Badass Of The Day - Fridtjof Nansen

On July 21, 1893, Fridtjof Nansen left his homeland of Norway on a ship called the Fram, meaning "forward," on a mission to explore the Arctic circle. At that time, Nansen was already an experienced adventurer, having written a book on the year he spent in Greenland.

The expedition's goal was to intentionally lodge the ship in the ice (the ship was reinforced) to explore the currents of the Arctic ice sheets. Accordingly, the Fram was decked out to allow the crew of 13 to stay warm, with insulation of felt, reindeer hair, cork shavings and tar. There was even a windmill to run electric lamps. They left with enough food for five years. As expected, the Fram became locked in the ice and followed the currents. He took pictures:

Early in the second year of the trip, it became apparent that the boat would not reach the North Pole, which had yet to be conquered. Accordingly, Nansen and a companion, Hjalmar Johansen, tried to reach the pole on three sleds with 28 dogs, in March 1895. They quickly ran into trouble, running out of supplies and butchering the weaker dogs to feed the stronger ones (gross).

Since Nansen has promised his wife that he would come home alive, they turned around just 226 miles south of the Pole, yet the highest that any human had ever made in 400 years of exploration. Since the ship was too far away, the two tried to go back to reach a distant island. They spent four months trying to make it to shipping lanes, killing off all the dogs and even eating a porridge made of canine blood.

They reached the island in August 1895, but realized they would have to spend the winter in the Arctic circle. They dug a hovel out of the ice and spent 9 months surviving on polar bear meat fried in walrus blubber, sharing a greasy sleeping bag. They were finally rescued at the next thaw, when they came across another explorer on his way to try to reach the pole (he didn't make it), who knew that Nansen might be in the area.

Nansen and Johansen returned home as heroes on August 13, 1896, more than three years after they left and just one week before the Fram returned home safely from its own trip. The Fram's trip was a striking success, remarkably without a single man lost, as it realized, for the first time, that there was no land in the Arctic and that it was, in fact, an ocean. Nansen became a celebrity, as well as an ambassador, and became something of a ladies man in his later years, after his wife passed away. He passed away in 1930, at the age of 69. The Fram is displayed prominently in Oslo, and children are read bedtime stories of his adventures.

Thanks, subscription to National Geographic!

What Song Is This? - Answer Key

Here are the answers. I've learned that you people SUCK at this, and that I have good taste in music. And yes, I say that with the full knowledge that Air Supply is on the list:

1. It used to seem to me that my life went on too fast, and I had to take things slowly, just to make the good times last. - "Back In The High Life," Steve Winwood (Good job, Corey)
2. Got no where but home to go. Got Ben Folds on my radio right now. - "Monkey," Counting Crows
3. Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through. Everybody sing, "I'm cool." "He's cool." I should not complain, but sometimes I still do. - "Life's Been Good," Joe Walsh
4. I realize the best part of love is the thinnest lies but it don't count for much, and I'm not letting to. I believe there's too much to believe in. - "Lost In Love," Air Supply
5. He came from somewhere back in her long ago. Sentimental fool don't see, trying hard to recreate what had yet to be created. - "What A Fool Believes," Doobie Brothers
6. Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to. - "Ask," The Smiths
7. I tried to discover a little something to make me sweeter. Oh baby, refrain from breaking my heart. - "Respect," Eurasure
8. Boy mercury, shooting through every degree. Oh girl dancing down those dirty and dusty trails. - "Roam," B-52s
9. Get yourself a lawyer and a gun. - "Red Light," The Strokes
10. We were supposed to go on and do much bigger things than we've done. With stitches and makeup, you'll hold it together for me. - "The Moviegoer," Matt Pond PA
11. Make a hole with a gun perpendicular to the name of this town in a desktop globe. - "Ana Ng," They Might Be Giants"
12. Me and my brother were talking to each other about what makes a man a man. - "Tattoo," The Who
13. I wanted to be with you alone and talk about the weather. - "Head Over Heels," Tears For Fears"
14. Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank. I can't be blamed for nothing anymore. It's been a long time since you've been around. Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank. - "Paper Thin Walls," Modest Mouse
15. The weekend in the college didn't turn out like you planned. The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand. - "Reelin' In The Years," Steely Dan
16. When she walks, she's like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gentle that when she passes, each one she passes goes oooo. - "Girl From Ipanema," Frank Sinatra (?)
17. Born to multiply, born to gaze into night skies. - "Australia," The Shins
18. Sittin' here resting my bones and this loneliness won't leave me alone. - "Dock Of The Bay," Otis Redding (it's about giving up)
19. I've got an electric guitar. I play my stupid songs. I write these stupid words, and I love every one. - "In The Garage," Weezer
20. When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around. Those pretty faces always always made you stand out in a crowd. - "I Want You Back," The Jackson 5 (Good job, Nilda!)

