"So I nearly got killed today"

Okay, I'm about a month slow in finding this story (thanks Andrew at J4TR), but I still wanted to ask this question:

How much you wanna bet the 'shooter' in this scenario was doing the Robert De Niro Taxi Driver "You talkin' to me" routine in his bathroom mirror --- with LIVE FREAKIN' AMMUNITION!!!

The Anti-Otter was damn lucky to come away with only a splattering of drywall shrapnel.

I think this incident lends support to my theory: Guns don't kill people, jackass numbskulls do.

tagged: gun, shooting, Robert De Niro, Taxi Driver, culture

Axl to grind

Speaking of 90's has-beens, I almost missed this story out of New York.

It seems Axl Rose, the sole remaining original member of Guns N' Roses, got his ass kicked by fashion force Tommy Hilfiger in a New York nightclub last weekend.

Ostensibly, the brawl was about Rose moving the drink of Hilfiger's main squeeze. But according to the NYPost, there's more to the story (isn't that always the case?)

"...the combatants have been at odds since Rose started dating Diane O'Connor, the ex-wife of Hilfiger's adopted brother, denim designer Michael H.

One source even went so far as to claim that the Hilfiger brothers had made a "pact" to pummel Rose on sight."

Rose tried to laugh off the incident. But if I were him, I'd be super embarrassed at getting the beat down from glorified tailor. What could be worse than being Tommy' Hilfiger's bitch?

The way I see it, his only recourse is to pull a Tony Soprano and pick a fight with the biggest, baddest bloke at fashion week (assuming he can a big, bad bloke at fashion week).

tagged: Axl Rose, Tommy Hilfiger, New York, has beens, fight, pop+culture, Guns N' Roses

YouTube Tuesday: Canon

This promising young musician has a great career ahead of him if he chooses to focus on classical music.

In the home-brew video below, we see him take on Johann Pachelbel's Canon with aplomb. It's good to see that there is at least one youth whose cultural awareness hasn't been eroded by Xbox and MySpace.

And for those of you who "don't like" classical music, at least give this a chance. It rocks. (And excuse me for trying to class up this joint).



tagged: music, YouTube, video, guitar, classical, Canon, Pachelbel

It blew my mind...

...today when someone said "Pauly Shore is nearly forty."

If you ever think you have wasted your life, just remember that at least you're not Pauly Shore.

Pauly, it's not okay if you're close to 40 and people are still calling you Pauly (unless you're in the mob).

tagged: Pauly Shore, culture, entertainmnet

KGB Carnival for May 22

Thanks to another crazy busy weekend, this week's KGB carnival is a short one. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in brevity.

Also, there are some damn fine posts, if I do say so my damn self. So enjoy.

• Josh Rosenau is Back from New York at Thoughts from Kansas.
  
  
• John B. thinks about God in a Darwinian cosmos at Blog Meridian.
  
  
• Steven introduces a new love posted at A Heartbeat Away
  
  
• J.D. asks some tough questions about the human genome project at Evolution
  
  
• Kelly Begins Finals Week at Kelly in Kansas.
  
  
• The "D" has an edible complex at What the Deuce?.
  
  
• Thanos laments the death of an offshore drilling plan at Nobless Oblige.

And this week's Honorary KGB blogger goes to...

• Joe Schumacher, who presents Lebanon, Kansas: Cowboy Stencil Capital of the Universe posted at What About the Plastic Animals?
  

Thanks for checking us out. Don't for get to submit your favorite posts of this week for next Monday's KGB roundup.

tagged: Kansas, blog, blogger, carnival, KGB, oil, human genome, Gad, Darwin

Do It!

As Frank Barone would say, "Holy CRAP!!"

It's Friday afternoon already and I haven't put out the call for KGB Blog Carnival submissions.

So remember, all you Kansas bloggers, submit your favorite posts of the week for Monday's KGB roundup.

Help me get the word out by forwarding this invite to any blogger you know who might want to contribute.

