Thursday December 17th (2)

Readers,

My finals are done and I am on my way home for a well-deserved break. Although back to back finals at 8 in the morning was not the ideal way to end a semester, and I still don't know how to travel time after completing an entire course on the subject, what's done is done. AND, with a 79% on my Spanish final, I safely passed my Pass/No Pass class. Fortunately, I am expecting my other finals to have significantly better outcomes. But without further ado allow me to move on to the daily excitement and our Daily Topic: I'M ON A PLANE

Yes, the time has come. Currently, I am traveling at 602 miles per hour at 34,000 feet. And I'm on the internet. Thanks to Virgin America and their newly outfitted WiFi planes, my frequent cross-country trips are becoming just that much more bearable. Complete with mood lighting and a personal touch screen with endless options, Virgin is truly revolutionizing modern air travel.

Each seat is outfitted with an electrical outlet and a USB charging outlet. No more losing your computer or iPod power halfway through the flight. Additionally, each seat has a handset in the arm rest that allows you to control the console in front of you.

From the touch screen in the seat back, you can navigate through a remarkable amount of options. You can watch TV (live or ondemand), listen to satellite radio, order a variety of movies, play a few games or even order food or drinks to your seat. With three or so touches, I could order myself a ginger ale. And I just did.

Under development is a sophisticated communication system. From the console and using the handset (which includes a full QWERTY keyboard), you will soon be able to send emails or text messages from the air. I am unsure of what kinds of fees will be associated with these services but the technology itself is impressive.

One free communication that is currently available seat-to-seat chat. If you are traveling with friends in different parts of the plane (or if you want to be really creepy and try to talk to random passengers) you can initiate a chat room on the screen in front of you based on row and seat number. You may establish a screen name and chat with anyone on the plane.

And, clearly, the planes have wireless. Usually, the WiFi costs somewhere between $5 and $12 depending on the length of the flight. However, for the holiday season (until January 15th), WiFi is free on all Virgin flights. The only problem now is deciding which features you want to utilize.

Virgin's contemporary approach to air travel appears to be an ideal business model compared to its competition. Until this point in my airfaring travels, I found JetBlue and Southwest to be the best in terms of efficiency, user-friendliness, and cost. However, Virgin has established its niche as the hip (and cheap) new airline.

Between revolutionized air travel and space tourism, the question is: what is there that Virgin can't do?

Ginger ale is here.

-ROF

Daily Food: Papa Ginos

Daily Activity: Air Travel

Daily Song: Come Sail Away - Styx

Daily Attire: Christmas Sweaters

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Boston Temps Near Zero

Daily News No One Should Care About: Dubai Records 6000 Beach Offences

Daily Life Goal: TDR from an Airplane. Check.

Daily Complaint: My Seat Doesn't Recline

Daily Drink: Ginger Ale

Daily Television: Three Sheets

Daily Movie: Up in the Air

Thursday December 17th

Hello My Faithful Followers,

It's 3 am and I don't have the energy to write a full posting tonight. However, tomorrow I will be flying home and bringing you the first ever TDR from 30,000 ft on my new favorite airline, Virgin America. I understand that after my last post you must think that I am being paid by Virgin for advertising. Unfortunately, I am not. In fact, Google Ads thought that my advertisements were making too much money and suspended my account. Therefore, I am unable to advertise for anyone. But if you own a Fortune 500 company and are looking for an endorsement, please contact me at thedailyroutine@gmail.com. And now for the Daily Updates.

Daily Food: Panda Express

Daily Activity: Johnny Milko's 21st Birthday

Daily Song: Kiss Me I'm Irish - Gaelic Storm

Daily Attire: Boat Shoes

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Hopes are Fading for Climate Accord at Copenhagen

Daily News No One Should Care About: Chris Brown Kills Twitter Account

Daily Life Goal: TDR from an Airplane

Daily Complaint: California Winter

Daily Drink: 77

Daily Television: Flash Forward

Daily Movie: Love Actually, Again

Tuesday, December 8th

Readers,

Thanks to The Daily Routine's IT department, we are proud to bring you the first Daily Routine post using Google Chrome. This free web browser has finally been released for Mac computers and is highly recommended by our technical experts. Congratulations Google Chrome on your official TDR endorsement. Today I would like to return to a topic on which we have touched previously. However, two recent news stories compelled me to elaborate on one of the largest (literally) issues of our time. Today's Daily Topic: COMMERCIAL SPACE TRAVEL

On Monday, Virgin Galactic unveiled its second commercialized spaceship. Before we delve further into that topic however, let us first consider the sheer absurdity that "galactic" is becoming a legitimate adjective in the commercial realm and is no long associated with science fiction or Buzz Lightyear.

Virgin Galactic, the brainchild of billionaire Sir Richard Branson, was founded in 1999 to explore the possibilities of space tourism. Over the past ten years, they have helped fund various projects of private space flight innovation and development. In 2004, the Virgin Galactic-sponsored ship successfully flew twice to altitudes over 100 km. This was the beginning of Virgin Galactic's physical space program.

With the unveiling of its first commercial spacecraft, Virgin Galactic has forever changed the face of tourism and commerce. Since 2005, Virgin Galactic has been taking reservations for space flight. Now, for $200,000 (one giant check for mankind), those reservations will finally become a reality for over 300 people who have already registered. For the first time, the Final Frontier is one check away.

The second news story of note was on the concept of space elevators and the economic implications. A space elevator, in the simplest terms possible, uses the centrifugal force of the earth to draw an object up a tall, extensive structure and into space. While the concept is still exactly that, a concept, it is estimated that if the physics and sheer monumental size of such a contraption are mastered, it would reduce the cost of getting people and objects to space by 90%.

While there are many skeptics, some physicists and engineers are wholeheartedly convinced that the idea is plausible. Current setbacks include the lack of a strong enough material to anchor the space elevator to the earth. But scientist predict that within a decade technological advancement will have developed such materials. Additionally, many space-elevator entrepreneurs wish to achieve their dream without government help, opening yet another sector of private space economics.

But what are the implications of space tourism and economic development. Consider the thousands of regulations that would be necessary in a new economic realm. In the Earth-centric realm, new taxes and fees would need to be implemented. As absurd as it may sound, space travelers taxes are probably not such a far off possibility. The safety regulations will probably be astronomical (no pun intended. Okay fine, pun intended). The potential for patents will increase exponentially. Galactic Management will become a major in business schools around the world (or out of it).

A more far-out issue would be that of jurisdiction. Will anyone try to stake a claim on space? What are the possibilities for conflict over regions of space and who governs them? Would we need a space passport? On the opposite end of the spectrum, could space become the first utopian and anarchic society, free from government rule and state boundaries? Will it prove to be a modern day New World, open to pilgrims escaping the persecutions and restrictions of modern politics, religion, economics and culture?

