Wednesday, November 3, 2010




More - Inside Outsider:

Questions For Garry Wills

The Historian Talks about President Obama's Need To Please

Q: As a presidential historian and emeritus professor at Northwestern, you’re well aware that the Democrats are facing the likelihood of an electoral setback this Tuesday (Nov. 2nd). Yet President Obama continues to be the object of scathing criticism among Democrats, including yourself. Why won’t you give him credit for getting things done?

A: He gets things done in a very crippled way. The health care plan and the finance plan — he made so many bargains along the way.

Q: You’ve accused him of excessive ingratiation, or “omnidirectional placation,” as you wrote in a blog post for The New York Review of Books.

A: As a black man with an odd name, he often had to ingratiate himself in the companies that he kept, and he does. Beyond that, I think he may have a principle of trying to compromise, but that has proved to be a big mistake.


Click Here For Complete New York Times Sunday Magazine Interview by Deborah Solomon

Thursday, October 28, 2010

If You Don't Vote Nov. 2nd...

You're An Idiot!

If You Vote Republican...

You're Even More Of An Idiot!

Remember...

Your Vote Counts!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Random

When hearing songs from Led Zeppelin's "In Through The Out Door" on the radio, the first thing that *always* enters my head is... "Sad Zep."

A cartoon image of Jimmy Page & Robert Plant (with slack guitar & limp mic.) also pops into my head.

Even though I generally like the songs, especially the two hits, I know the cause/trigger is Rolling Stone Mag's review of said album which I read while a high-school student during "study period" in the school library.


First Concert:

Santa Esmeralda not featuring Leroy Gomez at the Civic Center (BorderTown, Tx.)

They played their hit "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" twice. Once as an encore. Also happened to sit next to future "1st serious" girlfriend. She literally snored & slept through the second half of the show or at least pretended to.


First Beer Buzz:

During Sophomore Summer year of High School, did the tennis tournament tour of Texas. Was in San Antonio, staying with my Uncle (Mother's youngest brother and law school student) & his wife (Braniff Airline flight attendant).

Saw the Spurs play, starring George Gervin, aka "The Iceman," at the Hemisphere Arena. The Spurs won though don't remember who they played. And I drank 3 or so beers.

Lost my first round match the following morning.


First Concert Experience:

Saw Rush in S.A. during the Hemispheres Tour.

Was lucky enough to hear about the Greyhound Bus Trip sponsored by a local (BorderTown) radio station. Every seat was sold & occupied (price also included a Rush concert ticket).

The "Rush Bus" was a 2 1/2 hour drive (5 hours round trip) to San Antonio. Upon arriving in S.A., the radio station manager passed a hat around, asking for tips/donations for the driver.

Can you imagine driving a chartered bus 156 miles, filled with loud male teenagers, all of whom, for the most part, were smoking marijuana joints or passing pipes of weed to each other?

Purchases: Two black short-sleeve concert tees (different designs)

Note: Triumph opened the show


First Neil Young Album Purchased:


Rust Never Sleeps (newly released) @ a convenience store/truck stop in Austin, Tx. while attending St. Stephen's Academy during the school summer session.

Note: All single vinyl albums at the time sold for $6.99 ($7.34 with tax included)


First Concert Souvenir:


Saw the Pretenders (Pretenders II Tour) in Akron, Ohio.

Was staying at my Uncle/Godfather's home in Hudson (Columbus), Oh. At the time, was about to attend a college in Steubenville, Ohio. Went with my Aunt's (*) younger brother who was also staying with them.

Don't remember who opened but during the Pretender's set, Chrissie Hynde had a Martin Chambers' drumstick in her hands while swaying her hips and dancing slowly sort of like Axl Rose used to do.

She let the drumstick fall to the stage whereupon I bum-rushed said stage and grabbed the drumstick.

Right when I clutched it, was kicked in the head by Hynde and at the same time very physically shoved back into the crowd by a security guard.

Note: Am no longer in possession of the "logo/stamped" M.C. drumstick

Purchases: Sleveless white concert tee. 1st Pretenders album cover on the front. Pretenders II Tour Dates on back.


Another Round - Inflation Index:

16 oz. cans of Yeungling Premium at Dakotah's went up $0.25 from $1.25 to $1.50 two weeks ago

Pints of Rolling Rock @ Julie's Corner Bar stayed constant at $1.50


.............................................................................


