Recently one of Tony Alamo’s shills, Thomas Richards, declared me to be a Jesuit coadjutor.  I wonder what he has to say about the fact that ole Tony has his bum in a bind again?  Over the weekend I visited the Tony Alamo’s ministerial website and listened to the recording of him asking children and young adults whether or not he ever molested them.  Then Tony’s wife gives her blast about how this is all the work of the evil Vatican.  (Don’t get Thomas Richards wound up…)  Then Tony rambled on about how God tells him what he should eat and what shoes to wear.  And how well connected he was in Hollywood and how he was a professional bodybuilder and how all the movie studios wanted to make films of his kid…

Oh, I almost forgot, he also called his accusers homosexuals and paedophiles.  Not to say that these accusers are or aren’t homosexuals and paedophiles but I guess it would make Tony feel better that his accusers weren’t straight like him.

So I kinda thought to myself, “Wow!  The young ones that Tony picked out to record their testimonies all said ‘no, we weren’t molested!  Tony Alamo is the best man in the world.’  That’s it.  The Tony has spoken, I believe it and that settles it!”

Not.

Tony, if you are guilty then may you rot in hell.  If you are innocent, well, here’s some advice:  It is probably time you started to watch out who your running buddies are.  If these folks accusing you are so God awful then how did they get close to you?  Isn’t it kind of like Jerry Falwell knowing that there was a cartoon of him committing incest with his mother in Hustler magazine?  Surely it wasn’t a Christian who alerted him to this?!?

Maybe since I am from the same part of Arkansas as where the Tony Alamo Ministry has its campus and since I am such an obvious Jesuit coadjutor (according to Thomas Richards) and since the Vatican is behind all of this (according to Mrs. Alamo), then maybe I was the one who was working behind the scenes to bring Tony’s downfall?  Nah!

But wouldn’t it be nice?

Footnote:
Last Friday, my high school football team, the Prescott Curly Wolves made a visit to Foulk, Arkansas.  This wasn’t to visit Tony Alamo’s ministry though.  It was to beat the pants off the local football team.

Prescott Curly Wolves  60
Foulke Panthers 12

Go Wolves!

For a "neutral" audience, head to Alamo Drafthouse Village (Anderson Lane), where you can watch the debate on the big screen with beer and snacks--you don't have to pay to get in, per se, but you do have to spend $5 on food or drink.

If you're blue, the Travis County Democratic Party is hosting a watch party at the Long Center, $5 suggested donation, RSVP @ do512 for free entry.

Even if you're not all that into politics, this debate has all sorts of intrigue: is Sarah Palin dumb or incredibly cunning? (ps she hasn't ever lost a debate--of course, this is over a relatively short career) ... can Joe Biden debate a woman? ... can the nation start to like Biden? Ah, the drama!

SPECIAL: While you watch the debate, make sure to play Palin Bingo! Regardless of your personal politics, this is just funny.

It was much smaller then I had imagined.

Then we went to the Guinness World Record Museum.

Seth standing in the Largest Man cut out.

Robin standing in the Tallest Man cut out.

It was pretty cool to check out the world records.

"In the Bible it happened. But girls today, I don't marry 'em if they want to at 14-15 years old," Alamo said Saturday after federal agents raided his southwestern Arkansas compound and placed six girls into state custody. "We won't do it, even though I believe it's OK."

But authorities don't believe it's OK -- and now Alamo faces charges he transported children across state lines for sexual activities, in violation of the Mann Act. And so once again, the one-time rock promoter and street preacher that former President Clinton likened to "Roy Orbison on speed" will return to federal court.

Alamo is likely to appear Friday in federal court in Flagstaff, Ariz., where federal agents and local police arrested him outside of a mountainside resort. Police officials said there were several women traveling with Alamo when agents arrested him, but none were minors.

Authorities did not say when minors were taken across state lines or which states were involved, but Alamo has ministries in California and Arkansas.

FBI documents identified Alamo by his birth name, Bernie Lazar Hoffman. Alamo has said he was born Jewish but converted to Christianity.

He turned 74 the day federal agents and Arkansas state police had raided the Fouke headquarters of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries on Saturday. Officials removed six girls ages 10 to 17 from the compound and sought evidence that children there had been molested or filmed having sex.

Prosecutors sought Alamo's arrest after interviewing the girls this week, but Little Rock FBI spokesman Steve Frazier would not disclose what the children said. He said the affidavit describing the FBI's evidence against Alamo would remain under seal even after Alamo's initial court appearance.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, describes the ministry as a cult. Alamo's church rails against homosexuals, Roman Catholics and the government.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, Alamo said girls are fit for marriage once they are sexually mature, but denied any involvement with pornography.

