Kidney stone

Sweet potatoes. Spinach. Black Indian tea. Peanuts. Beets. Wheat germ. These are some of the healthiest foods around. Loaded with vitamin C, protein, beta carotine, antioxidants, and fiber-these foods can provide a person with most of the key components to a healthy diet.

“This is perfect!” I said seven months ago when I was starting my diet. I’ll cut out the crappy foods and eat things like these.

I stayed true to my word-developed a love for healthy eating. Every day I would have wheat germ filled Shredded Wheat n Bran for breakfast,  spinach on my turkey sandwich,  and I would treat myself after class with some peanut butter.

Several times a week I would drink tea instead of coffee. Sounds like a smart choice right? I chose my favorite, Prince of Wales, a Black Indian Tea. Next my dinners evolved from regular potatoes and corn with my steak, to sweet potatoes and beets with my steak, can’t be more healthier than that!

Of course, with my luck, 6 of the 14 foods I based my diet around, have something called Oxalates in them.

Oxalate’s are small crystals that cause calcium build up in your urine, which can cause Kidney stones.

What can I say I have a knack for being unlucky.

20 events that changed my life in 2008

19. Won a FIFA Championship

18. Watched the Dark Knight 10 Times

17. Watching Michael Phelps dominate while the Tibetan’s protested in the Boston Common

16. Laughed at Pirates Making a Comeback

15. Questioned Google’s Power in this World

14. Took an Eric Gordon course

13. Lost Money in the Economic Meltdown

12. Watched every minute of the Euro Tournament

11. Cheered during the Patriots Epic Defeat

10. Bought an iPhone

9. Signed up for World of Warcraft

I’ve made some poor decisions in my life, but by far one of the worst was signing up for World of Warcraft. When I am a parent, I’m going to spend equal times lecturing against WoW as I am against cigarettes, because they are virtually the same: addictive and relaxing.

8. Changed my Diet

7. Stood still while the Earth Shook

6. Signed up for Twitter

5.Witnessed the Presidential Election and the Ron Paul R3volution

4. Sold My Car

3. Finished first year of college

2. Rented my first apartment

1. Said Goodbye to George Carlin

What happened to the #1 Tale of ‘08

Are you wondering what happened to my #1 tale of 2008? Well don’t worry, it’s already written and is currently being reviewed.

I apologize for the delay, but this tale is like no other. A 20,000 word story, which is far from a fairytale, captures the pain of losing friends and the agony in broken hearts.

For a while I hesitated over puttign such a deep, emotional,and graphic piece of writing on my blog for two reason: 1) this story is written in text messages which contain language I would not normally publish on my blog and 2) it exposes certain information which is very personal

But, I’m a balls to the wall kind of guy; therefore I’m not afraid to say anything. The story is also epic and certainly a “must read,” you can trust me on that.

I will release the story on Monday, March 9, 2009. Get ready because it is like nothign you would ever expect.

Top Tales of ‘08: #2 Dark Horse Competitor

Nothing says epic like a pointless competition between 12 men that involves both video games and sports.

When FIFA 08 was released in October 2007, a couple of us roommates here at Emerson College started playing casually between each other. Of course by casual I mean heated, angry, hair ripping competition in which the loser had to mentally suck his opponents testicles.

This wasn’t enough. We wanted something greater, a competition that declared who was the best of the best. We wanted a tournament of tournaments if you will, and that’s exactly what we created.

February 15, 2008: It started by inviting everyone at Emerson who played FIFA. We managed to recruit a whopping 7 people. This left us with 12 competitors, 224 scheduled matches, 12 weeks, and only 1 champion.

February 20, 2008: Everyone has to pick teams. This is a crucial moment in every man’s life-does he pick the team that is best? Or the team that he loves? Every day football fans all over the world are forced to suffer when the team they love just isn’t skilled enough to be champions. It’s heartbreaking and in correlation with the financial aspect of the game-it can become inescapable. Clubs with more money are more successful.

Point being-I had to choose between a powerful club like Chelsea or the club in my heart-Olympique Lyon, or some team in between, like FC Porto. I knew that the majority of players were going to choose a 5 star powerhouse team with the most talent. I also knew that it there were 60 bucks on the line here, winner take all.

