Before I finish wrapping the goodies, I have to say that one present I'm getting is in the form of the British pound...in a freefall down to under $1.98 (so in the U.K. does this mean old reruns with Rip Taylor are currently known as the '99 p. Beauty Show'?). This means that my first trip to Britain as an adult is feasible in 2008.
Note what I said - that's "as an adult". This means I've never sampled a British pub. New Year's Resolution...to get one person to come on this 'bloody blog' to give me some tips on where to get good pints 'cross the pond.
Nuff said....Cheers, and 'Happy Christmas.'
The Brahmin
Monday, December 24, 2007
Hussein and Hilla the Hun
Now, if you're a right-winger and thought by googling these search terms you'd come up with a dittohead...SURPRIIIIISE...Go back to calling Nigeria a "continent" - that was uttered by a certain presidential candidate who in 2000 who scoffed at the notion of nation-building.
That said, it seems 2006 was just the Dems' coming up for air on their insatiable masochistic binge. Their only two front-runners are someone who is going to guarantee that 5 million first (and only) time voters are going to get up at 4 am to vote against her in November (before they go back to temping at Bob Evans), and someone who has a middle name of Hussein, is black, and has said he won't run any negative ads (a la Presidents Dukakis and Kerry).
I have a particular problem with the Obama people - and no, I've never had any Oprah issues. Several months ago, Obama spoke at the Marriott over on Adams Street, across from the Kings County Courts. That evening I was chilling @ the pub and a crowd of the Obama people walked in, having just come over from the event. They eagerly waited for press coverage of his speech - completely understandable. I wasn't particularly keen on the guy, but I listened intently. After it was done, I thought I'd chat with a couple of them...we are, after all, Democrats, aren't we? A couple of them were, to be sure, very friendly and we went back and forth - basically I lamented the media's anointment of him (and Clinton and Edwards) instead of substance; they talked about things like "energy" and "hope" - and I'm truly not selling them short...remember, according to radio listeners, Nixon won the 1960 debates.
A few days later, the gal behind the bar on that particular night was saying that the group was talking about me after I left...I was a "racist", a "Nazi", an "ignoramous," and...I love this one...a "Republican."
So Hillary's inviting new people to the process who all will vote against her. And the new people Obama's inviting? Well.................
The Brahmin
That said, it seems 2006 was just the Dems' coming up for air on their insatiable masochistic binge. Their only two front-runners are someone who is going to guarantee that 5 million first (and only) time voters are going to get up at 4 am to vote against her in November (before they go back to temping at Bob Evans), and someone who has a middle name of Hussein, is black, and has said he won't run any negative ads (a la Presidents Dukakis and Kerry).
I have a particular problem with the Obama people - and no, I've never had any Oprah issues. Several months ago, Obama spoke at the Marriott over on Adams Street, across from the Kings County Courts. That evening I was chilling @ the pub and a crowd of the Obama people walked in, having just come over from the event. They eagerly waited for press coverage of his speech - completely understandable. I wasn't particularly keen on the guy, but I listened intently. After it was done, I thought I'd chat with a couple of them...we are, after all, Democrats, aren't we? A couple of them were, to be sure, very friendly and we went back and forth - basically I lamented the media's anointment of him (and Clinton and Edwards) instead of substance; they talked about things like "energy" and "hope" - and I'm truly not selling them short...remember, according to radio listeners, Nixon won the 1960 debates.
A few days later, the gal behind the bar on that particular night was saying that the group was talking about me after I left...I was a "racist", a "Nazi", an "ignoramous," and...I love this one...a "Republican."
So Hillary's inviting new people to the process who all will vote against her. And the new people Obama's inviting? Well.................
The Brahmin
Bless us Everyone
It is Christmas Eve, 2007.
Many times during the year which has passed I had wondered whether I'd make it to this point.
Summer was the hardest. In June I returned to my alma mater, Antioch College, in commemoration of the 20th annniversary of my graduation. I had even booked the flight to nearby Dayton for the exact date of the bidecennial. Only problem was, about a week before, the Board of Trustees surreptitiously announced that the College would close next year.
What followed is a microcosm of everything I found irresistible and immoral about Antioch. If the Trustees thought that they could slip this news through on a sleepy early summer Ohio afternoon, they were very much mistaken (and good). The Reunion drew a record turnout - there were even tent cities on campus. Something like a quarter million dollars was raised within 24 hours - ultimately, enough progress was made so that the Board reversed itself in November.