"We don't go into pornography; nobody in the church is into that," Alamo said. "Where do these allegations stem from? The anti-Christ government. The Catholics don't like me because I have cut their congregation in half. They hate true Christianity."

An Arkansas judge has hearings set for Friday and Monday on whether the state Department of Human Services can keep custody of the six girls. The girls will attend the hearings.

"We will transport them to and from hearings. We will take part in any future hearings," agency spokeswoman Julie Munsell said. "Our job right now is to basically take care of them."

State Circuit Judge Jim Hudson said two hearings would be conducted Friday and the other four Monday in Texarkana.

The six hearings will be split among three judges who will decide whether the state had enough evidence to temporarily remove the children from their homes on the Fouke compound. If a judge rules against the state, the girls would be returned to the parents.

Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said that no further arrests were planned that would involve his agency.

Alamo and his late wife Susan were street preachers in Los Angeles before forming a commune near Saugus, Calif. Susan Alamo died of cancer in 1982; Alamo claimed she would be resurrected and kept her body on display for six months while followers prayed.

Alamo was convicted of tax-related charges in 1994 and served four years in prison after the IRS said he owed the government $7.9 million. Prosecutors in that case argued that Alamo was a flight risk and a polygamist who preyed on married women and girls in his congregation.

Since establishing his ministries in Arkansas, Alamo has been a controversial and flamboyant figure in the state. Snapshots often show him wearing large dark sunglasses, and he recently said he is legally blind.

In his autobiography, "My Life," former President Bill Clinton, an Arkansas native, described Alamo recalled traveling in 1975 to see Dolly Parton sing at Alamo's compound in the town of Alma.

Remembering the fiasco after Susan Alamo's death, Clinton wrote: "A couple of years later, he got involved with a younger woman. Lo and behold, God spoke to him again and told him Susan wasn't coming back after all, so he took her out of the glass box and buried her."

Source: AP

Federal agents and Arkansas Police raided the headquarters of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries and removed six little girls between the ages of 10 and 17 who are victims of their parents insane religious sex-beliefs!  Tony Alamo who has ministries in California and Arkansas has been caught by the FBI taking children across state lines for his sick personal sexual satisfaction.

Evidence is being sought by the FBI to firm up the case against Alamo, who along with other members of this sick Evangelist cult; had been molesting and raping these poor children on video tape.

Alamo has preached to his cult following that girls are fit for marriage once they have reached sexual maturity. And the age for "Consent is puberty."

Hearings in the Alamo trial start tomorrow. Hopefully this sick group will be disbanded, and Tony Alamo will be finished as a PERVERT EVANGELIST PREACHER / CHILD MOLESTER. 

And the bailout open check to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson..without oversight... is back to

Taxation without Representation...  There was Tea last time.....

.

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Thanks for checking out my posting. Check out the latest at http://mrobvious.wordpress.com
No scraping please….

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The 2008 Alamo Bowl is scheduled for December 29, 2008 at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas.  San Antonio has more than 20 million visitors each year and the 65,000 seat Alamodome is packed for the Alamo Bowl game year after year regardless of which college teams are playing.  Downtown San Antonio is within walking distance of the Alamodome, providing easy access to a wide variety of restaurants and hotels.

The two most famous tourism spots in San Antonio are the Riverwalk and the Alamo.  San Antonio boasts of over 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of just under 70 degrees.  For those who get dragged on the trip to San Antonio (with or without Alamo Bowl Tickets) but aren't football fans or the sight seeing type...San Antonio has 10 shopping malls!

If you're anything like me. Which I know you're not, but you should still aspire to be, then you've always wanted to go to a film festival. But lets be realistic. For most people thats an impossibility because they don't have

A) The time
B) The money
C) Neither

But there's good news! This year, Ain't It Cool's, Fantastic Fest will be partially available online. FOR FREE. You get access to five great movies as well as five great short films. FOR FREE

Once again, for those of you who don't know about Fantastic Fest, its a film festival thrown every year in Austin, Texas at the famous, or infamous, Alamo Drafthouse. The festival features a wide genre of movies ranging from foreign, indie, sci-fi, to mega Hollywood blockbusters. Truly a movie fan's nirvana.

Every year, Fantastic Fest has early, special screenings of highly anticipated movies. This has included films like The Fountain, the world premiere of There Will Be Blood, The Orphanage, and Pan's Labyrinth.

You can watch the jam packed awesomeness HERE .

Thanks to sponsors AMD and BSide for making this possible

Remember Iraq.

At the beginning we were angry about the terrorist attack upon America. But our leaders allowed our rage to morph into a military invasion of a small, rather harmless but oil-rich country. The war was badly conceived and badly managed. It has brought nothing but death, destruction and debt—except to the profiteers who have taken American tax dollars and ended up wealthy.

