Month: September 2007

  • Italian, Thai & Green Gas

     

    Last night my cousin and I went to my aunt and uncle’s house for a delicious spaghetti dinner.  My uncle told stories of the war, which I always find fascinating and we had a really nice time:

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    Jonathan flew in from DC this weekend so went to dinner at Naraya.  The food was great, and the company even better.  Sumaytee Kaemchit treated us like honored guests and a good time was had by all.

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    On the way home I stopped for gas at the coolest looking gas station I’ve ever seen:

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    Americans always complain about the price of gas, but at $2.90 a gallon, it’s about the cheapest in the world.

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    That’s my silver Honda

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    The station is owned by British Petroleum, and according to their website, it’s a whole new kind of gas station.  The gas was actually cheaper than at the last place I  bought gas.  If you live in Los Angeles, check it out!

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    About the station

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    At the corner of Olympic and Robertson in Los Angeles, you’ll find a new kind of gas station. It isn’t like an ordinary gas station.

    We started with the typical, everyday station on that corner and renovated it in an eco-friendly way — a little greener in its design and materials and in its use of water and energy.

    It’s not a prototype “station of the future.” It’s a station for today that’s a little better, a living lab where we can try out ideas for other stations and where people can find ideas they might want to bring into their own lives. It’s a kind of a conversation between BP and people who come into the station, a conversation about how we can both move up a notch on the greencurve.

    This idea grew out of BP’s commitment to balancing society’s need for energy with a responsible approach to the environment. It reflects our belief that small steps in the right direction can make a difference.

     
    This is a unique gas station, a little better for the environment than a typical station. And yet, still not as green as might be possible with today’s technology. Not as green as we hope to make it in the future.

    Water
    From the rain to the drain, this station requires less water, wastes less water and pollutes less than a typical gas station. Click to see some of the ways.

    The Facility
    This station was built by “upcycling” an old, not-so-green gas station. The new design incorporates a lot of unusual features that reduce its environmental impact and allow us to operate a gas station here in a much more sustainable way. Some of these features could be added to other stations and other kinds of businesses. Click to find out more about them.

    Materials
    Recyclable, recycled, sustainable and non-toxic materials were used to build this station, including even the reuse of scrap materials from the construction job itself. Click to get more details about some of them.

    Lighting
    The generation of electricity is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and more efficient lighting is one of the easiest ways to save electricity. Click to see some of the ways it’s been done here.

     
    Did you know that just one compact fluorescent bulb in every U.S. home would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent as much greenhouse gas as taking up 800,000 cars on the road? 
     
     
  • Once

     

    We went to see “Once” tonight.  It was one of the “darlings” at Sundance this year, and as Toby told me, there was a lot of hype surrounding this film.  It earned a rare 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn’t mean as much for an indie film with fewer reviews, but it’s still impressive.  I loved the music, and watching the musical process as it played out.  The streets of Dublin are always a good setting for a movie that never takes itself too seriously.  It rests on the talent of the music and the the two untrained actors that perform it.  Though I found “Guy” the lead character far less appealing than Chris Martin who he seemed to be modeled after, he was the perfect complement to his unattainable romantic interest.  The lead actress was mesmerizing, and though the ebb and flow of their relationship was frustrating at times, it was also refreshing.  All in all, I liked the movie better than The Commitments.  If you’re a fan of Irish music you’ll love this film.  Now if someone would just make a movie about The Pogues!

     
     

  • Tap Three Times With Your Loafer if You Want Me


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    The article below about Larry Craig (the toe-tapping menace), was in the Huffington Post the other day.  I haven’t written anything about the Craig case yet, because the blogosphere, as well as the late night comics have been doing a pretty good job (not to mention Craig himself, and his self incriminations.).  Arianna is right though!  I’ve met some of my best friends by tapping my feet!   I’ve heard that the Minneapolis airport men’s room has become such a popular place for sex that there’s now a line to get in!  One guy was overheard saying, “Who do I have to blow to get a stall around here??”   Seriously folks, of course Craig is a huge hypocrite, but who knew that the people in charge of keeping our airports “safe” had the same job as security guards as Nordstroms?

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    Larry in happier times with his pals Trent Lott & John Ashcroft. Note the great mouth formation.

