My alma mater won something

I guess UMM (i.e., the University of Minnesota, Morris [aka "affordable Ivy"]) won the UMAC (Upper Midwest Athletic Conference) football championship in late October. I guess I'm just finding out about it now because: (1) I'm not terribly interested in Cougar gridiron action (they were horrendous during my matriculation); and (2) the publicity monstrosity that is UMM is slow in getting the news out.

I suppose congratulations are in order, but I can't get too excited when their competition consists of:

• a Presbyterian school in Nowheresville, Illinois;
• a college for followers of Mary Baker Eddy that has a campus in St. Louis and one in -- surprise, surprise -- in Nowheresville, Illinois;
• a nondenominational school in Salt Lake City;
• a Baptist Bible college in small-town Wisconsin
• an Assemblies of God college in Ellendale, North Dakota (I could've said "Nowheresville, North Dakota," but that would've been redundant); and
• Rockford College, whose claim to fame is that Jane Addams (of Hull House) graduated from there 125 years ago.

Not exactly the SEC - or even the MAC.

Granted, UMM ain't the Ohio State University, but at least it's affiliated with a major university.

One more reason to like Michelle Malkin

Not even Britney Spears (who doesn't appear to have an "official" home page any more [unlike her less-than-musically-gifted ex] -- that is, any more than she cares to dress and act appropriately in public) can escape the punditorial (I know it's not a word, but it seemed to "fit" here) acuity of Ms. Malkin:

This article even suggests -- gasp -- that all of this gives K-Fed (i.e., he of the New Year's Day WWE tilt versus champion John "The Marine" Cena) more of a chance in the custody battle. Heaven help us all.

I feel safe -- don't you?

WaPo reports on the Schofield case, which is an egregious example of how "broken" the immigration infrastructure in this country is. Having followed the story for a while now -- and having seen this morning's Washington Examiner article on today's expected events in the case -- it boggles the mind to see that, as I searched Google for news stories on the case just a couple of minutes ago, the only major MSM outlet (not counting TV stations as "major" sources online) covering the story is WaPo, which is sad when one considers that this paper has consistently been on the "wrong" side of this debate -- both in its "news" stories and in its editorial pages.

I mean, come on, people! Look at Tuesday's Examiner (my emphasis added):

Years after immigration agent and Fairfax resident Robert Schofield was disciplined for having an affair with an Asian prostitute who was working as a government informant, he was given senior responsibility for handing out visas and citizenship documents in the Washington area.

The day after he started his new job, law enforcement sources and colleagues say, a line of beautiful Asian women formed outside his new office.

So it came as little surprise to insiders this summer when Schofield, 57, was arrested and charged with taking more than $8.1 million in bribes to sell phony green cards and citizenships to more than 200 immigrants, mostly from China and Thailand.

“That guy should have gone to jail a long time ago,” said Jim Goldman, a former INS director in Miami.

Let's see:

• Last I checked, the Chinese are not really our friends in the international community;
• We have too many illegal aliens -- be they illegal border crossers or visa overstays or whatever -- as it is without having corrupt officials letting in questionable folks in via fraud; and
• I can't get over the corruption and just flat-out sleaze aspect of this. Case in point (again, from the Tues. Examiner story[and, again, my emphasis added]):

Even before Schofield’s arrest, it was known that he had a weak spot for Asian women — often using binoculars to watch them from his office window. In the early 1990s, The Examiner’s sources said he was demoted after his affair with the prostitute came to light, a relationship that derailed a major federal investigation.

He later absconded to Bangkok and ran up tens of thousands of dollars on his government credit cards. It was only an apparent fluke at a San Francisco airport that led authorities to take concerted action against Schofield, court records and internal documents show. A phony visa was spotted, a suspect blurted Schofield’s name and private numbers and a full decade of alleged wrongdoing unraveled.

One word:

UGH!

Número 10 de Barcelona é muito bom

I would love to learn Portuguese, but I'm afraid my five years of junior high and high school Spanish would taint the experience and cause problems.

Ronaldinho is the man -- and proves it once again in scoring this sick goal.

For more crazy footie action, click here. It's not Ronaldinho (at least, not solely [he's in there at least once]), but it's pretty wild stuff nevertheless.

Today's baseball news

(1) If the D-Rays feel the need to move some of their games to the EPCOT parking lot, isn't that an indication that the team is not viable in Tampa and should be relocated -- perhaps to Vegas, Portland, Charlotte, or some other place where the population isn't: (a) transient (a strike against moving the Expos to DC [that organization now has a new marketing slogan -- whoopee!], I suppose, but that happened); and (b) coming out in force (relatively) for divisional rivals like the Sox and Bombers?

