And in the "it's a small world" dept.

I give you this update on the IL Senate seat brouhaha.

I know Roland Burris. Well, at any rate, I used to work for his wife, Burlean and met him several times. She wore so much makeup, we used to called her May-burlean. She was fairly ineffective...a typical pol's wife.

He ain't no bundle of brilliance either come to think of it.

Ha. I hadn't thought about her in years.

Luckovich

Exactly.

Oh, and never forget...

...nice guys finish last.

Predictions for 2009

No, not mine you ninnies, James Kunstlers'. Read 'em at your own peril...

Bush's Legacy

Yeah, yeah, I know that I said I wasn't going to do any more Bush bashing, but this WAPO article very clearly defines what has happened to our regulatory agencies in the past 8 years. Partisanship and cronyism has ruled the day and yet we continue to actually wonder aloud about how the lead paint got into Li'l Jimmy's toys or how the e coli got into his Happy Meal.

President Obama needs to make short work of these former appointees and get back to a functional structure of government of proper regulation that leaves behind the false notion of a "free market economy" ASAP.

All Bush supporters HATE America. There is no other rationale for the continued support of this level of malfeasance.

The Good Doctor

I was driving around the other day and as is my habit, I was listening to WTAM's slate of hate radio. Fat Fool Mike Trivisonno was belching up food and blathering on about how certain events or statements in a politicians career can cost them their livelihood.

As evidence he cited the downfall of Howard Dean after his now infamous Yeeeeaaarrrgghhh screech in the 2004 primaries.

In that light, I'd be happy to invite Mike to have a gander at this piece by Ari Berman in The Nation and to get a better perspective on the former Governor from New Hampshire. I doubt that "Triv" could get through all of the big words in the first four sentences, but I'm counting that several of you will be able to finish the article and emerge more informed from your efforts.

From one Bob to another

Here's a link to Bob Herbert's column this morning where he advises US to wise up...and be quick about it.

Gaza calling

This is a swell way to start the New Year in the Middle East. Madam Secretary better get to work, tout suite.

Harold Pinter

I know that I had already put a post up about his passing the other day, but if you've got a few minutes to read this lengthy obituary from the Guardian, it's well worth the visit. He's a very major deal in the U.K.

I've done my share of theatre but the play that sticks in my mind as my all-time favourite to perform is without doubt, The Caretaker. Harold Pinter is a primary reason I may have ever referred to myself as an actor and I think that Pinter's contribution is positively enormous to the modern stage. Playing the old man, Davies, was as difficult a task as I've ever tackled on stage.

I will always hold Pinter in great regard. Feel free to enjoy this groovy clip from the 1963 film with Alan Bates and Donald Pleasance.

Belated Merry Christmas

I always liked Darlene Love's voice. She rocks it on Dave from a couple of years ago. Enjoy.

When in Kabul

Well, the gov'mint has been selling sex to us for years, why not try it out on the enemy? A creative whilst kinda spooky resolve to the world's problems if you ask me. That's it fellas, let's fuck our way out of the pickle...so to speak.

Cum to think of it, the CIA's method does put me in mind of this now infamous international festival that I just missed the other day. Now that that seems a far better approach. Sorry I missed the date, but then again, it's not too late to chip in after the fact. The world can always use another good saucy orgasm, eh?

The Homecoming

Harold Pinter dead at 78. An incredible talent and a troubled man indeed. RIP.

Flee to the Cleve

I guess there was some dumb dustup in the past couple of weeks over some negative comments made about Cleveland by a booking agent in NYC.

As usual folks from here over-reacted to the tawdry offenses of the puffed up New Yorkers. Harrumph.

The whole thing put me in mind of this hilarious clip from 30 Rock. Ha.

Weekends

Mine was pretty uneventful and bloody well cold from a weather perspective. Juan Cole spent a somewhat warmer one in Southern California and was evidently much impressed by Pastor Rick Warren.

Listen, I have no affection for Warren's bellicose stance towards gay marriage and alternate lifestyles in general.

However, with people like Juan Cole and Melissa Etheridge finding new ground to have open discussions with these kinds of conservative religious leaders, I figure we may just be making some inroads towards a common ground and a healthier dialogue about the social quandaries that seem to plague this nation of ours.

Zappadan

Oh, and don't forget that today is not only the Winter Solstice but it's also the final day of Zappdan. Rock with some Frank!

Friday Random Ten... late Sunday edition

My fan base of one was squawking at me last night at a cocktail party about not posting the FRT this week. In that light, I give you the delinquent Ten.

Long, Long, Long -- The Beatles
Long Way To Go -- Gwen Stefani and Andre 3000
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams -- Green Day
Redrum -- Tom Waits
Fashion -- David Bowie
I Believe -- Petra Haden and Bill Frisell
Satin In A Coffin -- Modest Mouse
Part Of Me, Part Of You -- The Finn Brothers
When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around* -- The Police
P. S. 78 -- Gruppo Sportivo

Bonus lateness penalty track:

This House Is A Rockin' -- The Brian Setzer Orchestra

* (yep, that's really the full title of the song)

A really big shoe

I'm really going to try to wind down my focus on the Bush Administration in the coming months and work on documenting the things that Obama has in store for us instead.

That said, here's Bob Scheer's capsulization of the reign of the The Shrub in the Middle East. A true folly of epic proportions that I will never forget.

Drunkenfreude

All I can say is come to Cleveland. We're the Otis of cities.

Wolcott

Doncha just love James Wolcott?

He's like this weird, contemporary Oscar Wildean, punk rock sophisticate who trundles around Manhattan doing the most "clevah" things and writing about them in the fashionable magazines.

I dig his style, man.

Zappadan

We've still got about a week left until Zappadan ends on the 21st and I am going to keep lifting cool videos from my pals over at The Aristocrats.

I found this interview with Ruth Underwood this morning and her depiction of Frank in this session seems just about like I would've imagined him. Plus, she plays the middle section of St. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast in the middle of the video.

Behold the amazing Ruth!