ÁNDALE, ÁNDALE

So if any of you have read my FACEBOOK status updates, you know that Friday is Taco Truck Fridays and you know how crazy I get for the taco truck. So, without further delay, this is what I've been crowing about for the last year or so.

Simple, delicious and VERY, VERY addicting, this authentic Mexican treat is topped with Carne Asada, along with fresh White Onions, Cilantro, and (in my case) spicy salsa. Also thrown into the mix is a wedge of Lime, a Jalapeno Pepper and a few Radish slices. This meal from heaven is served on two steamed Corn Tortillas, although I only eat the one and toss the other. MUY DELICIOSO!

Prepared and served by LOS COMPADRES, the "taco truck" has two other locations in San Francisco and one in South San Francisco (I visit their location at the corner of Spear and Folsom Streets in SF). You will find they are HIGHLY rated (with reason) on the very useful site www.burritoeater.com. If you can't access that site, just take a look at the daily long lines along the truck, rain or shine. That alone tells you that something hot and special is waiting for you.

YOU GOTTA GIVE 'EM HOPE

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, recognizes exceptional meritorious service. The medal was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize notable service in the war. In 1963, President Kennedy reintroduced it as an honor for distinguished civilian service in peacetime.

Here is the list of this years' distinguished recipients:

The president will present the awards Aug. 12 to Nancy Goodman Brinker, Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Stephen Hawking, the late Jack Kemp, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Billie Jean King, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Joseph Medicine Crow, the late Harvey Milk, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, Dr. Janet Davison Rowley, Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus.

I'M SORRY, WE DON'T TAKE DISCOVER

Here's a link to a NEW YORK TIMES piece from yesterday about how to make air travel a little less annoying.

I have a few ideas of my own that, I believe, will address this serious issue (although it's directed at the legacy carriers):

STOP TAKING DISCOVER CARD

STOP CHARGING FOR BAGGAGE CHECK - SERIOUSLY, JUST RAISE THE FARE ACCORDINGLY OR FIND ANOTHER WAY TO HIDE THAT CHARGE WITHIN THE PUBLISHED FARE.

STOP LOWERING THE FARES - I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE SCREAMING INTO TV CAMERAS ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO FLY THESE DAYS - THE AIRLINES ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SUBSIDIZING YOUR FAMILY VACATION TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, WHICH YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE AFFORDED ANYWAY IF YOU HADN'T USED YOUR DISCOVER CARD TO PURCHASE THE TICKETS.

STOP TAKING DISCOVER CARD

STOP ALLOWING FAMILIES TO BOARD FIRST. NO, IT'S NOT CUTE WATCHING YOUR STUPID 2 YEAR OLD WOBBLE HER WAY DOWN THE AISLE WITH 55 PASSENGERS STANDING BEHIND HER WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO THEIR OWN SEATS SO THAT AN "ON-TIME DEPARTURE" CAN HAPPEN. IN FACT, HOW ABOUT PROVIDING A LITTLE BENADRYL FOR THOSE SEAT-BACK KICKING BOOGER MACHINES. IT MAKES FOR A QUIET, RESTFUL FLIGHT FOR EVERYONE.

HOW ABOUT A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF LEG ROOM FOR THOSE POOR, UNFORTUNATE SOULS WHO HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF FLYING STEERAGE?

HOW ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT THE BUSINESS MODELS FOR VIRGIN AMERICA AND SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. THEY BOTH SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT BETTER (ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE VIRGIN AMERICA DOES IT WAYYYYY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE - I KNOW THIS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE THE ONLY AIRLINE I FLY).

and stop taking Discover Card

MIRANDA PRIESTLY LIVES!

The story below is from today's NEW YORK POST Page 6 column (I couldn't resist posting it)

HAS Anna Wintour finally gone power crazy? That's what some fashion insiders are wondering this week after the Vogue editor in chief suggested a retail-sales strategy which some said amounted to industry price-fixing.

At a Tuesday "town hall" meeting hosted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, designers lamented steep markdowns that have plagued profits since last fall.

"Could someone lead a committee that would make ground rules for retailers when the discounting starts, and then all the retailers can agree to it?" Wintour asked.

When CFDA President Diane Von Furstenburg pointed out, "That's illegal," Wintour said: "Is that something we can change? We have friends in the White House now."

I love Anna Wintour!

I REFUSE TO FLY CARGO

This one has been beaten to death, but I'm taking it and running with it:

Monthly gym membership: $39

Time spent working out this morning: 75 Minutes

What the bathroom scale said this morning: 168 (down 20 since mid-May)

Not having to strike yoga poses to get my new slim straight fit jeans on: PRICELESS

LET 'EM EAT CAKE

Today is National Cheesecake Day and THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY is marking down their version of the artery-clogging delight by 50%. Not valid on to-go orders.

1984

I recently read something on MSNBC regarding the three most significant pop albums ever released and all three were released in the same year, 1984. Those albums listed were:

Born in the U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen

Purple Rain Soundtrack Album - Prince

Like a Virgin - Madonna

At first glance, I kinda rolled my eyes and chuckled. Most significant pop albums ever? Seriously? I thought to myself, um, okay. MAYBE Purple Rain would qualify until I went a little deeper within. After all, I did own all three albums (actually, cassettes, as I was already on my second Sony Walkman and this was before CD's) and they were listened to constantly.

It's an amusing article, check it out.

BALLOON, BALLOON

Back in elementary school, the Oscar-winning French short film "THE RED BALLOON" (1956) was shown at least once a year. I fell in love with it at first sight and always enjoyed the repeat viewings.

I hadn't really thought about the film in years until about a year ago, when I stumbled on, by accident, a Saturday morning viewing on the great cable channel Turner Classic Movies. Seeing it through adult eyes did nothing to dull it's impact and it not only warmed my cold, dead heart but left me with a lump in my throat and trolling the 'net for the DVD.

Amazon has it listed for $10.99 and I couldn't recommend a movie more highly than this one.

BOOK 'EM, DANO

Hawaii has had to, AGAIN, declare that President Barack Obama's birth certificate is valid and that he is a natural born citizen of the United States of America.

Members of the sore loser faction of the Republican Party have been screaming like wet cats for months about him not being a natural born citizen and that he should not be in office. I'm not surprised that junkie bastard and a.m. radio windbag Rush Limbaugh has been beating his drum over this long-settled "issue" but I find it bothersome that 10 Republicans members of Congress (of course) have co-sponsored a bill requiring presidential candidate produce a copy of his or her birth certificate.

Just for the record, President Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961.

HOT DIGGITY DOG

Although it's been nearly 20 years since I last had one, reading this article I found on SFGate makes me want to hop on BART and get a Casper's Hot Dog right now!

Happy 75th Anniversary, Caspers!

Sprinkle Brigade on patrol

I couldn't resist posting this (it seems most of the pics were taken in my beloved New York City):

http://sprinklebrigade.com

First day, first shot

Ok, so after many years of street corner rants, I've been convinced to bring the insanity to the 'net. This is a work in progress, so bear with me as I work out the kinks as to what I want to do here. It'll be part digital diary, part social and political commentary, with some restaurant, film and TV reviews and some of my almost famous rants. Hope you all enjoy it and will let me know what you think.