Chicken Store in the News

Today the New York Times had a little article about spending a day in Key West, and it mentioned the beloved Chicken Store! Check out this passage and the subsequent photos:

3 p.m.
5) CHICKEN RUN
People in this town don't kid when it comes to chickens. They're on the loose everywhere, and it's a battle — half the island is trying to save the little cluckers, the other half is endlessly annoyed. And then there are the kids stealing them for cockfights. Learn all about the Key West chicken wars at the Chicken Store (1229 Duval Street, 305-294-0070; www.thechickenstore.com), where you can hold a fuzzy baby chick, feed a rooster or buy a clever T-shirt. If the heart is swayed, you can even file for adoption.

Holding a sweet hen at the Chicken Store


Chasing a big cock in Mallory Square (a time-honored Key West activity)

Recent Purchases

I recently made two great new purchases, one to create heat, and one to dissipate it.

Creating heat is the exciting new Pentax K10D. After years of waiting for the right camera at the right price, I'm finally making the switch to digital as my primary photography medium. The old ZX-5 served me well for over 10 years and it will soon begin a well-earned retirement. I've got a steep learning curve to maximize the potential of the K10, but it's gonna be fun.

And dissipating heat is my new beaded seat cushion. The cockpit of the Explorer gets hot in the summer, and I have long sought a solution to my heat-trapping seatback. For years I toyed with the idea of the cabbie-style wooden beads, but just didn't have the guts. No longer. I'm now sporting the beads, in all their taxicab glory. Stay tuned for a report on how well they actually work.

Around the Web

This was in the news a couple of months ago, but I'm just now getting around to mentioning it. Have you seen the new Wikipedia competitor Conservapedia? Amazing. Check out the entry on dinosaurs.

Good news for your stomach: Mandina's, another old favorite, is back open (website by Christy Soto!). Great turtle soup.

Are you familiar with Mims' hit song "This Is Why I'm Hot"? I wasn't, until I sampled it on iTunes after reading this excellent "graphical dissertation" on the song.

And here's a cool site...Worldometers. World statistics updated in real time.

I leave you with a line that still tickles me:
Jack Abramoff??? But I hardly even know Abram!

Camellia Grill Reopens!

Another Nola recovery milestone - the Camellia Grill reopened Saturday! And the AP photo even captures my favorite waiter, Melvin! This is huge. Word?! Go here for more on the new owner and his plans.

Apple Store Birmingham

Is there any doubt that an Apple Store in Alabama was long overdue? Check out the crowd on opening day last weekend.

And here's a post from a guy who was third in line. He got there at 6am for the 10am opening.

Modern times are a'comin', slowly but surely.

My New Home

I'm finally catching up on my photo processing. Here's a picture of me at my new home in Mobile, taken when I got here in late January. Cute place, huh?

Around the Web

I don't know why I haven't promoted Chris Hayes on here before. I do so now.

Great luck for Mr. Peepers! Duck emerges victorious from car incident
Notice the caption under the photo.

I like Ralph Lupin's style. A recent Times-Pic article on French Quarter trash collection included the following:

A frustrated Ralph Lupin, the Vieux Carre Commission's tough-talking chairman, told the commission Tuesday, "I don't understand Ms. White's obstinance other than that she's a bitch."

From The Politico: Ron Paul: More Guns Will Deter Shootings

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has a simple solution to future shooting massacres such as the one that ripped apart Virginia Tech university Monday: more guns. "People are a little more cautious if somebody might have a gun there," the GOP presidential candidate told Politico reporters Tuesday. "A concealed gun carried by a responsible person -- that might have ended the problem that they had at Virginia Tech with one person being killed or two people being killed."

Yes, and luckily we'd never have to worry about all the concealed guns carried by irresponsible people.

The Campaigns' Econ Advisers

From today's NYT:

Economix: The Advisers Are Writing Our Future
By DAVID LEONHARDT
The early economic advisers to presidential candidates can leave a big imprint if their candidate prevails.

Update

Greetings! Here some news from my new life on the Gulf Coast.

1. Starting with chickens, of course, I recently found out that another neighbor of mine has chickens! Bill Finch, the editor of the garden section of the newspaper, lives around the corner, and his yard is this amazing horticultural laboratory. Naturally, he has 8 or 10 beautiful hens to complement it. If you'd like to join me, he said I can visit them anytime!

2. Next, I'm working the nightshift now. The project I'm on at the law firm is so big they want people on it day and night, and I'm heading up the night bunch. Good times in West Mobile.

3. Alabama finally gets an Apple Store! The long-rumored store at The Summit in Birmingham opens tomorrow! I wanted to go the the sure-to-be-festive grand opening, but I can't make it.

