Post Card from The SS Officeland (AKA The Titanic)

We were in a tizzy today in Officeland when a rumor ran rampant up and down the halls that the Great State of New Jersey's accounts have been frozen.

Say what?

The rumor has it that many of the services we provide will be unavailable until next fiscal year .

Yikes!

Nothing official yet, but many of the managerial staff looked to be in a state of panic as last minute meetings were being held, and rank and file drones were asked about how much money was being spent on various programs.

WTF?

I can not fathom that after years of spending like a drunken sailor, my department suddenly finds itself broke. Did no one see this coming until today?

Of course it's just a rumor ... then again, I see a big iceberg off in the distance.

Republicans and Other Swine

Wow, it's been a bad day for the Republican party!

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter defected from the ranks of the GOP and headed across the aisle to the Dems and well ... it's conceivable that this move may prevent Republican filibusters (provided that Al Franken is indeed certified as the new senator from Minnesota).

Of course, the Republicans are reacting with their usual grace and style.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said, "Senator Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record." (LINK HERE)

Meanwhile, the unofficial voice of the GOP, Rush Limbaugh said,"...Take McCain and his daughter with you". (LINK HERE)

Jeez what a bunch of sore losers these folks have become - come on guys, you had eight long years to prove your point, and you fucked it up!

Meanwhile, conservative talking heads are using the swine flu pandemic to fan the flames of hatred.

Michelle Malkin, Michael Savage, and the rest of their ilk are blaming the spread of the flu on Mexicans coming into America.

Of course, they are missing the fact that the first known cases of swine flu that popped up in New York, was brought into this country by students who had returned from Mexico after spring break! (LINK HERE).

Isn't that ironic? You see, it was not that man cutting grass in 90 degree weather spreading an illness; it was some fun-loving kids looking for a good time far from prying eyes who have become the new Typhoid Marys!

Oh well, if you need me, I'll be stocking up on face masks and penicillin.

We Interrupt This Blog To Bring This Special Announcement

Smiles all around today:

My kid sister got the word that her biopsy came back clean!

Outstanding news.

She still has to go through some other crap, but the ten thousand pound elephant in the room is now gone.

Carry on.

Stupid People's Rights

a classic with the late great, Gilda Radner

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

For Lazy Americans - The Slum Wow!

RIP Bea Arthur

Fave Foto Friday: Edie Beale in Concert Edition

Once Big Edie was dead and gone, Little Edie got to realize one of her fondest wishes and played at Reno Sweeney's in New York City. For several nights in early 1978, patrons were entertained by the wacky blue blood who preformed songs and answered questions from the audience ... the show ran for eight nights. This is the poster used for the show. I don't know about you, but would have loved to have seen this!

Oh, and according to Wikipedia, the New York Times had this to say about the show:"a public display of ineptitude"... still, I bet it was an incredible performance!

Update

Kid sister is home. She is a bit tired, but is in good spirits.

Biopsy results will not be had for a few more days.

Thanks to you all for the kind thoughts and wishes.

More later.

Sister # 2 News

An update: My youngest sister had her surgery today. For whatever reason, they removed all of her lymph node glands, and as such they will be keeping her over night in the hospital.

No other news than that for now.

Lohan Laughs Last

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

So Many Beans, So Little Time

Took this photo with my cell phone about an hour ago at the local monster super market ... I went in for a bag of coffee and just stood there going back and forth ... sometimes all of this choice is just overwhelming. I ended up taking out a small loan and bought a bag of Starbucks Gold Coast.

And such is the never-ending-thrill-ride that is my life ...

Paul McCartney Opens Coachella

Paul proves that Rock and Roll is timeless ... just ask Tina Turner!
About Paul McCartney
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Tea and Sympathy for Two: Grey Gardens

Tonight HBO is presenting Grey Gardens, a film based on a documentary of the same name ... here is my review of said documentary originally posted on August 11, 2005:

Imagine you were once part of the richest American families, considered even “royalty” by some. Imagine your mother was the toast of the Hamptons, and you yourself were celebrated for your looks as well as your writing abilities. Furthermore, imagine that you went to all the best schools, dined at the finest restaurants, and dated the most distinguished eligibles available. Imagine that your cousin was married to the most beloved president ever …

Now, imagine that all of that is taken away and all you are left with is your home and your mother.

Welcome to the world of “Little” Edie Beale who lives with her mother, “Big” Edie in the flea, cat and raccoon infested crumbling East Hampton mansion, Grey Gardens.

