These photos are taken from my balcony with a Casio EX-Z1000 10mp camera. I'll be moving in a couple of weeks and will sorely miss the view. To see more photos, visit my flickr.
http://www.TheMeridianRoom.comGone are the green fairies.
Gone is the Scza. The cheese plates. The great beers. Scarioke. The best club sandwich in Dallas. The Guinness Steak Sandwich. The portabello mushroom fries. The half-priced food on Wednesdays. The echos of laughter with friends. The dark corners to disappear in to.
After a 7-year run, as so many area businesses have done, The Meridian Room has closed their doors. A moment of silence please.
A long time favorite of Dallas Opera peeps, we headed over there last night to catch up and have a few cocktails only to find ourselves looking at stacked chairs, a somber staff collecting up their personal items, taking pictures and having a few last minutes together within the confines of, what has been, one of two places in the fair park area in which it was worth investing time and hard-earned cash. The other is Amsterdam bar around the corner. God bless Mike Sheel for keeping his doors open. It was quiet in there. Quiet. As in you could hear the faint refrains from the back hallway of the Galaga/Ms. Packman game. So sad.
We, Alexander & I, had a moment with the owner of Meridian Room inquiring as to what happened. The soft-spoken response was simply that, having had Libertine [bar] open on Greenville for nearly 2 years successfully, they had decided to "move their interest there fully."
But right at the beginning of the Fair? When they would have been packed nightly? Doesn't seem to make sense to me. But then crying over spilt milk doesn't either--even if it's some of the best milk this area has seen in a long while. I think DART killed her. Meridian was to drink and song (karaoke) what Hungree's deli was, for so long, to food. Who can forget their "Cubano" sandwich? And, just like Hungree's died before her time was right--so has The Divine Miss M.
If you have a particular memory to share, comment back and leave it for others to see and remember.
One of my favorite, albeit shocking, memories that comes to mind is during Thursday night Scarioke. I had just finished singing some Bon Jovi, it was about midnight, the place was packed. As I muddled my way back to all the opera peeps I heard the next song start up--"I've got big balls" by AC/DC. I turned, thinking to myself, "yeah I love this song" only to see who was singing it....Naked Bruce, in all his glory, with his beer standing on his belly. good times.Transcendental grade for The Meridean Room's 7-year itch: 7/7 chakras
Here is an excerpt on "Where we go now" by Jon Hilsenrath of the Wall Street Journal:
3 things to look for in the aftermath of the House's failure to pass the $700 Billion bailout:What should investors do now?
1. Congress: seems to be an opening act. Members of both sides will be going back to the drawing board to see if there are any changes to be made to reach a middle ground.
2. Markets: The DOW is way off today, as are credit markets, and will probably continue tomorrow. As long as these pressures continue to build the pressure will be on the house to find a resolution.
3. Treasury Department & Federal Reserve: Not clear at this point if Congress will be able to find a resolution, therefore the Fed may have to also go back to the drawing board to look for new ways to address this financial crisis. This could involve interest rate cuts, but the Fed has been reluctant to do this any more. They must also look for new ways to inject liquidity in to the financial markets.
Wall Street is dead.Read the Full article here on "The Intelligent Investor"
Whether it was murder or suicide is beside the point; Wall Street as it has operated for the past 75 years has been obliterated in a matter of weeks. And witnessing this violent death in broad daylight has traumatized investors everywhere.
The Wall Street domino has toppled everything in sight: U.S. stocks large and small, within the financial industry and outside of it; foreign stocks; oil and other commodities; real estate investment trusts; formerly booming emerging markets like India and China. Even gold, although it has inched up lately, has lost 10% from its highs earlier this year. Not even cash seemed entirely safe, as money-market funds barely averted a "run on the bank."
Of all the dominos that have tipped over, the most psychologically damaging collapse was the last: the very notion of diversification itself.
