Happy Holidays

Nothing says Christmas Like Indian-Latin fusion

So we went out today for a late lunch/early dinner at one of the few restaurants open on Christmas day - Vermilion.

It was a breeze going down Lakeshore Drive and we got parking right outside.

A four-course meal features Indian cuisine with a Latin twist. On the menu: roasted cumin pumpkin empanada; butternut coconut squash sopa; tamarind-mango-glazed ham served on a Bahain yucca coconut puree; parval sautéed with cranberry and kari leaves; and an almond and dried fruit cake with liquor, dry ginger and drizzled with an eggnog anglaise.

Damn, Those Penguins ARE cute

We watched March of the Penguins the other night and it's not a bad little flick - though not sure it deserves all the hype it's gotten.

One thing is for sure, however. They are pretty damn cute.

Don't Get It Twisted

The most recent show we went to was Q101's Twisted 12, featuring Hot Hot Heat, Death Cab for Cutie and The Psychedelic Furs.

Once again we had to brave Chicago's arctic tundra but at least it was a weekend night. I hadn't realized that it was an all-ages show and my wife and I found ourselves waiting in line for the doors to open amid awkward teens and tweens. I heard an exchange behind me go something like: Boy - "How are we getting home?" Girl - "My dad's picking us up."

Jesus, how old am I? Alas, I took my bitter old bones up to the balcony section of the Aragon, plopped myself down in some choice seats with an unobstructive view and started downing my six-dollar Miller Lite. The Aragon is a really interesting venue. It is designed to look like a Spanish villa, I think. Anyhow, watching the teens and tweens on the main floor from the balcony was fascinating voyeurism - seeing them travel in packs, give awkward exchanges, and sport even more awkward attire. For the tech-savvy kids, they even projected their text messages onto a screen overhead for all to see. Weird.

As for the music, Hot Hot Heat's set was tight and demonstrated again that our neighbors to the North are producing some good music. Death Cab for Cutie, though, was the show-stopper. There was something palpable in the air and the place was absolutely packed when they got onstage. They did a few songs from Plans and a number of hits from Transatlanticism, including the set's finale "Sound of Settling."

It was clear that they were the most talented band of the three, which leads to the peculiar selection of 80's group The Psychedelic Furs as the headliner. It was depressing. At least half the place cleared out - never a good thing for the main act. Even more departed as their set continued. They didn't help their cause by not playing any of their identifiable songs ("Love My Way", "Pretty in Pink") until the latter portion of the show. It was uninspired and sounded dated.

We should have left after Death Cab....

Free is Free

Alright, this picture looks really gay - but hey, it is Depeche Mode, after all.

Catching up on blog entries here....a few weeks ago my wife won a pair of free tickets to see Depeche Mode and a meet-and-greet prior to the show.

It was a typical cold, dark, and blustery Chicago evening so we were definitely on the fence about going to this one. It's funny being in your late 20's - it's no longer a no-brainer that you will go out on a weeknight, but nor is it clear that staying in and getting a sensible eight hours of sleep is the preferred option.

Anyhow, we did end up going and making the trek to the burbs. It was an interesting cross-section of scoiety to say the least - goths, yuppies, the elderly, the handicapped, townies, white trash, gays, lesbians, etc. - Depeche Mode brought out all of them!

As for the meet-and-greet, it was pretty lame - very military-like in nature. We were ushered in three groups of varying numbers and were instructed to shake each of the band members' hands and to move on. There was no time for words and barely any time for eye contact. We then took the obligatory "group photo" with the band and then it was all over.

I will say that I had no expectations of the show but I'll give credit where credit is due. These guys put on an entertaining and inspired performance. I hadn't heard much of the new album before but the tunes were good. They did a number of hits from Violator - "Policy of Truth" and "Personal Jesus" and a couple from Songs of Faith and Devotion - "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes" and ended the set with everyone in the arena singing along to "Enjoy the Silence."

In the end it was a good show and I am glad we dragged our old twentysomething bones to the free concert.

Holla atcha boy, JC

Once again, the posts have been few and far between due to the demands of work, school, the holidays and an imminent move to NYC.