Remember Katrina.

We knew it was coming but Washington did not do what needed to be done. Few events demonstrate with more clarity and certainty the ineptitude and indifference of the White House to the realities of life in these United States. Again, the response was badly planned and badly managed. It remains an embarrassment to the American people.

Remember Guantanamo.

Never, in the long, illustrious history of the United States, has a President tried so hard to undermine the rule of law and deny basic legal rights to so many people. They sought to detain people without charges, hold them without legal counsel, try them without due process, and convict them without public trial. From beginning to end it was a denial of our pledge of “liberty and justice for all.”

Remember the Economy.

From Enron to Lehman Brothers, the last eight years have brought more economic disaster to the American people than any time in our history save only the Great Depression. Millions are out of a job, millions are out of their homes, and millions have been lost from our bank accounts: and what has our rich, oilman President done? Spend more time on vacation than any President in American history.

The Great Decider has actually been the Great Disappointment, presiding over the most arrogant, corrupt, incompetent, indifferent, secretive, belligerent White House in American history. All of us will have to endure the aftershocks of this administrative earthquake for the rest of our lives.

God help us—find another Alamo to which to send this pathetic excuse of a President.

El acuerdo amplía la alianza transatlántica establecida en 2006 por Europcar, National Car Rental y Alamo Rent A Car y está diseñado para aumentar la cobertura y servicio internacional, especialmente para cuentas corporativas globales.Europcar y Enterprise ofrecerán a sus clientes una flota de más de 1,2 millones de vehículos y más de 13.000 oficinas de alquiler en 162 países.

La alianza tiene también la vocación de expandir y activar los alquileres de automóviles entre EEUU y Europa, pues se calcula que 12 millones de viajeros cruzan el Atlántico en ambas direcciones cada año.

Los afanes expansivos se extienden al área de Asia-Pacífico, tras la reciente incorporación de Europcar a los mercados de Australia y Nueva Zelanda.

El acuerdo facilitará a los clientes que viajen entre las dos áreas en las que opera cada socio una perfecta cobertura cuando necesite alquilar su vehículo.

Bajo los términos del acuerdo, ambas compañías se coordinarán para realizar un acercamiento conjunto a las cuentas corporativas globales y de esta forma ofrecer un programa de fidelización único.

Los responsables de ambas empresas han coincidido en señalar que el acuerdo constituye una estrategia clave dentro del plan de desarrollo de las dos compañías.

Europcar, que pertenece a la compañía francesa de inversión Eurazeo, es líder europeo en alquiler de coches de pasajeros y utilitarios, con una red que alcanza los 5.300 puntos de alquiler en 160 países y una flota de 215.000 vehículos.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, fundada en 1957, tiene su central en St. Louis (Missouri) y opera con más de un millón de vehículos, gestionados a través de una red de 8.000 oficinas.

Fuente: La Vanguardia

El árbol del Olmo (la Mentalidad noble), tiene una figura agradable con buen gusto en el vestir, de pocas exigencias, aunque no olvida los errores, alegre, le gusta mandar pero no obedecer, pareja honesta y fiel, le gusta tomar las decisiones por los demás, tiene sentido del humor y es muy práctica.

El árbol del Ciprés (la Fidelidad), persona fuerte, muscular, adaptable, toma de la vida lo que quiera darle, es una persona satisfecha, optimista. Ansía el dinero y el reconocimiento, odia la soledad, es una pareja fiel y apasionada, aunque insatisfecha, se altera fácilmente, poco dócil y desinteresada.

El árbol del Álamo (la Incertidumbre), es una persona con un alto sentido de la estética, algo insegura, valiente sólo lo necesario. Necesita estar en un ambiente agradable, es selectiva, entusiasta, buena organizadora, a veces solitaria, persona de confianza, y se toma muy en serio las relaciones.

El árbol del Cedro (la Confianza), es de una belleza extraña, tiene buena salud, extrovertida, segura de sí, impaciente, talentosa, le gusta impresionar a los demás, optimista, decidida, espera un único y verdadero amor, tiende a menospreciar a los demás.

El árbol del Pino (lo Particular), persona robusta, activa, natural, buena compañía pero no siempre amistosa, enamoradiza, pero su pasión fácilmente se apaga, se rinde y se decepciona muy pronto, es persona de confianza y de carácter práctico.

El árbol del Sauce Llorón (la Melancolía), persona bella, pero melancólica, atractiva, empática, ama lo bello, soñadora, le gusta viajar, caprichosa, influenciable, difícil para convivir, intuitiva, sufridora en el amor, a veces encuentra el sustento en su pareja.

