Battle In The Bleachers

                         Picture this scenario. You are from Queens, New York on a trip with a friend, and are on your way to Australia. On your way there, you decide to just drop by AT&T Park in San Francisco to catch a quick came. You and your friend purchase $13 dollar tickets and take a seat in left center amongst other bleacher goers. In the 5th inning, you catch one of the most memorable moments in history, seconds later, you catch the ball as well.

                          As home run ball number 756 sliced the San Francisco air, dead silence broke over the center field bleachers. Pummeling down into the mass, the ball was engulfed within a sworm of diehard Giants fans, and Matt Murphy. After encompassing the ball with his body and repeling attacks and scrapes, Murphy was proudly escorted by multiple security guards away from the warzone. Tatterted and raising his arms in victory, Murphy came out on top in the battle to take home history. Surving cuts, bruises, and even losing his shoe, Murphy walked away with the prize.

              Estimates put the price of the piece of cowhide at anywhere between 500,000 and 1 million dollars. Not bad for someone just stopping by on their way to Australia. Murphy declined to associate with the press regarding his historic capture of the ball. Bonds was later asked his thoughts concerning the ball, “I just hope he didn’t get hurt,” he said,

“I don’t want the ball, I’ve never believed a home run ball belonged to the player. If he caught it, it’s his.”

Bonds Stands Alone As Home Run King

               It seemed only fitting that Barry Bonds would hit number 756 at home, a place where he is accepted. A monstrous crowd gathered last night in San Francisco, exchanging their tickets for a chance to witness history being made. For those who attended; they were not disappointed. The atmosphere could not have been more inviting to Bonds, who grew up down the street from the park itself. Like a family that never ends, thousands of Bonds supporters cheered while very few jeered throughout the game. The moment of destiny would come in the 5th inning on a full count pitch from Mike Bacsik, as numerous chants of BARRY, BARRY, BARRY erupted from the crowd. When the curveball was delivered Bonds new it, stretching his arms in glory at home plate and beginning a trip around the bases like no other.

            A surprise video from Hank Aaron capped off Bond’s night, flooring the expectations of everyone in the ballpark. Although the Hammer had made a statement by keeping quiet about the record, he definitely showed some respect and class to make his presence known. If anything the moment was a bit surreal to Bonds, filled with a slew of emotions and energy. As he trotted his way towards home, Barry threw his arms toward the sky and thanked his Dad for always being there, clearly on the verge of tears. It was a historic night in baseball no doubt, the shattering of a record that stood for over 33 years is quite an accomplishment. But of course there is another side to the story.

            The saga of Barry Bonds has always been similiar to a coin, two sided. While many praise Bonds for his triumphant accomplishment, others slander his image and point to steroid abuse as the true culprit behind the hitter. Bonds has always been under a watchful eye from the steroid bandits, but snapping the record for most home runs in baseball history has “injected” new life into the controversy. Many claim that the facts don’t lie, citing statistics that show a clear increase in home runes from one season to another. Bonds had also been known to beef up significantly in a very short time, although he has consistently dismissed this as simply due to a stronger training regiment and earlier weight lifting. Barry is the only one that knows for sure.

          Whatever the truth really is behind the cameras, media and national acclaim, one thing does not change. Barry Bonds has broken one of the most prestegious records in baseball history and sports in general. Rampant roid user or misunderstood victim of the press, he still deserves some form of recognition.

Humid Hell

                      The slow rasp of the swamp cooler drizzles its way down the hall. Flowing briskly through the air ducts, streams of uncilled air lace the house where I dwell. With two fans and an open window, mother nature still has one up over the swamp cooler. As monsoon season in Arizona has been raging, those without the luxury of air conditioning have been left to bask in the musty suffocation of humidity. With Arizona’s monsoon season in full swing, the air is moist, heavy, thick and highly discomforting. The heavy amounts of rain allow water to be trapped in the air, as if the miserably hot sun wasn’t menacing enough.

                      For the fortunate souls with air conditioning, Arizona’s stormy season is no problem. But the swamp cooler goonies are left with nothing but a useless pad and steamy air. Yes, you heard right, the all famed swamp cooler is all but a useless box when the air is humid, providing no use except for the soothing sound of a fan. Oh how I have longed for the comfort of AC, wishing the serene air waves of the automobile world would thrust their chilled hands into my abode. The evercool atmosphere, relaxing chill, and sweet bliss of cooling power that rests in the homes of so many. The ultimate foe to weather, air conditioning laughs in the face of monsoons and steals humidity’s lunchmoney. Oh yes humid cretin, there exists one stronger than your powers of heat! I just don’t own it yet!

