WATERMELON HUNT

The mayor of Los Alamitos, Dean Grose, has Jindaled his career by sending an offensive e-mail containing a picture of the White House with a huge watermelon patch and the title "No Easter egg hunt this year."

Grose sent it to Keyanus Price, a friend and local businesswoman. Keyanus is black and was offended and stunned.

"As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."

But that's not the best part. When Price emailed him and said she didn't think it was nice of him, Grose replied,

"The way things are today, you gotta laugh every now and then. I wanna see the coloring contests."

Dude! Stop while you're just a little behind.

Well one thing led to another and now Grose, who has been mayor since all of December, is stepping down.

But it doesn't stop there and here's where Grose completely Jindals his career. Grose said,

he didn't mean to offend anyone and claimed he was unaware of the racial stereotype linking black people with eating watermelons.

Really!? He was unaware of the racial stereotype linking black people with eating watermelons!? Really!?

Then what's so funny about a picture of the White House with a watermelon patch and the title No Easter egg hunt this year?" Like we're going to buy that excuse?

Now I know everyone's a little bit racist, some people a lot racist, but this guy is just plain stupid.

NOT CLOWNING AROUND

Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus is going to be at the Wachovia Spectrum in Filthadelphia...sorry, Philadelphia, from May 13 to 25, 2009, and then at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton from May 28 - 31, 2009.

You can save 20% on tickets by ordering online, and using the coupon code Z3977 for Philadelphia tickets and the coupon code Z3993 for Trenton tickets. You can also use those codes if you order by phone at 800-298-4200.

The Philadelphia offer ends March 8 and the Trenton offer is good until the end of the run.

FACEBOOK ALBUM COVER

I'm a Facebook junkie. I admit it. I could play Word Whomp all day.

The recent phenomenon on Facebook was "25 Random Things About Me." It spread like wildfire and created a traffic surge on the site.

The meme going around right now is one of my favorites: The Album Cover.

It works like this:

• Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
• Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations" or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.
• Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days" or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
• Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.
• Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" or "comment" and TAG the friends you want to join in.

This one is mine. Look for Hans this summer when he opens for Flock of Seagulls.

JINDAL ALL THE WAY HOME

Bobby Jindal go home, please.

Governor Bobby Jindal is a smart man. He has a master's degree from Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar for crying out loud. And he is...or was...a fresh face for the Republican Party. But boy oh boy did he stink it up last night in his response to President Obama's joint session speech.

Following Obama is a tough act to start with, but Jindal was exceptionally bad. One Republican likened it to the Rolling Stones opening for Air Supply.

If Jindal is the rising star of the Republican Party, the GOP is in trouble. I felt he was condescending and spouting out the same old tired message. And he got a lot of his facts wrong.

And to top it off, he's opposed to the stimulus package (which may or may or not work. I'm sure hoping it works. We need something to work), but he's going to take most of the money. So he's a hypocrite as well.

I GOT YOUR RECESSION RIGHT HERE

With the recession reeking havoc on our worldwide economy, I decided to start another blog about how to survive in these trying times.

I Got Your Recession Right Here is the new blog. If you have any money saving tips, please send them in.

For now, here's the first entry:



With this blog I'm going to attempt to post tips and articles on how to survive the current recession.

And out of the gates are two free meal deals:

Deal #1: IHOP/National Pancake Days. On Tuesday, Feb. 24th, from 7:00am to 10:00pm, IHOP will be giving away free short stack buttermilk pancakes. Find three IHOPs near you and you've got all three meals covered.

Deal #2: Quiznos is giving away 1 million coupons good for a free sub via their million subs website. So far they've given away 184,195 subs.

NEW BODEGA

A new bodega has opened on the corner of 77th and 3rd, right across the street from Hendrick's.

I haven't had a chance to go in yet, but it looks pretty much like every other produce stand here in the Ridge. I suppose they'll be catering to the crowd who can't make the walk to the bodega at 74th and 3rd.

I wish them all the best but really, I mean really, do we need another place to buy apples?

A CURE FOR THE ANNOYINGLY CHIPPER

Finally a drug to level those annoyingly happy people!

BAY RIDGE AVE

David Lind, in an admirable bit of self-promotion (and I for one am always a fan of self-promotion), send me the link to this very cool music video.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

It's my birthday today. Alert the media.

