All in the name

What a Dick (literally)

Sometimes, everything comes together. The perfect crime, the perfect response, the perfect mugshot, the perfect name and the perfect double entendre:

Naked Home Invader Nabbed After Senior Citizen Grabs His 'Cahoochies'

An 80-year old woman grabbed a naked man named Michael Dick by the crotch and gave him a good squeeze; police nabbed him a few minutes later.

PORTLAND, Ore.) - It seems some criminals have a problem of underestimating their victims. Police say that today at 6:30 AM, an 88-year old woman in her bathrobe was confronted by a naked man who had entered her home in the 2500 block of SE 287th Avenue through an unlocked sliding door.

Deputy Paul H. (Mac) McRedmond with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, says the man, saying nothing, backed her into the living room of the house and pushed her face down onto a chair.

"Before whatever plans the suspect might have had, the woman reached behind her and grabbed the man by the crotch, 'giving him a good squeeze', McRedmond said. (story here)

Thankfully, the victim is alright, just a little shaken up.

The only thing that would make this story better is if I found out if this perp is related to the biggest Dick I know.

Finally, let it be known from this day forward, any article that includes the word 'cahoochies' in the headline will earn a featured mention on morganobrien.com.


Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Hmmm...who does this remind me of?

In watching the trailer for Paul Blart: Mall Cop, I can't help but have flashbacks to my childhood roommate...

My Secret Crush: The Weather Machine

Heating up with a 100% chance of cuteness

Fox News has no shortage of attractive on-air talent; all day long it's a revolving door of platinum blondes pontificating about the day's politics. I'm relieved to know that I'm not alone in having a crush on Foxes foxes, I consider myself in good company with the likes of John Mayer who recently declared his feelings for daytime anchor Megyn Kelly (although it appears Mayer's doing ok for himself).

In addition to a pretty face, I'm a sucker for a winning personality and after careful review my heart belongs to weather lady extrordinaire, Janice Dean.


None Cuter

Being a meteorologist does not necessarily lend itself to being the bearer of good news (especially over the last few days), but even under cloudy skies, Janice is all sunshine and rainbows (Ed. Note: I can't believe I just wrote that).

In all seriousness, it's hard to tell if someone's true personality matches their on-air persona, and I imagine that in most cases it doesn't. That said, judging from her playful, self-effacing banter with her fellow on-air talent it's easy to imagine that the fun-loving sweetheart she plays in front of the weather map is akin to what she's really like.

In fact, a quick look at her blog, replete with pictures of her friends dogs, cute breaks and candid shots from the FoxNews holiday party (that are oddly, engrossingly voyeuristic albeit safe for work), reveals an inner blogger that's as cute as a pack of puppies under the Christmas tree.

A couple of interesting facts before signing off:

- Janice is Canadian...and married.
- So married that she is pregnant and due to give birth any moment (Note: That had no bearing on my ratings).
- She is living with MS, with which she came public with earlier this year

Kirtland: People are Strange

No one here gets out alive

I finally got around to watching the 1991 Oliver Stone pic The Doors over the weekend, and wanted to learn more about young Jim Morrison's time in New Mexico (where he had the transformational moment where he saw the Indian dying on the side of the road between Albuquerque and Santa Fe).

Much to my surprise, it turns out that Jim Morrison's dad, George, was Admiral George Morrison, who was one of the fastest movers in the history of the Navy to flag rank. And get this--Morrison was STATIONED AT KIRTLAND. I knew we should have had kids while we were stationed there.

George Morrison, the Times obituary tells us, was an instructor for secret nuclear-weapons projects in Albuquerque following World War II.

And that's how Albuquerque came to be the fleeting home of our own poete maudit -- not once, but twice.

Nearly 21 years ago, the Albuquerque Journal's own Toby Smith visited the Morrison's home at 8912 Candelaria NE (in an article titled "Jim Morrison Slept Here" in the Journal's now-defunct Impact magazine).

Jim Morrison lived in Albuquerque for two years, 1955 to 1957, when he was 12 to 14 years old, and he attended Monroe and Wilson middle schools, while his father was executive officer of the Naval Special Weapons Facility at Kirtland Air Force Base, according to Smith's sleuthing.