Although space colonization is a far off prospect, private space travel is a remarkable development in what will prove to be an important issue of our generation. For those interested in space travel, visit www.virgingalactic.com.

-ROF

Daily Food: Baja Fresh Nacho Burrito

Daily Activity: Booking My Space Flight

Daily Game: Scrabble

Daily Song: Ground Control to Major Tom - David Bowie

Daily Attire: Vote Khazei Button

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Primary Under Way in Race for Kennedy Seat

Daily News No One Should Care About: Lady Gaga Meets the Queen

Daily Life Goal: I Choose to Go to the Moon

Daily Complaint: The Massachusetts Election Turnout

Daily Drink: Water

Daily Television: Family Guy

Daily Movie: Love Actually

Sunday November 22st

Readers,

My burns have healed significantly in the last week. However, I have been hindered significantly by the burns on my wrists and the accompanying bandages. My lawsuit against the candle company is expected to settle out of court for an undisclosed amount of money and from this point on all "Polynesian Pineapple" candles will clearly admonish their users that contents may be extremely hot. My lawsuit against Parker Brothers was thrown out in court but you can't win them all. Enjoy the following pictures of my stint in the hospital.


The moustache is coming in strong and I have uploaded a picture of my progress to my moustache page. There are only seven days left to donate so if you like what you see, go ahead and do so. Or you should look at the picture of me in the wheelchair and give me a donation because you pity me. Even if you do not, it's for cancer and you're a terrible person if you don't. But anyways down to business. Today's Daily Topic: THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE RACE


In August, we at the Daily Routine mourned the loss of a great American, Senator Edward Kennedy. And while his shoes are impossible to fill, there is currently a special election race going on in the great state of Massachusetts. The Democratic Primary will be held on December 8th and the General Senate Election will be held on January 19th. Over the past several weeks, The Daily Routine has studied the candidates closely in an effort to determine who is best suited to represent the mighty Bay State.

Much to my chagrin, there is no candidate that can come close to being the Senator that Ted Kennedy was. His combination of charm, dedication, compassion and strength are qualities found in few on Capitol Hill and are impossible to replicate. Currently, there are four Democrats in the race for the nomination: Martha Coakley, Mike Capuano, Alan Khazei and Stephen Pagliuca.

Coakley, the current Attorney General of Massachusetts and the front-runner in the election seems to be a clear favorite. However, she has drawn criticism in response to her statement that she would not vote for any health care bill with the current ban on federal abortion funding attached. In this publication's opinion, this stubbornness scuttles any willingness to compromise on such a divisive issue as health care reform and furthers the growing partisanship of Washington politics. It seems as though Coakley is running because the spot is open, not because she necessarily wants to fill it.

Capuano, the former Somerville mayor and current Congressman of Massachusetts' 8th District, is running second in the polls, albeit by a significant margin. A staunch liberal who sticks to his guns on the issues he believes in, Capuano is known as a fighter in the House of Representatives. However, his fiery personality seems to go a bit too far sometimes, particularly in an incident described by the Boston Globe in which Mayor Capuano attempted to go after three dogs with a baseball bat after they came too close to his children. While Capuano portrays himself as the experienced Washington politician, he sometimes seems oblivious to the happenings that occur there.

Pagliuca is a self-made millionaire who, among other things, is the co-owner of the Boston Celtics. He made his fortune with the high-powered buy-out firm Bain & Co. where, ironically enough, he worked with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for several years. Pagliuca claims that his knowledge of private equity would enable him to tackle problems such as the financial crisis and health care reform. The businessman has failed to raise much excitement and also drew fire for stating he would be in favor of reinstating the draft if the United States' volunteer army ever proved inadequate.

Alan Khazei seems to be the most overlooked candidate. The son of an Iranian immigrant, Khazei's ambitions for public service began in college where he and his roommate conspired to form a domestic public service organization. While their attempts to pass legislation in the House of Representatives were unsuccessful, Khazei went on to found City Year, a Boston-based service organization that has expanded over the years to include 20 cities and 12,500 volunteers. City Year's successes also partially led to the formation of Americorp, a domestic version of the Peace Corp. During his time as head of City Year, Khazei worked closely with Senator Kennedy on service projects throughout Massachusetts. Khazei originally considered running for Senate in 2004 if John Kerry had been victorious in his bid for the presidency. Additionally, Khazei has refused to accept any campaign donations from lobbyists or Political Action Committees (PACs).

It is for these reasons that the Daily Routine is proud to endorse Alan Khazei in the Massachusetts Special Election. Although Khazei stands about the same on many political issues as most of the other candidates, his passion for public service and his outstanding moral fiber lead us to believe that he could best serve the interests of the state of Massachusetts in the United States Senate. While Khazei stands low in the polls because of his position as a "political outsider," we believe his competency as a politician is equivalent if not superior to that of either Coakley or Capuano.

It is increasingly rare to find a politician that is dedicated so profoundly to helping fellow citizens in a selfless manner and defending the rights that he or she believes all Americans are entitled to. Ted Kennedy was one of these politicians. We believe Alan Khazei can be another.

Regardless of your political preferences or affiliations, I encourage all those eligible to do their civic duty and vote. The democratic process is something that we often take for granted. The recent episodes in Iran and Afghanistan should make us all realize how lucky we are to have a vote that counts.

-ROF

Daily Food: Bagel and Egg Sandwich

Daily Activity: Mario Kart

Daily Song: Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac

Daily Attire: Cardigans

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Kennedy Barred from Communion by Bishop

Daily News No One Should Care About: eBay Outage Halts Holiday Shopping

Daily Life Goal: Elect Alan Khazei

Daily Complaint: Burns

Daily Drink: Gatorade

Daily Television: Family Guy

Daily Movie: State of Play

Saturday November 14th

Hello Readers,
For those of you who don't know, I'm bringing you this Daily Routine from Torrance Memorial Medical Center. This is a first both in my life and the life of the Daily Routine. And while my routines have been anything but daily for the last few hours, I'm doing alright. And this brings us to our Daily Topic: DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE


Okay, to be more specific, don't play with candles, but that just doesn't sound as cool. My hospital journey began early on Friday morning. Unwinding after a stressful week, I joined my roommates in a rousing game of Monopoly around 11pm on Thursday. After being thoroughly and utterly defeated in a two and a half hour game, I was anxious to redeem myself. We began our second game around 2:30 am, and that's when things got interesting.

Throughout the evening, we had been setting the mood for our boardgame with a candle. By the wee hours of the morning, the candle had been reduced largely to molten wax. Aromatic? Yes. Safe? No. As I passed my hand back across the table, my fingers caught the rim of the candle holder and as I flipped the candle towards me, the wax splattered across my wrists and hands.

