It's common to hear my peers cite "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" as their favorite Halloween special growing up. But my sister and I had another pick: "The Halloween That Almost Wasn't." Don't know it? I'm not surprised.
This relatively obscure 1979 show — which reached my home through annual Disney Channel broadcasts — was charming in its innocence. So well written and performed that it won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming, the special featured a parade of classic monsters concerned that the very concept of Halloween might be endangered. How they get from that opening to Dracula transforming himself into a "teeny tiny bat" in his misguided attempt to save the day entails a certain suspension of disbelief, but I say it's a tradeoff worth making.
10.31.2010
10.30.2010
A catastrophic failure and embarrassment
Two people need to be fired. The first is the person in charge of planning the Rally to Restore Sanity. The second is the person in charge of Metro. Their performance today demonstrated such ineptitude that they cannot be trusted to manage an intern, let alone Washington's biggest event since Obama's inauguration.
We must first fire Richard Sarles, Metro's interim general manager. The public transit system most responsible for moving bodies to and from the Rally for Sanity suffered a catastrophic failure that began early and continued to plague customers into the evening. By severely underestimating the rally's crowd size, stubbornly forging ahead with scheduled track maintenance and refusing to run more trains than usual, Sarles and his team showed how pathetically out-of-touch they've become. Customers who attempted to grin and bear it during the morning ride were rude and shoving their way onto overcrowded trains later to escape the madness. It came as no surprise that at least four people were injured during the chaos. This is inexcusable. And through it all, I did not once see a Metro security officer.
Sarles should have personally took command of the situation today and ordered: (1) a suspension of the routine maintenance to clear the railway bottlenecks; (2) more trains into service to help ease the dangerous overcrowding; (3) more station attendants into service to help guide confused visitors, control crowds and supervise train operations; and (4) a stronger presence from Metro security, which was mysteriously absent during this crazed day. His staggering inability to manage today's issues is proof positive that he should be immediately removed from his position.
Also packing up their desk at this hour should be the point person at Comedy Central, the channel's parent company MTV Networks or owner Viacom, whoever was responsible for organizing today's event on the National Mall. The horrifically disorganized event failed on multiple levels of event logistics and crowd management, spurring many thousands of people to leave the area in disheartened exasperation or utter disgust. The problems people faced included, but were not limited to, inadequate or inaccurate directions on where to enter the event, a terrible underestimation of the space needed on the National Mall to actually accommodate the sizable crowd, plus an audio and visual setup clearly intended for much smaller crowds. There was no attempt to control the many people in costume who were climbing fences and walls for their own grandiose and self-serving purposes. And there was no discernible effort to accommodate people in wheelchairs, who unfortunately became trapped in the unmoving walls of misdirected souls.
I imagine the event coordinator was under orders to do today's rally "on the cheap," but the whole scenario was an embarrassment to the network. And it was an embarrassment to D.C. that the city couldn't step up and help alleviate the situation. I weep for those who suffered this as their first taste of our nation's capital. We can do better. Please allow us the opportunity to prove it to you sometime.
After those two people are fired.
We must first fire Richard Sarles, Metro's interim general manager. The public transit system most responsible for moving bodies to and from the Rally for Sanity suffered a catastrophic failure that began early and continued to plague customers into the evening. By severely underestimating the rally's crowd size, stubbornly forging ahead with scheduled track maintenance and refusing to run more trains than usual, Sarles and his team showed how pathetically out-of-touch they've become. Customers who attempted to grin and bear it during the morning ride were rude and shoving their way onto overcrowded trains later to escape the madness. It came as no surprise that at least four people were injured during the chaos. This is inexcusable. And through it all, I did not once see a Metro security officer.Sarles should have personally took command of the situation today and ordered: (1) a suspension of the routine maintenance to clear the railway bottlenecks; (2) more trains into service to help ease the dangerous overcrowding; (3) more station attendants into service to help guide confused visitors, control crowds and supervise train operations; and (4) a stronger presence from Metro security, which was mysteriously absent during this crazed day. His staggering inability to manage today's issues is proof positive that he should be immediately removed from his position.
Also packing up their desk at this hour should be the point person at Comedy Central, the channel's parent company MTV Networks or owner Viacom, whoever was responsible for organizing today's event on the National Mall. The horrifically disorganized event failed on multiple levels of event logistics and crowd management, spurring many thousands of people to leave the area in disheartened exasperation or utter disgust. The problems people faced included, but were not limited to, inadequate or inaccurate directions on where to enter the event, a terrible underestimation of the space needed on the National Mall to actually accommodate the sizable crowd, plus an audio and visual setup clearly intended for much smaller crowds. There was no attempt to control the many people in costume who were climbing fences and walls for their own grandiose and self-serving purposes. And there was no discernible effort to accommodate people in wheelchairs, who unfortunately became trapped in the unmoving walls of misdirected souls.I imagine the event coordinator was under orders to do today's rally "on the cheap," but the whole scenario was an embarrassment to the network. And it was an embarrassment to D.C. that the city couldn't step up and help alleviate the situation. I weep for those who suffered this as their first taste of our nation's capital. We can do better. Please allow us the opportunity to prove it to you sometime.
