Up On The Roof

What a magical time it was when I lived in Venice, CA, in the 1980’s.  This self-portrait photo is of my sisters and my mom:  Roxanne, Keely, Barbara (Mom), Eleni and me. We were up on the roof of my Venice loft on Venice Way.  I love my family so much and they were always very gracious photo subjects.

DIE ENGELIN B. / Barbara / 26.11.200

“Una questione nuova, non apocalittica”. Questa era la frase ricorrente ascoltata in una trasmissione televisiva. Famiglie che consumano risparmi accumulati da una vita; genitori che mantengono in ogni modo i figli; posti di lavoro persi per sempre; precarietà alle stelle. Gesti simbolici che funzionano con modalità nuove rispetto ai classici scioperi. Questione nuova, mica tanto. Quante risorse sono state spostate dai salari ai profitti e alle rendite? Quanti accordi al ribasso sono stati firmati perché han continuato a dire che “di più non era possibile ottenere, dati i tempi”? Ma questi tempi, da quanto durano? Compromessi. Soluzioni al ribasso. Precarietà. Flessibilità. Fine della storia. Fine del comunismo. Fine del liberismo lo sosterrà mai qualcuno? Però, intanto, questa “nuova situazione” la si poteva immaginare. Ancora ieri, per tutta la giornata, ad Ivrea, in molti rischiavano e rischiano di perdere definitivamente il posto di lavoro. Rischio per l’Alcoa, rischio per la Fiat-Alfa Romeo (“trasferimento dei lavoratori a Torino”). Penso allo stabilimento SKF di Torino, che chiude.  Penso ai lavoratori di Ivrea, gli ultimi residui di quello che era la Olivetti. Lavoratori. Invisibili. Penso a tutte quelle compagne e compagni conosciuti durante le manifestazioni, per rivendicare un diritto. Resistere. Per esistere. Penso alle preoccupazioni di Barbara e compagni. Penso ai sette milioni di operai. Che esistono.  Nel disinteresse di molti. Penso al 1969, alle conquiste. Ai diritti. Potrei continuare. Solidarietà per tutti.  Anche ai precari, della scuola, del pubblico impiego. Gesti forti. Saliamo sui tetti, per diventare visibili.  Solidarietà per tutti quelli che si trovano “nella situazione nuova”.  Non apocalittica. Però, la povertà è questione antica. Lo sfruttamento anche. Richiesta di giustizia, di eguaglianza. Da gridare. Con forza. Da ottenere. Ad ogni costo. Come coloro che pongono domande sui concorsi: perché qualcuno deve essere immesso in corsie preferenziali? E la regione, come ha intenzione di comportarsi a tale proposito? Fortunatamente l’amico Juri Bossuto mi rassicura che i funzionari dei gruppi hanno chiesto un concorso aperto a tutti, molto diverso da cinque anni fa. Quando Mario Contu ne fece una battaglia solitaria.

(Clike nas imagens para ampliar)

Fotos tiradas por mim.

Roupas customizadas por mim e Inês Ariolli (Pimenta Rosa)

Modelo: Bárbara Ariolli Bertálglia

Misterioasa sotie a lui Kim Philby

Cea mai redutabila cartita sovietica din toate timpurile a avut un punct vulnerabil. Kim Philby, omul infiltrat de KGB in fruntea contraspionajului britanic, ar fi putut fi deconspirat, in orice moment, de o femeie. Un risc pe care Philby si l-a asumat. Cine era femeia? Fosta sa sotie, frumoasa austriaca Litzy Friedmann. Un personaj la fel de fascinant ca si celebrul spion, insa mult mai misterios. Racolata ea insasi de NKVD la inceputul anilor ‘30, Litzy Kohlmann a fost primul “om de legatura” intre Philby si spionajul sovietic, in timpul razboiului din Spania. Biografia ei tumultuoasa constituie subiectul cartii “Un capitol din viata mea”, aparuta recent la Viena, sub semnatura scriitoarei Barbara Honigmann. O carte care dezvaluie detalii inedite despre tineretea lui Kim Philby, dintr-o perspectiva pe care arhivele secrete nu o pot oferi: perspectiva femeii care i-a influentat decisiv destinul. Cum a reusit autoarea sa afle asemenea informatii? Chiar de la mama ei, nimeni alta decat Litzy Friedmann insasi.

Un gentleman marxist
Kim Philby si Litzy Friedmann s-au cunoscut in toamna lui 1933, la Viena. Ea avea 23 de ani si el 21. Ea era fiica unor evrei saraci din Austria, el, unicul fiu al unei bogate familii din inalta societate britanica. Amandoi aveau insa puternice convingeri marxiste si frecventau cercurile “revolutionare”. Proaspat absolvent de Cambridge, Philby sosise la Viena animat de dorinta de a participa efectiv la “lupta de clasa”. Era o epoca violenta si tulbure. Confruntarile dintre sindicate si guvern impinsesera Austria in pragul razboiului civil. La Viena, Philby lucra pentru Organizatia Internationala de Sprijin Muncitoresc (MOPR). In secret, facea pe curierul pentru Partidul Comunist Austriac, aflat in ilegalitate. In timpul unei intruniri clandestine, Philby a vazut-o pentru prima oara pe Litzy Friedmann. A fost imediat cucerit de frumoasa bruneta, recent divortata. Pasiunea a fost reciproca. Multi ani mai tarziu, Litzy i-a povestit fiicei ei: “Era cu doi ani mai tanar ca mine… abia absolvise Cambridge-ul si era un barbat foarte chipes. Se purta ca un gentleman. Si era marxist. O combinatie rara. Schiopata usor, uneori mai vizibil, alteori mai putin. Ca multe dintre persoanele cu handicap, era foarte fermecator. Ne-am indragostit imediat.” Cei doi s-au casatorit in februarie 1934. Trei luni mai tarziu, Kim Philby se intorcea la Londra, insotit de proaspata lui sotie.

Racolarea

Barbara Honigmann sustine ca Philby ar fi fost racolat de NKVD abia dupa 1935, prin intermediul unui alt eminent absolvent de Cambridge, Douglas McLean. Mama sa i-ar fi marturisit acest lucru, comentand: “Englezii erau asa de naivi, asa de naivi”. Documente din arhivele sovietice, date publicitatii dupa detectarea deja celebrului Vasili Mitrohin, spun insa, o cu totul alta poveste.

Dragostea pentru Litzy l-a aruncat pe Philby direct in bratele spionajului sovietic. Potrivit “Arhivei lui Mitohin” (Allen Lane, the Penguin Press, Londra,1999), Litzy Friedmann fusese deja racolata de NKVD in 1933, la fel ca si buna sa prietena, Edith Suschitscky. Amandoua se aflau in legatura lui Arnold Deutsch (alias “Stefan”, alias “Otto”), si el evreu austriac, cel mai talentat “vanator de talente” pentru spionajul sovietic din epoca interbelica. In urmatorii ani, Deutsch avea sa racoleze celebra “celula de la Cambridge”.