I jumped up, as the wax burned my skin, cooling in a vicious Jackson Pollock pattern across my arms. Immediately recalling my years of lifeguard training, I ran my hands under cold water and applied ice as I (the dedicated Monopoly player that I am) returned to the game. After several minutes, I realized that this was not your everyday candle-wax-burn accident.

I was escorted to the emergency room and my arms were washed and wrapped. The ER doctor made the decision that I should be transferred to a burn treatment center. At this point, it was 7 am and I had been awake for a good 24 hours. I took my first ever ambulance ride to the Torrance Memorial Medical Center and was admitted with first and second degree burns on the backs of my hands and on my wrists.

After answering a slew of questions, my burns were assessed, wrapped, and I was able to lay back in my hospital bed to contemplate my stupidity. Not having ever been to a hospital, I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out, it's even more boring than it's made out to be, and the food is even worse than that. Fortunately, I'm in the hands of the most capable and caring nurses and an even better girlfriend.

So as I sit here, barely able to type, I have been able to recall some of the more humorous moments of the last two days for your reading pleasure:

- I brutally lost both games of Monopoly, even though I had houses on Boardwalk and Park Place prior to the incident

- The DPS officer who drove me to the hospital told me that he had personal experience with burns since he had been branded for his fraternity. Absolutely insane.

-Because of the placement of my burns, I now have a hospital anklet.

- I managed to still have hair on my arms even after several layers of skin came off. I would recommend laser hair removal over waxing.

- Even though my ambulance driver went to UCLA, I managed to make it to the hospital alive.

- I have told most people that my injuries were the result of a "heated game of Monopoly"

- I have a channel on my TV that only plays scenes and noises of breaking waves and bird noises.

- I had to cancel my Tuesday appointment for a hand model audition

- Even after a shot of morphine, I was able to promote the Daily Routine to the nurses who were washing and dressing my wounds.

- Because I was unable to start as quarterback in USC's Homecoming game today, we are currently losing 21-7

I am scheduled to be discharged on Monday. After that, all cards containing bills over $50 can be sent to 922 W 23rd St. Apt. 204, Los Angeles CA 90007. All others will be returned to sender. More pictures to come. Also, my moustache remains intact. To donate click here.

Daily Food: NOT Hospital Food

Daily Activity: Recuperation

Daily Song: Candle in the Wind - Elton John

Daily Attire: Hospital Gowns

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: 9/11 Trial Poses Unparalleled Legal Obstacles

Daily News No One Should Care About: Palin Faithful Eagerly Await "Going Rogue: Sarah Palin"

Daily Life Goal: Actually Win a Game of Monopoly

Daily Complaint: Seriously?

Daily Drink: Whatever is put into me intravenously

Daily Television: Clearly the Wave Channel

Daily Movie: 16 Candles

Sunday November 1st

Daily Routiners,
I hope that you had a happiest of Halloweens. Unless you attend the University of Oregon. But as November begins, I felt compelled to bring you a new Daily Routine. First, UPDATE: I officially shaved today to begin Movember and let the Stachetasticness begin. I have raised $10 so far for testicular and prostate cancer. If you too want to sponsor my November moustache, click here. Next, I have put off writing about this topic since the beginning of the semester but I felt that I could wait no longer. So without further ado, here is our Daily Topic: TIME TRAVEL


As some of you may know, one of my courses this semester is titled, "Time and Time Travel." Up to this point, the focus has been disappointingly centered on the "Time" and less on the "Time Travel." However, since the midterm two weeks ago, we have moved on to the part of the course that I signed up for.

Lately, we have been discussing the paradoxes of time travel, which present some mind-bendingly difficult questions.

First, there is the question of loops. For example, in 2005 Mary steals John's wallet on the subway. When she reaches in his pocket to take his wallet, her ring falls off. Later that day, John travels back in time to 2003 and notices that this wallet is missing and finds the ring. He sells the ring to a jewelry store to make some money. Later that day, Mary's fiance-to-be walks into the store, buys the ring and later proposes to her. Where does the ring come from?

Time travel also calls into question the possibilities of affecting ones own free will and future. In our studies of an obscure movie called, "Back to the Future," we saw how time travel to the past could affect ones future.

But if I were to travel into the past, is it possible to change anything? If I do something in the past that will profoundly affect my own life, am I actually able to perform that action? Because I already exist as I am in the future to be able to travel back in time. Changing who I am in the past would have to affect who I am in the future, but my future self would be the one changing my past self who will later become my future self. So in the same sort of paradox, who could say what would determine your past, present or future if time travel is possible.

This brings about all sorts of moral and ethical dilemmas, along with the purely physical challenges of traveling time. Would it be possible to change the course of history, to change your own future or the future of others, or is the past, present and future predetermined? Do humans really have free will or are our futures already determined by our natures, our personalities or our surroundings?

Very existential, I know. But if it makes you feel any better, Albert Einstein, among others, doesn't believe that time travel is physically possible. So unless you have a 1982 DeLorean and a flux capacitor, these aren't things you have to worry too much about.

-ROF

Daily Food: Cheese and Crackers

Daily Activity: Shaving

Daily Song: Raindrops - Basement Jaxx

Daily Attire: Post-Halloween Costumes

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: With Karzai, US Faces Weak Partner in Time of War

Daily News No One Should Care About: Microsoft's New Retail Stores Look Just Like Apple Stores

Daily Life Goal: Time Travel, Duh

Daily Complaint: USC Football. Again.

Daily Drink: 7&7

Daily Television: Family Guy

Daily Movie: Oh My God

Sunday October 18th

Hello All,
UPDATE: Some of my more dedicated readers may remember my May 8th Daily Routine posting. If you haven't memorized them all by now, I wrote about the island nation of the Maldives, the threat posed to them by rising sea levels, and the future of their country. The Maldives has the lowest average land height of any country in the world and as sea levels continue to rise the future prospects for their country look bleak. The Maldives' Prime Minister, Mohammed Nasheed, has pledged to become the first carbon neutral country and has also been looking for territory to relocate the country to.

According to an article in yesterday's New York Times, the government held an UNDERWATER meeting and signing of a document which calls on all nations to reduce their carbon emissions. Now many readers may recall that I proposed that the Maldives build the world's first underwater colony. Well if yesterday's meeting wasn't a step in that direction, I don't know what is, and I think I deserve both a Pulitzer Prize in Specialized Reporting for breaking the story here five months ago and a Nobel Peace Prize for my suggestion of an underwater colony. I heard those are pretty easy to get these days. But there are other pressing matters at hand. October is flying by and an even more important month is approaching (November). Not only does November contain Thanksgiving, my third favorite holiday next to Flag Day and International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19th), but this year November has so much more. And that brings us to today's Daily Topic: MOUSTACHES
Unfortunately, I missed this year's World Beard and Moustache Championships in Alaska, which was held back in May. This bi-annual facial hair festival attracts the best in all categories of beards and moustaches. Fortunately, I have over 500 days to prepare for the 2011 competition in Norway.

