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Talk about funny; DiNiro never cracks a smile during his speech.
Summer(s) of Fun in the 70's #1: the Awakening
Back in the 70's, I lived in West Texas. Talk about a boring existence; could you guess what we did for excitement? Well, let's see now: first of all, during the day, we might go to the local Park/Swimming pool and kick it with the other kids. My preference was girls only. There were also many ponds and watering holes which we used for cooling off. We also drove around and around the same old roads, over and over again, in search of... What? I have no idea, because we never found it (still searching). Hunting was a favorite. There were so many snakes and quail out in the desert, even rabbits and coyotes. Smoking herb was a nice past time. The atmosphere was ideal for smoking.
I had a friend who's father was a truck driver. Every summer, he'd drive a load of Huge watermelons through town on his way to the east. Of course, we'd be allowed to snake a few. Late night, we'd usually get together (3-7 of us) and head on out to the outskirts and pop our doors open, blast our tunes of Fog Hat, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Emerson Lake and Palmer, etc. We'd bust out with the weed (Mexican quality herb). You could smoke a few large joints and get wasted; unlike the stuff nowadays where you take a couple tokes and can't move for the next 5 hours. We'd have a blast bullshitting about practically everything. One friend had a family market. He'd take us into town, unlock the door, and let us snag some candy or drinks. We already had the brew. I am allergic, so I couldn't drink much. We always had something to munch on: watermelon, candy, whatever we felt like eating.
Some times, we'd invite some girls out with us and we'd all smoke that herb and get high, giggle about something and eventually leave the site, and cruise into town. There was a spot on the main drag that we would hang out at. I remember one night one of my school teachers was driving by; I shot her the moon. I wonder what she was thinking back then.
Another form of entertainment was to go out hunting. Yeah, hunting was fun. There were millions of rabbits, hoards of tarantulas, grasshoppers, and of course, snakes. Why, I would catch or shoot a good ten-fifteen snakes a night. I mean, there were too many snakes for most people, but for the hunter? There never could be enough. The days were reserved for catching, and the nights were for shooting. I did not think it wise to attempt to catch a slithering snake at night. It's hard enough to catch one in the daylight.
We would drive around town and the outskirts for literally hours just to have something to do. Unfortunately for me, I got into drug use. I was a wrestler, track star, football player and I loved swimming. As far as other activities, I worked in the oil fields. I worked derricks on one of the best rigs in Texas, for one of the better companies, known as Sharp 57. That's rig number 57 for Sharp Drilling Company.
One night (I worked morning tour) I was up in the derrick pulling pipe and I closed my eyes and pictured myself there at the tender age of 40...
I moved to California about two weeks later. Yep, needless to say, I lost it. I could not see myself at 40 pulling pipe. The oil fields is a dirty business. Hard work also. Imagine getting paid for pumping iron 8 hours a day? My oldest brother called me Popeye because of my humongous forearms. They were kind of ripped. Talk about grip strength; pulling pipe consisted of using a rope large enough to hold an elephant (inch and a half) and moving 90" lengths of this shit 8 hours at a time. If the replacement doesn't show, guess who stays? You guessed it, me, the derrick man. Most others either don't know how to work derricks or swore it off to never go up there again.
We're usually at least 120 feet up. Imaging standing on a 2X3 platform? The only thing keeping you up is a belly rope (a rope, tied at one end, wrapped around your waist, then latched on the other end). Of course, you have to have enough sense not to fall out of the derrick, which, I suppose, the State of Texas doesn't have too many of (intelligent derrick men). Most don't make it, but there are those few miracles. I never fell, or even came close to falling, but while up there, I could imagine why many roughnecks were afraid of going up. Hell, I would go all the way up to the very top, just to feel the temperature. Early morning, just before dawn, you could actually feel the layers, the difference in temperature as you ascend to the crown (top).
B-I-N-G-O A man calls bingo combinations at the Alwiyah Club in central Baghdad, founded in 1924 by the British explorer and diplomat Gertrude Bell.
