Monday. Meh!

In my world Mondays are Fridays.  My weekend (off season) is Tuesday and Wednesday.  This makes it a bit troubling when dealing with people just coming off their weekend of binge drinking, over eating, drugs, and too much partying.

When did people forget that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" or that hangovers are odious, unforgiving experiences?

I don't know what the celebrations were about, but there were too many of these people out and about today - most nursing headaches, stomach aches, etc., at the bar.  A few attempted to eat solid food, other than chips, pretzels, or nachos.  A valiant effort, but even fewer enjoyed the experience.  Oh, well.

What was most annoying was that most of these folks were in their 40s & 50s, who have been around the block enough to know there are consequences.  Some were behaving so badly that I had to issue a warning at one point and remind them that their choice to get ripped to the tits didn't make them special in the eyes of the restaurant, other diners, or those serving them, so STFU and deal with it, bitches!  (In so many tasteful words, of course.) There is nothing worse than a pampered DC quean convinced that the sun rises and sets for him, and that the lives of others hardly matter.

Very few of these vile creatures were young'uns in their 20s - which was encouraging, at least to me. They suffered in silence, taking their medicine and knowing that 24 hours hence they would be all better.

Needless to say, the heavy drinking Russians on my staff were very amused by all this silliness.  They can (and do) drink with friends far into the night and still get to work without a whimper. We shared a few good laughs at inside jokes from the past.

Still, we were treated to some of the most disgusting, hedonistic, opera-quean scenes I have ever witnessed in my life. They kept our maintenance staff busy cleaning up the men's room. They were abusive, saying things like "don't be so smug, I spent more money this weekend than you make in a month."  This may be true, but I wouldn't brag about it considering how it was spent and at what cost to reputation, fairly good looks, and destroyed friendships.

Many were drunk again as they staggered out of the restaurant in late afternoon, apparently rushing back to DC fearing the oncoming snow/ice storm heading our way tonight and tomorrow.

As reward for putting up with this shit ugliness, I received 2 after-shift cocktails, and they were deeply appreciated.

And so it goes.
*

UPDATE:  Seems the trolls were in town for fund-raising events to beneift the Log Cabin Republicans and/or GOProud.  (no links) You know, the gay Republicans who are forcing other "straight" conservatuve groups to boycott the upcoming CPAC event.  Well then, color me surprised!

And so it goes.
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Belmondo on the Beach!

Your argument is invalid!

Happy Caturday

But, what a way to go...

More later.
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Phone Call, Scandalous Behavior, and a Little Snow

OK, it's Friday, and not a full moon.  So, where did the trolls come from?

As I began to stir this morning and prepared to get out from under the warm covers at about 4:45 am, the phone rang. WTF? Whenever the phone rings during the night or before dawn, it usually means bad news. And it was, in a sense.  Some drunk woman was hankering for her Ex and was all weepy and whining - reminding me of that most annoying popular song at the moment containing the lyrics, "it's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk, and I need you now."  The performers of said song are on my bucket list for slow, painful strangulation.

After about 10 minutes trying to sympathize with her and get her to go to bed, I realized it was futile and ended the call. Bitch, please!  She called back a couple of times and I hung up.  Finally the calls stopped. This telephone number must have belonged to a Soap Opera writer at some point. 

Walked to work with a light dusting of snow under foot and tiny flakes falling, but melting as they hit the ground. While going through the usual morning routine there is a sudden tapping on the side door. There stands a woman who has "been in the business" for longer than anyone would want to know. She begs entry, but that's not going to happen, so I go outside to talk with her and am blasted with her tale of woe.  She's looking for a new job and cannot abide the goings-on at her present one.  I finally give her an application just to shut her up and send her on her way, when she lets loose with "oh, there is soooo much drama where I work now, I just can't take it anymore."  I stop in my tracks, turn to face her squarely and reply, "honey, drama goes with the territory and if you can't take it where you are now, you ain't gonna cut it here. This is Tennessee Williams country." I don't think she got it.  She took the application and was gone.

Nice lunch customers, except for one couple who were clearly not married to each other, license plates from 2 different states, drink heavily as they rendezvous at the bar, make out like horny teenagers, (I'm talking sleazy folks in their 50s here) He's in tight jeans and cowboy boots sporting a beard colored with shoe polish and a western style shirt (pearl snaps, and all) open to the waist.  She is in what could have been a black Chanel pant suit with gold shawl and way too much gold jewelry.  You get the picture?

After 2 hours of sucking face and getting louder with every drink, I was about to ask them to leave when they saved me the trouble.  As they were staggering out the guy asked me for directions to one of our more prestigious ocean-front hotels, not sure either understood, as they held each other up and stumbled to their cars, parked side-by-side. The tension at the bar vanished immediately. Conversations erupted and laughter from the others on bar stools made it clear that they were happy that the annoying twosome was finally gone.  I was, too.  BTW, on a bar bill of well over $70.00, they left the barman a $2.00 tip.

I'm not a prude, but I have never liked to be subjected to face-sucking, feeling-up, tit-kissing, or ear-licking in public.  Whether it be by indulgent heteros, or equally horny homos. It's just bad taste.  GET A ROOM, ALREADY!

By the end of the day we had served some very lovely people including the neighbors of a friend of mine.  These 2 gals love to dine with us and bring me up to date on the news in their neighborhood. It's always good to get hugs and today I received many.

Walked home under a mixture of snow and rain, have shed the work drag, and am enjoying olives as I prep terriaki wings for supper.


And so it goes.
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Raise Awareness: See The Cove

The image at left is a Cove in Taiji Japan. This cove runs red with blood like this for most of the year. (Click image to embiggen.) Where does the blood come from?

Dolphins.

 The Cove, a new documentary, exposes the slaughter of more than 20,000 dolphins off the coast of Japan every year, and how their meat, containing toxic levels of mercury, is sold as food in Japan and other parts of Asia, often labeled as whale meat. The majority of the world is not aware this is happening.

Out of the 20,000 only a few are auctioned off to marine aquariums for shows and entertainment. As for the rest, they are slaughtered in almost savage ways, for no reason. The people in japan are barely aware that this is happening, or the fact that they are being killed slowly by the mercury consumption that their government covers up and lies about.


For more information visit the official site, or watch the movie on netflix or through other sources. Spread the word.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Cove/70112741?trkid=2361637#height2378
http://www.takepart.com/thecove
http://thecovemovie.com/

Here on the Atlantic coast seeing a pod of dolphins playing just offshore is a thrill, and watching them play around the boat you're in, is even more exciting.  I can't imagine killing these super intelligent creatures for food.

