Neocon Redemption?

Guess whose favorite former White House doughboy spokesman wrote a scathing book about his time bullshitting for the Bush administration? If you guessed Scott McClellan, you'd be correct! Word broke that he's releasing a book titled What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and What's Wrong with Washington, and in it he's as nasty as he wants to be (and we all know how nasty those Republicans can be!). From the fodder I've been reading, he really comes down on Bush's bullshit reasoning for the war in Iraq and Bush's bullshit reaction to Hurricane Katrina.

As cool as all that sounds, a big part of me thinks, "a little late, homeskillet!" He had a lot of time to call shenanigans on Bush's dirty deeds, but instead he played the dummy spokesman, misleading the American people. Guess what, Scott? You're still going to Hell (and your little dog too!).

See you there.

"I think the difference with McClellan's book is he's now telling us something we all know -- that the war with Iraq was a disastrous war [and] was sold with deception. It's a little different when you say something as I did and a few other people did four or five years ago, when the war was popular and when we were unpopular for saying what we said."
- Richard Clarke, former White House counterterrorism chief (Clarke left government in 2003)

What Does It Take?

I just rediscovered this on the radio down here this past weekend and thought I'd share. Might be one of the most beautiful tunes I've ever heard.

Embarrasing Parents=Kids With Tongue Rings

I was watching one of my favorite tv shows, MTV's documentary show True Life, and this particular episode was about "Embarrassing Parents." As you can imagine, the parents were nothing short of ridiculous. One poor girls parents were professional clowns and would show up with their clown friends at her parties to embarrass her. Another poor girls mother was a full-fledged "hootchy momma." Her mother would try to dress like Britney Spears, showing off her twice done boob job, platinum blond hair, and washboard abs to anyone who would bother to give her the attention. Mother tells her early adolescent child that she's just expressing herself. By the end of the show, the child responds to her mother that she would like to express herself with a tongue ring. Could you believe mother wasn't happy?

Why do people get tongue rings? Chris Rock will tell you 2:30 into this video.

"Nice Pants"

Photo courtesy of Becky H. "Meat-morial 2008"

Ze Russians

"Attitude Adjustment" is what is displayed on the awning in the bar below my apartment. In which direction will my attitude get adjusted? If I go in happy does that mean I will be threatened by a bunch of Russians looking to "adjust" my attitude? Does this place look shady to you? Does it seem like a place where you can drink 101 different flavors of infused vodka? Does it look like a place where Russians cut peoples' finger tips off? Perhaps a game of roulette?

My girlfriend has warned me not to blog anything negative about the bar (out of fear of the unknown), so honestly, I'm just asking questions.

If I ever go there, I'll report back.

UPDATE: My Russian related suspicions are 95% related to the new Indiana Jones movie.

Muxtape Madness

"Oh no you just di'int!"

"Yes, I just di!"

Another mouthwatering muxtape! Let me know if you have any questions.


New nails sound more appropriate on the dance floor than it does in hell.
Why do we care?
Don't look forward and expect happiness
New York rockers make their impression felt:
First up is the female poet
Next up is the Entourage
And then it all burns down.
Finally some new kids arrive
We haven't left the club, have we?
Do you party? "Yah, mon!"
The Walrus was Paul (unless it wasn't).
3-day-sleep-it-away in anger, I heard ya say
To the point it becomes a diamond.

John Safran VS God

I'm back! Time Warner Cable Guy actually came today, so I now have internet at home and no one has to die (whew!).

A couple months ago, an old roommate of mine discovered the tv show John Safran VS God on the Sundance Channel. They were re-airing an 8 part television documentary from Australia made in 2004. Throughout the series our hero, John Safran, takes an "irreverent look at world religions and theology in general... both informative and entertaining, without being outright offensive." He's kinda like an Aussie version of Bill Maher mixed with Tom Green.

In the seven minute clip below, John confesses to a priest in Sicily for dirty deeds he committed years earlier while filming for a travel show. I figured most of you have never heard of this series, but it's definitely worth checking out.

In The Mornin' Dont Say You Love Me

I think sometimes in life we loose sight of how truly fucking awesome Rod Stewart is.

