DECISION TIME

Turns out I am actually still a resident of Oregon. I didn't realize this until just a few days ago, when the following arrived in the mail:


Yes, that's my ballot. I hadn't planned to vote in Oregon again, after 2004, but my family and a good number of my friends are still back in Oregon. I have yet to vote in the District, and well, they sent it to me. So maybe I will cast this ballot.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to tell me by noon EST on Tuesday why I should not actually vote. As usual -- I know who might be reading this -- telling me not to vote because I might vote the "wrong" way in a given race is not an argument that will win me over. If anything, it could make me all the more determined.

The comment section is open.

Update: So last night, I did send back my ballot. Details in the comments.

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posted by WWB at 3:35 PM |

 
CONGRATULATIONS

The longer I live on the East Coast, surrounded by ACC teams ever more aware of East coast bias, the easier it is for me to root for teams not named the Ducks. (Though in basketball, I've never had any trouble supporting the Zags when the UO's hoops team was inevitably triaged to the NIT or worse.)

And though the Bowl-if-not-BCS-worthy Ducks righted themselves last night by resurrecting the old Powell Doctrine against the overmatched (I-AA) PSU Vikings, the day must go to the Beavers of Oregon State, holding on to triumph over the Trojans of Southern Cal. Here's the front of ESPN's college football page, last night:


USC has been weaker than usual this year, so this was probably inevitable. But it was not inevitable at Reser Stadium. If anyone had to topple them first besides Bellotti's squad, I'm glad it was Mike Riley's. We'll get our shot in a couple weeks. Shortly thereafter, there's a Civil War game to be played... in Corvallis. I just hope that doesn't mean what I think it means.

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posted by WWB at 1:02 PM |

 
THANKS, ESPN

For thinking of us:


On second thought, no thanks.

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posted by WWB at 4:23 PM |

 
GET MODESTLY WEALTHY OR DIE TRYING

On Friday, the Washington Post ran a front-page story about robberies in the District. Naturally, the most dangerous neighborhoods are in Northeast and Southeast, right?

Wrong. Turns out the most robberies — going on statistics from January through the 21st of last month — are committed in the "most vibrant neighborhoods, destinations for suburbanites, barhoppers and urban professionals" -- you know, like where I live. Just by eyeballing the image below, extracted by Photoshop eraser from this PDF, you can tell the least-safe area is right in the center of the map — that is, my neighborhood and surrounding areas:


We also have twice as many robberies per capita as New York City, and more also than Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. On the other hand, if you zero in on my block, there is some good news:


You see that street corner in the middle with no red dots (robberies with guns) or black dots (all other robberies)? That's exactly where I live! So if I can somehow manage to get to work without walking any further than the front door of my building — then I'll be completely safe.

But I've actually never felt afraid around here, despite the fact of occasional violence. The worst violence perpetrated upon my person the whole time I've been here was two winters ago when some high schooler tagged me with a snowball — and I thought nothing of returning an extended middle finger.

Besides, I spend too much money on taxi cabs as it is.

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posted by WWB at 8:25 PM |

 
A NECESSARY DIVERSION

Ouch. I think that's all I have to say right now. Well, also, I wish that didn't have to happen on national television.

Speaking of TV and sports (you did realize that's what I'm talking about, right?), have you ever considered how much Cris Collinsworth resembles Will Arnett, aka GOB from "Arrested Development"?

       
Well, now you have. The only question is, which character is the more ridiculous?

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posted by WWB at 11:53 PM |

 
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

Redskins critic Kissing Suzy Kolber identifies 3 reasons to like the Washington Redskins:

1 - Joe Gibbs – In the movie about the old coach who returns to a league that may passed him by, Gibbs’ character last season went from Hume Cronyn to Wilford Brimley. And in a league where assistant coaches have become increasingly visible (and therefore more important? Not sure which came first), he’s got two pretty good ones.

2 - Clinton Portis – On the field, we all know the guy can play. But it is off the field where Clinton stole our hearts. His weekly press conferences were one of the few instances of plain, silly fun in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE in the last several years. I have no doubt that the powers that be will ban them by the start of the season. In fact, Joe Buck is already sorry they ever took place and thinks we are all worse off for having seen them.

3 - Dan Snyder – Short, rich, and apoplectic. He’s Kim Jong Il but without the nuclear capabilities.

I detect snark in each list item, and much fun can be had with Daniel Snyder, but befor you give him too hard a time, remember, that is all his own money, and some say he saved professional football from becoming another MLB.

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posted by WWB at 1:04 AM |

 
DEFINING LIFEHACKING DOWN

Old business cards are great for taking notes!

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posted by WWB at 10:36 PM |

 
FOOTBALL NIGHT IN WASHINGTON

After yesterday afternoon's romp over the Sun Devils, my Oregon Ducks certainly look like the real deal. And after this afternoon's overtime squeaker over the Jaguars of Jax, my Washington Redskins certainly look like they aren't ready for the season to be over just yet.

In that spirit, let's finally roll out those videos from their season opener in Landover, MD. The first I shot in the last few minutes before the first quarter began. Prepare to see 360° of FedEx Field from the Joe Gibbs Club Level™. Also, listen and you'll hear the MNF theme song over the loudspeakers:


And the last I shot in the final moments of the fourth quarter. It was hard to tell what was going on in the first place, but it's even harder now, on account of YouTube's low fidelity:


I have other short videos from the game, but they're not really worth the hassle, and let's face it, YouTube is probably going out of business soon, anyway.

P.S. If you don't believe Valleywag (linked above) you might agree with Mark Cuban.

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posted by WWB at 8:43 PM |

 
MUSIC REVIEWS I GENERALLY AGREE WITH BUT MUST NITPICK ANYWAY

The Detroit Free Press reviews The Decemberists' brilliant major label debut, "The Crane Wife":

This whip-smart art-rock band jumps to a major label on its fourth album, with thankfully no compromises to its complex sound, a strange but beautiful concoction that brings to mind a hybrid of bands XTC and King Crimson.

I'm guessing the reviewer has never listened to Neutral Milk Hotel. More:

Decemberists' leader Colin Meloy, a native of Montana...

After which, no mention of Portland. This is like mentioning Art Alexakis is a native of Los Angeles, but neglecting to mention that Everclear is proudly based in Portland, Oregon. (Alexakis once gave a shout-out to the West Hills, Meloy once gave a shout-out to the Multnomah County Library.)

Bayonets, sabers, dirigibles and butchers are conjured up here to help tell the bizarre tale of a man who discovers that his wife is a crane -- a bird, not a piece of construction equipment.

Hahahahaha shut up.

The Decemberists may be far too left-field and precious for some, but the group's growing legion of fans is proving naysayers wrong.

I understand what he means by "left-field," but isn't the compound word I'd choose. The band might've chosen to make "16 Military Wives" and their hard-rocking new track, "When The War Came" into anti-war anthems — and I bet Meloy was tempted to do so — but one thing that's great about The Decemberists is they'd rather tell a story than grind an axe.

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posted by WWB at 8:31 PM |