBA Finals once again. The Lakers have taken an early 1-0 lead but as you know it takes four games to win a championship. The Lakers have home court but that really does not matter. I cannot really make a prediction now but all I can say is that it will be decided in 6 or 7 games. It is a double edged sword because I did not expect them here as the season was unfolding but when they get this far you may as well raise your expectations to the championship.

Can lighting strike twice

2010-05-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Celtics are leading 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic. However, with the way the last two games have gone, all indicators are pointing towards a major collapse after holding a 3-0 series lead. Game 4 saw the Celtics have several opportunities to win down the stretch and game 5 showed Orlando could have its swagger back and the Celtics really seemed to unravel. Game 6 will pretty much be a decider since the odds of the Celtics getting a win in a deciding Game 7 will be highly unlikely. One can wonder if two collapses like this will erase the good karma of the memorable Boston championships of the 2000s.

Super Bowl in New York

2010-05-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

The NFL announced this week that Super Bowl XLVIII will be played in the new Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. It will be the first Super Bowl played in cold weather. Personally, I am a sucker for going to warm climates in the middle of the winter and that is a part of the allure and incentive of getting to the big game. However, it is okay just to shake it up for just this once. I don't think that other cold weather cities should get their hopes up as there can be a lot of logistical problems with having the game in cold weather climate which could get exposed in this game. Keep in mind the last Super Bowl was the weekend of the "Snowpocalypse".

Oil continues to gush

2010-05-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

The oil continues to spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They are trying to put mud into the well so that it slows the spill and allow it to be filled with cement. The well is also a mile deep so that makes the entire procedure risky and not exactly a slam dunk procedure. My question is did they ever do any sort of a dry run exercise in the event that this happens.

Yes, I do not think the Obama administration is acting properly in doing this. They should be utilizing more of their engineering experts to assist in this effort. The government does employ rocket scientists, they should have someone that knows about undersea infrastructure. I do not think the corporation (BP) that dropped the ball on this should have this much authority over the the attempt to repair the oil pipe.

Catching up

2010-05-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for hiatus in posts. There is a lot going on with me. First of all it looks like I am moving out of Crystal City. I would like to get my own place and it is difficult to live close to the Metro and be by yourself. Once I have a new neighborhood you will be sure to let everyone know where the new adobe is.

The Boston Bruins blew it against Philadelphia last week. It wasn't the most heartbreaking loss in Boston sports history but blowing a 3-0 lead is a stigma any team or city will always have to deal with.

The Boston Celtics are one win away from the NBA Finals after going up 3-0 vs. the Orlando Magic. They are playing great right now and there is no reason to think they cannot win the championship, although the Lakers are going to be hungry this time around.

Primaries in Pennsylvania and Arkansas-The special congressional election in Pennsylvania at least did not open the doors for a potential Republican bloodbath, especially with a Democrat winning in a district won by McCain in 2008. However, with Arlen Specter losing in Pennsylvania and Tea Party candidate Rand Paul winning, it shows that voters are mad and both parties will have to do a lot to keep their incumbent candidates in office.

Boston playoffs

2010-05-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Boston winter teams are right in the think of the NBA and NHL Playoffs although they are entirely different positions. The Celtics are coming into form and are on the brink of knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James who were favored to win the championship.

The Bruins, on the other hand, had a 3-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers but they have come all the way back to force a Game 7. Given the stain that was put on the Yankees for blowing a 3-0 lead against Boston in 2004, this could go down as the biggest choke in Boston sports history. For Philadelphia, it could be the city's second biggest sports victory behind the Phillies winning the 2008 World Series.

Week Recap

2010-05-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately late posts have become a habit but here is a recap of this week's events.

Elana Kagan nomination to the Supreme Court-I prefer someone that has bench experience but she has a good legal background and a confirmation process should not be drawn out too long.

Airplane crash in Tripoli-There was a sole survivor who was a ten year old boy. It is quite the miracle. It will be interesting to follow this kid's life and see what he turns out to be over the years.

BP Gulf Oil Spill-It is such a big disaster that no one wants to take the blame.

British Elections

2010-05-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of intrigue over the British elections that took place today. It is one of the most contested that they have had in years. It is slightly different from the American system of government where you are electing a majority party all at once where the prime minister is always the head of the majority party. In Britain, the prime minister serves as both an executive and a legislative leader. Could you really see President Obama debating on the floor of the House or Senate? I am pretty sure he is only allowed in a chamber for the State of the Union. Now I can see where foreigners take such an interest in our elections given the ramifications they have on international relations.

warmest weekend of the year

2010-05-01T17:04:00.001-07:00

The DC/Arlington area is having its warmest weekend of the year. No one is really complaining after the winter we have had. Plans for me include running, golf and now we transition from wine to beer and other summer drinks. I think this calls for hamburgers on the grill tomorrow!