I send out a quick text to my brother whom I talk to maybe once a month, “Porto or Lyon?” He responds, “Lyon.” And that settled it.

The team draw came out Arsenal, Man United, AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Lyon, Liverpool, Sao Paolo, Roma, Celtic and Inter. 4 teams were 4.5 stars or less, the other 7 teams were 5 stars.

March 1, 2008: Apparently it didn’t matter., because 4 games in I was undefeated and in first place, with another 4.5 star team in second, also undefeated-Liverpool.

April 10, 2008: I got served my first loss, to 10th place Roma, and two weeks later lost to Roma again. Fate was on my side though, because in the last week of the season Liverpool passed me in the standings, taking first.

Normally second place would seem worse, but when Roma, the only team that defeated me all year was seeded eighth, I would have a much easier time defeating Barcelona.

April 24, 2008: playoffs!

I won. The moral of the story is that the little underdog can win it all if he or she gives it her all. How touching. Real life football is so much cooler anyway so who gives a shit.

Written by a man who loves an upset

Top Tales of ‘08: #3 Blubbericious

Well it’s old news now, but for one last time I’m telling this story-and this is it, I’m never telling it again after today. If anyone asks me what happened I will reference them to this website.Here goes, one last time:

June 15. It was a dark and stormy night in northern New Jersey and the clock read 4:00 am. Sitting on my Macbook Pro playing World of Warcraft, I felt the juice from the pimples on my face seeping out. The heat from the keypad on my hands created a balmy layer on my skin; every time I rubbed my eyes I left a sweaty residue on my face, it dripped, like tears.

June: Huge m00bs

My self disgust caused me to smash closed the laptop, and give my eyes a rest for the first time in 40 hours. I went upstairs, first to the bathroom to release the cans of soda which were steel cable suspensions above my eyelids for so long. Walking out, I noticed the scale on the floor, and realized that I could not feel any worse about myself than I already did in this moment, so why not?

215.2 is what it read for one last time. I woke up the next morning and decided I was going to change my life. Nothing else happened that day, I didn’t run in to Jared and he showed me his meaty sandwich. I did not see a vision of myself in 30 years having gastric bypass surgery. I did not have a dream that I was skinny and hopping through meadows singing with chickadees.

I just went to bed, and woke up, and ate shredded wheat instead of rice crispies. For lunch I had turkey on whole wheat instead of roast beef on toast. That’s all life is, a series of decisions. How you make them is how you turn out. When people asked what I was doing I said, I’m cutting all sugar out of my life, and so I did. It sounded like a good plan to me; I also said, I’m only drinking water, and lots of it!

June 29. In two weeks of only water for fluids and no sugar whatsoever, I was 15 pounds lighter. That was plenty motivation to keep going. I started playing some soccer at the fields, running came easier without 15 pounds on your back-so I was able to have fun with it.

July 15. I was seeing 192-191 on the scale. Soccer was increasingly easy, and proportionately fun. I went to go play in a full 11 v 11 match, weighing in at 190, with a mindset of Michael Phelps. I felt like I was on top of the world, until I showed up. 90 minutes of running, intense ball work, with twenty-two other 150lb guys was not for me. I didn’t even get to decide, I was sitting on the bench the entire game. Very embarrassing-embarrassing enough for me to make a promise to myself. One day, I am going to be that good, and that in shape, and play soccer well. I’m going to be able to run for 90 minutes, one day.

July: Summer fun and a terrible fauxhawk

August 1. Packing for Boston and saying goodbye to New Jersey, I was visibly thinner weighing in at 180. Still overweight, but my pants size came down from 36 inch waist to 33, and XL shirts to L.Cut out all white carbs (white pasta/white bread/white rice/ white potatoes).

Aug 15. Continued running in Boston, kicking the soccer ball around, and eating well. Cooking for myself began-still no sugar and only water. At this point I had not learned how to work fatty foods or alcohol into my lifestyle. Moved to my apartment.