And yet, what was done in the process? Committee after committee after committee. And probably a committee on committees. I don't know what the origin of this mode of "organization" is; perhaps suspicion of solo power; perhaps fear of the fact that even in democracies, there has to be a winning and a losing side, or maybe just the idea that even the people who really don't have much to contribute to a subject beyond hearing the sound of his/her own voice need to...well, be heard.
Now it seems that "we" the alumni want to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Apparently the alums themselves fractured into "moderates" and "hardliners" and now are competing with one another as to whom should deal with the administration and trustees - Great, considering that these are the people who all indications are ran the College into the ground and would like nothing more than a divided opposition.
A month after the reunion, I was planning on working late, only three days away from my planned vacation to Nova Scotia, when I was caught in the steampipe explosion just a block from my office building. Of course, and thankfully, this was no 9/11, but having heard the first-hand stories of my brother and ex-fiancee's cousin who were right there when the planes hit, the paralysis of panic was very much there...added, ironically, by a sense of certainty (proven wrong) as to what was transpiring...that Osama was at it again; or maybe Cheney was pining for the top job after all (just not needing to have to go through voters to do it). Anyway, I lost the last two days before my vacation.
Then, in Nova Scotia, I learned that my mother had suffered a stroke. Cut the trip short, and flew back (Halifax is certainly no town to get caught in during a family emergency; air fare had to be at least three times what it would have been from Toronto or Montreal). To sound unfeelingly clinical, observing a stroke is remarkable in considering an almost cybernetic quality of the human animal. My father died of a stroke five years ago next month; and that one I was very much present for - I witnessed his last words - cough, slump, two badly slurred sentences; a fading rattle to respond to the EMS attendants, and it was all over (obviously it was a left-sided stroke). Eerie, too, was speaking with my mom as she was admitted - very much in control of her faculties if not her left extremities (knowledgable to not only her time and place) - only to be back in Brooklyn 48 hours later at least temporarily not knowing who I was and for several weeks stubbornly convinced she lived in childhood digs on Staten Island. The mechanics are at the same time fascinating, demanding, and excruciating.
But I have made it - or at least seven more days and I have. Along with 1985 (which permanently established my ongoing love/hate feelings toward my alma mater now convulsing in financial coma); 1993 (a vagabond grad school dropout in a recession) and 2003 (the year of my dad's death), this is the most difficult year I've had. Notice how none of the succeeding years make that list. So '08 will be a good one. I know it. And to any reading, make these holidays and the year to come the same. Bless us Everyone.
The Brahmin
Many times during the year which has passed I had wondered whether I'd make it to this point.
Summer was the hardest. In June I returned to my alma mater, Antioch College, in commemoration of the 20th annniversary of my graduation. I had even booked the flight to nearby Dayton for the exact date of the bidecennial. Only problem was, about a week before, the Board of Trustees surreptitiously announced that the College would close next year.
What followed is a microcosm of everything I found irresistible and immoral about Antioch. If the Trustees thought that they could slip this news through on a sleepy early summer Ohio afternoon, they were very much mistaken (and good). The Reunion drew a record turnout - there were even tent cities on campus. Something like a quarter million dollars was raised within 24 hours - ultimately, enough progress was made so that the Board reversed itself in November.
And yet, what was done in the process? Committee after committee after committee. And probably a committee on committees. I don't know what the origin of this mode of "organization" is; perhaps suspicion of solo power; perhaps fear of the fact that even in democracies, there has to be a winning and a losing side, or maybe just the idea that even the people who really don't have much to contribute to a subject beyond hearing the sound of his/her own voice need to...well, be heard.
Now it seems that "we" the alumni want to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Apparently the alums themselves fractured into "moderates" and "hardliners" and now are competing with one another as to whom should deal with the administration and trustees - Great, considering that these are the people who all indications are ran the College into the ground and would like nothing more than a divided opposition.
A month after the reunion, I was planning on working late, only three days away from my planned vacation to Nova Scotia, when I was caught in the steampipe explosion just a block from my office building. Of course, and thankfully, this was no 9/11, but having heard the first-hand stories of my brother and ex-fiancee's cousin who were right there when the planes hit, the paralysis of panic was very much there...added, ironically, by a sense of certainty (proven wrong) as to what was transpiring...that Osama was at it again; or maybe Cheney was pining for the top job after all (just not needing to have to go through voters to do it). Anyway, I lost the last two days before my vacation.