El árbol de Lima (la Duda), odia las disputas, el estrés, el trabajo, pero sin embargo le molesta la ociosidad. Sabe ceder y suele hacer sacrificios por los amigos, talentosa pero nada tenaz para explotarlos, se lamenta en demasía, acepta de la vida lo que le da, persona celosa pero leal.

El árbol del Roble (la Valentía), persona de naturaleza robusta, valiente, fuerte, implacable, independiente, sensible, le disgustan los cambios, realista, le gusta la acción.

El árbol Rowan (la Sensibilidad), llena de encantos, da sin expectativas, le gusta llamar la atención, ama la vida, es emocional, muy activa, no le importan las complicaciones, es tanto dependiente como independiente. Tiene muy buen gusto, es apasionada, artística, buena compañía y no olvida.

El árbol del Arce (la Mente Abierta), es una persona fuera de lo común, llena de imaginación y originalidad, tímida y reservada, ambiciosa y orgullosa, segura de sí misma, con sed de nuevas experiencias, algunas veces nerviosa, tiene muchas complejidades, buena memoria, aprende rápidamente, con una vida amorosa complicada, le gusta impresionar.

El árbol del Nogal (la Pasión), implacable, persona extraña y llena de contrastes, a menudo egoísta, agresiva, noble, de amplios horizontes, de reacciones inesperadas, espontánea, ambiciosa, nada flexible, pareja difícil y poco común, ingeniosa, celosa y apasionada, no se compromete.

El árbol del Castaño ( la Honestidad), de belleza inusual, no desea impresionar, con un desarrollado sentido de la justicia, vivaz, es una persona interesada, diplomática de nacimiento, sin embargo se irrita fácilmente y es muy sensible en compañía, muchas veces por falta de seguridad en si mismo, a veces actúa con sentido de superioridad, se siente incomprendido, ama una sola vez, tiene dificultades para encontrar pareja.

El árbol de Cenizas (la Ambición), es una persona excepcionalmente atractiva vivaz, impulsiva, exigente, no le importan las críticas, ambiciosa, inteligente, talentosa, le gusta jugar con el destino, puede ser egoísta, amante fiel y prudente, fiable, digna de confianza, en ocasiones el cerebro controla el corazón, asume sus relaciones de manera seria.

El árbol Horbeam (el Buen Gusto), de belleza fresca, preocupada por su apariencia y su nivel económico, generosa, de buen gusto, vive lo mejor posible, disciplinada, busca la bondad en su pareja, sueña con amantes inusuales, feliz con sus sentimientos, desconfía de la mayoría de las personas.

El árbol de la Higuera (la Sensibilidad), persona poco voluntariosa, independiente, no admite las contradicciones ni las discusiones, ama la vida, la familia, los niños y los animales, buen sentido del humor, persona fuerte pero perezosa, práctica e inteligente.

El árbol del Abedul (la inspiración), una persona vivaz, atractiva, elegante, amistosa, no pretenciosa, modesta, no le gustan los excesos, aborrece lo vulgar, ama la vida en la naturaleza y la calma, no muy apasionada, llena de imaginación, poco ambiciosa, crea una atmósfera de calma y satisfacción.

El árbol del Manzano (el amor), tiene mucho carisma, es una persona llamativa, atractiva, coqueta, aventurera, sensible, quiere amar y ser amada. Compañera fiel y tierna, muy generosa, despreocupada, con talento científico y vive el día a día.

El árbol del Olivo (la Sabiduría), ama el Sol, posee sentimientos cálidos y tiernos, razonable, equilibrada, evita la violencia y la agresión. Es tolerante, alegre, tranquila, con un fuerte sentido de la justicia, sensible, nada celosa, le gusta mucho leer y la compañía de personas sofisticadas.

El árbol del Avellano ( lo Extraordinario), es una persona encantadora, no pide nada, muy comprensiva, sabe como impresionar a la gente, activa en la lucha de causas sociales, popular, temperamental y amante caprichoso, honesta y compañera tolerante, con un sentido de la justicia muy preciso.

El árbol de la Haya (la Creatividad), tiene buen gusto, le preocupan las apariencias, materialista, organiza bien su vida y su carrera, persona ahorrativa, líder, no corre riesgos innecesarios, razonable, espléndida compañera, le gusta mantener la línea.

For others the wall means a radical change in life.  For some, it means their ancestral homes will be lost.  For others, it means their downtown will be gutted by an unsightly, environmentally destructive barrier.  For others, it means that some of our nation's most endangered and rare species will no longer have a home.  Others will lose access to the few wildlife refuges and parkland that they currently have along the Rio Grande corridor.  Still others look at an 18-foot high barrier lacking sufficient environmental impact studies and see a natural disaster waiting to happen.

