Really? Long Wharf, too?

OK, I don't live in Boston, and God knows Revere has its own problems to deal with, but the idea of privatizing Long Wharf really pisses me off. Hopefully some sanity and involved neighbors will win the day and save the space.

The space works so well precisely because it's a quiet spot on an otherwise bustling waterfront. That's not to say no one ever goes there; on the contrary, there are usually a score of people milling about along the wharf or sitting on the massive granite slabs, leaning against the thick black chains, looking down at the water and talking with whoever is there with them.

And they are talking quietly. Because you can talk quietly at Long Wharf. You can sit and chat like adults. Or you can sit silently and watch the boats coming in and out of the nearby piers. Or the planes taking off and landing across the way at Logan. Or hear the faint sound of music coming from the Bank of America Pavilion (nee FletBoston Pavilion, nee Harborlights). It's one of the most mellow spots in Boston, and can really calm your nerves after a busy day.

At what point exactly did we decide that the urban oasis is no longer necessary? Why must every space be programmed to death? The space is well designed, quiet, and put to good use by residents and visitors alike. What exactly is the BRA trying to fix by adding a restaurant to the site?

Oh, and by the way, Chart House is a restaurant that's already on Long Wharf. And Tia's, Sel de la Terre, and Legal Sea Foods are at less than a block away. The North End and its dozens and dozens of eateries are about a quarter-mile away. Faneuil Hall is across the street, for chrissakes, as are the pubs and restaurants on State Street. How many more places do we need to eat in this square mile of city?

(h/t: Universal Hub and Kevin McCrea)

Wall Street Pulled Off the Lufthansa Heist

They made a movie to help explain Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's plan to save the banks! Why do what worked in Sweden and most other failing bank systems when you can just back up the trucks and load up the cash?


Starring:
Robert DeNiro as Tim Geithner
Johnny Roast Beef as AIG, and his wife's pink Cadillac as his retention bonus
Frankie Carbone as Merrill Lynch, and his wife's fur coat as his performance bonus
Ray Liotta as Citibank
Joe Pesci as Rahm Emanuel
Morrie the Wig Man as GM
Lufthansa Airlines as the American taxpayer

Someone in This Picture Hates the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Can you guess who it is?

Of course, this is not to be confused with hating Prince House of Pizza on Route 1. Because nobody hates Prince House of Pizza.

Give It Up For the Geeks at MIT

Them kids don't quit. Check this out:



The professor keeps comparing the tech to Minority Report, but it's actually cooler than that: What they presented doesn't require screens at all, unlike the gesture-based UI in the movie:

That F***ing Superman Guy

Lex Luthor needs a bailout. I think you may know why:

"Lex Luthor Bailout" with Jon Hamm - watch more funny videos

Why's It Always Revere?

I was reading Universal Hub tonight, and I saw this headline:

Big Beef at Kelly's

First, I thought, "Shit, what happened at Kelly's? Dammit, why does dumb shit always happen in Revere?"

Then I read Adam's post, which makes clear that this was the Kelly's in Medford, and i thought "Alright, dodged a bullet. Go Medford thugs!"

Next, I went to read the actual article at Wicked Local Medford, and it's this hilarious (because it wasn't me) story about some guys hitting on the drive-thru window girl and her boyfriend and his pals taking offense. Oh, and beating the flirty guy with sticks. And I think "Wow, thank God this wasn't in Revere. I'd never hear the end of it from my friends."

Finally, I read the final graf of the story:

The men described the original suspect, who was later identified as Ilir Sinaj, 23, of 139 Sigourney St., Revere. He was arrested and charged with three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

And I thought, "Dammit, dammit dammit!"

Next Stop: Rejection

A friend of mine, a dashing young lady who lives and works in Boston, was heading to work on the Green Line this morning when a lad decided to chat her up. She decided to turn his efforts into a teaching moment. Here’s what happened, in her own words:

Comely Friend of Under The Sink: I was on the T and a young dude in a suit was like, "What do your tattoos mean?"

11:35 AM

So I explained: Mother and father, and he asked, “Why in Arabic?” So I told him I was part Lebanese and he made some comment of how he cannot tan and he is not as golden as me, even in summer.

11:36 AM

So I laughed, and he was like, “Where do you work?” I told him, and he just went “Ah, [place where she works],” and asked if I did SQL work at all

11:37 AM

So I said yes, and he asked where I was from. And I said "I have a boyfriend, you know," and he was like, “Where's your ring?!”

11:38 AM

Under The Sink: He asked if you did SQL work???

Is he a stalker or did you have a SQL book out or something?

