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Demitasse Dance at Té House of Tea

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 02:43:41 -0500

Come and dance with all the lovely friendly Houston dancers on Saturday, June 22, at Té House of Tea, 1927 Fairview, Houston, 77019. 9 p.m. to Midnight. A variety of music that we call “Groovy Swing”! FREE! Tucked away on the corner of Fairview and Woodhead, Té House of Tea boasts over 130 different teas and a myriad of interesting dishes from Panini to Korean Barbecue. Just be open to listen/dance and be a good customer or drop a dollar in the tip jar.

"chat n' chow at Té" -- Dancers can come early to meet up for dinner! BYOB: They don't have a license to sell alcohol, but they're completely fine if you bring your own - they have a small corkage fee, and plenty of wine and champagne glasses for your convenience.

Prom Night at the Continental Club, Friday, May 31

Fri, 31 May 2013 18:51:07 -0500

Remember your senior prom? Relive that unforgettable night -- but get it right this time. The Disco Expressions band whips up the groove, fashion, and attitude so you can party like it's 1979! The Allen Oldies Band starts it off. Watch video here. Cover is about $10 for a great night of dancing and looking your funkiest in vintage prom attire. Ages 21+. For the prom clothes, shop the Salvation Army Family Store, 2208 Washington Avenue, in Old Sixth Ward, to “pop some tags” with only “twenty dollars” in your pocket. Also try the StyleCycle resale shop, 246 W. 19th Street, in the Heights.

Grady Gaines's 79th Birthday Bash

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:34:53 -0500

Grady Gaines was saxophonist and bandleader for Little Richard’s band the Upsetters. Together they recorded classics like "Long Tall Sally" and "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On". Gaines and the Texas Upsetters play a very special gig on Friday, May 17, 9:30 pm to 1:30 am. The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, 5731 Kirby Drive (south of Bissonnet, between Firestone and Domino’s Pizza). A measly $5 cover.

Roger Ebert (1942-2013)

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 16:47:39 -0500

I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. -- Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert, the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, passed away today from cancer. Although I never met him, I feel as if I’ve lost a friend. I can directly credit Mrs. Eichorn, my 11th grade English teacher, and Mr. Ebert’s movie review TV show (paired with Gene Siskel) that inspired me to study film and video in college. I would not see a film until I first read his review. The cancer that took away his ability to speak and to eat solid food in 2006, seems to indirectly led him to become even more prolific. His fascinating essays (on any an all subjects under the sun) on his blog were also a revelation. His last post, only two days ago, sounded both hopeful an fateful. He announced multiple exciting new projects as well as thanking his many loyal readers as he commemorated 46 years as the Chicago Sun-Times film critic.

Ferengi Investment Advice

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 16:11:19 -0500

Probably about as good as any other advice your going to get:

The Ferengi on Stock Picking: Rules 184 & 191: A Ferengi waits to bid until his opponents have exhausted themselves.

The Ferengi on Financial Advice:
Rule 59: Free advice is seldom cheap.

The Ferengi on a Long-Term Investing Outlook:
Rule 34: War is good for business. Rule 35: Peace is good for business. Rule 162: Even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit.
The Ferengi on Risk:
Rule 8: Small print leads to large risk.
The Ferengi on Socially Responsible Investing... Or Not:
Rule 261: A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience

Dinosaurs in Love

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:52:04 -0500

Scientific American goes there: “Scientists historically skirted the subject of how dinosaurs had sex, out of modesty and an absence of evidence.” But now “computer models can test the plausibility of putative mating positions.”

Houston Wins $1 Million Bloomberg Mayors Challenge

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:34:12 -0500

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced today that the City of Houston was one of five winners of the Mayors Challenge, “a competition to inspire American cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life – and that ultimately can be shared with other cities to improve the well-being of the nation.” Providence, RI received the $5 million grand prize, while Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Santa Monica, CA were awarded $1 million each. Over 300 cities submitted applications. That number was pared down to 20 finalists. Watch this video presentation of Houston’s winning entry: "One Bin for All is a revolutionary idea for residents to discard all materials in one bin, treating "trash" as valuable assets and dramatically increasing recycling using game changing technologies."

The Republican Response

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:27:53 -0600

Les Miserables Homage by South Korean Air Force

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 23:06:58 -0600

Les Miserables is perfectly schmaltzy in any language. The Post calls it a parody but notes that “the video is so polished and professional, not to mention enthusiastic in its embrace of the Les Miserable musical at its most melodramatic, that it’s hard to know what to call it.”

Sixty-Two-Year-Old Albatross Gives Birth

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 23:37:36 -0600

The Post reports that “...[Wisdom] has likely flown up to 3 million miles since she was first tagged at Midway Atoll at the end of the Hawaiian Island chain in 1956, according to scientists who have tracked her at the U.S. Geological Survey. That’s ‘4 to 6 trips from the Earth to the Moon and back again with plenty of miles to spare’ the USGS said in an enthusiastic announcement Tuesday. ‘It blows us away that this is a 62-year-old bird and she keeps laying eggs and raising chicks,’ said Bruce Peterjohn, chief of the Bird Banding Laboratory at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel.”

Financial Disclosures for Houston-Area Texas Legislators

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 11:33:33 -0600

“Because Texas legislators are not paid full time for their public service, they work for professions and business interests affected by legislation, creating a potential for conflicts of interest.” The Chronicle reports, “Rep. Gary Elkins, R-Houston, led the fight against payday loan controls during the last session while acknowledging that the proposed restrictions would hurt his personal payday loan business.” This web tool to enables easier access to personal financial statements from area elected officials.