And so it goes.
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Movie Magic

These are the films viewed last evening as I relaxed on the sofa in the re-arranged living room. Nice feel, but still not right.  The living room, not the movies.

One of my all-time favorites.

Just needed a Bogey fix, is all.

And today I'm leaning more toward comedy, so before supper I'll view this one. After supper is up for grabs.

Huge cast of great actors, beautifully shot and a joy to watch.

Not doing anything of merit today.  It's raining hard, thankfully not snowing, and there is nothing else that needs to be done. The bath last evening did a good job of relaxing and soothing my back. Though the humidity today is causing joint pain, it could have been worse.

And so it goes.
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Limited Space -The Final Frontier: Fitting In.

Not me!  That will probably never happen.

I'm talking about the living room and bedroom furniture. Over the past several months (since the IKEA trip) I have been moving pieces around in an effort to maximize their usefulness in the tiny space. Due to the limited number of (now safe, upgraded) electrical outlets, the cable connection (in case I can afford it at some point) and only one telephone jack, it's a challenge to accomplish both.

Listening to music while taking a break from prepping ingredients for a stew, I paused in the kitchen doorway and took another look at the LR.  The tape measure came out and the move was on - - again.  It looks good but there is still frustration with a few old pieces that I want to showcase and fit into the space. Maybe when I get someone to help me lay the large area rug and its padding, I'll have a better idea of where to make changes.

The bedroom is another story. That's where the single phone jack is located along with the computer and that can't be changed or altered any time soon. Verizon charges big bucks for the technician to make any upgrades to existing service locations. What is needed is more storage units and a way to get the large mirror off the floor and on the wall over the chest of drawers.

For now things are OK as they are and I got to empty yet another box.  Tomorrow will find another 4 boxes emptied and their contents stored in a proper place.

I'll probably pay dearly for this strenuous exercise today, so I'm about to soak in a hot bath with Epsom Salt to minimize the damage/pain tomorrow.  Besides, I smell olives and that's always hard to resist.

And so it goes.
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Gulf Residents' Blood Contains High Levels of Toxic Chemicals

 And yet, no one wants to address this issue or even talk about it.  Locals and a few small news outlets seem to pay any attention.

 Nine months have passed since the Gulf oil spill, and residents continue to see more and more negative outcomes from the tragedy.
This month, the Louisiana Environmental Action Network released the blood test results from 12 Gulf residents between the ages of 10 and 66 that were taken in September, November, and December of 2010. According to Treehugger, these people consisted of cleanup workers, crabbers, and people living along the coast. The study consisted of six women, four men, and two boys, aged 10 and 11.
Four of the people had unusually high levels of benzene, which, according to the ISS, is a highly toxic chemical from crude oil. It has been linked to many health problems, including anemia, leukemia, irregular menstrual periods and ovarian shrinkage. Those four were all crabbers from the Biloxi area, and consisted of three adults and one 10-year-old boy.
Ethylbenzene was detected in all 12 blood samples from Gulf residents at high levels and 11 of the 12 individuals had relatively high concentrations of xylenes. Ethylbenzene can cause damage to hearing and to the ear, dizziness, kidney damage, and may even cause cancer. Xylene can cause dizziness, headaches, skin irritation, confusion, and a whole slew of other ailments.
The two children had the most exposure of chemicals in their systems. The 10-year-old is currently experiencing severe respiratory problems as a result of the exposure.
Cherri Foytlin, co-founder of the grassroots group Gulf Change, is disturbed that the government isn't doing all that it can to address the health problems of Gulf residents. She told the President's oil spill commission:

"Today I'm talking to you about my life. My ethylbenzene levels are 2.5 times the [NHANES] 95th percentile, and there's a very good chance now that I won't get to see my grandbabies."

Though promises have been made to reopen the health issues at the White House, Gulf residents remain waiting for it to be done. 

 NOTE TO "ANONYMOUS" COMMENTERS:   If your angry, confrontational, epithet-laced, misspelled, delusional denials do not appear in any of these posts, it is because I moderate all comments before posting them.  Why must you hide your identity if you are so sure of your facts? Why comment on the disaster in the Gulf while writing from Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland? Until you follow the links provided in each post to better inform yourselves, and until you can comment in a civil manner your comments WILL NOT appear on this blog. Stop wasting your time.

Get it?  Got it?  Good!

More later.
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Murphy's Law, In Spades

Do you know Murphy's Law?  "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."  To that I will add, "At the worst possible time."  For once, this isn't about my personal life (tanks-be-to-Gott) and for that I am deeply grateful.

It all started yesterday morning when I arrived at the restaurant.  Suddenly, there is a person at the door from the electric company, signaling wildly that he had to speak with me. As I open the door he is off and running with a rant about an emergency - possibility of fire - arching and sparking - coming from the electric meter "pan" behind the restaurant. Seems that when he replaced the meter the day before, he noted the remnants of the "arching" and burned insulation, so his supervisor asked him to return to "warn us" of this impending danger.

So I met him out back and he showed me the problem.  Not good at all. He suggested we call in an electrician, have the electrician call for a "trouble truck" to come out and turn off all power, so the repairs could be made.

Fortunately, our electrician (a feisty 80-year-old gent) was due to check out a few minor things requiring attention.  Suddenly, we're faced with a major repair, and quickly. The restaurant sucks up huge amounts of power in normal, daily use - especially the ovens that heat the stones for stonegrilling, which need to be heated to 700' F - but the real danger was from the heating system and the demand for higher temperatures during this extreme cold snap.

Calls were made to the electric company to secure a trouble truck, which, thanks to bureaucratic BS took almost 4 hours and 5 calls before the right department was located. Customer Service, anyone?

Truck arrived, showed the panel innards to the electrician who promptly tells us to turn off the heat pumps. That's fine for the evening, but what about the morning when the outside temps will be in the single digits?  No matter.  Shut it down.  We are forced to use only the 2 gas powered space heaters in the front of the dining room until he can fabricate the new part.

Getting to work  2 hours early, I turn on those heaters (it is so cold that the led displays "L" meaning that the thermostats cannot measure that low temperature.  Predicting such a situation, I added a sweater to my work ensemble, and begin the normal routine. An hour later the heaters were registering 48' F and I knew this wasn't going to work out. I mean, it was 12' F outside when I left home.  When the kitchen staff arrived the temp was 54' F, warmer than outdoors, but after a few minutes one could feel the cold seeping into the bones.