In toamna lui 1933, Edith Suschitscky s-a maritat si ea cu un englez, doctorul Alex Tudor Hart si l-a urmat la Londra. Hart fusese si el racolat de Deutsch. El si Edith au primit – impreuna – numele conspirativ “Strela” (“Sageata”).

In mai 1934, Kim si Litzy Philby soseau si ei in Marea Britanie. Spre marea bucurie a lui Edith Suschitscky, care isi regasea astfel nu doar o veche prietena de la Viena, ci si o “tovarasa de lupta”. Aproape in acelasi timp se instalase la Londra si Arnold Deutsch.

Se pare ca Edith Suschitscky a fost cea care i-a atras atentia lui Deutsch asupra “potentialului” tanarului Philby. Cert este ca ea a intermediat prima intalnire “conspirativa” intre cei doi, in iunie 1934, pe o banca din Regent’s Park. Intrevederea a fost un succes. Philby a fost cucerit imediat de inteligenta si farmecul interlocutorului sau, un intelectual rafinat care se bucura deja de un imens prestigiu in mediile academice. Psiholog abil, Deutsch a speculat idealismul tanarului sau recrut. L-a invitat sa se alature razboiului secret lansat de Komintern impotriva fascismului, aflat in ascensiune in Europa. Prima sa misiune: sa rupa orice legaturi vizibile cu miscarile comuniste. “Avem nevoie de oameni care sa infiltreze In institutiile burgheze”, a explicat Deutsch. Kim Philby s-a angajat sa o faca.

Un debut anevoios

Au urmat trei ani dificili. Litzy a fost primita cu ostilitate fatisa de familia sotului ei. Ea i-a povestit, decenii mai tarziu, fiicei sale: “Mama lui Kim nu putea sa ma sufere. Era oripilata de mariajul nostru, pe care il considera o cumplita mezalianta. Singurul ei fiu sa se insoare cu o comunista evreica din Viena – ce cosmar!” Intre timp, Kim se straduia din rasputeri sa-si faca uitate vechile convingeri marxiste si sa isi croiasca o cariera in diplomatie. Fara succes. Cererile sale de a fi angajat la Foreign Office au fost respinse. Trecutul marxist si nevasta “atipica” nu erau bine vazute de “establishmentul” britanic. Abia a reusit sa obtina o slujba la o obscura publicatie lunara de orientare liberala, “Review of Reviews”. Mult sub asteptarile la care ar fi fost indreptatit un eminent absolvent de Cambridge.

La indemnul lui Arnold Deutsch, Philby s-a inscris intr-o organizatie de prietenie anglo-germana, botezata de Churchill, in epoca, “Brigada Heil Hitler”. Initiativa s-a dovedit un esec din punct de vedere informational. Philby era din ce in ce mai demoralizat.

In aceasta perioada, singurele sale contributii in favoarea spionajului sovietic au constat in identificarea altor potentiali “recruti” pentru Arnold Deutsch. El a fost cel care i-a recomandat pe Donald McLean si Guy Burgess, doi eminenti absolventi de la Cambridge. Impreuna cu Philby, Anthony Blunt si John Cairncross (racolati abia in 1937), vor intra in istoria spionajului sub denumirea de “Cei cinci magnifici”.

Razboiul din Spania

Cariera de agent sovietic a lui Kim Philby a inceput sa ia avant abia incepand cu anul 1937, dupa izbucnirea razboiului civil din Spania. Philby si-a oferit serviciile unei agentii de presa londoneze.

In februarie 1937, plecat corespondent in Spania, ca jurnalist independent, platit la bucata, pentru fiecare material transmis. In realitate, Philby avea alte prioritati, in afara gazetariei. “Sarcina mea era aceea de a obtine informatii la prima mana cu privire la orice aspecte ale efortului fascist de razboi”, avea sa noteze el, peste ani, in Memoriile sale. Potrivit “Arhivei lui Mitrohin” misiunea lui Philby fusese, in realitate, mult mai ambitioasa. El primise instructiuni sa-l asasineze pe generalul Francisco Franco, liderul fortelor nationaliste. Ordinul venise de la Moscova si fusese aprobat, cu siguranta, de insusi Stalin. Un ordin care i-a lasat probabil perplecsi pe controlorii de la Londra ai lui Philby. Acestia au avertizat, imediat, conducerea NKVD ca misiunea depaseste cu mult puterile tanarului lor recrut.

Philby s-a intors la Londra in mai 1937, fara sa-l fi vazut vreodata de-aproape pe Franco. “Era foarte deprimat”, se preciza intr-o nota informativa a NKVD. A reusit insa sa se angajeze la “Times” si sa se intoarca in Spania. Spre sfarsitul anului, un incident tragic avea sa-i aduca celebritatea. Masina in care calatorea impreuna cu alti corespondenti de razboi a fost lovita de o salva de artilerie. Trei jurnalisti au murit. Philby a scapat cu rani usoare si a scris un reportaj cutremurator. A devenit, peste noapte, un adevarat erou. Toate usile au inceput sa i se deschida. La 2 martie 1938, a fost decorat de insusi Franco. Intre timp insa, NKVD-ul renuntase la planul de a-l asasina pe liderul spaniol.

Litzy, omul de legatura intre Philby si Moscova

Barbara Honigmann dezvaluie in cartea sa ca mama ei a fost cea care, in timpul razboiului din Spania, a facut legatura intre Kim Philby si spionajul sovietic. La ordinele Moscovei, Litzy (care primise numele conspirativ “Maria”) se instalase la Paris. Calatorea, insa frecvent, pentru a-si intalni sotul in hoteluri din Biarritz, Perpignan sau Gibraltar. Relatiile dintre cei doi devenisera din ce in ce mai mult “profesionale”. Philby era un fustangiu notoriu, sau, cum ii placea sa se descrie, “un atlet al sexului”. La Paris, Litzy incepuse o aventura cu un sculptor olandez. Amandoi aveau o conceptie cat se poate de neconventionala despre casnicie. Totusi, la izbucnirea celui de-al doilea razboi mondial, Kim si Litzy s-au intors la Londra, ca sot si sotie. Philby a primit imediat un post in cadrul Sectiei D a SIS (Secret Intelligence Service), sectie care se ocupa cu organizarea de “actiuni subversive in spatele liniilor inamice”. Incepea, astfel, o prodigioasa cariera in cadrul serviciilor britanice de informatii. O adevarata mana cereasca pentru Moscova.

