Douche Bags Of The Week: Sudanese Islamists

The problem is that you can't deal rationally with the irrational. I mean, come on, the death penalty for allowing a 7-year-old student to name a teddy bear Muhammad?

Thousands of Sudanese rallied in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad." The woman was arrested after another staff member at the school complained that she had allowed her 7-year-old students to name a teddy bear Muhammad. Giving the name of the Muslim prophet to an animal or a toy could be considered insulting.

The protesters streamed out of mosques after Friday sermons, as pickup trucks with loudspeakers blared messages against Gibbons, who was sentenced to 15 days in prison and deportation. She avoided the more serious punishment of 40 lashes.

"Shame, shame on the U.K.," protesters chanted. They called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad." Many protesters carried clubs, knives and axes — but not automatic weapons, which some have brandished at past government-condoned demonstrations. That suggested the rally was not organized by the government.

"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan. But we welcome imprisonment and expulsion," the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well-known hard-liner, told worshippers.

Most Britons expressed shock at the verdict by a court in Khartoum, alongside hope it would not raise tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain.

"One of the good things is the U.K. Muslims who've condemned the charge as completely out of proportion," said Paul Wishart, 37, a student in London. Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, accused the Sudanese authorities of "gross overreaction." The Muslim Public Affairs Committee, a political advocacy group, said the prosecution was "abominable and defies common sense." The Federation of Student Islamic Societies, which represents 90,000 Muslim students in Britain and Ireland, called on Sudan's government to free Gibbons, saying she had not meant to cause offense.

Crazy is as crazy does. And Douche Bags are as douche bags do.
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Operation Cowbell

When Cowbell put out the call to help the troops in Iraq on her blog I Need More Cowbell*, her readers rallied to the cause.

I jumped in with both feet and diverted my Brunswick Cares (see below) Q4 budget to the effort. I put my brain in bargain-shopper mode, redeemed my free BJ's Wholesale Club membership coupon, and got a ton of stuff. Yes, a ton I say, after spending $60 just on shipping!

• Act II Microwave Popcorn (72 Bags)
• Kraft Microwave Easy Mac (36 Packets)
• Hamburger Helper Microwave Singles (16 Packets)
• Planters Snack Nut Pouches (24 Packets)
• Austin Crackers with Peanut Butter (45 Packets)
• Gillette Good News! Twin Razors (64 Razors)
• Sunsilk Shampoo (4 Bottles)
• Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa (120 Packets)
• Kellogg's Lego Gummi Snacks (50 Packets)
• Lextron AA Batteries (96 Batteries)
• Wrigley's Peppermint and Wintergreen Gum (80 Packs)
• Mott's Apple Cider Drink Mix (48 Packets)
• Striped Peppermint Hard Candies (10 Pounds!)
• Pringle's Potato Crisps (6 X-Large Cans)
• Tootsie Rolls (505 Midgies)
• Hershey Kisses Assortment (10 Bags)
• Neutral-Color Nail Polish (3 Bottles)
• Assorted Magazines

This, in addition to the efforts of other Operation Cowbell members, should give a boost to some of the troops!

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I started the Brunswick Cares donation club at the end of 2005 in order to donate non-perishable food and personal care items to charitable organizations. After some research, I settled on Troy’s Unity House Food Pantry since they tend to HIV/AIDS affected, elderly, and poor constituencies.

Over the years I would see things for free, or at a significant discount when I was shopping and I'd think they might be good for someone even though I didn't particularly need or want the items. So I decided to take advantage of the freebies and donate them to reputable charities. What started as a personal effort turned into a eclectic collection of friends and neighbors as soon as folks found out about what I was doing and my success. Everyone gets excited when they can actually see the bags and boxes of goods that I accumulate.
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Heroes Of The Week: Our Troops

Today is the day for me to appreciate our troops. They are doing more humanitarian work than actual shooting and I can only hope that the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan all come to see it that way.

I probably should have prepared a post like this on Veterans' Day but today is actually better. Sometimes things work out.

Yesterday, I received this poem via email from a former-Marine friend of mine. It couldn't have been better timing.

The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sabbaths,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Marine waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you Marine,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown

In the spirit of today's other posts, our troops are this week's Heroes of the Week.
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I Need More Cowbell*: Welcome To My Blogroll

It would seem that Cowbell and I run in the same circles. I would see her commenting on many of the same sites that I visit and I'd occasionally click on the link and bop over and read her latest post. After a brief exchange with RG at Dulce y Peligroso and his glowing reviews of her blog, I added her to my Google Reader list to make a better effort with keeping up.

She's funny. She's serious. And she has a wonderful way of telling a story. Then I read one of her posts and I learned something. I copy/pasted from it for a post of my own, giving credit of course, and I became even more invested in her as a blogger and person.

Now with Operation Cowbell, it's time to add I Need More Cowbell* to the Cool People, Places & Things section of my blogroll.

Welcome Cowbell!
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Where's George? Project

The other day I discovered the above dollar bill. If you can't tell, the red stamp reads "Track me at www.wheresgeorge.com". I went, input the serial number (I have photoshopped out part of the number in the pic), where I filled in fields asking my location and to write a brief description about the condition of the bill.

There was only one other entry for this bill made 11 months ago; it was the initial entry. It had traveled 206 miles from Rochester, NY to me.

It got me thinking about this little bill of mine:
• How far had it actually traveled between then and now. Did it make a trip to Hawaii and back in someone's wallet?
• How many people have handled this bill?
• Was there anyone famous, important, or interesting?
• What had it been used to buy?
• Has it lived a mundane life, bouncing from person to person for innocuous things like paying for fast food, etc. Or maybe it was part of an exciting transaction like a big win at a racetrack? Or a hold up at a convenience store!
• How many people never even saw the stamp? How many people saw the stamp and did nothing?
• Since there was an 11 month gap in updates, was it stuck in a vault somewhere or in the middle of a pack of dollar bills?

I bookmarked the web page where I entered this bill's information, knowing that once I put it back into circulation it will be gone from me forever. And if I see the bookmark, maybe I'll check up on this little dollar bill and see where George has been!

This is such an interesting concept!
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Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day: Edge In 3D

This U2 3D preview ran in 3D before Beowulf and it looked spectacular!



Does it bother anyone else that Bono sings "Uno, Dos, Tres, Catorce" instead of "Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro"? Catorce is Spanish for 14, not 4. Just sayin'.
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Speaking of Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day

Last week's selection, Helio Castroneves, was the winner on Dancing with the Stars last night.

