My latest full-length play is a dark dramedy and the name of it - along with a synopsis - will be revealed for the first time on PASSION = TRUTH later this summer, along with a promotional short film that will be shot before the end of June. Stay tuned.
A concoction of Dr. Chuck and Heather's - the bride and groom of the wedding my brother and I attended in Santa Barbara this past weekend. Chuck is my Uncle Bob's (who's married to my dad's youngest sister) youngest brother.
We had quite a few of these little tummy warmers. It's got cranberry juice, cranberry vodka and some other stuff. Very cool and refreshing on an 80 degree Santa Barbara day. Chuck said they have a tendency to creep up on you and bite you. Ours didn't.
Dr. Chuck Nowak and Heather Keenan are getting married today. Chuck is the youngest of my Uncle Bob's (non-blood) siblings. My brother Jason flew in from Wisconsin and we're currently relaxing in Santa Barbara in anticipation of a beach wedding.
Normally this would be a joyous occasion for Jas and I to take part in, but the cloud of our cousin Mike's sudden death on Wednesday puts a bit of a damper on the festivities...for us. My Aunt Ev (Dad's sister and Uncle Bob's wife) has decided to stay home with her sister - my Aunt Ruth - in order to be with her while she grieves. Mike would've been 40 this past Thursday.
But life goes on, doesn't it? Chuck and Heather are beginning a new life together and I wish them the best. I found this song on Youtube - apparently it's a cover but since I've never heard it before I'd never know it. Angus and Julia Stone are the recording artists but I like this guy's rendition better. Give it a listen - and think of..."life".
You've seen the polls..."best love scene in a movie". Some say it's from "An Officer and A Gentleman". Some say "Body Heat". Unbeknownst to many - except actors or film buffs who know movies - Nicholas Roeg's "Don't Look Now", starring my favorite actress of all-time, Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, has my favorite love scene. And many actors agree that it's in the Top 5.
First off, this is a great flick (I won't go into detail about the plot). Now what Roeg does with the love scene between husband and wife - Sutherland and Christie - is juxtapose scenes of them in bed making love (yes, Julie Christie is nude) with scenes of them getting ready to go out on the town AFTER they've made love. It's brilliant. See for yourself. Oh - and the music score is excellent. I guess the thing I take away most from the scene is that it doesn't come across "pretty" or "perfect" like you see in other movies - it's as if you're peeping into the bedroom of any couple making love in Anytown, USA. Brilliant.
She's absolutely gorgeous. And she can act (I mean she's no Kate Hepburn, but...). Click on READ MORE! for more Krista. Umm...you'll have to do your web surfing to find the nudes.
I found out this evening that my younger cousin Michael died. He would've been 40 tomorrow. This song is for him - Dennis Wilson's "Farewell My Friend". Listen to it...it's a gorgeous song. He wrote it when his friend, Pop Hinsche died. I will miss you, Michael. You are with God now - and happy.
No...I'm not kidding. I listen to NPR a lot. And I've heard a lot of odd-ball stories - but not on NPR. This is a cake-topper. "For those who think all Cajun music sounds exactly the same, a new CD tries to dispel that pervasive and dangerous myth...a whopping 55 minutes of unadulterated solo triangle."
Those are NPR's words - not mine. Christine Balfa is the leader of the Cajun band, Balfa Toujours - and she's the daughter of legendary Cajun fiddler, Dewey Balfa. She sings and plays guitar with the band, but on this solo album, it's pure triangle. "Pure", baby.
Producer Chas Justus explains, "Melodic or harmonic content just gets in the way of, you know, what the triangle can really...The nuances that can really be brought out...You'll notice the nuances and the differences."
Now I dare you - no...I challenge you to go the story on NPR. There's an interview with Justus and the interviewer mentions two songs from the album, saying non-triangle aficionados might say both tunes sound alike. Or you can listen to two other songs from the album - "Cheres Joues Roses" and "The Balfa Waltz" - listed there in the story. Listen - and learn.
Justus pontificates. "There's a lot of people who think it sounds the same...to some ears it does sound the same, but when you really go through it and get into the music and feel it and love it, you'll notice the nuances."
Above: "PLAY THE MOFO TRIANGLE, white boy!"
