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LEAH GARCHIK writes in the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I am informed by ADDA DADA , who never misses a party, that the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest was TWERKING JESUS. And "Why carry your cross when you can ride it?" is what REBECCA ZITO when she spotted a cyclist so accessorized.'
In Wednesday's Leah Garchik column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
www.sfgate.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Dancing-in-t... ............................................................................................SISTER's of PERPETUAL INDULGENCE's 35th Annual HUNKY JESUS & FOXY MARY fun....The best thing about the Sister's show were the Marijuana 4/20 folks who incorrectly wandered into the Sister's party space...They were like "OMG, This is like , OZ, man."
Yes, it was.
Probably because it was the Sister's 35th Anniversary and it was an homage to the Wizard of Oz. The lawn in front of the stage was filled with red-paper poppies. There were several 'Cowardly Lions", many "Glenda the Good Witch", a couple of 'Bad Witches" including one on a bike...a very young 6-year old Judy Garland passing out Giradelli Chocolate, an awesome Scarecrow of indeterminate sex, a few Tin Men (and one obviously Tin Woman), and even a couple of 'munchkins'...yes, real little people. Though, ADDA DADA is happy to report that there were no Flying Monkeys.
THANK YOU to all the beautiful adults who let ADDA take their photos! (Everyone was properly asked & everyone consented.)
(These photos carry copyright protection. Do NOT post them elsewhere! )
============================
THE 'NUDES' ARE PROPERLY MARKED EITHER RESTRICTED OR MODERATE ON ADDA'S SITE! (EVERYONE PHOTOGRAPHED IS OVER 18-YEARS-ONLY!) There is NO stolen PORN on my site!
============================
NOTE: MY photos are NOT to be used or reproduced, COPIED, BLOGGED, USED in any way shape or form. Understand clearly these are my photographs and use of them by anyone is an infringement of my copyrights and personal artistic property!
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
*************************************** ***********
NOTE:
Viewers should be aware that these photos are viewed by a wide variety of folks and inappropriate X & R rated & RUDE comments shall be removed forthwith
We started taking notes at how bad everything was because it was so much, it was hard to remember everything.
BACKSTORY: We had a gift card for Macaroni Grill (we usually have one every year, and have gone for over a decade). This year was the most god-awful experience of our lives! No wonder Macaroni Grill is going out of business. But we have to wonder if it was transgender & LGBT discrimination, because not only were we never treated like that at that same Macaroni Grill, but we saw the waiter treat others better.
I'm not that picky. I get a taco or two at Taco Bell almost every day I go out, and am very pleased with that experience. When I go out, I often go to buffets, because I don't mind what food I eat, as long as it's not completely messed up.
But taking my wife to Macaroni Grill on Valentine's Day was the absolute worst "romantic" restaurant trip of my entire life. I am frankly surprised at how much text I need to write just to explain everything that happened.
Note that the restaurant was NOT packed. We go there almost every Valentine's Day, for 10+ years. Last year it was a 45 minute wait and totally packed. This year it was a 5 minute wait, and there were empty tables in the restaurant. It was literally the least packed we've ever seen it on Valentine's Day. There are no "busy" excuses for this treatment
1) We didn't notice at the time, but going back: The first way we were treated differently was that the waiter didn't write his name on our placemat. Did he intend to give us bad service because we are visibly LGBT? Because he wrote it for the people next to us, on both sides. Just not for us. It seemed like he was so unwilling to even get near us, that he wouldn't approach us, write his name on the placemat, or visit our table -- ***even when visiting the one next to us repeatedly***, or give us good service.
2) Immediately he puts the olive oil and pepper on the saucer for the bread. This is a fun Macaroni Grill theatric that makes the customer feel good... Unless the saucer full of olive oil is merely pointing out how you have no bread for 20 minutes. Again, never in our life. Other people have bread. We don't.
Later, I explicitly ask for bread, because it's absolutely clear that it's NOT going to come, because this guy will serve the tables on both sides of us, but not us. It still doesn't come. Bread only finally arrives with our appetizer. Again: Never in our lives.
3) And then, guess what? The bread was too salty to eat! First time in 40 years that I have ever disliked restaurant bread. Later, when the waiter stopped coming to our table, we managed to ask *the cook* for more bread. It, too, was too salty to not eat. No amount of dipping it or mixing it with other ingredients made it edible. The bread I get from the dollar store is better. Why is Macaroni Grill so awful to us today?
4) The second thing the waiter actually does is ask us for a drink. Immediately. We don't know our drink order yet, but later, when we order everything at once, we do order ONE drink. But it doesn't come with the bread. It doesn't come with the appetizers. It doesn't even come with the entree! Later, while we are eating, the drink finally shows up. We had forgotten about it by that time. Who the hell serves drinks, appetizers, and an entree at the same time?
5) But at least we had water, right? Well, sort of. We asked for water with lemon. It took awhile -- an annoying amount of time if you have dysphagia -- but the finally water came. Most restaurants give you water without asking, or allow you access to a tap. We were left thirsty. So thirst. And when it finally came, NO LEMONS!
We asked for lemons. It took awhile, but finally he came back and said, "We're out of lemons, so I had to give you limes". I am unsure what to do, so I squeeze some of the lime juice in my water to try it out. It's awful. I can't drink it.