I turned on the main heat to remove the chill, but only for an hour, that's all it took, and the dining room became pleasantly warm  and welcoming.

One line cook called in sick; a server did the same; another server was going to be late and we're to open in less than a hour.

Never mind the time of day, I could have used a martini, with 3 olives, please.

The security company arrived announcing that one of the sensors is sending an "erroneous" signal, that sensor in zone 6 has been tampered with.  Problem; they cannot find a zone 6 in their records.  Again, not my problem.  Annoyance, yes.  Problem, no.

I take a deep breath to remind myself "it is what it is" and that's out of my control. I leave everyone to their own devices and chores and focus on my duties.  Magically, by the time I open the doors, everyone and everything is in place.

I was ready for a good lunch crowd and wasn't disappointed. The day sped by with flowing margaritas and happy customers who really made my day. 

I am exhausted, but feel very blessed. And a command performance is scheduled for tomorrow, and after a good night's sleep I will be ready for anything.  Well....almost.

And so it goes.
*

Gangsta Caturday

 

More later

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BP - Stories from the Gulf: A Story Corps Slide Show

Found this video yesterday just before shutting down for the night and was blown away.
Q:  "How will you know the seafood is safe?" 
A: "When things stop dying". 

Recorded only 3 months ago.

From the YouTube description:

Rosina and Geraldine Philippe of the Atakapa Tribe talk about life before the spill, and how their community responded to the BP oil disaster. Recorded in Buras, LA on October 20, 2010.
NRDC partnered with StoryCorps and Bridge the Gulf to record, share, and preserve the stories and experiences of those living through the BP oil disaster. Find out more at http://www.nrdc.org/storycorps

There are many Story Corps slide shows like this one on YouTube. Look them up and get to know the people providing the seafood that we all love so much, and their way of life that may be gone forever in a few years.

It doesn't have to be like this, and end this way.

And so it goes.
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The Snow: The FAIL!

People were running around like the world was coming to an end yesterday, bracing for a mysterious snow "event" that was heading our way. Mysterious because we were in for anywhere from 1 to 9 inches of snow - depending on which weather critters you listened or, or watched.  On the way to and from work I spotted many cars loaded down with supplies (why is it always milk, bread, and bathroom tissue?) as if they were going to be snowed in for a month.

I was in the thick of it as I did some shopping on Wednesday.  Frenzied (crazed?) shoppers talking about only one thing.  The Impending storm, that was suddenly re-forecast to arrive Thursday evening and not Friday afternoon.  Snowfall would begin at 7 pm and the "severe weather warning" would remain in effect until 7 am Friday.  Hence the madness.

Needless to say, I got a lot of puzzled looks as I made my way through the store with my tiny hand basket containing things like celery hearts, lettuce, cucumbers, bananas, grapefruit, oranges, some fresh fish, and olives. Yes, olives. Not in case of a storm, I was running out. Those in front of and behind me in the check out, were wide-eyed as they watched my stash pile up on the belt. Not a gallon of milk or loaf of bread in the lot.  I giggled a bit to my self, but said nothing.

As I walked home after work yesterday the sky was clear, it was 42'F, and there was a light breeze. The doom and gloom perpetrated by talking heads on the Weather Channel were scaring the hell out of people, and remembering last February's nightmare storms, they were very scared, indeed.

So, you can imagine my surprise, when I woke up this morning to - - - nothing! Checking online I discovered that the entire forecast had magically changed (completely) while I slept.  I'm not complaining, I prefer when forecasters are wrong in our favor and I don't have to look forward to trudging through 3 or 4 inches of white stuff (or worse) to get to work.

Happy dance all round as I prepare breakfast, scrape my face, and ready myself for work.

More later.
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Louisiana: A Little History Lesson

Click to embiggen.

More later.
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Tea Party? Count me Out.

Title isn't mine, but part of the insightful, thought-provoking piece excerpted below. (Click the image to embiggen.)

The tea party and the loudest, most strident voices of anti-abortion politics love to flirt with the idea of armed revolution. This is, for the most part, just adolescent foolishness.

(snip)

By pretending to believe that America is on the verge of collapse into a totalitarian tyranny, they can pretend to themselves that they are the vanguard of a courageous resistance. The Red Dawn fantasy isn't all that different from any other childhood fantasy about what if there were dragons? And what if I was brave and good and strong? And what if I slew the dragon and everybody cheered for me because I was brave and good and strong and I slew the dragon? Wouldn't that be cool?

The problem arises when, finding the world sadly devoid of dragons, they decide to invent other monsters with which to do battle -- assigning the role of monster to their neighbors, their political opponents, their elected officials. Those People, they say, are monsters, demons, baby-killing Satanists, kitten-burning apologists. They're evil. They must be stopped.

This problem is further compounded by the demagogues of talk radio and cable TV who find this timid, fantasy-obsessed demographic to be a lucrative audience. Unlike other listeners or viewers, you can guarantee their loyalty by reminding them that everyone else is a monster and must be avoided. And their obsession with the thrilling fantasy of impending revolution makes it easy to sell them things -- to get them to invest in useless, inflated gold coins, for example. They present a con-man's dream -- people who will thank you for ripping them off.

The con-men and hucksters feeding off of these Red-Dawn fantasists are constantly turning up the volume, turning up the temperature, making the fantasy more and more thrilling by making the imaginary threats more and more extreme.

And, yes, that sort of thing creates a climate in which unhinged people, not appreciating the fantasy play-acting function of all of this, will inevitably arm themselves and go forth to slay the monsters -- they'll shoot doctors in churches, shoot Unitarians, shoot museum guards, the Tides Foundation, immigrants, Pittsburgh police officers, IRS offices, the Pentagon or judges, children and members of Congress.

This is not rare. This is not unusual. It has become nearly commonplace.
 (snip)
We all want to change the world. And we can. But it takes work, faithfulness and dedication. It's not something that can be done by adolescent fantasists just looking for the kick of imagining themselves the heroes of the bad '80s action movie playing in their heads. It's not something that can be done by people primarily interested in boosting their own self-esteem by demonizing others, obsessing over imaginary threats from imaginary monsters and thrilling themselves with daydreams in which they are revolutionary action heroes.

 The best description of the Tea Party I've read, ever. You can read the rest of the piece and more insights HERE.