Compliments of Ray Young
At Social Club for Baghdad's Elite, Escape Is a Weekly Game of Bingo
By Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 13, 2007; Page A17
BAGHDAD -- A few dozen members of this city's privileged classes chatted on fraying armchairs at the Alwiyah Club on a recent Saturday, waiting for the weekly bingo game to start. The caller usually responsible for yelling out English letters and Arabic numbers -- "B-sabaa!" for B7 -- had not shown up since his sister was abducted and slain a few weeks before. But at this colonial-era social club, one of the last oases for the Baghdad elite, bingo is never canceled.
"We insist, so that people can always say, 'There is bingo,' " said Faris al-Douri, the club's secretary general. "We tried to save what we could save."
In the club's cavelike pub, the bartender still slides tumblers of whiskey across the teak bar to men in suits. On the dusty tennis courts, players still hit aces and break to sip tea from creamy porcelain cups.
"Nothing has changed," said Aayo Khaya, 65, a gaptoothed waiter who has worked for 35 years at the Alwiyah.
In fact, nearly everything has.
This central Baghdad club, founded in 1924 by the British explorer and diplomat Gertrude Bell, has always considered itself a place apart. The bar serves English spirits, but not the Iraqi liquor arak. In the early years, before it opened to Iraq's upper crust, only foreigners were allowed; even now, new members must have university degrees. Yet despite the Alwiyah's efforts to preserve its image as a haven from the despair outside its walled gardens, the despair has crept in.
The bartender recently found a bloody bullet inside an envelope left on his car windshield, the latest threat from religious extremists who condemn the club's free flow of alcohol. A curfew means no more glittery galas under the seven-tiered ballroom chandelier, and a water shortage means just one of three swimming pools will be filled this summer. Most notably, the club's lifeblood -- Baghdad's elite -- has nearly vanished. On most days, attendance is 5 percent of what it was before the war.
Yet the club has tenaciously held on to its long-standing bingo tradition.
The other Saturday, club member Hassan Hadi Kadhim proudly carried a stack of bingo cards -- stamped "EZ Play. Made in USA." -- into the club's Sun Lounge, a hall decorated with Persian carpets and a rickety piano with no bench. Like nearly everything else in the Alwiyah, the cards were worn. Kadhim, 42, displayed them as if they were antique books.
Players who want a card pay Kadhim 1,000 dinars, about 75 cents, and hand over a piece of identification as collateral. The money goes into a pot from which cash prizes -- usually about $3 per bingo -- are pulled.
Political Corner What is your opinion of today's Health Care System in the United States? The State of California is apparently under duress, regarding what is spent as opposed to what is made. Imagine our State raising the individual income tax. Already the sales tax has increased. What I can't figure is why they say this is temporary, because we all know better. Just like the motto: the Schools win too!! Recall the 80's motto? California was trying to get the lottery going in this State, and this very thing was what brought it over the hump; schools win too. If this were truly the case, then why do we see each year another Bill in Sacramento regarding raising funding for another chunk of money for schools that will eventually be coming from us? What happened to all that income from the State Lottery? All that money that goes to our schools? Why is it that all schools are suffering, then? The Community College system is in dire need of funding, although our Propositions have been paying off the construction costs for improvements in these colleges. I would say that the students are the ones in need. Text books are and will be expensive. Tuition is fairly low, but that will increase. Each year, there is discussion regarding increasing and decreasing the school fees. Student aid is tough to get. If you work last year, and apply for aid this year, last year's income comes in to play and you will end up with little or no Financial Aid. How can that be? That is just how it is; like it or not. I hate that. If I made money last year, that was last year, not this year. So why would we be penalized this year for working last year? That will never make sense to me. If you make $10-15,000, you'll be lucky to qualify for aid. That's a fact. Any time you hear of any type of action or issues regarding helping the student, I implore you; get involved. We need to