Meanwhile, I see lemons come out with water orders just 2 tables away. My drink (a mule) that comes later has a lemon in it--because the drink comes like that automatically. It is clearly our server who won't ask for stuff for us -- even while giving the same stuff to adjoining tables! My salmon that came with lemon on it! Why is this bigoted server telling us the restaurant doesn't have lemons? Macaroni Grill is most definitely NOT out of lemons. Why would he lie to us? There's a bar. Bars have lemon wedges for drinks. The restaurant is NOT out of lemon wedges.
But for the majority of the time I was there, I couldn't even sip my water, because it turns out lime water is awful. Who drinks that? Not me. I didn't know. I tried, and that was a mistake. And since our alcohol drink never came until the entree, I literally had nothing to drink that didn't taste awful. And getting water refill was nigh impossible. And of course no bread. Nothing enjoyable whatsoever - but the people 2 tables away got their water with lemon. EVERYONE who wasn't LGBT did.
6) Eventually, when the waiter disappeared, we actually had to go and ask THE COOK for lemons, and he brought them out and apologized. This was after the entree came. It's like the waiter was unwilling to do his job. Why is the cook bringing us our food and serving us? Where is our server? We were ALSO out of water at that point, and needed any kind of liquid to drink. I am prone to choking because I have dysphagia. Last time I had a choking episode, I had to grab the drink of a stranger off their table in an emergency. This is the kind of thing that happens when human beings are denied water, and have no way to get it.
7) We ordered the calamari appetizer. The menu says it comes with 2 sauces. A pepper sauce and a citrus aoli. We got the pepper sauce, but the other stuff? It was a red, thick mixture that was very obviously mostly spicy Sri Racha sauce. My girlfriend doesn't like spicy stuff as much as me. That's why we didn't order something spicy. That's why we use the menu to decide what to order. But what good is the menu, if the items on it aren't what it says they are? We needed at least one non-spicy dipping sauce.
8) By this point, the waiter had disappeared. He did not come around. Most restaurants check up on you to see if you are okay. They often do it TOO much. This guy? Despite the fact that we very obviously were not getting what we wanted, and had to ask for very basic things like bread and water -- he still wouldn't show up. Twice in a row, after minutes of being gone, he came and SERVED THE TABLE NEXT TO US, BUT KEPT HIS BACK TO US, THEN DISAPPEARED to the back again without even giving us an opportunity for service. Every time this happened, we needed something, and couldn't get it.
9) The salmon finally came. It was not even brought by our server (named Labrim), it was brought by the cook! (Who we had to ask for water, lemons, and more bread. Most of the food brought to our table WAS NOT BROUGHT by our actual server!)
It was the absolute worst salmon I've ever eaten in my life. It was so burned that each and every bite was a chore to get down. I woke up at 4AM nauseated, which is an unusual thing for me. We even tried cutting up the salmon and putting it inside our shrimp alfredo noodles, to mask the burning taste. It was impossible to mask. We have now messed up: water, bread, lemons, calamari dipping sauce, and salmon. Incredible.
10) At this point, we're done with our food, and we just want the dessert cake & ice cream, and a check. But he's nowhere to be found. For a good 5 minutes, we're just sitting there, unhappy with the experience, wanting to at least have a good piece of cake and ice cream, and leave. But the pause here is one of the longest service pauses during this entire visit.
During this time, 2 tables down, another couple was extremely angry at Labrim's service, and got up to leave. So atleast it wasn't JUST us having a bad time, even if they actually got lemons & drinks. Someone, either Labrim or a manager, intervened and convinced them to sit back down and have their meal.
The couple 1 table down? They ALSO were extremely unhappy with Labrim, and were complaining about the service a lot of the time. For example, they got the merchant receipt for their credit card, so there was no place for them to sign it, and they had to ask for the correct receipt. That's never happened in my life, but again, now at least THREE tables were having a bad time, so at least there was some incompetence mixed in with the malevolence. We just seemed to be getting the worst of it, and it felt like discrimination to be treated so differently the first year we were visibly LGBT.
11) It's finally time for dessert. Does he bring it? No! He brings us to go containers, and says, "You wanted the cheesecake, right?"
Literally, when we ordered the food, we gave him the complete order. I wrote it down on my placemat. I pointed at the words as I ordered them to him. He acted as if he was writing down the words I was saying and pointing at. His job is to take the order. He couldn't even do that! I never said cheesecake! WTF?! Not only was our dessert not here, but he didn't even know what we ordered! Just what was Labrim doing?!?!?!
12) So we tell him we wanted the chocolate cake & ice cream. It seems to take awhile, but it finally comes. HE THEN TAKES ALL OUR SILVERWARE! We manage to snag one fork, but how are we supposed to share this item between the two of us? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, LABRIM?
He comes back in a couple minutes to help the table next to us, but in typical fashion, keeps his back to us and doesn't offer any help. As he walks away, we have to raise our voice and ask for another fork. I don't think it ever came.
13) And the "cake" and "ice cream"? It's not a cake, it's some Costco store bought chocolate muffin, with a cup of chocolate drizzle next to it. And the "ice cream"? Literally one fork full of ice cream. Granted, it tasted good - but this is your "$45 Valentine's Day Special For Couples", so you are literally advertising and serving a valentine's day ice cream dessert to couples with ONE FORK that has ONE FORKFUL of ice cream. So yes. You found a way to make ice cream and cake disappointing, Macaroni Grill.
