California and Karma

We just returned from another great weekend visiting Jodi's family in San Diego and the OC. It got me thinking that these folks and their fancy beaches and great weather have it too easy. But then I remembered the horrible malaise that this state is in and I felt a little better. Karma has its own special way of sorting things out and making things equal.

California is a great big giant stew that mixes in the best and worst of humanity. The cost of living is insane and the government has become insane in the way that it has run the state and its budget. But then the Beach Boys music starts to play and you are whisked away in visions of California Cuisine ocean side and served at dusk. This strange duality has inspired me to create a top 5/ low 5 list of the best and worst of the Golden State.

Top 5

1. Ground zero for the great and entertaining struggle between the salacious hordes of paparazzi and the privacy of the idiots that we have anointed as our celebrities.
2. Incredible coastline that spans the whole state and features some of the most mild and attractive weather this side of Kolob. (I'm assuming that Kolob has pretty sweet weather)
3. A veritable potpourri of sites, sounds, and attractions for every taste.
4. Its great history of being a breeding ground for some of the great innovations, cultural and otherwise, of the "American Century".
5. Disneyland.
   

Low 5

1. See #1 in "Top 5"
2. The absolute demolition of the middle class at the hands of special interests, excessively high cost of living, and declining public education.
3. Something needs to be said about a populace that elects Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, and Arnold. You guys want competent people running your government, right? This place is a great place for shouting idealogues.
   
4. Its sordid history of being a breeding ground for some of the worst innovations, cultural and otherwise, of the "American Century" and the present.
   
5. Its ridicously superficial relationship with the Lakers.
   

California and Karma

My beef with US Soccer

It's becoming a ritual that takes place every 3-4 years. They tempt us. They show brief moments of brilliance. They show just enough skin to grab our attention. And then once they have it, like the elusive belly dancer, they wriggle away leaving us unfulfilled. That's how I feel about US Soccer.

Here is what I am sick of when it comes to our relationship with our soccer team.

• Moral Victories
• Inconsistent Play
• Talking about being on the cusp of legitimacy and then getting spanked by Trinidad and Tobago.

I like soccer. I root for the US. But I've rooted for the US long enough not to be fooled by brief moments of greatness like the victory over Spain last week. In 1994 we grabbed the attention of the world by beating Colombia in our World Cup. That was followed up by in fighting and a horrible 98' showing. We then beat Brazil and start to make a major push for the 2002 cup. We beat Portugal and slap around our Mexican neighbors. We announce that we are now fixtures on the world scene. And then we disappear again. In 2006 we get manhandled in Europe. Up through last week we struggle through lesser competition and get shellacked by Italy and Brazil. And then comes Spain and our heroic first half in the finals in the Brazilian rematch. The interest from the casual fan has been rekindled again leading into the 2010 World Cup. Will we be burned again?

This is my beef with US Soccer. It is a roller coaster that goes up and down. Every sporadic and great outing is followed up by mediocrity and under performance. We will never be taken seriously until we can consistently show up against the big boys. That doesn't mean well orchestrated first halves in which we surprise a sleepy Brazilian squad. It means going toe to toe with the world class squads on their fields, on their terms, and on a consistent basis. We can't rely on surprising teams because they are now aware that we can be dangerous. We are now being called out into the open.

Like me, there are legions of potential fans who are waiting for a consistent showing. Our time is limited and in order for you to convince us to turn attention away from Football, BBQ's and Golf to soccer you need to prove to us that you are more then an occasional mirage. We've been burned too many times but we are willing to support a team that has guts, heart, effort, and talent. You proved that you have it against Spain. You demonstrated those same qualities for a half against Brazil. Now go out there and harness this momentum into South Africa next year. Get us past the first round next year and you should be able to win us over and keep us on your side.

We have talent. We have a pretty good coach. We are have a budding reputation. We have some young building blocks. It's time to take these pieces and build something that this great nation can be proud of. We will be there for you...but only when you can consistently prove that you will be there for us.

My beef with US Soccer

The simple and tasty joys of gardening

As one ages he seeks out simple pleasures. This spring I sought this bliss in the form of a garden. To date we have harvested tomatoes, basil, cilantro, onion, beans, and eggplant. I have derived the greatest joy from discovering the exotic possibilities that can be unleashed with the great purple eggplant. I even got a nice purple shirt to commemorate my new love affair with this ancient, oriental vegetable.


Here's to pastoral living.

The simple and tasty joys of gardening

Michael Jackson: The last of the superstars?

It was a surreal day indeed. I was still loopy from the nitrous oxide and was leaving the dentist. Groggily I checked my twitter and was greeted with news, or rather rumors, that Jackson had passed away. It would be close to an hour before the news would move from the rumor of a gossip sites to fact confirmed by the major news outlets. It was truly on of those universal "where were you when this happened" moments that was shared by us all.

With the death of Michael Jackson comes the potential end of the mega star; the type of celebrity that crossed all barriers and held universal acclaim. We live in an age of niches and it is most likely impossible for someone to have huge mass appeal. It's just too hard to control all of the various media channels that things like the internet and cable TV have spawned. For example, MJ has been mourned by everyone from Hugo Chavez to the entire nation of Korea. Does any other living human being have the power to generate that kind of global response?

His passing begs the question as to whether or not there are any true superstars remaining and, if so, who they are. The list of likely candidates is short indeed. I can only think of a worthy few who are able to dominate every headline and be recognized by everyone from my mom to the kid in rural Kenya.

• Tiger Woods- He's just a golfer right? Well because of him the rest of the non-golf world is now acquainted with and is paying attention to this sport. Not only that but his celebrity spans beyond golf into the wider popular culture through video games and his army of endorsement deals.
  