(2) Nick Lachey is going to be a part owner of the Triple-A (for Seattle) Tacoma Rainiers. Now, all we need is Jessica Simpson to get up and make some comment about it being strange that her former beloved is buying animals from Santa. (Wait a minute...wait...get it? Never mind.)

Most influential in American history

The Atlantic has put together a list of "the most influential figures in American history," but I think it's lacking (I can't really say how at this point, but...) and, as such, agree with Democracy in America's assessment of the list. What do you think?

The former model, a dead economist, and a quote

(1) From SI.com and Lew Rockwell.com (with some links added by me):

Tiger Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, has filed a libel lawsuit against an Irish magazine story that included fake nude photos of her and claimed that she appeared on Internet porn sites. If the lawsuit is unsuccessful, Tiger plans to simply buy the mag and shut it down.

* * *

Murray Rothbard believed that there should be no libel laws, as one does not "own" one's own reptuation. (A reputation is what others might think about someone.) However, Murray certainly would have supported Woods' Plan B. A private property solution!

I have to say that buying up that which defames you and yours is a pretty good solution, albeit one that's available only to a select few.

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(2) Another quote from my favorite net pundit, Ilana Mercer:

In a truly free society, the kind we once enjoyed, one honors the right of the individual to associate and disassociate, invest and disinvest, speak and misspeak at will.

Happiness is...redux

Yesterday (11.27.06), everybody's favorite NHL owner, Ted Leonsis, blogged on the "five traits of happiness" ("Not much different than what has made me happy recently," MCW said, rolling his eyes) after seeing "another study on happiness." Leonsis argues that the happiest people he knows all share:

1. Being connected to multiple communities of interest in an active way. The more people on your buddy list the happier you are;

2. Giving back through volunteerism and sharing with others. (YouTube, MySpace and other social networks prove this point on the importance of sharing);

3. Pursuing the higher calling in all of your major efforts, by doing what is right in the right way.

4. Self expression. Having a good third place to exchange ideas, be creative and have your voice be heard (why do you think there are 54 million blogs out there?)

5. Showing gratitude by being thankful and optimistic.

From what I've heard about Ted, he sounds like a pretty "good" guy, but then again, if you take a look of the things he's done over the course of his life (through January of '06) and how much he's achieved and earned, it's pretty difficult to not be happy (IMHO, at least). However, when I just Googled him, both his Wikipedia entry and a posting on ESPN's Page 2 referenced surviving a 1983 plane crash, after which, according to the latter, he made the list of things he wanted to accomplish, which tempers my cynicism about his happiness quite a bit; getting through 70% of them in 50 years of life is pretty impressive.

Best living songwriters? I think not!

While fiddling around on Paste's website, I found the publication's list of 100 best living songwriters. Of course, not seeing the creative forces behind my favorite group in this inventory irritates me -- especially so because there are numerous artists on the list who haven't produced any significant work in years, if not decades (e.g., Yusuf Islam née Cat Stevens née Steve Georgiou at #49 [he does have a new album, it's true, but I question its quality, given that his fairly strict Muslim beliefs have largely precluded him from singing secular music for the better part of three decades]) and several who -- at least, to my liking -- don't have the breadth (e.g., Josh Ritter at #97 [I don't have the inclination to comb through this list extensively, but anyone younger than me has little or no business being on the list]) or depth of work to justify inclusion (e.g., Michael Jackson at #72 [yes, he's a pop icon, but, to my ears, many of his songs are interchangeable]).

Here are the top 10:

10. Prince
9. Joni Mitchell
8. Elvis Costello
7. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
6. Leonard Cohen
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)
4. Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan
3. Bruce Springsteen
2. Neil Young (Buffalo Sprinfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
1. Bob Dylan

I must admit that I don't listen to most of these folks. I've just gotten "into" The Beatles, so I'm finally coming to like Paul and John's '60s output. (From what I've heard, however, the former should stick to popular music and leave the oratorios and the like to the professionals. The link for the latter is "courtesy of" his much-reviled widow, so haters beware!) Pet Sounds is a landmark in American music, so kudos to the reclusive Wilson (or should I say "the formerly reclusive Wilson"). There are a couple of Leonard Cohen songs I like ("Everybody Knows" [sample available here] and "Waiting for the Miracle" [first heard by me as part of the Natural Born Killers soundtrack album]) and I must give mad props to my fellow Twin Citian at #10. (The Purple One's official website "was abruptly shut down on July 3, 2006" and the MySpace link provided on his Wikipedia page doesn't work, hence the link to his club in Vegas [at which, coincidentally, Esthero is performing tomorrow night].)

