Is this the start?

Below - you will see a video that I was obsessed with for about 10 minutes. I watched the 13 second clip probably 7 times, and then immediately had to show someone else. (and by someone else, I mean anyone within 10 feet of me or on my Google Talk or AIM buddy list).




And then it got me thinking... Does Google Video empower people (read as: stupid kids) to suddenly be more likely to try Jackass-type stunts? Are we going to start seeing the "3:00 - by the bike rack" events by the droves? The truth is -- all they need is a video camera and the internet. The cost of being published is suddenly beyond minimal...

So - the answer to these questions are unfortunately "yes."

Do I blame Google? No - because if Google didn't do it, someone else like YouTube or Yahoo would provide the ability to post video online and make it available to the world. All it means to be is that parents have a much more important job and responsibility to lead by example. Great job of exemplifying this by the woman in this video - huh? I guess we should stay tuned...

My Top 5 MC's of All Time

Toure, a well-known journalist focusing on hip-hop came to Google yesterday to chat with us. He gave out his book, which is a culmination of his various journalist experiences - mostly with hip-hop stars. I've read the first few stories - and they are very cool.

Anyway - he pretty much starts the book with ranking his top 5 MCs. He did a really good job of out-lining what the "scoring criteria" are when judging such a subjective topic. Below - you will find my top 5 MC's of all time and some rationale. Below that, you will find Toure's criteria which I almost compeltely (but not 100%) agree with.

I wanted to point out that buying new music used to be a weekly occurrence for me. It has since diminished drastically. It could be that I’m getting older…it could be the complete commercialization of hip-hop, it could be a combination of those two…

This being said, I wanted to document my top 5 favorite rappers (with honorable mention below). Here we go:

#5. Big Pun

• Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of published material from him, but what I did hear – I replayed, and replayed and replayed. He had an original, quick delivery that often got my adrenaline running. His lyrics, which needed a few times to truly comprehend, carried a strong sense of authenticity…He was also the first mainstream non-black rapper that truly got respect from everyone.
• My favorite album - Capital Punishmet (although not so much to chose from

#4 Method Man

• M-E-T-H-O-D… I like comparing him to a Frank Sinatra (of Hip-Hop) back in his day… He has this voice and flow that enable him to say almost anything in a song and sound cool. When I would buy a Wu-Tang album, no doubt I would listen first to the Method Man tracks before any others. He has a way of inserting flare into his lyrics, that are somewhat under-rated. Perhaps it's because he isn’t as deep as some others, but I think he’s often more creative than given credit for.
• My favorite album of his… Blackout (with Redman)

#3 Eminem

• I first learned about him in the Sources “unsigned hype.” Mostly intrigued by him then because he was white. When he came out in 1996 or so with “My Name is” … I really didn’t like him. I felt he had a whiney voice and wasn’t quite sure I was feeling what he was saying… Over time, though, his consistent exposure intruiged me. I started listening to his entire albums rather than just radio singles….Well, since then, I have NOTHING but love for this guy. His “breaking the racial barrier” aspect demands a certain level of respect, but this is just the effect of his work. His tracks are funny, thought provoking, and catchy all at the same time. Yes, there are themes like his ex/current wife that have gotten old over time, but he definitely has kept his delivery of ths message creative over time. I’m really hoping he continues to produce good albums, but if not - he still has one of the top 5 best albums of all time in my book (Eminem Show)
• Favorite Album – The Eminem Show.

#2 Jay-Z

• He is the most creative lyricist in my opinion. His consistency and longevity, coupled with his ability to balance the “commercial vs. street” is unprecedented. I’ve been on the jigga bandwagon from Day 1. However, he is so good, that I still can listen to his old album and pick-up new concepts. I’ve purchased every Jay-Z album and they almost all still make their way to my playlist. No other rapper can claim the consistent success for as long as he’s done it. On a side note, you also have to love his entrenpenuership. Beyond his actual lyrics or style, the fact that he doesn’t write his rhymes when recording them – proves his natural talent. His current job title (President of Universal) is also ground-breaking….kind of like the first ball player who became GM after his playing days…
• My favorite album: Reasonable Doubt (this is a really hard decision, though)

#1 Notorious B.I.G

• It’s no secret that this guy is the best ever. And there are many who think this fact is somewhat an after effect of his un-timely death. Well – I don’t think his “champion title” has anything to do with his death….It was his mastery of every style – he was the complete package…..He could freestyle, he could story-tell, he rapped about criminal life and rhymed about his relationship woes. He could flow quickly or slowly…. He created music for the clubs and for the bedroom. His sound was clear and powerful. His lyrics are legendary for blowing minds.. And yes, like Jigga, his rhymes all came from his head – nothing written. Bottom-line, B.I.G., put Hip-hop into 6^th Gear…. After him it can coast and move forward, but I find it hard to imagine a higher gear….
• My favorite album: Life After Death...

Honorable Mention and other props:

• Kayne West - Currently in the lead for breaking the top 5 when all is said and done.
• Missy Elliot – By far my favorite female rapper. She brings the fun out of hip-hop. I got mad respect for her.
• Ludacris – Extremely under-rated lyricist. Often makes me laugh. Feel like he deserves more respect from the industry. He unfortunately is guilty by association with all other crap Southern Rappers.
• Dr. Dre – The most consistent producer in the biz. Could easily be the all-time biggest influencers in the industry one day.
• Mos Def – My favorite of the “deep thought” rappers.
  