Handsome, thin, single, and lives in South Beach. 'nuf said.

Update: Less than a day after Castroneves was declared the winner, he lost his fiancee Aliette Vazquez., Vazquez announced she had called off her engagement to the Brazilian race-car driver.
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Do You Speak Felinese?

The cat on the left looks like my cat #2. I love cats.

My Thumb Up: Beowulf 3D

Voices: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie

It was slim pickings when I looked in the paper to see what movies were of interest. I settled on Beowulf 3D — because I read the original Old English heroic epic poem exactly 15 years ago in my first semester of college, it was showing in 3D, and it was playing within the time frame I could go.

The most important thing I can tell you about Beowulf 3D is that this is not live action. It is "motion capture" similar to The Polar Express. I was expecting actual actors and scenery so that bugged me for the first third of the film. I felt like I'd been duped, but the awesome graphics eventually won me over.

What I Liked
• Incredible animation with exciting action sequences.
• Level of detail — check out the facial features on close-ups especially the skin around the eyes.
• The character of Beowulf's naked form is drawn right out of Advocate Men (link NSFW). Too bad the director (Robert Zemeckis) pulled an Austin Powers where something always manages to obstruct the most important view of all. We do get a butt shot, though.
• The 3D glasses were polarized, not red/blue, and were comfortable and didn't cause a headache.
• Even regular scenes were enhanced with the 3D effect. There were the gratuitous 3D gimmicks, such as arrows flying at the audience, but I think the 3D made the viewing experience better.
• The fantasy of what can happen to noisy neighbors when they move in next to the wrong people.

What I Didn't Like
• That I didn't know ahead of time that it's CGI.
• The story line is a little thin, but as I remember, so is the original poem. Despite this, I was never bored as there was always plenty going on.
• Grendel, the monster, was not rendered how I would envision a dragon.
• Angelina Jolie's avatar was not prominently featured.

I read that the movie was full of violence, nudity, and sex. There is video-game style violence, no frontal nudity, and no sex.

If you're into fantasy, medieval-type stories, then this gets my thumb way up. If not, but you like lots of action as a means of escape, it gets my thumb up. If you like deep plots with lots of character development, skip it.
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Next Steps For Iraq?

From an AP story via Yahoo! News:

"Iraq's government, seeking protection against foreign threats and internal coups, will offer the U.S. a long-term troop presence in Iraq in return for U.S. security guarantees as part of a strategic partnership, two Iraqi officials said.

The proposal, described to The Associated Press by two senior Iraqi officials familiar with the issue, is one of the first indications that the United States and Iraq are beginning to explore what their relationship might look like once the U.S. significantly draws down its troop presence."

I think the only way to get this to really work is to put it to a national Iraqi referendum. I know I'd feel better if the Iraqi people actually voted that they want us there, rather than see us as occupiers, and maybe the U.S. could reclaim some amount of international standing.
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Beaujolais Nouveau

I don't have much to say today. It took me all of yesterday to recover from my crossword drama. If there is any justice in this world, any justice at all, they will print two puzzles next week!

A couple of days ago, I was involved in some commenting on wines over at Secrets Of The Red Seven. I think most of my readers also visit Eric's blog, but in case you didn't/don't, here's a quick recap.

I'm not a wine expert by any means but I do enjoy sampling different kinds. I don't worry about bouquet, nose, finish, etc. but I have learned that I like wines described with fruity flavor (citrus for Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Reisling; plum for Pinot Noir; raspberry for Merlot, Cabernet Savignon) rather than earthy (mineral, charcoal) adjectives.

I've been to Napa and Sonoma on wine tasting trips, and I'd usually buy a couple of bottles at Costco just to try new varieties at reasonable prices. Each year, our rather large Washington Square neighborhood in Santa Ana, CA had a wine tasting event where we would go from house to house and sample wines. Those were fun times, and everyone could walk home. I always teased my dear neighbor that her husband was going to find her in the ditch the next morning. But I digress. I just want to set up my (non)level of experience in rating wines.

Eric suggested that Gewurztraminer and Red Zinfandel were excellent choices to accompany turkey dinner. This year, I was in charge of the wine for T-day at my neighbor's house and I had already selected a Gewurztraminer, but bought a Beaujolais Nouveau as the red.

The folks at Thanksgiving dinner are partial to white but enjoyed the red. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal featured a review of Beaujolais Nouveau. This was in relation to "Beaujolais Nouveau Day" which is the third Thursday of every November. It is the day when the current year's BN is released. BN is best when you drink it young so I guess if you are a wine snob, you have to get it the first day, since that is the youngest it will ever be.

The one I bought, from Georges Deboeuf (see pic of label above), was rated Good/Very Good.

"Best Value. Always reliable. Jammy, easy and friendly, with a long, strawberry-raspberry finish. Smooth and pleasant."

Notice the "jammy" and "strawberry-raspberry" description? I knew I'd like it before I bought it! I paid $9.99 for a bottle, but we have high alcohol taxes here in NY, so it should be less expensive around the country. Prices in California are about one third less than what we pay here. :(
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Wanna Ruin My Sunday Morning?

Re-run the same crossword puzzle that appeared in the paper a couple of weeks ago. Hello, I've looked forward to doing them every week for the past 25 years. And while I have the brain of a sieve when it comes to most things, my Sunday morning crosswords isn't one of them. Crap.
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Saturday Sh!ts And Giggles: More Bugs Bunny

Douche Bags Of The Week: Japanese Whalers

What I don't understand is why, after 40 years of not needing whales, all of a sudden it is so important to kill these creatures?

Japanese whalers, and their supporters, are my Douche Bags of the Week.

A defiant Japan embarked on its largest whaling expedition in decades, targeting protected humpbacks for the first time since the 1960s despite international opposition. An anti-whaling protest boat awaited the fleet offshore.

Bid farewell in a festive ceremony in the southern port of Shimonoseki, four ships headed for the waters off Antarctica, resuming a hunt that was cut short by a deadly fire last February that crippled the fleet's mother ship.

Families waved little flags emblazoned with smiling whales [My Notation: WTF? Smiling whales? Do they have a harpoon stuck in them?] and the crew raised a toast with cans of beer, while a brass band played "Popeye the Sailor Man." Officials told the crowd that Japan should not give into militant activists and preserve its whale-eating culture. [My Notation: Which, again, seemed to survive just fine for the past 40 years.]

