The M.O.

Obviously those hats and T-shirts are not made on the sidelines in the final seconds of the games. They’ve been made in advance. So, what happens to the thousands of pieces of apparel that get made for the eventual losing team?

Well, this year, the 14,000 BCS Champion Longhorn shirts and hats from the University Co-op are going to the relief efforts in Haiti.

“With the terrible tragedy and loss the Haitian people have suffered and are still experiencing, we do realize this donation may not be very high priority for them. However, we all need clothing and this is a small contribution we can make to assist in their recovery,” George H. Mitchell, Co-op President, said.

From a release:

The University Co-op is working with Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc. in association with Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc, (K.I.D.S.) to facilitate the transport of the 14,000 shirts & hats to the Haitian community.

The Co-op chose this charitable organization due to the operational efficiency, track record and criteria of the items in need, which are all sizes of new clothes for men, women and children. Along with 100% guaranteed arrival to Haiti, the coordination of the distribution to the individual families is well organized and secured. They were also among the recommendations by the Co-op’s fashion consulting firm, The Doneger Group .

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Quarters4Relief raising money for Haiti bit by bit

By Matthew Odam | Friday, January 29, 2010, 05:53 PM

In the time since an earthquake devastated Haiti, you’ve likely heard many people say something along the lines of “Give whatever you can. Even the smallest amount helps.” One bar in Austin is proof that even small giving can add up.

Since January 22, the recently opened Kung Fu Saloon, with the help of its patrons, has been doing its part with Quarters4Relief . The bar located on Rio Grande Street just off West Sixth Street has been using their 19 vintage arcade games to raise funds for the Haitian relief effort.

Every quarter inserted into their arcades (think Ms. Pacman, Galaga, Space Invaders and more) since last week will be donated to the Red Cross. This weekend is the final weekend to test your hand-eye-coordination, sip a cold one and give money to the relief effort, one quarter at a time.

“This is the least we can do to help those that have been affected by this unimaginable tragedy in Haiti,” said Kung Fu Saloon’s co-owner, Nick Adams.

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Enjoy a chef’s table experience at The Carillon this weekend

By Matthew Odam | Friday, January 29, 2010, 11:34 AM

1900 University Avenue [map]

404.3655

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Alligator Grill closes its doors

By Matthew Odam | Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 04:38 PM

As of 3 p.m. today, the Alligator Grill, made famous in Mike Judge’s comedy “Office Space,” is closed for business.

The “costs were prohibitive and it forced our hand,” said general manager Paul Blandford, who said the restaurant faced a huge challenge in trying to sell seafood on South Lamar Boulevard.

According to The A.V. Club Austin, which shares a parking lot with the restaurant, “it’s a bit of a shellshocked scene over there right now, with workmen yanking in tables and suddenly unemployed waiters wandering around aimlessly.”

Photo by Lynne Dobson

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No more free night swims at Barton Springs?

By Matthew Odam | Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 03:58 PM

I don’t necessarily get my djembe and rain stick out and head down to Barton Springs every time there is a full moon, but I do enjoy the occasional night swim in the summertime.

A spring-fed swimming hole in the middle of a town of almost a million people is unique and one of the things that makes me love life in Austin. There is nothing better than jumping into the springs at 9 p.m. after playing soccer or riding a bike, or, hell, even walking down the street in the ridiculous summer heat. Getting to enjoy the rejuvenating aspects of nature amidst all of her cruel punishment makes the summer worth it and allows us to spend evenings outdoors when we would otherwise likely be indoors. It feels timeless and evokes a real “All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers” vibe.

Well, all of that may change.

According to the Statesman’s City Beat blog, “The Parks and Recreation Department wants to charge admission during those hours to stop the 9 p.m. rush at the pool, spread out visitors over the rest of the night and stay within its lifeguards staffing budget, said Jodi Jay, the city’s acting aquatics program manager.”

While the city says that 50,000 people used the pool during free hours last year, which I assume would bring in $150,000 in revenue if those swimmers were charged, I still do not approve of the proposed change. Interestingly, the proposal would allow the early morning swimmers, who currently have to get out of the pool at 9 a.m. and re-enter, to stay in the pool without paying a re-entry fee. (So, the early birds should love it.) But, if that is the case, I guess the city may be worried about safety than money. That, or they’re just not being fair.