And so it goes.
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Pet Shop Boys: "To Speak is a Sin"

Stumbled upon this just now...Song from their album VERY in a live performance on tour in Rio. It's a look back at what it was like (and still is in some places) to visit a gay bar.

Just wanted to share the experience.  Off to bed now. A very busy weekend is over.

And so it goes.
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Susannah York, R.I.P.

I remember her best as Superman's mother,  "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" and the Albert Finney classic "Tom Jones" but what do I know. She was lovely, talented, and very, very cool.  The Guardian:

Susannah York, the British actress whose gamine looks and demure persona made her an icon of the swinging 60s, has died at the age of 72. She passed away yesterday following a long battle with bone marrow cancer.

York won acclaim for her roles in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? – the 1969 film role for which she was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe – as well as A Man For All Seasons in 1966 and as the feisty section officer who took on Kenneth More in the stirring second world war epic Battle of Britain in 1969.
She also had an extensive and critically acclaimed stage career, which included roles in The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs and Henry James's play Appearances, and continued to act late into her life. She was also a children's author, penning two fantasy novels.

Her son, actor Orlando Wells, yesterday described her as "an absolutely fantastic mother, who was very down to earth".

"She loved nothing more than cooking a good Sunday roast and sitting around a fire of a winter's evening. In some senses, she was quite a home girl. Both Sasha [his sister] and I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a mother," he said.

Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard also played tribute to York, recalling his first meeting at the dawn of the 1960s with a woman who was to win a legion of male admirers. "I remember back in 1961, when I was a young journalist, I interviewed her for a magazine for her film The Greengage Summer, and I still remember how completely charmed I was.

 More is HERE.

And so it goes.
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A Day at the Beach: Lion edition.

A mid-winter weekend under a clear sky and bright sun finds the town buzzing with activity.  Families in town for the long holiday weekend, attending tributes and commemorations to Dr. King, and thanks to the warm temperatures, taking walks on the boardwalk and beach before dropping by to dine with us.

Lunch was busy and dinner promises to be even more so, as the masses arrive for football and stay around for karaoke and cheap margaritas.  There were reservations beginning at 1:30 pm and the walk-ins kept the 6 servers busy. Reservations for dinner were so strong that the banquet room will have to be opened to accommodate the larger parties.  After the snow, cold, freezing rain, and winds - it is amazing what a mood-changer higher temps and bright sun can do to cheer people up.

To my delight, it also brought back a customer (I've had a mini-crush on) who lives in DC and has a place here. He was all smiles as he rushed to greet me with a bear hug and, as he has done in the past, plant a kiss on my cheek as we embraced.  I was so happy to see him that I reciprocated, planting a kiss on his cheek.  This seemed to set him back a bit.

He smiled and asked for a table for 5, and not a word was said about our "encounter" but as his friends arrived, our eyes met  a few times.  I found this confusing and very puzzling. I imagine it was for him, too.  Thanks to some snappy patter with his friends during their visit, I received a hug from each and every one of them.  He was last in line and gave me a warm and relaxed hug, followed again by a kiss on the cheek. I responded in kind.  He smiled, as I did, and they were gone.

As I sipped my after-shift festive cocktail this afternoon, the Ravens & Steelers game was just getting under way. I was half way through the drink when the shouting, screaming, and cursing began.  ( I still can't understand why people yell at the TV during these games.  It's not like the players can hear them, or even give a damn.) I finished the drink in the kitchen and bolted for the door. 

The walk home was delightfully quiet as the sun set, projecting a pastel, sparsely clouded sky that took my breath away. 

Music of Mozart was emanating from one of the homes on my block and I hummed along as the music made my foot-falls a bit lighter.

The loco bosses are on holiday in Mexico for 2 weeks, so I've been pressed into service more than usual, but I don't mind.  It gives me more experience and insights into how things work around the business - and, it's fun!  That said, I am very tired and will likely be heading off to bed soon.

No music or movie tonight, the quiet is welcome instead.

And so it goes.
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O.M.G! It's Caturday?

Tee-Hee.

More later.
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13 Zodiac Signs? Rachel Maddow Explains

This is both funny and silly. After all, I used to be considered a Leo. That is so yesterday. Literally.  For true.

When the story broke the young'uns on Facebook, and especially the young Russian students at work were hysterical about this new shake-up of their seemingly ordered lives. Yes, well.  Ahem.

Rachel has a great time with this one and adds just the right, light touch to an otherwise dismal news day.  Enjoy.



So I am officially (for now) a Cancer, but having been on the 'cusp' of Cancer and Leo I am not too shaken up by this turn of events.

Oh, Whatever! My sign may have changed, but I'm still me changing as need be and adjusting to the changes in my world as best as I can. That's all any of us can do. Yet,  could this be an omen?  ;-)

And so it goes.
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Delaware Right To Marry

A Netroots appeal for our tiny state.

Now go and read the rest of the story at Pam's House Blend.

More later.
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Doing Nothing?

Not really, but that's what it's felt like the past 2 days off the job.  I did a lot of different things and the time went quickly enough. With the storm creating havoc throughout the southern states, and headed our way, I decided the car would remain idle for the duration and I would busy myself indoors or rest, as the mood struck me.  And that's what happened.

Let's see...I've taken a few hot Epsom salts baths, which really helped the back and hands. Read the news online and passed a few items on to other sites, Facebook, and this here thingy.  Kept an ear on the forecast - which turned out to be a waste of time with the worst of it hitting elsewhere. It left us with a mess of freezing rain, sleet, and just before leaving, delivered a sprinkling of snow on top as a reminder of what might have been.

Watched a few movies/documentaries on HULU; roasted a large, fresh pork shoulder that will eventually be sliced for sandwiches, used as pulled pork barbecue, and frozen in containers of pork gravy made with white wine; Got to read a few blog-buddies and even comment; and always in the background music played through the computer (the sound system was lost in the settlement) ranging from classic Broadway, to Amanda McBroom & Barbara Cook, to Bix Beiderbecke, John Pizzarelli & Louis Armstrong, to Pet Shop Boys.  Yes I know, quite a mix there.

It's been relaxing and great fun. My body doesn't ache so much this afternoon and I am ready to go back to work. This evening's gay agenda consists of a chicken stir fry with rice noodles and 2 movies bookmarked, as well.  Grey Gardens and The Whales of August.  If they are too depressing I'll find something more upbeat and funny, or continue reading the Twain Autobiography, instead.