Really, Chas? "Nuances" of the triangle? Part of me is saying this story is a joke. That the interviewer can't be serious. But that's not NPR's m.o. I shit you not - in both sets of songs - do they NOT sound exactly the same? Now perhaps I'm just a dumb ass. Perhaps I'm tone deaf and didn't know it. Could it be..no. I'm definitely not an anti-triangle-ite, am I? I have not one issue with the triangle as a musical instrument in combination with other instruments. Matter-of-fact, I'm sure Brian Wilson has used a triangle in a number of his songs. But the triangle as a solo instrument? Na-uh. Don't take my word for it. Listen yourself.
"No overdubs," as Justus states. "Lightning in a bottle." Really, Chas? (Didn't I just say that?) Well, I just purchased Taylor Mills' latest album "Lullagoodbye". And there's not a one triangle to be heard. I'll stick with Taylor.
What is this little bastard's problem? It was announced on NPR today that North Korea vowed to boycott international disarmament talks in retaliation for the U.N.'s condemnation of its missile launch. WHY ARE WE PUTTING UP WITH THIS LITTLE SHIT'S ANTICS???
What's North Korea's - I'm sorry...Democrat People's Republic of Korea - worth to the international community? Seriously. Country's barely trade with them the way it is - except China, South Korea and Russia. Their human rights record is atrocious. We had them on our terrorist's watch list as late as 2007. They're threatening to boycott the Six Party Talks (between them and South Korea, U.S., Russia, China and Japan). They've been threatening manufacturing nuclear weapons for how many years? The U.S. doesn't even have formal diplomatic ties with them. I could go on and on about what a nut-job Kim Dong is (if he's even really alive). I ask you again - what good is North Korea? It's a gnat. OK - the people. I feel for them.
Why doesn't the international community just impose and all-out embargo on North Korea? Everything. Their principle exports are non-ferrous metals-- mostly zinc, lead, barites, gold, iron and steel, and textile yarn and fabrics, magnesium, metal-working machine tools, military equipment, cement, vegetables, and fishery products. OK - we get them from somewhere else.
Just don't give them the shit. Period. And if South Korea's afraid of escalating conflict between it and Kim Dong, just send U.S. and U.N. troops to the NK/SK border. Sooner or later, North Korea would cave because they'd be left to subsist on what natural resources they have - and that's it.
North Korea's principle imports: Petroleum and petroleum from Russia; from China they get energy-related products--coal, briquettes, machinery petroleum, petroleum products - textile fibers and products, base metal and products, chemicals, plastic and rubber products, and electric and transport equipment. Other general imports include cereals and cereal preparations, oil seeds, rubber products, fruits and vegetables and foodstuffs.
We get beer (just recently) and clothing. Big whoop. The international community needs to get some balls and just do it. Yes, I know - the North Korean people. Again - I feel for them. But you can't bargain with a little Napoleon like Kim Dong. He'll never change. He's a psycho. I say fuck this guy. And all-out embargo will crush North Korea's economy and sooner than later Kim Dong will have to come crawling with his head up his ass. He'll have to, or the North Korean's would revolt. Don't say it's never happened before...
Courtesy of my friend, actor and philanthropist Michael Gregory - courtesy of his friend Bill Davis, who came up with the ingenious idea. Arggghh! Being a Somalian pirate can be some rough shit.
A "Courtney" is now "following" PASSION = TRUTH. But I have no way of getting ahold of her and thanking her for following this blog. I'm acquainted with a "Courtnee" - whom I emailed within the last week...
"Courtney"? Wherever you are, email me at jeffbumbershoot43@gmail.com so I can thank you personally. Please?
Alright, so my message posted (see below).
"I'm just trying to see if I can post by email. Did it work?"
- Jeff
But I see two issues:
1) Whatever email address you post from, it posts all the crap you have below your signature. And I have a lot of crap below my signature (and above it).
2) It posted to my blog as a DRAFT, which means I still had to go into the blog and POST it. Soooo...what steps does posting by email eliminate if you have to go into your blog to post it? Did I do something wrong?
Blogger? Anyone?
Richard Jones produced and directed an opera a couple years back - "Hansel and Gretel", which performed at the Met in New York. I saw this rendering of an actor fitted with a tree head. Apparently there were several of these characters on stage during the forest scene.