City Beat continues: “Parks officials will hold a public meeting about the idea Feb. 10 and March 2 at 6 p.m. at the city’s aquatics office, 400 Deep Eddy Ave. Residents can also submit comments and suggestions to aquaticsoffice@ci.austin.tx.us. Then parks officials will present the idea to the city’s parks board and City Council.”

Should be an interesting meeting.

Read the full post here.

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Jack Allen’s brings flavor to the Oak Hill neighborhood

By Matthew Odam | Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 12:59 PM

Were I not tagging along with Statesman restaurant critic Mike Sutter, I may have never made it to Jack Allen’s Kitchen. Located just past the “Y” on Highway 71, it’s the kind of place that you’d probably only hit if you lived in the neighborhood, were on the way home from work or headed back home from the golf course.

For those living in the Oak Hill area, Jack Allen’s must certainly be a culinary salvation. I don’t know the neighborhood all that well, but it seems JA’s has to be considered the best restaurant offering within six miles or so.

The cheeseburger was cooked to a nice medium rare and tasted, probably not surprisingly, a lot like a Z Tejas burger (a surprisingly underrated and unexpected dish). It was served on a sweet roll that was probably a little too rich, almost like a mild donut, but it seemed to fit the spirit of the place, as evidenced by the chicken-fried everything section of the menu. We tried chicken-fried beef ribs that were somehow still moist and flavorful, if not a bit too fatty for my liking. The green chile pork tacos were a do-it-yourself dish, with the pork coming in a boat on a plate that held mini corn tortillas, pico and guacamole. Aside from the fact that I don’t want to build my own meal at a restaurant, I was disappointed in the dish, as the only thing I could taste was the green chile and especially the corn tortillas. As far as I was concerned, the pork could have been chicken, hidden as it was behind the chiles and corn.

I hate to invoke Applebee’s when discussing a place with the quality of food and pedigree that Jack Allen’s has, but this restaurant really perfects the “There’s No Place Like the Neighborhood” feel on which the generic chain fails to deliver. This is a great neighborhood spot, and with a massive patio that backs up to a creek, has bar seating for 25 and table seating for another 50 or so, it seems hard to believe that Jack Allen’s will follow in the footsteps of its short lived predecessors in this spot, which always seemed to be advertising the next tenant: For Lease.

All photos by Mike Sutter.

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Wilco offers free live downloads, ask for donations to Haiti

By Matthew Odam | Monday, January 25, 2010, 02:45 PM

One of my favorite bands is lending its voice to the relied efforts in Haiti. While some bands have played telethons or auctioned off tickets to shows, Wilco has decided to post on their site two live shows for free download. All they ask in exchange is that you donate at least $15 to either OXFAM or Doctors Without Borders. Sounds reasonable enough to me. The shows in question are from July 13, 2009 Keyspan Park - Brooklyn) and November 4, 2009 (HMV Forum - London).

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A word on the kids from ‘Jersey Shore’

By Matthew Odam | Monday, January 25, 2010, 12:35 PM

My thoughts: Meh. It’s not as hilarious or outrageous as you would expect or hope — some kids fill themselves with plastic and steroids, use tanning beds habitually and have no command of the English language … not much of a shock there. Yea, these kids fight more than me or my friends and they take themselves way too seriously, but overall I didn’t find the show horribly compelling. Maybe it’s because I went to college with a bunch of kids from New Jersey and New York, and I was already familiar with the stereotpyes (meaning, my friends had made me aware of them, not that they were representations of said stereotypes). To be honest, as un-self-aware as most of the kids on the show are, they seem like nice enough early 20-somethings who have some serious maturing to do. Will they ever write a novel or run a bank or teach America’s children? Probably not. But, many won’t.

What I have found rather amazing, however, is the 15 minutes of fame these kids have enjoyed and the fact that they think people’s curiosity in them extends beyond the animals-in-a-pop-culture-zoo level. People care about reality stars just long enough for something else to come along and distract them. Very rare is the case that these “stars” have anything unique to offer. So, I was shocked to read the the kids from “Jersey Shore” are sticking to their guns in contract negotiations with MTV.

