Bush lied!

Pre-Obama fervor

ISIS chemical warfare expert blown up by US in Iraq. He was helping SIS reconstruct Saddam’s sarin gas plant, captured by ISIS last year. Of course, since there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the first place, this heat was entirely needless and cruel

Even the most powerful military force in the world is no match for Americans’ stupidity

Turn around, it’s a boobies trap!

Army deletes post referring to a “chink in the armor” after illiterates complain that it’s racist.

The Wall Street Journal discovers Riverside, sort-of

Lovely ladies all, but not quite representative of the Cougar Bar at J House

Puff piece on this section of town. They get the popularity of Riverside right, though I think I’d describe it as having the most expensive real estate in town, measured by the square inch, rather than “more affordable than other neighborhoods in Greenwich”, but since the reporter draws no distinction between Riverside NOPO (North of Post Road) and SOPO, her mistake is understandable.

I’m not so sure about the accuracy of the rest of the piece either.

When Debra Phillips was growing up in the Riverside neighborhood of Greenwich, Conn., it was a relatively low-key place where children could roam and play freely. [True]

The river that connects with the Long Island Sound was a focal point of activity  [only if you were under 16 and used the rope swing on Cary Road, an activity forbidden now by our police (it was forbidden then, too, but the cops didn’t try to hard to stop it, probably because most of them had grown up doing the same thing). Adults were never seen there, and aren’t today.]

“It was kind of like a hidden gem that people didn’t know about—you’re near the water, near the beach and close to your train,” says Ms. Phillips, who …  is a broker with Berkshire Hathaway New England Properties [surprise!] . “People have now discovered all of this about it.”

During the past 10 years, Riverside has seen a surge in popularity, Ms. Phillips says. Some larger lots have been subdivided [almost all larger lots were chopped up long ago]  and many smaller houses replaced by large, luxury homes [true] . But residents say the area has retained its colonial, New England look [hahahahaha] and its close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere [true].

Lot sizes in Riverside tend to be less than half an acre—far smaller than the large estates in other parts of the town [true]

But many residents, particularly those relocating from New York City, have come to consider its relatively high density as a plus, since it adds to the area’s pedestrian-friendly, neighborhood feel.

“You’re not on a big lot with your neighbors way far away, so it’s easier to meet people and it’s good for kids,” Ms. Phillips says.

Back to that river:

“That river is a large part of the community—we have ice fishing, ice hockey, skating,” says Roseann Sarica Benedict,… who is also a broker [surprise again!]

The Mianus is indeed a treasure, but public access is extremely limited and what there is of it is on the Cos Cob side. And who goes there?

 

Another “can’t fail” fails

Here’s looking at you, kid

$2.5 million Gunboat catamaran dismasted at sea, owner rescued.

This exact boat was profiled by Forbes just last September. Oops.

From the 78-foot mast to the lithium batteries in the bilge, Cohen’s Gunboat 55 represents an assemblage of technology that was practically impossible to obtain 20 years ago. The enormous mainsail, 1,300 square feet of high-tech fabric, has a computer-designed shape that can handle a much broader range of wind than old-fashioned Dacron sails. The hulls and 200-square-foot bridge are made of carbon fiber and epoxy to achieve the strength and stiffness necessary to haul two luxury staterooms with en suite bathrooms, plus amenities like a fresh-water maker, a freezer and a washer-dryer. The cabin top is covered with solar cells that help charge an 800-watt electrical system that powers computer navigation screens, electric winches and a cranking marine audio system.

I love cats, and the Gunboats look fabulous, but nothing can’t fail: ask the skipper of the Titanic or, for that matter, me – I was aboard a 60′ Swan 200 miles off Bermuda when its “unbreakable”, one-piece rudder became two pieces, and sank to the ocean floor 3,000 feet below. Dang.

As an aside, three Gunboats were on display at Indian Harbor Yacht Club the summer of 2013.  Their designer, Peter Johnson, probably regrets now saying he’d designed “the safest world cruising sailboat that could be conceived.” On the other hand, the cat didn’t sink when dismasted, which many keelboats would have, so maybe Johnson was right. I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to sail one.

Another independent bites the dust

(Former) world headquarters, Surf & Turf Realty

Word yesterday that Hooligans and Lawyers has purchased Riverside’s Shore $ Country Real estate. Too bad; there aren’t many independents left – in fact, Lockwood & Mead is one of the very few. The times do change.

Sometimes you feed the bear, sometimes the bear feeds on you

Here kitty kitty

Woman who fed wild bears eaten by wild bears

COLUMBIA, N.C. — Officials in Tyrrell County say a woman known for feeding bears may have been killed by one of the animals.

Sheriff Darryl Liverman told local media outlets that 67-year-old Kay Grayson may have been dead more than two weeks when her body was found Monday in some woods.

 

If he needs a ride over, I’m there

Hands up!

Michael Moore: Clint Eastwood threatened to kill me if I showed up at his door.

Nothing happened in real estate this week

215 Old Church Rd

Market should kick off next week, although the latest forecast – and we know what they’re worth – calls for another snowstorm Monday. In the meantime, 215 Old Church Road, that partially renovated 1920 home that was trying for $11 million, has rented for $27,500.

Al Gore’s new favorite weatherman

TV temperature screen goes haywire, showing temperatures in the high 1,000s, reporter adapts – just like global warming. “There’s probably nothing left there, so don’t even bother looting.”

