It's too bad that this site, The Metaphysical Poll, is no longer taking submissions.
But that's right. For a while there was a series of blogs: "I Dream of Barack", "I Dream of Hillary" and "I Dream of McCain", in addition to a commentary and analysis on all these dreams called "The Metaphysical Poll Blog". People could send in their dreams of the presidential candidates. It was called the Metaphyscal Poll because it was a way to tell how you felt about the candidates, metaphysically.
Guess where I heard about it? On NPR of course. Here and Now to be specific, scroll to "Presidential Dreams."
Alas, the author has retired the site. Still, you should read the whacked out stuff that people posted. It's awesome.
Weird Dream
Today I had a dream that I met Obama and started working on his campaign. He then developed a crush on me. There was this awkward part when he had some files to give me and that's when I realized he had a crush on me. He didn't do anything about his crush except confess it to his staff people and Michelle. As a result I was moved around so that I couldn't be seen by him.
My friend from high school, Kat, and my friend from college, Emily, who are very similar people, were also working for Obama and they had met and become friends before I realized they knew each other. Then, when we all realized we were friends, we had a grande olde time. I told them about Obama's crush and they were saddened by the whole ordeal but gladdened by the fact that he was determined not to be like Clinton the First.
Thus I was reordered to moving corrugated cardboard from Old Navy to a recycling plant on an Indian reservation as part of Obama's outreach program to Native Americans. My last ON boss was there and he had ages terribly, even though he is my age. He had wrinkles and lots of grey, thinning hair around the circumference of his head. Then we watched the news about lesbian who were marathoning up a cliff in Idaho.Dreams are awesome.
New DVD Release Review: Be Kind Rewind
All you have to say to get me to see a movie is Michel Gondry and I'm there. The Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are two of my favorites. I have to say, though, I was skeptical about Be Kind Rewind. It sounded too silly. Mos Def and Jack Black are best friends. Danny Glover is Mos Def's foster father and e owns a run down video store in Passaic, New Jersey. After a freak accident, Jack Black accidentally erases all the tapes and so they remake the movies themselves.
Sounds stupid, doesn't it? But instead, it is so sweet and fun, and really funny, too. I think it's because watching the characters remake the film is so enjoyable for the viewer. The imagination used, the capturing of our favorite scenes, the distillation of the movies we all love into cleverly recreated snippets using very low special effects and camera tricks. It's giggle-inducing.
Plus there's the underlying plot about city gentrification and trying to save old neighborhoods and things like that, that are treated in ways in which they're not usually treated in movie that make you feel good after watching them.Just like with any Michel Gondry film, there's multiple layers going on, too. It's working your senses on many levels, so watching just once isn't quite good enough and owning is well worth it, because you spot something you didn't previously, or realize something you hadn't before.
Definitely not mainstream. Definitely quirky. At times silly but quite conscious of its silliness. Totally a smile maker, though.
Diversion Time: Phantom Husbands, Robin Hood & Bad Jokes
I've been very serious on the blog lately and since it's Saturday night, it's time for some Diversions.
#1
I have decided to add another Phantom Husband to my list. I don't usually go for the adorable looking ones, Ilike my phantom husbands to look fairly rugged, if you will. But anyway, here is the latest to the ever growing list of Phantom Husbands:
Red Sox Pitcher John Lester
#2
Don't ask me why I thought of this. I know it's rather terrible. But here it is anyway: if Malcolm Jamal Warner has to do a #2 and wants to say it in a funny way, isn't it sad that his options are limited? I mean, what's he going to say, "I gotta go drop myself off"? That's not very funny now, is it?
#3
I love love love Robin Hood on BBC. It's great for those Saturday nights
I've decided to be prudent and not go out so I can stay in and do school things. And, I might go ahead and add Jonas Armstrong to the list of Phantom Husbands.
Skepticism on Army's conclusion that Durkin death was suicide
It is times like these that blogging becomes a bit worth it's independence from traditional media. With our separation comes the freedom to speculate and voice dissent.
This is an update to the Ciara Durkin story, which I have written about several time on this blog. (Past posts here.) The US Army has informed the Durkin family that their daughter, Corporal Ciara Durkin, had died because of suicide.
I don't believe it for a second. It just doesn't add up. I am skeptical and I think that the Army is covering something up. Though there's nothing concrete for me to "prove" this, it is of note that she said that if she were to die, be suspicious. Also, she had called her brother to wish him a happy birthday on the day she died. Such every day behavior on a day that she was to die by her own hand is hard to reconcile. There are so many things that leave an unsettling feeling in this story.
Here are links to the stories:
New England Cable News
Washington Post
And a link to the family's website dedicated to Ciara. At the bottom of this page is the statement about the Army's report.
This is an update to the Ciara Durkin story, which I have written about several time on this blog. (Past posts here.) The US Army has informed the Durkin family that their daughter, Corporal Ciara Durkin, had died because of suicide.
I don't believe it for a second. It just doesn't add up. I am skeptical and I think that the Army is covering something up. Though there's nothing concrete for me to "prove" this, it is of note that she said that if she were to die, be suspicious. Also, she had called her brother to wish him a happy birthday on the day she died. Such every day behavior on a day that she was to die by her own hand is hard to reconcile. There are so many things that leave an unsettling feeling in this story.
Here are links to the stories:
New England Cable News
Washington Post
And a link to the family's website dedicated to Ciara. At the bottom of this page is the statement about the Army's report.
At the end of the day
Idioms are idioms. Idiosyncrasies are idiosyncrasies. We all have our peccadilloes. Mine is that I say, "You know?" or a variation of it, too often. You know what I mean?
That being said (<--example), I have one that I cannot stand.
"At the end of the day..."
For some unknown reason, I cringe when people say it. I am a news and political junkie and commentators, pundits and even surrogates for candidates say it often. Just now I watched a video from Obama's campaign manager, and when he meant "at the end of the election campaign fund raising period" but what he said was "at the end of the day."
Grumble. Grumble.
AAHHH! In the Weekend Edition Saturday report on the Unity Rally, I just heard a Hillary supporter say, "I think we'll be okay. At the end of the day, in the voting booth, we'll check off Obama."
Inescapabale.
That being said (<--example), I have one that I cannot stand.
"At the end of the day..."
For some unknown reason, I cringe when people say it. I am a news and political junkie and commentators, pundits and even surrogates for candidates say it often. Just now I watched a video from Obama's campaign manager, and when he meant "at the end of the election campaign fund raising period" but what he said was "at the end of the day."
Grumble. Grumble.
AAHHH! In the Weekend Edition Saturday report on the Unity Rally, I just heard a Hillary supporter say, "I think we'll be okay. At the end of the day, in the voting booth, we'll check off Obama."
Inescapabale.
Anybody: Get A Gun! The Supreme Court Says, "That's Cool. Whatev."
Phew! That was a close one. 
I thought for sure the right to bear arms would be in peril, but nope - anybody who's anybody has a right to own a handgun. This is clearly what was in mind when the second amendment was written, so says Fatty Boom Batty AKA JustUS Scalia.
I thought for sure the right to bear arms would be in peril, but nope - anybody who's anybody has a right to own a handgun. This is clearly what was in mind when the second amendment was written, so says Fatty Boom Batty AKA JustUS Scalia.Looky here for the full details on the Supreme Courts' 5-4 ruling today that the handgun laws in DC are against the 2nd amendment of the Constitution. I'm not really that surprised.
