D.C. Sports Bog Live: D.C. Sports best of the decade and Redskins vs. Giants – Washington Post

A transcript follows.

Read Dan’s daily smorgasborg of the bizarre side of D.C. sports at the D.C. Sports Bog.

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Dan Steinberg: Hello sports fans. So I tried to cancel this chat in advance, seeing as how my daughter’s preschool is closed for the week and this is one of my days. But I was told that wasn’t possible, since this was our one and only chance to discuss the top 10 decade lists, including best d.c. athletes and best d.c. sports moments ..read more

There’s no ‘you’ in ‘us’. Oh wait, there is.

In this corner: collectivism, where individuals may be selected for sacrifice to benefit the group (i.e. the Aztecs).

And across the ring: individualism, whose most ardent followers consider altruism tantamount to mental disorder (i.e. Ayn Rand’s objectivism).

Surely there is a happy medium between these two extremes? Yes, most would consider enslaving people to work salt mines barbaric, but what about a draft to save “the nation” from annihilation? Or how about a piece of land worked on for generations by one ..read more

The Empty List

[LIFE'S BIG LISTS]

:: paper-cuts masterfully avoided by @jenilee

In the Western world, having a full schedule is a sign of productivity and usefulness; having nothing to do is a sign of laziness. But Lao-Tzu, the founder of Taosim, says some things need to be empty first before they can become useful. Here’s an excerpt from the Tao Te Ching:

Thirty spokes joined at one hub;emptiness makes the cart useful.Clay cast into a pot;the emptiness inside makes it useful.Doors and windows cut to ..read more

Inventions Worth Inventing

[LIFE'S BIG LISTS]

Leonardo da Vinci—arguably the most creative, intellectually diverse man in human history—dreamed up a number of incredible contraptions that he never physically created but invented nonetheless. Everything from an airplane and helicopter to sophisticated weapons of war.

Today, with layoffs mounting, freelance work disappearing, and cutbacks in discretionary spending, we all seem to have a little more free time on our hands. So let’s spend that time thinking (like a true Renaissance Man).

List three creations you think are great ..read more

Too much inspiration, not enough perspiration

Remember that time you heard an awesome guitar riff and it prompted you to go straight to the music store, where you bought a Fender Stratocaster, amp, gig bag, and designer picks? Oh, and you also chatted up  the clerks about the profound music you were going to make. Then, seven days and $1,000 later, all that gear was in the back of your closet. Sigh.

Where in your life do you need less talk and more action?

:: melting in the ..read more

Send a sign to God

[CHALLENGE: SP-TWEET]

Asking for a sign from God: Lame. Sending a sign TO God: Totally awesome.

If you could send a sign to God letting him know what’s on your mind, what would you say? Tweet it with the hashtag #signtogod and post it below so that God (and everyone else) can see it.

:: sign sent by Todd Steinberg

I’m a slinky. No, really.

[LIFE'S BIG LISTS]

“I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity—all I hope for in my clothes.” —Yves Saint Laurent

Sure, we all wish we were the mastermind behind one of life’s big moneymakers, like Post-Its or Velcro. But cash aside, there are plenty of brilliant things I wish I’d come up with because, in many ways, they embody who I am.

Pick an invention and list five qualities you have in common.

THE SLINKYI can adapt to ..read more

Is your relationship spiritually stuck?

The two of you have been together for what seems like an eternity, but sometimes you feel boxed in. You like the view, but you need a little breathing space. Or maybe you’re just looking for a way out. Whatever the case may be, take a moment to contemplate this: If spirituality is an important part of your life, then it should be an important part of your relationship as well.

If you are stuck in a spirituality rut in your ..read more

How long does art last?

Art can stand the test of time, right? Well, if we’re talking about the Mona Lisa, then the answer is probably yes. Thanks to careful handling and continued maintenance, Da Vinci’s masterpiece will probably be with us for centuries. But not all art is permanent. The Japanese, for isntance, believe beauty and impermanence are inextricably linked, which is why the fleeting beauty of fireworks and cherry blossoms is so beloved.

This “sand dancer” doesn’t care for the shelf life of his ..read more

What does it mean to be generous?

If you cleared out your bank account, turned the cash into pennies and gave one penny to everyone you met, it would benefit nobody and you’d end up broke. In this case, just because you’re being selfless doesn’t mean you’re helping anyone.

Can you ever be too generous? If so, how can you learn to exhibit a healthy sense of generosity?

:: sizing up generosity by Todd Steinberg :: penny jar by totalAldo