Nonsensical Power Rankings: Movies I've Seen This Summer

Well, it certainly has been a while. A lot has happened to me since my last post. In my long absence, I've moved (into my old home...lots of renovations finally completed), visited both the New Jersey shore (Sea Isle City) and Lake Balch in Maine, and also went to a concert for my favorite video game series. Now, with my final year of college rearing its ugly head, it feels like the right time for a blog post.

How about a summer movie review?

Throughout this summer, I've seen a few movies of a few different varieties. Here are the Top 5, building from least favorite to favorite:
*Honorable Mentions:
- Turbo - Which, despite getting killed in the box office, was a surprisingly fun movie to go to with my 8-year-old brother. Note: Probably not worth seeing unless you're with someone younger than 10.
- Blackfish - An excellent documentary that will make you think twice next time someone mentions going to SeaWorld. I actually liked this film a lot, but as the only documentary, I found difficulty ranking it. An honorable mention seemed fair.
- Monsters University - A fine, fine movie. I just enjoyed the following 5 a little more.

5. The Bling Ring
The Stats: 60% (Rotten Tomatoes) / $5.8M (Box Office)
A story based in truth about some kids who constantly robbed celebrities (most notably, Paris Hilton) a few years back and were really, really proud of it. I found it as a sort-of broken mirror commentary on the self-involvement of my own generation - the generation of vain status updates, clicking smartphones, humblebragging tweets, photoshopped selfies, and instant YouTube fame. What these kids place value in or how they perceive their behavior is less a reflection on them personally and more a reflection on our current American society as one that glamorizes and obsesses over celebrity. The Bling Ring definitely does an excellent job of exposing the negative aspects of the apathetic self-obsession that has become synonymous with "Generation Me". However, while there is certainly a lot to glean from this Sofia Coppola flick, I felt as though it asked a few more questions than it could answer and at times focused more on dazzling style (and soundtrack) than its wealth of unfortunately untapped psychological substance. For not realizing its full potential, The Bling Ring sits as my 5th favorite movie I've seen this summer.

4. The East
The Stats: 74% / $2.3M
A psychological thriller of seeing the world through the eyes of a guerrilla-terrorist movement, The East checks in at #4. Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, and Ellen Paige all carry this movie much further than any other ensemble might and make for quite a fun and thought-provoking ride. Marling, as main character Sarah Moss, goes undercover for a private intelligence firm and infiltrates an environmental terrorist group (led by Skarsgard and Paige) called "The East". From that point forward, The East expands from a simple job assignment to a quest for identity, purpose, and belonging - all the while under the moral ambiguity of "justified" criminal reactions to "unjust" corporate proceedings. While the acting is great and story-telling quite engaging, The East simply isn't that memorable - when someone asks me "Hey didjya see any good movies this summer?", it just won't be mentioned before the next 3.

3. Despicable Me 2
The Stats: 76% / $338.5M
Maybe irrational to some, but I just simply can't get enough of those Minions. Honestly, Despicable Me 2 probably wasn't as good as the original, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the movie theater. Of course, the aforementioned Minions steal the show, but Steve Carell's Gru and Kristin Wiig's Lucy have a lot of funny moments of their own. Maybe I'm just a sucker for comedy...particularly childish comedy...I don't know. What I DO know, though, is that no matter how much I like to laugh or enjoy animated film, Despicable Me 2 has no business eclipsing the next 2 films - easily the two best the films of the summer.

 2. Fruitvale Station
The Stats: 94% / $13.5M
 Michael B. Jordan is going to be a star. There just isn't another way around it. Who would have thought Wallace from "The Wire" would have his star take-off like this? As you may have guessed, Fruitvale Station is an incredibly well-acted film, thanks largely to Mr. Jordan. It depicts the last-day-in-the-life-of one Oscar Grant, a very real victim of unnecessary police violence a fateful New Years Eve not so long ago. The timing of this movie's release and the Trayvon Martin verdict are of course in no way related, but it's hard not to link the message of this movie with those who seek justice for victims like Trayvon and Oscar: Racial profiling and guns are a deadly, deadly mix and most certainly one that leads to more tragedy than justice. For the gravity of the message it carries alone, Fruitvale Station could have easily been my top movie for this summer. I, however, felt that it was edged out by one other film.

1. The Way Way Back
The Stats: 84% / $16.3M 
The Way Way Back is my top choice for "Best Movie I've Seen This Summer". An original story from top to bottom, it painted a beautifully awkward, painful, and remarkable summer of self-discovery and self-identity for a young boy named Duncan (Liam James), stuck with a crappy step-Dad (Steve Carell) and constantly disappointing mother (Toni Collette). Man-boy Sam Rockwell steals the show as young Duncan's hilarious-yet-honest guide to a more confident sense-of-self - a summer waterpark employee! More than anything, The Way Way Back, felt like an artful critique on parents more focused on catching a buzz than checking in on their kid - and served as a self-help bildungsroman for teenagers stuck at the kids table, watching their supposed role models behave more like children than they ever will. The Way Way Back is about taking control of your situation and making it better. It's about believing in who you are and finding joy in whatever situation you're in - and, as hokey as that line sounds, you'll find yourself genuinely charmed by this wonderful wonderful film.


So there you have it, an arbitrary ranking of some movies I happened to catch this summer. Do yourself a favor and see a few of them - particularly Fruitvale Station and The Way Way Back. I guarantee you'll be glad you did.