• Michael Jordan- The first and preeminent global sports superstar. Besides MJ he might be the only living African American who is universally recognized throughout the globe. His persona paved the way for someone like Woods and his reach also covered movies, the Air Jordan brand, and music.
  
• Obama- President Obama is quickly becoming a global phenomenon. His position as leader of the free world has granted him incredible access to the world and his polished persona hopeful demeanor has endeared him to a lot of them. While it is unlikely that a politican is able to obtain superstar status he's got a certain media driven sex appeal that can put him in the argument.
  
• Madonna- Michael's only true counterweight during the last great mass media decade, the 1980's. She was the other artist who capitalized on MTV and other media to cement her place in our collective conscience. Like MJ her career has had its share of accolades, controversy, and eccentricities.
  
• Bono- He has a certain ubiquitous presence that is felt far beyond the stage. His work as an activist, writer, and businessman has put him in some elite and powerful company that is typically beyond the reach of your bread and butter celebrity. But in this rarefied air he might be a little out of his league.
  
• Paul McCartney- He's a Beatle, what more needs to be said. Since then he has been able to keep a presence in the public eye. His death would probably be the only one capable of generating a kind of response that would rival Jackson's.

I can't think of many more people that have that kind of global presence. There are plenty of television and movie stars but I don't know that any of the living stars could carry this kind of global audience. The ones with the true mass appeal have all passed on. It's just too hard these days to harness every nook and cranny of the public's attention.

Michael Jackson: The last of the superstars?

Beyond Cool

Three legends, three very distinct sounds, one heck of a documentary.

Beyond Cool

For the love of Pizza

Ever since I laid my eyes on that first Little Caesars pizza as a youth I've held a unique fascination with the ubiquitous pie. It has come in many shapes, styles, and interpretations and I'd like to think I've tried most of them. As I've matured my tastes and pizza access have evolved. I've reached a point in my life where I feel like I've explored most of the major centers of pizza excellence and I now will take a moment to document the places that have brought me the most bliss.

So, in no particular order, are my favorite 10 pizza spots. Feel free to add in a few of your own.

1. Pizzeria Da Baffeto (Rome, Italy)- The gold standard. It has the history, the location, and the perfect pie. Old Man Baffeto (pictured right) has been personally serving pizza to local and foreign patrons since the early 1960's.
   
2. Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix)- This local spot earned love from Oprah and was touted by NY Times as the best pizza in America. It's a great place but I must wonder if it is truly worth all of the accolades that are thrown upon it. Be prepared to wait and take advantage of the nearby Bar Bianco for drinks and good company. For me the dinner begins and ends with the wise guy. It is a hearty and smoky treat featuring the best fennel sausage I've ever tried.
   
3. Tomassos (San Francisco)- The place has a long and storied history and claims to have the first wood fired pizza oven on the east coast. Evidently this was a favorite of Francis Ford Coppolla as he was writing the screenplay to the Godfather. The place is small and cramped and very crowded. Deal with it and enjoy the ease at which the seasoned staff handles the throngs of pizza loving pilgrims. As expected the pizza is top notch and the salads are bounteous and flavorful.
   
4. Setebello (Salt Lake City)- A much needed boost to the dearth of quality pizza in Salt Lake. Only around for a couple of years the place has quickly established itself as the standard for quality in the area. Read the website and be impressed with the lengths that ownership goes to ensure that your pizza is as close to the Naples original as possible. The result is an incredibly smoky and light crust that is complemented by some incredibly fresh and vibrant toppings.
   
5. Great Lake (Chicago)- To be honest I don't have much history with Chicago pizza. I've only been a few times and I'm typically not a big fan of the deep dish. This is the best I've tried to date. The Mortadella is the standout. It's not the type of pizza that makes Chicago famous but it is fresh and very tasty.
   
6. Frank Pepe (New Haven)- This one is sure to be on the top of most lists. My exposure to this place was a brief stopover on as part of a business trip. It was good but I don't remember much more then that. It is one this list primarily for reputation.
   
7. Target (Rome)- This restaurant was a stones throw from our hotel and was our first exposure to good Roman cuisine. While the place was pricey and trendy it's food was able to exceed our expectations. We got a standard Margherita along with several other dishes. It was simple but every ingredient sang in perfect harmony. It is absolutely amazing to witness the beauty that involves getting an excellent flavor out of a few fresh ingredients.
   
8. Cassanova Brothers(Gilbert)- While this place might be out of it's league when paired next to Baffeto or Piazzeria Bianco it provides a great pie in the style that we grew up with. It is loaded with cheese and goodness. The ownership really makes this place standout. They are NY natives and they do a superb job of bringing the bronx to Gilbert. You will go there for their great White Pizza and you will leave like you are part of the family. A great local place that merits your patronage.
   
9. Sauce (Phoenix)- The lone chain of the bunch. This place is the gastronomic brain child of the prolific Fox Restaurant Group. They've succeed in creating a pizza that is cheap, light, and tasty. A great pizza that doesn't leave you weighted down. A great option for those of us stuck in the land of Chili's and Suburbia.
   
10. La Grande Orange (Phoenix)- This is part of the overly trendy grocery store that is located in the overly trendy part of town, Arcadia. Nonetheless the pizza lives up to the hype and crowd. The roasted corn option is incredibly unique and their take on pizza is a combination of old world technique with contemporary innovation. One more thing that the place has going for it is the fact that it is located next door to the best Gelato in town, Archellino.
    

You might think that the list is heavily weighted towards Phoenix. It is. Regardless, Phoenix has proven itself as a great place to get some pizza. There is so much good pizza down here that you'd think we shared a border with Italy not Mexico.

For the love of Pizza

Vintage Comedy: Entry #1

Man, I still miss Phil Hartman. Truth be told I kinda miss ole' Bill Clinton and his antics as well.

Vintage Comedy: Entry #1