To Whom Are You Drinking Right Now?

[leleboo]

William Safire. Grammarians, neologists, linguists -- nunc est bibendum. *clink*

[JPW]

For a long time now, the magazine has been my justification for shelling out the greenbacks for the Sunday NYT. The "On Language" column is a weekly read that I look forward to for enlightenment and education.

RIP, Bill.

[qwertyy]

For a long time now, the magazine has been my justification for shelling out the greenbacks for the Sunday NYT. The "On Language" column is a weekly read that I look forward to for enlightenment and education.

RIP, Bill.

True dat. I still remember clearly the look of consternation on my mother's face when, in high school, I told her how much I enjoyed William Safire's column. She didn't know he had a language column; I didn't know he had a opinion column. Once the confusion was cleared up, much relief ensued.

[dcs]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

[leleboo]

True dat. I still remember clearly the look of consternation on my mother's face when, in high school, I told her how much I enjoyed William Safire's column. She didn't know he had a language column; I didn't know he had a opinion column. Once the confusion was cleared up, much relief ensued.

Ditto! I'm pretty sure my father looked at me in utter horror when I first mentioned loving Safire (also back in high school). We used to read it for fun on Mondays, sitting outside the Latin classroom (our teacher invariably ran late, coming from his chamber music conducting gig across town); sometimes (when feasible) we'd get him to turn the column's topic into a word game for us.

[Waitman]

Many years ago, before such sales were banned, a couple of longhairs set up a head shop on a folding table in the vicinity of 19th and K. Safire wrote a whole "On Language" column on their slogan "Everything you need for the head of the house and the house of the heads." The framed it and taped it to their card table, near the bongs and the pipes and the papers. Who knew that hippies read the Times?

As a speechwriter myself, I will toast Mr. Safire at dinner tonight.

[bioesq]

We will be drinking very good whiskey in New York tomorrow to celebrate the arrival of my first grandchild, Piper. She is healthy, very vocal and, thankfully, doesn't look like me. This has been a wonderful journey.

[JPW]

We will be drinking very good whiskey in New York tomorrow to celebrate the arrival of my first grandchild, Piper. She is healthy, very vocal and, thankfully, doesn't look like me. This has been a wonderful journey.

Excellent! Congrats!!

PS - I love the name.

[bioesq]

Excellent! Congrats!!

PS - I love the name.

How very nice of you to write that. Thank you. To the best of my knowledge, since I have no dead relatives that would qualify for the "Piper" name, I am assuming that the kids either had a wonderful champagne dinner in Lisbon nine months ago, or paused "The Hustler" in their condo at the appropriate moment.

[KMango]

To Ardi.

Via Ethiopian spiced tea.

[Pool Boy]

To my wife! She just got a promotion!

[goodeats]

More to what, in this case. Happy 57th anniversary to the little bar code patent!

[KMango]

More to what, in this case. Happy 57th anniversary to the little bar code patent!

CHEERS!

[qwertyy]

To Vacation. And taking it before you need it.

[dcs]

Young & Hungry is reporting Ben Ali passed.

[goodeats]

Young & Hungry is reporting Ben Ali passed.

WTOP did as well. Sending good thoughts to his family, as WTOP also reported that he recently celebrated his 51st wedding anniversary.

[KMango]

To Ardi.

Via Ethiopian spiced tea.

Looks like I'll be doing more toasting.

Discovery Channel October 11 Ardipithecus Feature

I need to think of some Lucy-themed beverage...

[dcs]

Captain Lou Albano. Tonight I'll lift a Piledriver for you, Lou.

[JPW]

Captain Lou Albano. Tonight I'll lift a Piledriver for you, Lou.

Say what you will, but the guy could sport a gumband like no one else. RIP Lou.

[deangold]

I'm from the Freddie Blassie and Jon Tolos days of wrestling {and Roller Derbie with Ralphie Valaderis} but I will certainly hoist a glass in the Captain's honor!

[ol_ironstomach]

To the new Formula One Drivers and Constructors champions. Next season promises to be even more interesting.