According to the researchers at Morningstar, Inc., 91% of all mutual funds in existence have lost money so far this year. To put that in perspective, in 2001 – the year Enron imploded, Internet stocks kept crashing and al Qaeda attacked the U.S. – more than one out of every three funds still managed to generate positive returns.
...the resolve of the Fed is not in question; nor is there any doubt that the Treasury department is willing to provide the financing it takes to get the economy moving again. Furthermore, U.S. non-financial companies have just under $1 trillion in cash on their books. Even though Wall Street is dead, innovation is not: In the months to come, clever new financial go-betweens will spring up and find a way to get that cash flowing again. It's hard to see how a depression could get underway when so much capital is waiting in the wings.
Whatever happens with the bailout, don't bail out.
There is no questions that even among the last 10 years of technological increase it seems we are perpetually, exponentially, increasing still. So it my curiosity is whet as I look to see how each of the two primary Presidential candidates have utilized this industry to reach their constituents, both new and old.
The clear edge in tech clearly goes to Obama, as he has predominantly relied on it to both raise money (record amounts) yet also to keep his "followers" apprised of his goings-on. Just a few moments ago, as I have daily, it seems, I recieved this email from Obama:
Steven --
I just finished my first debate with John McCain.
Millions of Americans finally got a chance to see us take on the fundamental choice in this election -- the change we need or more of the same.
...[edited out the rest]
Thank you for all that you're doing,
Barack
I have just turn on,about an hour ago at midnite, the new website for Dallas Summer Musicals showing the new lineup of shows. I am particularly excited about RAT PACK LIVE FROM THE SANDS and possibly RENT, which I have never seen. TARZAN, of course should be very entertaining, and MARY POPPINS, from what I could tell from the video snippet on the showpage, offers a very cool presentation of a timeless classic. Here's the lineup:
Here was the originally proposed schedules for the democrat and republican conventions.
2008 Democratic National Convention Schedule
7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.
7:15 P.M. Pledge of Allegiance to the United Nations.
7:30 PM. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:30 till 8:00 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship: Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.
8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:05 P.M Ceremonial tree hugging.
8:15- 8:30 P.M. Gay Wedding: Barney Frank, presiding.
8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally: Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon.
9:00 P.M. Keynote speech: "The Proper Etiquette for Surrender" French President Jacques Chirac.
9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden Kidney Transplant Fund.
9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo Bay: Sean Penn.
9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military: A short talk by William Jefferson Clinton.
9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:50 P.M. Dan Rather receives "Truth in Broadcasting" award, presented by Michael Moore.
9:55 P.M., Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:00 P.M. Presentation: "How George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World Trade Center Towers", by Howard Dean.
10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton for President by Mahmud Ahnadinejad.
11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents the Internet.
11:15 P.M. "Our Generals are War Criminals", presented by John Kerry.
11:30 P.M Coronation of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
12:00 AM. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
12:05 A.M Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home.
2008 Republican National Convention Schedule
7:00 pm - Ceremonial burning of the U.S. Constitution
7:15 pm - Spiritual Medium Sylvia Browne performs psychic séance in desperate attempt to raise Ronald Reagan from the grave
7:35 pm - "The Pleasures of Adultery" - with Newt Gingrich & Rudy Giuliani
8:05 pm - Gay sex party in Men's Restroom hosted by Senator Larry Craig
8:35 pm - Transvestite Ann Coulter - "My Life as a Man"
8:55 pm - Live satellite feed from Federal Prison - Ohio Rep. Bob Ney
9:05 pm - Guest speaker ex-Florida Congressman Mark Foley " Joys with Young Boys"
9:25 pm - Oliver North - " Iran is Evil, but I sold them weapons anyway"
9:40 pm - Bill O' Reilly - " The costs of sexual harassment and phone sex with employees", and a discussion on "Fooling America with fake news"
10:00 pm - Gay sex party in Men's Room hosted by Ken Mehlman and Geraldo Rivera
10:25 pm - Check John McCain to see if he's still breathing and if his adult diaper needs changed.
