To Sir, with Love
 

Don't forget your original post.

Bummer
 

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ife_lottery_dc

(Spree: Man wins lottery, must forfeit winnings after jury determines ticket was bought with drug sale proceeds)

Webbys
 

The webbys came out: http://www.webbyawards.com/main/webb.../nominees.html

I always like their "weird" category.

To Madame, with Lust
 

Is this some kind of veiled sexual double entendre?!? robusto-pussy, do you have a savior fetish?!?!

I thought the cybersexing days of this board were a thing of the past, but if you are suggesting what I think you are suggesting I may have to go back and reread some of Lester's old messages to see how one of these deals is sealed. That and lay into a few dozen bottles of cheap booze.

Jesus (that's the Son of God to you!) Just left Chicago

Hot for Teacher
 

Will you be workin' from one end to the other and all points in between?

Oh Cum All Ye Faithful
 

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh you all the way. And back again.

Taking Care of Business Is His Name
 

Sounds promising. And no worries about calling out the wrong name.

Unfair forfeiture ruling combined with abject stupidity
 

I can't believe that this guy collects $5.5 million in the lottery and THREE DAYS LATER gets busted for selling coke.

Of course, maybe he's one of those guys who was determined to keep it real and not let his new wealth change him one bit.

"I'm thrilled and blessed and thankful to have won the lottery. I might pay down some debts, buy my parents a new house, but I'm still the same old me. It's not like I'm about to quit my job. You'll still be able to find me where I've always been, selling coke out of the back of my uncle's ice house."

That said, I think it's wrong that lottery winnings are forfietable. I see the gov'ts argument -- if cars bought with drug monies are forfeited, then lottery tickets, win or lose, get forfeited too. I think there's a distinction in kind, but I can see both sides. I can't believe that this guy lost on the key factual issue -- how did the government prove beyond a reasonable doubt (it is a criminal standard, right, for forfeitures?) that the winning ticket was bought with drug money? That seems impossible. It seems impossible on a preponderance of the evidence standard. Maybe it's just that some Texas juries don't feel awful friendly towards convicted coke-peddlers. Still, this one leaves a bad taste in my mouth from a fairness perspective.

Unfair forfeiture ruling combined with abject stupidity
 

I don't know the law on forfeiture, but I don't think it's as high a standard as criminal. That's why the gov't likes it--because it's easier to take away the money than lock the guy up.

One reason to pursue lottery tickets is they've long been used as a method of money laundering. There was a case in Boston a number of years ago about one of the noted crime leaders (maybe Whitey Bulger) winning a significant prize on a scratcher ticket. The suspicion was that he had a bunch of his folks buy tons of scratcher tickets and then collect the small prizes, which are then "clean" money. Even though the gov't takes a 50% haircut, 50% clean is better than 100% dirty, I guess. Being Boston, no one tried to prosecute; of course, he fled to parts unknown before anyone could (thanks FBI informants!).

Don't Deny Me
 

Truly I say to you that on any night of your choosing, before my cock crows, you shall cry Jesus three times!

Brigadoon
 

Good to see you, old sot. How've you been?

Hot for Teacher
 

Slut.

Tax(it's over between us)wonk

FB Book Club
 

I've closed the thread Leagl opened to solicit submissions for our Amazon affiliaton. This main thread continues to be the place to discuss books, etc.

To prove that I mean it, I am currently reading two wonderful books I highly recommend:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Booker Prize winner, now in paperback)
NYT review: http://query.nytimes.com/search/full...54C0A9649C8B63

The Portrait of Dr. Gachet: the Story of a van Gogh Masterpiece, Money, Politics, Collectors, Greed and Loss by Cynthia Saltzman
NYT Review: http://query.nytimes.com/search/full...57C0A96E958260

Timing is everything
 

Buying - yes.

Selling - no, that is definitely odd.

not7yS

Hot for Teacher
 

Jesus Christ, those are the lyrics to the damned song!

Er, I mean, Wonk, oh, Wonk, those are the lyrics to the damned song!