Quick Takes on the Recent Nonsense of our World

Hello loyal (and vast) fan-base. It has been a while since I've updated my blog and I have a lot I want to comment on. Because I don't have a lot of time due to currently being in the middle of moving (moving preparations are my main excuse for my lack of updates...that and laziness) and preparing for upcoming vacations, I have decided list here the vast amounts of nonsense in the world I have missed commenting on over the past few weeks, since my last post. Enjoy my short and sweet musings on recent events, both big and small:

The Fourth of July: The point of summer where you start to feel the turn from uphill (from spring) to downhill (towards fall). Always a little sad. But of course that sadness doesn't last. I mean, cookouts, fireworks, and America's birthday - what's not to love?

Dwight Howard to the Rockets: Good move for Dwight. A better move for Dwight? Being dominant at basketball again. We will see what happens. Good move for the Rockets too. Barely a playoff team last year, they now really have no place to go but UP (get it...cause they're Rockets?!?!). Just another fun team to watch for this upcoming NBA season.

Royce White to the Sixers: Less notable. Super interesting. Especially if you know anything about Royce White and his voice for mental illness. Hopefully we will actually see him on the court this year (he had a pretty big falling out with the Rockets last season). I like the move the for the Sixers - they're tanking anyway with 2 potential high draft picks...what do they have to lose?

Sharknado: Not a typo. This actually aired on SyFy last week. I haven't seen it, but what's to see? Sharks+Tornado=Sharknado. This wins my not-so-annual award for Most Intentionally Unintentionally Funny Movie I'll Never See But Will Always Make Me Laugh Upon Mention AKA The 'Snakes on a Plane' Memorial Award.
 
Asiana Flight Crash: Obviously, a tragedy for all of those involved. Then this happened. I simply can't believe this slipped past the news desk. There is no way someone read that out-loud and then gave it the OK for the news. Unreal. Definitely offensive (especially to victims), but its impossible not to be bewildered that this happened in real life. In 2013. At a SAN FRANCISCO NEWS STATION.

The George Zimmerman Verdict: Not a proud moment for America. I didn't watch every second of the trial (Side note: I think we should televise all trials C-SPAN style, or not televise any at all), but I, like most people, knew the basic fact pattern. Forget all the other issues at stake here for a minute (there are a lot and they are big,notably racial profiling and gun ownership): In what world can you claim self-defense for approaching someone as an aggressor?!?! (against the advice of police nonetheless!). That's a pretty frightening precedent to set, especially if you're more likely to be targeted by aggressive individuals than others. (Additional side note: Florida never fails to disappoint).

The Return of The Newsroom: The HBO show that everyone loves to love (or loves to hate) is back! Season 2: This Time It's Even Sorkin-i-er! seems prime for another big season. I go back and forth with this show, but I always tune in. It's fun, entertaining, and has a good enough story arc, which is more than you can say for most summer shows. Hey, I gotta have something to watch until Breaking Bad comes back...right?

The "Discovery" of 'Black Twitter': Apparently 'the media' discovered 'Black Twitter' today. These two links - here and here - are examples of such 'media' breaking such 'news'. To anyone familiar with Twitter, the 'discovery' of 'Black Twitter' on July 17, 2013 is laughable (this concept/fact is nothing new). I wonder how #BlackTwitter is taking their 'discovery'...

The ESPYS: Nothing is quite like athletes from different sports that give out their own awards (like...ya know...championship trophies?!) come together for a more arbitrary award process. I think I'll pass for the umpteenth year in a row...

Boston Bomber Rolling Stone Cover: Rolling Stone Magazine somehow thought this was a good idea. Hey, any buzz is good buzz...right? I'm not so sure. If you want to see the incredible amount of backlash for this offensive cover choice, read the comments on ANYTHING on their Facebook page. 

Thanks for reading! Going on vacation - see y'all in 2 weeks!

Nonsensical Power Rankings: "Back-in-My-Day" Songs

I've decided to arbitrarily rank stuff I like. Could become a recurring series if it goes well. Doubt it.
There are plenty of great artists in the world and even more great songs that they have produced throughout history. However, the tunes that we loved when we were younger have a special place in our hearts - a certain combination of nostalgia and je ne sais quoi that make them forever ours. "Throwback Jams" is a popular term for these types of songs, but I like to call them "Back-in-My-Day" songs, perhaps with the full expectation that one day someone younger (maybe even a child of my own) will bring one of these joys up in conversation, providing me with the chance to immediately explain that "back-in-my-day" this was an amazing song, and the music today just isn't as good, and blah-blah-blah, etc. Without further ado, a few of my favorite "Back-in-My-Day" songs that I (and hopefully you) will never forget. Enjoy this subjective list in an even more subjective order!:
*Note: I realize that all of these are R&B or Rap songs.
**Extra-Special Note: I don't care.

5. In Da Club - 50 Cent

BAHM-BOM....BOM-BOM...BOM-BOM....BAHM-BOM. If there was ever a song to make even the most mundane task feel cool, it's "In Da Club". The track that put 50 Cent on the map, produced by the illustrious Dr. Andre Romelle Young, is number 5 on this list. I would be tempted to put it higher, but anytime anyone other than 50 Cent says "Go (insert name), it's your birthday", they are participating in one of the most cacophonous, trying-to-be-hip-yet-exposing-self-as-completely-lame phrases of all time (others include "getting jiggy with it", "drop it like its hot" - both great songs, but not awesome catch phrases).


4. Say My Name - Destiny's Child

Just reading the title of "Say My Name" might cause it to get stuck in your head if you're familiar with the tune - and if you turned on the radio or TV in 2000, you probably are. Possibly their most well known jam, "Say My Name" won Destiny's Child two Grammy Awards in 2001. This song holds up and makes one think of a simpler time, before Beyonce ruled the world as Queen Bey/Mrs. Carter and was simply just Beyonce Knowles. Alas, those days are gone. Well, unless it's the Super Bowl. "Say My Name" doesn't make it higher than 4 on this list though, only because the top 2 are indisputable and the next one a personal favorite.