The whalers plan to kill up to 50 humpbacks in what is believed to be the first large-scale hunt for the once nearly extinct species since a 1963 moratorium in the Southern Pacific put the giant marine mammals under international protection. The mission also aims to take as many as 935 minke whales and up to 50 fin whales in what Japan's Fisheries Agency says is its largest-ever scientific whale hunt. The expedition lasts through April.

Japan says it needs to kill the animals in order to conduct research on their reproductive and feeding patterns. [My Notation: What a crock of shit.] While scientific whale hunts are allowed by the International Whaling Commission, or IWC, critics say Japan is simply using science as a cover for commercial whaling.

An IWC moratorium on commercial whaling took effect in 1986, but Japan — where coastal villages have hunted whales for hundreds of years — has killed almost 10,500 mostly minke and Brydes whales under research permits since then. [My Notation: Ummmm, 10,500 for research? So where are all the research papers generated from this "research"?] Tokyo has argued unsuccessfully for years for the IWC to overturn the moratorium.

Humpbacks feed, mate and give birth near shore, making them easy prey for whalers, who by some estimates depleted the global population to just 1,200 before the 1963 moratorium. The southern moratorium was followed by a worldwide ban in 1966. Since then, only Greenland and the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been allowed to catch humpbacks under an IWC aboriginal subsistence program. Each caught one humpback last year, according to the commission. Japanese fisheries officials insist the population has returned to a sustainable level and that taking 50 of them will have no impact.

Robert Wyland has done an incredible job of rasing the visilbity of the plight of the oceans through his impressive outdoor murals and his Wyland Foundation. Living in southern California for 20 years and spending a lot of time in Laguna Beach, I had the pleasure of seeing these stunning Wyland paintings on a regular basis. There are Whaling Walls around the world.

Whaling Wall #1 "Gray Whale and Calf" In Laguna Beach, CA
This is Robert Wyland's first whaling wall in his home town of Laguna Beach. Pacific Coast Highway is on the left, the Pacific Ocean on the right.

Whaling Wall #12 "Laguna Coast" In Laguna Beach, CA
Wyland stands in front of his 12th mural on the outside of his first gallery located on Laguna Canyon Road about .5 mile inland from the ocean.

Whaling Wall #33 "Planet Ocean" In Long Beach, CA
This mural encompasses the outside of the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. In the middle background, you can see the Queen Mary which was converted to a hotel and event space and is no longer seaworthy. Behind the boat in the white dome, Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose airplane is on display. In the photo you can also see the loading cranes for the Port of Long Beach and the outline of Catalina Island (behind the smog/marine layer) at the top right.

So far Wyland has completed 95 Whaling Walls since painting the first life-size mural in 1981. He plans to complete 100 walls by the year 2011, each dedicated to the great whales and other life in our oceans.
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Another Scientologist Comes Out

Even if you live under a rock, it would be hard not to notice that the Pinkett-Smiths have become part of the Tom Cruise band of Scientology robots.

Smith had denied joining the Church of Scientology with his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, explaining that it would go against the beliefs of his late grandmother. But Hollywood insiders have insisted the Smiths were, indeed, brought in by Cruise. In a Men's Vogue article, Smith refers to "Thetans," who are space aliens in the vernacular of Scientology and that he doesn’t disagree with its basic tenets.

"The Bible says, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' And you know, there’s a Scientology principle: 'Do not create experiences for others that they cannot comfortably perceive.'"

He continues: "The Bible talks about your spirit being immortal, that you were created for existence beyond your physical body. Well, that’s no different from Scientology. I don’t think that because the word someone uses for 'spirit' is 'thetan' that the definition becomes any different."

I wonder if it says anywhere in the Bible, "A fool and his money are soon parted?" And don't pull this, "You just don't understand" bullshit. Yes, I understand. You are a cult of brainwashed robots. YOU just don't understand because, well, you're a cult of brainwashed robots.

Watch out Oprah, you are in their crosshairs. Cruise, Travolta, and Kirstie Alley have been working on you for years and you would be the diamond in their crown. Run, don't walk, from these krazies!

Some advice to the Beckham's, although I'm pretty sure it is too late. Posh, bend it like your husband, and flee with your family to places unknown. You can't go to London since Cruisitology has a major outpost there already!!!
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Changing Your Blogger Profile Pic

My buddy over at Manhattan Chowder posted another handsome pic of himself in his Blogger profile. I'd been trying to figure this out for a year. Not how to post another handsome pic of him on my blogger profile, but to update my own.

You'd think something that should be so easy, and functionality that would be desired by bloggers, would be a no brainer. But, nooooooooooo. I did the requisite searching Blogger Help and Google with no success. Sure, there were folks that had written about it with solutions but they never worked for me.

So when Mike figured it out, I asked him for help. It turns out there was one step that I had missed in my past attempts. So, for those of you trying to figure this out, here's what I did with his help:

• Upload the new photo into a new post using the "Create" mode like any post — just the pic, no text, nothing else.

• Once the photo is uploaded, click on "Edit Html" and look at the entire Html coding for the post.

• There will be two phrases within the code that begin with http:// and end .jpg — one toward the beginning of the coded text, one toward the end. These phrases will appear within quotation marks and look something like this: "http://bp.blogger2.com/etc/etc/YourPhotoName.jpg"

• Locate the SECOND set of "http:// and ends .jpg" coding and copy it, but only the part that appears between the quotations marks — nothing else.

• Hit "Save Now" to keep the post as a draft. (This is the step I previously missed.)

• Go to "Edit Profile" from the Blogger Dashboard, scroll down to the photo section and paste the code just as you've copied it (with no quotations or any of these things < >) in the space provided and click "Save" at the bottom of the page. If you've done it correctly your new photo should appear!

That should do it. A complicated process for something so simple.
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Saturday Sh!ts And Giggles On Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

My ex and I used to entertain on Thanksgiving — the more the merrier, and we always had a nice group of guests. I would rarely cook during the year, but on Thanksgiving, I did the bulk of it.

Here's my secret for a moist turkey: soften (don't melt) a stick of butter and add in all of your favorite flavorings...garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, turkey seasoning, etc. Mix it all together. Now, starting at the neck cavity, move your hand up under the skin on the breast and separate it from the meat to form a sort of pocket. (I always thought it felt kinda creepy when I did it so I'd always wear a latex glove.) THAT is where you evenly spread your butter concoction. Don't worry about using too much since it will melt and the extra will end up at the bottom of the pan to be absorbed into the bread crumbs for nice rich stuffing and gravy.