4. Lastly, I ran the Crescent City Classic last weekend. Imagine a regular 10K race for some people combined with a 6.2 mile-long party for everyone else. In addition to the people passing out water every mile were others on the route passing out "Free Beer! Free Donuts!" and "Free Hot Dogs!" Not to mention the brass bands playing and runners in crazy costumes. When it was over, the first thing I consumed was not water but a jello shot, which were being handed out by this random group of guys just past the finish line. Then came the big post-race party at Tad Gormley Stadium where there was free Abita beer, jambalaya, and a band. Classic New Orleans.

I leave you with a post-race photo of me enjoying the festivities.

Me, now.

This is who I am becoming.

Religion 101

This looks like a good book. I know I could use reading it.
Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - And Doesn't

In other news, I went to a Big Easy Rollergirls bout this past weekend. Good stuff.

Rib Update

Speaking of nice photos of Mobile scenes, the sign below is a good one.


(And notice the shining rays of God's approval)

Mobile in the NYT

Well I'll be. Mobile is in the Times today!
You Can Call It the Little Easy
How strange is that? It mentions Oakleigh, which is right next-door to where I live now.
Nice photos, too.

Back to Cali

So I'm California for a few days to recuperate from my recent struggles and help Cheryn move back to New Orleans. Things here in Santa Monica are glorious, as usual. I've been hanging out with several old friends, eating and drinking well, and breathing in the fragrant foliage and ocean air. One particular treat was yesterday, Esha and I went to Cafe Bolivar, a coffee shop/cafe I hadn't been to in almost 4 years, and right away this girl that works there came up to me and said "Hey, where've you been?" and "You got a haircut" as if I'd just been in here a month ago. Everybody was so nice and asking about me, and remembered my love for arepas. The nice girl, Norine, even encouraged me to come back in and they'd get me in the kitchen and teach me to make my own arepas, which I just did. I'm at the cafe enjoying them now! Another fun thing yesterday, Esha and I drove up the PCH to Paradise Cove. Neat place.

Here I am at the beach Thursday evening.


Here I am with the arepas I just made.

Chickenz in tha hood

Exciting news! There are chickens in my neighborhood! I was just on a walk with Foster when, about two blocks away, I came upon a house with a beautiful Barred Rock hen in the yard! When we approached, it scooted into some nearby bushes, where I spied several more hens! Brown and white ones too. There were at least 5 in all, maybe more. And it was a pretty nice house, too. So there is some precedent for keeping sweet chickens in this nice old neighborhood. I will be paying closer attention to that yard.

MacBook & Foster

So I'm spending my days studying for the impending exam. The new computer got here last week, and it is amazing. Incredible technology. One thing it has is the built-in camera, allowing me to have video chats using iChat. If anyone out there has a webcam, my AIM id is boatloadofpigs. I've never been much for instant messaging, but doing it via audio/video is neat!

Also, I have a study buddy with me right now. Foster is here! He is a wonderful gentleman, as ever. He mainly just hangs out while I study, but from time to time we go on walks. A few nights ago I took him to his first Mardi Gras parade. Here is an image of how we're spending our days lately...

Tip of the Day

Don't snorkel in Oregon.

Tip of the Day

Always be careful not to take the wrong bus.

Live from Mobile

I can hear the Mardi Gras parade from my couch right now. Conde Cavaliers, first of the season.

Update

Greetings. It's been a busy and unsettled few weeks, but I'm able to post now. The biggest news is that I just moved to Mobile. Found a great little house in the Oakleigh Historic Garden District, a few blocks from Parks. Yes, after years of following Dan around the country, I felt it was time to make a change. Parks is my new beacon. I left DC last week, got here last Friday, and I'm now basically settled. Come visit.

Painfully, I still don't have my computer back, which made it hard to wrap up my affairs in DC - subletting the apt., etc - but I made do by using other people's computers. The bad news is that it's now been 4 weeks since I had my computer, but the great news is that Apple told me last week that they're replacing my broken iBook with a new MacBook! Amazing! The iBook was still waiting on a part, and they didn't want to make me wait indefinitely, so they're sending me a new one! And it's a huge leap over the old one, so I'm about to jump out of my pants I'm so excited!
Another bit of pleasant computer news is that as of today my DSL service is operational, I've got the wireless going, and I remembered my old Dell laptop still works for simple things, so for the first time in a month, I can sit on the couch and be online. It's a huge relief. But I do need my Mac, with all my data & stuff, before I'm back at full strength.

So there are the headlines. More tales & details will be along in time.