R(but Wonk, where will I go, what will I do?)P

Concert Review - The New Pornographers
 

I saw the New Pornographers at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco (my favorite place to see live music.) The two opening acts were forgettable, so I chatted with a couple of the bartenders and watched the Ducks lose the Cup. Cinerama did prove that the shoegazer revival is alive and well, but that Americans still could care less.

There were a couple of technical glitches early in the show, and for some reason the lighting cast a shadow on the lovely Neko Case for most of the evening. During one of the pauses, Carl asked for requests, then dissected the requests. "Why did you ask for a Beach Boys' song? Yes, they are one of our influences. We're into songs about sunshine and girls in bikinis. We're also into songs about girls in bikinis who are now in cutoffs because they've let themselves go." After the break, they resumed playing songs off their own albums instead of any of the requests. What's more, after the show, someone up front asked for the set list, which was apparently someone else's set list. I don't mean that they left the opening band's set list out for their show. The lead singer brought out a set list and put in down in front of him for the duration of the show, but it didn't have any of the songs they played.

Kurt Dahle is the drummer for The New Pornographers, as well as Limblifter and Age of Electric. Why is he in three different bands? Because he's a kick-ass drummer, that's why.

Thanks to str8's heads-up, I got autographs from Carl and Blaine at the merch table when I arrived. Turns out these boards are still useful after all.

I preferred Neko Case's recent solo concert to this one, but these guys are definitely worth seeing.

Old Broadway
 

What to see:

1. Urinetown
2. Gypsy

What not to see:

Rent

So, last night I go see Gypsy. Not bad. Bernadette Peters was worth the price of admission. The rest of the cast was exceedingly blah. I'm guessing they pay Bernadette so much that they can't afford real talent for the supporting cast. This is too bad because (rave reviews notwithstanding) she would have been brilliant if she had some talent to play off of.

And this brings me to my next point. It seems that all it takes for the sheep from out of town who attend these Broadway shows, as their only exposure to culture, is a good review to bring them to a roaring, standing ovation. Standing ovations don't mean a damn thing anymore. In fact, if I were producing a Broadway show, I would simply reserve the first three rows of every show for idiot out-of-towners or the blue-haired bitties club to ensure a standing ovation (not once, but twice during the show including) for the finale. I enjoyed Bernadette Peters, but she did not deserve a standing o.

Which brings me to my next point. Rent sucks. What a load of crap-covered-wool pulled over everyone's eyes that musical was. Best Musical? Are you kidding? Has Broadway so thoroughly sucked whatever year(s) it won that this talentless cast can win Best musical? It was absolutely painful. The lead (Rick, I think) couldn't sing. No wonder so many talentless losers make it on AI. What's her name from AI was in it too (the fat one that showed her breasticles for cash on the internet). She can sing. But she's so big she can't move. Nell Carter could move. She was big. Clearly I digress.

Which doesn't really bring me to my next point. The Tonys must be a scam. They must just try to spread as many awards out over as many shows as they can, so every show can advertise: "Winner of 5 Tonys, including Best Musical, 199_!"

Urinetown, on the other hand was great. Very funny. Didn't take itself seriously. If you're coming into town and want to see a show, don't be suckered into seeing the crap, go see urinetown.

Which definitely doesn't bring me to my next point. Seen at Gypsy last night:

ER/Newsradio/Liar Liar star, Maura Tierney http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo...somniapre2.jpg

and

Soon to be two-time-world-champ, Tim Duncan http://www.bballone.com/timd/images/duncan44.jpg

Which brings me to my next point. How pissed would you be if you got primo orchestra seats to the hottest show on Broadway only to find that you had some 7 footer sitting directly in front of you?

Thurgreed(they weren't together)Marshall

Timing is everything
 

Fire Sale! Everything Must Go! Going Out of Business FOREVER!!!

Old Broadway
 

I saw Urinetown despite being completely grossed out by the title and story (ah, the power of friendship!) and had a blast (despite lingering squeamishness). Plus, terrific cast, tongue-in-cheek production, wily ending. Don't see much on Broadway as prices rarely justify the experience but this was worth it.