I'll be having Thanksgiving dinner with my best-friend/next-door neighbor and her family. She made the invite and told me they'd make up a plate for me to bring home to my mom. Her mother died two years ago after many years of Alzheimer's. With that understanding, they have been very supportive. We have a great time, even if she is a staunch Republican!

On Friday, I'm invited over to my childhood sweetheart/next-next-door neighbor for Thanksgiving II. They go to relatives on T-Day then have their own the following day.

I've written before that I'm a popular dinner guest with the neighbors. They find me funny and I function as the free entertainment. Don't get me wrong, I'd still be invited if I didn't have such sparkling wit, but it's a bonus for them when I get on a roll. The teenagers like me because I'm edgy with a filthy mouth; the adults like me because I remember all the bullshit stuff we did growing up and I recount the stories in a way that makes them threaten that they're gonna pee their pants.

I know to the outside world I appear very outgoing and engaging. On the inside, I consider myself really shy and usually afraid. I've formed a protective invisible inner shield to keep from getting hurt from rejection.
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New Poll Posted; Old Poll Closed

I will be walking next door for Thanksgiving dinner. Take the new poll in the sidebar, How Will You Get To Your Thanksgiving Destination?

With that in mind, I have closed the mayonnaise poll:

Do You Love Mayo Like I Love Mayo?

• "Hellman's/Best Foods ONLY" garnered 33% of the vote.
• "It's Gotta Be Low Cal/Low Fat" also received 33% of the vote.
• "Miracle Whip", "Any Mayo Works For Me", and "I Hate Mayo" pulled in 11% each.

Is there anything better than Thanksgiving turkey slathered in Hellmann's mayonnaise? I think not!
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Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day: Helio Castroneves

In Pursuit Of A Unicorn

It was 11:45 a.m. and I was on the couch in the den. Something walking in the field behind the house caught my eye.

At first I thought it was a donkey! I have a history of seeing things that aren't there...I chalk it up to my active creative mind. Some day I'll write about the dead kangaroo I "saw" in the center median of a CA freeway that had been hit. Or the person I "saw" walking a turkey on a leash. Or the nun I "saw" in Hollywood that turned out to be a pay phone. Honestly, no alcohol or drugs were involved and the nun wasn't a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. (Making the story even funnier, my buddy T that I posted about a couple of weeks ago teased me relentlessly about the nun until he saw it one night himself without my prompting.)

Back to the thing walking around out back.

Why a donkey, you ask? I've been watching a lot of TV Land lately. I mean A LOT. On the weekends, they run Gunsmoke and Bonanza and I always thought that Festus' horse looks like a donkey. So I got ass on my mind. And I think Festus is kinda hot. Is that so wrong?

Okay, it wasn't a donkey. Then I think, it's a goat. Why a goat, you ask? This thing isn't as big as a donkey and it has some crazy coloring. Over the summer, a goat had escaped from a local farm and it was sighted all around our area. I never saw him, but my brother saw the stupid thing crossing the highway one day. My neighbor also saw it and thought it was a huge feral dog.

Okay, it wasn't a goat. It had a really unusual coat that looked like a pair of blue jeans that had been splattered with pure bleach. From its front legs on back, it was splashed with white. Very odd, indeed.

By the time I got the camera and raced to the window, he was out of sight. But I saw other deer running a short time later and he was in hot pursuit. So it's a stag looking for action. I guess he's got ass on his mind, too. He better watch himself or he'll have a bullet on his mind since deer season opened over the weekend.

He is so unique, like a unicorn. I am going to be vigilant with my camera to see if I can catch him.
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My Thumb Up: Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney

Yesterday, I went to see Before The Devil Knows You're Dead. I'd say it was about what I expected, having seen an interview with Ethan Hawke and a clip that basically gave away the whole premise of the movie.

This is not for children as there is nudity; sexual activity and drug use are portrayed. The scenes that take place in Trump World Tower (TWT) were a side of life I had never knew existed so in that way my mind was expanded. One outdoor scene was filmed outside TWT in an area where I took this photo (the U.N. is in the background) back in June. I never did figure out what this sculpture is of, what it's called, why it's there.

The film was a little slow at times for my taste but I enjoyed it. This may have been the result of the story telling, which has a constantly changing time line a la Pulp Fiction. It was a bit distracting, but I was never lost, although some of this seemed to be a matter of style over clarity. Portions of the same scenes are replayed for the various time lines from different camera angles. I found myself looking for continuity errors, and wondering if all cameras were in place at the time the scenes were shot, instead of paying attention to the dialogue.

I was disappointed that the fate of a couple of characters were left up in the air. I guess I'd like everything tied up in a neat little bow at the end.

Philip Seymour Hoffman
All my years out in California, I only saw a few actors that I recognized. I ate next to PSH at a restaurant on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica shortly after Boogie Nights. I also saw Daphne Zuniga (from Melrose Place) shopping later that afternoon.

Ethan Hawke
He fluidily alternates between studly and fugly from moment to moment.

Marisa Tomei
Understated acting, and I can tell you (in a good way) she hasn't had breast augmentation.

Albert Finney
I have a hard time seeing him as anything other than Erin Brockovich's boss.

Overall, it wasn't fantastic, but worth seeing at a matinee.

Back Update

Quick update on my aching back:

Believe it or not, it is still sore. The pain isn't keeping me up at night, and I don't have to slide onto the floor first when I want to get up out of a chair, but I'd say it is about 75%.

Al at Blue Alto had recommended Robaxacet OTC. It is a combination of pain reliever and muscle relaxer. It sounded like the perfect remedy, but it isn't available OTC here in the U.S. The maker's web site recommended that it could be purchased through an online Canadian pharmacy but I figured by the time I received it I'd be better. Thanks anyway, Al — you Canadians have all the good drugs!

There is still plenty of yard work to be done and I have been doing it little by little so I don't do any more damage to myself. After all, I'll be shoveling snow soon and that is a killer.
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Probably An Old Joke But New To Me

Today I followed a milk delivery truck, their slogan prominently displayed across the back:

"All we have we owe to udders!"
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Overheard In New York. Harumph.

I'm sorry, but the headlines I submit in the Monday and Thursday Caption This Headline Contest over at Overheard In New York are always better than the "winners" they select to publish.

Case in point:

Teen: That guy is jerkin' it right there in public!
Mother: Look away. He just has a disease.
Teen: What? So chronic masturbation is a disease now?

--42nd St subway

Overheard by: come again?

So the contest is to come up with a headline for the conversation.