Then, in Nova Scotia, I learned that my mother had suffered a stroke. Cut the trip short, and flew back (Halifax is certainly no town to get caught in during a family emergency; air fare had to be at least three times what it would have been from Toronto or Montreal). To sound unfeelingly clinical, observing a stroke is remarkable in considering an almost cybernetic quality of the human animal. My father died of a stroke five years ago next month; and that one I was very much present for - I witnessed his last words - cough, slump, two badly slurred sentences; a fading rattle to respond to the EMS attendants, and it was all over (obviously it was a left-sided stroke). Eerie, too, was speaking with my mom as she was admitted - very much in control of her faculties if not her left extremities (knowledgable to not only her time and place) - only to be back in Brooklyn 48 hours later at least temporarily not knowing who I was and for several weeks stubbornly convinced she lived in childhood digs on Staten Island. The mechanics are at the same time fascinating, demanding, and excruciating.
But I have made it - or at least seven more days and I have. Along with 1985 (which permanently established my ongoing love/hate feelings toward my alma mater now convulsing in financial coma); 1993 (a vagabond grad school dropout in a recession) and 2003 (the year of my dad's death), this is the most difficult year I've had. Notice how none of the succeeding years make that list. So '08 will be a good one. I know it. And to any reading, make these holidays and the year to come the same. Bless us Everyone.
The Brahmin
Monday, December 17, 2007
When It's Time to Draw the Line
The Mets today announced an across-the-board 20 per cent increase in ticket prices for 2008.
The mind boggles as to why. I assume the Wilpons and Omar Minaya were not thinking fans would necessarily want to flock to Shea based on 12 losses in their last 17, nine of the losses against sub-.500 teams, and a 1-6 final homestand. And a little birdie tells me that with a gratuitous 10,000 seat drop in seating capacity for 2009 with the opening of Citi Field, the P.R. people already are fine-tuning the press release justifying a sharp increase for that season.
Or maybe they think that fans will pony up 20 per cent more in order to see Brian Schneider or Ryan Church 81 times a year. Or maybe they think that because the Yankees got the brunt of the Mitchell report, no one will notice.
But after 31 plus years of faith, fear and loathing in Flushing (to borrow from a Met-related blog I've happened upon), I've found that it's time to draw the line.
It's not so much that the Mets haven't been apologetic for the 2007 collapse. In fact, it's because they have...or rather, they made awkward noises of contrition. They came in the form of some sort of tautly written e-mail that was sent to...well, I don't know exactly whom; some season ticket holders got it, stating how "bitterly disappointed" they were in the failure to make the playoffs and that they expected better results. Wonderful. So...that was it?
Even back then I was saying that if they raised ticket prices for '08, I was finished. Not only will they allow prices to skyrocket in '09, they will do so being lathered up by the good 'ol folks at Subprime Citi for the naming rights, I pointed out. Patience, Patience, I was told. They will go out and make the big trade, or the big signing, and that will justify a price hike. So here they are - and the "big" deal was for Church and Schneider. As I said above, I don't even think management thinks that justifies a rate hike.
It's either about greed; or about the notion that in New York, people will pay to go to the ballpark no matter how much it costs. More likely, the latter feeds the former. For now, I'm done. I'm not spending a dime on Met tickets again. Not at Shea. Not at Citi Field. Fans have to know it's a business. Fans also ought to know that business becomes a market-immune monopoly if they don't speak truth to power...and stay at home.
The Brahmin
The mind boggles as to why. I assume the Wilpons and Omar Minaya were not thinking fans would necessarily want to flock to Shea based on 12 losses in their last 17, nine of the losses against sub-.500 teams, and a 1-6 final homestand. And a little birdie tells me that with a gratuitous 10,000 seat drop in seating capacity for 2009 with the opening of Citi Field, the P.R. people already are fine-tuning the press release justifying a sharp increase for that season.
Or maybe they think that fans will pony up 20 per cent more in order to see Brian Schneider or Ryan Church 81 times a year. Or maybe they think that because the Yankees got the brunt of the Mitchell report, no one will notice.
But after 31 plus years of faith, fear and loathing in Flushing (to borrow from a Met-related blog I've happened upon), I've found that it's time to draw the line.