Drummer Todd Sucherman of Styx at Pancho's in Manhattan Beach. This was last Saturday night. My digital is great - except indoors, and when the subject is moving 100 miles an hour and I don't have the camera set to capture said action. Although, from an artsy perspective, I'm quite happy with this particular shot.
Hailed by TV Guide in 1987 as "the best miniseries of all time" and "unparalleled television", the 1977 epic "Jesus of Nazareth" is considered by many - including my own family - as the definitive telling of the life of Jesus Christ. I just watched some of it today - it's aired every Christmas and Easter.
I won't get into much background of the television movie (you can look it up), aside that Franco Zeffirelli directed and produced it and the multi-national cast was a Who's Who in Hollywood - James Powell as Jesus, Farentino, Bancroft, Plummer, Mason, Olivier, Pleasance, Steiger, Ustinov, York, McShane, James Earl Jones, Hussey, Holm, Keach, Borgnine, Cardinale, Quinn, Richardson. Difficult to do that today.
But if you've seen it, you'll remember Salome, who dances for King Herod and gets the king to chop off the head of John the Baptist. The actress who portrayed Salome is the Spanish actress Isabel Mestres. Growing up, I waited with a sense of irreverence for Salome to do her thang. Whoo! Oops - sorry.
I usually stay away from religion on my blog (sex and politics I'll discuss). But it is Easter Sunday - and I DO believe. Brought up Catholic, I don't attend church regularly (if I found a decent one I would) but I believe in God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. I believe in Heaven. If you don't - that's fine. I don't push. Just getting the Word out to those who share my beliefs.
This sketch, "Laughing Jesus" accompanied a Playboy article titled "God and the Hippies" in the January 1968 issue by Harvey Cox. Don't know who the artist is.
Clayton Hibbert's the performance director of the Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF) where my play is performing during the opening night artists gala.
He Twittered about it.
I wasn't going to waste my time blogging about this idiot. But everywhere I turn, there the bitch is. Now it looks as though she's going to get a television show (I can't put her picture on my blog or I'll throw up).
I could care less about the money she's given for book deals or appearances. It's her life. But any monies she receives from the government to help her care for her - how many is it...43? - children is highway robbery AND it makes her a letch and a pariah on our system. Talk about feeding off the system - and she's doing it with forethought and thumping it right in front of everyone's noses! I'm sorry (but I'm not) but is this woman mentally ill? How can anyone in their right mind think they can offer the proper love and care for as many children as she has? It's fucking ridiculous is what it is.
I feel for the children. But that's the luck of the draw - being born to a woman who is pathetically irresponsible and needs to have her uterus removed...and quickly. Someone disagree with me, please - and leave a comment. I HAVE to hear why anyone would condone this behavior.
I thought I'd try a new blog site for my original plays. I'd been using Blogger but wanted a change - didn't like the way it looked. Blah. So I went to Wordpress. Bumbershoot - The Plays of Jeffrey James Ircink. Looks a tad more professional. And cleaner. Take a gander if you're interested. You get a synopsis of each play and you can click on "read the rest of this entry" to read a 20-page dialogue sample of the play.
One thing about Wordpress for all you bloggers out there, setting up links is a breeze compared to Blogger. One-click and you're done. Oh - if you don't check out the blog, the picture I used for the blog banner is an original called, "Mossy rocks in a creek". I was in a hurry to name it. Didn't think it was a big deal at the time but I get a lot of remarks that the photograph looks like a painting. Maybe I did think it was "something" or I wouldn't have taken it. Who knows - I was drinking at the time (it was during our annual walleye fishing trip up at the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, WI).
And "bumbershoot" is a slang British term for "umbrella".
"Ecce homo." "Behold the Man". Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" is, at least in the opinion of my family, the best production of the story of Jesus. And this scene is among the more powerful in the mini-series. If you'd rather, you can fast-forward to the 1:50 mark. This scene between Pilate (Rod Steiger) and Jesus (Robert Powell) leaves me speechless.
"It felt good to work out of some jams early," Adenhart said. "My curve ball was really working for me, and then my change came on later when I needed it."
