Indoor Outhouse

I came home yesterday to a bit of a surprise. As I walked in the door, I noticed smell that I couldn't quite place, at first. Sweet and chemical, like model airplane glue. Noxious. What the hell?

I hang up my coat, put away my work gear, and go to change into my play clothes. Then I find the source of the odor. One of my bathroom doors is locked, and the other is closed. And the light is on. And everything has been moved out of the bathroom and dumped on my bed. Neat!

Turns out the bathroom refinishing that was scheduled to begin today started early. The smell was the new coating of the bathtub, courtesy of Bath Masters, whoever the hell they are. Apparently they are coming back today to take down all of the plastic screens they hung and let me have my bathroom back.

Unfortunately, I only have the one bathroom. So now I'm dirty and high on fumes. On the other hand, since I couldn't shower, I got to sleep in a little. A rare opportunity to use the snooze button.

Filed in: House Humor

Barque

I watched two pretty good movies courtesy Netflix this past weekend, M and Metropolis, both directed by Fritz Lang. The first is in German, and the second is silent AND almost 1/4 of the original footage has been lost. So they were both challenging viewings, in their own ways. But they were good, Metropolis especially. Not for everyone, though - they are very much of their time, the incunabula of movies, as it were. Somewhat crude by modern standards, and the acting is much more... theatrical. You might even say hammy.

The two differ remarkably in tone, which highlights their historic context. Metropolis is all about hope (eventually) for the future. It has an upbeat ending, and a positive message about what can be accomplished as long as there is balance between "the head and the hand." M, however, is pretty dark. I suspect this may have something to do with the fact that while both were filmed in Germany, Metropolis was made in 1927, and M was made in 1933. Shortly after M was made, Lang fled the Nazis and the movie was banned.

In baseball news, the Reds have made a number of trades recently that I find a bit questionable. Wily Mo Pena was traded to Boston for Bronson Arroyo. I had looked forward to watching Pena come into his own in Cincinnati, but I guess it does make sense. The Reds had one of the best offenses in the league last year, and the worst pitching by far. Though Arroyo is only a little better than league average, he will probably upgrade the starting staff. The trade raises questions about the plan for position players - will Dunn move back to left, leaving Hatteberg to play first? Or will Womack be sent to left? Or mayble leave Womack on the bench where he belongs, and find another suitable LF? Or, you could follow Chris's suggetions, and start the following:

C LaRue / Valentin
1B Dunn
2B Aurilia
3B Encarnacion
SS Lopez
LF Griffey
CF Freel
RF Kearns

This plan keeps as many heavy hitters in the lineup as possible, moves Griffey to a less demanding fielding position to protect him from injury, and leaves some flexibility to use their bench players (Hatteberg at 1B, Bergolla and Olmedo at 2B and SS, Denorfia and Stratton in the OF). But it won't happen. The Reds also traded a pitching prospect, Bobby Basham, for a third catcher, Dave Ross from San Diego. This move sucks. Potential pitching help for a catcher they have no need for. So now I'm betting on the following:

C LaRue / Ross
1B Hatteberg
2B Aurilia / Womack
3B Encarnacion / Aurilia
SS Lopez
LF Dunn
CF Griffey
RF Kearns

With Freel as a super-sub at 2B, 3B and all the outfield positions. This second lineup is demonstrably worse on offense AND defense. It can be frustrating to be a Reds fan.

Happily, I read yesterday that EAGLE is coming to the area for the Commandant's Change of Command this summer. I look forward to seeing her again - maybe I'll brave the crowds and visit.

Filed in: Baseball Sailing

Streets of Del Ray

I did some more exploring in the neighborhood today. I didn't find nearly as many "freak show" houses as last time, to my disappointment. I actually gave up trying to photograph every good example of smart, small bungalows, because they truly are everywhere. But I hope you enjoy more from the streets where I live. I added a few more commercial examples, since many of them have interesting styles and features. Come and visit Del Ray, and I'll show you.

The Gold Bond Portable Chapel; a kit-built church

Grayskull

Easily the most modern-looking house in Del Ray, and an enormous amount of glass for this size home

Typical Del Ray bungalow, but I liked the sailboat emblem on the screen door

A good example of the most popular type of addition in Del Ray; the house footprint stays the same or close to it, the owners just extrude new rooms out of the roof

The Half House; the address is even 2705 1/2 Mount Vernon Avenue

Art Deco style commercial style building on Mount Vernon, now housing a church

Detail on the central 2nd story window, a representation of the Chrysler Building

The Heavy-Lidded House; I can't imagine why the eaves on this house are so large

The Twins. Clearly these two homes were built to the same plans, but have evolved in slightly different ways

The new addition to the Duncan Branch Library

...and the original Duncan Library building

The Caboose that Got Loose. At the Mount Vernon Community School
Though it seems to be a home, I'm almost certain this was originally a commercial structure, maybe a restaurant

Nice house with excellent landscaping

There are many churches in Del Ray, though most are quite small. A few larger churces are located just to the west along Russell Road, which puts them on a bluff above the houses. This particular steeple stands out strikingly at sunset

Interesting use of some different angles. This house also abuts right up against its neighbor to the right

I think the large octagon rooms inside the tower must be very interesting. What would you use them for?