[dcs]

Soupy Sales. That man could take a pie in the face like no other. He also gave as good as he got.

[goodeats]

Miss brave little Shiloh Pepin.

[dirtymartini]

To the internet, happy 40th! To internet porn, happy 39 years, 364 days, 11 and a half hours!

[leleboo]

Claude Levi-Strauss.

Dinner tonight may have to include both the raw and the cooked.

[dcs]

To the democratic process. It's election day, folks. Don't forget to exercise your civic duty and vote early and often.

[Pat]

To Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, for an amazing show last night. Special kudos to Clarence Clemons, who, at nearly 68, played sax like someone a fraction of his age. So many songs with the saxophone last night. Wow. I loved it, but I can't imagine how he did it. I should find something better than Bud Light for the toast, though...

[Waitman]

To Claude Levi-Strauss. Born in Nimes, France, Claude first was the first to use the stiff blue fabric milled in the region around his home town in the tailoring of the heavy-duty work clothes increaingly in demand in the rapidly industrializing South. This "tissue de Nimes" -- now known to buyers around the world simply as denim -- revolutionized the art of trouser making and this new style, known as "le jean" is not only forever linked with Levi-Strauss, but their distinctive color has given its name to French national football team, known affectionately as "les bleus".

He will be missed.

[jparrott]

Len Bias. I was 8 and playing in my yard when I heard. Grew up a lot that day. The ESPN doc airing right now brings a lot of that back.

[Anna Blume]

This "tissue de Nimes" -- now known to buyers around the world simply as denim -- revolutionized the art of trouser making...

Not only pants or clothing. Let us not forget the seminal contribution made by Les Structures élémentaires du parapente (1949).

[Lydia R]

Kimberly Munley, CIV tough stuff.

[adambernbach]

Abe Pollin.

[JPW]

Abe Pollin.

Amen. He was one of the good guys.

[ol_ironstomach]

To Bill, racing driver, teacher, enthusiast, mentor.

[hillvalley]

To good news from doctors (not mine).

[Sthitch]

To my friend Ric on his 40th birthday, being in a coma is a really execrable way to spend it.

[goodeats]

To Joe Riley -- superhero shoplifter-stopper to the rescue! Great job!!

[ol_ironstomach]

To Arthur Sicard, inventor of the modern practical snowblower (1925). And to my generous next-door neighbors.

[dlebby]

Arnold Stang

[leleboo]

To my Grandma Lolly, alav ha-shalom, who on December 22 would finally put down the rolling pin, untie the apron, and leave the kitchen with its twenty dozen (nope, not kidding) Christmas cookies she'd baked for all the folks who worked in Pop's scrapyard -- all neatly done up on beautiful trays, ready to be handed out at work the next day.

And then she'd have some bourbon.

[JPW]

Joe Strummer. Alas, I couldn't make the gig at The Passenger tonight.

[Heather]

Joe Strummer. Alas, I couldn't make the gig at The Passenger tonight.

Same here. Can't believe it's been seven years already.

[JPW]

Me! For finally getting the data sets out the door! Got my christmas themed hawaiian shirt and my Santa hat on!

All together now - "Tiny Bubbles"

[DanielK]

The George Michael Sports Machine.

Sigh.

[DonRocks]

The George Michael Sports Machine.

Sigh.

Let's go to the videotape.

(George Michael at his finest and absolutely worth watching from start-to-finish - the skiing scene is unbelievable).

[DanielK]

Nice job on the bellyflop, Don.

[Pat]

I'm amazed that I hadn't realized before that he was also one of the DJs I listened to on Philadelphia radio as a kid. Weird.

[LauraB]

George Michael...I miss you. You and Glenn Brenner made me a sports fan. RIP.

[sheldman]

Vic Chesnutt, musician and songwriter. Sad to see you go.

[bookluvingbabe]

Vic Chesnutt, musician and songwriter. Sad to see you go.

Sigh. I just listened to an interview he did with Terry Gross on Fresh Air in the last few weeks.

