This election season has drawn me in like never before. I actually find myself watching the convention coverage on TV. While the DNC has been a ginormous event, I have been struck by the amount of time spent on putting together video tributes – whether it be the tributes to Hillary and Ted Kennedy, the (splendid) video put together by Spielberg and narrated by Tom Hanks. But there are two that stand out.

One was the biography video about Obama that was shown right before Obama strode onto the stage at Invesco Field and gave his brilliant nomination speech. It really spoke well to who he is, what shaped him, and what he stands for. And while it couldn’t have made us Obamaniacs feel any more strongly about him, I hope it did something for those that don’t share our fervour.

But the highlight of the week was the tribute that “The Best F**ing News Team on the Planet” put together for Barack Obama. The Daily Show put together a video called “Barack Obama: He Completes Us” like only they can, and it was hilarious. It truly captured the hero worship that us Obamaniacs feel. You have to watch it (click play on the video below, or click here to go to the Daily Show page).

Clearly TDS had a bigger budget for the DNC week than they usually do, because the quality of work and graphics was kicked up a few BAMs. And watching the crew bully Anderson Cooper was so funny, it made me fall off my “#1 Obama  Fan” inflatable chair. I can’t wait for their coverage of the Republican Convention.

I missed Bill Clinton’s speech last night because I was at my building HOA meeting. But catching it on CNNs website, I have to say that I was really impressed with the powerful, direct way he spoke to the crowds. The day after Hillary gave a very gracious, very strong speech to wow the crowds, Bill showed everyone why he is still a darling of the people.

Ah, August. The month when people are tired of all the heat, are planning for the labor day weekend, and are pondering the end of summer. But above all, it is the month when football freaks like me and Sid are busy going through draft kits, player and preseason game analysis and injury reports preparing for the draft of our fantasy football teams.

Sid and I are in a league that he runs where literally moments ago, we finished our draft. Due to some new players taking over teams from last year, and after a rather laborious democratic process involving voting and some harsh campaigning, this years draft was from scratch, without taking into account last years finish, or having any keepers. All of which was bad news for me, because my draft position fell from 5 to 7 (out of 8 teams), and I had two really good keepers in Joseph Addai and Marshawn Lynch. But thats the way the cookie crumbles.

Having the 7th pick turned out to be a big handicap, because the first 6 players in the draft are pretty automatic, with no question marks. After that you are left wondering “how will the QB issues in SF affect the stats of Frank Gore“. As it turned out, the first 6 picks were exactly who were predicted, and I was stuck trying to figure out what to do with my precious 1st round pick. Let’s hope that picking Eli’s older brother (I’ve heard he’s pretty good too) was a good call. Here’s the team I ended up with, with the round I picked them in, and their overall pick number provided as well.

Doritos Cheese Warriors

My biggest worry is that I have too many injury risks among my top picks. I guess we’ll just have to see how things go. I hope that Mike Martz can revitalize the 49ers offense, and Run-DMC is everything he’s advertised to be.

I found it interesting that I ended up with no Giants players on my team. Every time I had one lined up as my next pick, someone ahead of me would pick them up. That is just how it goes.

Artist Mina Karimi wants to re-create the iconic parade scene from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, one of the most awesome movies ever. The location is Soho in New York on September 6th, as part of the Deitch Art Parade. Mina is looking for 600-800 volunteers, so if you want to be part of one of your favorite movies ever, join up. I am seriously thinking about it. How often does this opportunity come along?

The answer appears to be – do web comedy series. Check out “The Line” on Youtube. It’s a great web-series starring Bill Hader about a bunch of folks standing in line for 11 days, waiting for the opening show of their favorite science-fiction movie. Drama, hilarity and life ensues. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you might even throw up. And you’ll look at all those folks standing in line outside a movie theater or an Apple store with newfound respect and admiration.

Oh, and Tanu, it was directed by Seth Meyers. You know, he’s the lead writer on SNL.

Every opening ceremony of the Olympics is special. Almost every one of them does a good job reminding you of how countries are coming together to celebrate and compete in sport. And some have great moments that stick out: the lighting of the torch in Atlanta by Muhammad Ali, the archer’s perfect shot to light the flame in Barcelone, the grace of the ceremony in Athens.

But the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics was one for the ages. China was intent on announcing itself as a superpower to the world, and it succeeded beyond measure. Zhang Yimou is an absolute genius, and his masterpiece of an ode to China can only be described as SPECTACULAR.

Every detail was perfect, the show choreographed to the last inch. The beauty and grace was overwhelming, the scale staggering. That huge LED scroll was simply unbelievable. The precision with which the performers made the ceremony come alive was better than any show I have ever seen. And the way in which the flame was lit was brilliant (though I think the archer is still the best ever).

Unfortunately, the ceremony reminded us in many ways of what is wrong here in the US. The spectacular stadiums and building created in China for the Olympics show what can be done when people take real pride in their work and their country. Contrast this with the constant bickering and de-scoping and budget cuts happening at our most important project – the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, which has left everything about the site, from the memorial to the towers themselves a mere shadow of what was envisioned.

And NBC was the worst culprit of all. At a time when the entire world was coming together to share in the common experience of the Olympics, NBC decided to screw us all over in the name of profits. The US is the ONLY country in the world where people could not watch the opening ceremony live, leaving us standing out in the cold looking in on the global community that was united (if for a brief while) by a common, glorious experience. In this day and age, that kind of attitude is simply appalling and just plain stupid. I am no longer a loyal NBC follower.

So while us poor Americans got screwed over by our corporate overlords, the Chinese people were experiencing the most proud moments of their lives, as the entire world watched in awe the grace, beauty and also sheer power of what China put on display. It was a masterful statement, and one that will not be ignored. There is no going back to when the US was the one superpower. On some level, I hope Chicago does not win its Olympic bid, because this country no longer has the willpower or the wherewithal to compete with the show China just put on. Lets just spare ourselves the embarrassment.

This weekend we decided to visit some of the shiny new parks now available to us on either side of the Hudson river. The exploration started Friday evening, when we took a stroll just down the waterfront from our building to J. Owen Grundy Park, which reopened this past July. The park, set on the pier next to the Exchange Place PATH station, has been completely renovated, and looks really nice now. From the hardwood boards underfoot, to the metal benches and tables, to the well-lit canopies, everything has a lot of thought put into it. It is a really pleasant place to take an evening stroll, or catch lunch to the sounds of live music at the performance pavilion down by the end of the pier. I have to say, I am really impressed, not expecting much from the Jersey City government.

Saturday, we tried to check out the Jersey City Reservoir. But the gates were closed, so that plan had to be aborted. Looking in through the closed gate, it seemed more like a nature trail than a park, by which I mean that it seems it will be hard to take a stroller in. So I don’t know if we will be able to check it out.

On Sunday, we took Arav on his first PATH train ride to the city to check out the newly opened section of the Hudson Waterfront Park by Tribeca. With a nice boardwalk, lovely gardens and some interesting sculpture pieces scattered throughout, it has potential. But it still feels a little underwhelming. Shady spots are few and far between, and when compared to nearby Battery Park, there is little for people to do except sit on the grass or fly by on their bikes/rollerblades. There are a couple of tennis courts, but thats about it. Still, any park in the concrete jungle of Manhattan is to be treasured, and we could already see that there were plenty of folks out to enjoy their new park.

Lets see what else we can find in the weeks left this summer (can’t believe it’s going to be over soon).