And now, I feel so much safer knowing that my slightly unstable neighbors who scream bloody murder at each other every night, the 18 year old angst ridden student and paranoid whackos everywhere can own a handgun, and no city can ban this "right".
Now, where did I put that NRA renewal membership notice? It's somewhere around here.
I'm off to the shooting range. See you later!
Campaigning for Obama
Hello My Friends
I've started a fundraising page for Barack Obama, now that he's the Democratic candidate. (Time to let bygones be bygones - plus, I always said I liked both, it's just I liked one a little more than the other...)
I sent an email directly to the people I knew were supporters of him, but for the ones I wasn't sure, I left you off. If you are a supporter and you'd like to donate, you can do it through my fundraising page. (It's just like a fundraising page for charity. I'm doing the rallying on behalf of the candidate to the prospective voter.)
So, here's my page. Please donate, if you would like. And, also, no amount it too small!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Bridge714
Thanks!
Bridge
I've started a fundraising page for Barack Obama, now that he's the Democratic candidate. (Time to let bygones be bygones - plus, I always said I liked both, it's just I liked one a little more than the other...)
I sent an email directly to the people I knew were supporters of him, but for the ones I wasn't sure, I left you off. If you are a supporter and you'd like to donate, you can do it through my fundraising page. (It's just like a fundraising page for charity. I'm doing the rallying on behalf of the candidate to the prospective voter.)
So, here's my page. Please donate, if you would like. And, also, no amount it too small!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Bridge714
Thanks!
Bridge
A Blog about Nont Blogging, Or Emailing, Or Going on the Internet
So, as I've mentioned periodically for the last few blogs, I've been off email, the internet and the blog, mostly. It is impossible in this day in age to go off completely, but I'm checking it once every few days as opposed to several times a day.
This was prompted by the fact that I wasn't on the computer all day long at work, having been laid off and also because I have the last leg of my third semester project, the critical thesis, to belatedly complete.
So, the result of the non-connected life lived? It's just like everyone else's non-internet experience. It had freed me to do the things that need to be done more. But, at the same time, I'm still as wanton to dawdle as I ever was. Without the internet to dawdle on, my dawdling is more productive.
At the same time, I have come to see that email is as essential as regular mail to the existence of every day. School things, friend things, work things, all get done on the internet these days. If you're not on it, you miss emails from professors, or friends who you've arranged a gathering with or companies who've switched to paper billing. So, one cannot, once fully on the internet, remove oneself. Unless I wanted to revert to the paper bills, endless phone calls and belated correspondence, as in the days of yore, yore being before 1994, when I first had an email address.
Do i care? No. Not really. But I'm glad I'm doing this time. I've gleaned a lot from it. I hope that, once all that needs to be done for school is done, I will take the learned lessons of this time and apply it to life post-mostly-off-the-internet. That is, I will revert to the books, or the PBS program or the pile of crap that needs to be sorted or the necklaces I want to make, instead of idling on the internet.
Periodic blogs will continue. I'll probably stat back with the regular postings after Doomsday AKA Jul 14 AKA Post Residency AKA the Beginning of the New Semester AKA After I Am Effing 30.
(Thank God for Sex and the City. They made it okay for me to not be married, have babies and a house even though I'm in the dread ts. Sling back a martini; that's what Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha did. And dang it, so can I!)
Until the next one.
This was prompted by the fact that I wasn't on the computer all day long at work, having been laid off and also because I have the last leg of my third semester project, the critical thesis, to belatedly complete.
So, the result of the non-connected life lived? It's just like everyone else's non-internet experience. It had freed me to do the things that need to be done more. But, at the same time, I'm still as wanton to dawdle as I ever was. Without the internet to dawdle on, my dawdling is more productive.
At the same time, I have come to see that email is as essential as regular mail to the existence of every day. School things, friend things, work things, all get done on the internet these days. If you're not on it, you miss emails from professors, or friends who you've arranged a gathering with or companies who've switched to paper billing. So, one cannot, once fully on the internet, remove oneself. Unless I wanted to revert to the paper bills, endless phone calls and belated correspondence, as in the days of yore, yore being before 1994, when I first had an email address.
Do i care? No. Not really. But I'm glad I'm doing this time. I've gleaned a lot from it. I hope that, once all that needs to be done for school is done, I will take the learned lessons of this time and apply it to life post-mostly-off-the-internet. That is, I will revert to the books, or the PBS program or the pile of crap that needs to be sorted or the necklaces I want to make, instead of idling on the internet.
Periodic blogs will continue. I'll probably stat back with the regular postings after Doomsday AKA Jul 14 AKA Post Residency AKA the Beginning of the New Semester AKA After I Am Effing 30.
(Thank God for Sex and the City. They made it okay for me to not be married, have babies and a house even though I'm in the dread ts. Sling back a martini; that's what Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha did. And dang it, so can I!)
Until the next one.
Belated review - Bobby
Here is another "delayed review" of a movie that came out a few years ago: "Bobby" written and directed by Emilio Estevez.
Overall rating: Loved It.
But, really, you had me at "Kennedy" since I'm a New England liberal political junkie.
Even though I knew how it was going to end, I still was able to get engaged in the story. This is a remarkable thing. After it ended, I felt hopeful, not despairing. This is a real tribute to the RFK legacy and the heart that's in this film. Though I did ball my eyes out at the end. (Yeah, yeah just call me Glen Davis because I am a BIG BABY for sure.)
I bet I'm not the only person who watches this movie today and ended up fearing for Obama. It's just that he inspires people in the same way that Bobby Kennedy did. A feeling of hope and a savior like quality. There's always some a-hole nutjob that hates the wonderful people like that...
Regardless, the cast and the creation of the movie was stellar. Here are the stars: Mr. Mariah Carey AKA Nick Cannon, The Kid from Holes, Frodo, Li-Lo, Demi and her Punk'd Tool, Heather Graham (and she didn't suck!), Desperate Husband William H Macey, Sharon "The Beave" Stone, my friend John's coworker Helen Hunt, President Jed Bartlet, Paula Abdul's ex, Fava Beans and Chianti Connoiseur Sir Anthony, and uberliberal and uber smooth Harry Belafonte.
Phwoar, yeah. That's a lot of people. No wonder why it was a good movie eh? I was thinking about Emilio and Demi and the Brat Pack and how some have a come a long way.
This is how I ended up watching the movie, BTW: I was watching the Sox game but they clearly blew it, so I moved on to Showtime's airing of "Bobby". I blogged yesterday about perhaps buying houseplants and as luck and stuff would have it, I had a 50 dollar gift certificate from Home Depot, from being employee of the month in April (yes, I got EOTM in Apr and laid off in May: the ultimate in irony). So, while I potted by 7 new plants and watered them and put them in places all over the apartment, I had the TV on. I moved on to cleaning and staightening and sweeping while Bobby played.
Oil Speculation & The Enron Loophole: Why do the oil companies support the end the loophole webpage?
Countdown had a fnatastically bombastic special report on the fact that oil speculation is what is causing the rise of oil prices, and not really any sort of supply and demand. The fact that speculators can speculate about oil was part of a law passed back in the day and the law was this backroom cigar smoke filled type deal, tailored to Enron (yes, that Enron). This deal, more or less, lead to the rolling blackouts in California back in 2001. The long and short is that energy could become a speculative commodity and that is what made the price of electricity go crazy back then and oil go crazy now.
