I just can't escape Seinfeld references, especially when it comes to food. Today I was checking out some places to eat lunch near my new office. Bistro #1 was a nice deli but what caught my eye on their menu was the "Original Black & White Cookie" for $1.95. Bistro #2 was a nice little Italian place featuring some terrific sounding calzones. Except for some reason they did not list one with eggplant!
Episode 130 - The Calzone
Mr. Steinbrenner: Hey Costanza . What's that your eating over there ? It looks pretty tasty .
George : It's a calzone , sir .
Mr. Steinbrenner : A calzone huh . Pass it down here . Let's have a look at it . I want a little taste . Come on , come on . Pass it down here . That's a good boy . Okay . What's in this thing ?
George : Uh . Cheese , pepperoni , eggplant .
Mr. . Steinbrenner : Eggplant . Yes . That's a hell of a thing . Okay, let's get back to business . Okay, here you go . Very good , very good . Excellent . Excellent calzone you got there Costanza . Okay, a little jealous now . Okay, lets go . Okay, last week ....... You know that eggplant was very good . Everybody out . I got eggplant on my mind . Costanza, get me a couple of those calzones right now . Pronto . Move out . Big Stein wants an eggplant calzone. Must have one . Everybody out . Out .
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Why Didn't I Think Of That?
As most of you know, this has been a big year for Pittsburgh, with a Super Bowl win, a Stanley Cup win, and the distinction of being the host city for the G-20 Conference. I recently learned of yet another honor when I was rounding on a patient in the ICU who became ill while attending the national MENSA meeting being held in our fair city at the Omni William Penn Hotel. MENSA, for those of you who don't know, is a global social club for people with high IQ's. I read an article in the Pittsburgh City Paper about the meeting (http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A65615), in which I learned that Mensans have great sense of self-deprecating humor (their motto for next year's convention to be held in Detroit, Michigan is "What genius picked Detroit?"), and they are very practical when it comes to solving socially awkward sitiuations. As I mentioned in my post from May 29, there has been a hugging epidemic that has been causing much consternation in our secondary school system. Well, the Mensans actually have a "hugging code," a little sticker stuck on the members' badges to signal whether they want a hug. Green means "hug me," yellow signals hugs-by-permission, and red is a request for personal space.
What a great idea! This might have prevented Jerry's predicament in the following episode:
Episode 103 - The Kiss Hello
Jerry enters his building. Mary spots him from across the lobby and closes for a kiss hello.
MAR: Hi Jerry.
JERRY: Hi Mary.
Jerry backs away from the kiss with so much effort that he's up against the mailboxes.
JERRY: Uh, listen. I decided I can't kiss hello anymore. I'm sorry. It's nothing personal....
Mary looks upset by Jerry's outburst.
JERRY: ...It just makes me a little uncomfortable and I can't do it. I'm sorry.
The door to the street opens and Louise enters, also friendly and aiming for the kiss hello.
LOU: Hi Jerry.
JERRY: Hi Louise...
Jerry backs sharply away from Louise as she leans in for the kiss.
JERRY: ...I was just telling Mary how I'm not gonna be doing the kiss hello thing anymore.(continues backing away) I'm sorry. I just can't do it. It's nothing personal, it's just I'm not really able to do it and uh, I'm sorry.
Jerry backs into the elevator.
JERRY: (as the elevator doors close) Thank you for your cooperation.
What a great idea! This might have prevented Jerry's predicament in the following episode:
Episode 103 - The Kiss Hello
Jerry enters his building. Mary spots him from across the lobby and closes for a kiss hello.
MAR: Hi Jerry.
JERRY: Hi Mary.
Jerry backs away from the kiss with so much effort that he's up against the mailboxes.
JERRY: Uh, listen. I decided I can't kiss hello anymore. I'm sorry. It's nothing personal....
Mary looks upset by Jerry's outburst.
JERRY: ...It just makes me a little uncomfortable and I can't do it. I'm sorry.
The door to the street opens and Louise enters, also friendly and aiming for the kiss hello.
LOU: Hi Jerry.
JERRY: Hi Louise...
Jerry backs sharply away from Louise as she leans in for the kiss.
JERRY: ...I was just telling Mary how I'm not gonna be doing the kiss hello thing anymore.(continues backing away) I'm sorry. I just can't do it. It's nothing personal, it's just I'm not really able to do it and uh, I'm sorry.
Jerry backs into the elevator.
JERRY: (as the elevator doors close) Thank you for your cooperation.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Today's Pols Emulate George Costanza, Not Washington
David Brooks column in the NYT from 7/7/09 is a must read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/opinion/07brooks.html?_r=1
In it, he bemoans the lack of dignity displayed by today's politicians (with the exception of the President). What he fails to mention is that the start of this trend can be traced to one George Costanza, who so eloquently admitted this character flaw back in the early 90's:
Episode 63 - The Pilot (Part 1)
GEORGE: How could you be a doctor and not say "get outta here"? It should be part of the training at medical school: "Cancer? Get outta here!" "Go home! What are you crazy? It's a little test. It's nothing. You're a real nut. You know that?" (Jerry gives him half of his sandwich to hopefully shut him up) I told you that God would never let me be successful. I never should've written that pilot. Now the show will be a big hit, we'll make millions of dollars, and I'll be dead. Dead, Jerry. Because of this. (showing his lip)
JERRY: Can't you at least die with a little dignity?
GEORGE: No I can't. I can't die with dignity. I have no dignity. I want to be the one person who doesn't die with dignity. I live my whole life in shame. Why should I die with dignity?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/opinion/07brooks.html?_r=1
In it, he bemoans the lack of dignity displayed by today's politicians (with the exception of the President). What he fails to mention is that the start of this trend can be traced to one George Costanza, who so eloquently admitted this character flaw back in the early 90's:
Episode 63 - The Pilot (Part 1)
GEORGE: How could you be a doctor and not say "get outta here"? It should be part of the training at medical school: "Cancer? Get outta here!" "Go home! What are you crazy? It's a little test. It's nothing. You're a real nut. You know that?" (Jerry gives him half of his sandwich to hopefully shut him up) I told you that God would never let me be successful. I never should've written that pilot. Now the show will be a big hit, we'll make millions of dollars, and I'll be dead. Dead, Jerry. Because of this. (showing his lip)
JERRY: Can't you at least die with a little dignity?
GEORGE: No I can't. I can't die with dignity. I have no dignity. I want to be the one person who doesn't die with dignity. I live my whole life in shame. Why should I die with dignity?
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