My Headline
"He's Got Restless Wrist Syndrome"

Winning Published Headline
"Only for Catholics"

Top Runners Up
· "Cause Dad Said Its a Cure for Fat Wife Syndrome"
· "Come Again?"
· "Ironically, NOT Healed by Laying on Of Hands"
· "Momma Don't Know Jack."
· "No. I Was Referring To The Pus Pockets On The Head Of His Penis"
· "There's Even a 12 Stroke Program"
· "We're Tivoing _That_ Telethon!"

Sorry, but I think my headline is better than all of them!!!
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Winter Will Be Soon Upon Us

The bird bath, white picket fencing, and flower wagon have been washed and put away in the shed for the winter. The perennials have been clipped to the ground and annuals pulled up. The new daffodil and grape hyacinth bulbs are in, and the cactus dahlia bulbs have been lifted. The trellis is now in the garage; the snowblower, shovel, and a bag of rock salt have all been relocated there, too. The bird feeders are up, full of sunflower seeds and thistle, and there's suet for the downy woodpeckers and an occasion visit by the chickadees. And the garden gnomes, one standing under a bright red mushroom and the other laying playfully on his tummy, have been tucked neatly away until next year.

Hard to believe it will be another eight months before summer time. These are the times I miss California most!
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I Forgot My Hero and Douche This Week

I just realized I forgot my Hero and Douchebag of the Week posts yesterday. I guess no one in particular stood out — for good or for bad.
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Saturday Sh!ts And Giggles: Octopussy

"What crawled up your ass and died?"

Is it really so wrong to make fun of this little girl. Yep, I suppose. I used to worry about eating everything on my plate because there were starving kids in India. Now I'm making mean jokes.

The good news is that she had four limbs removed and came out of the operation to remove her undeveloped siamese twin amazingly well. The story ultimately had a happy ending, so I'm not really kicking a girl when she's down.

For those of you not offended, feel free to add your own tasteless caption.
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India: Inter-Species Marriage Good, Humans Kissing Bad

How crazy is this world?

A man in southern India married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death — an act he believes cursed him. P. Selvakumar married the sari-draped former stray named Selvi, chosen by family members and then bathed and clothed for the ceremony at a Hindu temple in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Selvakumar, 33, told the paper he had been suffering since he stoned two dogs to death and hung their bodies from a tree 15 years ago.

Deeply superstitious people in rural India sometimes organize weddings to dogs and other animals, believing it can ward off certain curses. The paper said the groom and his family then had a feast, while the dog got a bun.

While the Hindus support a man marrying a dog, a public kiss can result in jail time. Remember this story from not too long ago?

Richard Gere was in hot water over the public kiss he gave Indian actress Shilpa Shetty. After Indians protested the kiss, which took place at an HIV-awareness event in New Delhi, an Indian court issued an arrest warrant for Gere. A judge who watched video of the kiss found Gere guilty of violating Indian laws against public obscenity and said the kiss "transgressed all limits of vulgarity."

"There is a very small right-wing conservative party and they are the moral police in India and they do this quite often," said Gere.

This world is effed up.
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Blue Alto: Welcome Back To My Blogroll

Al was dropped from my blogroll a couple of months ago when both he and I were doing major upgrades to our blog sites. I was doing a face lift (on my site, silly), he took his more private and changed the URL. When I re-keyed my blogroll info, his site was on hiatus, so he was left off. Now he's back at Blue Alto and continues to write about serious topics from Toronto.

Welcome back, Al!
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More PC Run Amok

Santas in Sydney, Australia have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women. Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead.

I'm going to scream!
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My Thumb Up: Bee Movie

Voices: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger

I went to see Bee Movie yesterday and it exceeded my expectations. It was really good and I'd recommend it — there was plenty of adult humor. I laughed out loud many times and was amused the whole way through.

Jerry Seinfeld was enjoyable as the main character. It's always fun to try to identify the celebrity voices; I heard Seinfeld co-stars Puddy and Newman.

My only complaint is what I call the "George Lucas CGI effect." In the most recent three Star Wars films, it seemed that the objective was to put as many layers of animation in every frame as possible. In my opinion, it ruined the films. This over-the-top technique has bled into all CGI movies made since then. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done, or that it moves the story forward. More isn't always better because too much motion in the background often distracts from the main story and important character interaction in the foreground.
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Nope, I Wasn't Offended

If there is such a thing as evolution, we've become a race that has developed thin skin. Sometimes I just want to scream, "It was a joke!" People may not have thought it was funny, but we're living in a society where you can't say anything anymore without someone else being "deeply offended" and demanding an apology.

Now, I realize that some comments are offensive and common sense tells us that making amends is appropriate. In fact, "I'm sorry" are two of the most powerful words one can utter. But everything doesn't deserve a drama rating of 10 on a 1-10 scale. Perspective, please!

Here's a good example. I've edited down an AP article via Yahoo! News:

L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he deserved the reprimand he got from the NBA for making a sexual reference in a comment following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters. "We call this a Brokeback Mountain game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said.

Still, Jackson couldn't resist making another joke as he apologized. "When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA." He continued, "If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize," Jackson said.

GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano issued a statement saying: "Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes."

I think GLAAD's statement struck a good balance. I'd prefer that they didn't say anything, but their function isn't to keep quiet — if they didn't comment, they wouldn't have a job!

In the end, I think it's more interesting that Jackson free-associated the word 'penetration' with homosexuality.

I found his comments sophomoric, not offensive.
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I Disagree With The Reporter

On Today, Matt Lauer (the subject of a future Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day post and my personal same-sex marriage fantasies), interviewed the Ohio police officer accused of killing his wife.

Since when is, "Can you look me in the eye and tell me you didn't do it?," a legitimate question? Is he expecting, "Der, gee Matt, no I can't cause I'm suddenly so overwhelmed with guilt I have to tell the truth since it's eye-to-eye." So if he can say it eye-to-eye, does that mean he's innocent? Or just a sociopath?

Oh, brother.

Ask Georgie Bush what he saw when he looked in Putin's eye a couple years ago. I wonder if he saw a power-hungry KGB agent bent on consolidating former Soviet power by withholding home heating oil from former satellites?
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I Agree With The Reporter

Edited down from an AP article via Yahoo! News:

A Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic for The Washington Post has apologized for sending an angry e-mail in which he called DC councilmember Marion Barry a "crack addict." Tim Page wrote to Barry's aide last week after receiving a press release about the former mayor's views on the financially troubled Greater Southeast Community Hospital.