Some people dispute this assertion or aren't sure. Check out this screen shot.
Basically this article on CBS says that the rise in oil is only because of supply and demand and that the Enron Loophole is not an issue. Please note the sponsor of this article: Exxon Mobil.
But that is strange because when you google "the enron loophole" the first hit is the "Close the Enron Loophole" website. The Close the Enron Loophole website is powered by the PMAA, the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (Valero, BP, RJ Reynolds, Exxon Mobil). Isn't that weird? I don't get that part. Why would they support the website dedicated to ending the oil speculation bubble? Something very very weird is going on here. I think it's because with the Loophole, investors control the markets, instead of the companies. I refer to this paragraph on the homepage:
Additionally, through the so-called “swaps loophole,” financial investors can
“game the markets” for pure profit by buying up positions in the energy markets,
without any limitation on the size of the positions they can take. One
recent estimate suggested that they now control one third of the commodities
markets, or $150 billion - a 1,000% increase in less than five years!
See Keith Olberman's report here.
Read that bullshisse article from screen shot above here.
I'm going to ask this question: why do the oil companies sponsor the webpage that promotes an end to the Enron Loophole? What, exactly, is going on here? And who do we ask to get the answer?
All I know for sure is this: just like the housing market's inflation was strewn with corruption, so is this rising oil prices issue.
Can't wait for five years from now when bubbles burst and the government bails out giant corporations and we all suffer from the scandal, just liek we did with the housing market collapsing. Does anyone else feel like a hamster on a wheel?
I almost want one
I was listening to "On Point" on my way to work this afternoon and the guest was Robert Pogue Harrison, who has just written a book Gardens: An Essay on the Human Condition.
The Bahai Gardens in Haifi
The way they talked about gardens and gardening...so ecstatic, so intriguing, so tranquil but so exciting. Anyway, it almost made me want my own. Almost...But then I remembered I live in an apartment. I'm sure I could ask my landlord if I could use a patch of the front yard, the one of to the side. For real though, I'm not the gardening type. I love all my neighbor's work and what my mom does. My mom is very good at it and does it with such ease. But, I have a bit of a black thumb. Perhaps if I made a concerted effort, it wouldn't be so bad. I tend to space out and not notice things though. Like when I stayed in Weymouth with Daisy during Memorial Day weekend and my mom came home on Monday evening and pointed to the pink flower plant hanging to the side of the door. Only when she pointed it out, it was more brown than pink. Even though I walked by it all weekend long, I never noticed it!
So, instead of a garden, 
I think I will start small and get some plants for the house. If they're not dead by this time next year and I'm still in West Roxbury, maybe I'll think about it. In the meantime, I always have my walks around the neighborhood and Weymouth. And, of course, I'll be getting the book to read as well.
I think I will start small and get some plants for the house. If they're not dead by this time next year and I'm still in West Roxbury, maybe I'll think about it. In the meantime, I always have my walks around the neighborhood and Weymouth. And, of course, I'll be getting the book to read as well.Just a quickie
I'm still mostly off the internet for a while but I wanted to post this thing because it's so funny:
http://readatwork.com/
It's all these books uploaded as PowerPOint presentations so it can look like you're doing work at work, but really, you're reading Oscar Wilde.
Genius.
http://readatwork.com/
It's all these books uploaded as PowerPOint presentations so it can look like you're doing work at work, but really, you're reading Oscar Wilde.
Genius.
UBUNTU!!!!
Ubuntu!!!
My friends, my friends, my friends: ubuntu!
The Celtics defeated the Lakers tonight by just-about 40 points to win the Celtic's 17th NBA championship finals; their first in 22 years.
This is the first Boston team championship game to be won in Boston since the sports reign began in 2001 with the Patriots. All the other championships (Patriots & Red Sox) were won away.
I've been staying away from blogging and email and the internets in general for the last five days. It makes me more productive in certain ways, hence the lack of blogs for a bit. But I couldn't help but hop on tonight to celebrate.
Personally speaking, this is also the first time that I was actually in the city of Boston when a Boston team won the championships, as well. I was sitting at home watching the game solo when I decided, mid-first quarter, that if they should win, I would not be alone. I began to get ready to go out to West, and I am glad that I did, for I was in good, enthusiastic company there.
Truth be told, I sort of started to laugh at the end of the 3rd and all the way through the 4th because...well, it was almost comical how poorly the Lakers played and how definitively they lost. If I didn't hate Kobe so much, I would almost feel bad. But I do hate Kobe, and I do love this team of Celtics, so I don't feel bad, at all. Instead I feelt elated. Buoyant. Effervescent. I feel as though the world is at hand and we can all take from it what we will, provided we do so with a spirit that is generous, thougthful, determined, kind, hard-working and diligent. Whoas. I just got way deep there.
On another note, someone even bought a round of champagne at the bar upon the winning. That was cool, since I love the bubbly. Also, we all agreed that the "pink shirt" of Doc's, after Pierce dumped the red gatorade on him, would, like the bloody sock, become part of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
What a lovely lovely thing to happen. Someone at West said, and I completely agree, "What a great way to start the summer!"
My how the rest of the country will so much more defintively hate Boston, upon the THIRD sports team's championship win in the last 7 years.
I quite like being spoilt when it comes to my favorite teams winning or being enviably the best. I hope this continues and spreads. [Hint, hint Bruin's ownership.]
So, to bgein to wrap up, thank you MVP Paul Pierce, KG Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Big Baby, Rondo the 12 year old, Voldemort AKA Sam Cassell, and all the rest, and - even though I don't really like him (for some indefinable reason) - thanks to Danny Ainge, but most especially thank you thank you thank you to Doc Rivers. I know a lot of people have their doubts about him. I know that he gets very short shrift from the masses. But I also know that, were he not the big thinking/ detail orientated (my favorite type description, BTW) coach that he is, this wonderful, wonderful team would not have achieved as much as they had achieved this reason.
Thanks, Doc, for the Big Three, for the Dribble Drive Motion and, most importantly, for bringing ubuntu to a talented group of enthusiastic players and applying it to a team & a town who would so entirely and whole-heartedly embrace such philosophy. (Even if they didn't know they were.)
And finally, a last, personal note. It was my dad's birthday last Monday. And Sunday was the first Father's Day I ever spent without my father. These wins and losses in sports may often seem insignificant, but it is times like these when I miss my dad so much. Because, as oil-and-water or fire-and-ice as we were, we could always come together in our celebration in the triumphs of the sports teams we so loved. Forever, for me, each loss, like this year's Superbowl, and each win, like this year's NBA championships, will bring me closer to the spirit of my dad. For back in February, when the Pats lost, I knew we would have been mutually despairing. And tonight, regardless of any other difference of opinion or disposition we may have had, this win would have made us both celebrate and be happy and tranquil (truly a happening) together.
And that, among a million other reasons, but this being of the top most, is why I love sports.
Ubuntu, Celtics, ubuntu.
Good night! Let us meet again at the same time next year for the same joyous reason!
My friends, my friends, my friends: ubuntu!
The Celtics defeated the Lakers tonight by just-about 40 points to win the Celtic's 17th NBA championship finals; their first in 22 years.
This is the first Boston team championship game to be won in Boston since the sports reign began in 2001 with the Patriots. All the other championships (Patriots & Red Sox) were won away.
I've been staying away from blogging and email and the internets in general for the last five days. It makes me more productive in certain ways, hence the lack of blogs for a bit. But I couldn't help but hop on tonight to celebrate.