Perhaps my musical tastes are not well-developed (read as "he's closed-minded"), but maybe I like it that way, so there!

Sign of the apocalypse, number 583

And I thought I had no social life.

Pause "Snowbound" as to avoid an unpleasant audio experience.

I realize I am coming to this Internet phenomenon a bit late, but having seen it last night on Mythbusters (who, according to Skeptic may be "inspiring the next generation of scientists"), I had to make sure that all have seen it.

Liberals and libertarians (small "L" for both)

On one hand, Democracy in America (an Economist blog) gives some constructive advice as to the improvement of political thought in the good ol' US of A, whereas Richard Maybury reaffirms why I will never be a true libertarian (i.e., the market rules all for starters and they appear to be as willing to be revisionist about historical events as the "statists" they oft decry); I first saw this because I'm on an e-mail list providing announcements from the Libertarian Party of Virginia.

Lacking in inspiration today

That's all I'll say for now. Hope to have more for you later.

Dub El, et al @ BoCav 11.28.06

If you haven't checked out Belgian Beer Happy Hour at Bohemian Caverns on Tuesday nights, I highly recommend it. Not only do you get a great deal on really good brews (no Blue Moons [i.e., fake white beers perpetrated on the world by mega-corps]), but you can hear the DJ stylings -- and often the live music -- of W. Ellington Felton, who, as the opening act for Esthero at the Birchmere in mid-August, was off the hook and whose newest joint, Outrospective: Me Then, Me Now, is excellent as well. (Usually, I would link to a site where you can purchase an album, but in this case, it's best to buy directly from Dub Ell at a gig, at the Caverns, or if you just see him on the street.)

Here's what he has to say about the goings-on this coming Tues. (11.28.06 [with a couple of links added by yours truly]):

Do you love GREAT MUSIC, Cool People, Great food, and BELGIUM BEER?

Where can you get ALL of those things in ONE place?

DUB's PUB!!!
Every tuesday @
Bohemian Caverns
2001 11th Street NW [Google map {which allows driving directions}; across the street {at 10th and Vermont exit} from the U St. Metro stop]
Washington, DC
http://www.bohemiancaverns.com/

W.Ellington Felton spins rare grooves, classic hip hop, and the world's best underground and indie soul.

join him as he features Global and Local musical, visiual, and graphic artist.
Chimay, Delirium, Duvel, and other great belgium beers are on sale for half price...
there is a food menu that features delicious Appetizers and Entrees....

This Tuesday, November 28th 2006 Join us for a special meet n greet, listening session and performance, and celebration for the release of "Ancestors" By: The W.E.S. Group

Echoes of ancestral and native sounds can be heard in this collective of talented musicians, whose folk jazz and acoustic approach create a distinctive sound of peace and beauty. Exceptional musicians in their own right, the collaboration of these seasoned musicians exhibits the passion and spirit of a “great camp meeting in the promised land” of jazz.

ABOUT W.E.S.: http://www.myspace.com/thewesgroup [and http://www.thewesgroup.com/ as well]

W. E. S. (William E. Smith, Ph.D.) – Through studying, composing, teaching and living music, saxophonist/composer W.E.S. has sought to enrich the lives of others through sound. His family roots go deep into the history of jazz and the African-American experience. W.E.S.’s grandfather and great-uncle, owned a music publishing company in the 1920s and published music that was performed by the great King Oliver as well as Noble Sissle. Many musicians used to come by the family home on the south side of Chicago including Art Tatum. W.E.S.’s cousin Warren Smith Jr. played percussion with the Miles Davis, Gil Evans orchestra and many other notable performers. In the spirit of this legacy, W.E.S. himself has performed nationally and internationally with his group and with jazz greats such as James Moody, Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Wynton Marsalis, and Jon Hendricks.

After leading a quartet under his own name (The Will Smith Quartet) for several years, W.E.S. decided to form a group with a different focus. He wanted the group to transcend the traditional classification of jazz from strictly art music, to music that has a world flavor and is not only enjoyed but inspires the best in people. W.E.S. is currently an Assistant Professor and the Jazz Ensemble Director at American University and gives lectures on jazz and hip hop at the University of Maryland, University of Delaware, and Howard University.

HERE ARE SOME REVIEWS:

"Smith's passion is evident from-the-jump. He has a kind of take no prisoners approach that is full of youthful fire…"

Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes Magazine

"[Will is] an accomplished musician with a confident sound and an appealing repertoire, who brings to mind "the legacy of John Coltrane."

