We Win Game One, We Win Game One (Keep Repeating)

Keeping the streak alive! Kings take ANOTHER AWAY GAME and win in someone else's house! Stanley Cup - Kings 1, Devils 0. In overtime.

UPDATE: The score was Kings 2, Devils 1, in overtime. My meaning above is in the SERIES, the Kings are up one game to the Devils. My bad!

Just Who Owns The Media

A pretty interesting article with graphics about the clear consolidation of media of the world into the hands of some six major players. Think about that for a while. I grew up when breaking up monopolies was the thing to do (remember the "baby Bells" as the telephone industry monopoly was broken up in the 1970's?) It's obvious why this country remains stupid -- big media wants it that way.

I'll have another cup of reality tv, thank you. H/T to The Frugal Dad.

Source: Frugal dad

Now UK Bars Are Demanding Facebook Information?

Imagine this: You're in line to get in to your favorite bar. You're stopped by the bouncer at the door who asks to see your ID... and your Facebook account? In the U.K., the practice is becoming increasingly common.

According to the BBC, bars in England are worried over fines for admitting underaged drinkers — often as high as $8,000. For U.K. bouncers, checking a patron's Facebook profile is a good way to weed out fake IDs. In a few short moments, the bouncer can verify a person's name and date of birth. It's not a replacement for checking a person's identification, but an extra, optional verification step.

What is it with everyone's obsession, from employers and now to bars, with one's Facebook account? I have one, but thank goodness it is in Carrie Cann's name. Not going to get much real information on me, eh?

Emanuel To The Ricketts - Finance This!

I've never like Rahm Emanuel and I was ever so glad he became Chicago's problem and not America's anymore. But I did get a chuckle out of this tidbit:

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not returning calls from the Ricketts family and is “livid” over a New York Times report that Joe Ricketts commissioned a proposal for a multimillion-dollar ad campaign linking President Obama to the president’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, according to an Emanuel aide.

Joe Ricketts’s children, which include Obama bundler Laura Ricketts, bought the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and have been in talks with the city about renovating the team’s 98-year-old stadium, Wrigley Field.

That appears to be on hold now.

“The Mayor was livid when he read that the Ricketts were going to launch a $10 million campaign against President Obama – with the type of racially motivated ads that are insulting to the president and the presidential campaign,” said the aide, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the situation. “He is also livid with their blatant hypocrisy.”

The aide also said Emanuel, who is Obama’s former chief of staff, has cut off communication with the family.

“The Ricketts have tried to contact the mayor, but he’s said that he does not want to talk with them today, tomorrow or anytime soon,” the aide said.

"Touch It, Dude" Says Obama

If you haven't seen this picture yet, you will soon. I LOVE this picture. Read the story here.

A Little Bit Of Black, And A Little Bit Of White In All Of Us, So It Seems

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For years, varied and sometimes wild claims have been made about the origins of a group of dark-skinned Appalachian residents once known derisively as the Melungeons. Some speculated they were descended from Portuguese explorers, or perhaps from Turkish slaves or Gypsies.

Now a new DNA study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy attempts to separate truth from oral tradition and wishful thinking. The study found the truth to be somewhat less exotic: Genetic evidence shows that the families historically called Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European origin.

And that report, which was published in April in the peer-reviewed journal, doesn't sit comfortably with some people who claim Melungeon ancestry.

This story reminds me of the PBS series hosted by Harvard professor Henry Lewis Gates, Jr. that traces the ancestral history of black Americans. I think the most interesting thing that all of the people learned, as did I, was that the majority of the participants had no idea they had as much European white ancestry roots, primarily from a white woman. Of course, as my daughter likes to say, we all came from Africa, it's where life started on this planet!

See Ya Soon, Zaire!

Over The Rainbow ... Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue .... and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true ...

I love you baby!

OMFG, IT'S NEW JERSEY VS. L.A. FOR THE STANLEY CUP!

I am in complete shock! Well, game one is Wednesday ... anyone want to place bets?????

SYTYCD New Season

Yeah, baby!!!! Season 9! NYC is killing it.

We're Going To Stanley Cup!

It was a wild night at my local watering hole, which actually closes at 10 or so. At least they lock the front door so you have to exit the back where the parking lot is. And even though I changed up my drink of choice (which resulted in my actually having less over the approximately four hours [it went into overtime]) as I was leaving the joint, I tripped on my pant leg and tumbled forward causing a huge gash in my knee. Damn! I am still recovering from it this morning, and may actually have to use my cane to help walk. But it was worth it in a strange way, to be with friends enjoying a brewskie and for the first time in 19 years, know the Kings will once again, play in the Stanley Cup finals. I was a season ticket holder when they went in 1993 (the 1992/1993 season, this is the 2011/2012 season) and I remember all the games back then, including the improbable game seven win against Toronto that put the Kings into the finals.

