Tony’s Journal

This is some news from Kentucky, though it just as easily could have come from NC. . .

HARLAN, Ky. — Politicians are known for lame jokes. But when Otis “Bullman” Hensley tried a generations-old Appalachian jest on a woman and two girls at the grocery store, the family thought it was downright criminal . . .

The ordeal began last week when Hensley’s wife sent him to a local grocery store to buy ground beef. While there, Hensley encountered a woman with her two nieces, ages 11 and 13. “I offered to trade her a fattening hog for those girls,” Hensley said. “I meant it as a joke. I’ve said it a million times. Most people get a kick out of it.”

The woman didn’t laugh. Instead, the family obtained a warrant for Hensley’s arrest from the local prosecutor, claiming the comment was intended to entice the children into illegal sexual activity.

Ky. politician jailed after joke; charge dismissed

Tags: General Thoughts by Tony
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I guess it might actually make sense, as my lineage is Italian (Axis power), German (Hapsburg/pointy helmet connection), and Slovak (used to be part of Hungary). But basically it’s just the fact that I spent nine days there last year and still act like a college-sophomore-who-just-returned-from-studying-abroad about it. Ah well.

• One of the things we noticed when we were there is that a lot of the music is covers of popular songs in English. They sounds familiar but not quite right. It’s like the radio is a lounge singer. I’m listening to MR2 right now and they just played a smooth jazz cover of “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?“. It sounded like Sade was singing it. But it wasn’t. I don’t get it. And then straight into a Funkdoobiest song that I haven’t heard in forever. It’s been drizzling all day, which makes it remind me a LOT of our trip, and I feel like I’m just missing some hot wine and cigarette smoke.
• This will only make sense to the lads who went on the trip, but here goes. We were upset to learn that West Balkan had closed, but they actually did move and reopen. Now they are open right around the corner from where they used to be. And there is some kind of “semi-permanent” location discussed, whatever that means. I’m glad they are open(ish) and look forward to checking out whatever opium den they have once it reopens.
• I’m still slowly learning Hungarian. Not nearly as fast as I wanted to, but faster than any American can be expected to. After all, we are busy as “the War Makers.” I can proudly tell you the word for deer, and bear, and fox, and beer, and can string together short sentences, and am able to go to a restaurant and order five beers. Or five bears, for that matter.
• Speaking of being “war makers,” even though Viola didn’t mean offense by that comment, it is worth noting that people often disagree with their governments. Especially worth noting is that Bush actually out-populars Hungarian president Gyurcsány at the moment by a narrow margin — 29.6% of Americans approve of Bush and 28% approve of Gyurcsány. Neither is much to be proud of, but it looks like we have something to toast to with the Hungarians: to a new government. Their president was a Communist youth leader, for God’s sake.

Tags: General Thoughts by Tony
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Looked up the status of my iPhone 3G order online, as I have constantly during the 10 days since I bought it, and wonder of wonders, it has shipped.

Yeeeeeaaaaaah boyeeeeeeeee!

This is awesome for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s a cool toy. Second of all, my current purple phone has been in declining health lately — keeps arbitrarily shutting itself off for no reason, including during calls. Not good. Although in fairness, this phone does have a sticker on the inside that says “Prototype – Not For Sale.” Oh well. Soon, I will have sweet, sweet money-sucking iPhone 3G goodness. I promise to quickly and accidentally break it.

Tags: General Thoughts by Tony
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