No other group of people boasts as many jackasses as the martial arts community. Scientologists and Trekkies might come close, but I do believe the Cobra Kais of the world take the cake.

There are rare exceptions. I was lucky enough to train Muay Thai (Thai boxing) for many years with the 5 Points Muay Thai folks in NYC, the only people I’ve met in the sport who, while extremely talented, have no egos to speak of, and no interest in all the usual crap that comes along with most gyms like theirs. They also might have the only logo in all of martial arts without a lightning bolt, lion, shark, snake, or dagger.

Of course even at 5 Points, there’s always the odd jackass who shows up to train. Once I met a tall, 35-ish guy with a shaved head and a big gold hoop earring who (with a straight face) introduced himself to me as “Tiger.” During some drills working hooks to the body, Tiger said to the entire class, “I don’t understand why you’d bother with any of this. I just sweep the leg. Boom: Fight’s over.”

Tiger lasted exactly one sparring session, and, in the midst of the hundred or so kicks he absorbed with his ribcage and thighs, wasn’t able to execute his promised sweep. He sat on the edge of the ring afterward looking crestfallen, saying that things would’ve gone differently if they other guy hadn’t “cheated.”

In any case, the following video is a perfect illustration of what happens when the Tigers of the world come up against no-nonsense fighters. The first half (priceless) is, apparently, where a “Kiai Master” repels tens of attackers with the wave of a hand; the second section (even more priceless) is where this same master challenges any MMA fighter to a no-holds-barred fight for a $5,000 prize. A kickboxer takes him up on the offer, and the “master” tries out his technique on someone who’s actually trying to hit him.

(video courtesy of simon)

Thanks to my friend Ron, we got tickets to the VIP section for Elvis Costello’s show at the Nokia Theatre in NYC last Wednesday night. The show was absolutely brilliant, with tons of stuff from the old days, including fantastic versions of “Uncomplicated,” “Radio Radio” and “Lipstick Vogue.” He played for well over two hours, and his voice has never sounded better. His band, The Imposters, is pretty much the Attractions with the guy from Cracker on bass. Awesome stuff.

To represent one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, here’s one of the worst pics I’ve ever taken, thanks to my crappy cellphone camera and a few beers:

The tour and the VIP lounge were sponsored by Visa, which was strange enough, seeing Elvis matched up with a corporate sponsor. The most surreal part, however, was the “Visa Meet & Greet” afterwards, which Ron was able to sneak us into.

Ron took us down to a backstage lounge with potted palms and massive couches. There was a masking tape “X” on the floor in one corner, and when Elvis came in, a blonde girl dressed in black with a clipboard and a headset called out our names to step onto the “X” and have our photo taken with Elvis.

Names were called, small groups of people stepped forward and shook Elvis’s hand, put their arm around him for a quick picture, then wandered off. As we neared the front of the line, my friend Steve leaned in and said, “You know, it’s like having your picture taken with a parrot at a resort.”

There was a very Madame Tussaud’s-like quality to our photo op with Elvis. I mean, technically we met him, but the word “met” connotes something far more involved than the reality. We stumbled up, I said something completely retarded and incomprehensible about it having been an incredible show, two quick flashes fired, and we were off.

It has to be said, though: If you had a cardboard cutout of the quintissential Elvis (the 2007 Elvis, anyway), this is pretty much what you’d want him to look like—full gangsta lean and cocked bluesman’s hat.

(Total number of cool people in the following photo: 1)

It’s like the story my friend Todd told me about the time his brother was standing in a bar and Mick Jagger passed by. He shouted, “Hey Mick!” at Jagger’s back, but the singer gave no reaction whatsoever. Todd’s brother still refers to the moment as “that time I met Mick Jagger.”

Thanks to Ron, this will forever be “that time we hung out with Elvis.” I’m sure Elvis recalls it as fondly as we do.

You have to admit, the kid’s got skills. (And hey, it’s better than a mishap during a chainsaw juggling routine.)

(via emma, believe it or not.)

…But man, oh, man, was it close. With a nearly unprecedented 2,600 voters turning out for our controversial town initiative yesterday, we got the measure passed by an unbelievably slim 31-vote margin.

This is a huge win for all of us Red Hook residents, giving us more protection against unchecked commercial development, and protecting our working farms and green, open spaces. Red Hook is the first town to adopt a CPF in Dutchess County. Let’s hope it’s the beginning of a trend.

In the run-up to the vote, misinformation and propaganda abounded. The real estate lobbyists had a very well-funded opposition, including help from an Albany-based PAC. Their “No Transfer Tax” signs were nearly ubiquitous.

Fortunately, our side was extremely well-organized—thanks in large part to Robert McKeon, the chairman of the town’s Agriculture and Open Space Committee. I met some great, smart people along the way, and was proud to be part of the effort. The result is very encouraging, indeed, and we can truly say that every bit of effort counted.

Here’s what the Daily Freeman has to say.