It was George Morrison's second stop in Albuquerque, the first time in the late `40s, and according to online biographical material, Jim Morrison was 4 or 5 years old when the family was here -- and it was here that his sister, Anne Robin, was born in 1947.
(More here, courtesy ABQ Journal)

Love cannot save you from your own fate

How freaking cool is that? I'm not even a Doors fan, but the cache tied to living mere blocks from one of the Lizard King's childhood homes is certainly not lost on me.

Unfortunately, it also turns out that Admiral Morrison past away last month, marking the passing of yet another member of the Greatest Generation and conquering heroes of World War II.

After taking part in operations in the Aleutians and the central Pacific, Mr. Morrison took flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and flew combat missions over Wake Island and Honshu, Japan, in the last year of World War II. After the war, he was an instructor for secret nuclear-weapons projects in Albuquerque. During the Korean War, he was assigned to the joint operations center in Seoul, earning a Bronze Star for his part in combat operations against North Korean and Chinese forces.

Mr. Morrison took command of the Bon Homme Richard in 1963 and in 1967 was promoted to the rank of rear admiral. In 1972 he became commander in chief of naval forces in the Marianas, which included some of the same islands he had bombed as a pilot during World War II, and where he organized relief efforts for nearly 100,000 Vietnamese refugees sent to Guam in 1975. It was an assignment he called the most satisfying of his career.

Rest in peace, Admiral.


Father of the Lizard King

Guilty Pleasures: Christian Sings the Blues Part III

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work). What follows is the third and final part of my piece spawned by Christian's candid answers to my goofy questions.


The triathlete in action

Part 1 here
Part 2 here

What follows are some of the interesting and quirky things I asked Christian that I wasn't able to fit into the rest of the piece. Most of them focus on his fitness regimen, a facet of his life he adheres to religiously.

On a personal note, Christian agreed to answer my questions site unseen and got back to me quickly in his typical, well-thought-out manner. He provided me honest responses; and while this is a very positive review, he never asked me to change anything, which I appreciate.

It’s hard to know whether a guy is good or not without ever meeting him, but at a minimum, Christian is as real to his readers behind the scenes as he is with his posts.

Christian at a Glance
How much can you bench press?

It’s been years but probably 350 or so. I do 6 sets—12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 reps and go up in weight from 225, 235, 245, 255, 265, AND 275

Favorite workout: Chest

Favorite discipline in the triathlon: The Bike

Advice would you give an aspiring triathlete? Don’t worry about being terrible at first; it makes the resulting workouts much more satisfying.

How do you improve upon triathlon transitions? T1 and T2 times are easy to improve on: run through all parts of the area and practice changing from swim to bike and bike to run.

Who are the five people—alive or dead—that you’d like to have dinner with?
Ivan the Terrible, George Washington, Thomas Edison, Larry Bird and Anna Nicole Smith.

(Ed. Note-I bet Ivan and George would flip when Christian pulled out his camera and started taking photos although Edison would find it enthralling. I bet these shots would drive up his hits immensely.)

Favorite Book: Too general, I have hundreds of books.

Favorite movie: Let’s go with a classic, Casablanca.

Who did you vote for: I don’t discuss my politics.

And the Cowboy State Makes 50 (plus Puerto Rico and DC)

With a scant few days remaining in 2008, Wyoming finally came through for me. After visiting my 50th state over Thanksgiving week, I've now returned the favor in a way, entertaining visitors from all 50 states.

Granted, I had to game the system a little bit to make it happen, when I admittedly highlighted FE Warren AFB's failing score in their most recent NSI (impressively broken before Warren leadership officially received their score by Michael Hoffman of the Air Force Times), but it wasn't that much of a stretch as I have covered the Air Force's nuclear foibles in recent months.

Anyway, God Bless America, and thanks for checking in!

Guilty Pleasures: Christian Sings The Blues, Part II

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work) what follows is the second of the three-part story spawned by Christian's candid answers. Part 1 here


Christian eats out virtually every day (and has pics to prove it!)

I was most fascinated to learn that Christian grew up in the military, the son of an accomplished Air Force colonel, and had lived all over the US, moving from New Jersey to Massachusetts to Texas.

