Ramblings from a writer, traveler, and insomniac

 
Daniel Pearl's widow gives birth to a son... some good news.
posted by Pauly at 5/31/2002 12:26:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Comment from Dave Simanoff:

"And, on a personal level, thank you for not publishing the link as if it were just another New York Times piece, or political cartoon, or band Web site. I think you've done a very responsible thing here: instead of censoring information, you're forcing people to make a very conscious decision about whether they want to see this video or not. Each of us will be better off because we pondered this issue, as these are the kinds of weighty questions that help us understand who we really are.

As for me, no thank you. As a fellow reporter, American and Jew, my gut wrenches every time I think of what happened to Daniel Pearl, and I don't think I could stomach the video."
posted by Pauly at 5/31/2002 12:25:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Daniel Pearl Video

Theodore Hickman, Jr. of Prohosters.com, the website that hosts the Pearl video says, "This video shows the hand of terrorism that each of us faces, and shows the real (tragic though it may be) outcome of terrorists’ actions."

Daniel Pearl was the South Asia bureau chief with the Wall Street Journal. He was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan because because he was thought to be a member of the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad. His captors made this video, which was meant for means of propaganda and recruitment of young men throughout the Arab world. After he was forced to give anti-American and anti-Israeli statements, Pearl was later executed. My warmest thoughts go out to the Pearl family and friends in their time of grief.

The Tao of Pauly is less than one week old and I have already found myself with a difficult editorial decision. In no way was my possible decision to publish this link meant to glorify, nor sensationalize what happened to Daniel Pearl. After seeing this video, I lost all sense of Political Correctness. Yeah, I am pissed off, repulsed, disgusted, angered, shocked, enraged, want to put my fist through a couple of walls, and yes, I am even afraid. As a fellow writer, and a strong advocate of one of the greatest ideals of America: the freedom of speech, I am compelled to give everyone a forum that which they are able to pick and choose what types of information they wish to pursue and read or watch. That is why I started this site (See my Mission Statement). I do not have anything poetic, nor soothing to say about this right now... I am still digesting the images, as they poke and prod at my brain, my heart and my gut. I am trying to comprehend the fanaticism behind these malicious acts, and I am unable to come to any sort of justification for anything that these terror groups employ. But there is one thing I have come to realize. Reasoning and talking about coexisting with people that want you dead is futile.

As horrible and graphic as the video is, I feel that this is something that we must see. All of us. It demonstrates fairly clearly, the intense hatred against the United States of America, not just by terrorist groups, but throughout the majority of the Arab world. This is the other war being waged against America, the war of propaganda, which we are badly losing. It shows just how far these terrorist will go to spread their message of hatred for America.

You are all adults here. I am not forcing you to watch this video. It is your choice to make. I will, however, warn you the violence is extreme and disturbing. If you think you will be offended by this video, then don't watch it. After viewing the video I understand why Daniel Pearl's family was upset that segements of the video were aired on CBS. Again, my condolenses go out to the friends and family of Daniel Pearl. Due to the graphic content I chose NOT to publish the link, rather I will send you the link, if you request it.

I welcome all of your comments, and my one goal is to on open up a discussion on this serious incident and other related topics of the pitfalls of religious fanaticism in our society.

If you want the link to see the video, Contact Me.



posted by Pauly at 5/31/2002 12:01:00 AM | Permalink |

 
I saw a blind lady on the subway this morning. She had a seeing eye dog. She walked into the middle of the subway car and just stood there. I was sitting in the first seat next to the door, and I stood up and said, "Pardon me, Ma'am, would you like my seat?" She turns her head in my direction, an said, "Thanks." and sat down. Her dog curled up around her legs right in front of her and was quiet the whole subway ride.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 09:00:00 PM | Permalink |

 
World News Update... Suicide Bomber changes mind at last minute from the Jerusalem Post.