14) Labrim then asked us if the food was good, and we said, "No, it wasn't", and told him we didn't like the bread, water, salmon, or cake. He said he would get the manager to do something about it. Minutes later, a check came. No manager. No manager ever came. Just another lie.
15) Finally, it came time to pay. We don't trust him to ring up our money right, so we decide to use our $50 gift card, and pay the $5.14 balance in cash. I went off to change my $10 into two $5s, and my wife went off to change her $5 into five $1s. I approached the bartender, waited for eye contact, and asked, "Can I get two 5s for a 10?" He said, "Wait a minute", then "How are you?" {I'm sorry, do I need to have a conversation to ask for change? It seemed like he was chiding me for being short with him and not having a conversation. I'm not here to talk with you, guy. I'm here to pay you for your bad food}. The bartender then turned his back to me. He messed around with the register for an unacceptably long time, completely ignoring me. Obviously he decided NOT to make the change I needed made -- or even to tell me. This, too, is a treatment I've never experienced in my life. As I slowly moved away -- because I'm not going to sit there like an idiot holding a $10 bill out for minutes at a time -- I went to the hostess. She checks HER OWN POCKETS and somehow has two $5 bills, and makes change for me.
My wife fared no better. She asked someone for five $1s for her $5. Multiple people told herthey couldn't do it. She was finally told "only the bartender" can do this. She goes to the bar. Nobody is there. She looks around. Nobody to be found. This restaurant is full of aholes who won't do their job.
Finally, someone goes into the bar and starts doing stuff. She asks them if they can make change. "I'm not the bartender", the person tending the bar said, refusing to make her change. WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
We almost left the restaurant with a $5 shortchanging -- but then Carolyn ran into a random employee, who, also, had to get the money out of his personal money from his own pocket.
IN SUMMARY: You messed up in about 15 different ways, messing up: water, lemon, salmon, dipping sauce, cake, ice cream, properly keeping our order, making change... even the unhappiness of the people around us was a bring-down. This restaurant is not being managed properly, and Labrim is the 2nd worst server I've had in my entire lifetime.
I wish I'd had change, because the 85 cent tip Labrim got was an *incredible* overtip. It should have been a single penny. Frankly, I should be filing a credit card dispute for the cost of this meal... but we paid with a pre-paid gift card bought 2 years ago, so we take solace in knowing that no 2018 income went to Macaroni Grill for this awful 2018 visit.
Our annual almost-20-year tradition [based on our parents giving us gift cards every Christmas] is now over. We will not be returning to Macaroni Grill. Not on Valentine's Day. Not ever. The gift cards are apparently valid at several other restaurants... so we'll be going to one of those, from now on.
And I can't help but think some of this is because I am visibly transgender, because of the way he would repeatedly approach the table next to us (a straight couple), but not us. I was not visibly transgender a year ago, and was not treated like this during previous visits to Macaroni Grill. It just seems like that was a component, because we definitely got it the worst of everyone there.
notes, placemat.
Macaroni Grill, restaurant, Springfield, Virginia.
February 14, 2018.
... Read my blog at clintjcl at wordpress dot com
Note the cracked grip. It was a scramble to get that replaced before the show.
Bike write up:
The 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) has arrived. I would like to start The Bicycle Escape’s coverage of the event with my new ride, the pictured YiPsan cruiser.
Some of you may remember the YiPsan Sunflower bike that won the “People’s Choice Award” and “Best City Bike” at the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Well that beauty belonged to my beauty (aka wife Danielle). At the time the bike was being designed there was discussion of a dude’s version of the now famous cruiser. NAHBS 2011 offered the perfect excuse for such a bike to become a reality.
The design of the bike is function forward. Racks, generator lights, fenders, a bell, and a kickstand adorn the machine. To say it is functional is not to overlook the bikes beauty. The paint was done by the skilled hand of Keith Anderson. His flawless finish is complimented by lots of high-polished bits and pieces. When polished parts were not available (they usually were not) we had them polished. The rims for example started out as a nice silvery/grey color but it was not shiny enough for this build. We could do better. The kickstand, brake lever blades, crank, ring, fenders, and Shimano Alfine rear hub all received the same treatment. We even replaced the kickstand and brake lever pivot pins with pins made of brass. So yeah, I am kinda worked-up about this bike.
One of the original motivating forces behind this bike was the transforming front rack. I wanted a porteur style front rack that could transform into a small randonneur rack. After discussing this idea with Renold Yip at YiPsan Bicycles he took the idea a step further. He designed and built a rack platform with removable left and right sides. With the sides removed you are left with a small front rack. The sides can then be installed on the fork forming a low-rider rack to accommodate side bags.
I am really pleased with the way this bike came together and am super excited to see my bike displayed alongside the best our industry has to offer. Stay tuned for more posts from Austin.
LEAH GARCHIK writes in the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I am informed by ADDA DADA , who never misses a party, that the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest was TWERKING JESUS. And "Why carry your cross when you can ride it?" is what REBECCA ZITO when she spotted a cyclist so accessorized.'
In Wednesday's Leah Garchik column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
www.sfgate.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Dancing-in-t... ............................................................................................SISTER's of PERPETUAL INDULGENCE's 35th Annual HUNKY JESUS & FOXY MARY fun....The best thing about the Sister's show were the Marijuana 4/20 folks who incorrectly wandered into the Sister's party space...They were like "OMG, This is like , OZ, man."
Yes, it was.