I understand they produced crazy strong ratings with the show — something close to five million viewers per episode at the end of the run — so I think they are right to believe they are worth more than the few hundred dollars an episode they reportedly made in the first season. If MTV is making mad loot (I can hang, son!) off these kids, they are probably right in wanting and expecting more money. But thinking they are Ross, Rachel & Co. from “Friends” is a bridge too far. According to TMZ.com, MTV has upped the offer for next season and is offering the kids a $10,000 signing bonus and $5,000 per season. While it is not network money or even “Real Housewives” money, it is still likely more than 90% of the cast will ever make as a yearly income. I think they should take the money and shut up.

Apparently they don’t realize that they could be replaced very, very, very easily. Don’t these kids have friends back home? Aren’t their friends just like them? Wouldn’t Tony Bag-a-Donuts and Johnny Two-Times do the show for $50 an episode? Besides, I would argue that these kids will be even less compelling if they came back for another season. Their minor celebrity would make it impossible for them to anonymously spend their days and nights on the boardwalk getting drunk and throwing haymakers, and the fact that they would be so much more conscious of their image and the cameras would make them ape for the cameras even more, their bad behavior being replaced by bad acting.

I guess insta-fame can really crippled someone’s ability to be a rational human being. Take the money kids. When the $10,000 club appearance fees go away, you’re gonna realize those Ed Hardy t-shirts don’t pay for themselves.

The only way I want these kids back on TV next season is if they live in a group house in The Hamptons. Can you imagine the run-ins with the blue blooded Biffs and Alistairs of that world? What is more, some in The Hamptons are so obsessed with fame and the media and what is hot, they would probably take a shine to some of the kids and hope to get 15 minutes by proxy. Let’s make it happen.

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More Home Slice

By Matthew Odam | Monday, January 25, 2010, 11:33 AM

For pizza lovers who feel a little cramped at the incredibly popular Home Slice Pizza on South Congress and for those who wish they could get a tasty New York-style slice seven days a week, there’s good news on the way.

As you’ve probably noticed, part of the space next door to Home Slice — which was previously home to a sewing shop — is being transformed into additional pizza space. The operation at 1421 S. Congress, which is adjacent to Stag (formerly Washburn’s cleaners), will be called More Home Slice and will serve slices and take-out exclusively.

I imagine this means shorter lines/less congestion at the original Home Slice and more oven space for in-house diners. More Home Slice also means people will be able to purchase slices all day long and not just during specified hours, as is currently the situation at the original. Additionally, More Home Slice will be open seven days a week, so pizza lovers will not be left to wander the streets on Tuesday nights.

A manager at Home Slice told me that they were shooting for a Tuesday, Feb. 2 opening. The plan is to have More Home Slice open the same hours as the current location, with individual slices being sold until 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. on Sundays.

(Photo of More Home Slice, in the background, by Mike Sutter.)

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Radiohead auctioning tickets to weekend concert to benefit Haiti relief efforts

By Matthew Odam | Friday, January 22, 2010, 12:06 PM

In a nice move of generosity, Radiohead is not simply cutting a check to Haiti relief efforts, they’re playing a show at the Music Box in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 24, and are auctioning off tickets to the show. All proceeds will benefit Oxfam America’s relief efforts for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

The current minimum bid for a ticket is $275. There is a two-ticket limit per person, and bidding will run until 1 PM on Saturday, January 23. That may sound like a lot of money, but it is for a good cause, and when will you ever again get a chance to see Radiohead in a venue that holds less than 1000 people?

You can get more information and bid here.

On a completely unrelated note, if the boys from the UK are spending some of their 2010 time in the States, is this the year they finally come to the Austin City Limits Festival?

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‘American Idol,’ Orlando auditions recap

By Matthew Odam | Thursday, January 21, 2010, 10:07 AM

Wednesday night’s “American Idol” came to us from Orlando, home to the Magical Kingdom. Also known as the super-generic, plastic tourist trap in central Florida.