But this November has been officially designated "Movember," a chance to promote your illustrious 'stache for a good cause. Originally the brain child of a few drunk Aussies in 2003, Movember was established as a way to raise awareness for men's health. This year, the Movember movement has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation to focus specifically on raising awareness and money for Prostate and Testicular Cancer research.

And how exactly does one raise money during Movember? By having people sponsor their moustache team of course. So without further ado, I would like to announce the entry of TEAM STACHETASTIC into the upcoming Movember festivities. And I would like to make two appeals:

First, if anyone would like to join Team Stachetastic, please contact me. You would be required to do two things: 1) on November 1st shave clean and let the stachetasticness begin. 2) spread the word of Team Stachetastic and have as many people donate money as possible. All proceeds will be split between the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Our team website will keep track of our team and individual earnings.

Second, if you are either incapable or unwilling to grow a moustache, donate some money to the cause by visiting Team Stachetastic's page. It's for a good cause and I promise to keep uploading pictures of my moustache progress, however pathetic it may be.

_ROF_

Daily Reading: Held By the Taliban: Seven Months, 10 Days in Captivity (MUST READ)

Daily Food: Apple Pie

Daily Activity: Baking

Daily Song: Mysterious Ways - U2

Daily Attire: Vineyard Vines Belt

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: By Air and Ground, Pakistani Soldiers Penetrate Heartland

Daily News No One Should Care About: "Balloon Boy" Drama Was Staged

Daily Life Goal: Achieve Stachetasticness

Daily Complaint: Mammoth Mountain's New College Student Pass

Daily Drink: Newman's Own Lemonade

Daily Television: Family Guy

Daily Movie: The Hangover

Wednesday October 14th

Readers,
The Daily Routine is back. Due to a rigorous work schedule, four midterms, a weekend in San Francisco, and a weekend of non-H1N1 flu, I have had regrettably little free time for penning my usual loquacious and eloquent posts. And while I do have one midterm remaining (Time and Time Travel), I felt that it was my duty as a responsible procrastinator to bring you an update. I have been meaning to write on this topic for a while, because it is one that deeply upsets me. So without further ado, here is our Daily Topic: THE LIBRARY WITHOUT BOOKS



I have been dreading for a long while the advent of the paperless age. This past summer I first saw the Kindle, the electronic book, in person and something inside of me died. I watched in horror as the press of a button turned a page and new words flickered across the screen.

To me, this is blasphemous. I can't imagine reading a novel off of a screen. I can't imagine not turning paper pages or being able to fold down corners of pages with quotes I wish to remember. Is paper doomed to be rendered obsolete? Is this our future?



Cushing Academy certainly thinks so. This year, the Massachusetts prep school discarded some 20,000 volumes and announced that their library was becoming digital. In addition to purchasing several Kindles, the school is encouraging their students to pursue research and reading online.

When I heard this news, I was thunderstruck. What possible motivation could Cushing have for such a stunt? Could their students be suffering a disproportionate amount of paper cuts? Could their library be so structurally unsound that it couldn't handle the weight of all those volumes? Could they be that desperate for applicants that they needed such publicity?

The sad truth is that Cushing's administration truly believes that the future is digital. As their hollow shell of library is converted into a tech-friendly study center, Cushing bids good-bye to history. But what does the future hold?

While many library books may be outdated, almost all of them contain information or concepts that can be useful to students conducting research. And it's free. While the internet holds incalculable amounts of information, many scholarly articles and sources have limited access or require payment. Many high schools do provide students with access to databases to read such archived articles, but content from published books is difficult to find for free on the internet. By completely eliminating books, Cushing is severely limiting opportunities for its students to conduct research and learning.

While many signs point to a decline in paper newspapers and books, I can only hope that this case is not an indication of things to come. Fortunately, I do not think that most schools are delusional as Cushing. There is value in books and there is an element of mystique and charm that comes with the turning of a paper page. It is something that has survived since ancient times and it would be a shame to lose.
-ROF

Daily Food: PB&J

Daily Activity: Studying, in a Library Filled With Books

Daily Song: Ghosts n' Stuff - Deadmau5

Daily Attire: Rain Gear

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Dow Ends Above 10,000, First Time in Over a Year

Daily News No One Should Care About: Teen Facing Felony Rap for Throwing "Deadly Missile"...Burrito

Daily Life Goal: Never EVER Own a Kindle

Daily Complaint: Demise of Paper

Daily Drink: Gatorade

Daily Television: Modern Family

Daily Movie: Charlie Wilson's War

Wednesday September 23rd

Hello Readers,
I, as well as many of my schoolmates, have experienced the cruel and abrupt acceleration of school work over the weekend. The first three weeks of introductions, readings and lectures has resulted in week of assignments, quizzes, tests and papers. So what better way to procrastinate studying for my Leadership and Diplomacy test than to write a Daily Routine? And what better way for you to procrastinate than by reading it? Foolproof. And while I could write about President Obama's attempts to restart Israeli/Palestinian peace talks, Colonel Qaddafi's nonsensical tirade at the United Nations General Assembly, or the California wildfires, there is one timely event that is close to my heart (or liver). And that brings us to today's Daily Topic: GUINNESS



Tomorrow, at 17:59 Greenwich (or Guinness) Main Time, tens of thousands of people will raise their harp-adorned pint glasses in the worldwide celebration of Guinness' 250 anniversary. The appropriate toast, according to the Guinness ad campaign, is simply "to Arthur," in honor of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the famous brew.

According to the Guinness website (don't tell them I lied about my age to access it), the event commemorates the day in 1759 that Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin. Let's pause for a moment and consider that statement.

A 9,000 year lease. This raises several questions in my mind. First, exactly how drunk did these countrymen of my great-grandparents have to be to draw up that contract? Guinness agreed to pay around $66 per year rent on the property, with an initial deposit of around $100. My second question: how confident do you have to be in your product to sign a 9,000 year lease? With this year's anniversary, he has only reached the end of the first 1/36th of his lease. Finally, was Guinness actually a brilliant businessman and is the Guinness brewery still paying only $66 a year?

So what makes Guinness so special? Well, not being of age and therefore unable to drink Guinness, I cannot tell you firsthand (cough). However, one of the secrets of Guinness' uniqueness is, quite literally, a simple element. When poured, Guinness Draught is infused with nitrogen which gives the beer a thick head and the microbubbles that sometimes appear to be flowing downward.

