MEDICAL WASTE

Apparently, having health insurance is no guarantee that you will be seen by the doctor.

The Marin Independent Journal reported this morning that UCSF Medical Center recently made the decision to deny one of their patients a life-saving kidney transplant because even though he does have the health insurance needed to cover the procedure, he is an illegal immigrant and because of that status, there is no guarantee he would receive adequate follow-up care.

"UCSF's policy for financial clearance requires candidates to present evidence of adequate and stable insurance coverage or other financial sources necessary to sustain follow-up care long after transplant surgery . . . Immigration status is among many factors taken into consideration." 

Without the transplant, he will die.

Wow, so much for the Hippocratic oath, huh?

99 AND 44/100% PURE

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The rules according to Henry Miller.

I love it.

SUMMER 2.0

Here I am laying around in bed yesterday, as the temperature soared to 65 degrees.

Welcome back, Summer.

EAT SHIT AND DIE

Coming in at 360 calories (220 of which come from fat), with 24 grams of fat and 780 grams of sodium, Taco Bell, which recently introduced their breakfast menu, calls this the Sausage and Egg Wrap.

They should have just called it the Eat Shit and Die Wrap.

NO OCUPADO

Just a word of advice to the Occupy Oakland protesters: Burning flags and vandalizing public property isn't going to do anything to help your cause. If anything, you've probably lost what little support you may have had with your recent actions.

So much for speaking for us 99%'ers.

MIDNIGHT MOVIE

HUGE Pooper-Scooper shout-out to Cookie, for the heads-up on this beyond awesome clip, 1967's Teenage Mother.

Petaluma, the "Hollywood of Sonoma County," was NEVER so accurately captured on film, and in breathtaking CinemaScope, no less.

FOODIE CALL

Mine

Hers

Late lunch at Sol Food with Iliana, yesterday.

SUMMER 2.0

Here I am taking a poolside call yesterday afternoon, as the temperature soared to 65 degrees.

Welcome back, Summer.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

I'm really liking this sweater.

EAT SHIT AND DIE

In a hilarious attempt to showcase its use of fresh produce, McDonald's recently posted a Twitter update to its followers that said:

"'When u make something w/ pride, people can taste it," McD potato supplier #McDstories'"

People took to postings responses like these:





Looks like it was a bit of a backfire, huh?

POLL POSITION

A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll has placed candidate for the republican nomination Newt Gingrich well ahead of Mitt Romney among likely primary voters. Poll results show Gingrich comes in at 37%, with Romney at 28%. Rick Sanitorium placed third with 18%, and last but not least, Ron Paul finishing with 12%.

However, if the election were held today and the race was between President Obama and Newt Gingrich,  the same poll shows that Obama would beat the shit out of Newt, 55% to 37%.

So with that, let it be known that the editorial staff of The Steaming Poop Blog wholeheartedly endorses Newt Gingrich as the republican nominee for President.

FOODIE CALL

I need to buy some white plates.

Nothing amuses me more than when people complain about not having time to make a square meal for themselves or their family.

Last weekend, I was able to make a Filet Mignon (perfectly rare, by the way) with a port wine reduction, served on a bed of flash-boiled spinach in under 25 minutes.

It was so choice.

HEAVY DUTY READING

Yeah, my version would be just a bit thicker.

HEART ON

Written 1954, it wasn't until January of 1962, when the legendary Tony Bennett first recorded the song most associated with him.

Happy 50th to a true classic that has NEVER gone out of style.

SUMMER 2.0

Here I am frolicking on Ocean Beach yesterday, as the temperature soared to 65 degrees.

Welcome back, Summer.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

While walking along Market Street yesterday afternoon, I came across this ad for Carnation Mush, uncovered when the building next door was torn down.

SIGN LANGUAGE

LIGHT READING

Hmm, this looks like it might be good, but I think I'll wait for the movie.

SAY WHAT?

I have tried to avoid posting anything about Rick Santorum because I already know where he stands, and nothing he says, I thought, would ever surprise me.

His recent appearance on Piers Morgan's talk show has proven me wrong.

Sanitorium (as I will now refer to him) had this to say when asked about stance on rape and abortion:

"I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created - in the sense of rape - but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given you."

He went on to say that rape victims ought to "make the best of a bad situation."

Wow, what a fucking whack-job. I wonder how he would feel if his wife or daughters (he has two) found themselves in a bad situation?

WHEN I'M WITH YOU

Here's a dandy little diddy from one of my favourite groups, Best Coast.

Hmm, I'm feeling like I may need to go on a burger run this afternoon.

ONE PERCENT

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released his 500 page 2010 (and estimated 2011) tax return, this morning. They show him paying $6.2 million dollars in taxes on an income of $42.5 million dollars, about 14%.

That seems pretty low for someone who is a millionaire several hundred times over. However, to be fair, most of his income comes from investments, where the capital gains tax rate is just 15%.

His father, Michigan governor George Romney paid 37% tax on an income of roughly $1 million dollars in 1967.

Hmmm.