be able to continue our education, and not be stopped because the money ran out. We need Financial Aid, so we can work toward our goals. ELAC needs an ombudsman who is on our campus, not just the satelite campus. When we have issues and complaints about what an instructor does, the way our system is at ELAC, good luck. Even if you have no experience in what ever it is, you are on your own, since we have no one who is willing to represent us. There is one, but he is on the other (SouthGate) campus. Bottom line: the State wants us to pay through the nose for living here, yet what are the benefits? Higher taxes? High cost of living? Homelessness? Mandatory this and mandatory that... Can the student win once? --rty
North Korea Beats the South in Severing Ties 
Los Angeles, CA--May 25, 2010--South Korea should halt all communications with the North as long as the North's leader,Kim Jong Ilis still in Office. When he finally leaves or passes away, then perhaps the South can resume diplomatic ties with the North. Until that day comes, though, there is no use even attempting to reason with that country. The North's leaders should have punished the culprit (North Korea has been accused of torpedoing a South Korean War vessel) immediately and since no such action was taken, we all know who the orders must have come from. For this reason, the South needs to cut all ties and begin working with the US and other countries regarding the Defense of that country. North Korean President, Kim Jong Il had, as of Tuesday, claimed to cut ties with the South as punishment for accusing the North of torpedoing the South Korean vessel. Go figure.
War exercizes are an important mission for the South to be ready in case of any escalation of hostile activities from the North. TheNorth Korean President threatened continued actions against the South, whenever the South enters North Korean Territorial waters.
46 South Korean Sailors died as a result of the March 26, 2010 torpedo attack on the South Korean vessel, the Choenan. A result of the investigation: a rather large piece ofa North Korean Torpedo was found still intact, allegedly stuck inside the South Korean vessel Kim Jong Ilis also the Commander of the North Korean Peoples Army, so he has the means.
--rty
Jamie (boys of) Summer: the $7 Million Dollar Woman Los Angeles, CA--May 7th, 2010--Below is an excerpt of an article regarding Los Angeles Dodgers (co) owners divorce and how it could affect the fans:
"A Los Angeles court commissioner on Friday ordered Dodgers owner Frank McCourt
to pay his estranged wife $637,000 a month in temporary spousal support and mortgage payments in a bitter divorce case.
Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon said in a 55-page ruling that Jamie McCourt would receive $225,000 a month in spousal support and $412,159 a month in mortgage payments for six homes and a condomi..."
Wondering what was written within the guidelines of the Pre-Nuptial agreement between Frank and Jamie McCourt, her claiming she owns half the club; meanwhile Frank states different, claiming it's in the pre-nup.
Jamie wanted one million per month, but Frank only was willing to offer $150,000 per month. Jamie's attorney made his own statement, saying the ruling is fair and well-reasoned. Fair and well-reasoned? Now how can that be fair or well-reasoned? Jamie is now afforded 5 star hotels practically any time she chooses. Yes, this is part of the deal. She can live a lavish lifestyle.
People are struggling just to pay rent here in Los Angeles, yet the Dodger fans manage to buy tickets so they can enjoy a Dodger game or two. So now that Frank (owner) has to shell out darn near $650,000 a month, who pays for this. They say sh*t rolls downhill! How are the Fans going to pay for Jamie's lavish lifestyle.
If Jamie does get half ownership, does Frank still have to pay her $637 a month? If she is half owner, wouldn't she be getting half the profits, not including what she'll be making when she gets her old job back. What needs to be researched is why Frank didn't allow Jamie to continue playing a major role, so he could sue for spousal support from Jamie. In fact, he still might look into it, since she rakes in $637,000 a month! Shouldn't she be paying him money?
If Frank McCourt is paying Jamie that much money per month, then why do they raise ticket prices? If their income is so high that he can afford to pay her $1,000,000 (according to her), then he dam* sure can afford to charge lower prices to Angelenos, since if it weren't for us, he wouldn't have a team. We are the people who pay them to watch their team play baseball.