Kashmir continues to be a major problem. Defiant Pakistan Threatens to Use NUKES against India, even if India uses conventional war-fare. This has caused concern to Americans overseas in India & Pakistan as the US plans for MAJOR AIRLIFT of thousands of troops stationed in Pakistan and US Governemnt workers in India.

FBI issues possible Missile Launcher warning... be on the look out for shady looking men carrying shoulder surface to air missile launchers.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 04:18:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Bruce Cohen saw Dark Star Orchestra last night at The Vanderbilt in Plainview, Long Island. They performed the Grateful Dead show from: 7.10.81 at the Civic Center, St. Paul, MN. In an E-Mail he wrote, "Great show, have to see them again. Killer Jack Straw opener... qualitative first set... Funky Samson to open set 2, w/ the Jerry Guy riffing well... Good Estimated... havin fun boogeying with the DEADBABES of LI... overall, I had an awesome time, bro!"

Here is the setlist: Dark Star Orchestra 5.29.02, Plainview, NY

1: Jack Straw, Sugaree, Mama Tried> Mexicali Blues, Loser, Cassidy, B. E. Women> C.C. Rider, Ramble On, Let it Grow> Don't Ease Me In
2: Samson, Althea, Estimated> Eyes> Drumz> Uncle John's Band> Playin> China Doll> Uncle John's> Playin> Around & Around> Good Lovin'
Encore: Casey Jones
Filler: Tom Thumb's Blues

posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 11:01:00 AM | Permalink |

 
US ignored Terror Warnings from the French... article from this week's Village Voice.

Funny Political Cartoon sent to me from Simanoff.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 10:42:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Bong Hit!... Police raid West Seattle head shop.

HOLLAND'S HARRY POTTER AIMS TO MAGIC AWAY DRUG CAFES... the Christian Democrats in the Netherlands threaten to close cafes and hash bars throughout Holland, citing increased drug use among their children.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 10:03:00 AM | Permalink |

 
South African Beer buys Miller for $5.6 Billion... story in today's Financial Times. SAB-Miller will become the second largest brewery behind Anheuser-Busch.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 08:48:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Moesha be straight,
Moesha be gay.
Moesha be Jerry,
Moesha be Trey. - Trey Anastasio, Red Rocks 7.18.01
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 08:24:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Dave Simanoff wrote an article in today's Tampa Tribune. Check it out.

2 Brooklyn Grandmas BUSTED for drug dealing... two Russian babushkas were picked up by the NYPD for dealing their pharmies! Funny how life imitates art, eh? I wrote a poem on 5.26.02 and the ironic line was: "as the elderly snicker and sell their medication, to angst ridden suburbian teeenagers."

Salman Rushdie writes an article about Kashmir in today's NY Times, titled The Most Dangerous Place in the World. I wonder if he read my blog about Kashmir?

Ben Harper performed Strawberry Fields on the Tonight Show. I believe it was a repeat telecast, but it was still a solid version, with a horn & string section playing with Ben!... and Trey Anastasio performed Sultans of Swing during the encore of his show in San Diego on 5.28.02. Trey also played Sand last night at his show in Los Angeles. Thanks to Katarina Biaggi for the voicemails about Trey.

AMISH TEENS GONE BAD... Devil's Playground will be aired on CINEMAX tonight 8:30 PM EST, check your local listings. Devil's Playground is a fascinating 2001 documentary that goes inside an Amish community in Indiana to explore the teenage rite of passage known as “rumspringa.” When Amish children turn 16, they are encouraged to experience life outside their community so that they can decide if they want to join the Amish church permanently. In this film, a group of teens discuss the ramifications of rumspringa, including sexual experimentation and substance abuse. Featured: a profile of a teen turned drug dealer; a segment on a girl who was shunned by her family when she quit the church; and footage of all-night drug and alcohol parties. This film was not rated by the MPAA.

Sports News... NETS edge Celtics... New Jersey almost blew another huge lead but held off Boston to take a 3-2 series advantage.... Jason Giambi hit 2 Home Runs with 4 RBIs for the Yankees in last night's win over Chicago.

