Happy Birthday Jillian Michaels and the Biggest Losers Fav's

Why does the Bushido and my ninjas pick-up a burger and (small) order of cajun fries from Five Guys Burgers on Tuesdays just to rush home and watch the "Biggest Loser"? It's just to watch our favorite trainer Jillian Michaels! And today is her birthday! Happy birthday baby!

I know the hypocrisy of it all is appalling as we strap on our feed-bags and ridicule the contestants for not having the will-power to fight off the temptations of largess, but there's just something unique about the motivating aspects of our favorite trainer. I don't know if its how she casually plugs sponsors such as Extra gum or Ziplock vegetable steaming bags or if it's just the tough love she gives her team that makes us all love Jillian. Then again, it could just be that she's the only female trainer. Btw, is Bob gay? Or is he just "really" Californian? Not sure, really don't care this post is about Jillian. (Photo courtesy of B-Rad)

I digress; to be honest, the reason the Bushido has Jillian in our fav's is that she actually cares for the contests she instructs. Well, that and she has a black-belt in Muay Thai and Akarui-Do and that friends is living life the Bushido Way with all the warrior spirit one could ask for. To my ninjas who say that they would love to "do" her, I say, I'd let her "do" me. Let's be honest, she's an Alpha and I would love to have a Querres d’Oreiller with her-what pillow fights are workouts!

Biggest Loser favs and not so favs:
Fav's: Across the board, we here at the Bushido are big fans of the old gray team: Roger and his fallen Crimson-comrade Trent-man that big guy could do some Yoga. And despite Bernie being kind of a wimp, his teammate, Brittany (come on Brit!) is a rock. From the get-go, I said, that she has a gorgeous face.

Not-so-Fav's:
Good riddance to Paul, the hey, I lost weight, so I am headed home to Florida to chow down on wings and sodas by the Big Gulp. And his ex-wife Kelly (yellow team) for Chrissake, someone give that winy, "before I say this person's name, (cry) I just want them to know" chick a ticket home.

Books by Jillian Michaels:

1. "Winning By Losing: Drop the Weight, Change Your Life" (from the site: "three-prong approach to total fitness that is based in solid psychological methods, proven scientific facts, and good old-fashioned hard work.") Link to Amazon
   
2. "Making the Cut: The 30-Day Diet and Fitness Plan for the Strongest, Sexiest You" (from the site: "Published in April 2007, this book focuses on the most efficient and healthy way to lose weight within a 30-day time frame") Link to Amazon
   

If you would like more information about the Biggest Loser Club (click here)
If you would like to sign-up for a free weight-loss plan (by Jillian) here is the link to Jillian's official site
Posted by The Bushido

Friday Funnies: Mitch Hedberg's Comedy Central Special (Part 1)

Feed Your iPod: Midlake's "Roscoe"

From Midlake's new album ‘The Trials of Van Occupanther’ "Roscoe". Enjoy!



Here's the link to Midlake's myspace account

Cuba Libras, two Castros and the Finca Vigía Foundation

From the WaPo: Fidel Castro is retiring; well he’s keeping with his generational status-quo and going into semi-retirement-stepping down as Presidente and head of the armed forces but still keeping an eye on the store by staying on the Cuban government’s payroll as “first secretary” of the Communist Party.

For all of you developers salivating like Pavlov's dog at the opportunity to get down there and build some condos, I would suggest you relax and hold off making the Cuba Libras (rum+coke and a lime). First, Raoul Castro who's been running the show for the past 19 months is Castro's brother and he's a bit more extreme than Fidel. Secondly, Europeans aren't on the same blockade as America, so they've been investing there for quite sometime. (Read: Americans are showing up late to the party because of an archaic Cold-War political stance towards Communism). Then again, the Bushido does have a lighter that reads, "F*** Communism" (courtesy of Big Dave) so its a bit hypocritical of me to knock the "archaic Cold-War political stance" that we've taken for the past 50 years. That being said, I would love to get down there before developers have a chance at knocking down those grandiose mansions and building condos.

Off the blade: If you get the chance check out the article "Finca Vigía: A tumultuous fight for preservation" about Hemingway's house in Cuba Finca Vigía ("Lookout Farm"-the only building outside of the States to make the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of 11 endangered landmarks) in the summer 2007 issue of Garden & Gun, it appears that historic-preservation (Cuban Ministry of Culture) exists even in countries under an embargo.
Well, those efforts are up to the Cubans now, since the previous joint efforts of the Hemingway Preservation Foundation (aka: The Finca Vigía Foundation-link to official site) started by Jenny Phillips-granddaughter of Papa's editor Maxwell Perkins and the Cuban Ministry of Culture are handcuffed due to the United State's embargoed financial limitations on Cuba and the limited resources of the Cuban government. But alas, there is still hope because in the words of Fidel Castro during a ceremony in 2002 commemorating the joint-preservation efforts, "What is a man without history? I think we would be savages, if we did not recognize the importance of preserving such a place" (Quote from G&G article)

There's more information of Hemingway's library available at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (link here). If you would like to donate to the FVF, click here for more information.

