Friday, March 23, 2012

Are You a "Dog" Person or a "Cat" Person?

Are there differences between "Dog People" and "Cat People"? Eric Barker of Barking Up the Wrong Tree assembles some research that suggests that in fact is the case:

"Forty-six percent of respondents described themselves as dog people, while 12 percent said they were cat people. Almost 28 percent said they were both and 15 percent said they were neither.

-Dog people were generally about 15 percent more extraverted, 13 percent more agreeable and 11 percent more conscientious than cat people.
-Cat people were generally about 12 percent more neurotic and 11 percent more open than dog people."

More at Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Tales from the Outer Circle: 'The Night The GOP Got Soul'

Non-commercial, marginalized blogger that I am, I wistfully admire the cool professional work done every day by professional journalists, particularly those who cover the New York City political scene. And, as they work hard, this fortunate group also enjoy the opportunity to play hard, as members of the Inner Circle, an organization of NYC reporters and journalists, that annually puts on a black tie event, the Inner Circle Dinner, at which they trenchantly satirize the City of New York powers that be, and are answered, in kind, in a theatrical performance by the Mayor and his (and no doubt some day, her) own inner government circle of advisors and minions. Although I have never attended, I am always fascinated to learn about this event. This year,  I was pleased to learn that veteran NYC political reporter Dominic Carter---who had, through a series of unfortunate personal and legal issues, experienced a fall from grace, but who apparently has now resolved/recovered/re-emerged, and is back on the NYC scene as a reporter for RNN-TV and newsblogs---will appear in this year's Inner Circle show, "Pre-Occupied", performing as former GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain.

This reminded me that earlier this year, dreaming of the Inner Circle from my Outer Circle Perch,  I had written a little IC-style parody about the rise and fall of Herman Cain, based on  the classic tune by The Band, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

Clearly, while my ditty no doubt pales in comparison to whatever Mr. Carter and his colleagues will perform, I felt I may as well lay my own Humble Effort out there on DITHOB for posterity. Remember, folks, it is a parody laced with satire that has stepped in doggerel, but here it goes:

THE NIGHT THE GOP GOT SOUL

(To the tune of "Night the Drove Ol Dixie Down" with apologies to Herman Cain, an admittedly ambitious and interesting GOP candidate, and, of course,  Jaime Robbie Robertson...)

Herman Cain is the name and I’m running for Pres-i-dent
Til Bimbo eruptions threatened/to scuttle my whole campaign
Just a year on the campaign trail, Palin’s out, and Perry’s short-term memory had just a-gone to hell, 
By New Year’s Day, Bachmann too had fell, it was a time, I remember oh so well…

(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.

Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day in ‘08 she called to me,
“Herman, quick, come see, there’s a Negro president on the Tee-vee!"
Now I don't mind the fast food game, and I don't care if bimbo’s try to smear my name.
The White House’s tried the rest, now it’s time to try the best,
I say, Time to send Barack home to Chi-town for a resssssst!

(Chorus):
The Night The GOP got soul, and the bells were ringing,
[Scat singing] The Night The Grand Ol’ Party got soul, and the people were singin'. They went
Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine-a, Nine Nine-a, etc.

Like Silent Cal before me, I will stump the land,
And tell of Solyndra and Obama-care, which my Tea Party crackers just can’t stand.
Sure, Obama’s Ivy League, proud and brave, but Godfather’s Pizza’s the flag I proudly wave,
(Big Finish:) Like the cheese below my feet that does oooze ,
I'm Herman Cain! and my candidacy's one offer you simply can’t refu-u-u--u-se!…

(Chorus and fade)

--Anthony Napoli

2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars

2012 Brooklyn Rising Stars Mentor of the Year Curtis Sliwa

The Home Reporter, the chain of community newspapers that is expanding its coverage in Brooklyn, held its First Annual 2012 Rising Stars Awards event at the wonderful Abigail Kirsch Steiner Studio 6 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The evening included community trade fair and extensive networking opportunities. The award acknowledges up-and-coming leaders in Brooklyn's business, political, education, community service, and arts communities. Star of Stars Awards went to Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio. Mentor of the Year went to the ever-opinionated founder of the Guardian Angels, and aspiring King of All Media, Curtis Sliwa.