There was a knock on the door just now, UPS delivering the gloves I ordered along with the Squall jacket from Land's End.  Now, I am ready for any weather that's thrown at us. Maybe.

It's very cold outside and will remain so for the next few days - high winds making it feel even colder than the temperature readings. A good test for both jacket and gloves - and me plodding through it to and from work. Wish me luck.

It's almost time for olives, so off I go to prep the veggies  and sauce for the stir fry.

More later.
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World-wide Bird Deaths Explained: I Did It!

Well, actually, it was me with the help of a few million friends.  Teh GAYS!!! There you have it. 

Case closed, now run along to science class everyone...and have a nice day.

Make the stoopid people shut up. Pretty please.

*

BP Oil Disaster: The Verdict on the Spill

This was a predictable outcome of the investigation into the BP spill of last April.  That said, I doubt the "mood" of the new Republican majority Congress will  encourage steps or any effort to make necessary changes.  I hope I am wrong.  The NYT:

The most important new message contained in the final report of the presidential commission investigating the gulf oil spill is aimed squarely at Congress: If lawmakers hope to win popular support for ramped-up oil drilling in America’s coastal waters then they must make sure that every possible precaution is taken to reduce the chances of another catastrophe like the spill.
The question is whether the newly constituted Congress is in a mood to listen. What the commission is asking for are tough new rules and money to strengthen federal oversight at a time when the House is controlled by politicians who broadly oppose new spending and seem hostile to regulation of any sort.
Yet Congress must act, and President Obama should use some of what leverage he has in this new political alignment to see that it does. As the commission co-chairman, Bob Graham, noted, without dramatic action another deep-water disaster will inevitably occur, leaving the public to “wonder why Congress, the administration and industry stood by and did nothing.”
The commission’s 380-page report is the most exhaustive accounting so far of what happened on the Deepwater Horizon. As it forecast in a preliminary summary, the commission blames the accident largely on poor decisions and other “management failures” by three companies involved: BP, Transocean and Halliburton.
It also strongly reinforces its earlier indictments of industry for failing to prepare adequate response plans and of government regulators for allowing themselves to be captured by an industry they were meant to oversee. 

Some recommendations include Safety, Liability, and Restoration, among others.  At least this is a start.  The rest is HERE.
More later.
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Different Take on Palin's Target Map

From the minds of Dan Savage and Aaron Huffman comes this cover art of the new issue of The Stranger:

E'nuf said. (Click the image to embiggen.)

And so it goes.
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Snowpocalypse, South Shutdown, and Supplies

 Whenever local (faux) weather critters (recently past puberty)  begin to foam at the mouth, pace around their tacky set, use their low-tech imagery to point out the obvious, and show their serious face to the camera and declare the "snowpocalypse" is about to destroy us and our way of life, I take a deep breath (and large martini) then check out the details online.

Yes, the South is pretty much shutdown due to ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain.  (Calls and emails from friends there verify this info.) What do the weather-dumb-asses  expect?  Atlanta, Meridian, Charlotte, and Little Rock aren't accustomed to such conditions and unable to cope with them. Video images of kids making snow boards using cookie sheets was the best imagery they could show for the most part. (I wouldn't want to be any of those kids when their mothers find out about those destroyed cookie sheets.)

TWC is hedging and so far it looks like we're in for what they call "a wintery mix" the same as what has been dumped on the Southern states.  Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain. A dangerous - and heavy - combination. Not good for tree limbs and power lines.

Well, I am off for the next 2 days; have Queen Victoria (Bombay Sapphire Gin) in the cabinet, stuffed olives in the refrigerator, food in the cupboard, freezer and refrigerator, so I am ready for whatever comes up the coast.  I may not like it, but that is out of my control.

Reading material - the Twain Autobiography.
Visual Stimulation - videos and DVDs.
Relaxation - a good soaking in a hot Epsom salt bath. Food! Martinis!

Just don't let the electric power go out.  Please.  That would ruin my plans, big time.

And so it goes.
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Who is The Terrorist?

Since I am reduced to watching testosterone-enhanced ESPN all day at work I had no idea this had happened and couldn't believe what I read online when I finally got home last evening. Disbelief turned from horror, to tears. Words fail. But Keith has some powerful words to share. We may dismiss the crazies at FOX, but their words have ramifications - like yesterday.

How we arrived at this place has been a slow and insidious journey and one that has incubated for well over a decade, mostly due to the false reporting of domestic issues by FOX commentators, as well as the fear-mongering by those very same commentators. And as Keith puts it so well, this must be called out and repudiated.

 If "terrorists" are from foreign countries (usually the middle-east), wear different garb, worship a different deity, and hate the USA, what do you call a clean cut 22 year old American male who sprays bullets into a crowd of innocent people, killing 6 (including a 9-year-old) and almost killing a US Congresswoman? I really want to know what other word can be used to describe such a person.

I am tired of the stupidity and fear-mongering in this country that leads to this behavior. It must end.

And so it goes.
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Just a "Dusting"... of Five Inches!!!

I really want a job with the national weather service, or Weather Channel.  Where else can you get the job right 10% of the time and still draw a paycheck?  Where? I mean, really?

Forecasters predicted "a dusting, possibly up to an inch" of snow today. Yes well, as I walked to work this morning  I crunched through snow at least 2.5 inches deep and it was nowhere near ending.

At the restaurant there was a message waiting from the Alzheimer's folks canceling  their event. I sort of knew this was going to happen. The boss called to reiterate, telling me they would re-schedule for sometime in March.  Smart move, that.

Then the phone rang constantly, seems nobody informed the attendees of the cancellation.  At least they were smart enough to call before heading out into what had become rather foul conditions. That distraction alone kept me busy as I tried to get my morning duties done.

Another smaller party was scheduled for a luncheon of 8 to 12 members of a French Club that's dines with us periodically.  Their leader called to cancel as well, but much later than would be expected. This resulted in 4 club members arriving in the snowy conditions and blaming me because their leader didn't inform them in time to save them the "dangerous" trip. C'est la vie.

All this was going on as I fielded calls from the Alzheimer's folks, as well as others who just wanted to know if we would be open at all.  It turned out to be a very slow day for lunch.

The snow continued (off and on) until about 3 pm when the sun came out and the sky was scattered with clouds, but blue otherwise. My street was pretty clear as I walked back home.  I cleaned the snow off the car and was happy to get indoors as the winds increased and the temperature began to drop.  There will be a lot of black ice out there tonight.