3. Without Me - Eminem

Remember when Eminem was hilarious and fun? Don't you miss that guy? Em's older stuff will always have a special place in my heart, but "Without Me" was one of the most perfect Slim Shady songs ever released. In my mind, there are three "Eminems" and I'll use a song title that may help describe each one a little better: There is the ultra-silly-don't-care-about-nothing Slim Shady ("Slim Shady"), the serious/hard-rhymer "Eminem" ("Lose Yourself"), and the vulnerable/personal Marshall Mathers ("Cleaning Out My Closet"). Each version of Eminem has its own merits, but Slim Shady is easily the funniest. 2002's "Without Me" is a classic, and for that, it is number 3 on this list.




2. Yeah! - Usher
If you didn't hear this song in 2003, you may have lived under a rock. And if you haven't heard it by now, then you probably stopped reading this list a while ago. One of the most beloved songs of my generation, "Yeah!" by Usher is an absolute dance-floor show-stopper. It makes you want to "take that, rewind it back" nearly every time. This is arguably the most representative song for kids who were born in the '90s and grew up in the '00s (what should we call those by the way?). Undoubtedly, when my future children ask me what "kids were into when I was a kid", "Yeah!" will be mentioned right away. But why is it only number 2? Well, it isn't the next song...


1. Hey Ya - Outkast

This song is perfect. I miss Outkast dearly. Listening to mainstream music today, it's hard to believe a song like "Hey Ya" being as popular now as it was when it came out in 2003. Quite possibly the pinnacle of auditory experiences, the sounds of Andre 3000 & Big Boi's party anthem can't help but put you in a good mood every time. "Hey Ya" is also educational - it taught us that "what's cooler than being cool" is, indeed, "ice cold" and that you should always be willing to lend your neighbors "some sugar". This is always the song I think of when I think of songs I will tell future generations of and, for that reason, its the #1 "Back-in-My-Day" song.



So there you have it, my "Back-in-My-Day" Songs Power Rankings. Agree, disagree, take heed, or shrug... I don't really care. There are A LOT of these types of songs by the way (I debated filling this list with older Kanye songs, but I refrained) and I'm sure you can think of a completely different Top 5 from your experiences growing up. Please share in the comments so I can take that trip down Memory Lane with you. I hope you have as much fun thinking about this stuff as I did.

Big Risks and Big Rewards: Yeezus Rises

Yeezus album art...or lack thereof

Ever since I was in middle school, the sounds of Kanye West have been a big part of my life. For better and worse, he's constantly been a prominent part of American culture since 2004. His major albums over that time - The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and Watch the Throne (with Jay-Z) (2011) - have all been wild successes, each carrying a different brand of hip-hop, emotion, attitude, and style. However, his newest (and blasphemously named) album - Yeezus (2013) - may be his most radical artistic endeavor yet.
When Yeezus became available this past Good Friday via internet leak, I couldn't resist taking an early listen. At first, I wasn't sure if I had downloaded the right file, or this was even a Kanye album. It's jarringly different than his previous work - an almost-visceral, anger-filled in-your-face affair to be exact. And at only 10 songs long (most of Kanye's are in the 13-15 range), its over in a hurry (40ish min). It's hard to process and unpack every song the first time through, but after a few dozen  listens (the car at high volume is the best place), I've found that Yeezus, despite being one of the larger musical risks Kanye has taken, is really an excellent album. It might even be one of my favorites from him yet.
I could bore you with every detail of each track, but it's really better if you just give it a listen yourself. I will, however, provide some quick notes and highlights in the form of a two tier-ranking system:
Must-listens: "Black Skinhead" will probably be the most commercially popular song of this not-commercially friendly album simply because, well, its the catchiest - a driving, pumped-up beat that (if edited) could probably be played in stadiums or arenas. "New Slaves" is maybe the most important song - released early on buildings around the world, it's filled with anti-everything rants and defines the dark anger brewing throughout Yeezus. My personal favorite is "Blood On the Leaves", not only for an awesomely-powerful song sample of Nina Simone's take on "Strange Fruit" (it's a pretty sad song, so be warned), but when the heavy horns and drums come in a little after a minute, they truly blow you away. Easily the most quotable (to a comic level) is the over-the-top "I am a God"....all I can say is that next time I'm "in a French-ass restaurant", I'll be sure to shout "HURRY UP WITH MY DAMN CROISSANTS!" As a side note: stuff like this is why I love Kanye. Nobody is better at being intentionally unintentionally hilarious. A master of self-awareness, he's always in on the joke we don't think he's in on because we're the one making it about him in disbelief. I mean, come on, who else would name their album Yeezus?! 
Also-rans: "On Sight", "Bound 2", "Send it Up", "Guilt Trip", "Hold my Liquor", "I'm in it"... in that order. None of them are particularly bad, but they don't reach the level the aforementioned 4 others do. I'm not going to spend more time on these, but be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.
Overall, Yeezus is a huge-yet-successful risk. It certainly holds up well with his other albums, even though nothing will every touch My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Like I said before, Kanye always picks new directions with each album, and so far he hasn't missed. There are rumors or a Yeezus tour, so if you're really into it hit up the concert. I went to the Watch the Throne tour and I think Kanye is the best live-act there is. In other news, Kanye just became a father...and I can't wait to see how that factors into his next album.