P(last time I'll ever agree with TM on anything I'm sure)J

for love or money
 

Anyone else catch it last night? The only thing funnier than the fact that the bachelor they picked is a lecherous doofus is that the women are so incredibly catty over the $$. Brilliant reality tv.

n(and check out The Smoking Gun for Rob Campos' JAG dismissal history for unwanted groping)cs

The Wedding Video
 

I've heard this is funny...

A parody of The Real World written and directed by Norman Korpi, a cast member from the first season of the show, is on DVD today. The Wedding Video follows co-writer and director Clint Cowen's efforts to document Norman's fictional wedding, which is attended by Norman's friends, many of whom aren't even aware he's getting married to a man. The cast features nine other former Real World cast members who play themselves, or parodies of themselves, as they never mention the show. But they play up their personas and mock themselves and the show at the same time.

for love or money
 

I did, and when he was apologizing for treating them like whores who existed only to serve him, and they were eating it up, I was laughing my head off.

He's perfect. What a jackass. And what morons they are.

for love or money
 

I know I said this about "Joe $$$$" but now I believe For Love or Groping is the best reality show ever.

They have a bona fide masher as the bachelor and a 21 yo promise-ring-to-myself-as-a-reminder-of-my promise-of-celibacy whispering at the first opportunity "you can go as far as you want with me."

That's right, a certified groper and actual whores pretending to like a guy so they can get the money!

Television doesn 't get any better than this -- except for my two favorite reality shows, Surf Girls (with poor Kula stuck inside with the chicken pox and people really never getting eliminated) and American Choppers (father and son battling weekly over the construction of badass motorcycles).

for love or money
 

I tuned in due to pure couch atrophy and the curiousity of seeing what this guy had to apologize for as the commercials kept reminding us over and over again. I didnt see it last week.

SPOILER













This guy went from hot to not in record time. He really needs to just shut up. As if the "put your ass in my face like I am Rimjob" cowboy boot thing wasnt offensive enough, or the attempt to have an elevensome in the hot tub (I doubt even Slave with half the FB could pull that feat off- waiting your turn for a kiss just isnt that hot, even in a hot tub), his lame, the-producers-made-me-apologize-though-I-had-no-idea-I-did-anything-wrong-so-I-will-attempt-to-appeal-to-your-female-"aw he cant commit but at least he can admit it which is the first step so maybe I can save the hunk afterall bc I am special"-id was just over the top. SUrely these gals with the exception of that stupid little Paige, aint buyihg it- but are just saying they are bc 1) the producers said so and 2) they want to stick around for the cash.

I dont agree that the gals are being catty- actually the sheer prickitude of this misogynistic boy-man seems to have forged a bond amongst these amazing ladies.

What I like about this show is
1) the chicks are not bims
2) the guy is
3) the producers are at least doing somewhat more honest editing= we know we arent being set up for an "I love you so much in like two weeks even though I told someone else yeserday I was falling for them" bullshit marriage proposal. The guy is here for sex, television and fabulous free dates. I find the honesty refreshing
and 4) it is the guy who will suffer the public humiliation. And man does he deserve it. I just hope nobody bangs him. THis guy deserves a big ol set of blueballs, if indeed they exist.

And TM, that black chick was no hootch. Beautiful. Probably the prettiest there.

And whats the appeal of that circlehead Kelly? I see neither prettiness or that indefinable hotness. Maybe she just seems the easiest?

This is good shit. I will tune in next week.

for love or money
 

That woman, Stacey, was so impossibly hot I was disappointed he ousted her. Except she was clearly not feeling him or the money enough to fake her way through.

for love or money
 

Normally a woman says a man knew he couldn't handle them I think wow, what an ego. This woman was right, no way he could have handled her.

for love or money
 

A Washington Post Magazine writer auditioned for the show, and wrote an article about it (she missed the final cut).

for love or money
 

I'm sorry I missed her. She looks good in her picture, though.

http://www.nbc.com/nbc/For_Love_or_M...stacey_bio.jpg

TM

for love or money
 

Was this the audition in Falls Church like two months ago that I thought about doing? Fuck, I coud have won a million bucks. They jsut said looking for professionals (not hooker professionals) from 27 to 34. But you guys said there was a 21 yo on there? WHich one?

for love or money
 

Paige, also known as "He's soooo dreamy."

