[ Thursday, October 31, 2002 ]
you have the floor
comments are back. Sorry that all the old pearls of wisdom have been lost.
Peter Palermo [2:17 PM]
problems with comments. Houston, we're working the problem.
In other news... Brenda, do you remember "New Ramrod, with atrazine"? Turns out atrazine feminizes male frogs and may part of the reason amphibians are disappearing all over the globe.
Peter Palermo [9:41 AM]
[ Wednesday, October 30, 2002 ]
By the way, the deported Canadian has been found in Syria.
Peter Palermo [9:23 PM]
Read the insightful essay by Fareed Zakaria in the latest New Yorker. Zakaria's essay is excellent, rightly pointing out the unique historical vantage point the US finds itself currently. There can be little doubt that many of the most promising advances in the governing of human affairs have been developed and nurtured by the US. What I fear now is that the current administration will turn its back on Democracy and Diplomacy and favor the more expedient forms of rule - Empire and Hegemony. The Bush administration seems to be embracing "might makes right" which is antithetical to one of the most important pillars of the US system; protection of the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Peter Palermo [10:36 AM]
Morford Does it again
From this mornings "Fix"
The family of Sen. Paul Wellstone asked the wan deathly flower-wiltingvisage of Vice President Dick Cheney to stay away from Tuesday night's memorial for the late senator, in part to spare mourners from excessive security screenings, but also mostly because Cheney is a sniveling sickly GOP snake who most likely openly hated the very liberal and outspoken Wellstone and hence Cheney's presence within a 500 mile radius of the gravesite would undoubtedly cause the senator's frustrated ghost much dis-ease and would undoubtedly cause the surrounding hollow corpses and malevolent spirits if not the spectre of Death itself to sense the presence of one of their own and want to reach up out of the wormy soil and grab Cheney's thick pale veiny alien ankles as he stood there snickering like a constipated hyena by the gravesite and try to drag him back down to the steaming reeking hellpit from whence he and Lynney spawned, which would have undoubtedly totally disrupted the Wellstone funeral proceedings and really annoyed the caterers.
Peter Palermo [10:24 AM]
[ Monday, October 28, 2002 ]
Here's my stab at punditry for the day.
Recently, the armed forces announced that with congress' blessing, they would begin recruiting non-citizens, specifically arabs, into the special forces. Seems reasonable enough, we all know the army is lacking native Arab speakers.
At the same time as the Army hopes to recruit foreign nationals from the very same countries that the pentagon assumes they will see action, the Federal government is firing every non-citizen from their jobs as airport bag checkers. An interesting paradox in our war against terrorism.
Peter Palermo [10:02 AM]
[ Friday, October 25, 2002 ]
Pioneer Press | 10/25/2002 | Sen. Paul Wellstone killed in plane crash
This is such tragic and awful news. I truly respected this man. In fact, I had just donated to his re-election campaign last week. This is a black day. Horrible for his family and friends, and for those of us fighting against the Bush junta. So sad.
Peter Palermo [11:46 AM]
[ Thursday, October 24, 2002 ]
if cute could kill.
Peter Palermo [10:28 AM]
[ Wednesday, October 23, 2002 ]
Get your full sized poster here.
Peter Palermo [10:33 AM]
[ Monday, October 21, 2002 ]
A canadian man, Syrian by birth but traveling under a Canadian passport, is detained in the US while his flight travels from Tunisia back to Canada. He is subsquently deported by the US - not to Canada where he is a successful engineer, family man and citizen, but back to Syria. That was three weeks ago and no one has heard from him since. Scary.
Here's the link. Globe and Mail
Peter Palermo [10:49 AM]
I had a severe bought of road rage on Friday coming home from work. I admit this – normally I ride my motorcycle to work and I am easily able to skirt elderly drivers, streetcars and livestock with ease. A blip on the throttle and I am away, free to be me. Stuck in an auto, I become slightly impatient, and maybe even deranged. I am well aware of shortcomings, however, and I work hard to contain my baser instincts.
As I roll up Market Street, I see a streetcar stopped for riders about block ahead of me, so I hit the turn signal, and slowly begin to creep over to the right lane and avoid getting stuck behind mister Muni ass. A beige Volvo is slowly passing my right, I’m creeping over (turn signal still on) figuring I’ll slip right in behind it, no fuss no muss. Suddenly, a dark blue SUV is accelerating and moving up on the Volvo’s rear, close enough to mount the unsuspecting Swede mobile. SUV has risked and accident, (I was already across the line and into the new lane) to cut me off. SUV ass continues to press its nose against Volvo and they slowly roll by me.
I’m seething. Asshole! I think. But wait… As I look out my window to see what kind of Neanderthal would pull a stunt like this, I see young woman behind the wheel. She turns to me, steeped in malice, and plants a lip-glossed, ruby red porno-star air kiss on me. All lips and saucy eyes.
All I could do was wave my impotent middle finger at her, her blowjob lips and gigantic hunk of Detroit steel. Emasculated, I’ve never hated someone so much. What kind of person, when given the choice, would choose to be an asshole? I assumed most assholery happened by accident. “Yes, I was an asshole, but I didn’t mean it.” Well, she meant it, every millimeter of puckered orifice.
Peter Palermo [10:24 AM]
[ Thursday, October 17, 2002 ]
Feeling crummy. Got yelled at. Bored. Uninspired. Where is the joy?
Peter Palermo [4:02 PM]
National Organization to Shoot Bill O'Reilly Into the Sun
10 minutes of mirth. At least.