Alas, some much needed time off between Christmas and New Year's should provided an ample period of rest, relaxation and introspection.

And hey, what a segue! Speaking of ole JC, check out this site that sells Christain inspired sports jerseys. Fascinating, amusing, disturbing! Thessalonians in da house!

No Spin, My Ass

Nothing says quality like an American made Bill O' Reilly "No Spin Grandpa" baseball cap.

What a piece of crap!

I was listening to Howard Stern the other day and he was rippin' O' Reilly for the shameless plugs he makes on his program, hawking this crap merchandise. O'Reilly is a shill, peddling his ultra-conservative ways while taking people's money with his lousy products. How pathetic. Does Fox News not pay him enough that he's got to resort to the "O'Reilly" jigsaw puzzle?

I've got a recommendation - how about some O'Reilly toilet paper?

Tell Me Why I Don't like Mondays

Thanksgiving vacation is coming to an end....

It was fun while it lasted.

Now, there's lots o' work and stress ahead.

But I'm not alone.

Check out this article from the Wall Street Journal about Sunday Night Depression.

Remembering Katrina Part II

I was cleaning out my email account and found these wise thoughts from my wife:

It seems like anytime Bush fucks up, all the Republicans are like,"let's not point fingers and play the blame game..." I was going to write more but what's the point. My main point I guess is that politics and policy are all about the blame game, really. So THEY should get over that. After all, Bush is employed by us, the taxpayers. And if your employee fucks up, you are going to tell him. You not only tell him, but you also say what he should have done, so that next time he doesn't fuck up again. Unfortunately this administration has been one mistake after another. What's not helpful is for Republicans to hide and/or ignore mistakes, if they do that then how is anyone going to learn from them and not repeat them?

Remembering Katrina

Let's not forget the Katrina mess. Here was a good op-ed piece from the Times back in September. And here's a link to another good piece.

OPINION September 7, 2005
Editorial: It's Not a 'Blame Game'
No administration could credibly investigate such an immense failure as the government's response to Hurricane Katrina on its own watch.
September 7, 2005
It's Not a 'Blame Game'
With the size and difficulty of the task of rescuing and rebuilding New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas still unfolding, it seemed early to talk about investigating how this predicted cataclysm had been allowed to occur and why the government's response was so slow and inept. Until yesterday, that is, when President Bush blithely announced at a photo-op cabinet meeting that he, personally, was going to "find out what went right and what went wrong." We can't imagine a worse idea.
No administration could credibly investigate such an immense failure on its own watch. And we have learned through bitter experience - the Abu Ghraib nightmare is just one example - that when this administration begins an internal investigation, it means a whitewash in which no one important is held accountable and no real change occurs.
Mr. Bush signaled yesterday that we are in for more of the same when he sneered and said, "One of the things that people want us to do here is to play a blame game." This is not a game. It is critical to know what "things went wrong," as Mr. Bush put it. But we also need to know which officials failed - not to humiliate them, but to replace them with competent people.
It's obvious, for instance, that Michael Brown has met the expectations of those who warned that he would be a terrible director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is no time to be engaging in a wholesale change of leadership, but in Mr. Brown's case there seems to be precious little leadership to lose. He should be replaced with someone who can do the huge job that remains to be done.
But the questions go way beyond Mr. Brown - starting with why federal officials ignored predictions of a disastrous flood in New Orleans - and the answers can come only from an independent commission. We agree with the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, Senator Hillary Clinton and others who say that such a panel should follow the successful formula of the 9/11 commission: bipartisan leadership and members chosen by the White House and both parties in Congress on the basis of real expertise. It should have subpoena power and a staff expert enough to find answers and offer remedies.
Mrs. Clinton has also proposed pulling FEMA out of the Homeland Security Department and restoring its cabinet-level status. That is premature. The current setup makes sense, at least in theory. The nation should not have to support two different bureaucracies for dealing with sudden disasters.
Before throwing the system into chaos again, an investigation should determine whether the problem lies in the structure or in execution. Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal showed how the Bush administration had systematically stripped power and money from FEMA, which had been painfully rebuilt under President Bill Clinton but had long been a target of Republican "small government" ideologues. The Journal said state officials had been warning Washington - as recently as July 27 - that the homeland secretary, Michael Chertoff, was planning further disastrous cuts.
This page supported the creation of Mr. Chertoff's department. But it was poorly run by the first secretary, Tom Ridge, with his maddening color-wheel alerts.
It is clearly in need of a hard look and perhaps serious reorganization. Senators Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, and Joseph Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, have plans for hearings, which is fine. But they created the department in the first place and may have more of a stake in the outcome than a panel of impartial experts.
The panel should also look at the shortcomings of local officials and governments. It was chilling, to put it mildly, to read Mayor Ray Nagin's comment in The Journal that New Orleans's hurricane plan was "get people to higher ground and have the feds and the state airlift supplies to them."
But disasters like this are not a city or a state issue. They concern the entire nation and demand a national response - certainly a better one than the White House comments that "tremendous progress" had been made in Louisiana. We're used to that dismissive formula when questions are raised about Iraq. Americans deserve better about a disaster of this magnitude in their own country.

