River Commute
A man from the San Fernando Valley triumphs over gridlock freeway traffic by kayaking to work in Long Beach — 52 miles downstream on the L.A. River.
What California commuter hasn’t ever had the urge to just walk away from traffic entirely? Well, George Calvarescu found a way to kayak away from it all.
To be sure, there are plenty of jokes about trashy conditions and skanky water quality in the notorious SoCal landmark that is the Los Angeles River, but such folklore didn’t stop the resourceful Calvarescu from making an impromptu purchase of a kayak and sliding into the murky waters a few months ago.
Read the story and see the video here.
Fly RYANAIR
The Irish airline, Ryanair, is apparently now offering a special for its long-haul business class customers. During a press conference in Germany, CEO Michael O’Leary drops a bomb after a journalist asks him a question about the configuration of the airlines long haul fleet. Only in Europe would this go over the way it did.
I’m voting Republican because…
I’m Voting Republican is a satirical look at the likely outcome of another four years of Republican government. The not-so-subtle message behind the film is the importance of a united bloc of citizens willing to take the time and effort to vote Democrat in order to improve America’s domestic and foreign policy.
See the ridiculous video below:
Exceptional Vino
If you think oil and food are pricey, just try buying a top-of-the-line Burgundy or Bordeaux. Recent years have brought dizzying price hikes for the most sought-after names, and many wine buffs have been knocked off the luxury ladder as a result. I’ve certainly slipped a few rungs. Lately I’ve had to kiss goodbye to some dear old friends (a process hastened, admittedly, by my wife’s discovery of a few eye-popping receipts I’d meant to burn). Chave, Raveneau, Mugnier, and Giacosa are all too rich for me now.
A few weeks ago, tired of dwelling on the growing imbalance between my wallet and my palate, I decided to draw up a list of world-class wines still within reach of proles like me. The exact criteria were as follows:
Read the story and see the list here.
Obama: No Public Money
Senator Barack Obama’s announcement Thursday that he would finance his campaign with private contributions was the final step of a slow walk away from public financing that began almost as soon as his campaign started 17 months ago.
Obama said he’d pursue public financing “aggressively.” He committed to it in a written questionnaire. He even said, repeatedly, that he would meet personally with Senator John McCain to discuss a deal.
Instead, his campaign never even asked the Republican’s aides for a meeting on the subject. And Obama, both campaigns said, never asked for a face-to-face meeting with McCain.
“It was clear that there was no point,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.
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