Probably because it was the Sister's 35th Anniversary and it was an homage to the Wizard of Oz. The lawn in front of the stage was filled with red-paper poppies. There were several 'Cowardly Lions", many "Glenda the Good Witch", a couple of 'Bad Witches" including one on a bike...a very young 6-year old Judy Garland passing out Giradelli Chocolate, an awesome Scarecrow of indeterminate sex, a few Tin Men (and one obviously Tin Woman), and even a couple of 'munchkins'...yes, real little people. Though, ADDA DADA is happy to report that there were no Flying Monkeys.
THANK YOU to all the beautiful adults who let ADDA take their photos! (Everyone was properly asked & everyone consented.)
(These photos carry copyright protection. Do NOT post them elsewhere! )
============================
THE 'NUDES' ARE PROPERLY MARKED EITHER RESTRICTED OR MODERATE ON ADDA'S SITE! (EVERYONE PHOTOGRAPHED IS OVER 18-YEARS-ONLY!) There is NO stolen PORN on my site!
============================
NOTE: MY photos are NOT to be used or reproduced, COPIED, BLOGGED, USED in any way shape or form. Understand clearly these are my photographs and use of them by anyone is an infringement of my copyrights and personal artistic property!
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
*************************************** ***********
NOTE:
Viewers should be aware that these photos are viewed by a wide variety of folks and inappropriate X & R rated & RUDE comments shall be removed forthwith
Bad weather is here again and the car has been sitting since just before Christmas. So I figured it to be as good a time as any to fix something that was really irking the crap out of me…the sun visors.
All of the 79-85 Eldorado’s with light up mirrors (which most had) unfortunately have a problem with visorus saginitus. The visor is held up by a small winged plastic bushing-it wraps around the chrome visor arm, and locks into the plastic visor body with the winged part. This little plastic thing gets brittle over time and starts to crack, losing its grip on the stationary rod. This starts as an issue where they droop a little bit when the car has been sitting in the sun on a summers day but eventually gets bad enough that it happens at all temperatures and will just flop down with bumps in the road.
To my knowledge there’s no replacements for this winged bushing and even if there were I don’t know how you would go about replacing it with the way it’s installed on the visor arm. GM evidently saw the problem as the arm and bushing were revised in 1984 to be bigger but evidently to no avail-the passenger visor on my car sagged from the time I had bought the car and I had held it in place with a nail wedged into the metal trim surrounding the window that had to be removed when you wanted to use it…this didn’t compute with the fairer sex, so it’s safe to say eventually I’m going to find all of those finishing nails that have gone missing over the past couple of years the hard way…
My driver’s side visor was free of this problem but I just didn’t use it as I was afraid it would start doing the same thing. So I set to work finding a real fix
These popped up for sale on ebay, red visors from an ’87 DeVille. They looked like a winner, same general shape, same color and in good condition. After a couple of messages to get an idea on size, I ordered them. However, when they arrived, they were neither the bright red shown in the pictures, nor in as good of repair. They definitely needed to be reupholstered to be used. I gave them a dry run before wasting any more money, and they had a couple of other issues. The first was a different electrical connector which was no biggie. The second was much bigger, that they could only be used to block sun going forward. Trying to move it to the side caused them to either drop or raise at a 45 degree angle.
I figured this was caused by the design of the mount which is heavily angled. So there wasn’t much I could do about it. Until my ebay suggestions came up with visors from a Buick Reatta for sale-the same general style as the DeVille, but with a flat type of mount similar to the OEM Eldorado!
Now the guy wanted over 100 dollars for these and after my blunder with the DeVille visors I wasn’t about to sink that type of change in a maybe. So I headed over to the Reatta AACA message board to see if anyone had a dogged set of visors with good mounts that they wanted to sell, and the first post in the for sale section happened to be by a fella who was parting out a complete Reatta! Score!
I emailed the guy and he explained that the car was in a junkyard local to his house. A real gentleman, he was able to get the visor arms for free and didn’t even charge me the ride up from Florida. Thanks Mike! The car in question had a burgundy interior so the arms would need to be sprayed dark carmine to work for me. After cleaning and priming, SEM aerosol made quick work of that.
Unfortunately when they were removed from the Reatta, this condom thing that wraps around a metal bushing shredded, but I was able to basically replicate it with heat shrink tubing
The arms are easily removed from the visors when uninstalled from the car. Simply rotate the arm into the mirror side of the visor (as if you were pushing the visor back up into the roof) until it clicks and then yank it out. Install it into the new visor in the same position. I did some tests for proof of concept and when it seemed like I was on the right track, I got to work. Or at least to spending money. I ordered carmine foam-backed headliner material (Sunbrite 1872 for those interested, it was a great match) and headliner adhesive (which I ended up not needing for this job)
The visors themselves are like a clamshell and probably harder to crack open than a turnip. After enough brute force, a hammer, and a screwdriver, I was able to get them open (see the color difference as compared to the ebay picture above)
The material around the visor ended up not being glued to the face of it, only tucked tight and hot glued from the factory. I decided to do the same thing (So I have to write off the spray adhesive until I do a new headliner). I carefully removed the old fabric and made a template out of the new material
(should anyone do this in the future, it’s much more simple and less risky to only cut the general shape of the template out, you can cut the hole for the mirror and sun shade later)
The visors themselves also needed some help. The “ears” at the ends were super fatigued and loose, so I mixed up some resin and fiberglass to shore them up.