It's not so much that the Mets haven't been apologetic for the 2007 collapse. In fact, it's because they have...or rather, they made awkward noises of contrition. They came in the form of some sort of tautly written e-mail that was sent to...well, I don't know exactly whom; some season ticket holders got it, stating how "bitterly disappointed" they were in the failure to make the playoffs and that they expected better results. Wonderful. So...that was it?
Even back then I was saying that if they raised ticket prices for '08, I was finished. Not only will they allow prices to skyrocket in '09, they will do so being lathered up by the good 'ol folks at Subprime Citi for the naming rights, I pointed out. Patience, Patience, I was told. They will go out and make the big trade, or the big signing, and that will justify a price hike. So here they are - and the "big" deal was for Church and Schneider. As I said above, I don't even think management thinks that justifies a rate hike.
It's either about greed; or about the notion that in New York, people will pay to go to the ballpark no matter how much it costs. More likely, the latter feeds the former. For now, I'm done. I'm not spending a dime on Met tickets again. Not at Shea. Not at Citi Field. Fans have to know it's a business. Fans also ought to know that business becomes a market-immune monopoly if they don't speak truth to power...and stay at home.
The Brahmin
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Word association, 12/8
Romney. Don't you love it when the only leading Republican in the Presidential race who has been married to the same one woman is a Mormon?
Mormons. Larry Craig is one as well, isn't he?
Larry Craig. Now that he's determined to serve out the rest of his term, does he still fly through Minneapolis, or does he chug-a-lug a double Pepto when he's an hour out of Boise?
Minneapolis. Hey, Johan Santana, consider Shea, and then Citi Field. The Twins are building an open air park. Like the idea of home games in April?
April. A friend of many years feels the need to underscore his enmity with his former wife by pointing out that her birthday was on the 20th of that month - same date as the son of a certain minor customs official from Braunau, Austria.
Former wife. Was Donna Hanover hanging on to the spare donuts of all those cops used for Rudy as he boarded the NYPD Cuckolder Express to Southampton?
Donuts. A chap well known in my local watering hole loves to ask, "What's the Difference between Boston Kreme and Bavarian Kreme?"
Kreme. Was it the same guy who came up with "Shoppe" who marketed that spelling? And how would Dan Quayle do with that one?
Dan Quayle. Where's he been? He'd be a lot more exciting than Fred Thompson, and perhaps only slightly dumber.
Fred Thompson. I like his co-star, Sam Waterston, but do I really have to see his picture every time I log on to my brokerage account, holding my breath in an unstable market?
Mormons. Larry Craig is one as well, isn't he?
Larry Craig. Now that he's determined to serve out the rest of his term, does he still fly through Minneapolis, or does he chug-a-lug a double Pepto when he's an hour out of Boise?
Minneapolis. Hey, Johan Santana, consider Shea, and then Citi Field. The Twins are building an open air park. Like the idea of home games in April?
April. A friend of many years feels the need to underscore his enmity with his former wife by pointing out that her birthday was on the 20th of that month - same date as the son of a certain minor customs official from Braunau, Austria.
Former wife. Was Donna Hanover hanging on to the spare donuts of all those cops used for Rudy as he boarded the NYPD Cuckolder Express to Southampton?
Donuts. A chap well known in my local watering hole loves to ask, "What's the Difference between Boston Kreme and Bavarian Kreme?"
Kreme. Was it the same guy who came up with "Shoppe" who marketed that spelling? And how would Dan Quayle do with that one?
Dan Quayle. Where's he been? He'd be a lot more exciting than Fred Thompson, and perhaps only slightly dumber.
Fred Thompson. I like his co-star, Sam Waterston, but do I really have to see his picture every time I log on to my brokerage account, holding my breath in an unstable market?
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Brahmin's a Biden Man
The Times has endorsed Joe Biden for President. That's the Storm Lake Times. It's in Iowa. Unless Davenport changed it's name, I've never been there. But who cares, they're damned right. Here it is.
