In late January, there was an episode of The West Wing in which a nuclear power plant in California had a problem that required radioactive steam to be released. Thinking of it a month later, the details are fuzzy, but one thing I had made a note of was that during a shot of Republican presidential candidate Arnold Vinnick, who hails from California, there was a placard behind him related to his campaign. Though I can’t find an example on The West Wing -- not even in the candidate pages, the placard looked surprisingly like what you see at the Clinton Foundation’s site -- the starry circle in the upper left corner of the page. For that matter, it looks a little like the flag of the European Union.
The circle of stars is simple enough, and I could be mis-remembering the Vinnick logo, but if nothing else, I chuckled at the possibility that the producers of the show were subtly pointing to a Democratic president with their Republican candidate.
For what it’s worth, I don’t care which candidate wins in the show. When John Spencer died unexpectedly, it meant the end of one of my favorite characters, Leo McGarry. Then, when the producers announced this would be the final season, it made the victorious candidate almost a moot point. Sure, there are questions of what it would mean to the “Bartlet legacy,” but it’s just a TV show. I’m not going to get wistful over something like that. I’m going to enjoy the rest of the series (which should never have been moved to Sundays, but that’s a whole other argument I don’t care to go into), and then I’ll move on to something else. As for other quality television, there’s always Medium.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Chapter 43: Flurries of Baseball News
I sit typing while a few stray flakes of snow float outside my window. The cat is napping, satisfied that it’s too damn cold to go out on the porch today. And my thoughts turn to baseball.
The Mets are talking playoffs. Postseason dreams for a club that hasn’t sniffed the second week of October since the 9/11 terrorist attacks pushed the final weeks of 2001 into the month. They have some strengths, and spring training is the time of year when all clubs boast of opportunities not yet lost and rookies not yet busted. Managers talk about how their team might surprise their competition. (Except for Pittsburgh, perhaps.) But the Mets co-exist in a division with the Atlanta Braves, who have won the past fourteen division championships (no one seems to count 1994, when the Expos ended the aborted season in first place). The Braves sound confident. Chipper Jones, who may start to feel old age creep up on him this season, said they expect to win the division.
I’m all for confidence, but that’s bordering on the type of arrogance normally associated with the Yankees and their fans. And if there’s one thing a Mets fan hates more than the Braves, it’s the Yankees. I think we have heard a gauntlet tossed onto the green grass of a spring training infield. Heat it up, boys. I’m ready for some baseball!
The Mets are talking playoffs. Postseason dreams for a club that hasn’t sniffed the second week of October since the 9/11 terrorist attacks pushed the final weeks of 2001 into the month. They have some strengths, and spring training is the time of year when all clubs boast of opportunities not yet lost and rookies not yet busted. Managers talk about how their team might surprise their competition. (Except for Pittsburgh, perhaps.) But the Mets co-exist in a division with the Atlanta Braves, who have won the past fourteen division championships (no one seems to count 1994, when the Expos ended the aborted season in first place). The Braves sound confident. Chipper Jones, who may start to feel old age creep up on him this season, said they expect to win the division.
I’m all for confidence, but that’s bordering on the type of arrogance normally associated with the Yankees and their fans. And if there’s one thing a Mets fan hates more than the Braves, it’s the Yankees. I think we have heard a gauntlet tossed onto the green grass of a spring training infield. Heat it up, boys. I’m ready for some baseball!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Chapter 42.99: One of the Good Guys
I recently noticed a piece in the Chicago Tribune about Jimmie Alford, a consultant to nonprofit organizations. I’ve known Jimmie for a decade. He’s a good man, and his firm -- to my knowledge -- is among the most ethical out there. And that means a lot to me.
A few years ago, Jimmie and I jogged several miles along the shoreline of the Puget Sound during the AFP conference. That conversation helped me in many ways; he helped me focus on my personal and professional goals, and he pushed me farther than I thought I could go. Literally, in the sense that we ran more than five miles when I was training on only two miles, and figuratively in that I envisioned several possible futures for myself.
Jimmie’s been stepping back from his daily work schedule these past few years, though I was proud to have him write for me in the magazine I was editing a year ago. I don’t see him completely retiring from the field he’s served for many decades, but he’s done much to help the U.S. nonprofit sector, both in placing strong executives in organizations and helping match donors with groups and causes. Good luck, Jimmie.
A few years ago, Jimmie and I jogged several miles along the shoreline of the Puget Sound during the AFP conference. That conversation helped me in many ways; he helped me focus on my personal and professional goals, and he pushed me farther than I thought I could go. Literally, in the sense that we ran more than five miles when I was training on only two miles, and figuratively in that I envisioned several possible futures for myself.
Jimmie’s been stepping back from his daily work schedule these past few years, though I was proud to have him write for me in the magazine I was editing a year ago. I don’t see him completely retiring from the field he’s served for many decades, but he’s done much to help the U.S. nonprofit sector, both in placing strong executives in organizations and helping match donors with groups and causes. Good luck, Jimmie.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Chapter 42.9: Super Bowl Sunday
I can't believe how quickly the past month has flown by, and I've not touched this blog in way too long. Frankly, I don't have much to talk about at the moment, so no one has really missed much as far as my contributions to the world are concerned.
But to add my prediction on the big game, (Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin are singing as I type), I'll preface by saying I don't care which team wins. I'm more of an NFC fan; the Giants have been preparing themselves for next year for a few weeks now. I've got friends in Pittsburgh, so perhaps I'm a bit partial to the Steelers. I think the Steelers and Seahawks match up pretty well, and the game should be tight.
My prediction: Steelers 24, Seahawks 21.
But to add my prediction on the big game, (Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin are singing as I type), I'll preface by saying I don't care which team wins. I'm more of an NFC fan; the Giants have been preparing themselves for next year for a few weeks now. I've got friends in Pittsburgh, so perhaps I'm a bit partial to the Steelers. I think the Steelers and Seahawks match up pretty well, and the game should be tight.
My prediction: Steelers 24, Seahawks 21.
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