• Busta Rhymes – Great “cameo” injection of energy for a random verse. Unfortunately could never truly carry his own album.
• Rakim – If B.IG. put it in 6^th gear…Rakim is responsible for putting into 5^th gear.
• KRS-1 – My favorite thought provoker from the old school. I feel like I would have put him and Rakim on my list had I been a little older and would have been into their music during their prime.
• Nate Dogg – No better “hook artist” – Period. Doesn't help the "commercialization" of hip-hop, but it's hard not to love this guys ability to make
  

A Methodology For Ranking MCs (By Toure) A list of what should and should not be considered when ranking the greatest MCs of all time: 1. The MC Resume. How many albums has the MC released that the general hiphop community considers classics? How many times has the MC had the song of the moment, one that dominated culture from the clubs to the radio to your personal playlist? How many times has the MC dropped the unforgettable couplet that people repeated over and over, a couplet that shot into your mind like a dum-dum bullet, exploding within you as deeper levels of comprehension dawned upon you. How many years has he been a relevant MC? Has his music aged well? (Songs released on mixtapes are equally as valid as songs on commercially-released albums. Every time you step to the mic counts.) 2. The MC Decathlon. An MC is primarily judged on what he does in four arenas: (a) songs; (b) stage performances; (c) freestyles--a word which now encompasses both the old school meaning (improvisational rhymes) and the new school meaning (written rhymes the audience hasn’t heard before); and (d) battles. Battle rhymes are of a special breed and though it’s possible to go an entire career without having beef, it’s unlikely and not recommended. MCs get big points for winning big battles. If there was an MC decathlon they’d have to (a) make a song, pick a beat, then write a hook and verses and deliver them dopely, (b) rock a crowd, (c) kick a hot rhyme off the top of the dome, and (d) battle somebody. A great MC must master all these arenas. 3. The MC Microscope. When we get out the MC microscope we look at voice (both literal and figurative), flow, lyrics, and the ability to pick beats. Does his voice alone transmit confidence to the listener? Is his voice original, compelling, powerful, seductive, tasty, or hypnotic? Has he innovated new facets of MCing? Can you dance to the bassline made by his flow? In his lyrics does he coin original words or phrases, does he pick words we don’t normally hear in hiphop, does he make words rhyme that don’t really rhyme, does he have an interesting vocabulary, does he spit inventive metaphors, killer punchlines, clever slang, poetic word play, and double and triple entendres? Does he have original or interesting thoughts and stories to tell? Is he an interesting person, which does not mean has he been shot or has he shot someone, it means when he’s on the mic is he an interesting person to listen to? Does he have MC integrity, meaning, do you feel that he’s telling the truth about himself and his world, is he representing himself honestly, or is he just playing a role, i.e., perpetrating? Does he have a point of view? Does the sum total of his oeuvre paint a world? 4. The Trash. What doesn’t count? Sales are not a relevant variable. Sales do not matter. Also, being able to sing means nothing. MCs are only judged on rhyming. MCs also don’t get points for shooting someone, getting shot, doing a movie, doing time, doing commercials, dealing drugs, having been a Blood or a Crip, owning their label, or anything else off-mic, including doing a great video. The artifice of videoworld has nothing to do with being a great MC, however doing a great concert and being able to rock a stage will matter as long as MC still stands for Master of Ceremonies or Move the Crowd. (Postmodern kids will argue that a video is another sort of stage and it is, but really it’s a commercial and we don’t count commercials.) Ergo, my (Toure) top five (all of whom have at least two classic albums, multiple song-of-the-moments, and tons of unforgettable couplets): #1 Rakim, #2 Jay-Z, #3 Biggie, #4 KRS-One, #5 Nas.

Why even ask?

I'm assuming everyone has seen that Citibank commercial that shows a guy continuing to navigate through automated customer service "front-lines," only to be disconnected when he finally reaches someone...

Well, yes, I too find the "pre-screening" of customer service lines beyond annoying. The mere voices or need to qualify ones desired topic of conversation is not what I find annoying. What DOES boil my blood is that once you finally get through to a person - they ask you the same damn questions. "What is your account number?" "What are you looking to do?" .... I JUST SPENT 15 minutes answering all of these questions to a computer voice... Are all of those questions asked only as a function to entertain me while I'm waiting? Is it filler while the calls are re-routed to India?

Why can't a company not only use the information that I enter in before I talk to that person -- but why can't they remember my phone number (just like a web page does via cookies) for the next time?

Clearly, the phone customer service industry is trying to transition all customers at some point to email correspondence. It's cheaper, easier to control by the companies (via templates) and certainly less stressful on the customer service reps.

I would be OK with this, as long as I don't have to answer questions multiple times to different sources.

Google Calendar

Yesterday, Google announced the launch of it's Google Calendar for users.

I have been beta-testing the product over the last few months, but I am much more excited about it now that it's been released to the public. Why? Well, there are some very cool features that aren't truly realized until you can have friends/family on board.

Here are some cool things you can do with it:
1) Sharing your calendar. As long as Amy and I keep our calendars up to date, we no longer have to wait to talk to the other to see if we're free one night for a double-date (as an example). As long as we share calendars, her events will show up on my public calendar and vice/versa.
2) Google will email OR text your cell phone if you want it to remind you of events. So...If it's someone's birthday, and I'm out of the office -- Google will text me to remind me.
3) You can search for and import public calendars. Meaning... Not only can you share public calendars with friends and family, but... (once the concept is rolled out to the masses), I can add specific things like Miami Heat games or TV Show viewing directly to my calendar. Right now, I have US and Jewish Holidays listed.
4) You can have things like Birthdays repeat every year. This is nothing new, but I don't use a calendar function that does this. So...if I do miss your birthday this year, I am much less likely to miss it next year. ;)

I'm sure there are a lot of cool things that are added on. As usual, just wanted to educate you all on cool Google features as soon as they are available. Enjoy.

JetBlue has more entertainment

As I'm about to take my 4th JetBlue flight in 4 days, I've been on the Jetblue website more often than most. Anyhow, although I have yet to be on a plane that has this functionality, I've learned that they are in the process of installing XM radio on all their flights.

Although this seems like a throwback to old-school in-sky entertainment, I'm really looking forward to it, particularly for ball games. XM has the rights for Major League Baseball and various college football and basketball games....

I haven't been on a road trip in a while, but back in the day, I used to find that listening to a ballgame was a great way to have the time fly a bit quicker (and more enjoyable).

