Former Governor of Texas, Ann Richards passed yesterday at the age of 73 of complications from esophageal cancer. Richards left numerous progressive fingerprints on the Texas landscape, but it was her wit & Southern-styled charm that she will truly be remembered for. She was sadly defeated by the current President for the Governor’s office in Texas underestimating Bush’s political savvy and also the extreme measures Karl Rove would use to scare people and rile up the Conservative base in Texas. This harkens back to the golden era of Rove’s nitty gritty dirt campaign when he had flyers with homosexual-males engaged in intercourse with the heading “Ann Richards is for Gay Rights” left under the windshield wipers of cars in church parking lots. Thus, Rove permanently sealed his position on the Hinge of Evil (Hitler, Pol Pot and Karl Rove) that swings the screen door on the 5th Gate of Hell. I digress; Richards may have lost an election, but she did not lose a step. She continued as an activist, writer and political advisor as well as motorcycle enthusiast until her passing.
When Ann Richards lost the gubernatorial seat in Austin, the political landscape for the Democratic control of the Lone Star State would forever change, but hopefully, one day, a Richards-esque Democrat will carry on her torch.
Ann Richards Quotes:
Ask a feminist and they will tell you the best quote from Ann Richards’ regarding the ability of women to lead in business or politics is: “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”
Any Democrat in the rest of the country will remember Ann Richards for two things, being the 1992, DNC-Chairperson who nominated Bill Clinton and her comments made towards George H. W. Bush back in 1988, “Poor George, he can’t help it…He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Breaking News from the State Newspaper, Blake Mitchell suspended due to arrest...
USC quarterback Mitchell suspended following altercation
USC quarterback Blake Mitchell has been suspended from the team "indefinitely", an athletic department news release said.The announcement provided no further details.Booking information at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where Mitchell, 21, turned himself in this afternoon, indicates he is charged with simple assault.WISTV has reported that Mitchell was involved in an altercation in Five Points on Tuesday, which led to a warrant for his arrest.The university news release said Coach Steve Spurrier would comment on the situation after today's practice. ....More to follow.— Kelly Davis
Palmetto Carriage adds Barn-Cam
The RastaMule has a new Barn-Camera in the Big Red Barn so “Big Brother” can keep his eye on what’s going on or if Dave Jenkins is screwing around when he should be working. Click here for the link to the Barn Cam. If the wandering eye in the Red Barn doesn’t fulfill your desire for barnyard stomp, click here for some of the sounds you’d possibly hear after Tex-Mex night @ Palmetto Carriage.
Sorry about the Brook Institute logo Ben-Jammin, but I thought I’d give it to you one more time.
Warning: The following may not be suitable for underage readers:
Joe Francis founder of those late night, Spring Break, "Daddy aren't you proud of me videos" Girls Gone Wild and his production company Mantra Films and sub-company MRA Holdings plead guilty to charges filed in Federal Court in both Florida and Los Angeles. The plea agreement forces Francis and his affiliates to cough up $2.1 million in fees for not keeping records of the age of the women (performers) in the videos as they negligently did not label the following videos as required by Federal Law.
This case is the first case filed under Section 2257-a Federal Law preventing the exploitation of minors by forcing film producers to maintain records of the ages for each performer, as well as label each video with the location of where these documents are held. Could it possibly be that naming one of your videos “GGW: First Timers” caught the attention of the Federalies? For those of you who get a new video each month, “cancel at anytime”, don’t worry, GGW is still in effect and the similar charges filed in Los Angeles will be dismissed after 3-years of proper documentation, as well as paying the $2.1 million in fines.
I picturing one of those Austin Powers moments for some of these performers on down the road:
Jenna B: “Honestly Baby, its not me in that video, I’d never do that (fill in blank w/ whatever drunk girl video performance you choose).”
Document Custodian: One legal waiver signed by Miss Jenna B.
Jenna B: I am a Conservative Republican who is against Gay-rights; I’d never perform with another woman.
Document Custodian: One Cashed Check signed Jenna B and W-2 form acknowledging services provided for payment with Mantra Films…
(Nevermind, you get the rest…quickly…)
This case is the first case filed under Section 2257-a Federal Law preventing the exploitation of minors by forcing film producers to maintain records of the ages for each performer, as well as label each video with the location of where these documents are held. Could it possibly be that naming one of your videos “GGW: First Timers” caught the attention of the Federalies? For those of you who get a new video each month, “cancel at anytime”, don’t worry, GGW is still in effect and the similar charges filed in Los Angeles will be dismissed after 3-years of proper documentation, as well as paying the $2.1 million in fines.
