MC Doughboy

I seriously threw up in my mouth a little, watching this:



Thanks (I think) to Ceci for the link.

Louis Vuitton's version of cheap chic

Fashion kills me sometimes.

You guys have seen these bags before, right?


Apparently, Marc Jacobs also found inspiration for Louis Vuitton's spring-summer '07 ready-to-wear collection from these popular shopping bags commonly found on the streets of Chinatown. Or the dollar store. Or your local laundromat, whatever. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE these bags. But, come on now:


Granted, the tote above is hand-woven leather. But chile, please. If I'm going to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on an LV purse (I'm more of a Gucci fan anyway, but I digress), I want it to look like it costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. OQUAY?

Plus, I'd much rather keep it real and buy these bags from the dollar store, thanks.


(Props to I am Fashion for the link.)

Happiness is a warm gun ... and free espresso for life, possibly?

Paul McCartney just left Capitol Records to sign with SBUX's record label:

Financial and contractual details for the Hear Music deal weren't discussed by Starbucks, beyond the fact that Mr. McCartney's album will be the first released on the label created by Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Records. But the partnership officially marks the end of Mr. McCartney's four-plus-decades relationship with Capitol, a Concord Records spokesman said. Representatives for Mr. McCartney wouldn't comment.

Beatle butterflies
"How could a coffee company sign a Beatle?" asked an awed Mr. Schultz at the meeting, where he admitted to having butterflies in his stomach before meeting Mr. McCartney for the first time two weeks ago in New York. "I was nervous," he told the artist, who appeared at the Seattle event via live video feed from London.

I understand that SBUX CEO Shultz wants to challenge the status quo about what people think a coffee company should be, but seriously. I mean, they're already in the specialty coffee/ready-to-drink/liqueur markets, which okay, fine, I can see the connection. But movies and record labels?

Can you say brand dilution?

But I guess if Richard Branson can do it, SBUX can too.

And as far as Paul McCartney goes? He's gotta pay for that divorce somehow, I guess.


(Photo credit: Humphrey Nemar)

Doughboy: Defensive much?

Ooh, do I hate smug.

Especially when this smugness comes from Karl "Doughboy" Rove. According to this article, Rove accompanied Dubya and Tony Snow to the GM plant in Fairfax, Kansas, when a reporter approached Rove to ask him a question. Check this shit out:

A reporter approached Rove to ask him what he thought of rumors that former Missouri Sen. Jack Danforth could replace embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. “How about you go over there and do your job,” Rove replied, pointed back to the media pool.

No he didn't.

First of muthafuckin' all, this reporter was doing his job, asking provocative questions and acting as a check on government. In your face.

Next thing you know, Rove will start to tell people to go fuck themselves.

I hope Rove gets what's coming to him. And fast.

(Props to Think Progress for the link.)

Hmmmm.

Last week, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to being the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.

Today, on the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, Bush spoke about how much "progress" has been made, and yet, there will be "good days and bad days."

Also today, Waleed bin Attash, a Gitmo prisoner, confessed to plotting the bombing of the USS Cole, and two American embassies in Africa.

My, my. What curious timing.

Oh yeah, and 16 more people were killed in attacks on mosques and by car bombs in Baghdad and Kirkuk.

That burning stench you smell on the streets of Iraq? Apparently that's what "progress" smells like.

2007 WRBC

What's WRBC, you ask?

Why, it's the Western Regional Barista Competition, as a matter of fact. And that's how I spent this afternoon, watching the final round in which six top baristas from California competed for the title.

Where's Mags?

Each finalist had to make four cappuccinos, four espresso shots, and four of what was called the baristas' "signature" drinks, which could contain anything except alcohol.

Those of you who know me know that I'm at once a Food Network junkie and a geek (Exhibit A: My excitement over this film), so I really got into this competition. While the signature drinks allowed the competitors to showcase their creativity, I found myself mesmerized more by each barista's technique, including the way they grind, dose, and tamp their shots. It's amazing to see the different personal styles they used to simultaneously level out the grounds while cleaning off the edges of the portafilters, for example. And I noticed that while some baristas did a straight up-and-down tamp, others added a twist and an upside-down flip before setting the portafilter back in the group. Fucking badass.

I know. I'm not well.

Anyway, it was enough to make me long to return to my barista days.

And then I got over it. I'm a much better spectator than a barista.

I was rooting for Chris Baca from San Francisco's own Ritual Coffee Roasters. The man made me the perfect cappuccino when I visited their coffee shop on Valencia a few months ago. His description of the espresso he used (I hate when I don't take notes) was perfect. He said it was like "being hit over the head with a lime popsicle and falling back onto a pile of jasmine flower petals."

