You might remember Hiram Monserrate. He was as one-half of the Democratic tag team that jumped ship to caucus with the Republicans in the State Senate and caused a stalemate that brought [...]]]> WIFE BEATER WEEKLY
News on Dudes who Commit Domestic Violence & the People that Pay Them

You might remember Hiram Monserrate. He was as one-half of the Democratic tag team that jumped ship to caucus with the Republicans in the State Senate and caused a stalemate that brought State government to its knees, and was put on trial after video showed him violently dragging and pushing his girlfriend out of their apartment after he allegedly slashed her in the face. Well, Hiram’s in the news again, but this time nobody’s being victimized…except, perhaps, for fans of fine cuisine! Monserrate, who was removed from the Senate last year in light of the allegations against him, is working at a pizza shop in Queens. He didn’t pound that dough, officer, it cut itself and he was just trying to get it some help!

Meanwhile, across the river, fellow knife-wielding maniac Charlie Sheen was taking a break from praising prostitutes and victimizing all other women by taking his “comedy” show to Radio City Music Hall. Shockingly, the crowd had the audacity to boo the man. Not even attacking film director Oliver Stone could turn the crowd back in his favor…and nobody likes Oliver Stone movies anymore.

—–

In all seriousness, boy oh boy. Glad to see these guys getting what’s coming to them, though I’m still a bit baffled as to why anyone would buy a ticket to see a manic drug addict ramble and spit out catchphrases, let alone one with such a terrible history of violence against women.

As I write this, I’m watching fights and packing for a weekend in New York City. Going to see some family members, non-related Marshalls, and my [...]]]>

"ME ON DRUG. IT CALLED SWEETUMS! WIN ING!"

Everyone else as burned out on Charlie Sheen as I am? Good. Because this week’s collection of links contain nary a single article related to his extended manic episode.

As I write this, I’m watching fights and packing for a weekend in New York City. Going to see some family members, non-related Marshalls, and my friend Brian and Marla that are like a brother and sister to me except they’re also a couple which makes it weird.

What?

Anyway, y’all hold it down here in the Capital Region and I’ll be back on Monday, when this blog will be relaunched under a new title and a new brand. That’s right! Get excited!

This week – A fighter with a heart gives a liver, bullies with bullhorns, booty in the Bible and more. This…is Blogorama.

——-

WE’RE YOUR SOURCE: This Week on the Times Union Blogs

Shannon Miller: a fighter recovers (Boxing in the Capital Region)

Garage to Glory II: Singer-Songwriter coming this April (Arts Talk)

Learning to forgive (High School Blog / Tobi Walsh)

Bullhorn Bullies (Libby Post)

The horse-drawn carriage (Animal Rights)

Booting booty from the Bible (Rev. Alan Rudnick)

Fighting Words (Ed Dague)

Are you squeezing more life out of your products? (Simpler Living)

The memoir project (Daniel Nester)

More amazingness is after the jump.

IN OUR AREA CODE

• WNYT’s Dan Bazile on his cameo in “The Adjustment Bureau” (All Over Albany)
• The Black Socks Scandal of 2011 (Keyboard Krumbs)
• Police: The Good Guys? (Albany Lawyer)

MEANWHILE, IN THE REST OF THE WORLD…

• The website for the film “Space Jam” is still active…and hasn’t been updated (OMG Facts)
• I want to be in a Celeb Twitter war (Tom the Blog, NY) @TomTheBlogNY Bring it on, bitch.
• Nine lives, set to music (We Who Are About to Die)
• A word on d-bags (Letters to You)
• Review: “The Illussionist” (Superheroes, Etc.)
• Liam Gallagher reviews “King of Limbs” (Stereogum) I wish I could say I disagree with him, but…
• The Easy Bake oven has cooked its last cupcake (Wendalicious)
• When athletes attack! (Jeff Pearlman)
• Why you should listen to the rap group Odd Future, even though it’s hard (NPR Music)

ART

• Where children sleep (Fubiz)
• Hengki Koentjoro (photography)
• Harmony at the Guangzhou Opera House (WebUrbanist)

MMA

• Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix delayed (Dave Meltzer) Here we go…
• Jon Fitch ties record for most strikes thrown in a single round (Fight Metric)
• Bellator signs top five featherweight Marlon Sando (MMAjunkie)
• Jorge Santiago signs with UFC, meets Brian Stann at UFC 130 (MMAjunkie)
• Brian Ebersole explains why he shaved his chest hair into the shape of an up arrow (MMAFighting.com)
• What’s next for Jon Fitch? (Fight Opinion)

Got links? Share ‘em.

—–

The last few days we’ve been inundated on television and through online outlets with various interviews with If you haven’t already, you can still enter to win two tickets to see “A Conversation with Steve Martin” at The Palace Theater. Contest runs through Thursday at 11:59pm.

—–

Sheen, who has more attention than ever, needs less of it.

The last few days we’ve been inundated on television and through online outlets with various interviews with Charlie Sheen, whose public self-destruction over the course of the last year has culminated in a spectacular manic episode.

The latest included him passing a blood and urine drug test over the weekend administered by the Radar Online. The urine test is limited but covers three days potentially, while the blood test surprisingly can only capture the previous twenty-four hours.

We all know the details: he’s living with a porn star and a “model,” he’s not bi-polar he’s bi-winning, the cancellation of the remainder of the current season of “Two and a Half Men,” the anti-semitic remarks, and so on and so forth.

What concerns me most of all is how much entertainment value we’re getting out of this. When I say we, I absolutely include myself in that. I’m riveted by the coverage, even while I’m privately condemning the interviewers for encouraging his delusions of grandeur by increasing his exposure and forums.

What makes it worse is that I’ve already seen this story play out and I know exactly how it ends. Needless to say, there’s no happily ever after. Yet I still find myself sitting here examining his ramblings and picking apart points where he contradicts himself, as if that’s any great exercise.  I find myself watching a slow-motion car crash, knowing full well that there are people inside that car. Except this is worse, because I find it amusing.

Perhaps, as the old Langston Hughes quote infers, we laugh to keep from crying. I just hope that he somehow defies expectations and somehow manages to see himself through to the other end of this thing.