I picturing one of those Austin Powers moments for some of these performers on down the road:
Jenna B: “Honestly Baby, its not me in that video, I’d never do that (fill in blank w/ whatever drunk girl video performance you choose).”
Document Custodian: One legal waiver signed by Miss Jenna B.
Jenna B: I am a Conservative Republican who is against Gay-rights; I’d never perform with another woman.
Document Custodian: One Cashed Check signed Jenna B and W-2 form acknowledging services provided for payment with Mantra Films…
(Nevermind, you get the rest…quickly…)
Wednesday WTF???
There were quite a few in close competition this week for the Wednesday WTF. But it was the story of the University of Northern Colorado’s backup punter, Mitch Cozad stabbing No-Co’s punter, Rafael Mendoza, in the right leg to try and take his job that earned today’s WTF? Seriously Mitch, Mitchie, Mitch (sorry “Dazed & Confused” flashback) did you seriously think you could get away with it? Not that Mitch didn’t try-he stabbed Mendoza in the leg from behind and drove off, stopping to pull off the tape covering his license plate in front of a liquor store, but a store clerk spotted him and thought what the F_? and called the cops.
Look Mitch, if there is one thing you should have learned from the Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding is that taking out someone’s leg in order to steal their position is never a good idea.
Look Mitch, if there is one thing you should have learned from the Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding is that taking out someone’s leg in order to steal their position is never a good idea.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Redskins Cinderellas or has the clock struck 12..
I was reading the WaPo's Michael Wilbon's article "All Things Being Equal, Game One Doesn't Add Up" this morning and I have to admit, I was asking myself the same profound question used to end the article, "If the Redskins are going to struggle this desperately with B-list receivers like Williamson and Taylor, how in the world are they going to stay within a mile of T.O. and Terry Glenn next week in Dallas?" The Redskins lost 19 to 16 last night against the Minnesota Vikings and former Redskins, Brad Johnson and Fred Smoot. Btw, in true historical Viking attitude, Johnson wore his old Skins jersey as he came out of the locker room after the game.
Opening the season on Monday Night Football (on Sept. 11th) against a paltry team and with all of the new hype the Press can put out about the Redskins this year along with Dan's new friends Tom-Kat and Jamie Foxx at the show, it would have been easy to assume the Skins would have held down the fort at Fed-Ex Field. Unfortunately, the game came down to a 48-yard missed field-goal by John Hall (thanks Sime for that ex-Badger) and that was to tie the game! Clinton Portis only put up 39 yards in 10 rushes (he did score the only touchdown), Veteran QB Mark Brunell went 17 of 28 for 163 yards (by the Grace of God he did not throw an Interception) and the off-season big money snag of Antwaan Randle El didn't really pan out.
And what about the always dependable Washington Defense’s performance? Granted Prioleau's injury at the beginning of the game was a shocker and Sean Taylor did get called on a questionable face-mask, but what about the other 4-Quarters. How many third-down conversions are the Redskins going to hand out? Well last night they gave out 9 of 17 3rd down treats. What if Troy Williamson hadn't dropped two end-zone passes? This game would have been a blow out. I am sure the Tuna is sitting down in the Big D and thinking wow, with corner Shawn Springs and safety Pierson Prioleau out, T.O is going to have a "hay-day" with (a San Fran-throw back) Mike Rumph. Viking QB, Brad Johnson, was sacked once and forced into throwing one bad ball. Come on! Granted Johnson won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, and one of the most accurate passers in the league, but he is 38-put the pressure on and force him out of the pocket. I just can't help thinking, what's going to happen when the Skins face another veteran QB next Sunday? Is this a Cinderella Story with a minor hic-up to start our “happily ever after” season or did the clock just strike 12 and our Redskins just turn into pumpkins?