Big Brother will be watching you!... new guidelines will allow the FBI to monitor the Internet, libraries and religious institutions without having to first provide evidence of criminal activity. Wow. The FBI now knows my favorite website is: Amishteenagegirlswildonspringbreak.com.

Stolen CYANIDE found in Mexico... 70 drums of a stolen shipment of sodium cyanide were found in rural Mexico. Authorities were worried that the hijacked shipment would be used by terrorists to taint water supplies in the Southwestern US. Sodium cyanide is primarily used in mining gold and silver. If inhaled or ingested, sodium cyanide attacks the nervous system and causes quick suffocation.

Popping NY Manhole Covers... 4 exploded near the Empire State Building on Wednesday which rattled the financial markets yesterday, on fears of a new terror strike.
posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 12:12:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Timelessly a poem by Heather Kay Adams

Deep in my soul, in the heart of my being,
lives a still small voice that sings
a song so sweeet and pure
that it knows no words,
only being.

In the center of a rose still unborn,
lies the promise of a nectar
sweet beyond compare,
aphrodisia

Within a world's containment,
beyond the bounds of space
a linking heart to heart,
timelessly.

Heather Kay Adams is a writer from Texas.


posted by Pauly at 5/30/2002 12:02:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Funny Comic for Star Wars and NWO freaks alike. Thanks to The Daily Dave for the E-mail.
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 10:46:00 AM | Permalink |

 
John Wilkins has a new band that performs in Hilton Head, SC. They currently do not have a name. If you would like to suggest a name for his band, send an E-mail to: Wilkins Band Name. I have suggested the following names:

Absinithe & Rum
Scattered, Smothered & Covered
Billy Bob and the Wife Beaters
The Wilkins Mormon Tabernacle Experience
J. Wil and the Big Phat Booty Ho's
Bensonhurst Goombas
St. Mark's Sunday Gospel
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 10:42:00 AM | Permalink |

 
US offers $5 MILLION for heads of ABU SAYYAF... the US Government put a bounty of $ 5 M for the capture of rebel leaders of the Phillippine Terrorist group responsible for the kiddnapping of tourists, including an American couple, still in captivity.
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 07:49:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Pauly's Pub Baseball Challenge... Week 8 Update (as of Mon 5.27.02 @ 9:28am EST)

Top 5:
1. Holla Atmeyoes! (Gil) 2620 (1)
2. Furcal's Phisheads (Pauly #2) 2600 (3)
3. Ty the Cobbster (Ty) 2569 (2)
4. The Bronx (P. von Urkel) 2528 (4)
5. Senor's Sherpas (Senor) 2503 (5)

The Rest:
6. Pauly's Pranksters (Pauly #1) 2467 (7)
7. Rib Boy's Latrells (Derek) 2378 (10)
8. JD McNugent (JD) 2370 (8)
9. Big Sal's Goddfellas (Sal Biaggi) 2338 (9)
10. Dick's Weed (Dick Weed) 2322 (6)
11. Long Island Adermeisters (Steve Ader) 2239 (11)
12. Subway Rats (Spider) 2193 (12)

Team of the Week: Pauly's Pranksters (382 points in Week 8)

The Skinny: Furcal's Phisheads sits in second place, switching places with Ty the Cobbster, but Holla Ameyoes! holds onto first place for the second straight week. Dick's Weed had an awful week, slipping from 6th to 10th place. While, Rib Boy's Latrells jumped 3 places with a nice 375 points this week. But the hottest team the last two weeks is Pauly's Pranksters, who snagged Team of the Week honors.
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 07:45:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Oh CAROLINA!... the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in OT to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. I never thought I'd see the day when Tar Heel Hoops had taken a back seat to a Yankee-Cannuck sport.
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 07:45:00 AM | Permalink |