Miami Heat: Going into crunch time

I went to the Heat-Piston game last Thursday night…

As a life-long Heat fan, I came away a bit frustrated. Yes – it became more than clear that night that the Pistons are without a doubt a better team than the Heat. However, this is not what made me flat-out mad. The leading cause of this feeling is a man by the name of Antoine Walker. With the Heat depleted with injuries (Posey, J-Will, and Zo), there is a need for our other role players to earn their money…. As I told my buddy Chubby at halftime of the game … I very much want to like Twon, but I just cannot find ONE value-add that he brings to the team. He’s a horrible defender, he forces bad shots, he never makes clutch shots, he whines to the refs constantly…. (I could go on). And I am not the only person who feels this way … If you read the local press or attend a heat home game, you will see that almost every South Florida sports fan agrees with me. I don’t understand why Riley defends this guy …

So going into the stretch run – I’m a believer, but also realistic. If the Heat cannot find a 3^rd option on offense, I don’t see us beating New Jersey in the 2^nd round. If Gary Payton or Jason Williams can miraculously wake up come play-off time … then I you never know… In the meantime, I’m begging Pat Riley to bench Antoine Walker at any cost!

March Madness - Great.... Final Four - A bore

Don't really have so much more to say other than the title... (but - I will try)

March Madness is great - and I don't know why College Football doesn't realize how much better they could make their sport

This is the first time in a long while where I didn't win any of my various pools I enter. I feel like NCAA Madness luck goes in waves. Some years you have it -- some years you don't... This year - I definitely didn't have it. (Although I will say, my buddy Salis did -- he had UCLA going to the Finals and George Mason going to the Great Eight)

I don't think it was only me -- but I felt like the Championship this year was extremely anti-climatic. CBS was banking on a George Mason (underdog) and LSU (heart warming Katrina victim story), but go the exact opposite...I read a headline yesterday (mind you - the day after the Championship game) that said "Florida to be tough in 2007." I mean ... not even 1 day to enjoy the accomplishment? I guess that the Final Four games were so bad ... people are just trying to forget the event as a whole.

Dirk and Jessie

This weekend, I will attending a wedding of two friends, Dirk and Jessica. I have the extended honor of being one of 2 signers of their ketubah.

(New Picture added post-wedding)

In case you didn't know, Jessica and David met via a set-up of a friend .... That friend is me. Dirk and Jessica are both personality-filled, special people that truly are meant for each other. Their wedding takes place at the Garden City hotel, which I've heard is a very nice venue.

I am looking forward to enjoying this day with them and their family/friends. An interesting thought that recently dawned on me, is that I am the one friend- no matter what happens over time that is gauranteed to never be forgotten in their lives together...

Mazel Tov!

Amy Tiene un Trabajo Nuevo

This is somewhat old news, but Amy officially has a new job. (I tried waiting until the trade magazines came out with a story, but couldn’t wait any longer)

She left TV Guide Channel and now works for Telemundo. She will complete her 2^nd full week of work today – so she’s still feeling the ins’ and outs’ of the new gig, but overall she’s really excited about the new opportunity.

One of the funniest aspects of her new job is the reaction people have to the news that she works at Telemundo. When I tell people that I work for Google, one of 3 responses usually take place:

1. “Wow – that’s so cool. I love Google”
2. When did you start there? (In other words – “are you rich”?)
3. Oh – my website ranking stinks – can you help me?

With Amy, there is primarily one reaction (or should I say question): “Oh – so do you speak Spanish?”:….

Amy does not speak Spanish, nor does she have to in order to sell advertising. The people who she sells to are primarily based in New York. The brands that buy Spanish language television are all the same brands you would see when you watch TV. The difference is that the actual creative is geared towards US Hispanics, so it’s often in Spanish. Amy has nothing to do with the creative. Her job is to get advertisers to understand the value of reaching US Hispanics.

*The good news here, is that this market is actually the 2^nd (next to, um, Internet/Search):

Congrats to Amy on her new job! I’m very proud of her as leaving a place where she was successful and considered a clear superstar is very tough to do. Felicitaciones Amy!!

Google Idol

For all of the non-stop praise that my in-the-closet friend has been posting about American Idol, I thought I would share something I just came across:

Google Idol

No, this is not a Google product or even sanctioned by Google -- It merely uses the Google Video functionality. You can watch (and vote) for head-to-head videos of people lip-synching and creating their own music video.

Hey Colediggy...Do I hear a little Lionel Richie, "Dancing on the Ceiling"?

Enjoy.

Tommy Amak-GRRRRR

Let me start by saying IÂ’m not the biggest college basketball fan in the nation, but I do love my Wolverine hoop squad. It has been increasingly tough over the years in Ann Arbor to believe in the Michigan basketball program. (I don't know - Brian Ellerbe just did not get me excited)

Enter Tommy Amaker from Seton Hall .. a former Duke guy who everyone loves. I was pumped. I didn'’t expect genius overnight, but I did expect to be competitive and to root for UM in a tourney game or 2. Well 5 years has passed and I'’m still waiting...

As I told mearliernd ealier this week... reallyly really want to like Tommy Amaker. He says all the right things -- He is certainly a stand-up guy... he seems to recruit very well. Again, I really want to like him. The problem is, he just doesn'’t appear to be a good coach at all. "Just not an X's and O's guy"” some may say... Losing 7 of your last 9 games due to sloppy play and turn-overs is a sign for bad coaching if I'’ve ever seen one. He has excuses (injuries, sanctions when he first got here, facilities, etc) BUT ... Good coaches don'’t use execuses. They get wins with the talent they have around them.

Not I'm not saying that I think Tommy should get the boot just yet ... But I would like to see a little sense of urgency for once! I feel like he is fully OK with not making the Tournament in 5 years. I would like to be patient with you Mr. Amaker - but if I have to follow UM hoops for 2 more years without making the big dance (which would make 12 in a row), I just may lose it.

Hire some assistant coaches with some in-game coaches skills. You can still be the face guy that everyone likes. PLEASE!

Google Talk (for your blackberry)

I've been slacking on the front of informing all of you about Google products that should benefit your daily life...

For those of you who don't use Google Talk, you should try it out. Iif you have (and use) your GMAIL account, you will automatically be able to use Google talk within your browser, but you have to download the software to use the cool functionality of talking person to person over your PC.

