Really Playing for Pizza

More than Champions

2010-11-06T10:56:00.001-07:00

So maybe I have a little explaining to do... as for why the blog has gone "quiet." Well, in my mind this is Really Playing for Pizza - which to me is all things European, and currently, I've been, well, grounded here in North America. I've been coaching QBs for the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes, who are currently 6-1 and ranked #21 in the nation according to D3Football.com. It's been an absolute blast. In addition, I've been working hard on developing a documentary about the program and specifically my grandfather, NCAA Hall of Fame coach Frosty Westering. Here's a quick look at a 3 minute "teaser" for the program -- we're aiming to have it finished early in 2011. Let me know your thoughts! JJ

Callsign: Blondie

2010-08-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Check out Christie's latest story for King5 Seattle's morning show - flying with a stunt pilot! I'm proud to say that "the girl who is usually queasy on a roller coaster" fared just slightly better after pulling 10 G's with an Air Guard stunt pilot. And no, I didn't take any offense when she called the experience on live TV "the most exciting thing I've ever done." Haha!

You can read more about this experience and follow all of Christie's adventures on her blog - christiejohnsonking5.blogspot.com!

Christie joins "The Home Team"

2010-07-23T21:36:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my wife, Christie Johnson, for securing a job as the newest reporter for King 5 TV in Seattle! King 5 is the NBC affiliate in the Emerald City, and has been the leading station for many years. Christie will be working on the "King 5 Morning News" which airs from 5 - 7am on King 5, and then from 7 - 9am on King's sister station, Kong 6. I'm so proud!

Christie's first morning on King 5 included a trip high above the air!

Christie's role will be to do lifestyle pieces and cover interesting events around the Puget Sound region... seemingly a perfect fit for her! She kicked off her time at "The Home Team" by highlighting Seattle's School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA). Of course, "normal" reporters would be content to just provide a little info, but of course Christie jumped right in and executed a sweet move high above the air! It was awesome to watch!

You can follow Christie's exploits on Twitter by following @cjohnsonking5 or by logging on to king5.com.

~ J. Twice

Sicilian Livin' back in 2008

2010-07-17T01:37:00.000-07:00

Sicilian Livin' 2008 from One_Space Films on Vimeo.

An Explosive Fourth of July

2010-07-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Having been on foreign soil the past few years, I've missed the American tradition that is our independence day, the 4th of July. Typically it is a time for BBQ, family, and fireworks -- our family just leans towards the "on steroids" side of fireworks.

You see, my uncle Scott Westering -- when he's not acting as the head football coach of the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes -- lights off huge holiday firework shows. He's been doing it for almost 30 years now, something he began way back in college when the explosives were nothing more than sparklers. Ok, maybe a little more. But while other "big time" shows have switched to computer-triggered explosives, he has chosen to remain "pure" to the legacy of fireworks by still shooting off his shows the old fashioned way, with highway flares. While this may not seem the most safe, it does offer the highest amount of adrenalin for those involved!

This year, as in the past, he was responsible for shooting the big Fort Lewis Army Base show. And as my parents have clung to their last amount of juristiction over me and forbid me from grabbing my own flare, I decided to get up close and personal into the action and show everyone what it's actually like to shoot off a fireworks show, as most people haven't been close to smelling the burning napalm. Or was that 'Nam? I digress... so without further ado, here is the Jason Johnson HD Fireworks Video for 2010!

Ft. Lewis Fireworks July 4, 2010 from One_Space Films on Vimeo.

Sicilian Beaches

2010-06-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

The unbelievably clear water of Aci Trezza

Two years ago, before I came to Sicily, I got to "meet" a few of my future Catania Elephant teammates in an online chat room. They began telling me about Sicily, and I knew immediately I would love it. My thought was, how can you not have a good time in a sun-drenched island surrounded by crystal blue water? The reason I start this blog with that conversation is I vividly remember there being some confusion when I asked about "beaches" -- as this word in English sounds strangely similar to another word a drastically different meaning. I was assured by the more sarcastic teammate that there were plenty of both types on the island, however there can be no more confusion as to the actual beaches of Sicily - they are spectacular.

Flying in to Trapani gives you a "foretaste of the feast to come"

We began this trip on the Western tip of the island in Trapani, just outside of Marsala. Our first beach visit was the famed "Modello" near Palermo, which I had yet to visit. We found it to be a gorgeous half-moon bay with white sand, clear water, and a handful of typical Sicilian ristorante scattering the shore. Unlike other parts of the world where beaches remain fairly constant in theme, all Sicilian beaches have their own vibe and thus draws instant comparisons. For Modello, I think "Turks and Caicos" does just fine.

Let the fun begin at Modello

Across the island near Catania, we knew the beaches like the back of our sandy feet. On Tuesday we made sure to visit Giardini-Naxos (Hawaii)...

Giardini!

and then on Wednesday followed it up with a trip to Playa Beach (Mexico).

Capaninne means "Little Huts" in Italian, but to me it's Mexican flair calls for a fiesta!

With the clock ticking on our final days in Sicily, we began today by heading south to Fontane Bianche, which literally means "White Sand." It lies just a stone's throw from Siracusa, which we all know is both where the Orangemen come from and where plot was invented by the Greeks some 3,000 years ago. This might be my favorite of all Sicilian beaches, as its warm water, fine grains of sparkling white sand, and overall holiday vibe make it seem like a stop in the Caribbean. Plus, the new sparkling Autostrada to Siracusa whisks you from Catania down the coast to this hot spot in less than 45 minutes! Incredible...

Fontane Bianche (Caribbean)

So while Sicily may not be as accessible as Hawaii to those West Coast Americans, or the Caribbean to those in the East, why not book a trip around the world by making your next beach vacation a Sicilian Beach Extravaganza?

If you lived here you'd be home right now.

~ J. Twice

Catania Musings

2010-06-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

You can make the Super Bowl, but if you haven't had Cannoli...

Being the "extreme experience" traveler that I am with such an over-abundance of curiosity, I make it a point to seek out all the local secrets of any new place I go. Obviously in my time on Sicily I have pretty much discovered all the 'secret spots' there are to know. So you can imagine my horror last night when a bunch of us were sitting around discussing local Sicilian cuisine that Richard Kovalchek - the same one who has been here for over four months - had NOT YET TRIED CANNOLI! The moment I found out I screamed "Blasphemy!" and vowed to right this wrong instantly. You see, Cannoli is not a secret, it's a revelation. An institution. A pillar upon which all dolce stands. It is... simply the best freakin' thing anyone has ever tasted. And no where else in the world can you get such wholesome goodness than in Sicily.

If Richard led the Elephants to the Super Bowl, but did not try Cannoli, his mission here in Sicily would have been a complete and utter failure.

The Master of Slant

We immediately jumped in our car (and Vespa) and raced straight for the centro de Catania. While I have discussed the many fine Cannoli establishments on the island, there is only one official ceremonial tavola calda where all who step foot on Sicily must first be indoctrinated into the mundo del cannoli: E'Toile D'or. (Or "Ecuador" for the hard of hearing.) It has perhaps the most standard of all cannoli, with a good sized slant (pistachio-covered angled edge). I immediately ordered two and placed one in front of Richard. He took a big bite and...

SUCCESS.

Another future Cannoli Lover of America. I think his exact words were, "Freakin' Amazing!" The season and Super Bowl Preparations may now continue.

OTHER ADVENTURES

GRANITA: Sicilian for "Breakfast"

So far every day we've also made sure to eat our fair dose of Sicilian specialties. One of these is Granita, a sort of gelato-esque slush that is eaten for, of all things, breakfast. It is so sweet, so light, that it literally melts in your mouth. The one pictured is a mix of Mandorla (Almond) and Gelsi (Berry). This is so good that it is worth jumping on a plane and flying 5,000 miles for breakfast. On a patio. Surrounded by beautiful people, blue water, and buzzing Vespas. But I digress.

We've also made sure to hit up some of our old 'haunts. We went to Giardini Naxos and got a message (or "rub down") from a Chinese lady. We went to Taormina for our customary Gelato and Parking Ticket. And we hit up the Market for some good ol' shopping deals and dudes from Senegal.

Can you spot the Canadian?

The weather hasn't been too "beachy" -- staying pretty cloudy and only in the low 70s. In fact, today we were one of 4 people at the usual packed "Capannine" beach lido. However, we did try to do something local last night, ending in the ultimate backfire ever:

A bunch of Elephants and friends were meeting to watch Italy's first World Cup match at a friend's huge mansion. There is a small yard where fierce games of soccer are played before and after the televised match. This has been talked about for some time. The moment we arrived we jumped out of the car and were excited to join in. Gregorio threw the ball to Christie, who promptly PUNTED the ball over the fence. Game over.

It was "like totally the most American thing we could do" and we felt terrible. We slumped into our seats and tried to look invisible during the first half. I could see the frustration on the Italian's faces, and we were sure they were all talking bad about us in their native tongue. Fortunately, a second ball was found and the game sprung up at half time. Spirits were lifted. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Until the ball came to me -- and I promptly PUNTED THE BALL OVER THE FENCE. Game over, part 2.

At this point, I can only say that I am thankful that I am still alive. They were all very gracious, and I may be feeling overly guilty, but essentially it would be the same thing as breaking your mom's best China. On Christmas.

The good news is that after the game a third ball was found - a beach ball - and a nice game of Volleyball started. Until the ball came to the only other American within 30 miles -- Richard -- who promptly SPIKED THE BALL OVER THE FENCE!!!

3 for 3... we gotta get outta here!

Rich on the Vespa

... and into the Sunset he rides.

Ciao from Catania!!!

An Historic Day - Elephants Superbowl Bound

2010-06-14T02:04:00.001-07:00

The CATANIA ELEPHANTS are headed for the Italian Football League's Super Bowl!

"Cee Twice" gets the team fired up before the game

With a passionate and hard-fought 27-14 semi-final victory over the Bergamo Lions, the Catania Elephants are on their way to play for the Italian League Championship. The victory is symbolic in many ways, including the club's first victory over Italy's most storied franchise, but most importantly is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches in Sicily!

The journey to this point is a great story in itself. The team was founded back in the 1980s, with nothing more than a few guys who had seen some NFL games on TV. Slowly the team grew in numbers and experience, which isn't easy in a country head-over-heels for soccer. When I joined the Elephants two years ago to begin my own "playing for pizza" odyssey, it was the first time the team would be welcoming American imports to the team and moving to Italy's top division. That year was a critical jump in experience for the team -- playing teams like Bergamo, Parma, and Bolzano for the first time. Yet we stood toe-to-toe with everyone, making it all the way to the semifinals. But more importantly, it showed the guys that we could compete at this level, and now in just the third year of IFL play, the Elephants have fulfilled its long-time dream by making it to the Italian SuperBowl!

A rowdy crowd was hyped up and ready to cheer on the Elephants, complete with some "Pink Elephant Special Signs!"

For me, it was great to be back in Sicily and getting to be a part of this historic day. The team knows how much they mean to me personally, and it was also fun to be reunited with a former Arizona QB - Richard Kovalchek - who is now leading the Elephants.

The defense set the tone early by stopping the Lions on the first drive of the game, and the offense started rolling from there - racing out to a 19-0 lead. Richard was spreading the ball around to a bunch of receivers, and doing it with his legs as well. Bergamo got a late TD with just seconds to go before the half to make the score 19-6 at the break.

Elephants on the attack, still running a variation of the system we installed two years ago

It wouldn't be Italy without "Magic Spray"

In the 3rd quarter, the Elephants got the ball first and drove the length of the field, chewing up almost the entire quarter before Richard ran it in from about 15 yards out. This gave them a comfortable 27-6 lead, although in Italy, nothing is ever over!

4th quarter!

The Lions scored halfway through the 4th to make it a two-score game, but the Elephants were able to march on another long drive that took the clock down to under 2 minutes. The D then stepped up with a huge interception by "Cee Twice" who probably gets his great athletic ability by sharing a nickname with me. At this point, the game was over and the celebration was on!!!

Sealing the victory

A long time in the making for Il Presidente Davide

A well deserved victory!

POST GAME CELEBRATION

He's been waiting a long time to wear this shirt... Fortunato "Lucky" has been a member of the Elephants since Italy became a country back in 1861.

The greatest thing about playing and living in Catania is that it truly is a familia. Many teams (if not all) talk about being a family, but rarely do they actually live it out. Here, everyone involved with the team rallies around the Elephants, and victories like this turn into monstrous pizza parties and nights out. About 50 Elephants and Pink Elephants (WAGs in other parts of the world) went to my favorite pizza joint in Aci Castello, Jonica, for a great 4 hour dinner.