Oil Spill

2010-05-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is looking to be the largest in United States history. It could have an everlasting effect on the environment in that part of the nation. The gulf is known for a large seafood industry so that will be damaged and halted altogether. Although the human causalities were minimal, the economic and environmental impact of an oil spill like this could have just as far reaching an impact as a human tragedy. This also puts the development of offshore oil drilling on the hot seat. President Obama is calling for a 30 day delay before making any decisions on further expansion as a result. I am sure that the administration will scrutinize more carefully whether this is the answer to energy independence.

hockey playoffs

2010-05-01T16:52:00.001-07:00

The Washington Capitals were stunned by the Montreal Canadiens this weekend losing in the first round after having a 3-1 series lead. You cannot really expect too much when it comes to Washington, DC sports in terms of winning and championships but this team was the best in the NHL all year so for loyal fans it was somewhat surprising. Fortunately the Bruins made it to the 2nd round so there is something for me to get excited about. They are playing Philadelphia so there is a good healthy rivalry in this series.

NFL Draft

2010-04-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

The NFL Draft came and went this weekend. Here are my thoughts:
Tim Tebow was drifted in the first round by Denver. Talk about getting hit by the "Mac truck" of reality. He goes from a situation from where he was treated like Jesus Christ to one where he will be in the shadow of none other than John Elway. Unless he can win Super Bowl(s) and have the same number, and lead the team in 4th quarter comebacks like number 7 did he won't ever be looked upon in the same light.

The Patriots showed a lot of arrogance by trading draft picks all over the place like they knew what they were doing. I really don't think after the disastrous playoff game they don't have a lot of deal making capital and they have to take advantage the best opportunities in the draft to do this. At least there is still time to make some free agent moves.

Arizona SB 1070

2010-04-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Governor of Arizona signed into the SB 1070 bill this weekend which would allow law enforcement to question the immigration status of anyone in the state by asking for ID randomly. Critics of the bill say that it would encourage profiling by officials. I understand where they need to crack down on those crossing the borders. However, there should be some cause to check an immigration status rather than just randomly. I believe this bill will be amended as time goes on as the State of Arizona will need to make sure it is effective. Having said that, I am sure that it will go to the Supreme Court because the basics guidelines could severely encroach on civil liberties.

Oklahoma City bombing 15 years later

2010-04-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

Fifteen years ago today the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City by domestic terrorist Tim McVeigh killing 168 people. At the time it was the worst terrorist attack on American soil and it was especially saddening that Americans would do something like that. Make no mistake that our biggest terror threat is the Middle East, however with the polarization in government that we are seeing one can wonder if it can escalate to a more serious and deadly level of violence.

Most importantly, it is important to honor the memory of those that perished in the attack.

Boston Marathon

2010-04-19T18:07:00.001-07:00

Today was the 114th running of the Boston Marathon. This is always one of my favorite sporting events of the year and would always get excited about watching it as a little kid. It seems like almost every year I know someone that is running in it. This year one of my high school friends/classmates ran it in 3 hours 11 minutes, 7 minutes 26 seconds per mile pace. I cannot picture myself running shorter distance races at that pace. I am quite impressed with that!

There were several runners that could not get over to run due to the volcano eruption. That must be a disappointment given the training that goes into it. Overall it is always a special day in Boston. As for the Red Sox game that day, they better not play themselves out of the race this quickly.

Tea Party

2010-04-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Tea Party came to Washington with another one of their protests and this time there was no 5k road race to distract them! It is fairly obvious they are a fringe movement that most voters usually do not take seriously when they go to the polls to vote. However the organization and message have gotten so much press attention, (added to that it is a growing movement) the Democrats need to be very concerned about their role in the upcoming election. The tea party is going to add to campaign operatives, influence message, and actively campaign and endorse candidates in close elections. Message to Democrats-don't discount the Tea Party.

Volcano plume

2010-04-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

A volcanic eruption in Iceland is spreading ash across the skies in Northern Europe causing flights in six continents to and from Europe to be cancelled as they cannot fly through volcanic ash. This is frustrating as there are not that many flights from Europe to other parts of the world as there are to the United States.

At this point it is mostly northern Europe that is affected. Cities like Madrid, Rome and Athens aren't at this point. My question is why they can't send more flights to cities in Southern Europe and then require travelers to take trains. Europe has such an effective rail system that taking the train from one city to another is not a major hardship. It might result in taking overnight trains but if that is the alternative travelers will have to deal with it. is it possible for any of the flights to circumvent the Great Circle Route or does the ash travel not make a difference?

Masters

2010-04-12T18:46:00.001-07:00

Phil Mickelson won the Masters on Sunday with a dominating three stroke win over Lee Westwood. He had a birdie putt on 12 and a clutch second shot from the pine needles on the 13th hole. This win had huge significance as he has had to take care of his wife and mother as both have been battling breast cancer. You could say this win was "for the family" as Jim Nantz put it. It was also his first major since he melted down at the US Open in 2006. Many had wondered if he would go into a downward spiral as far as the majors were concerned after that collapsed. While I would like to see him win a US Open, no matter what happens this will always be significant and he will definitely go down as one of the best in the game with four majors, three of which are Masters titles.