By The Numbers II

1788/7112 - My portfolio ranking this week in TheStreet.com's "Beat the Street" fantasy stock market game.
$12 - The cost of one adult movie ticket in NYC (and Narnia sucked).
11, 14, 19, 34, 37, 39 - My lucky numbers according to a Chinese fortune cookie.

Al Sharpton! and Ouch!

I was loitering without intent at Union Square in New York City when suddenly Rev. Al Sharpton, resplendent in a Sean Bell protest T-Shirt, parted a gaggle of bike protesters and emerged, graciously posing with hordes of supporters, fans and curious onlookers, in the process giving me the opportunity to make the first-ever use of my cellphone camera -- although for some reason I couldn't send the picture to my friends. Nevertheless, it was a good Motorola MOTOSLVR L7 moment for me :-).

Later, I kicked a soccer ball around with a bunch of guys and pulled a muscle in my upper leg trying to avoid being the monkey in a casual game of monkey-in-the-middle and will now have to miss tomorrow's league game with my new team in the NYC Metro Soccer League.

Liverpool's raging summer of transfers

It's been a while since Liverpool (albeit as a sideshow to Cristiano Ronaldo) has featured so centrally in summer transfer talk. There's the ongoing Gareth Barry war with Aston Villa -- O'Neill's financial (wants GBP 16M for Gaz Baz) and verbal backlash against Rafa's attempts to prise away his star player and the Liverpool boss' reflexive (and dare I say, over-the top) inflation of his own players' values: Scott Carson is now worth over GBP 10M and Peter Crouch is at GBP 15M. This is on top of the GBP 16M Benitez has earmarked for Xabi Alonso's potential move to Juventus (which would be a good bit of business for Liverpool :-)). And who knows how much Rafa wants for John Arne Riise, who's likely headed out as well.

There's also talk of Chelsea F.C. (established ca. 2004) coveting Fernando 'the lad from sunny Spain' Torres with a potential bid of GBP 50M. Insanity! And Madness! Plus Calamity! I swear, if Rafa accepts Chelsea's overtures I am going to start clamoring for his head too! Bring in RIjkaard already! :-)

In terms of incoming players, Liverpool have already brought Swiss international defender Philipp Degen onboard and are rumored to be targeting Italian youngster Andrea Dossena.

I'll admit this as a footnote: although it is exciting to see my Reds linked with world-class players, I am somewhat wistful for days of stability and tangible, continued identity within the team.

No. 2 fade, short on top ...ver 2.0

Updated...

On my way to and from the barbershop this evening, I began compiling a list of things to do this summer (subject to my procrastination index and obligatory summer indolence :-)):

(i) Classes. I'd like to learn how to cook (I'm at the beginner-can't-distinguish-your-okra-from-your-eggplant-level), maybe learn a new language (French?)
(ii) Read. Eileen has lent me The Life of Pi and The 4-Hour Workweek that I'm taking forever to finish. I'd also like to pare down on New York Times' list of "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die."
(iii) Movies. Just came back from an enjoyable evening with The Iron Man. Truth be told I expected little more than a ferrated version of The Fantastic Four but the film delivered quite a punch. It wasn't exactly Spiderman but there was a seriousness to the plot and the characters that had me curled up in my seat and glued to the screen. The tie-in with current affairs added to the element of drama and realism. Plus one superhero makes things a little more believable than four :-). Bring on The Incredible Hulk, The Chronicles of Narnia, Batman, Rambo, The Love Guru, Indiana Jones.
(iv) Sports. With the 2008 European Soccer Championships coming up and the Summer Olympics in Beijing, there should be significant bonding with my 21-inch Insignia television set. I'd also love to kick a soccer ball around, maybe get in shape, etc.
(v) Buy stuff. I want new glasses, a soccer replica jersey (Gerrard - England/ Torres - Spain/ Messi - Barcelona/ Totti - Italy/ Ballack - Germany, in order of preference), new Stanford stuff

Nothing like the rumble of a semi-crowded F-train to provide the backdrop for your thoughts :-).

By The Numbers

3685/7505 - My portfolio ranking this week in TheStreet.com's "Beat the Street" fantasy stock market game.
$330 - The cost of three 3-hour Cooking 101 introductory-level cooking sessions at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC.
23 - Books read from The New York Times list of "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.'

Patriotized Inebriation

From victims of neocon chickenhawks' swindling of the country...to props for selling Midwestern made-from-genuine-American-soul beer.

The US Army. Taking it up the a** since forever.



Just bring the troops home.

Edible Monologues

(i) Snapple fact, "Real Fact" #327": Chewing gum was in invented in New York City in 1870 by Thomas Adams.
(ii) Taco Bell "Fire" hot sauce: "I collect straws"