Personally speaking, this is also the first time that I was actually in the city of Boston when a Boston team won the championships, as well. I was sitting at home watching the game solo when I decided, mid-first quarter, that if they should win, I would not be alone. I began to get ready to go out to West, and I am glad that I did, for I was in good, enthusiastic company there.
Truth be told, I sort of started to laugh at the end of the 3rd and all the way through the 4th because...well, it was almost comical how poorly the Lakers played and how definitively they lost. If I didn't hate Kobe so much, I would almost feel bad. But I do hate Kobe, and I do love this team of Celtics, so I don't feel bad, at all. Instead I feelt elated. Buoyant. Effervescent. I feel as though the world is at hand and we can all take from it what we will, provided we do so with a spirit that is generous, thougthful, determined, kind, hard-working and diligent. Whoas. I just got way deep there.
On another note, someone even bought a round of champagne at the bar upon the winning. That was cool, since I love the bubbly. Also, we all agreed that the "pink shirt" of Doc's, after Pierce dumped the red gatorade on him, would, like the bloody sock, become part of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
What a lovely lovely thing to happen. Someone at West said, and I completely agree, "What a great way to start the summer!"
My how the rest of the country will so much more defintively hate Boston, upon the THIRD sports team's championship win in the last 7 years.
I quite like being spoilt when it comes to my favorite teams winning or being enviably the best. I hope this continues and spreads. [Hint, hint Bruin's ownership.]
So, to bgein to wrap up, thank you MVP Paul Pierce, KG Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Big Baby, Rondo the 12 year old, Voldemort AKA Sam Cassell, and all the rest, and - even though I don't really like him (for some indefinable reason) - thanks to Danny Ainge, but most especially thank you thank you thank you to Doc Rivers. I know a lot of people have their doubts about him. I know that he gets very short shrift from the masses. But I also know that, were he not the big thinking/ detail orientated (my favorite type description, BTW) coach that he is, this wonderful, wonderful team would not have achieved as much as they had achieved this reason.
Thanks, Doc, for the Big Three, for the Dribble Drive Motion and, most importantly, for bringing ubuntu to a talented group of enthusiastic players and applying it to a team & a town who would so entirely and whole-heartedly embrace such philosophy. (Even if they didn't know they were.)
And finally, a last, personal note. It was my dad's birthday last Monday. And Sunday was the first Father's Day I ever spent without my father. These wins and losses in sports may often seem insignificant, but it is times like these when I miss my dad so much. Because, as oil-and-water or fire-and-ice as we were, we could always come together in our celebration in the triumphs of the sports teams we so loved. Forever, for me, each loss, like this year's Superbowl, and each win, like this year's NBA championships, will bring me closer to the spirit of my dad. For back in February, when the Pats lost, I knew we would have been mutually despairing. And tonight, regardless of any other difference of opinion or disposition we may have had, this win would have made us both celebrate and be happy and tranquil (truly a happening) together.
And that, among a million other reasons, but this being of the top most, is why I love sports.
Ubuntu, Celtics, ubuntu.
Good night! Let us meet again at the same time next year for the same joyous reason!
Tim Russert
This evening at 5, when I got out of work, I got into my car, turned on the radio and, for some reason, started singing "Ave Maria". I haven't the slightest clue why that song popped in my head, but as I was doing the 16th notes at "plena", I was stopped short by the news report from NPR that NBC Washington Bureau chief and Meet the Press host Tim Russert had collapsed and died at work today. Russert was a devout Catholic, so maybe he wanted to hear it in Alto. I don't know. Regardless, with that news, I was stunned.
"WHAT?!!!" I yelled and almost hit the brakes on Rte 9. I couldn't believe it. Especially this week, with my dad's birthday being on Monday and Father's Day being Sunday, I was already in a fragile state. But to hear of another vibrant, tour-de-force who was cut down before age 60 -- my dad and Roby n being 2 within the last 12 months-- and a man I so admired, took my breath away, in a very bad way.
I am a political junkie, certified by my ability to name the current ruler of Egypt (Hozni Mubarack, spelling questionable) and the running mate to Michael Dukakis in the 88 presidential election (Lloyd Bentson, also a Freemason, see previous post) without Googling.
Therefore, it goes without saying that I was a fan of "Meet the Press" and Tim Russert. Sock it to 'em type journalist. Carpet calling. Research like James Lipton but with much harsher effect, since it was politics and not actor biography that motivated his relentless research.
All the news-people who have been speaking about him today -- Keith Olberman hosted a day-long comemoration of him on MSNBC -- talked about the importance of Sunday mornings with Tim. To tell you the truth, if I was up that early on a Sunday, it was often to nurse a hangover. If not in the hangover state, then I was either sleeping in or up and about the house doing things and listening to NPR.
HOWEVER, I am a night owl, as witnessed by this 2 AM blog post, and I spent many Sunday nights staying up late to watch the MSNBC re run of "Meet the Press" on what was officially early Monday morning (1 AM). That's often how I ended my weekend.
I agree with all the public commentators that Tim Russert was special--someone on the inside of Washington but not at all wonky. Someone who clearly loved his work, because he did it so confidently. And I'm not the only one who feels a big vacuum in the world of Washington reporting with the loss of Tim Russert.
Tim Russert 1950-2008
A Fine Journalist
"WHAT?!!!" I yelled and almost hit the brakes on Rte 9. I couldn't believe it. Especially this week, with my dad's birthday being on Monday and Father's Day being Sunday, I was already in a fragile state. But to hear of another vibrant, tour-de-force who was cut down before age 60 -- my dad and Roby n being 2 within the last 12 months-- and a man I so admired, took my breath away, in a very bad way.
I am a political junkie, certified by my ability to name the current ruler of Egypt (Hozni Mubarack, spelling questionable) and the running mate to Michael Dukakis in the 88 presidential election (Lloyd Bentson, also a Freemason, see previous post) without Googling.
Therefore, it goes without saying that I was a fan of "Meet the Press" and Tim Russert. Sock it to 'em type journalist. Carpet calling. Research like James Lipton but with much harsher effect, since it was politics and not actor biography that motivated his relentless research.
All the news-people who have been speaking about him today -- Keith Olberman hosted a day-long comemoration of him on MSNBC -- talked about the importance of Sunday mornings with Tim. To tell you the truth, if I was up that early on a Sunday, it was often to nurse a hangover. If not in the hangover state, then I was either sleeping in or up and about the house doing things and listening to NPR.
HOWEVER, I am a night owl, as witnessed by this 2 AM blog post, and I spent many Sunday nights staying up late to watch the MSNBC re run of "Meet the Press" on what was officially early Monday morning (1 AM). That's often how I ended my weekend.
I agree with all the public commentators that Tim Russert was special--someone on the inside of Washington but not at all wonky. Someone who clearly loved his work, because he did it so confidently. And I'm not the only one who feels a big vacuum in the world of Washington reporting with the loss of Tim Russert.
Tim Russert 1950-2008
A Fine Journalist
Hitchen BitchEn' 'bout Stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY8fjFKAC5k
I take no stance on Christopher Hitchen's bitchEn' in this clip, but it makes me think and so I would like to share it. Also, I like to make the rhyme "hitchen/bitchen", because to make light in the face of such stern talk is my natural inclination.
Also, considering the last post, I think this one goes with it well.