Old Broadway
 

She hasn't been getting rave reviews at all - everyone has been clamoring that she's too weak for the role, and that she's nearly exhausted by the end. She's already missed several shows for being "sick".

They were PRAYING she'd win the Tony to give the show some legs [she didn't] because the show costs something like a 1/2 million a week in production costs, and already, 1/2 the tickets are being sold for 1/2 price at TKTS.

That being said, although I loathe Broadway I'm tempted to see this one to see how my friends and the critics can be so far apart on this one.

My Rec - Go see La Boheme.

not7y("sucks" is too good for Rent)S

for love or money
 

I couldn't tell from the clips they had of her whether or not she had any personality though. She is clearly gorgeous and she exudes confidence. Just not sure if she has any substance.

n(which is better than Kelly, who I AM sure has no substance)cs

Old Broadway
 

The last time I was at the Met, at the end a bunch of tourists rose to their feet and someone yelled "sit down, this isn't Hairspray". Which was decidedly un-Met-like behavior, but made me laugh.

for love or money
 

She seemed quite neat.

for love or money
 

Neat, aside from the mustache. Am I the only one who sees that? Maybe it's a shadow.

Art Cooper, GQ editor, dies
 

This is the FB, so it seems appropriate to note his passing here. The man had an interesting career; he was an editor at both Penthouse and Family Weekly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Jun9.html

Old Broadway
 

I read a Times review that was more than generous before buying tickets. I think after early preview showings, critics panned her, but after last month's opening, they reversed course. Hell, even the latest article about the lack of Tony success says the show will do fine.

"Despite the direction of Sam Mendes, a darling of the theater because of his production of "Cabaret"; despite the star power of Bernadette Peters in one of the greatest roles ever written for the musical theater; despite many reviews that proclaimed Ms. Peters's performance a psychologically nuanced revelation, Ms. Peters and the rest of this revival left Radio City Music Hall empty-handed after the Tony Awards Sunday night.

Although the show suffered from bad buzz before it opened, many critics agreed that the final result was a pleasant surprise. In part the show was hampered by Ms. Peters's absences because of illness; The New York Post suggested that she had shown up to perform selectively: for critics and Tony voters. The suspicions created some ill will along Broadway.

But many theater veterans predicted that the awards would not affect the show's sales. They also said that Ms. Peters's performance during the Tonys of the showstopper "Rose's Turn" — which brought the audience leaping to its feet — would sell tickets by itself. In addition Sunday night's award for best actress in a musical was a way to reward a newcomer, Marissa Jaret Winokur of "Hairspray." Ms. Peters has already won two Tonys.

"Gypsy" started with an advance of $7 million. For the week that ended June 8 it had a gross of $816,907; "Nine," by comparison, brought in $644,377."

(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/10/ar...er/10TONY.html)

And I don't know how production costs could be as high as you say unless they're paying Bernadette a million dollars a month. The set is sparse and the rest of the cast is subpar.

Other reviews:

http://www.curtainup.com/gypsyny.html

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater...01-gypsy_x.htm [Flawless 'Gypsy' sparkles under Mendes' hand]

TM

Poll...
 

"It's human nature to want to be famous, even if it's short-lived, and reality shows make it so much easier these days. "

The reality article notes above that it is our nature to want to be famous.

I think that is an interesting statement. I have no wish to be famous at all. I hate being on camera, can't stand when it is forced on me, and never really feel the need to have all eyes on me when I walk in a room.

All the more irritating because I am on camera all the time, which I repeat I cannot stand, and frequently speaking in front of large groups, which is fine but hardly fame inducing.

Do you want to be famous? Why or why not?

I don't want to be famous, I don't need the grief that seems to come along with it in our society. It is too much to pay, too much loss of privacy, too much of people disecting your life.

Just not for me.

for love or money
 

She didn't have one on the show, so it is probably just a bad picture with a shadow.