After those two people are fired.
10.29.2010
10.28.2010
Smithsonian Highlights Tour #2: Natural History
Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.
The labyrinthine Natural History Museum features some of the largest and most impressive exhibits in the institution's entire collection. Massive dinosaur skeletons, hundreds of stuffed animals and scores of brilliant gems are on display. The giant Tyrannosaurus Rex and celebrated Hope Diamond are two of this museum's most notable items.
More curious visitors will appreciate how many items in this museum's collection bear the "please touch" sign. Several fossil cast and rock displays can be touched — including a Mars rock! — and multiple lab stations are scattered throughout the facility.
The interactive highlight, though, is the beautiful Live Butterfly Pavilion. This experience allows visitors to walk through an enclosed habitat populated by 400 butterflies representing 30 species. If you've ever wanted to snap a great butterfly photo or wished one would land on your head, this wondrous exhibit is for you.
Be aware that this museum, which is designed to maximize its available display space, requires a significant amount of walking to see all the sights. To facilitate a comprehensive viewing, plan to rest with a meal or snack at the halfway point. Alternatively, the "Fast Track" path offers an abbreviated experience.
How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.
Time to view: About four hours.
When to go: On your first trip to Washington, if you can manage it. It's one of the top three Smithsonian museums.
The labyrinthine Natural History Museum features some of the largest and most impressive exhibits in the institution's entire collection. Massive dinosaur skeletons, hundreds of stuffed animals and scores of brilliant gems are on display. The giant Tyrannosaurus Rex and celebrated Hope Diamond are two of this museum's most notable items.
More curious visitors will appreciate how many items in this museum's collection bear the "please touch" sign. Several fossil cast and rock displays can be touched — including a Mars rock! — and multiple lab stations are scattered throughout the facility.
The interactive highlight, though, is the beautiful Live Butterfly Pavilion. This experience allows visitors to walk through an enclosed habitat populated by 400 butterflies representing 30 species. If you've ever wanted to snap a great butterfly photo or wished one would land on your head, this wondrous exhibit is for you.Be aware that this museum, which is designed to maximize its available display space, requires a significant amount of walking to see all the sights. To facilitate a comprehensive viewing, plan to rest with a meal or snack at the halfway point. Alternatively, the "Fast Track" path offers an abbreviated experience.
How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.
Time to view: About four hours.
When to go: On your first trip to Washington, if you can manage it. It's one of the top three Smithsonian museums.
10.27.2010
I am completely obsessed with this video right now.
The song is freaking brilliant...and the video must have taken forever to edit together. Enjoy.
10.26.2010
Smithsonian Highlights Tour #1: American History
Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.
The recently renovated American History Museum includes exhibits dedicated to Science and Innovation, American Wars and Politics, and Transportation and Technology, among others. Many of these displays feature miniature models, such as this intricately assembled railroad mail car.
Some larger artifacts are faithfully presented or recreated, including Julia Child's kitchen. You can view the room from multiple angles, but you cannot walk through it. The HU-1 or "Huey" helicopter, a Vietnam War mainstay, is another large artifact that shouldn't be missed.
You're likely to recognize many of the artifacts on display in this museum, such as this C-3PO costume used during filming of "Return of the Jedi." Other items of cultural significance that are showcased include the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" and Carol Burnett's velvet curtain dress.
It's worth noting that the American History Museum keeps many of its most notable artifacts — the Star Spangled Banner flag, President Lincoln's top hat and Kermit the Frog — in darkened rooms. Flash photography is not always permitted, so be sure to ask a guard or docent if you have any questions.
How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.
Time to view: About four hours.
When to go: On your first trip to Washington, if you can manage it. It's one of the top three Smithsonian museums.
The recently renovated American History Museum includes exhibits dedicated to Science and Innovation, American Wars and Politics, and Transportation and Technology, among others. Many of these displays feature miniature models, such as this intricately assembled railroad mail car.
Some larger artifacts are faithfully presented or recreated, including Julia Child's kitchen. You can view the room from multiple angles, but you cannot walk through it. The HU-1 or "Huey" helicopter, a Vietnam War mainstay, is another large artifact that shouldn't be missed.
You're likely to recognize many of the artifacts on display in this museum, such as this C-3PO costume used during filming of "Return of the Jedi." Other items of cultural significance that are showcased include the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" and Carol Burnett's velvet curtain dress.It's worth noting that the American History Museum keeps many of its most notable artifacts — the Star Spangled Banner flag, President Lincoln's top hat and Kermit the Frog — in darkened rooms. Flash photography is not always permitted, so be sure to ask a guard or docent if you have any questions.
How to get there: Short walk from Smithsonian Metro.
Time to view: About four hours.
When to go: On your first trip to Washington, if you can manage it. It's one of the top three Smithsonian museums.