    It’s funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same.  Last week Craig told the press, “I am not gay and never have been gay”.  And it stands to reason.  He’s against gay marriage, equal rights for gays and pretty much everything on the gay agenda.  In fact, as Jimmy Kimmel noted, about the only thing he’s “pro gay” on is sex!    Isn’t it interesting though that he’s been making these claims for 25 years?  Check out this vintage footage from ABC news of then Congressman Craig from Idaho, proclaiming not to be gay after being “fingered” in a sex & drug scandal with (gasp) Congressional pages in 1982!  (Paging Mark Foley, Mark Foley to the men’s room in Terminal 3.)

    So in the end, Larry Craig did what most people in that position would do.  He lied.  (Paging Bill Clinton, Bill Clinton to women’s apparel, Aisle 8.)  He may have a “wide stance”, but he’s a closeted gay man who happens to be an elected official with a wife and (adopted) children, and feels he has no other outlet for his natural (yes I said natural, would you prefer “God given”?) urges than anonymous sex in a public men’s room.  Newsflash to straight people, it happens ALL the time; in every airport, in every mall, in every campus library in every city in the world, on every single day.  Just think about that, and if you think I’m lying let me know. 

    The Post article below states:

    It’s unsettling that more people here in the land of the free aren’t at all discomfited at leaving it up to the prognostication skills of Sgt. Karsnia [cute cop] and his crack team of B-men to determine what crimes people might have committed if not for the mind-reading and daring-do of Minneapolis’ Special Forces Bathroom Unit.

    In fact, had Craig not been so freaked out and taken the guilty plea (his hometown newspaper was already conducting a 5 month investigation about him having sex with a man in Washington’s Union Station (very cruisy)),  there’s a high probability that he would have never been convicted of the “crime”.

    It’s so interesting to me that people’s feelings on these issues usually depend on whether they are Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives.  But what’s even more interesting is that, more times than not, it’s the Republicans who start the scandal.  God love puritanical America!  (By the way, the Bible is the single most shoplifited book in the world.)

    In a Wednesday post about Craig’s arrest on his blog at www.sexed.org, sex therapist Dr. Marty Klein, author of “The Erotic Prism: New Perspectives on Sex, Love, and Desire” and other books on sexual matters, wrote, “What we should be asking is, why is it against the law to offer a quickie to a stranger? What kind of sick country criminalizes an adult’s non-coercive, non-commercial offer to another adult – just because it’s about sex?… The proper response to a single, non-coercive invitation to do something – anything – is ‘no thank you,’ not ‘you’re busted.’ That’s the lewd, obscene, disgusting behavior: busting someone for an invitation.”

    And, Klein added, “Our nation has again exposed its horrendous ambivalence about its own erotic impulses. In doing so, it has shamed itself, and explained its obsessive concern with enforcing ‘morality’ – i.e., limiting sexual fantasy and behavior. Yes, Senator Craig should be thrown into the Potomac – not for expressing his sexuality, but for preventing the rest of us from doing so.”

    In the Age of Terror, Isn’t Busting Toe-Tappers an Insane Use of Our Law Enforcement Resources?

    In the consensus judgment of America’s 16 intelligence agencies, the terrorist threat to our homeland is “persistent and evolving,” placing our country in “a heightened threat environment.”

  • A Note of Gratitude

     

    Hello GLY’ers,
     
    I can’t thank you enough for your thoughtfulness yesterday.  All I can say is that it is an honor to know each and every one of you.  The words to this song say it better than I can:
     
