Dreadful oil spill

Dreadful oil spill on the Delaware River this weekend, not too far from where I live. Hundreds of dead birds. Horrible ecological effects. And now the oil is oozing toward the drinking water supply. Oh joy.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/10304629.htm

Celeb news

1) Julia Roberts gave birth to twins. She named them Phinneas and Hazel. Hmmmm. Itis a good thing she is rich because those kids will be beaten on the playground.

2) Mariah Carey now wishes to be known as Mimi. Please make a note of this.

Only 14 days until "Ocean's 12" opens!!!!

SHRIEKKKKK!!!

I Love George Clooney!

http://oceans12.warnerbros.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my friends and fans, I am thankful for you. Have a great holiday. I will be in DC with my Dad, my brother Patrick and his wife, the Lovely Karla. Hopefully, my Dad will enjoy himself and not spend the ENTIRE time talking about: his cataract surgery, his diabetes and his intestines.

We will be at Georgia Brown's restaurant in DC. Here is a sample of the menu:

http://www.gbrowns.com/dir/events.aspx?NewsID=87

Thanksgiving Dinner is a down home tradition at Georgia Brown's!!!

Always a Washington favorite for Thanksgiving, Georgia Brown's celebrates with our best comfort food, scrumptious turkey with all the fixings, served up with Southern hospitality.  Our traditional Low Country feast is served family style - $36.95 for adults and $25.99 for children.

To Begin...

Your very own Fried Green Tomato with Lemon Cayenne Mayonnaise

Temptations...

Charleston She Crab Soup

or

Ms. Brown's House Salad

Dinner is Served...

(please select one)

Traditional Roasted Turkey with Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing and Bacon Braised Green Beans

Untraditional Southern Fried Turkey with Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing and Bacon Braised Green Beans

Plantation Rum Glazed Ham with Candied Yams, Sauteed Wax Beans and Cornbread Stuffing

Oven Roasted Salmon with Tarragon Cream Sauce, Sauteed Wax Beans and Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

A Vegetarian Protein Selection of "Turkey Croquettes" will be available also

To Send You On Your Way...

Sweet Potato Cheesecake topped with a Caramel Pecan Sauce

Warm Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate and Cherry Cobbler with Appleton Rum Creme Anglaise

Fried Banana with Pistachios, Creme Anglaise and Chocolate Drizzles

Warm Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

How is the U2 album?

Need you ask? It is WONDERFUL!!!!

By the time I got to Best Buy at 6 p.m., all the copies but one had sold out.

However, it was odd when the teenage Best Buy cashier looked at my CD and said: "Oh yeah, I think my Mom wanted me to bring that home for her tonight."

Sigh.

U2 in NYC

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/22/u2.nyc.concert/index.html

U2 surprises NYC with free concert

U2 jammed at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge to the delight of the crowd estimated at more than 3,000.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- On the eve of the release of its new album, the rock band U2 surprised fans Monday with performances throughout New York City, culminating in a 45-minute concert in Brooklyn in the late afternoon.

The band tipped off members of the news media that it would perform a surprise concert, but it kept details under wraps until late Sunday evening.

Riding in the back of a flatbed truck, the band serenaded New York streets and snarled city traffic as a film crew captured the action for a music video.

The tour ended at Brooklyn's Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park -- on the waterfront between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and across from the Lower Manhattan skyline -- to the delight of an estimated 3,000 people who had spent hours waiting for the rock stars to arrive.

The fans were treated to a set that lasted more than 45 minutes and covered songs from the band's new album, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," as well as old favorites.

The crowd flocked to the venue after word of the concert spread through fan Web sites. The concert was taped for an MTV special December 10.

Band publicist Dennis Dennehey said if the information about the show had been advertised beforehand, the band would have had to cancel the concert.

Local police were told the performance was simply for a television taping.

An original plan had theband playing in Manhattan's Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, but after it became apparent that too many people had learned about it, that plan was abandoned.

"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is the band's 13th album and its first since 2000. It releases Tuesday.

U2 consists of lead singer Bono, guitarist The Edge, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton.

Northeast Philadelphia

My friend Kristen wrote this wonderful essay about Northeast Philadelphia, the section of city where I grew up and still love. Here is the link:

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/10199738.htm

Toure

On Friday, I met Toure. He is a one-named writer and pop culture commentator who also writes novels. He is a cool dude with a mop of curly hair. He was the featured speaker at a cocktail hour I attended in Philadelphia for Media Bistro http://www.mediabistro.com

Toure writes for Rolling Stone magazine and his interview with Eminem is on the cover this month. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6593164 He is also a commentator on CNN.

