My second city

I finally got around to watching 'City by the Sea', (contrary to reviews, it's not the worst movie ever made, though at some points it seems to be solidly in the running), a movie with Robert DeNiro set in the beach community of Long Beach, a Long Island city 20 miles or so outside New York where I spent a series of summers in my teens. The Long Beach of the film is a decrepit, ailing place with a ruined boardwalk and a healthy druggie problem. The one I remember was a middle-class town of cops, firemen and teachers, pot smoking teenagers and drunkish beach bums. I know the film's Long Beach is gone, I think mine is too as the last decade has seen rapid development, combined with escalating real estate prices, that have made the city a hot beach destination.

A discussion over on IMDB has some residents of Long Beach mad about the movie's portrayal of their city, including questions on whether the City of Long Beach can sue this movie for libel (can they, lawyers?). 'I just saw this movie last night and I was REALLY confused. Mmm. I have never heard of another Long Beach and this didnt really resemble the Long Beach I grew up in. It was misleading to represent this city in such a way. Long Beach bears no resemblance at all to this movie. I have never seen the desolate, rundown, dangerous place that this movie portryaed it as.'

Or, 'the movie looks like the rockaways on a bad day - maybe'.

Ouch.

I like this comment: 'Honey, it's a movie. It all movies had to represent truth... well, then I would be a gangsta and a wiseguy and a rabbi just because I live in Brooklyn.'

Wait, so we're not all gangsta, wiseguy, rabbis?

Will I make it through the season?

From the teaser for this week's episode of Six Feet Under:

Claire is shocked to discover she and Ted share a passion for politics.

Shocked.

Although, I suspect Ted the lawyer may turn out to be a Republican.

That's my Matsui

I, through the grace of Ari and joined by Peter, watched the Yankees defeat the Angels today. We got sunburns and almost died of heatstroke because, unlike fake Yankee fans who went home when the Yankees were down, we stayed until the end and got to see Hideki Matsui hit a double to win the game. I wore my Matsui shirt home prouder than ever.

What would we do to a Russian TV station that met with Osama?

ABC News meets with mastermind behind the Beslan school massacre in Russia.

Via GOPINION.

Dumb things over which I get all worked up

Via GOPINION, I found this post about Moby's newfound respect for Eminem because of the latter's anti-Bush song, 'Mosh'. For those that don't know, the two men had a very public verbal brawl. Eminem embarrassed Moby in multiple ways, including a mention in one of his songs calling Moby a 'bald headed fag', 'old' and describing Moby's music style as 'over'. Moby, wildly outmatched in every possible way including bankroll, talent, fame, brains and size, backed down and announced randomly at an Awards Show that he had 'no problem with Eminem'.

This irks me so much. Do you mind if I use foul language to describe it? If you do, don't click on.

Moby, you little bitch, grow some balls. If you hated Eminem for being misogynistic, nothing has changed. You hated him for using words like 'fag'. He laughed in your face and then called you specifically a fag. He's never going to like you. You're never going to be in. Not even if you both hate Bush. Not even if you'd make a song dissing Ja Rule and The Source. When Eminem wrote his song 'Toy Soldiers' about his various squabbles, you didn't even get a mention. You're a nobody. You're a sad, little boy who didn't get enough love from his daddy and now makes up for it by sweating Eminem, who clearly wouldn't spit on you if you were on fire. It's over, let go, nobody listen to techno!

Kill em all (or, whatever, lock them up forever since Britain doesn't have the death penalty)

Especially the one in the New York sweatshirt for besmirching the name of my city with his murderous ways.

That will change everything.

An actual email for an actual event happening this weekend in NYC:

Anti-War Dance Fest- Because poor communities of color continue to be aggressively recruited by the U.S. Armed forces, because young soldiers continue to die, because destruction and death continue to hit innocent Iraqi civilians each day, we invite you to dance for peace dance for freedom dance against the occupation of Iraq.

