Jeff Deck Gets His Own And The “Wetbacks” Go Surfing

Our first order of business: Break Out The Oreos has intended for a while to give another shout-out to Jeff Deck, whom we originally mentioned in an Ivy League Round-Up on April 11th. In case you don´t remember, Mr. Deck is a Dartmouth graduate who now travels the nation as a member of the Typo Eradication Advancement League, eliminating errors in spelling and grammar through the age-old method of property defacement.

Well, it just so happens that Mr. Deck stumbled upon our humble blog to correct us on a fine point: it appears that Dartmouth´s notorious frat culture did not, in fact, contribute to his willingness to correct storeowners on the suitability of their signage. BOTO regrets the error, and as such would like to make Mr. Deck our BOTO Pick in the category of “Greatest Protector of the English Language”. The honor is ours, Jeff.

Devon demonstrates that you cannot, in fact, build a fence to keep the Mexicans out of Hawaii, after the jump:

A Microview of NYC Goings-On

The recently-sweltering New York City heat and Devon’s return to the United States have prompted Nicole to update the readership on selected goings-on of her favorite metropolis. But first, we pause and remark that several new blogs of interest seem to have cropped up lately. This post singles out I Ate My DVD Collection, which features music and movie reviews ala Break Out the Oreo’s most faithful Obie. (Note: here, BOTO refers to the first definition.) As always, links of interest are provided on the right-hand side of the screen, on the main page.

BOTO Pick for Most Awkward Encounter and general impressions of a summer in the city await after the jump:

Jason Giambi is a BAMF, With or Without the Thong

While Jason Giambi and his arguably distasteful slump-breaking method have been well-documented both here and in the more mainstream media, one thing is certain after yesterday’s day epic game between the Yankees and the Blue Jays: Giambi knows how to win a game in style. For those of you who didn’t see or read about the game, Jason Giambi, the (formerly) struggling, often-booed, golden thong-wearing Yankee first baseman, hit a pinch-hit, two-run, walk-off, upper-deck, hyphenated-adjective-defying homer in the bottom of the ninth on an 0-2 count.

The best game of the season, an analysis of Giambi’s thong-wearing effectiveness, and a huge Red Sox brawl, all after the jump:

Alumni Recognition, Tarsem Singh’s New Film, and the Return of Pedro Martinez

In what is certainly the worthiest story to appear before the jump, BOTO heartily congratulates Columbia’s hottest alumnus in the current news cycle for wooing the requisite number of delegates to secure the Democratic nomination to become the next President of the United States, making history by becoming the first African American nominee to head a major party ticket, delivering a poetic and captivating speech last night… the works. We say “the works” because Senator Barack Obama’s accomplishments should be considered “all in a day’s work” for a graduate of Columbia University. Let’s be honest: he has the likes of Alexander Hamilton, First Chief Justice of the United States John Jay, and President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves to live up to. Contrast this legacy with the likes of Wellesley and Yale Law School, and BOTO will go the route of Mr. Obama: we will officially refrain from aiming ad hominem attacks against another candidate (or, as of today, former candidate) or other institutions, respectful in our knowledge that ours are far superior. Now onto the United States Naval Academy and the Republican Attack Machine…

You’ll notice that BOTO is conveniently choosing to ignore Senator Obama’s Harvard Law education for the purposes of this post. Devon would probably have you know that the Illinois senator is a Punahou School alum, though. Furthermore, and in all seriousness, BOTO respects Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama immensely, and urges its readership to vote in the general election on November 4, 2008 and refrain from purchasing the hoodie depicted in the graphic.

A review of what may be the year’s most visually stunning and well-crafted film, as well as a breakdown of the highlights and low points of yesterday’s game at AT&T Park, after the jump:

A Temporary Suspension (or Easing) of Snarkiness

Hey, all!  Stay tuned for BOTO’s general (if you’ll excuse the pun) impressions of the Democratic nominee for President of the United States; a review of Tarsem Singh’s gorgeous film, the Fall; and another celebration as the Mets welcome back Pedro Martinez, to be completed upon Nicole’s daily escape from the drudgery of the Center for the Study of Human Rights’ office.  In the meantime, I’d recommend that you visit Coachean Life and Election Day Countdown.  The first link will transport you to the blog of Nicole’s high school debate coach, which you should read if you are at all interested in high school debate, architecture, world travel, the written word, or cantankerousness.  The second offers the measured analysis of a political pundit in training.  Enjoy, and we hope you visit BOTO again later this evening (E.S.T.)!

UPDATE:  Please note that “later this evening (E.S.T.)” really means “in the wee hours of tomorrow morning, E.S.T.,” as far as BOTO is concerned.