Once the visor bodies were sound, I had to come up with a way of re-joining the clamshell. I have no idea how GM did this in the first place but super glue doesn’t work. After a lot of searching I found out that these are likely made of Polyethylene. I bought this 3M DP8005 adhesive which claimed to bond it and tested it on a junk visor-seemed to do the trick. You need a special mixing tip in addition to this and I also had to get a gun that it fits into.
With that solved, I started hot gluing the material onto the visors. I had never done anything with headliner material before aside from stapling them up when they started sagging and I was really surprised with how compliant it was. In that, it basically looked factory with no runs or wrinkles despite not having a clue what I was doing.
Then, I bonded the two halves back together. Each one had to sit like this for a day, and early signs seem like it worked. Hopefully the adhesive will hold, time and temperature will tell.
Here’s a comparison of the original visors with the DeVille replacements. Mirrors swapped without issue. I also had to swap the power connector, meaning I had to cut the crimped on connector at the mirror end from the old visors and install in the new ones. Delphi 12020347 is the connector part, there’s no room inside the assembly for a butt connector (and I hate using them unless I have to)
And here they are installed!
The only complication on the install is that the plastic visor arms bolt in a slightly smaller bolt pattern than the originals. You can take any 2 of the 3 holes but not all 3 at once. Fortunately there’s plenty of meat to drill into to make another hole.
I’m sure a lot of people are reading this right now and saying I should have just stuck with the nail but in reality it wasn’t that bad. It might seem like a mess but everything above is a “worse possible scenario” in that I got fleeced on the visors I bought and had to change color, structurally repair them, rehab the Reatta visor arms, then bond them back together. If you’re fortunate enough to have a 79-85 E body with an interior color the same as an 85-88 Deville, and can get the visors from it, the only thing you need do is get a set of Reatta visor arms and swap them out (and obviously your electrical connector from your 79-85). They’re really close in size as far as fit, and look factory with the exception of the sunshade. You could delete that when reupholstering, but I always liked them.
It seems like GM changed all their lighted visor designs to basically the same thing in the late 80’s downsized cars. So there might very well be more vehicles than just Reattas that have the flat plastic visor arm. As far as longevity, I’ll definitely keep everyone posted but I will say that I’ve never really seen any of the “newer” Cadillacs or Buicks experiencing visor problems. The whole metal bushing with condom setup also feels much more sturdy then the OEM 79-85 stuff.
Oh, and on the bright side, I’ll only have to wear these puppies at night now.
photographer: Rob Wanenchak (for Cupid's Undie Run / Cupid Charity Events LLC)
Copyright 2012
Please write robwanenchak@gmail.com with all media requests pertaining to these photos.
We had a trip to Prague in January – for Jayne’s birthday - we don’t buy Christmas or birthday presents, we travel instead. We left snowy England for a very, very dull and grey Czech Republic. Yet again I was on a photographic downer looking at the weather forecast, grey is the colour that haunts me. Fortunately it was dull grey and not burnt highlight inducing bright grey.With the grey sky acting like a big diffuser I was going to have deep shadow and contrast to deal with. We had three very short spells of broken cloud which gave us a bit of sun and colour, which I managed to more or less anticipate so we managed to be in decent locations every time – generally somewhere high.
We had been upgraded to a five star hotel, apparently our original choice was flooded. We got compensation and five star hotel upgrade– a first for me. The Art Nouveau Palace has a beautiful interior, with beautiful rooms, the breakfast room was fantastic, as was the breakfast it has to be said. We were able to have an early breakfast so were out on foot just after eight. It was very cold – and dull! We spent the whole week well wrapped up. It drizzled for a day, but never really wet us, it snowed for a day, again we didn’t get wet and the snow didn’t settle. We walked 65 mile, spending plenty of time checking buildings and their interiors out – and coffee shop and bar interiors it has to be said. Although it was dull and sometimes wet I decided that the Camera was staying in my hands for the whole trip. Whenever I put it in my backpack for one reason or another I regret it.
Again, I didn’t look at any photographs of Prague before we got there, I like to just walk and discover, with the DK guidebook in my pocket (which is full of photos it has to be said). We like to get off the beaten track and see the grittier side of the places we visit – within reason! Prague has an incredible tram network, over 1000 trams – with many of them Tatra Eastern Bloc machines. The system seems chaotic but in reality it is incredible with one of the largest networks and highest usages in the world. The trams and cars frequently share the same road space with very little in the way of drama, none of the inexplicable and pathetic constant horn blowing one finds in many countries. Once it became apparent that buildings with a grey blanket as a background were going to be a bit un-inspirational I decided that the trams would be a good focal point instead. Where I have photographed one of the older trams against a background without clues it is easy to imagine that the photos were taken fifty years ago.
The train network also provided photo opportunities. The rolling stock ranges from old Eastern Bloc to very modern double decker’s and pendolinos. There are three stations although we visited the main station and Smichov. The main station interior is art deco and has been renovated by a private company. The exterior and the platforms are very rundown with a grim eastern bloc 1950’s feel –but it works! We discovered to our amusement that we could just walk across multiple lines, no health and safety, just keep your eyes open and don’t walk under a train – you’ll make a mess. Smichov station was grim, it didn’t help that it snowed all day and was grey and bitter. We felt like we were in a 50’s film set in Russia, broken concrete platforms and dereliction. With both stations there was another world underneath them. The underground Metro is running seamlessly and efficiently away beneath your feet. I didn’t have any problems taking photos anywhere but I was very open and obviously a tourist, I didn’t act covertly or suspiciously. There was only one occasion I was stopped and that was in a shopping centre – full of CCTV cameras filming everyone else!