2nd Lt. Mark Weigel will be heading off to Iraq pretty quick-like. I want my cousin to come back safely. I want his two boys to see their father again. May God be with you, Mark. Be careful and I'll see you when I see you. Love, Jeff
Frank Lloyd Wright passed away 50 years ago today.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle declared “Frank Lloyd Wright Remembrance Day in Wisconsin, in memory of Wisconsin’s most famous son.” I'm positive this proclamation will go down as Doyle's only meaningful accomplishment in an otherwise lackluster career as governor of the great state of Wisconsin.
Wright, who was declared the “greatest American architect of all time” by the American Institute of Architects, according to the proclamation, was born June 8, 1867, in Richland County and made his home and studio in Spring Green. Six properties in Wisconsin designed by Wright are listed as National Historic Landmarks, according to the proclamation.
Wright referred to himself as "the world's greatest architect" - while he was living. He was not a modest man (and that's putting it lightly). No - Wright can be called many things. Ladies man. Egotist. Manipulator. Conniver. Debaucherer. Control freak. Perfectionist (loosely). Opinionated. Firm. Genius. But "modest" would never make that list.
However those close to him - his wives (married three times + one lover), his close friends and associates and his apprentices - paint Wright in another way. Family man (depends on which child you talk to). Loving husband (depends on which wife you talk to). Generous. A great teacher. When it concerns FLW, emotions run the gamut.
Myself? I'm a fan. I finally got to visit Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin last May, and I toured his Oak Brook home and office in Illinois a couple years ago. I love his Prairie-style homes, Fallingwater, Taliesin - though is block house style in California I could do with out.
Fallingwater, Bear Run, Pennsylvania.Here's a few more videos taken the night I saw Taylor Mills at Pancho's. Thanks renegade79 and SheriH for the videos. ACDC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", Pearl Jam's "Better Man" and Led Zeppelin's "Ramble One".
I mentioned in an earlier post that I was going to see Taylor Mills, who sings back-up for Brian Wilson's band, at Pancho's in Manhattan Beach this past weekend. Her husband, drummer Todd Sucherman (Styx) was performing with his buddies, house band, Day After Daze.
First off, what a treat to see Taylor sing a couple sings while not in her usual role as a back-up singer with Brian. Secondly, what a treat it was to finally meet her. Lovely girl (and she didn't kick me). We had very nice 5-minute conversation (with her friends there you hate to "intrude"). You know how it is - you see someone perform with your favorite artist (Brian) and you feel like you "know them"? Well she was very gracious - she's a Facebook friend which is how I knew about the concert. Sucherman's drumming was top shelf. I commented to Taylor on how can one really discern one good drummer from another. Musicians can. The general public? Probably not. But not just any drummer gets a 10+ year gig with Styx and - like when I saw John Cowsill drum in Studio City a couple weeks ago - something about Todd's style and persona on stage led me to think "this guy's good".
Aside from Pancho's being so packed two greased pigs wouldn't have fit inside, it's a great venue and Day After Daze rocked. Oh - special guest drummer = Chris Slade, from ACDC, Manfred Mann, Uriah Heap and The Firm. He's 63 and rocks the drums.
More YouTube links to follow of the band.
Donovan and Maria were sorting through Grace's books, preparing a bag of discards for Goodwill. This book made the discard pile. You remember the story of "The Gingerbread Man", don't you? This little old woman makes a gingerbread man with two raisin eyes and a smiley mouth. Just as she was about to eat him, he pops of the plate and runs out the door, yelling, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
OK - he comes off as a little prick. One could argue that he was only saving his skin. But we all have our place in the food chain and he's a COOKIE. Now during his travels, the gingerbread man says the same thing to a cow and a horse and a sly fox, who tricks the gingerbread man into riding on his back across the river, then gobbles the gingerbread man up.
Ooooooo. I can't look! Tell me when it's over! What a frightening picture for an early reader - the fox, silhouetted, teeth barred, ready to chow down the gingerbread man. Is this the image of the prickish gingerbread man you wanna leave with a 2-year-old before you tuck her into bed at night. "Sweet dreams, baby."?
Wikipedia states the word "gadfly" is "a term for people who upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant."
In today's political environment, "gadfly" can be used to describe someone who persistently challenges people in positions of power, the status quo or a popular position. It has both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context you use it and to whom you're using the word to describe.