Nonsensical Power Rankings: Chain Restaurants

I've decided to arbitrarily rank stuff I like. Could become a recurring series if it goes well. Doubt it.
Chain restaurants evoke a range of emotions from various people. Some enjoy them for reasons such as familiarity or reliability, while others don't like them at all - feeling as though they "settled" on their dinner location choice or aren't patronizing the local cuisine scene. I've been a member of both groups from time to time, but there are a few chain restaurants stand out to me as top-notch dining experiences. Without further ado, here are my Power Rankings for chain restaurants:

5. P.F. Chang's 
A very solid dinner option and one that I may have ranked higher if there were more in my local area. For appetizers, I'm partial to Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Crispy Green Beans, though there are a lot of other good options as well. However, as we enter the entrees, P.F. Chang's, ultimately, is more-expensive Chinese food - which can usually be found at decent quality locally for a reasonable amount of money. It's great, don't get me wrong - I absolutely love going there. Unfortunately, I'm probably going to be hungry sooner than I would like after my meal is over. For that, P.F. Chang's is 5th.

4. Outback Steakhouse 
One of my most visited chains, as there is one right by my house. The bread alone is reason enough to go - ask for Honey Butter to accompany it and you may not even make it to your meal. The Bloomin' Onion is always a solid start, while really any steak is always a tasty meal. Even the Kookabura Wings are decent. Outside of a steak though, you might be a little disappointed. It's not the flashiest restaurant chain, but Outback is filling and delicious. 4th on this list seems fair.


3. Chili's
"You can't have a bad time at Chili's" is something I've said on many occasions and will continue to say until I do, in fact, have a bad time there. 2 things I highly recommend to start: Chips with Queso Dip (bottomless!) and the Buffalo Wings (not a bad lunch by itself). After that, go nuts. Most of the food is awesome. I like the Baby Back Ribs, but there are plenty of other reasonable options to sink your teeth into. Good prices, food, drinks, and atmosphere for the 3rd place on this list.
 
2. California Pizza Kitchen
No knock on Chili's, but CPK is incredible. I need to go there more often. What really makes them jump up this list is the high quality options beyond awesome (and quite creative) pizza. For appetizers, it's hard to pick between Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Tortilla Spring Rolls, and Sesame Ginger Chicken Dumplings. Even as a budding soup aficionado, I'm usually torn between Tortilla and Pea & Barley. My lovely girlfriend, Katie, swears the Thai Crunch Salad is to die for. Note that I haven't even gotten to entrees yet, where you really can't go wrong no matter what you pick. Order anything here and you won't be disappointed (especially if its pizza!). Definitely the most versatile and high-quality chain I've been to. On most other lists, it might be first....but it isn't here, as you will see in a moment.

1. Buffalo Wild Wings
Never have I felt that a chain restaurant was so painstakingly created for my own enjoyment. As someone who sadly proudly order piles of buffalo wings to enjoy at home on a regular basis, this place is a no-brainer. There are dozens of different flavors and combinations to mix and match (6 wings/flavor). That alone is enough for me. However, Buffalo Wild Wings also is home to awesome soft pretzels with cheese and mustard dip, all the sports you can watch (seriously, if its on somewhere, its on at Buffalo Wild Wings), and (now that I'm 21), a quality selection of fine beers (a surprising amount of them on tap as well as in bottles). Their motto is "Wings. Beer. Sports". Those are all great, but really, Buffalo Wild Wings, you had me at "Wings". There's one about 20 min from my house and its worth the drive every day and twice on Sunday (especially if the Eagles are playing). It's easily #1 for me.

So there you have it, my Chain Restaurant Power Rankings. Agree, disagree, take heed, or shrug...I don't really care. Write your own rankings in the comments if you wish (especially if you have a recommendation). Eitherway, next time you're looking for a meal - seek one of these places out. I might even see you there.

The Binge-Watch and the Future of TV

The cast of Arrested Development, out on the promotion trial for Season 4.

Recently, Netflix released the much-anticipated fourth season of Arrested Development, the de-funct (de-funke-d?) and critically acclaimed ex-cable sitcom. 
Like other Netflix series, the entire season debuted all-at-once rather than the traditional, week-to-week format, leaving viewers like me free to choose exactly how to watch a show that interests me. My method of choice, of course, was the binge-watch. Soon, I was shamefully finished devouring all 15 new episodes in only a few days.
Binge-watching - watching a ton of TV series episodes in short period of time - has become a more and more common way to consume television, especially for those who spend a lot of time on the internet (no shame if you're reading high quality stuff like this blog!). Sites like Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu, and Xfinity Streampix (and countless, not-as-legal others I'm sure you can think of) offer a great method to "catch-up" on shows of recent interest after a few missed weeks, "re-watch" seasons and seasons of an old favorite (like The Office, for me), or "discover" critically-acclaimed or overlooked programs of old (like The Wire - do this if you haven't!). And, of course, the best part about binge-watching is that it is on your own schedule - whatever time of day or night, you can binge-watch whatever you want to, rather than wait for TV marathons to air on a particular channel on a particular day. More freedom for more TV? I can't think of anything more American.
Interestingly enough, with this new all-at-once release strategy that Netflix has started, binge-watching may soon usurp waiting week-to-week as the main way in which we watch television. In fact, after watching 15 episodes of Arrested Development over the course of 3 days, I would argue that some shows are actually even better when watched on a binge. Season 4 of Arrested Development is essentially a running joke that continues to build on itself - and that joke is much funnier (and maybe makes more sense) when binge-watched, truly making the series a no-brainer for Netflix to pick up and promote through their binge-friendly medium. In fact, I've even found that certain programs airing weekly, such as HBO's expansive and complicated Game of Thrones, tend to be more enjoyable when enjoyed in 3 or 4 episode binges, rather than rationed out at once-a-week pace. The binge-watch allows the casual viewer to stay invested in deeper stories being portrayed on television (or computer): they are immersed for hours in fictional worlds and, as a result, privy to subtleties that would otherwise be overlooked on a week-to-week basis.
Binge-watching is also a self-sustaining cycle - once one binge takes place and gets a viewer a few episodes deep into a series, they are much likely to come back for more soon after and finish the story rather than lose interest over weeks of waiting for more. Netflix seems to recognize this advantage and has since capitalized on it with shows like House of Cards and Arrested Development designed to incorporate the benefits of binge-watch. But who will join them and, more importantly, how? Only time will tell, but my guess is that we will be seeing a few more exciting series releases with the binge-watch in mind from both Netflix and other outlets as we move towards the future - and I can't wait to grab a snack and few empty hours to enjoy them all.