10:35 pm - N.R.A. President hosts an assault riffle target practice on Gays and Mexicans.
10:45 pm - Call emergency squad after a drunken Dick Cheney accidentally shoots his friend in the face.
11:00 pm - President Bush performs his hilarious comedy routine where he looks for Iraq's fictitious WMD's under guests tables while ignoring Bin Laden.
11:15 pm - Governor Mike Huckabee does his famous uncanny imitation of Gomer Pyle.
11:20 pm - Group intervention to get Rush Limbaugh back into drug rehab
11: 45 pm - Go up on rooftop and throw rocks down at homeless Vets sleeping in alley.
12:00 am - Live satellite feed from Federal Prison - California Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham 12:20 am - Convicted felon/Fox News analyst G. Gordon Liddy - Lock picking secrets and disinformation campaigns
12: 40 am - Guest speakers Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz - "How to lie your Country into a War"
1:00 am - Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay - "Tips on Money Laundering"
1:15 am - Hookers arrive for after party
okay 10 paces then turn and fire...
Transcendental grade for no political party *really* worth following 3/7 chakras.
So this morning I'm in a bit of a hurry getting to work, and as I pulled into the front gate of the fair grounds, which haven't even opened yet, an old crotchety parking attendant jumps out in front of me, wearing coke bottles (I know, I know: bless his heart.), and yells SLOOWW DOOOWWNN! Of course I'm already stopped at this point.
Aside: It's not that he told me to slow down that annoyed me. It was the wide-eyed frantic waving of the hands by a person who can't see well enough to know I was already stopping, and then aggressively addressed me. It's the fact that during the fair, these people--carnies, really--come out of the wood-work to claim their temporary "4 weeks out of the year" power and proceed to go hitler on everyone who works there year round. It's ridiculous.
We are, at DSM, preparing to release our 2009 lineup of shows. I am a little on over-load (as is all of marketing) trying to get the new website completed so it can go live Friday at midnite. This is another one of those times that a wise person will, in the midst of being overwhelmed, admit the fact and then "hunker down" and maintain organization and communication until the jobs done.
Being organized is usually never an issue with me. The problem that I face now is that I can't turn my brain off at night. It is constantly bouncing through to-do's and a never-ending list of tasks that must be completed, complete with crystalline break-downs of each work-flow. That with opera rehearsals at night are slightly kickin' my ass. So I try to eat well, get whatever sleep I can, and make sure to exercise. Rode 5 miles tonight at 10pm just so I could keep from missing a day.
Saw these on the street, then while reading one of my favorite blogs, "the Magnificent Bastard", saw them again. On the website, www.vibramfivefingers.com, they are described as:
"When you go barefoot, your movements become the movements of a child—playful and sensitive, yet purposeful and confident. You experience the unbound joy of stepping, hopping, and running across any surface on earth, simply to get from here to there.I *must* have a pair of these soon.
Vibram FiveFingers® allow you to relive that sensation. Unlike conventional shoes that insulate you from your surroundings, FiveFingers footwear deepens your connection to the earth and your surroundings. FiveFingers enhance your sense of touch and feel, while improving foot strength, balance, agility, and range of motion. Because wearing Vibram FiveFingers is so close to going barefoot, you’ll enjoy the health and performance benefits of barefooting without some of the risks.
Outdoor enthusiasts have found FiveFingers to be the ideal crossover shoe for multiple sports and activities—from ChiRunning and bouldering to kayaking and windsurfing. Fitness enthusiasts use FiveFingers for core strength training, yoga and Pilates. Our customers continually discover new and creative uses for our alternative performance footwear."
I just love Mondays... not really, but I do love life. There so many things I love. Exceptional dumbass-ness is not one of them.
