What is he entering treatment for?

Just curious, because I know that people have sought in patient treatment for me for superficially douchey behavior, but...I did not know that there were options out there.

This story becomes more odd, and much sadder, as the days pass.

Weiner to Enter Treatment Center and Seek Leave From House - NYTimes.com:

"Representative Anthony D. Weiner planned to check himself into a treatment center on Saturday after House Democratic leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, called on him to resign and suggested he needed psychiatric counseling."

This makes me want to believe in karma

But, I know that it means that the people who you screw over will come back, and in this day and age, everyone has long memories.

Before she died, Elizabeth Edwards recorded a videotape memorializing in detail everything she knew about John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter and attempt to cover it up and had it delivered to the prosecutors investigating him for campaign finance violations. Tough broad.

Elizabeth Edwards Haunts Her Cheating Husband From the Grave - Gawker

But...but...I love watches

In these overclocking times, watches are nothing but a giant wad of burned cash hanging on your wrist. They're like a vulgar codpiece of consumption, but, like, on your arm. They are, almost, evil.
They're heavy. They're annoying. They're pretty much duplicative. They're one more thing to sweat under in summer. They leave very awkwardly shaped tan lines. Also, yes, sometimes they're very pretty!

Watches are the Devil's Accoutrement! | The Awl 

But...I love watches.  After shoes, they are the first thing that I notice. Well, maybe glasses.

I have a dozen watches but I wear only one.

It is simple, rugged, and masculine.

So...two questions:  

Are watched necessary?

What do you notice?

(Not a) Guilty Pleasure Song

"Nearly Lost You" by Screaming Trees



Maybe because it was in Singles or maybe because it was I was 18 when the song came out and we often associate music at that tender age as being awesome.

Did you hear the distant lie
Calling me back to my sin
Like the one you knew before
Calling me back once again


Here is my question: Is this song comparing relationships to addiction or is it just a song about addiction? I am confused.

As someone who considers his cynicism a "safe space"

I will admit that as I was watching this the other night, I started asking myself what question were there trying to answer/make fun of.  I am glad that I was not the only one.

South Park turned its critical gaze on itself last night, briefly admitting that "being a cynical asshole" alienates you from the people around you and makes you miserable in the long run. It's a weird message coming from the biggest voice in contemporary cynicism — but fifteen seasons in, South Park's fans, and maybe its creators, are sympathizing with Stan's plight.

Was Last Night’s South Park a Sign That the End of the Show Is Nigh? -- Vulture 

Dreams in Bullet Points

• TEA died.  I woke up thinking this was reality.
• I was still married, and TEA was much younger.
• I had not yet graduated from high school.
• I was, apparently, going to go to NYU for my undergrad.
• I was better with that javelin than the shot.
• Scott Bakula was my high school track coach.
• We had a snow storm of 4 inches on June 11th.  It was a seventy three degree day.

TEA dying still has me shaken up.

The Great Beer Walk 2011 - Schedule

Here is the schedule for GBW11!

Wolff's at 5:15
McGeary's at 6:15
Savannah's/Dublin Underground at 7:00
Red Square at 7:45
Lionheart at 9

Sing up for the event on Facebook and invite your friends!

Be Afraid!

The Sky Bully is angry and His displeasure shows

(Rt 7 in Troy, headed west)

Based on her logic...

Based on Mantello's logic, wouldn't the best place to set up a new meeting space for the City Council be in Green Island?  Then the tax rolls would be protected.

I believe that Toy will revitalize, I really do.  I also know that it is going to take longer than one term as the Mayor of Troy. Let us be really honest here...one building in downtown Troy is not going to make a huge difference to the tax rolls as there are many buildings that are not contributing. So why focus on this one?

Because...

Ms. Mantello, in her nearly 25 years of political service, has proven that her myopia is her driving force.  Focusing on the little issues while ignoring the large ones, or worse, being indifferent to them,  is emblematic of her career and what she will do for Troy.

Troy deserves better.

(Which is not to say that Campana will be any better...Troy deserves better choices.)

Republican mayoral candidate Carmella Mantello announced Tuesday her staunch opposition to the City Council's proposal to move its chambers to the former Cinema Arts Theater building on River Street, citing her desire to keep the prime waterfront property on the city's tax rolls.