As Hurricane Ike takes aim at the Rio Grande Valley, my prayers are with the good people of South Texas.  I pray that the hurricane will spare the lives and livelihoods of my good friends in Brownsville and Donna, Mission and Pharr, McAllen and Rio Grande City, Harlingen and Port Isabel, Weslaco and Alamo.  I also pray that our entire nation would look at this area long enough to see the people on both sides of the river who will live in fear every year they lack levees but get walls.

For up-to-date information on the hurricane's progress and trajectory, please visit: http://www.badchili.blogspot.com/ ,  http://current.pic.tv/2008/09/10/hurricane-ike-paints-bullseye-on-texas/ , or the Brownsville Herald website at: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/

The U.S. Geological Survey put the tremblor at a 4.0-magnitude.

The quake hit just after 9 p.m. and could be felt throughout the region.

Its epicenter was near Alamo, Calif., about 28 miles east of San Francisco.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in Alamo or surrounding communities, said Contra Costa County Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee.

Story Continued.

The small earthquake occurred at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2008.

The earthquake has a preliminary magnitude of 4.1 and was centered approximately 2 miles ENE of Alamo, California.

The depth is estimated at 10 miles.

There are currently no reports of damage or injuries.

UPDATE:

Mostly the same information but here's an update from CBS 5:

The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.0 struck at 9 p.m. Friday near Danville.

According to the USGS, the earthquake had a depth of 10.1 miles and was centered 4 miles north northwest of Danville and 7 miles south of Concord.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury resulting from the earthquake.

The earthquake was felt at AT&T Park during the San Francisco Giants game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

From the Associated Press:

A light earthquake has rattled the San Francisco Bay area and was felt during the Giants' game with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Many felt the temblor -- with a preliminary report as a 4.0-magnitude from the U.S. Geological Survey -- at the Giants' waterfront ballpark, but there was no interruption of the game. During the 1989 World Series here between the Giants and Oakland Athletics, a 6.9 earthquake interrupted play during Game 3 and postponed the finish.

The quake hit just after 9 p.m. and could be felt throughout the region.

The temblor's epicenter was near Alamo, about 28 miles east of San Francisco.

Here's a list of recent Bay Area earthquakes.

Abbiamo appena fatto il check out dell'hotel e con calma fra poco andiamo a cercare la caserma dei pompieri per Luca.

Dopo dobbiamo fare benzina all'Highlander e riportarla da Alamo che per fortuna è all'aereoporto.

E per chiudere in bellezza, ci aspetta un lunghissimo check in americano...

Le valigie scoppiano.

BILANCIO DELLA SERATA DI IERI: pareggio tra il film commedia indiano "Gara di cuori" con Aishwarya Rai trasmesso in prima visione su RaiUno e la replica del varietà "Ciao Darwin - L'anello mancante" con Paolo Bonolis proposta su Canale 5. Tra gli altri programmi in onda, eccellenti gli ascolti dei due episodi inediti della serie poliziesca "Law & Order - Criminal Intent" con Chris Noth, che senza concorrenza poliziesca del sabato sera permettono a Rete 4 di superare anche Italia 1 ed il suo film commedia "Crocodile Dundee III" con Paul Hogan; stabile l'ultima puntata del programma sportivo riepilogativo "Olimpiche emozioni" con Jacopo Volpi; disastroso l'esito del film western "Alamo - Gli ultimi eroi" con Patrick Wilson, in onda su RaiTre; fanalino di coda, il primo episodio della nuova serie gialla tedesca "Miss Sophie - Con lei non si scherza" in onda su La 7.

Le fasce di prima serata (ore 20.30/22.30)
Oggi in tabella lo share percentuale è considerato per la fascia d'età 15-64 anni.

A seguire, alcune segnalazioni sugli ascolti disponibili della prima serata e di alcuni eventi delle Olimpiadi di Pechino 2008 di ieri.

• Alle 20.41 il clip-show “Supervarietà” (3.249.000 spettatori - 20,66%). Alle 21.24 il film commedia “Gara di cuori” (2.346.000 spettatori - 17,44%).
• Alle 21.06 il programma sportivo “Olimpiche emozioni” (spettatori non disp. - 10,86%).
• Alle 20.32 il film western “Alamo - Gli ultimi eroi” (945.000 spettatori - 6,23%).
• Alle 20.39 il varietà “Veline” (3.263.000 spettatori - 20,70%). Alle 21.19 la replica della dodicesima puntata del varietà “Ciao Darwin - L’anello mancante” (2.333.000 spettatori - 20,12%).
• Alle 21.12 il film d’azione “Crocodile Dundee 3” (2.022.000 spettatori - 13,77%).
• Alle 19.51 l’episodio doppio “Il purosangue” della quarta stagione del telefilm Renegade, con 1.397.000 spettatori. Alle 21.29 gli episodi 6-7 della quinta stagione inedita della serie poliziesca Law & Order - Criminal Intent: il primo episodio “Incubo senza fine” (Prima parte) ha avuto 2.029.000 spettatori (13,45%), il secondo episodio “Incubo senza fine” (Seconda parte) (ore 22.26) ha avuto 2.337.000 spettatori (17,89%). Alle 23.19 l’episodio inedito “X Fragile” della serie poliziesca francese Il commissario Moulin, con 800.000 spettatori.

