Paul Newman

I doubt I can say anything more insightful than that which has already been said by many people, so, as my tribute to one of our greatest actors and one of my favorite actors, I'm going to watch a few of his movies.

I'm going to start with Slap Shot.

Thanks, Dave!

John McCain "suspending" his campaign is one of the cheaper political stunts I've witnessed in a long time.

I'm glad that somebody called him on it. I'm even happier that it was David Letterman.

As funny as Dave is, he's at least that smart, probably significantly smarter.

Check out the link.

It's Fall in New England

Is there a better time of year or a better place to experience it?

Shorts and a sweatshirt.

Leaving the window open on a cool night.

Almost needing a jacket in the morning.

Having to exert oneself in order to perspire.

Wonderful.

So maybe I'm a heretic

This goes against punk rock "doctrine," but I find that the Clash's Combat Rock is a better album than Give 'Em Enough Rope- a lot better. I know, I know, people hear the two "big" songs from Combat Rock (both of which I like) and they start screaming "SELLOUT!!" I disagree.

Give 'Em Enough Rope, though it contains some good- even great- work, suffers from the confused process that gave birth to it, while Combat Rock might blind some with its "success," contains some great lesser known songs.

I also like Sandinista- a lot.

I am happy to report that...

...fall is here!

I have already greatly enjoyed wearing shorts and a sweatshirt and it is making going running every couple of days much more attractive.

I like seasons. Fall is my favorite.

Hoo-ray!

Something I wish I had said

Do you ever feel so much rage toward something that you're unable to articulate it and aim it in the direction of your target? I know I do. Luckily I stumbled upon somebody who was able to get past/set aside theirs and offer a calm, cool, and collected take on what I haven't been able to spit out. I give you Elise Thompson, an editor for the LA blog LAist who has summed up my thoughts on the current "hipster culture":

"People who came of age in the 70s and 80s punk rock movement seem to universally hate 'hipsters'", which she defines as people wearing "expensive 'alternative' fashion[s]", going to the "latest, coolest, hippest bar...[and] listen[ing] to the latest, coolest, hippest band." Thompson argues that hipsters "... don’t seem to subscribe to any particular philosophy... [or] ...particular genre of music." Instead, she argues that they are "soldiers of fortune of style" who take up whatever is popular and in style, "appropriat[ing] the style[s]" of past countercultural movements such as punk, while "discard[ing] everything that the style stood for."

Yeah, that's it.

What she said.

I can't tell you how much I want to be wrong

BUT, I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about the looming presidential election.

GAH! I don't even want to think about it...

A Dark Day

A 1-0 loss to Macedonia to start Scotland's World Cup qualifying run?

Ugh. This does not bode well.

Finally, it's come to this...

...so having entered my late, late, late, 30's this summer I've decided that I'm sick and tired enough of being out of shape and overweight to do something about it.

Here are the changes I made about a week ago:

1. Measured portions at meals. Not radically smaller ones, but more consistent ones.

2. No soda at home. This KILLS me, but so far I've been able to stick to it. I'll have a soda if I have a meal outside of the house, but that's it.

3. I've started running again and I'm going to continue to do so on my days off and on days when I get out early. This should average out to about 4 days a week.

Hopefully, a month or so of this will have me in good enough shape that I can get back to playing soccer twice a week.

Oh, and I'm not counting calories or weighing myself. Being able to exercise more often and at a higher intensity and how I'm fitting into my clothes will be my guide to how well I'm doing.

Anyway, good luck to me!