Well, it’s officially springtime, and so it’s time for some spring cleaning. You know, out with the old and in with the not-quite-so-old. Gotta get rid of those thoughts that keep bouncing around in one’s head lest they metastasize and you turn into Bobby Fischer or something.
• I see that Arizona Daily Star cartoonist Dave Fitzsimmons has the same weird obsession as I do. We both are addicted to crackpot, right-wing talk radio. And, to be fair, the reason that we only listen to crackpot, right-wing talk radio is that there really isn’t any such thing as crackpot, left-wing talk radio. A big reason for that is that there aren’t enough liberal listeners to sustain such a radio station. Liberals are too busy being teachers and nurses and people who help society to sit around and listen to Al Franken drone on.
That leaves Dave and I to listen for everybody else. I highly recommend it. If you’re driving the kids to school or running errands in the morning, tune in. I especially enjoy the callers, who, apparently, walk among us disguised as normal human beings. I sometimes feel like I should get some of those special glasses like Rowdy Roddy Piper had in They Live that allowed him to see the skeletal aliens who were using phrases like “Deep State” to infiltrate humankind.
Now, if we could only find that mind-altering transmitter and destroy it!
• One of my favorite things is that the guy on the local morning show who keeps referring to his man-crush as “The Trumpster.” Unless he went to a charter school, he’s GOT to know what that rhymes with.
• Joe Biden brought out that old, tired line about how if he were back in high school, he would take Donald Trump back behind the gym and beat the hell out of him. That’s lame. But then, the person who is supposed to be the Most Powerful Man in The Whole Wide World took the bait and unleashed a Twitter storm in response.
Now, I’ve never been in a fight, mostly because I’m charming as all hell. But I’ve always believed that fighting is stupid (unless it involves Steven Seagal in one of his earlier movies). It was stupid in high school and it damn sure would be stupid if it involved two septuagenarians.
Having said that, if Bob Arum could find a way to make Trump–Biden I: The Slapfight In D.C. work, I would be willing to break my lifetime pledge never to buy a pay-per-view event.
• This is a serious get-off-my-lawn moment, but I can’t understand why people are always trying to back into parking spaces. First of all, most of them really suck at it. And they try to do it at the most inopportune times (for others). I just don’t get it. You’re going to have to back up sooner or later, but if you’re backing out of a parking space, you’re at least moving into a relatively open area so there’s room for maneuvering. But if you’re squeezing into a space between two other vehicles just so you can pull away easier when you’re leaving, you stink. (Unless you’re in law enforcement or yours is an emergency vehicle.)
This appears to be the latest extension of the syndrome that is defined by the behavior of “I’m a lousy driver but I think I’m a great driver and where I’m going is more important than where you’re going.”
I was at Costco the other day and this guy in a big-ass truck was trying to back into a space. Now, there’s nothing wrong with driving a big-ass truck; this is America and you can compensate anyway you want. The guy tapped both of the cars that were on either side of the space before he gave up and drove away. And then he gave me the stink-eye as though my impatience had prevented him from fulfilling some sacred duty.
• I saw the Mayor of Tombstone on the TV news the other night. Not surprisingly, they referred to Tombstone as “The Second Amendment City.” But then, Mayor Dusty Escapule said that he supported a ban on the AR-15 because it has only one use, that being the killing of lots of human beings in a short period of time.
That was cool, but what’s really cool is that the mayor of a town is named Dusty. That’s cooler than Bud or Gus or Mac. Our mayor has a mayor’s name, Jonathan. He’s a nice guy and does a good job, but just think if he had a nickname like Dusty. How ’bout Knuckles Rothchild?
• I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time around this season explaining that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Also, there are 47 days (not 40) between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Believe me, when you give up fried chicken for Lent, you know how many days it’s been. I’ll see you at Popeye’s after Mass.
• Oh yeah, a high-school athletic director called me the other day and asked if I was interested in applying for the head coaching position for his boy’s basketball program. I told him that I wasn’t interested and then he said, “But you’ll be coaching boys.”
Apparently, that’s a step up in his world.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2018.
“That leaves Dave and I to listen for everybody else.”
Should be: “That leaves Dave and me to listen for everybody else.”
I would attribute the lack of left-wing talk radio to the fact that six major media conglomerates own virtually all the media. 25 years ago it was 50. But then came the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Trump Ve Biden, the thrillah in Vanilla!
And here is our Chief of Police …WARNING, he didn’t even get cited for running a red light.
http://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-police-chief-pulled-over-warned-for-traffic-infraction/article_42cf9b84-338d-11e8-91dc-43873eb989a9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
Too funny, the Crackpot calling the kettle black. I am a liberal and anyone who is not is a moron. We know Tom, now how about some real journalism.
I did write “Dave and me.” Somebody changed it. I, too, am weird about grammar.
You’re weird about everything. Did you put your hate for everyone who looks at life differently than you away for a few hours so you could go to Easter Mass? What a hypocrite.
28 dislikes already. All right !! I guess I hit a sore spot among Tommy’s L.L.L. ( Legion of liberal losers)
Mark – How about some real criticism? This is a column. It’s editorial writing. There is no journalistic requirement to been even-handed when writing editorially. With which point in the column do you disagree?
1 – Right-wing talk radio is replete with crackpots?
2 – Biden’s taunt (and Trump’s reaction) was lame?
3 – Backing into parking spaces makes little sense?
4 – Dusty is a great name for the mayor of a town like Tombstone?