Sports In Plain Site

And now for the sports report:

*Anthony Miles spears ex-marine at state track meet
*George W. Bush caught playing dirty
*Interested in competitive sports? Jump off your segway and sign up
*Nick Adenhart, a friend and Williamsport High School alumnus, has started three games pitching for the L. A. Angels so far this season

Banner Change

Hey, Pigs! I asked NathanaelMcDaniel to provide me with a new Banner pic for the site, to keep things funky fresh, and the dude abided. I think it looks great!

I still don't have internet at home, that's why I haven't been posting lately. I should have it by Saturday (or someone at Time Warner Cable will die).

Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Yeltsin, Edwards, Bush conducting a band, Castro, Tony Blair playing guitar? After watching this I'm even more excited about this record than I was before.

Thoughts on a City

I recently visited some old Swags in New York City on a rainy Friday night. The air was cool and calm as it collected and quickly dissipated my Maryland aura. There was no time to adjust to the new surroundings; if you tried to, you would miss everything. Searching for shelter, we stumbled into the historic St. Nick’s pub on 149th Street around midnight where live jazz music perpetuates in the heart of Harlem.

Once inside, the vibe was incredible and certainly tangible. The people were lively and ever shifting and smiling. The band began to play. The cymbals sizzled and the double bass pulsed. The piano player fingered those familiar walking staccato jazz chords. A saucy chanteuse emerged scatting in front of the band while her path from the bar to the stage was slowly overtaken by the crowd. This woman was not afraid to look her audience in the eye individually for extended moments. Alas, her eyes caught mine and we exchanged a lengthy stare. The intense surreality of that moment shattered my inner capacity and I looked away. She had somehow jumped onto my page and dog-eared it. It was a moment that approached the supernatural.

These moments occur to me periodically while viewing art, listening to music, and when enjoying earthly enhancers. It is a peak into the possibility of something else beyond our five senses, a crack between worlds.

The following afternoon we stood over a central stone in Strawberry Fields adjacent to the Dakota Hotel, that read the word, IMAGINE. One can only do just that while sitting on the surrounding park benches. The word conjures up a thousand thoughts. The memorial is moving and extremely effective. Even with cameras and kids, the scene around the stone is quiet and respectful. That one word has more meaning then a novel of words.

Our imaginations have always been a tool for invention. Many things we have conceived or predicted have indeed happened. We have also imagined divine worlds, peoples, and events. Does the divine supernatural exist? Maybe, but the kind of supernatural I’m talking about is beyond that. It is beyond the heavens, existing within a planet that we need to take charge of by taking care of. You got it.

Manny Being Manny

My new favorite catch ever. Manny Ramirez, over the shoulder, at the warning track, spots the Red Sox fan, off the wall, high five, lands, turns, hits the cut off man, then doubles the runner up at first. How I love planet ManRam

New Book, New News, More Angles, same ol' Dylan

Check out this interview, real sweet lady and iconic if you've heard Freewheelin' or seen Vanilla Sky.

Interview

Orioles Magic

I will admit, I am a little jealous Cleveland has not put together a video like this. We still have the most racist logo in baseball though, you can't take that away from us.

The Pres Just Crossed the Line

So you know how in life there are various lines that you aren't supposed to cross...well Commandante George Bush just leapfrogged that line. At a speech in Jerusalem in front of their Parliament, the day after their 60th anniversary, President Bush just said "Some seem to believe we should negotiate with the terrorist and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American Senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

Our President has gone from being a failure, to being a disappointment, to now being a disgrace. To go to Israel, in their capital, in front of their elected leaders, and accuse Barack Obama of wanting to "appease" Iran and then to invoke the memory of the holocaust. This from the man who is responsible for the biggest foreign policy blunder in a generation? This from the man whose own defense secretary stated in the Washington Post today that he wants to sit down and negotiate with Iran? This from the man who said recently that as a sacrifice to the soldiers he gave up playing golf?

I'm famous!

