My Thoughts on Republicans Taking the Senate

I'd like to preface this post with a little description of my political affiliations. Technically, I'm a registered democrat - and I'd say for the most part I lean left. When it comes to social issues (as I'm sure is made evident by my historical blogs) I am a pretty hard core democrat. I'm very pro-choice, highly supportive of marriage equality and while I do not oppose guns, I support gun regulation. Fiscally I'm a little more moderate. My point in drawing attention to this is because I think it contradicts the fact that I am happy that Republicans took the Senate last night.

Let's face it, Washington has been at a stand-still for a number of years. Republicans have held the House, while democrats have held the Senate and the White House. Neither party agrees on anything and both parties have made it a point to completely oppose anything the other tries to pass. As a result the productivity in our Nation's capital, specifically in Congress, has stopped.

While President Obama (whom I support) still holds 1600 Pennsylvania Ave down, the Republicans are now in control of both segments of Congress. This means that very few potential laws to be will not make it to Obama's desk. He will be faced with two choices: 1) He can sign off on the bill, creating new laws; and 2) He will reject it. I think Barack is a rational human being. He understands how low his approval ratings sit and he knows that if he refuses to play ball, they will sink even lower. I therefore think that the majority of the time, he will choose option 1. If this ends up being the case, his last two years in office could be (from a domestic standpoint) his most productive stretch.

I'd like to end this by drawing attention to the fact that B.O. has really done a pretty good job thus far as our Chief. Our economy is one of really only two developed economies in the Western world that is experiencing decent, consistent growth. Our unemployment is the lowest its been since before the Great Recession. I believe the wage stagnation we are experiencing could become problematic, but that is no fault of Obama's, as he has actively sought to increase the minimum wage.

While I think his eight years in office have been solid, I do not disagree that a change of pace could be refreshing. I just hope that our President has the guts to grease the wheels in Washington... And kickstart our government once again.

My Thoughts on Ebola

Currently in the world, we are being hit with the worst medical catastrophe that has come about in my lifetime. Of course, I'm talking about Ebola. Let me be clear, I'm no medical expert. But I really think we, as Americans are drastically overestimating the danger this poses to us.

We have the most advanced medical technologies in the world. The finest international doctors come to American schools to get their degrees. There is a reason that this epidemic broke out in West Africa, and (for the most part) has been contained there. So calm down everyone. However, this brings me to my main point...

It really bothers me that everyone basically ignored this issue until it touched down in American and European soil. Sure, the news gave it a little coverage, but not nearly its due. This disease has plagued West Africa for months now. It continues to run rampant through countries such as Liberia. Furthermore, experts do not anticipate it slowing down for some time. So why are people just beginning to care?

I think it can be traced back to how selfish this country is. Americans have reacted just as you'd expect: ignorance until they realize they could be affected, and then fear that they alone would be affected. The thing I think is important is recognizing that this disease will most likely not spiral out of control in countries like the US and Spain. It's the countries where thousands of lives that have been taken that need help. It's the ones that continue to be plagued that need first-world support.

My Thoughts on Batman

As many of my close friends know, I'm a big fan of Batman. I own comic books, t-shirts, lunch boxes, movies, video games, underwear, a mask, a drawing, and coffee mugs that all commemorate the Dark Knight. It started off a few years ago with a couple birthday gifts from my mom, and now it's starting to become a legitimate collection.

First of all, Batman is the coolest super hero of all time. Let's start by discussing his super powers... Oh wait, that's right! He doesn't have one!! He's just super rich and has all these cool gadgets. The idea of a man who is really no different than the average joe fighting crime is a fascinating one. It makes losers like myself hope that one day, we can be badasses, fighting crimes by the cover of night. Batman represents everything that a good, generic person wishes (s)he could be.

One thing that I don't mention much is why I collect paraphernalia that represents Bruce. It's because of my mom. The reason she first started buying me stuff was because when I was a toddler, I had this batman action figure that I could not be separated with. It's because of this 'terrible-two'-toy that my mom started buying me stuff: she thought my obsession with Mr. Wayne extended to my teenage angst years. Spoiler alert: it didn't. But I welcomed the gifts with open arms because the smile my mom gets when she reflects on how I was at that age is absolutely breathtaking.

So I started collecting stuff. I started buying stuff on my own. And I will admit - I do love batman, and I love have a developing collection of batman toys. But the reason I love it is because it makes me think of Deb, and how happy she gets remembering my innocence. An innocence that Batman attempts to preserve.

