As a former wrestler, and an all-conference one at that (gots to throw that part in of course), I approach this story with a high level of carefulness. As is being widely reported (more then likely do to the distasteful nature of the story) high school wrestling in Minnesota has been shut down until February 6th. Why? Well there's been a widespread herpes outbreak:
The Minnesota State High School League banned competitions and direct contact between wrestlers in practice until Feb. 6 after 24 cases of herpes gladiatorum were reported by 10 teams. The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact, and symptoms include lesions on the face, head and neck.
The suspension is meant to control the current outbreak, allow time to diagnose new cases and prevent disqualifications at the state tournament, scheduled for Feb. 28-March 3.
The Minnesota Department of Health has been tracking the virus, caused by herpes simplex Type 1, the same strain that causes cold sores. Officials first became aware of the outbreak at a tournament in Rochester in late-December.
Now that's a bit of a nightmare. Thankfully I never got the herp during my wrestling days but there were always stories circulating amongst the community about guys/teams/places that were known to either have the herp or give it to you some how (it was never really clear exactly how).
My junior year of high school our team was struck by an outbreak of ring worm due to a mat at a rival school (which shall not be named) that had not been cleaned properly. Ring worm is nothing like the herp (don't worry ladies) but its still pretty disgusting for the time you have it (though highly contagious its cured relatively easily and goes away, unlike the herp). The point is that skin rashes/diseases are fairly common in wrestling do to the nature of the sport (lots of touching) and it sucks for these guys that they were unlucky enough to get the herp. Thats really all I have to say, other then good luck with all that. Glad I made it out unscathed.
Nothing really new to report/write/comment/show so why not resort to that old standby: posting a clip from the Office. This is one of my favorites. Ah diversity.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K-5tlE_KCM&eurl=[/youtube]
Before landing my current job (or, more accurately my current two jobs) I was like hundreds of other suckers trying to get a job in D.C. I'd find postings on various websites (everyone knows the ones) and send out my resume/cover letter in a hopeless attempt to get hired. This process worked in getting me exactly no interviews/opportunities, mostly because my resume was probably one of hundreds being flooded in and the whole things stupid anyway, its all about who you know (luckily, despite myself, it turns out I do know people, hence the current job).
So why am I bringing this up now, when I already got a good job? Because I just checked my email and found a message from a place (that will go unnamed) that I had applied for a job at SIX MONTHS AGO! And all the thing said was that they had gotten my resume/application and were in the process of reviewing it. Fantastic. If this is standard operating procedure then I should be getting hundreds of emails in the next few days/weeks from people saying they got my resume that I sent them months ago. This people, is why looking for a job in general, and in D.C. specifically, blows. The End.
I've long been an aficionado of Jumbo Slice in Adams Morgan. Why, just this past weekend I enjoyed a delicious slice as I stumbled my way home Friday night at 3 in the morning. There's other late night food alternatives in AM but Jumbo Slice has always been near and dear to my heart (mostly because its located on my usual walk home. Also I like the disco ball. Oh, and I'm a master at not having to wait in line.). That might change though with the introduction of hot dogs into the equation.
A new late night hot dog place, M’Dawg Haute Dogs, is opening open at 2418 18th St and really this is just perfect. First its very close to where I work on Saturdays (and where I generally go out if I'm ever in AM socially, which admittedly is quite rare) and second I happen to love hot dogs. This edition to late night eating is likely more then likely going to seriously fuck with my digestive system but I'm willing to make the sacrifice in the pursuit of deliciousness. What I'm really looking forward to is attempting a double; a tasty sausage AND a jumbo slice, all in the same walk home. Should be fun.
(via Best Bites Blog)
After borrowing her idea I would be remiss if I didn't then, in turn, link to Jill at Feminste's Friday Random Ten.
Did you know you can bet on how long Billy Joel will take to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl? I'm not sure exactly why I didn't know that but I didn't. Apparently Bodog.com has the over/under at 1 minute 44 seconds, which is fairly long. Deadspin spins (ha) this as a Billy Joel singing the anthem story but I'm much more intrigued by the betting aspect. Winning that little wager would be a nice way of kicking off a pretty big betting day. My gambling friends, feel free to weigh in in the comments (here's looking at you The Cooler and Don Magic Juan). Anyone done for a little side bet on how long it takes Billy Joel to belt it out? Daddy needs a new pair of shoes.
(via Deadspin)
At some point I'm planning on going into depth about my ongoing boxing experience but as I feel under the weather today I'll post this video which does a pretty good job summarizing what boxing has been like for me.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmi2KJm2bNE[/youtube]
Only Gilbert Arenas is cool enough to pull off a non-weird mugshot (from last summer's arrest in Miami). I'd give anything to get my high school mugshot.
(via Dan Steinberg)
I would be remiss if I didn't note the fact that my boy Gilbert was made an All-Star starter by the fans. He's more then deserving (especially considering he was competing against that tool Vince Carter) and I can only imagine what kind of show he'll put on in Vegas. From Ivan Carter's write-up of the news:
"A few years ago I was taking ballots from stores and filling them out myself," said Arenas, who is on pace to average a career-high 29.7 points per game. "I probably filled out 50,000 of them and I had like 52,000 votes that year. So to be voted in by the fans is just unbelievable. I have fans now and that's what it is. It means there are some Agent Zero lovers out there. It's just cool to see things now that I used to see happen for other players."
Good I love that guy. And yeah, Caron Butler should definitly be added to the squad and for that matter Jamison has a solid case as well. The Wizards do have the best record in the East. Hopefully Eddie Jordan gets to coach the team too.
I don't have the stomach to even attempt to talk about Dinesh D’Souza's latest book (just thinking about it makes me gag) but needless to say (then why am I saying it?) its trash on a level with Ann Coulter and the rest of that ilk. Just because I don't want to review it doesn't mean other's haven't. Here's a passage from Alan Wolfe's review that I think sums up my feelings quite nicely:
At one point in “The Enemy at Home,” D’Souza appeals to “decent liberals and Democrats” to join him in rejecting the American left. Although he does not name me as one of them, I sense he is appealing to people like me because I write for The New Republic, a liberal magazine that distances itself from leftism. So let this “decent” liberal make perfectly clear how thoroughly indecent Dinesh D’Souza is. Like his hero Joe McCarthy, he has no sense of shame. He is a childish thinker and writer tackling subjects about which he knows little to make arguments that reek of political extremism. His book is a national disgrace, a sorry example of a publishing culture more concerned with the sensational than the sensible. People on the left, especially those who have been subjects of D’Souza’s previous books, will shrug their shoulders at his latest screed. I look forward to the reaction from decent conservatives and Republicans who will, if they have any sense of honor, distance themselves, quickly and cleanly, from the Rishwain research scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Amen brother, amen. For further entertainment involving D'Souze looking like a fool, I refer you to this video of his appearance on the Colbert Report (via Andrew Sullivan).