Monday, September 11, 2006
Keith Olbermann's Harsh Words for President Bush
I found this on Crooks and Liars, click here for the video, I added the full transcript below.Full
Transcript: "And lastly tonight a Special Comment on why we are here. Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.And all the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and — as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul — two more in the Towers.And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.I belabor this to emphasize that, for me… this was, and is, and always shall be, personal. And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft", or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here — is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante — and at worst, an idiot — whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President. However. Of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast — of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds… none of us could have predicted… this.Five years later this space… is still empty. Five years later there is no Memorial to the dead. Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals. Five years later this country’s wound is still open. Five years… later this country’s mass grave is still unmarked.Five years later… this is still… just a background for a photo-op. It is beyond shameful. — At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial — barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field, Mr. Lincoln said "we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract." Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We can nto dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground." So we won’t.Instead they bicker and buck-pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they’re doing — instead of doing any job at all. Five years later, Mr. Bush… we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir — on these 16 empty acres, the terrorists… are clearly, still winning. And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it. — And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is, its symbolism — of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it… was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support. Those who did not belong to his party — tabled that. Those who doubted the mechanics of his election — ignored that. Those who wondered of his qualifications — forgot that.History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government, by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation’s wounds, but to take political advantage. Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people. The President — and those around him — did that. They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused; as appeasers; as those who, in the Vice President’s words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists." They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken… a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated Al-Qaeda as much as we did.The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had ’something to do’ with 9/11, is "lying by implication."The impolite phrase, is "impeachable offense."Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space… and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11. Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible — for anything — in his own administration.Yet what is happening this very night?A mini-series, created, influenced — possibly financed by — the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option. How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death… after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections… how dare you or those around you… ever "spin" 9/11. — Just as the terrorists have succeeded — are still succeeding — as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero… So too have they succeeded, and are still succeeding — as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans. This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney’s continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm.Suddenly his car — and only his car — starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man’s lights go on.As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot — but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help.The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials areseen, manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there’s no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it’s themselves."And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight. "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices - to be found only in the minds of men. "For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own — for the children, and the children yet unborn." — When those who dissent are told time and time again — as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus — that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American… When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"… look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me: Who has left this hole in the ground? We have not forgotten, Mr. President. You have. May this country forgive you."
Transcript: "And lastly tonight a Special Comment on why we are here. Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.And all the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and — as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul — two more in the Towers.And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.I belabor this to emphasize that, for me… this was, and is, and always shall be, personal. And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft", or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here — is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante — and at worst, an idiot — whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President. However. Of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast — of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds… none of us could have predicted… this.Five years later this space… is still empty. Five years later there is no Memorial to the dead. Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals. Five years later this country’s wound is still open. Five years… later this country’s mass grave is still unmarked.Five years later… this is still… just a background for a photo-op. It is beyond shameful. — At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial — barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field, Mr. Lincoln said "we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract." Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We can nto dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground." So we won’t.Instead they bicker and buck-pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they’re doing — instead of doing any job at all. Five years later, Mr. Bush… we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir — on these 16 empty acres, the terrorists… are clearly, still winning. And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it. — And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is, its symbolism — of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it… was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support. Those who did not belong to his party — tabled that. Those who doubted the mechanics of his election — ignored that. Those who wondered of his qualifications — forgot that.History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government, by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation’s wounds, but to take political advantage. Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people. The President — and those around him — did that. They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused; as appeasers; as those who, in the Vice President’s words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists." They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken… a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated Al-Qaeda as much as we did.The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had ’something to do’ with 9/11, is "lying by implication."The impolite phrase, is "impeachable offense."Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space… and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11. Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible — for anything — in his own administration.Yet what is happening this very night?A mini-series, created, influenced — possibly financed by — the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option. How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death… after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections… how dare you or those around you… ever "spin" 9/11. — Just as the terrorists have succeeded — are still succeeding — as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero… So too have they succeeded, and are still succeeding — as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans. This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney’s continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street." In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm.Suddenly his car — and only his car — starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man’s lights go on.As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot — but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help.The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials areseen, manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there’s no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it’s themselves."And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight. "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices - to be found only in the minds of men. "For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own — for the children, and the children yet unborn." — When those who dissent are told time and time again — as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus — that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American… When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"… look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me: Who has left this hole in the ground? We have not forgotten, Mr. President. You have. May this country forgive you."
Friday, September 08, 2006
No Sh....
No Sh-Crap, this photo was taken by one of Fenway Park's in-house photographers...Not a good excuse, but it was his day off...