10.25.2010
'Games? You want games? I'll give you games'
As promised, here's our Tron-themed creation from the USA Science & Engineering Festival in D.C. Check out all its majesty!
Geeky fun for (almost) everyone
The weekend's USA Science & Engineering Festival in D.C. was so full of displays, demonstrations and delights that it was impossible to see it all.
But what Annie, Melissa, Paul and I saw during our time wandering across the National Mall was pretty cool. Some of the highlights for us included a booth that taught you the names of the bones in your hands as someone painted the structure on you; a tent where little robot vehicles were playing soccer; and a Tron-themed area where visitors could get photographed in light-cycle pose and then have a vehicle drawn around them. For that experience, I posed and Annie drew around me. We're told that image was uploaded to Disney's servers and should become available later today. If we can get to it, we'll be sure to share it here.
Oh, and we got a free, punch-it-out-and-assemble-it-yourself catapult from the Science Channel. That was pretty sweet.
What was less sweet was some logistics problems associated with the event. Because the booths and tents were in some places crammed together pretty tight, there were some movement and visibility issues. Stations with the best information and freebies to share were often overwhelmed by onlookers, stifling the ability of anyone shorter than my 6 foot frame to see what was happening. Lines were long and processed not nearly fast enough. Melissa, for example, would have loved to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy, but the line to shake his hand looked to be 100 people deep. And it wasn't moving. Other problems, such as the outrageously priced $12 hot dogs and inexplicable absence of the promised life-size Transformer, didn't help the situation. It struck me as ironic that an event focused on scientific thinking and the accomplishments of engineering couldn't better anticipate and address some of these issues.
Still, I commend the USA Science & Engineering Festival for doing a lot of things right in its first production. The organizers' stated mission was to offer "programs with high entertainment value and integrity" that appeal to everyone "from professionals to novices, from science enthusiasts to the merely curious." The festival certainly did so. And if they make some refinements, I think next year's event can be even better.
But what Annie, Melissa, Paul and I saw during our time wandering across the National Mall was pretty cool. Some of the highlights for us included a booth that taught you the names of the bones in your hands as someone painted the structure on you; a tent where little robot vehicles were playing soccer; and a Tron-themed area where visitors could get photographed in light-cycle pose and then have a vehicle drawn around them. For that experience, I posed and Annie drew around me. We're told that image was uploaded to Disney's servers and should become available later today. If we can get to it, we'll be sure to share it here.Oh, and we got a free, punch-it-out-and-assemble-it-yourself catapult from the Science Channel. That was pretty sweet.
What was less sweet was some logistics problems associated with the event. Because the booths and tents were in some places crammed together pretty tight, there were some movement and visibility issues. Stations with the best information and freebies to share were often overwhelmed by onlookers, stifling the ability of anyone shorter than my 6 foot frame to see what was happening. Lines were long and processed not nearly fast enough. Melissa, for example, would have loved to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy, but the line to shake his hand looked to be 100 people deep. And it wasn't moving. Other problems, such as the outrageously priced $12 hot dogs and inexplicable absence of the promised life-size Transformer, didn't help the situation. It struck me as ironic that an event focused on scientific thinking and the accomplishments of engineering couldn't better anticipate and address some of these issues.Still, I commend the USA Science & Engineering Festival for doing a lot of things right in its first production. The organizers' stated mission was to offer "programs with high entertainment value and integrity" that appeal to everyone "from professionals to novices, from science enthusiasts to the merely curious." The festival certainly did so. And if they make some refinements, I think next year's event can be even better.
10.22.2010
For the discriminating Star Wars costumer
In this economy, it's tough to justify spending hundreds of dollars on a Halloween costume. No, wait, I take that back. It's not tough to justify — it's impossible to justify.
But that's not to say there aren't tempting options. Ever since last year's CONvergence, I've been drooling over the costly but incredibly authentic Imperial Fleet Officer's uniform from Museum Replicas. I'd love to wear it to next year's event — and during any other opportunity that presents itself. But how many occasions does one have each year to appropriately dress like a member of the Galactic Empire? Not many. Certainly not enough to justify spending $625.
And if you can believe it, that's not even among the most expensive Star Wars costumes available. The Supreme Edition Boba Fett attire pictured here is now on sale for $650 after debuting at $900. The Authentic Darth Vader and Authentic Stormtrooper costumes are each $800. A slightly cheaper Authentic Chewbacca outfit is available for $425. But the scale goes higher, too, with the Obi-Wan Kenobi Full Jedi Ensemble priced at $1,300 and the Anakin Skywalker Full Jedi Ensemble ringing up at $1,600. Ouch.
Of course more economical options are available, but maybe it's better this year to just wear your street clothes and go as the most terrifying thing imaginable. An uneducated voter.