As I've gotten older, I'll readily admit I've become more vocal on my opinions and have spent more time questioning things - people's behavior, our government, politicians, the state of our economy, etc. In this day and age, it's easy to do. I've been referred to as being "bitter" or being a "curmudgeon" - usually by people who I can't stomach in the first place. Never been called a "gadfly" though.
Now here's a gadfly. No - the guy above the actual gadfly. You may have seen Mo Rocca on television - among other things he's a semi-regular on the CBS Sunday Morning Show which I watch religiously. With Rocca, I'm gonna stick to "just being an irritant". You see the difference between me and this dickshine is that people know EXACTLY where I stand on an issue...because I tell them. This annoying piss ant - or piss gadfly - has perfected making curt, annoying, smug little comments so he can ascertain to millions of viewers that he's more informed than you are ('cause he's got all the inside information!) and thus, everyone will think he so "funny and smart". Problem is his commentaries lack any stance. he observes and bitches and that's it. He truly is a "talking head".
Whenever I see him or hear him I wanna punch him (I know - real intelligent, Jeff). I quickly hit fast-forward if I have the chance, hoping that someday he injures his larynx permanently and I'll never have to hear his nasally voice again.
Any questions were I stand regarding Mr. Rocca? That's more than you'll get from him.
OK, so let me recap quickly. I got Grace this Ernie/Bert head for Christmas that talks and wiggles. She loves Ernie and Bert. She DID NOT LOVE this toy. Donovan, Maria and I almost fell over in reaction to Grace's reaction to the decapitated Ernie/Bert head.
A month ago or so, friends of our are over and all the kids are playing. They proceed to empty out the toy box - every toy. But one.
So yesterday I graced the McCann-Glover household with my presence (Grace was ecstatic to see me as usual) and Donovan and Maria inform me that Grace has suddenly warmed up to her decapitated Ernie/Bert head gift from me. I actually witnessed Grace and Donovan playing with it. Not the Bert side though. Just Ernie. She's still frightened of Bert.
In time she will grow to love Bert as well. Ahhhh youth.
"HAIR", the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical makes a triumphant return to Broadway, since first shaking up the establishment in 1968. For some reason I always want to put it "HAIR" in all caps. I don't think that's right, but it's my way of attaching more significance to one of my favorite musicals - and a musical I am proud to say I performed in back in 1995. And yes, I was nakey, nakey.
AND Theatre Cedar Rapids (my old stomping grounds) is performing it this May. So in celebration of everything that is "HAIR", here's a couple of previous blog posts on the show: a review of the show I saw in LA last year, the history behind the show and my involvement with it, an interview with James Rado - co-creator of "HAIR" - that I did over the phone back in 2007, and a post on The Cowsills, who I saw perform recently in LA and who had a #2 hit with their rendition of "Hair".
Oh - a review from the current Broadway production.
The Theatre Cedar Rapids cast of "HAIR". Welcome to the Tribe! Now the "let the sunshine in!"
The Beach Boys nailed it when they harmonized about Midwest girls in their anthem to West Coast wahinis, "California Girls". And Taylor Mills is proof of that.
Photo courtesy of Copyright © Taylor Mills Music
I've been a fan of The Beach Boys since high school. Groupie, more like it. Brian IS a genius. Carl had the voice of an angel. And Dennis' talents were so underrated it's not funny (see my "Pacific Ocean Blue" reissue blog post here).
Then there's Taylor Mills.
If the Brother's Wilson had a sister, Taylor would've been "it". I've been a fan of her's for years - ever since she signed on as back-up singer with Brian Wilson's band. Has to be over 6 years now. I've seen her - heard her - perform many times. Now I have a chance to meet her. Gorgeous. Beautiful voice. Midwest girl (Iowa, then Chicago). I hope she doesn't kick me when we meet.
We've communicated through Facebook and her husband, Todd Sucherman - drummer for Styx for the last 10 years or so, will be performing at Pancho's in Manhattan Beach tonight. Taylor's gonna sing a couple songs, but it's Todd's gig.
Taylor's latest album is "Lullagoodbye". You can listen to some tracks or purchase the album via her website, TaylorMillsMusic.com. Oh - Todd's site is ToddSucherman.com. I didn't put a picture up of Todd 'cause Taylor's prettier...