In septembrie 1941, Kim Philby a fost transferat la Sectia V -de contrainformatii – a SIS. Sediul ei se afla la St. Albans, la doar cativa metri de imobilul care adapostea arhivele operative. Imprietenindu-se cu arhivarul, mare amator de gin, Philby a reusit in numai cateva luni sa fotocopieze si sa trimita la Moscova dosarele tuturor agentilor britanici din strainatate. Ceea ce, paradoxal, i-a atras neincrederea mai marilor din NKVD. Acestia nu puteau crede ca englezii nu dispun de o retea de spionaj in Uniunea Sovietica. Ca nu exista nici macar o rezidenta la Moscova. Si totusi acesta era adevarul. Spionajul britanic avea cu totul alte prioritati, fiind canalizat exclusiv pe efortul de razboi. Rusii erau aliati si tratati ca atare. Cert este ca, pana in 1944, Moscova a fost extrem de reticenta fata de Philby si de ceilalti “magnifici de la Cambridge”, crezandu-i “agenti provocatori”, controlati de Londra.

Epilog

Kim si Litzy Philby au divortat in 1942. Mariajul se incheiase, in realitate, de mult. Dupa razboi, Litzy a parasit definitiv Marea Britanie si s-a instalat in Berlinul de Est. S-a recasatorit cu jurnalistul de stanga, Georg Kohlmann, cu care a avut un copil, astazi scriitoarea Barbara Honigmann.

Kim Philby a cunoscut o spectaculoasa ascensiune profesionala, ajungand sa fie cea mai nociva cartita sovietica din istorie. A fost, pe rand, seful Sectiei a IX-a din cadrul SIS (contrainformatii pe spatiul sovietic), sef de antena in Turcia si ofiter de legatura la Washington. Declinul sau a inceput in 1951, odata cu deconspirarea lui Burgess si McLean, care au reusit sa se refugieze la Moscova. Philby avea sa fie deconspirat abia in 1963. Si el a reusit sa fuga, cu sprijinul sovieticilor. A murit la Moscova, in 1988, alcoolic si profund deprimat. Viata in URSS se dovedise cu totul altfel decat isi imaginase.

Litzy Friedmann-Philby-Kohlmann a murit in 1991, la varsta de 80 de ani. Isi pierduse de mult toate iluziile cu privire la comunism, cu toate ca in Germania de Est se bucurase de un statut privilegiat. Acest statut i-a permis, in 1984, sa calatoreasca la Viena. A plecat cu doua valize si nu s-a mai intors niciodata.

Sursa:ziua.net (Miruna Munteanu)

Mie’s mamma, Simone, är på besök sen i torsdags.Innan hon anlände bad jag Mie fråga henne om hon ville göra en reading med mig. Simone är clairvoyant, så jag tänkte att jag ville checka läget om jag är på rätt spår i livet och lite annat.

Till slut blev det av idag. Och jag bör kanske tillägga att detta var min oskuld av dessa events kalibrar.

Det var intressant. Hon öppnade med att träffa rätt i prick. När hon sa orden, klickade det till i skallen, hjärtat, själen; så är det ju. Kugghjul gnisslade igång, fönster öppnades, damm rördes om, gardiner fladdrade.

Hon svarade på de frågor jag hade, vad hon såg, hur jag borde se på saker, vad jag borde göra för att komma vidare. Och det kändes så rätt.

Ni är säkert nyfikna lila på vad exakt hon sa. Men det känns som att det hela förlorar sin mening, om jag basunerar ut det här. Plus. Jag har flugor med information på tassarna som surrar runt i skallen och väntar på att bli fångade. Saker ska sättas på pränt och vridas och vändas på och det ska ske helt inom mitt rums fyra väggar och kraniets böjda skal och hjärtats klumpform.

Vem vet, kanske dyker det hon sa, det jag lärde mig upp här i ettor och nollor, insprängt mellan raderna.

Måndag kommer imorgon med nya tag. Barbara med hem efter jobbet. Mie’s moster/faster och morbror/farbror kommer för att stanna till fredag.

Ny date på tisdag, med Steve från Wales.

Det dröjer innan jag träffar karln som kommer för att stanna en lång tid.

Monolocale. Venti metri quadri dentro un bastione di cemento. Cicactrici, labbra gonfie, tremore continuo. «Cosa è successo? Prima mi devi pagare». E forse non basta.

«Appena sono arrivata ho trovato vigili del fuoco e polizia. La vita per Brenda non era più la stessa. Dopo il caso Marrazzo era sola, disperata, non lavorava, non aveva più amiche. L’altro giorno le ho fatto da mangiare, può darsi che si sia ammazzata veramente. Giorni fa gli hanno rubato il cellulare, la polizia l’ha preso…». Alessia deve essere ancora giovane, ma l’età resta imprecisata perché il suo aspetto è sfatto.
Labbra gonfie, cicatrice sul naso, trema con il corpo, cammina sghemba e parla in automatico, dichiara di essere amica di Brenda. Prima di fermarsi a parlare, ha ricevuto un violento rimprovero da un altro trans, un incontro che è sfuggito ai microfoni che l’avevano inseguita poco prima. Rimprovero duro, senza repliche, poi il transex alto, moro e incappucciato per non farsi riconoscere, è andato via: forse è scattata l’invidia, forse una questione di protezione. Alessia continua a farfugliare riferendosi a Brenda: «Penso abbia ricevuto dei regali da Marrazzo, cose piccole, ma di valore molto alto».

Alessia è uno dei pochi trans intercettati a via Due Ponti, e uno dei rari che non abbiano mandato a quel paese il cronista di turno. I molti immigrati che risiedono qui sono al lavoro. Gli unici che si incontrano sono ragazzi di colore che non hanno voglia di parlare, e annuiscono distratti. Rimangono allora i trans, chi al bar, chi a fare spesa, chi soprattutto barricato in casa. O meglio, quello che resta di un corpo mutato, stressato da ormoni e da una vita sregolata. Facce e corpi che assomigliano a relitti. Tutti però chiedono soldi per parlare, ma l’aria della bugia è dietro l’angolo: «Quando scoppiò il caso Marrazzo – racconta un giornalista anziano – erano tutti elettrizzati, volevano apparire, raccontare la loro verità, che non sai mai quando diventa bugia, ora si nascondono, hanno paura».

Paura di morire, come Brenda. Si può morire tristemente in venti metri quadri. Ma anche viverci dà la misura dello squallore. Tanto più che questi venti metri quadrati sono ricavati da un sottoscala poco al di sopra di un garage, adibito a «monolocale» (secondo la fantasia degli annunci immobiliari), chiuso dentro le fondamenta di un bastione di cemento armato, grezzo fuori, e decadente dentro. Dai balconi sopra il garage spuntano panni umidi e antenne paraboliche, è una calda giornata di sole mentre la radio passa le canzoni di Califano e Mia Martini. Oltre i guanti bianchi della scientifica e il muro di fotografi, c’è il cuore di una strada che per tutto il mondo della prostituzione transgender capitolina è uno dei punti di riferimento a Roma: semplicemente «Due Ponti». Il civico 180 in realtà non è un portone normale, ma la via di accesso a questo bastione di cemento.