What Song Is This? - Expert Level

Just for fun, this one is extra hard. Good luck to all and remember, no googling!:

1. It used to seem to me that my life went on too fast, and I had to take things slowly, just to make the good times last.
2. Got no where but home to go. Got Ben Folds on my radio right now.
3. Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through. Everybody sing, "I'm cool." "He's cool." I should not complain, but sometimes I still do.
4. I realize the best part of love is the thinnest lies but it don't count for much, and I'm not letting to. I believe there's too much to believe in.
5. He came from somewhere back in her long ago. Sentimental fool don't see, trying hard to recreate what had yet to be created.
6. Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to.
7. I tried to discover a little something to make me sweeter. Oh baby, refrain from breaking my heart.
8. Boy mercury, shooting through every degree. Oh girl dancing down those dirty and dusty trails.
9. Get yourself a lawyer and a gun.
10. We were supposed to go on and do much bigger things than we've done. With stitches and makeup, you'll hold it together for me.
11. Make a hole with a gun perpendicular to the name of this town in a desktop globe
12. Me and my brother were talking to each other about what makes a man a man.
13. I wanted to be with you alone and talk about the weather.
14. Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank. I can't be blamed for nothing anymore. It's been a long time since you've been around. Laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank.
15. The weekend in the college didn't turn out like you planned. The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand.
16. When she walks, she's like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gentle that when she passes, each one she passes goes oooo.
17. Born to multiply, born to gaze into night skies.
18. Sittin' here resting my bones and this loneliness won't leave me alone.
19. I've got an electric guitar. I play my stupid songs. I write these stupid words, and I love every one.
20. When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around. Those pretty faces always always made you stand out in a crowd.

Monday Night Football

Because the world needs to know about my busy weekend.

Dad, my brother-in-law Forrest, Andrew and I got tickets to the Eagles game in Philadelphia on Monday night. (Thanks, Skier!!) On Friday night, we went over to Matt & Lynn's awesome new house, where I learned that I apparently suck at flip cup. This means I need to play more flip cup, Nilda. Here's Matt getting ready for Santacon the next morning.

We woke up early on Saturday to rent a car to drive to Philadelphia for the Flyers/Penguins game, my birthday present from Nilda. It was a great game and a great time, but did you know that people still watch hockey? Me neither! Also, I now realize that I did not take very-blog friendly pictures. I blame Nilda.

The whole point in going to Philadelphia was to go to the wedding of my cousin Lisa & Jason on Sunday. (Congrats again!). Doesn't Nilda look all pretty with her straight hair? It's like dating another woman.

I then had to wake up at 5:30 on Monday, drive the rental car back to NY, go to work (like I can take a day off), then take a bus to Philadelphia that night and figure out how to take the subway to the Linc, to meet Dad, Forrest and Andrew. Long story short, it was totally worth it:

• The Philadelphia "subway" makes no sense. What the hell is a trolley doing down there?
• Forrest picked up Italian hoagies (steak sandwiches would have gotten cold and disgusting) from a place called Gooey Louie's that were absolutely incredible. Lots of meat, perfect amount of cheese, bread that gets wet from the oil and vinegar, but not soggy. Best I've ever had. Thanks, Forrest.
• A hoagie is not a sub, where you can close the roll, but is more like an open faced sandwich.
• The parking lot is like a Phish show, except with football, and where beer replaces weed.
• I need more Eagles gear.
• When the stadium announces the opposing team's players, the crowd yells "SUCKS!" after each name. Fans did the same thing at the Flyers game. They say it because it's true.
• The reality of the game was striking, after only seeing it on tv. The field was smaller and it was much quieter than what's shown on tv. Once the game started, I couldn't help but think that it looked like a high school football game. Then you realize how gigantic the stadium actually is.
• We saw Andy Reid, Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis, and all the other characters we see on tv. It's like they're real people.
• I don't like the Eagles fight song. There, I said it.
• My only regret is that I didn't bring my Dawkins jersey. I figured that with all the layers I'd have, it wouldn't be necessary. Of course, the weather was perfect and I spent most of the game in a sweatshirt. Curses!
• Nilda would look SO hot in a McNabb jersey.
• We've got to get to more games. Next time, we're bringing the face paint.
• And most important of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

The New TV

...is AWESOME!!! Just so you understand the grandiosity of the awesomeness of the tv (a 52" Sony Bravia XBR6 for the nerds out there), here's what we used to have:

BEFORE

Yes, that's the Obama/McCain debate. Nilda and I have been planning this tv since last last black Friday, when we got Stella's tv. This year was our turn.