Sept 1. Discovered the HIIT Workout. at this point I was weighing in at 170, the final ten pounds had truly made a difference, I was wearing 32’s and Mediums. Still a chubby look in my face, but nothing drastic. HIIT allowed me to eat 6 meals a day and still lose weight.

Oct 1. Had been on HIIT for four weeks, was eating 8 meals a day, 3 pieces of fruit a day, 2 jars of peanut butter and 50 grams of whey a week, and still losing weight. My metabolism had reached a new height. Skinny face kicked in. Still no sugar, some beer, no white carbs and only water/milk. Running 28 miles a week.

September: Headband? Solo cups? Must be a party

Nov 1. My day to day weight was around 160 now. The lack of sugar was still working, pulling all the fat from 15 years off my body. Last week of HIIT, continued distance running though.

Dec 1. Day to day weight is 154. Weight not coming off fast anymore. Learning how to incorporate foods that are not necessarily diet foods but do not break rules; i.e. ground beef in my chili, fried chicken cutlets on Sunday with whole wheat pasta.

Jan 10. Return to New Jersey to play 11 v 11 soccer. It snowed and only 10 showed, but nevertheless, I ran for 90 minutes and scored a handful-it was epic.

January: I am officially a one beer queer, thanks to my diet.

Jan 15. Day to Day weight 151. Made it through the holiday season without once consuming any form of sugar, or any drinks other than water/milk, and some Remy Martin at a family party. Damn that was delicious.

Written by a man who is sick of explaining how he did it

But It’s Not David Beckham’s Fault

If I called the media a “Circus” for the manner in which they horde Milan officials and players looking for quotes about David Beckham, it  would not describe the half of it.

The David Beckham hype is out of control-first he was only a catalyst for shirt sales, then he was bringing new fans to Milan, then his wife caused a stir by looking too good in Dubai, and now-his play is spectacular because…he hustled the entire game.

WOW! A player hustled the entire game? That’s amazing!

OMG! A 33 year old player hustled the entire game? That’s incredible!

ZOMG! A 33 year old who won the Champions League title with Manchester United then transferred to the most trophied team in the world for four seasons and then transferred to the least popular soccer country in the world who decided to come back to Europe hustled the entire game? That’s unbelievable!

Beckham also impressed the Prime Minister of Italy, who said, "David Beckham impressed me a lot - he showed great professionalism and modesty." Because teams win games based on modesty right? Man United beat Chelsea in Champs League Final by a score of Quite modest-Quite Modest (Extremely modest-Not so modest PEN)

Since when is it an accomplishment to actually put effort into your game…

However, he backed up the hype in his debut performance last Sunday in the 2-2 draw away to Roma. He ran hard for the duration of the match, and amazingly got the start and went almost the full ninety minutes on his debut. His crossing was off target and he didn’t do anything spectacular, deferring to Ronaldinho for the only threatening free-kick of the match. But it was the way he continued to hustle and go after the ball that impressed the onlookers.

What the fuck people. This is ridiculous.

“Look little Johnny it’s your favorite player David Beckham, and he’s running!”

Little Johnny takes a bite of his Serie A Pork Brasciole he bought with his allowance from the Roma concession stand, and then replies with a full mouth, “Wow papà! I’ve never seen a player run before!”

Just out of curiosity, if Beckham’s running was impressive to onlookers, how did they react to Vucinic’s brace? Or Pato’s phemonenal goal?

They must have shit their pants.

Actually I’m not surprised a player that hustled caused the fans metabolism to rush, it’s rare for Milan’s players averaging an age of 33 to break 6 mph on the pitch. The UEFA Cup squad seems to be attracted to old men; the four most recent additions to the team are Gianluca Zambrotta (age 31), Ronaldinho (turning 29 in March), David Beckham (age 33), and Adriy Shevchenko (age 32). Not to mention the club won’t let go veterans of the sport Clarence Seedorf (age 32), Andrea Pirlo (age 29), and Emerson (age 32). It’s common knowledge that these players are some of the slowest in Europe. No wonder why Beckham looks so amazing out there.

Written by a man who is wearing David Beckham cologne.

