Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I'm an irregular guy
On Saturday, from 1pm to 3pm, I will be a guest on Mad Pundit Radio, a political talk show on WGST 640AM and hosted by Regular Guys guy Eric.
WGST broadcasts are streamed live via one of the Internets. The Internets are a series of tubes.
WGST broadcasts are streamed live via one of the Internets. The Internets are a series of tubes.
Atlanta's best comedian?
Is Brian Bannon Atlanta's best stand-up comedian?
I think so, but who am I to say? I also think that the cafeteria at the Dekalb Farmers Market is the best restaurant in the city.
How about I just say that my favorite Atlanta stand-up, Brian Bannon, is tonight's guest monologist for the Doug Dank project. The show starts at 10.
I think so, but who am I to say? I also think that the cafeteria at the Dekalb Farmers Market is the best restaurant in the city.
How about I just say that my favorite Atlanta stand-up, Brian Bannon, is tonight's guest monologist for the Doug Dank project. The show starts at 10.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
BBC Report: Beijing's penis emporium
The dish in front of me is grey and shiny.
"Russian dog," says my waitress Nancy.
"Big dog," I reply.
"Yes," she says. "Big dog's penis..."
Read the rest of the story here
Or better yet, listen to the excellent podcast. The Beijing penis emporium story starts at 22m 40s.
Incidentally, the founder of the restaurant is said to have discovered the nutritional benefits of animal penises while living in Atlanta.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
From where else can someone lose support?
America's early Ramadan present?
French newspaper says Saudis believe bin Laden dead
Sep 23 6:38 AM US/Eastern
A French newspaper published what it said was a report by the country's intelligence services that said Saudi Arabia believes Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan this month.
Read more
No, seriously, everybody should turn off the TV and read more.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Sentiment of the week
"If Zach Braff is the voice of my generation, can't someone please crush his larynx?"
Josh Levin at Slate.com
Josh Levin at Slate.com
Correction of the week: Dogs, not hot dogs
This comes from Harry Shearer. The error and correction appeared in the LA Times.
Scandinavian fest: A listing in Sunday Calendar said hot dogs would not be allowed at the Scandinavian Autumn Fest and Marknad on Sept. 17 at Vasa Park in Agoura. No canines will be allowed at the event.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Chavez hates Bush so much, he pays him millions
"The government of the United States doesn't want peace. It wants to exploit its system of exploitation, of pillage, of hegemony through war."
-"President" Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, speaking to the United Nations on September 20, 2006.
Orinoco Belt
The production and upgrading of the huge extra-heavy crude reserves in the Orinoco Belt is being carried out by four strategic associations headed by PDVSA (Ameriven, Cerro Negro, Petrozuata and Sincor). Private-sector participation includes the U.S. companies: ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and ChevronTexaco; and the Europeans; Statoil and TotalFinaElf. Total production from these projects is planned to reach 600,000 barrels a day by 2008, following a $13-billion investment.
-From the web site of Citgo, which is owned by Venezuela's government. Italics mine. Venezuela is the Western Hemisphere's biggest producer of petroleum.
Amount of money ExxonMobil, a major business partner of the Venezuela's government, has given to Republican party candidates since the 2000 election cycle: $3.7 million.
Amount of money ChevronTexaco, a major business partner of the Venezuela's government, has given to Republican party candidates since the 2000 election cycle: $2.8 million.
(All dollar amounts courtesy of opensecrets.org)
-"President" Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, speaking to the United Nations on September 20, 2006.
******
Orinoco Belt
The production and upgrading of the huge extra-heavy crude reserves in the Orinoco Belt is being carried out by four strategic associations headed by PDVSA (Ameriven, Cerro Negro, Petrozuata and Sincor). Private-sector participation includes the U.S. companies: ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and ChevronTexaco; and the Europeans; Statoil and TotalFinaElf. Total production from these projects is planned to reach 600,000 barrels a day by 2008, following a $13-billion investment.
-From the web site of Citgo, which is owned by Venezuela's government. Italics mine. Venezuela is the Western Hemisphere's biggest producer of petroleum.
******
Amount of money ExxonMobil, a major business partner of the Venezuela's government, has given to Republican party candidates since the 2000 election cycle: $3.7 million.
Amount of money ChevronTexaco, a major business partner of the Venezuela's government, has given to Republican party candidates since the 2000 election cycle: $2.8 million.
(All dollar amounts courtesy of opensecrets.org)
******
I report. You decide.Happy New Year!
I just returned from another infuriating visit to the Fulton County tag office on Pyror Street in lovely Downtown Atlanta.
On one of the walls, there's a pardon-our-progress sign requesting that visitors to the office be patient while the staff learns how to use the tag office's new GRATIS computer system.
On another wall, there's a lovely poster touting all of the features that GRATIS provides for users and county residents. The first feature listed is that GRATIS is "Y2K Compliant."
