MAY
25, 2004 --
The
Billionaires for Bush Ball
Perhaps more than a thousand "billionaires" gathered
in Manhattan, at
City Stage on West 19th Street, May 22 for the Billionaires for Bush Ball.
The event filled three floors at City Stage, with overflow outside the premises.
Entertainment included political hip hop artist Wil b who has been asked to
appear at the Democratic National Convention
in Boston, LPR has learned. The Missile Dick Chicks also performed, and, LPR
missing their appearance inside, sang two of their songs on 19th Street, "Boom,
Boom, Boom," and "Oil."
Billionaires for Bush VIPs included Phil T. Rich, perhaps the head of this
voluntary organization, public relations director Pam Perd, Lucinda Regulations
and Mary T. Rich. In from Los Angeles was B4B music maestro Felonious Ax and
Grasping Greed III. Maestro Ax (Clifford J. Tasner)
has written many of the lyrics on the B4B CDs, that were available for purchase
at the ball, ,which included a billionaires' boutique that sold assorted trinkets,
T-shirts, bumper stickers and interesting articles of apparel. Wil b also appears
on one of the B4B CDs.
This group was first seen by LPR at the anti-Bush March 20 Manhattan march,
where, gathered at Herald Square, they shouted comments including: "What
do we want? Child labor. How do we want it? Cheap."
Another chant called for "Four More Wars."
Billionaires for Bush has been getting a fair amount of media attention, this
year and has 50 chapters across the land and is growing, LPR was told. It plans
to bring its message to nine "swing" states during the prfesidential
campaign.
The message is not completely satirical.
The B4B website includes a serious statement that opens with this
explanation: "Billionaires for Bush is a strategic media and street theater
campaign whose combustible mix of humor, savvy messaging, grassroots
participation, and cutting edge internet organizing tools will flush out the
truth about the Bush administration's disastrous economic policies and help
turn the fatcats out of power in November."
LPR wondered if the billionaires would be taking their message to the Democrats,
too. "No," LPR was told, the billionaires only "support" President
Bush. LPR did not inquire about George Soros, one of the fabulously wealthy
tycoons who back the Democrats. Nor does LPR expect a GOP response with demonstrators,
claiming to be "pro-Kerry," shouting: "What do we want? Higher
taxes. When do we want them? Now." LPR hopes that, in the event Senator
Kerry is elected president, members of Billionaires for Bush will, in a spirit
of "bipartisanship" get top jobs in the Kerry Administration and,
initiating a program--Favors to the People -- will send some government grants
and contracts LPR's way.
An
Offer from Newsweek
The
LPR proprietor received, May 25, a professional offer from Newsweek
magazine that he could not refuse, almost.
One
year's subscription for $25. The rate from announcing this offer kindly
stated that the annual cover price was $217.25; consequently this recipient
would save $192.25. The offer included a two-year plan, costing $50
and a four year plan coasting $84. (And just about incalculable savings?)
Why
is Newsweek so generous to persons it deems professionals? LPR would
prefer Newsweek share its altruism with all, non-professionals and
professionals alike. The Federalist 57 way.
LPR
also notes that the money-back guarantee provides "full refund
on all unmailed issues if you are not 100% satisfied." It is not
clear that full refund will be made should Newsweek stop publishing
during the subscription term.
LPR
would be amenable to a consolation check from Newsweek i/a/o $100
which, by LPR's calculation -- deducting from the $192.25 LPR might
otherwise amount to a savings to Newsweek of $92.25.
What
a Difference 11 minutes can make department.
Reuters
headline by way of Yahoo! Finance, May 25, 1:43 P.M. E.T.:
"Stocks Rally As Oil Prices
Decline"
Associated
Press (AP) headline by way of Yahoo! Finance, May 25, 1:32 P.M. E.T.:
"Stocks Advance Despite Rising
Oil Prices"
LPR
Correction
It is
E.Z. (Zed) Pine (Pine, not Pines) who appeared in Wallace Shawn's "The
Fever," in Litchfield, CT on May 8. LPR apologizes for the error.