But that's not to say there aren't tempting options. Ever since last year's CONvergence, I've been drooling over the costly but incredibly authentic Imperial Fleet Officer's uniform from Museum Replicas. I'd love to wear it to next year's event — and during any other opportunity that presents itself. But how many occasions does one have each year to appropriately dress like a member of the Galactic Empire? Not many. Certainly not enough to justify spending $625.And if you can believe it, that's not even among the most expensive Star Wars costumes available. The Supreme Edition Boba Fett attire pictured here is now on sale for $650 after debuting at $900. The Authentic Darth Vader and Authentic Stormtrooper costumes are each $800. A slightly cheaper Authentic Chewbacca outfit is available for $425. But the scale goes higher, too, with the Obi-Wan Kenobi Full Jedi Ensemble priced at $1,300 and the Anakin Skywalker Full Jedi Ensemble ringing up at $1,600. Ouch.
Of course more economical options are available, but maybe it's better this year to just wear your street clothes and go as the most terrifying thing imaginable. An uneducated voter.
10.21.2010
Fellow science geeks, take heed!
Would you like to see Kevin Flynn's Light Cycle? How about 12 foot replica of a Transformers character? Are you still debating whether it was "the fall" or "the webbing" that killed Gwen Stacy in the classic Amazing Spider-Man #121? If so, I've got just the event for you.
This weekend's USA Science & Engineering Festival in D.C. scratches for all these itches — and more. You can see props from the upcoming "Tron" sequel, plus see demonstrations of the motion-capture technology that was used for the film. You can discuss the finer points of superhero physics with professor James Kakalios, who's a great presenter and very friendly guy. And, hey, you can even sample some 3D television. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more happening at this free event on the National Mall. You can see the list of more than 500 exhibits here and the list of about 50 performances here.
Go. Enjoy. Be blinded by science.
This weekend's USA Science & Engineering Festival in D.C. scratches for all these itches — and more. You can see props from the upcoming "Tron" sequel, plus see demonstrations of the motion-capture technology that was used for the film. You can discuss the finer points of superhero physics with professor James Kakalios, who's a great presenter and very friendly guy. And, hey, you can even sample some 3D television. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more happening at this free event on the National Mall. You can see the list of more than 500 exhibits here and the list of about 50 performances here.Go. Enjoy. Be blinded by science.
10.20.2010
The rent IS too damn high
10.19.2010
How much Final Fantasy was James Cameron playing when he made "Avatar"?
"Avatar," AKA "Eye Candy: The Movie," came up in our Netflix queue and, though I had little interest in seeing it, I watched it Sunday night.
The more I watched it, though, the more I kept thinking that it was basically a rehash of Final Fantasy games. Check it out...
Macalania Woods (Final Fantasy X & X-2):
Floating ruins of Mount Gagazet (Final Fantasy X-2) (and it wouldn't be Final Fantasy without airships):
Iifa Tree (Final Fantasy IX):
Machina (Final Fantasy X, X-2)
10.18.2010
I LOVE BAO
Wow Bao was awesome for a variety of reasons, chief among them the quality of the food. But they also have a great social media presence, complete with special offers on Facebook and Foursquare (both of which netted me a free bao for being in the loop). Additionally, they have kiosks just outside the shop that allow you to place your order, pay, and take a number to receive your food, which made the whole process much simpler during the lunch rush.
Wow Bao is a small chain of three shops located in Chicago, but they ship anywhere in the United States. You've got to really have a jones for them to do so, though, because with overnight shipping it'll cost you around $100 to get 36 bao delivered (the minimum).
I almost considered coughing up the cash, though, because bao are freaking delicious. I tried almost every flavor Wow Bao offered, including the chocolate bao, and they were all tasty, warm and comforting, almost like translating a hug into food form. I was instantly hooked and ended up eating there twice during my three-day stay.
Luckily, on Saturday I discovered that my local Trader Joe's sells bao, and it's also quite tasty. Sadly they don't sell chocolate bao, like Wow Bao does (in fact, TJ's only sells one flavor, for now), but it's a great way to get my bao fix for a mere $2.99 instead of $100.
Do you love bao? Post your experiences in the comments.
10.14.2010
Betrayal at House on the Hill: Second Edition unboxing
We just received our copy of the second edition of Betrayal at House on the Hill, my favorite board game. Here's our epic unboxing video:
Stuff I love:
Stuff I love:
- New, organized box keeps everything nice and tidy. No more rubber bands or little plastic baggies required!
- New items look like a lot of fun.
- The dramatically-redesigned and simplified tokens should be much easier to use, though it'll be interesting to see how the haunts were adjusted to accommodate them (there are no more "root" and "tip" tokens for the evil plant haunts, for example).
My only complaints:
- The paint job on the explorers makes them look rather creepy and demonic, like unwrapped mummies or something.
- No new omens, rooms or haunts.
- The Underground Lake has been corrected to be a basement tile - we rather liked the mechanic of having it an upper-floor tile that sent you plummeting into the basement.
Those are minor quibbles, however. Major props to the creator, Bruce Glassco, and Avalon Hill for what looks to be a vast improvement over the previous edition. We still need to keep the original, though, because it's autographed by Bruce.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: It's Been a While
Has it really been 18 months since we last did Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down? Crikey.