International Intelligence: The San Antonio Spurs & the Future of the NBA's Small Markets

Tim Duncan (left) and Tony Parker (right) headed to their
5th and 4th NBA Finals, respectively.

Last night, the San Antonio Spurs completed a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies winning Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals  93-86. The general consensus coming into this series was that it was evenly matched and many even predicted the Grizzlies to be at an advantage by simply being the younger, fresher team. This was not the case. Time, apparently, has no effect on the San Antonio Spurs. In 14 years, since 1999, the Spurs have won 4 championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007), been to the Western Conference Finals 7 times (50% of the time!), and have made the playoffs all 14 times (losing in the first round only 3 times). Needless to say, that's an impressive run.
What's more impressive, however, is that the Spurs have been winning over that time period with much of the same organization, even at court-level. Coach Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan have won 4 titles together. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been on the team for 3 of them (all but 1999). That's 4 core guys who, at a minimum, have had title winning experience for 10 years. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili are particularly impressive for such a sustained high level of play over these past 10 years, because players simply don't last that long in basketball, especially at their best. Their collective ability to adapt to new roles and styles of play have made them a reliable force to be reckoned with in a league that is constantly changing with the ebbs and flows of star free agents. Luckily, the Spurs have held on to three sure-fire hall-of-famers for more than a decade and counting.
Oddly enough, none of those guys, or the many of the players in supporting roles over the years for the Spurs, were born in the United States: Tim Duncan is from St. Croix. Tony Parker is from France. Manu Ginobili is from Argentina. This year's roster features key role players Tiago Splitter (Brazil) and Boris Diaw (France). Past title-team foreigners include Rasho Nesterovich (2005, C, Slovenia), Beno Udrih (2005 & 2007, G, Slovenia), Francisco Elson (2007, C, Netherlands), and Fabricio Oberto (2007, F, Argentina) - all of whom made an impact for the well-oiled winning machine that is the San Antonio Spurs. There appears to be a focus, and, more importantly, a history of success in investing in overseas talent for the small-market Spurs - especially as larger American stars gravitate towards big-market, luxury locations (think LeBron James to Miami, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to the two teams Los Angeles).
As you might expect, other teams have picked up on this trend and have enlisted stars from overseas as well: The Memphis Grizzles, whom the Spurs just swept, boasted Defensive Player-of-the-Year Marc Gasol (Spain). His brother, Pau, recently won a pair of titles with the LA Lakers. The German sensation Dirk Novitski notoriously led the Dallas Mavericks to upset the Miami Heat for the 2011 NBA crown. The Minnesota Timberwolves even waited a full year after drafting his rights to steal Ricky Rubio away from his team in Spain. However, no team has utilized the value of international role and complementary players like the San Antonio Spurs over the years and no team has had the constant success they have had in doing it.
The players of most value as the NBA moves towards the future may very well come from overseas. Many point to the shrewd statistically-driven team assembling (drafting, signing and trading) of small-market teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder as the future of smart NBA teams stuck in a small market. Yet, the importance of international investment cannot be overlooked (even the Thunder boast Congolese-Spanish Serge Ibaka) . Every market has inefficiencies waiting for a savvy investor to exploit and the NBA's player market is no different. Once a small market team has at least one talented star to build around, the most valuable of those complementary pieces may very well come from overseas where information is incomplete and successful scouting can go a longer way than it would in the star-driven (show me the money!) States.
It, of course, is no secret that teams would need start with that one star - Tim Duncans, Kobe Bryants, and LeBrons don't grow on trees - but the best teams, especially those limited in small markets will surround those players with productive role players who are willing to go sign for reasonable and flexible contracts, which are much easier to make happen where there is less competition. Small-market teams had best get moving when the getting is good: While the Spurs have shown it that the international cache of talent is far from tapped out, their continued success, due in large part to their successful international scouting of role players, will soon attract higher and higher volumes of competition from fellow NBA executives looking to build smart for the future. Unfortunately, as long as teams like my beloved Philadelphia 76ers (not small-market, but certainly not high in attendance revenue) consecutively draft notable American swingmen and overpay for somewhat-useful American role players, smart teams like the Spurs will continue to exploit the undervaluing of international talent - and continue to win by doing so.

Appreciating America and Critiquing Cultures

Those of you who know me know that I recently spent the last 4-plus months of my life studying abroad in London and traveling Europe. In short, it was a good time. I blogged a lot about my travels and liked it enough to decide to continue blogging from time to time this summer. Welcome to Nonsense & Minutiae - a blog about anything I feel like writing about for the foreseeable future. If it's mediocre, I'll call it a win.

Anyway, like I was saying, I traveled quite a bit: 13 cities, 11 countries, and 3 continents. I learned a little about a lot of different cultures, and thought it might be worth sharing an idiots-guide Do's-and-Don'ts about each city I visited, in case you ever decide to go (or just want to learn from a limited perspective). Enjoy:

London:

Do's: 
1. Bring a good rain jacket - Nearly every day during my January to May stay was rainy and  (usually) cold. That's just London weather. Don't even bother looking at the weather each day. Assume rain and be happily surprised when the overcast clouds don't break. I can count the sunny and clear days on my fingers, so seriously - grab a jacket.