As of last week, you can now use Google Talk on your blackberry. I've been using it for about a week and have found it very useful in terms of keep in touch with folks while I'm not in front of my computer. Enjoy!!

The last time I watched MTV

I guess I'm officially old, but the other day I realized that I truly have not related to anything on MTV in a few years now. I'm thinking that the image below was the last memorable thing I that comes to mind from those days in the "MTV Generation"

Thoughts on The Oscars

I contemplated leaving this post completely blank, to symbolize that "I have no words for this junk," but decided I'd be much more satisfied with writing a few words.

• To start, I find it really annoying that the show is known as both "The Academy Awards" and "The Oscars." For a very long time, I truly got these names and "The Emmy's" all messed up....Just pick one!!
• I would like to point out that Amy (who I believe will represent most women), was certainly most excited for the pre-show, where various entertainment networks pay very annoying people to "interview" celebrities and critique their clothing decisions. (If there was a metric that tracked the intolerance of the opposite sex on things like sporting events or these events -- call it "torture per second" -- this hour takes the cake!!)
• The actual show is such a sham! It starts with decent entertainment of the host followed by giving one of the 4 major awards... It is then followed by 3 hours of complete filler (I'm sorry to any of those who are interested in art direction, make-up decision, foreign short-films, and lengthy old movie clip montages)
• Throughout these 3 hours, the network thinks that attracting A-list celebrities to do the presenting will satisfy the beyond boring content of the program. Let's just say that having these A-list celebrities read corny jokes from a teleprompter (and created by random freelance writers) does not do the trick...Either give the celebrities the freedom to come up with their own material or just have them say "The nominees for crappy category XYZ are"...
  
• Acceptance speeches are always fun.... (Um - NOT) I totally understand someone wanting to thank people personally - but this just does not make for entertaining television.
  
• Speaking of acceptance speeches ... I think it's hilarious that because the network wants to wait until the end to give the most prestigious awards (in hopes to improve it's ratings throughout the evening) it truly gives the winner(s) of the "Best Costumes" more time to speak than the winner of "Best Picture." By the time the final award is up - the show has already run 30 minutes over... Here's an idea ABC: Give every winner their own website or blog to thank anyone they want after the fact. Promote these URLs throughout the following week during your regular programming... With the time saved from all of the smaller awards -- give the big winners 5 minutes of air time to talk about whatever they want.

To finish off, let me say that I am confident I will be going through this hell once again next year. The truth is that Amy certainly doesn't force me to watch it. I suppose it's a sort of pop-culture knowledge thing, where knowing who won "supporting actor" in a given year or recognizing who forgot to thank their significant other in their acceptance speech is just some random, useless knowledge that doesn't hurt one's conversational skills...

So...Until next year (where I will probably push some sort of rooting interest like a pool)....

Seth Godin speech at Google

Seth Godin (one of my favorite business authors) speaking at Google in Mountain View.

Default Elevator Conversation

I don't have a deep problem with it, but after several home and office elevator rides with neighbors or co-workers, it is clear to me that the safe 45 second time filler of choice is without question "the weather." I'm curious to know who decided this? (Matt Weiss??)

I suppose it makes sense...

1. It's certainly a common interest among elevator occupants - as everyone is obviously witnessing the same thing.
2. It doesn't take but 10 seconds of watching New York 1 (or any morning news program) in the morning to be up-to-date on the topic.
3. It's a lot more comforting than, say, "Hey - how many times do you think this elevator can go up and down before it just snaps?"

Anyhow - in noticing this - I have made a conscious effort to never be the one to actually bring the topic up. (If someone bring it up - I'm versatile - I can go with it). I mostly don't bring it up because I wouldn't want to offend anyone else who has noticed this very same thing (that the weather is the default conversation with someone that you clearly have nothing else to talk about with). However, I'm also not the "weather conversation starter" as I like to buck the trend -- but again -- it's not something that totally drives me crazy. I just hope you notice it now that I've pointed it out (if you haven't already).

"Employees Must Wash Hands"

Does this sign in various restrooms of eating establishments trouble everyone as much as it troubles me? It feels like a total Seinfeld rip-off, but I can't help it....

Why REALLY is this sign posted in bathrooms?
Do employees in the service and food industry really need to be reminded to wash their hands after using the restroom? ("I don't normally wash my hands, but the sign says I have to so... what the heck")

OR

Is it really there to give confidence to paying customers? (You know - in case there was any doubt before you entered the bathroom ... rest assured ... there is a SIGN - so that must mean hands ARE being washed by employees before returning to work.)

It turns out -- that employees failing to wash their hands after going to the bathroom is a federal (and state) healthcode violation. Problem is -- there really is no way to track and enforce this. SO ... I'm assuming that brilliant people somewhere decided ... "Why don't we make sure that restaurants are mandated to hang this sign in bathrooms. Once every 6 years, we'll send someone to random restaurants and fine those that don't have the sign in the bathroom...That way, it will APPEAR that we are tracking and enforcing the healthcode violation."

Anyway - I felt the need to point this out as everytime I see it in restrooms it irks me. I feel vented.

Herman Weinstein (1913 - 2006)

My grandfather passed away on Monday (February 20^th), so yesterday I said good-bye to him for the final time. As sad as death itself is, I don’t feel completely sorrow today. I know this probably doesn’t sound right – but let me try to explain.

In his 92 years on this earth, my grandfather lived a damn full and complete life. I thought my mother and uncle did a perfect job recapping it in their words at the funeral yesterday. The cliff notes are as follows:

• He was married for 64 years to my grandmother! My sister and I are convinced that Seinfeld and Larry David ran into my grandparents somewhere in Sunrise Lakes Phase 3, and then modeled Frank and Estelle Costanza (George’s parents’) after them on the hit show.
• He was beyond proud of his family. It was seldom that he didn’t tell me how great or beautiful my mother was…
• He was a somewhat quiet man (especially on the phone), well, until he felt comfortable. Feeling comfortable was either being with his family or having 2 glasses of scotch. After which, he was certainly no longer shy….
• Professionally, he was a “jack of all trades.” I still don’t know for sure what he actually did… (He was an army veteran, a mechanic, a singing waiter, a boxer, and a slew of other things)
• Although I called him “grandpa” it was clear that he really just wanted to be our “pal.” He was a fun dude – there’s just no other way to phrase it.
• In his spare time, he loved to bowl, play pool, and go to the race track. As my grandmother puts it, he also enjoyed “speaking in Jewish” (yiddush) to anyone who would listen.
• He certainly enjoyed his whiskey and his food. Foods that come to mind are sausage, herring, and pickles. (Strangely enough, I don’t remember him eating my grandmothers chopped liver – which believe it or not was my (and my sisters) favorite.