[legant]

Percy Sutton

[DanielK]

To Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, now SIR Patrick Stewart. Cheers!

[DonRocks]

To Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, now SIR Patrick Stewart. Cheers!

He was apparently stirred by the honor (Sean Connery was shaken).

[porcupine]

To the man who became my boyfriend 24 years ago today.

[DonRocks]

To the man who became my boyfriend 24 years ago today.

Whatever happened to the guy?

[porcupine]

Whatever happened to the guy?

Steve beat the crap outta him!

[MrPorcupine]

Whatever happened to the guy?

Meadowlands, somewhere around the 50-yard line...

[dcs]

To Art Clokey, without whom the phrase “I’m Gumby, dammit!” would not have found its way into the modern lexicon, as channelled through Eddie Murphy.

[KMango]

To Art Clokey, without whom the phrase "I'm Gumby, dammit!" would not have found its way into the modern lexicon, as channelled through Eddie Murphy.

I've gotten so many miles out of Gumby references these past (cough cough) years, I at least owe Clokey an epic-level toast.

Perhaps I will try to bring a Cordouroy-clad Gumby to Friday's happy hour so we can all join in.

(an "a" grade on a "d" quality poster)
(the determining factor in a class president election)
(just two of countless ways gumby has made my life better)

[leleboo]

To Conan O'Brien, for being smart, hilarious, strangely cute, and refusing to go quietly into the next morning.

I don't really watch the late-night shows anymore (cf. his point about TiVo), but if I ever have to make a statement to the press, I am so totally beginning it with, "People of Earth:" too.

Also: his awesome speech to my graduating class. (For the record, he was much funnier than "seminal wage-price theoretician Amartya Sen" -- but it was a hard act to follow. )

[hillvalley]

Miep Gies, who never considered herself a hero. Time to pull the diary off the shelf and give it another read in her honor.

[Sthitch]

To my friend Ric, 40 is far too young to leave us.

[qwertyy]

To all of my buddies on their way down to Haiti to launch the aid response. Godspeed, friends.

[KMango]

To all of my buddies on their way down to Haiti to launch the aid response. Godspeed, friends.

*echo*

[Poivrot Farci]

No one. I donated this week's meager drinking allowance to Unicef so that some less fortunate hemispheric neighborhood kids might have access to potable water.

[legant]

R.I.P. Robert B. Parker, 1932-2010

[DonRocks]

R.I.P. Robert B. Parker, 1932-2010

You scared me for a split-second.

[qwertyy]

To all of my buddies on their way down to Haiti to launch the aid response. Godspeed, friends.

Again--still--to the buddies who are there, now facing a stark, grim, relentless reality, and that somehow, they'll be able to keep going.

[DonRocks]

To Earl Wild.

Here he is at age 88, playing his own transcription of The Mexican Hat Dance.

And here is French pianist Olivier Cazal playing my favorite piece written by Wild: a transcription of George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm (*) (Cazal plays the original first, then begins the Wild version at 0:56). This masterful etude remains inexplicably obscure, and deserves a place in the standard concert repertoire (certainly as an encore piece).

Cheers,

Rocks.

(*) Homage

[ol_ironstomach]

To the "conscience of the Senate", former US Senator from Maryland "Mac" Mathias.

And to Jim Podoley, former Redskin (1957-1960), insurance agent, and all-around good guy.

[Scott Johnston]

Robert Burns! 251 years old

[Sthitch]

To Bobby and Ric for a night of great Burgundies and topped off with a mind blowing impossible to get RM Champagne.

[Merry Mary]

To Earl Wild.

Here he is at age 88, playing his own transcription of The Mexican Hat Dance.

Wow, thank you for this.

[legant]

Howard Zinn, historian and activist

I wanted students to leave my classes not just better informed, but more prepared to relinquish the safety of silence, more prepared to speak up, to act against injustice wherever they saw it. This, of course, was a recipe for trouble. -- From his autobiography: "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" (1994)

[goldenticket]

J.D. Salinger (and Holden Caulfield).