This particular Kings team, though, has all the makings of winning the cup for the first time in their 45 year history. Now all we have to wait for is who we will be playing, the Devils or the Rangers. I'm rooting for the Rangers. NYC vs LA will be a great publicity draw for the game of hockey, and should spike TV ratings.

Johnny Carson, 5/21/92

I was one of the millions of viewers that watched this last show, May 21, 1992, twenty years ago.

Johnny was a part of my daily night life. I don't recall ever not watching him growing up, especially back before there was cable and all we had on television in Los Angeles were our 7 stations (KCBS, KNBC, KABC, KTTV, KTLA, KHJ and whatever the call letters were for channel 13). I cried like a baby when Johnny went off the air. Jay Leno sucked for me, as I had already become a fan of David Letterman in the 1980's, and we all know he was Johnny's choice for heir apparent to the Tonight Show. Leno is a stale comic. Letterman will still outlast Leno.

Here's to you, Johnny, "one more for the road!"

RIP Robin Gibb

And the "walk" that made it famous!

Happy Birthday, Brudda Iz

Together In IZ World: Be part of HIZ story

You are a huge part of IZ’s success. Now become part of his story. His ‘ohana (family) around the world has grown in to a tight-knit, knowing community of music lovers. Get to know this community better by hearing their story and comparing it to yours.

Tell us how you discovered IZ, did you see him in concert, what’s your favorite song, how often you listen to IZ, has his music helped you through a rough patch?…it’s all part of the story.

Send us your IZ stories, photos, artwork, videos, etc. and on the week of May 20th, IZ’s birthday, we will post all the submissions we’ve received from you, the fans.

Together In IZ World.

Today, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole would have been 53.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Have To Wait One More Day

Unfortunately, the L.A. Kings could not close the door on the Coyotes this afternoon. Was it the early game time? I don't know. Part of the problem of having three different teams share the same arena and all are in playoffs (Lakers, Kings, Clippers).



I did pull out my Media Guide from the 1992/1993 season (we would receive these as season ticket holders). It was the only media guide from all the years I held season tickets, that I decided during pre-season (when they are given out) to have the players sign the damn thing. Who knew this team would be the only team thus far (well, the only Los Angeles Kings) that would go all the way to the Stanley Cup. Now, 19 years later, we are on the brink of our second trip. Hell, I even dusted off my old school hockey card collection, just to give it a look. Man, I have a lot of hockey cards (probably close to 1,000) but only a handful signed. I am going to have to look through them to find out how many rookie cards I have now!

See ya all on Tuesday. I hope I have something to celebrate, damn it!!!!!

Ally McBeal, Redux

As much as I put up posts they keep getting taken down.



Of course, the precursor, the Unisex bathroom!



The one with Chubby Checker doing the twist is my fave, but you can't find it on YouTube these days, damn. All my earlier versions have been taken down. Can't even get Josh Groban's song that made him popular from this TV show, anymore.

Well, enjoy what I have.

It's In His Kiss

Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, RIP

I was a big wig in the disco era. My family (three cousins) and I were at every gay bar and disco lounge between the Valley and Los Angeles. We WERE the dancers that everyone liked to copy ... trust me on that.

Check out the outfits! First off, I made these. I had my own clothing line back then, and the pant suit with the embroidering. I did all the bead work by hand. And check out the shoes! We were wearing those platforms well before the youngins of today have been wearing them!!!!!

One of my first dance contests I ever entered in that era, was with a guy and we danced to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.” The practices were hard, and our ending was especially difficult, because I was in a position where the guy was holding my arms and then I dropped to the ground and he had to catch me at my hands, and I would shoot up one of my legs and it had to coincide with the last note of the song. I got dropped on my head so many times, it hurt a lot!!!!

But, eventually, we got the last move down, and on to the competition, which was in Century City (for those of you familiar with Los Angeles area). Although, we both at the time, were living in San Diego area. In fact, I met my then dance partner based on the fact that he would often go to clubs in Los Angeles, and “our” (my family) style of dancing was unique and when people found out he lived in San Diego area, they said, find (insert my real name) at one of the discos because you will definitely know her by that distinct style of dance. And that is seriously how I met him. He came up to me when I was at a club with my then boyfriend (who still lives in Hawai’i after we both moved there in the late 1970's) and he approached me and said ... “are you (again insert my real name)?” and I was like, “yeah, how did you know that.” And then he mentioned that people in Los Angeles had told him he could find me by my dancing style.

We didn’t win that particular dance contest, but it was just the first of many that we entered (and won some). I have already mentioned in earlier posts that I even won a dance contest with my youngest boy cousin, while living in San Diego. I drove up to L.A., drove back to S.D. to the club, danced, won, took the money, drove back to L.A. to drop him home, and drove back to S.D. Whew!!!!!

Anyway, Donna Summer was THE QUEEN of disco, no doubt about it. In fact, I was surprised that she even reprised the “McArthur Park” song that Richard Harris had made famous with his pseudo talk version!

I know I am 60, and shit, witnessing my peers drop dead this year is not making me happy.