The dark beer also has some curious health properties. It contains less calories per pint than a glass of orange juice, milk, or a regular draft beer. Additionally, it contains antioxidants which slow down the deposition of cholesterol on artery walls. In the 1920s Guinness ran an advertising campaign which claimed, "Guinness is Good for You." Understandably, this slogan had to be abandoned several decades ago to prevent lawsuits.

The serving process is also an important part of a proper pint of Guinness. The company maintains that a "perfect pour" should last approximately 119.53 seconds (approximately). The loading screens on their website also cleverly load to 119.5 rather than 100%. Additionally, the company sells a special contraption which, when you place a pint glass of specially canned Guinness on it, releases an ultrasonic pulse through the beer, releasing the nitrogen and creating the creamy, out-of-the-keg head.

So if you're in the mood for some afternoon drinking tomorrow (depending on your time zone), raise a pint to Arthur and enjoy a taste of history.

-ROF

Daily Food: Steak and Cheese

Daily Activity: Heritage Appreciation

Daily Song: Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Daily Attire: Nantucket Tank Top

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Obama Makes Gains at U.N. on Iran and Nuclear Weapons

Daily News No One Should Care About: Qaddafi Delivers Rambling Diatribe

Daily Life Goal: Tour The Guinness Factory in Dublin Sometime in the next 8,750 years

Daily Complaint: IR 303 Test

Daily Drink: Guinness, It's Good For You

Daily Television: The Office

Daily Movie: Beerfest

Sunday September 20th

Readers,
The Daily Routine is back with a new installment. Regretfully, I have been swept up in the perpetual busy-ness of being a good student/intern and it has left me surprisingly little free time to write. I have even had so much work to do that I'm behind on my Facebooking, a startling turn around from the summer months. But now that I have a break from hundreds of mortgage modification cases or mind-bending questions of the possibilities of time travel, I am back to bring you the most pressing issues facing the human race. And that brings us to our Daily Topic: KILLER SEAWEED



About a week ago, a truck in France careened of the road and into a brick wall. The driver had died at the wheel from a most unlikely cause: killer seaweed.

The northwestern French town of Saint-Michel-en-Greve has been plagued by massive amounts of a type of sea lettuce called Ulva lactuca washing up on shore. The seaweed, when it decays, releases a poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas that can be fatal to humans.

In addition to the truck driver, the murderous aquatic vegetation has claimed the life of a horse which was being ridden across the nearby sand. The unconscious rider was dragged to safety before he inhaled too many of the toxic fumes.

The truck driver had been involved a government clean-up project to remove the seaweed from the beach. His truck was loaded with hundreds of pounds of seaweed and he had not been wearing a mask or gloves when handling the seaweed. French environmental authorities found that the concentration of the gas could be "deadly in a few minutes."

What most news agencies didn't report is that the seaweed was not just a freak of nature. Contrary to popular belief, the thousands of tons of vegetation was a carefully planted (no pun intended) al-Qaeda terrorist attack. In Osama bin Laden's latest video he took credit for the death and warned the United States infidels that the shores of the Eastern Seaboard were next.

The US terror alert level has subsequently been raised to orange and Glenn Beck has been the first to declare President Obama soft on seaweed defense.

Stay on your toes,
-ROF

Daily Food: Yard House Sliders

Daily Activity: Homework

Daily Song: I Wanna Know Now - Bob Marley and MGMT Remix

Daily Attire: Boat Shoes

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Obama to Meet With Mideast Leaders in Bid to Restart Talks

Daily News No One Should Care About: Ex-Stripper Says Priest Fathered Child

Daily Life Goal: Go One Season Without Losing to an Unranked PAC-10 Team

Daily Complaint: USC Football

Daily Drink: Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Daily Television: The Office

Daily Movie: Boondock Saints

Monday September 7th

Readers,
When I returned to school, I was excited for the endless amount of things I could accomplish with a four day weekend and two days of class. However, in a sad and unfortunate turn of events (9-5, unpaid internship Mondays and Fridays), my four day weekend became a mere two days (college blasphemy) and the rest of my hours have become consumed with school work, exercise, and, eh, socializing. The obvious negative externality of this now rigorous schedule (and the fact that I stopped bringing my computer to class) is a lack of time to write Daily Routines. But I promise to try my hardest to keep you entertained. So without further ado we will proceed to today's Daily Topic: GREAT WHITES ON CAPE COD



For my West Coast readers who sadly lack knowledge of East Coast geography, Cape Cod is the extension of southeastern Massachusetts that extends into the Atlantic Ocean in a hook shape. And on the southeastern corner of Cape Cod lies my favorite seaside town of Chatham. Besides being home to the world's best salt water taffy, Chatham provides a summer getaway spot for tens of thousands of vacationers.

But Chatham, and its Lighthouse Beach in particular, has had a rough couple of weeks. The last time I saw Lighthouse Beach was on CNN while residents and vacationers alike prepared for a week of squalls with the approach of Hurricane Bill. With rip tides and high surf warnings, lifeguards and beach officials closed the beaches to swimmers.

Now Chatham's beaches are closed again. On Saturday, as many as five great white sharks were spotted within 75 yards of the coast, forcing thousands of Labor Day-weekenders out of the water. Two of the sharks were tagged by marine biologists, as to track their migratory patterns.

Great whites, one of the world's most dangerous and predatory sharks, are rarely sighted off of the New England coast. But as you may know from watching all 168 hours of Shark Week, shark attacks are actually very rare. And while you may hear about them more often than lightning strikes, shark attacks are literally several hundreds or even thousands of times less likely. Massachusetts has tallied only four shark attacks since 1670. A statistic that really only makes you wonder who was recording shark attacks in the 1670s.

Now you may know all of this, but what you don't know was that I was nearly the fifth victim of this Bay State statistic. In the last week of July, while on a short vacation to the Cape, I was enjoying an early morning, high tide, skim and body board session. The waves, a modest 2-4 feet high, had a beautiful righthand break and the beach was peaceful and empty.

Suddenly, a lifeguard ATV came barreling down the beach, stopping in the sand in front of where I was in the water. They blared their siren and waved me in. I paddled in and they informed me that they had spotted a shark by the buoy up the beach, just a bit further out than where I had been, and it had been swimming along the beach towards me. For some inexplicable reason, they told me that until it was confirmed, I could go back out but they just wanted to inform me. I decided that I valued my limbs and stayed on shore.