We have seen all the Democratic presidential candidates, except for two, up close and personal: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. Biden is our choice for the nomination for the powerful personal story he shares, for his deep knowledge of international affairs, and for his long record of exemplary service in the United States Senate. Democrats are fortunate to have such a strong and varied field of candidates. Every one of them we like — including Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, who speak truth to power. Any one of them would make a tremendous president: Clinton by shattering the glass ceiling for women in politics, Obama for presenting a younger and different face to the world, Edwards for championing the cause of the little guy, Dodd for his long championing of those who suffer around the world, Richardson for his refreshing candor and good humor and wealth of experience as a diplomat. We like Biden because he has been tried privately and publicly, and came out of it all a stronger man. His wife and young child were killed in an auto accident. He faced death with a brain aneurism but survived it. Anyone who has been through what he has gains a perspective that will serve him well in the most trying of jobs. Biden overcame severe stuttering as a child by memorizing and reciting the great Irish poets in front of a mirror. He continues to call them down at public appearances, Yeats and Heaney and Joyce, which holds a special charm for us and gives a glimpse into the man’s soul. Biden is astounding with his sheer command of world politics and conflict. He has distinguished himself by offering the only workable plan to get us out of harm’s way in Iraq. He advocates a loose federal system under which the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would each control their own territory, somewhat similar to the notion of American federalism. He would remove American troops to a safe distance in friendly environs — Kurdistan and Kuwait, to name two — and let the Iraqis solve their own problems. The Senate on a bipartisan vote recently endorsed the Biden-Brownback plan, which dovetails into the thinking of the most prescient politician on the issue, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Penn., who led the charge against deeper involvement in Iraq that turned the 2006 Congressional elections. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Nobody, including the president, has a firmer grasp of international affairs. That’s what we need right now: Someone who can restore the good name of the United States of America around the world, who can hold the torch lighting the way of liberty and human rights throughout the world. Biden is that man. He says his first order of business will be to shut down Guantanamo Bay prison and quit torturing people. And, we need someone who understands civil liberties here at home. Biden says that will be the theme of his inaugural address, if elected. You can’t preach liberty abroad when you’re spying without court orders on your own citizens. How electable is Biden? How electable is a woman, or a man of color? Biden is somewhere south of 5% support among likely Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa. Remember that Jimmy Carter and John Kerry came out of nowhere. Polls can change quickly with such a small sample. The results are inevitable only if we place our bet with the big money and big machines. Biden has neither. He has a world view of America as an idea, a desire to restore our core values of freedom with shared responsibility, and a pragmatic view of foreign relations that seeks to bring nations together to find solutions short of misguided and ineffective wars. We also find Biden to be a person of integrity. When he last ran for president 20 years ago, Biden lifted a line from a British politician’s speech — whether conscious or not. Biden did not run and hide and deny and hedge. We recall it as if it were yesterday. In Davenport, he immediately admitted he was wrong, quit the race and thanked Iowans for their patience with him. We will never forget the classy way in which he ended that race. What appeared to be his major political foible is to us one of his strengths: humility, and a surprising lack of vanity. That’s something we’ve been lacking with the current occupant of the White House. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the candidates. We stand with Joe Biden because he has all the professional skills and, more important, the personal strength to get the job done unlike any other candidate. [end]
I haven't seen much of Richardson's "candor". Let's see how he responds to questions at the next debate about how New Mexico state workers are being sent up there without even being allowed to take personal time. But "hear, hear" otherwise.