Un ragazzo di colore inizia la litania del «non ho sentito niente stanotte» che continuerà tutta la giornata, «poi la mattina tutta questa gente…» e indica lo stuolo di cronisti, i microfoni che ondeggiano, i furgoni aperti della televisione. Sono sotto casa sua, vicino alla transenna della polizia. A via Due Ponti 180 dire vicini di casa è una mezza verità. Lo sono tutti e nessuno: separati dal cemento armato che nulla fa sentire, ma uniti da perversi corridoi, scale ridotte al minimo, passaggi vari maleodoranti, luridi, con porte intaccate, citofoni e campanelli che oscillano dal vuoto più totale a cognomi lunghissimi e stranieri.
«Mesi fa era successa una cosa simile, un incendio domato a notte fonda dai pompieri, stavolta ho pensato fosse la stessa cosa, ma oltre il rumore della polizia non ho sentito nulla» racconta una gentile signora sudamericana che vive appena sopra il monolocale di Brenda. Lei almeno si affaccia sul bastione grazie a un piccolo balcone, ma per arrivare a bussare alla sua porta oggi bisogna aggirare completamente il palazzo.

C’è un mondo intero di immigrazione intorno via Due Ponti, che ogni giorno deve fare i conti con i trans. Così come a via Pirzio Biroli, il luogo dove Brenda giorni fa è stata picchiata e derubata. Prima di compiere il giro, si tenta di vedere se proprio lì si sono rifugiate le amiche di Brenda, ma il sole restituisce impietosamente volti struccati, lontani da qualsiasi idea di desiderio. Neanche il tempo di una domanda e chiudono la porta infastiditi, rifugiandosi dentro monolocali sporchi e sovraffollati di oggetti e mobili, che puzzano di umido.
Alle spalle della muraglia del civico 180 c’è via Stasi: da qui si prova ad accedere all’interno del palazzo di Brenda, complice un cancello aperto. Poca luce, corridoi stretti dove l’aria è pesante. Si bussa e si ricevono sorrisi esotici, ma niente di più. «Ci sono cinque brasiliani, sempre drogati, ubriachi che aggrediscono le donne, danno fastidio, prendono di petto chiunque – racconta una signora – hai visto quella lì, l’amica di Brenda? È già ubriaca ed è appena mezzogiorno. Sai che ti dico? Che se Brenda era una di quelle, allora sono contenta». Poi due ragazze romene raccontano: «Sono pericolose, ti urlano “Ma perchè mi guardi? Non ti piace come sono?”. Anche per i bambini non stiamo tranquille».

«I brasiliani sono pericolosi, ma qui non ci sono» dice un viados colombiano affacciato al balcone, dove per «qui» intende nel raggio di venti metri. Le distanze sono minime, ma allo stesso tempo enormi: a Due Ponti possono cambiare tutto. «Barbara? Vai al 36 di via Bruni». Appunto, venti metri più in là. Si entra in un corridoio buio, dove l’unica traccia di colore sono due porte gialle, che minacciano la presenza di un «american pitbull terrier» se qualcuno osa solo accostarsi, bussare o prendere la porta a calci. Come se fosse la norma. Un forte odore di sporco viene incontro e si appiccica addosso, in un angolo più buio ecco però una luce sotto lo stipite. Dietro una porta arrugginita, due voci: «Siamo puttane, se ci paghi parliamo». Ma è l’ennesima bugia di Due Ponti. Pochi secondi e un volto mulatto, dai capelli ricci, apre. Ha gli occhi lucidi, la mascella serrata, le tremano le labbra. Ora che Brenda è morta siete preoccupate? «E tu cosa pensi, che siamo felici?», ripete livida più volte prima di chiudere lentamente la porta. Poi rimane di nuovo il cemento armato e lo squallore fetido di Due Ponti.

Hello everyone,

In recent years a new Christmas tradition has come about in my home; which is about locating on the web old Christmas TV episodes and movies, that time seemed to have forgotten.  YouTube has of course been the biggest provider of such Holiday entertainment with user provided videos from Bob Hope to Rudolph.  There is Christmas videos for just about every taste (even some for the more distasteful lot who would rather say Bah Humbug than Merry Christmas.)

I’d thought I share some of the shows I’ve come across over the past couple years on YouTube  in hopes it might brighten your Christmas sprit.  First off, we start with “Christmas Comes to Pac-Land.”  Yes thats right its a Pac-Man Christmas special.  As a kid this was one of my favorites.  Pac-Man + Santa teaming up?   Yes, in the 80’s this was a no brainer.  Back then Pac-Man was king and Santa well…what kid doesn’t love Santa.  In typical kiddy Christmas fashion the story is much like other specials. Something bad has happened on Christmas eve that causes Santa’ toy route to be jeopardized.  It is of course up to our hero, Pac-Man to come through for a distraught Santa, and save Christmas…as if Christmas is something that could ever be saved.  (God Bless Dr. Seuss for correcting that absurd notion in the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”)  Nonetheless, it is what it is and Santa’s the toy man/good will ambassador of the world and failure for the jolly elf is not an option.  Sure its silly, and somewhat retro…but hey the cartoon is just a nice piece of holiday nostalgia and if you’ve never seen it then its just a goofy, somewhat pretty, little animated Christmas card from Hannah-Barbara and Namco.

The following is the special separated in three parts.  Runs about 25 minutes.

Enjoy and if you haven’t already done so please visit my website (www.thompsonstshirts.com) for the coolest Christmas T-shirts on the net,  Thanks, Matt

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Thompson’s Original’s Jolly T-shirts Christmas Showcase!

This is another story I’m rather ambivalent toward. Part of that comes from the BBC destruction of two of the episodes. And the audio that exists for episodes 1, 2 and 4 is quite bad. We are lucky to have it. The wikipedia tells me that it wasn’t found until the 1990s, so at least we have it. But that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t really like the story very much.

Richard the Lionheart

The version that I watched opens with an old William Russell, acting as Ian, saying how he and Barbara didn’t tell many others about their time with the Doctor, but he feels he can trust us. This clip is in color and is apparently from a VHS release in the mid 1990s in which Russell tells the story of the missing episodes. He’s hanging out in some giant mansion we are to believe is his house. They must pay science teachers well in England.

After this intro (the rest of Russell’s descriptions weren’t included in the version I watched), we see the TARDIS appear in the forest outside Jaffa, which is apparently near Jerusalem. It is an historical story of the third Crusade and Richard I (the Lionheart).