Another of the small, eccentric parks that pierce through residential blocks in Del Ray

Traditional home meets alternative power

In bloom

This house makes me think of Beth & Ryan's wedding, since green and purple were their wedding colors

Del Ray Methodist Church. Easily the biggest church in Del Ray. I want to see the interior; the rose window must be really impressive

Another trend I've noticed in Del Ray additions - window craziness. They may be very nice inside, but I think they give the exterior an unattractive, disjointed appearance

This building was just refurbished and converted into bank, though I do not know what it was before. It looks like it should have always been a bank

Another roof extrusion. I've been watching this site, since the pre-fabricated roof trusses were delivered a few weeks ago

Filed in: Del_Ray

Johnny Rotten's Favorite Film

or Anarchy in the UK

Mike is staying in my guest room while he is closing up accounts here before deploying over to the Gulf. My first houseguest. After work, we joined Steph & Aaron to see V for Vendetta. I enjoyed it, though I wouldn't describe it as subtle or truly subversive. It borrows from Phantom of the Opera a great deal, though it's also in keeping with the sub-genre of "What if it Happened Here?" See Phillip Roth's The Plot Against America, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, A Clockwork Orange, a little Fahrenheit 451, and most importantly Nineteen Eighty-Four for other examples.

There are a few things I find interesting about this movie. First, the filmmakers place some characters in morally grey areas, but not as many as they might have. The structure of the movie drives you to root for a terrorist. That is, someone who uses asymetrical threats to wield fear as a weapon against his enemies. Is this an inherently immoral action? What if it is in service of freedom, against a totalitarian state, a righteous cause? The movie comes down pretty firmly on the side of yes, it is justified. But doesn't everyone see their cause as righteous? I thought the movie missed a real opportunity by exploring this from only the protagonist's point of view. The villians, the fascists, also use fear as a weapon, also see their cause as just - and justifying their actions. Explore that duality, and the movie becomes much more interesting. But the villians are clearly identified as capital-E Evil, only interested in holding on to power. I think portraying them as evil men who genuinely believe what they are doing is right and for the greater good would make a better, more complex film. Real villians don't sit around twirling their mustaches and kicking puppies. They think they are the heroes.

Another interesting thing I noted was that the main characters were not quite so central. That is, the main character played by Natalie Portman doesn't actually do much. Things happen to her, and her character evolves, but she doesn't do anything until the very end, really. And the other lead, played by Hugo Weaving, is unstoppable, sees obstacles in advance and easily avoids them, and is generally flawless in the execution of his plans. Hell, his expression doesn't even change, since he wears a mask throughout. He does quite a bit, moving the plot forward, but doesn't really change. He has his plan and sticks to it. Cool to watch, but not an especially compelling character arc, because there isn't one.

I thought the most interesting character was the Chief Inspector, played by Stephen Rea. He begins as a supporter of the villians and their fascist regime, and ends by aiding the heroes. He does plenty, piecing together the mystery of the hero's background, which in turn reveals the Big Lie behind the villians rise to power. He has a compelling arc, and is a realistic portrayal of a flawed man who supports an evil government not because he is evil, but because he has believed the Big Lie. Watching him come to terms with the truth is interesting, and I found it to be the real heart of the movie.

So, I wouldn't call it a great movie. And on the surface, it doesn't ask the big questions I wish it would, about the morality of violence, the true nature of evil and how it's followers truly believe they are doing good. It tries to, but doesn't quite make it. But it does serve as a gateway to these questions, and they are interesting questions to me because I don't have the answers.

After the movie, things got much simpler as we went to Hard Times in Old Town. Mike was a good Catholic and only had fish, and Steph stuck to they veggie side of flexetarianism. But I think Aaron really enjoyed his chili cheeseburger, and I know I enjoyed my order of coneys. It was a really fun night, I'm glad we were all able to get together.

Filed in: Movies

They Don't Need No Stinking Badges

Team Mexico won, 2-1, against the US last night in the World Baseball Classic, eliminating the Americans. Too bad for us, I guess. But it sets up a 3rd game between Japan and Korea, who have a great rivalry going. What's better than Yankee fans vs. Red Sox Nation? Actual countries mixing it up on the diamond. That will be an exceptional game. I look forward to Chris's reports from Tokyo on how the nation responds. Hell, I'd like to hear what his wife, Kelly, thinks, since she is from Korea.