He and I chatted after his reading about Britney Spears and Ashlee Simpson. This was while he ate all my fries. We agreed that it would be better to be stuck in an elevator with Britney because Ashlee clearly does not do well under pressure.

Toure has his own website. www.toure.com

 

Religious experience

Oh.My.God. I had a semi-religious experience this weekend as U2 appeared on "Saturday Night Live." They were awesome. Just awesome. I stared in rapt attention during their performances and then my sister and I called each other to squeal and basically make excited gleaping, gurgling sounds at one another since we were too worked up to form actual words.

The band performed three songs on-camera and apparently a few more after the show went off the air. One of the best parts was seeing the SNL cast members having conniptions from excitement as they watched the band. Bono hugged Amy Pohler and Maya Rudolph was so excited she was crying. I am with ya, sister.

The whole band looked cool, even after being together since 1979 and their sound was just so tight. They really do rock. Their album comes out Tuesday. GLEEEP!

U2 updates

U2 will be on "Saturday Night Live" this week. SHRIEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This afternoon as I was driving to work, radio station Y100 played most of the new U2 album. SHRIEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only five days till the album is released. AIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! SHRIEK!!!!!!!!!

Mmmmmm.

C2 cola. Love it. Mmmmm.

First class

I flew first class this morning from Orlando to Philadelphia.

Is anyone jealous of me?

However, there were no hot towels or hot fudge sundaes. Darn. Just beverages and a cookie.

Britney Spears writes her fans ANOTHER letter!

Oh joy. Oh glee. I hang upon her every word.

http://www.britneyspears.com/news-item.php?item=041108&PHPSESSID=9ebd72d8e4d065e48e76c8c48f321602

BRITNEY'S LETTER TO FANS: NOVEMBER 8, 2004

Dear Fans,

I'm just getting back from my honeymoon and it was absolutely breathtaking! This is the happiest I've ever been in my life. Unfortunately, we couldn't take our honeymoon right after the wedding because of the closing on our new house. We are just settling into our new home and it is coming together perfectly. I'm redecorating a lot of things because when we decide to start a family, everything in it needs to be perfecto! I love decorating; it's very therapeutic for me. I believe your house is a reflection of yourself, so I want everything in mine to be exquisite.

My new hobby is experimenting with all different types of art lessons. It's always been a passion of mine. Maybe I'll even do my sister's make-up next year for big events. Jamie Lynn is turning into such a beautiful little lady. Her new show is coming out soon and I am sooo proud of her. It's called Zoey 101 and it will be on Nickelodeon in January. DON'T MISS IT!

I haven't really thought a lot about work lately. What better time for a greatest hits album to come out? I can actually enjoy & reflect on my success at this point in my life. I may be disappointing some fans out there, but I don't think I'll do another tour for a couple of years. My priorities in life have changed. I am having fun again reading all the magazines that I enjoy (mainly because I am not on them). At this point and time, what I want is not my face on every cover, but someone else's instead. I really want to help other people achieve their dreams and possibly even develop new artists. Everything is in the very beginning stages and it feels great to just think about different opportunities that I am interested in pursuing.

The Holiday's are right around the corner and I can't wait to have my own Christmas tree in my very own house. As far as New Year's plans, I really wanted to have a huge party for all our friends and relatives who were unable to be at our wedding, due to the last minute surprise element, but I think we might have to wait until after the house is completely finished.

Well, I've got to go. My dog, Lacy, just got fixed and she's not acting like herself! I'm going to have Shabby Chic re-cover her bed and maybe that will lift her spirits!

Love, B

PS ~ Regarding last week's letter: I'm not the type of person to put blame on other people, but I do feel that some things which were done for me were not always in my best interests. Looking back, I feel now that on my 4th album "less is more" should have been the way to go. As for me quitting the business for good, that is kind of harsh. As I said earlier, my priorities have changed and I am going to be focusing on three main areas of my life for the immediate future. Myself, my husband, Kevin and starting a family. When I really come back, things will be totally different. Until then, there are some things close to me that you might be interested in seeing. For one, you will be able to get a taste of my fine hubby on a few covers; Jamie Lynn has her show coming out and of course, the tabloid's weekly analysis of my "letter of truth". Hopefully, they won't be trying to decipher that one for much longer! I can't wait to read what they say this week. He He! Well, now I've really got to go!