CRONY CAPITALISM

PBS news program Moyers and Company has quickly become one of my favourite televisions shows. This past weekend, host Bill Moyers interviewed former budget director for President Ronald Reagan, David Stockman, about the current state of the economy, and the EXTREMELY cozy relationship between Wall Street and Washington D.C.

"We now have an entitled class of Wall Street financiers and of corporate CEOs who believe the government is there to do . . . whatever it takes in order to keep the game going and their stock price moving upward" 

While I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, I think it was a bit ironic to hear it coming from a former high-ranking official who probably had a big role in the fostering of that "cozy relationship."

Oh well, so be it.

Stockman also went on to talk about the need of a constitutional amendment banning corporate political contributions of any kind, and a maximum contribution cap of $100 to any political candidate by an individual.

Very impressive, Mr. Stockman.

SNOW WHAT?

I love this picture so much.

SILENCE

Critic favourite, The Artist, has been enjoying some popularity with true film buffs, however, it seems there are some who are taking issue with the fact that it has no sound.

Some film-goers in Britain have been complaining that they've paid to see a silent film, only to find out that the film is, in fact, silent. The Odeon theatre chain has announced it will now issue refunds within the first 10 minutes of the film to those who complain.

Oh, that is rich. People are going to a silent movie, and then are complaining that it's a silent movie?

Perhaps the movie these people should be seeing instead is Dumb and Dumber.

BEVERLY HILLS COP

"It's got some dope-ass breaks."

So says my barber Dan, about the 80's classic Axel F (from the movie Beverly Hills Cop), by Harold Faltermeyer.

I have to say, I think he's correct.

GAME DAY

The return of the East Coast - West Coast war.

FAMILY VALUES

“To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine . . . I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.” 

Oh, Newt. I marvel at your overly dramatic response to a question I believe is a significant one to ask at a presidential debate. You have not only made "character" an issue several times in the past, but you've always talked on and on and on (and on) about protecting the sanctity of marriage.

Well, thank goodness it's been protected for assholes like you.

TRIBUTE

Her version of the classic torch song "Stormy Weather," from her landmark album "At Last," is beyond brilliant. It is my favourite Etta James song.

As long as the music is playing, you're never really gone.

Thanks, Etta.

ADIOS

"There is no viable path forward for me . . . "

-- Rick Perry, as he announces the suspension of his campaign

Perhaps there is a God, after all.

COPYRIGHT

Of course.

Just say no to SOPA and PIPA.

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

"If I was on that plane with my kids, it wouldn't have went down like it did. There would have been a lot of blood in that first-class cabin and then me saying, 'OK, we're going to land somewhere safely, don't worry.'"

Mark Wahlberg is taking a lot of heat for this comment, recently published interview for Men's Health Magazine. Personally, I don't really have an issue with what he said, however, many do, and he has since apologized for his remarks.

Admittedly, I did roll my eyes when I saw this in the news again. I wasn't sure why he felt the need to bring it up again, after all these years. However, it has been well-documented that the Oscar nominee was booked on American Airlines #11, the plane that crashed into tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He changed his mind about flying the night before, and decided to go elsewhere, instead. It is also well-documented that he spend his youth as a bad ass street-tough, who spent time in juvenile hall. I have no doubt had he made the flight, he definitely would have stepped up.

Hind site is 20/20. Who knows what would have really transpired had Wahlberg made the flight. Maybe he could have done more to stop the hijacking, maybe not. We've all been in a "What If" situation, so it's no surprise that he feels the way he does. Also, to have avoided a chance encounter like this one had to have done a number on him.

Lighten up, folks. Leave Mark alone.

FOODIE CALL

I love a good piece of meat, and I've got a feeling I'm gonna be serving this up for dinner, this weekend.

FASHION-FORWARD

As some of my more ardent followers know, I've been writing copy for Dockers over the last several months now, with some of that work starting to make its appearance on the interwebs.

The links below are some of what I've been working on. I have to admit, some of it turned out pretty good and I'm a little excited.

Women's:
Metro Wide Leg Pant
Long Sleeve Classic Shirt
Short Sleeve Dotted Shirt

Men's:
Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt
Club Collar Shirt Slim Fit
Pique Polo Slim Fit

GAMBLER

Yesterday, Facebook friend and fellow former Petaluman Paul K. posted a classic clip of Madonna from The Virgin Tour, which I commented on:

"lol This is how I choose to remember her."

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present a song that many of you may not know (or even remember). Gambler, from the movie Vision Quest.

You're welcome.

OCUPADO

"The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation. It's bullshit. You got ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal. The news, war, peace, famine, upheaval, the price per paper clip. We pick that rabbit out of the hat while everybody sits out there wondering how the hell we did it."

-- Gordon Gekko, Wall Street (1987)

Hard to believe something could be so currently relevant, and come from film released 25 years ago.

I caught Moyers and Company this past weekend, where authors Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson were interviewed about their new book Winner Take All Politics: How Washington Made The Rich Richer - And Turned Its Back On The Middle Class. They argue, rather articulately, and with lots of research to back up their claim, about how the inequity in our country was no accident, and that it was politically engineered.