On one of the walls, there's a pardon-our-progress sign requesting that visitors to the office be patient while the staff learns how to use the tag office's new GRATIS computer system.
On another wall, there's a lovely poster touting all of the features that GRATIS provides for users and county residents. The first feature listed is that GRATIS is "Y2K Compliant."
Torture is out of hand
U.N. expert says torture in Iraq is "out of hand"
Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:29pm ET
By Laura MacInnis
GENEVA (Reuters) - Torture is rampant in Iraqi prisons and police detention centers, and may be worse than under Saddam Hussein's rule, a U.N. human rights investigator said on Thursday.
"The situation as far as torture is concerned in Iraq is now completely out of hand," Manfred Nowak, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture and cruelty, told reporters in Geneva.
Mr. Nowak's assertion begs a question. Is there an amount of torture that the U.N. deems manageable? "Don't worry, guys. There's torture, but it's in hand."
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Help, please: Least influential Atlantans
I'm doing a story for Creative Loafing about the 11 least influential Atlantans.
Do you have any suggestions?
The list is a mix of funny and serious. Last year's "least influential" list included the chair of the Cobb County Democratic Party, an Alpharetta city councilman banned from using e-mail and an abandoned dog.
Please send any and all of your ideas. Do you know anyone at war with a neighbor? Someone who can't get a date? Someone trying to fight city hall? Someone that no one pays any attention to. You get the idea. Suggest away!
If I use your suggestion in the story, you'll receive a free, lifetime subscription to Creative Loafing.
Do you have any suggestions?
The list is a mix of funny and serious. Last year's "least influential" list included the chair of the Cobb County Democratic Party, an Alpharetta city councilman banned from using e-mail and an abandoned dog.
Please send any and all of your ideas. Do you know anyone at war with a neighbor? Someone who can't get a date? Someone trying to fight city hall? Someone that no one pays any attention to. You get the idea. Suggest away!
If I use your suggestion in the story, you'll receive a free, lifetime subscription to Creative Loafing.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Politest military coup ever?
"We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience.''For some basic information about the events that preceded the coup, try this BBC story.
-From an announcement by the Thai military, which today overthrew Thailand's elected government.
Unfortunately, American news outlets just don't have enough reporters there to cover the country well. Perhaps that's because the only time Americans say the word "Thai" is after the word "pad" or before the word "peanut."
Hey, pardon our progress!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
This morning in McDonald's -- Slidell, Louisiana
Me: I'd like an egg and cheese McMuffin, please.
Cashier: Ummm, uh (looks at buttons on cash register) egg and cheese?
Me: Yes, please.
Cashier: (silently looks at cash register)
Me: How about a Sausage McMuffin with no sausage?
Cashier: Okay (rings me up).
Cashier: Ummm, uh (looks at buttons on cash register) egg and cheese?
Me: Yes, please.
Cashier: (silently looks at cash register)
Me: How about a Sausage McMuffin with no sausage?
Cashier: Okay (rings me up).
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Macacans For Allen
Just because he called a native Virginian with brown skin a monkey and has an enduring obsession with displaying the Confederate flag, doesn't mean that Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia) is a racist.
On the contrary, Allen so loves all people that he communed with several of his non-white supporters in Northern Virginia last Saturday
The image below is how the gathering is currently depicted on Allen's campaign web site.
Ain't that sweet? Last month we were Macacans. This month we're Ethnics. Perhaps by election day he'll promote us to Americans.
On the contrary, Allen so loves all people that he communed with several of his non-white supporters in Northern Virginia last Saturday
The image below is how the gathering is currently depicted on Allen's campaign web site.
Ain't that sweet? Last month we were Macacans. This month we're Ethnics. Perhaps by election day he'll promote us to Americans.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Fear and Patriotism: Two great tastes that go great together
The photo below is of pages 14 and 15 of today's New York Times.
The ad on the left is for a Ted Koppel-hosted program on Discovery. The ad on the right is for the ABC mockudrama about the lead-up to 9/11. (And the background is our coffee table, in case you're wondering).
Did the ads come from the same agency, I wonder? Is the whole flag/fear theme just so darned popular that it coincidentally landed on two very pricey facing pages of the Sunday Times? Did the Times's layout people notice?
Oh, well, back to reading . . .
The ad on the left is for a Ted Koppel-hosted program on Discovery. The ad on the right is for the ABC mockudrama about the lead-up to 9/11. (And the background is our coffee table, in case you're wondering).
Did the ads come from the same agency, I wonder? Is the whole flag/fear theme just so darned popular that it coincidentally landed on two very pricey facing pages of the Sunday Times? Did the Times's layout people notice?
Oh, well, back to reading . . .
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Thomas Friedman is a far leftist?
