First Looks category archive

As of right now, the worst is supposed to be north of us, so the local broadcast media is not yet in “Ohmygodweareallgonnadie” mode.

Not yet.

Clouds are already looking ominous.

Addendum, 12:51: Raining enthusiasstically.

Addendum, Nighty-Night Time: The rain shower ended in about an hour. Since then, clouds, no apocalypse. My ISP sent me a useless email assuring me that they are on the job. I know they are on the job; I have my beefs with them, but stability is not one of them.

But this gem from Delaware Liberal, followed by this one admitting at least one–er–mis-prediction.

My old stamping grounds are ground zero for landfall.

Off to drink liberally.

Via Balloon Juice.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and talk about anything in a relaxed atmosphere.

When: Thursday, October 25th, 6 p.

Where:
Croc’s 19 Street Bistro
620 19th Street (Map)

More here.

Reactionaries (re)in action.

Via Balloon Juice.

In Cali. Where else?

A gray, 2-inch rock that hit a Novato home is the first confirmed chunk of the meteor that dramatically exploded over the Bay Area, a scientist said Sunday.

Lisa Webber, 61, found the meteorite in her yard on Saturday, three days after the object fell onto the roof of her home on St. Francis Avenue. She had heard a strange sound at the time but didn’t think twice about it until she read a Chronicle story saying debris from the meteor would be found in a band stretching east of San Rafael toward Napa and Sonoma.

Actually, this is a neat story, especially as no one got hurt and no damage seems to have been done.

Kerry Dougherty, professional curmudgeon for my local rag, someone with whom I usually disagree, is spot on in her remembrance of Roger Oberndorf.

I met Roger over two years ago, at the opening city council campaign event for my friend Andrew Jackson, on the hottest day of the century (well, I might exaggerate slightly, but not much–it was not a good July day for a outdoor fish fry in a backyard notably lacking in shade). We never became close–just casual acquaintances who met from time to time at various events.

It was Roger who explained to me the reasoning behind the screwy system here in Virginia Beach for electing city council; he did it clearly, concisely, and patiently.

He always had time for strangers.

He was a good man.

It died long ago, a victim of boredom (of the readers). It’s about Time (heh) someone noticed.

I suspect that, as a digital entity, it will be the Geocities of news sources, hanging on by its electrons long after the crowds have faded away.

Deep in the wilds of Chesapeake.

In Sunday’s local rag, Carl Fincke describes his experience sailing on a container ship as a paying passenger from Philadelphia to Panama.

A luxury cruise ship it wasn’t, but he had a great time.

It’s a good read.

Off to drink liberally. Join us.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and help our chapter leader celebrate her birthday.

When: Thursday, September 27th, 6 p.

Where:
Croc’s 19 Street Bistro
620 19th Street (Map)

More here.

Off to drink liberally.

Note: During the election season, meeting day has been moved to Thursday.

Drinking Liberally is a gathering place for liberals. Socialize and laugh in a friendly atmosphere.

When: 6 p., Thursday, September 13.

Where:
Lola’s Caribbean Restaurant
328 W 20th St (map)

Details here. Meetup page here.

I went to a Hooters once.

Back when I was a road warrior, I was stuck for a week in the suburban wasteland north of Atlanta and running out of restaurants for dinner. So, in a spirit of public service and exploration, I figured I’d try the Hooters in the parking lot of the shopping center about two blocks up the street.

Anyone who has ever traveled for business will tell you that dinner is normally the high point of the day.

I was not impressed. The aggressive mediocrity of the menu was slightly surpassed by the lackadaisical service, but not by the skill of the kitchen.

And, frankly, Hooters’s most publicized selling point doesn’t interest me, not because I don’t like to admire the flowers, but that I favor spotting them in the wild instead if looking through a glass at a garden on display. A stolen peek is more interesting than a burlesque show (not that the poor kids working in that dive would have qualified for burlesque).

Then there’s the smarmy sanctimony of Hooters’s efforts to rationalize their name . . . .

From Bloomberg:

There’s reason to look for a happy balance. After Hooters’ U.S. revenue peaked in 2007 at $960 million, the recession took a toll, pushing down sales every year since, according to Technomic Inc. Revenue dropped 3.4 percent to $858 million last year, while U.S. full-service restaurant revenue increased 1.8 percent, data from the Chicago-based researcher show.

Hooters, which is facing increasing competition from other so-called “breastaurants,” including Titled Kilt and Twin Peaks, is vying for customers as U.S. consumer confidence declines and prices for raw ingredients rise. Confidence among Americans fell in August by the most in 10 months as households grew more pessimistic about the economic outlook.

Offered without comment:

Traffic cameras along Ga. 400 remained on the blink Friday, apparently because of the repeated thefts of copper and fiber-optic wiring that connects the cameras to the state Department of Transportation’s nerve center.

Are the political conventions over?