We discovered old and beautiful- and very large- shopping centres hidden away in quite a few places. Brass framed windows and doors, shops thriving, there was a massive camera shop with thousands of second hand cameras, too much to look at. Many of the landmark buildings prevent photography, some make a small charge, some encourage it, the DK guide book gives a good indication regarding camera use. Nothing stops many people though, they just shoot away regardless, usually wanting a picture that includes their self. Prague is surrounded by low hills and has a fair few towers that you can pay a few pounds to go up, so viewpoints are plentiful. I think we visited most of them. I read about the Zizkov Tower, which looks like a Soviet rocket on the horizon and we headed straight for it - after crossing the rail lines! Set in a quiet residential area, there wasn’t a soul about. Two beautiful girls on reception and we parted with a few pounds, into the lift and were on the observation deck with no one else up there. There are fantastic views over the city, but! It is through two layers of not very clean glass so you go for the view rather than sharp panoramas. Still a fascinating place, with a nice café bar and very clean toilets – there are toilets everywhere, usually manned with a fee. Places are well staffed compared with home were three students are supposed to run a 20 screen multiplex cinema.
Graffiti was prominent, no matter how grand the monument, some moron would have daubed it. How do they get away with it in a 24 hour city centre with a strong police presence? The place is very clean, constantly being swept. What did surprise me, was that many buildings, that looked grand and built of stone, from a distance, were actually rendered with very low quality brickwork concealed. When restored the building look very impressive, others are missing the outer render from ground level to a fair height.
I need to cut this short really, I like to put a background story to the photos and although it would be better to individualise it to a specific photo or group of photos I don’t have the time to do that. I do try to give specific detail in the title bar after I have uploaded, this is time consuming enough although I’m pretty proficient at it by now. There are many things I would like to write that should be of interest to anyone thinking of going to Prague but I’ll have to let the pictures do the talking. As usual I am unlikely to be selective enough with my uploads, I’m not very good at leaving photos out so I just upload and be damned.
LEAH GARCHIK writes in the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I am informed by ADDA DADA , who never misses a party, that the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest was TWERKING JESUS. And "Why carry your cross when you can ride it?" is what REBECCA ZITO when she spotted a cyclist so accessorized.'
In Wednesday's Leah Garchik column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
www.sfgate.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Dancing-in-t... ............................................................................................SISTER's of PERPETUAL INDULGENCE's 35th Annual HUNKY JESUS & FOXY MARY fun....The best thing about the Sister's show were the Marijuana 4/20 folks who incorrectly wandered into the Sister's party space...They were like "OMG, This is like , OZ, man."
Yes, it was.
Probably because it was the Sister's 35th Anniversary and it was an homage to the Wizard of Oz. The lawn in front of the stage was filled with red-paper poppies. There were several 'Cowardly Lions", many "Glenda the Good Witch", a couple of 'Bad Witches" including one on a bike...a very young 6-year old Judy Garland passing out Giradelli Chocolate, an awesome Scarecrow of indeterminate sex, a few Tin Men (and one obviously Tin Woman), and even a couple of 'munchkins'...yes, real little people. Though, ADDA DADA is happy to report that there were no Flying Monkeys.
THANK YOU to all the beautiful adults who let ADDA take their photos! (Everyone was properly asked & everyone consented.)
(These photos carry copyright protection. Do NOT post them elsewhere! )
============================
THE 'NUDES' ARE PROPERLY MARKED EITHER RESTRICTED OR MODERATE ON ADDA'S SITE! (EVERYONE PHOTOGRAPHED IS OVER 18-YEARS-ONLY!) There is NO stolen PORN on my site!
============================
NOTE: MY photos are NOT to be used or reproduced, COPIED, BLOGGED, USED in any way shape or form. Understand clearly these are my photographs and use of them by anyone is an infringement of my copyrights and personal artistic property!
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
*************************************** ***********
NOTE:
Viewers should be aware that these photos are viewed by a wide variety of folks and inappropriate X & R rated & RUDE comments shall be removed forthwith
Adele (2yo) asks, "Me write?". We sit down together and she writes lines and colors in things I draw. She tells me what to draw and often where while asking for labels. She can recognize some words.
God in the eye of devotee
I do not know how much I can express with my tiny abilities and tiny writing, who is the possessor of extraordinary power and strength, possessor of all knowledge and all qualities. Everyone look to my mistakes – faults with pardoning eyes, with this hope and with his blessings, I am starting to write with pen.
– Dayamoyee Mondal.