The Brahmin
We have seen all the Democratic presidential candidates, except for two, up close and personal: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. Biden is our choice for the nomination for the powerful personal story he shares, for his deep knowledge of international affairs, and for his long record of exemplary service in the United States Senate. Democrats are fortunate to have such a strong and varied field of candidates. Every one of them we like — including Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, who speak truth to power. Any one of them would make a tremendous president: Clinton by shattering the glass ceiling for women in politics, Obama for presenting a younger and different face to the world, Edwards for championing the cause of the little guy, Dodd for his long championing of those who suffer around the world, Richardson for his refreshing candor and good humor and wealth of experience as a diplomat. We like Biden because he has been tried privately and publicly, and came out of it all a stronger man. His wife and young child were killed in an auto accident. He faced death with a brain aneurism but survived it. Anyone who has been through what he has gains a perspective that will serve him well in the most trying of jobs. Biden overcame severe stuttering as a child by memorizing and reciting the great Irish poets in front of a mirror. He continues to call them down at public appearances, Yeats and Heaney and Joyce, which holds a special charm for us and gives a glimpse into the man’s soul. Biden is astounding with his sheer command of world politics and conflict. He has distinguished himself by offering the only workable plan to get us out of harm’s way in Iraq. He advocates a loose federal system under which the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would each control their own territory, somewhat similar to the notion of American federalism. He would remove American troops to a safe distance in friendly environs — Kurdistan and Kuwait, to name two — and let the Iraqis solve their own problems. The Senate on a bipartisan vote recently endorsed the Biden-Brownback plan, which dovetails into the thinking of the most prescient politician on the issue, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Penn., who led the charge against deeper involvement in Iraq that turned the 2006 Congressional elections. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Nobody, including the president, has a firmer grasp of international affairs. That’s what we need right now: Someone who can restore the good name of the United States of America around the world, who can hold the torch lighting the way of liberty and human rights throughout the world. Biden is that man. He says his first order of business will be to shut down Guantanamo Bay prison and quit torturing people. And, we need someone who understands civil liberties here at home. Biden says that will be the theme of his inaugural address, if elected. You can’t preach liberty abroad when you’re spying without court orders on your own citizens. How electable is Biden? How electable is a woman, or a man of color? Biden is somewhere south of 5% support among likely Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa. Remember that Jimmy Carter and John Kerry came out of nowhere. Polls can change quickly with such a small sample. The results are inevitable only if we place our bet with the big money and big machines. Biden has neither. He has a world view of America as an idea, a desire to restore our core values of freedom with shared responsibility, and a pragmatic view of foreign relations that seeks to bring nations together to find solutions short of misguided and ineffective wars. We also find Biden to be a person of integrity. When he last ran for president 20 years ago, Biden lifted a line from a British politician’s speech — whether conscious or not. Biden did not run and hide and deny and hedge. We recall it as if it were yesterday. In Davenport, he immediately admitted he was wrong, quit the race and thanked Iowans for their patience with him. We will never forget the classy way in which he ended that race. What appeared to be his major political foible is to us one of his strengths: humility, and a surprising lack of vanity. That’s something we’ve been lacking with the current occupant of the White House. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the candidates. We stand with Joe Biden because he has all the professional skills and, more important, the personal strength to get the job done unlike any other candidate. [end]
I haven't seen much of Richardson's "candor". Let's see how he responds to questions at the next debate about how New Mexico state workers are being sent up there without even being allowed to take personal time. But "hear, hear" otherwise.
The Brahmin
Monday, December 3, 2007
Marbury's dad
When I made my post about MSG last night, I had just left my local watering hole watching the game (of course, the sound wasn't on) and when I got home and saw the Billy Joel replay I immediately turned off the TV. As such, I was unaware until this morning about the passing of Stephon Marbury's father either during or immediately after the game. Naturally, a postgame show has no significance in view of this. With this clarification, of course I offer deepest condolences to the Marbury family.
The Brahmin
The Brahmin
A Job I Want
I would like to fax my resume to a community newspaper in Florida - it doesn't really matter what town; or what neighborhood. I'd like to write a column for the paper and express my views on everything from national politics to the quality of graphite on pencils.
By the way, I've never been to Florida in my life. Would like to one day to catch Spring Training in Port St. Lucie; but as of now it hasn't happened yet.
Now why on earth would I want this job I speak of, and why on earth do I think anyone should hire me?
There's a community "flier" newspaper called the Park Slope Courier. It has some decent coverage of local politics, cultural events and other developments (including the Atlantic Yards boondoggle). It also clearly has a right-wing editorial bent - nothing wrong with that (although about a year ago it published a letter to the editor operating from the patently false notion that Puerto Ricans were illegal immigrants). In any event, one of its regular columnists, who offers typical pro-Republican talking points among other musings week to week, isn't from Park Slope, or even Brooklyn. He lives in Florida.
So, "North Tampa Weekly" or "South Beach Bugle," are ya hiring?
The Brahmin
By the way, I've never been to Florida in my life. Would like to one day to catch Spring Training in Port St. Lucie; but as of now it hasn't happened yet.
Now why on earth would I want this job I speak of, and why on earth do I think anyone should hire me?
There's a community "flier" newspaper called the Park Slope Courier. It has some decent coverage of local politics, cultural events and other developments (including the Atlantic Yards boondoggle). It also clearly has a right-wing editorial bent - nothing wrong with that (although about a year ago it published a letter to the editor operating from the patently false notion that Puerto Ricans were illegal immigrants). In any event, one of its regular columnists, who offers typical pro-Republican talking points among other musings week to week, isn't from Park Slope, or even Brooklyn. He lives in Florida.
