The O.J. Press conference interloper

Whoever this guy is, he's fantastic! What a great act.


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Painting: The Six

click to enlarge

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Indecision 2008's profile of Rudy

I like Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 web site. Here is their profile of Rudy Giuliani--a subtle, but nice jab,

Full Name: Rudolph William Louis Giuliani
Party: Democrat Independent Republican
Date of Birth: May 28, 1944
Official Website: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/
Number of Wives: 1 2 3
Favorite Two Numbers: 9, 11
Famous Quote: "Freedom is about authority."

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Aviophobia, Part 22

I don't know how much you fly, but have you ever noticed that when you're about to fly somewhere, everyone reminds you to "have a safe trip." I realize it's a sweet sort of blessing or good wishes for fliers. But wouldn't it make more sense to wish that when I was climbing the wheel of the car, where I might actually have an impact on the outcome of the trip? About the only thing in my power to do to have a safe trip on a plane is not freak out and break down the cockpit door and strangle the captain and first mate.

I just got back from a trip to Newport Beach, but I had one of my more unpleasant T.S.A. experiences of late. This time I had cut it really close--I got into the security line with about 40 minutes before my plane took off. I don't know if they do this at random, if I was profiled, or what, but the woman who checks your driver's license and boarding pass, just said "Come with me." And she led me to the special, elite, bad-ass TSA security section. Only a handful of people were there getting the once over. And it was quite a once over. When I set off the metal detector (due to having a stainless steel hip), I received the most thorough going over I have ever received. I have probably flown forty times this year, but never had this treatment. It wasn't invasive or anything, just paintstakingly thorough and methodical.



As I was being patted and frisked, two other TSA stooges went through my bags. One guy unfolded every shirt, unrolled every sock, and opened every bottle of liquid I was carrying in my TSA approved plastic pouch, and the other guy took my shoes over to a special machine (presumably one that sniffs plastique explosive), and after the shoes, he went over to another machine with my laptop, my smartphone, my Sennheiser headphones, my Nintendo DS, and my iPod, and gave them some sort of electronic scan.

By the time I got to the gate, they had closed the doors. I could get another flight by paying $400, or I could hope for the best and go standby two and a half hours later.

Selah.
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O.J. now and then, then and now

I Ride The Short Bus

It's become so fashionable, they have their own web site: Republican Sex Offenders

I don't know if Democrats are able to "score" without offending, or if it's just the preferred modus operandi of the G.O.P., but the Republicans have accumulated a formidable record in the sex-offender sweepstakes. Republican Sex Offenders is compiling a rapidly growing list of G.O.P. miscreants.

jack writing in from Newport Beach, California
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Los Lobos: One Time One Night, video and lyrics

This is one of my favorite songs by Los Lobos, an American treasure-trove of roots music. The song is all the more poignant because it's Los Lobos and is simultaneously infectious and heartbreaking. Since I became a fan in the mid-eighties, I've always loved David Hidalgo's tenor voice, and Cesar Rosas' too. I've probably seen Los Lobos perform four times over the years, usually at the Bumbershoot arts festival in Seattle, although I think I saw them once in Berkeley or Oakland. . .who knows? They toured a lot with both Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead in the late 80's and early 90's. It might have been at one of their shows...




One time one night lyrics

A wise man was telling stories to me
About the places he had been to
And the things that he had seen
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song about the home of the brave
In this land here of the free
One time one night in America
A lady dressed in white with the man she loves
Standing along the side of their pick up truck
A shot rang out in the night
Just when everything seemed right
Another headline written down in America
The guy that lived next door in three oh five
took the kids to the park and disappeared 'bout half past nine
Who will ever know how much she loved them so
That dark night alone in America
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song 'bout the home of the brave and this land here of the free,
One time one night in America
Four small boys playing ball in the parking lot
A preacher, a teacher, and the other became a cop
A car skidded into the rain
Making the last little one a saint
One more light goes out in America
A young girl tosses a coin in the wishing well
She hopes for a heaven while for her there's just this hell
She gave away her life to become somebody's wife
Another wish unanswered in America
People having so much faith
Die too soon while all the rest come late
We write a song that no one sings
On a cold black stone where a lasting peace will finally bring
The sunlight plays upon my window pane
I wake up to a world that's still the same
My father said to be strong
That a good man could never do wrong
In a dream I had last night in America
A wise man was telling stories to me
about the places he had been to and the things that he had seen
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song 'bout the home of the brave and this land here of the free,
One time one night in America
One time one night in America
One time one night in America
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Alan Greenspan: "The Iraq War is largely about oil"

Alan Greenspan with his wife, the very talented journalist
and commentator Andrea Mitchell

This book is going to be great! The Republican Alan Greenspan, in his memoir, praises Bill Clinton for his financial restraint and for elminating deficit spending. He roasts President Bush for his profligate spending.

In my favorite part of the book so far, Greenspan writes:

“I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil."

The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World by Alan Greenspan goes on sale tomorrow.
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Phil Kendall at both ends of his football career

Why am I so fascinated with these pictures of Phil Kendall? Mainly because at the time of his death, we had not begun taking pictures. We haven't seen a picture of him in nearly 33 years (except for a one inch square high school annual shot). I especially love this one, taken in Boston. This web site is still elliptical and evolving, but you can find out more about Phil and his life here.

click to enlarge

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Double trouble: two guilty pleasures in one--> a Chcago song paired with a YouTube user video

OK, I'll admit, Chicago is a guilty pleasure (like quite a few other mainstream people who could actually play and sing). The first few albums were pretty good. Someone has set "Does anyone really know what time it is" to a truly hilarious user video. So, hey, you get to hear the song, and witness some top-notch thespians at work.


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Remember modems? Here's Penril marketing their 1200 baud modem

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