I feel that it was meant to be educational, but I’m not sure how much education one could get…not that Wikipedia is the best source in the world, but the entry for Richard I does not mention Jaffa or that he tried to trade Joanna for peace. In the story of Dr. Who the city and her marriage are major plot points that in previous historical stories have been fictionalized, but left as semi-accurate nods. Such as Nero burning Rome or The Polo’s dealings with The Kahn.

At any rate, Richard’s forces are ambushed in the forest and The Doctor, Ian and Vicki take an injured man to the king. Barbara had been captured along with another of Richard’s buddies. Ian wants to rescue her, but Richard isn’t a fan.

Eventually, though, Richard sees the light and makes Ian a knight, Sir Ian of Jaffa. A big deal. Sir Ian then travels to see Saladin who is keeping Barbara. Now, a note about ole Barbara in this story. What a trooper. She escapes captivity three times in a four episode story. And she always does it pretty easily. Or at least it seemed that way just watching the still photo reconstructions. A grunt and a run and she was gone. She gets away and is helped by Haroun, a man whose daughter had been captured by El Akir, the Saladin’s goon. But, of course, she is recaptured by El Akir, the villain of the story, she escapes again only to hide in the Harem. This is also known as the room in which El Akir keeps all the hot women.

El Akir - Not as delightfully sinister as he appears

Ian arrives with the ridiculously giggling bandit Ibrahim, who had earlier tried to rob him. The two of them burst in just in time to rescue Barabara from the The Akir who is killed by Haroun. Oh, and Haroun’s daughter was conveniently a member of the Harem and tried to help Barbara escape.

The doctor and Vicki, branded as traders, escape Richard’s court and after Sir Ian convinces some guards that he will excute the traitorous Doctor, the escape into the ship. This is the best part of the episode. In the only known remaining footage of the fourth episode, the TARDIS lights go out and everyone is left in suspended animation. It’s wonderfully creepy and has me excited for the next story. But first, some thoughts on this one.

In short, it just didn’t do it for me. I kept falling asleep and I trouble hearing it. I’ve had this trouble before, but had no subtitles to fall back on. And the reconstructed episodes are a little difficult to follow at times. It just didn’t keep my interest. El Akir wasn’t a very compelling villain (not like Tegana of Marco Polo) and Richard, while well acted, simply didn’t appeal. My favorite character was Haroun. I like the resilience he showed and the dedication to finding his daughter. Not to mention being able to protect his younger daughter both from the soldiers and from the truth of what happened to her sister. I was also a fan of Barbara’s tenacity and escapability. But that was about as far as it went.

To be honest, I’m kind of tired of seeing Ian in fighting mode. I just don’t buy him as a fighter. He’s a bit of a wet blanket in my opinion. He learned to fight in The Aztecs, got some sword play in the Romans and shows off his skills now and then. But, seriously, he was a mild mannered Science teacher. Now he can be a gladiator and a valiant knight? I know knights aren’t all about fighting, but he does his fair share. And it bores me.

I think this story also may have suffered due to The Doctor’s somewhat limited role. He and Vicki were once again left alone together. The Doctor talked his way out of a jam, but this had none of the comedic flair of The Romans. One thing that this time alone with Vicki has shown us, though, is the development of their relationship. It is very tender and endearing. Their interactions are fun to watch as she teases him and he coddles her. The Doctor seems to be building upon the connection he made with Susan just before he left her in Future Earth. It’s as if their relationship continued to grow, but with Vicki instead of his actual granddaughter. It makes Vicki a likable character. She’s silly and sweet and I think much of that has to do with her time with the Doctor.

In the end, this just wasn’t a very good story, in my opinion. Dr. Who really seems to be at its best in actiony sci-fi stories. Unless the historical stories have something special, I think it’s time to consider leaving them behind. And this one just didn’t have anything special.

The Doctor, Vicki, and Joanna (Richard's Sister)

Ouch!

The advance copies of Sarah Palin’s kind of autiobiography are turning out to unearth some real doozies for people that care about the truth.

The McCain camp is out Saturday morning with their opinion of the book; McCain Camp Book ‘Petty and Pathetic’.

And former McCain Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt had some choice words about Palin’s characterizations of those working in the campaign.

“It’s all fiction,” he said.

Former McCain strategist John Weaver slammed Palin for using the book for “petty and pathetic” score-settling.

“Sarah Palin reminds me of Jimmy Stewart in the movie ‘Harvey,’ complete with imaginary conversations. All books like these are revisionist and self-serving, by definition,” Weaver wrote in an email to POLITICO. “But the score-settling by someone who wants to be considered a serious national player is petty and pathetic.”

“The problem wasn’t who her interview was with, the problem was her interview,” he added. “Couric asked no trick questions. This just seems to be an attempt to obscure as bad a performance since Roger Mudd asked Ted Kennedy that simple question.”

The Swamp – Palin Unbottled

A good wrap up of the book that is described as one long complaint about the McCain campaign, and its staffers. After a strange diatribe about the campaign’s penchant for Atkins diet bars, she recounts the reaction to the infamous prank call from a fake President Nicholas Sarkozy. ”Right away, the phones started ringing. One of the first calls was [Steve] Schmidt, and the force of his screaming blew my hair back. “How can anyone be so stupid?! Why would the president of France call a vice presidential candidate a few days out?!” And here’s where it starts to get really interesting.

Sarah Palin speaking to Oprah Winfrey

Previews of her upcoming Oprah November 16th interview haven’t been so well received either and seem to open up another can of worms when it comes to her recent feuding with the father of her grandchild Levi Johnston.

Johnston has recently claimed that Sarah Palin has been interfering with the arrangements he and Bristol have regarding visitation with his son which has made it difficult to see his son if she is involved. He also stated that Sarah Palin isn’t the person she pretends to be and that if need be to get his time with his son, he’ll tell all that he knows about Sarah and her behavior as governor.

Johnston has been in New York busy with his photo shoot for Playgirl and spending a lot of time doing interviews over the last two weeks, meeting with Donald Trump, receiving an unearned award and busy talking with Inside Edition.

Levi tells Inside Edition that Palin’s laugh at the beginning of Oprah’s question about him proves the answer that followed was untrue.

The New York Times Book Review:

All in all, Ms. Palin emerges from “Going Rogue” as an eager player in the blame game, thoroughly ungrateful toward the McCain campaign for putting her on the national stage. As for the McCain campaign, it often feels like a desperate and cynical operation, willing to make a risky Hail Mary pass in order to try to score a tactical win, instead of making a considered judgment as to who might be genuinely qualified to sit a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

The Huffinton Post has also obtained e-mails from the McCain campaign both sent to and by Sarah Palin while Vice Presidential candidate. The e-mails further confirm that Sarah Palin has a real problem telling the truth.