Lest you think I'm just making fun of this because they are liberals, imagine if you got an email for a danceathon against federal funding of stem cell research or against a tax hike. I'd roll my eyes just as hard as I did when I read this.

Could they be having a worse week?

Jul 29, 2005- Lightning Strike Kills Two in Scout Troop

Jul 28, 2005- Heat and humidity sickens hundreds of Boy Scouts

Jul 25, 2005- Scout leaders killed in electrical accident during Boy Scout Jamboree opening day

Using Bush hatred to sucker people

"Sorry to interrupt, folks. God bless America. I'm a homeless veteran, just got out of the hospital and I'm trying to make it upstate. Because of George Bush, he says he can't send me home, but he can send troops over to Iraq. So all I can do is ask for your help, since Bush isn't here to help me. Anything you can contribute would be helpful. I'm just trying to get up to my family," is a good one to use in New York, Boston, or LA. The majority of the population in these cities have such a negative view of Bush and Iraq, and such a positive view of veterans, family, and anything Anti-Bush, they'd be more willing to contribute a few dollars to your cause. This one's good for use in subways. Things can take a turn for the worse, however, if you get someone who wants to know your story. If they start saying things like "Where did you serve?" or "I can drive you upstate." or "Can you believe what Bush is doing with Iraq?", you're in for some trouble. Either you can get caught with questions you can't answer, or you can waste 3 hours waiting for the guy to shutup about Bush. None of these will put any money in your pocket. It's also good to get your hands on some crutches, camoflauge clothing, and/or go with a day's stubble.

Via Seldom Sober.

Back when I was a supercool NYC teenager, I would hang out with squatters in Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City. They were mostly rich kids from Connecticut who couldn't like deal, man so they would live in empty abandoned buildings back when there were such things in the East Village and beg for money in the street. My friend Mils and I would cut school and hang out with them, fascinated by their blue hair and multiple body piercings. Plus, girls and dogs brought in more money so they were happy to have us around. Some of their lines:

'Spare some change so I don't have to eat my dog'
'Spare some change, I'm saving up for a yacht'
'Spare some change so I can buy some beer and some pot' (this one actually worked the best since people seemed to appreciate the honesty).

I remember shopping in the Village with my parents years later and some dirty guy running up to me and saying 'Karol! It's me, Wisconsin! How's it going?' Still homeless, still begging, my parents were not amused that I knew him. I wonder if he's using the Bush line these days.

LOOKS LIKE I HAVE MY INSANITY DEFENSE SEWN UP (by guest blogger Dawn Summers)

Maybe this is why Karol has left Alarming News to a gaggle of guest bloggers...

No Comment

Louvre Gets Donation for Islamic Art Wing

Happy Listening Part II (By guest blogger Jessica)

Ladies and gentlemen, once again, showing their groovy hip swaying side, The Wifebeaters.

The politics of meters on Sundays

For a few years now, New Yorkers have had to pay the meters on Sundays. No more, reports Clarified, due to some wacky religious decision by the City Council. She focuses on the fact that other religions celebrate their Sabbath on days other than Sunday and that meters should be free on those days too. I think Bloomberg just got one step closer to re-election. One of the gripes I heard from people during Bloomberg's term was that they were being nickled and dimed all the time, and meters on Sundays was a classic example of this. Now, no more meters on Sundays. And if you think Bloomberg isn't getting the credit, despite his opposition to the plan, you're not paying attention.

Like MASH But Less Funny And Not As Political (By guest blogger Jessica)

I was watching a new drama on cable TV yesterday called Over There. It premiered on channel FX, which is apparently an up and coming cable network that has hot new shows like Nip/Tuck and The Shield. And for someone that barely watches TV, I really do not know how I know such things.

Anyhow, Over There is about a group of rookie soldiers who arrive in Iraq for the first time. The show depicts their lives and their families' lives back at home and the experiences they go through while fighting in a war that is already well underway. It is the first war drama in which the conflict being depicted is current.

