March Maddening

Since I just finished portraying him in a short musical, allow me to quote the great philosopher Socrates: "I only know that I know nothing." Or as I often write here, it's amazing how often we don't know what we think we know. This applies to libelous liberals more than conservatives, but nevertheless, no words could do a better job of reflecting how I feel after watching my NCAA bracket evaporate this year in the first two rounds. And that means I'm getting my butt kicked by President Obama, which only adds insult to injury.

Given all the crazy, questionable, never-in-my-lifetime calls the refs have been making lately, I'm beginning to think the NCAA tournament was rigged this year to make sure the president's picks advance. The end of the Texas-Arizona game was mind-numbing. Even Rick Pitino said it felt like an awfully quick 5 second count, and one that basically handed the game to Arizona (which, by the way, was one of the president's upsets). Then there was the no-call at the other end of the court as Gary Johnson got mauled grabbing the rebound. I don't even need to go into the Pitt-Butler game. Has a foul ever been called when rebounding a free throw with less than one second left, let alone 90 feet away from the opposing team's basket? Something stinks and it smells worse than pro-union protesters camped out in state capitols.

After bragging about my record in recent office pools (and it was stellar), my can't-miss tips have missed badly this year (the ones I always rely on) and my expertise has apparently expired as my bracket has been blown to smithereens. Two of my Final Four teams have already been eliminated, and it looks like I will only get 10 of my Sweet 16 teams correct. VCU? Never saw it coming. Utah State as an upset? Complete bust. About the only thing I can brag about getting right is 12 seed sleeper Richmond, and hopefully Ohio State as the eventual national champ.

Not that I even like the Buckeyes or plan on rooting for them now that my bracket is shot. San Diego State is my favorite team due to Steve Fisher's back story. Besides, how can you not root for a team called the Aztecs? It sounds like a Mexican restaurant. Aztecs all the way, baby!

It's just basketball. And I guess that's the point. Have a little fun, don't take it too seriously, and enjoy the distraction from real world problems. It would be nice if I thought that's how the president felt about it, too, but I have an inclination he put way more effort into his bracket than taking any type of leadership role on Libya or Japan. Or the crippling national debt. Or the economy. Or skyrocketing gas prices. 

Sure. It's March Madness, but America's march to obscurity is even more maddening.

Japan, Daylight Savings, and Barack's Bracket

I'm exhausted.

SXSW interactive and film are wrapping up, SXSW music is just starting, I'm performing in a short play I wrote involving a karaoke contests between Jesus and Socrates, and on top of all that we have to deal with daylight savings. I may welcome spring, but I'll never welcome springing forward.

Call me uber-libertarian, but I don't believe I should have to change my entire routine and circadian rhythm at the arbitrary whim of the government. It's one thing to adjust the calendar to compensate for the math like we do with leap year, but it's quite another when the change is a cosmetic one that will only be changed back in a matter of months. Kudos to Arizona for having the sense to avoid this bizarre ceremony.

And so I look at my blog and recognize a huge absence, mainly me for the past week, one almost fitting of the current leader of the free world. I have barely mentioned Libya or Japan - just like President Obama. In fact, it occurred to me this week that Obama would have made a great veep. He avoids tough decisions, hides during times of leadership, and shows up graciously for all the political fundraisers and ceremonial events like filling out one's NCAA bracket. You might say he is focused on his job approval rating like a laser.

Someone should tell the president you usually wait until after the midterm election of your second term to become a lame duck. For whatever reason, Obama has voluntarily chosen to become one when the world actually needs American leadership. You can only imagine what a weaker United States would mean should any of these calamities become a full-blown international crisis.

As for the situation in Japan, all I can offer right now is prudence and prayer. I have heard the radiation leak resulting from the tsunami described as everything from greatly exaggerated to apocalyptic. I certainly don't believe it's apocalyptic, and I know the drive-by media has an agenda when it comes to nuclear energy, but I'd rather gather more information before making an overall assessment. One thing is certain: older nuclear facilities are less safe than newer facilities with modern technology and the more we put off building new modern plants in safe, stable locals, the longer old plants are forced to stay online to meet our robust demand for energy (which is only increasing and can't be met w/ alternative sources). Also keep in mind what kind of strain plug-in hybrid cars are going to put on electric grids in the coming years and you have a recipe for disaster.

In the meantime, enjoy SXSW and the NCAA tournament. If you want a kick out of ridiculing Obama's basketball picks, go here and follow @baracksbracket on twitter. As for my picks, I have almost always finished in the top five of my office pool and have plenty of wins to boot, so the least I can do is fill you in on some tournament tips that usually give me an edge. Look for that post first thing in the morning so you can adjust your bracket before the 11 am deadline.

I'm off to rehearsal (and hoping to catch up on my sleep).