Ryan Seacrest informs us that 10,000 contestants have shown up as we see video of the hungover trio of Randy Jackson, Seacrest and Simon Cowell boarding a jet plane after a long night in Miami. Apparently they are running late. Not real sure the purpose of the self-indulgent shots and voice-over describing the men showing up late to auditions, but it feels unnecessary and arrogant. Maybe it is to balance the effervescence of Kara DioGuardi and guest judge Kristin Chenoweth, who are there with bells on. Chenoweth has some minor Fox pedigree, having appeared in “Glee,” and is a star of Broadway in addition to her former gig on “West Wing.” Despite her over-the-top blonde tresses, she is adorable and sexy, although she has a bit too much of the yappy lap dog and Oz munchkin in her.

The first contestant, who really never has a shot, is Theo Glinton, who looks like he escaped from a dance club underneath Mad Max’s Terrordome. He enigmatically tells the camera that if he’s not the next American Idol, he is going to finish in the bottom three. Unfortunately, he wasn’t good or bad enough to finish in either position after his horrific rendition of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker.” At first, Chenoweth seems to almost want to give him a chance, but eventually dismisses him with a “Not for this, but … not for this.”

As usual, the lack of golden tickets early in the day leads to some contestant anxiety. Then we get our first heart-string tugging storyline of the night in Seth Rollins, who has an autistic son. He sings “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and kills it for the most part, although he does some weird stuff with his vocals at the end. The ladies sway to the croon and Simon admits that he likes that Rollins “knows who he is.” Randy wants him to exude more personality and swagger, with which I agree, but he eventually gets four “yeses” and sprints out of the room to grab his son triumphantly.

There is then the standard montage of yeses and no’s before we see Jermaine Purifoy, a repeat performer, who tried and failed in season seven. He tells a story of how he and a bunch of guy friends took a road trip that season to go audition. That seemed a little weird to me. I was in college once, and I can’t really envision that scene: “Yo, fellas … spring break is coming up! What’s jumpin’ off this year? Bahamas? Destin? Wait, wait, I got it … let’s pack up the Bronco and hit up ‘American Idol’ auditions!” Anywho, turns out Purifoy is a hit, and Chenoweth praises his pure and seamless voice and tells him she loves him. Randy confesses he is the favorite of this season; Kara likes the honesty in his voice, and Simon liked the song choice and thinks “the chicks” will dig him. Persistence pays off, as he gets four adamant “yeses.” It is nice to hear Purifoy say after the audition that he’s not normally a risk taker but realizes maybe he should take them more often. I like this kid.

The last contestant of the day has another touching back-story. The pretty Shelby Dressel tells the story of how she grew up with a nerve condition that has affected the area around her mouth, giving her a slight speech impediment. She sings a nice but not amazing version of Norah Jones’ “Turn Me On.” It is stirring to see a young lady overcome such physical adversity and have the nerve to sing on national television and in front of these judges. Were it not for her physical impediment, however, I don’t think she would have made it through on strength of voice alone, but she wins over the judges. Simon says he likes her potential, although he is not blown away by her voice. Kristin agrees on the potential point, and Dressel ends up getting her ticket punched to Hollywood, along with 18 others from day one.

Unfortunately, the diminutive siren Chenoweth has been called back to New York, so we are left with just three judges, a result which proves that this show could not survive long with just these three judges.

First up on day two is Jay Stone, who performs a bizarre beat box performance of The Beatles “Come Together,” soaking Cowell with spit during his scratching/mixing/singing display. Cowell seems annoyed and unimpressed, while DioGuardi and Jackson find humor and a little talent in Stone, who then breaks into a very affected version of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” while DioGuardi and Jackson beat box. “I’m bringin’ something new and different that this competition has never seen before,” Stone says following the grating performance. Cowell doesn’t seem to agree, but Stone gets passed on to Hollywood, so we are certain to be annoyed by him again and possibly see him in a Burger King or Outback Steakhouse commercial in the future.