Thumbs Up to Taking Time: It's been eight weeks since I began my sabbatical and the experience has been incredibly rewarding and refreshing. It makes me wish that all Americans had the ability to take professional sabbaticals from time to time. I think it would do our over-stressed country well.
Thumbs Down to Netflix Nuisances: Two of the last three movies I've watched on Netflix's streaming service came with extremely unbalanced audio tracks. The explosions and swelling scores were so overwhelming that I had to reduce the volume, but then raise it again to hear the dialogue. What gives?
Thumbs Up to Comic Kindness: Bowing to customer concerns and economic realities, DC Comics is cutting the cost of its comics. Starting in January, the price drops from $3.99 to $2.99 on all standard-length issues of ongoing titles. The tradeoff of having two fewer story pages per issue is more than fair.
Thumbs Down to Political Polarization: We have a friend who'll be working the phones this weekend in support of U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. He's trailing in the polls in part because of anti-incumbent sentiment. But the New York Times rightly points out Feingold has an "independent mind" and stances that "should have endeared him" to the Throw the Bums Out crowd — had anyone "taken the time to listen." Do your country a favor and educate yourself before election day.
Thumbs Up to Taking Time: It's been eight weeks since I began my sabbatical and the experience has been incredibly rewarding and refreshing. It makes me wish that all Americans had the ability to take professional sabbaticals from time to time. I think it would do our over-stressed country well.Thumbs Down to Netflix Nuisances: Two of the last three movies I've watched on Netflix's streaming service came with extremely unbalanced audio tracks. The explosions and swelling scores were so overwhelming that I had to reduce the volume, but then raise it again to hear the dialogue. What gives?
Thumbs Up to Comic Kindness: Bowing to customer concerns and economic realities, DC Comics is cutting the cost of its comics. Starting in January, the price drops from $3.99 to $2.99 on all standard-length issues of ongoing titles. The tradeoff of having two fewer story pages per issue is more than fair.
Thumbs Down to Political Polarization: We have a friend who'll be working the phones this weekend in support of U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. He's trailing in the polls in part because of anti-incumbent sentiment. But the New York Times rightly points out Feingold has an "independent mind" and stances that "should have endeared him" to the Throw the Bums Out crowd — had anyone "taken the time to listen." Do your country a favor and educate yourself before election day.
10.13.2010
'Prime told me there'd be days like this'
Michael Bay has long attracted big box office receipts, but now he's attracting something else: bad luck.
Production of the third Transformers movie, apparently titled "Transformers: The Dark of the Moon," has encountered one problem after another this year. First, eye candy Megan Fox decides she's done with the franchise. Then an extra was very seriously injured during a terrible stunt mishap. Now the Chevy Camaro representing Bumblebee is in the shop. Check out the blunder from this week's shoot in Washington, D.C.
Thankfully, the stunt driver inside the Camaro walked away from the accident and the policeman — who unwittingly drove into the scene while responding to an actual call — suffered only minor injuries. But if Michael Bay wants to get this movie finished, it might be time to call in the Protectobots.
Production of the third Transformers movie, apparently titled "Transformers: The Dark of the Moon," has encountered one problem after another this year. First, eye candy Megan Fox decides she's done with the franchise. Then an extra was very seriously injured during a terrible stunt mishap. Now the Chevy Camaro representing Bumblebee is in the shop. Check out the blunder from this week's shoot in Washington, D.C.
Thankfully, the stunt driver inside the Camaro walked away from the accident and the policeman — who unwittingly drove into the scene while responding to an actual call — suffered only minor injuries. But if Michael Bay wants to get this movie finished, it might be time to call in the Protectobots.
10.12.2010
Can you drive a walkabout?
I wasn't particularly sure why I went for a drive yesterday. I wasn't even particularly sure, either, where I was headed when I left the garage. But sometimes the best journeys are aimless — and the best destinations are a surprise.
Annie's flight Monday to Chicago for work afforded me the rare opportunity to have a car at my disposal. (We're a one-car family, and my continued sabbatical grants me the flexibility to make the most of these occasions.) I hadn't the foggiest idea what I would do with it, though, even as I finished lunch and grabbed my car keys. On a lark, I decided to leave D.C. and head northwest on I-270. The drive was not one I'd previously made, but I thought it might help me clear my head and enjoy the onset of autumn. Indeed, I rather liked having the windows down. I also enjoyed the rolling hills of rural Maryland and the hints of colored leaves I saw. I thus decided at one point to explore one of the interstate's scenic overlooks. Neither particularly scenic nor much of an overlook, the grassy expanse shown here near Frederick was somewhat disappointing.
Oh well. At least there was a town to explore.
Having never been to Frederick, I wasn't sure what to expect. I got the feeling it wasn't my true destination, though, so I didn't plan to linger. I took what looked like a busy exit and quickly found a mall. I spotted a Barnes & Noble, parked and went inside. Since nothing there really caught my interest, I soon took to wandering through the mall. A cookie-cutter setup that could really have been any mall anywhere, the structure offered plenty of familiar sights. So I went with one of the most familiar to me: GameStop. And that was really when the lessons of the day began.