Christina Moore, Miss Brooklyn 2011, received the Rookie of the Year award. Among the notable rising stars, City Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams; Justin Brannan, legislative and communications director for Citycouncilmember Vincent Gentile; Renee Altomonte, vice president and retail market manager, TD Bank; Rachel Amar, community relations manager, Waste Management; ; Warren Chan, president, Asian Community United Society; Christian Charvet, sales manager, Sovereign Motor Cars, Ltd-Mercedes-Benz; Ryan Condren, managing director- leasing, CPEX Real Estate; Julia Dawson and Carey Balogh, co-founders/owners, Frolic Playspace; Tina Roth Eisenberg; founder, Tattly; Michael Esposito, owner, Cebu Restaurant; Charles Fabbella, associate broker/partner, Ben Bay Realty Co. of Bay Ridge., LLC; Gabriela Falquez, licensed real estate broker, Rapid Realty NYC: Cynthia J. Felix, deputy network leader, CFN 612, New York City Department of Education; Father Michael Louis Gelfant, pastor, St. Finbar Roman Catholic Church; Aisha Browne Glover, vice president of external affairs, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation; Pamela Golkin, board member, Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation/music teacher, The Child Legacy School; Dr. Jared Hoffman, owner, Keller Chiropractic of Williamsburg; Jamie Johnson, regional director of golf events and fundraising, American Golf Corporation; Mehmet Kilic, vice president, Turkish Cultural Center; Renata Landskind, attorney and partner, Connors & Sullivan Attorneys at Law; Joe LaSpina, vice president, Maple Family Centers; Erin Leigh, Manager of Inside Sales, NETS Basketball; Jonathan Levin, president, Cardinal Trade Group; Kevin Mahoney, assistant GM, Brooklyn Cyclones; Dr. Jennifer Kulp Makarov, reproductive endocrinologist, Genesis Fertility; Dr. George Malayil, retina specialist, ophthalmology, Preferred Health Partners; Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis; Robert Manse, designer and president, Robert Manse Designs; Kevin “Kato” McKessey, senior, vice chairperson of senior college affairs, CUNY Student Senate; David Meade, executive director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation; Daryl Meyers, development agent, Subway Development of Brooklyn; Eileen Mora, director, Fort Hamilton Child Development Center; Frank Morizio, Jr., financial advisor, MetLife; Jeanette Nigro, vice president, economic development, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Phil Penta, Jr. co-owner, 3 Guys from Brooklyn; John Quaglione, deputy chief of staff and press secretary for State Senator Marty Golden; Amanda QuiƱones, AVP Branch Manager, Flushing Bank; Linda Sarsour, executive director, Arab American Association of NY; Arthur M. Shtaynberg, Esq., CEO, LicensePro, LLC;  and Daniel Woods, associate director transaction services, Grubb & Ellis Company.

Two local not-for-profit organizations -- the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation -- were beneficiaries of a raffle held at the event.