I highly recommend the show. I was pleasantly surprised to find that politics are kept to a minimum. The show focuses on the personal and daily lives of the soldiers, and the realizations they come to while fighting on the front lines. The battle scenes are done very well, and the small things that we don't think about very often are brought to light in several aspects. Like what the heck you do when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the desert.

Oh, but it doesn't have a cool theme song like MASH does.

*UPDATE* Cake Or Death had a different take on the pilot episode as he seemed to think it was a bit more preachy and well, Hollywoodish. We shall see as the storylines develop, I guess.

Let's Take a Quiz (by Guest Blogger Ari)

This is from an email a friend just sent me:

Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test. The events are actual cuts from past history.

Do you remember?

1. In 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by:
a. Superman
b. Jay Lenno
c. Harry Potter
d. Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davy Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

8. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill' s women
problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Nope, .....I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you?

Moronic moral equivalence

Not only does a NY Times editorial say that 'sanity has not been the norm so far on either side of the Israeli security barrier' (except I think it could be argued that the people not dressing their infants and toddlers in machine guns are actually sane) but it also makes this really stunning proclamation.

The Bus Story (by guest blogger Ari)

I find it incredibly interesting that this story died so quickly. 60 (!!) tourists led off a bus with their hands up. Tourists made to kneel on the street, in full view of the public, handcuffed, with sharpshooters trained on them... and the story lasted what, a day or so?

Not one teary eyed tourist from the bus addressed the media saying they were terrorized. Or, more even more interesting, no one made any sort of stink about racism, police brutality, humiliation or suing. Not a word about suing!! I guess Al Sharpton was too busy that day to galvanize things? Thank goodness. And as for the class and understanding of these poor tourists I'm not at all shocked. Just impressed. And I wish the story could have lived at least another day to teach some of the more litigious people here in NYC (y'know, like pests who protest political conventions and their ilk) a thing or two.

Ahem.

From ABC's THE NOTE:

If the Bush White House weren't so completely distracted by the Wilson leak investigation, perhaps the President would be able to actually get something done — besides sign CAFTA, the highway bill, and the energy bill into law; read all the improving economic figures; celebrate his still-bullet-proof Supreme Court nomination; and continue along semi-stealthily on 2006 fundraising and candidate recruitment.

And if the Democrats weren't so sure that a one-sentence party platform ("Karl Rove should be in jail.") was a sure winner, perhaps they would Notice that the Republican majority is likely to get at least some credit with voters for passing these laws; that the Bill Clinton Democratic Party of free trade just might have been dead and buried shortly after midnight; and that the AFL thing — along with the America Coming Together thing, along with the DNC thing — leaves the party with some serious money and organization questions.

Gee, I wonder if he'll win

Egypt President Mubarak to seek fifth term

Tonight in New York (by guest blogger Peter)

It's almost impossible to overstate the impact and importance of Fela Kuti to the global musical village: producer, arranger, musician, political radical, outlaw. He was all that, as well as showman par excellence, inventor of Afro-beat, an unredeemable sexist, and a moody megalomaniac.

The Archives Listening Project turns a year old tonight and we're presenting an evening of Fela. Admission is free and it starts at 9pm.
We're at 12" Bar - 179 Essex St, just below Houston.

No, Congress really doesn't have anything better to do.

Congressman Salazar answers the question on everyone's mind.

Blogroll Update

Remember this story? Well, the guy in it turns out to be this really cool movie buff who has a new group site called 'Cinema Strikes Back'. I think I ruined any film judging credibility I may have had with him by admitting, or more like professing, love for 'Wedding Crashers', which he refuses to see because he hated 'Old School'. Oh well, nobody is perfect (meaning him for not getting the genius of that movie, not me).