Seriously, what happened to Mikey?

I saw this on the celeb rippin' blog Go Fug Yourself. The caption was "Celebrity Bloat Watch: Prognosis Negative."

Really, what's happening with Favreau?

Dude, That's Some Sweet Marketing

So my wife just dropped the bomb on me - no, she ain't pregnant. But that little, trendy, boutique-like chocolate lounge that we thought was independent? Turns out, it's owned by Mars, Inc. Yes, the same folks who bring you Snickers, M&M's and Milky Way.

It's actually rather brilliant. Mars has found a way to tap into a niche audience - upscale (mostly female) customers with a penchant for socializing and indulging in pricey sweets - while creating new revenue streams by entering into the retail space. I found some interesting commentary on Ethel's Chocolate lounge on a brand experience blog.

The brand experience blog mentions:
Mars, Inc. whose research revealed that "even the most diet conscious consumers ... would occasionally splurge on 'premium' chocolate -- in terms of calories and money -- if it were part of a broader social experience. Yes, they'd certainly go for a place to "chocolate and chitchat."

My Favorite Things #5

Whenever we got home from a trip, oftentimes the first place we went to was Nohana.

They might not have known our names, but they always knew our order.

We we would share the combination box with California roll (no fish eggs), tempura, salad and tuna pieces. Miso soup for the both of us. Sapporo beer and chicken teriyaki appetizer added for me.

In later years, I would branch out to the Soft Shell Crab and the Salmon Teriyaki. But some things remained the same: the attentive service, quality of food, affordable prices, and familiar atmosphere. And, of course, those Tootsie Rolls they give you when they hand you the bill.

It's quite possible that Nohana is the restaurant we most frequented during our stay here. Heck, I don't even know what Nohana means, come to think of it. Maybe it means "Dumb American willing to pay for raw fish."

But alas, it was often our home away from home. Comfort food to the nth degree.

If we ever have a kid, perhaps we'll name him/her Nohana. Okay, maybe not. But maybe it would be a good name for a cat or dog.

Hmm, now I am getting hungry for some sushi and Sapporo....

Flirting With Disaster

You've got to be kidding me.

Reports came out Friday that former FEMA director Mike Brown ("Brownie" as Bushie liked to call him) is starting his own disaster preparedness consulting firm.

This guy played an integral role in NOT having us prepared for something like Hurricane Katrina. Now he's got the balls to set up shop and offer up his services? Is he going to teach us how to "f" things up, 'cause I don't see what else he's qualified to do!

Isn't this akin to Hitler providing "Sensitivity Training" classes, Billy Joel offering driving lessons, or Paris Hilton teaching Sunday School?

Only in America....

Armitage Smells Like Money

It was actually nice out today so we took the El down to Armitage to walk around and window shop.

You can hate on the yuppies all you want, but hey, there are some fine shops around that street and seem to be more and more popping up all the time.

Some of the shops include: Kiehls, Paper Source, Vosges, American Apparel, Active Endeavors, Ethel's Chocolate, Benetton, Lush, Paul Frank, and Argot Tea.