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And
embroidered caps too!
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MAY
14, 2004 --
On
Record Gas Prices
Those
record high gas prices ... Anyone in the Bush administration saying
that this is good for the economy? Perhaps it is time for motorists
to agree to a day without purchasing gas to send a message to the folks
waging economic war on us that we are not going to roll over.
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Good
sportsmanship.
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Broadway Show
League
Fiddler
on the Roof and 42nd Street in a display of good sportsmanship after
a May 12 Broadway Show League exhibition between these teams, won by
Fiddler 13 to 12. For information on the league: standings, results,
schedule, league news, please go to the league's website: www.broadwayshowleague.com.
On a
non-league Broadway matter, it was reported May 14 that Thoroughly
Modern Millie will close on June 20. A good thing, then, that Millie
is not one of the eight Broadway musicals that delegates to the Republican
National Convention will be taken to see on August 29, the night before
the convention opens in Madison Square Garden, somewhat off-Broadway.
Hal Luftig, one of
Millie's producers was quoted in The New York Times as predicting
that the G.O.P. convention, what with security concerns, will not be
good for Broadway business this summer. Okay ... Now to see if one
of the G.O.P. eight --- Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Bombay Dreams,
Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera,
or Wonderful Town will close before August 29 -- or disinvite Republicans
as bad for business.
Political
Fantasy
Wouldn't
it be something if motorists and other consumers formed a third party,
concluding that Bush or Kerry will let the current economic squeeze
continue, and nominated a candidate committed to the democratic spirit
of Federalist 57?
The
Squeeze Goes On
Oh, for a candidate
who is close to the people
Not one who disdains
us or hates our guts
Enough of promises
that prove deceitful
Record high gas
prices grabbing our tax cuts
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MAY
14, 2004 --
On
War, Roads, and Oil
The
deplorable conditions of roadways in New York City -- worst LPR
has ever seen -- suggest that City Hall is using these unmaintained
roadways as another front in its war against motorists. Perhaps
in coming weeks--- say after a car driven by an editor or columnist
has suffered significant damage due to bad road surfaces ---
the mainmedia will take notice.
Meanwhile,
the $40 price of a barrel of oil seems to be a gauntlet thrown
at President Bush, testing our will to respond to economic warfare--
as well as to terrorism.
LPR
has no quarrel with the President's commitment, May 12, to continue
until the mission in Iraq is completed, but this, of course,
indicates how rash his aides were in putting up that "Mission
Accomplished" sign was, last year.
Senator/Democratic
presidential candidate John F. Kerry, chatting with Don Imus,
May 12, used the phrase "fare thee well." But not,
LPR thinks, to bond with us citizen-grunts.
GOOD
JOB!
LPR
is not sure what it means, but the day the stock market went
below 10,000 for the first time in six months, LPR ended its
first 400-website visit week. Thank you LonelyPamphleteerians.
(And shame, shame, stock market).
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A
group from Georgia poses in Times Square on May 7, after
seeing Blue Man Group.
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And
mugs and caps too!
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MAY
7, 2004 --
LPR
Policy Statement
Lonely
Pamphleteer Review will not carry photos of Michael Bloomberg so
long as he serves as Finemeister of the city, rather than as mayor.
Accordingly, there will be no photos of the Finemeister's appearance
at Father Duffy Square in Manhattan on May 5. LPR will, of course,
refer to Mr. Bloomberg as Finemeister Bloomberg.
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Minority
Tulips.
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LPR Announcement
Lonely
Pamphleteer Review plans to add a regular feature called Viewing
Outside the Event, to be cited as VOTE. The feature will give news
from outside the Yankee Stadium Press Gate, among other outside
the event places.
Upcoming
events on LPR's view from the outside schedule:
• New
York City meeting of the 9/11 Commission.
• The
Tony Awards (LPR hopes to get a group photo of all Broadway Show
League participants who attend this year's Tonys).
