Boston New Years Eve 2025

The Prudential Building in the distance is ringing in the New Year in Lights
 

NYC Car Show 2013

Checked in at the NYC Car Show yesterday and I'd have to say, my new car was right out in front as the real fan winner in this, one of the Premier Car Shows in the Country.

Everyone was very enthusiastic about Hyundai's new sporty, yet affordable, Veloster!

In fact when a Model from one of Hyundai's competitors heard I owned a new Veloster, she begged to get a picture with me.

While I consented to pose with her , it really cut the show short for me , after being called out into the spotlight , EVERYONE wanted to hear about my Veloster.  Repeated photo and autograph requests , forced me to cut out early.

I looked at some of Mercedes and Cadillac Sport Coupes, they still haven't been able to incorporate a 3rd door, like Hyundai has done with the Veloster, in their new cars.

Maybe next year. For now, Veloster is what you hear murmuring throughout the Javitt's Center at the 2013 International Auto Show.

My Dad 1928-2013

My dad was something special. I really don't have the words right now but the pictures of him over the years say so much, I will let them start the story.


RIP DAD

A Rescue

Found in the middle of the road this morning.....

I'm as mad a s hell and I am not gonna take this ANYMORE!!

From the movie Network (1976): Howard Beale (Peter Finch) tells the public what they need to do....

I believe Finch won the Oscar that year, and while the movie is a satire and does try to show how media can so easily manipulate the viewers thoughts and ideas, for example: Fox, the Tea Party, the Partisan News Broadcasts from all the major networks have been doing this for years. But this scene is special and  aren't we all just Mad as Hell about how this country is being run and by whom?? Isn't it supposed to be by "The People" We are about to vote for President and the 2 Candidates with a chance to win are both flawed, and when that choice has been made they will have to work with a supremely flawed Congress where nothing ever gets done.

We should be Mad As Hell, I think will write that on my ballot.

And the News, I have an idea....take the Ads off !! The News team should not be managed by the Network or  beholding to any sponsors and maybe they could start dealing with the things that are important in this country.

Have a nice weekend....

Argo..Go See It

Argo, starring and directed by Ben Afflect is the first movie I have seen this year that I did not check to see how much longer I had to sit there and watch. I never got bored. It was as good as the reviews I read said it would be. The glasses you see characters wearing we're authentic 70's. Alan Arkin was great, the story was incredible. Ben Afflect was even able to insert a dig on directors in the script , "anyone can be a director". In this case Afflect was better at it than anyone I have had to pay to see at the theatre in a long time and some of his earlier projects were not. This is the best thing he's done since Good Will Hunting.

The theaters at Fenway in the old Sears building were very comfortable, I recommend them to all.

You Tube Video Courtesy Of Seando

You have to stick with this slow starting video and see the Drummer pick up the pace. I have always admired the drummer in a band as they are often overlooked , in the case of this video...there is no chance you will miss the drummer....just wait for it...

Concert Night

 House of Blues for the J. Geils Band.



Always fun to see a Boston Band in Boston..

Salem Jazz & Soul Festival Aug 18-19

Music on the Salem Willows this weekend, I am looking forward to Henley Douglas Junior on Sax and Charlie O'Neal on Guitar with HDRnB this Sunday but there are a lot of good bands, just click on the poster for more information and have a great weekend whatever you decide to do.
 

http://www.salemjazzsoul.org/

Santana July 2012

As usual never have a good camera at a concert. Taken from my phone, Carlos Santana at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, Ma. He's still got it, saw him open for the Stones in 1978...so long ago.

Tall Ships Boston-Editing In Picasa

Picasa is a free google app that has decent editing tools and offers free "limited" online storage. Recently I used it to edit the following picture I took on a boat ride on Boston Harbor on July 3rd 2012. 

The Roseway - St. Croix was built in 1925 in Essex, MA as a private fishing yacht, she was later purchased in 1941 and was honored for her service during World War II.