We are already weary of winter here and there is no relief in sight. There is a monster storm slithering up the Atlantic coast that is "predicted" to reach us Monday night.  Let's hope that forecast proves to be as inaccurate as the one for today.  A dusting, indeed.

Update:  The Magical Spo Shirt Traveling Show arrived safe and sound in Portland, Oregon and (from what I can tell) is in good hands this weekend.

I am in for the evening.  My work is done here. (Hands on hips, cape flowing in the wind.) Well...never mind. Not quite the image I expected, or one you would want to see.

And so it goes.
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Caturday Weigh-in

 

More later.

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Continued Fouling of Louisiana Marshes

I've received a few truly evil, nasty, vile, and threatening comments for my posting these stories. Please know that they were all from "anonymous" and I chose to delete them.  I will however, continue to post stories like this one. This information needs to be available to the general public and there are too few US news outlets willing to cover this story any longer. From the AP today via HuffPo:

PORT SULPHUR, La. — Federal and Louisiana officials got into a heated argument Friday over the cleanup of oiled marshes during a tour of an area that remains fouled 8 1/2 months after the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
State and Plaquemines Parish officials took media on a boat tour of Barataria Bay, pointing out an area where oil continues to eat away at marshes and protective boom is either absent or has been gobbled up by the oil. The heavily saturated area that reporters saw was 30 feet to 100 feet wide in sections. No cleanup workers were there when reporters toured the area.
The marshes are critical to the Louisiana coast because they protect the shore from hurricanes and serve as a nursery for Gulf sea life.
"This is the biggest cover-up in the history of America," Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser told reporters, gesturing with his gloved right hand, which was covered in oil.
Nungesser was accompanied by Robert Barham, the secretary of Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
As the two were answering questions from reporters, representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration interrupted to point out that a plan is being developed to clean up the marshes. They also insisted that the government has not abandoned the Gulf, nor has it lost sight of the fact that BP is a responsible party.
"Clearly there is oil here in the marsh but we are working as a team to find a best way to clean it up," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lauer. "It's a high priority."
The two sides then got into a heated argument, with Nungesser using profanity.
"It's like you're in bed with BP," Nungesser told the Coast Guard and NOAA officials.

The government and Coast Guard have played the folks of the Gulf and the American people for suckers, fools, and sheep - who will believe anything they're told by authorities.  

That doesn't work in the digital age where data - visual and otherwise - is available by a simple search query. They have disregarded, or ignored that concept. Click the link above to read the rest of the story.

And so it goes.
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One January Holiday* - And For Good Reason

OK, with hundreds of birds falling dead from the sky in at least 4 US states and 2 European countries (maybe more - I haven't checked in the last 15 minutes), mass fish kills all over the world, continued cover-up of the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and crazy-eyes (batshitcrazy) GOP Congress-critter Michelle Bachmann mulling over a Presidential bid in 2012, maybe 2011 isn't going to be such a "happy" one after all.

2010 left us with 15 inches of snow (much of it still around) and it looks like we're in for a return engagement next Tuesday.  A preview of the 'coming attraction' is expected tomorrow - a couple of inches - with winds kicking up to about 25 mph. Should be great fun!  Not!

According to the weather critters the La Nina weather patterns for this winter are harder to predict and storm tracking will be difficult.  Add the La Pinta and La Santa Maria weather tracking data, and it's 4-points of chaos.  Ahem!  Sorry, couldn't help myself.

The new Land's End "Squall" coat arrived on my porch last evening at the perfect time. Feather light with many interesting details, I marveled as I investigated all the pockets and hidden areas. There is a special pocket for an iPod and cell phone, as well as pockets that leave me clueless and scratching my head.  As I walked to work this morning in my fine new threads, a snow shower seemed to come out of nowhere that lasted an hour or more. Snow was predicted to begin around midnight, but there were breaks in the clouds this morning, so I figured the coast was clear, so to speak. Never assume, and never believe forecasters.

There is a huge party booked for tomorrow at noon.  65 people associated with the Delaware chapter of the Alzheimer's Association will enjoy their annual dine-out event with us and recognize the work of various individuals and businesses. Dos Locos is a huge supporter, one owner's mother having died of the terrible disease. Yes, it is very personal.

This will be my second year hosting the group and I hope the threat of new snow doesn't dampen spirits or cause some people to stay home. It would be a shame if that happened. We shall see.

*Martin Luther King has the only official holiday in January, and without it, there would be none. Leave it to Dr. King to brighten our long, dark winter days.

And so it goes.
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Baby Peggy Documentary Poster

Baby Peggy - The Elephant in the Room.

For those of you not interested in silent film and its major stars - you're forgiven.  Baby Peggy was a huge child star - one of three, along with Baby Marie and Jackie Coogan - and thankfully, she is still with us.  (Yes, please click the image to embiggen - the file is huge and detailed.)

Diana Serra Cary is her real name and she has documented many elements of the silent era including "Hollywood's Children" about the plight of many child stars; "Hollywood's Posse" about the real cowboys who became, among other things, stuntmen; and most recently (2003) her biography of "Jackie Coogan: The World's Boy King" and all are fascinating reading.

Most people remember Coogan as Uncle Fester from The Addams Family TV series.  I like to remember him as he first appeared with Chaplin in "The Kid" because he was the most beautiful little boy and a damned good actor. But I digress.

This is the note from my friend, and friend of Diana,  that accompanied the image above:

"HI - Diana just sent me this - it's the bio-film about her made by the Dutch woman I met two years ago at Diana's 90th b'day celebration. The title refers to her supporting the family, surrendering her career and her identity and her money and ..... hope other explanations are forthcoming."

I too, hope more is forthcoming. Of course, the film will never play here, but I look forward to the possibility of seeing it on DVD. Someday.

And so it goes.
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The Code and The Plan

Aw hell, I got the code and 2 pair of plans.  (Marx Brothers - Duck Soup, Google it)

There were so many temptations today, but since they all involved disposable $$$, I opted for my original plan. Well, almost. Walked to the ocean to watch the sunrise and almost froze my arse off.  Sorry, but true. The wind, non-existent when I left, was harsh when I arrived at the beach. Tears froze to my cheeks as I made my way back home where I brewed a hot green tea with honey and thawed out a while.

Playing the charwoman, I mopped the kitchen floor, did a load of laundry, folded and put it away. C'mon, you know my daily life is riveting, don't you?

