I just heard that the Vegas strip Casino Caucuses will proceed. A lawsuit from the teachers union (backing Clinton) claimed that the special "at-large" caucus sites gave the Culinary Workers union (which is backing Obama) unfair advantage. Tori, the pole dancer, will be jumping and swinging for joy.
I was at the Culinary Workers headquarters on Monday (for a CBS Sunday Morning piece to air this weekend). It was pretty interesting listening to supervisors brief canvassers on how to pitch voters door-to-door.
I also missed the premiere of American Idol on Tuesday. But the subject gives me an excuse to post a picture of myself with my favorite contestant ever:
Look, everyone! It's me and Elliott Yamin. (Or is it "It's I and Elliott Yamin!"?) The fifth-season third-place finisher captured all our hearts with his Stevie Wonder suavity and dedication to his mother. A type-1 diabetic, 90% deaf in his right ear, and an admittedly lousy dancer, Elliott defied the odds to become a fan favorite. (When I lectured at Richmond, Virginia's Weinstein JCC two years ago -- it was Purim so I made my own hamantashen to give out -- I was hardly surprised by the reverence with which they spoke about their newest hometown hero.)
I had feared that getting his famously crooked teeth straightened might affect his singing voice adversely. The most minute changes can throw off the delicate balance of intangibles that add up to star quality. Were Elliott's teeth the equivalent of Streisand's nose? The imperfection at the heart of perfection?
I'm happy to report not. His voice still sounds great - and his new teeth are terrific, even if they're slightly oversized. Plus he's a really nice guy.
***
UPDATE: During the taping of Wait Wait, I had a splitting question. When I asked the live audience if anyone had a pain killer, two lovely women bounded up to the stage. One gave me two Aleves (my favorite); the other unzipped her plastic pill carrier and out spilled several brown pills, all different shapes. What were they?!
ALSO: Is anyone from Detroit, Milwaukee or Chicago reading? I think I might eat my first Paczki this year! Have you eaten one? What can I expect?
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 5)
31. paczki 1 greassy piece of dog krapppp.
hank bielec at 5:08PM on Jan 19th 2008
32. You really should eat a prune paczki. All the other varieties are just jelly doughnuts.
shundarr1 at 6:22PM on Jan 19th 2008
33. Yes, I have eaten Paczki....for many years, the day before Ash Wednesday. They can be compared to giant jelly donuts, except for the fact that they are at least 400 calories each....deep fried....my favorite is raspberry, but custard are yummy, as well. A bit of advice, if you have more than one....don't eat enything else for the rest of the day.....way too many calories...but oh, so good.
The best are from Hamtramck....or from authentic Polish bakery. The ones you get from the grocery store just don't compare.
Enjoy! Peg West Bloomfield, MI
peggz at 6:59PM on Jan 19th 2008
34. A true Paczki is a wonderful creation, a traditional Polish delight, the dough is heavy moist and flaky at the same time. Made with about 20 pounds of sugar and butter and Deep fried in lard, not some wimpy oil. The filling is like a jelly donut on steriods, then take the whole thing and put a glaze on it. About a pound each and 1400 to 1800 calories of the most unbelievable sugar rush you could ever eat.
Dalerfi at 7:23PM on Jan 19th 2008
35. Born and raised in the Detroit area..I would say you should atleast try a paczik. They are good, but a bit overrated. Just like a doughnut, but much heavier. Enjoy!
Kim at 8:46PM on Jan 19th 2008
36. Mo, if you like donuts, you'll LOVE paczki! The Polish-Americans know how to put on pounds fast. I would advise eating only one at a time, and slowly..enjoy!
Arbee at 9:31PM on Jan 19th 2008
37. Dear Mo, my late father-in-law made paczki (punch key) every year at Easter time. What a project!! When you took a bite um-um delish !!!We now buy them from a Polish market in Florida.Nothing as good as Daddy's
Linda Kubasiak at 9:59PM on Jan 19th 2008
38. I'm from Detroit, and Polish, and Paczkis are mighty good eating. Fry cakes, usually with a fruit filling in them, and dusted with confectioner's sugar. My personal favorite is prune, but others are o.k., too. Not figure-friendly, but tasty.
ciocia at 10:01PM on Jan 19th 2008
39. Hope you enjoyed the Paczki. Raspberry filled are my favorite :)
margo at 10:48PM on Jan 19th 2008
40. To comment on the Paczki (Polish doughnuts), I would imagine based on the Wikipedia entry that they would be similar to an American jelly doughnut, or perhaps more like a German "Berliner"--the official jelly-doughnut-like pastry of Berlin. Probably quite tasty. Hope Mo enjoys his Polish dougnut.
Emily at 6:24PM on Jan 20th 2008
41. Aw Mo,
Where has all the flour gone? Aha, now I know.
Quite possibly, one of the best places on Earth, other than the Island of Dr. Mo, was Polkabration at Ocean Beach in New London, CT.
Wish I could find some Ray Henry (he gave me my first accordion) or Dick Pillar, but I'll have to settle for the obvious:
http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bobby+Vinton+Melody+of+Love&search=Search
JG
John Giza at 1:03AM on Jan 20th 2008
42. Aw Mo,
Sorry for the bad link.
Moja droga ja cie kocham.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pHqXHTwDy40
JG
John Giza at 1:07AM on Jan 20th 2008
43. I'm from Detroit, and also a good Polish girl. I'll give you a tip about the paczki - LEAVE THE YELLOW ONES. NO ONE LIKES THEM! I recommend cutting a custard and a raspberry lengthwise and smooshing them together for the ultimate co-mingling. That is the best way, though admittedly, I haven't partaken in paczki in many years. Oh - and paczki is already plural. One is a paczek (pron. poon-chek). If you want to look like you're down, don't say paczkis. Hey, that might be important to you! Enjoy! And don't worry about that mystery film on the roof of your mouth afterward, that should go away after a couple days!
r. at 6:57AM on Jan 23rd 2008
44. Mo, it could be either me and Elliot Yamin OR Elliot Yamin and I. Anyway, no one really cares as long as we can understand it. As for your polish donuts in Chicago: I doubt they will be filled with the traditional rosebuds, fried and sugared, and sweet and delicious.
boredwell at 5:25AM on Jan 20th 2008
45. Hmm....paczkis look good.
Game Theory for Applied Economics Nerd at 9:14AM on Jan 20th 2008