Comely Friend of Under The Sink: …and I laughed and said, “No ring!” And he laughed and said, "I wouldn't have started talking to you if you had one!" LOL

11:39 AM

[About the SQL stuff] No, he asked more about the database work I do.

11:40 AM

So he asked, “How'd you meet your bf, and I explained and mentioned [Boyfriend of Comely Friend of Under The Sink] was younger because we were talking about school, and he's like, “Whoa! I thought you were 25,” and then he said, “Wait how did your bf score a girl like you!?” And I said, "See what you're doing there, any girl would like to hear a compliment like that! That's nice."

11:41 AM

"You make good conversation. Focus on that, but don't come on too strong."

Under The Sink: LOLOL

11:42 AM

Comely Friend of Under The Sink: And I mentioned, "It's nice that you asked about work and stuff instead of just making fluffy convo!"

  And I said, "And you gotta ask right away if a girl has a boyfriend. Don't set yourself up for false advertising."

11:43 AM Then he was like, "Do you have any single friends like you!?!??"

  and I said no, sorry, but keep talking to girls on the T!

  It was a nice conversation!

So there you have it, a good-looking woman tells you what to do when flirting on the T:

1. You have a small window of time when flirting on the T. Make the time count!
   
2. Pay the lady a compliment!
   
3. Avoid fluffy conversation that doesn’t mean anything to anyone.
   
4. Ask her about work!
   
5. Ask if she has a boyfriend!
   
6. Don’t come on too strong!
   

Who knew there were this many rules?

The whole thing was eerily like making a cold call in sales. Our Comely Friend is like Giovanni Ribisi in Boiler Room:

In Defense of Rush

A Salon Blogger gives an excellent defense of Rush against the hordes mounting against him. Perhaps we have been too rash...

(h/t: James)

Pwned!

OK, this is the last time Rick Santelli comes up around here, but I had to post this: Jon Stewart destroys the clown in eight short minutes:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Stuck in My Head: Don't Tell Me You Love Me (Really)

Night Ranger |MTV Music

OK, this is stuck in my had in the literal sense: It's been rattling up there all morning. I was never a huge Night Ranger fan, although I do love "Sister Christian" like all 80's metalheads and Boogie Nights fans should.*

Anyway, the video is filled with unintentional comedy, so it's worth a gander. There's also a legitimately cool trick with a balloon, birthday cake, and slo-mo camera during the guitar solo on the old timey train. That's some music video magic.

*A big "Fuck You" to Universal group for disabling the embedding feature for their YouTube videos. MtvMusic didn't have the Sister Christian video, and I can't embed it here because Universal is a-scared of the Interwebz.

UPDATE: Here's the Sister Christian scene from Boogie Nights. I include it because 1) It rules, 2) Fuck You, Universal. Fair Use is a bitch, and 3) There's bonus Rick Springfield!

Rick Santelli: Runt Bitch

You know things are tough when Matt Lauer of all people takes you down, hard, on national television. Rick Santelli called millions of people facing homlessness "losers," but apparently is afraid Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is going to break his legs or something. Please.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Let this be a lesson to everyone: Don't be this guy.

(h/t: Ta-Nahishi Coates, who is a must-read for anyone interested in the crossroads between culture and politics)

Teh Internetz has Spoken

Bobby Jindal is Kenneth the Page:



(h/t: debateporridge, via Dailykos)

It's Not Your Fault, Rick Santelli. It's Not Your Fault.

Matt Yglesias nails the fundamental issue in the housing crisis:

When someone applies for a mortgage, there are two parties to the transaction. On one side of it is a teacher or a blogger or an electrician or a lawyer or a nurse or a guy who manages a Home Depot. On the side is a guy who, for a living, as a professional, works in the “deciding on what terms to offer people mortgages” business who works, for a living, at a financial services business.

Be sure to read Matt's entire post. The Rick Santelli revolt is based in such bullshit. The idea that home buyers were the principal bad actors in this crisis makes zero sense for the reason outlined above. If I go to buy a house, and the person who's lending me the money says I can afford it, and that even if it's tight, not to worry because, in his professional opinion, the home value will definitely go up, and I base my purchase on that professional advice, how is this my fault? The alternative is to have everyone major in economics before purchasing a house.

The answer, of course, is that the brokerage firms knew they were going to sell off the mortgages they signed, so the impetus to avoid unnecessary risk just wasn't there. To blame people who reasonably believed no one would lend them money if they couldn't afford it is designed to kick up enough dirt and sand so the real culprits can sneak away.

What Rick Santelli and the rest of the thieves who created this mess want is for you to subsidize them, their banks, their companies instead of the "loser mortgages." Watching that clip of him whipping up the Chicago Exchange traders was like watching Knute Rockne give Murder Inc. a pep talk. Just total garbage.

