Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The Seattle Seahawks
Okay, a little about me. I'm a big pro football fan. Okay, a really big pro football fan. In particular I'm a Seattle Seahawks fan. Have been since their inception in 1976. I have watched the Seahawks from the days of Jim Zorn, Steve Largent, Dave Brown and Sherman Smith when they played in the not so dearly departed Kingdome. Being a Seahawks fan is quite frankly a lot like being Charlie Brown. You know, kind of miserable, and just when you think it's finally not going to be miserable, Lucy (lately the role played by the St. Louis Rams), move the football just when you're about to make that kick.
Anyway, I'm a big fan, (see above), the kind of fan who can't just sit and watch the football game. I have to pace, I have to walk around, I sit for a moment, I get up, and then start all over again. It's a pretty good work out. So far I haven't reached the point where I throw things at the tv screen, or swear at the players, or scream that the coach should be fired. I'm more analytical than that. I like watching football like most people play chess. I like to try and predict what the next play will be. I like trying to figure out whether the team is playing man, or zone coverage, which way they're going to rotate the defensive backs, or not rotate them at all, what type of defense they have in, the nickel, dime etc. Thus I watch football for the strategy, for the clever plays, and the intelligence of the game.
Yes, football is an intelligent game. Far more intelligent than baseball, don't even let me hear you mention the NBA and intelligence in the same sentence(although certain individual players are brilliant), and the NHL?, let's be serious (sorry Twig). In my opinion football is the perfect marriage of intelligence and strength ever conceived. It's why I love the game with a passion.
But why am I discussing football now? Well on Sunday, the Seahawks finally beat the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. Unfortunately, being out in Boston I can't exactly tell you how they did it (no local tv), but they won in a barn burner, 37 to 31. The stars? Well the usual Seahawks stars, Matt Hasselback and Shaun Alexander did exceedingly well. However there was a surprise, Joe Jurevicious in a career day stepped up and caught 9 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. It was critical because the Seahawks two leading receivers, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram, were both injured and did not play.
I was doubly frustrated because I couldn't get cell phone reception while we walking around Concord (the shot heard round the world). So for a moment, I get a bit of an update on the web, but it the connection would last only a moment and disappear. But in the end they won, and I could stop pacing all over the Old North Bridge.
Almost all is right in the world.
Anyway, I'm a big fan, (see above), the kind of fan who can't just sit and watch the football game. I have to pace, I have to walk around, I sit for a moment, I get up, and then start all over again. It's a pretty good work out. So far I haven't reached the point where I throw things at the tv screen, or swear at the players, or scream that the coach should be fired. I'm more analytical than that. I like watching football like most people play chess. I like to try and predict what the next play will be. I like trying to figure out whether the team is playing man, or zone coverage, which way they're going to rotate the defensive backs, or not rotate them at all, what type of defense they have in, the nickel, dime etc. Thus I watch football for the strategy, for the clever plays, and the intelligence of the game.
Yes, football is an intelligent game. Far more intelligent than baseball, don't even let me hear you mention the NBA and intelligence in the same sentence(although certain individual players are brilliant), and the NHL?, let's be serious (sorry Twig). In my opinion football is the perfect marriage of intelligence and strength ever conceived. It's why I love the game with a passion.
But why am I discussing football now? Well on Sunday, the Seahawks finally beat the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. Unfortunately, being out in Boston I can't exactly tell you how they did it (no local tv), but they won in a barn burner, 37 to 31. The stars? Well the usual Seahawks stars, Matt Hasselback and Shaun Alexander did exceedingly well. However there was a surprise, Joe Jurevicious in a career day stepped up and caught 9 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. It was critical because the Seahawks two leading receivers, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram, were both injured and did not play.
I was doubly frustrated because I couldn't get cell phone reception while we walking around Concord (the shot heard round the world). So for a moment, I get a bit of an update on the web, but it the connection would last only a moment and disappear. But in the end they won, and I could stop pacing all over the Old North Bridge.
Almost all is right in the world.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Free Markets, United Airlines and Purgatory
Let's start off by saying that I'm a big fan of free markets. I like it when corporations battle each other to lower price and improve service. However my recent experience with the bankrupt (morally, financially, intellectually) United Airlines has caused me some pause. Which means, I might like free markets, but bankrupt, employee demoralizing, stupid, dinosaurs of a corporation should die. Allowing United Airlines to reorganize is like having George W. Bush teaching quantum physics.