My Kind Of Love Advice or Adam Smith,The New Love Doctor (by guest blogger Petitedov)

Tim Harford writes a sort of Dear Abby column for the Financial Times. The column, Dear Economist, approaches everyday problems and queries from the economics point of view, often Harford quotes famous economists and nobel prize laureates in his explanation why people aren't having enough sex (my personal favorite).
Here's how the column describes itself:

The 'Dear Economist' column in the Financial Times answers readers' personal problems with the tools of Adam Smith.

The only drawback to this blog is that it's a big tease. In order to read the columns in full one must register at FT for a price. Still I find the concept refreshing, enjoyable, and practical. I need to listen to Mr. Harford more often.

'It's not like we're living on the prairie.'

Last Sunday's episode was the worst Six Feet Under episode yet, though it did get better toward the end, and I did laugh at a couple of lines like the one said by Claire quoted in the title line above. Click on if you've already seen the episode.

I despise all the characters this season. Claire is the only even remotely redeemable character, mostly because she is very realistically selling out. Otherwise, they're all a bunch of freaks that I can't relate to. Also, while I realize they are a liberal family in a liberal state, the political overtones are getting a bit much. If Claire isn't pontificating about the state of the world, she's listening to Air America. Nate is just in hippie lalaland, Brenda is unbearable with her baby babbling and new agey child-raising techniques (classic line a few episodes back from Nate to Brenda: 'I don't want to raise our children based on a book you haven't even finished reading yet'). David is too nice, those kids are going to eat him alive, but sometimes shows a little realism:

'This isn't about money, it's about making a better world.'-Nate

'Well, I'm sorry, but a world where I'm broke doesn't seem better to me.'-David

I can't stop watching but I do hope it improves.

If I only drank bad beer and didn't eat brie

You Are 70% American

Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home. You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

The war in Iraq will make Muslims despise us even more.

Right?

Q.

Joe got his bag searched on the subway and worried that the cops would find his pot. They didn't:

I ran into the subway with my drugs safely tucked away in a side pocket. HOLY FUCK. I was petrified at that moment. I mean, what would have happened if he had asked to look in the side pocket of my bag and found the pot? Although I’ve heard from other people that they aren’t legally allowed to arrest me on the spot for that, I have a hard time believing it. I am sure that I would have been handcuffed and led out of the subway, convict style.

But what would happen if they did? Can he be arrested? Anyone know?

Happy Listening! (By guest blogger Jessica)

Check out the newest Wifebeaters recorded single, Frame By Frame.

Go.

If you're thinking of taking a vacation, think about going to London. British Airways has a package out of NY for $567 that includes:

º Round-trip World Traveller airfare to London on British Airways.

º Three nights’ accommodation at a central London hotel.

º Choice of one of the following attractions: Ducktour, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Dining Pass, Afternoon Tea, or Big Bus Tour.

º Continental breakfast daily.

The Brits can use our support right now.

Think, not so much.

My godsister had a son at eighteen, got married to a different guy, for three months. (Which, looking back, wasn’t such a shock since she brought a date to the rehearsal dinner.

Oh just read the whole thing. That Dawn Summers sure knows how to write.

So sad it's funny

This just about sums up how I feel about the random subway bag searches.

Conservatism vs. Republicanism (by guest blogger Dorian Davis)

