As the fire recedes into the Simi Hills (hopefully), here are some select items of news chum for your dining pleasure:
- From the “Da Da Da Da Da Da Da” Department: The LA Times is reporting that Neal Hefti has died. Many of you are probably going “who?”, but Neal Hefti was the author of the Batman Theme for the 1960s campy TV show, as well as the composer for the theme of “The Odd Couple”. Click here for the Batman Theme, and here for the Odd Couple Theme.
- From the “But Do You Believe Her?” Department: And speaking of odd couples, the Washington Post is reporting that Hilary Clinton has indicated she will not run for president again. Neither is she interested in being a Supreme Court Justice (which she would likely be good at). Nope. She just wants to be Senator from New York. Personally, I think that’s a great solution, especially as the Senate will soon be losing its liberal firebrand, Ted Kennedy. We really need someone to be in the Senate, fighting that fight.
- From the “A Backhand Endorsement” Department: And speaking of fighting the fight: The Los Angeles Times has an official policy (or they did–who knows what their policies are under the current publisher) of not endorsing in partisan races. Still, an editorial in the paper today comes awfully close: It is a telling argument on why one shouldn’t vote for John McCain:
On the question of who will best bind up this torn nation, we are far more troubled by what we know about McCain than what we don’t know about Obama. It is proper to admire McCain’s service to his nation — as a military man and as a senator — and he deserves our respect. On the question of who best can reunite us, however, we cannot put our faith in a man who has done so much to drive us apart.
- From the “It’s a Gamble” Department: And speaking of where to place your bets, how about a one-day casino? The LA Times has an article on the Queen of Hearts in Las Vegas, a one-day casino set up so the property can retain its gaming license. They roll in the 10-year old poker machines, fire up the generator, open the door, and see if anyone walks in. One year they did it in a parking lot owned by Station Gaming, and the trailer with the games was dubbed the “Trailer Station”. What I found fascinating, however, was this:
Similarly, the Queen of Hearts must open its bar for one day each year; a bartender is hired and given a bottle to pour. During the last-go-round, the drink of choice was Jim Beam.
- From the “Make Mine Lean” Department: And speaking of one day wonders (sense a pattern here): From noon to 6pm today (so you missed it), Cantors Deli in the Fairfax District celebrated its 60th anniversary by offering 60c corned beef sandwiches for all, including a side of potato salad and a pickle. After all, if it worked for Phillipes…
- From the “I Got Plenty O’ Nothin’” Department: And speaking of French Dips… OK, I’ve got nothing. Oh, wait, I got something. A French paper has apologized to President Nicolas Sarcozy for mixing up the name of his third wife, Carla Bruni, with his second, Cecilia.