5 – How many days are there between Ash Wednesday and Easter?
6 – Being offered a “boy’s” job is an automatic step up for a coach of girls?
Pick one. Argue it.
As for CW13 – What do being hateful and attending mass have to do with one another? If one had to “put away” every vice in order to participate in a religious service, would anyone qualify to attend one ever?
Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity. Mark Levin. Michael Savage and our own Garret Lewis. Not a crackpot among them. According to Pulitzer Tommy they’re all crackpots because they don’t agree with him.
If you have to swallow your hatred before entering church, maybe you should just stay home. That’s why I spend my Sundays doing any one of a dozen things that don’t involve Church. At least I’m honest. Tommy is a typical “Sunday Catholic”. Anybody who can’t tolerate anyone that doesn’t agree with him isn’t very Christian.
Yes but without a hell they are free to hate everyone without repercussion. I think the Pope has wondered off the plantation.
CW13 – It wouldn’t take too much effort to make a credible argument that Michael “99% of those diagnosed with autism are just brats” Savage, Rush “take that bone out of your nose and call me back” Limbaugh, and Mark “Obama’s going full Mussolini after the election” Levin might qualify as crackpots. And, believe me, I don’t blame you for leaving Glenn Beck and Alex Jones off your list.
Like you, I don’t attend church. However, if one has some hatred to swallow maybe, for them, church is exactly where they should be. To suggest they “just stay home” seems kinda close-minded for someone so quick to make criticism like this: “You’re weird about everything. Did you put your hate for everyone who looks at life differently than you away for a few hours so you could go to Easter Mass? What a hypocrite.”
I never heard them say any of those things. I doubt you did either. Unless it was something taken out of context on C.N.N. Funny how you fail to mention anything positive. Every year Limbaugh has his annual radiothon for lymphoma where he collects a ton money to fight that horrible disease. One year I even shamed Tommy into matching my 20 dollar contribution.
As far as your last paragraph, if you want to accuse me of being close minded, so be it. I’ll still sleep tonight.
To be clear, I said it “seems” rather close-minded to push your “maybe haters should stay home from church” angle just one day after bagging on someone else for being critical of those that “look at life” differently. And closing with calling them a hypocrite. Just seemed a little “crackpot/kettle” to borrow a phrase. I have no idea how open-minded you are or are not, generally.
As for “failing to mention anything positive,” why would I have that burden? i didn’t post a comment saying they were irredeemable, or even that they are not potentially, personally fantastic. I simply said a valid argument can be made that some of the people on your list are crackpots. Speaking of…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Prp9qhyt… – for Savage
Limbaugh admitted to making that statement in a Newsday article
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRgvr5ymnp… – for Levin (at about 2:42)
I don’t know brad. You seem awful interested in me for some one who doesn’t even know me. You also seem very interested in radio talk show hosts.
No comment about Linbaugh’s radiothon. Of course not, it’s something positive. By the way, did you ever get back to N.Y.C. and try Rizzo’s pizza?
Rizzo’s pizza – Some Trip Advisor Reviews
1) The emperor’s new clothes…. Comes to the LES
You read the great reviews, the newspaper accolades, you are sure this place will be great.
If you know the fable of the emperor’s new clothes then you know how perceptions can have inertia.
This place is not deserving of its ratings. The dough is too soft, the flavours are too bland, the experience is underwhelming.
What a horrible meal! Do your self a favour and go to a popular place like price St pizza or a gem like Harry’s pizza.
If you are reading this, it’s not too late to change your dinner lunch plans. You’ve been warned.
See all 4 reviews by drunkadvisor for New York City
2) Ian A
Tallahassee, FL
155
Reviewed September 20, 2016
Bad Pizza
I had high hopes for lots of good pizza during my recent trip to NYC, but Rizzo’s and another place proved to be huge disappointments. The square pizza seems like a gimmick and there’s almost no cheese at the edge of each square slice. The cheese and sauce were pretty lousy and the crust was just okay. Would not recommend.
Ask Ian A about Rizzo’s Fine Pizza
Thank Ian A
3) Kerryn R
Melbourne, Australia
56
Reviewed January 31, 2016
Terrible service
We waited 1.5 hours for almost cheeseless pizza. It was pricey and the servers would not serve anyone who came in and stood at the counter, until we all asked to be served. We’ll never eat there again.
Thank Kerryn R
It’s been quite a few years since I was there and places do change. I’ve only eaten there once or twice and always found it to be good.
CW13 – It is true that we don’t know each other personally. And your charge that I seem “awful interested” in you just seems like a dodge. Danehy bashers are fond of repeating the criticism that when liberals are presented with facts on these boards, they don’t respond. You claim that I probably haven’t even heard the quotes I included. I provide video. And you pivot. Then you ask me a “personal interest” question about Rizzo’s. You’re making this too easy.
Unfortunately, I have not yet been to Rizzo’s. And, despite the comment above, I am still committed to a slice on my next trip to NYC. As promised, I will give a full report when that day finally arrives.
I looked up the Radiothon. It looks fantastic. For fun, I also learned that Michael Savage runs a scholarship program, and Mark Levin does great work with rescued animals. Glenn Beck is involved with many charities, and Alex Jones once offered a million dollars to charity for Chelsea Clinton’s paternity test. Observations I gladly make since they don’t impact the “crackpot” debate in the slightest.
You have your thoughts, I have mine. At least we added a little excitement to Tommy’s column which has a bit bland lately.