And coffee geeks like us laughed because it was funny, of course, but also because we knew exactly what he was talking about.

Plus, he looks like MCA from the Beastie Boys, which is always---ALWAYS---a plus in my book.



The signature drink segment provided an interesting departure from your traditional beverages. While they were all intriguing, the one that made me wish I was a judge was Eton Tsuno's "Umami," which included miso paste, kumquat curd and caramel (?---did I mention how I hate that I didn't take notes?) mixed with espresso and milk. Crystal Yeaw's is my second choice, only because she incorporated dulce de leche, which is like, the ultimate in super sweet, creamy goodness from Heaven.

All in all, it was a great experience for me as a spectator. It's great to see so many people who take such great pride in their work, and it's wonderful to be able to give them an opportunity to showcase their technique and skills and be recognized for it.



Props to the Top Three:
1st place: Heather Perry, Coffee Klatch, San Dimas, CA
2nd place: Kyle Glanville, Intelligentsia, Los Angeles, CA
3rd place: Chris Baca, Ritual Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, CA

(Photo credit: WRBC)

Submitted without further comment

Props to AMERICAblog for the link.

"Look Ma, no tan lines!"

I'm all for supporting religious freedom and stuff, but seriously, can a beach-lovin' Muslim sista please just get her suntan on?

Alas, no. But now, at least, she does have some options. Here's one: It's called a "burqini," and it has the potential to become all the rage among the beach-going, ultra-conservative Muslim set:

The Burkini is made from ultraviolet- and water-protected polyester. Unlike the bikini, it covers the whole body except for the feet, hands and face, allowing Muslim women to swim in public.

You gotta admit though, it does take a bit of pressure off of the whole working-out-for-summer thing. They may be on to something here.

All I'm saying is, does it come in a batik pattern? Because that would be super cute.

Oh yeah, and P.S.? These things sell for up to $160.

P.P.S.: Technically, shouldn't her face be covered, too?

P.P.P.S.: Want one? Order here.

An experiment

I was going to have a few comments on Dick Cheney's deep vein thrombosis, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the phrase ‘evil-minded shitass warmonger,’ so I — so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Cheney.





See how that works, people?



(Cross-posted at Bring It On!)

Hell yeah.

Oh yeah, and P.S.? My show last Sunday? Rocked.

For crying out loud.

I knew there was a reason why I rarely, if ever, watched anything on CBS. It's run by a bunch of morons. Check out this latest example:

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel obtained a letter from "Saturday Early Show" senior producer Michael Rosen to Broward Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin, who presided over the Anna Nicole Smith case. In the letter, Rosen expresses interest in having Seidlin join the "Saturday Early Show."

"I have been extremely impressed by your compassion in the Anna Nicole case and I would love to discuss with you the idea of being our judge on a new segment, `Morning Justice,'" wrote Rosen. "It would be a semi-regular segment in which you would resolve the ethical and legal questions of our viewers who send in the issues troubling them."

What the hell?

Wait. People actually like him?

Members of the "Go Fuck Yourself" fan club:


Silly Aussies.

(Props to Whatever It Is, I'm Against It for the photo.)

This week's cognitive dissonance

In case you needed another reason to believe that the war in Iran Iraq [thanks, a] was motiviated by interests other than fighting terrorism, it's this. We're not even interested in going after the guy who started this whole thing (emphasis mine):

The Army's highest-ranking officer said Friday that he was unsure whether the U.S. military would capture or kill Osama bin Laden, adding, "I don't know that it's all that important, frankly."

"So we get him, and then what?" asked Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the outgoing Army chief of staff, at a Rotary Club of Fort Worth luncheon. "There's a temporary feeling of goodness, but in the long run, we may make him bigger than he is today.

"He's hiding, and he knows we're looking for him. We know he's not particularly effective. I'm not sure there's that great of a return" on capturing or killing bin Laden.

Um, WHAT?

As far as I'm concerned, Dubya and Sith Lord Cheney are no longer given permission to invoke 9/11 in any future speeches, since they seem to think that capturing the mastermind behind the attacks really doesn't produce "that great of a return."

... Schoomaker's remarks echoed comments last year by Vice President Cheney, who seemed to play down the value of capturing or killing bin Laden days before the Bush speech. "He's not the only source of the problem, obviously. . . . If you killed him tomorrow, you'd still have a problem with al-Qaeda," the vice president said.

To be sure, terrorism itself is a problem that transcends any one individual, but it's obvious that we've wasted a lot of time and money pursuing the wrong guy and the wrong country. That is, of course, if you're still working under the assumption that the war in Iraq was begun in response to the 9/11 attacks.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda is rebuilding itself and getting stronger.


