Will's career @ The Bee: Nov. 3, 2003 - May 11, 2009*
This headline could have read:
Will gets stung by Bee
Bee lays off 63, including that stud Will
Albritton says 'peace out, homies'
But I prefer this one:
The people in charge told me I should do a farewell blog entry, so please indulge them -- they're losing a bunch of great people, including me. In case you're wondering how I feel about this, here's a photo of me with all my belongings (it's always funny how you're able to fit an entire career into one box):
Out of work? Soon to be? Well, you know what they say: you gotta spend a little to make a little. So, if you're in the market for a new tie, why not consider one with a dual purpose?
Introducing The iTie, priced $35-$55 for most designs, and "made from the highest quality 100% pure silk."
Bored at the new job that you care nothing about because you are in "career transition"?
Waiting in line at the unemployment office but still want to pretend you care enough about your appearance?
Or maybe you just want to impress the ladies with your fascination with all accessories loosely related to Apple products?
Why, just slip the old iPod into the neatly designed iTie pouch, and rock out.
This may seem like a joke that's too good to be true, but it's a real product. Don't believe me?
How long would it take you to make A-Rod's annual salary?
So New York Yankee, cheater and whore contract-to-the-highest-bidder ballplayer Alex Rodriguez made $28 million last season ...
Click here to find out how many years you would have to work to make what our favorite steroid user gets in one year. I'll give you a hint about my income: 700 years. Let's put it this way, he makes my salary in about 3/4 of one at-bat.
... and I liked it. You know, kids, back in my day, in the mid-part of the first decade of the 21st century, the Tower District got its first Thai restaurant in Million Elephant. The food was amazing, and while the service has always been suspect, at least the first bartender they had was great. Plus you could eat at 3 a.m. There's only one word for that, and it rhymes with awesome.
Then Thaiphoon came along. And before its food quality went to [insert non-favorable word here] and it turned into a poor excuse for a booty club, it was awesome, too. While the panang wasn't as tasty as at Million, Thaiphoon won the pad thai test. And the price was right.
As for Buddha (photo courtesy of Mike Oz), it's too early to tell if I'll get tired of it eventually, as well. I had the Mongolian Beef, which was delicious -- if a bit spicy, but worth it. Steven had the pad thai, which looked and tasted a little frou frou for what I'm looking for in pad thai. But the ingredients in both entrees were certainly fresh. For that alone, I'd recommend checking out Buddha sooner than later.
My only question is why the limited menu? There only are a handful of noodle bowls and a few rice dishes; and the menu is identical for lunch and dinner (save 2 bucks on pricing). The appetizers looked interesting alongside the wine/sake list, but there were no prices listed for them. Maybe they're starting with the standards before easing in other delicacies. If that's the case, it's probably the smarter move. Here's just hoping more options actually are on the way.
I'll definitely be going back to try the appetizers and pound back some sake bombs.
But then again, I also went back to Hero's eventually. (God, I eat out too much.)
UPDATE: As promised, I went back last night with a few buddies after performing in a certain Rogue show. I had two Stellas, an order of egg rolls, spring rolls and lettuce wraps (all in the $5.99 range). The bar was niiice, and very comfortable. The bartender was cool and friendly -- and competent. It wasn't super busy, but I'd have confidence in his abilities on a night when it is. Also, I think it should be classified as more "Asian" than strictly "Thai." And I'm officially a fan ... for now.
I'm not giving an opinion here. But when I came across this video a couple of weeks ago, I found it fascinating to see such an out pour of what can only be described as love -- and the heartbreak that could be in store for these families.
Newspaper closing ... not to depress you on a Friday or anything
So the Rocky Mountain News, one of two dailies that cover the Denver area, published its final edition today. The staff was notified a month ago that the paper was up for sale. There were no buyers. The following 20-minute video documents the final days:
Newspapers have folded before. But what I find interesting about The Rocky is this paper seemingly did everything right. It embraced changes in the industry. People loved this paper in that community. And it wasn't enough.
It's clear now that newspapers will continue to fold. The only question is: who's next?
(By the way, today's edition of The Fresno Bee features the Rogue Festival on the cover of its 7, the Friday entertainment section. Donald Munro, who'll be among the Beehivers covering the festival, asked me to simply remind everyone.)
By the way, if you have a theory on who's to blame, post it here.
Unsolicited @replies to random people out in the Tower for Mardi Gras
I went out last night to take a few pictures of people in crazy getups, but I figured < a thousand words would be better ...
@The guy outside Starline with one pair of beads around his neck, smoking a cigarette and talking on the cell phone yet still asking every girl who walked by him if they wanted to flash him for beads: Dude. Seriously?
@The girls who took up other guys' similar offers throughout the night in various places such as outside Babylon: Ladies (and I mean that loosely). Seriously?
@The one woman who already flashed for one pair of cheap beads but came back and asked, "What else can I do for more beads?": Have you never learned the law of supply and demand? Now you're just coming across as desperate.
@The guys who really tried hard to get any action at all: Lemme get this straight ... When the girl says she doesn't want to flash you, you say "OK, no camera." Then when that doesn't work, you ask to just see her bra. You then realize she might be interested, so you up your bead ante. [Hold on, I'm taking notes here.] Then, when all else fails, you ask her to make out with your friend. Finally he gets a peck on the cheek. ... Those are some impressive negotiating skills. I guess you just really have to want it.
@The girl with the bunny ears, black shorts with tail sticking out and really open top (and your friend in the impossibly short police-woman dress with the cleavage):
Bee photographer (and now videographer) John Walker caught some of the sights already seen (more detail of the awesome car, everyone's favorite jester) and some others (someone flashing their nipples for beads) in this video:
John also says he'll be posting some photographic outtakes over at the Bee There blog.
Since Beehiver Donald Munro, friend of the community and arts critic extraordinaire, isn't the type to toot his own horn ...
... I'm merely reminding everyone that once again, he will be live-blogging the Oscars. So check back 5 p.m. Sunday and join in on the discussion. Last year, Donald had 55 comments. When Mike Oz did the Grammys, there were more comments than people watching the show.
I used to love the Oscars. I used to live by them. AllthoseupdatesthatFeliciahasbeen doing ... that would have been me between the early 1990s and the mid-2000s. But something happened on March 5, 2006: "Crash" won best picture over "Brokeback Mountain."
Lemme ask you this: Which film stands up three years later? Did anyone go back and watch "Crash" again? What was its relevancy factor? I ask these questions because the winner of the Oscar best picture award should have better answers than "Crash" would get.
And yet, I still watch. (Oh, Oscar, I wish I knew how to quit you.) But it's not like I care anymore. They've become irrelevant to me. How about you? I'm sure there's been an Oscar mishap that has affected your viewing of the awards show.
So, on behalf of The Beehive, I ask you ... which film do you think should have won an Oscar?
Other acceptable answers: "Armageddon" should have won best visual effects. "Road to Perdition" deserved to be nominated for best picture. "Ice Age" should not have won best animated feature.
Will's career @ The Bee: Nov. 3, 2003 - May 11, 2009*