As a grandson, my role is to take things from him and pass them down to my kids (besides the good looks of course). In thinking about this yesterday, 2 things dawned on me:

1) He rarely asked general questions like “How are you?” He would ask things like “Are you happy?” …I think I’d like to try and take that with me down the road. Obviously there needs to be a comfort level with someone before asking questions like that – but I do admire the fact of boiling down a question to what you want to know. To him – happiness was all that mattered. Not money or material things, not popularity or anything else. As simple as it sounds – he really just always wanted me to be happy with my life -- regardless of any of the details – and I would like to take that with me.

2) The man never seemed to worry. I can’t say he was 100% stress-free (mostly in thanks to my grandmother), but he always seemed to just take things as they came.

So, congrats on a great life Grandpa! You will certainly be missed most by your wife (Grandma Crannie), but Roz, Ron, Bruce, Ellen, Lauren, Jill, Fred, Amy and I will all miss you very much and will think about you often. I especially will have you in my thoughts when I go bowling or go to the racetrack.

Stupid, yet common hangover prevention idea

I had bigger plans for this post, a pseudo “investigative blogging” type thing, but unfortunately almost finished with the process, my browser crashed and I lost everything. That was over a week ago and I have yet to replicate my work, however, I still wanted to get my thoughts out … So – here it is – nice and short.

It turns out that my “genius” remedy for hangovers in college (Tylenol and a big glass of water before I went to sleep) was actually a very stupid idea… Apparently, the main ingredient in Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered extremely dangerous to one’s liver if mixed with alcohol. If you don’t believe me – just read the warning label of the actual Tylenol bottle…..

When I learned this, my first thought was – well ok – I actually think I’m more of an Advil taker due to the coating on the pills tasting like sugar… Well – I was wrong here too (and not about the sugar taste). Turns out that Advil and alcohol mixture is just as bad – but this time potentially causing Ulcers and stomach bleeding.

Now – I don’t bring this up to scare anyone from anything they’ve done in the past or the future. The warning label considers the worrisome action to be “3 or more drinks each day,.” Now I definitely don’t have 3 drinks every day (although in college this was fairly standard) – however in reading up on the topic online – it appears that several doctors/specialists warn against use after ANY heavy alcohol use….

So I don’t have any solution of trying to limit a hangover other than drinking a glass of water per drink you consume (this slows down the pace at which you drink liquor). There have also been other products in the market like “The Chaser,” but I’ve never tried that. Apparently there are a bunch of myths out there – so do whatever works for you (except be careful with the Advil and Tylenol route).

Delonte West's Perfect Date

Thanks to my boy David J. for passing this my way ....

Delonte West is on our Fantasy Basketball team. He's been a very under-rated guy for us this year - helping us to the top of the standings currently. This being said - I'm a huge fan.

It's hard not to be a bigger fan after reading this ESPN Article where he describes his vision of a perfect Valentine's Day date.

Freakin hilarious...

Snow storm record?

So apparently there was a record snow storm on Saturday. The largest snow fall in New York City history - 26.9 inches in a 24 hour period...

Was there a lot of snow? ....Yes.
Was it windy?.... Yes.
Are the streets still covered with dirty slush? .... Yes.

Did it feel like it should be considered as the larget snow storm that the city of New York has ever seen? ... NO WAY.

Granted - I didn't leave my apartment on Sunday - however - is it only me who thinks that it's the most weenie record breaking snow storm ever? (well - of all the places that regularly get snow)

Of course I'm not trying to tempt the snow storm gods into proving anything, I merely wanted to document that the effects really aren't "that" bad... (i know - I'll avoid telling that to the city workers who cleaned up the mess). I'm surviving - even with my snow boots which are a full size too big...

What makes a good Super Bowl party?

Last night Amy and I went to the Browns for SuperBowl XL. It was a great time! Definitely what I would call a Super Bowl party success. Certainly, everyone will have their own requirements for what makes a super bowl party a blast or bust - but here are mine (in no particular order):

1) Good people -- It certainly helps when good friends are in the mix, but friends of friends is cool too...As long as people have a good, festive attitude - everything seems to work out. Nobody likes mean people - especially on Super Bowl Sunday.
2) Good Food (Some of it being home-cooked) -- Obviously a holiday isn't a holiday without eating - but the little detail having home-cooked food at your superbowl party is quite under-rated. I think it adds a sense of "sophistication" or maybe just good old TLC, but there is something about it that makes is more special that way.
3) A rooting interest -- Many go to high stakes gambling, others go to office box pools, and some actually just genuinely want one of the teams to win...BUT...in order for someone to truly enjoy the day, there needs to be a rooting interest. (That is why one may here random females saying they hate the super bowl)
4) Ability to listen to commercials - During the 16 regular season weeks, I have typically gone to a sports bar to get all my NFL action at once. On Superbowl Sunday, however, I am anti-bar as a location. Working in the advertising industry, I like to be able to appreciate the creative executions in real-time (if desired). No, I didn't "Sush" anyone last night if there was a commercial I wanted to see - but luckily it was an intimate enough affair that I could listen if I wanted to. (Side note - you can see all of the Super Bowl Commercials from yesterday here)
5) Comfortable-enough seating - Now this is certainly tough, especially in NYC. BUT - it is over a 4 hour commitment to watch the Superbowl. I don't care how "easy going" I am, 4+ hours sitting on the floor ain't fun. I'm not saying that I need my own Lazy-boy with built in surround-sound (which would be cool), but my legs are too long and I am too old to sit on the floor.