                      In any event, I lie dormant, melancholy, bathing in sweat, waiting for the humidity to retract its shadow. I can only wait until the weather changes and swamp cooler has the upper hand, saving money and energy over air conditioning! Oh but how I must wait, how I must toil inside, my humid inside. I guess I will just stick with my fans for now.

The Secret Of Happiness

               Dan Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard, recently gave a talk at the most recent Technology Entertainment Design (TED) conference. I had the chance to see the video in which Gilbert dissects the concept of synthetic happiness, or happiness made by the mind. I found the talk extremely interesting, and a very poignant view on the idea of true happiness. The idea of synthesizing one’s own “false” happiness seems to contradict what humans generally percieve as real satisfaction. Gilbert’s point comes from asking the question: why is self-generated happiness deemed less fulfilling than “natural” happiness, that is, attaining happiness by getting what we desire. The argument is quite compelling to contemplate.
               

               The key is to understand the boundaries and natural desires that arise in everyday life. Humans are obviously constantly in search of fulfillment, meaning, purpose and ultimately happiness. The desire to get what we wish for, attain what we aspire to be, and live up to our own expectations has always been the assumed route to being happy in life. But, as Gilbert emphasizes, if we look deeper, research has shown that when given fewer options that what we initially want, we end up more satisfied. If that just flew over your head, let me simplify the equation. Person A is offered one free ipod case from a group of 3 different ones, and cannot change his mind once he picks the one he wants to take home. Person B is offered the same group of cases, but has 3 days to change his mind if he does not like the case he originally chose. Nearly 70% of the time, person A ends up more satisifed with their decision, but why? The answer is the deliberation factor, or as Gilbert calls it, the factor of boundaries. If we are offered the chance to change our decision, our brains tend to put too much importance on the different possible outcomes. When there is no turning back, and we are forced to stick with it, we inevitably end up more satisfied in the end.
              

                 This concept of placing too much importance on the different possible outcomes of our decisions is the foundation of synthetic happiness. The ability to be subconsiously more fulfilled with something based on the simple fact that there was “no turning back,” or no way to reverse our decision. Many times the irreversible desires prove much more fulfilling, despite the average assuption that being able to “fall back” on other options invites happiness. When we get what we originally want, we may end up regretting it.

Shoplifting Scottish Seagull

           If you take a trip over to Scotland, you may come across Sam, the world’s first shoplifting bird. That’s right, Sam has a knack for the five finger (or one beak) discount, as is evident through compelling security camera footage of Sam in action. He stands between 8 to 11 inches, depending on which store he is exiting. His tactics are simple, he walks in casually, snaps up a bag of chips, and prompty makes his escape. The chips are always conspicuously the same: cheese Doritos. The tiny thief has quickly taken the Scottish community by storm, and apparently onlookers have even been reinbursing the store owner for the merchandise. Who knows when and where he may strike again. Be on the look out for Sam the shoplifting seagull.

              

The Rise Of YouTube

                As I was casually thumbing through an article on the famed creators of the YouTube enterprise the other day, I began to realize something. Since the technological gods have dubbed YouTube their posterchild, the quality of viral videos elsewhere has floundered.

                 I can remember a time when ebaum’s world was king, funnyjunk flourished, and killsometime was on top of the world. Nowadays, it seems the popularity of these once megastars has drastically dwindled, overshadowed by the monsterous ectoplasm of the YouTube stratasphere. While YouTube support soars leaps and bounds over the competetion, the quality of actually “funny” videos elsewhere is just plain dismal. Many sites that used to be hilarious have slowly turned into soft-core porn hatcheries, and offer more videos of brutality than humor. I can see the entertainment value in watching a 20 year old smash a fluoeresecent light bulb across his back, but I would rather be laughing than seeing him pick the glass out of his skin.