 
NEW! The McGrupp Review... a new third page has been added to the Tao of Pauly, this one called The McGrupp Review, which will feature film reviews, concert and music reviews, book reports, and reviews of all things REVIEWABLE. Right now I have two film reviews from the Pauly archives for your review, The Royal Tenanbaums and The Waking Life. More to come. Salukis...
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 12:28:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Ironic Bluntonic, supersonic colonic,
Stereophonic electronic,
Plate Tectonic,
Catatonic laconic chronic hydroponic
posted by Pauly at 5/29/2002 12:20:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Last Steel Beam from WTC is Removed from Ground Zero... this evening, marking the end of the recovery and cleanup.
posted by Pauly at 5/28/2002 11:36:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Gunman storms CBS studio in LA...
posted by Pauly at 5/28/2002 11:33:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Ramblers and Pranksters... a new section has been added to Page 2. Thanks to all...
posted by Pauly at 5/28/2002 11:35:00 AM | Permalink |

 
NEW... a second page has been added called Tao of Pauly: Page 2 where you can glimpse at my Bio and my Mission Statement, and other useless information. Check it out. Salukis....
posted by Pauly at 5/28/2002 10:19:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Abundant gestures of disorganization
Rile the deminodes with uninspired sighs
And the wavering incessant fodder
Of restless, agitated, prudent musicians
Baffle the tamale hording serfs.

posted by Pauly at 5/28/2002 08:52:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Trey Anastasio Band played San Francisco last Friday... in an e-mail from Jen Biaggi, she wrote in her mini-review, "The only Phish song Trey played was First Tube for the encore. Didn't know many of his songs, his band was really good... the second set was very spacey. No special Phishy guests, although I heard Les Claypool and Derek Trucks sat in with him Saturday at the Mt. Aire Festival."
posted by Pauly at 5/27/2002 11:58:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Dictionary, please?... Got a funny e-mail from someone who wrote, "Good poem, except I had no clue what half those words meant." So here's a short vocabulary lesson:

Feral: adj. Existing in a wild or untamed state. (From Latin fera: wild animal; from ferus: wild)

Pernicious: adj 1: exceedingly harmful 2: working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way. (From Latin pernicious: destruction)

Nubile: adj. 1. Ready for marriage; of a marriageable age or condition. Sexually mature and attractive young women. (Latin for to take a husband)

Gregarious: adj. Habitually living or moving in flocks or herds; tending to flock or herd together; not habitually solitary or living alone (Latin for belonging to a flock)
posted by Pauly at 5/27/2002 10:51:00 PM | Permalink |

 
E-Story 1: Dark and Stormy Night... Here is the final draft of E-Story 1, most of it written by myself and Jen Biaggi, with contributions from Stephen Adkins, Keren Gottesman and Jon Schanzer. Good work and thanks for sharing.


Dark and Stormy Night

It was a dark and stormy night. She awoke to the sound of the falling rain. The raindrops on her window sill sounded like little firecrackers going off inside her head. She quickly got up, ran across her room and closed her window. She could hear the faint laughter of small children in the adjacent room.They were supposed to be sleeping. But the little ones were being entertained by the local parish priest Father O'Lonney, who had snuck in the house through am open downtairs window. She knocked on the door while the children continued to laugh. The children were laughing because Father O'Looney was showing them his new Shrek doll. But before he could expose himself, a bolt of lightning hit the house. Indeed, it was too late, for Father O'Lonney unleashed his withered member. The children hysertically ran out of the room, then quickly down the stairs. But the horny priest could not chase them with his pants around his ankles. Suddenly, the house started to catch fire. Was a greater force at work? Did Father O'Lonney manage to anger the Almighty and envoke the evil wrath of damnation? No, not exactly. Father O'Lonney had ripped a bare-assed fart in the general direction of the fireplace, thereby creating a red-orange fireball that not only singed his leg hairs, but that ignited the spot on the sofa upholstry where he had spilled his tumbler of grain alcohol during this drunken stupor. Meanwhile, a hunched man in a torn black sheet of blasphemy takes pictures of the exposed priest with a Nikon f100 camera from an alleyway door filled with the debris of the night: syringes, condoms and scraps of food, coffee cups and bits and peices of paper that say: George W. Bush is a alien clone gone bad.