“The commissary let me work there as a bagboy for tips at 14,” said the former military brat, referring his time working at the military supermarket on Lackland Air Force Base (Note 5). “I loved that summer because I actually made money and then spent it on books to read. Good Lord, I am a nerd.”


Pride: An Air Force brat with San Antonio roots

This nerdiness served Christian well, as he graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio with a degree in history. While at UTSA, the athletic actor walked on to the basketball squad, eventually turning this on-court experience into coaching gigs at University of the Incarnate Word, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and Brazoswood High School, where he was also a teacher (how freaking cool is that? Note 6).

The product of a Catholic upbringing in a conservative household, Christian has written about the concern he caused his parents with his life decision, most recently in a touching commemoration of his father’s 61st birthday in early December.

“I told my parents quickly, I wasn’t going to lie to them,” he said of his decision to join the industry. “I am an adult and I make my own decisions. I can’t control their reactions to me, so I wouldn’t attempt it.”

Regardless of people’s opinions (he calls us outsiders “civilians”) of the adult industry, it is readily apparent that Christian’s parents instilled within their son the core value of Excellence in All We Do. If form holds through this month, Christian will increase the number of annual scenes he’s performed for five years running. According to his Web site, in 2007 Christian performed 281 scenes, and was on pace to smash that for 2008, already surpassing last year's mark earlier this week. With an average of about $500 per scene, that’s a nifty six-figure annual salary (Note 7).

“If …anyone thinks that I was going to be miserable and have an honorable career while sinking into oppressive debt, as opposed to the ease of lifestyle I currently have and make four times the money, all of you are crazy,” he said. And with those numbers, it’s hard to argue with that kind of logic, especially in the current economic climate.

As for the future, Christian is focused on continuing to build upon his successful career. He currently has no plans to end up on the other side of the camera as a director, “unless it’s for a [point of view] series,” he joked, adding, “There is no retirement plan (Note 8). I don’t have a long-term plan except to save money and keep doing this for as long as I can. If for some reason I can no longer do this profession, I have enough of a nest egg to make the transition to another occupation without living on the street.”

This strong performance is a combination of Christian’s growing reputation in the industry (he has written that he considers himself among the top dozen or so male performers), the mainstreaming of adult entertainment (Note 9) and being comfortable in his own skin (and out of his clothes). And considering the massive popularity of his blog, what started earlier this year as “an experiment” certainly didn’t hurt Christian’s profile.

“It is going to be tough stopping on December 31,” said Christian. “I still am having second thoughts. I guess we will wait and see.”

In the interest of keeping Christian’s fingers typing, perhaps we can appeal to his weakness. Christian is a stat head: “What I am addicted to most of all is the affiliate program statistics. I love, love, love stats.”

So when you’re in the comfort of your own home (DEFINITELY NOT AT YOUR WORK COMPUTER), be sure to check out his site and contribute to his hits. Who knows—those hits might change his mind and inspire him to keep typing well into the New Year.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 3: Christian on the Hot Seat

Note 5: I am now afraid to think of why Mrs. Morganobrien.com was always so eager to shop at the commissary.

Note 6: There will be no post-porn classroom redux for Christian who reports that adult entertainers would not be welcome working with high school students, to say nothing of the five-year hole in his resume.

Note 7: And this does not include the more than $1,000 Christian has earned from affiliates that advertise on his site.

Note 8: According to Christian, the average life span of a male performer is about 10 years.

Note 9: Interestingly, the mainstreaming of the industry has had the counterintuitive effect of drawing more female talent in front of the camera, a trend not lost on Christian. “As a male, it hasn’t affected me much, but if I were a girl, I would be pissed,” he said. “There is now a huge explosion of new porn girls.”

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 12.17.08

My latest attempt to get Wyoming

As we approach the end of the year, Wyoming remains the lone holdout state to send a visitor to www.morganobrien.com. While the nuclear surety beat really doesn't generate hits, FE Warren's latest contribution to the Air Force's dismal nuclear 2008 gives me no choice but to hope that someone from the base finds this post and clicks on it. Here's hoping (not only that I get a visit from Wyoming, but that the Air Force figures out how to maintain our arsenal. I mean, who was in charge of this? Oh, right).