I don't have a horse in this race anymore, though I wouldn't mind seeing dark horse Cuba advance. Not because I'm any fan of Cuba (Abajo Fidel!), but it would be unexpected and interesting. DR vs. Korea (both favorites going into the tournament) is just, I don't know, conventional. Plus, the Cubans are mysterious - I think all of the Dominican starters are major league regulars, and most of the Koreans are known quantities. But who can guess what players will come out of the unreconstructed socialist anachronism that is Cuba?

In other news, my shoulder is getting better. It is no longer especially sore, and while the abrasion is still tender, it is healing quickly. I was reminded, too late, that super glue was originally developed as a liquid bandage / artificial skin. I could have used that instead of the duct tape - very cool. Well, we live and we learn.

Filed in: Baseball

Pastime

The Washington Nationals have presented their plans for their new stadium, after 18 months of negotiations over the financing by the City. It may very well be highway robbery on the part of Selig and the owners. They are splitting the massive profits from the sale of the team to new owners, and the District is picking up most of the tab for the $611 Million ballpark. But I don't live in the District, and I love baseball. So let's have a look at it.




















































So, it's clearly very different from many recent stadiums. No brick - not even stone. Glass, metal, and concrete. It could be interesting, when it is new. But from what I've seen, concrete buildings often don't age well - think of the water stains and cracking. I'm not sure if I have a better solution for DC, though - this is what most of the buildings in the District look like, especially along M Street SE and K Street NW. It will fit right in. As a fan, though, I would have liked to have seen only 2 decks instead of 3 - it keeps you closer to the field. This was done at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to great effect, I think. It would have helped the stadium keep a low profile, blending in with the fairly short skyline of Washington.

In other baseball news, the World Baseball Classic may be getting more interesting. I still object to it on principle, since it is Bud Selig's idea. And it isn't a good time for it, competing against March Madness and interfering with Spring Training. But it is baseball on TV in March, so I don't argue with that. It looks like the US team is hanging by a thread. If I read the standings and rules correctly, the US has to beat Mexico on Thursday. And if Japan beats Mexico today, they have to lose to Korea tomorrow. I'm still pulling for the US-Cuba finale, but seeing how Korea, the DR, and Puerto Rico have been playing, I'm not sure if that will happen

Team / ERA / OPS
Korea / 1.40 / .827
DR / 2.80 / .878
PR / 2.09 / .823
USA / 4.05 / .918

Korea's pitching and defense have been very good, and the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans have pretty balanced teams. The US has an offensive juggernaut with some very weak outings on the mound. It's worth noting that Japan's stats are also strong, but they would have to win out to have any chance of advancing. Though that is only two games, so it could happen. This is actually pretty exciting.

[pictures from the HOK Sport via the Washington Post]

Cyclopath

or Grievous Wounds, Honorably Received

The weather continues to be gorgeous, though it is supposed to slip back down to the 50s and 40s later in the week. It's what the forecasters here call "a return to wintry conditions." That always makes me smile.

At any rate, I decided to take advantage of the weather while it lasted. Low 80's, partly cloudy, some breeze. I decided to bike the Arlington Triangle, a very nice little loop. This also allowed me to take care of some business. A few days ago, I received a Flat Stanley in the mail from Aaron & Lorissa. Apparently it originated with Lorissa's second cousin's nephew or something.

Mr. Stanley Goes to Washington

I decided to take Stanley up the Potomac so I could get a picture with the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in the background. It think it came out pretty well.

It was also my first chance to try out some new toys for my bike. For Christmas, Steph gave me a Camelbak, and it worked out great. Just enough storage for Stanley and a camera, and plenty of water that stayed nice and cool. I also got to test the wireless bike computer Mike got me for my birthday. It too worked very well, giving me current speed, average speed, max speed, distance, and elapsed time. And what a great day for a ride!

So, of course that didn't last. Near the corner of Mount Vernon Avenue and South Glebe Road, just a short distance from home, the bike path doubles back on itself as it loops around to rise up to a bridge. I took the curve at speed, though it was nothing I haven't done before. But the front wheel slipped right out from under me. It went flat, either in the crash or shortly before; I didn't notice anything until it was too late. It may have just been underinflated, though I checked before I left the house.

No damage to the bike, though it did knock the computer off. I have to reattach it, somehow. I was not so lucky.

Road rash, cooooool

It's not so bad. In fact, it's my first real road rash since I started riding again a year or so ago. But it's probably going to bruise as well - it was the main point of impact as I went over. To add insult to injury, I have no bandages big enough to cover it. So I put on some Neosporin and improvised.

Is there anything this stuff can't do?

It's a little sore, and I'll probably skip lifting and swimming tomorrow. But it's fine. Tyson once said, "If you don't capsize every once in a while, you're not sailing hard enough." Perhaps the same is true in cycling.