2. Take advantage of the pub scene - As an American college student who recently turned 21, the drinking culture in London just dwarfs what I'm used to in the United States. The general atmosphere is relaxed, fun, and conversational, rather than frantic, rushed, and disingenuous. Also, the beer and cider is a lot better. Don't be afraid to try English pub food either, even the stuff beyond burgers and fish & chips! (I'm partial to Bangers and Mash). Anyway, there are a billion pubs, so definitely check a few out.
 
3. Ride the Tube everywhere - As a Boston College student, I am most familiar with the MBTA "T" service, which after the ultra-efficient Tube in London seems like a laughable execution of public transit. The Tube is quick, cheap, fun, and can get you basically anywhere you need to go in and around London. Just make sure if you're traveling at night you catch it before it closes - otherwise it's a cab or the night bus for you. Additionally, if you feel so inclined, ride on top of a double-decker bus. It's pretty scenic and even cheaper (but a little slower) than the Tube.

Don'ts:
1. Overpay for meals - London is a big city. Like most big cities, it's pretty expensive. Unfortunately, unlike most big cities, it is home to a currency that trades for nearly 1.6 more than the US dollar. Definitely don't be afraid to spend money for something "worth it", but you'll find a lot of restaurants overpriced for both the quality and quantity of food/drink you receive. Definitely do your research on sites like TripAdvisor. Covent Garden/Picadilly/Leicester Square has a ton of good places but also a lot of overpriced places masquerading as good places. Come prepared!

2. Take a cab if you can avoid it (walk or take the Tube) - London cabs are great, but they are also really expensive. If you have any knowledge of the city's layout, the tube or even walking can get you around at a much cheaper rate. I really only found myself in cabs if it was too late to take the Tube and I was too far to walk to where I lived. Unless you have an oddly specific time crunch, it's not worth paying dozens of pounds for cab fare on a regular basis.

3. Force yourself to see tourist spots you're not interested in - In my opinion, a universal "don't" for traveling. Time in these places is limited, so while you may feel the need to "see everything", unless you're actually interested in "everything", you'll almost certainly find yourself in a stressful situation. I had 4 months to enjoy London, but I didn't go to every museum or see every sight, mainly because I'd rather focus on the parts of the city that interested me. For example, I never made the trip to Stonehenge or Bath, but I was in Piccadilly Circus nearly every week (to each his own of course, if stacked rocks is your thing). Overall, the message is that it's better to enjoy a few things than not-enjoy a lot of things.



Brighton:
Do's: 
1. Hit the Pier - Brighton's Pier is awesome. It's super long and filled with fun boardwalk-style arcade games and junk food. As someone who frequents Ocean City and Sea Isle New Jersey on a regular basis in the summer, this was a fairly familiar setting. If you like fun, this is the place to be.

2. Check out the nightlife - The beach and downtown area are both home to many pubs, bars, restaurants, and clubs. Visit a few and enjoy!

Don'ts:
1. Stray too far from the beach and main downtown area - Once you get away from the beach and downtown, it begins to feel very residential and there aren't really that many fun places to check out. Also, there are huge hills, so if you're walking it can get tiresome. Basically anywhere between the train station and the beach is fair game for fun, but beyond the train station isn't really worth your time.

Florence:
Do's: 
1. Eat as much as possible -It's Italy. Seriously, go nuts. Gorge yourself. It's the best food in the world. Have 4 meals a day if you have to you. Enjoy panini snacking and gelato for the hell of it. I can't stress this enough. You have the rest of your not-so-tasty life to lose the weight. TREAT YO SELF.

2. Climb the Duomo - There is something like 500 hundred tiny, steep, cramped medieval stone steps spiraling up the church (which is quite an experience to climb), but once you get to the top, you'll see why - the view is incredible and it's a fully 360 degree picture of Florence. If you have the energy, it's worth it. If you're wondering where the Duomo is, it's the big church in the middle of Florence, you can't miss it.
 
3. Enjoy the art and architecture - Go into a few churches, check out the Ponte Vecchio, and if you have the time, hit up a few museums and, of course, the David. Florence is full of artistic works, so take the time to enjoy them.

Don'ts:
1. Pay extra to sit in a bar/cafe you can stand in - An annoying thing I've found is that there is usually a "cover" charge just to sit in a cafe or bar. It's not outrageous to pay, but out of principal, it makes me angry. Don't patronize this kind of stuff unless you're literally about to fall over. Even then, think about sitting on the ground in protest or going somewhere else.

2. Buy knock-off goods - You've come this far, you may as well pay the extra money for quality leather merchandise at a legitimate retailer than grab something at a cheaper price from the numerous merchant stands around town. It's worth the extra cash to trust your purchase.

Venice:
Do's: 
1. Ride a gondola - It's expensive, but come on - you have to do it! You'll see the city in an amazing way and have THE memorable Venice experience. Some advice: Don't pay more than 80 euro for a 45 min ride. Be explicit about those terms. If a gondolier says something else, find another one: there's a TON to choose from. Usually they will start high to see if you're an idiot and then, when you explicitly state what you want and walk away (if they play hardball), they will change their tune. It's a great experience, enjoy the ride!

2. Eat as much (seafood) as possible - Again, it's Italy. Go nuts. However, you'll find that the seafood (especially when mixed in pasta) in Venice is excellent. I'm partial to mussels, which I found to be particularly incredible. Again, eat everything.

3. Make the trip to Burano - The colorful homes of Burano and excellent seafood make this a worthwhile place to visit. Plus it's pretty fun to ride around on a vaporetto (water taxi) to get there. If you have about half a day to spare, this is trip worth taking along with Murano (home of glass making). You can do them both in half a day total, so plan wisely!

Don'ts:
1. Overpay for food - Venice has a lot of good food options, but also many overpriced food options. Use sites like TripAdvisor to help tell the difference. Try to stay away from people pleading you to enter their restaurant as well.