I spent no more than a few minutes in the store because of two rather boisterous and obnoxious middle-aged men. They were gossiping with the store clerk, an obvious friend, about all that was wrong in the world, whether it be their work, or their wives or their favorite football teams not winning this weekend. Sporting deep southern accents and raggedy clothes that did little to enhance their presentation, I wanted nothing to do with such negative energy. I fled the store and the mall.
And the city.
Because I was well positioned to embark on I-70, the main freeway connecting Frederick and Baltimore, I decided to head that direction. As I drove past more greenery toward Ellicott City and Cantonsville, I made occasional stops with little rhyme or reason. I foolishly decided to visit a Wal-Mart — something I hadn't done in years — only to be quickly reminded why people describe the stores so negatively. To cleanse the pallet, I stopped at an older model Toys R Us and found the very Boba Fett action figure I so praised earlier this year. I surprised myself, though, when I left it hanging on the peg. Despite the many impulse buys littering my book and DVD shelves, I was convinced I had no need for the trinket.
That's odd, I thought. Did I just grow up a little bit there?
I drove aimlessly through a few more places, often seeing signs for this Great Attraction or that Place of Importance, but nothing lured me from the car. Realizing, of course, that each city is unique, I had no doubt that West Friendship or New Market or Cooksville could each show me something special and meaningful. But the longer my windshield survey continued, the more I came to realize something. I needn't have come this far to see the new and different. I live in an amazingly diverse and cosmopolitan city. Creature of habit that I am, there are days when I think I've seen it all. Or all that I need to see. And nothing could be further from the truth.
I haven't seen it all. I've barely scratched the surface.
It was about then that I decided to head home. As I connected with I-95 and headed southeast, I chuckled with the realization that the day had been so oddly spent, yet proved so oddly rewarding. My brief walkabout, or driveabout if you prefer, showed me what I did not want to become and what I did not need. It showed me that the road to discovery has some disappointments. And it showed me that sometimes the best journeys are aimless — and the best destinations are a surprise.
Annie's flight Monday to Chicago for work afforded me the rare opportunity to have a car at my disposal. (We're a one-car family, and my continued sabbatical grants me the flexibility to make the most of these occasions.) I hadn't the foggiest idea what I would do with it, though, even as I finished lunch and grabbed my car keys. On a lark, I decided to leave D.C. and head northwest on I-270. The drive was not one I'd previously made, but I thought it might help me clear my head and enjoy the onset of autumn. Indeed, I rather liked having the windows down. I also enjoyed the rolling hills of rural Maryland and the hints of colored leaves I saw. I thus decided at one point to explore one of the interstate's scenic overlooks. Neither particularly scenic nor much of an overlook, the grassy expanse shown here near Frederick was somewhat disappointing.Oh well. At least there was a town to explore.
Having never been to Frederick, I wasn't sure what to expect. I got the feeling it wasn't my true destination, though, so I didn't plan to linger. I took what looked like a busy exit and quickly found a mall. I spotted a Barnes & Noble, parked and went inside. Since nothing there really caught my interest, I soon took to wandering through the mall. A cookie-cutter setup that could really have been any mall anywhere, the structure offered plenty of familiar sights. So I went with one of the most familiar to me: GameStop. And that was really when the lessons of the day began.
I spent no more than a few minutes in the store because of two rather boisterous and obnoxious middle-aged men. They were gossiping with the store clerk, an obvious friend, about all that was wrong in the world, whether it be their work, or their wives or their favorite football teams not winning this weekend. Sporting deep southern accents and raggedy clothes that did little to enhance their presentation, I wanted nothing to do with such negative energy. I fled the store and the mall.
And the city.
Because I was well positioned to embark on I-70, the main freeway connecting Frederick and Baltimore, I decided to head that direction. As I drove past more greenery toward Ellicott City and Cantonsville, I made occasional stops with little rhyme or reason. I foolishly decided to visit a Wal-Mart — something I hadn't done in years — only to be quickly reminded why people describe the stores so negatively. To cleanse the pallet, I stopped at an older model Toys R Us and found the very Boba Fett action figure I so praised earlier this year. I surprised myself, though, when I left it hanging on the peg. Despite the many impulse buys littering my book and DVD shelves, I was convinced I had no need for the trinket.
That's odd, I thought. Did I just grow up a little bit there?
I drove aimlessly through a few more places, often seeing signs for this Great Attraction or that Place of Importance, but nothing lured me from the car. Realizing, of course, that each city is unique, I had no doubt that West Friendship or New Market or Cooksville could each show me something special and meaningful. But the longer my windshield survey continued, the more I came to realize something. I needn't have come this far to see the new and different. I live in an amazingly diverse and cosmopolitan city. Creature of habit that I am, there are days when I think I've seen it all. Or all that I need to see. And nothing could be further from the truth.