Love ya,

B

A guy and his really Ugly Sweater Collection

Must be seen to be believed.

http://www.buriedlede.com/projects/sweater.html

U2 album is pirated on Internet!

Aiiieeee! This better not hold up the release date of Nov. 22! Must get U2 album!

http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/08/technology/u2_piracy.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

Twelve Reasons NOT to move to Canada

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1103-28.htm

Want to apologize to the rest of the world?

Are you like me? Do you feel as if you should be writing apology e-mails to everyone in Europe explaining that HALF of us did NOT vote for Bush? (Even though he seems to think he has a mandate from ALL of us.

Then log on to this site:

http://www.sorryeverybody.com/

And to here:

http://www.sorryeverybody.com/gallery1.html

My new quote

"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There's no innocence. Either way, you're accountable."

- Arundhati Roy

In times of oppression, watch "The Daily Show"

Best lines from the show last night, post election:

"If you want to have gay sex or visit a library, tonight is probably your last night."

Also, the red states with their emphasis on morality and cultural values, voted for Bush because they are afraid of "hot man-on-man monogamy."

Onward

A friend sent this to me. Now, I feel better. Today, I am going to write and create some art.

The Day After
A short essay on the morning of defeat for the Democrats
By David Gilmore

Yesterday I went walking our precinct and calling lists of Democrats to make sure they had voted. For the past year and a half, I've devoted no less than 20 percent of my waking thoughts to it, surfing the web, checking polls, writing essays. Now it's all over. The country didn't deliver what I had hoped for, but you know what I found the most interesting during the course of my day of running around with the impassioned Democrats yesterday?

I noticed the ant pile in front of 4760 N. Haskell. It was a perfectly constructed volcano of sand. Each grain was laid out in perfect order and placed outside the hole according to its size. The tiny bright red beasts were scurrying about unconcerned with what was going on just a few feet away as we dropped literature on the doorstep. They were not running below ground to check the exit polls on CNN.

In the back seat of the car being whisked about the precinct, I noticed the soft curls of black hair on the back of Peyton's neck descending from beneath his baseball cap. I noticed how he blinked his girlish eyelashes repeatedly whenever his agitated father at the wheel was stern with him.

After hours of channel surfing at a party, I stepped outside to notice the half moon lying on its back over the desert, illuminating the jagged mountain peaks while inside, the country shifted toward the red, chiefly based on morality. As a homosexual, I knew they were talking about my
life without even knowing me. I blushed slightly but no one could see in the park. Could they be right? Maybe I don't deserve to marry and maybe my moral compass is spinning?

The brief flush of embarrassment at THAT thought was nothing compared to how I feel having wasted so much of my creative focus on politics. I stopped playing the piano and singing. I stopped writing poetry. I remembered when asked what to do in times of great political strife, Arundhati Roy simply said, "make art."

But, while the Republican balloon drop over the podium began, coyotes began screaming in the desert like children. I drove home along the empty streets of Tucson with my windows open. I drove past the Radison Hotel knowing that a downer party must be well under way with Democrats consoling one another.

I took a Xanax to calm my nerves and the pain of chewed off fingernails and fell asleep with the TV on just after Jim Lehrer signed off.

This morning instead of tuning in to hear a concession speech, I got out of bed and turned the heat on to warm the chilly house. I opened the piano, like a shopkeeper would turn the sign saying "open for business." I boiled a cup of water and fished the tea leaves out of my cup. Then I checked the olives curing in the kitchen. I had left them too long. They had mold
growing on them.

Today I'm going to work in the garden and sing. The aloes out back need to be separated and transplanted. The fountain needs leveling and I just got a new Leonard Cohen song to work on.

So while the political winners sit smugly, the losers wringing their hands, I'll be waiting for my first hummingbird to come and bathe at the nipple of my fountain. Had things been different last night, I knew that I too would have been sitting smugly, with a the admittedly empty satisfaction of knowing that a majority thinks like me. But not today.

British poet William Blake wrote: "I am really sorry to see my countrymen trouble themselves about politics. If men were wise, the most arbitrary princes could not hurt them. If they are not wise, the freest government is compelled to be a tyranny. Princes appear to me to be fools. Houses of Commons & Houses of Lords appear to me to be fools; they seem to me to be something else besides human life."

Onward.

David Gilmore is the host of Outright Radio on Public Radio International

Can't stand the waiting

Can't stand it. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.