I work on the the State of Texas Fair Grounds and they are in full swing prepping everything for the grand opening of this year's state fair in just a few weeks. The amount of stupidity that is running around under hard-hats and helmets out there is awe-inspiring. Let's take parking: Each year the State Fair Administration under the direction of one E.M. commandeers all parking spaces and entrances/exits for the purpose of the fair. The problem is that for all of the staff, who work year-round at one of the venues, parking is removed. And the temp-working, little english-speaking tards who are supposed to direct us to our monthly hell of a parking situation, simply look at us with a blank expression of, "did I change my underpants this morning?" and then refuse to let us in the grounds.
To this end I attribute the title of this blog. I know there are people who are conscienciously working to maintain professionalism and good organization--and I work with a couple of them. So I wonder why it seems so few and far between that I encounter them? In an overload, it seems the first thing to go is communication. Like, "hey tard--when one of the valued staff needs to get in to park--LET THEM." See how that would take care of it? So simple; so overlooked.
If you *are* in a position of leadership, I emplore you to stay organized, get help when you need it, *recognize* that you need help, and then communicate, communicate, communicate. Please don't be a tard.
It may be either fitting or horrific that I choose, as my first post, a review of the 2004 Southern Highland Winery Shiraz Sangiovese. Primarily because even though I have a distinct affinity for wine and the knowledge of it, I am mostly through the bottle and it is late. I also run the risk of having a reader (should there be one) think that this is a wine blog, which would be the current transcendental perception, only. There will be many entries on wine, but also on just about everything else from my current disdain for bad management to my pursuit of purchasing a Mercedes SL-500. So we shall see.
Let me start with a little background of the varietals. Shiraz is considered the 'workhorse grape' of Australia producing everything from light, sweet blush wines to fortified "ports" while Sangiovese is touted as the backbone of the Chianti blend. -society of wine educators
TRANSCENDENTAL GRADE: 4 out of 7 chakras
TRANSCENDENTAL STEVE (TS) REVIEW
On the nose there is most apparently to me aromas of raspberry, lavender and jam with spicy notes beneath.Also just a hint of earth and fungal notes. It is fruit-forward and acidic, to a point, However as the taste lingers you'll find the residual effects of the acidity linger too. I find this wine medium-bodied with
SHW WINERY TASTING NOTES*as stated on the SHW website
60% Shiraz + 40% Sangiovese
Grapes Picked
Sangiovese harvested April 2006 Shiraz harvested April 2006
Winemaking
The Sangiovese grapes were transported to the winery and crushed directly into an open stainless steel vessel. Warm fermentation at 28c for the complete 10 day ferment with a daily pumpover; this is a traditional old world winemaking technique. The shiraz followed, the batches were kept separate. The shiraz was fermented at 28c for a period of three days, cooling was applied to bring the ferment down to 22c for a further 10 days. During the ferment the shiraz was pumped over daily as well a malolatic culture added. Once both parcels were complete they were pressed off into stainless steel tanks. Following bench blends the 60% shiraz and 40% Sangiovese blend was selected, the wine was then racked and filtered. After six months the wine was balanced and prepared for bottling.
Region*
Australia's cool-climate regions are gaining world-wide pre-eminence. One such region is the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The wines from this region have distinctive characters, elegance and varietal definition traditionally found in the world's classiest most elegant wines. Emergence of the region has occurred over a short period when recently the Geographical Indications Committee of the Australian Wine Board declared that it was a viticultural region of cool-climate significance. Vines were first planted in the region during the 1870's. It has only been in the last fifteen years that serious plantings have been undertaken again. The region now has sixty vineyards and eight wineries/cellar door.
A booming tourist destination just an hour down the M5 from Sydney Airport lies potentially one of the most exciting wine destinations in NSW. The Southern Highlands is yet to determine its best varieties, (that's how new it is!) early indications of outstanding wines from chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris, pinot noir, merlot and some notable wines from cabernet sauvignon.
Southern Highland Wines Estate is situated near the delightful village of Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway. Our location is a tremendous asset, just over an hour from Sydney and Wollongong and under a leisurely two hours from Canberra. The extensive complex at Southern Highland Wines extends a warm welcome to all visitors, the tasting room is open for your discovery between 10.00am and 5.00pm every day.