Host Bill Moyers, a respected journalist who's return to PBS has been warmed received, went on to say he considers this book the best he’s seen in detailing “how politicians rewrote the rules to create a winner-take-all economy that favors the 1% over everyone else, putting our once and future middle class in peril.”

SOLE DESIRE

I'm really liking these Dr. Marten's.

WASCALLY RABBIT

Facebook friend and fellow gym rat Andy posted this clip on his page last night, and it had me laughing my fat ass off when I saw it.

Maybe this little shout-out will inspire him to become a pooper and join The Steaming Poop site.

Anyway, I found this clip on YouTube, but you can also click here for a more clear version that's been posted on Deadspin.com.

THE DREAM

"If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. Say that I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SUMMER LOVIN'

Summer officially ended this past Sunday.

Here are a few shots I took on Friday and Saturday, before the cold and fog returned.

FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE

"Obviously, 18-, 19-year old kids make stupid mistakes all too often, and that's what's occurred here . . . What's really disturbing to me is the kind of over-the-top rhetoric from this administration and their disdain for the military."

-- Rick Perry

Mr. Perry, perhaps you're not aware of the fact that desecration of the dead (U.S. Marine Soldiers urinating on dead Taliban fighters) is not only against the Geneva Conventions, but the act, which was recorded on video and then posted on YouTube, puts all of us, AND other troops in serious danger.

This particular enemy DOES NOT like us, and is willing to do ANYTHING to bring us down. Believe me, I know, I've seen their work first hand. Even cranky old man Senator John McCain disagrees with you, and says what the soldiers did is wrong:

"We're trying to win hearts and minds, and when something like this comes up, 

it obviously harms that ability."

What really pisses me off about all of this is that you having me agreeing with John McCain.

Rick Perry, you are an asshole.

CATCH OF THE DAY REDUX

The Catch redux, as I called it on Facebook, last night

You don't have to be a football fan, which I'm not, to appreciate yesterday's NFC Divisional Championship with the San Francisco 49er's against the New Orleans Saints.

On the same week of the 30th anniversary of Dwight Clark's famous catch, Vernon Davis caught a pass from quarterback Alex Smith in the last 8 seconds of the game for the win, 36-32.

Nothing like waiting till the last second, huh? Even I screamed "Holy Shit" when it happened.

How much you wanna bet this is going to reignite the fight to keep the 49er's here in San Francisco?

MATERIAL GIRL

When asked about Lady Gaga's Born This Way sounding so much like her 90's hit Express Yourself, 80's relic Madonna had this to say on a Good Morning, America interview last week:

"When I heard it on the radio, I said that sounds very familiar, it feels . . . reductive."

Oh Madonna, you're just so ridiculous.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you her video Material Girl, from the album Like A Virgin.

It is a feast of originality, in both concept and execution, and in no way, shape or form, borrows ANYTHING from Marilyn Monroe's iconic Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend musical number from the classic movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

SUNDAY FUNNIES

KUBRICK / PEANUTS SMASH-UP

Very nice.

DRESS YOU UP

Yeah, I'm liking this. I'm liking this a lot.

HEAVY ROTATION

There's no video here, but so what, it doesn't need it.

The song, Gold, from the album The Dreamer, The Believer by Common, is fucking awesome! A soulful 70's vibe that is reminiscent of Marin Gaye's What's Going On, I found myself hitting the repeat button several times, yesterday.

Oh, and by the way, it's not just the one song that's good. The whole album rocks.

Enjoy

DIVINE MADNESS

According to surveyors Poll Position, 43% of those polled actually believe that divine intervention is partly responsible for the success of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Holy shit, Batman, really?

REALLY?

So 43% of those asked actually believe that in a world gone mad, God is putting everything on hold so he can make sure a football team is winning its games?

Oh brother, stop the world, I wanna get off.

KISSIN' COUSINS

Well, thank goodness the sanctity of marriage has been protected, right?

LIZA WITH A Z

I know some of you have seen this clip, as it seems to be making its way through Facebook. For those who haven't, you need to watch this HILARIOUS send up of the legendary Liza Minnelli, as portrayed by Christine Pedi.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you "Shit Liza Minnelli Says."

You're welcome.

CATCH OF THE DAY

It's been ten years since the soon-to-be-moving-to-another-city San Francisco 49'ers last appeared in a playoff game. They're playing the New Orleans Saints this Saturday at Candlestick Park.

Hopefully, stadium officials will be able to keep the lights on at "the 'stick."

Anyway, it was 30 years ago this week (Tuesday, in fact) when Dwight Clark made what became known as  "The Catch."

The game winning reception, thrown by legendary quarterback Joe Montana, came within the last 51 seconds in a playoff game they were losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 21-27. "The Catch" gave the 49er's the win, 28-27.

The "9ers" went on to win the Super Bowl that year (against the Cincinnati Bengals), as well as three others that decade, earning the nickname "Team of the Decade."

Good luck this weekend, "9er's."