Running perpendicular to Armitage is Halsted, which contains even more yuppie stores like Banana Republic, Escape (a Best Buy store), Aldo, The Blue Jeans Bar, Club Monaco, Barney's Co-Op and Guise.

My Favorite Things #4

How come everything that I am going to miss about Chicago (except for Lake Shore Drive) revolves around food?

Next up on the list - Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine.

We like the Fromager D'Affinois.

Fromager D'affinois
In the Brie family this French soft-ripened cheese has a 60% fat content with a white creamy smooth interior and a flowery white edible rind. As with most cheeses, Bries should always be served at room temperature so its full flavor is allowed to develop.
Characteristics: Cow's milk, soft-ripened cheese with edible bloomy rind, smooth and creamy interior

I told y'all

"The crowds were so thick that a brawl broke out among shoppers at one of Wal-Mart's Florida stores, according to eyewitnesses."

Nothing says yuletide cheer like a little scuffle among some White Trash shoppers at a Florida WalMart. I'll just assume that they are Christian and also voted for Bush.

My Favorite Things #3

Man, oh man.

I think I ate here twice the first week it opened. Or was it three times?

Either way, Bobtail is a great place - a new soda fountain with the old school feel.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? The Merlot Signature Sunset.

My Favorite Things #2

View of the city - going down Lake Shore Drive....

I took this pic yesterday.

And yes, the windshield is dirty and we do need to get the car washed.

My Favorite Things #1

From now until the day we move, I will be posting a few of my favorite things about Chicago....things I'll definitely miss.

First up - Intelligentsia Coffee....

Man, it's so good. We like the Quetzal Breakfast Blend.

Lately, I've really been getting into their teas too - current fav is the Organic Peppermint.

I'll miss you, Intelligentsia.

Tis The Season

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy shopping. But this Black Friday thing is bullshit. Sure, growing up, what red-blooded American family DIDN'T have the tradition of going Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving?

But alas, we are older and dare I say, perhaps even a little wiser now. So, why in the hell would anyone get up ass early in freezing weather to go shopping? Nothing's worth the rude shoppers you must battle, the long lines, and the fisticuffs that develop over parking space disputes.

Also, isn't it ironic that less than 24 hours after a day on which we supposedly are to give thanks for the blessings that we currently have, we are immediately clamoring for more? Let's call a spade a spade - advertisers, retailers, and societal expectations have created a tradition that manufactures unnecessary wants and desires.

Now, get out of the way, I'm headed to Best Buy for that Plasma Screen TV!

Top Tunes for 2005

Never too soon to start talking about top tunes of the year. I got inspired by my brother who sent me his list.

This year, instead of top albums, here are some of the top songs I downloaded from i-Tunes (released in 2005):

1. Bloc Party "Banquet"
2. The New Pornographers "Sing Me Spanish Techno"
3. Hot Hot Heat "Goodnight Goodnight"
4. Broken Social Scene "Handjobs for the Holidays"
5. Weezer "Perfect Situation"
6. Teenage Fanclub "Time Stops"
7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
8. Death Cab for Cutie "Soul Meets Body"
9. Brazilian Girls "Don't Stop"
10. Aimee Mann "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas"

Happy Turkey Day!

After the usual things to be thankful for (good health, great wife, loving family/friends, roof over our heads, good job, etc.), there are a few other things to be thankful for this holiday, such as:

1)Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson finally announcing their split;
2)The news that T.O. will not be allowed to play for the Eagles again this season;
3)Last night's episode of Lost on my TiVo;
4)That whiny bitch Clay getting the boot in last week's Apprentice;
5)My wife winning a sweepstakes drawing - free Depeche Mode concert tickets;
6)That tasty little turkey we'll be devouring later on;
7)The FOUR days off we have before we have to go back to work;
8)ND football;
9)The earnings we made so far from selling some stuff on Craigslist;
10)Seeing HP: Goblet of Fire - this weekend...

More Slope Pics

IT'S ON....

It's official. We're moving.

Now the fun part. Overpaying for an apartment.

But hey, it's NYC, right?

Not sure where we'll be. Manhattan or Brooklyn. Either way, it should be an adventure....