I take no stance on Christopher Hitchen's bitchEn' in this clip, but it makes me think and so I would like to share it. Also, I like to make the rhyme "hitchen/bitchen", because to make light in the face of such stern talk is my natural inclination.
Also, considering the last post, I think this one goes with it well.
From Jen H's Blog
Jen H, alumna of Stoncoast, posted this to her blog and I'm reposting it to mine. In light of what's happening in Cali and what's happening in NY, it's always good to get these sort of emails and blog posts out. I've seen this in different iterations, but I like this very Maine-orinted one.
This piece is credited to Pastor Gerald Olsen of Bangor, and I remember seeing it the first time it went around, in 2005. It's still brilliant:
Dear Michael Heath and assorted Maine bigots,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would be for banning same sex marriage.
As you said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? Oh, sorry. IS there degrees ...
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
11. And one of my real concerns is that gay lobsterman who wears clothes made of two or more fabrics and hauls lobsters on the Sabbath....Four abominations in one day....Wow......
12. And one last question.....Why are Christian bigots so obsessed who people love? I think I know the answer.
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Thanks,
Bible Readers of America
One side to go along with this: I once got in an argument with my friend's aunt about all the same details. She went on an on and on about the Bible saying homosexuality was a sin and "you can't pick and choose what you listen to from the Bible." Then I asked her, "Are you definitely having lobster dinner tomorrow?"
"Yes," she said.
"Well," I said, "that's a sin according to the same exact section of the Bible that says homosexuality is a sin: Leviticus."
She paused, a little stunned, but finally said, "That's the OLD Testament. I'm talking about the New Testment."
"Oh, okay," I said sarcastically. Then I said, "And the New Testment says something about homosexuality?"
"Yes," she said.
"What?" I asked, knowing that it really doesn't.
"It says it's wrong."
"Where?" I asked.
She couldn't tell me.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't say anything about it," I said, when she couldn't think of anything.
"Oh no. It does," she claimed.
"Really? I don't think so."
"It does," she assured me.
"Well, you let me know if you find it, because I'm pretty sure it doesn't." Then I finally dropped it, but I definitely didn't want to.
The sort of answer is that Paul makes reference to this weird Roman thing where old men did young boys as part ofa ritual thingy, but other than that--nothing. Nothing certainly in Matthew, Mark, Luke of John.
Not that any of this should matter because really what should matter, but it does. It's annoying.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this email. It's a venting one, smarmy and sarcastic. But it's nice to vent, you know?
This piece is credited to Pastor Gerald Olsen of Bangor, and I remember seeing it the first time it went around, in 2005. It's still brilliant:
Dear Michael Heath and assorted Maine bigots,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would be for banning same sex marriage.
As you said "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? Oh, sorry. IS there degrees ...
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
11. And one of my real concerns is that gay lobsterman who wears clothes made of two or more fabrics and hauls lobsters on the Sabbath....Four abominations in one day....Wow......
12. And one last question.....Why are Christian bigots so obsessed who people love? I think I know the answer.
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Thanks,
Bible Readers of America
One side to go along with this: I once got in an argument with my friend's aunt about all the same details. She went on an on and on about the Bible saying homosexuality was a sin and "you can't pick and choose what you listen to from the Bible." Then I asked her, "Are you definitely having lobster dinner tomorrow?"
"Yes," she said.
"Well," I said, "that's a sin according to the same exact section of the Bible that says homosexuality is a sin: Leviticus."
She paused, a little stunned, but finally said, "That's the OLD Testament. I'm talking about the New Testment."
"Oh, okay," I said sarcastically. Then I said, "And the New Testment says something about homosexuality?"
"Yes," she said.
"What?" I asked, knowing that it really doesn't.
"It says it's wrong."
"Where?" I asked.
She couldn't tell me.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't say anything about it," I said, when she couldn't think of anything.
"Oh no. It does," she claimed.
"Really? I don't think so."
"It does," she assured me.
"Well, you let me know if you find it, because I'm pretty sure it doesn't." Then I finally dropped it, but I definitely didn't want to.
The sort of answer is that Paul makes reference to this weird Roman thing where old men did young boys as part ofa ritual thingy, but other than that--nothing. Nothing certainly in Matthew, Mark, Luke of John.
Not that any of this should matter because really what should matter, but it does. It's annoying.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this email. It's a venting one, smarmy and sarcastic. But it's nice to vent, you know?
Frighteningly Static
Yeah, even when things change, things stay the same. Here is a note I wrote to a friend in college back in my freshman year that he scanned and sent to me today.
SIMILARITIES between 1996 & 2008
-Yesterday, I watched TV, admittedly while also doing grad school work, until 6 AM, admittedly because I was sick from allergies and thus wired from allergy medicine , but the spirit is still very much there.
-I'm currently, obviously, playing on the computer. Since there's been 3 blog entries today, you can tell it's something I've done many times. About as many as listed on my list.
-I am working at a college library and not studying (at UMaine it was in the Listening Center; MB is just one very large room).
-I did not skip chorus practice or write on anyone's neck.
-I did send group emails to people & one of the people on the list is my roommate, so that's sort of like sending emails to people sitting next to me today.
-Chris threw this note, in a virtual way, back to me. (Why he still has it is a mystery I forgot to uncover...) and now I'm trowing it out to all off y'all.
-Even my handwriting and my propensity for writing in purple ink has not changed.
-I make lists with dashes
THE END
NBA Stuff: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Oh Lordy Lordy. No wonder I haven't felt the need to keep up with General Hospital these last months. Just following the NBA is drama enough.
I'll start with the low and end with the high, so as to stay positive.
First, the lowest of the low, the ugly: Corrupt NBA Official Tim Donaghy
In an article in the New York Times, former & now disgraced NBA official Tim Donaghy was quoted as stating, "that N.B.A. executives directed referees 'to manipulate games' in order to 'boost ticket sales and television ratings,'" in a letter he wrote to United States District Court in Brooklyn.
Read the full article with all the sordid details here.
Next is the bad: Schill's Shrill Blog about Kobe
Mr Crazy Big Mouth Pain in the Ass AKA The Sultan of Bloody Socks AKA Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling blogged about his observations of how nasty Kobe Bryant was to his fellow teammates during game 2 at the Garden last weekend. Kobe responded by saying "Go Yankees" which lacks its sting considering the Yanks are tied for last place in the AL East, but that's Kobe for you. Socially awkward. It's because he was raised in Italy. If it were anyone else criticizing Kobe, I'd be all for it, but since it Curt Schilling, who I have absolutely no patience for, I'm all set with that.
More details on the fiasco at Yahoo Sports.
And finally, to the good: Unbuntu- to the Team, to the Fans and to the City
Remember last week when I got all preachy and sentimental about the Celtics this year being a special team, because they thought and acted a team, not as individuals? For instance, at the end of game 2, after Paul Pierce was interviewed for the post-game show, he turned around at waved to the fans. He slapped hands with the leaners-into-the-tunnel. He took his headband off and threw it into the crowd. As the camera followed him walking into the tunnel, he stopped, turned around, and remembered to take his wrist band off and throw that into the crowd of adoring fans. I was like, "Wha??!"
And Monday, in LA, after Kobe was interviewed he--walked straight into the tunnel without acknowledging a soul, much less turning around to remember that there's a devoted fan out there who would cherish a sweaty piece of rubber band and terry cloth.