The first thing I noticed when putting my credit card into the Easy Check in e-ticket carousel, was a prompt that asked me if I wanted to pay $54 additional dollars for 5 inches more leg room. I thought $10 an inch is a little steep, so I declined. I didn't realize my mistake until I actually sat down in the seat. Then it hit me. United Airlines was stealing inches from all those other passengers to create that additional five inches for those who paid the premium. To call the seating cramped, would be severe understatement. Let me put it this way, the act of getting out of the aisle seat when the person in front of you had their seat leaned back, required technique that would have impressed any circus contortionist. I figure the next grand United Airlines scheme will be to lower the oxygen content in the cabin and offer people hits of pure oxygen for $15 a hit. Perhaps they'll install a pay toilet on the plane (see bathroom theme below), or charge people for the pleasure of lifting the covers on the window to see outside. At least United should be forced to advertise their offerings honestly. Such as, if you don't want one of our sucky seats give us $54 dollars. Or if you like the comfort of being in a small box, take our $54 bad seat discount. Whatever.
Right after experiencing the claustrophobic environment of the cramped seats, United decided to drive home the point by having us sit on the tarmac for not one, but two hours. What were they doing?, well they were doing an "engine check" for about a half hour of that two hour period, the rest of the 90 minutes...well it seems that the baggage loading folks got tired of waiting and disappeared. Where? No one knows. It was if United was reinforcing the message, "you should have ponied up for the 5 inches asshole."
In addition to the lack of seating space, United went beyond the call of duty by 1) running out of toilet paper for the bathrooms, 2) having bathrooms that would have made describing them as grimy be a compliment; 3) having a bathroom breakdown (yes there was a definite bathroom theme to this flight); 4) having flight attendants who snapped at passengers when they didn't finish the drink they ordered ("if you're not going to finish the whole drink you should have asked for a glass). To add insult to injury, United Airlines, five, that's right five members of the United customer service team miscommunicated, dawdled, stumbled, accidentally set off their own security alarms and confused each other when trying to locate and deliver my wife's scooter. So an hour after we landed they located it. Soaking wet. It had been sitting in the rain for some reason.
But in the end we got to Boston safely, and in the end that is what counts the most.
The first thing I noticed when putting my credit card into the Easy Check in e-ticket carousel, was a prompt that asked me if I wanted to pay $54 additional dollars for 5 inches more leg room. I thought $10 an inch is a little steep, so I declined. I didn't realize my mistake until I actually sat down in the seat. Then it hit me. United Airlines was stealing inches from all those other passengers to create that additional five inches for those who paid the premium. To call the seating cramped, would be severe understatement. Let me put it this way, the act of getting out of the aisle seat when the person in front of you had their seat leaned back, required technique that would have impressed any circus contortionist. I figure the next grand United Airlines scheme will be to lower the oxygen content in the cabin and offer people hits of pure oxygen for $15 a hit. Perhaps they'll install a pay toilet on the plane (see bathroom theme below), or charge people for the pleasure of lifting the covers on the window to see outside. At least United should be forced to advertise their offerings honestly. Such as, if you don't want one of our sucky seats give us $54 dollars. Or if you like the comfort of being in a small box, take our $54 bad seat discount. Whatever.
Right after experiencing the claustrophobic environment of the cramped seats, United decided to drive home the point by having us sit on the tarmac for not one, but two hours. What were they doing?, well they were doing an "engine check" for about a half hour of that two hour period, the rest of the 90 minutes...well it seems that the baggage loading folks got tired of waiting and disappeared. Where? No one knows. It was if United was reinforcing the message, "you should have ponied up for the 5 inches asshole."
In addition to the lack of seating space, United went beyond the call of duty by 1) running out of toilet paper for the bathrooms, 2) having bathrooms that would have made describing them as grimy be a compliment; 3) having a bathroom breakdown (yes there was a definite bathroom theme to this flight); 4) having flight attendants who snapped at passengers when they didn't finish the drink they ordered ("if you're not going to finish the whole drink you should have asked for a glass). To add insult to injury, United Airlines, five, that's right five members of the United customer service team miscommunicated, dawdled, stumbled, accidentally set off their own security alarms and confused each other when trying to locate and deliver my wife's scooter. So an hour after we landed they located it. Soaking wet. It had been sitting in the rain for some reason.
But in the end we got to Boston safely, and in the end that is what counts the most.
More on torture
One thing I neglected to do was mention how complete the Senate vote on the interrogation amendment was a repudiation of the Bush Administration's position. First of all 46 Republicans, that's right 46 out of 55, voted for the amendment, 43 Democrats joined, along with one independent. It was a rout. In addition, retired General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who tried to block the administration's efforts to implement its policies when he was Secretary of State, wrote a letter supporting Senator McCain's effort to end these practices.
