Turn back the clock

Next weekend I am returning to my alma mater, Brandeis University, for my five year college reunion. It is amazing how fast time goes by and I am looking forward to marking this milestone and what I have accomplished since graduation back on our campus outside of Boston. Also this week I will be marking two years at my current job. Sometimes I feel like I am growing up too fast but I see it as a sense of accomplishment. Most importantly, I can hope that the best is yet to come in my life personally and professionally.

Race for the 47th-less than 10 days to go

There are less than ten days to go until primary day in the race for Arlington's 47th House of Delegates race. Candidates are getting in last door knocks, phone calls and stepping up GOTV efforts. I have said that I am supporting Miles Grant in this race and he could not be in better position for primary day. He picked up endorsements from the Sierra Club, two dozen Arlington environmental activists, and the Blue Commonwealth blog. Miles has also had strong candidate forum performances where he stressed that the next delegate will have to "fight for what they believe in" in the General Assembly in Richmond, particularly with the issue of widening of I-66 inside the Beltway.



Other candidates are either flip flopping on this (and probably other issues) or willing to compromise without fighting hard on their position and that is not what I expect from any stakeholder in big issues at any level, whether they be an elected official, advocacy organization, or citizen.



The Youtube clip is below. I hope that for my friends and colleagues that live in the 47th district, who I am sure feel strongly about standing behind values and principles, get out and vote for Miles on June 9. Visit www.milesgrant2009.com for more information.



By the way we will also need volunteers for GOTV (get out the vote) efforts and election day, especially next weekend when the author of this post will be on New England soil (more on that later). Visit the above website if you are interested in helping out.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5Cslndp8u8

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle, the overnight singing sensation on Britain's Got Talent, came in second place in the final show. Like on all of these shows, although she did not win, she won a lot of fame and notoriety and will have many opportunities come out of it. Considering that she got more press attention out of this you would have to consider her the winner anyway!

Orlando vs. Los Angeles

It will be Orlando vs. Los Angeles in the NBA Finals this year. While LeBron James has acquired some sort of a supporting cast, they have not come together as an all around championship team and until they do so, they will not be raising a championship trophy anytime soon. As for the finals, it will not have the buzz that last year's did with the Celtics playing the Lakers. I might watch the clinching game but I have little interest in who wins as Orlando does not get me excited and I do not care for the Lakers-but I predict they will win in five games.

Final episode of the Tonight Show

Friday night was Jay Leno's final Tonight Show. He will be doing a similar type of show at prime time this fall but this was the end of an era. I will always have memories of his monologue "putting me to bed" every night as I would watch the local news followed by the Tonight Show (the "commentary")-and I did study as well! I am looking forward to seeing Conan O'Brien and what he can do with the show.

Big day on the bench

Barack Obama selected his first Supreme Court nominee today picking Sonia Sotomayor from New York to replace retiring Justice David Souter. I am very happy with this pick. She will be the first Latino to sit on the court if approved and yet another barrier will be broken. This is certainly emblematic of the change that he promised throughout his campaign.

Unfortunately, the California State Supreme Court ruled in favor of upholding the gay marriage ban of prop 8 last November. Marriage equality will come but it will take some time. However, I sympathize with the LGBT community that has been fighting hard for this for a long time.

The shot

LeBron James of the Cleveland Caveliers hit a game winning three pointer with one second left on Friday night to tie the Eastern Conference Finals series 1-1 against Orlando. When things like that start happening, you know your team has a chance to go all the way. It happened with the "tuck rule" game with the Patriots and the same can be said for the Dave Roberts steal in 2004. I immediately compared this to another big play in the OSU Buckeyes championship run in 2002 that all Ohio fans remember well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9017_xA5tn8&feature=related