MAJOR JUMP PICTURE!!!

After this, it was off to the now infamous Fondo Bianco - one of the "American" style bars in downtown Catania. Owner Attilio has become a huge supporter of the team, and his 100 flaming shots have become a staple for post-game celebrations.

Attilio preparing to welcome the team

Why wouldn't the pope be in the house?

SUPERBOWL!!!

Congrats Elephants -- I'm so proud of you!

Sicilian Wedding Parade!

2010-06-12T04:03:00.000-07:00

Giuseppe and Valeria Tie the Knot Sicilian Style!

2010-06-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the Newlyweds!

In a grand ceremony at the magnificent Chiesa de Viagrande, Giuseppe Strano and Valeria Gugliermo were married on June 11, 2010. It was a magical affair that fused traditional Catholic traditions with the fun & lighthearted nature of the Catania Elephants in what could only be described as Sicilian.

The Bride arrives via Porsche

Guests gathered in the late afternoon outside the towering 18^th century church, flanked by a baroque town square lined with historic buildings and tall trees. There was electricity in the air, matched by both the expressions on family & friend’s faces and in the style of Italians dressed to impress. The air was warm and smelled sweet from thousands of flowers. It was the type of atmosphere that is worth jumping on a plane and flying halfway around the world to experience.

Around 5:30pm, the bride arrived in a vintage orange Porshe. The car pulled up to the curb to the shrieks of the crowd. The bride’s father was at the wheel, and the smile in the passenger seat could only be described as a little girl living out her dream of becoming a princess. Valeria leaped from the car, and her father gave her his arm as he closed her door and led up her up the red carpet to the church door. Everyone leaned in to get a glimpse of the beautiful bride, snapping photos and offering encouragement. It was a whirlwind of excitement. They made their way to the door, where Giuseppe stood waiting – a symbolic moment of passage. I have always loved the way that those two have interacted, and it just seemed so right the moment Giuseppe saw his bride for the first time on that day.

Elephants were excited!

Here comes the Bride

Beautiful old church adorned with flowers

As the crowd rushed into the church behind the bride and her father, the organist began “Here comes the Bride.” Hundreds of family and friends filled in the wooden pews. Valeria was escorted to the front of the church, where the couple took a seat in front of the alter adorned with thousands of white flowers.

The service was very traditional. Vows were passed, rings were exchanged, and the Italian priest delivered a long and from what I could tell, very heart-felt and personal message. I was unable to tell if he encouraged Giuseppe to “Beat the Lions” as one of his first acts of being a husband. There was an interesting quality to the event that differed from American weddings – it seemed that this service had a nice blend of ceremony and yet informality amongst the crowd.

In stark contrast to what was happening in the church, Giuseppe’s “crazy uncle” was stirring up some mischief with the Elephants outside. He had arranged for an impromptu parade to start immediately following the wedding, constructing a seven-foot tall papier-mâché Elephants helmet in the back of an old truck. There was a traditional Sicilian brass band dressed in white t-shirts and jean shorts who had their own flatbed truck to follow the helmet, and he had brought dozens of plastic soccer balls and other easily thrown objects to pelt the newlyweds as they left the church. He had parked these huge vehicles immediately in front of the church, and judging by the chorus of car horns from angry drivers, they were not pleased that the flow of traffic through the village on the one-lane main thoroughfare had ground to a halt. I couldn’t wait to see how this all played out.

Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Strano

Back in the church, the ceremony concluded in brilliant fashion. The couple exchanged their first kiss, and were embraced by family and friends as the ceremony ended. At this point everyone made there way outside. Giuseppe and Valeria took a few pictures, then made their way down the red carpet to the door where everyone waited outside to celebrate. Perhaps ambush is a better word. The moment they made their way out into the evening sun, the band struck up a tune and the crowd burst into applause. Confetti floated above the crowd, and suddenly the Elephants launched an attack of inflatable soccer balls! The air was filled with flying objects, and everyone went wild. I think I saw Valeria take a couple in the face, but her hockey background shrugged it off. Under heavy fire, the newlyweds made their way down the steps of the church, where Giuseppe did an interview for the TV cameras. They were then hoisted into the helmet for the parade, and the Elephants jumped into the back of the truck to lead the way. I hopped inside as well, and captured some video (next blog).

CRAZY!!!

ATTACK!!!

Now on to the real action...

Boys on the Cart

The couple in the back...

Lookout... here we come!

Go Elephants!

Soaking it all in!

After a few laps through the village, we circled back to the church. At this point everyone was laughing and relaxed. Ties were removed from collars and placed on our heads. The whole thing was just so unpredictable, and yet perfectly Sicilian. It was a fun end to an amazing event.

Valeria, Giuseppe, and "Il Senatore" Nino Strano

Davide and son Alessandro, who was born on the same day as my first Catania game

Next? (Sorry, I had to say it)

The old couple

When everyone had dispersed, Giuseppe took the keys to the orange Porsche and drove away with his bride. Two thoughts filled my head – 1) What an interesting and symbolically fitting tribute for the bride to arrive driven by her father, and depart with her new husband; and 2) If Giuseppe and Valeria’s life together is to be anything like this day, then they have an incredible ride ahead!

Into the sunset they ride...

To Mr. and Mrs. Giuseppe Strano, thanks for letting us be a part of your special day!!! We wish you nothing but Love and a life-filled with happiness!

Our Tour de France

2010-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

The incredible Mont St. Michel

Hey everyone -

We've had bad internet during this trip (shocker) so I haven't been able to upload the blog as much as I'd like, so instead I've just thrown a few pics up on facebook and now am shooting this update to the world.

Everything is great with us on our own little "Tour de France" - we've had a fabulous trip so far and have been so impressed by this country. The people, food, and culture have all been first class. Rural France had always intrigued me, and it has been very interesting seeing the "real" side of the French people as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Paris and the glitz down in the South of France.

St. Emilion, Bordeaux countryside

Our flight over went smoothly (other than of course our luggage once we got to the budget carrier headed for France.) WHEN WILL WE LEARN! We landed there late on Saturday night and grabbed a hotel. Of course, the hotel we had booked on the internet decided to randomly close on Saturday with no phone number and no one there speaking English, so we audibled and found a decent one on foot with luggage in toe. Sunday we picked up a car and drove 45 minutes out of Bordeaux (the city) to the countryside and found a tiny little village named St. Emilion that came highly recommended. It was heaven... small stone buildings in a valley surrounded by vineyards! We walked the city, tasted free wines, and enjoyed a picnic in the city square before finding our accommodation - a small 18th century farm ran by a nice woman and her husband. It was so incredible, just plopped amongst thousands of acres of vineyards. We relaxed that day and walked through, enjoying what a proper "getaway" should be. That night, we decided to try out French Cuisine and feasted on a ridiculously good (albeit foreign) dinner of eggplant cakes, salmon tartare, fresh trout, roasted duck with sea salt potatoes, and finally Creme Brulee & Chocolate Fondant cake. It really was as good as it could be.

Christie with our lovely host and her dog, Vanilla! We were served a classic French breakfast in the vineyard and enjoyed the sunshine.

Nothing like a purple Vespa

The following day (Monday) we attempted to go wine tasting at a few of the over 860 chateau's in the region, but soon came to find out (after striking out at 5 in row!) that reservations were required. WHERE WERE YOU ON THAT ONE RICK STEVES!!! Can't fault Rick - overall he's been amazing on his recommendations -- so much so that we decided to bolt out of Bordeaux that afternoon, and drove the 300 km up to the Loire Valley where we spent the evening touring a pair of medieval chateaus -- Azey le something and Villandry, which boasts the most ridiculously nice garden I've ever seen.

Late that evening we made our way to the city of Angers (one hour to the west) where we were staying with our friend Aurelie's parents. She is the girlfriend of Swarco Raiders receiver Andi Proeller, and one of Christie's best girlfriends in Austria. They were so accommodating... only they didn't speak a LICK of English. It was so nice of them to let us stay there! However, this meant that even "Hello" in English was beyond them, and we didn't fare much better! It didn't matter, as they were WONDERFUL hosts -- preparing a delicious three-course meal that included a salad comprised of tomato, crab, and egg along with a baked cheese-filled bread. For dessert - in an unlikely yet delicious twist - MORE CHEESE!!! (They said that French people enjoy cheese 365 days per year. Can't argue with that!) We enjoyed all of this while using hand-signals and Christie's French that she hadn't used in years, along with a trusty French-English dictionary and a list of English sentences that Lili had printed out for her parents. Awkward at the time, funny looking back :-) But a serious example of great hospitality - Merci Remi and Paulette!

French for "House"

On Tuesday, we woke up early and headed north to Brittany to catch one of the wonders of the world -- the island of Mont St. Michel. It sticks out into the Bay almost 6 km and is completely surrounded by sand in one of the largest tides in the world. It was breathtaking from afar and made for some incredible pics... however the inside was a touristy nightmare filled with cheap nicknacks and too many stairs. My favorite part was when we walked way out onto the sand to get photos, and upon returning found that the tide had created a large pool that I carried Christie across on my back! Good times! That day we also discovered Rick's two gems in the region, the cobble-stone lined village of Dinan (lunch) and the Castle By the Sea town of St. Malo (dinner). What an incredible day!!!

Villandry gardens - incredible!

Cobbled streets of Dinan, small village in Northern France

Today is Wednesday, our last in France. We had a goal of seeing two more famous Chateau in the Loire Valley on the way to Paris, but in the name of simplicity (and saving a few hours driving) decided to head straight for the City of Light. BIG MISTAKE!!! We arrived to pouring down rain, bad traffic, and our usual disappointment that is Paris. We know we sound completely jaded, spoiled, and snobby, but seriously this city SUCKS for us!!! Ugh... we're laid up now at an internet cafe, where I'm catching up on life (Lakers up 2-1 over the Celts!) Hopefully the weather will clear so we can enjoy the evening... but in the morning we're off to Sicily for nothing but Sun!!! (Oh yeah, a big Sicilian Wedding and the Italian League Semi's too!)

Ciao and Merci,

Jason and Christie

On the road again...

2010-06-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

It's back - the Jump Picture! Christie is pumped here to be entering her home and native land of Canadia.

And they're off.

Jason and Christie's 2010 European Adventure (abbreviated from here on out as JC2K10EA) officially kicked off on Friday as we pulled out of our parking structure in Tacoma, Washington, USA at officially 9:02 am Pacific Standard time. Ahead of us lied thousands of miles, a handful of countries, and numerous once-in-a-lifetime experiences -- but first, a day and a half of travel to get there. This is the gritty part of being a traveler, for despite my love of the open road, I must break positological tradition and admit that getting to Europe is not all poppies and strudel.

Happy to have reached the train station in Manchester.

For us, this road required some fancy footwork as an easy direct connection from Seattle to Bordeaux wasn't available for less than the GDP of Andorra. Therefore, we made a four hour drive north to Vancouver to catch our flight to England, filled with it's own intricacies of a border crossing, dropping a car at a nondescript downtown location, praying that it would still be there upon our return, catching a train to the airport, and braving an airport line-up that harkened back to 1982. All of this went fairly according to plan, except the aforementioned line at Thomas Cook Airlines. Doing things "The Old Fashioned Way" might work for Smith Barney in the financial world and does provide interesting material for commercials, but this is not exactly so in the travel biz. Despite arriving at the airport nearly 3 hours before our flight, this English charter company still required an old school face to face meeting, and so no quick electronic check-in kiosks. It seemed everyone - including the 400 odd English bound passengers - knew to expect this and thus arrived at the airport last Thursday to catch this flight. I do want to go on record that my beautiful wife did tell me this, and two stress-filled hours later we were finally checked in and racing to the gate just moments before take-off. The good news is that this delay meant we were not sitting together and therefore I wouldn't need to hear about it the first three hours of the flight, the bad news is that we had the joy of deciding between Middle Seat Next to Crying Baby and Middle Seat That Doesn't Recline.

Street performers come in the soccer variety in the city that first gave us Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. Ironically, Thomas Cook stands quietly in the background.

Upon arrival into Manchester, we had a six hour layover before our next flight to Bordeaux. We quickly dropped off our bags inside the airport and hopped on the train for a fifteen-minute train ride into town. The plan was nothing other than walking aimlessly through the city center, and I was curious to see the town that is home to one of the world's top soccer clubs, Manchester United. There was a Saturday market on, and the city buzzed with people looking through various shops and flower-filled stands.

The colors in this picture are a little to close to the Puyallup Vikings.

Yes, I can take pictures of flowers.