(Photo of Trabert and his folks, Sheila & Dan Brown)
The Green Monster...
The left field wall -- also known as the Green Monster -- measures 37 feet (11.3 meters) high, with the screen above the wall extending 23 feet (7 meters). The center field wall is 17 feet (5.2 meters) high, the bullpen fences measure five feet (1.5 meters) and the right field fence is 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) high. (Source: Redsox.com)
The Green Monster also has both a manual (person inside the wall changes all of the scoring) and an electronic scoreboard. Don’t forget if you take the tour, you also get a glimpse of the signatures on the wall behind the Green Munstah!
(Photo Bushido/J.Trabert)
Weekend Wishes
Have a good weekend...try not to follow the Fenway sign too hard...
(Picture: the Bushido/ Jim Trabert, 2006)
Bush's Terror Consigliere-Fran Townsend, Cougars, Manthers, Guyotes..oh my!
I always love receiving comments and e-mails from J-Tarokh, they always have a sporadic and off the cuff feel to them, make me laugh and always seem to have some random question attached. Oddly enough, I usually know the answer or feel intrigued enough to compel myself to do a quick search to expand my own personal horizons of useless knowledge.
This week, Jason sent me the following: “Dude what is the male version of a Cougar? It's called something funny….It's a middle aged guy living in a condo on Viagra?????? It's called something specific….Thanks,”
For those of you just as intrigued as I was, the answer is a “Condo Casanovas” a term describing a retiree living in a retirement community or condo, uses Viagra, has intercourse with both his contemporaries in his community as well as younger “gold-digging” women. Oddly enough, these Condo Casanovas have elderly interest groups uniting to educate each other in the prevention of STDs, known as SHIPs (Senior’s HIV Prevention). Yeah, try not to think about that one too hard...forget I used the word hard...this just gets worse.
It did take a few e-mails back and forth to see what T-$ was looking for. I originally thought he was referring to “Manthers”: A male cougar, i.e., male + panther = Manther. Single, usually divorced, and at a minimum 10 years older than a cougar or perhaps a “Guyote”: A Manther, but ten years older. Guy + coyote = Guyote. Usually, hunt alone, preferring small, easily attainable game. Guyotes may resort to scavenging if desperate. They are often difficult to remove from populated areas. Commonly attracted to, but easily intimidated by cougars. This is all total useless information and I have taken away 30-seconds of your life that you may never get back-My Bad.
However, to redeem myself, I will finally let you in on what a Cougar is and give a prime example of aforementioned sexual creature. A Cougar is a powerful, successful, mature woman, usually in her late 30’s through 50’s, who is both sexually aggressive and successful in her career. A Cougar doesn’t need a man to take care of her; she’s a take charge woman who knows what she wants, gets it and follows the same hunting patterns as Manthers and Guyotes. Other than her stagnant home-maker and Art major in college, Mrs. Robinson would be a prime example of a Cougar, older woman attracted to and gets younger man, to feel acceptance, passion or for physical or other arbitrary reasons. The Boytoy, Toyboy or Guybrator is seen as just an ends to the means of satisfaction.
After reading the article, “The Terror Consigliere” in this week’s Time Magazine, the Bushido would like to throw his hat in the ring for Frances Fragos Townsend (Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism). Not that I have my fingers crossed for her marriage to fall apart, I am just saying, Fran when you think “Plan B” think the Bushido or perhaps if you become a Cougar out in the wild, come to Charleston-Home of the Cougars Baby! By the way, the Bushido would like to commend Jeff Hutchens w/ Getty Images (see picture: compliments of Time Magazine) for capturing, excuse me for producing a quality piece of art….”You are good you, you are good!!!”
(Just a ? to the editors at Time, why is the article titled Terror Consigliere? Seriously, with disregard to life and limb, Townsend fought organized crime with Rudy and broke up the Mob's syndicate. Why use the term Consigliere?)
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Fenway Park, Gate A, Van Ness St.