Evil, Thy Name is Dick

What a dick!

"What is not legitimate -- and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible -- is the suggestion by some U.S. senators that the president of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on prewar intelligence," Cheney said.

Unbelievable. Pot calling the kettle black, no? They're the ones who started a war under false pretenses and have lied about so many things, but the senators who are questioning him are the ones who are "dishonest and reprehensible."??!!!

F You, I'm Rich!

A story in today's Chicago Tribune caught my attention. It's about a group of entrepreneurs in the haughty Highland Park suburb who have produced "lattees" (see picture to the left).

That's right. It says "Half Calf Vanilla Nonfat Extra Foamy Latte."

Apparently a group of privileged Trixie moms decided it was just too much work to get their order out for their fav drinks. So why not simply point to their T-shirts?

Is it me, or is this pretty damn obnoxious? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a tasty Starbucks drink as much as the next guy but there's a difference between buying a drink and advertising your privileged background with a shallow message on a T-shirt.

I can picture the Lincoln Park Trixies eating it up. But hey, why stop there? Why don't you just wear a T-Shirt that says "I'm rich, bitch!"?

New 'Hood?

Park Slope might be our new 'hood....

Pants On Fire

How does this guy live with himself?

Honestly, he must have no scruples.

He really does the devil's bidding.

How Can She Be So Skinny and Yet Live So Phat?

In yet another example of how Tyra Banks wants so desperately to become Oprah Winfrey, she recently donned a "Fat Suit" in order to go undercover and learn just what it's like to be, well...an average overweight American woman.

"As soon as I entered the store -- when I went shopping -- I immediately heard snickers. Immediately! I just was appalled and, and and hurt!"

Gimme a break, Tyra. Don't give us your manufactured sympathy. You take off the suit and you're back to being a vapid, skinny supermodel while the fat women in this country remain fat.

Get Back in That Closet!

Wow. This is an absolute trainwreck. I just saw snippets of R. Kelly's urban themed opera "Trapped In a Closet" on VH-1's Best Week Ever. I'm speechless. Apparently, the story centers around Kelly going home with a lady after a night of clubbing. Well, of course, the lady's married so Kelly finds himself "trapped in a closet" in case the husband comes home. I think hijinx ensue shortly thereafter.

All I know is that there are multiple chapters of this awful work and they include high-concept plotlines such as a midget crapping his pants. This is so bad, it might be good.

Sonbitch, it's Windy!

Chicago's known as the Windy City (for reasons other than the weather), but this past weekend it has everything to do with the weather.

We've got winds up to 35mph. Good thing I'm indoors, nursing yet another cold, sucking on some Vitamin C drops and listening to i-Tunes...

I hate Spam

So apparently the new trend in spamming is infiltrating people's blogs and posting comments.

I noticed 4 comments added to my last post about Canadian music - and it was all spam! I'm researching some fixes but until then, "comments" will be hidden! Sorry to disappoint the two of you who may read this blog on a regular basis.

Maple Leaves Ain't So Bad After All

Hey, when the heck did Canada get so cool? And no I'm NOT talking about temperature here.

Canadian music has come a long way from that monstrosity known as "Snow".

My favorite bands lately have come from our neighbors to the North. Check 'em out, eh?

1) Broken Social Scene

2) The New Pornographers

3) The Arcade Fire

Some Children Left Behind

The stroller set is up in arms in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood due to a sign put up at a local establishment asking that children use their "inside voice" when visiting "A Taste of Heaven."

Well, that sign did not go over too well with locals. Here's one reaction:
"I love people who don't have children who tell you how to parent," said Alison Miller, 35, a psychologist, corporate coach and mother of two. "I'd love for him to be responsible for three children for the next year and see if he can control the volume of their voices every minute of the day."

C'mon lady. The owner of "A Taste of Heaven" has every right to put up that sign and to kindly ask that you and your brood not disrupt other restaurant patrons. If you don't like their policy, then it's your choice to take your business elsewhere. Just because you chose to have kids does not give you the right to let them run rampant wherever you go on the premise that "kids will be kids". You have a responsibility as a parent and more simply, as a decent human being, to be respectful and courteous of others around you. You're not entitled to get a free-pass on being civil to others just because you have kids and because it's hard to control them. Common decency, lady. That's what's expected.

