Digital Ink Los Angeles

Six months into his presidency and Barack Obama has seen his share of bad and good press.

This third week of July has been a reality check for Obama and his administration, with healthcare taking a detour on the legislative trail, and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. staking a racial stance that sent Obama flailing with his new-found powers.

The summer session is over in Washington, and business starts again with the upcoming fall session. With all the hot smoke in the air, it’d be nice if the new president can begin to settle in to expected great achievements.

It’s now or never. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire? Puff-puff, Mr. Obama.

It’s been a household staple since 1953, when General Foods added Ed Perkins‘ powder drink to their food conglomerate.

Hot days include bucket-loads of the stuff at kids’ parties, and the drink was every mom’s fruit-juice substitute for years before Gatorade or vitamin drinks arrived.

As hot as it is in Los Angeles, now’d be a good time for a Kool-Aid party. But not the Jim Jones kind of Kool-Aid party.

“This is not a love story. This is a story about love.”

(500) Days of Summer is an ode to the hearts of young people wondering if loneliness is a fatal disease, or a temporary predicament caused by an inability to find their complementary soul mate.

Directed by Marc Webb, and written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the film’s idea is described in Fox Searchlight PR as an “offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (Deschanel) who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man (Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her.”

When considering mutant robots, angels and demons, apocalyptic cyborgs, gay fashion reporters, and similar cinematic fare, maybe a good dose of “Summer Love” could be the ticket?

Watch the movie trailer here:

(500) Days of Summer

Make love not war?

When Tim Lincecum showed up at AT&T Park in San Francisco for his 2007 Major League Baseball debut, the grounds crew and security staff thought he was the new bat boy. He went 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA in his rookie campaign, and he was no longer mistaken for the bat boy.

In his 2008 sophomore campaign with the SF Giants, Lincecum snake-charmed hitters into going 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA, giving him his first CY Young Award.

So far, in 2009, he is 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA, and he’s getting stronger with every start.

Lincecum is a throwback to the days of Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, and Gaylord Perry, with his child-like approach to the game and thunderous stuff in his arm combining to destroy Major League Baseball hitter’s dreams.

#55 Tim Lincecum is a kid playing a man’s game, but he wins — alot.

One-hundred and ninety years ago this summer, the two-wheeled “Dandy Horse” became popular with several London and Paris townies who were looking for a little freedom from their idea of bipedalism: walking. These riders shuffled their feet along the ground, much like Fred Flintstone, to achieve mobility and forward progress. Unfortunately, the lack of a crank-shaft and custom-sizing prevented the two-wheeler from catching on.

However, in the 1860s, the French vélocipède bicycle was created by attaching rotary cranks and pedals to the front-wheel hub of a “Dandy Horse,” and the bicycle was born.

Nowadays, around the streets of Los Angeles, there’s a dramatic increase in the numbers of bicyclists, and the trend is led by myriad groups of spirited “Fixed-Gear” bicycle riders who like traveling without the luxury of brakes. See the LA Times article here.

Thanks to DoobyBrain.com and their assessment of current “Fixed-Gear” trends in the illustration here to the left. The image reflects the funny, quirky culture of fixed-gear enthusiasts.

The following link has some great Fixed-Gear bike images, because it is a Fixed Gear Bike Gallery.

July 2009 marks the 106th year and 95th racing of the Tour de France.

Get out and ride! Live Strong!

Dude, is there a better and quicker way to Zen-master status than luxurious cardigans, white Russians, bowling, and puffing joints? Life’s so bright, The Dude has to wear shades. Let’s see what condition my condition is in.

Today’s summertime “HERO” is none other than Jeff Bridges’ “The Dude,” made famous in the Coen Brothers‘ 1998 film, The Big Lebowski. Take some edge off the summertime heat with a few of The Dude‘s mantras:

The Dude: Mind if I do a J?

The Dude: Yeah, well. The Dude abides.
The Stranger: I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ‘er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I sure hope he makes the finals.

The Dude: Yeah well, I still jerk off manually.

The Big Lebowski: Is it being prepared to do the right thing, whatever the cost? Isn’t that what makes a man?
The Dude: Hmmm… Sure, that and a pair of testicles.

With Iranian elections, North Korean nukes, Honduran coups, Iraqi bombings, and summertime kicking into gear, it seems like a good time for The Dude to abide and chill out. The Dude Abides.

The 63rd meeting of college baseball teams at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium for the College World Series is indicative of the beginning of summertime.

The 2009 championship round begins today, Monday, June 22nd, and the match-up is stellar, with the LSU Tigers battling the Texas Longhorns. Both teams feature several future Major League Baseball players, and the level of skill and talent rivals many professional teams, but within an amateur realm. A player to watch would be First-Team All-American and LSU senior pitcher Louis Coleman, who is one of the best pitchers in college baseball.

The long days of summer are here, as the summer solstice has reached its apex, with sunsets happening well into the evening. Nothing like getting some friends together to enjoy some fun in the sun. A little baseball, a little BBQ, a little more baseball, a little more BBQ. Go Dodgers!