Olimpiadi di Pechino 2008 - alcune tra le discipline di ieri (in onda su RaiDue):

Tuffi: finale maschile (ore 08.23) 1.271.000 spettatori - 28,80%
Nuoto sincronizzato (ore 09.15) 1.553.000 spettatori - 36,88%
Canoa (ore 10.02) 1.970.000 spettatori - 45,04%
Ginnastica artistica (ore 11.56) 2.972.000 spettatori - 31,49%
Atletica leggera (ore 13.31) 4.397.000 spettatori - 32,74%
Pugilato: finale Russo - Chakhkiev (ore 15.20) 4.795.000 spettatori - 44,47%
Ginnastica ritmica (ore 15.51) 3.001.000 spettatori - 34,09%
Tennis tavolo (ore 17.10) 2.326.000 spettatori - 30,34%

SETTIMANA 17 - 23 AGOSTO 2008
Share medio percentuale della fascia di prime time (ore 20.30 - 22.30)

BILANCIO DELLA SETTIMANA: sempre in testa RaiUno, che però non gode di prime serate esaltanti a parte il calcio e colleziona il pesante insuccesso del concerto-tributo ai Beatles da Sorrento. Sempre bene RaiDue in prima serata grazie ai telefilm (tranne "Lost") e non alle "Olimpiche emozioni" del venerdì e sabato, ed Italia 1 in salita grazie all'abbuffata di film e a "Standoff", che però sospenderà prematuramente la prossima settimana; in ascesa anche Rete 4, che supera una settimana abbastanza scarsa in prima serata di RaiTre.

In actual update news, Jim and I had an awesome time in San Antonio. He was really impressed with the city and with Zachry (good job Luke and Elena!) and I think that San Antonio liked him back. We got to go to the Alamo, the Riverwalk, Schlitterbahn, the Witte Museum, and the Zoo. We also got to take a tour of Dad's cement plant and see the brand rollout! Which means I got to see my work friends! YAY! We drove at least 5 hours a day, every day, for 4 days, and then got right back into the swing of things. For me that equals posters and for him that equals Short and Funny plus work, so it's been a busy busy week.

Jim and I have been going through a lovely patch in our relationship, too. Everything seems happy and giggly and loving. Even when we're busy we're happy and we just make each other laugh like 24/7. We've just found some sort of good groove-type-thing. And it's awesome. He's the bestest boyfriend in the whole wide world.

I'm very excited about getting to move into my apartment soon! I have a studio alll to myself! And real grown-up dishes and glasses and silverware. It's like I'm a big girl or something.. Once I move in, I have to go get flowers for my window boxes and fishes for my cool fish-vase. It's very exciting. : )

Once the school year actually starts, I'm a shop supervisor (YAY!) and I have all the poster-y goodness to deal with as well. I'm also getting some Zachry work every once in a while, so yay for extra money!

With that, here are some pictures for you to peruse from our vacation!
-The Intern

Siamo arrivati all'ultimo giorno a new york, e' ora di partire e iniziare la nostra vacanza on the road.

Colazione sempre al "Juan Valdez Cafe'", ormai diventato il nostro punto di riferimento per la mattina. Cerchiamo un'agenzia di noleggio auto a manhattan, troviamo una Hertz poco distante, andiamo a vedere se hanno auto disponibili (ovviamente non abbiamo prenotato anticipatamente, essendo questo un viaggio cazzaro), e com'e' giusto che sia, la prima macchina si libera alle 4 di mattina del giorno dopo, il che vorrebbe dire passare la notte a barboneggiare a new york.

Siccome non ci pare il caso, torniamo al solito baretto e ci mettiamo a cercare su internet un'altra agenzia di noleggio.

La fortuna vuole che ne troviamo uno a 300 metri da dove siamo, Alamo, tra la 7 e l'8 ave, 40 st. Prenotiamo online (e' obbligatorio farlo) e alle 14 andiamo a prendere la macchina.

Sistemiamo le ultime cose e partiamo per Boston: inizia il vero sogno americano.

La macchina e' anche carina, una kia sorento con un motore che pompa un bel po', e' un 3500 v6 da 242 cavalli, e beve come un butel di verona in vacanza (non noi mamma, parlavo in generale).

