Bad-boy chef Bourdain: Bush, chawing open-mouthed on a buttered roll....

[Bluebear]

We watch the city we'd barely begun to know -- and yet already started to love -- destroyed, seemingly (from where we're sitting) without sense or reason. We watch Blackhawk helicopters fly in and out of the embassy and hear panicked rumors that they're evacuating the ambassador (false) and "non-essential personnel" (true, I believe). Around the pool, the increasingly frustrated, mostly Lebanese Americans exchange rumors and information gleaned from never-ending cellphone conversations with we don't know who: relatives in the south, friends back in America, people who've already made it out. Friends who've spoken to their congressman. Guys who work at CNN. The list goes on. The news maddening, incomplete, incorrect -- alternately hopeful, terrifying and dismaying.

The hotel empties and fills and empties again. We hear:

"The Italians got out!"
"The fucking Romanians got out!"
"The French are gone!"

What is clear -- as far as we're concerned -- from all sources is that there is no official, announced plan. No real advice, or information, or public exit strategy or timetable. The news clip of President Bush, chawing open-mouthed on a buttered roll, then grabbing at another while Tony Blair tries to get him to focus on Lebanon -- plays over and over on the TV, crushing our spirits and dampening all hope with every glassy-eyed mouthful. He seems intent on enjoying his food; Lebanon a tiny, annoying blip on an otherwise blank screen. I can't tell you how depressing that innocuous bit of footage is to watch. That one, innocent, momentary preoccupation with a roll has a devastating effect on us that is out of all proportion. We're looking for signs. And this, sadly, is all we have.

And every day we hear worse. Cellphone towers, power stations, land lines are being targeted, says Mr. Wolfe. And we're frankly terrified of the seemingly imminent moment when we can no longer stay in touch with the outside world, make or receive calls to the States -- or more important, be notified by the embassy (should that ever happen). They've run out of bread and food in downtown stores.

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/07/28/bourdain_beirut/index2.html

[Gabi Hayes]

1. thanks! KR....I remember when somebody posted that he was stuck

there.

what an excellent point he makes, and the visual image he paints is even more poignant, by reason of his presence.

those poor people caught in the middle, contrasted with the unspeakable irony of that pig stuffing his gob, Mr. Creosote-like, while others die because of his actions, and, in this case, his inaction

unspeakable

may he rot in the foulest bowels of whatever karmic 'hell' exists in this, or any, dimension

[Hekate]

4. Nicely cursed, Gabi; I'm impressed

> may he rot in the foulest bowels of whatever karmic 'hell' exists
> in this, or any, dimension

:toast:

Hekate

[Bluebear]

5. AND Bourdain would approve. nt

[Gabi Hayes]

6. thanks....I wish I weren't motivated by so much negative energy. wait!

my favorite mythical character, in her most "characteristic" pose...


check this out....another anger-inducing thread induced this yang to its yin:

http://www.angelicorganics.com/Vegetables/vegetablescontent.php?contentfile=vegetables

main site:

http://www.angelicorganics.com/

The Independent Lens (PBS) show on Farmer John, with some clips
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/realdirt/film.html

[magellan]

2. Just read it

I've been wondering how he and his crew were. Had no idea Mr. Bourdain was such a wonderful writer. Crushingly sad account. K&R.

[Gabi Hayes]

3. nother thread on same

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1752588

[The Anti-Neo Con]

7. I like that guy.

His show No Reservations on Travel Channel is one of the few entertaining shows on TV IMO.

[Bluebear]

8. Hey belated welcome to DU! nt

[PBass]

9. His shows are great, very educational

about food, cooking and culture. His book "Kitchen Confidential" is a fun read.

I met him one time after spotting him nearby, he seemd quite nice but maybe a little uncomfortable about being recognized (ie, humble).

[grannylib]

10. Right on. I like this guy. The Unelected Imbecile is beyond an

embarassment to our country.

And this is the guy that said he'd 'restore honor and dignity' to the WH...
Can't bring to the table qualities you clearly don't possess...

[SpiralHawk]

11. "Shut up and eat your plastic turkey." - Commander AWOL

Leading the formerly free world to ruin

[MountainLaurel]

12. He was on a WashPost chat earlier this week

And noted that he had nothing but bad things to say about the reaction of the embassy and State Department.

[alstephenson]

13. I LOVE Anthony and his show....

He's so irreverent! I didn't realize he was such a wonderful writer!

[NYCGirl]

14. He's a great writer — besides "Kitchen Confidential" and "Cook's Tour"

(which contains a brilliant chapter about Saigon), he's written some great fiction

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582341028/sr=8-3/qid=1154123614/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-4763989-5681634?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582341036/ref=pd_sim_b_1/002-4763989-5681634?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/184195327X/sr=8-11/qid=1154123614/ref=pd_bbs_11/002-4763989-5681634?ie=UTF8

And my fave of the non-autobios, his book on "Typhoid Mary", which he calls "an urban historical"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582341338/sr=8-8/qid=1154123614/ref=pd_bbs_8/002-4763989-5681634?ie=UTF8