Actors sing live in the Les Misérables film

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:58:31 -0600

Of course musical actors do this everyday, but this is unusual for movies: In the film adaption of the blockbuster musical Les Misérables the actors sing live (as opposed to lip synching to their own soundtrack). I’m sneaking in a box of Kleenex for this one. Watch this behind-the-scenes video.

Jon Stewart Does Push-Ups for Wounded Veterans

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:42:21 -0600

Paula Broadwell challenges Jon Stewart and her husband, Scott Broadwell, M.D., to a push-up competition to benefit Team Red White & Blue. Visit www.teamrwb.com to donate. Watch video here:

Why the Oblique Hate Bill Maher

Sun, 4 Nov 2012 11:48:09 -0600

Maher combines incisiveness, wit, and bluntness that drives disingenuous wing nuts up the wall.

Mexi-Mitt's Spray Tan

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:57:29 -0500

Coppins and Cramer at BuzzFeed have the scoop on Mitt’s recent mestizo appearance:

“Romney's ever-changing complexion has been a point of public curiosity throughout the campaign, especially after his appearance at a Univision forum in September. There, his unusually dark skin tone prompted conspiracy-minded Tweeters to speculate...”

“But Romney's darker-than-usual complexion at the forum was actually the product of an exceptionally fresh spray tan, the source said. And while the web has been rife with speculation about the candidate's coloring, no one has found it more obvious than people in the tanning industry.”

“Tamar Vezirian, owner of New York-based mobile airbrush tanning service Gotham Glow, said she's received e-mails from clients and friends who saw the candidate on TV and said, ‘Oh, did you see Mitt Romney's spray tan? Why didn't he call you?’”

“‘His hands were really dark, and the neck was white,’ Vezirian said after watching Monday night's debate. ‘It was very uneven, and it didn't look natural at all. You can always tell by looking at the hands and the neck. On camera, it shows up a lot more too.’”

Mitt, show me your papers!

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 23:01:33 -0500

Last night Mitt Romney told 50 million Americans his father was Mexican. Mitt, where's your long form birth certificate?

What the President said and did...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:26:16 -0500

During the debate tonight Mitt Romney repeated his lie that it took the President two weeks to call the September 11, 2012, attack in Benghazi, Libya, an act of terror. Mr. Obama’s exact words: "No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done." Remarks by President Obama on the deaths of U.S. embassy staff in Libya, September 12, 2012.

Romney also said that Obama “quadrupled” regulations on business. This is what the President actually has done according to data reviewed by Bloomberg News: "Obama’s White House has approved fewer regulations than his predecessor George W. Bush at this same point in their tenures, and the estimated costs of those rules haven’t reached the annual peak set in fiscal 1992 under Bush’s father...”

Google Celebrates Star Trek at 46

Sat, 8 Sep 2012 11:59:27 -0500

Today the Google home search page has an interactive logo that celebrates the 46th anniversary of the original Star Trek series. Click all over the image to enable fun animation and sound effects.

The Obama Only Republicans Can See

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:27:17 -0500

That says it all.

Dancing at Lights in the Heights, Saturday, December 10

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:48:15 -0600

Imagine George Bailey's Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve. On December 10, 6- 9 p.m., Bayland and Woodland Streets (between Studewood & Beauchamp) in the historic Houston neighborhood Woodland Heights are lit up with the holiday spirit. Homes will be fabulously decorated with colorful lights and elaborate awe-inspiring displays. Porches and front lawns will become stages for carolers, handbell choirs, and many other musicians and performers. Luminaria on the sidewalks will illuminate the route. Don't be surprised if homemade cookies and apple cider are offered to you by the generous hosts. There will be dancing in the streets. At 4 p.m. we will meet up at Beaver’s, 2310 Decatur, to go dancing in the streets. Watch the video from 2009.

The Cost of Medical Paperwork

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:14:02 -0500

The Sick Cost of Medical Paperwork. The U.S. spends about $400 billion on paperwork and other administrative costs.

How Public Sector Cuts Impact the Black Middle Class

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:34:56 -0500

The African-American unemployment rate is twice that of the white unemployment. The New York Times asks “What will the shrinking of the public sector mean for the black middle class?”

Can't Keep Ignoring Right-Wing

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:39:26 -0500

Matthew Goodwin, who has spent four years interviewing far right activists, writes that Anders Behring Breivik was “dismissive of crude racial supremacist and neo-Nazi ideas and parties that espoused these ideas, naming for example the British National Party (BNP).”
“This distinction between traditional race-based forms of rightwing extremism [...] and a new anti-Muslim narrative reflects a broader change within the European far right. Rather than oppose immigration and Islam on racial grounds (an argument that would attract little support), the emphasis shifts on to the more socially acceptable issue of culture: Muslims are not biologically inferior, but they are culturally incompatible, so the argument goes. The aim is to open modern far right groups up to a wider audience.”

The following sounds eerily familiar and too close to home:

“Through websites, literature and meetings (all of which, it seems, Breivik was exposed to), this movement cultivates several narratives among its followers: the belief that they are engaged in a battle for racial or cultural survival; that their racial, religious or cultural group is threatened by imminent extinction; that existing political options are incapable of responding to this threat; that urgent and radical action is required to response to these threats in society; and that they must fulfill this duty in order to leave a legacy for their children and grandchildren. These motives provide followers of far right and fundamentalist groups with a compelling and convincing rationale for getting actively involved. Foremost, these citizens perceive that a wider community is under threat, whether from al-Quaida, supranational organizations such as the EU or UN, immigration or the growth of settled Muslim communities.”