Californians moan about long lines at their DMVs

Enjoying the good life in the Nutmeg State

They’re blaming 4-hour-delays on the crush of illegal aliens now permitted to apply for drivers’ licenses, but what struck me is that a 4-hour-wait at Connecticut’s DMV is the norm, anti-disirregardless of the presence of aliens. When even California is better run than your own state, you have a problem.

Romney’s out, Hillary to follow?

I couldda been a contender

Hillary is “postponing” her campaign announcement, ostensibly because she is guaranteed to win the nomination, so there’s no need for her to spend any effort now trying to earn it.More likely reason is that she’s gonna lose, and is delaying an announcement that she’s not running as long as possible, to grab more speaker fees.

Looks as though overpriced yogurt stores have the same shelf life as muffin shoppes and popcorn emporiums

Well, someone likes it

Pinkberry closes on Greenwich Avenue

Who says Canada’s government projects aren’t the equal of ours?

Oh, Canada!

New, $5.9 million pedestrian bridge is ready to go, but it’s too short.

UPDATE: It occurred to me that no discussion of bridges is complete without mention of that 1940 classic, the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, still shown in physics and civil engineering classes today.

Or I hope it is.

“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” ― H.L. Mencken

Dippy gets the heave-ho

Britain’s Natural History museum ditches dinosaur, replaces it with a more socially conscious exhibit.

I kid you not.

As the centrepiece of one of Britain’s great museums, it has inspired visitors for more than a century.

But the Natural History Museum’s famous model of a diplodocus, known affectionately to schoolchildren as Dippy, is to be retired after 110 years.

Bosses at the London institution have decided the 83ft long exhibit is no longer relevant enough to take pride of place in their great entrance hall.

They are to replace it with a skeleton of a giant blue whale, as a reminder of ‘our responsibility to the planet’.

The whale, previously the centrepiece of the Mammal Hall, and a resident of the museum since 1891, is a symbol of environmental destruction and hope, [director Sir Michael Dixon] said.

 

Because it forgot who it was

Food Fail

McDonald’s CEO ousted after sales drop. McDonalds sells hamburgers; beefy hamburgers and french fries. When it began responding to its pc critics, people who were never its customers and never would be, by adding salads, chicken wraps and apple slices, it merely cluttered its menu, slowed service and gave its real customers an excuse to try another chain.

Back to basics and, while they’re at it, they should resume frying those potatoes in lard – turns out lard’s good for you after all, and no vegetable oil, transfatty or not, cooks fries like lard.

Real Food

This sounds like great advice, except for the calling afterwards – don’t do that

Love at first fright

“Have sex on first date, pay for dinner and call him – how ANY woman can bag the man of her dreams in 60 days”

Advice from a man, naturally, with a book to sell, naturally.

These guys just make up any shit they want

Obama’s appointee says that illegals “have a right to work in the United States”. Well no, no they don’t, except in the bizarre world of ObamaLand™, where the law is whatever the Chief Executive and his minions say it is.

Another Cos Cob contract

22 Hilton Heath

22 Hilton Heath (off Cat Rock) reports a contract, asking price, $1.595 million. Assuming there was some negotiation of that asking price, this seems like a decent deal. The house was built in 1966 and has that era’s trim and finishing (I haven’t seen a formica counter since leaving my own house this morning), but that’s stuff that’s easily updated, while the location is a good one and the house, to my eye, is just fine.

Rip out the kitchen and all that knotty pine, re-do the bathrooms, upgrade the trim, and bingo: almost-new house, for what passes as not a lot of money in this town.

Formica is forever, until the wrecker crew arrives

A contract and sale

265 Valley Rd

The reported contract is for 265 Valley Road, $2.995 million, that great house built into the side of a cliff. I thought the house was fabulous, but the lack of parking was a real drawback to many. I’m glad it’s found  buyer.

14 Chieftans Rd

And way out west under the flightpath, 14 Chieftains Road has sold for $2.475 million on its asking price of $2.795. I personally wouldn’t touch this development, but at the right price, I suppose it makes sense for Westchesterites who want to skip across the border for lower taxes. This house sold new in 1999 for $2.395 million, $2.525 in 2002, then $3.7 in 2005 and again for $3.7 just six months later. It’s been downhill for Chieftain values since then.

Live free and buy

Taxis upended

Portsmouth, New Hampshire votes to deregulate taxis.

PORTSMOUTH – In response to Uber ride-sharing drivers now working in the city, the Taxi Commission on Wednesday recommended the elimination of taxi medallions, regulation of taxi fares, city taxi inspections and the Taxi Commission itself.

“I think the public is probably better served if we also have ride-sharing,” Cataldo said, explaining that ride-share drivers help get intoxicated people home safely.

Cataldo said if drivers are smoking, or offering rides in unkempt vehicles, consumers will decide if they want to hire them. Under the proposal, police would continue to conduct background checks of registered drivers who would also have to provide proof that their passengers are insured for a minimum of $300,000 under a commercial policy.

Several commissioners compared the proposed deregulation of taxi fares to the fact that someone can buy a glass of beer for $4 at a downtown pub and pay $8 for a glass of the same beer at a nearby restaurant.

“I guess it’s going to come down to what consumers want to do,” said Lt. Chris Cummings, the Police Department’s liaison to the Taxi Commission.

Shocking.