And don't forget to check back here Monday (or subscribe to the RSS feed) for the latest update on what Kansans are blogging.

Thanks again everyone. See you on Monday!

tagged: Kansas, blog, blogger, carnival, KGB

Deconstructing Mission

Demolition crews have finally started tearing down the Mission Center Mall, just a few blocks from my house.

The mall has sat vacant and closed for a few months, though it was mostly empty for a year and a half or so. Here are a few shots of the deconstruction.




I'll post more pics as the deconstruction becomes more dramatic. City officials say it will take about four months to completely remove the mall, leaving a gaping hole at the intersection of Johnson Drive, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Roe Boulevard.

In its place will be The Gateway, a mixed-use development with 1.3 million square feet of residential, retail, office, entertainment and hotel space. You can read more about The Gateway on the developer's flashy new website.

I previously posted several pics of the architectural renderings of the planned development. Even though it won't be done for a couple of years, and we probably will have moved on by then, this will be a great improvement to the Roeland Park/Mission/Fairway area.

Imagine, all this great redevelopment and no pothole epidemic. Are you taking notes KCMO?

tagged: Roeland Park, Kansas, Mission, mall, development, architecture, demolition

Holl of fame

I've posted several items about the controversial Steven Holl-designed addition to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, so I wanted to link to this interview (hat tip to Tony).

In the audio, Holl told KCUR’s Laura Spencer that the museum addition is possibly the greatest work of his notable career.

"It began an uncompromising, fundamental conceptual strategy that was radical vis-a-vis all the other architects who approached the project. And it was supported by the trustees and the director of the museum not to be compromised in the process.

All those things in place, that's very hard to get that to happen in your life. So it's a special chance, this building. It's a very special chance and plays a special part in my work."

The design is being featured in an exposition in Japan called "Luminosity/Porosity"

Images of the museum addition can be viewed here, here, and here.

tagged: Steven Holl, Nelson Atkins, art, architecture, Kansas City, museum, Luminosity Porosity

Pass the hemlock

Today's meme via Planet Rusty...

I've always had this feeling that I would die of spontaneous combustion. But evidently, at least according to this very reliable online test, it will be from something more akin to what killed Aristotle.

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"I drank what?!!"

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

tagged: meme, death, last words, humor, Aristotle, hemlock

Our better angels

My supermodel wife and I attended a social function (since that's what us society types do for fun) at the KSU Alumni Center in Manhattan.

The happy hour/dinner was in honor of the "retirement" of renowned political science professor Dr. Michael W. Suleiman after 41 years at K-State. Dr. Sulieman is one of the foremost academic experts on Arab American studies. He has written numerous books and consulted with dignitaries and heads of state from around the world. He has a remarkable personal story as well.

That's not really germane to this post. I just like dropping names. Actually, you can imagine what it must have been like spending an evening with mostly gray-haired academics. It was all I thought it would be.

But there was an anecdote that did stick in my mind, and I want to share it with you here.

During the long parade of speakers that came to the podium to sing Dr. Suleiman's praises, came former student and current professor Fadi Aramouni. I'll present his comments here, to the best of my memory:

"When I first came to K-State I saw an article feature Dr. Suleiman on the front page of the student newspaper. I immediately called him and he agreed to meet with me the next day.

"We started a conversation and eventually came to the topic of racism and prejudice. He told me "Because you are an Arab American, you will encounter racism. But, you will never encounter racism or prejudice here at KSU."

"And he was right. I never have."

So what does this mean? Does it mean that there is no racism in Kansas? No. There is racism everywhere (although I think much of it is in the eye of the beholder).

Does it mean that KSU is a special place, better than others, because this person hasn't experienced racism there? No. KSU is special, and much better than some other places, but not for this reason.

So what's the point? I don't know really. Just that it made me feel good that someone has had a great experience.

And perhaps, hopefully, in the end we'll all be judged by the better angels of our nature.

tagged: racism, prejudice, KSU, Kansas, K-State, Suleiman, academics, angels