But maybe I'm just being mean, and what Rick Santelli needs is a good, long hug and pat on the back. Because who wouldn't want the Good WIll Hunting treatment:



(h/t Pete for the Matt Y link)

It's Like Ed Grimley and the Superfans Had a Baby

Via Adam Gaffin, via Adam Pieniazek, now comes a challenger for Gino's crown: A young turk named Jeremy Fry, who goes completely apeshit during "Livin on a Prayer."



Celtics Fandome has the feed from the jumbotron, although Adam P's version, above, is more enjoyable because the New Garden was going bonkers watching this guy.

UPDTAE: I realized that most people who read this blog may not be young enough to remember Ed Grimley. So, to avoid another debacle like The Great H.R. Pufnstuf Disaster of 2007, here's the man who could well be little jeremy Fry's father:

Stuck In My Head: Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth |MTV Music

See this video? It came out around 1994, and I remember seeing it and thinking "I've got to listen to some Sonic Youth, this is pretty good." I asked my friend to lend me some Sonic Youth tapes so I could give it a whirl. She said sure. But I never got the tapes from her.

Every few months, or maybe a every year, I'd ask again "Hey, could I borrow some Sonic Youth from you?" And she'd always say "Sure," and would never follow up. It was just a thing that kept happening. We started dating, then we broke up, and became frenemies, then reconciled and became good friends for years and years. All the while, I'd ask for some Sonic Youth, and she'd agree and never follow up.

Finally last month she sent me a couple of albums, and I haven't stopped listening since. Kinda worth the 15-year wait, I think.

Revere Journal to Youth: Drop Dead

Youth prevention program? Do they mean condom distribution in the high school? But the high school kids are also considered "youth," so maybe they want a new law requiring residents be born at age 18? Only in Revere would moms be expected to gestate their kids for 225 months. The birth certificate could double triple as selective service registration and FAFSA application.

Hey, it's not like I'm against preventing youth! It's such a hard word to say, anyway:

Whole Lotta love

One day, YouTube will be either gone or filled with slick, production-heavy videos. That will be a sad day, because things like this won't be around. Holy cow, this is awesome...



(h/t: Ta-Nehisi Coates)

Good Luck Adam!

Adam Gaffin, lord and ruler of the awesome Universal Hub, lost his day job today. Here's to hoping for a quick change in fortune. There's a grassroots effort on his site right now to create UH t-shirts. Buy one.

And let me add my voice to the chorus: The Boston Globe needs to hire Gaffin right away.

Walking on Ice: A Boston Globe Investigation

Thank God for the Boston Globe. If it weren't for the newspaper, I, a native-born new Englander, would have no idea how to walk around in the winter.

Remember, kids: Ice can be what physicists call "slippery." When you encounter this slippery surface, you can't run over like you're trying to steal second base! Silly person! Why would you try to do that?

Instead, you must befriend a three-foot tall penguin. He will guide you through the treacherous passes of black ice like a Sherpa guide leading climbers up Everest. It's all depicted in this Globe graphic, which was helpfully added to the incredibly important Page 1 news story:

I suspect you could find a web-footed Tenzing Norgay somewhere in the New England Aquarium but they, you know, frown on people waltzing in and making better offers to their star attractions. Best to do this at night. Leave a salary proposal tucked into the mouth of a Perch and pray to God the penguin reads the note before it gets hungry. Otherwise, stay inside until the ice thaws and the Globe tells you what to do when the big yellow fireball in the sky makes the ice go away.

If only the Aquarium still ran it's penguin-walking bootcamp from back in our youth:

Introducing Popcorn Brothers

So I mentioned this in passing last week, but today I have an announcement: My buddy Joe and I have started Popcorn Brothers, a blog about the movies. We plan to include a bunch of features over time, including Joe's running list of every movie he sees this year, reviews of newly released films, true tales of horror from modern movie houses, trailer reports, a couple of side projects, and perhaps even a video podcast sometime down the line (more on that another time).

We already have a few reviews up, and more are on the way. Check in as often as you like; My goal is to have new content there every day. Too lazy to type in the adress? No problem. You can also sign up for our RSS feed and have Popcorn Brothers delivered to your Google Reader, Bloglines, or whatever service you use.

It's a work in progress, but we're both excited about the prospects. Joe's busy developing a logo for the site, and we'll probably scrap the default look once that's done. The goal is to have a little fun with America's most commercial artistic endeavor. Please comment away and let us knwo what you think aboutspecific movies and anything else you'd like to talk about. We'd love to hear from you.