Travel guru Rick Steves advocates traveling like a temporary local. This means ditching your typical American attitudes and hang-ups, and making it a point to try new things and experience culture through the eyes of those that live there. This had me a little worried as I surveyed the folks filling the Manchester Piccadilly Station, who either were quite unfortunately dressed or were auditioning for the role of a Jesse James mistress. The over/under on tattoos per person hovered around 15. I know dressing "euro" is a buzz-word among hip Americans, but perhaps those had never seen the average 17 year old Manchesterite. Yes, we were no longer in Kansas.

Great buildings lead to...

... great squares and people watching galore.

Eventually we made our way down into the heart of town where modern gave way to historic and suddenly there were sunny squares filled with people. This was British culture we were looking for. We decided to cure our jet-lag with some time at Sinclair's Oyster Bar, an historic watering hole dating back to the first Gentleman's Club in Manchester, founded in the 18th century. There was fascinating people watching here! (Note -- be sure to ask before trying a local brew as it might be served warm!)

If it's England than it must be time for a pint.

Happy travels.

We spent the rest of the afternoon admiring the old buildings and people watching, which somehow never gets old in this part of the world.

Look this way!

Cool texture.

A little help here?

Manchester city square

On a sightseeing scale, Manchester was pleasant enough but not worthy of a special stop on any itinerary. Perhaps we're a little jaded having been to Europe consistently over the past few years, but I think the true joy in Europe is found in the small villages or in the few great large cities (Rome, Prague, Berlin, etc.) Four hours in the core was much more than enough, and we hurried back to the airport for our connection to France.

I do want to make the note to fellow Chelsea supporters that I did not go to Old Trafford while in town. Go Blues!

Safely in Bordeaux

There is no hiding what this region is about...

We touched down at sunset in Bordeaux, feeling relatively good for 36 hours of consecutive travel, and excited to now let the real fun begin!

~ J. Twice

New Backyard...

2010-06-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

I always admire a nice cone.

I've always been an advocate of "being a tourist in your own backyard" -- well, our new backyard in Tacoma is the Museum of Glass. It features the Venetian-style blown glass of acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly, and a signature pyramid on the side of the building. After admiring said pyramid every morning for a month, I finally got off my butt when the light was right to get a stylish pic. So without further ado... the cone.

And in keeping with this Mantra... thought I'd show some of my Euro readers a little video of my hometown, as done by Seattle photographer Charlie Beck. Enjoy!

Seattle, WA :: The Best City in the World from Charlie Beck on Vimeo.

~ J. Twice

Still SAC...

2010-06-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

A lot of people new to the blog might not be hip to all of my lingo, so I thought I'd post a couple updates before we got on the road to bring everyone up to speed. SAC is a concept I developed two years ago and has spread throughout Europe and much of Asia. It has been referenced across pop culture platforms, almost making its way into dozens of Hollywood movies and hit TV shows. And to be perfectly honest, with the growth of smart-phones and everyone's dangerous habit of texting while driving a Vespa one handed while balancing a small child on your lap (sorry - that's maybe only in Catania), SAC is as relevant and perfect today as when I first thought it up. So without further ado, let's start the show! SAC.

SAC: The New LOL

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008

We all have pet peeves. For some, it's bad drivers. For others (such as my wife), it's chewing with your mouth open, talking too loudly, or being against the socializing of healthcare. Or so I've been told. Oh yeah - one that really ticks me off is showers that have two knobs for water temperature -- hot & cold water knobs -- instead of just one! How many times have you been forced to dance around the slippery shower while getting scalded because you made a mistake on the ratio of hot and cold! But my own personal pet peeve is perhaps a little more far reaching -- touching all members of the growing community of text messengers that span the globe. I'm talking about a little acronym called LOL.

For those of you still "using CD's," "setting your VCR," or "unnecessarily using quotation marks," let me explain (although you do get bonus points for reading a blog.) LOL is an internet / text-message acronym that stands for 'LAUGHING OUT LOUD' and is commonly used as a response to a joke or witty comment. Let me give you an example:

FRIEND1: Yo, whattup?

FRIEND2: Leaving 4 Italy in 3 dayz... cr8zy

FRIEND1: Sweet - eat lots of meatballs

FRIEND2: LOL. Fo' sho'

Now, is the 'meatball' comment witty? Yes. Is it funny? Yes. But is it LAUGH OUT LOUD funny? NO. And that my friends, is where my beef lies.

Comedians - or people like me who just tell lots of jokes - live for that LOL moment. We work for it. We strive for it. We are rewarded by it. Because let's be perfectly honest, it takes a LOT to make someone actually LOL. I'm talking hit-in-the-groin-with-a-ground-ball funny. I'm talking Bambulance or Felching funny. (Please Google both and LOL!) That's LOL... not meatballs. I mean, all it's doing is giving a bunch of mediocre comedians or not funny people a false sense of confidence. There are some very boring people out there that maintain a 58% LOL ratio. In fact -- LOL is the digital equivalent of the adult courtesy laugh (the one all people over the age of 18 give at cocktail parties and office water coolers after any joke/story told, regardless of its merit.)

And thus we come to SAC. SAC simply means SMILING AT COMPUTER. As you read this sentence, you are probably SAC. SAC is what happens 95% of the time – and that's ok. It's good. It preserves the authenticity of the LOL... while at the same time acknowledging the witty-ness of the sender. We all need to use SAC more often.* Here’s a good example:

FRIEND1: Hey thanks for the ride last night

FRIEND2: Don't be silly - it was no prob. What r u doing?

FRIEND1: Just gonna sit around and use Google Maps all day to look at my house, my parents house, and where I work.

FRIEND2: SAC. Holla at me later. And check out the Grand Canyon too.

Please -- do your part. Please help spread SAC worldwide.

KEY POINT: LOL is not a term to be thrown around lightly. When most of you say LOL, you really mean SAC.

And for those of you saying OMG or WTF, I know this chapter had nothing to do with Italy. SAC.

* SAC also applies to phone text messages or books as well... simply because to use different acronyms such as SAP or SAB for each instance is not as LOL. By the way, the 2nd most underrated punctuation mark is the asterisk. It's as under-used as LOL is overused... but don't EVEN get me started on that!

Sicilian Driving - Some things never change...

2010-06-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Anyone who followed our (mis)adventures through Sicily two years ago will be well aware of the perils of driving on the island. Simply put, it is not for the meek. You see, Italians in general like to make their own rules, and driving is no exception. Most Italians consider the traffic light as an insult to their own intelligence and decision making. "Who are you to tell me whether I should go?" I imagine many Italians saying as they approach a red light. Needless to say, it's fun.

That being said, it is good to know that others share this opinion - and it's always best illustrated by a North American who just can't seem to grasp these non-rules of the road. Two years ago, it was our offensive lineman Brandon "Big Bianco" Bennett, who treated downtown Catania as his own personal demolition derby. By the end of six months, it was easier to count the parts of the car that were dented as opposed to what was still intact. This year, the honor goes to American Head Coach Mel Galli, who in his short time on Sicily has gone through a pair of cars at last count. Here's the brilliant account of his latest encounter, as told by Mel's friend Larry Murname who happened to be visiting the Elephants for the month of May.

"LET'S JUST START BY SAYING NO ONE DIED."

After a coaches meeting with the American players at the office of our team owner, Davide, Mel drove Luis and I to practice in our new Peugeot. Luis always gives me the death seat in front, purportedly so he can stretch his legs in the back, but we all know better. The Peugeot replaced the first car Mel wrecked on a trip back from Palermo when he missed about 5 miles of detour and speed limit warnings leading to the highway barrier that wedged itself under the car.

As we passed the Carne di Cavallo shop with a slab of horse ribs displayed on the sidewalk, and Mel once again describing the taste and texture of equineburgers, I could only sigh at the ultimate fate of those majestic, lean, beasts of burden seen trotting along the streets of Sicily with a rickshaw rider in tow. I returned my eyes to my window, only to see a motorcycle with 2 riders heading straight for me, about 10 feet away. In an instant, his bike slammed into my door and his helmet busted our windshield. The girl on the back, not wearing a helmet, began screaming uncontrollably while sitting in the street. A crowd quickly gathered, and I told Mel to call Davide, while others called 911. The riders were comforted where they fell, and I watched and listened in fear of a growing Sicilian lynch mob.

It quickly became obvious that the motorcycle driver ran a stop sign and struck our vehicle, and Mel had no culpability. (Fortunately, both vehicles had been travelling slowly.) In my medical opinion, as a juris doctor, neither rider appeared to sustain any serious injuries, though paramedics did put a neck brace on each of them before fumbling them onto stretchers and carrying them away in separate ambulances about an hour later. (We passed 2 other downed bikers later in the evening, and we see 1-2 per day on average; so these riders account for a large number of jobs in the emergency services sector.)

Because Mel had been driving without a license (not sure if he just forgot his wallet or ever had a license), which would apparently nullify the rental car insurance, Davide suggested maybe someone else might have been driving when the accident occurred. So, in the presence of about a hundred eye-witnesses, Mel informed me that I had been driving and he had to leave immediately to get to practice. I looked around, and Luis had already gotten the hell out of there, leaving just me, 2 bodies in the street, a wrecked car in the intersection, and a crowd of hostiles speaking gibberish and gesturing wildly. When Davide arrived, he confirmed I had been driving and then found and reviewed the rental car contract. When he determined the car had actually been rented in the name of Gustavo ("Goose"), a young Italian linebacker on the team, he quickly called Goose to advise he hustle to the scene of the accident, as the driver of our car. (Sometimes, you just have to admire Sicilian ways.) Happy to be off the hook, I informed Davide I must be on my way to practice, and left him there to address the police when they arrived. Hopefully, his newly designated driver would be there as well. (None of the bystanders seemed bothered in the least that all 3 people who were in the car had fled the scene.)

The good news is that we had a great practice (except for Goose and Davide), which is important because Milan has a solid team. Afterwards we walked back down the street in time to see the polizia wish Davide and Goose a pleasant evening. Mel and I then rode in the back of the car (the front passenger door no longer operable), and Luis drove us to get a kebab for dinner before seeking medicinal treatment at a new wine bar. Today, we will get a third car, if anyone will sign the rental contract...

Exhibit "A":

Thanks for the great story Larry! You can read more about his month in Catania on his blog right HERE.

Sicilian Beach Planning

2010-06-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

The turquois water of Mondello Beach between Trapani and Palermo - early candidate for our first stop in Sicily!

With our Sicilian vacation fast approaching, there comes the necessary planning phase that is often just as exhilerating as the road itself. There is nothing quite like wondering through the travel section at a cavernous bookstore, glancing from shelf to shelf in gitty anticipation over far off places with exotic sounding names. While the French portion of our trip has required the most attention, there is always the joy of trying to find a new place on Sicily that we haven't yet explored.

Now when it comes to Sicily, the first word I think of is BEACH. Obviously being a massive island helps in this classification, however nowhere else on earth have I found such a wide variety of beach types. Sand and Rocks. Calm and Waves. Blue and Blue-er. It cracks me up that almost every beach in Hawaii looks like Hawaii, and every Caribbean beach looks Caribbean. But in Sicily, you can drive five miles down the road and go from Mexico to Australia to Costa Rica to Greece! It is quite amazing, and something we will sure to partake of completely over our 9 days on the island.

The Aeolian islands in the distance of this northside beach.

The fine white sand of "Fontane Bianche" near Syracusa. Perhaps my vote for best so far.

Cefalu has got the vote for most antique - and personality.

FINALLY, we come to the beach I have recently discovered on a Frommer's Top Five List of Sicilian Beaches - Mondello near Palermo. George Contreras gave it a thumbs up, and even Claudio conceded that it is nice "when not overcrowded." This is officially going to be our first stop once Ryan Air delivers us to Sicily!

Giddy up.

I'm back... or should I say... OFF!

2010-05-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Like Mike.

I'm back.

With a single fax back in the '90s, Michael Jordan announced to the world that he was returning to the game of basketball from his brief hiatus in baseball. Well, Mike, times have changed and I'm now using this blog/facebook/twitter post to announce that "Jason Johnson's Blog Haitus" has official ended after 89 days. Yes, Really Playing for Pizza is back online.

The reason you ask? No, it is not because I have suddenly found my new domestic life in the Puget Sound area to suddenly be noteworthy (sidebar: blogs about living in America where things run according to plan are just not that interesting). And no, it is not simply to appease other prolific writers in the blogosphere (also see: Contreras, George). Rather, because of one simple fact:

WE'RE HEADED BACK TO EUROPE!

The world travelers in Berlin, 2009.