My Thoughts on Cooking

As you know, I wrestled all through high school and college. I've posted about wrestling before: about the grueling demands of each workout, the time commitment that each athlete must be willing to devote and about the miserable routine of starvation that accompanies all of that. Every wrestler has a different way of dealing with the hunger that is inevitable with cutting weight. Mine was rather peculiar - I watched the Food Network TV channel every day. While others thought of this as self-inflicted torture, for me, it was as close as I could come to enjoying food without even coming close to enjoying it. A consequence of this obsession with shows like 30 Minute Meals and Guy's Big Bite came a hobby that I find to be therapeutic: cooking.

Let's make one thing clear. I hate baking. I don't care for desserts overall, but the real reason I hate baking so much is because of the precision. Every recipe needs exactly 1.23 cups of flour or 42 grains of sugar. I'm not a fan of taking measurements when I cook. I prefer to improvise. I think that's why I like it so much. It's an art that I can participate in where every meal I make can be different, and at the same time, they can all be tasty (not to say I'm a great chef - I made chicken marsala recently that basically tasted like straight marsala wine). But it's something I can create which occasionally is enjoyable.

My favorite recipe is chicken parm. Maybe it's because I love chicken parm so much, but I think the bigger reason is because I love making my own tomato sauce. I think creating your own sauces and condiments is really fun, because those are the most rare to find homemade. I know plenty of parents who cook a lot, but not many use homemade peanut butter like my mom, or make homemade hummus, like Emily's mom. Creations like these are what make different cooks unique, and my tomato sauce is something I'm proud of once I'm done.

Maybe that's why I like cooking so much. It's something for me to proud of. I'm proud of a lot of things that I've accomplished. But the pride I take in cooking is different. Being proud of something like graduating college is cool - and it's something that everyone can acknowledge. But being proud of the things I cook is just for me. If other people try my cooking, they can like or dislike it as much as they'd like, but I enjoy cooking because it's cool looking at a finished product and thinking "I created this".

My Thoughts on Derek Jeter

I know I post a lot about sports topics. Part of me feels like I should give my devoted readers some variety, but this blog is titled MY thoughts. And I think about sports a lot....

It wouldn't be write to not discuss the departure of arguably the greatest role model involved in professional sports during our this generation. The captain himself. Number 2 is playing his final few games, as we near the end of September. And what's really cool is that his last three will be here - at Fenway. I looked into tickets, but they were far out of my price range. Kind of sucks, but I'll live. Let me reiterate - I'm a die hard Red Sox fan. This year I was able to go to like 5 games at Fenway. Although the rivalry between the Sox and Yankees has dwindled in recent years, I still hate them as an organization. That being said, there are few people in the world that I re2pect as much as Derek Jeter.

Jeter has been an amazing baseball talent since I was a little kid. I remember when he lead the Yankees to 4 World Series titles in the 90s. The smile that he had after every clutch hit, the excitement he expressed after every single win. I wrote a blog last year about the beauty of  baseball. I think Jeter perfectly exemplifies this beauty. The grace by which he plays, and the class by which he conducts himself off the diamond.

It's going to make me sad watching him finish his career. I hope that in 20 years, when I have children, I hope they love baseball as much as I do. I hope they cherish the history of the sport. I hope they reflect on some of the all time greats, and ask me what it was like to watch them play. I hope that they ask me what it was like to watch Jeter so I can tell them that he was so much more than a star shortstop. He was representative of all that is right in sports; in a world where there is so much that is wrong with them.

My Thoughts on Living in the City

So I've been living in Boston for nearly three months now. I won't disclose my address to you prowlers out there but let's just say I'm basically fluent in Italian now. Growing up, I was so fascinated with cities. The vast chaos that is urban America was always something I hoped to experience first hand. Now that I've been able to fully immerse myself in one, I've come to the definite conclusion that I love living in the city.

The amount of options that I have on a day-to-day basis for activities is astounding. For example, this Thursday I'm going to a battle of the bands show, Friday I'm going to a bar, Saturday I'm volunteering at an elementary school, and Sunday Em and I will watch football (at a Vikings bar). Last Saturday we went to a free concert. The Saturday before we went on a brewery tour. The variety of activities at our disposal is enough to make an active youth content.

I think the biggest reason I'm so happy to be living here is the availability of so many sporting events. Since I moved in, I've been to three Sox games (with one more scheduled for next week) and a soccer match at Fenway. I already have tickets to two Bruins games and a BC football game as well. I love being able to watch sports as often as I do, and being able to go to games at such convenience is all I could ask for.