From a USA Today "opinion" piece by Marvin Kalb about Katie Couric's first week at CBS News:
Produced no news, he says? How about the shocking revelation that New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman pleases far leftists?
Friedman supports the Iraq war, still. At last count, that puts him to the right of about 60% of the country.
Since the invasion, he has harshly criticized the Bush Adminstration, not for going to war, but for not being fully committed to completing the mission. That's a criticism, but certainly not a leftist criticism.
Friedman's stances on other issues? He thinks that Russia and China are irresponsible for not supporting Bush's attempt to impose economic sanctions on Iran. His views on Israel are so comfortably "right" that he wouldn't be unwelcome in Israel's governing party, Kadima. And Friedman dismisses left-of-centerists (John Edwards, Lou Dobbs, etc.) who criticize free trade agreements.
The only even vaguely lefty viewpoint Friedman has expressed in print lately is his belief that the U.S. should increase gasoline taxes to make the non-fossil energy industry more economically viable. Friedman thinks that the U.S. is unhealthily addicted to foreign oil. Guess what? So does President Bush!
Friedman's a smart, immensely talented writer and I agree with him more often than I don't.
But little about him is pleasing to the "left" or "far left."
"Her interviews with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and talk show host Rush Limbaugh catered to the far left and far right, but they produced no news."
Produced no news, he says? How about the shocking revelation that New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman pleases far leftists?
Friedman supports the Iraq war, still. At last count, that puts him to the right of about 60% of the country.
Since the invasion, he has harshly criticized the Bush Adminstration, not for going to war, but for not being fully committed to completing the mission. That's a criticism, but certainly not a leftist criticism.
Friedman's stances on other issues? He thinks that Russia and China are irresponsible for not supporting Bush's attempt to impose economic sanctions on Iran. His views on Israel are so comfortably "right" that he wouldn't be unwelcome in Israel's governing party, Kadima. And Friedman dismisses left-of-centerists (John Edwards, Lou Dobbs, etc.) who criticize free trade agreements.
The only even vaguely lefty viewpoint Friedman has expressed in print lately is his belief that the U.S. should increase gasoline taxes to make the non-fossil energy industry more economically viable. Friedman thinks that the U.S. is unhealthily addicted to foreign oil. Guess what? So does President Bush!
Friedman's a smart, immensely talented writer and I agree with him more often than I don't.
But little about him is pleasing to the "left" or "far left."
Friday, September 08, 2006
Depressingest quotation of the day
"The fighting is extraordinarily intense. The intensity and ferocity of the fighting is far greater than in Iraq on a daily basis," Brig. Ed Butler, the commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, told British ITV news.
The quotation is from this story about Afghanistan.
41 minutes and 42 seconds
41 minutes and 42 seconds.
That's how long I stayed on hold with the office of Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand's office before hanging up the phone.
In that time, I probably could have seceded and built my own tax office.
I was calling to correct their mistake. They incorrectly believe that I do not have auto insurance and they're threatening to suspend my car's registration unless I prove to them otherwise.
(Hint to county and state: it's same insurer and policy number I've had FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS!).
Now I have to drive Downtown and correct their mistake in person.
That's how long I stayed on hold with the office of Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand's office before hanging up the phone.
In that time, I probably could have seceded and built my own tax office.
I was calling to correct their mistake. They incorrectly believe that I do not have auto insurance and they're threatening to suspend my car's registration unless I prove to them otherwise.
(Hint to county and state: it's same insurer and policy number I've had FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS!).
Now I have to drive Downtown and correct their mistake in person.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Judge Mental
Who: Me
What: A Judge
Where: The Queen of the Strut pageant at Mary's in East Atlanta -- part of the East Atlanta Village Strut
When: Sat, Sept 9, 2006
Why: Because Carmen asked me to and she has a way of making requests seem not-entirely optional. And because she's my friend and I'm flattered that she'd ask.
The event will raise money for Animal Action Rescue, a local group that shelters and finds permanent homes for needy dogs and cats. Although if you ask me, charity only encourages pets to become homeless.
Please be there. Spread the word. Tell a friend. Tell a word. Spread the friend. Whatever. Just show up and have fun and throw a dollar or two in the direction of kind people doing good work.
What: A Judge
Where: The Queen of the Strut pageant at Mary's in East Atlanta -- part of the East Atlanta Village Strut
When: Sat, Sept 9, 2006
Why: Because Carmen asked me to and she has a way of making requests seem not-entirely optional. And because she's my friend and I'm flattered that she'd ask.
The event will raise money for Animal Action Rescue, a local group that shelters and finds permanent homes for needy dogs and cats. Although if you ask me, charity only encourages pets to become homeless.
Please be there. Spread the word. Tell a friend. Tell a word. Spread the friend. Whatever. Just show up and have fun and throw a dollar or two in the direction of kind people doing good work.