As more people are voting Republican, debunking the myth that each generation is inevitably becoming more liberal, it occured to me that the vocabulary we use to classify this phenomenon might be part of the confusion. This current generation is becoming more tolerant--not more liberal. Tolerance and liberalism are not the same thing. Tolerance is merely the acceptance of alternative lifestyles, such as the gay and lesbian lifestyle. But liberalism, at its core, is the malevolent philosophy that the individual is subservient to the group, or to the state, and I don't see any evidence to support the speculation that liberalism is gaining ground. In fact, an examination of voting patterns over the past 25 years reveals that the exact opposite is true: this country has voted progressively more Republican, from Reagan to Bush I, and now to George W. Bush. Even the Clinton administration was a watershed for Republican expansion, as we took over the House of Representatives in 1994, and the Senate in 2000. (Another little-known fact is that more people voted for conservative tickets--Bush and Perot, and Dole and Perot--than voted for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996, respectively.) This is not to say that we are suddenly adopting a fundamentalist Christian mentality in this country, but, instead, that the Republican Party and its Conservative elements are two separate, and fabulous, entities. And while each subsequent generation is becoming more tolerant of alternative lifestyles, and alternative families, that tolerance doesn't necessarily translate into an endorsement of high taxes and subservience to the United Nations. In other words, a citizen coming of political age in the Bush Era is not necessarily at odds with himself to support gay marriage, and to vote as a Republican. As globalism is one constituency of the Democratic Party, so is Conservatism of the Republican Party.

You need me and you know it (By guest blogger Candace)

I did not imagine, upon my temporary return to the glorious world of guest-blogging, that my first serious discussion with AN readers would be about The Real World. To correct this, I have decided to share with you some information that is in desperate need of discussion in today's globalizing world.

Ahem. Lean closer, kids.

I have it on good, Mexico-certified authority that when you (okay, we) are at the club, shaking your rumps around in circles and singing "Dame mas gasoliiiina!" (which is the only line in that song we gringos thought we understood), you are not engaging your partner with a thoughtful debate on CAFTA.

What you are shouting about, I will leave it up to your, hmm, creative minds to decipher.

Comments: the internet equivalent of teddy bears(By guest blogger Candace)

Seriously, for a girl who's never home I'm on the internet enough tonight to know that our poor co-guest-blogger Petitedov had a really rough day. As someone who wrecked her car five years ago and whose life has never been the same since, I'm telling you that if there's any love left in your black hearts you should send it over to her.

That said, it probably won't help your karma if you accidentally call her mother instead, forget that you speak Russian, and hurriedly slam the phone shut on the poor lady. Just in case you were wondering.

Who's Your Parent A!! (by guest blogger Chad)

Being the firm believers in the old adage, "A rolling stone gathers no moss," the gay rights activists in the liberal bastion of Massachusetts are at it again. Having conquered the issue of gay-marriage (with a little help from the courts), they have now logically moved on to the next edict on, what is assuredly a very... very....... very long list.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Let it be known that thine traditional birth certificates indicating the foul and hetero-normative titles of "Mother" and "Father" shall hanceforth no longer stand and will be banished from the land post haste!!! (With a little help from the courts.)

Honestly, being gay, I really have a hard time siding with people who are on the fight for "gay rights". Nevermind the fact that they totally miss that whole pesky majority rules thing and take all their gripes to the judiciary to decide, but they come up with the most retarded answers to their problems.

Parent A and Parent B?!?!?! Are you joking? Are you trying to kill me by making me choke on my Velveeta Shells & Cheese from laughing at such a ridiculous idea...?? Are these the same geniouses who decided to give us the rainbow and upside down pink triangle as the symbols to champion our cause??

I have a thought. If the crossing out of one of parental titles on the traditional document offends you and you'd prefer to have a pristine, unaltered birth certificate of your child to keep in a shoebox in the attic, how 'bout petitioning your legislature to make a separate one for gay couples indicating both ambiguous parents.

It's bad enough you've force fed gay marriage (which will backfire... huge) down the public's collective throats in that state.... Let's not force the 80,000 children of straight parents to choose which parent is A and which is B for the sake of gay community's fragile ego.

Stone's 9/11 (by guest blogger Petitedov)

There was a lot of bruhaha, when it was announced that Oliver Stone will direct full out 9/11 themed movie. Many people maintained that Oliver Stone with his crazy interesting political views will disecreate the memory of the victims while pushing the far-left agenda of justifying terrorism. I'm no fan of Oliver Stone, especially when i saw Comandate, his love letter to Fidel Castro. So i was more than interested when Murph, who seems to have all the right connections, got a hold of an early script. Murph doesn't seem very impressed, but like me he's a movie snob so who knows how a) the final script will look like when Stone is done with it b) what kind 9/11 movie will the general public want to see.