By Spencer Stottlemyer | Staff Photographer

PUPPET NEWS ROUND-UP ACTION NEWS FLASH

This is the first installment of what will become a regular feature of Putting Things in Plain Site: PUPPET NEWS ROUND-UP. This is where I'll bring you the freshest, crunkest, puppetest headlines from around the 'Net.

First up -- Everyone's second favorite puppet clan, The Fraggles, will be coming soon to a big screen near you! That's right! The Weinstein Co. will turn the Jim Henson series "Fraggle Rock" into a live-action musical feature. I can't wait to hear songs about RADISHES, THE GREAT HEAP, DOZERS and RADISHES. I bet you can't either!

OK, so I guess that's really all the puppet news out there today. See you tomorrow when I'll be back after hopefully reading a news story about a puppet, or something that sort of tangentially relates to a puppet or puppeteering or marionettes or even has a little to do with something kind of puppety like nut-crackers or sock monkeys. Til then, here's one of my favorite puppets, Kermit T. Frog singing one of my favorite suicide songs, Elliot Smith's "Needle in the Hay". Play us out, Kermie.

Aint That a Shame

Sad news on the news....just heard Bob Herbert of the New York Times on Morning Joe saying that if you only have a high school diploma in this country that it's "virtually impossible" that you will ever own a home. Also our generation makes on average 5,000 dollars less than our parents generation did. Over the last couple decades it's just that so much of the emphasis on the economy has been put on trickle down economics. I mean I love business owners, don't get me wrong, but the tax policies, the loopholes, and the breaks that have been put in by Republicans and conservatives have been designed to help small business and corporations overwhelmingly. And their excuse is that 'well you have to help the businesses because they create the jobs' and they expect that if you give the money to the folks at the top that they'll pass it on down the line. Now I will admit, there are great business owners in the world who take the tax breaks they are given and reinvest that money back into not only their business but their people, and then those people invest money back into the economy, and everything works out swimmingly. But the problem is that the vast majority don't do that, they invest that money into their own pockets and let the working man or woman flounder. And then when the working man or woman asks for a little help they get scolded and accused of asking for a handout. As Fats Domino once said, Aint that a shame.

So Cool

I always think of you guys when I write something at work. Here's my most recent nod:

The Storque

Les Triplettes de Belleville

I'm not into animations either (especially French ones) and I can't recommend this movie to you.  That said, this film contains one of my favorite intros ever. The clip includes illustrated cameos of Fred Astaire, Django Reinhardt, and Josephine Baker. The movie also pokes fun at Americans which I think we can all be good sports about.

...I've heard it a thousand times.

I keep claiming to be the lame duck when it comes to music on this blog, but I keep stumbling across all these great info-tainment music finds. Like this one:

Peppe Giorri plays Gran Vals para Guitarra composed by Francisco Tárrega Eixea (1852 - 1909).



Just past 15 seconds in, see if you recognize "the most listened to melody in the world." Over 800,000 people all over the world play it several times, even during movies, every day.

[source] - don't click until you've figured out where you know this tune from.

Mr. Tambourine Man?

No one in the world could convince me this man does not smoke weed. Moving on...

Last night he was playing "Mr. Tambourine Man" on American Idol, and today all over the media - "ANOTHER IDOL FLUBS UP LYRICS." Did the article mention that remembering the words to THAT song, is really fucking hard? Of course, the lyrics are what make it so magical and surreal, but in the jingle jangle morning I'd struggle with the lyrics too.


This and this also caught my attention.

REAGAN DIARIES

"A moment I've been dreading. George brought his n'er-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one who lives in Florida; the one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless. This so-called kid is already almost 40 and has never had a real job. Maybe I'll call Kinsley over at The New Republic and see if they'll hire him as a contributing editor or something. That looks like easy work."

From the REAGAN DIARIES------entry dated May 17, 1986.

Above the photo from the REAGAN DIARIES is a quote that Reagan wrote about George 'W' in his diaries, recently edited by author Doug Brinkley and published by Harper Collins.


"Bush Confesses to Waterboarding. Call D.C. Cops!"

"Politicians tend to talk very, very big about supporting our men and women in uniform."