Took the Magical Spo Shirt to the Post Office to send it to its next stop.  Portland Oregon. Sent it priority mail to catch up on lost time, yes it cost a bit more, but it's worth it.

Returned home to run another load of laundry and while that was happening, decided to experiment with a new chili recipe sent by a friend. I don't usually use ground beef in my chili (although I have made a really good one using ground turkey, which was to die for) but this recipe sounded interesting, so I had a go.  The recipe called for diced pepperocini, garlic, dark red beans, and port wine. Added a bit of my own little extras and let it simmer.

Each time I went downstairs to attend to the laundry, and returned, the aroma became more heavenly every time.  Must admit I was hesitant to make a large pot, but in the end I am very glad I did.  The flavors are bold and will only get better after a day or two, and the fact that I have enough to last the rest of the winter gives me joy beyond imagining right now.  Sad that, ain't it?

Hoping the new Lands' End coat arrives today or tomorrow because more snow is forecast for the weekend and I don't relish the thought of enduring another freeze-fest without ample protection.

The days are getting longer. The sun set a little bit later than yesterday and that's encouraging. Sunlight was streaming through my windows at 4:55, making me feel warm all over.

You know, the more I read what I've written the more I realize that I  really, really, REALLY, need a vacation and a little excitement.  Talk about the "bleak mid-winter" -  I lives it. yes, I does.

Time for olives and a good dinner to prepare for work tomorrow and whatever weather the weekend brings to us.

And so it goes.
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Frank Kameny: Pioneer Fighter for Gay Rights

I've had to honor of meeting Mr. Kameny on only 2 occasions and they were some 20 years apart. First when I was 22 and in DC for a rally/march, as I remember.  The second was again in DC, but this trip was as volunteer for the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt display weekend and I was an emotional basket case.  Mr. K had been a thorn is the side of the Pentagon for many years, with a voice that could be irritating if you weren't willing to hear him out. His persistence finally paid off about a half century later.  Nice that he was still around to see it happen. So, hats off to this grand old fighter. This is from CNN, of all places.

 (The week) President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," which banned gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces, a seat at the front of the audience was reserved for 85-year-old Frank Kameny, who attended wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge that he was awarded for his service in World War II. Kameny recalls his service fighting in the wake of the Battle of the Bulge by saying, "I dug my way across Europe slit trench by slit trench, practically."
But Kameny was not invited because of any heroism he demonstrated in World War II, but rather for a much greater act of courage than even that conflict had demanded of him. He was invited because it was Kameny who began the assault on the military policy of discharging homosexuals by leading a demonstration at the Pentagon in 1965.
Indeed, it was Kameny who called upon the minuscule pre-Stonewall gay rights movement -- known then as the homophile movement -- to model itself upon the civil rights movement.
This may not sound radical today, but in the mid-1960s homosexuality was seen as the ultimate taboo. As the homophile movement stated, homosexuals were triply condemned: The medical establishment deemed them mentally ill, the law made them criminals, and religions branded them sinners.
At a time when lesbians and gay men were so totally ostracized, the homophile movement had decided its best tactic was to embrace the label of sickness: at least that seemed a half-step up from being criminals. But Kameny felt that such an approach was counterproductive, and that rather than begging for crumbs, gay people should demand equality with heterosexuals. To gain equality, he argued, the movement should renounce the sickness theory and embrace militant tactics.
Kameny succeeded to an astonishing degree. He led the fight for tactics such as public demonstrations, went on the attack against the Civil Service Commission for its policy of firing homosexuals and spearheaded an effort to get the homophile movement to take the position that homosexuality was not only not a mental illness but was on a par with heterosexuality. In 1968, he got the only existing national association of gay rights organizations to adopt as its slogan a phrase that Kameny had coined, "Gay Is Good." Kameny himself had been discharged from the Army Map Service in 1957 for being gay.

 This is a 2 page story.  Read the rest HERE.

As a side note, following the Stonewall Riots a year later, my friend Craig Rodwell (with a little help from his friends!) - owner of the Oscar Wilde Book Store on Christopher Street - plastered the Village with Gay is Good banners, cards, pins, buttons, you name it.  That bit of history courtesy of, and an hommage to, Frank Kameny.

And so it goes.
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End of Year Meme

Created by Ur-spo - -  Lifted by Me.  His suggestion.  What was I thinking?

2010 Accomplishment

I Got Through it.

2010 Discovery

Strength I didn't know I possessed before. And I don't mean muscle power.

Favorite 2010 Vacation/Holiday

Vacation?  Holiday?

Best dining in 2010

NEW Bistro - Pecan encrusted Prime Rib, roasted fingerling potatoes with rosemary and olive oil, wilted spinach in truffle butter and the biggest Bombay Sapphire Martini I've ever seen.

2010 Regret

None

Magic Moment in 2010

Moving into my own apartment in town - walk 3 blocks to work and 4 to the ocean.

What states did you visit in 2010?

None  Shock.  Surprise.

The 2010 Surprise

Everyone at work received a holiday bonus, and it sure did come in handy

Three 2011 Goals

Become financially stable and debt-free by December with the final payment to hospital.

Take a vacation - a real one.

Meet a few blogger buddies.

(Not necessarily in that order.)

Well, that does it for me.  Not very interesting, I must say.  Oy!  Such a life I lead...like I said, What was I thinking!

And so it goes.
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Attitude, Gratitude, and Priority Mail

A day that may not live in infamy, but sure will remain in my memories for a while. Got an early start on the errands, which I thought would be done in an hour or two - max, but no.  There were so many little loose ends to tie up that it became a treasure hunt finding the right store for a particular item. At every stop I was greeted treated to the worst customer service I've ever experienced. Nasty, rude, and I-don't-give-a-shit attitude prevailed just about everywhere. Not a helpful store clerk in the lot.

By the time I got to the supermarket I had been worn down to my last gay nerve. Happily, the staff at my fave store was full of energy, glad to see me, greeted me with wishes for the new year, and even a few laughs with the deli and fresh seafood folks.  My kind of people.

It was about 2:30 when I got to the Post Office to learn the best way to ship the magical Spo shirt to the next destination. Postal guy and friend, Rick, suggested the Priority Flat Rate Service and gave me a box. Back home, after putting away all the purchases, I printed a label, put the original box into the Priority box, added packing paper, sealed and taped it, then taped the label to the box. Too tired to return to the PO to send off the package, so that will be done first thing in the morning.