More Armchair Freud (By guest blogger Candace)

So I'm going to admit that after my bacon I sat down to watch The Real World (Austin), and here are my re-confirmed observations about life:
* Boys like girls to be infants
* People are total sluts
and
* College kids are mean

Re: Little girls: The whole "I need you"/"You make me feel like a princess"/"I need to take care of me stuff" is so, like, ten years ago, in the sense that, ten years ago, "we" were eleven or twelve.

Re: Sluts: Like, they're all, like, dumb, and like, mean, and they really do think that going out and just hooking up with people is fun, which is funny, because I guess I still thought that people were, like, joking about being that shallow.

Re: Mean: So here's how life works: People like to be mean to people who aren't as pretty as them, like making sure this Rachel girls knows she "can't get" anyone in their league because she's packing something like an extra three and a half pounds and her face wasn't assembled in a doll factory. Jesus. And ugly people, while totally normal about relationships, have their own personal game with the universe, where the pretty people exist to be screwed with, because it's just so easy. This basically means that the more crooked your face is, the smarter you are. Katie Holmes would be the exception to this rule.

In other words, people never change, and the boys on tv (like the boys in real life) will continue to act like they should own girls' bodies and minds and girls will cope by taking it out on each other. Which is why I just gonna get married to Ari and leave it all behind. And I'm also going to find a better source for life lessons that The Real World. That's like planning your battlefield strategy while listening to "Peace Train."

Question of the day (By Guest Blogger Candace)

Does eating bacon for dessert mean you have an eating disorder?

Perspective (By Guest Blogger Jessica)

Petitedov recently told me about the latest political move from the band Belle and Sebastian to boycott the Israel portion of their tour until 'they end the occupation'. I hadn't heard this, and being a Belle and Sebastian fan, decided to do some research.

It turns out that Chris Geddes, the keyboardist of the band had done a couple of interviews describing the poverty and destruction he had seen while visiting the Gaza Strip. Here's an interview. Nothing is really too shocking in the interview. He compares the wall to something out of South African apartheid and he blames the poverty and the struggle for basic rights on the occupation.

Never mind that his tour guide on this trip is a photojournalist who runs this site which has cartoons to show how the Palestinians are mistreated. Nevermind that Barak's generous offer at the Camp David Summit in 2000 was rejected. Never mind that Arafat diverted almost a billion dollars in public funds. Never mind that many kids are being taught who to hate before being taught how to read.

A little perspective goes a long way. It seems as if Chris decides to visit the middle east with a certain perspective already in place, and he leaves with that perspective reinforced by his tour guide and the people he meets.

Now, keep in mind that Gaza is an extremely dangerous place, one in which most Israelis would not step foot inside. The last question in the interview addresses this danger.

Were you ever scared for your own safety?

The only time on the trip I really felt scared was going through security at Tel Aviv airport on the way home. Like I said, kids with machine guns are very scary. Especially when you've got a Chairman Arafat boxing glove puppet in your luggage.

And that is the picture he paints. The only thing scary about the occupied territories are the fresh faced kids with big guns at the airport. Scary, indeed, Chris. Scary that you have such a one sided view of the situation.

Thank you, Mr. Spitzer? (by guest blogger Peter)

NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer busted Sony Music on charges of payola. Now there are plenty of jokes here which could be made at the expense of Jennifer Lopez and others, but that's just stating the obvious. Sure there are some exceptions, but most people over the age of 15 generally agree that many of today's "hit" songs are awful.