"Must we hear about it every time this crack addict attempts to rehabilitate himself with some new — and typically half-witted — political grandstanding?" the e-mail said. "I'd be grateful if you would take me off your mailing list. I cannot think of anything the useless Marion Barry could do that would interest me in the slightest, up to and including overdose."

Barry was videotaped in 1990 smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting and served a six-month prison sentence.

In a story published Tuesday in The Washington Post, Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. called Page's e-mail "a terrible mistake" and said he had taken "appropriate internal action." Neither Downie nor Page would disclose what the action was. Page plans to take a previously scheduled four-month leave starting Jan. 1.

Downie also said Barry called him, and that Barry accepted his apology. Barry said he was "outraged" at the e-mail, "particularly coming from a reporter at a reputable newspaper like The Washington Post, not a rag." He said Page "ought to be fired, and The Washington Post ought to run an editorial apology."

Give me a break. Sorry, Mr. Barry, but when you betray the public trust by committing an illegal act, sometimes the consequences last a lifetime.

It seems now that you can think the truth, you just can't say it.
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Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day: Rob Morrow

New Poll Posted; Old Poll Closed

I've posted a new fun poll in the sidebar. Mayonnaise is my favorite food group!

Fun Fact: My favorite is known as Hellmann's east of the Rocky Mountains; Best Foods to the west. Don't believe me, check the label. Even their television commercial jingle is altered depending on where you are — "Bring out the Hellmann's/Best Foods, and bring out the best"!

I am closing the back pain poll:

What do you do for back pain relief?

• Most of you take Ibuprofen/Advil with 55% of the vote.
• Acetaminophen/Tylenol, Naproxen/Aleve, Excedrin, Topical Cream/Ben Gay, Topical Patch/Icy Hot and "I Grin and Bear It" each received 10% of the vote.
• Aspirin and Doan's Pills weren't favored by anyone.

Several answered in the comments that they take a hot shower or bath, which was not an answer I had thought to provide even though that's the first thing I did when I got to Boston for blogger weekend!
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You've Lost The Debate When...

Laura Ingraham was on The View yesterday. For those of you that don't know her, she's essentially a right-wing pundit who eats at the trough of Dick Cheney.

She was part of the panel discussing the hot topics of the day. And she pulled the same debating tactic as others of her ilk when they are losing the debate on ideas. They resort to:

"Why don't you support our troops?

or

"Why don't you want America to win?"

Newsflash: I haven't met a liberal yet that wants to see more Americans killed or "America lose" — however you choose to define that. Being against the war and/or the Bush Administration doesn't equate to that. (Newsflash #2 to the same group: Being Pro-Choice is not the same as Pro-Abortion...I haven't met a liberal yet who thinks that abortion is a splendid idea.)

I try to listen to all sides of the debate. Really, I do. But when one essentially resorts to veiled name calling, I tune them out. Shutting down the debate doesn't mean you've won...it only means that your ideas must not be strong enough if they can't stand on their own.

So there!
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Interesting Take On Global Warming Debate

From the "Why China Could Blame Its CO2 on West" article in today's Wall Street Journal:

To understand the deadlock in the debate on global climate change, take a look at your iPod.

The vast marjority of the world's MP3 players are made in China, where the main power source is coal. Manufacturing a single MP3 player releases about 17 pounds of planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

iPods, along with thousands of other goods churned out by Chinese factories, from toys to rolled steel, pose a question that is becoming an issue in the climate-change debate. If a gadget is made in China by an American company and exported and used by consumers from Stockholm to São Paulo, should the Chinese government be held responsible for the carbon released in manufacturing it?

[clip]

Advocates of the consumption-based approach argue it solves one of the key problems associated with the Kyoto Protocol, known as carbon leakage. This is the ideas that countries can reduce their own emissions by sending dirty industries abroad. The same countries may still import the finished goods from the developing world, creating a situation in which global carbon emissions rise, even as individual nations meet their targets.

I found this thought provoking.
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Saturday Sh!ts And Giggles on Monday: Outsourcing

I was feeling a bit depressed the other day because I had lost my job, so I called the Depression Help Hotline. I was put through to a call center in Pakistan. I explained that I was feeling suicidal. They were very excited at this news and wanted to know if I could drive a truck or fly an airplane…
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Is It Too Early...

...for a Hero of the Week?

The king of Spain told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to "shut up" Saturday during a heated exchange that soured the end of a summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

I love it!
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It's Definitely November

We had a few snow flurries during the week, the bird bath is frozen, and the thermometer fights valiantly to get out of the 30's during the day.

The folks who mow the lawn came on Wednesday and ground up the leaves in the process. A quick snap of the bagger off the back and the clippings were emptied at the curb for the sucking machine sent from the local township. The yard was beautiful; freshly clipped and not a fallen leaf in sight.

Within a day, the lawn looked like this:
The contracting and expanding caused by the temperature change of the morning frost must unhinge the leaves from where they attach to their branches. It was really a gorgeous carpet of yellow leaves under the birch tree from where they came. They flit down softly like feathers in the breeze. With the grass cut short, it seemed like they were laying on top, forming a solid blanket that you could lift up and hop under for a snuggle session.

My back is still incredibly sore and a full week after the worst of the pain it is still difficult to stand up out of a chair.
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Saturday Sh!ts And Giggles: Stuart Bloopers

Here's some funny Stuart bits for blogger buddy Manhattan Chowder who just had a very serious hospital stay. And I thought I was sick last week!

Douche Bag Of The Week: Pat Robertson

It's not about principle, it's about power. And this douche bag fuels his need for it on the backs of his 700 Club supporters.

Here's an article I edited down from The Los Angeles Times:

WASHINGTON -- Televangelist Pat Robertson endorsed Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani, saying the former New York mayor's promises to appoint conservative judges and protect Americans "from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists" should trump conservatives' concerns about Giuliani's support of abortion rights.

Robertson's endorsement came one day after another prominent social conservative, Paul Weyrich, endorsed Giuliani rival Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a social conservative who ended his own GOP presidential bid earlier this fall, endorsed Sen. John McCain.

Robertson said national security and concerns about federal spending should be top priorities. "To me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists," he said. "Our second goal should be the control of massive government waste and crushing federal deficits."

Giuliani, appearing with Robertson at the National Press Club, said: "His confidence in me means a lot. His experience and advice will be a great asset to me and my campaign."