Si parte, sul conta chilometri segna 19516 miglia, vediamo quanta strada facciamo.

Vuole guidare il faggio, perche' lui ha la patente per i 380 e cazzate varie, e noi lo lasciamo fare volentieri.

Guidare per new york e' facile, nel senso che ci si orienta perfettamente, ma per fare 100 metri ci vuole 1 ora secca.

Notiamo subito che la maggior parte delle frecce delle auto sono rosse, la segnaletica e' diversa da quella italiana (non ci sono i segnali dei paesi in cui entri, i semafori sono dall'altra parte della strada, qui scrivono e non usano simboli) e il sorpasso a destra e' non diciamo consentito ma largamente diffuso.

Non abbiamo ne' navigatore ne' cartine stradali, ci affidiamo al culo e all'istinto di eicso per le strade extraurbane e a quello del bizza per girare in citta', ma subito sbagliamo qualcosa e finiamo in un quartiere un po' fuori manhattan dove fermiamo un postino per chiedere informazioni. La sua risposta e' che a Boston non ci si va in macchina, ma in treno. Evviva. Un video di eicso documenta meglio.

Siamo in macchina da un po' con eicso che si continua a lamentare che deve andare in bagno, ma il pilota non vuole fermarsi prima di un burger king, e cosi' passiamo una serie di paesi molto caratteristici, le classiche casette che vedi nei film americani per intenderci, cercando sempre un ingresso in autostrada.

Entriamo nella e-17, e subito dopo compare un mitico autogrill (o come si chiama qui), e ci fermiamo immediatamente, visto che tra i loghi visibili sull'insegna c'e' anche quello tanto bramato.

Qui abbiamo fatto una scoperta non da poco: esiste il bk quad, un mega panino con 4 strati di carne intevallati da formaggio e bacon, praticamente 2 fiorentine, ma la cosa piu' sconvolgente e' che c'e' gente che lo mangia, altrimenti non lo farebbero.. Scatta subito la scommessa, entro la fine della vacanza il faggio dovra' riuscire a mangiarne uno.

Ripariamo facendo profonde riflessioni, e arriviamo alla conclusione che il 75% delle teenager americane ha il poster di axel rose in camera. Il faggio confessa di avere una predilezione per il cana, ma non vogliamo indagare oltre. Notiamo anche che siamo gli unici a rispettare i limiti di velocita', macchine e camion (giganteschi) ci superano a destra e a sinistra senza problemi.

Il sorpasso piu' gradito e' stato quello di una golf cabrio bianca serie 0 con al volante un personaggio che e' diventato immediatamente il nostro idolo.

Il viaggio prosegue sereno con varie soste, dal new jersey passiamo al connecticut, e ci viene fame, cosi' decidiamo di uscire per mettere qualcosa sotto i denti.

Il caso vuole che la nostra uscita sia l'87 appena dopo new london, dove ad attenderci c'e' un elegante applebee's pieno di connecticuttiani (o connecticuttesi).

Mangiando osserviamo che la moda locale dei butei e' il cappellino scuro accompagnato da una camicia a quadri, che non sanno spillare la birra e che se vuoi solo bere qualcosa e' meglio sedersi al banco altrimenti ogni 2 minuti vengono a romperti le palle a chiederti se vuoi qualcosa, il tutto mentre il bizza sentenzia cazzate, anche se a volte non gli si puo' dare torto.

3 birre da 16 oz a 11$: onesti, niente da dire.

Continuiamo il viaggio, e arriviamo a Boston, adesso bisogna trovare un hotel. Il faggio da' chiari segni di cedimento, guida il bizza, eicso scala davanti, mentre il tranni dietro si addormenta all'istante.

Tutti gli hotel provati erano sold-out, tranne un holidays inn, ma costava 150$ a notte, e decidiamo di cercare qualcosa di piu' economico. Dopo un paio di ore pero', stanchi di girare e vista l'ora (le 2 di notte), torniamo sui nostri passi e decidiamo che 150$ non sono poi cosi' tanti. Il culo vuole che quella era l'ultima stanza libera, e soddisfatti raggiungiamo la camera, contenti anche perche' l'hotel e' bello, al livello di un 4 stelle italiano, e anche la posizione non e' male, visto che siamo a 15 miglia dal centro di Boston.

Anche qui la temperatura media e' qualche grado sotto zero nelle stanze e nella hall, ma chi se ne frega.

Ora bisogna dormire un po', perche' la mattina dopo si va a vedere la citta', e a leggere la guida, ci sara' parecchio da camminare.

