Veritas et Venustas

Singular no more

Never mind what Stephen Colbert says, I was happier with Cingular than back when I had their AT&T cell service. But the history of Cingular does show the way my generation has gotten rich through unproductive churning.

Building cell phone companies? A valuable service. Buying, selling and buying companies again? Not so much.

PS: I like the new black, the bouncing man, and I'll probably buy an iPhone.

west coast humor

So, Bill Gates dies, and ascends to heaven. He meets up with Saint Peter at the gates and says "Hey, it's Bill, I'm just going to go on in." And Saint Peter says, "Sorry Bill, everyone is equal in God's eyes. You need to stand in line like everyone else."

Grudgingly, Gates walks to the end of the enormous line of folks awaiting entrance. As he's waiting, an iPod-white limo passes him and rolls up to heaven's gate's. The door opens and out steps Steve Jobs. Saint Peter greets him and, after a few brief words, welcomes him into heaven.

Gates is furious. He storms up to the front of the line and confronts Saint Peter: "Hey! I thought you said everyone was equal here! But, I just saw Steve Jobs cut to the front of the line and you let him in without a second thought.

And Saint Peter laughs and replies, "Oh no, that wasn't Steve Jobs. That was God; he only thinks he's Steve Jobs."

“Save the Cheerleader, Save the World”

You can watch the first season of Heroes here.

Warning - it's addictive popcorn.

Tip - the first episode is the least interesting.

Martin Luther King

MLK Day bonus:

Common's I have a dream lyrics below.

[Chorus - Will.i.am and Martin Luther King]
(I am happy...I Have a Dream) I got a Dream
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out out out
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out out out
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out
(I Have a Dream) I got a Dream
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out out out
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out out out
(That One Day ) We gonna work it out
(I Have a Dream) I got a Dream
(That One Day) That one day
(That One Day) I'ma look deep within myself
(I Have a Dream) I gotta find a way...
My Dream Is To Be Free
My Dream Is To Be
My Dream Is To Be
My Dream Is To Be Free

[Verse 1]
In search of brighter days, I ride through the maze of the madness,
Struggle is my address, where pain and crack lives,
Gunshots comin' from sounds of Blackness,
Given this game with no time to practice,
Born on the Black list, told I'm below average,
A life with no cabbage,
That's no money if you from where I'm from,
Funny, I just want some of your sun,
Dark clouds seem to follow me,
Alcohol that my pops swallowed bottled me,
No apology, I walk with a boulder on my shoulder,
It's a Cold War - I'm a colder soldier,
Hold the same fight that made Martin Luther the King,
I ain't usin' it for the right thing,
In between Lean and the fiends, hustle and the schemes,
I put together pieces of a Dream
I still have one

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
The world's seen me lookin' in the mirror,
Images of me, gettin' much clearer,
Dear Self, I wrote a letter just to better my soul,
If I don't express it then forever I'll hold, inside
I'm from a side where we out of control,
Rap music in the 'hood played a fatherly role,
My story's like yours, yo it gotta be told,
Tryna make it from a gangsta to a godlier role,
Read scrolls and stow slaves,
And Jewish people in cold cage,
Hate has no color or age, flip the page,
Now my rage became freedom,
Writin' dreams in the dark, they far but I can see 'em,
I believe in Heaven more than Hell,
Blessings more than jail,
In the ghetto let love prevail,
With a story to tell, my eyes see the glory and well,
The world waitin' for me to yell "I Have a Dream"

[Chorus]

NU Mystery Towns

NAME these NU mystery towns. No entries from people who've been to them, please.

Click on the photos for larger versions.

Visiting Nashville?

I like to stay in room 530 in the converted Union Station — it's one of the rooms under the arches in the photo below. But Wyndham has bought the hotel and is remodeling it, so the hotel was full when I tried to get a good walk-in rate.

If you're interested in new traditional architecture, visit Robert Stern's Nashville Public Library, and David Schwarz's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The library sits at one end of Nashville's War Memorial Plaza, opposite William Strickland's wonderful state capitol building. To the side is McKim, Mead & White's War Memorial building, one of their best buildings, but not one of their best known.

Visiting Birmingham, Alabama?

STAY at the Tutwiler. Eat in Five Points. If you want to splurge, eat at the Highlands Bar & Grill.