“If You Aren’t Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention”

UPDATE: Seems like the above Reagan Diaries entry was never written by THE Ronald Reagan. I was a bit skeptical (consider the source) of the authenticity. Thank you for pointing that out.

She'll Be Riding Six White Horses When She Comes Part 2

Ceaser, or the head doctor at the Kentucky Derby gave the thumbs down signal to have Eight Belles, a horse, killed. The horse was the first loser in the big race. I don't think they killed the horse for not winning, but I do think the jockey knew the horses's ankles were broke before he crossed the finish line. So he gets paid nicely anyway and you know PETA is upset. Is horse racing cruel or cool?

I did end up drinking mint juleps that fine day (which aren't as good as mojitos) and I lost a dollar on the outcome. Not too bad. The first time I bet on horses I won $150.00.

The Best Video Ever

Is this Crazy-Ass Goose terrorizing the waterways of Maryland? The dog looks like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, at any rate.

Have You Gotten Your Check?

"So, how about this? Bush made a speech today. He was talking about getting your stimulus check back to you. And he said, you know, you can use it on gas, because gas is now so high. Which I think is so funny, because you give your money to the government, and then the government gives it back to you, and you give it to the oil companies, which is the government—[laughter]—or at least the people who put the government in power. It does seem like a vicious circle that’s only screwing all of us. Okay."

- Bill Maher, Episode #615 4/25/08

"Is that Jesus in my grilled cheese? No, Lord, that's Bill!" Of course I'm seeing this when it comes out.

Montana vs. Meth

There's been some debate out west over the anit-drug ads created by the Montana Meth Project (not to be confused with the jam band). All the billboards are being pulled off the highway because they are apparently scaring the shit out of drivers. However, the television spots, which seem much more hostile, appear to be up and running.

The commercial below is my favorite --I initially thought it was from the guy who directed Funny Games. When I watch it I kind of just stare at the screen with wide-eyes and half a grin.



This doesn't necessary turn me off to meth as much as it just makes me think people who use it are really really really hardcore and adventurous.

I'm From Barcelona

Many of us now, have seen I'm From Barcelona. I have Adam to thank for introducing me. Needless to say, they were quite the sight to see. Always fun to see an act from across the sea. We caught them in Hobo, NJ no less! They have sex in the laundromats there; that's what a head hunter told me.

In five words or less: Swedish, Happy, Sunshine, Childhood, 25. Their music video (youtoobe) kinda blew my mind, man. Is that what it's like in Jönköping, Sweden?!



I'm gonna sing this song with all of my friends
and we're I'm from Barcelona
Love is a feeling that we don't understand
but we're gonna give it to ya

Needless to say, it's catchy as hell. What do you think?

Cinco de Maio

Buenos Cabrons,

I wanted to remind everyone to be extra polite to your Juans and Miguels, for today is Cinco de Maio!
As a New Mexican I celebrated Cinco de Maio by playing hooky; I slept in late till noon, took a long hot shower, went to the park, dozed in and out. I also prepard some pasole (hominy) and I'd like to pass on the recipe.
Serve this to your senhorita and she'll be sweating bullets here there and everywhere...
and then she'll want to do the backwards cowgirl
all night.

Ingredients -
1 bag of pasole or hominy
6-8 red chile pods
1-2 ibs of pork or chicken or beef cut into cubes
3-5 cloves garlic
2 quarts water
1 teaspoon oregano

1. Some pasole or hominy comes like dried corn kernals, looks kinda like chicken scratch. If this is the case soak in water overnight. Otherwise you can buy the kind that's ready to go.
2. Cook Pasole in roughly 2 quarts of boiling salty water for an hour or so.
3. Add cut up meat, garlic, red chile pods (washed and deseeded), oregano and cook for another hour at a slow boil or simmer with the top on. Make sure you maintain the water level.
4. Its finished when the pasole is soft and tender and the meat cooked through.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with a dabble of sour cream and cilantro.


There are many different recipes for pasole, some take green chile, some take onion, etc. This one is just relatively easy.

happy cinco chicos!