I had heard about the film, Grey Gardens for years but only just experienced it for the first time this week.

Released in 1975, Grey Gardens (co-directed by the Maysles Brothers – who’d done “Gimmie’ Shelter” a few years before hand), is a documentary about a mother and daughter living a somewhat Mrs. Havisham-like- existence in a crumbling estate that sits on a weed-choked yard in an otherwise upper-crust neighborhood.


Inside the rotting home is where the real story is. Upstairs, lying in her bed in a filthy bedroom littered with newspapers and a hotplate is “Big” Edie Beal, one time socialite and aunt of Jacqueline Onassis. It seems that in her younger days, Big Edie grew bored with the constraints of being a mother and hostess so she took a piano arranger in and started studying voice in hopes that she might someday perform on the stage in supper clubs and the like. Such things were just not done back in the day, and Big Edie’s husband promptly divorced his wife and left her. Somewhere along the way, Big Edie’s fortunes were squandered and all she was left with was her home and her memories and her daughter, “Little” Edie.

How to describe Little Edie? Imagine Norma Desmond and Baby Jane Hudson by way of an aging Park Avenue debutant – yeah, that’s about it.

We first meet Little Edie in the yard of Grey Gardens, and frankly it’s a shocking introduction; here is this oval faced woman filling the screen, her head wrapped in what appears to be a sweater held to her head with a dragon-fly broach. But wait! The camera pans down and we see that Little Edie is explaining her ensemble as her “combat outfit”, for some reason her skirt is on upside down and held together with safety pins!

This couture moment of Little Edie’s is the first of many. We see her in form fitting bathing suits, scarves, insanely thrown together pant suits and revealing halter tops. The one constant in Little Edie’s wardrobe, though is a head covering. It might be a turban, or table cloth or even a bath towel (you’ll notice this one as soon as you see it), but her head is always covered. It appears that she is bald and it is never explained why – it’s also obvious that she has no eyebrows (when out of makeup, Little Edie’s face is like a blank canvas).

Unique clothing aside, It is also apparent that Little Edie’s elevator may not be making it to the top floor. Yes, it seems that the woman is mentally ill – (in one memorial scene, she describes herself as a “Staunch character”). One wonders if in her halcyon days was she known as “eccentric”.

If Little Edie is a nut-case, then Big Edie is also crazy; like a fox. It is evident from the get go that the little old lady who remains in her bed for most of this film, is running the show. She knows the buttons to push to get her daughter to act out or be subservient, she even flirts with a very young handyman as well as the film makers (actually, it is obvious that both of these women are desperate for some affection and they both seem to be competing for the eyes of every man who come into their lives). It should also be noted that Big Edie does not seem shy. In more than one scene, the old gal is shown in various stages of undress.

It’s also interesting to note than whenever Little Edie is away from her mother, especially when the camera is on her, mother can be heard calling for her, “Edie, yoo-hoo, come here, I need yoooou!”


This bizarre documentary (which is NOT for everybody) is complete with odd highlights including:

* Little Edie’s melt-down when the interviewer asks what men have supported her mother.

* Big Edie’s version of “Tea for Two”, sung from her bed to a scratchy recording that may or may not be her own voice from when she was much younger.

* Little Edie and the hippie/handyman guy putting kerosene on themselves as a tick deterrent.
* Big Edie’s birthday party and the subsequent “dinner party”.

* Watching Little Edie set out a loaf of Wonder Bread and dump a box of cat food on the attic floor to feed the many raccoons that now live in the attic; and during this she obsesses over a book found in the attic and wants to know “who” took it out of her room and put it there!

* Listening to Big Edie compliment and flirt with the hippie/handyman by telling him that his face is as beautiful as her late mother’s.

* Marveling over Little Edie’s big dance number to the Virginia Military Institute’s Marching song.

Make no mistake, Grey Gardens is not a film for the casual viewer. It demands full and undivided attention, you’ll either hate it or love it. If, however, should you give in to it’s disturbingly seductive spell, you will find your self in a state of awe seeing how the other half experiences it’s ongoing deconstruction all the while acting out some psychodrama that one understands continued long after the film crew wrapped things up and went home. For some reason, I felt sympathy for these two women as I watched the gothic goings on.


Grey Gardens: you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.