The DUMBEST Family Ever

Just when I thought I could not get into a "Family Edition" of CBS' Amazing Race, there I am watching and selecting "Save Until I Delete" from the TiVo options.

There's been some real choice families in this competition. But none are quite as infuriating as the Weavers. Essentially they are a group of White Trash, Bible-toting, and ignorant hypocrites.

They claim to be the only family living a "Christian Life" but continually contradict themselves by talking smack about other families and attempting to sabotage the race for the other contestants so that they may benefit. Is that what Jesus would do, Weavers?

Hey, Pat...F You!

Yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said: "Christian Right. They're neither."

True dat.

Have you heard the latest? Jack-ass Pat Robertson has the nerve to give a Pennsylvania town a warning not to come crawling back to God if disaster ever struck since they voted against a plan to teach "intelligent design" in the schools.

Sorry Pat, remind us again when you became the mouthpiece of God? Oh yeah, and when did so-called "intelligent design" become a neccessary part of our public education system? And hey, that concept of God you presented is terrific. According to you, God sounds like a spiteful tween who was NOT invited to another girl's birthday party and reacts with: "You didn't invite me to your party, so now I'm ignoring you..."

Say it with me now: "You suck, Pat!"

What The....?

Yes, yes. It has been forever since I've been blogging. Oh, blogosphere, I am sure I have been missed. And really I do hate the term "blogosphere".

First, I was sick. Then, I got a complete drubbing from work and school.

Meanwhile, there's been a lot going on. How about the photo to the left? Just finished watching The Daily Show on TiVo and Jon Stewart did a great bit around an imagined conversation between the two. He did an exaggerated and stereotypical impression of Bono asking about "world poverty" (I think it sounded like the Leprechaun from Lucky Charms cereal) while his Bush impression (dead on), exclaims "I like the Edge." Good stuff from Stewart as always.

Much Respect to the Sox

Much love to the Chicago White Sox for moving on in the American League Playoffs and disposing of defending champion Boston Red Sox. Does this mean we don't have to see that insufferable Johnny Damon on camera anymore? And no more Ben Affleck in BoSox gear sightings?

More importantly, take that, obnoxious Cubs fans. The Sox have gotten absolutely no love by the local news media despite the fact that they have had a great season all year long. Only now are they getting the attention they deserve.

Best of luck South Siders...

Im-B-cile

That should be this guy's name. You don't think it would fit? C'mon, there are rappers named Juvenile, Da Brat, etc.

Alright, alright. How about Een-Coherent?

Well, anyway, his real name is Paul Wall and he was recently on Howard Stern's radio program. Howard had him on because he has a certain "dialect".

See notes from his appearance below and at Howard's website:

Howard had Paul Wall, the white rapper who sounds black in the clip from MTV Howard has been playing recently, into the studio. Howard told Paul that when he first heard the clip, he was sure he was listening to a black guy. He added that not even Eminem has mastered the black dialect the way Paul has. Paul mentioned that he is from Houston and that he was exposed to so many different types of people growing up that he always talked this way. Paul also claimed that he is not trying to sound black and that he couldn’t talk differently unless he really tried to fake it. Despite his argument, Howard suggested that Paul would learn how to talk white really quickly if he ever had to go to court.

Experience, Schmerience

Oh, Georgie. Can I call you Dubyah? A lot of things can be said about you. Heck a lot of things have been said already. But let me say this: "You've got a friggin' set of balls."

FEMA Director? You don't need experience in crisis management or disaster control? What, you judged horse shows? Alright, you're hired, Brownie.

You want to be Director of the Office of Women's Health? You're a vet? Work on female animals? Yes? No? Ah, whatever. Close enough.

And say, you want to make important decisions about social issues in this country and pass judgment on important policies that will affect millions of people? Hey, you don't need to be a judge to be on the Supreme Court.