Madame Badudi

Greetings,

I was looking forward to introducing my superintendent and good friend, Madame Badudi, to the group, as the Madame was scheduled to make tonight the debut. Unfortunately, the Madame has suffered a debilitating neck injury and can hardly function out of bed. On behalf of the Madame, I send my sincerest regards to all members.

Note, too, the Madame is honered and eager to be a contributor to the blog.

bueno,

A-

She'll Be Riding Six White Horses When She Comes

"Old Whiskey weren't much of a horse. No good for ridin' around on, but mighty fine fer sittin' an' smokin' a pipe o' baccy."

We kick off horse racing season with the 134th Kentucky Derby tomorrow. Just in case you haven't put your life savings on the line yet, here are the odds to get you started. I'm going to pick my winner right now...hmm...I like Pyro. We'll see if I'm right. So kick back a few mint juleps bob dylan style and don your most ridiculous hat. I'll see you at the finish line...p.s. i've been hoping it would come to this

Live In My Room

Hey, pigs! If you've ever wanted to live in my room, I swear to god, there's no better time than now! That's right, I'm leaving my humble room on West 107th St. There's a Craiglist listing here.

Looking at the pictures tells some stories, some good times.

Back in the spring of 2006, when my buddy/roommate from college told me he had an extra room, I was pretty psyched. I knew I had to do it.

Since I've been here I can honestly say I'm a changed man. Why wouldn't I have changed? "Yes," I am aware, but still. The first time I walked the streets alone...

Insert flashback to July 2006; JT's "Sexyback" playing everywhere you go, like Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" was the year before.

I didn't have any kind of job lined up, so I knew I had to get one, and I couldn't get by on the same button-downs that I've had since college to get the job done. I spent my first day alone, walking the city to seek and find dress clothes for job interviews. Interesting, I know. After several hours, I had my hands full of bags and I was making my way home.

After a sweaty subway ride, I was making my way home when I "bumped" (barely) into Mr. Scary New York Man. Whatever, I don't care what you think, he was bigger and had a crazy eye. Confrontation ensues. My bags accidentally hit his bag (barely), he dropped it, sounds of glass breaking, red liquid spilling on the concrete (what the fuck is that shit?), me trying my best to pretend I didn't notice.

"HEY!"

I was being called out.

"You made me drop my daughter's prescription medicine," he grunted angrily at me.

I was half thinking "bullshit," I half wanted to make things right. I offered to take him back to the pharmacy to get the prescription refilled. He wanted to take me away in a cab. I refused and offered him money instead. "Why couldn't he have just dropped a 40. I could have giving him $5 fucking dollars and he could've bought TWO fucking 40s," I thought to myself.

He told me the medicine cost $20 dollars. When I pulled out my wallet, I could feel his eyes on my money. He then told me there was TWO bottles in his broken bag (who is he kidding?), so he needed $40! I protested in a way you'd expect, trying to reason. Fuck, it was light outside. He was drunk and getting loud. Then he quietly told me to GIVE HIM ALL MY MONEY... I looked around, of course there was no one. To avoid further confrontation (keep in mind I had NEW clothes in bags, in my hands, on the ground during all this. What am I supposed to do, fucking slap him and run for it? Mr. Scary New York Man wasn't playing. I gave him all my money... roughly $60 buck, I'd guess.

I felt kinda band about it, but I also felt proud of it. It was a fun story to tell. People couldn't believe it and apologized, very sweet, but it's a fun story nonetheless. Fun because violence was avoided. Some of my friends thought I was naive and fell for the oldest trick in the book. The ole "drop your 50 cent red drink that every alcoholic walking the street buys and blame it on someone and then take his money" trick... Obviously I had never heard of that one. I learned my lesson. Or have I?

For all those who were wondering, I'm moving in with my love here real soon. New place on May 9th. Party time/excellent.

The coolest person with spinal muscular atrophy ever

A sad, happy, uplifting, depressing story Matt & I watched on the premiere of the This American Life Showtime TV series. Definitely one of the most thought-provoking things I've seen in a while; at least since the season premiere of The Hills.

This article tells Mike Phillips's story, and updates us a bit on how his life's been since his visit from Public Radio International's Ira Glass.