No, I'm not suddenly announcing a return from my own football retirement - although suddenly I just realized that this post could be taken as that. Rather, our good Sicilian friends Giuseppe Strano and Valeria Guglielmino are getting married on June 11th & 12th in Catania, Italy in what promises to be the wedding of the year! We are so excited for them and knew we couldn't miss it - along with a chance to reconnect with my two long lost best friends, gelato & cannoli. (Sorry Claudio, you'll have to do a little more to rank above gelato!)

'Peppe and Valeria

We met Giuseppe and Valeria in 2008 when I played for the Catania Elephants in Sicily - he a bruising tight end who caught many TD passes from me, and her a spark-plug female hockey player fresh off the Olympic games! We instantly had a bond, and consider them to be such a fun part of our lives. In September of 2008 Giuseppe and Valeria came to visit us in Seattle and we had an amazing time going out on our boat and taking in a Husky football game. I was looking through the pictures today, and I came across the photos below... when I realized that our new condo is in the picture! We live in the building just above Valeria's head to the right! What a crazy coincidence... or just foreshadowing?!

Valeria on our boat a couple years ago on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma - and our NEW HOUSE IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER! So funny!

Sicilian and Washingtonian sea captains

I do sincerely apologize for my "mini-break" and am excited to be heading back over the pond for a few weeks. But that in itself is a story - as for a while we didn't even think it would be practical to go -- for the volcano in Iceland and the general economic conditions had pushed the cost of plane tickets to Europe to well over $1000 per person, not to mention trying to get down to Sicily, rent cars, hotels, 10 daily gelatos, etc. We were a little bummed out, until suddenly out of the blue, or red I guess, came an angel:

REDTAG.CA! Killer DEAL!

Being the internet savvy travel planner I am, I made one last ditch attempt to find a deal, and located a ROUNDTRIP FLIGHT from Vancouver, BC to Manchester, England for only $149! There are taxes of course, but still... are you kidding me?! That's cheaper than dinner and a movie if you also order popcorn! We booked it instantly, and depart this upcoming Friday, June 5th. Our itinerary calls for five days in France exploring the wine country of Bordeaux and making our way up to Paris via Mont St. Michel before shooting down to Sicily on the 10th.

And in the REALLY PLAYING FOR PIZZA department, our trip coincides with a HOME-PLAYOFF GAME on Sunday, June 13th for the 7-1, league-leading Catania Elephants! Yes, my former squad is sweeping its way through the Italian Football League this season, led by the passing of good friend and former Arizona quarterback Richard Kovalchek.

Current Elephants QB Richard Kovalcheck #16 pictured with "The Italian Wes Welker" Claudio Mangano #28.

Last week, the Elephants knocked off the previously unbeaten Parma "Playing for Pizza" Panthers 52-31 in a classic IFL defensive struggle.

So you can all prepare yourselves for a whirlwind of wittiness, a sea-full of sweet pics, and of course, a healthy dose of self-absorption. In fact, there is only one promise I will make -- no fisheye. (The camera lens that made my 2008 journey so infamous...)

No fisheye in 2k10, I promise.

Goodbye Olympics

2010-03-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

The Amazing Flame

Well, the Olympics have come and gone, with the world getting to enjoy an amazing 17-day run in Vancouver. I must say that my focus was a little more on fun than blogging, so look for a few recaps over the next couple days. But in the meantime, stay classy Vancouver!

J. Twice

USA cruises in quarterfinals

2010-02-24T17:45:00.000-08:00

Swiss slapshot! Low seats in the 3rd period gave me this amazing vantage point!

The American men's hockey team continued their strong run through the Olympic hockey tournament with an exciting 2-0 victory of Switzerland on Wednesday. I was lucky enough to secure a last minute ticket (scalper - $50) and thus caught the action live from GM Place! (Quarterfinal tickets were pre-sold without knowing who was playing in what game, so with Canada facing Russia later in the day, suddenly tickets were abundant.)

Chasing down the puck

The "upstart Americans" came into the game fresh off their 5-3 preliminary over the Canadians, and have the easiest path into the Gold Medal game. However it is the Olympics, and even the overmatched Swiss, boasting only 2 NHL players, came ready to play. There were no goals in the first two periods, despite a number of chances. Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller was spectacular, saving 42 of 43 shots on the day, and even got a little help from the horn at the end of the 2nd period when US Forward Ryan Keller's shot went into the net with 0.00 seconds remaining. A video replay confirmed the shot was after the horn, and the Americans were forced to come out strong in the 3rd and final period.

US Goalie Ryan Miller has been the player of the tournament so far.

Like the US team, my friend Dale and I looked to increase our own energy in the game during the last period - sneaking down to the 3rd row behind the US goal. This gave us the perfect vantage point to snap off action pictures and feel the energy of the game. It was an amazing atmosphere, and the Americans broke the scoreless tie with a goal from New Jersey Devil forward Zach Parise 2 minutes into the final period. The Swiss fought back hard, but in the end the US was too much and advanced 2-0 into the semi's.

Go USA!

Taking pictures of hockey was incredibly fun, and I vowed during the game that I need to be a photographer at London 2012!

Attacking the net!

~ J. Twice

Own the... Bacon?

2010-02-24T01:58:00.001-08:00

Perhaps the reason why Canada hasn't completely "Owned the Podium." It's not just about the bacon!

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USA - Canada

2010-02-21T19:52:00.001-08:00

Here's a running account of taking in the USA - Canada hockey game live from hockey universe headquarters, Vancouver. Or a I described it on m facebook, a battle between a country who doesn't care about hokey with the one who does more than anything.

3:45 pm - before leaving my hotel I don my team USA hat. I refrain from calling it a toque. There will be no canadian lingo today.

4:01 - I bounce through Yaletown as a sea of canadians in red and white walk past. I thank my lucky stars that this passive country shares nothing in common with my favorite soccer club, Chelsea. If so I could expect to be pummeled for my hat.

4:05 - I arrive outside Yaletown brewery, a cool hangout that resembles my local joint, The Ram, back home. They are charging a $20 cover for the bar so I sneak in. How American.

4:18 - I finish my count and realize I'm outnumbered 735 to 4. I give the other Americans a nod (a California couple and their son) and order a wheat beer for courage.

4:24 - the tv shows the finish to the women's speed skating. Canada has the favorite. The crowd goes wild. Free thundersticks create a deafening noise. Canada gets silver. The crowd sighs. Business as usual.

4:25 - hefeweizen #2

4:34 - Just minutes before the puck drops, text messages roll in. Jake wonders if my house is divided. Chris reminds me of the $100 bet we made under the influence of other hefeweizen. The tension grows.

4:39 - a non-descript 50 year old jumps on a table and reminds the crowd "6 minutes! 6 minutes!" I must be in Canada.

4:45 - You gotta love Canada. No pre-game fireworks. No lazer light shows or starting line-ups. The coverage begins just moments before the game starts with just a quick "welcome to GM Place" and the game starts. Here we go.

4:46 - Just :43 seconds into the game, the US scores!!! I laugh and remind Chris that at this rate the final will be 60 - 0. The crowd is stunned.

4:57 - Hefe #3 served. Feeling courageous.

5:00 - Canada scores! Shiezah! Maybe it won't be that easy. Randoms chest bump.

5:01 - USA answers :21 sec later! I love it!!! 2-1 USA. Now I'm chest bumping.

5:05 to 6:17 - the teams trade goals but the US continues to lead 3-2. I begin to see the canadians lose their spirit as they trade quips and talks about, "If only Gretzky was here!"

6:25 - Nervous, I switch to captain Morgan and am rewarded by a huge US goal! 4-2 red, white, and blue. The canadians play loud music (ironically about hockey) to stay motivated and say things like, "dat US goalie is standing on his head, eh."

6:48 - Crosby lucky goal... 4-3 Usa with two minutes to play. The crowd erupts as if they're offering free kokanee.

6:55 - Canada attacks furiously and pulls their goalie. I respond with chants of, "Overrated!" I feel like I'm in the duke student section. USA clinches empty goal 5-3! Woot woot!!!!!!! Let the chants begin!!!

Good times!

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Vancouver Images #1

2010-02-18T15:24:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Skyline

Here's a few more images from yesterday!

Girls dancing on Granville Island

~ J. Twice

Vancouver Skyline

2010-02-18T08:59:00.001-08:00

So people were bugging me that I should do some Vancouver photography, and last night was absolutely perfect, so I cruised over to Stanley Park to get this shot of the skyline. What a beautiful city!

J. Twice

Lizard on a stick

2010-02-16T18:15:00.001-08:00

You find the darndest things in Chinatown...

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Not just in Tirol...

2010-02-16T08:27:00.000-08:00

Skier spreads cheese on leg to heal injury

By Madison Park, CNN

February 12, 2010 6:27 p.m. EST

Skier Lindsey Vonn has said she used cheese on her leg to reduce inflammation.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Hampered by injury, Lindsey Vonn uses an Austrian cheese to reduce swelling
Athletic trainer says what matters is whether the athlete truly believes in the treatment
Topfen is not a popular cheese in the United States, cheese seller says

RELATED TOPICS

(CNN) -- Some turn to prayer. Others turn to state-of-the-art medicine. Lindsey Vonn turned to the power of fromage.

The Olympic favorite has been wrapping her injured shin in an Austrian cheese -- topfen -- to reduce inflammation.

One former Olympic trainer wasn't surprised.

"It's not bizarre at all," said Ralph Reiff, certified athletic trainer and director of Sports Medicine and Sports Performance for St. Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis, Indiana. "It's just what athletes at that level do."

While using the cheese may not be scientifically proven to soothe an injury, what matters more is what's in the athlete's mind, Reiff said.

"Regardless of whether it's a home remedy or passed down from generations or something someone thought of, if the athlete believes in it, there is significant value in that," said Reiff, who has worked as an athletic trainer in previous Olympics. "If the person who is receiving that treatment believes that it's part of the puzzle of getting better, therefore that athlete has faith. I am a firm believer that it has value."

On February 2, the skier injured her right shin while training in Austria, an injury that could keep her out of the Olympics.

Vonn spoke to Sports Illustrated about her physical therapist's unusual remedy: "He's been wrapping cheese on it, and I know that sounds funny, but it seems to work. He's been rubbing castor oil on it.''

For more Vonn's Olympic quest, see here.

Dr. C. David Geier Jr., director of sports medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, said using cheese as a way to reduce inflammation was new to him.

"I would imagine the cold nature of food does help, just like an ice pack" said Geier, a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "To be fair, I can't imagine there's good research that the salt in cheese or any kind of food would take the fluid out any faster than any bag of ice. Cheese is not the worst idea I've ever heard, it would mold right to the leg.

"I hope it's working," he said.

Andrew Hooge, a certified personal trainer at the University of North Carolina's Wellness Center and founder of FitSkiing.com, said: "The placebo effect is huge. I don't know the science of putting cheese on a bruised shin. There are athletes who use herbal remedies that may or may not help."

Athletes may work with ingredients more likely to be found in the kitchen pantry than a medicine cabinet. Reiff recalled one baseball player who constantly complained of cracking calluses and sores on his feet. From word of mouth, Reiff learned about relieving calluses by putting lard on feet and wrapping them in a plastic bag for hours. That solved the problem for the baseball player.

Whether it's cheese or cooking fat, that doesn't worry Reiff as long as athletes are being "safe and ethical. It can't put the athlete in harm's way."

The cheese Vonn has been using is derived from cows and looks like plain thick yogurt. While it doesn't have an odor initially, some people like to let it age, which makes it stink.

Norbert Wabnig, an Austrian and the founder of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, said the cheese is not popular with his customers.

It's a fresh cheese hard to find in the United States, he said. It can be eaten plain or used as a spread with chives. He described the consistency as something between fromage blanc and yogurt. The closest American equivalent would be cottage cheese.

Wabnig said he had never heard of the dairy product being used to heal an athletic injury.

"[Topfen] is usually eaten by mouth," he said tongue-in-cheek. "Maybe part of the benefit is that you can serve it cold. Maybe the cold can reduce the swelling. There's lots of calcium, so maybe some of that's how it's absorbed. As a cheese expert, I'd be more than delighted to put it on the legs."

So there I was - Olympic Torch Lighting!

2010-02-13T11:10:00.001-08:00

So there we were, watching the Olympic opening ceremony at Joey Bentall One restaurant when we realized Wayne Gretzky was lighting the torch two blocks from us... So we had to go! I looked over at my friend Chris Mills, and he was already grabbing his coat and heading out the door. So I raced after him and down to the waterfront for the dramatic conclusion to the opening ceremony as Wayne Greyzky arrives and lights the cauldron!