2. Stay in the actual city - Venice complete shuts down at night. I stayed in the city and, unfortunately, other than eating at a few restaurants that happen to be open, there really isn't anything to do once it gets dark. Staying on the island of Lido is probably your best bet.

Istanbul:
Do's: 
1. Mosques (Suleymaniye, Sultan Ahmed "Blue", Hagia Sophia) - The first time I was ever in a Mosque was in Istanbul and all I can say is it's a great place to start. The architecture and history in each one is stunning, unique, and culturally important. Particularly, the Hagia Sophia, which used to be a church when Istanbul was Constantinople and was then converted into a Mosque when the Ottoman empire took over. Anyway, go to these mosques, you won't regret it at all.

2. Stay in Kadikoy (the Asian side) - The Old City on the European side is where all the sight-seeing is. However, it's very touristy and you may find a more "authentic" Istanbul farther out, particularly in a part of the city called Kadikoy. A real bonus of staying across the Bosphorus is taking the dirt-cheap ferries across the scenic divide between Europe and Asia. It's worth it to start your day of sightseeing enjoying a short cruise between continents. Plus, it's definitely less expensive to stay outside of the tourist spots.

3. Basilica Cistern - One of the cooler things I've seen in all of my travels. A cistern is basically an underground watertower and it's an incredibly cool place to explore (in every sense of the word, if you're looking to get out of the sun). Definitely worth seeing, especially since it's right next to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

Don'ts:
1. Topkapi Palace - Cool palace, but honestly was a waste of time. Nothing is labeled and it's overrun with school groups. Also, no disrespect to the place, but some of the things they claim to have seem bogus (Moses's staff? Really?). On top of all of the disappointment, it's the most expensive tourist attraction. Not worth the money.

2. Forget a Map - The roads are tough to read sometimes, so you'll definitely need a map. A smartphone with GPS is a godsend in times like these, but a paper map should help fine as well.

Amsterdam:
Do's: 
1. Anne Frank House - A powerful experience and a well-done museum. It also has interactive parts at the end dealing with discrimination issues. Definitely worth a visit. 

2. Dine by the canals - Nothing beats kickin' it with good beer and food by the beautiful canals in Amsterdam. Lots of good meat in Amsterdam, and of course, great beer as well.

3. House of Bols -If you're someone who doesn't like museums (and likes cocktails), this is the museum for you. Its a short and definitely sweet visit with a few drinks included in the fairly cheap ticket price. Lots of fun.

Don'ts:
1. Rent a bike - There are bikes EVERYWHERE in Amsterdam. You may be tempted to rent one. I did. It was mega-stressful, mainly because I had no idea of where to really go and there are a bajillion other bikes to watchout for (not to mention cars and trams). If you think you can handle it, by all means try, but be warned. 

2. Get obsessed with the pot/sex culture - Alright, you can smoke/ingest weed legally in Amsterdam. Also, there are prostitutes. While that may be all well and good, PLEASE don't let that be the only thing you do in Amsterdam (or at all cause, you know, drugs and paying for sex aren't really the best things to be doing anyway). But seriously, they overadvertise the whole innapropriate experience thing and it seems really childish. There's definitely a shock factor of the "coffee" shops and girls dancing in windows, but there is a lot more to the city than that. Eitherway, don't shame yourself because, in this day and age, whatever happens in Amsterdam definitely won't stay there.

Brussels:
Do's: 
1. Eat mussels and drink beer - As someone who loves a good rhyme, when I found out that Brussels had great mussels, I had to try them...and they're great, definitely have some while you're there. Also, Belgian beer is quite good. Drink your fill.

2. Go to Delirium - If you go nowhere else in Brussels, go here, especially if you like beer - there are over 2000 types to choose from. This 4 floor hopping bar/cafe is fun for all (legally drinking) ages. You'll have a blast sampling all types of beers from around the world. Go a few times - it's that much fun!

3. Take a bus tour - To be honest, Brussels isn't super exciting. Anything you want to see you can see on a cheap hop on/off bus tour. If something really interests you, hop off and explore for a while, then hop back on again. Eitherway, it's a good way to see a lot of the spread out sights that you may want to check out or at least drive by.

Don'ts:
1. Spend a lot of time doing "touristy" stuff - Like I said, I don't think there is much to see in Brussels. Others may disagree, but I think the best way to enjoy Brussels is to eat mussels, chocolate, and waffles while sipping on fine Belgian beer. Do this, a lot, and you'll be sure to have a good time.

2. Forget to have a real Brussels Waffle - They call them "Brussels" Waffles in Brussels, but if you go to Belgium and don't have a Belgian Waffle, then you missed the point of going to Belgium. The more the merrier.

Budapest:
Do's: 
1. Walking Tour ("free" if possible) - Definitely a good way to see a city you may not know much about while learning about the history and other interesting information. "Free" (tip-expected) walking tours in general are a lot of fun and totally worth doing. By the end of my studying abroad travels, they became a mainstay in how I would familiarize myself with a city.

2. Eat Goulash - Hungarian Goulash is amazing, hearty, beefy soup. Go nuts, it's nearly a meal in itself with some bread.

3. Take advantage of the cheap currency -There are about 200 Forints to 1 US Dollar. This is an excellent rate when buying food, drink, and goods. Again, knock yourself out.

Don'ts:
1. Get a cab without making arrangements ahead of time - At the airport, use the taxi stand to pre-arrange a price. There are a lot of scams in Budapest and taxis are definitely one of them. Everyone tells you not to, so let me add to that and say only use cabs you have a pre-arranged price with ahead of time. There are some good services, but do your research and definitely don't hire any geek off the street.