In appealing to social conservatives, Giuliani has made a pledge — one of his campaign's "12 commitments" — to appoint "strict constructionist" judges who claim to interpret the Constitution in the manner the nation's founders intended. Robertson indicated that he had been won over by this pledge. Giuliani, Robertson said, "understands the need for a conservative judiciary and ... has assured the American people that his choices for judicial appointments will be men and women who share the judicial philosophy of John Roberts and Antonin Scalia."

The whole U.S. Supreme Court judge nominations are the number one campaign issue for me.
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Hero Of The Week: Harper Lee

President Bush awarded the highest U.S. civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States, to To Kill a Mockingbird author Nelle Harper Lee. Her coming-of-age novel, published during the turmoil of the civil rights era, drew on her experiences witnessing racial discrimination in small-town Alabama, where she grew up as a neighbor and friend of author Truman Capote. Scout's friend Dill is commonly supposed to have been inspired by Lee's childhood friend and neighbor, Truman Capote, while Lee is the model for a character in Capote's first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms.

Inspired by a racially charged rape trial in the 1930s, the book has sold over 30 million copies since it was published in 1960 and is on the reading list in many U.S. schools. In 1961 it won Lee the Pulitzer Prize and in 1962 was made into a movie, which won actor Gregory Peck an Oscar.

After completing To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee accompanied Capote to Holcomb, Kansas, to assist him in researching what they thought would be an article on a small town's response to the murder of a farmer and his family. Capote expanded the material into his best-selling book, In Cold Blood (1966). The experiences of Capote and Lee in Holcomb were depicted in two different films, Capote (2005) and Infamous (2006).

The reclusive Lee, 81, has only published a handful of essays since the novel and has made few public remarks. She was taken to the stage in a wheelchair but stood throughout the 35-minute ceremony, smiling broadly.
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Saturday In Boston

Saturday was supposed to be a blogger walking tour of North Boston along the Freedom Trail to see all the sights. Unfortunately, it was raining in sheets and the wind blowing a gale. My poor little travel umberella ella ella was straining to keep from inverting, so I had to fold it away on several occasions and take the rain like a man.

Evil Ganome called with an alternative plan. He, Tate, and The Niece were going to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to see Drama and Desire, Japanese Paintings from the Floating World 1690-1850.

I'm not so much a museum person, but I figured what the heck, I'm up for expanding my horizons. It's raining; standing and walking won't bother my sore back; and it will give me some time to spend quality time with the gang. After meeting on the steps of Quincy Market, we headed to the T station. I was sporting my new red LL Bean jacket, which I had received a compliment on just the night before in the hotel elevator. As it turns out, Tater said he has the same jacket in the same color. I shared my previous night's compliment with him and I decided then and there he was blessed with outstanding taste!

The Niece was wearing a sweater that EG had knit for her. I was really amazed. The time and care put into it was as impressive as the knowledge of stitching and how to put the final garment together.

On the train, I started to feel a little light headed. By the time we got our tickets and checked our coats at the MFA, I was feeling dizzy. Since we'd been in and out of cold to hot to cold to hot, I thought it was just something that would go away. I excused myself from the group scurried upstairs to the restroom and sat down. Not to do any business, but just to get a seat. And all I could think of was that everyone in there was looking at my stance and wondering if I was going to make a tea room move. Now taking a simple dump has taken on homosexual overtones. Crap! You closeted Senators are ruining everything!

I felt a bit better and decided that splashing cold water on my face would revive me. It did. I caught a second wind and I was able to catch up with the group in the Japanese exhibit. I kept noticing the presence of gnarly-toed green demons in many of the paintings. Apparently, according to a placard read by Tate, these were symbolic of the evil demons that would come and get you in your dreams if you forgot the right prayers. "Just great," I thought, "another reason to be stressed out at night." Like I don't have enough to worry about.

Beep, beep, beep. Stand back, the motion sensors told us. "No photography in the gallery, please," the attendant announced to the room full of art aficionados (ahem more photos on Tater's blog).

We had a great time. We were sharing stories, cracking jokes, and just enjoying ourselves.

Tate and I caught the train back to our respective hotels where I promptly fell into bed and slept for the next 16 hours. Yep, the bug had officially taken hold. Tate called as promised at 6 so we could join the group for dinner but I barely remember him calling let alone the conversation. I hope I didn't say anything embarrassing!

I missed out on getting to spend more time getting to know the Farmboyz and meeting Atari Age for the first time. Perhaps another time...
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Hunk-A-Lot Hump Day: Nicolas Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Boston Celtics Season Opener

I went with fellow blogger RG to see the Boston Celtics season opener (read his write-up here). The game was sold out months in advance but I managed to successfully bid $80 for tickets with a face value of $60. I made sure my bids were reasonable by comparing them against the availability and asking prices on StubHub and Craig's List.

We were in Section 329 Row 2 which was just off center in the balcony. Honestly, given that I was a "beggar" and couldn't be a "chooser" when getting the tickets, we ended up with seats that I would have preferred right from the start. Whether it is a sporting event, play, or opera, I favor front row center balcony seats if I can get them.

Before the game started, there was a ceremony for the World Champion Red Sox and my Hunk-A-Lot Tim Wakefield was front and center. Next came recognition for the current success being enjoyed by the New England Patriots football team.



Here's a pic of Kevin Garnett's first regular-season point as a Celtic as it swishes through the basket.

The game was a blowout. But that doesn't mean the experience wasn't entertaining. I had more than a few laughs at the peanut gallery of young guys seated behind us. I swear, the accents made me feel like I was in Good Will Hunting.

In addition to the above mentioned pre-game ceremonies, there was one to honor Red Auerbach. The parquet floor was dedicated to him and they revealed his signature painted on the wood.

Shortly after, the Celtics Dancers came out to perform a routine...

Peanut Gallery: "Get off of Red you bunch of buzzards Git offa Red ya buncha buzzuhds! Yah, they just dedicated it ya buncha harlots hahlots."

Nearly every time down the court...

Peanut Gallery: "That was a foul foll!"

Criticizing official Dick Bavetta, who lost a charity foot race against Charles Barkley last year...

Peanut Gallery: "Bavetta losing loozin ta Bahkley. That was the highlight uh my year yeeuh!"

But the criticism wasn't reserved for the opposing team. The peanut gallery was equally suspicious of Celtics players further down the roster...

As the crowd chanted for "Sca-la-bri-ne," the peanut gallery punctuated it with "Sucks" on the downbeat. Then, after Scalabrine hit two consecutive 3 pointers, suddenly they joined in with the chant because, for that moment at least, Scalabrine no longer sucked. How fickle!