I've seen some amazing things these last couple years but this moment has to rank right up there... LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

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Location:Granville St,Vancouver,Canada

Olympic fever: day 1

2010-02-12T14:29:00.001-08:00

With the opening ceremony just hours away, the streets of 'van city' are abuzz. Here's some images:

Everyone is getting in the spirit!

Torch bearers make news...

On Robson

CTV broadcasting live.

Is this Italy? Nutella crepe!

Me, C, and torch

Me too...

The ultimate rivalry...

Christie's office - the International Broadcast Center!

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Location:Canada

Rick Reilly on Canada

2010-02-12T11:17:00.001-08:00

Oh, Canada

A guide to thriving in Vancouver, one smile at a time

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By Rick Reilly
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty ImagesCrazy Canadians need to be treated kindly, too.

It's always so cute when Canada hosts an Olympics. Canadians try so hard. This comes from living next to America and having an inferiority complex worse than Tito Jackson's.

For instance, it's rained every day I've been in Vancouver, athletes are starting to withdrawal because of pruny fingers, and Canadians feel terrible. They're always saying "Gee, sore-ee about the rain, eh?" Do you realize they've been helicoptering snow up to the mountain venues? Who does that?

These people are nice. Preposterously nice. Aunt Bee in mukluks nice. This is a country that has human-chomping grizzlies on every corner and yet chose the furry beaver for its national animal.

Here's how nice: Twice already, Canadian mogul star Jenn Heil's bus has broken down on the drive up from Vancouver to Cypress Mountain. And both buses were from California! Peter Judge of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association was quoted as saying after the second time: "It was a bit of a concern." A "bit of a concern"? If it had happened to an American star, they'd have made everybody responsible stand against a wall in front of a running 2010 Prius.

Anyway, I think Americans who come to these Winter Olympics should try to be nice back. You can't be nicer than Canadians, but you can try. Here's how:

• Do not talk about hockey. A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup in 17 years. This is possibly because there are no more Canadian hockey teams left. OK, that's not true. Still, if Canada doesn't win the gold in men's hockey this time -- something it's only done once since 1952 -- fans here might all throw themselves under stampeding moose.

If your birthday is August 9, always look at the ground, shake your head and add, "The day Wayne was traded."

• Use the "organics" recycling container in your hotel room. This is one of 14 recycling containers you'll find there. The mind recoils as to what you're supposed to put in the "organics" can in a hotel room, but the little sign says to put "meat, poultry, fish, plants and flowers." That's weird. I always leave my poultry in a gift bag for the maid.

• Speak Canadian. ATMs are ABMs. Street hockey is "shinny." Butt is "arse." Beer is "brew." Stuff is "whatnot." Newfoundlanders are "Newfies." Never say the "g" in "ing." And yay is not a cheer, it's a measurement, as in: "I'm lookin' for my malamute, about yay big and yay long?"

• Call Vancouver "Van City" or even "The Van" but do not call it the name it hates: "No Fun City." It IS a fun city, except that a lot of the bars close at 11. In the morning.

• And it apparently NEVER STOPS RAINING.

• Use abbreviated words whenever possible. For instance, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police becomes the "RCMP," which becomes "the Armsee," as in the sentence: "I sure hope Bode Miller doesn't get pinched by the Armsees this Olympics. I got 10 Loonies on him."

• Abbreviate your new friends' names, too. Hamilton becomes "Hams." If your friend's name is already short, add "er" to it. This is how you get a sentence like, "Let's go play some shinny, eh? You be Gretz and I'll be Nasher."

• Compliment their national anthem. It's way better than ours.

• Pretend that you have to plug in your engine block at night to keep it from freezing, too. Makes them feel better.

• Go to Tim's (short for "Tim Hortons") and have a double-double (two creams, two sugars) and some Timbits (donut holes) and stand around and talk about curling. This will be a welcome topic. The Canadians are still great at curling.
You: The boys oughta do priddy good, eh?
Him: Oh, sure. The sweeps are beauties.
You: You thinkin' they might be winnin' and whatnot, eh?
Him: Boy, would that ever be neat!

• When referring to Elvis, be sure its Stojko not Presley. If you're talking about acting, don't forget the god of all Canadian thespians -- Lorne Greene from "Bonanza." If your birthday is August 9, always look at the ground, shake your head and add, "The day Wayne was traded."

• Never say "said." Say "goes," as in: "So Lindsey goes, 'I'm freezin' way up here in just a bikini.' And I go, 'Linds, it's a bitchin' career move!' And she goes, 'K, but it's colder 'n a Newfie's arse up here!'"

• If you're a snowboarder and you snap your neck in three places doing your Double Fakie Ollie Grab and they're putting you in the ambulance, smile and go, "It's fine! Canada's got free health care!"

But if those bastards say anything about their dollar being worth more than ours, slam them in the nose with your organics can.

The Flame arrives

2010-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

On Thursday the Olympic torch relay finally "arrived" in downtown Vancouver just one day before the Opening Ceremony amidst wild celebrations and overflowing Olympic spirit. I was on-hand at LiveCity Yaletown where the final runner brought it down the home-stretch.

In all, Canada's uber ambitious relay will have lasted 106 days, covering over 45,000 km, 1,000 communities, and reaching the furthest east, west, and north points of the country. Needless to say, it's arrival here in Vancouver could only mean one thing: fireworks!

J. Twice

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Location:Granville St,Vancouver,Canada

Indian food

2010-02-11T21:29:00.001-08:00

Tonight at the LiveCity celebration in Vancouver I decided to get something to eat at the international food court. Yet after ordering my butter chicken, we noticed a little something strange on the menu...

Tex-Mex Chili? Is this really ethnic? I can't imagine the vendors in New Dehli peddling street chili, but then again I've never been there...

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Location:Drake St,Vancouver,Canada

Hockey Hat!

2010-02-10T18:55:00.001-08:00

There has been growing concern from Olympic organizers that a number of companies are using the Winter Olympic Games as a springboard for promotions without paying to be an official sponsor. One of these companies is Lululemon, which has made waves by producing gear advertising "the cool sporting event taking place in British Columbia between 2009 and 2011." (ingenious if you ask me.)

I joined in by picking up their coolest offering, a mock hockey helmet hat complete with tooth black out. Expect me to now be the craziest supporter as the red, white, and blue try to complete "Do you believe in miracles, again?!"

And as for my moral compass, it doesn't bother me that they're not official. In fact, Consumers really don't care either - they'll buy the best stuff even if it is 'unofficial'... Which should be the real cause of concern for event organizers.

Sweet toque, eh!

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Location:Drake St,Vancouver,Canada

You know you're Canadian when...

2010-02-07T12:15:00.001-08:00

On Friday night my Olympic experience took a turn for the 'authentic' as Christie informed me that the evening gathering of her broadcast crew would not be taking place at a local restaurant or pub but rather a CURLING rink! (if rink is the proper term)

The natural.

Yes, Curling is a sport, albeit often misunderstood by American fans who see a glorified version of shuffleboard on ice. In fact, my 100% fictional history of the sport traces it back to medieval knight sliding their shields across swedish fjords, but I may be wrong.

Christie dominated the competition, tossing her stones from the hack over the hog line with authority. I just stood on the aide and yelled 'Hurry!!!!' as loud as possible. All in all, good times!

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Welcome to Vancouver!

2010-02-06T01:09:00.001-08:00

I start with an image:

This is Coal Harbor, with a view that is worth perhaps a couple thousand words. Yes, Vancouver, British Columbia is perhaps one of my favorite places in the whole world - and don't tell anyone this - but I really could see us living here. But the reason for our visit is not for scouting purposes, but rather for the 2010 Winter Olympics!

The Peace Arch marks the border between the US and Canada... Stating in the most politically correct of manners, "Children of a common mother." Guess that makes the US the rebellious one.

Christie is working for the Olympic Broadcast Service, which is owned by the IOC. Her job will be as a studio commentator / segment producer covering mostly snowboarding and freestyle skiing. Her network will be producing a new show every half hour from 10am until 1am every day of the Olympics. NBC has the right to broadcast it in America, although they will also be doing their own coverage. Christie actually works in the same building as all of them (BBC, NBC, CTV) and can't say much other than expect many a fake fire place on set.

Andiamo rigazzi!!!

My job will simply be to soak it all in, so expect the blog to be fired up over the next month. My early money is on the US... As a Canadian has never won gold on his or her own soil... But expect that to change soon!

The only problem is that the weather has been so nice (almost 60F) that with all the water and beaches many people are thinking this will be the Summer Olympics!

So until next time... Cheers, eh!

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Korea: Not in Europe

2010-01-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

So my sister has a friend who just signed up to go teach "abroad." She was telling my sister all about how she was so excited to visit all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, seeing as she'd be so close and have a lot of time to travel... My sister asked her where exactly she'd be teaching...

Korea.

South Korea... not in Europe

You can't make this stuff up.

~ J. Twice

(Or as George commented... isn't it that tiny country in the Pyrenees between France and Spain?)

Little Liechtenstein

2010-01-22T01:49:00.001-08:00

My love for the tiny country of Liechtenstein has been well documented. One day I will make their Olympic squad, merely by default. Usually they do not compose a security threat, seeing as my hometown of Puyallup has more people. However, these "little people" are always up to something... better go to The Onion for the report:

Liechtenstein Successfully Tests Teeny Tiny Nuclear Bomb

Iraq map

2010-01-22T01:16:00.001-08:00

Saw this map when I was looking around the local book store: Iraq for, and I quote, "Businessmen and Tourists." Really?

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Amalfi Coast Images

2010-01-21T22:45:00.000-08:00

Positano on Italy's famed Amalfi Coast

Looking back through my travel photos, it's hard to pick out a favorite spot or destination. However, today I came across a couple shots from our trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast. It just reminded me how beautiful and varied the many landscapes are along the Mediterranean. I don't even remember editing these before, only further proving how jaded one gets when living in Europe and getting accustomed to such extraordinary sites.

The harbor on Capri

~ J. Twice

Vote Now!

2010-01-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

I recently entered a photography competition called "Photo of the Year" based out of Portland, Oregon. The contest attracts entries from around the globe, and so I thought it fitting to include a few shots from my travels over the past year.

Over 1,300 pictures were submitted to the contest. I submitted five pictures, four of which made the final 100. Now its up to you to help me out!

Go online now to PHOTOOFTHEYEAR.NET to vote!

Polls close on January 18th... so I appreciate all your help! Thanks! See below for the images that were submitted... thanks!

Croatia

Cinque Terre

Venice

Timeless

~ J. Twice

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone who has followed my adventures for these past two years! I'm currently taking a little bit of a break from blogging, but will be back in the New Year with all my usual Shenanigans.

In the meantime, above is a photo of Venice that I came across while digging through some old pics. I had never touched the picture before, simply because we were traveling and I didn't have the time to edit it. The waterfront facades look incredible, and it made me miss the wonderful corners of Europe! I can only imagine how many more pictures like this that I have sitting somewhere on a portable hard drive...

Have a great New Years and I will see you all in 2010!

J. Twice

Snowball Fight!

2009-12-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

Things can get a little "out of hand" when I return home for the Holidays... games, meals, and usual shenanigans. However, with the possibility of snow in the forecast, you can be sure that there will be a snowball fight or two. I didn't catch any previous snowball fights on film, so below I've used a little help from the good people at "Jib Jab" to create a re-enactment. Enjoy!!!

2009-12-22T09:50:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

My "legacy" forever secured...

2009-12-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

This sent in from avid blog reader Joey Mertlich, who also doubles as one of my best friends (not sure in which order.) Joey is currently renovating his garage, and wanted to be sure that he prepared in the likely event that an archeologist in the distant future discovered his home. I can now rest assured that my legacy as a football player is secure for all time.

"Jason, your U of A football poster is about to be forever entombed behind some R-13 insulation and drywall. Future civilizations will ponder what it 
meant to "get with the program" and what purpose the elbow arm band had for an early 21st century footballer."

2009-12-19T00:27:00.001-08:00

Sorry to everyone out there for my blogging haitus. I've been in Edmonton, Canada braving MINUS 45 CELSIUS temperatures, which doesn't bode well to creative thought and/or avoiding hypothermia. I'll be back after Christmas but in the meantime here's our 2009 Eurobowl ring. Champs baby!

J. Twice

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Location:Ring ceremony

Cold Coach = Victory

2009-12-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

On ESPN.COM's Page 2, there is always a great assortment of quotes, quips, and interesting analysis, often not directly involving what is happening "ON" the field. I love reading The Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, and have quoted him on this blog before. Gregg Easterbrook is also a fav, writing a lengthy but very interesting weekly column entitled the "Tuesday Morning Quarterback." I was, shall I say, scrolling through the article this morning when I came across commentary that I had thought just hours before - WHY IS MIKE SINGLETARY WEARING SUCH A HUGE COAT DURING THE 49ers/SEAHAWKS GAME?