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
I was driving to the supermarket yesterday and turned on the radio (which was of course set to NPR), and a review by Kevin Whitehead was on, discussing the release of the Theolonious Monk and John Coltrane 1957 performance at Carnige Hall. Apparently they found some undiscovered tapes that captured that brief although amazing collaboration. Of course I did what any jazz fanatic would do. I went to I-Tunes and downloaded the album. (Funny how digital technology has caused some of us older folks to return to using the word "album" rather than CD).
The combination works. Coltrane soaring all about Monk's percussive yet sparse piano playing. It swings, and Coltrane is effusive. The rhythm section is supportive, keeping a nice propulsive beat, highlighting things perfectly and letting Monk and Coltrane stretch out. The live audience is respectful and doesn't get in the way.
The album again is Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. I recommend this highly.
The combination works. Coltrane soaring all about Monk's percussive yet sparse piano playing. It swings, and Coltrane is effusive. The rhythm section is supportive, keeping a nice propulsive beat, highlighting things perfectly and letting Monk and Coltrane stretch out. The live audience is respectful and doesn't get in the way.
The album again is Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. I recommend this highly.
Friday, October 07, 2005
The Senate's 90 to 9 vote on torture
Something rather extraordinary happened yesterday. The Senate, in the face of strident White House opposition, voted 90 to 9 to attach a measure to the $440 billion military expenditure bill, defining limits on the interrogation of persons under detention by the department of defense. This measure which is designed to curtail torture by the military was an effort led by Republican Senators John McCain, John Warner, and Lindsey O. Graham and Democratic Senator Carl Levin. If one thinks about it, it is rather extraordinary that this was an extraordinary event. Ordinarily, being opposed to torture would be thought to be as popular, reasonable and supportable as mom's apple pie. (okay maybe not as popular as mom's apple pie - but you get the point), yet in the days of the Global War on Terror (or whatever the administration has decided to call it at the moment), torture has slithered out of the dark crevices and has become acceptable to many who should know better. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this policy detour, however, one must wait and see what happens in the House.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Quandries, Republicanism and Miers
It's been an interesting week. The President on Monday announced his nomination of Harriett Miers, currently White House Counsel, for the Supreme Court of the United States. What is interesting about this, is that all of the fireworks about this nomination is occuring among the President's allies in the Republican Party.
The conservative intelligensia seems particularly unhappy about this nomination. So far Charles Krauthammer has called for the President to withdraw the nomination. Krauthammer complains "[t]here are 1,084,504 lawyers in the United States. What distinguishes Harriet Miers from any of them, other than her connection with the president?"
George Will, while not explicitly rejecting the nomination, offers some strong criticism of the Presidents choice. Will asserts "there is no reason to believe that Miers's nomination resulted from the president's careful consultation with people capable of such judgments. If 100 such people had been asked to list 100 individuals who have given evidence of the reflectiveness and excellence requisite in a justice, Miers's name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists."
Mind you Will's and Krauthammer's criticism is relatively mild compared to the full scale warfare among conservatives on conservative blogs. An examination of the restate.org and national review online blogs find conservative hyperventilation about the President's nomination, mostly in the negative. The concern is almost palpable.
The Democrats have been relatively quiet, expressing some degree of concern about Ms Mier's evangelical background and support (albeit minor) of right to life organizations.
We live in interesting times.
The conservative intelligensia seems particularly unhappy about this nomination. So far Charles Krauthammer has called for the President to withdraw the nomination. Krauthammer complains "[t]here are 1,084,504 lawyers in the United States. What distinguishes Harriet Miers from any of them, other than her connection with the president?"
George Will, while not explicitly rejecting the nomination, offers some strong criticism of the Presidents choice. Will asserts "there is no reason to believe that Miers's nomination resulted from the president's careful consultation with people capable of such judgments. If 100 such people had been asked to list 100 individuals who have given evidence of the reflectiveness and excellence requisite in a justice, Miers's name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists."
Mind you Will's and Krauthammer's criticism is relatively mild compared to the full scale warfare among conservatives on conservative blogs. An examination of the restate.org and national review online blogs find conservative hyperventilation about the President's nomination, mostly in the negative. The concern is almost palpable.
The Democrats have been relatively quiet, expressing some degree of concern about Ms Mier's evangelical background and support (albeit minor) of right to life organizations.
We live in interesting times.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
'Round Midnight
I'm doing another one of my late night insomnia things, trying to figure out what this blog is going to be about, or at least my first post. And to my surprise, I hear Dexter Gordon jump out of my tv. It's Round Midnight. (Although about 2am here). Dexter is past his prime in this movie, but he is still worth listening to. So the first thing I post, it's about Dexter. Not a bad place to start. Certainly better than jumping into the confused spectacle of the Bush nominee that true conservatives loathe and strategic democrats laugh about. That will come later. But for now, I'm just going to listen to Dexter.