 This was the original shot I took of the ship as it sailed  by Logan Airport

I wanted to make the setting for the ship look older so I removed the crane and the plane from the background using the Touch Up Tool , converted the photo to "Cinemascope" and then used Focal Black and white leaving only color on the Flag.

Solar Eclipse California 2012

As seen shining through the Eucalyptus Trees and leaving it's shadow on a fence..Photo courtesy of my West Coast Photo Group at Flip's Photos 

Thanks Flip and Thanks for not looking at it directly (-:

Funny Email from Jeff

Are you a Democrat, a Republican, or a Southerner? 

Here is a little test that will help you decide.  The answer can be found by posing the following question:    You're walking down a  deserted street with your wife  and two small children. Suddenly, a Terrorist with a huge knife  comes around the corner,  locks eyes with you, screams obscenities,  raises the knife, and charges at you...  You are carrying a  Kimber 1911 cal. 45 ACP, and you are an expert shot.  You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family.  What do you do?  THINK CAREFULLY AND  THEN SCROLL DOWN:  Democrat's Answer: Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! What is a Kimber 1911 cal. 45 ACP? Does the man look poor or oppressed? Is he really a terrorist? Am I guilty of profiling? Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack? Could we run away? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Does the pistol have appropriate safety built into it? Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children? Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? Should I call 9-1-1? Why is this street so deserted? We need to raise taxes, have paint & weed day. Can we make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior. I need to debate this with some friends for a few days and try to come to a consensus. This is all so confusing! ............ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ........ ......... ..  Republican's Answer: BANG!  ............ ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ........ ......  Southerner's Answer:  BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG ! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click..... (Sounds of reloading) BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!  BANG! BANG! BANG! Click  Daughter: 'Nice grouping, Daddy!'  'Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?!  Son: 'Can I shoot the next one?!'  Wife: 'You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist!

There something missing in that Bathroom

 Texaco Pledge from 1960

I understand that there is a Presidential election underway but something is bothering me and I am not sure how widespread a problem it is so I am going to ask the ....the smart and insightful...readers of Tom's Hideaway for help investigating this Issue involving Tissue...


That's Right!! Tissue, like Kleenex, the ones you grab for when you have to sneeze or blow your nose and I am sure many other things. My "Issue with Tissue" is not the product itself but the availability of it in Restrooms.


Many I have talked to indicate, and this is verified, that most Casino's have Facial Tissue available in the bathroom, at Foxwood's in Connecticut,  and many  other casinos I've been to you will  find an attendant in the bathroom too. 

I see no need for an attendant in every bathroom , although it might make for some better conditions overall, many bathrooms are "singles" and sharing it with an attendant  would be a little uncomfortable.


Unlike Casinos, and many hotels I have been to, very few Restaurants and Nightclubs offer facial tissue in their bathrooms.  When I need one , I refuse to blow my nose in public, I find myself in a bathroom stall trying to fish out some 2ply toilet paper out of a monstrous and hard to use toilet paper roll in order to get the job done. 

A box of Kleenex at the sink would be so  much more civilized. 


Am I crazy ? Wait...that's not the question. Is what I am asking for Crazy?


I hear that you are more likely to find a box of Tissues in the Ladies Room....but I really can't check that out.


I want my readers to investigate this and get back to me. 
I see a list growing of Bathrooms With or Without Tissue Available beginning already.
Was it in the Ladies Room but not the Mens Room ??


Lets Make it an Issue to have Tissue in the Loo...

Pure Michigan: Winter Virgins

Turkeys Causing Trouble Again!

Over the past few years Turkeys have begun to fight back during the Thanksgiving holiday. They are tired of being  the center of attention on tables across America.


I am sorry guys, all this graffiti across town has got to STOP !! Turkey tomorrow , leftovers the next. Heck, I might  consider Turkey for Christmas if this public destruction of property doesn't stop!!