I know, inevitably, I'll wind up in suburban America down the road. Family, kids, etc. is sure to be in my future, and that's great. But for now, I'm perfectly content with where I am, both literally and figuratively. I could see myself living in a city for the rest of my days.

My Thoughts on Ray Rice

Whether you are a sports fan or not, it's difficult to not follow along with everything that is happening with Ray Rice and the NFL. Quick recap: Ray Rice knocked his wife (then fiancé) out in an elevator in Atlantic City a few months ago. He was seen dragging her limp body out of the elevator. He was suspended for two games by the NFL after essentially admitting his wrong, and the NFL was highly criticized for their leniency. This week, elevator footage of Rice's haymaker was released, the NFL denied knowledge of it, and just today, it came out that NFL executives had actually seen the video.

The more I think about this, the more mixed my feelings are. I think Rice is a disgusting human being. What he did is unforgivable and I could never imagine what would bring someone to physically assault someone they supposedly love. But on the other hand, he has seemed apologetic. Every time I hear him speak he sounds deeply repentant. Do I think he should be forgiven? Absolutely not. But I think there are bigger issues that some dick head's domestic disputes.

In the words of Colin Cowherd, the NFL provides the number one tv program as well as the number one sports program, which is essentially like delta airlines being the number one airline and the number one hotel chain. The power that they wield on a national level is absurd. Which makes their cover up of this scandal all the more despicable. The fact that an organization of that magnitude had knowledge of such atrocious acts by one of their employees and didn't terminate that relationship immediately is beyond me. If someone I worked with committed a similar crime, they'd be imprisoned for a long time, let alone their job security.

Basically, my point is that all entities involved need to be held accountable for their actions. Rice belongs in prison. And the NFL requires some serious personnel restructuring.

My Thoughts on Not Going Back to School

It's been starting to hit me lately. For the first time in nearly 20 years, I will not be starting another year of school in the coming weeks. I guess it's something that I've known to be true, but haven't exactly been prepared for. I was taken aback the other day when I asked a friend (a rising senior at Trinity) to grab a drink and he said it would have to be in the coming week, or else he'd back at school. When he told me that, I realized that I would not be joining him.

It's hard to think about the fact that I'm going to be slaving away in a cubicle for the indefinite future. It's harder to reflect on my years at school, be it at Trinity as a Bantam, or Framingham as a Flyer, and not think of how much I took for granted. I don't mean just the social situations; but I got an incredible education, and for the first 18 years of my life, it was free! That's a luxury not everybody in the world is blessed with.

I certainly don't wish I could go back. I was ready to grow up, and that's what I've done. I have an apartment now, and bills to pay. I consider myself lucky to have such a good job. But it doesn't mean I don't wish I could thank a few people for their influence on me through my times at school.

Like Ms. Molliver, my sage teacher, who challenged me in many ways. Or Ms. Purcell who taught me some behavioral lessons. Sometimes I wonder what Mr. G, my 7th grade math teacher is up to. Although I'd be perfectly content with never seeing stupid Madame LePain again.

It's nice thinking about my days in the Framingham Public School system. Maybe some day I'll have kids who I can tell stories to about my days going to Mrs. Davis, the school nurse, or about me getting in trouble for yelling obscene things on a school trip at the age of 10. But until that day comes, all I can do is remember those days and remind myself that I've been lucky. And hopefully, the luck doesn't run out.

Baseball Special: Nationals Park

Last Saturday we made our sixth trip, as we drove south along the east coast to our nation's capital: where we watched the Nationals take on the Pirates. Let me preface this entry by discussing how the drive down was possibly the most miserable experience of my life. Getting over the GW Bridge was a nightmare and it did not improve much from there. Originally, the GPS said we'd get there in around 6 hours. It took us ten.

Nonetheless, arriving in DC was pretty cool. I'd never been so in the brief period of time prior to the game, Chris and I walked around and saw the Washington Monument before heading to the park. It was a beautiful evening so walking around the city was really pleasant.

The park itself was really cool. Very modern, with tons of family friendly activities. During one of the half innings, they hold a presidential race, where people wearing president-mascot costumes race around the perimeter of the field. Teddy Roosevelt won in a stunning comeback victory over Abe.

The food was awesome too! We both got chili and I got a sandwich and it was really good. Ice cream topped off our night later. The atmosphere was really cool too. Our seats were awesome and it was a really intimate park. A little too intimate.... This woman sitting next to me felt the need to talk to me about how small Ian Desmond's butt was. Contrary to popular belief, I really didn't care.