F.E. Warren missile wing fails nuke inspection
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 15:33:36 EST
The 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., will fail its Nuclear Surety Inspection that is set to end Wednesday because its maintenance group did not properly document tests on its missiles, an Air Force official said.

The 90th will be the second nuclear missile wing and at least the fifth nuclear unit known to fail its NSI this year. (link)

PS- Kudos to Michael Hoffman of the Air Force Times whose work on this issue would be Pulitzer-worthy if only he was tackling important issues...like the decline of newspapers.


Baldwin!
I love reading a Drudge headline announcing, "PTA Vice President Busted With 13-Year-Old In Back Of Fogged Up Car...," clicking the link and finding that it happened in my own backyard.

God Bless the South Shore of Nassau County, from Buttafucco to this lady, you never let me down!

Nassau Cops: PTA Mom, Boy Found Half Naked In Car
Police Come Across Fogged Up SUV On Elementary School Grounds In Baldwin; Residents Shocked, Horrified

Reporting
Jennifer McLogan BALDWIN, N.Y. (CBS) ―

A prominent PTA official is facing some serious allegations involving a teenage boy.

Police arrested (Redacted) after allegedly finding her in the backseat of a parked car with a 13-year-old boy on Friday night. Both of them, police said, were partially unclothed. (link)

I mean, come on...


Bad name, cute kid

Obviously the news loves this story, but this is one of those times where they should drop all objectivity. I'm all for the First Amendment, but you can't expect ShopRite to make this cake, and frankly I'm shocked that WalMart did.

The kid is adorable, though.

Supermarket defends itself over Adolf Hitler cake
Supermarket Refuses To Personalize Cake For Child Named ‘Adolf Hitler’

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A supermarket is defending itself for refusing to a write out 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell's name on his birthday cake. Deborah Campbell, 25, of nearby Hunterdon County, N.J., said she phoned in her order last week to the Greenwich ShopRite. When she told the bakery department she wanted her son's name spelled out, she was told to talk to a supervisor, who denied the request.

Karen Meleta, a ShopRite spokeswoman, said the store denied similar requests from the Campbells the last two years, including a request for a swastika.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Guilty Pleasures: Christian Sings the Blues

Christian--don't call him a star!

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work) and male adult film actor (don't you dare call him a 'star' Note 1)--what follows is the first of the three-part story spawned by Christian's candid (would you expect anything less?)answers.

Sadly, December 31 may mark the end to one of the most ambitious, honest, unique and fascinating blogs currently populating cyberspace.

By touching on issues ranging from the English Premier League to the care and feeding of hedgehogs to online gaming with World of Warcraft to the daily trials and tribulations of life in the porn industry—Christiansingstheblues.com (WARNING! about as not safe for work as things get Note 2 ) started as a passion project for male adult film actor Christian XXX on January 1, and has grown into an Internet phenomenon over the ensuing months, netting more than 2.5 million hits along the way.

“I didn’t have any set goals in mind except to put down on paper every day of my life for a year,” said Christian, whose blog was catapulted into the mainstream consciousness thanks to his omnipresent Sony Cybershot DSC-T300 camera and a chance encounter with ESPN personality Michael Wilbon and Playboy’s Girls Next Door, which Christian turned into a post that lead to his single highest daily hits total.

While most of us spend each day trying to balance our public and private personas—what we reveal to the public and what we keep behind closed doors—Christian has invited millions of visitors into some of his innermost thoughts—or as he bluntly describes it, “unvarnished bullshit.” His candor and self awareness make him the ideal candidate to serve as the adult industry’s blogger of record, while also reveal Christian as a thoughtful, thought-provoking writer in an imposing, bald 6’5", 235-pound package.

As a five-year veteran of the industry, Christian began in 2003 under the name Maxx Diesel, first performing in homosexual movies. After fulfilling his initial five-film contract, he moved to the heterosexual side of the industry where he has enjoyed remarkable success, often in the face of the industry’s ugly realities—female stars unwilling to perform with him—a topic he often faces head-on, through unfiltered (though well written) blog posts.