I know it seems simple - but that's it. Of course things like "winning your bets," "a bunch of drunk hot girls," or "actually going to the game" can certainly IMPROVE your time, but they are not required.

Thanks to The Brown's for hosting a great Superbowl 2006 party. Looking forward to doing it again in 2007.

Super Bowl Box Pool Analysis

I am officially in 4 Super Bowl box pools. In the spirit of that - I wanted to share some analysis and history of this event. It was done by a guy named Rick Deutsch (who I don't know - but learned he used to go out with one of my friends in high school) Here it is:

Ah yes, it's that time of year again...Super Bowl Boxes are being
filled out as we speak! A time when friendly office competition turns
ugly, when any man's 10 spot is as green as the next, and a time when
the most annoying pr*ck in the office beats your numbers on a
meaningless interception return in the waning moments of the game. Of
course, for the eternal optimists in every office, it's also a time
when every combination of numbers seems conceivable: "Hey, all I need
is two safeties, 7 field goals, a missed extra point and a flash flood
inside the dome and my 5/5 is lookin' pretty good!" Well, to shed some
undeniable light on the chances of your numbers actually hitting, here
is a statistical analysis of the winning box numbers from the last 10
Super Bowls (EDITORIAL NOTE: as an video editor, I have a lot of "down
time" when the computer renders effects, so please spare me the 'lots
of time on your hands' comments)...

PERCENT CHANCES THAT ANY SINGLE NUMBER WILL HIT:

7 - 23.75%
0 - 22.5%
4 - 18.75%
3 - 12.5%
6 - 6.25%
1 - 6.25%
9 - 5%
5 - 2.5%
2 - 1.25%
8 - 1.25%

SOME OTHER THINGS TO CHEW ON:

- In the last 10 years, no other number but 0, 3, 4, or 7 has hit in
the first quarter!

- In the last 10 years, except for a single hit each by the number 6
and the number 9, no other number but 0, 3, 4, or 7 has hit in the
first HALF!

- The number 5 has only hit twice in the last ten years, and both
occurences happened in consecutive quarters. The last time the number
5 hit was in 1997.

- The numbers 2 and 8 have only hit once each in the last 10 years.
They were both numbers in the final score of the game.

- The numbers 1, 4 and 7 have by far the best chances of making it
into the final score -- each has a 20% chance. Number 9 has a 10%
chance, and every other number has a %5 chance, including everyone's
favorite, Number 0 (only one appearance in 20 chances)!

- While they may seem like good numbers individually, some
combinations just don't seem to hit. 0/1 hasn't hit in the last 10
years. In fact, 0 hit with 9 once in the last 10 years, but 0 has
never hit with any number other than 0, 3, 4, or 7. 6/3 has only hit
once (and it was as a final score) and so has 6/6 -- 6 has only ever
hit with a 3, 6, or 7. While 0 is a phenomenal first half number, it's
a pretty bad second half number, with only 3 appearances in the last 10
years and only one appearance in the final score (0/7). You have
almost as good a chance as hitting a 5 in the second half as you do a 0
(2 appearances in the second half compared to 0's 3 appearances), and
an equal chance of hitting a 9 (also 3 appearances).

- The best double numbers (ie, 0/0, 3/3, 4/4) are 0/0 (4 hits) and
7/7 (3 hits). Only 3/3, 6/6, and 4/4 have ever hit, but only once
each. No other double number has hit in the last 10 years.

WINNING #'s BY QUARTER - LAST 10 YEARS:

2005 -
Q1 = 0/0
Q2 = 7/7
Q3 = 4/4
Final = 4/1

2004 -
Q1 = 0/0
Q2 = 0/4
Q3 = 0/4
Final = 2/9

2003 -
Q1 = 3/3
Q2 = 3/0
Q3 = 9/4
Final = 8/1

2002 -
Q1 = 3/0
Q2 = 3/4
Q3 = 3/7
Final = 0/7

2001 -
Q1 = 7/0
Q2 = 0/0
Q3 = 4/7
Final = 4/7

2000 -
Q1 = 3/0
Q2 = 9/0
Q3 = 6/6
Final = 3/6

1999 -
Q1 = 7/3
Q2 = 7/6
Q3 = 7/6
Final = 4/9

1998 -
Q1 = 7/7
Q2 = 4/7
Q3 = 7/4
Final = 4/1

1997 -
Q1 = 4/0
Q2 = 4/7
Q3 = 1/5
Final = 1/5

1996 -
Q1 = 0/0
Q2 = 3/7
Q3 = 0/7
Final = 7/7

Rich In Love

I somewhat believe in Karma…. The concept that if you are a good person, life will eventually reward you as such. With this in mind, I believe that I am a good person, who strives to do “the right thing” as much as possible. This being said, I have never selflessly (meaning without getting some benefit someway – like building your high school resume to get into college) devoted my time to charity.

This post isn’t to announce my personal foray into volunteerism, however, it’s to give props to those that have….

Last night I attended a fundraiser of Rich in Love, which is a new organization devoted to raising money for Cancer research. You should spend 5 minutes reading their story on the site if you can, but the gist is that 2 best friends (Hallie RICH and Allison LOVE) grew up together with their families being super-close – and both fathers have been diagnosed with Cancer (one of them having passed away).

Last night was their first event, and it was extremely heart-warming to see the execution of a great event (with a great turn-out). Amy and I joined a slew of friends and family of Hallie and Allison – who helped raise almost $60,000 for the American Cancer Society. I don’t think that the $60K alone is going to cure cancer, but I do think this millions of acts like this are the right thing to do....I was beyond impressed with the effort and result of the organization. Congrats to all involved!

Side note: Amy and I went on behalf of the entire Goffin family. As my father and Mel Rich are long-time friends, he insisted to on donating to the cause and "sponsoring" Amy and my attendance and raffle tickets…

Just write it down!