HAPPY Thanksgiving !!

Funny Email, Thanks Vita!!

At a wedding reception recently someone yelled, 

"All the married men please stand next to the
  one person who has made your life worth living.

The Bartender was nearly crushed to death !!

Still Crazy but not on FOX !, Glenn Beck , It's Time To Start Worrying About Chocolate!

That Crazy Comedy Network FOX News came out in 2009 a skit about the climate change conspiracy they called CLIMATEGATE ! It was hilarious and they had their CRAZY Guy character GLENN BECK Break the story. Crazy Glenn of course had always been a non believer in the whole science of CLIMATE CHANGE and had joked about it a lot on that FAKE NEWS Site that FOX aired almost as often as The Simpsons.

Oh wait, I think I am confusing FOX News with The Onion, because Crazy Glenn was serious !!

This is a rush transcript from "Glenn Beck," December 2, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GLENN BECK, HOST: We have been following the climate-gate scandal this week. If you haven't heard about it, you ain't alone: mainstream media refuses to cover it. E-mails hacked from England's leading climate data hub show that researchers behind the global warming hysteria, they're just cooking the books. If you are not outraged, you should be — $145 trillion is what the solution is going to cost us.

Ah, but the CLIMATEGATE Scandal was Debunked, and the story died.

Unfortunately, like many stories that get broadcasted with big headlines that are later found to be false, the damage had been done. Many, otherwise intelligent people, who believe everything that comes out of a blowhard like Glenn Beck and his cohorts, won't hear about the story being false and will continue to think Climate Change is a hoax.

Well I just hope they don't like CHOCOLATE !!!

According to many reports I have read recently, due to rising Temperatures in West Africa and the Ivory Coast, where most chocolate in the world is produced! It is becoming "Too Hot for Chocolate"

CHOCOLATE SHORTAGES, almost worse than running out of water!!!

Cocoa growers may have to start shifting to other crops in order to make a living, leaving us less chocolate. in fact they may shift to growing nuts!

Maybe they will name a new nut, a BECK Nut or a GLENN-B Nut

I like CHOCOLATE way more then Nuts!

On a happy note, Crazy Glenn must have really been grating on people other than myself. He announced on April 6th, MY BIRTHDAY, that he was leaving FOX News.
He left at the end of June as pompous as ever. of course the real conspiracy there was that it was a mutual decision. HAH !! I'm thinking after losing almost half of his viewers, falling ratings and the fact that HE'S CRAZY had a little to do with it.

Of course if you still love GB, you can visit his Web Page which has a great tag line.

GLENN BECK The Fusion Of Entertainment and Enlightenment

OKAY, I have to go buy some CHOCOLATE !,

WOMEN - from funny email..Thanks Jimmy

WOMEN : A real woman is a man's best friend.

She will never stand him up and never let him down. 

She will reassure him when he feels insecure and comfort him after a bad day.

She will inspire him to do things he never thought he could do; to live without fear and forget regret. 

She will enable him to express his deepest emotions and give in to his most intimate desires. 

She will make sure he always feels as though he's the most handsome man in the room and will enable him to be the most confident, sexy, seductive and invincible... 

No wait...Sorry.....

I'm thinking of whiskey.

It's whiskey that does all that shit. 

Never mind.

Patriots Win

I predict a Patriots win over the Oakland Raiders. Why? because he's cut his hair. Obviously with all the Beber comparisons last year and the shaggy performance last week he has realized that his game is directly affected by the length of his hair. No scouting reports are necessary, he cut the locks and is now set to break whatever momentum the Raiders might be bringing on the field today at 4:15pm in Sunny California.

I am glad it is going to be the Raiders that are going to be destroyed by Brady's return to the field, I've despised that team since I saw them move on to the playoffs in 1976 against my favorite Patriot quarterback and football player, before Brady, Steve Grogan in 1976 on a bogus penalty.

Redemption Time