An early holiday treat

Remember to eat some steamed vegetables


Tonight's the Fourth Night of Hanukkah - now it time to figure out how to get rid of all of your relatives.

Hanukkah song (Part 3) Adam Sandler -



I forgot to play it last night


Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah Erran Baron Cohen -




My Menorah Chevonne -




I tend not to recommend things (except the drinking of gin - Bombay Sapphire. I would be happy to accept gallons of the delicious botanical nectar to endorse the product (but I digress ...)

A good friend of mine, Claudia Sherwood, is having a book signing today of her photographs: Winter Musings: Images of Central Park

The book is a collection of black and white photography taken in various locations throughout Central Park in the winter. It starts off with a forward by Yoko Ono, and poetry written by a variety of different authors.

The book signing is at the Tavern on the Green Visitors Center at Central Park West and 67th Street, today from 1-3pm.

If you can't make the book signing you can order the book on-line at The Central Park Conservancy - it makes a great gift.


December 4, 1955 -
Cassandra Wilson, jazz vocalist extraordinaire, songwriter, and producer, was born on this date.

Waters of March




Until -




You Move Me -




Today in History: December 4, 1783 -
At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, General George Washington formally bids his officers farewell.

Many of his subordinates were quite emotional until they realized that George stuck them with the check.


Our old friend, Francisco Franco was born 117 years ago today.

Franco graduated from the Spanish military academy at Toledo and became the youngest major in the Spanish army at the age of 23. By the age of 34 he was a general, and by 41 he was Commander of the Spanish Army.

Eager for war but lacking an enemy, the ambitious young Spanish commander-in-chief declared war on Spain in 1936 and defeated her in just three years.

The war was so successful and exciting, it inspired World War II, and Franco's rise to power foreshadowed the ascension of other evil bastards in Europe.

After his victory Franco named himself Generalisimo (villainous bastard) to better distinguish himself from the Fuhrer (maniacal bastard) in Germany and Il Duce (vicious bastard) in Italy.

Franco ran the country until shortly after his death in 1975.

The General, heroically, remains dead.


The Panama Pacific International Exposition was the 1915 worlds fair held in San Francisco, California. Taking over three years to construct, the fair had great economic implications for the city that had been almost destroyed by the great earthquake and fire of 1906. The exposition was a tremendous success, and did much to boost the morale of the entire Bay Area and to help get San Francisco back up on its feet.



Architects and designers went all-out for the design of the fair's buildings. There never before had been a fair whose architectural focus had been so all-encompassing. 76 city blocks had been cleared or filled to set the stage for the exposition, and its final size was 635 acres, which allowed for the hundreds of buildings that were built. The spectacular palaces, courts, state and foreign buildings at the fair were made of a temporary plaster-like material, designed to only last for the duration of the fair.



The fair ran from February 20th until December 4th, 1915 -- and was widely considered to be a great success.


December 4, 1937 -
Another great early Bob Clampett/ Chuck Jones (rarely seen) B & W Looney Tunes, Porky's Hero Agency, premiered on this date.



The line of people turned to stone include many of the Looney Tunes/ Merry Melodies animators including Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones.


December 4, 1954 -

The first Burger King, originally called Insta Burger King, is opened in Miami, Florida.



Not to be gross but many of those first patrons still have their first burgers lodged deep within their digestive system.


December 4, 1971 -
It was a lovely evening Switzerland's Montreux Casino on Lovely Lake Geneva when it caught fire and the group Deep Purple composed their big hit Smoke on the Water by the glow of the burning casino.



Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention had been recording at the casino's studio when a fan started the blaze with a flare gun, but the group was unharmed.


December 4, 1981 -
Falcon Crest premiered on CBS-TV on this date.



Jane Wyman and Lorenzo Lamas were the only actors that were part of the main cast through out the entire series. Lorenzo Lamas was the only actor who appeared in all 227 episodes.



21 more shopping days until Christmas.

And so it goes

Psst....

Ok kids, if you have nothing to do today - pull up a chair and watch Santa Claus Conquers the Martians -



It has everything, Santa, Martians & Pia Zadora