I haven't seen it all. I've barely scratched the surface.
It was about then that I decided to head home. As I connected with I-95 and headed southeast, I chuckled with the realization that the day had been so oddly spent, yet proved so oddly rewarding. My brief walkabout, or driveabout if you prefer, showed me what I did not want to become and what I did not need. It showed me that the road to discovery has some disappointments. And it showed me that sometimes the best journeys are aimless — and the best destinations are a surprise.
10.07.2010
Ruminating on aging
As I get older, I find myself drawing lines in the sand as I go.
For example, after repeated experiences I've decided that if I'm to go to a bar, with rare exception it needs to be one where I can:
Now, in the instance above, I tend to think I've become self-aware to the point where I realize what I enjoy and what I don't, and also realize that I will probably not be a fun person to go along when the group wants to go to a stand-around-and-drink bar, so I excuse myself from those excursions. It's also a result of building self-confidence to the point where I don't feel I need to impress people by going along with the will of the crowd anymore.
But then there are other instances where I'm all-to-aware of where my talents lie and where (I believe) they don't, and I let my belief that I'm not good at something drive me to not participate in it. For example, for years I listened to Pirates for Sail perform and wished I could sing well enough to join. I was terrified to audition, because if they rejected me it would taint my future experiences of hearing them perform, and I didn't want to lose that joy.
I truly believed that I wasn't a good singer, even though I used to sing a LOT. I was even in the pops choir at school for years. But after years of being what I thought was a good singer, the director of our high school musical told me, in a fit of pique one day, that I was a lousy singer. And it's no coincidence that after the musical was over, I pretty much stopped singing.
Fortunately, I ultimately sucked up my courage, took some singing lessons and auditioned for the band...and got in. I still don't believe I'm as good as singer as I want to be, or as I used to be, or good enough to sing a solo, but I'm working at it. And I kick myself for all those years I missed when I could've been singing with the band and hanging out with these truly awesome people, but wasn't, because of my own fear and misguided belief that fear was self-awareness, and possibly even wisdom, manifesting itself.
Sometimes I feel like I confuse stubbonness with confidence, and closed-mindedness or fear with self-awareness. Is this a product of age, I wonder? I fear that the self-knowledge and confidence I'm thankfully developing as I get older will ooze over into unwelcome territory without my realization, that I will feel so confident in knowing what I like and what I don't that I will close myself off to new experiences, or that I will feel so confident about what I know and what I can do that I will become stubborn and inflexible when told to try something differently or think about it in a different way.
I fear closed-mindedness. I fear stubbornness. But I'm not willing to sacrifice confidence and self-knowledge to avoid them. I just need to figure out where the lines are between them. I'm hoping that, too, will come with age.
- Sit down.
- Actually hold a conversation with those around me.
- Order food in addition to drink.
Now, in the instance above, I tend to think I've become self-aware to the point where I realize what I enjoy and what I don't, and also realize that I will probably not be a fun person to go along when the group wants to go to a stand-around-and-drink bar, so I excuse myself from those excursions. It's also a result of building self-confidence to the point where I don't feel I need to impress people by going along with the will of the crowd anymore.
But then there are other instances where I'm all-to-aware of where my talents lie and where (I believe) they don't, and I let my belief that I'm not good at something drive me to not participate in it. For example, for years I listened to Pirates for Sail perform and wished I could sing well enough to join. I was terrified to audition, because if they rejected me it would taint my future experiences of hearing them perform, and I didn't want to lose that joy.
I truly believed that I wasn't a good singer, even though I used to sing a LOT. I was even in the pops choir at school for years. But after years of being what I thought was a good singer, the director of our high school musical told me, in a fit of pique one day, that I was a lousy singer. And it's no coincidence that after the musical was over, I pretty much stopped singing.
Fortunately, I ultimately sucked up my courage, took some singing lessons and auditioned for the band...and got in. I still don't believe I'm as good as singer as I want to be, or as I used to be, or good enough to sing a solo, but I'm working at it. And I kick myself for all those years I missed when I could've been singing with the band and hanging out with these truly awesome people, but wasn't, because of my own fear and misguided belief that fear was self-awareness, and possibly even wisdom, manifesting itself.
Sometimes I feel like I confuse stubbonness with confidence, and closed-mindedness or fear with self-awareness. Is this a product of age, I wonder? I fear that the self-knowledge and confidence I'm thankfully developing as I get older will ooze over into unwelcome territory without my realization, that I will feel so confident in knowing what I like and what I don't that I will close myself off to new experiences, or that I will feel so confident about what I know and what I can do that I will become stubborn and inflexible when told to try something differently or think about it in a different way.
I fear closed-mindedness. I fear stubbornness. But I'm not willing to sacrifice confidence and self-knowledge to avoid them. I just need to figure out where the lines are between them. I'm hoping that, too, will come with age.
10.06.2010
10.05.2010
Hear yee, hear yee, court is now in MP3
The U.S. Supreme Court isn't exactly known for embracing technology. A quick spin through its website shows a design rooted firmly in 2002. Gah! My eyes!