Came across this photo from my tour in March 2008 of the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Not sure if I made a conscious decision to include my feet in the picture but, looking at it a year later, the photo seems more interesting to me now.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says that the economic maelstrom that has captivated the world's attention for the last 17 months is "not a crisis of capitalism" but, in actuality, a breakdown of a system that has "drifted away from capitalism's most fundamental values."
"The Rat Patrol" ran from 1966-68. The show followed the exploits of four (three American and one British) Allied soldiers who were part of a long range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II. Their mission: "to attack, harass and wreak havoc on Field Marshal Rommel's vaunted Afrika K
My brother and I loved this show in reruns. We particularly like the music and the way the American jeeps flew over the sand dunes in the opening credits.
"To attack, harass and wreak havoc." Sounds like the motto of anyone who is watching some of the things the Obama administration is doing to this country, don't it?
I missed the 117th anniversary of Walt Whitman's death late last month. My favorite poet. This poem, "To A Stranger", ironically goes out to someone who is far from a stranger to me.
"Snidley Rahm Whiplash Emanuel". White House Chief of Staff. Cut his teeth in the most politically corrupt city in the United States - Chicago.
“According to the Cook County Assessor’s website, the Chicago home of four-term Democrat Congressman and White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, doesn’t exist. While the address of 4228 North Hermitage is listed as Emanuel’s residence on the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website (I believe he owns multiple lots adjoining this address), there seems to be no public record of Emanuel ever paying property taxes on this home." Here's another link with more meat to it.
Don't wanna pay property taxes? It's easy. Buy an expensive home + set up a charitable trust with you as the only donor = your home is free from incurring property taxes.
If the White House Chief of Staff can do it, why can't you? Oh - and here's a footnote to this story. Back in September, then Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden stated "that paying more in taxes is the patriotic thing to do for wealthier Americans." Under the economic plan proposed by President Obama while campaigning for the Presidency, people earning more than $250,000 a year would pay more in taxes.
Except, of course, if you're White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Ervin Drake wrote music and lyrics in 10 minutes. He turns 90 this month. Here's the story from the Wall Street Journal.
Imagine that. This time, it's Health and Human Services nominee Kathy Sebelius (that's the 2nd nominee for this post, Tim Daschle was the first). You'd think President Obama would've learned from his previous tax evader nominees - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, performance officer Nancy Killefer, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. And don't forget Bill Richardson (Commerce) and most recently, Jon Cannon (EPA).
I'm not saying people don't screw up. I'm asking why the Obama Administration can't seem to nail down an effective screening process for its nominees. And don't rattle of a list of other president's nominees that failed to measure up, please. This information is inconsequential. I'm interested only in the Obama administration...the one that promised me "CHANGE".
What do the following playwrights have in common: David Ives, Jeffrey Hatcher, Kenneth Lonergen, Brian Friel, Jose Rivera, David Mamet, Tina Howe, Christopher Durang, Jane Martin, David Lindsay Abaire, Shel Silverstein, Neil LaBute and Steven Dietz?
They've all had at least one short play performed at City Theatre's Summer Shorts Festival in Miami. And my award-winning "dirty little play" - "Pass the Salt, Please." - will be among those represented at this year's festival, dubbed as the home of “America’s Short Play Festival”. From City Theatre's website - "With a growing reputation for artistic excellence, the company has a strong following with thousands who celebrate this popular festival as the official kick-off of the summer season and “the COOL thing to do on a HOT summer night”.
Not closing down PASSION = TRUTH. Not joining the Border Patrol. Same shit, different day.
I'm firmly convinced that President Obama does not want to tackle the illegal immigration problem in this country based on his actions (or lack of action) - and the actions of those employed by his administration. The problem has grown too big and the easiest solution (whenever Obama gets around to it) will be to break federal laws and tiptoe around the issue until Obama ends up offering some sort of amnesty package to the 10 million+ illegals in this country. If I had the money, I would leave this country NOW until we get our shit together. And I'm NOT the only one.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (that's the useless piece of shit above) has ordered a review of a raid at a Bellingham, Seattle manufacturing plant that ended with the arrests of 28 illegal immigrants. Napolitano wants to know why the Tuesday raid happened and all background information, as she looks into the case, stated Homeland Security spokesman Sean Smith. (I'll tell you why the raid happened, you incompetent puppet...because illegals are working there and an employer hired them! If our country's Homeland Security Secretary has to ask that question, she too has her head up her ass. Let me repeat: The illegal employees and the business owner are breaking federal laws.)