BSR: The Sunsets on the Daytona 500

As the sun sets on Daytona, and we have the 50th winner (Ryan Newman) of this legendary race, I couldn't help but notice that there was only one Chevy (9th place Dale Jr.) and one Ford (10th place Greg Biffle) in the top-ten finishers. When is the last time that happened?

Daytona 500 top-ten finishers:

1. Ryan Newman-Dodge Alltel car
2. Kurt Busch-Dodge Miller Lite car
   
3. Tony Stewart-Toyota Home Depot car
4. Kyle Busch-Toyota M&M car
5. Reed Sorenson-Dodge Target car
6. Elliot Sadler-Dodge Best-Buy car
7. Kasey Kahne-Dodge Budweiser car
8. Robby Gordon-Dodge Jim Beam car
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.-Chevy AMP energy/National Guard car
10. Greg Biffle-Ford 3-M car
    

(Photo courtesy of Bushido Special Reporter B-Rad)
Posted by The Bushido

Testify my brother: Roger Clemens on the hot-seat in front of Congress

I'll be honest, the "Rocket", Roger Clemens has brass. I once wrote (regarding the steroids issue and Roger Clemens) that it is a whole different ball-game when you talk to a reporter and then go and try to sell that same line, under oath and in front of a Congressional panel. But Clemens is sticking to his guns. What do we get from this story: Clemens loves America-willing to sign autographs and hand out "Uh-Merica"-rally-towels but only willing to pitch when he was 110% ready to represent "Uh-Merica". Second, Clemens can name drop with the best of them-"I was sitting in a deer stand, when the former President (assuming George H.W. Bush) found me. And called me to give his support."

Here's other "highlights" from Roger Clemens testimony in front of Congress (Feb.13, 2008). Courtesy of ESPN. And what do you learn from this-don't f-with Congress.

Spring Training: America's Past Time is just getting started

Football is over, basketball has a month left before March Madness, but America's past-time is just getting started.

Dwight Howard (aka Superman) Wins The Slam Dunk Contest

Hawks Trade AJ and three others for Mike Bibby!

A.J. is now a King
The eighth place Atlanta Hawks sent starting point guard and College of Charleston alum Anthony Johnson, 2007 first-round pick Shelden Williams, backup point guard Tyronn Lue, veteran forward Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round pick to the Kings for Mike Bibby. The same Bibby who had one heck of a game to end the College of Charleston's big dance, after the Cougars upset Maryland and then lost a close one to Arizona in the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

Click here for the story on ESPN

February 2008: Fish Feeding Times and Tide Charts

BSR SEWE: Rusty Wallace and fans at the D.U.- O.R.

What is Rusty doing at the DU Oyster Roast? Doesn't he have a race this Sunday?

BSR SEWE: Duck's Unlimited Oyster Roast

Sixty bucks might sound steep for a ticket to this event, but you are getting free food, free booze and membership with Ducks Unlimited which makes it a pretty good deal. I was so close to winning a shotgun that JFT bought me two tickets-it came down to the last number which was 9 and I was holding a 5 and a 6-blast!









But of course there's a camo truck at this thing; why wouldn't there be? Thanks to the last minute model for stepping in with the Bushido for this picture. CofC alums always stick together.

Waiting For Jack Hanna!

As always, Ohio's favorite zoo-keeper put on a good show, but the wait was a bit boring for Izzy. Interesting enough, there aren't many kids here, mostly adults for a show geared towards children. Oh well, time for the show and to get Mr. Hanna's autograph.


Izzy says he has a cheetah this year. Hopefully the cheetah won't smell the left-over steak sandwich I have in my pocket.
Posted by The Bushido

BSR SEWE: Vendors at the Gaillard

FYI: I am not quite sure about the half-french bread-steak sandwich from California Dreaming, seems a bit rough for 5 bucks. Then again, it's just lunch. But still the caveat remains folks, this grub will hit you the same way it does at the carnival: tums, pepto or a close commode should be in your near future if you dare partake.
Posted by The Bushido

The Simmon set-up!

You are probably wondering where this sheet-wearing, queer-eye for a clan guy caricature of Jack Simmon came from and why I am just now posting about it. When I read Simmon's Op-ed piece in the Post & Courier (a great local medium or platform because they'll print anything) and then read the Post & Courier's architecture reporter Robert Behre's article in support of fighting the Federal Regulations and I'll admit-I was "sofa-king" pissed, pardon me, "sofa-king" livid (where are my manners?) that I hand-wrote a snarky diatribe about these two dilettantes and their lack of understanding of both Palladio and architecture as well as the intelligence of the average reader of the Post & Courier into my sketch-journal.