An ordinary inhabited place – which has been presently flooded by river Ganges. At the bank of Ganges River, in West Bengal (India) – Subhadra Devi and Gouranga Sundar have been married for some years, still by then not yet given birth to a child – Subhadra Devi in hope of getting a child, and in accordance to the suggestion of an ascetic – offered a voluntary promise to Lord Shiva. She was conceived one day, at a special moment, due to regular and adequate devotional fasting – religious vow in hope of fulfilment of desire and lying before and idol of God Shiva, repeating the name of Lord Shiva and meditation. As the days pass, Subhadra Devi gradually became more and more beautiful. Seeing that beauty astonishes the surrounding people. She was then nine months pregnant, when she met a tourist ascetic surprisingly. That mated hair, huge size ascetic said to Subhadra Devi – “you are conceiving a great prophet in your womb, who is coming, he is the last prophet of this Iron Age. Very soon, he will appear on earth in your lap, lighting it, as an Incarnation.” The ascetic instructed her, not to leak out his words to others. But any who, the words do not remain secret, as a result, curious people gathering, gradually started increasing in Subhadra Devi’s house. It became impossible for her to do peaceful meditation privately and repeating deity name silently due to public talking. Gradually the crowd of devotee and curious people increased so much that, by force the seniors advised Subhadra Devi to conceal their self-living. Next day, in the darkness of night, as per the prearrangement, Subhadra Devi and Gouranga Sundar set out for a close relative’s house, on a roofed bullock cart. At about end of night, terrible storm and rain started. In the light of lightning a very old, decayed, broken conditioned Lord Shiva temple was seen, at the side of the road and jungle. Finding no other alternative, everyone took shelter in that desolate Lord Shiva temple. The surrounding jungle trees were excited due to force of storm – rain –thunder – lightning. At the dusk – early hours of morning at a very lucky moment, the crises of a newly born baby was heard form the temple. At the same moment, a divine voice was heard, which shivered the sky – air, and surpassed the storm, rain – thunder – “the great man MahaAnand has appeared in this temple as an incarnation of Lord Shiva, to bring salvation to the innocent, evil doers, infatuated persons in this very early morning. Not only in India, to show the true light to the whole world – he has come to give salvation from Innocence – Blindness, …….” All storm – rain – lightning suddenly vanished. After a while the golden sun rays of the morning illuminated the eastern horizon – gradually every side became lighted. From every side, the forest area became lively – joyful, due to chirping of birds.
As per the instruction of Divine Voice – Gouranga Sundar with the newly born baby and Subhadra Devi, started journey for own home. After coming close to house, saw many peoples gathering. At the early hour’s of the morning while fisherman went to catch fish, from a nearby pond, a Lord Shiva idol of stone came up in his net. Seeing Subhadra Devi coming on a bullock-cart with a baby-Shiva in the lap, all the public shouted in joy. And just then, the sky-air was filled up with unique light. Heavenly music with heavenly flowers showered down in form of showers of rain all around.
New temple has constructed, and with great celebration that Lord Shiva idol was established. Traditional religious and social custom was celebrated gorgeously on that same day, centering around the divine child. Unpredictable, many ascetics, monks from different states, came to that festival. They have come from very far distance to see the divine child. Many of them blessed the child and many of them laid down on the ground with face down, hands joined as praying to respect the child. After being satisfied with the food, the ascetics returned to their destination. MahaAnand’s life is filled up with numerous miraculous incidents. Here I am mentioning some incidents in short –
After MahaAnand grew up to be a little big, he used to take out sometime from his play times, and very often, used to go and meditate, in the new Lord Shiva temple, near the house. One day his play-mates while finding – could not find him any where and at last went to Lord Shiva temple and saw, very deep inside the temple, almost in the darkness, idol of a lighted boy was seen engrossed in deep meditation. So much light, that, the eyes were bewildered due to light. With the purpose of viewing properly, when they were going to proceed, just then hearing the snake’s hissing sound, looked properly, saw two big snakes with their hoods upright, blocking the rods.
From that childhood, many came to him to take suggestion regarding many facts. Whenever any religious instruction was seeked, he rose against religious madness – blindness, superstition, improper conduct, im-moral sexual conduct, jealousy – hatred, torture of priests, deceitfulness etc. he said, whatever causes the development of mind, is only the region. The only purpose of following the religion is to attain self-development. One category of people, by falsely alluring to attain God, for self-motive fulfilment, whatever is said and done – that may whatever be – not human religion – this idea is felt by him.
Many a times, many have taken his shelter and many serious diseases has cured completely and gradually they became his devotees.
Once a time a very ill-fated – ill-conditioned – penniless came to seek shelter, he instructed that person to follow MahaDharma (great religion) – ‘MahaVad’ and – he dose meditation, repeating God’s name silently, worship, and on every Thursday, the person helds Maha religious ceremony at his home. With his publicity and achieving good practical results gradually the number of participants started increasing, in his ceremony. Very strangely, within six months, the person’s enormously had development. Gradually he became lucky from every side. Not only the external developments, but also his inner developments started taking place unimaginably.
Once a evil doer from the under world, came to see MahaAnand, and good changes started taking place, in his mind. Then that person, in order to get back to the good path, seeked shelter of MahaAnand. He then gave that persons to drink a glass of water (specially powerful) and told him to repeating the God’s name (MahaAnand) continuously – silently. By following this instruction perfectly, such good changes took place in that persons immediately that he became a real true saint. By seeing his development, all became astonished. MahaAnand said, “Why onlt I will become MahaAnand, you all also became MahaAnand.
At a very early age, he left home, visited many inhabited place, religious places, all over India, at last, went to the Himalayas Mountain and settled. Majority of the time he lives in hardly accessible areas of Himalayas beyond the eyesight of public. There he initiates some special persons, at different times. At present due to effort of some of them Maha Anand Holy Association (MAHA) has been established. We are trying our level best to spread the religion – preaching – sermons shown by MahaAnand and let others know the easy and real ways of self-development in the whole world. Let us come together, and be enlightened with divine light of MahaAnand and become Maha Anand (very happy).