Happy 107th, Magnolia

Pax takes Magnolia out for a shopping spree at Wanamakers for her big day. The blushing birthday gal picked out an ermine coat, a complete set of Louis Vuitton luggage, and a new tiara. Later on Mr. Romano and Mrs Thunderpussy took a train to New York City and had lunch at The Stork Club.

Susan Boyle VIDEO: Britain's Singing YouTube Sensation

Outstanding! I love this woman!!!
About YouTube
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Tuesday Night Sing A Long

RIP Marilyn Chambers

Marilyn Chambers, the porn actress who shot to notoriety back in the day when it was revealed that she was the cover model on the Ivory Snow box has died. She was 57.

Chambers made the most of her fame by managing to appear in several mainstream films including David Cronenberg's over-the-top yarn, Rabid.

Her porn stardom started in earnest when she appeared in 1972's Behind The Green Door, a film that garnered a lot of attention from the mainstream press.

Like her male counterpart, Jack Wrangler (who died last week), Chambers never apologized for, or denied her porn past ... as a matter of fact, she continued working in the business up into the late 90's.

STORY HERE.

Life Beyond Thunderdome ...

Noted Anti-Semite, homophobe, philanderer, drunk, religious fanatic and sometime director and actor, Mel Gibson is divorcing his wife of 28 years ... well, actually, Mrs. Gibson (Robyn) filed.

My question: what took her so long to come to her senses?

Story HERE

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny Hates You!!

Fave Foto Friday (Dead Icon Edition)

This is probably my favorite photograph of gay porn, superstar, Jack Wrangler as it captured his on-screen essence completely. If you don't know who Mr. Wrangler was, that's OK. He was known to a select group of folks - mainly gay men of a certain age, as well as theater lovers.

Born John Stillman, he was the son of a showbiz couple and had early aspirations of following in his parent's footsteps. Through a series of misadventures, Stillman found his way into gay porn in the very early 70's and managed to carve out a rather successful career playing the macho, fun loving, sex crazed all American Guy.

Besides dirty movies, Wrangler also did live shows. It was during one of these performances in New York City, he met singer, Margret Whiting (who was twenty some years his senior). Reportedly when he told Whiting that he was gay, she replied, "Only around the edges, dear". Be that as it may, the couple married in the early 90's and remained together until his death.

Wrangler continued making blue moves through out the 70's and 80's, and finished up his Boogie Nights by making several straight porn films. When he retired from the business, he became active in the theater, penning musicals and stage productions.

All in all, Jack Wrangler led an extraordinary life by any standards.

He was 63 when he died on Tuesday of this week.

***

Meanwhile, Mags checks in with her new hair-do for the Easter parade.

Haunted Officeland

at first glance, the hallway at officeland seems normal ...

...and then you see this!

Today Some Of Us Took Our Heads Out Of The Sand

Officeland USA: Dozens of New Jersey State Employee's gathered today to protest the mandatory furloughs, and temporary layoffs imposed by the current administration.

Infuriated by a Governor who will not listen, and a misinformed populace that seems to believe that most civil servants drive BMW's and bathe in gold plated tubs while being attended by personal assistants, the rank and file braved the cold weather to bring their message to the masses.

Led by a radical shop steward, the throng chanted, yelled, and raised their fists in anger. Happily, they were supported by many motorists who passed their rally and tooted their automobiles horns in support. Several police cars honked in approval as well!

All in all, it was a cathartic and morale boosting experience for all who attended - though unfortunately, quite a few other Officeland drones, chose to just go to lunch and pretend that all was well ... sort of like ostriches burying their heads in the sand.

Cell Phone Photo

Shot this from my cell phone on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. Yes, that's the underside of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Oh This is Ironic, Don't You Think

Here's a couple of quotes concerning the ass hat who shot and injured police in Pittsburgh

One friend, Edward Perkovic, said the gunman feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon." Another longtime friend, Aaron Vire, said he feared that President Obama was going to take away his rights, though he said he "wasn't violently against Obama."

And there you have it ... if it was not so sad, you might have to laugh...

LINK

Guns Don't Kill People; Sick Fucks Who Can Easily Obtain Guns Kill People

Four police officers were shot in Pittsburgh today while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Meanwhile, 13 dead in shooting rampage in Binghamton New York.

Go ahead, tell me again why guns are so easy to get, and why we don't need stronger regulations concerning them ... I mean, they can outlaw smoking in bars, but they can't outlaw guns in public - what's up with that?

Sheesh...

Fave Foto Friday

Mags sent this one, and I think it's extremely appropriate what with the state of the world's economy these days...