Friday, June 30, 2006
Coney Island
"Although the expense of safety precautions and insurance makes it unlikely that the jump will ever drop adrenaline junkies again, the tower has finally been rejuvenated to its status as, what [Marty] Markowitz, the Brooklyn Borough president calls, the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn. In the early 2000s, it was dismantled, refurbished and then repainted to its original landmark colors of red and yellow, and next week it will get a second new coat. This time, of light."
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Merida, MX
A few pics from Phil's finished home in Mexico. I hope ours will look as good when we are done with renovations. Phil and Katie are starting to rent it out. If anyone is interested, I'll pass along their info.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is asked the question.......
How is it, then, to live full-time in the United States?
"If you care about America it's dreadful," he said. "If you are making money you don't care."
"Benjamin Franklin was shown the new American constitution, and he said, 'I don't like it, but I will vote for it because we need something right now. But this constitution in time will fail, as all such efforts do. And it will fail because of the corruption of the people, in a general sense.' And that is what it has come to now, exactly as Franklin predicted."
To read more from The Independant interview, go here
Thursday, June 22, 2006
This Morning
This morning had one of those LA primordial casts to it. The sun burning through the haze seems from a time of the LaBrea Tar Pits and dinosaurs. It's already hot here. I was going to ride the bike over to Eagle Rock today but will opt out for the car in the 100 plus temp. I hope it's cooler wherever you are.
Last Night
Rearranged the furniture in Hollywood yesterday. Here are a few shots, abstract, of the new pad.
Patrick Suskind's Perfume
One of the creepiest books ever is finally coming to the big screen. Patrick Suskind's Perfume would seem impossible to adapt to a medium that only deals in two senses, sight and sound. I'm heartened by news of Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman's participation. If you've never read the book, read it and you'll never smell the same way again.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Saab
The beloved Saab just got out of the shop with a brand new transmission. It's sure to givedriving pleasure now for many years to come.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
The Scotsman Reports.......
New York the politest city in the world? Get outta here!
ALASTAIR JAMIESON
CONSUMER AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
IT IS the city where eye contact is considered an act of aggression and the most frequently used part of a car is the horn.
But New York is the most polite place in the world, according to a survey which ranked its famously brusque citizens well ahead of those in London in kindness and good manners.
The Big Apple scored 80 per cent in a series of tests, including dropping papers in a street in a busy area, seeing how long it took for someone to help, noting whether doors were held open and if shop assistants said thank you after making a sale.
Reader's Digest magazine carried out the tests by sending journalists to cities in 35 countries. London and Paris were in joint 15th place with a score of 57 per cent, while India's Mumbai came bottom with 32 per cent
ALASTAIR JAMIESON
CONSUMER AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
IT IS the city where eye contact is considered an act of aggression and the most frequently used part of a car is the horn.
But New York is the most polite place in the world, according to a survey which ranked its famously brusque citizens well ahead of those in London in kindness and good manners.
The Big Apple scored 80 per cent in a series of tests, including dropping papers in a street in a busy area, seeing how long it took for someone to help, noting whether doors were held open and if shop assistants said thank you after making a sale.
Reader's Digest magazine carried out the tests by sending journalists to cities in 35 countries. London and Paris were in joint 15th place with a score of 57 per cent, while India's Mumbai came bottom with 32 per cent
Friday, June 16, 2006
Los Angeles @ 225
If you're in Los Angeles this weekend, the City of Angeles turns 225 years young. And LA City Nerd has 225 things you can do to celebrate. Enjoy.
LA City Nerd
Vernazza
I was looking at some photos of Cinque Terre last night and love this one of Vernazza. Hope to go back there soon.
Gaffer63: Italian Pictures
Head Scratcher of the Day
How could anyone rightfully vote for this?
"Bill aims to make national water standards voluntary"
Kate Raiford
Published: Friday June 16, 2006
CHICAGO -- Half of the country's water systems are making a potentially hazardous switch, while a bill aims to make national safe drinking water standards voluntary.
The Small Systems Safe Drinking Water Act makes it voluntary for plumbing companies to comply with national standards. The introduction of the act announces that it's intention is to, "to prevent the enforcement of certain national primary drinking water regulations unless sufficient funding is available or variance technology has been identified."
If your water is tainted with lead, there isn't much you can do about it. The manufacturer probably won't be liable and probably can't be sued.
"Bill aims to make national water standards voluntary"
Kate Raiford
Published: Friday June 16, 2006
CHICAGO -- Half of the country's water systems are making a potentially hazardous switch, while a bill aims to make national safe drinking water standards voluntary.
The Small Systems Safe Drinking Water Act makes it voluntary for plumbing companies to comply with national standards. The introduction of the act announces that it's intention is to, "to prevent the enforcement of certain national primary drinking water regulations unless sufficient funding is available or variance technology has been identified."