Following stone, some quick hits: Janell Wheeler, a good looking 24-year-old blonde from Tampa wearing Daisy Dukes does “House of the Rising Sun.” Brittan Star James, a sexy 23-year-old who looks like a young Robin Givens, sings Estelle’s “American Boy.”
Kasi Bedford, a chubby-faced 19-year-old sings “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About,” which I wasn’t crazy about. They all go to Hollywood.

In one of the shortest auditions that lands a contestant on the plane to Hollywood, Cornelius Edwards, a 24-year-old who says he learned to dance from his adult entertainer friends, does a leaping split while singing which leads to the best line of the night: “My pants done ripped.” They certainly did. Simon says after that sacrifice he has to give him a yes.

Next up are two likely rejects from “Jersey Shore.” (They would have been the ostracized teacher’s pets of the MTV reality show.) The bubbly, severe Desimone sisters (Bernadette, 27 and Amanda, 23) hail from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where they live in a house/salon with their mom. “From the time we wake up in the morning, we’re putting on a show,” one of them says. If I were their little brother I would lock myself in the basement until I was hold enough to go to college or become a hobo. Bernadette goes first and sings “Hit the Road, Jack.” Amanda follows with an extremely over the top version of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” while her sister mouths the words on the side and convulses along with her. The whole scene with the two pageant children caught in a state of arrested development is beyond surreal. Kara thinks they could bring something to Hollywood (likely just comic relief and a hovering hole in the ozone layer). Despite the judges’ obvious concerns, both make it through.

Time for the most disturbing entry in tonight’s parade of shame. Jarrodd Norrell, with his scraggly beard, dilated pupils and backward ball cap looks like a meth dealer from the Okefenokee Swamp. He sings a version of “Amazing Grace” that sounds like a chainsaw with an upper respiratory infection cutting through a cinder block. Kara: “Good lord. What was that?” He responds, confused and slightly aggravated, “I’m trippin’ I’m losing it. I can not leave. Are you kidding me?” Security comes in somewhat hastily, and Norrell ends up getting cuffed by local authorities outside of the audition room. Ah, Florida. Cut to Simon, “yes or no?” Well played, sir, you will be missed.

The show ends with big country boy Matt Lawrence, 25, who confesses that as a 15-year-old rebel he robbed a bank with a B.B. gun and ended up spending five years “locked up.” Wile his story of trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his parents is funny, I wonder what story he used in “the joint.” No way he told any felons he is locked up for carrying a B.B. gun. He makes the bold and dangerous choice of singing “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne. Although some notes are pretty, I feel like it sounds like a lot of head voice and rather affected. Simon, on the other hand, says it was brilliant and his easiest yes of the day. Kara says he may go to the top 12. I guess we will have to agree to disagree, but it is nice to see the kid maybe have a chance to make his parents proud after everything he put them through.

So, there you have it. Florida: criminals, strip club-inspired dancers, bizarre Jersey chicks that missed their exit on the turnpike and 31 contestants through to Hollywood. Next stop, L.A..

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El Chile and El Chilito playing musical chairs

By Matthew Odam | Thursday, January 14, 2010, 01:22 PM

You may remember that Manor Road stalwart El Chile opened an El Chilito taqueria at 918 Congress Avenue in June of last year. After a few months, the business model changed and the location became an El Chile, while El Chilito opened up at 1025 Barton Springs Road, a location that I speculated may possibly be cursed.

After failing to see their evening business grow, El Chile on Congress has now gone back to being El Chilito, while the El Chilito on Barton Springs will now be El Chile. Confused? You’re probably not the only one.

The El Chilito on Congress will serve the tourist and business crowds from 7AM to 2PM Monday through Friday and 8AM to 4PM on Saturday and Sunday. Maribel Rivero of El Chile tells me these times are subject to change.

The folks at El Chile say the changes come as a response to their clientele.

“After opening El Chile on Congress and El Chilito on Barton Springs, we found many of our Congress customers wanted breakfast tacos and quick lunch options that El Chilito could provide,” says Carlos Rivero, owner of both restaurants. “At the same time, our customers on Barton Springs, were interested in a more expanded menu with margaritas; something El Chile could deliver. We knew we could accommodate this best by swapping the locations.”

The “new” El Chile on Barton Springs will serve the same menu as the original location on Manor, but will have some reduced prices (as well as free margaritas while they work on their liquor license).

