The Loss of a Liberal Lion

I was saddened to hear of the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, aged 77, earlier this week. However,whenever a single event pushes all other news items off of the front page for several days running, the average newshound finds this exasperating.

The day after Senator Kennedy's passing the New York Times devoted the entire top fold of the paper to his obituary (pre-written, in case you didn't know), including photographs and other tributes. The bottom fold had only two other news items.

When President Lyndon Johnson died in 1973 he was only awarded a single narrow top-of-the-fold column in the NYT. The reason is that he died on the same day the Roe v. Wade abortion decision was handed down. Therefore LBJ had to share the front page with that momentous Supreme Court decision and with other things too.

LBJ's death was reported in the paper on January 23, 1973. In that day and age, The New York Times, The Washington Post and most other U.S. papers had more actual news than do today's newspapers. Up until the last five years U.S, newspapers employed their own reporters, manned a Washington news bureau or at least hada correspondent stationed in DC. Many of the larger papers also operated their own foreign news bureaus. Tragically (for our Republic) many newspapers have shut down completely or they rely on excerpts from other news services or share resources with outfits that formerly were their competition. To beef up content daily papers add a lot of local sports coverage, especially at the high school level. (Which they already excelled at.)

Further crabby remark: and if I hear the phrase "Liberal Lion," just one more time...or any variation of it (Lion of the Senate), or if I hear any more references about the lionization of Ted Kennedy, then....

[Okay, it just happened: at approximately 7:20pm this evening, a FOX news reader just said, "The Liberal Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy...."]

Mastering the Art of Stouffer's French Bread Pizza

Open the cardboard box; remove the pizzas from the cellophane wrap. Cook for 30 minutes at 350-degrees (in an oven.) Eat. Note: to save calories, only eat one of the pizzas, and save the other one for breakfast.

Vacation Week, Short Report Edition

Location: Vero Beach, on Florida’s Treasure Coast

Weather Report: Hotter than Hell, then some

Fun Event of the Week: Seeing the Shuttle Endeavor lift off from the beach (Cape Canaveral is 75 miles north). Yep. You could see it alright. It looked like a flare someone set off and it lasted for about 10-15 seconds. Then it was obscured by some annoying clouds.

Activities Summary: I promised myself to walk twice a day for an hour (nope); promised to be ‘on the wagon’ the whole week (no); promised not to eat a whole lot of fattening foods (didn’t happen).

Alcohol consumption report: 1 six-pack of ‘good’ beer (Harp Ale), $9.95; two frozen margaritas at Waldos, ($6.00 each plus tip), 2 cans of Mike’s Extra Hard Cranberry-Lemonade ($2.59 each at the Super Stop), one 12-oz bottle of Heineken ($1.69).

I really wanted to order a ‘top shelf’ Margarita over ice at Waldo’s, but they were $8 -$10 each, so I didn't. I watched the the young shorts-and-tanktopped blonde bartender as she mixed them. Expertly (for such a young lady) she deftly poured Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau and Waldo's special Margarita Mix over glacier-sized icecubes into enormous glass goblets. These top-of-the-line Margaritas looked so icy cold and it was so fricken hot outside. A Magic chill-pill.

With just a fifth of Bacardi Rum and some Minute Maid frozen limeade, I would have made a batch of my own frozen daiquiris upstairs in the condo. The mini-kitchen has an adequate blender and there is an ice machine down in the lobby by the elevator. But no. I did not have a way to get to the mainland stores for rum or groceries, so I was stuck with beer or wine from the Super-Stop and whatever was in the vending machines. Darn. Now I really want to go make frozen daiquiris. (Horrible waste of calories.)

Signed,

Лиза

(Confession: the blonde bartender was really middle-aged and not young. I just embellished the story a little to make it more interesting.)

Two Apartments recently listed for Hyde Park

Hot off the presses:a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit, No. 619, has been listed for $439,000. This is a corner unit and the total square footage is 1457. The listing has some very nice interior photos. AR 7117448

Also listed, a one bedroom, 1 bath recently renovated apartment, No. 301, is on the market for $332,000. MLS listing includes 28 photos, including some nice ones of the high-class Hyde Park lobby. As you will recall, HP Condo has a 24- hour desk attendant, is walking distance to the Ballston Metro, and is close to the Ballston Commons Galleria (two blocks away.) There is secure underground parking and easy access to both I-66 and I-95. AR 71221330

Signed

L S V