The Associated Press has been busy fact checking some of Palin’s statements.
Here’s just a snippet of what they found so far: These are just a few of the inconsistencies, but you can follow the link to read the rest by following the link

Palin goes adrift, at times, on more contemporary issues, too. She criticizes President Barack Obama for pushing through a bailout package that actually was achieved by his Republican predecessor George W. Bush — a package she seemed to support at the time.

PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking “only” for reasonably priced rooms and not “often” going for the “high-end, robe-and-slippers” hotels.

THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City’s Central Park for a five-hour women’s leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children’s travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business.
___
PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest.

THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees.

She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife and $30 from a state representative in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers’ offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she gave a comparative sum to charity.
___
PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, “you’ll have to be brave enough to fail.”

THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama’s stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed.

Palin’s views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain’s vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said “taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street.” A week later, she said “ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy.”

During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being “instrumental in bringing folks together” to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said “it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in.”
___
PALIN: Says Ronald Reagan faced an even worse recession than the one that appears to be ending now, and “showed us how to get out of one. If you want real job growth, cut capital gains taxes and slay the death tax once and for all.”

THE FACTS: The estate tax, which some call the death tax, was not repealed under Reagan and capital gains taxes are lower now than when Reagan was president. Economists overwhelmingly say the current recession is far worse. The recession Reagan faced lasted for 16 months; this one is in its 23rd month. The recession of the early 1980s did not have a financial meltdown. Unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent, worse than the October 2009 high of 10.2 percent, but the jobless rate is still expected to climb.
___
PALIN: She says her team overseeing the development of a natural gas pipeline set up an open, competitive bidding process that allowed any company to compete for the right to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48.

THE FACTS: Palin characterized the pipeline deal the same way before an AP investigation found her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited a company with ties to her administration, TransCanada Corp. Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders during the process, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada.
___
PALIN: Writes about a city councilman in Wasilla, Alaska, who owned a garbage truck company and tried to push through an ordinance requiring residents of new subdivisions to pay for trash removal instead of taking it to the dump for free — this to illustrate conflicts of interest she stood against as a public servant.

THE FACTS: As Wasilla mayor, Palin pressed for a special zoning exception so she could sell her family’s $327,000 house, then did not keep a promise to remove a potential fire hazard on the property.

She asked the city council to loosen rules for snow machine races when she and her husband owned a snow machine store, and cast a tie-breaking vote to exempt taxes on aircraft when her father-in-law owned one. But she stepped away from the table in 1997 when the council considered a grant for the Iron Dog snow machine race in which her husband competes.
___
PALIN: Welcomes last year’s Supreme Court decision deciding punitive damages for victims of the nation’s largest oil spill tragedy, the Exxon Valdez disaster, stating it had taken 20 years to achieve victory. As governor, she says, she’d had the state argue in favor of the victims, and she says the court’s ruling went “in favor of the people.” Finally, she writes, Alaskans could recover some of their losses.

THE FACTS: That response is at odds with her reaction at the time to the ruling, which resolved the long-running case by reducing punitive damages for victims to $500 million from $2.5 billion. Environmentalists and plaintiffs’ lawyers decried the ruling as a slap at the victims and Palin herself said she was “extremely disappointed.” She said the justices had gutted a jury decision favoring higher damage awards, the Anchorage Daily News reported. “It’s tragic that so many Alaska fishermen and their families have had their lives put on hold waiting for this decision,” she said, noting many had died “while waiting for justice.”
___
PALIN: Describing her resistance to federal stimulus money, Palin describes Alaska as a practical, libertarian haven of independent Americans who don’t want “help” from government busybodies.

THE FACTS: Alaska is also one of the states most dependent on federal subsidies, receiving much more assistance from Washington than it pays in federal taxes. A study for the nonpartisan Tax Foundation found that in 2005, the state received $1.84 for every dollar it sent to Washington.

Reports are also coming out now that Palin’s co-author has written some pretty offensive things in the past as well.

Then we have author Geoffery Dunne’s take on Palin’s book and it isn’t any prettier. Dunne is also in the process of completing a book on Sarah Palin’s life and has been spending a lot of time in Alaska. This again is only a portion of what he found. Follow the link to see other finds.

The Cover Byline: Palin didn’t write the book by herself. Most books with known ghostwriters list their co-author’s name on the cover. In this case it was Lynn Vincent (a well-known homophobe). Going Rogue does not.

Going Rogue features Palin’s obsession with Katie Couric and characterizes the CBS anchor as “badgering.” Palin refused to prep for the Couric interview because she was more concerned about her popularity in Alaska than about what was best for the campaign. Was it really badgering to ask what books or periodicals Palin read? Palin further claims that Couric suffered from low self-esteem. In fact, according to those close to Palin, it’s the former governor who suffers from low self-esteem and frequently projects that onto other women.

Palin asserts that there was a “jaded aura” around McCain’s political advisors once she entered the campaign. In fact, McCain’s aides bent over backwards to protect Palin and to try to get her up to speed on international affairs. In addition to not knowing whether or not Africa was a continent, according to sources in the McCain campaign, Palin also didn’t understand the difference between England and Great Britain. And much, much more.

Palin contends to have been saddled with legal bills of more than $500,000 resulting from what she calls “frivolous” ethics complaints filed against her. The lion’s share of those bills resulted from the ethics complaint she filed against herself in a legal maneuver to sidestep the Troopergate charges being brought against her by the bipartisan Alaska Legislative Council.

Palin rather astonishingly claims that she was saddled with $50,000 in bills for the legal fees associated with her vice-presidential vetting. A) She was not vetted; B) A McCain campaign advisor says this is “categorically untrue.”

Palin states that she found out only “minutes” before John McCain’s concession speech that she would not be allowed to make remarks of her own introducing McCain. In fact, she had been told at least three times that she would not be allowed to give the speech and kept lying about it in the hopes of creating some last-minute chaos that would allow her to assume the dais.

Palin asserts that her effort to award a license for a natural gas transmission line was turning a “pipe dream” into a pipeline. Although she claimed otherwise in her speech at the GOP convention, there is no pipeline. It remains a pipe dream.

And that’s just for starters.

Andrew Sullivan has learned from excerpts in the book that Sarah Palin was obsessed with his blog the Daily Dish and wanted to sue him for some of his posts regarding her fifth pregnancy and the birth of her son Trig. Palin’s obsession with Sullivan and his blog was reported first here.

Sarah Palin speaks to Barbara Walters

Ms. Palin was particularly angry at bloggers and the media, associates said, for speculation that her baby Trig was really the child of Bristol, her daughter.