Finally, the game. One of the most exciting games I've ever been to live. It had great pitching, some great fielding and timely hitting. Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the 8th, the Pirates gave up a run before allowing Adam LaRoche to tie the game with a two-run blast. I did not know if it could be topped until Wilson Ramos hit a walk off single, driving in Harper, in the 9th. It was the first time I've ever seen a walk-off live.

After the game, there was a free Martina McBride concert, so my dad and I stayed for a few songs. It was a really fun experience... And the drive home was not too bad.

Baseball Special: Yankee Stadium

When my dad and I first planned out this 15 year adventure, I don't think we planned on hitting Yankee Stadium so early on. But at the beginning of the season, when the captain, Derek Jeter, announced his retirement, we acknowledged the fact that we had to see him in his final season. So today, August 9th, 2014, we went to Yankee Stadium to see the Yanks take on the Indians.

Parts of the game were cool, and parts were dull. Starting with the park itself, it was a Goliath of a park. Monstrous in size and grandeur, I was amazed at the immensity of the place. That being said, it did not really promote an intimate environment. My father and I agreed, that it felt like the crowd was there to say they went to Yankee Stadium, not to watch and enjoy a baseball game on a beautiful day. My dad described the park as a place just like New York: unnecessarily loud and obnoxious.

Okay enough of the negativity, I had a blast. The game was a really good one. Corey Kluber pitched unbelievably and the Indians won 3-0. Brandon McCarthy threw a good game for NY, but it wasn't good enough. We were hoping to see a pitcher battle, and we got what we asked for.

Prior to the game, there was a pretty cool induction ceremony of Paul O'Neill into the Yankees Monument Park. It was pretty cool to see so many legends there to support him. Joe Torre, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada were among them. Not that I'm a die hard O'Neill fan, but I always liked him and it was cool seeing the ceremony.

I don't think anything was cooler than seeing Jeter though. There are so few people who are above their respective sports, but he is one of them. Nobody commands respect as universally as #2. Knowing that this was probably the last time I'd ever see him play was kind of emotional. However, in his third at bat, Jeter hit an infield single. That single moved Jeter passed Honus Wagner into 6th place on the all time hits list. Being able to say that I saw that is pretty cool.

5 parks down, 25 to go. Next week we'll be in D.C.

My Thoughts on Universal Healthcare

So for those of you who read the news (and don't solely rely on my incredible blog to stay updated on current events) I'm sure you've read about the lawsuit being filed against President Obama. Speaker Boehner is suing BO for not doing his duty by upholding his law, The Affordable Care Act. When I first heard about this, I burst out laughing. The idea of republican house members being up in arms about the inability to execute a law that they didn't want to begin with astounds me. That's not the point of this post though, I'm more concerned with why I think universal health care is beneficial to the economy, and to society as a whole.

I do not consider myself an expert on anything, but I certainly do have some supporting claims to my argument. First of all, I want to address the unemployment rate. Unemployment has been a huge issue in the US since the Great Recession, and with structural unemployment hovering around 6%, it's hard to imagine us reaching pre-recession levels. But consider this: a husband and father of two is looking for work. He needs to support his family, but doesn't have an education so finding a solid high-paying job is difficult. He turns down jobs over and over again because they do not provide him with healthcare, which he needs in order to provide for his family. Then, health care becomes free. Our protagonist signs up online and now his family is covered. The next day, he accepts a job without worrying about his family's coverage.

Next, let's consider economic growth. My thesis was about growth, and one thing that I learned is that personal consumption accounts for over 70% of GDP. Now you take a family that is not financially affluent, and make them pay for health care, they are now unable to allocate that money towards consumption. If the health care is provided for them, they are far more likely to consume with their extra disposable income, and can therefore help contribute more to growth.

My finally economic analysis pertains to production. I mentioned earlier that unemployment could decrease, but along with that comes an increase in production. If the less wealthy now can obtain healthcare free of charge, they are far more likely to work harder. They will see an increase in their take home income, and as a result feel the need to compensate through productivity. I realize this one is a stretch, but I think you'd be surprised to find out what seemingly trivial things can affect a person's productivity.

So why is none of this happening yet? Well, as mentioned, the law has not been executed very well. However, that is not to blame on the present. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe over 30 states refused to set up the portals for Obamacare, leaving it up to the federal government to do it for them. In addition, many people are so intent on hating the president that they refuse to give a law like this the time of day. Hopefully one day it will change, but until then, I'm glad to see the government wasting my money to sue each other over something that is really, pretty meaningless. Sweet.