So, "North Tampa Weekly" or "South Beach Bugle," are ya hiring?
The Brahmin
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Man, MSG sucks
We all know the Knicks suck, but how stupid do the people at MSG have to get because their team lost, 115-104 to Phoenix at home tonight? ? No post-game show; they immediately cut to highlights of a Billy Joel concert at MSG years ago. The shallowness is laid bare by the fact that they did a post-game show after a Ranger win ON THE ROAD the day before. Disgraceful...but typical. Come on. If you fire Isiah you can negotiate a deal by which he pays off his settlement proceeds.
The Brahmin
The Brahmin
J-E-T-S
Even in a 3-9 season, a win against the Dolphins is satisfying. So was today's 40-13 romp in Miami. The defense did not allow a touchdown, and the running game woke from the dead with (ugh) the first rushing TD from Thomas Jones and two from Leon Washington. Hard to say whether this symbolizes any long-term hope as that Miami club is god-awful (probably more likely to go 0-16 than the Pats are to go 16-0), but hey, with the QB controversy and that Gate D crap, we won't finish last.
The Brahmin
The Brahmin
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Nice Ranger Win
Very strong Ranger road outing in a 5-2 matinee win at Ottawa. 2 goals for Shanahan; the power play clicked for a pair and Henrik had his "pedestrian" 31 stops. Jaromir Jagr, who appears to have stopped his gun-shy blues, said that the first period was the team's best of the year. Tom Renney acknowledges the Sens' uncharacteristic slump, saying "we respect that," but knew that they couldn't "sit back" after jumping out to 3-0 lead after 20. Key play early was Colton Orr walking away from a bait job in the first period - Renney said Orr told him, "All he wanted to do was go." Good discipline and a very tasty two points. :) Back in first with Philly playing tonight.
The Brahmin
The Brahmin
Word Association, 12/1
I'll endeavor to start a weekly column on this blog, equating a "Word Association" game with my rantings, which is really all a blog is. Feel free, if anyone's around, to play along:
The Rangers are in Ottawa, doing very nicely, up 3-0 after 1.
Ottawa, Canada's capital. In Canada they have a parliamentary democracy, which means that the Prime Minister has to deal with questions not simply from the press, but from the opposition. Anyone care to think how Dubya would do dealing with opposition questions on a weekly/daily basis?
Dubya. Last year at about this time he said that New Orleans was recovering nicely from Katrina because the Saints were doing so well. Bad year for the Saints in '07. Was there another Hurricane, or administrator asleep at the wheel, I missed?
Hurricanes. The drink of choice at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. And (at least at that time) the easiest place for me to get into when I was under 21.
21. Blackjack. Why does anyone play on the Vegas strip, where they pay only 6-5 on a blackjack, when you can go downtown where they pay 2-1?
Vegas. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, and have the loot for it, book a table 3 months in advance at Picasso in the Bellagio, and enjoy.
Picasso. He painted Guernica.
Guernica. Read recently that the Spanish government is scratching at a few scabs from their Civil War in the '30's. Wonder if they find a new Hemingway manuscript.
Hemingway. A descendant of his became acquainted with an acquaintance of mine a number of years ago (I met him once at Hank's on Atlantic Avenue) and has become a regular presence at Brooklyn Cyclones games. Not the fiery personality you would expect.
The Rangers are in Ottawa, doing very nicely, up 3-0 after 1.
Ottawa, Canada's capital. In Canada they have a parliamentary democracy, which means that the Prime Minister has to deal with questions not simply from the press, but from the opposition. Anyone care to think how Dubya would do dealing with opposition questions on a weekly/daily basis?
Dubya. Last year at about this time he said that New Orleans was recovering nicely from Katrina because the Saints were doing so well. Bad year for the Saints in '07. Was there another Hurricane, or administrator asleep at the wheel, I missed?
Hurricanes. The drink of choice at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. And (at least at that time) the easiest place for me to get into when I was under 21.
21. Blackjack. Why does anyone play on the Vegas strip, where they pay only 6-5 on a blackjack, when you can go downtown where they pay 2-1?
Vegas. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, and have the loot for it, book a table 3 months in advance at Picasso in the Bellagio, and enjoy.
Picasso. He painted Guernica.
