Ben & Jerry's: Make The Why and How of the 49ers Move to Santa Clara
Gregg Easterbrook has a fantastic update on the status of the Niners' proposed move to Santa Clara in today's Tuesday Morning Quarterback:
Recent passage of a ballot initiative clears the way for the Squared Seven's new stadium in Santa Clara. The plan is for a $937 million structure -- a bargain compared to the $1.7 billion Monstrosity in the Meadowlands -- with $114 million paid directly by the city of Santa Clara, $330 million loaned by the city and the rest raised by the team and league. Backers of the plan say the city could receive $155 in rent and profit sharing, plus the city would receive $150 million in new revenue for the Santa Clara municipal utility. (Many California cities own power plants.) What's the plan -- leave the stadium lights on all night? California politicians and public-service commissions have for years been pressuring consumers to reduce electricity use. Suddenly, Santa Clara thinks it's good that a new stadium would increase fossil-fuel consumption. Here is the story behind the story behind the story of why the Niners are leaving San Francisco.
Why Inglourious Basterds’ Basement Was Brilliant
In Tarantino's world, this is the last thing a Nazi should ever see.
Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds was one of his very best films. When a friend of mine disagreed and, shockingly, told me he hated it (emphasis his), I thought it might be worthwhile to explain why I loved the movie so much.
To illustrate, I noted that every / single / line / by Brad Pitt, in the role of Lt. Aldo Raine -- the Gentile leader of a special group of American Jews tasked with raising terror and killin' Nazi's -- was dominant.
Specifically, I loved his lines in the Tavern Scene.
Lt. Aldo Raine: You didn't say the goddamn rendezvous was in a fuckin' basement.
Lt. Archie Hicox: I didn't know.
Lt. Aldo Raine: You said it was in a tavern.
Lt. Archie Hicox: It is a tavern.
Lt. Aldo Raine: Yeah, in a basement. You know, fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement!
Why is that so funny, you might ask. Well, I can explain, (quite nerdily, I'm sure), in three steps.
Cutest Kids Costumes. EVER.
THAT’S BJORN BORG AND MARIO BATALI
The hair. The belly! But where's the beard? The Batali costume is a great idea, and could also be the basis of an Iron Chef group set or a pairing with Gwenneth Paltrow...
Venn Undead, Overlap
Maybe this explains the current popularity of vampires and zombies in the U.S. But alas, no love for ol' Frankie...
Pics Of The Pup
C watches while Kira naps
From now on, I'll be posting photos of Kira to this location. Enjoy!
The Fruity Tree
The Fruity Tree
Meeting Inspiration
I had the rare opportunity to meet Dave Eggers today, one of the great writers and advocates of my generation.
More directly, Eggers was the first person I'd ever known who found a way to express the daily frustration, anger, despair and isolation associated with being part of a challenging family.
He was signing copies of his latest book, Zeitoun, at Green Apple Books and, because he only advertised via the McSweeney's newsletter, there were only a few people there.
As the line was short, Dave took the time to chat with just about everyone, and he was as humble and open as his writing leads one to expect.