I don't work tuesdays so we decided to go to San Antonio for the day since its only 45 minutes away. When we were little my parents took us downtown and we would always eat at these two mexican food places. Joanna didnt remember it at all and all I remember was the bakery at the mexican markets. We got there around 1 and had lunch at Casa Rio on the riverwalk. It was raining so they didn't have the boats running. It hasn't rained in 2 months and it finally does the day I take my parents out.

After lunch we went to the mall downtown and joanna went shopping and my dad got a cigar from the smoke shop there. They have a HUGE Sanrio store in the mall and they actually had some real bentos but they wanted 15 bucks for one and they were soooo small I decided to go with the American style square one with Chococat on it (you could fit two sandwiches in it). Its got one big container and a little slidey slot that opens for the fork and spoon to go in. It was only 5 bucks and is microwave safe!

We walked from the mall to the Alamo which was literally a few feet from the mall itself. I remember going to it several times when I was little but I remember it being ALOT bigger heheh. Isaac had a blast getting to walk around the gardens and waved at everybody. We got him a t-shirt in the gift shop and a few other things.

By this time it was night and we had walked off lunch so we went to the mexican markets hoping they were still open. It was funny because its two big mall sized buildings with 50 little shops inside all selling the EXACT SAME STUFF. The prices on stuff changed as well which was odd. My mom and I got two huge bottles of pure vanilla for 4.50 each. After we got them we saw the same bottles from 5 to 8 dollars in other stores. Once we got our fill of the markets we went across the pathway to the other Mexican restaurant we used to go to, the one i remember, with the bakery inside it. The food was super good there too, my dad and I split the fajitas and had enough left over for cody to have some when we got home. We got the mariachis to play la bamba for Isaac, he had no idea what was going on it was funny.

By all accounts this was a historic presidential primary. It made sense that the candidates sought out the perhaps the most symbolic battle in the annals American lore as the backdrop to show their strength: the Alamo.

As far back as it was, the famed Alamo showdown is intricately weaved into the history of the Esparza family. Generations ago, at the Battle of the Alamo, Esparza brother fought against Esparza brother.

Even with the primary race still undecided, Vivian Esparza was nonetheless certain of her own future. She loved telling stories through images, and she knew she would pursue a career in photojournalism. A historic race set in a historic setting, the future was all to real.

Da wir aber wirklich alle CoH-Spieler erreichen wollen schreibe ich jetzt mal was über eine Mod, bei der exzessives Bunkern nicht nur erwünscht, sondern sogar Pflicht ist. Ob allein oder im Multiplayer mit Freunden, alles kein Problem.

Die Alamo Mod von BuckyBoy ermöglicht es dem Spieler sich gegen angreifende Feindeshorden zu verteidigen. Am Anfang lacht man noch wenn einzelne Infanterietrupps in die MGs rennen, doch spätestens Artilleriefeuer und schwere Panzer machen es unmöglich zu gewinnen. Hier ist einfach nur eins gefragt:

Durchhalten bis zum Geht-Nicht-Mehr!

Die Alamo Mod präsentiert sich selbst  in Form eines bzw. vier neuer Spielmodi die sowohl im Einzel- als auch im Mehrspielermodus zur Verfügung stehen.

Das Spielprinzip ist schnell erklärt. Es gibt ein angreifendes und ein verteidigendes Team, wobei das verteidigende Team am Anfang schon Unmengen von Ressourcen zur Verfügung hat. Der Angreifer-Part wird immer von der KI übernommen, das Verteidigen wird dem Spieler überlassen.

Am Anfang einer jeden Runde gibt es eine Aufbauphase in der nicht gekämpft werden kann. Während dieser Zeit kann der Verteidiger nach Lust und Laune Bunkeranlagen auf seinem Gebiet (von Anfang an die Hälfte der Map) erbauen, die nach Ablauf dieser Zeit, die übrigens durch die vier Spielmodi gewählt werden kann, vom Angreifer unter Beschuss genommen werden. Dabei gilt zu beachten dass die KI am Anfang noch leicht zurückzuschlagen ist, mit der Zeit aber übermächtig wird. Verliert der Verteidiger Gebiete, kann er diese nicht mehr einnehmen. Hier ist also Aufpassen angesagt. Außerdem ist der Verteidiger in der Expansion beschränkt. Zwar kann er Gegenangriffe auf feindliches Gebiet durchführen, nach einer Minute ziehen sich aber alle seine Einheiten wieder in eigenes Gebiet zurück.

Und, nun ja, was soll ich groß erzählen... mein Highscore waren bis jetzt 32 Minuten 17 Sekunden auf Angoville gegen die Schwere KI, die übrigens auch verbessert wurde.

Download:

BuckyBoys Battle of the Alamo Mod v1.1

φ GrungeIsDead