One of the Bushido tenants that I try to adhere to is, if you are really livid write down your thoughts, or begin the snarky e-mail and then put it in your desk drawer, wait a couple of days and then pull it back out of your drafts or desk-drawer and if you are still overcome with anger, hit send or toss it in an envelope. Since I have become more reserved over the years, I decided to not write into the Post & Courier, but to finish my remarks and then stash them in my desk for a few days. If I was still quite livid, I then would write a letter to the Editor at the Post & Courier. (Boring!)

So, I was indeed bored and wanted to see what sort of talent I still had with a pencil, pen and marker, so I decided to have some fun with my frustration of these two Chucktown cronies. Above you can see my initial ideas, and then here is the circle enclosure of Robert Behre. Granted I have never met either of these two gentlemen, and I doubt Behre wears thongs (then again, maybe he does) and I doubt Simmon is a battle-flag boxer type of guy (then again, maybe he does) but alas, I had to vent my frustrations. Which interestingly enough, were bent around one single word-chiaroscuro (Italian for light/dark).

So why post now? Well, these sketches were done on a Post-it presentation board paper, which I had stuck to the back-side of my bedroom door, meaning, I have been looking at this thing for about three months and it seemed apropos to tear it down and share my frustrations. The lesson here for all of us is that someone is always watching, even if the editors have gone to sleep and misusing Italian phrases for your own pat-on-the-back-look how smart I sound just pisses people off. (I have my notes, which I will post this Sunday).

Jack Simmon's Op-ed Piece in the Post & Courier

Wrong standards for preservation plan

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Regarding the proposed new preservation plan for Charleston:

The Committee to Save the City would like to be on record as being very concerned about the proposal to alter the whole focus of our historic preservation ordinance by adding to it the Department of Interior Standards.

As architectural journalist David Brussat wrote in The Providence, R.I., Journal, "Citizens who want to preserve their cities must challenge those who still treat the standards as a jobs program for modern architects, beauty and history be damned."

We who cherish the beauty and historic uniqueness of Charleston want to see new construction look to the finest precedents of the past in the design of new buildings.

It is a Charleston tradition: St. Michaels was clearly inspired by St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London; Randolph Hall by Palladio's Villa Malcontenta; and the Miles Brewton House by Palladio's Villa Cornaro.

Palladian influences can be seen throughout the Historic District in the porticos, raised basements, colonnades, chiaroscuro, modillioned cornices, Palladian windows, the symmetry and the very sophisticated and creative use of the classical language.

The Department of Interior standards were written in the 1960s and express the ideology of that time, when most architects were only trained to be Modernists. That was then.

Today, many architects have moved on and have taken a much more refined and sophisticated approach in their designs.

New buildings in Charleston need to be of our place, not of the 1960s.

The best contemporary architects have moved beyond the minimalism and abstraction of the 1960s and are again capable of producing the chiaroscuro, which enriches Charleston's historic streetscapes. This much more literate approach is certainly more reflective of our place.

Charleston was the first community in the world to recognize the importance of protecting the harmony and context of a whole neighborhood of buildings by the "continued construction of buildings in the historic styles". (sec. 54-230 of the Zoning Ordinance)

Our ordinance does not need to be amended to reflect the more limited and very dated vision of the Standards. We urge that this proposal be removed from the Preservation Plan.

JACK W. SIMMON Jr.

Chairman

The Committee to Save the City

Church Street
Copyright © 1997 - 2007 the Evening Post Publishing Co.

Bobby Behre's Rubber Ducky!

And here is where it all started, behind every old crusted confederate is a well tanned blow-hard in a bath-tub.

Should Charleston adopt federal preservation standards?

By Robert Behre

The Post and Courier

Monday, November 26, 2007

It seems odd to admit that the city of Charleston has no formal standards for preserving historic buildings.

And it may seem odder still that some people bristle at the idea of adding them.

But that's in fact the case. The city's newest architectural debate is a rather esoteric one. It's a debate not about a particular building but about the collection of ground rules and processes by which the city approves new buildings and changes to buildings in the historic district.

It's a debate spawned by the city's preservation plan that was unveiled a few weeks ago and will be up for formal approval sometime next year.

Part of that plan recommends giving property owners and developers more information and education about what the city wants from rehabilitated or restored buildings in its historic district.

Toward that end, the plan suggests that the city formally adopt the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic preservation, a set of guidelines created years ago to ensure that people receiving historic tax credits were in fact respecting, not abusing, their historic properties.

The Preservation Society of Charleston, which supports the city adopting these standards, recently brought their author to town to make the case.