2. Get too tired from walking everywhere - Obviously, if you don't want to deal with cabs or trams (which I hear are also out to get you through mis-validation), walking is the best option. Just be sure that you can handle it. In retrospect, it may have been worth it to pre-arrange a cab to the Szchenyi Baths rather than walk all the way there (40 from where I was, close to the center of the city). Just make sure you pre-arrange it.


Munich:
Do's: 
1. English Garden - This is Munich. Sitting under trees in an awesome park, drinking liters of fine beer while eating a German lunch near the Chinese Tower...it doesn't get any better. The park itself is wonderful as well just to walk through. I would do this every day if I could. Please do this. You will thank me later.

2. Hofbrauhaus - This is also Munich. Probably the most famous beer hall in the world, Hofbrauhaus is an excellent place. Mega-touristy, but you won't care. A great Bavarian atmosphere - as well as beer and food - you'll remember forever.

3. Make the trip to Dachau - Concentration camps might not be for everyone, but I would encourage you to make to trip out to Dachau. The historical site is completely free and is more informative than nearly any museum I've ever been to. An absolute must if you're interested in WWII History. It's certainly a somber experience, but one you will be glad you embarked on.

Don'ts:
1. Springfest/other touristy gimmicks - Don't get sucked into something like Springfest, which was a wholly fake experience, or anything else that feels gimmicky. Stick to the beer halls and beer gardens and you won't be disappointed or overcharged for lower quality beer.

2. Order less than a liter of beer at a time - Don't embarass yourself. The beer maids will make fun of you.

Prague:
Do's: 
1. Astronomical Clock - Seems silly, but is truly mesmerizing to examine, especially at night. The whole "Old Town" square is just a great place to be. Besides Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge, this is probably the most touristy spot, but you will soon see why. Enjoy it.

2. Take advantage of the cheap currency - About 20 Czech crowns make 1 US Dollar. Also, beer is ridiculously cheap. I'm talking $1.50 for a LITER of high-quality Bohemian beer in a restaurant. Go nuts.

3. John Lennon Wall -A constantly changing piece of graffiti art that even you can become a part of. Definitely worth seeing and leaving your own message of good will.

Don'ts:
1. Forget to notice the architecture throughout the city - There is an incredible amount of history in Prague, so you can imagine the range of architecture present. Nearly every building is an example of a particular school of architecture. If you're into that sort of thing, you'll love Prague.
 
2. Pay to enter a building or sight without a little research - You may want to try to go in everywhere and see everything, but truly do a little research and find out what is worth doing TO YOU. This is probably good overall advice, but museums can get expensive if you're not careful.


Marrakech:
Do's: 
1. Bring sun protection/hydration - This, I cannot stress enough. IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO BE HYDRATED IN MARRAKECH WHERE IT IS PROBABLY HOTTER THAN ANYWHERE YOU'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE. Luckily, lots of dry heat, so the shade can be quite nice. Still though, be smart and don't get roasted out there.

2. Majorelle Gardens - In the middle of the dust and desert, this is truly a beatuiful oasis. Interesting and great looking plants in a shady, lush garden. It's a sight for sore eyes after a few days in the dust.

3. Jemaa El Fna at night - You should go to the Jemaa El Fna (main square) during the day as well, but at night it really is the place to be. All kinds of everything is going on, including these makeshift numbered kebab restaurants which are hilarious to eat at (they cheer when they win your business from dozens of other competitors).

Don'ts:
1. Stop for more than a few seconds when walking - If you do, you will almost certainly be bothered by a local offering "help". As a tourist, you stick out even more here, so try to plan and know your routes without stopping if you can.

2. Accept "help" from a bystander - Under no circumstances accept "help" from a local who offers it, as they are nearly always looking for money in return. Moreover, they will be persistent and harass you, remind you that you are lost, etc. when you say no, so keep moving, be civil, and give a firm "no thank you" when pushed. Use common sense and you will be fine. You are bound to be annoyed by this, immensely at first, but you oddly get used to it after a little while. Good luck!


Barcelona:
Do's: 
1. Parc Guell - One of the most incredible artistic parks in the world, as it features a ton of Antoni Guadi architectural pieces. Also, it's just a stunning view of Barcelona from way high up. Definitely worth the short metro ride and walk.

2. Beach & Nightlife - Barcelona stays up late. And they like to party. Check out a few clubs, particularly the ones on the beach. If you book ahead, you can get in for free, so look into that to avoid hefty cover charges. I don't really like clubs, and even I had a blast.

3. La Boqueria - One of the most fun outdoor markets in the world, Boqueria is a great place to buy fresh food either to eat right away or prepare for later. Particularly addictive are the 1 Euro cups of freshly-squeezed any-fruit-you-can-think-of juice. If you like food, you have to go.

Don'ts:
1. Waste money on Las Ramblas -The big touristy street is Las Ramblas, and it shows with the hiked prices. Don't be fooled - you can get better meals and souvenirs for much more reasonable prices even a few streets away. It's worth the research.

2. Waste a meal -It's pretty hard to do because so many places are excellent, but think about what types of meals and experiences you want to have, then plan accordingly by finding great places on sites like TripAdvisor. Your stomach will thank you later.

That's about it for my advice on traveling in Europe in a (pretty large) nutshell. I hope you found it useful.

One thing you definitely learn while traveling is how much you really do appreciate living in the United States. Don't get me wrong - I loved experiencing other cultures, but I was excited after 4 months to get back to familiarity (particularly regarding the quality of restaurant service). Now that I'm home, it's nice not to be surrounded by other tourists, from all over the world, all the time. Also, this doesn't exist in Europe and neither does this, so being back in the Philadelphia area is certainly exciting. I loved traveling, but it's great to be home in USA.

Like I said at the beginning of the post, stay tuned with my new blog, Nonsense & Minutiae, as I will periodically be posting my thoughts on anything about everything here. Til then - Cheers.