Letters (Delivered to the On the Street Penthouse Suite via the Ether, Pigeons, and All Methods In between)
#1.
An On the Street long time reader with close ties to Brazilian street grappling the medical field (someone we will now obliquely refer to as Homes) sent this astounding clip. As with many of the messages sent to the Penthouse Suite, humor is mixed with sadness. The clip has the feel of Old World vaudeville, or perhaps I am simply projecting that onto the clip because it is from the far reaches of Europe, and of course, who doesn't love the idea of vaudeville.
At one point I thought it was a lost Roberto Benigni/Jim Jarmusch clip, which ultimately only reinforces my point.
Observe...
The host's reaction is so completely wrong and inappropriate it can only be considered human. The last 15 seconds of silence bring unexpected pathos.
#2.
Congressman Al sent these clips in at various times during the week. Given that his dedication to On the Street does not waver by being in another state, it is only fair if we now refer to him as On the Street Mountain Time Zone Correspondent Congressman Al.
(2A.)
Old time fans of the Nature Boy will be happy to see him inject himself into the current presidential election. The Nature Boy, combined with Chuck Norris, gives Mike Huckabee a Kinky Friedman-esque assemblage of unlikely, lovable losers in his political corner.
Ric Flair held onto his championship reign with the cliched iron fist. Unfortunately, Mike Huckabee (and his campaign) are drifting into defeat. I really appreciate having Mike Huckabee on the campaign trail battling McCain. Though Huckabee is probably waiting in vain for McCain to have his "macaca" moment of self-implosion, the idea that McCain could screw up his chances are not that out of the picture. Scandals begin to whirl around him. Stories of his evil temper now begin to surface. Some have even questioned if he should be eligible for President because he was born in the Panama Canal Zone and not on the 50 states, however Arizona didn't become a state until shockingly recently, and by recently I mean 1912.
McCain's situation does not bode well for the health of the country. Ostracized by his base for past statements and views, he now seems to be trying to appease his base through his stance on military and the empire. The People don't want 100 more years of Iraq, yet these are the outlandish statements he has made to smooth things over with the people of his party. I can't imagine this going over well with the majority of people, but then what do I know?
He might do better than most people first think, however, I can't imagine most people wanting to have a beer with him, which is always my most important criteria when choosing a President. What kind of beer are we going to order? If he is afraid to order international, is he then also afraid to order micro-brew? Are we going to have just one round? Do we order several pitchers? It looks bad either way. Do we get drunk and discuss and the Spurs vs. the Suns in the 2007 playoffs? And if we do, then is his temper able to handle it when I bring up the Robert Horry hipcheck?
Yeah, probably not. And that is why I want Mike Huckabee to somehow find a way to stay in the race. He's the Jimmy Carter of the Right. His presence in the Presidential debate would force a much more interesting and "nuanced" course of discussion.
The dude just wants to play his bass guitar...
(2B.)
And as easily as politics drifts into music, sports drifts into politics. This also from the desk of On the Street Mountain Time Zone Correspondent Congressman Al...
The joker tells the truth, and the serious commentator responds like a clown?
Cracking the Pecan King
A few days ago an On the Street associate from the Austin film scene came through town to do photographic research for the ACLU for something connected to Emma Tenayuca - most likely for one of the many commemorations.
Having left the Institute of Texan Cultures we met nearby at Rosario's. Rosario's has a good racket going on with the tourists. The food is good in a delicate, crafted sort of way but everything could be several dollars cheaper. Nonetheless, it exists in its own bubble and people have a good time there. It strikes me as the kind of place where when you ask the waiter what he reccomends he'll make up something, usually choosing the more expensive option, which is pretty much what happened when I went there. Carrying a camera probably gave me away for the Iowan tourist I've always wanted to be.
A beer was later had at Beethoven's. The old timers weren't in yet. I was hoping to show my friend a glimpse of the German scene but it wasn't meant to be. The auslanders were right at home.
A Quiet Storm Band Called Bedroom E.T.A.
Based on the positive response from the audio clip from last week ("Ditchweed" aka "Don't Ask. Okay, Go Ahead and Ask") we bring this follow up. Having tracked down the origins, it seems this a clip from an upcoming Matador Records comedy album. Very unusual. On the Street Insider Erin wonders about their connection to Catpower. Again, very unusual...