Last Dance (pay attention to the last notes of the song, and imagine me being dropped to the ground, LOL)



Yeah, I had to hit the drop on that last note!

Dim All The Lights



RIP Donna. You will always be the Disco Queen.

We're Going To Stanley Cup ...

We're going to Stanley Cup, we're going to Stanley Cup!



This used to be our theme song back in the day when the Kings went to the Stanley Cup in 1993 (part of the 1992/1993 season) and this movie was out in 1992.

Yeah, baby! One more win, can you feel the power?

L.A. Kings Up Two, What City Am I Living In?????

Christian Petersen; Getty Images

Carter gets a hat trick (first playoff hat trick since The Great One did it in 1993). Two Coyotes get 5 minute majors and were ejected. Coyote goaltender Smith might be looking at some harder interference from the Kings come game three. Physical game? Absolutely! Kings win? Who thought they wouldn't? Seven straight games that the Kings win in the "other guys" house in the playoffs this year.

Been Busy, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Walking The Dog ...

Kings up one in their first semi's since 1993 and only second time in HISTORY of franchise ... what's up with that? Rangers shot down the Devils in game one. Dodgers at least in better shape than fucking Orange County Angels of ORANGE COUNTY.

Walking the damn
dog ... (metaphorically)



Ok, so let's SUPPOSE there is real love ...



Clippers, Lakers AND Kings ... the support staff better be ready for those changes of surfaces (of course, are they UNION ... )

Let's Stroll, Diamond Style

The Stroll. Damn, I am old (ha ha).



Did this dance, but not at that time ... I was one of those youngsters that watched the older kids dance ...

I vote for couple #3

Cinco De Mayo History

Usually, I just put up some pictures of tequila, shot glasses, or margaritas and say "ole." But I found one really interesting article that I feel is a must read about the origins of Cinco de Mayo that even I was not aware of. Although, I was not stupid enough about Mexican culture to believe that this is Mexico's Independence Day (which is September 16, by the way), I was of the firm belief that this was more an American holiday, and an attempt to utilize alcohol (especially beer) and attract a more Mexican audience to the beer culture, which based on this article, is actually true.

What I didn't know: During the American Civil War, Mexicans had sided with the Union and not with the Confederates. Also, the French were attempting to invade and control Mexico, which had only had a democratic government for probably 30 some years. The battle at Puebla on the 5th of May (hence, Cinco de Mayo) was when a ragtag group of Mexicans were able to withstand the French army's attempt to take over Puebla. The Mexicans at that time that lived in the United States (mostly in California, and oddly enough, northwestern states such as Oregon) were reading everything they could about the French and their attempt to invade and control Mexico (albeit, in their time, they would be reading things in the newspapers that were probably two to three weeks after the fact), and were excited about the battle and win over the French at Puebla. And that is how the Cinco de Mayo tradition began in the United States. The Mexicans in America at that time would celebrate regularly the victory at Puebla. And, lo and behold, a century later, the beer industry got into the act and started sponsoring Cinco de Mayo events.

I don't begrudge ANYONE finding an opportunity to pop open a brew ... but I did find this information interesting.

Here's another piece that further elaborates on the holiday, and even quotes the link I provided above.

Enjoy some music!

Flaco Jimenez - She Stole My Accordion (ok, you may have to look up Flaco) ... as I have noted on numerous occasions, Flaco was THE accordion guy on many, many records we know but just had no clue there was even an accordion part in the song, let alone, know it was FLACO!!!

RIP MCA

Another sad loss. Gonna Fight For MY Right To Party.



Brass Monkey.

4 Dead In Ohio - 1970

John Filo's iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of Mary Ann Vecchio, a fourteen-year-old runaway, kneeling in anguish over the body of Jeffrey Miller minutes after he was shot by the Ohio National Guard. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

I've blogged a couple of times about this event, here and here.

As noted in my prior postings, this was a pivotal moment in my life. I was a senior in high school, and after that event, I remember arranging for the cake for our senior party, long flat one with a mound, where we put on plastic toy soldiers with guns, and then on the flat part, we had little plastic people placed face down and in other positions indicating having been "shot."

Ohio, CSNY

Junior Seau, RIP 5/2/12

“

He wasn't just a football player, he was so much more. He was loved by everyone in our family, our organization and throughout the NFL. This is just such a tragic loss. One of the worst things I could ever imagine. My prayers go out to Junior's family. It's heartbreaking.

” --Chargers president Dean Spanos

I am at a loss for words on this. Junior Seau was one of my favorite players of all time, but more so because he was a Charger, and being a fan since 1979 ...

I did find it interesting to read that Junior's death is the ninth eighth death of the only Charger team to play in the Super Bowl.

I just can't figure out if it really was suicide. The man was eternally happy and up. He had his foundation, he loved the San Diego area, and was truly loved by the fans and the locals. He was also not concussion prone in his career, so I feel we can rule that out.

Sad day for all of us that love football, the Chargers and Junior. RIP, bro.