I know that voice...

When I was a freshman in high school my marching band went to the Rose Bowl and one of the events we did was a night parade at Disneyland (yes, I was in marching band. hardy har har) Recently, video of this parade has srufaced. I was listening to it at work today and it was just your standard marching band music, but then something odd happened. At the end of the song I heard someone yell "YES!!!" and I was shocked. That was totally my mom. This is nothing new, my mom was a very "vocal" supporter at all of our events. Whenever I gotta hit or made a basket I always heard that same "YES!". Now you can hear it too.

Thanks Mom :)

So here it is. For those not interested in the music, just fast forward to the 3.00 mark:

Worst Commercial Ever

Ok, well maybe its not the worst ever but I'm assuming Chrysler has a large enough budget to make a commercial that makes sense. I mean seriously, this commercial has more plot holes than Saved By the Bell.

Anyway, to the commercial. It starts of well enough. Kid #1 (Parker) is challenged to a race home by 3 other kids. He runs through the woods, down the dirt path up the sidewalk and slides safely in his mom's van. Parker wins. Hooray!

OK, so now on to the problems. First of all, why was the mom just sitting there with the back door open? See also seemed surprised when he hopped in the car. ("High Sweetie, there you are"). Didn't she know he was coming? I mean the door was open. They then drive off, but weren't they at home already?? If they weren't why did he have to run home for them to go someplace different? She could have just picked him up at school. And did I mention she was just sitting in the driver's seat with the back door open?? And while we're on the mom, are we supposed to believe these two people are actually related? Just sayin...

After doing a little research it seems that more than a few people agree that it was probably changed and some remember the original version. In the original the kid was being chased by bullies which makes more sense. Why would you hide behind a tree if you were racing? Doesn't really make you faster.

So knowing that kid was running from the bullies, and he beats them makes me feel good, but the mom part still bugs me.

One redeeming quality is that at .07 seconds you can see the kids underwear and it's red. I remember when I was a kid i had a pair of red underwear as well (thanks a lot mom, I'm guessing you really didn't think that one out) Anyway, I remember I wore them once to a baseball game where we had white pants as part of the uniform. Let's just say that everyone knew what I had on underneath and kids are mean. Which is probably why this kid is being bullied in the first place.

Ok, sorry i know it probably took you longer to read this post than watch the commercial, but it was bugging me

The Good the Bad and the Ugly: The Night Independent Luther Died

In my 3 years in DC, I've done many different activities and met many different people which has resulted in different groups of friends. They are roughly divided into 4 groups. Work Friends, Soccer Friends (Pickup & league), and Going out Friends. Not that I've tried, but these groups have mostly remained separate allowing for the creation of "Independent Luther" (not dissimilar from independent george). Independent Luther is a great guy with a great life. He's free to spend time with different people when he feels like it. He's also mysterious. Although people have an idea of what he's doing when he's not there, they're never quite sure. Man of mystery. I know, sounds great.

On the night of August 6th, the world I had created came crashing down.

That night, I was enjoying myself at a friend's going away party in adams morgan. At the same time, Julie (Good) was out with a coworker just a few blocks from where my party was. She brought Jes (Bad) along with her. Milton (Ugly), who plays pool with the husband of that same coworker, was there too. This is where the details become fuzzy although one thing is certain. At some point in the night Julie said she was meeting up with "Luther Lemon" later in the night (for some reason people feel the need to use my full name, *sigh*). Mitlon heard them and from there the scheme was hatched for them to surprise me.

20 minutes later, they're walking into the party arm in arm. Shock, awe, shock and awe can't explain what I felt.

The photo above is of a man who now lives in an uncertain world. What kind of existence is he in for? What's next?? Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes! Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria! (Sorry, that last part was from Ghostbusters II)

We shall see.

Transformers 3 Comes to DC

Looks like Michael Bay and Co. will be gracing DC for the filming of Transformers 3 (sadly no megan fox). Last night I came across an open casting call notice (see below). It sounds like it would be fun, but would most likely end up being hours of work and then I wouldn't even be in the movie. That being said, you know I'm gonna apply! Below are some images that you may see in the near future. I'm talking to you Michael Bay.

http://film.dc.gov/DC/FILM/For+The+Community/Casting+Calls#0

Transformers 3

Transformers 3 is preparing to film in Washington, DC later this summer (dates and details not yet finalized).