What an absolute joke in a non-fucking-stop string of missteps, mishaps, and blantant "I don't give a fuck about you's". Nepotism to the nth degree. Individuals without qualifications running the highest levels of offices in this country. He is single-handedly destroying us. Now go sit in the corner, dumbass W.

Those Indie Guys Are Good

A little over a week ago, we saw the indie film Thumbsucker. I didn't have any expectations, didn't even know what it was about, who was in it....but was pleasantly surprised.

There are some well-performed cameos by big-name stars like Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaughn and overall the film is a quirky, endearing coming-of-age story. Check it out.

Life, Meet Art. Art, Meet Life.

A good friend of mine recently pointed out a hilarious example of life imitating art.

A little over a year ago, the fake-newspaper The Onion published a piece titled "Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades." It is absolutely one of my favorite Onion articles ever. That first paragraph is nearly flawless.

Now fast-forward to September 2005 and the recent announcement from Gillette that they are unveiling their five-blade razor.

Oy Vey!

Whooo. It's been a while. Lots going on but I've been too busy with work and school lately. Should one really be keeping a blog when one works full-time, goes to grad-school part-time, has a wife, and a fantasy football team?

Anyhow, noticed this interesting story about Brooklyn.

Might we be moving there? Who knows?

Chicago Gets the Shaft Again...and again

The Second City gets another blow to its self-esteem with the announcement that all Marshall Field's stores would be converted to Macy's.

There goes a Chicago institution...

And in related news, Marty Casey was NOT selected as lead singer for INXS in CBS' Rock Star: INXS.

Truly a sad day for the Windy City. A sad day indeed.

Well Put, Mr. Maher

Had this forwarded to me by a colleague and thought it captured what many of us are feeling:

Bill Maher Final Monologue

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote."But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes."On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side."So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "

Grumpy Old Men

What's with the jerk-offs running used bookstores in our neighborhood? Who are these guys and why are they so unhelpful and rude? Okay, so maybe not all of them are this way but so far we are two for two with bad experiences with these guys.

Yesterday, we stopped in a used bookstore to find out what their policy is for buying used books. Seems like a legitimate question, no? Instead of politely answering the question directly, it was more like "Well, what books do you have?" As we proceeded to answer, we were met with indignation and rudeness.

I mean, do you want our business? One would think that a sole proprietor of a dumpy bookstore would go out of his way, what with Amazon, B&N, and Borders at one's fingertips. All we wanted to know was what types of used books you buy. Instead, you don't directly answer our question, direct us to other used bookstores, and scoff when we ask if you buy back "university textbooks". How dare we assume you might do that after saying you purchase "University Press" books.

Grumpy old used bookstore guys, you are a bunch of dicks.

TRAIN WRECK

Man, where the heck have I been? Has anyone seen CBS' Rock Star INXS?

It is an absolute train wreck! As cliched as it may sound, it is definitely like watching an accident. You're horrified but you can't stop watching.

Where do I even begin?

Well, how about with the fact that the show's premise is inherently flawed. INXS was Michael Hutchence. No one can name the other jokers in this band. So what's the point of staging a contest to replace Hutchence? INXS is completely irrelevant.

Secondly, there is Brooke Burke. She's easy to look at but she's got about as much personality as a coffee table. Okay, maybe less. Emote, girl! Didn't she used to have some personality on E!'s "Wild On"?

Then, there's Dave Navarro who sits in on some of the songs and generally kisses the contestants' asses like a male version of Paula Abdul (a la American Idol). Man, what happened to this guy? Didn't he play in Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers? What a wuss he's become. I knew Carmen Electra could do no good.

Finally, there are the contestants themselves. One word: Cheese.

This show's so bad. It's good.

Fuck-Up, Thy Name Is Bush

See! Even Google thinks so! And Google is the best search engine around.

Old, White, Insensitive, and Out-of-Touch

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this — this is working very well for them," she said.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. What a despicable family.

Just exactly how black is SO BLACK?

In another example that many reporters/newscasters/pundits, etc. can't actually think or talk for themselves, Blitzer delivers this gem....

From CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Thursday, September 1, 2005, covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:

BLITZER: "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals, as Jack Cafferty just pointed out, so tragically, so many of these people, almost all of them that we see, are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold."