VIDEO Carmella Mantello reveals her opposition to proposed city council chambers - troyrecord.com

Great New Hashtag

#IOKITAR = It's OK If You're A Republican

The funny thing is that I know a number of people to which this hypocrisy applies, regardless of their political opinion.

If Anthony Weiner does end up stepping down, it may be because his own party stops supporting him, not because Republicans apply the IOKIYAR standard to his case. Losing the trust and respect of his own party would be the cost of his lie.

The Maddow Blog - #IOKIYAR: An alternative guide to the Weiner scandal

And the Onion A/V Club Delivers again

With the Mountain Goats...


The Mountain Goats cover Jawbreaker

When we heard from John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats that the band had chosen Jawbreaker's 1994 classic of punk-scene angst, "Boxcar," to cover for us, we were tickled. When they actually came in and played it, we were delighted. Though the band-song pairing seems a little incongruous, it actually makes a lot of sense: Both Jawbreaker and The Mountain Goats were/are led by literate guys who like to put their feelings right out there, naked. It just so happens that this song is an indictment of the kind of holier-than-thou punk attitudes that Darnielle probably can't relate to personally.

The Mountain Goats Cover Jawbreaker

"Bad" Hostage Negotiator

Rob Corddry is brilliant in everything he does. Is this a back door for what follows Children's Hospital?

Oh, Albany! What is wrong with you?

A fight at KFC over a woman has caused TEA's favorite restaurant to be slammed into? WHAT THAT HELL PEOPLE?!?!

A stabbing at a KFC? (Conflicting reports)

HOW CLICHE ARE WE?!?

Where is TEA going to get his pizza?

(And yes, if NWBB is closed for a while, I will feel guilty about not taking him this past weekend.)

WNYT

Get Well, Gary.

Last week, I put up my own get well card up for Gary Carter.

There is an official one on MLB's Website.

Get Well, Gary.

The perfect BBQ

At some point, I will write about my plan to track down the best BBQ in the area but right now, I am looking for suggestions on what you think makes up the best BBQ meal.

My idea:
Pulled Pork
Brisket
Mac & Cheese
Cole Slaw

FAU suggested that I should try the corn bread, but that can be part of his meal. I think about some of the best BBQ that I have ever had and it was served with Wonder Bread. Yes, I a talking about Arthur Bryant's.

Other will suggest spare ribs, short ribs, or baby back ribs.

So, what meal would you want? Where would you get it from?

What you should be listening to...

You need to be listening to Start the Week from the BBC. (Podcast Page)(iTunes)

"Start The Week sets the cultural agenda for the week ahead, with high-profile guests discussing the ideas behind their work in the fields of art, literature, film, science, history, society and politics."

Doesn't that sound like the best time ever? Listening to it is wonderful.

Why is this coming up today? Well, there was a long conversation this weekend past about friendships and relationships and the ability of your partner to interact with your friends. Here is my worthless two cents about this: We all love our friends, and I am talking about my concept of friendship...YMMV, and we think they are wonderful and interesting people. At least I do. All of my friends are outstanding and amazing people and that is something that I love about them. Frankly, if they were not so outstanding, they would be unwilling to put up with me (see Twitter from yesterday when I referred to myself as a human herpes sore.) The thing is, you cannot expect your partner to love your friends like you do, and vice-versa. Oh, and their friends are rarely going to be as interesting and outstanding as yours.

So, why go through this above when talking about a podcast?

Because...they brilliant and amazing people are the type of people that I want to have beers with. These people on Start the Week are everyone's brilliant and outstanding friends and they are talking about things they are experts at.

Amazing, and worth the listen.

The Great Beer Walk 2011

Here is the idea:

Beer + Long Walk = Tremendously Good Time

July 7th, 2011!

5:15 PM at Wolff's Biergarten!

Then we will head to McGeary's, followed by Savannah's/Dublin Underground, Red Square and the Lionheart!

It will be a great time, just like last years was!

You will get a sticker, just like the one above.

This year, I am asking for a $5 donation to be collected at Wolff's (and it is a donation, a suggestion, like at the museum) to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

This year, the walk is just over two miles.

Please register for the event on Facebook and invite your friends!