If you are interested in working as an extra on this film, please submit ALL of the information below tomovie@taylorroyall.com. ONLY ONE submission per person, please. We will not be contacting anyone until the shoot gets closer, so if you don’t get a response please know that we did receive your submission – there is no need to resubmit.

SUBJECT LINE: T3 extra – Your Name – Union OR Non-union

Name:
Phone Number:
Email:
Union or non-union?
If union, SAG #:
Height:
Weight:
Shirt size:
Pant size:
Shoe size:
Jacket or Dress size:
Do you have a car?
If so: Make & model:
Year:
Color:
Have you done precision driving? (if so, please submit your resume)
Please be sure to attach a recent photo of yourself.

Samba Loco

The Adidas Samba

I bought another pair this weekend. For those keeping score at home, that brings my total to 3. And by 3, I mean I have 3 that I currently wear. It's and obsession. They are just so simple and timeless, I think I could buy another 3 pairs. My latest pair is shown above. This will be my first foray into the world of the none standard (black or white) samba. We'll see how it turns out.

After making the buy, I was a bit curious about the history of the shoe.

"The shoe was first produced in 1950 to enable association football players to train on icy hard ground (hence the suction on the gumsole). Its original design featured the classic three stripes, as well as the gold trefoil on the foldable tongue. As years progressed, the Samba evolved into the Samba Millennium (which was made without the extended tongue) and the Samba '85. Classic models of the shoe are still in production, under the name Classic M. While the original model is sometimes used for training, street play, and futsal, it is more popularly worn as a casual wear shoe."

In pop culture, Bill Cosby can often be seen sporting a black pair on the Cosby Show, Ashton Kutcher wore them in That 70's Show and Shia Labeouf wore a pair in Transformers 2. Transformers, 70's and Cosby. Not too bad for a days work.

Whenever one of my pairs starts to wear out, it always starts in the same spot; on the inside of my right foot a heart shape appears. always the same spot. Always the same shape. Many have speculated that its due to the way I walk or the way I kick the ball, but I think we all know the true reason. It's the only way my shoes can convey the mutual love that we have for each other.

Samba, I love you too.

So it Begins

The first part of my bike has been purchased. This weekend while obsessing over over the craigslist bike page, I found an old Schwinn Voyageur frame for $25. In getting started with the build, I wasn't sure if I wanted to begin with an intact bike that would get chopped up (maybe even my current bike), or use random parts.

Almost immediately I dismissed chopping up my current road bike (his name is Innamoto). Seriously, he's got a name. I know some people say how converting your bike makes you closer to it, but he's just fine the way that he is. Even worse, what if I got bogged down and never finished him. I could't to that to my old friend.

Innamoto is just fine the way he is

I also dissmissed the idea of chopping up a random, perfectly functioning, geared bike for the sake of my coolness, unless it was destined for the junk yard. This left the only option to be getting parts from difference places which will probably be more expensive, frustrating and time consuming, but in the end it may make me more knowledgeable about the bike. So we'll see...

On a sidenote this was a really refreshing craigslist experience. I've emailed the guy a few times and neither of us seemed to be in too much of a rush. I hate it when you've gotta pay/pickup right away or the person will give it to the someone else. Way to go Bryan Lyin (no kidding, that's his real name!)

I can ride my bike with no handle bars...

I would just like the records to state that I am not a hipster.

But... I think I'm going to try to build a fixed gear bike from scratch. It's really intimidating because I know a good amount about riding bikes, but not too much about what actually goes into them. And when people ask me why I want to do it, I answer that I want to know more about how bikes work (which isn't a lie. I really do), but the real, true answer is that they look ridiculously cool and I want to stick it to the hipsters that zoom past me on them. Who knows though, once it's built it may just end up on craigslist

So if you see me zip by wearing a wool hat in the summer and tight jeans while listening to a band that you've never heard of because they're just too cool for you, please don't judge me too harshly.