Moped Army
There is a difference between mopeds and those plastic red numbers parked in front of the Towers. Mopeds are in essence mini-motorcycles with all the same components of your daddy’s hog (high handle bars, metal bodies, 50 plus CCs). At www.mopedarmy.com (an organization that prides itself on the retrieval and refurbishing of vintage bikes), a keen archive of photos, FAQs, links and blogs has been established by the five “tribes.” Founded by The Decipticons of Kalamazoo, Michigan, membership now exceeds 300 in such exotic locales as Odessa, TX, Sioux Falls, SD and Bethlehem, PA. Even Canada has a five-member branch called the Variators based in Ottawa. This site is great because it clearly goes beyond the mere kitsch appreciation inherent in the founders of www.mulletsgalore.com. For example, these dudes revel in greasy fingers, indie rock and “swarming to destroy.”
— MR
“The Big Night”
The recent surge in popularity of food-preparation-related programming (“Emeril,” “the Iron Chef,” “Frugal Gourmet” reruns) calls to mind a masterful film made a bit before pickled roe became a staple in the nation’s palate, err, boob tube. Stanley Tucci co-wrote this film with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, seemingly as an ode to the tasteful Italian-Americans living amongst the cartoonish gaude of 1950s New Jersey. Brothers Primo (Tony Shalhoub, “Spy Kids”) and Secondo (Tucci, “Sidewalks of New York”) Pilaggi open Paradise, a hidden diamond amongst the costume jewelry excuses for restaurants lining the shore. One such restaurant, located across the street from Paradise, is run by the sleazy Pascal (Ian Holm, “From Hell”), a crude man whose brassy eatery is always packed and consequently baits the brothers with a bribe. He guarantees that the legendary Louis Prima will show up for a private party, thus allowing the brothers to flaunt their stellar fare for the music icon — the big night the pair have been waiting for. Featuring a triple threat on the female side (Isabella Rossellini, Minnie Driver and Allison Janney), the film dabbles with the romance conceit, but ultimately good food and song is the draw for this under-appreciated period work. And yes, you will want to run out for some Italian tastings after screening this movie, but please don?t hit up the Olive Garden — Pascal will have won in that case.
–MR
“As much as I love and enjoy my job, there are some drawbacks to it. Mainly – the fact that I’m the only female employee. I’m not being sexually harassed or anything – the guys all like and respect me – but they’re guys, and they’re prone to male behaviour. Which annoys me. For example – there’s this woman who sometimes delivers auto parts to us … wearing short-shorts and a low-cut tank top, and flirting inanely. While the guys don’t blatantly wolf-whistle at her, they do privately (but within earshot of me) discuss how hot she is. I’m not interested in dating any of my co-workers, but I have looks, intelligence, and a sense of humour. And it seems that I always get overlooked by guys. Why is that? Sometimes it frustrates me to the point where I want to give every one of those bimbos a bad haircut and jam their tits in a waffle iron. Grrrr…”
[http://www.el-condor-pasa.net/unurban/]
