Wasn't sure if I should post this here or in Random, but I think you folks would appriciate the bitter irony involved much moreso than the average Wiener.
So, I'm talking to my grandfather during Thanksgiving dinner, and discover a fairly-distant relation that makes my blood run cold. (No, not Glacier.). It seems, and I'm not sure if I've got all the facts right here, but my grandfather's aunt's nephew (on her other side) is former Pennsylvania governer and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge.
I tried showering, but the dirt just won't come off.
"Of course the people don't want war ...but, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament or a communist dictatorship ... voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." ----------Hermann Goering, one of the original Nazis at his Nuremberg trial in 1946
The kid my buddies used to beat up in elementary and middle schools became the lead singer for Tantric. Keep in mind my buddies are all dweebs who got shoved in quite a few lockers themselves.
But what do you expect from the town that gave the world Nuno Bettencourt?
Some cousin/uncle/I have no idea of mine is a child psychologist/psychiatrist who's written some books and makes the Oprah-style talk show circuit every now and then. Not embarrassing, though. Could be worse... I could be related to Rob Nelson.
And as for birthdays, I share mine with Englebert Humperdink. Check and mate, cranlsn.
Gilbert Gottfried is the biggest star born on my birthday - how sad is that? (My sister shares hers with Vince McMahon, though.)
"Of course the people don't want war ...but, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament or a communist dictatorship ... voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." ----------Hermann Goering, one of the original Nazis at his Nuremberg trial in 1946
Well you guys can't imagine how proud my family is of my aunt, who is a soft core porn star for Cinemax and Playboy. Always a "treat" to come home from work at night, see whats on tv, and find your aunt having sex with some guy on a piano. And it doesn't help a lick that everyone on my mom's side (including myself) has the same face and ever present Jewish nose. We can't escape our roots!
Treasure Planet kicked all kinds of ass. Do yourself a favor and check it out when it comes to a theater near you.
With poison running through your veins, and death marching solemnly towards you, heroic acts become more of a necessity as you see your time dwindling.
Vanquishing your enemies, making amends to those you have wronged, and leaving words of love and kindness for those around you become second nature as your own mortality looms
However, true strength lies not in these last desperate acts, but in the actions of one who has to get out of bed the next day and face the consequences of doing that which you believe is right.
I'm third cousins with Haley Eisenberg. About the wierdest moment of my life was when I was at my grandma's house to "meet mishpocha (essentially Yiddish for "some weird extended family that the Nazis didn't kill") for dinner" also, and having the Pepsi girl walk in.
Billy the Kid shares my birthday. Yess Haw!
This should probably be moved to Random.
Expressing myself EVERY day - but especially on July 22, 2002!
Know what's really distrubing? I'm part Plantagenant(sp?: Richard the Lionhearted, Edward I and III), part Windsor(current occupants of the throne, Churchill) and related to 14 U.S. presidents(including W).
Best part about it is that all but one of them was a Republican(unfortunately, that was FDR).
And finally, my first cousin six times removed was Galusha Grow, Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania and the first member of the GOP to serve as Speaker of the House(1861-1863).
I believe I'm related to Dwight Yoakam, because he is the only "Yoakam" I've seen outside my immediate family that spells it that way and not "Yocum" or "Yokam"
I BELIEVE (although I can't totally confirm) that my red-headed cousin was the "Wendy's girl" in the really old 80s commercials for Wendys, before Dave Thomas.
My sister's friend's brother use to play bass for Jewel...
and I once tried dating a lady who was apparently Diamond Dallas Page's agent/manager. Can't confirm that either.
Now how pathetic is all THAT.
DMC
"Well I'm here to tell ya, that as you go out into the world you're gonna find, that you're not gonna amount to JACK...SQUAT!!!" -Matt Foley, motivational speaker