This, of course, meant that we had to buy a new "media console" for the tv, and no, Brian, Ikea is not acceptable. So, we got what I have been advised is a GORGEOUS media console that my mother helped Nilda convince me to agree to. If Nilda asks, I love it. Here it is in all its glory last night after we sold the old tv on craigslist in just 24 hours (good job, Nilda!), and brought out the crappy little tv we have in the bedroom:

LAST NIGHT

Yeah, I know. Chicks dig my new media console.

So, today was the day, the tv finally came, and its awesome! We were also able to use the new blu-ray player for the first time, watching the dark knight with Stella. It's seriously unreal, I shit you not:

NOW

What makes me happiest is that for the next 3 weeks, Nilda and I will have the top of the line television on the market. Who's ready for Lost?

Things I Don't Like

Because "hate" - like "never" - is too strong a word, here's a list of things I've been working on of things that I don't like:

• People who ride unicycles for transportation.
• Slow walkers, including tourists.
• People who refuse to take off their backpacks on the subway and, as a result, take up more room than they should.
• The thought of ever living on Long Island.
• Fox News.
• Any meat cooked beyond medium.
• Breakfast meetings.
• People who feel entitled. About anything.
• Pink Floyd.
• Creationism.
• People who do not know how to properly get off of escalators.
• The end of daylight savings time.
• Winking.
• People who try to "help" by holding open a door, but wind up just standing in front of it so you can't get through.
• Using the cable tv radio as entertainment at a party.
• Having someone who screams "AM" or "Metro" and then shove a paper in my face when I'm getting off the subway.
• Mary Poppins on Broadway.
• Mohegan Sun commercials.
• Tribute bands.
• Cheap gin.
• Psych! I love cheap gin.
• Long lines at Chipotle.
• Hearing Brittany Spears whine about her life.
• Dancing.

Shoot Me Now

Nilda and I got our first REAL Christmas tree today (ie, not the plastic tree from Target). I used to say that I would never have a tree in my house. I liked that not having a tree made me different. This was before I married a catholic Cuban. I think this photo expresses my reaction to this latest development:

Twilight

Nilda has a problem. Because I'm such a wonderful and magnanimous husband, we went to see Twilight on Saturday night. Nilda had previously advised me that we would be seeing this movie, since she's been all into vampires since True Blood, a series we were both into. (I have just been advised that Nilda has been into vampires since long before True Blood). I knew I would not enjoy Twilight as much as True Blood, since its aimed at 15-year-old girls. But I had no idea of the torrent that Twilight would unleash:

• We saw Twilight on Saturday. As we speak, Nilda has read not only the first book AND the second book, but is actually on page 154 of the third book.
• Keep in mind that Nilda only had the first two books, borrowed from Harley. Thanks, Harley. Not. Nilda had to actually go out today and purchase the third AND fourth book today. I was too afraid to bring up my idea of getting a better price on Amazon, since Nilda might actually have had to wait TWO DAYS to get the books.
• Nilda told me that she took a "break" from reading today. This apparently was the time from when she finished the second book, at 1:00 am last night, to 6:30 pm this evening.
• The only reason that Nilda waited until 6:3o this evening to start the third book was because she went to see the movie AGAIN this afternoon. Time to get a job, Nilda. Don't you bring up the economy!
• Nilda reading has actually not been bad. I've been able to watch all my tv shows and even get back into my psp. It's like me time but with Nilda here.
• For years, I've been trying to get Nilda to read a book. Wicked, The Kite Runner, Dune, no luck. Who knew that the missing ingredient was teenage vampires with sexual frustration. I know, it seems so obvious when you say it out loud.
• On another note, I think the best thing I brought home from Israel was - I shit you not - chocolate with pop rocks in it. It's like eating a Nestle crunch, only to have the crunches continue after you're done with the chocolate.
• I'm dying to spoil the story for Nilda. NY Magazine had an article about spoilers written onto movie posters in the subway. Try not clicking on that link, Nilda! Just so you all know, Jacob is a werewolf.
• When Nilda was buying the books, the clerk somehow labeled them as "juvenile fiction." "It's Young Adult!," Nilda shot back.
• Apparently, Edward Cullen is the perfect man, Nilda tells me.
• Nilda, the woman who has been known to be very happy to go to sleep at 9:00, has actually been staying awake until 2:00 in the morning (!!!) to keep reading.
• Not only did I get the pleasure of sitting through the movie, but Nilda now keeps me informed on all the details that the movie didn't cover, as well as information about the author of the series. This just keeps getting better!