But in a twist that would put most M. Night Shyamalan movies to shame, the court recently announced it'll start making available audio recordings of all oral arguments it hears. The recordings are set to be published weekly, on Fridays, in MP3 format.
"But Josh," you say, "why should I care about any of this legal mumbo jumbo?"
That's a good question. And here's your answer: Schwarzenegger v. EMA/ESA. On Nov. 2, the Supreme Court will hear arguments concerning a California law that would regulate the sale and rental of computer and video games. This law would treat games, which are protected works under the First Amendment, differently than movies, books and music. So from a certain point of view, the Supreme Court is being asked to finally resolve the ridiculously persistent question: Are video games art?
You'll have to find that hearing's MP3 recording on your own, since I'll be in Tokyo when it's published, but here's how you can get it: Click the Oral Arguments prompt on the court's home page, then select Argument Audio. The audio recordings will be listed by case name and date of oral argument.
Personally, I can't wait to hear what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg thinks of "Katamari Damacy."
But in a twist that would put most M. Night Shyamalan movies to shame, the court recently announced it'll start making available audio recordings of all oral arguments it hears. The recordings are set to be published weekly, on Fridays, in MP3 format."But Josh," you say, "why should I care about any of this legal mumbo jumbo?"
That's a good question. And here's your answer: Schwarzenegger v. EMA/ESA. On Nov. 2, the Supreme Court will hear arguments concerning a California law that would regulate the sale and rental of computer and video games. This law would treat games, which are protected works under the First Amendment, differently than movies, books and music. So from a certain point of view, the Supreme Court is being asked to finally resolve the ridiculously persistent question: Are video games art?
You'll have to find that hearing's MP3 recording on your own, since I'll be in Tokyo when it's published, but here's how you can get it: Click the Oral Arguments prompt on the court's home page, then select Argument Audio. The audio recordings will be listed by case name and date of oral argument.
Personally, I can't wait to hear what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg thinks of "Katamari Damacy."
10.04.2010
By your command
Brandon Schaefer is an incredible artist. Take a moment to see some other highlights from his portfolio, such as this poster for a showing of the Back to the Future trilogy and this homage to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I also demand that his artwork grace the next DVD release of "Tron."
By the way, he did some great posters for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "Ghostbusters," but I'm not going to link to them because I want you to flip through his entire portfolio. Yes, it's that good.
10.02.2010
Things I never need to know
As a follow-up to yesterday's post, here is a list of things I never need to know. I don't claim to speak for anyone but myself here, so if you disagree, you're certainly entitled to your opinion...and feel free to post it in the comments.
Please don't ever tell me when you're "trying" to get pregnant.
It's just too much information. It's OK to say that you're planning on having kids soon - no problems there. But telling me you're trying is giving me way more information about your bedroom activities than I really care to know about.
Please don't ever tell me about - or show me, for that matter - anything gross that comes out of you or your children.
Why people feel compelled to post this on Facebook is beyond me. It's just nasty. I don't care how old (or young) the person in question is, never share descriptions of their poop.
Please don't ever give me graphic details about your medical problems, procedures, or childbirth.
Just because I asked, "How are you?" doesn't mean I wanted you to tell me in gruesome detail about the process of draining your cyst or *shudder* your episiotomy. It's fine to tell me you just had surgery, it's great to tell me you just had a baby, but I really, really don't need to know exactly how it all went down.
What are your pet peeves in this area? Post them in the comments!
10.01.2010
Things you should never ask
Never ask a newlywed (or anyone else), "How's married life?"
I was amazed how many people asked me this when I first got married - almost all of whom were people I knew in an exclusively professional capacity. People would never dream of asking an established couple how their marriage is doing, unless they're very close friends. While the intent of the question is to make conversation and express that they remember that you recently had a significant event occur, it's a deeply personal question. And most married people will tell you the first year of marriage is usually the worst, so it's really not a good time to ask.
Never ask a couple or a person in a couple when they're planning on having kids.
First off, it's none of your business, and secondly, it assumes they're planning on having kids, which they may not be. It's also creepily like asking, "So, are you having lots of sex? When are you going to start?" It also leads to an uncomfortable situation if the couple wants children but is unable to have them.
Never ask a person you believe to be pregnant if they are, indeed, pregnant.
I don't care if there is a baby in the process of falling out of the person in an aisle of K-Mart. If it's a stranger, it's none of your business, and if they're not pregnant, it's a deeply embarrassing situation for both of you. And if it's a friend, relative or co-worker, trust me, they will tell you as soon as they feel comfortable doing so. Don't push the subject.
Never ask, "Did you cut your hair?"
Not that this question is offensive, per se, it's just usually very stupid-sounding. I understand asking it when the hair is slightly different one day to the next, but when several inches of hair are missing between one day and the next, it's safe to assume that scissors were involved in that process.
What else should you never ask? Post your pet peeves in the comments.
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