In New York City, one tends to find a bit more finicky restaurant ordering than say in Omaha, Nebraska… In Omaha, customers are probably more comfortable with ordering straight by numbers (with no modifications), so a waiter could probably get by with remembering “Two number 16’s, a number 3 and 2 Milwaukee’s Best Beers” …. HOWEVER…In NYC, I cannot seem to understand why ANY waiter would not write down a food order.

It has been mentioned by me in previous posts, that I do not have a problem with attempting to modify a standard menu item at a restaurant. I believe that if I’m going to be paying for something – I might as well try and get it exactly how I want it (within reason)…In my vast experience in New York city restaurants, I believe that many New Yorkers agree with me…

So back to the issue…. What is the possible advantage for a waiter NOT writing down an order? Am I going to be so impressed that he remember my order without writing it down that I suddenly realize that I should leave a 100% tip rather than 20%?? I don’t get it! For me, the anxiety of the waiter not writing anything down (even IF he/she doesn’t mess it up) makes me want to leave less of a tip…

Yesterday, I ordered an egg white omelet with tomato and feta (my standard), with fruit instead of French fries…. The waiter brought me a regular egg-in omelet with tomato and feta, with fruit… When I told him that I ordered egg whites, his response was, “You did? I remembered the feta and tomato” … Again … AS IF I AM SUPPOSED TO BE IMPRESSED?”

The strong aggravation is that I just do not see the downside….Similar to repeating the order before the waiter leaves the table… Yes, it takes more time, but I don’t have a problem with it….

My frustration with this has caused me to try and adopt a new practice….. For any waiter that does not write down my order (even if they get it right), I am automatically going to leave 15% gratuity….(versus the standard 20% I usually leave)…. We will see how this goes – but in case you haven’t been able to tell … I really don’t like it when waiters do not write down my order….

My Recent Broadway Experience

Although at one point in my life, I would have told you I was allergic to Broadway shows, I have been to a handful in my life…

Amy is a big fan – so I’ve definitely tried to make an even greater effort in atleast attending shows. I have been rewarded a couple of times with shows that I have really enjoyed such as Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays and Avenue Q, as well as a number of other times that I thought shows were pretty good…

Anyway, last night Amy and I went to see The Odd Couple, staring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. (I had to buy tickets over 6 months in advance) I feel like since their performance in The Producers, they have entered some kind of actor-elite club, so I thought it would be a good thing (at least culturally) for me to see them live while I live in New York.

The Outcome? Overall, I was a bit disappointed with the whole experience, although I am glad that I saw Lane and Broderick live on stage together….Their comedic timing was amazing and I definitely had a couple of chuckles during the dialog.

A big part of the disappointment for me was the overall theatre experience. Keeping in mind that theater tickets are far from cheap (especially for popular shows), I have never been more uncomfortable in a seat. My knees were fully pressed against the rail in front of me and the cushion that was supposed to support my ass (which is very sensitive by the way) was certainly far from heavenly….My ass was numb a good 15 minutes after the show. The crowd was mostly filled with bitter, old people dressed like it was a Sunrise Lakes Phase III mixer, which does include the finest moth-ball smelling perfume known to man…The urinal that I used (after waiting on an S-Shaped line for 10 minutes), was literally the most narrow place I’ve had to pee in my life. I had to stand sideways, yet obviously target straight ahead …. It was very difficult…

Anyway, Amy asked me last night what I will tell people if they asked me about the show. And my response is that I am very glad I saw Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick live on stage together. I thought that the play, itself, could have adapted some more current dialog/current events to spice up the apparently classic play a little bit, and that the overall theatre experience was way over-hyped.

I will continue to experiment with going to shows – but I’m still far from being converted into a true believer in the hype of the “Broadway Experience”

Kobe's 81

For those of you who either live under a rock or don't like sports - Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a basketball game on Sunday.

For a frame of reference....

• After Wilt Chamberlins 100 point performance in 1962, this is the largest point total in league history.
• My favorite player, Dwayne Wade (currently ranked 6th in the NBA in Scoring per Game) averages less than ONE-THIRD of 81 points (26.8 PPG)
• Michael Jordan's highest scoring total was 69 points, and he need Overtime to do that.

Kobe has obviously had some high highs and low lows in his career.... let's just leave this as a top 3 accomplishment for him to date.

One of the coolest things near and dear to me is the ability to purchase the video for this game of Kobe scoring 81 points though Google Video. I have already purchased it - it's very easy. Check it out.

CALI

I spent all of last week in California – the home of the Governator… The first half of the week I was in San Francisco for the company Global Sales Meeting… Like all sales meetings of fairly large organizations, it was a full day (7:30 AM till midnight most days) of power point presentations, the occasion motivation speaker/team building, and a slew of pleasantries with people you see once a year. My cue to leave a conversation with random business associate XYZ is usually after “the three questions” (of some variety) have been asked:

1. When did you get in?
2. How was the flight?
3. When are you leaving?

I’ll leave the analysis of these 3 useless questions for some other time – but couldn't help to point this out. I do, certainly, have people who I enjoy speaking with at these events – and this fact does not apply to everyone – it is more of a general random aspect among people who know nothing about one another, other that the work for the same company…

Anyhow, downtown San Fran is a lot scummier than the city would like to publicize. Not only does it have an abandon-type feel, but I found it difficult to walk a block without running into some kind of begger, bum, crazy person or all of the above. I guess it's not a horrible idea for them - as SF is certainly not a cheap city. Additionally, it’s a big misconception that San Francisco has “California-type” weather. It was dreary and cold during my entire stay. Luckily, I rarely had to go outside, but even in the short while I couldn’t help but notice that I would not want to live in downtown San Francisco.

I enjoyed the second half of the week in Calfornia much more…I met Amy in LA where she was having her sales meeting. Not only was I able to spend some quality time with family that I don’t see too often, but Amy and I were able to enjoy the beach, leisure, and atmosphere that makes Santa Monica such a desirable place. The weather was great – although a bit chilly at night. I can certainly see myself going back there many more times in my life, although, I’m not sure I want to live their full time. The whole aura of that town revolves around famous people and aesthetics. (on the flip side – the whole aura of NY revolves around business and money – so I’m not sure which is better) Amy and I were both big fans of The Coffee Bean, which I wish would make it’s way east.