“We’ve seen a significant decrease in our food costs recently,” says Rivero. “I really felt compelled to pass those savings on to our customers as well.”

Additionally, El Chile will be offering a weekend brunch happy hour from 11 AM to 3 PM and an all night happy hour Sunday and Monday from 5 PM to close.

I think I can see the logic here. I live and work near the Barton Springs location and am much more likely to go to Izzo’s or another taco trailer down south to just grab a taco to go (at day or night), and if I want to sit down for dinner, I am more likely to hit up the Barton Springs location than go downtown. Of course, I am just as likely to go to Sazon or Azul Tequila for dinner, but that’s not the point.

Whether the “new” El Chilito in the old/new location downtown will work or whether El Chile is able to become the first restaurant at that Barton Springs location to find sustained success remains to be seen. Either way, nobody can say the restaurateurs didn’t try.

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Spoon’s Britt Daniel hates beards … or does he?

By Matthew Odam | Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 01:48 PM

As the band prepares for the release of its sixth album, “Transference” (Jan. 19 on Merge Records), not to mention upcoming shows here in Austin, the members discussed their history and durability.

From the article:

What does it mean to be Spoony? In New York to shoot a video, the band members gathered at a Lower East Side bar to explain the group’s longevity and place in the music spectrum. Or try to, anyway.

“When I joined the band, Britt would discourage anybody in the band from having a beard,” Mr. Harvey said. “He thought beards were not cool. Five years later everyone in a band has a beard.” Not Spoon. “So,” he concluded, “we can say Spoon is not beard rock.”

That quote led one cheeky Austinite to build a chuckle-worthy Tumblr page dedicated to the mythical, bearded Britt Daniel.

Image courtesy beardedbrittdaniel.tumblr.com

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Owen Wilson gets a ‘Pass’ from Farrelly brothers

By Matthew Odam | Monday, January 11, 2010, 12:08 PM

From The Hollywood Reporter:

The story centers on a married couple who find themselves in a lull in their marriage and just going through the motions. The wife then gives her husband (Wilson) a “hall pass,” a free ticket to engage in extramarital encounters. (Jason) Sudeikis would play the guy’s best friend, who also gets a free pass.

Pete Jones wrote the spec, which was rewritten by Kevin Barnett and Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the latter of whom are directing. The Farrellys are also producing with their Conundrum Entertainment partner Bradley Thomas.

The movie begins production Feb. 23 in Atlanta.

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Get a Which Wich sandwich for less than a dollar

By Matthew Odam | Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 11:46 AM

So, I hear this is so an hour ago, but, whatever. Sandwich shop Which Wich, which has 9 area locations, is offering sandwiches for 99 cents today. There is a limit of one sandwich per person, and if you want to splurge on the Wicked, that’s gonna run you $1.99. Check out the list of locations here and the menu here.

I would imagine the lines will be ridiculously long, so do the math on what your time is worth vs. the sandwich value.

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Gaddafi pays for Beyoncé to perform on NYE

By Matthew Odam | Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 03:01 PM

I guess, much like athletes, when anyone says it’s not about the money, you can guarantee that it is about the money. At least I would imagine that was Beyoncé’s thinking when she took an undisclosed sum from the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to play a New Year’s Eve bash at the Nikki Beach club on St. Barts.

Whoa, oh, oh … uh, oh oh …

According to the New York Post:

Beyoncé performed five songs in a sexy black leotard at the Nikki Beach club on St. Barts in front of a crowd that included her husband Jay-Z, Usher and Lindsay Lohan.

We couldn’t confirm how much Beyoncé was paid for the gig, but last year, Mariah Carey reportedly pocketed $1 million for performing at Nikki Beach.

Some vacationers on the island were aghast. DJ Sam Young tweeted: “Jigga [Jay-Z], Beyonce & Usher were @ Nikki Beach performing for Khadafy family, WTF?”

Just a week earlier, on Christmas Day, Hannibal, 33 — also known as Moutassim — allegedly attacked his wife, Aline Skaf, in his suite at Claridge’s in London. Three of his security staff were arrested for obstructing police. Skaf was reportedly hospitalized with a broken nose while Hannibal was whisked away in a diplomatic car.