With two white Celtics players out on the court, there was some advice for the Celtics' coach Doc Rivers...

Peanut Gallery: "Doc, you have to get those ya gotta get dem white people off of the court offa the cahrt. They suck!"

We also got a kick out of the Lil' Phunk dancers during the (ESPN) television time outs. There was a young (8?) blonde boy with an outrageously huge mohawk haircut that commanded everyone's attention.

The Celtics won the game with a score of 102-83 and Kevin Garnett proved he was worth the trade and big salary with 22 points and 20 rebounds!
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Traveling To Boston

These review posts are popular with travelers doing Internet searches. See an index of my other reviews here.

Here's a summary of my travel to Boston:

Holocaust Memorial


Driving
Rather than take Amtrak (448/449 Lake Shore Limited) direct from Albany/Rensselaer to Boston, I decided to drive and give myself some flexibility. Amtrak rates are very competitive at $44RT but the estimated travel time of 5.5 hours doesn't compare to the 2.75 hours I spent driving door to door. Driving Boston to the NY State line takes 2 hours, then 25 minutes to Albany, and then 20 minutes home while averaging 75 mph. That included one stop for a gas fill-up (BTW, gas prices on the Mass Turnpike are comparable to regular NY prices).

Gas: $22 (One tank at $2.89/gallon)
Tolls: $10.60
Parking: $80

Parking is scarce and high priced in Boston. I used the Internet to find a local lot with lower weekend rates but I took the advice of the concierge when she said it was easier to pay the $40 a night at the hotel. I could have saved a few bucks, but would have had to schlep all of my baggage (in the rain as it turned out) with no in/out privileges. I think this was the right decision. Sometimes spending extra is worth it — even for a penny pincher like me!

I used the "T" mass transit system (thanks RG for the pass). Cabs are also available and the Millennium Hotel valet is happy to get one for you.

Fanueil Hall


Entertainment
I went to see the Boston Celtics for their season opener. The game was sold out months in advance. I managed to pay $80 + $5 shipping per ticket on eBay for tickets with a face value of $60. I would have had to pay shipping and service charges had I got them through Ticketmaster so I did pretty good. I made sure my bids were reasonable by comparing them against the availability and asking prices on StubHub and Craig's List.

Quincy Market


Hotel
I stayed at the 3.5-Star Millennium Bostonian Hotel that I booked through Hotwire.com. I LOVE HOTWIRE! The hotel was very nice and the room was a good size with a king size bed. I had a corner room towards the rear of the hotel. There was some "city" noise — I could hear music from a local restaurant/bar at night.

There was a mini-bar in the room. No ice or vending machines on any floor so I called down to room service and had a bucket of ice sent up. It arrived promptly, was free of charge, and I tipped $2 to the server. I had brought snacks and drinks with me so I didn't have to pay those exorbitant in-room fees. The bellman, valet, and front desk help were all very friendly and I don't have anything but wonderful words about the level of service.

The first thing I did was draw a hot bath in the large oval tub. The water was VERY hot and there was plenty of it.

The best part of the hotel is its location, location, location. It is directly across the street from Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall and around the corner from the New England Holocaust Memorial shown in the photos above.

Spent on Hotwire.com: $109/night (Full price: $249/night)
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Health Update

I'm still beat, but my temperature is back to normal. I had another 12 hours of sleep last night.

The back is still sore and it seems to be worse in the morning since it doesn't get any stretching during the night.
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What Do You Do For Back Pain Relief?

As I mentioned, I had terrible back pain and spasms over the weekend. I took some Aleve at the time. After I got home, I started taking Advil. My pain is subsiding, but I'm not sure that is because of time and rest, or the change in pills.

Take the new poll in the sidebar. What is the first thing you do to help an aching back?

I've closed the "When you get off the freeway, do you take the...?" poll. The results were 57% in favor of "X-it" while 43% of you drive me crazy by taking the "Eggs-It"!
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Sicko

I managed a double whammy on my excursion to Boston.

I have really strained my lower back from holding the heavy leaf blower a week ago. The tightness started last week and was at severe pain on Friday and Saturday. You might know. I still have to roll off the couch to get up.

And my nickname this weekend could have been sleeping beauty. I slept 16 hours on Saturday night and 13 last night. I still don't feel right and I have a low grade fever. More than anything, it has sapped me of all energy.

I'll catch you up on my abbreviated trip to Boston as I start feeling better.

One thing is for sure: It's crappy being sick, it's worse being sick away from home.
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Douche Bag And Hero(?) Of The Week: Fred Phelps Trial

The krazies from Westboro Baptist "church" are douche bags every day of the year. This week, however, the band of nuts were in court to defend their right to picket funerals. They lost their case and were ordered to pay $10.9 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Now for my Hero(?) of the Week. I'm ambivalent about this...while I think it's great that anyone was able to put a crimp in the lives of these deviates, I really disagree with the outcome of the trial. I think that their speech, while hateful and disgusting, doesn't rise to the level of that which should be banned. Who decides what crosses the line? I'm not comfortable leaving those decisions in the hands of a judge, jury, or legislative body.

So, a half-hearted Hero of the Week award to plaintiff Albert Snyder.

From the AP via Yahoo! News:

A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.

Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to determine an amount "that says don't do this in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again." Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.

The church and three of its leaders — the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 — were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.

Even the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted.

Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that soldiers are dying because the nation is too tolerant of homosexuality. Their attorneys maintained in closing arguments that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse. Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates fag enablers." Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

I'm sure that most of my readers are fully aware of this hateful tribe of dysfunction, but I'm including the full lengthy text in case someone wanders by and is interested in learning more.
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"We've Hauled Some Barges In Our Day..."

I liked this pic I took of a boat on a waterway near where the Erie Canal meets the Hudson River in Waterford, NY. My friend J and I meet in the little town for lunch — I always get the fish and chips — every couple of weeks to catch up with each other. (Anybody looking for a handsome, intelligent, nice, tall strawberry blonde in his 40's? Leave a comment and I'll pass it along...or he may read your comment himself. )

The Erie Canal follows the Mohawk River across most of central New York State from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River. This is one of the ways that goods flowed from the Midwest/Chicago during the 1800s prior to the advent of steam engines and rail. There are many locks in the area, serving both the Mohawk coming from the West, and the Hudson coming from its northern beginnings in Lake Champlain, through Lake George, on its way to New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.
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