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Gondola Servizio, Oakland
I'm guessing the initial story is from someone that works for that company, as most people have heard about the gondolas right here in San Diego/Coronado. As to the mandolin player, I'm sure that's the norm. But could you hire someone to play a different instrument? Just to mix it up a bit.— September 2, 2009 9:35 a.m.
Cops in Crosshairs
Surf...interesting stats about construction workers and the like. But you're so full of crap if you tell me cops make over $100k per year, and top out at over 200K, and make as much as doctors who "spend 12 years in college," etc. That's BS. I do agree, that the cliche "cops put their lives on the line" is way over used. But it's not far from the truth. I mean, look at the paper everyday. Just yesterday, in fact, a car was pulled over. Another car got away, but decided to drive back and unload their guns at the cops standing by. Every car they pull over, they have to wonder if this person will have a gun. And not because they're paranoid, but practical. Pete...it's not such a love affair with the police. I've run into many I hated. One that even lied in court during a traffic dispute, telling the judge that I told him "I'd see his ass in court," which was a conversation that never happened. I just think they're regular people, that have a crap job. Because everyone that's pulled over goes off on them. My girlfriend just got a ticket, for parking at a white curb to run into 7-11 for one minute, to pick up something for a migraine she was having. In that one minute, a parking ticket. With her head throbing, she didn't go off on the woman. She knew she was wrong. She just smiled and apologized for parking there. I'm not saying that cars being pulled over have to do this, but they certainly don't need to go off on the cop, with the cliches of "I was going the flow of traffic. Why did you pull me over?" or any other things that they've heard a million times. And with noise complaints, it's the same old tired excuses they hear.— September 2, 2009 1:23 a.m.
Letters
Are you so daft that you don't realize saying "my French is rusty" is pretentious?— September 2, 2009 1:15 a.m.
Flying Solo
Those last few posts remind me of Slim Pickens near the end of Dr. Strangelove. The plane is going to crash and he looks at the survival kit. It has a pack of cigarettes, a few dollars, some snack item, a condom (I think, but haven't seen the film in 20 years), razor, and small bottle of booze. With his drawl he says, "This sounds like a fun weekend in Vegas!"— September 2, 2009 12:19 a.m.
War Pigs Worked
Darn. I left before Cake did War Pigs, although I think they've done that cover before. I know it's on one of their discs. I think covering old Sabbath songs is the way to go. The Cardigans have done one on two different CDs (and did one the last time I saw them at 4th & B). As much as I love Cake, they always sound the same. I instead spent most of their set watching other bands. Anyone see the Silversun Pickups? That dude has one strange voice. It sounds like a woman. But he's got tasty riffs.— September 2, 2009 12:10 a.m.
Bicyclists and Podiatrists
Well...since this one mental guy is posting, and seems to be half-way reasonable, I say we give him the Friday they get to the fountain, to let the riders know all the reasons they're wrong. And also let them know, so many drivers are getting fed up, that if they don't change their ways, we're serious about meeting up and doing something to stop them. And, that I have to believe, the cops will be on OUR SIDE in this one (meaning, if things turn ugly). Because, part of me hates the idea of meeting up, with the sole intent of causing a scene. Because, then I feel I'm sort of stooping to their level. Not that that's ever stopped me before, but...I kinda liked the idea that if I ever run into the CM crowd, and I'm in my car...well, I just go when the light turns green. If that means a major accident, or someone falls over my hood, well...we'll let the courts decide who was wrong. Me going thru a green light (and possibly saying in court I just didn't see the cyclist, as I was looking down for a second, but I did see the light turn green and went, assuming that's a safe time to pull forward).— September 2, 2009 12:07 a.m.
A Day in Traffic Court
Thanks for the heads up, anyway. I'll go to court and battle it out with the officer. I just hope he doesn't read the blog I wrote about him at the time.— September 2, 2009 12:03 a.m.
The Basterds at Corvette Diner
Wendy and Lucy looked rather slow to me, but supposedly the former local Michelle Williams got raved reviews. I never saw the Beyonce movie, as it got bad reviews. But she did a great job in that Mike Meyers movie, and she was great playing Etta James in Cadillac Records. That scene you're talking about, though...I kept seeing it when the actresses did interviews on the late night shows. And the funniest thing was, it looked utterly ridiculous. I believe something involves a phone call, too. And the late night hosts all had this look on their face like "really? you think people are going to enjoy this crap?"— September 2, 2009 12:02 a.m.
critical mass - villians or just people?
mental...two problems with your entire rants here. people that get tickets and complaining about the "other law breakers" the cop isn't pulling over. dude, you can't really be that thick. after he gave you a ticket, do you think that's all he did all day? or, perhaps, he waited hours and hours, until another bicyclist rode by, to harass that rider. nope. i'll bet he pulled over the next speeder, or driver on a cell phone. my girlfriend said TWO of her co-workers were complaining about tickets they got for being on their cell phones while driving. second...refried made very good points above. so let me expand on that a bit. when you and your hipster cyclists are gathering around the fountain next Friday that you do this...why not say "hey listen up guys...I'm all for these rides. but do you realize we're not only doing a lot more harm than good...but..." (and add your own two-cents in there). do you realize, NOBODY does this in the world. i'll give you two examples. i was at a park recently with my dog. and all the dog owners are all talking and yapping, more so then the little pooches at our feet. and one woman, who is super nice, started complaining about a cop giving her a ticket for driving with the dog on her lap. she said "isn't that stupid? can't the cop go out and catch real criminals?" i laughed and said, "Listen...i drive with my dog on my lap sometimes, but do you realize that's probably more distracting than a cell phone driver? do you also realize, if you get into a fender bender, and your air bag deploys, your dog is going to be crushed to death." I went on and on, saying she's probably one of those people that complained so much when Britney Spears had a baby on her lap. she looked at me in shock, as if I had the nerve to not side with her. But ya know what? when someone is wrong, it's up to us (the friends and family) to not just yes them to death. but to tell them they were wrong, and outta change their behavior. so, after hearing these complaints from us (check out that link to the critical mass sucks.com site for more)....i would think those are very compelling and persuasive arguements to do just that. am i wrong here?— September 1, 2009 11:59 p.m.
Bicyclists and Podiatrists
And you know what the crazy thing is? If this group of us gets organized, and stops this...and things get violent and ugly (which I hope they don't), these CM idiots won't get it. WE actually have a cause. The cause is simple: Stop harassing other drivers on the road by breaking the law. They didn't have a cause.— September 1, 2009 4:02 p.m.