Guernica. Read recently that the Spanish government is scratching at a few scabs from their Civil War in the '30's. Wonder if they find a new Hemingway manuscript.
Hemingway. A descendant of his became acquainted with an acquaintance of mine a number of years ago (I met him once at Hank's on Atlantic Avenue) and has become a regular presence at Brooklyn Cyclones games. Not the fiery personality you would expect.
The Milledge People
I will miss the "Milledge People" - three or four fans at Shea who dressed up like the minstrels of "YMCA" and "Macho Man" in the 1970's - now that Lastings is gone. Maybe they will christen the new park in D.C.
My first thoughts were vehemently against this trade - I mean, maybe Milledge is not Roberto Clemente, but he does have an upside. Do either Ryan Church or Brian Schneider? Also, a Castro/Estrada backstop combo has much more pop than a Castro/Schneider duo.
Sleeping on it, this might not be such a bad move. Making Estrada expendable could make him part of a package for a Blanton or Haren, and even though Schneider's bat isn't explosive, having an A.L.-style starting lineup didn't get us to a WS as the N.L. representative for two years running.
Lastly, the cynic in me wonders whether Milledge has more baggage about to come out, and the time bomb is boarding the southbound Acela (though I don't see Omar as a guy who'd booby trap his former organization).
Not the only move that has to be made, but perhaps there are manipulations being made (of which this is a small part) that we aren't aware of...yet.
The Brahmin
My first thoughts were vehemently against this trade - I mean, maybe Milledge is not Roberto Clemente, but he does have an upside. Do either Ryan Church or Brian Schneider? Also, a Castro/Estrada backstop combo has much more pop than a Castro/Schneider duo.
Sleeping on it, this might not be such a bad move. Making Estrada expendable could make him part of a package for a Blanton or Haren, and even though Schneider's bat isn't explosive, having an A.L.-style starting lineup didn't get us to a WS as the N.L. representative for two years running.
Lastly, the cynic in me wonders whether Milledge has more baggage about to come out, and the time bomb is boarding the southbound Acela (though I don't see Omar as a guy who'd booby trap his former organization).
Not the only move that has to be made, but perhaps there are manipulations being made (of which this is a small part) that we aren't aware of...yet.
The Brahmin
Greetings and Ruminations
Hi, "all."
Eventually I'll figure out how to get yours truly's pic on here.
In the Republican debate the other night, they were all falling over each other over "illegal immigration." Personally, if you want to be "tough" on illegal immigration, how about cancelling the Thanksgiving holiday?
I mean, what customs screening did the Pilgrims go through, and had the Native Americans in Massachusetts issued visas?
There was a question from an NRA member who had an assault rifle tossed to him, pulled backed the trigger and locked, and told the overwhelmingly sympathetic candidates, "Don't worry, you can answer any way you like," sarcastically.
Now, I'm not an abolitionist. Of course, I don't know of anyone who has proposed legislation outlawing all firearms, and if someone has, I'd disagree with it. But - speaking of the NRA - these are the people who chose to hold their national convention in Colorado right after the Columbine incident; and now a member implies that assassination of a politician who disagrees with its agenda is acceptable conduct. If I were someone with a gun who felt that the issue was worth advocating, I'd think about improving the quality of the organization who speaks out for me.
Tomorrow, snow??
The Brahmin
Eventually I'll figure out how to get yours truly's pic on here.
In the Republican debate the other night, they were all falling over each other over "illegal immigration." Personally, if you want to be "tough" on illegal immigration, how about cancelling the Thanksgiving holiday?
I mean, what customs screening did the Pilgrims go through, and had the Native Americans in Massachusetts issued visas?
There was a question from an NRA member who had an assault rifle tossed to him, pulled backed the trigger and locked, and told the overwhelmingly sympathetic candidates, "Don't worry, you can answer any way you like," sarcastically.
Now, I'm not an abolitionist. Of course, I don't know of anyone who has proposed legislation outlawing all firearms, and if someone has, I'd disagree with it. But - speaking of the NRA - these are the people who chose to hold their national convention in Colorado right after the Columbine incident; and now a member implies that assassination of a politician who disagrees with its agenda is acceptable conduct. If I were someone with a gun who felt that the issue was worth advocating, I'd think about improving the quality of the organization who speaks out for me.
Tomorrow, snow??
The Brahmin
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