Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Star Spangled Banner pt.2

One thing that I have really missed since I have left my home in the United States is the Star Spangled Banner. It is quite strange now that I am playing in Germany to not hear the National Anthem before a sporting event like I have my entire life in the US. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is something missing when you go from warm-up's listening to "I kissed a girl and I liked it!" and go straight into your league game. There is no time to step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that there is a reason that this game is able to take place. I would still like to pay tribute to the German military (which one teammate of mine actually spent 6 years serving for) even if the free government is relatively young but I guess the only remedy is to repeat in my head, "God Bless the USA."

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Star Spangled Banner

We are 4 games into this year's World Series, and I'm still waiting for somebody to sing a decent version of of the National Anthem. The Rays brought in the star power of the Backstreet Boys and Los Lonely Boys to sing the anthem for games 1 and 2, respectively. BSB embarrassed themselves, pretty much ending any shot they had at a comeback. Los Lonely Boys were forgettable, at best. After seeing consecutive pre-game train wrecks in Tampa, the series moved to Philly, a town with a music rich tradition. The Phillys countered the Backstreet Boys with hometown girl/music superstar Taylor Swift. Try as she might (e.g. rhinestone covered guitar and terrible vocals), she couldn't seem to embarrass herself as much as the BSB did. The game is about to start, so I'm going to cut this post short. Just know that the legendary Patti Labelle stepped up to the mic and absolutely butchered the National anthem, probably the worst rendition thus far. Go Rays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOoNgzZZLEA

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Werne meets Funpark

Saturday night was a night of 3 Birthday celebrations (Goldy, Trevor, and my 22nd). As Goldy explained, strategic war was the game of the night however he forgot to mention was how live we kept it. One of the strategic war players (I won't say names) somehow found his way into a state of silence. One very similar to the character "E" from Entourage had found himself during an episode a few weeks ago. He literally wouldn't talk for an entire 2 and a half hours and so rightfully so he was dubbed E for the entire night. We played strategic war, he didn't talk. We played a game of darts, didn't talk. We walked to Funpark where this guy somehow broke his drink card, and he still didn't talk. He even ordered a doner without talking. I had never experience this kind of liveliness before but I must admit I was quite impressed. Here's to you E for keeping it live!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Bored? Create Your Own GAME...

One thing that my roommates and I were great at throughout college was creating strange games when we were bored. Many of these had to do with alcohol, but a ton of them did not. Last weekend, Andrew, Fletcher, and myself brought a game back from our freshman year, prompting me to think about all the glorious games we created during our time at Amherst College.

This post will highlight the game that brought all the memories back for me: Strategic War. Maybe one of the most innovative games we EVER created and also one of the first. The only materials you need are a deck of cards, a bottle of whatever you like, some chasers, and a few shot glasses (ideally, one of these is a triple shot glass, also known as a glass). Normally, we played this game with 3 people but it can be played with more (I think?), but to play this game with 2 people is asking for a bit too much. The rules are simple: you play war except you get to pick which card you want to throw for every hand rather than blindly throwing out your next card.

Now, there are a few catches if an ace is thrown and a 2 is thrown, the 2 automatically takes down the ace. In every other hand, however, the 2 loses to everything. The same rule applies to a 3 and a King. A 3 takes down a King if one is thrown but nothing else besides a 2, of course. Now, a war has a major influence over the game. If the two highest cards are the same, a war ensues. Now, everyone participates in the war, however, the two players who threw the high cards get to blindly choose cards from each other as well as the other player who threw the low card while he patiently waits. After the choosing of three cards from each player, each player picks out a card to throw for the war.

This is truly where the "strategery" comes into play. Do I throw an Ace, a 2, a King, or maybe even some random middle card because I assume everyone is going to throw low? Very complex decisions to be made. After all cards have been thrown, the player with the least amount of cards in front of them has to take a shot. Now, in our infinite freshmen year of college wisdom, Fletcher, Andrew, and myself decided that this shot should be a triple shot, and that we should play with rubinhoff every night. For these reasons, after playing Strategic War, participants often looked like this - AMAZING. Just look at the various states of everyone's clothing as well as the use of indoor shades - great stuff. On a side note, this game may be the reason none of us can take vodka shots any longer while also being the reason for some of the greatest memories I have from Freshmen year, including in no particular order, the WB night, I am the most religious person in all of the world night, "Brandon your not drinking, please leave the room because you make me uncomfortable."

There is one last wrinkle in the game. After the deal is finished, everyone makes their best 5 card poker hand with the cards they have. Now, whoever has the worst hand has to take a regular shot before the game even starts, something no one wants to do, but, you also do not want to show the good cards which you have in your hand either... decisions, decisions.

This game was created freshmen year. There were many others, including Boddington's, Fetch, Snow Golf with Monster Golf clubs (the first picture in this post), that game we never named but played in La Casa with the ball that you had to juggle soccer style over the pool table, Marcus's "Drink while you Think," just to name a few. A great way to keep it live as much as possible - whenever bored, CREATE YOUR OWN GAME. If you have created your own game, please leave comments describing them. It would be much appreciated.

Man, tuition well spent if you ask me.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

FEEL....THE HEAT....RAYS!


Looks like I might have to take a couple more days off from work and head down to Tampa for the World Series!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Soda Club

If you ever have the chance to head out to Berlin on a Saturday night, I highly recommend paying 8 euros and checking out the Soda Club. They keep things pretty live and funky over there. There are 4 or 5 stories to this place with 8-10 different DJ's playing just about anything you could want. 
The hip hop DJ's are pretty good, too. They play a host of recent American music so I was excited. I mentioned that I DJ-ed some in college, and one DJ gave me his card and told me to drop him a line. You never know, I may make my international debut at some point. 

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Have I forgotten how to "Keep it Live?"

I certainly hope not, as I will have my first real opportunity to do so since like the third grade. Just finished my first career 100 hour work week; I don't recommend them. To reward myself, I'll be taking today off from work and flying down to beautiful Tampa, FL. Big things await me back in the sunshine state. Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS from Tropicana Field (the Crown Jewel of Major League Baseball) and a Sunday afternoon game of American football at Raymond James Stadium are the highlights, but I hope to find some other chances to keep it live along the way. Should be a good weekend. Go Rays.

Monday, October 6, 2008

The 'Sterdam...

I have just returned from Amsterdam. The liveness constantly occurring throughout the city is indescribable. No words could help you, the reader, understand the Amsterdam experience. My only suggestion is to go there. It surely will not disappoint. That is all.

Thank you.

- Goldy