Incompetence and Arrogance Part 1

In just one of the multitude of missteps and general incompetence continually exhibited by the Bush Administration, we learn that the head of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), Mike Brown, has very little if any experience actually handling disasters.

I don't know about you, but I always thought one had to have demonstrable experience and a proven track record in order to head up such an important organization. But once again, Bush rewards those who are his buddies, rather than selecting the best and most qualified individuals for the jobs. Way to go Bushie.

Of course, this fool is oblivious and stands by his man saying: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Yeah, a heck of a job doing nothing.

The Wit and Wisdom of Zoolander

Derek Zoolander: Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.

Hansel: So I'm repelling down mount Vesuvius when suddenly I slip. And I'm just falling, terrified and then I think, "Hey, Hansel, haven't you been smoking Peyote for six straight days and couldn't some of this maybe be in your mind?" Derek Zoolander: And? Hansel: And it was. I was totally fine. I've never even been to mount Vesuvius.

Hansel: I wasn't like every other kid, you know, who dreams about being an astronaut, I was always more interested in what bark was made out of on a tree. Richard Gere's a real hero of mine. Sting. Sting would be another person who's a hero. The music he's created over the years, I don't really listen to it, but the fact that he's making it, I respect that. I care desperately about what I do. Do I know what product I'm selling? No. Do I know what I'm doing today? No. But I'm here, and I'm gonna give it my best shot.

Derek Zoolander: There was a moment last night, when she was sandwiched between the two Finnish dwarves and the Maori tribesmen, where I thought, "Wow, I could really spend the rest of my life with this woman".

Hansel: You can dere-lick my balls cap-E-tan. Derek Zoolander: I can Dere-lick my own balls.

No Sleep Til Brooklyn

More from this week's trip to NYC.....

We started our Monday morning with an awesome breakfast at Pastis in the Meatpacking District. We then headed to Brooklyn to explore a few neighborhoods. Williamsburg was first. Got off at Bedford Avenue and though there seemed to be some pretty cool restaurants and shops, appeared to be a "work in progress". I'm thinking we didn't see the best Williamsburg had to offer but weren't completely impressed with what we did see.

Next up was Park Slope, which was quite nice. Lots of entertainment options and a chill vibe. The side streets had rows upon rows of picturesque brownstones and looked like a really nice neighborhood to live in. We stopped in a place called Cocoa Bar for some delicious drinks and saw Brooklyn's own Steve Buscemi (pictured here) order a cappucino to go.

Our tired feet got the best of us so we did not end up seeing Brooklyn Heights but instead took the subway back to Manhattan and took a walk around the farmer's market in Union Square. We filled up our gas tanks at the Greenwich Brewery before resting up for the evening.

That night, met up with some friends (recent transplants to the city) for dinner at Pipa in the Gramercy Park area. Being a tapas fan, Pipa had quite a bit to do in order to impress but suprisingly and thankfully, it delivered. The sangria was tasty and the tapas were solid with a few being even extraordinary - the dates wrapped in bacon with bleu cheese and the crispy calamari.

More New York Stories

Okay, I am working my way backwards to review our trip to New York. On Tuesday, we went to the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. Although our feet were killing us from hiking all over Manhattan and some of Brooklyn over the span of just a few days, we did find time for a little culture.

The exhibition I enjoyed the most was their permanent collection of Dinosaur fossils which prompted me to wonder "Why the hell did these bad-ass creatures become extinct?".

Prior to the museum, we checked into our hotel "On the Ave" on Broadway and 77th. It was a trendy, boutique-style hotel complete with flat-screen HDTV mounted to the wall. Pretty cool place but for the price we paid, they could have had more amenities/toiletries and some friendlier staff.

We started the morning walking through Times Square. Is there a louder, gaudier, smellier, more-touristy part of town than this? I think not. I pity the Red-Staters who visit Manhattan to feast at the Red Lobster or Bubba Gump Shrimp chain restaurants and think they are dining in the Big Apple.

After Times Square, we took a leisurely stroll through Rockefeller Center and took in the shops on Fifth Avenue.