LEAH GARCHIK writes in the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I am informed by ADDA DADA , who never misses a party, that the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest was TWERKING JESUS. And "Why carry your cross when you can ride it?" is what REBECCA ZITO when she spotted a cyclist so accessorized.'
In Wednesday's Leah Garchik column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
www.sfgate.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Dancing-in-t... ............................................................................................SISTER's of PERPETUAL INDULGENCE's 35th Annual HUNKY JESUS & FOXY MARY fun....The best thing about the Sister's show were the Marijuana 4/20 folks who incorrectly wandered into the Sister's party space...They were like "OMG, This is like , OZ, man."
Yes, it was.
Probably because it was the Sister's 35th Anniversary and it was an homage to the Wizard of Oz. The lawn in front of the stage was filled with red-paper poppies. There were several 'Cowardly Lions", many "Glenda the Good Witch", a couple of 'Bad Witches" including one on a bike...a very young 6-year old Judy Garland passing out Giradelli Chocolate, an awesome Scarecrow of indeterminate sex, a few Tin Men (and one obviously Tin Woman), and even a couple of 'munchkins'...yes, real little people. Though, ADDA DADA is happy to report that there were no Flying Monkeys.
THANK YOU to all the beautiful adults who let ADDA take their photos! (Everyone was properly asked & everyone consented.)
(These photos carry copyright protection. Do NOT post them elsewhere! )
============================
THE 'NUDES' ARE PROPERLY MARKED EITHER RESTRICTED OR MODERATE ON ADDA'S SITE! (EVERYONE PHOTOGRAPHED IS OVER 18-YEARS-ONLY!) There is NO stolen PORN on my site!
============================
NOTE: MY photos are NOT to be used or reproduced, COPIED, BLOGGED, USED in any way shape or form. Understand clearly these are my photographs and use of them by anyone is an infringement of my copyrights and personal artistic property!
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
*************************************** ***********
NOTE:
Viewers should be aware that these photos are viewed by a wide variety of folks and inappropriate X & R rated & RUDE comments shall be removed forthwith
Write this down wanted some promos done and I wanted to try to use my fog machine. It was much more difficult than I thought to get the fog to show. I probably should have used some lights in the front but not shining on them to just shine through the fog cuz the front is a little bare. ANd believe me the room was literally loaded with fog. SO much we could taste it! haha it was a good experience.
Anyhew they wanted really dramatic and tough looking. For my first time with the fog machine it went well. KUDOS to their tour manager for being the fog sprayer!!
you can check out their tunes at www.myspace.com/writethisdown
2-580 EX II flashes to upper right with handmade snoots from cereal boxes
With apologies to my father, whose printing press this was, and A.J. Liebling, whose quotation I altered.
"Letter Home: Private First Class Larry C. Marble (Mount Vernon, New York) takes a break from his duties as an 81mm mortar gunner to write a few lines home. Marble is with the 26th Marines in Operation Bold Mariner on the Batangan Peninsula in South Vietnam. The Marines are digging out the Viet Cong infrastructure that infiltrates and terrorizes Vietnamese villages and hamlets (official USMC photo by Staff Sergeant Bob Jordan)."
From the Jonathan F. Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections
OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
Sponsored by The Writing Center, Washington University Libraries, The First Year Center, The Office of the Vice Chancellor, and Stressbusters sponsored WUSTL's second-ever Write-In event on Wednesday, April 16, from 7 to 11 p.m. on the first floor of Olin Library. Writing Center staff and research librarians were on hand to answer questions, help with the writing process, and provide research assistance. Refreshments were served, and Stressbusters provided free back rubs for some stress relief during the writing process. Pizza was delivered at 9 p.m. to fuel the late-night writing.
Human Writes
Performance installation by William Forsythe and Kendall Thomas
Concept: William Forsythe / Kendall Thomas
Stage / lighting / costumes: William Forsythe
Sound design: Dietrich Krüger / Niels Lanz / Thom Willems
Performance at the United Nations Office at Geneva - Feb 23, 24, 25.
In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Over 50 years later, in a joint project with Professor Kendall Thomas, The Forsythe Company focuses on the act of inscribing basic rules for both the individual and society. «Human Writes» is a performative installation that reflects the history of human rights and the continuing obstacles to their full implementation.
(Imanuel Schipper)
The Geneva performance of Human Writes was undertaken with the support of teh UN office at Geneva in cooperation with the Permanent Missions of Switzerland, the United States, and Germany.
Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe’s Remarks at the Opening of the Human Writes Performance: geneva.usmission.gov/2012/02/27/ambassador-donahoe-welcom...
See the Wiliam Forsythe Website for more information: www.williamforsythe.de/installations.html?&no_cache=1...
U.S. Mission Photos by Eric Bridiers
Sponsored by The Writing Center, Washington University Libraries, The First Year Center, The Office of the Vice Chancellor, and Stressbusters sponsored WUSTL's second-ever Write-In event on Wednesday, April 16, from 7 to 11 p.m. on the first floor of Olin Library. Writing Center staff and research librarians were on hand to answer questions, help with the writing process, and provide research assistance. Refreshments were served, and Stressbusters provided free back rubs for some stress relief during the writing process. Pizza was delivered at 9 p.m. to fuel the late-night writing.