And while the statistics are low, anyone who has ever seen the Planet Earth about Shallow Seas has to be weary of great whites. Because nothing makes you more scared about a 1 in 11 million chance of being attacked than seeing a sea lion bitten in half and slowed down 64 times. Cue Jaws music.
-ROF

Daily Food: Burritos

Daily Activity: Checking My Swagg

Daily Song: Pursuit of Happiness (Feat. MGMT and Ratatat) - KiD CuDi

Daily Attire: USC Attire

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Fake Afghan Poll Sites Favored Karzai, Officials Say

Daily News No One Should Care About: NFL's Merriman arrested, accused of choking Tila Tequila

Daily Life Goal: Never Work on Labor Day Again

Daily Complaint: Working on Labor Day

Daily Drink: Jamba Juice

Daily Television: Planet Earth

Daily Movie: Friday Night Lights

Daily Brush With Fame: Partying with the P E Boyz

Thursday August, 27th

Hello Readers,
First I must acknowledge the loss of one of the greatest US Senators of all time and the last member of the great triumvirate of America's most influential political family, Ted Kennedy. Senator Kennedy represented the fiery, compassionate, and honorable qualities that most of us can only hope to one day have. His bipartisanship and his dedication to causes that he so dearly believed in were characteristics of his job and of his life that all US Senators should strive to embody. As a citizen of Massachusetts, an American, and someone who has always admired the values and the drive of the Kennedy family, I am deeply saddened at this loss. Ted, thank you for your service and you will be missed.

The first week of classes at USC is done and despite rigorous hours, sweltering heat, spastic girls on bicycles and one heck of a class about logic and time travel, I have survived (almost) unscathed. I DID manage to get my bike (locked) stolen out of my apartment building (also locked) courtyard before I could even go to one class. That was a nice welcome to the neighborhood. But with the start of classes comes the unavoidable interactions with all sorts of characters, proof of the diversity that a large university provides. Which brings us to today's Daily Topic: THAT KID



I have compiled a short list of "those kids" who will pop up without fail in almost every one of your classes. Although it may be slightly stereotypical, it is surprisingly accurate and are based on actual students in my classes.

First, there's the overly-motivated, overachiever. This person probably spent their summer mastering their third language, working in an Indian orphanage, has color-coded notes and an overly highlighted textbook. They jump at the chance to answer any question (even the rhetorical ones) and haven't missed a professor's office hours ever. The balance their time between an unpaid internship for a nonprofit organization, a volunteer position at a nearby school, two honor societies and an environmental club. Sit as far away as possible.

Next, there's the international student who you always wonder how they possibly learn anything given their seemingly limited grasp on the English language. Although these students are remarkably intelligent, they seem to struggle immensely to answer any question strictly on a grammatical and vocabulary basis. It's hard enough for me to understand what the professors are saying, who knows how they do it.

Third, there's the kid from the Asian fraternity. Sporting at least two Chinese character tattoos, spiked hair and a tank top, this too-cool-for-school kid spends all class looking at websites of sports cars. Outside of class, he can be found at the gym or riding around campus on his BMX bike.

Fourth, there is the actor. This kid's parents pay $50,000 a year for his theater degree. All he brings to class is an oversize Moleskine, and his absurdly large sunglasses, which he wears throughout the entire class while scribbling down his every thought, presumably to adapt into a mediocre screenplay later in life. Generally sporting a white v-neck t-shirt and one of those beanies, he sits in the back and makes sarcastic remarks every once and a while. Teachers loathe him.

Fifth, there is the athlete. Even though I know several intelligent athletes, there are some that are as dumb as rocks. ALWAYS wearing athletic department-issued sweats, they carry one notebook, take no notes, yet due to vast study files, answer keys and complimentary tutoring, they manage to pull off surprisingly decent grades. Either going to or coming from practice or the weight room, these athletes manage to squeeze in time for class, yet a chosen few will make several times the amount of money that most of us will ever make.

Lastly, there is the pompous intellectual who has made it his daily goal to stump the professor. Asking the most obscure questions imaginable, this kid usually has a beard and, although extremely intelligent, is utterly intolerable. Whether they are questioning the professor about whether Newton considered the movement of water molecules in his "bucket theory" and definition of absolute motion, or the last four leaders of Uganda, they won't stop until they have left the professor without an answer. For the rest of the class they will sit smugly, ignoring the looks of disgust from everyone else in the classroom

-ROF

Daily Food: Honey Bunches of Oats

Daily Activity: I have a job now

Daily Song: This Must Be The Place - Miles Fisher

Daily Attire: SAE Fall Rush Shirt (It's Like Those Shirts From The Team That Didn't Win The Super Bowl)

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Russia and Ukraine in Intensifying Standoff

Daily News No One Should Care About: Pot Found in Jackson's Bedroom

Daily Life Goal: Get a New Bike

Daily Complaint: 9 AM Internship

Daily Drink: Water

Daily Television: MSNBC's "The Kennedy Brothers"

Sunday August 23rd

Avast,

Well readers, the summer has come to a close. Tomorrow, college students across the land will shoulder up their back packs and sleepily drag their feet to their morning classes. I, however, given my rigorous schedule of two days of class per week, will not. What shenanigans shall tomorrow hold? Only time will tell. But although I, as are we all, am weary to begin classes, being back at school for the past week and half has proven a relaxing experience.

But being back at college also means leaving the warm comfort of home where all necessities and luxuries are close within reach and returning to a life of scrimping, saving, scavengering and sometimes, improvising. As a poor college student, I sometimes don't have the pleasure of having a tool for every job. How I have survived the last week without a power mixer, a circular saw, a candle-extinguisher, a magic duster and a lawn mower, I will never know. But the beauty of such a situation is that it spurs the spirit of improvisation that lies deep within every college student. And that's why today's Daily Topic is: IMPROVISATIONS FOR LIFE IN COLLEGE



I have compiled a short list of several basic household items that can easily serve two or more purposes for a college student in need. And they are:

1. Ever feel the need to wash that spot right in the middle of your back? A handy toilet brush can easily double as a back scrubber in your shower, and you don't have to walk that far to get it!

2. Chef's knife as a straight razor. Razor blades are expensive. Save your money for things that matter. Like beer. Perfect your straight razor technique on you and then charge your roommates for a hot shave.

3. Toilet paper as a notebook. Don't have time to pick up a notebook for class? Bring a roll of toilet paper and give yourself a never ending scroll to take notes on. Jack Kerouac wrote "On the Road" on hundreds of sheets of paper taped together. Same principle. Just remember not to mix up your rolls before your midterms.

4. A bath towel makes a great bed sheet. Sure, they are a bit shorter than the average human but who actually sleeps lying down perfectly straight? Curl up under your towel and you're set to jump in the shower as soon as you wake up.

5. House cleaners are expensive. If you want to clean up after a party, find one of the many nice people who live on the streets and offer him all of your cans from the night before in exchange for a bit of cleaning. Be sure to let him know he is welcome to finish what's left in all of them.

6. You can never have too many cups. In fact, cups are really all you need. Do you know what you can't eat out of a cup? Nothing. Scrambled eggs, pasta, chips and bagel bites (the staples of any college campus) can all be easily eaten from cups. Skip the plates and bowls and even silverware. Just fill up a cup and drink away.