Too tired to do cooking and the laundry, as well, so laundry will be the only other chore that gets done tomorrow.  The rest of the day is all mine.  The cooking can wait.


The facial fuzz will be coming off tomorrow, as well. It doesn't look good, but rather scruffy.  It was a nice try, but it's not me anymore.

Just received another mysterious phone call, this time someone looking for "Kenny" who (evidently) owes some guy a lot of money. Listening to only a small part of this guy's tirade I was happy he didn't have my address.  Say, I wonder if Kenny knows Audrey...no, that would just be too weird.

You know, I've had this phone number for 8 months and never had these kinds of calls.  Historically, they usually occur within the first month the number is re-issued to a new customer.  Truly bizarre.

Whatever!  It's time for a few olives, dinner, and maybe a movie. I have a date with myself. Hey, I don't have to look my best and the company ain't that bad.

And so it goes.
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Largest Slave Revolt in US History to be Commemorated

This is a nice counter-balance to the "celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Order of Secession" (links to my previous post on the subject) going on in South Carolina, and other places in the deep south, I am sure.  Maybe even a bit of a bitch-slap, if you will.  From the NOLA Times Picayune:

More than a century before the first modern-day civil rights march, there was Charles Deslondes and his make-do army of more than 200 enslaved men battling with hoes, axes and cane knives for that most basic human right: freedom. 

They spoke different languages, came from various parts of the United States, Africa and Haiti, and lived miles apart on plantations along the German Coast of Louisiana. Yet after years of planning at clandestine meetings under the constant threat of immediate death, they staged a revolt on Jan. 8, 1811, that historians say is the largest uprising of enslaved people in this country.

"Slavery was very harsh and cruel, but the slaves themselves were not mindless chattel with no aspirations and no basis for humanity,'' said John Hankins, executive director of the New Orleans African American Museum. "This revolt demonstrates that there were people willing to make the ultimate sacrifices to better not just themselves but other people."

A year of events planned
To mark the 200 year anniversary of that revolt, Destrehan Plantation, in conjunction with Tulane University and the African American Museum, located in Treme, is organizing a yearlong look at the uprising that reverberated around the fledgling nation because of the large number of enslaved people involved, its military strategy and oddly enough, because it demonstrated that all was not well among those held in bondage.

"I don't think the United States as a whole understood that the enslaved black population were as unhappy as they were,'' said Hazel Taylor, the special project coordinator at Destrehan Plantation. "Slave owners had a tendency to say that (slaves) were happy. What this did was put awareness on the people who were being oppressed." The revolt, which started in St. John the Baptist Parish about 30 miles west of New Orleans, also raised awareness of the harshness of the slave system and fueled the abolitionist movement, Taylor said.

It occurred just a year before Louisiana gained statehood and 50 years before Louisiana and 10 other southern states voted to secede from the union in favor of forming the Confederacy. One of the central issues driving the secession, historians say, was an attempt to keep slavery legal because of its huge economic benefits for farmers. 

Very interesting piece with the rest found HERE.

More later.
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The Magical Spo Shirt Traveling Show

The shirt arrived at my door under cover of darkness (literally)  from Ron at Retired in Delaware, on Christmas morning, and of course, we here on the Atlantic coast experienced another blizzard/nor'easter event over the next two days. And, well, if you've read the previous personal posts you know the rest.

The shirt is beautiful, comfortable, and fits perfectly, as you can see.  Funny thing, that.  Did you read that, Dr. Spo?

Received the address of the magical shirt's next stop.  It will travel from Delaware on the Atlantic coast to Oregon on the Pacific

Took the picture (click to embiggen) and plan to get the magical shirt on its way to the next destination tomorrow, which happens to be a well-deserved day off.  But, we'll see.  Yes, I am reviving the facial hair thingy, at least for a while (please be kind), and yes, those beads seem to be made for the shirt.

Truth be told, the beads were made 30 years ago by my nephew (God son) who passed away a few years ago and I cannot part with them. I usually wear them on his birthday - January 23rd - in his honor. He would love that they are part of this project. I love that I made them so.

Thanks to everyone who has already been part of this project, and to those who have yet to be touched by this insightful fund-raising idea.  Special thanks to the good Doctor for allowing me to participate in this effort.

And so it goes.
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Ancient Tools Discovered on Crete = Sea Travel 130K Years Ago

You know I love stories like this.  I find the evolution of our knowledge of human history, and acknowledgment of the endless possibilities of such fascinating. So, here's this:

AP: ATHENS, Greece — Archaeologists on the island of Crete have discovered what may be evidence of one of the world's first sea voyages by human ancestors, the Greek Culture Ministry said Monday. A ministry statement said experts from Greece and the U.S. have found rough axes and other tools thought to be between 130,000 and 700,000 years old close to shelters on the island's south coast.
Crete has been separated from the mainland for about five million years, so whoever made the tools must have traveled there by sea (a distance of at least 40 miles). That would upset the current view that human ancestors migrated to Europe from Africa by land alone.
"The results of the survey not only provide evidence of sea voyages in the Mediterranean tens of thousands of years earlier than we were aware of so far, but also change our understanding of early hominids' cognitive abilities," the ministry statement said.
The previous earliest evidence of open-sea travel in Greece dates back 11,000 years (worldwide, about 60,000 years – although considerably earlier dates have been proposed).

There's more HERE.
And so it goes.
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BP Oil Disaster: Exclusive Video, Kindra's New Revelations

NBC's Brian Williams reportedly insists that the lack of media coverage of the BP/Gulf disaster is due to the fact that the majority of Americans lost interest.  Really? 

Perhaps all Americans are riveted to TV screens hankering after the latest from Brittany, Lindsey, the Kardashians, or the ongoing feud between the dumb-ass twins on FaceBook.  

No, I think the ongoing cover-up of the BP mess isn't due to lack of interest.  Far from it. Not where I come from and certainly not where I live now.  

Kindra is one brave, persistent woman and people are beginning to listen to and heed her message. The video is a bit long but what she has to say will impact us all, if it hasn't already.


If you have any doubts, please do your own research and steer clear of BP propaganda and the press releases from the US and British governments. There is too much misinformation and half-truths out there and Brian Williams is only a small part of the media problem.  This isn't a joke. 

Welcome to old lies in the new year.

Damn!  Where are those tap shoes when I need them?

And so it goes.
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