#1.
An On the Street long time reader with close ties to Brazilian street grappling the medical field (someone we will now obliquely refer to as Homes) sent this astounding clip. As with many of the messages sent to the Penthouse Suite, humor is mixed with sadness. The clip has the feel of Old World vaudeville, or perhaps I am simply projecting that onto the clip because it is from the far reaches of Europe, and of course, who doesn't love the idea of vaudeville.
At one point I thought it was a lost Roberto Benigni/Jim Jarmusch clip, which ultimately only reinforces my point.
Observe...
The host's reaction is so completely wrong and inappropriate it can only be considered human. The last 15 seconds of silence bring unexpected pathos.
#2.
Congressman Al sent these clips in at various times during the week. Given that his dedication to On the Street does not waver by being in another state, it is only fair if we now refer to him as On the Street Mountain Time Zone Correspondent Congressman Al.
(2A.)
Old time fans of the Nature Boy will be happy to see him inject himself into the current presidential election. The Nature Boy, combined with Chuck Norris, gives Mike Huckabee a Kinky Friedman-esque assemblage of unlikely, lovable losers in his political corner.
Ric Flair held onto his championship reign with the cliched iron fist. Unfortunately, Mike Huckabee (and his campaign) are drifting into defeat. I really appreciate having Mike Huckabee on the campaign trail battling McCain. Though Huckabee is probably waiting in vain for McCain to have his "macaca" moment of self-implosion, the idea that McCain could screw up his chances are not that out of the picture. Scandals begin to whirl around him. Stories of his evil temper now begin to surface. Some have even questioned if he should be eligible for President because he was born in the Panama Canal Zone and not on the 50 states, however Arizona didn't become a state until shockingly recently, and by recently I mean 1912.
McCain's situation does not bode well for the health of the country. Ostracized by his base for past statements and views, he now seems to be trying to appease his base through his stance on military and the empire. The People don't want 100 more years of Iraq, yet these are the outlandish statements he has made to smooth things over with the people of his party. I can't imagine this going over well with the majority of people, but then what do I know?
He might do better than most people first think, however, I can't imagine most people wanting to have a beer with him, which is always my most important criteria when choosing a President. What kind of beer are we going to order? If he is afraid to order international, is he then also afraid to order micro-brew? Are we going to have just one round? Do we order several pitchers? It looks bad either way. Do we get drunk and discuss and the Spurs vs. the Suns in the 2007 playoffs? And if we do, then is his temper able to handle it when I bring up the Robert Horry hipcheck?
Yeah, probably not. And that is why I want Mike Huckabee to somehow find a way to stay in the race. He's the Jimmy Carter of the Right. His presence in the Presidential debate would force a much more interesting and "nuanced" course of discussion.
The dude just wants to play his bass guitar...
(2B.)
And as easily as politics drifts into music, sports drifts into politics. This also from the desk of On the Street Mountain Time Zone Correspondent Congressman Al...
The joker tells the truth, and the serious commentator responds like a clown?
Cracking the Pecan King
A few days ago an On the Street associate from the Austin film scene came through town to do photographic research for the ACLU for something connected to Emma Tenayuca - most likely for one of the many commemorations.
Having left the Institute of Texan Cultures we met nearby at Rosario's. Rosario's has a good racket going on with the tourists. The food is good in a delicate, crafted sort of way but everything could be several dollars cheaper. Nonetheless, it exists in its own bubble and people have a good time there. It strikes me as the kind of place where when you ask the waiter what he reccomends he'll make up something, usually choosing the more expensive option, which is pretty much what happened when I went there. Carrying a camera probably gave me away for the Iowan tourist I've always wanted to be.
A beer was later had at Beethoven's. The old timers weren't in yet. I was hoping to show my friend a glimpse of the German scene but it wasn't meant to be. The auslanders were right at home.
A Quiet Storm Band Called Bedroom E.T.A.
Based on the positive response from the audio clip from last week ("Ditchweed" aka "Don't Ask. Okay, Go Ahead and Ask") we bring this follow up. Having tracked down the origins, it seems this a clip from an upcoming Matador Records comedy album. Very unusual. On the Street Insider Erin wonders about their connection to Catpower. Again, very unusual...