But should payola be illegal? All parties involved are privately owned and operated businesses. If a station manager puts Good Charlotte on heavy rotation, he should be allowed regardless of his reasons for doing so. The record companies exist to shift units while the commercial stations exist to market said units, and if the music industry were an artform -- rather than a business -- we'd all be listening to Dungen instead, but that's not the way the world works. With the exception of NY State, no one is forcing the radio stations to do anything they don't want to do. And if you, the consumer, don't like what the stations are doing, don't listen to them. There are plenty of other options out there.

Unbeatable Combination (by guest blogger Petitedov)

I recently found out about this movie. It has three things going for it:

1. It stars Bill Murray.
2. Did i mention Bill Murray is in it?
3. It's directed by Jim Jarmusch, one of my all time favorite film makers.

In the last Jarmusch film, Coffee and Cigarettes one of the highlights of the movie is the Murray, RZA, and GZA scene where they expound on the benefits of tea and taking it easy. Something about Murray's sardonic wit and Jarmusch's humor sensibilities just works. I don't know how funny Broken Flowers would be but i think i'll be satisfied just seeing the familiar Murray smirk and those weary eyes.
So you know, come August 5th, i'll be buying a ticket for Broken Flowers and i would advise you to do the same.

(I know this is mostly a political blog but since i rarely write about politics i thought my first Alarming News post should be closer to what i'm familiar with, testing-of-the-water of sorts post.)

Today, 4pm EST

(Click this graphic to listen)

Our guest today will be one of my all time favorite writers, Jonah Goldberg. Call in with questions to 1-866-884-TALK (8255).

'ALARMING NEWS' SUMMER FUND DRIVE (last bump, promise)

If you like what I do here at 'Alarming News', or hey, even if you don't, consider a donation:

Big or small, I take them all. And any bloggers that donate get a coveted uh... link.

Update: If you don't just want to hand over your cash, another way to support this site is to buy an ad. I'm sure some of you have businesses that buy advertising, right? The smartest people in the world read 'Alarming News', I mean you're reading this and you're a genius. Or, if you can't afford to donate or buy an ad, click the ads so my advertisers know they're making the right decision.

More Updates:
Thank you Unconventional Wisdom!

Thank you Slantpoint for the ad! Be sure to check out Scott's new site 'Urban Elephants', an online gathering place for NY Republicans.

Thank you Daily Lunch!

Thank you Shape of Days!

Thank you Samsara Days!

Thank you Dawn Patrol for the excellent ad!

Thank you Vincent!

Thank you Protein Wisdom!

Thank you NYC Right!

Thank you Jake!

Bombs Away (By Guest Blogger Ari)

Ok... look, I understand the "protect the Constitution" bit behind this initiative. The Constitution is a Very Important document. Hell, didn't all your schools throw you onto rickety yellow buses and drag you 5 hours to see it? Of course they did. They didn't drag you to see the doctor's note excusing Tom Bergeron from 4th period phys. ed. for a reason. But seriously. Seriously!!! What is the big deal? Are people walking around with backpacks full of drugs and kiddie porn? What are folks sooo freaked out about. Yeah yeah yeah, it puts us on a slippery slope. Next they'll be barging into your homes!!! Do you read the newspapers? Yeah, it happens once in awhile. Don't get me wrong; I think the bag search is useless and inane, a bomber will blow himself up right on the spot. But whatever, it's 800 degrees, let cops stand on the platforms and melt, what do I care, it's one less parking ticket.

But these folks... I just don't get them. What are they really fighting to protect? Your right to carry a bomb? C'mon. Even the Constitution couldn't have meant for that.