Ludacris Has Last Word

The issue

During the 2008 Presidential Election campaign, Ludacris (aka actor Chris Bridges) released a track titled, “Politics,” which endorses Barack Obama while shooting down McCain, Hillary, and Bush.Here are some of the most controversial lines:

“Well give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer

Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant

McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed

Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped

Get out and vote or the end’ll be near

The world is ready for change because Obama is here”

This song is not the first time Luda’s speech has caused uproar. Oprah has issues with Ludacris about racism and misogyny and Bill O’Reilly has repeatedly denounced the rapper for his words about women and race.

The response

Within days, of course, the Hillary camp released a statement:

“‘I think it’s an opportunity for Senator Obama to stand up, said Buell,’ who is not a regular Ludacris listener. ‘I have not heard it, I have seen certain quotes from this, I don’t know, do you call them songs? What do you call it?’

‘It’s just unacceptable. If it’s true that he is on Senator Obama’s iPod quite a bit, he’s got to distance himself. Because this guy is very disrespectful and misogynist about women. It’s not acceptable.’”

Since the Hillary camp does not approve-of course Obama’s officials have to respond:

“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to,” said spokesman Bill Burton. “This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”

Why am I telling you this? It is old news right? Well, Ludacris has a new album titled, “Theatre of the Mind,” and the track Last of a Dying Breed has the conclusion (for now) to all of this drama:

(I recommend listening to it rather than reading the lyrics, even a rap n00b should find it easy to understand what he is saying. )

They say O’reilly dont like um’,
Oprah wont invite um’,
The President announced um’,
No one will announce um’,
Controversial lyrics like I’m crying for help,
Very talented but I should be ashamed of myself,
But this is my art,
This is my music,
I’m speaking from the heart,
hit record and I lose it,
Bit my tongue for no one,
I put you on blast
And all the news channels, yall can kiss my ass,
If i dish it, I can take it,
Can hit rock bottom and I’m still gunna make it,
(why?) Cause I’m a born hustler
Natural survivor,
Seed of a Gangster,
I put that on my father,
Youtube or Google me
Turn in up and play it,
cause many people think it
i just had the balls to say it,
and risk losing everything i stand for the week,
plus i live for the freedom or speech,

My thoughts about all of this: Well I obviously have a strong opinion about this otherwise I would not have wasted several hours preparing this post. Like Ludacris, I won’t bite my tongue for anyone and I’ll exercise my freedom of speech. Bill O’Reilly and Oprah Winfrey can both suck it. It’s obvious that Oprah has issues beyond explanation because she is welcoming to Chris Rock and Cedric the Entertainer on her show with open arms, but has an issue with Ludacris-when all three of them use the same language.

I believe, just like my idol (the all knowing and all mighty George Carlin), that no word is bad. If I say the word fuck or rape or cunt, they are just sounds, signifying some sort of action. But that’s it, they only signify the action. Actions are bad, but words have no intent to harm-people have intent to harm.

With that said,  rap/hip-hop is a community in which the language has been adapted in a different way. That doesn’t make the language better or worse, just different.

It is wrong for anyone to oppose language when it is used to express, because that is known as art. Ludacris has done nothing wrong. He says in response to the negative press, “many people think it/I just had the balls to say it,” and we all know this is true. I’m sure one night Obama wished McCain would just “fuck off and die,” as my friend Pete would put it. Many people have thought bad things about Hillary and Bush as well, Ludacris is not Satan in human form for speaking his mind.

On a side note: I feel like Barack Obama is more concerned with his image than I would have imagined the first African American president to be. I wanted a “proud to be from the ghetto” black president. Not a darker version of Mitt Romney. I wanted a “Chris Rock in Head of State”. Sounds crazy, but would I have to worry about the commander in chief abusing his powers for money? Hell no, Chris Rock has values and morals.

Written by a man who loves rap.

New Jersey’s Hidden Beauty

When travelers land in Newark International Airport, they are injected into the site of massive waste management and freight transportation, known as the Newark Bay. It’s haphazardly a graveyard for those who did not favor well with certain New jersey Italians, but that’s besides the point.