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Oh, and if you are wondering who is at Alive at Five? Don't worry about it.

(Oh, when you are registering for Beer Walk on Facebook, you can also like AFM on Facebook!)

In praise of...Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski January 10, 1953) is an American singer and four time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States. (Wikipedia)

"We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong..."

Something about the false bravado of this young woman is attractive and has made me respect that false bravado that you do see in people who are trying to figure out who they are.

"Maybe it is a sign of weakness when I don't know what to say..."


"It's a cold world when you keep it all to yourself..."


Well, then there is my already acknowledged love of "The Legend of Billy Jean"

And I am proud of TEA

TEA did not have a good game on Saturday.

Maybe it was the heat. Maybe the meal at Bros. Tacos wasn't what he was looking for as a pre-game meal. Maybe it was just not his day, but he looked off at the plate, even while he played well in the field...

But this is why I am proud of him...

The umpire screwed up during TEA's last at bat, and called strike three on the second strike. TEA knew it, I knew it, the coaches knew it, and the opposing players knew it. The ump did not.

Now, I know that arguing with twelve year olds is a bad idea...but...TEA handled it like a champ. He knew that he was screwed. He also realized that this happens, especially with arbitrary powers being enforced arbitrarily.

I am very proud of him for handling it like a man.

Dreams about a MacBook and DiNozzo

I am currently in the running for a couple of different big boy jobs and this definitely affected by subconscious last night/this morning.

I was called in to sit down and hear the results of my interviews for a job that I really wanted. When I arrived of the office, I was shuffled in to a conference room that was full of other people. The owner of the business, an Indian man in an awful green suit, was pontificating on what it meant to work in this world, and then he announced who was to be given the job.

It was not me.

There were cheers for the person who was going to be the new IT geek at this office and an impromptu parade was thrown for him. (IT geeks are almost always he so this was not that odd.) I did not want to stick around for the parade so I took off.

When I returned to my other office, I was informed by my boss that Tony DiNozzo had called and that I won a MacBook in the post parade raffle. I went over to pick it up, and it started to rain.

It really started to rain.

Flooding. Yet, it was sunny and hot.

I returned home, which was filled with TEA's friends, (and was in a condo community) to find the water rising, and not just flooding the homes but causing them to disappear from existence. Oh, and I was really upset that my Camaro was destroyed.

So...what does this mean?

Recommendations

With new people coming to the area all the time, I am often asked for recommendations on which businesses I use and who are my favorites in the area. I am going to list a handful and then ask for your help. I am sure that I will have left obvious ones out or tipped my hand with partisanship.

Mechanic - L & M Motors in Schodack. Always efficient and always honest. That is high praise for a mechanic in my mind.


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Dry Cleaner - Silvestre on Fuller Rd. in Albany. Drop off in the morning, pick up by lunch. They are always friendly and they make the chore of picking up the dry cleaning less painful.


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Newsstand - Coulson's News Center on Broadway in Albany. Do you really have to ask?


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Butcher - Hembold's in Troy. Mini hotdogs. Plus a fine selection of amazing meats and cheeses. This may be one that causes controversy.


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Sandwich Shop - Fred the Butcher in Clifton Park - I do not know how they are as butchers. I know that their sandwiches are wonderful. I had my favorite. Liverwurst, swiss, LTO, and mustard on a hardroll. It was amazing. Their pickles are great too.


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Wine Shop - The Wine Shop on New Scotland. Great selection, great service, and great prices. Neighborhood stores are wonderful.


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What would you recommend? Do you have a favorite cheese shop (do NOT say the co-op)? What about a place to get desserts? (Cheesecake Machismo is wonderful.) What would you recommend?

Your song for brunch...

Why?

Mainly because at some point yesterday, the Zero 7 version popped up on shuffle.



It is a great song...and the Stylistics were a great band.

Enjoy the song as well as your Sunday morning.

But it is a tradition...

"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours." Sir Charles James Napier

If the anticircumcision activists (they prefer the term "intactivists") have their way, cities across the country may be voting on whether to criminalize a practice that is common in many American hospitals. Activists say the measures would protect children from an unnecessary medical procedure, calling it "male genital mutilation."

In California, Efforts to Ban Circumcision Gain Momentum - NYTimes.com