DC blogs (by Guest Blogger Candace)

When I think about how much I love me some New York bloggers, I get a little teary-eyed that I didn't make the same quality blog-friends down here in the District before making The Big Move to the City of People Without Souls. However, since I'm probably not the only AN reader with an interest in finding decent blogs in DC, let me give some link-love to a few folks I found this afternoon while recovering from the first full day of sugar detox:

* DCSOB is "#2 on Google for 'Flava Flav Halloween Costume,'" to which I say: a) rad and b) who dressed up as Brigitte Nielson? It doesn't get scarier than that.
** Also, DCSOB is part of this Blogger-DJ collective called Blue State DC that, despite stealing its name from my friend's company, looks like something Peter would coo over with me. Nice set lists, boys and girls. I'm finding hope for DC somewhere.
* DCiever. I quote:

I think that regardless of whether you are a conservative or a liberal, a man or a woman, a haberdasher or a toreador, there's one thing that every single American can agree on when it comes to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts--he's easily the choicest slice of pure fuckability to hit the SCOTUS in our lifetime.

Here's hoping there's more to come. Maybe one for me? If only it wasn't so dangerous to bitch about my nudity-loving coworkers' obsession with drag-themed events...

Playing meme keep-away (By Guest Blogger Candace)

So it is sort of pretentious to begin your guest blogging with completion of a meme that's essentially your life story in five written snapshots, but enough of my people still haunt Alarming News (hi darlings! gosh do we miss you) that I thought I'd make full use of my squatting privileges.

Oh, and also, if you didn't like me on Candied Ginger, you probably still won't, but feel free to keep mean comments to yourself, or risk the distinct possibility of my hiring some of Karol's Brooklyn people to stalk your doorstep, where they will wrap your head in raw flank steak and force you to admit that I'm your second-favorite person in the world and that George W. Bush is your political hero. And if you're the kind of jerk who usually leaves mean comments for me, then I'm guessing this is something you do not want to have happen.

Phew. Now that that's done, I'll post the meme, which methinks will come in handy if I ever post a personal ad.

Caution: was drafted on Sunday.

10 years ago: I had just finished 6th grade, where I was mysteriously popular, despite not having a flat enough stomach to wear the “sunflower shirt.” I was hanging out all summer with neighbors, Billy and Rachel, digging up worms and looking for shapes in the clouds and jumping on the trampoline and getting really obsessed with the idea of being skinny, because I feared (rightly) that starting 7th grade without a bikini tan would be socially fatal. My best friend Cassie and I lived for Dairy Queen runs on Saturday nights and boys for me to watch her flirt with, in awe. I would watch as she bleached her hair and painted her nails in the tiny bathroom of the dilapidated house that would be condemned just a couple of years later while her parents chanted along with TBN in the living room. I don’t think I thought about anything but social survival – ever – made increasingly difficult by my refusal to do drugs and my inability to wear tiny t-shirts.

5 years ago: It was the only summer I had a car, and I spent it working retail and driving this guy friend of mine all over the world because I was convinced that we were best friends but really I was just really sexually frustrated and cried a lot, mostly over stuff he did. We saw Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney play at the Gorge, which was basically the highlight of my summer. By this time I had lost a number of friendships as my smart kid friends figured out they could spend their paychecks on E, skip school on Wednesdays to get high, and still ace everything, and I had no interest in lying to my parents and buying a rainbow jumpsuit and cuddling with perfect strangers. At this point, I began to be aware that a world outside the Fhetto existed, but I never pictured myself in it. I had not been further east than Salt Lake City.

1 year ago: I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a house with no air conditioning, studying econ at UMich’s Ford School. In other words, I was in Starbucks, taking impossible midterms and crying very, very hard over them. I was very, very blonde. I had a moderately successful little blog with a girl I met for the first time that 4th of July and really loved. I was trying on a new, rather unsustainable, and ultimately ridiculous version of myself. I was for some godforsaken reason shopping a lot at Urban Outfitters. I was galavanting all over the Midwest and actually managed to enjoy myself. I met Karol and was, like, totally in love from the moment I saw her, which is pretty much how I felt about her blog and emails, and that feeling has pretty much grown over time. I was worried I’d never get into grad school. I disappointed Peter by wearing flip-flops. I had never left North America.

Yesterday: I had the most amazing café au lait and salmon crepe of my entire life at a French café near my future graduate school.