At one point, according to people familiar with the discussions, Ms. Palin considered pursuing a libel suit against at least one blogger, the Atlantic’s Andrew Sullivan. Ms. Palin decided against such a move because of the publicity it would bring.

Mr. Sullivan, in response, said asking “factually verifiable questions is obviously not libel.”

A spokeswoman for Ms. Palin didn’t respond to email requests seeking comment.

We also have a preview of her previously recorded interviews with Barbara Walters that will air next week as she kicks off her book tour. One has to ask why a woman who repeatedly asked the media to leaver her children alone and only focus on her, then why are two of the children sitting right beside her during the interview?

The interviews with Barbara and Oprah are the only mainstream interviews that Palin will be doing on the book tour. All others that she will be interviewing with like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, BFF Greta Van Susteren, Bill O’Reilly and the like won’t challenge her or discuss subjects they know she’s weak on. Do you think we’ll see Piper or Willow sitting beside her for those interviews?

Did Sarah Palin bring those girls to sit front row at Oprah and right next to her on the couch with Barbara to stave off any serious discussions are personal questions?

Was Sarah dishonest in her answer to Barbara Walters when Barbara asked if Sarah Palin and her husband Todd knew that Bristol was sexually active before she informed then she was pregnant?

Could it have something to do with this post Just a Hunch on Romney and Palin: Is there a Trig Truther Story on The Horizon? at the right wing blog It’s a Kwazy Life

Is this why someone who obviously still considers themself to be a serious contender of the political world bring their young children to interviews, pretty them up and then sit them on the couch right next to you?

Meanwhile those is Alaska have also been busy pouring over Palin’s book Going Rogue and verifying her claims and statements from the book.

Blue Oasis – Has an analysis of how the books Sarah from Alaska, The Persecution of Sarah Palin, and Going Rogue handle the topic of the ethics complaints filed against her, the state records requests, and her tangle with the Alaska Public Offices Commission – No titilating gossip, but instead issues that matter a whole lot more. There’s no one better than Linda Kellen Biegel, former AK state employee at picking apart the details and giving a great analysis of this tangled mess.

Shannyn Moore: Just a Girl from Homer – One of the plaintiffs in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case, she notes, “So Sarah was against the decision before she couldn’t remember it before she was for it. And now, courtesy of Going Rogue, Sarah Palin manages to insult and injure Alaskans who will never be made whole with yet another one of her documented lies.” Videos included.

The Anchorage Daily News – Too many out there are watching and waiting for Palin’s emails that were requested via state records requests, to be revealed. The law is clear, and the state is breaking it – over, and over, and over. Palin is gone but now the big mess she left has been dumped squarely in the lap of the next administration who continues to stall. Paul Jenkins speculates that “enterprising young lawyers will have to haul the state into court for failure to obey its own law.”

While we can’t feel very confident in much of what Sarah Palin and her ghostwriter present as fact in her autobiography Going Rogue, one thing we can be sure of…………….the next week will be a crazy one. Sarah’s book comes out with Levi’s photo spread coming out the same day, while Howard Stern, Joy Behart and John Stewart court Levi to visit their shows. Sarah is already on her facebook page complaining

We’ve heard 11 writers are engaged in this opposition research, er, “fact checking” research! Imagine that – 11 AP reporters dedicating time and resources to tearing up the book, instead of using the time and resources to “fact check” what’s going on with Sheik Mohammed’s trial, Pelosi’s health care takeover costs, Hasan’s associations, etc.

Here at AppMtn, it isn’t so very unusual to receive an outraged email or comment after I’ve said something less than flattering about a name.  The longer I write, the more keenly I think about the fact that these names are worn by real human beings.

So it is doubly thrilling when I write something and the parents are happy to discover the post.  Better still, they write about it on their blog.  Which brings us to adorable baby Estelle over at The Emperor’s New Crib.  Thanks to her parents, I now know that frikadelle means meatball in Danish.

A bunch of other random thoughts:

• I like Anneliese.  I can understand respelling her Annalise or Annalisa.  But Analyse?  Yup, I’ve just spotted a baby Analyse.  I don’t think her parents are psychiatrists;
• Anyone think True will catch on as a first name?  It’s sort of like a virtue name on steroids – far bolder than the established Grace and Faith, stark compared to the gently old-fashioned Felicity or Amity.  Actor Forest Whitaker has a daughter called True Isabella Summer.  True Jackson, VP is a Nickelodeon show ’bout a super-stylish teen who ends up heading up a line at an honest-to-goodness fashion label.  (And no, her mom’s name isn’t Kimora.)  The show is in season #2 and now airs on Nick UK an Nick Latin America;
• Nicole Kidman is about to return to the big screen as Claudia in the musical Nine. If it is half the hit of Moulin Rouge, the sadly neglected Claudia could finally get a boost.  After all, the devilish Satine still surfaces on message boards;
• I keep meaning to mention the compound name of my favorite project runway finalist – Carol Hannah.  I’m not wild about either name, but I find the combination strangely appealing.  Or is it too close to Poltergeist’s tragic Carol Anne?  I also heard a prospective model’s name mentioned during casting for the contestants’ shows – Drielle, which sounds a too much like a French power tool to be pretty;
• Nancy mentions strangely appropriate names – as in, a retail analyst named Tiffany Co.  I recently met a cantor named Aria and while chasing the kids around the Bass Outdoor Extravaganza Warehouse Winter Wonderland, I heard a camouflage-clad dad call his son Hunter;
• Bewildertrix spotted a Juno Alexandra Zénaïde, little sister to Hugh.  I agree with her – what a fabulous combo;
• Digital Spy talked with Emmerdale (it’s a UK soap) star Charlotte Bellamy about the names she and partner Mungo Denison chose for their three kids: sons Sunnie and Herbie and daughter Teddie Boo Florence;
• She’s not here yet, but Joey Lawrence tells Celebrity Baby Blog that Charleston’s little sister will be called Liberty Grace.

A few noteworthy posts you might’ve missed:

• Did you catch the Nameberry post on Old Lady Names?  It’s interesting to see how trends evolve – they report on the granny chic picks they’ve mentioned in each edition of Beyond Jennifer & Jason, now rebooted as Beyond Ava & Aiden.  They’ve definitely caught on in the DC ‘burbs – I can think of Ida, Mabel, Hazel and Elsie all in my ‘hood.  Funny to think that someday Cynthia, Barbara and Deborah will all sound fresh again, too;
• It’s no longer fashion limbo.  They’re now outlier names. Celebrity Baby Blog interviewed Nameberry’s Pamela Redmond Satran about names like Paulina, Bronwyn and Helena;
• Lastly, Xanthe Linnea has a great list of one-syllable names for boys.  I love Bram, Clark, Heath and Rhys.

Speaking of one-syllable boys, a year ago I was writing about Rex.