Speaking of that … I just read that Trader Joe’s is coming to Union Square in New York!

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be a bit jet-lagged this week - however – I think it was worth it. Amy and I had a great time, relaxing, and seeing friends and family over on the Left Coast….

My Standard Resolution

I don't like the concept about commercial New Years Resolutions, but I do like the excuse to start something. I've never been that serious about any resolutions, but I usually try and do something small (cooking more or calling family more often)... This year, I'm being like everyone else - except rather than the whole year as my goal - I'm using the first 3 months.

Over the next 3 months, I'm drastically changing my eating habits. No mayo, no fried food, minimal soda, etc. Assuming I can pull this off for 3 months - I'll see how I feel about myself. Assuming I feel great - I hope to continue it.

The hardest part of this is the drinking aspect. I know I'm not going to give up Jack Daniels - but hopefully I can limit it to 1 or 2 nights a week...Wine is fine whenever... (Rumor has it that a glass a day is even good for me).

Anyway - I'll update my status on this in 3 months. In the meantime - if I go out to dinner with you, please don't make me feel bad for ordering like a high maintenance girl from Long Island. (Thanks in advance)

I'm an Uncle!!

On Saturday January 7th, Sydney Madison Stern was born. She was 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Mother and Father Stern are both doing well.

Uncle Brett and Aunt Amy were proudly the first to hold her outside of parents/doctors. Pictures to come shortly.

A pretty wierd thing for me was calling my parents and step-parents "Grandma" and "Grandpa." Whatever I call them, though, they are all very happy and proud and looking forward to spoiling the crap out of the very cute little girl.

Congrats to Fred and Jill!!

South America -- Vacation Recap

Being gone for 11 days in a different hemisphere (covering 4 different towns/cities) spurs a lot of great blog material. This being said, I’d prefer not to post too long of a description of the trip, so instead, just tried to just give some bullet-points from each place. As a review, Amy and I went to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janiero, and Buzios. It goes without saying, but much props and love to Amy who not only made the actual detsils of the trip, but also made the trip complete for me..... Now to the review:

OVERALL
* The trip was AWESOME. I highly recommend almost everything we did, exactly how we did it to almost anyone. (For some single guys – you may have a different Rio trip planned than we did)
* It was the perfect amount of time at each place with the perfect ratio between exploration (touristy stuff) and relaxation (beach)
* The weather couldn’t have been better. Was between 70 and 80 everyday and only rained on the last 4 hours of our trip – which we spent in a car going to the airport anyway.
* This was the first time that I have used a travel agent. Truth is that we probably didn’t necessarily save any money doing it, but, between the convenience and already-set activities, etc – it is NOT the last time I use one.

Now for a bit on each place…

Buenos Aires – 3 Days
* BA is a major city. It has an exotic location flare-type sound to it, but it really is not a “tropical destination” (the closest beaches are 3 hours away)
* Hotel was great, Tango Show was a quality experience, and the food was very tasty… Especially the PROVOLETA and CHORIZO. (By far my two favorite)
* What made BA amazing was certainly my BA Friends (Picture below), particularly Lau and Manu. They both took Amy and I all around the City and showed us cool/trendy places as well as authentic/local joints. are the BEST and I look forward to doing the same with them when they come to New York. (Gracias Amigos!)

Iguazu Falls - 1 Day
* Came highly recommended by Amy’s Dad, Arie. (Particularly the boat trip – which we took and thought was awesome)
* Hotel with large mosquito issue was the only ghetto experience within the whole trip
* The Falls were pretty cool to see – although wouldn’t say this is a *must* if you are trying to shorten your trip

Rio de Janeiro – 3 Days
* Our Guide of the city (Heidi) was AWESOME. On 2 separate days, we took 3 hour excursions where we were “supposed to go” (Pictures to prove it) Throughout this time, we asked a lot of questions about the country, culture, etc. She also gave us great recommendations on where to go to eat, where to sit at the beach, etc.
* Speaking of the beach… The vendors at the beach were so interesting to us. Amy made the great analogy of the vendors being very similar to vendors at a baseball game. Not in your face, but loud enough to let you know what they’ve got for sale. Amy did her part in supporting the “apparel vendors”, while we both did our part to support the food vendors (Cheese on a stick, GLOBO Chips, and Corn on the Cob were our favorites)

* The hotel (Cesar Park) and area (Ipanema) were a perfect match for what Amy and I were looking for. We were across the street from the best beach in Rio, in walking distance to great restaurants. One (Porcao – an All-you-can eat meat place), which just opened up 2 blocks from Amy and I. And yes – although Amy doesn’t eat meat – she loved it anyway. ;)

Buzios – 3 Days, including New Years
* The “Hamptons of Rio” – is a small, quant beach town (actually has 23 beaches) about 2 hours from Rio
* We happened to be there during probably the busiest time of year… Every night, the streets were FILLED (I am talking about “leaving Giant stadium after a last second field goal” type feel walking the streets), mostly with Brazilian high-schoolers…there weren’t so many Americans.
* After visiting 4 crowded beaches our first day, upon recommendation, we found “our spot” at Pria Brava. We stayed there pretty much 10-6 for 2 days, got pampered by Lula (our waitress) … and it was VERY relaxing – was exactly what we were looking for to wind down our trip.
* We stayed in a very nice, boutique posada (Casas Brancas), which held a private dinner party for us on New Years Eve. With great views of the fireworks show and everyone dressed in white – (WHICH, by the way, Puffy totally stole the idea of a white party from), it made for a great New Years Eve.

That’s about it. Again – if anyone is looking to go to South America – let me know. I’ll forward you our itinerary! There was much anticipation about our trip, as we've been planning it for about 8 months, but I gotta say that it was well worth the wait!

Feliz ano nuevo!

Amy and I are heading to South America for the next 11 days. We will be traveling to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Rio, and Buzios. Hopefully we will have plenty of pictures to share/post when we get back.

I'm not sure if I'm going to post while traveling, but in case I don't, I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays and New Year!!