Mike Joyce, Washington Post

"Smith freely channels the spirits of Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and other masters with minimal derivativeness, but comes up with his own muscular style."

Eric Brace, Washington Post

"The persistence of memory," Micsrosoft style

Last night, while up late post-nap (one must nap post-roast butternut squash soup with walnut chantilly; sage-crusted filet of beer with honey-glazed carrots and bleu cheese potato gratin [with a merlot reduction, of course]; one slice each of chocolate truffle torte and lemon macadamia cheesecake; one glass each of pinot grigio and pinor noir; several glasses of water; and four glasses of port [the last at bin1700, the bulk at 15 ria {and no, I didn't base my choices of venues on whether the establishments were e.e. cummings-like in their names}]), I read a fascinating article in Fast Company about a Microsoft bigwig (Gordon Bell) who, for the past seven years, has been electronically documenting every iota of his being, thus creating, for all intents and purposes, a "perfect memory" over that time span. In fact, he's even gone so far as to scan in documents, pictures, etc., as far back as a photo of his mother shortly after her birth in 1900. In other words, the MyLifeBits project is fairly comprehensive in mapping Bell's entire life (i.e., from birth through this, his 73^rd year on this spinning orb).

This article raises many questions about what memory is, how it works, its importance, etc. Being a person who is known for having a somewhat vast capacity for storing useless bits of trivia within those three pounds of whatever it is that lies within my cranium), the idea of a "perfect memory" is very alluring, but I suggest you take a look at the article to make up your own mind (pun only partially intended).

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To learn more about the painting above, click here.

My non-Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving

If you don't fully understand that reference, click here.

Just in case you're horrendously bored, here's the menu from which I shall be dining tomorrow for my Thanksgiving feast.

As far as the day's football games go (NFL, that is):

• Miami over Detroit 20-10;
• Dallas over Tampa 24-7; and
• Denver over Kansas City 17-14.

Not too happy (yet)

Just found out that Steely Dan is playing a live gig in Santa Ynez, California in mid-January. I don't know if the duo is playing with their fans' minds by calling that page "Steely Dan: Live '07," thus giving, at least this fair fanatic, the idea that more shows may be forthcoming. We shall see.

The crime of the century

43 years ago today, a bright fall day in Texas turned to tragedy. I have to admit that, for many a year now, I have had a gruesome fascination with American political assassinations -- from the well-known and über-discussed (JFK and Lincoln) to those barely registering anymore in the historical memory (Garfield and McKinley). For example:

• In consecutive quarters (or perhaps it was trimesters) in 11th grade U.S. history (i.e., 15 years ago [or thereabouts]), I did extensive research and writing on the Lincoln and JFK murders.
• I own both the original cast and revival cast recordings of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins -- and saw the latter (a Tony winner for the Roundabout Theatre Company) at Studio 54 (yes, that Studio 54) in 2004.

My curiosity for the morbid has now broadened into one for the generally darkly criminal (e.g., The Devil in the White City, which I just finished yesterday and recommend highly for anyone with like interests or just plain history buffs [e.g., the Ferris Wheel and Juicy Fruit gum both made their debuts at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition]).

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On a lighter note, I hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow.

JuMo, part deux

Following up on my previous baseball post:

• ESPN.com's Keith Law thinks Morneau had no business winning the MVP (subscription to ESPN Insider required [I don't have it, but the headline annoyed me, to say the very least]) and, to my great surprise (note sarcasm here), advocated for Jeter (and for Mauer as well, to be fair).
• On the flip side, thanks to Baseball Think Factory's Baseball Primer Newsblog for pointing me in the direction of an NYC columnist who actually predicted a "Twin killing" relative to the MVP and CYA. I think I see pork products floating past my office window as I type...

Happiness is...

...and no, I'm not going to go all Peanuts on you.

Of late, my favorite things are:

• my customized Liverpool long-sleeved home shirt (thanks to Randy for the groomsman gift card that enabled this purchase); and
• Starbucks' Vanilla Latte (and yes, I just endorsed a mega-corporation's product - again).

JuMo=MVP

I can't believe a member of the Twins actually won the AL MVP - especially when "The Golden Boy" was in the running. Congrats to the Canadian slugger, as well as to the other three Twins who received votes in the race (Mauer, Santana [belated kudos on your easily-won and well-deserved CYA], and Nathan). This helps to make up for the loss of Soriano for those of us who care about the Nats as well.

Click here to see a slideshow of Morneau's season, courtesy of Twincities.com, which houses the the St. Paul Pioneer Press' online presence.

Just a question: does anybody else think that Morneau looks like WWE champion John Cena?