That difference in leadership shows the difference in teams: LA is the same old same old showboatin' selfish but good players. The Celtics are very very different. Well, it was by sheer observation that I thought of this. And it turns out, I was right on because that has been their philosophy all season long.
This philosophy is centered around one saying: unbuntu. It is a southern African philosophy that is hard to put into words but loosely can mean, "I am because of you." (We've come a long way from "How you like me now boy?", haven't we?) Juxtapose (SAT word!) that with Kobe getting down on his team and you can see why the Celts are up 2-1 in the series despite predictions to the contrary.
Unbuntu is the word they chant in the huddle before playing, too. If you google "unbuntu" and "celtics" you'll get quite a few articles explaining it. I heard about it -- where else but? -- on NPR, specifically WBUR's Here and Now. If you want to hear the full story, click on this link and scroll down to the word "Unbunto" then click on the "Listen" icon.
See what I mean about leaving on a positive note? And to everyone reading my blogs: thanks. Unbuntu. (ha ha , der )
I'll start with the low and end with the high, so as to stay positive.
First, the lowest of the low, the ugly: Corrupt NBA Official Tim Donaghy
In an article in the New York Times, former & now disgraced NBA official Tim Donaghy was quoted as stating, "that N.B.A. executives directed referees 'to manipulate games' in order to 'boost ticket sales and television ratings,'" in a letter he wrote to United States District Court in Brooklyn.
Read the full article with all the sordid details here.
Next is the bad: Schill's Shrill Blog about Kobe
Mr Crazy Big Mouth Pain in the Ass AKA The Sultan of Bloody Socks AKA Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling blogged about his observations of how nasty Kobe Bryant was to his fellow teammates during game 2 at the Garden last weekend. Kobe responded by saying "Go Yankees" which lacks its sting considering the Yanks are tied for last place in the AL East, but that's Kobe for you. Socially awkward. It's because he was raised in Italy. If it were anyone else criticizing Kobe, I'd be all for it, but since it Curt Schilling, who I have absolutely no patience for, I'm all set with that.
More details on the fiasco at Yahoo Sports.
And finally, to the good: Unbuntu- to the Team, to the Fans and to the City
Remember last week when I got all preachy and sentimental about the Celtics this year being a special team, because they thought and acted a team, not as individuals? For instance, at the end of game 2, after Paul Pierce was interviewed for the post-game show, he turned around at waved to the fans. He slapped hands with the leaners-into-the-tunnel. He took his headband off and threw it into the crowd. As the camera followed him walking into the tunnel, he stopped, turned around, and remembered to take his wrist band off and throw that into the crowd of adoring fans. I was like, "Wha??!"
And Monday, in LA, after Kobe was interviewed he--walked straight into the tunnel without acknowledging a soul, much less turning around to remember that there's a devoted fan out there who would cherish a sweaty piece of rubber band and terry cloth.
That difference in leadership shows the difference in teams: LA is the same old same old showboatin' selfish but good players. The Celtics are very very different. Well, it was by sheer observation that I thought of this. And it turns out, I was right on because that has been their philosophy all season long.
This philosophy is centered around one saying: unbuntu. It is a southern African philosophy that is hard to put into words but loosely can mean, "I am because of you." (We've come a long way from "How you like me now boy?", haven't we?) Juxtapose (SAT word!) that with Kobe getting down on his team and you can see why the Celts are up 2-1 in the series despite predictions to the contrary.
Unbuntu is the word they chant in the huddle before playing, too. If you google "unbuntu" and "celtics" you'll get quite a few articles explaining it. I heard about it -- where else but? -- on NPR, specifically WBUR's Here and Now. If you want to hear the full story, click on this link and scroll down to the word "Unbunto" then click on the "Listen" icon.
See what I mean about leaving on a positive note? And to everyone reading my blogs: thanks. Unbuntu. (ha ha , der )
A Night with the Freemasons
Last night, Re ne and I watched a National Geographic program on the Freemasons, then looked up a bunch of stuff about them on the internet.
Did you know that Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Nat King Cole (essentially the most successful African American musicians before the Civil Rights Movement) were all Freemasons?
Also, a crapload of presidents from the Founding Fathers to contemporary times were Freemasons, the latest one being Gerald Ford.
See Wikipedia's full list of famous Freemasons here.
You might remember in the DaVinci code the Rosslyn Chapel, which is closely associated with the Knight's Templar and the Freemasons, the location for the ending of the book.
Well, guess what? Roslindale, MA, the next neighborhood over from where I live in West Roxbury, the neighborhood where Nana and her sisters grew up, that was named after Rosslyn village, where the Rosslyn chapel is located. It's a conspiracy. Of what, I don't know. But every time someone talks about the Freemasons, they always mention conspiracy, so I'm just going along with the crowd.
Or it could be that a lot of people who settled in Roslindale were from Scotland and therefore, when the post office was established there, and they had to have an official name instead of "South Street Crossing" which was the original name for the area, some guy thought it looked a lot like Rosslyn but it also was surrounded by lots of hills, hence Roslindale. (At least, that's according to the history story on the Rozzy Board of Trustees.)
Anyway, this blog entry is a lot like the show Re ne and I watched - lots of periphery information, nothing in details. It's because the Freemasons are a society with many many secrets, so any thing you say about them is superficial information, since the deep stuff can only be known to the members. Interesting...Reminds me of something...
Did you know that Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Nat King Cole (essentially the most successful African American musicians before the Civil Rights Movement) were all Freemasons?
Also, a crapload of presidents from the Founding Fathers to contemporary times were Freemasons, the latest one being Gerald Ford.
See Wikipedia's full list of famous Freemasons here.
You might remember in the DaVinci code the Rosslyn Chapel, which is closely associated with the Knight's Templar and the Freemasons, the location for the ending of the book.
Well, guess what? Roslindale, MA, the next neighborhood over from where I live in West Roxbury, the neighborhood where Nana and her sisters grew up, that was named after Rosslyn village, where the Rosslyn chapel is located. It's a conspiracy. Of what, I don't know. But every time someone talks about the Freemasons, they always mention conspiracy, so I'm just going along with the crowd.
Or it could be that a lot of people who settled in Roslindale were from Scotland and therefore, when the post office was established there, and they had to have an official name instead of "South Street Crossing" which was the original name for the area, some guy thought it looked a lot like Rosslyn but it also was surrounded by lots of hills, hence Roslindale. (At least, that's according to the history story on the Rozzy Board of Trustees.)
Anyway, this blog entry is a lot like the show Re ne and I watched - lots of periphery information, nothing in details. It's because the Freemasons are a society with many many secrets, so any thing you say about them is superficial information, since the deep stuff can only be known to the members. Interesting...Reminds me of something...
The Answer Is...
Well, last night while I picked up a few cold ones I got the answer to the question that's been haunting me for weeks. I was able to ask the older man who was working behind the counter at Macy's Liquors what the mural was. The story is FANTASTIC and Kara's guess was actually pretty close.
The owners took a snapshot of one of the vineyards of the wines they carry at the store. Then the Mayor (Mayor "Mumbles" Menino) hired this group of Boston Public Schools high school art students to paint it as part of some program. So all the high school art kids looked at the picture and created the giant mural from it.
Isn't that a great story?
I think they should have a plaque ont he wall explaining it, too.
Thus ends the mystery of the mural.
The owners took a snapshot of one of the vineyards of the wines they carry at the store. Then the Mayor (Mayor "Mumbles" Menino) hired this group of Boston Public Schools high school art students to paint it as part of some program. So all the high school art kids looked at the picture and created the giant mural from it.