My Thoughts on the MLB All Star Game

I've watched this game ever since I was a kid. I remember when Cal Ripken hit a home run in his first at bat in '01 and went on to win the MVP. I remember the year that they had to call it a tie because they went into so many extra innings that there were no more players to come in. I remember Pedro's ridiculous two innings in Boston in '99. I still watch it every year, and can not fathom missing it.

This game is more than just a showcase of talent. Obviously, yes, this is the only all star game with late season implications. But it's so much more than that. Home field advantage in the World Series probably doesn't matter to Chris Sale, who plays for the beleaguered White Sox. But for the past three years he comes in and throws shut down innings. I'm sure Jeter is hoping home field will be relevant in the next few months, but I doubt that's the only reason this was so emotional.

This game is about pride. It means the world to these players to be elected for this game. To be able to say that you are among the best in the world at a sport you've been playing since you were a toddler has got to be an incredible feeling. Hell, I remember being chosen for my little league all star game and it was worth me skipping a family vacation to play in it.

Baseball players take pride in their sport, and their talent. More so than most athletes. It's not the fact that they get to show off what they can do, I believe playing here has to be humbling for them. To be chosen to compete in the same game that Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, and Bob Gibson played in reminds the athletes why they play this game to begin with: the money is great, but to be remembered in history I'm sure is much more satisfying.

My Thoughts on Road Trips

Tomorrow is the last leg of my two month vacation. Two months of traveling, seeing the globe. I've seen more aspects of he world through that time then I ever had in my life. This road trip that I've been on was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. I left Minnesota a few days ago after visiting with Emily and her family. Since then, I've been driving back home. I had never driven this long before, but tacking 3000 miles onto my car has really helped put some perspective on the rest of the country.

The variations in different regions of the nation really make themselves clear when you're spending 6-8 hours on the open road. For example, when I stopped in rural Ohio for the World Cup game on Thursday, I was shocked about how tight knit the community was. And likewise, visitng Bard College in Red Hook, NY was a new way to meet some very interesting young adults, in addition to catching up with one of my oldest friends.

I think the coolest part of driving alone is all the reflecting I was able to accomplish on my trip. Especially on my drive yesterday, through northern Pennsylvania, I spent a lot of time thinking about my life up to this point, and on my life going forward. For me, time alone is nice. It provides piece of mind for me to sit by myself and let my mind run like my corolla, endlessly galloping down the open road.

Driving is relaxing. When it's beautiful out, and I have new, exciting scenery to see, it provides a bliss that I would have never known until this trip. I can't wait to do it again, no matter when it ends up being.

My Thoughts on Father's Day

I'm aware that it's been awhile since I've blessed the internet with my horribly articulated opinions. I'm aware that, since I am no longer posting these to Facebook, my readership will remain practically zero. But I've decided that I'd like to pick up this blog again, if only as a personal journal of sorts, although, slightly less private than most.

Today was Father's Day. I'm sure many people are aware of that, but for me, it was a tough one. For the first time in my life, I did not have the privilege of spending the day with my dad. As I'm sure I've alluded to, if not outright said,  my dad and I are very close. He is the single largest male influence on my life in so many more ways than he could possibly imagine. I told him earlier that I hope to someday be a fraction of the man that he is, and I don't know if he understands how literally I mean that. The selfless way that he goes about his day-to-day life is something that I continually strive to accomplish.

For years now, he has worked tirelessly to provide for my family. He and my mother have made quite the dynamic duo in terms of raising my sisters and I. The other day I was having a conversation and this is what he said to me, "I work hard every day. I've gone to work for 30-something years now, never complaining, and always with you and your sisters in mind. I have driven you guys all over for social gatherings and sporting events, I provide pretty much anything you guys ask for, and what do I get as a reward? The opportunity.. To pooperscoop"

Well dad, I hate to tell you this, you drew the short end of the straw. While I know that sometimes it may suck to imagine a life like that, I can't imagine what my life would be like if you had done otherwise. Everything I ever accomplish can be directly credited to you and mom, and I like to think that you two will one day share in whatever those accomplishments may be. Although there is only one day where society dictates I acknowledge your brilliant parenting, I'd like for you to know, that I remind myself every day how lucky I am to have a father like you.

For me, my personal thoughts on Father's Day consist of this: to serve as a reminder that few, if any, people in the history of the world, are as lucky as I consider myself.

I love you, dad.