[bookluvingbabe]

I hate January. Too many deaths. Too many funerals.

Raising my glass to Howard Zinn and J.D. Salinger. And to my friends struggling with their loses as well...

[KMango]

Chris Collins

(unicum, bourbon, and anything from terry theise)

(a thousand glasses raised in unison)

(say hi to the angels, buffys, and malcolms in heaven)

[dcs]

Howard Zinn

[Sthitch]

Gao Zhisheng who was disappeared one year ago today and I shutter at the idea of what horrors have been visited upon him.

[Sthitch]

To Mr. Akbar Zib, some how I can imagine the conversation at the Saudi Foreign ministry going something like this.

[leleboo]

The New Orleans Saints!

[Ilaine]

The New Orleans Saints!

Yes!

[Lydia R]

There was a special toast to our cul-du-sac neighbor and his snow blower. This possibly Harley-Davidson-modified model made a meal of our toothsome precipitation. Dry pavement in our driveway!

While we weren't able to supply his first choice, Miller Lite, hopefully he and his wife enjoyed his second: a stray Chardonnay [sterling 2007] from our magic closet in the basement.

[JPW]

John Murtha. RIP. Largely responsible for the continuing existence of the city of Johnstown through his massive earmarking.

[dcs]

Watching the opening ceremonies I had to pour another glass of wine in honor of Jeff Buckley. Hallelujah. Chilling.

[Lola007]

Drew Brees and Who Dat Nation!

[legant]

Lucille Clifton -- a bold black female writer -- who helped me define myself time and time again

My Mama has made bread

and Grampaw has come

and everybody is drunk

and dancing in the kitchen

[captcourt]

k.d. lang, for having a perfect voice, for wearing a three-piece suit at the opening ceremony, and for giving me a brief reminder of my late 20s.

If you didn't see it, here: "Hallelujah" at the Vancouver opening ceremony

[goodeats]

To the Year of the Tiger -- Happy Chinese New Year all!

[leleboo]

Alexandre Bilodeau, who just delivered Canda's first Winter Olympics gold on home soil.

(This one's for you, Elizabeth.)

[pedrsmit]

To Nawlins....Drew Brees & Reggie Bush - what a kick ass athletes should be like -- my Saints, my fading memories of living on South Carrollton Street, next to Camelia Grill, Cooter Browns, Maple Leaf Bar and Muddy Waters.....and buying my Kink Cake and crawdads at Christiana's...

[Dave Pressley]

.....and buying my Kink Cake

Is that a King Cake with a ballgag?

[pedrsmit]

... a King Cake with a bearded baby....[sorry, sliced off the tip of one of my typing fat fingers yesterday...]

[Merry Mary]

Always get it up for the touch of the younger kind.....

Doug Fieger, leader of the power pop band The Knack who sang on the 1979 hit "My Sharona," died Sunday. He was 57.

And, it's snowing again. Waaahhhh

[qwertyy]

To luck. Because I'm on the waitlist for Komi, Rasika, and Eve Tasting Room, and I need ONE of them to come through. (Or for my brother to give me more than two weeks' notice when coming to town. )

[leleboo]

To our very own GennaroE, who went above and beyond the bonds of friendship and braved germs not only to keep this sickie company but to bring comedy DVDs and play video games. He even brought me dessert -- and beer. Thanks, kiddo.

[The Hersch]

Kiko. My sweet little dog, she's being so good. Here's looking at you, kid.

[Keithstg]

Team USA. Way to run the table in prelims!

[leleboo]

To my friend Nate, the economist about whom I posted before. He's gotten some job offers here in town, which is the greatest news in a long time.

And even if he manages to turn them all down (...tear!), he sent me a gift certificate to Palena.

Freakin' best friends since 8th grade...

all my love, Mr. N.E.W.

[leleboo]

To Ryan Miller, for 36 saves tonight and 42 a week ago. Only a goalie can feel in the body, show in the eyes, that pain when the last save ... doesn't. MVP well-deserved. That was goaltending the US -- and Mr. Miller -- should be proud of.