Ready to call the defense, or climb K2

Yes, the Pacific Northwest is suffering from an unusual spell. However, the game time temperature at Qwest Field was still around 35 degrees, or 2 celcius. This is not an arctic blizzard. I vividly remember seeing Singletary and thinking, "His players must think it's really cold if he's wearing that... and it probably does affect their play!"

You see, cold is an enemy of all football players. Let me make this perfectly clear: NO ONE likes playing in the cold. Even Brett Favre, the ultimate "cold weather QB," was once quoted as saying that he "hates the cold just as much as the next guy." He only pretended to like it to increase his chances of winning. Same goes for those lineman that come out in Saskatchewan in November wearing just T-Shirts -- it's ALL MENTAL.

That being said, the Tuesday Morning Quarterback hit the nail on the head with Easterbrook's observation of this weekend's NFL action. I quote:

As snow begins to fall, TMQ's immutable law, Cold Coach = Victory, comes into play. The kickoff temperature was 37 degrees in New Jersey on Sunday, and Phillips was so overdressed in a heavy ski parka apparently intended for a Maine mountaineering camp, he looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Meanwhile, Giants coach Tom Coughlin looked manly in a varsity jacket. The team with the manly looking coach prevailed. With a kickoff temperature of 35 degrees in Seattle, Mike Singletary was dressed in what appeared to be a North Sea oil rig worker's survival suit, while the Seahawks' Jim Mora the Younger looked manly in a varsity jacket. If the coach acts afraid of 35 degrees, what message does that send his players? Cold Coach = Victory. Ridiculous K-2 Ascent Gear ⊰ Victory.

Cold Coach = Victory

It even rang true in the Civil War (Oregon-Oregon State Version, not Gettysberg. I have no information on the dress of their generals. Actually I could find it, but it would take forever and then I'd have to also google the weather on that ill-fated day and chances of finding that are slim to none.)

Reader Comments: Chris Brill of Phoenix wrote to me early in the Civil War contest, "I'm watching Oregon versus Oregon St. right now and I already know who is going to win. Its below 30 degrees and Chip Kelly is wearing what looks like a thin wind breaker, with no gloves. Oregon St head coach Mike Riley looks pretty comfortable in his ski jacket. Cold Coach=Victory. I'll go with Oregon."

Two other great non-game action facts of note from TMQ:

Disclaimer of the Week: Recently I bought a United Airlines ticket at the United Web site. The "fare restrictions" warning was 6,679 words. The United States Constitution is 4,427 words.

Winston Smith Opens Sports P.R. Agency: Tim Graham reports the Bills have photoshopped Dick "Cheerio, Chaps" Jauron out of team pictures, as if he never existed. Maybe he didn't! Maybe the Bills should interview Nikolai Yezhov for their coaching vacancy.

God Bless the Internet. And great work Gregg!

~ J. Twice

I'm 30

2009-12-07T21:44:00.001-08:00

No pictures. No funny jokes.

Today, December 7th, 2009, I turned 30.

Not excited.

Jason

Zona stuns USC, finishes 2nd in the Pac

2009-12-05T16:02:00.001-08:00

My Alma mater, the University of Arizona Wildcats just pulled off a stunning 21-17 victory over the USC Trojans in the LA Coliseum. The victory clinches 2nd place finish in the Pac-10 and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. Unlike the Oregon game which I watched in a packed bar in New York, this time I was cheering solo in my house is Seattle. Here's how it went down when Zona clinched it:

The last time the Cats made the trip to San Diego I was a true freshman in 1998, and we pulled of a victory over Nebraska. It was an incredible memory!

Congratulations to Coach Stoops and all the Wildcats on a fantastic finish. See you in San Diego!

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The ironic 13th man

2009-12-01T00:04:00.001-08:00

Oh, the irony.

The 97th Grey Cup was played this past weekend to determine the Canadian Football League champion. The game matched the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Montreal Allouttes, and was one of the closest championship finales in recent memory... Other than of course the 2005 final when my Eskimos won the Ring in double OT.

The Roughriders notoriously have the most passionate fans in the CFL, which is easy to explain when your field is named after a fertilizer company. Face it - there's just not that much to do on the plains. So taking their cue from the Oakland Raiders (you knew there'd be a tie in), these green crazies routinely put watermelons on their head and call themselves the 13th man... As normal Canadian teams play with 12.

I say normal because the 13th man is actually what LOST the Roughriders this game. With just a few seconds left and trailing by 2, the Als lined up for a potential game winning 47 yard field goal. The clock struck zero and the kick sailed wide - which should have won the game for Riders. The only problem, the Riders were flagged for having TOO MANY MEN on the field! Yes, at that moment the 13th man really was a nightmare!

After moving up 10 yards, the Als easily made the kick and were crowned Grey Cup champions. No word on exactly how that guy pictures above felt as he looked at his sign...

J. Twice

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Griffith Observatory

2009-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles in the early orange glow

I woke up early last Tuesday for some "magic hour" photography as the sun came up over Los Angeles. After a two minute google search, I settled on the Griffith Observatory Park just north of downtown, and wasn't disappointed. Here's a couple shots... enjoy!

Another sunny day in California

But California is all about the beach, so I thought I'd do my own "footprint" photo.

~ J. Twice

How NOT to catch a mouse

2009-11-27T19:39:00.001-08:00

Act 1: Capture the Invader

With a mouse in the house, it was up to our fearless heroes to bring him in. Lucky for us, Chad was quick on the draw!

Act 2: The Great Escape

After safely capturing our intruder, a slight lack of concentration created an opportunity for a daring escape. Or as Chad would put it, "Jason, what were you thinking?!"

Act 3: Regroup

The heroes track the mouse to the closet and plan for a second attempt, this time in the closet. Carefully note the teamwork and positive encouragement within our fearless gang.

Act 4, Scene 2: On the move

The moment is here - will our quick handed friends be able to capture the furry villain? Stay tuned!

Act 5: The Final Move

They've battled over carpet, behind couches, and in the closet. Time is running out and it all comes down to this!

With our mouse STILL in the house, stay tuned for the Sequel...

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Crazy games

2009-11-26T19:08:00.001-08:00

Not to turn the blog into cheesy family home movies, but here's what happens when everyone (including my two nephews Rees, 4, and Cole, 2) has too much pie! We call it, "Hot Wheel Trick Shot Dance Party." Enjoy!

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Turkey Bowl

2009-11-26T10:34:00.001-08:00

Turkey Bowl survivors. In the middle are two Euro veterans: WR Joey Stein (white shirt) and myself. The real goal is having a great time with people like this!

A long-standing American tradition on Thanksgiving is the "Turkey Bowl." This annual male-bonding ritual springs up on fields across the nation, and features weekend warriors battling for bragging rights. I was invited to play with my brother in Fresno, and was lucky enough to be joined by Danube Dragon receiver Joey Stein, who I had gotten to know from playing against him in Austria. Joey is originally from Fresno and has a great attitude that is necessary for playing ball overseas. He currently is completing his Master's degree at Chico State.

It was a great chance to throw the ball around and share some laughs, but as fate would have it we were all drafted onto different teams. I did my best to make some plays, but we unfortunately lost when Joey took a hitch 50 yards for a TD. Here's a (controversial) highlight of one of Europe's best imports making some Americans miss:

Now for the real game of the day - eating 10,000+ calories!

J. Twice

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Dueling Manhattans

2009-11-23T10:34:00.001-08:00

Saturday: Manhattan Island, New York

SUNDAY: Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles

We wrapped our incredible time in New York on Saturday night with a trip to the top of Rockefeller Center. The views were spectacular from the 67th floor observation tower as the city stretched for what seemed like forever beneath us. I then jumped on a Virgin America flight across the country the next morning, and must pause to say that flying Virgin was awesome: free wifi, satellite TV, chill people... I will DEFINITELY fly them again if I have a choice.

I landed in LA around 3, and thus had a little time to kill before the sun went down. I grabbed a smoothie and headed to the nearest beach - ironically called MANHATTAN BEACH! What are the chances that I flew from one Manhattan to another? I flipped my iPod to Alanis Morissette and shot surfers at dusk, marking a fantastic end to a week that is quickly running out of superlatives. Enjoy the shots!

~ J. Twice

Just can't get enough NYC

2009-11-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

Radio City Music Hall

Bag 'o Nuts ready for roasting

The George Contreras Memorial Statue

(Actually featuring Cuban hero Jose Marti)

Crazy Taxi

Photography Tip: Not every picture needs to be completely "still." When I was walking through New York, I noticed how many cabs would fly by us, and I thought about how to capture on film. A technique to do this is to "drag the shutter." If you have a digital SLR camera that allows you to adjust your shutter speed, set it anywhere between 1/2 to 1/30 of a second, and then as a car goes by you, follow it with your lens, attempting to keep the moving object in the same place in your frame. As you pan while the shutter is open, the object (car) will stay relatively clear while the objects in the background (buildings) will become a blur. This creates the feeling of motion the old fashion way. And you thought everything I did was in Photoshop...

~ J. Twice

A Day in New York

2009-11-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

FALL IN CENTRAL PARK, 9:12 am

Nowhere else in the world does such a wide variety of urban life exist than in New York. It is the true melting pot of the United States, much more than one would ever experience in Nebraska or Spokane. On Thursday we spent the entire day exploring the city, without a true "destination" in mind other than to get a true glimpse of the soul of the city. These pictures tell an 8-hour adventure, enjoy!

CENTRAL PARK

FALL LEAVES ON COBBLESTONE: Central Park 9:21am

THE MALL, Central Park 9:43am

FALL WALKER, Central Park 10:06 am

Central Park is an oasis of green in the otherwise monochrome urban jungle. In my opinion the most photo friendly spot is the southeast corner, along a stretch called "The Mall." It is slightly more quiet than the busier paths that bustle with joggers, bikers, and horse-drawn carriages, and makes a beautiful photo in ANY season.

THROUGH THE CITY

SUBWAY, 11:02am

The subway is the great equalizer in New York, where people from all walks of life come together. Or should I say cram? We found the subway network to be efficient and a great chance to people watch, from a homeless guy blasting his stereo to an accountant trying to hit on two French girls. Always great reality TV.

WALKER, Chelsea Art District 12:02pm

WINDOW WASHERS, SoHo District 12:37pm

AFTERNOON SIDEWALK, Broadway & Spring 1:51 pm

This is my 70's record cover-photo, or perhaps for a Rolling Stone feature on The Eagles. I purposely let the picture slightly out of focus to convey the perspective of fighting your way through a sea of people with the sun in your eye.

LITTLE ITALY, 3:05pm

This waiter (I'm guessing: Giuseppe) was classic! He would serenade passersby in a deep baritone, singing, "Bella! Bella!" at any woman that would draw near. I asked to take his picture, but he told me he was working, so instead I just stood on the corner and took it all in. It literally felt like I was back in Rome's Piazza Navona.

CHINATOWN FRUIT, 3:31 pm

Directly adjacent to Little Italy lies Chinatown, where you can find a huge bazaar (that is sometimes also bizarre) filled with purses, clothes, perfumes, and food. A side alley caught my eye where a group of vendors were selling fruit you probably won't find in Safeway.

BROOKLYN BRICK, 4:21pm

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge created a surprising change in atmosphere from the financial district in Manhattan. It felt a little more "roomy."

STATUE OF LIBERTY, 4:32pm

Sunset over New Jersey - my first glimpse ever of the Statue of Liberty!

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

CABLES, 4:46pm

PINK SKIES, 4:49pm

Manhattan, 5:03pm

A perfect way to end the day, with a view back towards Lower Manhattan. I must say that New York has made a definite impression on me, much more than my last visit that only lasted 3 days during the dead of winter. The people, industry, and culture here are so vibrant, and the constant interaction with people reminded me of a European city.

After dark, we walked to Ground Zero where construction pushes forward 24 hours a day on the new World Trade Center. It was a sobering reminder of all that happened, almost surreal that there is now this huge hole in the city. Yet I came away with hope, directly from the people of this great place.

~ J. Twice

Beardown... New York!

2009-11-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

So I'm in New York, kickin' it with my friend Dana Lapan an she takes us to a bar full of Wildcats. (no, not cougars. Sorry Keith). And so they are going CRAZY with every play. Here's a little sample of NYC's finest!