(*) Aunt is a former nun/sister who, after leaving the convent, married my Uncle.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Found Notebook (*)













(*) Found Friday, Oct. 15th
Corner of Richmond St. & E. Somerset St.
near #15 Trolley Line Stop

Saturday, October 23, 2010

From The Files

Home Run Payoff - $10,000 Winner

A teaching assistant at Kingsway Living Center in Moorestown, N.J., Kathleen Rollo was the first $10,000 Philadelphia Daily News Home Run Payoff contest winner of the season.

Rollo, a self-proclaimed lifetime Phillies fan who lives in Haddon Township, won the money on Jimmy Rollins' grand slam in the sixth inning last night (Oct. 1st) in Atlanta.

Rollo could not think of the first thing she would possibly do with the money; she did say she could probably find some bills to pay, though.

"I'm not going to quit my job, I know that," Rollo said

Rollo grew up in Philadelphia watching the Phils and has stayed strong through all the bad times, as well as the good. It looks as if her team has decided to pay her back for her supreme loyalty.

When the Daily News reached her to tell her the good news, Rollo was already in shock, having listened to the game. Rollo said she has sent in contest entries for the longest time, but her brother always told her that it was a waste of stamps and that nothing would ever come of it. It looks as if she got the last laugh.

Six other collected prizes in the Daily News Home Run Payoff contest last night Oct. 22nd.

The Daily News pays $1,000 for a home run hit in the payoff inning and $10,000 for a grand slam.

Contestants whose batters fail to hit a home run receive a gift pack, which includes a variety of Phillies-related items.

This season, the Daily News has paid out $33,000.


--Alex Falk
The Philadelphia Daily News
Oct. 2nd, Page 37


Click Here For More Recent Home Run Derbies


More:

Everytime A Phillie Hits A Home Run, An Angel Gets Its Wings, And You Get A Free Beer



Base Ballin' Continued:


Newspaper Editors Dig Bad Headline Puns;

Click Here For "Body of Article"

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Still-Life

HouseHold Shelf & Art Supply Cabinet










Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Jury Duty

Service To The Courts of Philadelphia

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

8:15 a.m.
Criminal Justice Center
1301 Filbert St. - Room 101
ID # *****1085


8:15 - 10 a.m.

Fill out Juror Information Questionnaire (Confidential - Not Public Record)

25 Questions - Yes or No answers
(Note: Questions 17-25 apply to civil cases only)

Receive (stick-on) Juror Badge (yellow/black)


10 a.m. - 10:15

Assigned to Criminal Case in Courtroom of Judge Erdos (room #608)
Am Juror #16 (of 40 potential jurors)


10:20 - 11:45

After receiving instructions from Judge Erdos and being sworn in, Wait in back juror room until questioned individually by Judge Erdos in main Courtroom.

Sent back to small room for a few minutes and then told to report/return to Room 101.


11:50 - 1:30 p.m.

Given Lunch Break


1:30 - 2:10 p.m.

Wait in Room 101 for further instructions/court-case assignment


2:15 - 2:25 p.m.

Am dismissed from jury duty (one full day or one court case) & paid with $9 check upon leaving room.

No City Wage Tax taken out.


From Check Stub:

"The Board of Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the City of Philadelphia extends its gratitude and appreciation for your conscientious, diligent, and meritorious service to the Courts of this City."

Hon. Pamela Pryor Dembe
President Judge

Gerard P. Shotzbarger, ESQ.
Jury Commissioner

Hon. D. Webster Keogh
Administrative Judge, Trial Division


More: Pa.'s Highest Court Will 'Right an Ancient Wrong'

George B. Vashon will be admitted to the Bar 163 years after being denied over race.

Monday, October 18, 2010

A.A.(P.) Shutdown

Am reporting for jury duty tomorrow so don't know when I'll be able to post/update.

Take Care

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Letter To The Editor (*)

Re: Ranger In Chief

"George W. Bush does not appear to be a luxury suite type of guy."

Is the writer of the article, Michael S. Schmidt, stoned? Or just stupid?

Sincerely,

(Name Redacted)

Philadelphia


(*)Letter Not Sent to NY Times