Where right
is wrong--
Republicans please note
For
reasons not perfectly clear, it is now against the law in New York
City to drive directly from the Imperial theater's stage door on
West 46th Street to the Minskoff Theater on West 45th Street.
Both
theaters are between Broadway / Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue,
the Minskoff on the south side of 45th and the Imperial closer
to Eighth Avenue on the north side of 45. But the Imperial's stage
door, as already noted, is on 46th and to get from there to the
Minskoff by car, apparently drivers must go by way of Sixth Avenue
(will the city fine writers for not using Avenue of the Americas,
as well?) to 47th Street and then down Broadway, taking care to
stay in the right lane to enter West 45th Street.
LPR
learned this the hard way, getting pulled over to the curb upon
demand of several--perhaps five in all -- member of the New York
City Police Department. There is indeed a sign at this intersection,
although perhaps not as clear, nor as visible at night as it might
be, but, then, clarity is the enemy of many traffic summonses--and,
it follows, the enemy of added revenue to the city. LPR will not
take the summons meekly.
GOP
conventioneers are warned to avoid at 46th and Broadway/Seventh
the natural inclination to make a right turn on a green light to
go to one's destination a block away. LPR does marvel at the number
of police at this "gotcha" corner, on a rainy, quiet
Monday night when compared to First Avenue on a Friday evening
rush hour from, say, 14th Street to 59th Street. If there is a
police presence to ease bottlenecks, it is all undercover.
If
this warning is ignored and the motorist makes an immediate right
turn onto Broadway and not the second immediate right turn onto
Seventh Avenue (these thoroughfares run next to each other at this
point), the morotist is cautioned not to get out of her car unless
she has legal authority that permits such exiting and, thus, trumps
the policeman's demand to stay in the car with the door closed.
Where
is United for Peace and Justice when the unwary citizen is in need
of peace and justice in the face of a heavy handed (and with hand
out) City Hall?
Heavens,
what if--the exorbitant parking fines and the "gotcha" traffic
regs have been created by canny New York City Democratic pols to
hammer the Republican convention and conventioneers into bankruptcy,
while adding a billion bucks to city finances?
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Why
not LPR merchandise?
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MAY
1, 2004 --
Shandi
Meets Shana
Newly-crowned
Miss USA Shandi Finnessey met briefly with Shana in The Bronx, April
23. Miss USA was heading to the Press gate at Yankee Stadium, for the
first Yankee-Red Sox game (won by Boston 11-2) when she spotted Shana
and asked to meet her. Shana undemonstrably appreciated Miss USA's
pat, after which a smiling Miss USA went to the game.
NOTE
TO CELEBRITIES: Shana will be happy to make your acquaintance. Please
contact her via the LPR web address. Principals only; Shana will not
take calls from agents
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Miss
USA Shandi Finnessey.
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Petting
Shana.
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Miss
USA at the Press Gate.
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Federalist
57 Commendation
LPR
awards a Federalist 57 commendation to New York Yankees Hideki Matsui,
for signing an autograph for a boy after the Red Sox game, April 25.
Yankee Matsui signed his autograph not far from a sign on the inside
of the Press Gate declaring "No Autographs."
In LPR's
view, the expression on Hideki Matsui's face as he gives the boy the
requested autograph is what baseball should be all about. Good Federalist
57 job, Hideki. Except, LPR wonders how much Hideki will be fined for
violating the No Autographs rule?
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Hideki
Matsui signs an autograph.
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NO
AUTOGRAPHS.
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GOP
Convention Spot to Visit
The
Invisible Man sculpture at 150th Street and Riverside Drive -- honoring
Ralph Ellison, African-American author of the book with that name and
who lived on the north side of 150th and Riverside. The sculpture offers
two quite different perspectives, through the invisibility space. Presently,
some African-Americans are contending that the Kerry Campaign is treating
them as invisibles.
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The "Invisible
Man."
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A
different view.
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Thank You LPR
Readers:
LPR went over 3,000
visits April 30.
Thank You
Google:
For bringing LPR
to the search page by punching in pamphleteer with names
that appear here.
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LPR
Merchandise?
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