7. Save on your cell phone bills by rigging an elaborate tin can phone system between your room and the rooms around you. Also, master Morse code to cut down on your amount of text messages.

8. Finally, food is just so expensive. Do you know how many Pabst Blue Ribbons it takes to get your daily 2000 calories? 13. How perfect is that math? It's also perfect as a substitute for milk in your cereal.

-ROF

Daily Food: Subway

Daily Activity: Swimming

Daily Song: Spinning Compass - Langhorne Slim

Daily Attire: Theta Hat

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Asia's Recovery Highlights China's Ascendency

Daily News No One Should Care About: Miley Cyrus Spotted "Full-On Making Out"

Daily Life Goal: Take Impeccable Notes, Maintain a 4.0 Average While Working Out Every Day and All That Other Beginning of the School Year Nonsense

Daily Complaint: The Red Sox

Daily Drink: Efujon Energy Drink

Daily Television: Entourage

Daily Movie: Who Killed the Electric Car?

Daily Book: Spectrum of Terror - R. Hrair Dekmejian

Tuesday August 18th

Readers,
Sincerest of apologies for my week-long hiatus from the Daily Routine. I was in the process of transporting myself and just over 100 pounds of my possessions across the country and moving into a new apartment. After four days, three, thirty-mile treks to Ikea and a very productive Costco run, the new room has taken shape. And I can now consider myself an expert in the assembly of flat-packed furniture and space management. But while exploring the blue and gold Swedish home goods paradise is entertaining, there is work to be done on the Daily Routine. So without further ado, here is today's Daily Topic: COLLEGE TOURS



While the coming academic year approaches for most college students, a vastly more ominous year is ahead for most high school seniors. Over the next few months they must choose, examine, research, visit and apply to college.

And there is perhaps no better way (at least that you can remember) to get a feel for a college than the traditional tour around the campus. And while applying to a school is difficult and stressful, so is being a tour guide. They are challenged with the task of remembering and reciting hundreds of facts, answering tough questions from over-protective mothers, and doing it all while walking backwards.

But some schools have decided that this might just be asking too much from their students. Several colleges and universities have attempted to overhaul their tours, requiring less knowledge of dates and history and, of course, having their guides walk forwards.

A recent New York Times article highlighted Hendrix College in Arkansas as one of the schools that has attempted such a restructuring of its program. Senior Katie Rice admitted that she had no idea when the school was founded. "I just tell my groups it was a long time ago [1876]." And then there is that whole pesky walking-in-reverse business. "Look at these shoes. They are very basic sandals. I fall just walking forwards."

Now, call me old-fashioned, but if I operated a university, I might select ambassadors to represent the school that had at least some general knowledge and were capable of performing simple everyday tasks such as, say, walking. And what if the tour guide isn't able to tell me exactly how many blue-light emergency phones are on the campus and their exact locations?

Unacceptable.

And what will happen when the tour guide can't make an introductory ice-breaking joke about falling backwards over any number of objects on the campus? Tours will be condemned to forward marches of awkward silence, only exacerbated by the fact that you won't be able to hear anything a forward-walking tour guide will say.

So, prospective students, don't be fooled by the shallow ploys of these colleges to appear "hip" and "more friendly." Demand the best and don't settle for a school where the tour guide isn't able to tell you the exact number of volumes in the library, or the total tonnage of the weights in the gym, or do it while walking backwards in a perfectly straight line. You're better than that.
-ROF

Daily Food: http://cookingwithandre.blogspot.com

Daily Activity: Blogging

Daily Song: Invisible Touch - Genesis

Daily Attire: Nantucket Tank Top

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Iran Says it is Ready For Nuclear Talks

Daily News No One Should Care About: Brett Farve Ending Retirement (Again)

Daily Life Goal: Eat, Sleep

Daily Complaint: No One Else Lives Here Yet

Daily Drink: André

Daily Television: Weeds

Daily Movie: American Psycho

Daily Book: Spectrum of Terror - R. Hrair Dekmejian

Monday August 10th

Readers,
My birthday has arrived and ushered in a new decade of my life: my 20s. This both excites and worries me. It excites me because it seems that older people always reflect on their 20s as the best time of their lives. It worries me that I only have 10 years to make the most of it. But no matter what, I can walk around with just a touch bit more of entitlement knowing that my age begins with a 2 rather than a 1. Exciting things lay ahead this next decade. Legal drinking, renting a car, marriage, being elected the youngest Congressman in United States history, are just a few things that come to mind. I love birthdays, especially mine. But being the cynic that I am, I am choosing to profile the one and only aspect of birthdays that I do not enjoy. Which bring us to our Daily Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY



When I say Happy Birthday, I am referring to what the Guinness Book of World Records claims to be the most famous song in the world. The song, written by two Kentucky sisters, both kindergarten teachers, originally as "Good Morning to You," was copyrighted in 1935 and the Birth Tree Group Limited was formed solely to protect and enforce the song's copyrighted status. Now I had known at one point that the song was copyrighted, but seeing it credited recently in a movie made me do some research and some thinking. In 1998, Time-Warner purchased the rights to the Birthday Song for $25 million and it is estimated that the song brings in about $2 million in royalties. This six note, six word song makes $2 million a YEAR. First, I am not sure whether to be appalled or utterly impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of the song. Second, I have decided it's the former. Third, can you really say that the song is copyrightable if 1/7 of the words in the song change each time it is sung? I vote no. Lastly, I have decided that I am rather looking forward to my 41st birthday in 2030 when the copyright on Happy Birthday runs out and I can finally be rightfully sung a true and proper birthday song at a restaurant without any legality issues whatsoever.
20
-ROF

Daily Food: Birthday Cake

Daily Activity: Celebrating, clearly

Daily Song: The Birthday Song

Daily Attire: Birthday Suit

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: It's My 20th Birthday

Daily News No One Should Care About: It's Aly Bullock's Half Birthday

Daily Life Goal: Have Marylin Monroe Sing Me Happy Birthday

Daily Complaint: 365 Long, Long Days

Daily Drink: Coke

Daily Television: Entourage

Daily Book: Woodstock Revisited - Susan Reynolds

Friday August 7th

Hello Readers,
This is a very short TDR update but it was just too good to pass up. Stay tuned for a longer post later today or tomorrow. However, I stumbled upon this video from a town hall meeting on health care in Florida. After several hundred people were turned away at the door due to fire codes, the attendees became raucous and unruly. Several scuffles broke out and the police were called in to maintain order. Many of them, protesting health care reform, said they were spurred into action by conservative radio show host and Fox News commentator Glenn Beck. Check out the video below and especially note the old guy around 4:00 minutes who attempts to take the door down with his cane. Clearly he has been reading The Daily Routine and picked up some Cane-Fu tactics.
-ROF