(Above: President Obama. Writing new federal laws...without Congress approving them or passing them or signing them into law.) On Tuesday morning, ICE agents descended on the shop and rounded up 25 men and three women - 25 Mexican nationals and one person each from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, all obtained the jobs using fake Social Security numbers and other counterfeit documents. Shirin Dhanani Makalai, whose family owns the business, said the raid came after months of cooperating with ICE on an audit, which included providing employee rosters to federal authorities. Makalai added the company did not knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and that employers have no clear way of checking an employee's legal status. (Sure there's a way - it's called E-Verify. Just sign up, dumb ass.)
Recent polls show that 75% of Americans DO NOT want amnesty. So why are our elected officials - our President and mostly liberal Democrats - pushing for something their constituents DON'T WANT? And why are the illegal aliens getting protection for breaking OUR laws and advocacy and pro-amnesty groups - which are in the minority - getting any attention by the goverment? That is NOT a democracy, folks. Look it up. It's far from it.
That's right - those are bits of skull left over from the A+ production of Martin McDonagh's "A Skull in Connemara" by Theatre Tribe in North Hollywood.
Billed as "a bone crushing dark feckin' comedy", this was one of the best theater experiences of my life (as a patron). Theater Tribe is an intimate space - I don't think it's even a 99-seat theater. I sat in the front row - I did some research on the play and I wanted to be in the thick of the action (ergo...the bits of dirt and skull left at my feet). McDonagh wrote the screenplay, In Bruges; won a 2007 Academy Award for his short film, Six Shooter, and has published some wonderfully dark Irish plays - including, "The Cripple of Innishmaan" (reading), "The Pillowman" (read), "The Lieutenant of Innishmore" (read) and "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" (Tony winner). I enjoy his sense of humor and his dark comedy.
Director Stuart Rogers outdid himself. The acting was superb (Irish accents were excellent and I'm a stickler for 'either do them right or don't do them at all' - which would be hard 'cause it takes place in Ireland), the story was fascinating and the set - never saw anything quite like it. In front of my eyes, the Irish cottage was transformed into a graveyard - I mean the actors were actually standing in half-dug graves shoveling dirt. If part of the job of theater is to make one believe you're actually there (that's a rhetorical question), it succeeded. I congratulate the actors - Morlan Higgins, John K. Linton, Jeff Kerr McGivney and Jayne Taini (that's Jenny O'Hara above, who was taking the night off), as well as the crew. Brav-feckin'-o!
Here's the review in Variety. I went last Saturday on closing night. The audience's rousing cheers and clapping soon morphed into a beat that complemented the Irish music and we continued clapping until the actors returned for a 2nd bow. Too bad. You missed a great show.
60% of U.S. voters now have an unfavorable opinion of House Speaker Nancy "Pablo" Pelosi, D-Calif., according to the most recent Rasmussen poll. 42% of those polled have a very unfavorable opinion. And an increasing number of those who disapprove of her seem to be fellow Democrats.
Could this drop in popularity be due to Pelosi calling the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arm of the federal government "un-American"? Or that she referred to illegal aliens at a church meeting as "patriotic"? Or that she's all for amnesty and probably wasn't concerned that the E-Verify vote failed in the Senate? Or that her support of President Obama initially repealing the global gag rule - allowing U.S. funding for international abortions - and the fact that she wouldn't shut her mouth about how this is such a great idea EVENTUALLY led President Obama to back off and not repeal said gag rule?
Understand - I didn't even get into the harvest marsh mouse (and there is some truth to that story which I will get into in another post) or Pelosi's misuse of government aircraft. But could all this bullshit be why Pablo Pelosi's popularity is waning? No shit. She reminds me of another bitch I hate - Barbara Bollenbach. Both are pro-illegal alien's rights; both are only concerned with what benefits them; both are arrogant and two-faced.
60% unfavorable. Wow...that's getting closer to George W. Bush numbers. And this is the 3rd in line for the Presidency?? It would please me to the nth degree to tar and feather both of them (look up tar and feathering - it's far more ghastly than you realize).
Posts
All Comments