Current Reading

  • Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War- Tony Horwitz
  • A Sultan in Palermo - Tariq Ali
  • Hitch-22: A Memoir - Christopher Hitchens
  • Negropedia- Patrice Evans
  • Dead Funny: Humor in Nazi Germany - Rudolph Herzog
  • Exile on Main Street - Robert Greenfield
  • Among the Truthers - A Journey Among America's Growing Conspiracist Underworld - Jonathan Kay
  • Paradise Lost - John Milton
  • What Is Your Dangerous Idea? Thinking the Unthinkable - John Brockman
  • Notes from the Edge Times - Daniel Pinchbeck
  • Fringe-ology: How I Can't Explain Away the Unexplainable- Steve Volk
  • Un Juif pour l'exemple (translated as A Jew Must Die )- Jacques Cheesex
  • The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
  • Pale King - David Foster Wallce
  • David Bowie: Starman bio - Paul Trynka
  • Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat - Andrez Bergen
  • The Future of Nostalgia -Svetlana Boym
  • Living in the End Times - Slavoj ZIzek
  • FIrst as Tragedy Next as Farce - Slavoj Zizek
  • How to Survive a Robot Uprising - Daniel Wilson
  • Where is My Jet Pack? -Daniel Wilson
  • Day of the Oprichniks - Vladimir Sorokin
  • Ice Trilogy - Vladimir Sorokin
  • First Civilizations
  • Oscar Wilde -Andre Maurois
  • The Beats - Harvey Pekar, et al
  • SDS - Harvey Pekar, et al
  • The Unfinished Animal - Theodore Roszak
  • Friends of Eddy Coyle
  • Brooklands -Emily Barton
  • Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahme-Smith - Entertaining and historical
  • Dictionary of the Khazars - Pavic
  • Sloth-Gilbert Hernandez
  • War and Peace- Leo Tolstoy
  • Charles Addams: An Evilution
  • Life in Ancient Greece
  • Time - Eva Hoffmann
  • Violence - S. Zizek
  • Luba - a graphic novel by Gilbert Hernandez
  • Life in Ancient Egypt
  • Great Apes - Will Self - riveting and disturbing
  • Lost Honor of Katherina Blum - Heinrich Boll - could not put it down
  • Yellow Back Radio Brokedown - Ishmael Reed (author deserving of new wide readership)
  • Living in Ancient Mesopotomia
  • Landscape in Concrete - Jakov Lind - surreal
  • 'There Once Lived A Woman Who Tried To Kill Her Neighbor's Baby'-Ludmilla Petrushevskaya - creepy stories - translation feels literarily "thin"
  • Mythologies - William Butler Yeats (re-read again & again)
  • How German Is It ? - Walter Abish
  • The Book of Genesis - illustrated by R. Crumb - visionary
  • "Flags" - an illustrated encyclopedia - wish I could remember all of these. Flag culture
  • Sirens of Titan - Kurt Vonnegut
  • Ubik - Philip K. Dick
  • Nobody's Fool - Richard Russo
  • Hitler's Empire - Mark Mazower
  • Nazi Culture - various authors
  • Master Plan: Himmler 's Scholars and the Holocaust - Heather Pringle
  • Eichmann in Jerusalem - Hannah Arendt
  • Living in Ancient Rome
  • Traveling with Herodotus -R. Kapuszynsky
  • Oblivion - David Foster Wallace - Some of his greatest work
  • Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace - still wrestling with this great book
  • Netherland - Joseph O'Neill - staggeringly great read
  • Renegade - The Obama Campaign - Richard Wolffe
  • Mount Analogue - Rene Daumal
  • John Brown
  • Anathem - Neal Stephenson - love Stephenson but tough slogging first few chapters
  • 7 Deadly Sins
  • ALEX COX - Alex Cox
  • FIASCO by Thomas Ricks
  • I, Fellini - Charlotte Chandler & Federico Fellini
  • Best of 20th century alternative history fiction
  • Judah P. Benjamin - Eli Evans - Confederacy's Secretary of State & source of the W.C. Field's exclamation
  • Moscow 2042 - Vladimir Voinovich - Pre-1989 curiosity & entertaining sci fi read; love his portrayal of Solzhenitsyn-like character
  • Gomorrah - Roberto Saviano - Mafia without the It-Am sugar coating. Brutal & disturbing
  • The Sack of Rome - Celebrity+Media+Money=Silvio Berlusconi - Alexander Stille
  • Reporting - David Remnick - terrific journalism
  • Fassbinder
  • Indignation - Philip Roth
  • Rome
  • Let's Go Italy! 2008
  • Italian Phrases for Dummies
  • How to Pack
  • Violence - Slavoj Zizek
  • Dali: Painting & Film
  • The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight - Jimmy Breslin
  • The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin
  • Spook Country - William Gibson
  • A Blue Hand - The Beats in India - Deborah Baker
  • The Metaphysical Club - Louis Menard
  • Coast of Utopia - Tom Stoppard
  • Physics of the Impossible - Dr. Michio Kaku
  • Managing the Unexpected - Weick & Sutcliffe
  • Wait Til The Midnight Hour - Writings on Black Power
  • Yellow Back Radio Brokedown - Ishmael Reed
  • Burning Down the Masters' House - Jayson Blair
  • Howl - Allen Ginsberg
  • Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
  • The Palace Thief - Ethan Canin
  • John Adams - David McCullough
  • The Wooden Sea - Jonathan Carroll
  • American Gangster - Mark Jacobson
  • Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Gawker Guide to Becoming King of All Media
  • Jews and Power - Ruth Wisse
  • Youth Without Youth - Mircea Eliade
  • A Team of Rivals - Doris Goodwin
  • Ghost Hunters -William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death - Deborah Blum
  • Dream -Re-Imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy - Stephen Duncombe
  • Love & Theft - Eric Lott
  • Exit Ghost - Philip Roth
  • Studio A - The Bob Dylan Reader

Current Listening

  • Alexi Murdoch Wait
  • Wilco Summer Teeth
  • Wilco The Album
  • Carmina Burana - Ray Manzarek (& Michael Riesmann)
  • Polyrock - Polyrock
  • 96 Tears - Garland Jeffries
  • Ghost of a Chance Garland Jeffries
  • Yellow Magic Orchestra
  • Mustang Sally Buddy Guy
  • John Lee Hooker
  • Black and White Years
  • Together Through Life - B. Dylan
  • 100 Days 100 Nites - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  • DYLAN: 3 disc Greatest...
  • Glassworks - Philip Glass
  • Wild Palms - Soundtrack -Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • Dinah Washington - Best of..
  • Commander Cody& His Lost Planet Airmen Live at Armadillo