About 2 hours before game time, the Red Sox security “Guest relations” clear Van Ness Street and the Red Sox Souvenir Store. They set up the barriers and the turn-stiles with the usual bag check and metal detector before allowing a ticket holder inside. Once inside however, you have complete access to the Souvenir Store and Fenway Park on Van Ness Street. The brass Jazz band will begin playing once the barriers are up and the street is open for drinking, socializing, buying souvenirs or grabbing a sausage before going in to the park. For the kids, “Stilts” will play catch with anyone around his circle. How hard is it for people to throw back to a guy on stilts? Not hard at all, “Stilts” can snag a ball within a 10 foot perimeter. Other points of note are the line-up board, historical pictures and plaques around Fenway and if you want there is a “My first day at Fenway” mock-scoreboard where you can have your photo taken by Gate A.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Security outside of Fenway Park...
Honestly, I thought this was Kevin "Trash"Ash holding down the fort outside of Fenway Park! Kev, you've got a double-ganger man.
Pictures from Boston's North End
The North End is one of Boston's oldest neighborhoods, everything (i.e. restaurants, souvenir and coffee shops) is pretty much off of Hanover Street, except for Paul Revere's house* on the Freedom Trail. The Bushido recommends Martini's and Mike's Pastry Shop as must stops. Jenny Tumey is adamant about everyone going to Beacon Hill and stopping in at the Beacon Hill Pub. She said, “It’s a must-see landmark”.
Free advice: parking is at a premium in the North End, take a taxi or take the T.
*If you are more inclined to support Israel Bissell as the true Patriot rider that warned the colonies the Red Coats are coming then you could probably care less.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Piccola Venezia Boston's North End
When you get off at the Haymarket stop on the T in Boston, cross the highway, and enter the “North End” of Boston, you can’t help but feel you have stepped into a whole new city, unique in its’ own architecture, ambiance, culture and of course, cuisine. Jenny Tumey told me the North End was a must, and she couldn’t have been more right. Of course, when you find an area which used to have just 4 restaurants and now have close to 100, you have to ask yourself if just choosing one will be adequate for your experience. The concierge passed me a list of restaurants on Hanover Street, “Taranta”, “Tresca”, “Piccolo Mido” and “Bricco”, don’t tell Mother (she thinks it was on the list), but I decided to window shop for our dining experience.
Piccola Venezia seemed to have all of the “old-world” charm that I was looking for in our dining experience. You can pick the posers in any city, the Hyman’s Seafood restaurants if you will that just scream tourist’s trap. I was looking for something different, a little more up Hanover Street. We passed on the 5 table seafood restaurant, because the line out the door seemed impatiently disagreeable with the weather. But fortunately, I happened to spot Piccola Venezia from across the street. The menu was fantastic, generous portions of Southern-Italian
food: fresh vegetables, peppers and other spicy ingredients well away from the No-Italian French influences. The ambiance seemed calm in the midst of a very fast paced street. (Btw, the City is thinking of closing Hanover Street to traffic on the weekends and allowing the restaurants to serve people outside on tables, promoting an open-market community feel). I digress; when you see a family-owned place with middle-aged servers and chefs, bus-boys who could be the server’s child and a matriarchal hostess along with all of the comfort and openness of sitting in a family room looking at photo albums, you have found the right place to dine. The food was spectacular, the price was moderate, the portions were hearty and the setting was absolutely what I’d been looking for. Bravo to the folks at Piccola Venezia for a job well done.
Crikey, what sad news
I think Wikipedia may need an edit on their recap of Irwin’s death (see below: You may need to click on the highlighted area in order to read it).
When I first heard of Steve (Crocodile Hunter) Irwin’s death while filming a television program on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, I wasn’t surprised because provoking animals and living on the edge was Steve’s calling card. There are countless times that I thought, this guy is insane pissing off these animals all while being as cool, calm and relaxed “ain’t she a beaut” as can be.
That being said it was a weird twist of fate for Irwin to be killed on camera by an unprovoked stingray which are rarely deadly and do not attack humans. Evidently, the stingray felt cornered by Irwin and the camera man as they were filming and struck Irwin in the heart with the 8-inch serrated spear (made of the same dermal denticles found on shark scales) at the end of its’ tail. Crikey, we’re going to miss you Steve.
In related news, I read in the paper this morning that today marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Fran hitting the Carolinas. Reading this made me think of Boone, Julian Colondres and I evacuating with a couple of last minute, tag-along, CofC girls to Orlando, Florida which happens to be the location where they found the 62-year old, missing jogger, Eddie Meadows. Mr. Meadows was found stuck in the swamp, having numerous bug-bites and a slight case of dehydration from drinking swamp water the past 4 days. His first request was for a drink of fresh water.
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