In July 2008, he and his then-pregnant wife were arrested on charges of beating their servants in a Geneva hotel. They denied the charges, which were dropped after the servants received compensation.

Hannibal was also arrested in 2005 in a Paris hotel for allegedly punching Skaf. He then allegedly brandished a 9mm handgun and went on a furniture-smashing rampage in his hotel suite. No charges were brought.

Of course, maybe we’re just getting ahead of ourselves and there is nothing too scandalous going on here. After all, the U.S. did restore diplomatic relations with Libya in 2006 and last summer, the Daily Telegraph in the UK wrote, “In his four decades as Libya’s ‘Brother Leader’, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has gone from being the epitome of revolutionary chic to an eccentric statesman with entirely benign relations with the West.”

Read the full mention from NYPOST.COM here.

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Maybe iPhones are the problem and not AT&T

By Matthew Odam | Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 11:53 AM

After years of having reception problems with T-Mobile, I switched to AT&T about 18 months ago and was relatively happy with the change. I was experiencing fewer dropped calls and better reception. That is until I bought my first iPhone 3Gs about six months ago. The drops were returning, even from the comfort of my own home. Considering I had had serious problems with T-Mobile, I wasn’t quite ready to burn AT&T at the stake. But I kept hearing stories from fellow iPhone users that AT&T was the worst. Then the blitz of Verizon ads started flooding the airwaves, with their colorful maps showing the superiority of their network. And the anti-AT&T grumbling grew louder.

But near the end of last year, I read this story on The New York Times Web site. As it turns out, independent groups have studies that prove that AT&T actually has superior service, and maybe it is the beloved iPhone that is the problem.

Below is a bit of the post, with the takeaway being, “AT&T and Apple could both gain by swapping talent. Apple, send your marketing wizards to lend your partner a hand. It sorely needs help. AT&T, send some engineers to redesign the iPhone to make better use of the country’s fastest wireless network.”

Roger Entner, senior vice president for telecommunications research at Nielsen, said the iPhone’s “air interface,” the electronics in the phone that connect it to the cell towers, had shortcomings that “affect both voice and data.” He said that in the eyes of the consumer, “the iPhone has the nimbus of infallibility, ergo, it’s AT&T’s fault.” AT&T does not publicly defend itself because it will not criticize Apple under any circumstances, he said. AT&T and Apple both declined to comment on Mr. Entner’s assessments.

Neither AT&T nor Verizon was willing to reveal its internal data on performance. But Global Wireless Solutions, one of the third-party services that run network tests for the major carriers, shared some of its current findings. The service dispatches drivers across the country with phones and laptops equipped with data cards. They have covered more than three million miles of roads this year, while running almost two million wireless data sessions and placing more than three million voice calls, said Paul Carter, the president.

The results place AT&T’s data network not just on top, but well ahead of everyone else. “AT&T’s data throughput is 40 to 50 percent higher than the competition, including Verizon,” Mr. Carter said. AT&T is a client and Verizon is not, he added.

More evidence that AT&T’s data network is head-and-shoulders above Verizon’s comes from Root Wireless, a start-up in Bellevue, Wash., that is developing software for consumers to install on their smartphones to do continuous network tests. This generates empirical data for consumers who “today are buried under opinions and advertising slogans,” said Paul Griff, the chief executive. Root Wireless has no business relationship with any carrier.

This year, Root Wireless ran 4.7 million tests on smartphones for each of the four major carriers, spread across seven metropolitan areas: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles/Orange County, New York, Seattle/Tacoma, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington. In every market, AT&T had faster average download speeds and had signal strength of 75 percent or better more frequently than did Verizon. (A Verizon spokesman declined to comment about these test results or those of Global Wireless Solutions.)

I asked Ron Dicklin, chief technology officer at Root Wireless, how these results, showing AT&T as the clear leader, could be reconciled with the negative appraisal of Consumer Reports’ respondents. He explained that his company’s tests of AT&T’s data network were done with handsets other than the iPhone, which does not allow non-Apple programs like his to run in the background.

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