Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Saturday, July 15, 2006

“He sure says some pretty outrageous stuff" (plus: Zidane's head butt explained)

Posted by Mickey Z on 07/15 at 06:07 AM

Mickey,

The captcha says ‘image’ and the image I have is of my manager staring wide-eyed and jaw dropped as my cell phone plays Billy Bragg’s Internationale.

Usually, I am able to answer the cell phone within the first couple of notes before anyone can guess the tune. Cde Bragg’s version does not have vocals for the first couple of bars.

However, my bluetooth ear piece decided to die on me (inconsiderate technology). Thus, I am left to fumble while trying to extract the phone from the pouch on my belt as Cde Bragg starts to sing.

It is at this point that my manager recognises the tune because of the lyrics. Hence, the indelible image described above is forever burned into my brain.

I supposed he was shocked to ask me about the tune later on, or he just did not want to know.

This happened on Monday and no one else has said anything about this.

Posted by Douglas on from Sydney, Australia 07/15 at 07:10 AM

That’s a cool story, Douglas, and what seemed to me to be a good question from David last night-- how did Hezbollah think that capturing the two soldier was a good idea? How has it helped any sort of cause? Asking this doesn’t condone Israel’s actions, just asks what Hezz was thinking. Or were Hezbolah framed, is that a conclusion?

Anyway, I can’t let Mickey’s narcissism stand, either for himself or his neighborhood. So since by some miracle each month I pay rent on this manhattan apartment, here’s the view from my roof. So I’m not sure how Derrick Jensen and Desmond Morris would like it around here…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 07/15 at 07:40 AM

Man, I didn’t realize how large the images would be. Hope no one’s too traumatized…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 07/15 at 07:41 AM

Hello Expendables. Astoria is once again a steam bath.

Douglas: Thanks for the story but I’ve got to reveal my utter un-hipness by asking why “Billy Bragg’s Internationale” would provoke such a response.

James: Those images are ridiculously large...but I’ll take them in lieu of any Mudge-related whining.

Gotta go see Grandma Helen now. I’ll check back in later.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/15 at 10:46 AM

Sorry, it really was due to my lack of technical expertise, wish I could have tested it first. Good luck with Grandma Helen.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 07/15 at 02:36 PM

Grandma Helen is back in the hospital and, to put it mildly, she’s been better.

Interesting theory on the Middle East.

Michele and I may head to Jersey tonight for a free concert by Antigone Rising.

Where the hell is everyone, Cat Lady?

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/15 at 04:06 PM

Um, my photos scared them away? Damn, a free AR show sounds great, I’m so swamped with stuff to do, and recovering again. Gotta get a new job situation, this overnight stuff is killing me.

I relate to your situation with Grandma in many was, sure you know…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 07/15 at 04:23 PM

Very best wishes for Grandma Helen’s fast recovery.

Posted by Keir on from The Hague 07/15 at 06:09 PM

I had a coworker once, same age, good sense of humour, quite average and somewhat outspoken. She began working with me very shortly after the 11th of Sept. 2001.
One day after the news report on the crappy radio station she remarked about how horribly violent ‘those Middle Eastern men are’ and went on to say something about them making their women wear those crazy veils so nobody can see them… I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t trying to be an ignorant cracker sounding bitch - we got along rather well, she white, me brown.
So I said something in the way of an explanation (in lieu of the 2x4 that I’d have wanted to use if I hadn’t known her - I know that feeling MZ describes on the subway), and extolled how no one culture has a monopoly on misogyny, and that a good deal of what she perceived as ignorant and violent behaviour was her misconception of a society and culture with which she has no experience and reminded her of how many dumbass white men also beat their wives and behaved just poorly as any villain she might identify simply due to their race. Idiots and assholes about in every colour, hatred and ignorance is just generous like that.
Her response was suprisingly earnest and after a few moments of consideration she thanked me, expressed embarassement at her previous opinion. She said that despite thinking herself an open minded person, she’d simply never thought of it that way. We had a brief discussion on the topic and that was that.

I don’t think either of us quite thought of the other in the same way after that peculiar exchange, but we continued to get along and rarely if ever discussed politics or social issues again.
(Now I’m thinking I may have already told that story once upon a Saturday...oh well.)

I hope Grandma Helen is keeping her spirits up, it’s the worst part of those late life experiences. Good thoughts to her, Michele, and you, Mickey.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 07/15 at 07:23 PM

No yarn to spin at this moment in time but .. I bought ‘Failed States’ by Noam Chomsky a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for your yarn, Mickey, and for the rest of the post.

And ‘hi’ to Douglas from Sydney, James (great photos!), Keir and Amelopsis. I’m off to Melbourne very soon - back in Daylesford by Wednesday night. Brw: if you ever find yourself in rural Victoria, you are welcome to call in, Douglas. Don’t hesitate to ask.

Bye till Thursday morning, my expendables,
Helga

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 07/15 at 08:30 PM

Hello again, my friends.

Helga: Have a great trip.

Empress: You are dead on: Idiots and assholes about in every colour, hatred and ignorance is just generous like that. Thanks for sharing

Keir, etc.: Unfortunately, Grandma Helen is not going to make a recovery. She’s nearly 95, unable to walk, and today it was terribly sad to discover that she can no longer speak coherently for more than a few sentences. It’s just about the end of an era in my family.

On a much lighter note, the concert was truly great.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/15 at 09:46 PM