(Thanks to AMERICAblog for the link.)

Giuliani: "I said FIJI water, bitches!"

Seeing as how I'm just a G-lister, I found it quite amusing that Giuliani has a rider:

In addition to his $100,000 speaking fee, the former mayor insists that he be shuttled to and from any event by a private plane — and not just any plane, mind you!

“Please note that the private aircraft MUST BE a Gulfstream IV or bigger,” notes the contract, referring to a $30 million jet that can clock 600 mph.

Once there, Hizzoner demands that he be met by “one sedan and one large SUV,” and booked into a hotel room “with a king-size bed, on an upper floor, with a balcony and view,” plus four more rooms on the same floor for his entourage.

And, oh, yeah, America’s Mayor doesn’t like “candid photo opportunities,” but he will stand for posed pictures provided they are taken in a room “with sufficient light” and “without direct, on-camera flash bulbs.”

Who does he think he is? J-Lo?


(Link courtesy of The Carpetbagger Report.)

Rock on.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

Friday morning Flamenco blogging

Because I'm really into Fandangos right now:



Featuring a very young Chano Lobato!

I have another show in two weeks. Yes, I'm excited.

Yeah, whatever. Love, schmuv.

Sappy-head couples are probably cooing in delight over this latest news:

Archaeologists have unearthed two skeletons from the Neolithic period locked in a tender embrace and buried outside Mantua, just 25 miles south of Verona, the romantic city where Shakespeare set the star-crossed tale of "Romeo and Juliet."

Buried between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, the prehistoric pair are believed to have been a man and a woman and are thought to have died young, as their teeth were found intact, said Elena Menotti, the archaeologist who led the dig.

"As far as we know, it's unique," Menotti told The Associated Press by telephone from Milan. "Double burials from the Neolithic are unheard of, and these are even hugging."

I'm not bitter. Happy Valentine's Day or whatever. Tomorrow, I mean.

(Photo credit: AP/Archaeological Society SAP)

Who's the baby daddy?

I love a good train wreck as much as the next person, and not that I'm keeping score or anything, but here are the current front runners in what I like to call, "Who's the Baby Daddy?"

1. Howard K. Stern, lawyer/lover/"husband"/opportunist/looks like an old ex
2. Larry Birkhead
3. Anna Nicole's former bodyguard
4. Prince Fredric von Anhalt, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband
5. Howard Marshall II's frozen sperm
   

Jesus H, who's next? I wouldn't be surprised if Don Rickles was next to step to the plate.

Love your hoohaa, please. That's all I ask.

You all know by now the "scandal" that erupted in Atlantic Beach, Fla. with the woman who was so offended that the marquee advertising The Vagina Monologues actually said the word "vagina" on it.

Atlantic Theatres in Atlantic Beach, Florida, received a complaint from a woman who'd seen the advertised title as she drove past with her niece. She said that it had made her niece ask her what a vagina was.

The theatre's Bryce Pfanenstiel commented: 'I'm on the phone and asked “What did you tell her?” She's like, “I'm offended I had to answer the question.”'

Hello, you're a woman. You have one. Your niece? She has one. Why be offended that you had to answer the question? What you succeeded in doing is throwing the blanket of shame around it. And thanks for passing that shame along to your niece, when all you could have said was,

"Oh that? That word is 'vagina,' and it's what you call the body part between your legs."

Or something to that effect. And boom. End of discussion.

But instead, because of your stupid, freaked-out, Puritanical, shame-throwing, vagina-hating ways, you pretty much forced the owners of the theatre to change 'vagina' to "hoo haa," as in "The Hoohaa Chronicles." Corny. So not only have you made your niece feel dirty because she has a vagina, but you've also done your part to censor art. Congratulations, you stupid ass.

Props to the theatre owners for changing the marquee back to the play's original title. I personally don't think you should have even changed it in the first place, but it's cool. You're redeemed.

To the woman in this story: Obviously you haven't seen the vagina celebration that is The Vagina Monologues. I suggest you buy yourself a ticket. STAT.

Say it loud and proud, girlfriend: I HAVE A VAGINA.

UPDATE: On second thought, maybe this woman is one of those who think her vag is ugly.


(Props to Scott for the link.)

Git 'er done

Wine consumption is up among NASCAR fans.

While NASCAR fans' growing penchant for wine may sound surprising, team owners and racecar drivers are not surprised at all. NASCAR team owner, Richard Childress, has ventured into the wine business, as has driver, Jeff Gordon. In 2005, Gordon announced a series of upscale wines under a self- titled label, the Jeff Gordon Collection.

While 70% of total NASCAR fans' wine consumption is domestic, no mention was made about how much of that was of the boxed variety.

:: rimshot ::