What is E-Story? It's an interactive E-mail writing session, where I write a line and send it to someone who adds their line, sends it back to me and I add another line and send it back to them, etc. I just e-mailed out E-Story 2. If you are on my list, you should be getting it shortly. Thanks to all...

posted by Pauly at 5/27/2002 08:07:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Harmonious shrieks ejaculated from fabulous she-males
stun the gregarious pedestrians with fistfulls of Euro Dollars.
Humbled by the archaic sayings of the Druids,
with synthetic layers of feral exchanges from nubile co-eds,
the old Germanic soldier quietly hums to himself,
yearning to extinguish the pernicious dreams that fester
and feed at the cauldron of his zealous sympathy.
posted by Pauly at 5/27/2002 07:32:00 AM | Permalink |

 
West Coast Boogie... Nothing is better than coming home to hear a warm voicemail message from Boogie and Doobie, on the road somewhere in Oregon. "About 3 hours outside of Portland," she explained, "And we're excited to arrive... and spent a few days there." They had just left Sun Valley, Idaho en route to Portland, and called upon reaching the Pacific Time Zone, a nice gesture from the sisters Blandford."Our trip is so wonderful, so far!" she happily says, "Spent a few days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming which was phenomenal... a charming cowboy of a town." They also visited the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. Good to know they are safe and having a groovy time, plus I always dig kick-ass travel stories and random tales from the road. Neutiquam Erro!
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 11:09:00 PM | Permalink |

 
OSEAO Internet Radio is a cool site where you can listen and stream video of live DJs from Seattle. While you are there check a good friend of mine, TC, who spins deep house and techno deep house grooves. TC has a nice selection of archived shows that you can sample and don't miss his weekly show: Mondays at 8PM PCT/11PM NYC Time.
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 10:46:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Brooklyn man wins $2 Million in Vegas Poker Game... yes it's true, some dude from Brooklyn wanders into Vegas and leaves Sin City with a cool $2,000,000 in cash after he wins the Annual World Series of Poker in true Horatio Alger fashion. Lege atque lacrima...
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 08:56:00 PM | Permalink |

 
HUGE COKE BUST in Park Slope, Brooklyn last Thursday night. Wow, cops seized over 4,000 pounds worth, now that's alotta blow! In other unrelated news, a festive Memorial Day party blow-out is being planned by local law enforcement officals...
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 10:08:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Drug Exit 1 Mile: Clever Cops Fake Drivers Out. Leave it to Texan's to do things diffr'nt. The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that road blocks for random drug searches were illegal. They ruled in Illinois vs. Wardlow that it is constitutional to arrest and search someone who, upon seeing law enforcement, runs away. It's a truly enterprising department that combines the two: Police in Austin, Texas put up a highway sign warning drivers of a narcotics checkpoint ahead. Then they watched for and searched anyone who tried to avoid it. Although the drug bust was largely a failure, they now have the attention of the ACLU for their technique. Is this unreasonable search and seizure, entrapment, or just Texas ingenuity at work? Read the article in the Austin American-Statesman. I once saw this trick attempted by Kansas State Troopers, and almost fell for their rouse, but I called their bluff and drove right past their teams of drug-search dogs, instead of trying to exit the Interstate and driving right into the Man's trap.
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 02:12:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Lazy eyes from the crooked cat
stalked the mundane cloudy images
of an injured field mouse
in the somewhat dim midnight moon.