    We are a family like a giant tree branching out towards the sky, we are a family we
    are so much more than just you and I we are a family like a giant tree,
    growing stronger, growing wiser, we are growing free..we need you..we are a family…
    • Bassam, if I am a naughty, nasty, bad boy, then I’m in good company with you and Bill Clinton (and now good ole’ Larry Craig):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Vs5570pKw 
    • Carolina, if I’m the glue, you are the varnish.  I hope we’re able to spend more time together this year.
    • Hugo!  What can I say?  You’re the Keats to my Yeats, the Stones to my Beatles, one of the truest, brightest shining stars on this planet.  Your words as always are overwhelming, and I look forward to the next 15 years.
    • Bine, lovely wife.  Even though you’re cheating on me with another man, you remain my first love   It is you, with your selfless passion and your kind soul that reminds me every day how to be a better person.  I love you. (You too, Alan)
    • Drizinha – The little sister I never had.  You are an integral part of this family, and you bring so much to our lives.  Though you are thousands of miles away, your light shines brighter than the Brazilian sun.
    • Mom & Dad Diversi, I don’t know that you know how much it means to me when you write me notes, in English no less.  I feel as welcome in your home as I do in my own, and that is a true testament to what wonderful loving parents you are.  My fondest memories in life, are in your back yard with good food and good friends.
    • Beate & Matthias, since you entered our lives we have learned so much.  We have learned what true love looks like, and I have learned to take better pictures!  For all of that, I thank you.
    • Sweet Joelle, I too treasure our friendship.  As fellow Chicagoans we have always been kindred spirits.  I will be here to hold your hand as you slowly enter the 21st century!
    • Claudio, you are my oldest friend (not that kind of oldest, but Happy Birthday to YOU too!), and though we seldom see each other, the laughter we share whenever we are together will last a lifetime.  See you in the nursing home.  Practice your cartwheels (and your English).
    • Emily, our junior member!  Your poise and grace are the perfect complement to your husband’s samba flare!    I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you and your family, and I’m so glad you’re in our lives.
    • Beautiful Eva, you speak from personal experience.  Of the literally thousands of photos I’ve taken of you, I don’t have any without a smile on your face (save for one blurry moment in Seville years ago)   I am honored to share my stage with you and hold your hand always.
    • Vonda, Vonda, Vonda – what can I say?  You said it all in your own inimitable style!  Thank you for being the mother of of this far flung flock.  You’re so very good at that.
    • Tom & Cathy – How wonderful it was to see you last weekend.  Your son is the testament to a life well lived and a love that makes us all gush.  I look forward to many more visits to your palatial gypsy homes!
    • And last, but certainly not least, Marcelo, my brother.  You pulled off the coup of the century.  Who would have thought that the least organized member of our family would be the driving force in a tribute that paled in comparison to anything I’ve ever done.  You have taught me tolerance, kindness and compassion.  Your music and passion are always in fashion.  You were the impetus 10 years ago that merged people from different backgrounds, orientations and views into a cohesive family not bound by blood, but by love.  How do you measure a year in the life of friends?  How about love.
    GLY to you all, and I’ll see you soon, somewhere, some place, some time.  We are family.
     
    –Carey–

     

  • The Best Birthday Gift

     

    Apparently my birthday messages to all of my far flung friends have not gone unnoticed,  because when I woke up this morning I had been sent this wonderful PowerPoint presentation, that touched me like no other birthday gift I’ve ever received.  Marcelo even recorded himself playing the guitar and singing!  You’ll have to hear it to know how beautiful it is.  Thank you to my fabulous friends and thanks to all of you who sent such nice birthday wishes.  I’m truly touched.  Thanks also to my family for such a nice time tonight and to my parents and everyone who called today.  42 isn’t bad at all!  Thanks again.  –Carey

    GLY,  friend!!!

    May this day be even kinder to you…

    Here is a techno-humble gift from us.  Forgive my incompetence in packaging the power point slide show with the audio file I made to go along with it.  Daringly, I am asking you to download the music file so you can play it in the background as you watch the slide show.

    Some of us are tech-challenged.  Some of us aren’t but can’t be bothered with it.  But together we have the warmth of a mother’s hug…

    Marcelo

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    This is Marcelo, playing the guitar and singing “I Will Survive”  Gloria Gaynor’s got nothing on Marcelo!  Sorry girls (and boys),  I know his accent is dreamy, but he’s happily married.

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    The “gang” in Brazil on New Year’s Eve

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    And here are a few photos from dinner with my family tonight:

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    Andy & Tressa

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    Where’s Andy?

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    Guess who climbed into the basketball machine??

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    Tommy’s toothless smile

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    Cole & Dar

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    Andy & Lisa

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    Jenn & Dar


    ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
    “After a B-52 pilot flew over several U.S. states carrying nuclear warheads, the Air Force said that it would discontinue its use of MapQuest.” — Newsweek satire columnist Andy Borowitz

     

  • Good Friends, Good Food in the Californian Riviera

     

    Bassam flew in from Jordan on Thursday and spent the night at the Hotel Careyfornia.  Friday morning we headed 90 miles north to Santa Barbara to meet up with Eva & eventually Tom & Cathy who were in Portland visiting Marcelo & Emily the first few days.  The heat in California this weekend broke all records.  We mostly hung out at the water and went to a few movies and had many good meals.  (My diet starts….tomorrow, LOL)  We spent Labor Day lounging around.  Tom & Cathy flew in that afternoon with baby Patrick (how he’s grown) and immediately moved into their new, completely furnished house.  We got some sausage and salmon at Trader Joes and had a BBQ topped off with a flourless chocolate birthday cake.  The perfect end to a perfect weekend.  Here are all the pictures, and below the slide show I’ve included some of my favorites from the weekend.

     
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