Monday August 3rd

Hello Readers,
The birthday countdown is at 7/372 days. Groovy. Normally this summer I have struggled to find TDR-worthy stories, events and topics but today was quite different. There was the encouragingly high close of the financial markets. There was Plaxico Burress who, after shooting himself in the leg, was indicted on criminal possesion of a firearm and reckless endangerment and faces up to 15 years in prison. As if accidentally shooting yourself wasn't bad enough. But there was one story so outrageous and utterly unbelievable that it trumped all others today. And that brings us to today's Daily Topic: UNEMPLOYABLE GRADUATE SUES COLLEGE



In an incomprehensible move, Monroe College graduate Trina Thompson is suing her alma mater for the cost of her tuition because she has been unable to find a job since her graduation. The more I read, the more angry I got. Ms. Thompson filed suit for $70,000, the cost of her tuition, and $2000 for the stress that her three-month job search has caused her. She alleges that the job-placement office of Monroe College did not try hard enough to find her a career and that they favor students with a 4.0 gpa rather than her 2.7. Ms. Thompson believes that any REASONABLE employee would jump at the opportunity to hire a graduate with her GPA and "solid attendance record." She also encourages other graduates to file lawsuits against their respective colleges because the fact that a four-year graduate can't find a career in three months during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, "doesn't make any sense." No, Ms. Thompson, what doesn't make sense is why you are wasting your time filing a frivolous lawsuit and not still looking for a job. Across the country, tens of thousands of graduates and undergraduates have struggled to find jobs, including your faithful writer. But since you are resorting to legal action, why don't you also consider some of the following. First, you should sue your corner store for not selling you the winning lottery ticket and absolving you from the stress and pain of a job search. Next, you should sue all of the people hired to fill the jobs that you applied for because they are smarter and more qualified than you. Then you should sue the United States government for enacting policies which led to the economic downturn. Don't forget to file suit against your high, middle and elementary schools for not providing you with enough education to get into a better college or at least to do better in the one you attended. Then you should sue Santa Clause for not bringing you a pony when you were 10, even though you claim that the Macy's Santa Clause's promise to deliver one constitutes a verbal contract. Finally, you should sue yourself for being a complete and utter imbecile and for relying on someone else to find you a job. All I have left to say is, watch out USC, because if I don't come out in 2011 with a six figure salary in my first month, I'm coming after you for all that you have.
-ROF

Daily Food: Pasta with Feta and Sauteed Garlic

Daily Activity: Lawsuits

Daily Song: Octopus' Garden - The Beatles

Daily Attire: Hawaiian Legends Tank

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Investment Banking Buoys HSBC and Barclays Profit

Daily News No One Should Care About: College Grad Can't Find Job, Wants $$$ Back

Daily Life Goal: Find Trina Thompson and Talk Some Sense Into Her

Daily Complaint: No Wind

Daily Drink: Coke

Daily Television: Shark Week

Daily Book: Profiles in Courage by John F. Kenedy

Sunday August 2nd

After a midsummer break, the Daily Routine is back. I am home from the scenic New England paradise that is Cape Cod and have returned to the comfort of an internet-accessible home. And now that it is the month of August, I feel it is acceptable to begin a countdown until my 20th birthday: 8 days (or more importantly 373). Stay tuned and get your shopping done. Anyhow, over the past week I have been watching the FINA Swimming World Championships. And while I have done so, I have had this Daily Topic in mind for some time: THE YEAR THAT SWIMMING WASN'T SWIMMING.



Last August, the swimming world reached an all time high with Michael Phelps' 8-gold medal performance. With his historic performance at the Beijing Olympics, Phelps brought swimming into the limelight and gave it significant recognition in the United States and around the world. Since then however, swimming has suffered from one of the most controversial and arguably disgraceful repercussions technology. Before the Beijing Olympics, there was much press coverage of the revolutionary Speedo LZR suit worn by many of the athletes. The LZR introduced the latest in suit technology with a lightweight fabric, bonded, not woven, seams, and significantly less drag. But after the Olympics, Speedo's rivals scrambled to design a suit that could be even faster. The results have proved tumultuous, controversial, and even detrimental to the sport of swimming. In early 2009, Italian suitmaker Jaked and France's Arena introduced new suits that made a splash (no pun intended) in the swimming world. These suits, made fully from polyurethane, give the wearer a profound advantage in buoyancy and are essentially impervious to water. The Speedo LZR is a textile suit with polyurethane panels but is less than 50% polyurethane. The fully polyurethane suits, the Arena X-Glide and the Jaked suit, have, in the minds of many, transformed and denegrated the sport of swimming. At the recent FINA World Swimming Championships, close to 45 world record marks were lowered from their previous marks. Perhaps the most shocking was China's Lin Zhang (wearing a Jaked suit) shattering famed distance swimmer Grant Hackett's 800 meter freestyle record, which had stood for five years, by six seconds, a vast amount in a swimming race.
As world records fell left and right, there was a stronger and stronger outcry from the swimming community for action to be taken. FINA, the international governing body of swimming, had talked of banning the suit, either in January or in April of next year. Amidst the falling world records, a few swimmers, including Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte refused to wear the new suits. When FINA talks began to lean towards an April/May ban, Phelps' coach Bob Bowman threatened to pull him out of any international competitions until the suit was banned. Three of Phelps' world records were broken at the World Championships, two by swimmers in the new suits. Germany's Paul Biedermann, who both beat Phelps in the 200 freestyle and broke his world record, openly admitted that the suit gave him an advantage and hoped that they were banned in the future so that he could challege Phelps on a more even playing field. FINA announced yesterday that a ban will be in effect January 1st of 2010. But the damage is done. World records have been broken by swimmers that, likely, will never be able to swim that fast again. The names of the swimming elite, like Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe, have been practically erased from the swimming record board. Some have proposed that these records be asterisked or even seperately recorded. However, it is now difficult to record, especially at lower levels of swimming, who was and was not wearing a polyurethane suit. This year, the year that swimming wasn't swimming, has caused irreparable damage to the sport that will take several years to undo. In my mind, this year should be regarded largely a fluke and the 2010 Olympic trials and London Olympics will be the true tests for swimming. Hopefully the sport will be able to regain its credibility and swimming's true champions will be recognized.
-ROF

Daily Food: Batter Blaster

Daily Activity: Lounging

Daily Song: This Must Be The Place - Talking Heads

Daily Attire: Boxers

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Phelps Grabs Record in 100 Butterfly

Daily News No One Should Care About: Endeavour Returns to Earth

Daily Life Goal: Buy a Jaked Suit and Break a World Record Before January 1st

Daily Complaint: Polyurethane Suits

Daily Drink: Coke

Daily Television: FINA Swimming World Championships, X Games

Daily Book: Profiles in Courage by John F. Kenedy