Chants and echoes of the fallen apricots
wrap themslevs in tiny pewter baskets,
as the elderly snicker and sell their medication
to angst ridden suburbian teenagers.
posted by Pauly at 5/26/2002 01:14:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Finished reading an article from the Guardian about the intense situation and the oldest unsettled border dispute in the fragile region of Kashmir, where Islamist extremists and militants, backed by the ISI (Pakistani Intelligence) are planning and funding new attacks in Kashmir, in violation of a government ban. India promises payback for a recent terror attack in Kashmir that killed 34. India and Pakistan are on the brink of an all out war, and one of them might be the next and only the second country to set off nuclear weapons during a war. Thereby forcing the other nation to retaliate and become the third country to utilize nuclear weapons, creating even more instability and despair in an already unstable region. Time to send Colin Powell back to Islamabad with a suitcase filled with cash and McDonald's coupons to settle things down. I'm thinking about Thomas Friedman's Golden Arches Theory from his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Friedman says that "no two countries with a McDonald's franchise have ever gone to war with each other since they got it's McDonalds." Oh, and by the way, there are no McDonald's in Iraq. Hmmmmmm.
posted by Pauly at 5/25/2002 03:00:00 PM | Permalink |

 
Just read an e-mail from Senor, who is in Thailand. Here is an excerpt:

Dude, I was staying at this posh island resort, but I checked out this morning and checked into another resort that has ESPN... now I was able to watch game 3 live of the Sacramento/Lakers series, I'll be able to see games 3 and 4 of the nets/celtic series and as a bonus they are showing the fourth game of the red sox/yankees series... I get to sit on my ass watch TV and beyond my TV screen I overlook the beautiful beach... life is good!!!!!!! I stood up 2 thai chicks last night who wanted me to meet them out dancing... today three chicks that work at the hotel I checked out of asked me to go dancing with them tonight and then at my new hotel a waitress gave me her number and asked me to go dancing with her, LOL, I think ASIA agrees with me.... why can't this shit happen in NYC????? Anyway, hope all is well, see you in a week or so.... Senor:)

posted by Pauly at 5/25/2002 10:36:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Just checked The Daily Dave, and he gave me a nice little blurb and promoted the TAO OF PAULY. Word up, Dawg. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the flashback! To think that was over a decade ago...

From The Daily Dave, 5.25.02:

Pauly McGuire is on the Web! My college roommate (and the proprietor of the Pauly's Pub, an Emory legend) has launched his very own blog, the Tao of Pauly. Check it out. Pauly's Pub was briefly renamed Pauly and Mad Dawg's Tavern and Grill after I bought a toaster oven, a forbidden item for Emory dorm rooms, and hid it under my bed. Beer and grilled cheese sandwiches -- what more could anyone want, except maybe NyQuil, which Dave "Seal" Giroux once drank until he passed out. But the original name stuck, and for everyone living in Hopkins, Thomas and Smith halls our freshman year, Hopkins 316 will forever be known as Pauly's Pub. Pauly's Pub was a frequent sponsor of Fishburne Field mud football games. It also led the first (and to my knowledge, only) Uncle John's Band-a-thon, in December 1990, to protest the onset of mandatory quiet hours.


posted by Pauly at 5/25/2002 10:34:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Today, Brad Singer, graduates from Boston College Law School. Congrats, Singer! Now I have someone to bail me out of jail when I get locked up in Beantown for a drunken brawl with overzealous Redsox and Patriots fans. And since it's a special day in the Singer household, please take a look at a really amazing photography website from Brad's older brother, Matt, a photographer from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's called: Matt Singer Site. Oh yeah, despite the Redsox 2 most recent wins over the Yankees, they still suck. Salukis...
posted by Pauly at 5/25/2002 09:44:00 AM | Permalink |

 
Greetings and a warm hello to all! Finally, a long awaited site has arrived on the web where you can take a sincere peek into my sublime madness, a cosmic glimpse into the vile insanity, or a hesitant taste of my reluctant cyber rants and ramblings. There will be more blogs to come. For now, check out The Daily Dave, a daily cyber journal written by my old freshman hall roommate from Emory University. Dave suggested I look into this kick-ass site, Blogger. Thanks Dawg! Salukis, Peaches and Burkina Faso...
posted by Pauly at 5/25/2002 04:39:00 AM | Permalink |