W. Brown Morton, a professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, was the bureaucrat in the Interior Department who took the first stab at writing the standards after Congress passed the Tax Reform Act of 1976.

Morton says he was influenced by the 1964 Venice Charter that emphasized the need to preserve ancient monuments in the full richness of their authenticity.

His standards have been revised twice since his original 1978 version, and Morton says he regrets how the language has become less flexible.

For instance, he originally wrote that "every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a property requiring minimal alternation." Today, that standard reads, "A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change."

Robert Russell, historic preservation professor at the College of Charleston, says the hardening of those standards is one reason to oppose the idea that the city should adopt them.

He notes that adaptive reuse projects such as the Murray Vocational School on Chisolm Street, the Craft School on Legare Street and the Immaculate Conception School on St. Philip Street (all converted into residences) may no longer be possible under the standards.

He also notes the standards might even block local efforts to make traditionally designed additions to older buildings.

"My hesitancy comes from the fact that these standards have been used to beat up people, especially people who want to do traditional architecture," Russell says.

He notes a standard for additions to rehabilitated buildings says additions should be "differentiated from the old," adding, "It's got to be distinct, which means it can't be historical, which means it's got to be an abstraction."

Morton concedes some poorly trained bureaucrats have turned the standards into "The Ten Commandments, an exercise which I term 'cheap thinking.' "

However, Brown still believes the standards can help Charleston.

"You must protect your city, but you must not adopt standards and criteria for change that will create, by faking the past, a false impression of an historic Charleston that in fact never existed," he says. "The Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation can and should help you in your truth-telling.

"There is an essential tension in every historic community such as Charleston between what many people think their beloved place has been and should remain and what others think their community has never been and should become. The ideas of the former group may be anathema to ideas of the latter group and vice versa.

"However, I am convinced that it is out of this creative tension between these two sets of hopes that the future appearance of the city will be born."

Whatever the outcome of this debate about standards, Charleston shouldn't abandon the informal standard Board of Architectural Review members have tried to apply since 1930: plain old common sense.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or by fax at 937-5579. His e-mail address is rbehre@postandcourier.com and his mailing address is 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403.

Posted by The Bushido

Cash is getting ready for SEWE!

The South Eastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE) starts tomorrow and my Labrador puppy, "Cash" is getting ready. Here's my boy bringing back his (duck) training dummy. His gate is still a bit awkward, but he's learning.
Posted by The Bushido

Wildcats Nightmare

Blackie and I were out watching the Tarheels take on Virginia tonight at Manny's when I looked over at one of the large tvs to catch the score on the Kentucky vs Vandy game. I thought for a moment that my eye-sight was going or perhaps the "Budweisitis" was kicking in when I saw the score-which looked like Vandy 31 to Kentucky's 10 with just a couple of minutes left in the first half. Impossible, my eyes are playing tricks on me, the Wildcats beat Vandy earlier this year-that must be a three instead of a one. I was wrong.
(Photo courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal)

Kentucky did turn around in the second half, but it was too little too late. The Wildcats lost by 40 points, not their worst loss in history, (that record is held by Rick Pitino's Wildcats when they lost to Kansas on December 9, 1989 by the score of 150-95) just the second worst loss in the 80 years of Kentucky basketball. For all of those folks out there whispering about how Tubby would have never lost that bad; just a reminder, Tubby's squad at Minnesota was losing by 24 to Illinois. BCG still has control of the team and the players seem to be picking up on his system since the Christmas break, but it would be hard for the Wildcats to get a bid for the NCAA Tournament with a loss like tonight and a Gardner-Webb loss on the resume.

Etta James on ACL tonight!

Jazz matriarch and legend Etta James will be on Austin City Limits tonight! Born Jamesette Hawkins in Los Angeles on January 25th 1938, James influenced countless female artists from Tina Turner to Janis Joplin. A soulful singer who fought a rough life filled with drug addictions and the assorted racism of the 50's and 60's, James knows how to bring down the house and I tell you, "I'd rather be a blind girl than to see her go". Enjoy this clip with her and Dr. John.
Posted by The Bushido

Cash gets his last puppy shots and meets his new doctor!

Mel might be onto something, if you are going to Dr. Patrick's, you might want to drop off your dog and come back to pick them up. We waited for two and a half hours, but it was worth the wait and Cash likes Dr. Patrick's new hire-Dr. Elizabeth Parker. She was real gentle with his shots and seemed to have a serious interest in his welfare answering all of my "its been a long time since I had a puppy, what about when he makes this sound, etc." Sadly, Cash refused to give his daddy's number to the good doctor-what a blocker! And to add insult to injury, Cash was buddy-buddy with a Davidson grad's dog named Coach! Cash WTF? Tomorrow is the big basketball game!
(Thanks to Jenny Tumey for the picture)
Posted by The Bushido