J. Twice

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NYC Images Part 2

2009-11-19T23:33:00.001-08:00

Art is everywhere in New York City

Having been in New York for three days now, I've had the opportunity to see a fair amount of this vast and deeply fascinating city. It amazes me how so much can happen so close, yet feel worlds apart - from Central Park to Times Square, subterranean subways to towering skyscrapers. We've elected to walk as much as possible, providing me the opportunity to snap a few pics. Well, OK, I probably would have done that anyways :-) But still, it amazes me that we've seen so many major landmarks, and I've still yet to lay eyes on the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, or even the set of The View. I guess that's why we have tomorrow!

Perhaps it was our visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka "The Met") but I am getting a little more professional and "artsy" with my photos. Take a look!

Central Park

Patriotic Flags

Swinging for the Fences

Off Season

Towering Skyline

Broadway Billboards

City Ice

New York's Finest

Grand Central

~ J. Twice

NYC Images

2009-11-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Home plate in central park - a magical place to play at dusk.

The "Meatpacker" district of warehouses has gritty walls.

The Tavern on the Green in Central Park

~ J. Twice

The "Architecture Olympics"

2009-11-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Start spreading the news

With the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver fast approaching, I have been thinking more and more about everything that I see as a form of competition. Not just sports - imagine the top culinary chefs facing off, car manufacturers revving up, and the politicians... well, let's just leave politics out of this. With this premise in mind, I bring you the hypothetical "Architecture Olympics."

Our arrival in New York reminded me of what America is good at architecturally, with its bright lights and towering buildings probably offering the best chance for America to grab a medal. Call it our Michael Phelps of prefabrication. Yet my travels to over 23 European nations has convinced me that the Old World still may still hold the edge. Here's my breakdown of Europe's top architecture, by nation.

Honorable Mention

FRANCE

Paris - it's iconic, but you know what Lloyd Christmas said about the French.

BELGIUM

Bruges - not just the site of a Colin Farrell movie

SLOVENIA

Bratislava is a definite darkhorse

DISQUALIFIED DUE TO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES: Holland, Russia

BRONZE MEDAL: Switzerland

The Swan is real... I'm serious.

When you look at Switzerland, you want to go over and touch it to make sure its real. You consider having your dinner served on the ground - it's that clean. Oh yeah, and the lakes have swans, because, well... why not. Add in the Alps as a backdrop and cowbells for your soundtrack, and you pretty much have the picture. Or was it just the chocolate in my hand that influenced my vote?

Lakefront Luzern

SILVER MEDAL: Austria

Innsbruck's colorful buildings stand out against the snow

They may have won the gold at the 2009 European Football Championships, but the silver in building beauty goes to Austria. Vienna might be the most underrated architectural city in Europe. Salzburg is alive with the sound of music. And my last hometown of Innsbruck makes the Tiroleans' swell with pride. In a word with many slashes, Austria is quaint/beautiful/cute/cool.

Salzburg

There's a reason that the word Alm has no English translation.

GOLD MEDAL: Italy

Positano

No one does iconic architecture better than the country that gave us the Coliseum, Leaning Tower, and the Vatican. And like the wine, it seems to get better with time. Just taking a glance at these masterpieces provides the same calming effect as a glass of Chianti. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the Gold Medalist in the 2009 Architecture Olympics, Italy.

Venice Street, aka Canal

What more can I say? Colorful Cinque Terre

~ J. Twice

Panoramic Times

2009-11-17T07:36:00.001-08:00

Here's a panoramic view of Times Square.

There is no other place in the world with the magic, wonder and excitement of Times Square in New York City. Everyone knows the ball drops here on New Year's Eve, but here's a few more fun facts:

1.7 million people passing through Times Square each day including the 26 million annual tourists.

274,000 people working directly in Times Square each day.

13,200 hotel rooms are in Times Square.

Approximately $4 billion in private investment has recently been injected into in Times Square.

500,000 people come to Times Square on New Year's Eve. 1/2 billion people watch the festivities on television worldwide.

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Welcome to Times Square!

2009-11-16T15:34:00.001-08:00

Christie and I are spending the week in New York, and if first impressions are anything, we're in for a great week! Here's where we came out of the subway for the first time - right in the heart of Times Square!

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Random Airport Musings

2009-11-16T09:29:00.001-08:00

A few thoughts from gate 25 of the Denver Airport.

Optimism is looking forward to a middle seat on a 4 hour flight.

No matter how stylish, I don't think I could ever where a bowtie.

Why do girls open their mouths when they apply mascara?

Men bathrooms - also a tornado shelter.

One word Bill Billichek: PUNT.

Sleeper movie selection (as in underrated, not zzz inducing): Julie and Julia. I originally never intended on watching a movie on a 6am flight but the first few minutes sucked me in. It deals with 3 very familiar themes: blogging, expat adventures in Europe, and of course, food. Rent it on your next blockbuster night.

And on a final note, I'm proud my sister Heather and her husband Chris are now a mac, and not a PC.

As you were, J.Twice

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Ventana Canyon

2009-11-12T16:13:00.001-08:00

The 18th at Ventana... spectacular!

I was lucky to go to school in Arizona where there are some of the best golf courses in the planet. It was there that I met my good friend and roommate Brandon Smith, who now is the head pro at Ventana Canyon. Ventana is a semi-private course that is consistently ranked among the world's best. It has spectacular views and tough holes through the desert.

I was lucky enough to play the course yesterday with Dr. David Lapin, and stopped to shoot a few panoramic pictures with my iPhone. I got the look using an app called "Panoramatic" which costs a couple bucks but is TOTALLY worth it for running and gunning, as my friend Claudio Mangano would attest. You can also do 360 degree pictures using this app, but I didn't want to get slapped for slow play so hence no virtual views.

The Par 3 15th at Ventana. I dropped a nine-iron to about 15 feet.

If the view from the top looks familiar, it was the set of Kiana Tom's old workout show many years ago.

~ J. Twice

Junior Raiders strike gold

2009-11-12T15:59:00.001-08:00

Swarco Raiders juniors are College Bowl VI Champions!

Meanwhile, back in Austria...

The SWARCO Raiders youth program capped a successful season by capturing two championships and two runners-up trophies. Leading the way were the "Juniors," who brought home the College Bowl VI trophy (the highest level of Austrian youth football) with a convincing 35-3 victory over the Danube Dragons. This is the team that I was personally involved with during September, and it brings me nothing but pride at their accomplishments! In the fall I spent a lot of time with spielmacher (qb) Damaso Tarneller, and it was incredible to watch him grow throughout the season. In the final game he showed his maturity by throwing 4 TDs and taking home game MVP honors. GREAT JOB!!! The youngest players - the "Minis" were the other Tirolean champions, claiming a 22-6 victory over the Mini Vikings.

Here's the full story on the youth success from the SWARCO Raiders website:

COLLEGE BOWL VI Juniors Austrian Champs for the 2nd Time
Just as a phoenix rises out of the ashes, so too it was with the Raiders Juniors as they went from worst to first in the 2009 campaign. As the undefeated victors from the 2nd division they earned a date with the Danube Dragons in the finale where they put forth a resounding effort winning gold with a score of 35-3. The Dragon Defense tried to stuff the box and take away the strong run game from running back Andreas Hofbauer, yet Offensive Coodinator Nick Johansen was well prepared and went to the air instead. The fact that the Raiders are also tough in the air was proven by Quaterback Damaso Tarneller as he threw 4 TD passes. Three of these went to WR Christian Willi and one time to Julian Ebner. For this ever so impressive performance by playmaker Damaso Tarneller, he was named as the games MVP. Defensive Coodinator Mario Rinner showed too that the defense is no sloutch as they showed their own meddle by not allowing a single TD from the Dragons. The were limited to one 1st Qtr. Field goal.
With 6 wins and no losses the SWARCO Raiders wrapped up a perfect season. Head Coach Santos Carrillo was extremely proud of his team as he added: ?In life no one will ever give you something. You have to work hard and learn to take it. You earned the right to win this title through hard work over an entire year.?

Schüler set back by Vikings
The undefeated Raiffeisen Vikings went into the final as the favorite and subsequently proved their ranking. The Schüler of the SWARCO Raiders defended themselves against the strength and overwhelming power of the Vikings for four qtrs. In the end however, the Vikings proved to be just too much and the Defense completely shut down the raider offense. The Raider defense gave it everything they had, but in the end they came up with too little in the tank. A well deserved championship went to the Viennese.

Minis win Championship for the 4th time in a row.
Through this the SWARCO Raiders are the new 12 and under record holders. With a 22-6 victory over the Raiffeisen Vikings the Minis were crowned champs. On both sides of the ball there was a high level of play on display which was rather remarkable keeping in mind the age group. Particularly key in the victory were two big plays by the defense. One interception and a caused fumble by Martin Schild led to his naming as the games MVP. These two turnovers thwarted drives deep into Raider territory and allowed the Raiders to maintain a 22-6 lead. Offensively the Raiders cashed in on TDs from Running back Sandro Platzgummer (2) and Running Back Romed Zangerl (1).

Jugend narrowly set back by the Vikings
This season?s 16 and under championship was clinic trading blows. The lead changed hands a total of 6 times. The difference in the contest was small mistakes that changed the momentum. In the 4th qtr. The Tiroleans still had two chances to win the game: one time the game deciding field was wide left and in the other the time simply ran out on their attack.

Danube Dragons vs. SWARCO Raiders Tirol 3:35 (3:14; 0:7; 0:7; 0:7)
Raiders Scorers:
18 P. WR Christian Willi (3 TD)
6 P. WR Julian Ebner (1 TD)
6 P. RB Andreas Hofbauer (1 TD)
5 P. K Emanuel Trinkl (5 XP)

MINI BOWL IX
SWARCO Raiders Tirol vs. Raiffeisen Vikings 22:6 (6:0; 8:6; 0:0; 8:0)
Raiders Scorer:
12 P. RB Sandro Platzgummer (2 TD)
8 P. RB Romed Zangerl (1 TD, 1 Conv)
2 P. TE Rene Hörtnagl (1 Conv)

*Photo: Schellhorn

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Climbing Camelback

2009-11-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Echo Canyon Park marks the starting point of the Summit Trail up Camelback.

"So, who are you working for?" the man asked, noting my large camera, inquisitive attitude, and frequent stops. I quickly debated whether or not my own blog counted as work.

"No one really, just out for a hike," I replied, keeping things as vague as possible.

"That's good," he smiled, "Because this trail is the best in Arizona and it's already to busy. Don't want the word to get out more than it is!"

At this I chuckled, introducing myself to a man who called himself "Claud the Water Guy." A shade over 60 but fit as any park ranger, he makes the 1.2 mile journey up Phoenix's Camelback mountain "every other day of the year." I decided on the spot that you don't meet characters like this everyday, so I joined him on my ascent up Phoenix's most popular peak.

Claud the Water Guy, shown as how I would shoot him in a fashion magazine.

Camelback mountain and its distinctive hump sits just west of downtown Phoenix and over the top of Scottsdale. It's convenient location makes it instantly accessible for Phoenicians, attracting over 300,000 visitors annually. Most, if not all, have probably met friendly Claud, who makes it a point to carry extra water and offer it generously to everyone he meets. "It's a dangerous hill," he reasons, "These city-slickers city-slickers> forget how hot it is. People die here... in the summer it will get to one-sixteen and they don't even bring water!"

Lucky for us, the temperate on this day was in the low 70s, making the ascent a comfortable and utterly enjoyable experience. There were a few steep parts that required using cables, but overall I didn't feel the need to bust out my iPhone and google, "death on Camelback." Claud did fill me in on other local legends and gave me a five minute lesson on proper foot placement. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I had just hiked 750km across Spain, but it was fun nonetheless. "Well," Claud ended fatherly, "You're gonna need this technique if you ever go for the record time up the mountain - 15 minutes and 36 seconds! Don't forget the 36, that's important!"

Tie-die and a little time for reflection

The path winds around large boulders and tall cacti.

My time was a little slower; I reached the summit in one-hour. The views were spectacular to the north overlooking Paradise Valley, and I could almost make out Picacho Peak in the distance. There were a number of dogs on the trail, both large and small, along with hikers of all shapes & sizes. I even ran into an old college friend of mine - baseball player Shelley Duncan who is a member of the New York Yankees organization (currently in AAA.)

I bid farewell to Claud and headed down the "Cholla Trail" to the north that comes out next to the Phoenician resort. Although I promised him I wouldn't do it, I must HIGHLY RECOMMEND this hike to anyone in the Phoenix area, whether a visitor or a long-time resident!

Chelsea, back on top of the world!