Peter Palermo [12:19 PM]
[ Wednesday, October 16, 2002 ]
Intoxicated With Power (washingtonpost.com)
"the United States would set up a military viceroy in the capital of an Arab state, having occupied its territory, and then proceed to build a new nation. We presumably would do this with some help from perhaps the British, if they have the stomach for that -- despite their experience of trying to hold on to empire beyond its time. We apparently would not conduct this operation under U.N. auspices, and therefore it would be a direct and unilateral extension of American military power. We would betray the Iraqi National Congress, which the Republicans championed in Congress, by making it clear that it would not be the next government of Iraq. We would take responsibility for suppressing Kurdish national ambitions, so as to keep Turkey calm. We would take control over decision-making for Iraq's oil resources, which would raise problems for Vladimir Putin, who would be seen to have lost Russia's stake in Iraq to the United States. We would have U.S. troops in all sorts of interesting places, including on the border with Iran. We would have assumed responsibility for the costs of reconstruction in Iraq. We would presumably be trying, convicting and punishing persons we deemed guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity in courts of U.S. jurisdiction, most likely military, not before international tribunals."
Peter Palermo [4:12 PM]
W.W. Connell
The Internet is a constant source of fascination. Today I found a photo of my great-grandfather. Not posted by a family member or friend, just out there on the wires.
Peter Palermo [3:02 PM]
[ Tuesday, October 15, 2002 ]
Normally, I strive to stay away from the easy pickin's of the "pet peeve" post. It's an easy fall back for the lazy blogger. But what I propose here is no "you know what I hate? I hate the fact that hot dogs come in packs of ten, while buns come in packs of eight.” No, no. This something I really do hate. (even though I am a guilty party)
So, here it is. I hate the phrase "just sayin'". As in "I'm just sayin' that your baby looks like a monkey." It's sort of a catch-all cover-your-ass statement. What are you really sayin' when you employ "just sayin"? You're saying "I'm going to say something really confrontational, possibly uncalled for and way out of line but I don't have the balls to simply state it, so I'm giving myself this cover of "just sayin'" which actually means "I'm saying this, but I don't necessarily have the huevos to stand behind it. Unless, of course, you agree with me and then I will. "
I challenge you all to cease the use of this rhetorical escape pod. Don't just say it!
Peter Palermo [12:33 PM]
[ Monday, October 14, 2002 ]
Time
"On June 17th, every year, the family goes through a private ritual: we photograph ourselves to stop a fleeting moment, the arrow of time passing by." (via metafilter)
Peter Palermo [11:48 AM]
[ Sunday, October 13, 2002 ]
i've made a decision. I'm running for president. Watch this space for further developments.
Peter Palermo [6:09 PM]
[ Thursday, October 10, 2002 ]
I know you're out there - I can hear you breathing
I know you've stopped by. I can see your little footprints on the front stoop. So why don't you say hi? Or, have I slid into such a monotonous pattern that the only steady readers I had (all three of you) have slipped into comas. Well, comatose or no, I shall march on.
Sarah and I went to mother church of all the snootiest joints in town, last night. Zuni is a legend. Judy Rodgers is revered only slightly less than Alice Waters around here. I used to love to go over there for slow lunch (hamburger, fries, cocktail, coffee - 30 bucks. Expensive, yes.) Linger over my plate, watch the beautiful people. Now, I'll pay premium prices for food better than can be prepared at home, and for the ambience. Zuni has ambience to spare. All urban chic and Prada parade. But last night....last night, horror of horrors, the food sucked. Yes. The menu was dullsville. I ordered the fish, and when it arrived I took one look and begged Sarah to trade her quail with me. I'd take a bullet for my beloved, but I can't stomach a bad meal! Anyway, all the joy has been sucked from Zuni. Meet you at Absinthe!
Peter Palermo [3:41 PM]
[ Wednesday, October 09, 2002 ]
Possible Follow-up Songs for One-Hit Wonders via McSweeney's.
Peter Palermo [3:02 PM]
best thread ever, at Fark.
Peter Palermo [2:32 PM]
Joe Strummer, how could you? The only band that matters turns out be nothing more than a whore for Ford Motor Co.
Peter Palermo [10:02 AM]
[ Tuesday, October 08, 2002 ]
15 years ago, Prince Charles berated the state of architecture in Britain "architects and developers have the wrong kind of freedom - the freedom to impose their caprice, which is a kind of tyranny. Competitions even encourage them to come up with the voguish innovations and fashionable novelties that appeal to nobody but other architects. One prominent architect recently confessed, airily and with no apparent sign of shame, that some of his earlier buildings have ceased to interest even him, now that the thrill of creativity has worn off."
With that statement in mind, what do you make of the new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic?
Peter Palermo [1:44 PM]
The New Yorker wonders whether the new Westin hotel at Times Square is the ugliest building in NYC. Any New Yorkers out there? What can you tell me?
Peter Palermo [1:26 PM]
[ Monday, October 07, 2002 ]
Santa Fe at sunset
Peter Palermo [4:15 PM]
[ Tuesday, October 01, 2002 ]
Weddings are much on my mind these days. But here's the deal: I produce events for a living, it's my job. The idea of planning a little dinner and party 9 months out is crazy to me. Call me 6 weeks out, that's all the time I need. How can I decide in October what I want to eat in May? Still, (gentlemen, listen up) while you may not care so much about the myriad details of whether to have vellum in the invitation or not or whether she wears open toed shoes or pumps - even though what color nail polish she will wear that night may be litterally the LAST thing on your mind - don't let anyone know. Loose lips, my friend. You must appear to be engaged at all times. Involved and interested. But LOOK OUT! You must not offer contrary opinions! Do not meddle in the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale. Still, you must not be seen as to have NO opinion, either. It's a fine line, gentlemen. Good luck.
The Morning News - Don’t Be Rude: Part IV, Weddings
Peter Palermo [3:07 PM]