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

ATENCIÓN: VIOLENCIA EXPLÍCITA A CONTINUACIÓN

Para conseguir a su esposa, estrechamente custodiada por su familia, Richard tuvo que regenerarse. Empezó a ir de trabajo en trabajo, todos legales, todos honrados. Pero Richard nunca fué buen administrador, y empezó a faltar el dinero. Ésto le hizo aún más violento en casa, donde las palizas eran frecuentes. Uno de sus trabajos más duraderos de su vida llegó a él en ésta época, como auxiliar de laboratorio en un laboratorio fotográfico especializado en el revelado de películas que llegó, con el tiempo, a darle pingües beneficios.

Pero por el momento, Richard estaba sin blanca. Su mujer había perdido un bebé y estaba embarazada de otro, y la vida en casa de los Kuklinski era tensa y violenta. Richard era imprevisible, y cualquier cosa podía liberar a la bestia. Una de esas noches, viendo la tele, Barbara hizo un inocente comentario y le cayó la peor paliza de su vida. Fue a parar al hospital con la nariz rota, múltiples hematomas y hemorragia vaginal. Había perdido el bebé de cinco meses. Cuando recuperó la consciencia, ahí estaba Richard, en el hospital, con una caja de bombones y una sonrisa. Con el tiempo, se reconciliaron. Barbara volvió a quedar embarazada y, un día, le hizo a Richard un juramento: si haces daño a mi hijo, te mataré. Con un cuchillo, con veneno, mientras duermas…si tocas a mis hijos, te mato.

Y Richard respetó ése juramento toda su vida.

Sin embargo, las facturas no se conjuran sino con dinero, y Richard siguió moviéndose por ahí, buscando empleos. Encontró uno de camionero de reparto, y aunque lo alternaba bien con el laboratorio, la situación económica no mejoraba. Con Bárbara embarazada, y un trabajo de camionero que le proporcionaba libertad de movimiento y contacto con ése tipo de compañeros que saben “guardar un secreto”. No tardó en juntarse con otros dos camioneros y empezar a planear pequeños trabajitos.

Resolvieron robar en los almacenes del sindicato. Para ello, Richard fue a la autoescuela y se sacó la licencia para dieciocho ruedas. La idea era entrar al almacén y llevarse un trailer. Cuando recibieron una información sobre un trailer con pantalones vaqueros, Richard se presentó allí con su cabeza tractora y una gorra del sindicato. El guarda levantó la barrera y le dio las buenas noches. Richard entró, enganchó el trailer y salió de allí con la mercancía. Sus dos socios le escoltaron con un coche, siguiéndole. Pero Richard, que tenía costumbre de conducir muy rápido, dejó atrás a sus compinches. Éstos se saltaron un semáforo y la policía los detuvo, sin mayores consecuencias. Pero Richard se quedó sin escolta. De natural precavido, vigilaba constantemente todos los ángulos de su vehículo, pero en un momento dado, cerró el paso a un coche que tenía preferencia. Richard se disculpó mostrándose humilde y asertivo, pero del coche salieron dos tipos agresivos, con palos. Richard no lo pensó más y disparó con su 38. Dos tiros. Allí quedaron ambos, tirados en la cuneta. Richard se deshizo del arma, llegó hasta su destino, y vendieron la mercancía.

Nace Merrick, la primera hija de Richard. Su preferida. Nunca la puso una sola mano encima. Y muy seguido, nace Christine, su segunda hija con Barbara.

Llegó un chivatazo sobre una partida de relojes Casio. Cien mil relojes. Richard encontró un comprador por 65.000. Emboscaron al camión en una zona discreta y ataron y amordazaron al camionero, dejándole en la cuneta. Cuando llegaron al almacén, el comprador no les quiso pagar 65.000 y rebajó la oferta a 50.000. Richard mató al tipo en su despacho de un tiro en la cabeza. Inmediatamente, salió disparado a la dársena y mató a los tres mozos del tipo. En la cabeza, igualmente. Allí quedaron los cuatro cadáveres, Richard y sus dos socios salieron de allí con los relojes, y la policía nunca resolvió el homicidio múltiple. Ajuste de cuentas. El cargamento fue vendido a Phil Solimene, un buscavidas muy popular por el barrio.

Richard resolvió así la asfixia económica en casa, pero una mala partida lo dejó sin blanca no mucho después. Ésta constante se repite en la vida de Kuklinski una y otra vez. Por suerte para su familia, Richard ganó posición en el laboratorio, abriendo mercado al pirateo de películas, con el que se sacaba más que con la venta normal. Y un día, los Gambino le incluyeron como proveedor de películas porno en cantidades industriales, para distribuir por todo el país. Richard empezó así a remontar el vuelo como criminal.

Durante esos días, la banda de Richard recibe un soplo: un camión repleto de televisores. Repitiendo el procedimiento de anteriores ocasiones, dan el alto al camionero, que queda atado y amordazado en la cuneta. Roban el camión y lo llevan a una granja. Pagan 500 dólares al dueño por guardarles el camión unos días, pero cuando encuentran comprador y van a por el camión, el garaje está vacío. Golpean al tipo, pero éste jura que no sabe dónde está. Richard saca de su maletero una bengala de salvamento, la enciende y quema los testículos del granjero, que aún así dice ignorar el paradero del camión. Richard insiste un buen rato, y los testículos del tipo quedan reducidos a dos ciruelas pasas, carbonizadas e inútiles. Richard amenaza con empezar ahora con el pene, y entonces el tipo confiesa. Lo tiene un amigo suyo. Richard y sus dos socios visitan al tipo, que, de nuevo, se hace el tonto. Después de que le pegaran un poco, el tipo se ablanda, y les lleva hasta el camión. Entonces, Richard mata a ámbos de sendos disparos a la cabeza. Vuelve junto a sus socios y la mercancía. El cargamento se vende sin problemas. Nadie les relacionó con los cuerpos.

Richard, en buenas relaciones con los Gambino por la marcha de la pornografía, había vuelto al ruedo del crimen. Nunca más intentó llevar una vida honrada.

Tivemos uma aula …semestres atrás sobre marcas famosas e etc, não é ?!

Vou postar uma foto aqui, tirada em Buenos Aires ..quando viajei com a Bombom. Nela, vemos a logomarca da Coca-Cola na cor azul (um azul meio velho, debotado …rs…). A cor foi alterada para os tons do clube, mas hoje não o patrocina mais.

Para quem quiser se interar mais sobre o assunto, deixo aqui dois endereços de blogs bem interessantes:
http://momentodofutebol.blogspot.com/2008/09/patrocnio-de-um-clube-de-futebol-rival.html
http://www.dianapadua.com/blog/marcas-de-a-a-z-coca-cola-parte-1/

Ahhhhh …e a foto, não é ?!