beterwas
honestly misbehaving
Archive for November, 2006
November 29, 2006 at 12:06 pm · Filed under Musings
The Bush administration has a new weapon in its foreign policy arsenal: the iPod. Or rather, the withholding of the iPod.
In an unprecedented move, the United States has decided to ban the sales of hi-tech luxury goods to North Korea.
Wasn’t much of the vitriol towards North Korea’s leader, Lil’ Kim due to the fact that the people were starving, while he lived in opulence?
So what exactly is to be gained by banning the sale of plasma televisions and jet skis? Is that what has been wrong with our approach to sanctions – we were targeting the bottom, when we should have been targeting the top? The rich?
The Cuban people will be so happy to hear that.
The Bush administration just doesn’t get it, do they? They seem to believe that the entire world is populated with the same incessantly pampered me-monkeys we have here at home.
Take away their toys and then they’ll behave? Someone’s been buying into his own marketing hype.
The answer to North Korean crisis is diplomacy – true diplomacy. That means talking directly to North Korea. This idea that we only engage in diplomacy with our friends is the real threat to our security, not Kim’s Dong.
Is it 2008 yet?
November 28, 2006 at 11:00 am · Filed under Musings, Live & Let Live
We went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom today. The weather was nice, the mood was happy and the crowd was absent. We didn’t wait more than fifteen minutes for anything, even the new Expedition Everest ride, which was awesome.
We rode the rapids six times and got totally soaked. William said it was a perfect day.
This was such great news after yesterday’s Santa-slaying.
For those who have never been, Animal Kingdom is Disney’s most underrated offering. It’s small, but manageable. You can do the whole park in a day without killing yourself, and be back home in time for dinner (it closes at 5:00).
Despite it’s protestations, much of it is a zoo – but it’s a really nice zoo. The animals spend the day in large, lush habitats and evenings in sophisticated, climate-controlled facilities.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the safari “ride.” Like every other theme park ride in Central Florida, it is the “otherwise uneventful ride gone wrong.” In the middle of the safari, our bantering guide gets a call and we have to leave to assist in the capture of some dastardly poachers.
First of all, can we please come up with a new adventure ride premise? I’ve been on three time machines, two spaceships, a helicopter, a flying car, an elevator, and scads of other vehicles with restraining bars when I’ve heard the words “Uh, oh! Hold on folks! This going to get…”
There’s nothing wrong with a nice leisurely ride across the savannah, looking at magnificent wildlife.
Second, now that we’ve dispensed with the melodrama, can we please slow down so I can take a fucking picture of the giraffe?!?
Still, it was a wonderful day.
I would like to recognize Disney for their conservation education efforts, though. They do an unrivaled job at bringing you face to face with magnificent animals, and then illustrating the threats that are posed to them.
Every area also has sections devoted to recognizing the efforts of conservationists, and urging guests to assist them. But this, IMO, is where they fall down.
First there are the unconvincing cast members pretending to analyze biological samples – a lesson they didn’t seem to learn from the slow demise of EPCOT’s Future World.
Then there is the idea that’s put forth that “Disney is on the case,” leading guests to believe that they don’t need to worry, since the world’s greatest imagineers are tackling these tough problems.
Finally, there’s no real “what you can do” message. All of these millions of people go through the park, are genuinely touched by what they see, and then go to Sam’s Club the next day. They just don’t see a connection.
Sure, no one wants to go to Disney and pay $75 for a guilt trip (that’s what relatives are for), but Disney puts it out there – they only need to go the distance.
All the same, it’s a great way to spend the day.
Did I mention that Expedition: Everst was awesome?
November 27, 2006 at 11:45 pm · Filed under Musings
My son William said goodbye to Santa Claus today. The kid across the street told him that his mom ‘fessed up to being the big guy.
He came home and asked me about it point blank.
This isn’t the first time this has come up. In the past, though, I’ve been able to easily skirt the question by discrediting the source.
“Who told you that? Kyle? He’s a doofus.”
But this time, he had a parental check on his source. It wasn’t Kyle, it was Kyle’s mom. She admitted it.
I didn’t want to lie to him, but at the same time, I didn’t want to take Santa away from him. I tried to split the difference by saying that while there isn’t really a round, red-robed man that comes to our house, but…
He was devestated. The look on his face was heartbreaking.
I went on to tell him that Santa was really the spirit of Christmas, and that he does exist, just in different forms, at different times in our lives. I told him how when he’s a father, he’ll get to be Santa.
It didn’t help. And now the magic is gone.
It will come back when he has children of his own, just as it did for me. But I wish it could have lasted a little bit longer.
Stupid Kyle.
November 26, 2006 at 1:38 am · Filed under Musings
Tonight we ate at La Cucina, a new french-italian place on Mills Ave. in Orlando, FL.
It was very intimate, but relaxed at the same time. The dining room is small, and only has seven or so tables – although one is a round seven-top, which is nice for big families.
One thing was odd, though. They didn’t have a license to serve wine, but you could bring your own. They corked and poured it, but didn’t charge any sort of “courtesy fee.” It was nice, and it brought to mind many places that would do well to ease up on their wine policies.
I totally understand the importance of wine sales in the restaurant business. Plus, you really don’t want me to stop in at Publix and grab a bottle of Ravenswood for what you would charge me per glass (and you know who you are!).
All the same, corking fees are tacky. If I want to bring a special bottle of wine with me to your restaurant, please let me do so without prejudice.
Anyway, the food and service were both excellent. Give them a try.
November 18, 2006 at 12:46 am · Filed under Musings
I am feeling the pangs of guilt that come along with blog neglect.
Super! Nothing like having something you enjoy becoming one more nagging commitment.
It would be one thing if I was getting some work done; but at least I’m not on the PlayStation.
November 8, 2006 at 1:21 pm · Filed under Musings
After a long night at Room 39, watching the tide roll away, it was envigorating to wake up and just turn on the news.
I was interested in the three remaining Senate races. They appear to be going the Dems way, and the news just keeps getting better.
The President is being publicly humbled, as he announces the resignation of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. It’s a thrill to watch! My favorite part is the backpedaling over the timing and his assertions that he would stay Rummy’s course.
Schadenfreude is bad karma, but I’ll chance it. So long, douchebag!
