Terry Cowgill

The Gorehouse Effect

Update: This gets better and better. And now we learn 2% of George Soros’s portfolio is in Halliburton.

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A conservative group that doubts the severity of the climate change issue has accused Academy Award winner Al Gore of being a hypocrite.

“How could that possibly be?” ask the global warming guru’s admirers. Simple: Gore suggests you and I change the way we live in order to save the planet, but he maintains two large residences, is ferried around in a limo and travels on corporate jets. Typical of the sanctimonious, eh — everyone else has to make sacrifices except those who demand it of others.

But wait, it gets better. A Gore spokesman says that while her boss’s 10,000-square-foot Nashville house uses 15 times the electricity of the average home, we shouldn’t worry our pretty little heads over it.

Continue reading The Gorehouse Effect…

The Future: Narcissists Anonymous?

This study confirms what I have long believed. The so-called self-esteem movement has been a disaster — not only for education but for society.

When children’s nursery songs proclaim “I am special, I am special. Look at me” and students are taught that to feel good about themselves is more important than high achievement, then you are headed for big trouble.

One need look no further than school awards ceremonies, most of which have turned into orgies of recognition. Most kids see through this kind of nonsense in which everyone gets an award (which actually devalues the recognition), but the cumulative effect is still that we become a more narcissistic society.

Parents, don’t raise your kids this way. There are more important things than gaining your children’s approval — things like raising them to be responsible and generous adults. And teachers, please move away from this misguided approach to education and let kids know that, yes, sometimes they deserve to feel rotten about themselves.

Salisbury Singles?

Strange signs have been popping up all over town. Something called SalisburySingles.org promises to be just the pill to cure your solitude. There is also one for Sharon, appropriately titled SharonSingles.org.

My first thought was “Sorry, not interested. I am happily married.” Then I began to wonder who could be starting a local dating site in the Northwest Corner. But one visit to either site reveals an operation that is hardly local.

On the Salisbury page, the header features the skyline of what looks to be Hartford, while Sharon’s has a couple of yuppie-looking suburban models about the give each other a tonsilectomy on the beach. Somehow I can’t picture this happening on the shores of Mudge Pond or the Town Grove.

My guess is this is part of a large national database of singles, but since there is absolutely no information about the organization, it’s impossible to tell. I have just registered in the hopes that when a counselor calls me, I can get some information out of him/her.

What’s That In My Chalupa?

It was like a scene out of Willard. The restaurant had been closed for health violations, so maybe they were fleeing a sinking ship. Still, I don’t think it will hurt the company’s image. Cheap food is cheap food …

P.S. Anyone know how “preventive construction” in the basement could have “temporarily escalated the situation”? Did the workmen dribble some of their gorditas onto the floor during lunch break?

Whose Camera Is It Anyway?

Thumbing through the LJ this week and noticed a strange story from Karen Bartomioli, who consistently writes some of our most interesting pieces. Click here to read the case of the mysterious surveillance equipment near Dutcher’s Bridge on Route 44 near the North Canaan-Salisbury line.

Evidently no one is claiming ownership — not the State Police nor the DOT. Anyone out there in the blogosphere have any theories as to why it’s there and no one will admit to having anything to do with it?Maybe it’s the Department of Homeland Security monitoring would-be terrorists driving out of that hotbed of rebellion — Pine Grove.

Or perhaps buried deep in Gov. Rell’s budget is the elimination of Troop B — to be replaced by strategically situated video cameras that will ferret out the evil-doers in a much more environmentally friendly way than all those 8-cylinder Crown Victorias the troopers drive.

I have a sure-fire way to find out who owns it. Blow it up, blast it with a shotgun or remove it. Then you can be sure the owner will surface.

Of Screams and Cavalry Swords

An old friend had the following to say about this story from the AP:

Oh, man. This is just way too funny. Starting with the town’s name that sounds like a scream (or moan) and proceeding with (unintended) jokes about extended swords. This is simply unbelievable.

Thanks, Tony. I’ve got to visit Oconomowoc. Sounds like my kind of place. Swords, screams and stupidity …

A Mononymous Relationship

Evidently, she has decided to join the ranks of Madonna, Cher and Prince. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Trashing Dear Torrington

Anyone eaten at The Venetian lately? I haven’t in years. But this restaurant review (and I use that term loosely) in The Courant last week prompted many complaints.

I suppose I am less surprised at the snide comments about Torrington than I am that the oldest continuously published newspaper in the nation would even venture to the gritty environs of Litchfield County’s only city.

We hear about Torrington “claiming to be on the verge of a renaissance” and about “a young mayor who is roughly the same age as my favorite pair of jeans.” Heck, the reviewer used seven paragraphs of musings about the ambiance of the eatery and city before mentioning the culinary fare.

The food (which I liked the last time ate there 20 years ago) is one thing, but do such comments have any place in a restaurant review?

Full disclosure: I ask this question reluctantly because The Courant is one of my favorite newspapers. How’s that for covering your butt?

P.S. One of our copy editors at the LJ, Judy Linscott, dined at the Venetian in December after visiting Ron Merriman’s Christmas House down the street. Click here to read about her experience.

Blanket of Roses

It looks like temps will get into the 40s today — which will come as a great relief to those of us who are sick to death of the bitter cold. This lovely photo is a few days late, but since it evokes images of warmer times, I thought it appropriate to feature here and now.

Full disclosure: The photo was taken by the mother of a client of mine. She is an professional artist and photographer on Long Island. She emailed it out to lots of people as a Happy Valentine’s Day greeting. I’m already feeling a little toastier …

The Mummy Who Paid His Con Ed Bill

Never fall asleep on the couch with the TV on.