              

      

                 Almost all of these videos will end up on YouTube anyway, so the reality is that YouTube just has the best of both worlds. Heck, YouTube already serves 60% of ALL online videos watched anyway. Why go to 4 different websites when YouTube features that music video you were dying to watch, Donald the skateboarding monkey, John Doe getting tazered and the latest bashing of Michael “The Dog” Vick? I guess the underlying factor at work here is simple: since the massive surge of YouTube popularity, other viral sites just simply seem less important.

              YouTube even has support from the Whitehouse now, being the sole carrier of questions in the first “YouTube” debates ever held. From a snowman’s plea on global warming, to a southern man’s yawl to save his baby (an assault rifle), every last inquiry came from the YouTube database.

              Then you have one of the biggest additions to YouTube in recent years, its purchase by the gargantuan Google. So if for some reason you did not know about YouTube, now it is owned by the biggest search engine ever created and has massive financial backing. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of YouTube. I am not trashing on the multi media powerhouse out of personal angst, but rather public awareness. The death of the smaller video websites on the net is indeed a tragic one, I hope someone invites YouTube to the funeral.

Disfavor For Bush Hits Highest Mark Ever

              According to a recent survey, George W. Bush is second only to Richard Nixon is lowest approval rating ever. Bush doesn’t have a Watergate, so obviously there are other reasons for the continual sharp decline in popular support for the president. I guess questions that have yet to be answered help puncture the approval of the Bush administration. When will we leave the shattered and torn country of Iraq? When will Bush realize that you can’t force people into democracy through the barrel of a gun? When will American soldiers stop dying overseas? When will Bush admit he lied about the WMD’s? When will the U.S. health care system provide sufficent and affordable care for ALL Americans? When will the government put more effort to limit fossil fuel addiction? When will Bush face the reality he has created for America? Not since Mr. Nixon have the approval ratings plunged for such an extended time, with so many Americans disgusted and dissatisfied with the decisions of an American president. I hope the 2008 elections brings someone who has the ability to rebuild our country from the ground up. America needs a change.

Bob Dylan To Release New Special Collection

                      If you take a trip to Bob Dylan’s site, there is no doubt that you will notice the gigantic in-your-face red and black banner on the homepage. The banner has information regarding a new 3-cd retrospective set of music he will be releasing on October 1st 2007. The collection will feature a collection of songs across 3 CD’s that span his career from his self titled debut to the recent Modern Times. Apparently the tracks will also be selected heavily based on fan letters to his website. There is also a new section of his site that allows anyone who wants to voice their “Dylan story” to do so. So if you have a particular story to tell Dylan about regarding his music let him know and maybe you will see it make an appearance on the new album. Bob Dylan already has multiple other greatest hits-esque albums, so I am interested to see what sets this new one apart. I would expect to see a large booklet of pictures or maybe even a DVD edition in the future, but we will have to wait and see.

Bob Dylan

Nintendo Tries To Extend Its Audience With WiiFit

                  I recently saw a video of the E3 video game expo 2007 featuring Nintendo guru Miyamoto showcasing the new WiiFit game for the Nintendo Wii. The new kid on the block features a white scale-like balance board that comes with the game itself. The board utilizes wi-fi and sends a signal to your machine which can then read a multitude of your body’s characteristics. As you stand on the board, a display will pop-up showing your BMI (body mass index), posture, and a slew of other stats. The weight feature is only one of over 30 or so activities a player can participate in with the game. There are muscle exercises that utilize the wiimote and actually feature a virtual person on the screen doing the stretch as you do it. From aerobics like stepping exercises to more uniform stretching, the combinaiton of the board and wiimote enable a player to perform an array of different activities usually not associated with video games. Nintendo is going a very interesting route with this new addition. Never before have video games really seen a direct “exercise” game that had broad appeal. (DDR being the closest I can think of.) I think the game will either be a hit or miss for Nintendo, and it will be interesting to see how many adults really utilize the Wii health program. Nintendo has always been known as leaders in innovation and creativity, and it seems they have truly come up with yet another completely original and enticing idea for a video game. We can only wait and see what the future holds for fitness on the Wii.

Daniel Johnston

              Here’s the bottom line: If you haven’t seen The Devil and Daniel Johnston, go rent it now. This movie was a masterpiece. I had not even heard of the manic depressive genius named Dan Johnston before watching this movie. This man is a musical genius and underground culture legend. Naive and mesmorizing, simple and touching, brilliant and deeply moving, Johnston’s music takes “original” to a whole new level. So please take a couple hours out of your time and see this movie.