~ J. Twice

Weighing in on Health Care

2009-11-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

Health Care - at the forefront of American issues

HEALTH CARE. It seems that everything in American political news recently has been about President Obama's (Controversial) Health Care Bill. And before you roll your eyes and say, "Can't you just give me some really cool fisheye picture or a witty comment on some culinary anecdote?" I have a quick thought on the issue... because I'm now a "blogger" and that's what I'm supposed to do. (This isn't solely because my wife comes from Canada!)

WHAT IS THE BIG FUSS ABOUT?

The big debate, for anyone reading this in Europe, is over the role that the American government should play in the modern health care system. This is actually a conversation which might seem silly to explain to people from other nations where the government has always been involved in health care and citizens rarely give it a second thought. However, there are some admitted flaws in the system at this point - such as the role of private insurance companies and its spiraling costs:

FACT: More money per person is spent on health care in the United States than in any other nation in the world, and a greater percentage of total income in the nation is spent on health care in the U.S. than in any United Nations member state except East Timor. In fact, Medical Debt is the principal cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States. Even so, at least 15% of the population (including me and my wife) are completely uninsured.

My personal commentary on this: Can you even imagine someone in Canada going BANKRUPT because they got sick? That is completely ludicrous for any of our Northern, Tim Horton's drinking neighbors. But it seems that in America we have a habit of thinking that our way is the best - in Government (Democracy), in Business (Capitalism), and in Rights (Freedom), and we as Americans are willing to take that risk to have our choice of which doctor or what treatment we want. But when everyone isn't taken care of, bad things can happen. More facts:

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States is the "only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage" (i.e. some kind of insurance). The same Institute of Medicine report notes that "Lack of health insurance causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States." while a 2009 Harvard study published in the American Journal of Public Health found a much higher figure of more than 44,800 excess deaths annually in the United States due to Americans lacking health insurance.

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE SIDES ON THIS ISSUE - BECAUSE HEY, I'M A MIDDLE CHILD AND THAT'S NOT MY ROLE. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE EXPERIENCES AND VIEWPOINTS FROM ABROAD THAT ARE WORTH THINKING ABOUT:

Italy: Gus wasn't the luckiest guy when he broke his leg...

Living in Italy, things don't always go as planned, and the health care system isn't immune to that. (no pun intended) When Gustavo, one of the Catania Elephants linebackers, tore his ACL in a road game, he wasn't given immediate attention at the hospital and flew back home with a cardboard cast on his leg! It took a few days to actually see a doctor, then a few more to get x-rays, and finally a couple more weeks to have surgery. Maybe not the best system...

Austria: Matt was a happy camper with his leg! (Milka not included)

During the EuroBowl, star receiver Matt Epperson broke his leg and suffered a severely dislocated ankle during the first quarter. Austria has a split system - both public and private - and due to the nature of his injury and the Raider's insurance, he was rushed to the private hospital and given IMMEDIATE surgery. By the time the game ended we could visit him, and everything turned out ok - including a MILKA Chocolate! So this obviously works, even though the basic person can get treated as well if he got hurt.

My whole point is that there may be a better way out there... some sort of FUSION, and instead of arguing that "our position" is best, I just want Americans - ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO HAVE NEVER LEFT OUR COUNTRY - to consider some other viewpoints.

In keeping with this, travel guru Rick Steves published the following reports from Scandinavians regarding their health care systems, which to me don't sound that bad:

Europeans Share Their Health Care Experience, Part 1: Scandinavia

To bring some diverse experience into the discussion on health care reform here in the USA, I've asked my friends in Europe to share how health care works in their lives. In this four-part series, we'll start with the most highly taxed and socialistic part of Europe: Scandinavia.

From Hakan in Sweden:

In Sweden, we have free choice in health care. It means that patients can choose a hospital anywhere in the country.

In 2005, the cost of the health and medical care sector amounted to 8.4 percent of GDP (in the US, it was over 15 percent). This amount includes the cost of pharmaceutical products, dental care, eyeglasses, and patient fees paid by households.

We employ a “high-cost protection scheme” that means that no patient ever needs to pay more than a total of 900 SEK (about $125) over a 12-month period. For pharmaceutical costs, no patient has to pay more than SEK 1,800 (about $250) over a 12-month period for prescription drugs. This way, no citizen will be put into poverty because of health problems.

The fee for visiting a doctor or hospital varies from 100-300 SEK (about $14-32), but once you have paid 900 SEK in a 12-month period, the rest of the care is totally free — no matter what kind of treatment you need. Private-care providers are also “clients” of the government. A patient can choose a private doctor or hospital, pay the small fee, and the government pays the difference.

The health and medical services have an obligation to strengthen the situation of the patient, for example, by providing individually tailored information, freedom to choose between treatment options, and the right to a second opinion in cases of life-threatening or other particularly serious diseases or injuries.

Having lived here all my life and raised my family here in Stockholm, I honestly do not see anything bad with our health care system.

From Richard in Demark:

I have lived and worked in Denmark for 24 years and have had numerous encounters with the health care system. In all cases I was satisfied or impressed with the quality of service and the low cost (apart from the tax system — more about that later).

The health care system in Denmark is free to all who live here. Even visiting tourists will be treated free of charge in case of an emergency. A non-Danish friend of mine who sprained her ankle during a recent visit was X-rayed, bandaged, treated by a doctor, and even given a pair of crutches to use — and was not charged anything. She was only asked to return the crutches when she left Denmark.

The quality of Danish health care — which is not run on a profit motive — is very good, though there is a waiting time for some non-life-threatening operations like a hip replacement. But everyone will eventually get the operation they need. Hospitals are free, doctor visits are free, and medicine is highly subsidized so that those who need a lot of medicine get it at a greatly reduced charge. Dentistry is subsidized.

This is paid for through our tax system, which — at 52 percent — is perhaps the highest in the world. None of the 10 political parties in Denmark has ever wanted to change that, because they know that they would not get any votes. The vast majority of Danes are agreeable to pay these high taxes; they know that they get about 50 percent of the money back each year in a vast array of benefits. Seven out of 10 Danes are willing to pay even more taxes, if necessary, to maintain the health care system we expect.

Danes have the mature and realistic understanding that you cannot give everyone a quality health care system, good schools, and the elements that help to make for a good quality of life, without paying for it. Freedom does not mean not paying taxes. For us, freedom is paying taxes. By taking care of each other, and the weaker elements in our society, we all have a better quality of life with very low crime rates, few prisons, and a sense of security that it is not “me against the world.” That is part of what it means to be Danish.

From Hanne and Trond in Norway:

In Norway, everyone has, in principle, equal rights to health care. Norwegian hospitals are “free” for patients (being financed with taxes) and everyone is entitled to treatment, irrespective of income and insurance. However, many things are not always working well here.

When hospitalized, no one asks for insurance coverage. You can stay for as long as it takes without having to worry about costs. At the hospital, every part of the treatment is free, indefinitely. At home, people with chronic illnesses get medicine and necessary medical equipment almost for free, save for a limited, annual base payment.

But some parts of the system don't function well. Depending on the illness, you could wait a long time for necessary hospital treatment (typically non-emergency surgery). For instance, you have to go through your family doctor in order to be referred to a specialist. When the family doctors have way too many patients and limited opening hours (and limited telephone hours!), this is often an obstacle. Of course, any emergency treatment is exempt from “queuing.”

As for the cost, the hospitals operate with a combined budget of approximately NOK 75 billion ($13 billion). Our health care is not free — we pay for it in our taxes: Our corporations pay a flat tax rate of 28 percent on their profits. Wage income is taxed under a progressive structure, from almost zero (very low, part-time wages) to a maximum marginal tax rate of 54 percent. The average “industrial worker” has a tax rate of 30 to 35 percent.

Posted by Rick Steves on November 04, 2009

Sprinkles: Supercupcakes?

2009-11-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

There's a seen in PULP FICTION where John Travolta's character comes across the infamous five dollar milkshake. The scene goes something like this:

Buddy Holly: How do you want that shake - Martin and Lewis or Amos and Andy?

Mrs. Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman): Martin and Lewis.

Vincent Vega (Travolta): Did you just order a five dollar shake? That's a shake . . . that's milk and ice cream.

Mrs. Mia Wallace: Last I heard.

Vincent Vega: That's five dollars? You don't put bourbon in it or nothin'? (No) Just checking.

-----
Vincent Vega (after drinking the shake): Goddamn, this is a pretty fu**ing good milkshake.

Mrs. Mia Wallace: Told ya.

Vincent Vega: I don't know if it's worth five dollars, but it's pretty fu**ing good.

And so we come to SPRINKLES BEVERLY HILLS, a store that sells cupcakes in the same manner as Travolta's shake. Having spent the last two years in Europe, I was unaware of this latest entry in the "use cool marketing and design to overcharge for a basic item" contest. Yet Christie and I could not ignore the lines everyday in front of this Scottsdale boutique, so we wandered in to see what the fuss was about.

There were a dozen or so varieties, mostly a mix of chocolate and vanilla. I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but these super cupcakes seemed to bear a striking resemblence to (gasp) regular cupcakes. $7.02 later we had purchased two cupcakes - red velvet for the lady and chocolate marshmellow for myself. I was eager to see if this was as good as Vincent's, but unfortunately I must report that it tasted exactly like a... Normal Cupcake.

Alas, I had not discovered the Krispy Kreme of kupkakes... But at least I can finally say I shopped at the same place as Paris Hilton.

Sweet dreams, JTwice

Posted from my iPhone

Eurobowl Documentary Trailer

2009-10-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

Check out the 5 minute preview of the upcoming SWARCO RAIDERS EUROBOWL documentary that Austrian filmmaker Alban Egger put together... incredible!

Eurobowl 2009 promovideo of Swarco Raiders from eggermedia.com on Vimeo.

~ J. Twice

Today's sign the Apocalypse is on us

2009-10-29T18:08:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the upcoming movie "2012," although disaster films typically rank as my least favorite genre, save for "Twister." (except the end when the characters just coincidentally hid inside a barn full of knives and other metallic objects of death... They had me going until then.)

What i'm talking about is the fact tht this week's ESPN The Magazine cover put a POKER player on the cover... Of the NBA preview edition?! Did no one else catch this? Did anyone hear Jim Rome say how ridiculous this was, followed by the signature way-to-long pause? Wow. It sure says something about how far hoops has slid in our conscious - and that's without even delving into the whole 'is poker a sport?' debate, which if it weren't for my tangents I would already be talking about!

Yes, I'm sure that Phil Ivey is the best poker player on the planet. And when I finally get to page 35 I'm sure I'll be excited to learn how a guy who spends his life playing cards - a game - unwinds, but I guess I just expected something a little different from The Total Leader In Sports. (I specifically did not use the word MORE in the last sentence in case I'm ever in the running for a job with them and they happen to stumble across this rant.)

And the weirdest thing? The guy on the cover looked EXACTLY like the guy across from me at Borders. Am I in the Matrix?

Made the leap to Twitter

2009-10-27T15:12:00.001-07:00

Ok, go ahead and call me a hypocrite. Call me a traitor, sellout, or any other similar sounding deragivative, if deragivative is even in fact a word. After publically bashing the application Twitter just a few weeks ago, on this very blog, I've now joined the millions of Tweeters. My user name: @jasonjohnson6.

What caused my change of heart, and why might I need a Twitter account? (Seeing as I currently don't have a head coach to bash, a la Kansas City running back Larry Johnson.) It is actually a question everyone should ask when it comes to social media: WHY.

There needs to be a reason you use any technology, not just because it is there. Take TV for example, if every hour was just a repeat of Alf, i'm sure it's place in our life would be vastly different (no offense to everyone's favorite, furry, cat-eating alien.) Far too many businesses and people for that matter are using outlets such as myspace or facebook merely because it is there, not because it actually serves a purpose.

My goal - so we are all clear here - is to rapidly expand my own presence and reach on the Internet. In the next few weeks this blog will be undergoing a major renovation as it shifts to a source of information and inspiration in the world of sports and travel, much more than just my current ramblings. Twitter will allow me to post new updates in realtime, give recommendations as to useful books, movies, and travel tips, and finally just be a way to reach out to new people.

Where will this lead? I have no pretentions, although it is shocking to see the far-reaching influence some enjoy, such as travel blogger "adventuregirl" above who boasts 1.3 MILLION followers. There are certain ways to monetize this, which I'm still learning, but it is definitely an interesting avenue to explore.

So go check out @jasonjohnson6 and start following!

Recent Images

2009-10-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

As we've traced the West Coast of America on our journey from Vancouver Island, BC to Arizona, I've mostly neglected doing "real" photography, instead opting for my new iPhone. It does a good job, but doesn't create the vivid images I'm used to. Therefore, I thought I'd take some time tonight to post a few of my Nikon images... enjoy. (Click to make large)