Isn't that a great story?
I think they should have a plaque ont he wall explaining it, too.
Thus ends the mystery of the mural.
SATC The Movie
As with my earlier review of "Becoming Jane", I would say to those critics who panned the movie: this ain't an Ingmar Bergman flick, and it ain't s'poseda be, either.
Parts can be corny, yes. But really, it was so lovely. The costumes were like their own separate characters, they were so outrageously awesome. The storylines were fun. The girls were girlie good times. I laughed. I had a smidge of a tear. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I will own it when it comes out on DVD.
and they all lived happily ever after, in their own special way
the end
Really Big Buildings in Boston
I like when people come to visit from out of town because things I take for granted beheld by fresh eyes are refreshed for me.
My favorite was when Cc pointed to the Keyspan rainbow-painted giant gas tank on the Dorchester/Quincy border and claimed it was, once she saw it from the Red Line, the place where "the clowns live and go to learn how to be clowns!" And she said it with such assurance, too!
Anyway, we took Gramma and Che yenne into Boston to see the Common, the Public Garden and the Hancock and Prudential. (We were unaware that the Hancock observation deck closed after 9-11). Here's some of the highlights.
The Public Garden
I call these lollipop flowers
nesting swans at the Public Garden
me kisses Momma Duck from Robert McCluksey's "Make Way for Ducklings" (my very first book ever); behind her are Mack, Quack, Lack, Ouack, Jack, etc. etc.
You know those people who ignore the sites in favor of using their cell phones? I'm related to some of them.
The Statehouse with Complimentary Celtics Banner
Hancock Tower
the view from inside the slit
view from the top of the Prudential center
look, there's Weymouth
another view
And then, of course, we saw Doc Rivers at PF Changs. I know that photo is crap quality, but the PF Chang's people confirmed that it was him. He comes in often because he lives nearby.
My favorite was when Cc pointed to the Keyspan rainbow-painted giant gas tank on the Dorchester/Quincy border and claimed it was, once she saw it from the Red Line, the place where "the clowns live and go to learn how to be clowns!" And she said it with such assurance, too!
Anyway, we took Gramma and Che yenne into Boston to see the Common, the Public Garden and the Hancock and Prudential. (We were unaware that the Hancock observation deck closed after 9-11). Here's some of the highlights.
The Public Garden
I call these lollipop flowers
nesting swans at the Public Garden
me kisses Momma Duck from Robert McCluksey's "Make Way for Ducklings" (my very first book ever); behind her are Mack, Quack, Lack, Ouack, Jack, etc. etc.
You know those people who ignore the sites in favor of using their cell phones? I'm related to some of them.
The Statehouse with Complimentary Celtics Banner
Hancock Tower
the view from inside the slit
view from the top of the Prudential center
look, there's Weymouth
another viewAnd then, of course, we saw Doc Rivers at PF Changs. I know that photo is crap quality, but the PF Chang's people confirmed that it was him. He comes in often because he lives nearby.
See what I'm talking about?
Here's a photo of that mural on the side of Eliot Macy's Liquors on Centre St that I was talking about a few weeks ago.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can go to the post. Still don't know why it's there.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can go to the post. Still don't know why it's there.
NBA Finals: Observation #3, Tome to Paul Pierce
You know how there's all those naysayers out there goin' "Nah, this is not nearly as good as the 80s match up." or "This is all hype." or "Those guys were genuine players, these guys are..." BLAH BLAH BLAHWhile I completely agree that Kobe sux and is a good player but as an athlete to follow is rather boring (except for that weird creepy scandal back in the early aughts that landed his way-too-young wife a diamond the size of a landing strip), I have deep objections to criticism of the Celtics player, specifically Paul Pierce.
Um, hi, the guy heard his knee POP, sprained his knee, got carried off the RED AUERBACH court, only to heroically return and deliver a total of 22 points (I think that's what they said.)
Yeah, these players are SOOOOOOOO selfish.
Eat it, old naysayers. Eat it.
The most endearing thing was while Pierce was on his exercise bike on the side of the court, the portly middle aged fan next him -- who you could tell was thrilled -- said something to him and I was so worried that Pierce would be a disengaged player, concentrating on his knee and the game only. Instead, he laughed at the guy's comment and patted him on the shoulder then went back to concentrating on his knee and the game. Loved that. Loved.
I'm gonna get a little mushy here, so bare with me. Do you remember when Pierce almost died, back when he first arrived? Because he was a punk who went to da club and got stabbed? That was lame. Everyone collectively rolled their eyes, shook their heads, pursed their lips and turned on the Red Sox, Patriots or Bruins games instead.
I turn you now to opening day at the Garden, with the unvailing of the new Red Auerbach court and Paul Pierce dedicating this season to him. There was a wisdom and a maturity to his leadership (see, I told you I would get mushy), a selflessness very uncommon to the NBA. And it is THAT that makes this team so special. In the face of showboating ball hogging dbs 'n thugs (not my term, but the general public's term) this is a team that eschewed such assholery (made up word) and decided instead to play with each other for the common purpose of reviving a Dynasty, in the memory of a beloved & wise coach.
For this reason, I say, go forth and be unabashedly excited about the rising of the Celtics, after 21 years of blandness and disappointment. This is no fluke. Such a valiant turn around doesn't "just happen". It is a magic of chemistry, hard work, team work, gourmet Chinese food eating (see previous post) intelligent coaching and a SPIRIT of driveness that was created for stability. This is just the first year we see the Celtics make it very far into the playoffs, if not all the way. Mark my words. No matter what happens over all at the end of this season, this is a team that is now built to last, and last it will.Okie dokie, I'm tired of being on this soap box and my violin has a broken string.
Good night!!!
NBA Final: Observation #2
I had to listen to the game as I was driving home from work tonight. Cedric was on a little extra wacky tobacky, or whatever it is that gets him to be the deliciously weird freak that he is. Anyway, aside from Sir Quaxalot and his quack-a-doodling, there was also some regular old commentary from old reliable, Sean Grande, who noted that Phil "The Buddhist" Jackson is something like 51-0 for first game appearances in NBA playoffs. Well, that was Zen. This is Now.
CELTICS 98
Lakers 88
NBA Finals: Thoughts from a Celtics Fan, pt 1
You know how everyone keeps talking about this being a throw back to the good old days of the Magic vs Bird times? I would really really really really really LOVE it, if - as they do in baseball - the basketball players took one game to wear the old school uniforms of the 80s. Can you imagine KG in a short little pair of NHers? That would be soooo awesome, in a very bad way.
I suddenly have this song in my head.
The Places People Hate - or, Logan Airport Sux
Some people have a thing about hospitals. I've never really cared one way or the other. Some don't like public bathrooms--my bladder is too small for such fussiness. But I'll tell you what I do hate more than any place in the world: the effing airport. Not all of them. Just Logan, to be specific.
First the signs to go in. It's like Sanskrit or something. I get turrets just apporaching in the tunnel. Missing entrances and driving around in circles like the Griswolds on the roundabout in London. Today was beautiful in the tunnel, by the way. For absolutely no reason whatsoever, in the afternoon, it was bumper to bumper and took an hour to get from the entrance of the tunnel to the terminals. For no reason. No accidents. No closed lanes. Nothing. Just because.
Then there's the friendly personnel--oh wait, there is no such thing as a friendly person at Logan. It's like, "Welcome to Boston, land of the major db's. They don't call us Massholes for nothing."