When people come to the Garden State, they are immersed in the unfortunate product of the NYC metro area: garbage and imports. Sure it’s a side of NJ I and many other residents have grown to love; diners, highways, hard accents, the meadowlands, the NYC skyline view, and of course jobs for all of our fathers.

But there’s another side to New jersey that is rarely seen, even by some residents. This state gets no recognition for being beautiful but that’s ok, because we don’t want recognition-we want you tourists to get the fuck out.

Photos from my travels to Wanaque Reservoir, where I spent most of my weekends as a child.

Written by a man who followed his father through the woods.

Detroit-Dallas Rivalry is Fantastic DIsplay of Talent

Must watch hockey

That’s the highlight reel/news story for one of the most exciting games of the NHL thus far this season. Two teams which batted it out in the Western Conference Finals last year, brought the same playoff intensity to the game tonight.

The similarities between last seasons meet and tonight’s:

Great goaltending-expect to see a lot of this from Osgood and Turco until one of them lifts the cup. Don’t let the score deceive you, Turco had 26 saves and the Detroit offense is potentially the best in the NHL.

Stephane Robidas

Finesse hockey- Detroit loves to pay beautiful hockey, and it shows. The European influence in their lineup from Datsyuk, Holmstrom and Franzen shows; not only is it fun to watch, but it works (Detroit was on a 6 game win streak before tonight.)

What was different than the 08 playoffs from tonight?

Dallas won. It’s good to see close battles with lots of talent on both ends. It tells me that the playoffs will be exciting, and that Turco’s hard work in net and Dallas’s young squad can win with some hard work.

Written by a man who loves the Red Wings, deep, deep down.

The American Sport

Months ago I watched the Rangers play the Bruins. Beyond the fact that the Rangers pwned the conference rivals, and beyond the fact that the game was a roller coaster ride of intense hockey, the game went to a shootout, where two of the goals were decided by video review.

Watch the highlights (In the highlight reel you will see the overhead of a shot that was originally a goal, and recalled giving the Rangers a win.)

Let’s go to the Videotape

The difference between the European soccer I watch and the Rangers Bruins game from last night is the video review that us Americans love. The bulk of the video review comes from Football, where us viewers get to decide whether we think the call should be overturned or stand as is.

Those famous words, “After reviewing the play…” are never heard at the Manchester United matches-simply because the referee has a power, an inalienable right to make the correct call. Officials in Europe have a responsibility to make the correct call (which goes hand in hand with their talent).

Referees in the NHL and NFL are always getting things wrong. But why would they care, we can go to the videotape and review the play.

No Ties

Growing up I witnessed the concept of the “tie” game in hockey. Then in 2005 the NHL returned from the lockout and with it cam the shootout. This put an end to any chance of a tie. Overtime, the five minute sudden death period between deadlocked teams, is a fan favorite. Hockey fans love the intensity and edge of your seat action. But the shootout has received praise and criticism. Should all games be decided? Why does a tie not exist? Should teams get points for losing in overtime/shootout?

So many questions, but only one answer. Americans hate ties. Baseball doesn’t have ties, basketball doesn’t have ties, and the NFL has ties only if neither team scores in overtime (which is highly unlikely). Even in the MLS ties don’t take place-but in the rest of the world all soccer leagues have ties.

Tiebreakers are merely a desperation by the fans, who will do anything to see a team come out victorious. Even when the athletes work so hard as a team, fans want something quick and exciting to satisfy their adrenaline cravings. Even if a shootout gives the less talented team a better shot at winning-it doesn’t matter, we must have a winner!

It is unfair to have a winner based on such a quick, luck based penalty shot. Shootouts and penalties take team sports and turn them into Colosseum style entertainment. It’s one on one winner take all-fight to the death. It’s primitive nature and we should have more respect for the game.

You Make the Call

Nothing says liberty and freedom like speaking your voice over a touchdown pass. Here in the U.S. we love to speak our minds on all topics, and we believe our opinion counts. That’s why we have video review; while the referees are making their decision, the fans at home watch the video from 10 angles at super slow speeds-and they decide what they think is the right call.

Written by a man who is obsessed with European football