If your water is tainted with lead, there isn't much you can do about it. The manufacturer probably won't be liable and probably can't be sued.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Bette
My brillant web designer boyfriend is teaching me how to upload video. Saw "The Anniversary" tonight and thought Bette Davis fit in with today's rightwing religious leaders.
Mexico
Simone and I had some good news from our Merida real estate agent yesterday. We are hoping that the closing is near and we will soon have our colonial home south of the border. And as my intended gig with Bob Dylan for next week has been cancelled, I'm hoping to fly back down to Mexico next week and see if I can't push the process along.
The picture was taken just after takeoff from Merida. Somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico.
Disgrace in Washington Today
This is incredible. Can you believe what a field day "Faux News" would have with this if a Democratic Senator had proposed such a motion? But Senators Ted Stevens, Mitch McConnell, Saxby Chambliss and others will undoubtably be given a free pass.
Washington, DC— Democrats today demanded an immediate retraction and reversal of the reported proposal that terrorists and insurgents who kill American soldiers in Iraq may be granted amnesty by the new Iraqi government.
“It is shocking that the Iraqi Prime Minister is reportedly considering granting amnesty to insurgents who have killed U.S. troops,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. “On the day we lost the 2,500th soldier in Iraq, the mere idea that this proposal may go forward is an insult to the brave men and women who have died in the name of Iraqi freedom. I call on President Bush to denounce this proposal immediately.”
“If they bore arms against our people," said Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, "What's the difference between those people that bore arms against the Union in the War between the States? What’s the difference between the Germans and Japanese and all the people we’ve forgiven?”
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) likened the granting of amnesty to former insurgents to efforts that earned Nelson Mandela a Nobel prize. "Forgiveness," he said, "has been a major factor in what has been a political miracle in Africa."
Meanwhile over in the House:
"Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert and two partners turned a profit of more than $3 million on property they accumulated and sold in just over three years near the route of a proposed controversial freeway on the western fringe of suburban Chicago, according to land records and financial disclosure reports released Wednesday.
Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean rejected the notion that the land, located 5 1/2 miles from the proposed Prairie Parkway route, rose in value because of the highway project. The speaker long has been an aggressive proponent of the highway and helped secure more than $200 million in federal funding through an earmark in federal transportation legislation. The property near Plano, Ill., was sold three months after the transportation bill was signed into law. "
Remember Whitewater??????
And in Hastert's chamber, the majority power is "debating" a non binding resolution asking members to vote if they think the USA will win the war on terror.
"But GOP leaders are trying to make sure today's debate is on Republican terms. The resolution, "declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror [and] the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary," was introduced with unabashed partisan overtones. The rules of debate will not allow the resolution to be amended, nor will alternative resolutions be allowed on the floor for a vote.
Some war opponents -- sensing a political trap -- vowed yesterday not to participate. Five House members -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- held a news conference with a yellow rope tied around their hands to denounce the terms of debate.
"This is nothing more or less than really a charade," said Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), who made headlines in the run-up to the Iraq invasion by changing french fries to "freedom fries" in the House dining room but has since turned strongly against the war.
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (Md.), a usually soft-spoken Republican who has urged his leaders to challenge the White House on Iraq. "To me, the administration does not act like there's a war going on. The Congress certainly doesn't act like there's a war going on. If you're raising money to keep the majority, if you're thinking about gay marriage, if you're doing all this other peripheral stuff, what does that say to the guy who's about ready to drive over a land mine?"
"It was ludicrous," Gilchrest said [about the Resolution]. "It had nothing to do with saving lives. It had nothing to do with the war. It was one-upsmanship against the Democrats."
2500 dead. Over 59,000 wounded. $8 Billion dollars a month.
$4 Trillion dollars in new debt since 2001.
But look on the bright side.... Conservative columnist Robert Novak reports this morning, "Now the religious right is considering appealing to state legislatures to call a Constitutional Convention [to ban gay marriage] under an obscure provision of Article 5 that would allow amendments to the Constitution without congressional approval." Now THAT'S important.
Washington, DC— Democrats today demanded an immediate retraction and reversal of the reported proposal that terrorists and insurgents who kill American soldiers in Iraq may be granted amnesty by the new Iraqi government.
“It is shocking that the Iraqi Prime Minister is reportedly considering granting amnesty to insurgents who have killed U.S. troops,” said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. “On the day we lost the 2,500th soldier in Iraq, the mere idea that this proposal may go forward is an insult to the brave men and women who have died in the name of Iraqi freedom. I call on President Bush to denounce this proposal immediately.”
“If they bore arms against our people," said Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, "What's the difference between those people that bore arms against the Union in the War between the States? What’s the difference between the Germans and Japanese and all the people we’ve forgiven?”
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) likened the granting of amnesty to former insurgents to efforts that earned Nelson Mandela a Nobel prize. "Forgiveness," he said, "has been a major factor in what has been a political miracle in Africa."
Meanwhile over in the House:
"Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert and two partners turned a profit of more than $3 million on property they accumulated and sold in just over three years near the route of a proposed controversial freeway on the western fringe of suburban Chicago, according to land records and financial disclosure reports released Wednesday.
Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean rejected the notion that the land, located 5 1/2 miles from the proposed Prairie Parkway route, rose in value because of the highway project. The speaker long has been an aggressive proponent of the highway and helped secure more than $200 million in federal funding through an earmark in federal transportation legislation. The property near Plano, Ill., was sold three months after the transportation bill was signed into law. "
Remember Whitewater??????
And in Hastert's chamber, the majority power is "debating" a non binding resolution asking members to vote if they think the USA will win the war on terror.
"But GOP leaders are trying to make sure today's debate is on Republican terms. The resolution, "declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror [and] the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary," was introduced with unabashed partisan overtones. The rules of debate will not allow the resolution to be amended, nor will alternative resolutions be allowed on the floor for a vote.
Some war opponents -- sensing a political trap -- vowed yesterday not to participate. Five House members -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- held a news conference with a yellow rope tied around their hands to denounce the terms of debate.
"This is nothing more or less than really a charade," said Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), who made headlines in the run-up to the Iraq invasion by changing french fries to "freedom fries" in the House dining room but has since turned strongly against the war.
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (Md.), a usually soft-spoken Republican who has urged his leaders to challenge the White House on Iraq. "To me, the administration does not act like there's a war going on. The Congress certainly doesn't act like there's a war going on. If you're raising money to keep the majority, if you're thinking about gay marriage, if you're doing all this other peripheral stuff, what does that say to the guy who's about ready to drive over a land mine?"
"It was ludicrous," Gilchrest said [about the Resolution]. "It had nothing to do with saving lives. It had nothing to do with the war. It was one-upsmanship against the Democrats."
2500 dead. Over 59,000 wounded. $8 Billion dollars a month.
$4 Trillion dollars in new debt since 2001.
But look on the bright side.... Conservative columnist Robert Novak reports this morning, "Now the religious right is considering appealing to state legislatures to call a Constitutional Convention [to ban gay marriage] under an obscure provision of Article 5 that would allow amendments to the Constitution without congressional approval." Now THAT'S important.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
John LeBoutillier
I was driving over to Eagle Rock this morning listening to Al Franken. When he goes to commercial break, I usually flip around and hear what Rush or Al Rantel have to say. This morning, Al Rantel had on an ex congressman, John LeBoutillier. A Reagan republican and member in good standing with (yech!) NewsMax. What he was talking about astounded me and kept me fixed for 20 minutes.
He explained that he believes that George Bush (43) started the war to settle some "psycho-drama" with his father, George Bush (41). That Bush 43 has always failed at what he's done. Whether it was having to have his father get him into Yale, get a deferment to the Texas National guard, bail him out of bad business deals. Basically that Bush 43 has always had to have his father help him out of sticky situations.
LeBoutillier believes that Bush 43 wants to prove himself by doing the 2 things his father could not do, unseat Saddam Hussein from power and win a second term as President. It is incredible to think that all this death could be over some need, ancient need, of a son to best his father.
It was electrifying radio for me. I only wish I could get a transcript of that show. I could not find any mention of this in LeBoutillier's NewsMax pieces. LeBoutillier's no friend to the liberal cause, but I found this a fascinating/frightening theory.
Boot's blasts
LeBoutillier's NewsMax
He explained that he believes that George Bush (43) started the war to settle some "psycho-drama" with his father, George Bush (41). That Bush 43 has always failed at what he's done. Whether it was having to have his father get him into Yale, get a deferment to the Texas National guard, bail him out of bad business deals. Basically that Bush 43 has always had to have his father help him out of sticky situations.
LeBoutillier believes that Bush 43 wants to prove himself by doing the 2 things his father could not do, unseat Saddam Hussein from power and win a second term as President. It is incredible to think that all this death could be over some need, ancient need, of a son to best his father.
It was electrifying radio for me. I only wish I could get a transcript of that show. I could not find any mention of this in LeBoutillier's NewsMax pieces. LeBoutillier's no friend to the liberal cause, but I found this a fascinating/frightening theory.
Heart Of Gold
"Heart of Gold" has come out on DVD. It is one of the hardest/most satisfying films I've ever worked on. He was great, the band is amazing, Nashville crew was wonderful, and we got to hire all the A-list camera and grip friends from NYC and LA. I was not a fan before I met him but now I am. Get it, Rent it, Watch it.
Best Car Chases
Someone over at Entertainment Weekly has voted "The Man With The Golden Gun" as having the 5th most exciting car chase. Debatable but still fun.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Reliable
A cloudy sunrise today in Brooklyn. From my window, the rising of the sun seems as reliable as verizon.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Bathroom
We spent another weekend to finish up the bathroom in EagleRock. Quite the HGTV production. But it looks much better. Next will be tackling the living room.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Schnappi
An infectious little tune that is also, supposedly, a german dance craze. In the tradition of the macerena, I'm sure it'll show up in America soon.
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