Pandering to the non-elite

Many of the reasons people dislike politics include: 1) the exorbitant amount of money paid on “campaigning” for the job including advertising both for your points and pointing out your opponents “flaws” when even a fraction of which could feed, cloth and educate not only Africa but much of our own country, 2) attempt to cast themselves as central to the political spectrum as possible even though once elected their true intentions and beliefs become reveled, 3) but mostly I think one of the biggest peeves of voters is politicians whom are puppets to the “issues” within the markets and polls they are about to pitch to and then they pander shamelessly to those markets knowing full well just last week they made a completely different pitch or character.

The latest in the Hill camp is the position against Obama that he’s made some comments perceived by her campaign as a position of “elitism” mean while she touts her past as a gun toting church girl that grew up shooting behind the barn at the lake.

She’s been going on and on about this sound bite and that she’s an every woman, can hack it with the blue collar folk in PA but when asked when the last time she fired a gun or attended church services she responds “is not a relevant question in this debate” and “We can answer that some other time,”….”I went to church on Easter. I mean, so?” What the fuck is that BS? She’s the one making and issue yet she’s not one to own up to her own representation of an Indianan or a west Penn tax payer.

There’s been a lot of attacks on Obama’s statement that the working man are bitter which is where this whole “elitist” comment came out of and ya know what.. yes people are bitter of the direction of this country has gone with the economy, the war and now the polticing that has been played. Here’s a few PA residents both parroting Barack’s comments that the people are bitter.. received by surprisingly Faux News

Hill now takes this pandering completely out of control by drinking budwiper with the PA steel works, then turning Hyde by getting pressured into taking shots of Canadian whiskey: Crown Royal… a non-American cocktail served in a violet velvet satchel named with two of the most “elite” words in English language. Next she wants to claim Barack is elite? Get the fuck out of here again!

By the way… What’s a definition of “elite”? – representing the most choice, select or the best

If that’s the case then yeah… maybe Hill is right on… Obama is an elite candidate for the Presidency.

Open Champagne like a Pirate

I know everyone loves a little celebratory bubbly; from Dom Pérignon, Krug, Cristal, or the elite Clos du Mesnil, but there are several ways to start this party. Of course there’s a standard way to open the bottle, a wrong way and the impressive way: Decapitate the top with sword play.

Now I know not everyone can brings their sabers to the club to impress the ladies, but at a home party (preferably with lots of room, unlike Manhattan), you too can say, I’ve got an impressive “skill to show with my sword”, in public with a straight face. Here’s your instructions, should you choose to accept them (from UD).

1. DISROBE YOUR BUBBLY: Take your well-chilled bottle of champagne and remove both the foil and the wire cage covering the cork (as you probably know, it’s essential the bottle be well-chilled to avoid leakage, foaming and premature cork-popping).

2. LOCATE YOUR TARGET: Locate one of the two vertical seams running up the side of the bottle. Where the seam meets the lower lip of the bottle is the point at which you’ll aim.

3. CONTROL YOUR SABER: Grip the bottle firmly around the base. Point the bottle at a 30-45 degree angle away from all people, windows and, obviously, flat screen TVs. Now take your saber, samurai sword or the back edge of a chef’s knife and lay the blade flat, just below the lip at the weak spot.

4. MOMENT OF TRUTH: Draw the sword back along the seam and then swing with full force away from your body, upward and into the bottom of the lip. Don’t forget to follow through (as with any sport, see the cork popping, be the ball). To minimize spillage, turn the bottle upright immediately afterward.

5. VICTORY: If done right, the cork and bottle top will thrust several feet into the air, and you will lose no more than an ounce of your champagne. And you will be a hero.

Of course, as with anything, practice, practice practice to be top notch in this event.

Weekender

A couple good finds this weekend. Saturday went out all night with the locals to watch the final four at a friends house in the upper west. Unfortunately G-town went down even after I thought they had the momentum to take it. The Gators came out on top with a stomping of the best defensive team in the country, UCLA. Great work as the Gators have a repeat of their Florida match up, with Ohio St (keep in mind the Gators blew out Ohio the last time they played, by 26 points).

Off to the Mill, the Gator’s central haven in NY for a few pitchers, games and the gator chants… “It’s great to be…” Not long after we broke off to go to Karma, a spot I will never go to again.

How ironic their name begets a tranquil and positive vibe, when the environment, employees and management promote nothing of the sorts. For one, there’s a line to get in, once in, the spot is barely 30% occupancy. I despise bars/clubs that create an artificial line to give the illusion, it’s a hot spot and they are at capacity. Drinks here are expensive and when asked for a hookah I was charged 15$ for what I found out was actually a $10 charge for girls or other patrons. Not sure if the surcharge was to add a tip for the waitress but this was bull shit. Last they have DJ playing dance tunes for both the upstairs and downstairs, yet they don’t have a cabaret license and will use this excuse to selectively kick out the guys to improve the girl-guy ratio they try to maintain.

So when half my friends were asked to leave, and not the women they were dancing with, we bounced.