EBATES

In these trying economic times, every little cost-cutting tip is golden. So here's my tip of the day:

Ebates.com

Here's how it works:

1. Join ebates.com (it's free)
   
2. Sign into ebates.com.
3. Shop over 1000 stores from the ebates.com site (Target, Old Navy, Nordstrom's, etc)
4. Save money on your purchase.
5. Ebates.com sends you the money you saved.
   

I recently got back about $100. I'm not going to become a millionaire from it but every little bit helps.

ADELE LIVE

This just in: Adele Live!

Adele just won a Grammy for Best New Artist and it was well deserved. This girl can sing! Such a soulful voice.

FUELIRIFIC

Kudos to Fuel at 95th and 4th for a perfect restaurant inspection on Feb 7. No violation points.

Not like my new unfavorite pastry shop Jean Danet, which back on Dec. 15 had 62 violation points (including flying insects, mice, and a live animal) and then on Jan. 30 had 65 violation points (including expired milk, mice, and a live animal. Still with the mice and the live animal. Maybe there is something to that Ratatouille film).

But anyhoo, kudos Fuel. Kudos.

XANAX CEREAL

And people wonder why I've changed my morning cereal from Cheerios to Count Xanax. Here are some of today's headlines:

• Rise in Jobless Poses Threat to Stability Worldwide
  
• Buffalo Plane Crash was Instantaneous
• Global Warming Underestimated
  

PREMATURE VALENTINE'S DAY SONG

I couldn't hold it any longer. I had to post this now.

THE RIDGE GETS ZIPPY

On my way to my daily workout at Dunkin' Donuts (the one on 87th and 4th, not the rodent run, cold food not at the correct temperature one at 71st and 3rd) I saw a small army of Zip Car employees promoting their new place on 4th Ave. between 92nd and 93rd. According to the Zip Car website, there are only 2 cars at the Bay Ridge location (a Civic and a Scion). The base rate for both cars is $11/hour or $77/day. Hopefully more cars will be coming soon. Come on Mini Cooper!

PASTRY NEWS

I noticed today that the little bakery next to Starbucks at 75th and 3rd has gone out of business. I''m probably the last person to realize this news but there you go.

And speaking of bakeries, I was shocked to learn that Jean Danet French Pastry on 5th Ave. was inspected on Jan. 30th and cited with 65 violation points! Among the violations were

• mice
• not vermin-proof
• live animal
• improper use of pesticide
• expired milk

Who do the inspectors think is baking the pastries? It's a French Pastry shop. Haven't they seen Ratatouille? Hello. So I say piffleposh to the mice and not vermin proof violations. Vive le souris!

RETURN OF THE 'ROIDS

Last January, John Rossi, co-owner of Lowen's Pharmacy at 6902 3rd Ave. here in Bay Ridge, was found dead of an apparent suicide.

Yesterday Lowen's Pharmacy was charged with conspiracy in the steroids scandal.

Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, of Staten Island, was also indicted in the scandal.

Here's how it worked: Dr. Dick wrote prescriptions for steroids without having a medical reason and then had them go Lowen’s to have the illegal prescription filled.

In 2007, police raided Lowen's and found more than $8 million worth of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.

Yipes.

A-LIED

A-Rod admitted today that he used performance enhancing drugs while he was with the Texas Rangers, but says he hasn't used them since 2003.

As to why he used them, A-Rod said, "I was young. I was stupid. I was naïve." At least he's not young anymore.

So I'd have to say, there goes the ol' image.

BEER DOMINOES

GRAPHIC ARTIST

A good friend of mine is looking for some graphic arts work. She's tremendous. She did the poster and button for my show China - The Whole Enchilada. I can't say enough good things about her. She's great and works fast. If you need some graphic arts work or know someone who does, drop a note here.

You can see some of her work here.

Thanks.

PRICE DROP

A few days ago I posted about an apartment for rent in Greenpoint.

Well...

My friend has dropped the price to $2000/month. If you go directly through her, you'll also get Feb. for free and no broker's fee.

And it has a jacuzzi! How fantastic is that?

Click here for the link.

Her email is: info@3redstripes.com

50 WINTERS

The snow falling in The Ridge today was a stark reminder that fifty years ago on this day, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a snowy plane crash shortly after performing at the Surf Ballroom as part of the Winter Dance Party.

The band I was in during my high school years played several Buddy Holly songs. What an amazing singer and songwriter he was. One of my favorite songs is True Love Ways, a beautiful lush love song.

Punxsutawney Phil

I'm a day late on this but Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday, predicting another 6 weeks of winter. And true to form, we're getting hit here in The Ridge with wet heavy snow.

Hey Punxsutawney Phil...suck it.