Then there's the delightful people who are definitely in a bigger hurry than you so they cut you in the TSA line of bull. Why the line of bull? Because my moisturizer and my hand sanitizer, even though they meet the very tiny sized liquid container standards, must be in a plastic bag, otherwise they need to be thrown away. And why was I going through security in the first place? Because of the UNMR (unaccompanied minor)- my cousin - I brought to the airport. For some reason, she successfully boarded in Raleigh, without anyone, and without paying the UNMR fee, and with three tubs of shampoo and conditioner, without any problem. But her shampoo and conditioner clearly needed to be chucked in Boston, because they're not putting up with that crap. Nor could she get on the plane without first paying the $100 fee. She was literally held hostage at the airport, not allowed to board until the credit card of her grandfather's made it through the system to pay the extra money.
Then I wasn't allowed to leave the boarding gate until her plane took off. However, no one was able to notify me precisely when that was. So, after about 15 minutes after she got through the gate, after I stood in line to find out the status and watched everyone be as nasty as possible to everyone else, I just left. It was crap.
I especially loved the woman who went to the ATM machine and blocked the entrance to the ATMs with her 2 suitcases, as if she was the only person who needed to use the area. I just stepped to the sideof them; my purse almost knocking one of them over. I wish it had.
Also, I love the people who are constantly on their cell phones as they're also supposed to be boarding the plane or getting their tickets. Seriously. That's not rude. That's really rather lovely. It's liek Carrie said in SATC when she gets shoulder bumped on Wall Street, "Ooooohh. YOu're sooooo BUSY!" I wanted to say that, but I refrained. I refrained from saying a lot of things. That's why this blog entry is so long and pointless. I am venting. It feels good to get it out.
I especially would like to mention the lovely people at the ticket counter. THey're so helpful. And parking is easy. Just go up to the 5th floor but be sure to pay in the terminal beforehand and it's 5 dollars for every hour.
And be sure to have the 3.50 in tolls to merely leave the airport.
Not to mention the awesome people who run you over to get to the same elevator or escalator and you all end up at the same place at basically the same time anyway.
My favorite phrase today was when a disgruntled American Airlines employee started yelling at a distraught foreign passenger and told him to call a phone # to reschedule his flight. He asked if she would call for him, you know since he's foreign and perhaps doesn't have a cell phone and doesn't understand English that well. He asked, "You will not call this for me?" "No, sir, you call the number." I don't know what he said back but he wasn't happy. And she yelled, to her boss, "How is that my problem?" Um, because that's what you do as part of your job desciption--get people to their flights. A-hole. That was just so indicative of the entire sordid affair.
Honestly. I think you have to be a jerk to work for American Airlines. No wonder they're going under. Customer service is crap, crap, crap. CRAP.
I much prefer flying from Providence. It's more laid back. On balance, it takes about the same time to get there, considering the lack of traffic down there as opposed to up here, and I'm usually flying Southwest or JetBlue if I'm going there. Those airlines are down-to-earth, basic but--in my experience--incredibly friendly, too.
Anyway, thank goodness Macy's Liquors doesn't close until 11 on Thursdays. Today is the type of day that, once I get home from the lib, I don't just need a glass, I need a giant bowl of red.
Here's to not having to go to the airport--until August--and again in October--oh f*&^k.
THE END
Movie Review: Becoming Jane
Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with Jane Austen? If I haven't, but you read this blog regularly, then you probably already knew this. But, yes. I love her dearly.
Er in came over a few weeks ago and we watched "Becoming Jane" on On Demand (brilliant little invention really). Many critics panned it, but they're the same ones who would pan any chick flick because of its chick-flickiness.
Have you ever noticed that only the movies that bend out of the genre are the ones that get the good reviews? Juno is a high school flick but with a sophisticated, pithy heart. Knocked Up is a goober guy comedy, but with a sweet and tender twist. Bourne Identity is an action film but with more intellectually complex characters and character development.
I mean, of COURSE 300 suct balz, if you are a normal person who doesn't like special effects and fighting and ogres being violent and blood and guts. But if you DO like that, if that's your thing, shouldn't the movie reviewer review the movie based on how well the movie fulfills the genre?
That tangent being established, for a chick flick, "Becoming Jane" is quite delightful. We've got forbidden romance, gallavanting around England, tensions within a mostly happy family, a touch od scandal, a ball (there must always be a ball!!!). But there's also seedy displays of pugilism followed by propositions from the wearers of merkins (google it), for a twist. And, the most important part, an independent chick who forges her way through the world despite the man trying to get her down. In a 1800s type way, of course.That's why I was so flattered yesterday when Gramma said, "You remind me of Jane Austen." Apparently the obsession runs in the family, for Gramma, too, just watched all the PBS series and can reread the novels to no end. I've already watched "Becoming Jane" twice and it's one I'll watch every time it's on TNT of Lifetime or Oxygen or whatever.
A Day in Town: The Best Part
I'm going to post a few pics and posts from my day in town with visiting gramma and cousin. First, I will start off with this very crappy quality picture of...Celtics coach DOC RIVERS fresh off the east Conference Finals win on Saturday. 
We were eating at PF Chang's in the Pudential for dinner. He walked in to pick up take out. I looked at him and thought, "Why does that guy look so---?" Then I started to get giddy because here in front of me was super genius, the right honorable, soon-to-be NBA championship winning coach, Doc Rivers. I watched him watching my face register every thing and he kind of smirked. Then I leaned in to the table and said, "That's Doc Rivers!" Everyone turned around. I reached for my camera. "Turn of the flash--" To late, a giant flash filled the room as I, uber dork extraordinaire, took a picture of Doc River buying gourmet Chinese food.
The ability to take it today made my day. I would say made my week, except that my brother just got married, so this will have to remain second. Actually, the reason why this picture, albeit crappy condition that it's in, is so special is the #2 best thing. And then, finally, in 3rd place, is seeing Doc River in person at Pf Chang's.
PS The meal was super super super delish as always. Our waiter was awesome. Scott, was his name, and he's also the Pastry Chef at the Boston College Club. He brought my cousin a bowl full of super hot sauce and then, to go with her dessert, a bowl full of cherries. She has that cute little North Carolina accent and all, y'all.
We had lotsa fun.
We were eating at PF Chang's in the Pudential for dinner. He walked in to pick up take out. I looked at him and thought, "Why does that guy look so---?" Then I started to get giddy because here in front of me was super genius, the right honorable, soon-to-be NBA championship winning coach, Doc Rivers. I watched him watching my face register every thing and he kind of smirked. Then I leaned in to the table and said, "That's Doc Rivers!" Everyone turned around. I reached for my camera. "Turn of the flash--" To late, a giant flash filled the room as I, uber dork extraordinaire, took a picture of Doc River buying gourmet Chinese food.
The ability to take it today made my day. I would say made my week, except that my brother just got married, so this will have to remain second. Actually, the reason why this picture, albeit crappy condition that it's in, is so special is the #2 best thing. And then, finally, in 3rd place, is seeing Doc River in person at Pf Chang's.
PS The meal was super super super delish as always. Our waiter was awesome. Scott, was his name, and he's also the Pastry Chef at the Boston College Club. He brought my cousin a bowl full of super hot sauce and then, to go with her dessert, a bowl full of cherries. She has that cute little North Carolina accent and all, y'all.
We had lotsa fun.
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