Knowing how greed operates, you can place your money on the fans getting stuck with paying for some of Jamie’s support. It has to come from somewhere, right? The only money the Dodgers get, comes from the fans, right? Frank doesn’t put his own money in. The Government doesn’t pay the Players’ salaries, either.
Governor Arnold or Councilman Richard, or President of … none of these entities pay the bills. The fans do.
How else do they receive money? Nobody else gives them money. We pay for a service or for entertainment (sometimes) and that is how Frank gets his money, so that is how Jamie will be getting her money. Wonder what the Commissioner was thinking? Is he even a Dodger fan? Evidently not a friend of the Dodgers’ owner, that’s for sure! He did favor Jamie, right? $637, 000.
This lady is hitting the lottery every month! Meanwhile, we just keep on plugging along, paying for tickets to watch our team play Live and in person. Next year, the ticket prices have to go up. If Jamie is claiming this lavish lifestyle is something they are used to, then he has to take it from somewhere. He might have to hire another bookkeeper and a another chef and have them learn how to cook the books.
BTW: $7, 656,000 a year. Almost 8 million a year for her. Ever wonder how much he blows in a year? Well, he starts with $7,656,000 just to get rid of Jamie (his estranged wife). Then he has to move on, right? He will start looking for another female to be with, which by peeking at how much he spent on Jamie, the next female will be pretty lucky. This guy must have blown millions on her. Literally millions!
She needs to start doing some volunteer work, downtown or somewhere that has under-privileged people/homeless. She needs to start contributing not just herself, but donate $$$ to select charities and causes. Maybe get involved in things of a political nature.
To rake in that much money and not have to work again as long as she lives; she can spend a lot of time volunteering somewhere, or hitting the gym to keep in shape, so she can land herself another male. Any volunteers? She does swim on a regular basis. To have all that property and never worry about being homeless; this must be a real good feeling she has.
Social Problems: WORLD AFFAIRS RUSSIA/GEORGIA: This battle between European neighbors has caused a strain between NATO and Russia, but contrary to what is being said in Russia regarding NATO can not be allied with both Russia and Georgia; simply isn't true. NATO (especially the United States) can and will continue to have normal relations with both Countries. In fact, this might be the best (if not only) way for the conflict to end peacefully. As long as the US is supporting all NATO members, our Country must fulfil our duties as the number one country involved in NATO, by showing as much support to Georgia, which is hoping to join the Alliance someday soon. (and we wonder why they choose to do this.) Humanitarian aid will continue to be shipped in and military advieors might be next. Not just the ones already stationed in Georgia, but more Government employees who have the NATO experience that Georgia needs to see. Russia cannot afford to lose the US as its friend. What she does need to do, though, is realize we are not going away. The US has no plan to bring in military might, as a show of force, so Russia should understand that to go to war with any country means strains with allies and foes alike. France brokered the cease fire, but that is not enough. Russia needs to embrace the US and work out an arrangement with Georgia regarding Ossetia, the breakaway nation that has been causing the strain. Georgia invaded Ossetia earlier last week, and Russia invaded Georgia in retaliation. At issue is why has Russia bombed where ever she chooses? Bombing civilians nowhere near any military presence. Apartment buildings? Killing innocent civilians purposely, is not something that is praised in the civilized world. In this case, Russia has not shown much when it comes to attacking only military targets. They have taken over many bases in Georgia, but now it is time to withdraw and leave Georgia to clean up the mess left behind, return the prisoners and bury the (innocent) dead. Go to the negotiating table and end this ridiculous skirmish once and for all. Russia proved she can whip someone far inferior to her. Her part is accomplished. The world now sees Russia is a bully or the protector of Ossetia (the later of the two) and the only way for Russia to end her aggression is by seeing Georgia learning it's lesson. All Russia intends is to protect Ossetia from Georgian invasion. Next step is to understand why Georgia invaded Ossetia. --rty
If this works correctly, cut n paste this and watch the short film I made in the snow.
the STUFF'D SHIRT
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