“I am 34, everything I do and have done in this business is because I want to do it,” he said. “I have never done anything that I have regretted. I have always been an open book; I don’t have many skeletons in my closet.”

I learned of Christian’s blog via Bill Simmons, a columnist on ESPN.com who unsuccessfully tried to enlist Christian into his ESPN-sponsored fantasy football league, an idea ultimately squashed by Bristol’s powers that be (Christian describes ESPN execs as “good people who obviously don’t like controversy”). I was quickly hooked.

While the title of the site is intended to be ironic Note 3, the genius of the blog is the blend of industry inside baseball (with no shortage of pictures, especially of the slightly older, blonde, enhanced starlets he very much enjoys sharing the screen with) and the fact that Christian’s posts reveal him to be a regular guy, living an intriguing lifestyle.

While his work in the adult industry catches your attention, almost equally entertaining are his various interests (Adult Film Actors: They're Just Like US!). He loves working out, putting in hours at a time on the various disciplines of the triathlon. He goes to dinner almost every night and photographs both the dishes he eats and those he dines with Note 4. He is a good father to his two pet hedgehogs, Ron Jeremy and Linda Lovelace (of course). He’s in a relationship, albeit deviating from the ‘typical guy’ motif in that he's dating the lovely porn vixen Phoenix Marie(NSFW). And he’s an unapologetic apologist of the Lone Star State, hailing female performers from Texas and lamenting the BCS (“absolute horseshit,” is how he describes it) for keeping his beloved Longhorns on the outside of the National Championship picture.

Tomorrow, Part 2: Find out what the 'AF' on his hat stands for!


PART II

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work) what follows is the second of the three-part story spawned by Christian's candid answers. Part 1 here


Christian eats out virtually every day (and has pics to prove it!)

I was most fascinated to learn that Christian grew up in the military, the son of an accomplished Air Force colonel, and had lived all over the US, moving from New Jersey to Massachusetts to Texas.

“The commissary let me work there as a bagboy for tips at 14,” said the former military brat, referring his time working at the military supermarket on Lackland Air Force Base (Note 5). “I loved that summer because I actually made money and then spent it on books to read. Good Lord, I am a nerd.”


Pride: An Air Force brat with San Antonio roots

This nerdiness served Christian well, as he graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio with a degree in history. While at UTSA, the athletic actor walked on to the basketball squad, eventually turning this on-court experience into coaching gigs at University of the Incarnate Word, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and Brazoswood High School, where he was also a teacher (how freaking cool is that? Note 6).

The product of a Catholic upbringing in a conservative household, Christian has written about the concern he caused his parents with his life decision, most recently in a touching commemoration of his father’s 61st birthday in early December.

“I told my parents quickly, I wasn’t going to lie to them,” he said of his decision to join the industry. “I am an adult and I make my own decisions. I can’t control their reactions to me, so I wouldn’t attempt it.”

Regardless of people’s opinions (he calls us outsiders “civilians”) of the adult industry, it is readily apparent that Christian’s parents instilled within their son the core value of Excellence in All We Do. Christian has increased the number of annual scenes he’s performed for five years running. According to his Web site, in 2007 Christian performed 281 scenes, and was on pace to smash that for 2008, already surpassing last year's mark earlier this week. With an average of about $500 per scene, that’s a nifty six-figure annual salary (Note 7).

“If …anyone thinks that I was going to be miserable and have an honorable career while sinking into oppressive debt, as opposed to the ease of lifestyle I currently have and make four times the money, all of you are crazy,” he said. And with those numbers, it’s hard to argue with that kind of logic, especially in the current economic climate.

As for the future, Christian is focused on continuing to build upon his successful career. He currently has no plans to end up on the other side of the camera as a director, “unless it’s for a [point of view] series,” he joked, adding, “There is no retirement plan (Note 8). I don’t have a long-term plan except to save money and keep doing this for as long as I can. If for some reason I can no longer do this profession, I have enough of a nest egg to make the transition to another occupation without living on the street.”

This strong performance is a combination of Christian’s growing reputation in the industry (he has written that he considers himself among the top dozen or so male performers), the mainstreaming of adult entertainment (Note 9) and being comfortable in his own skin (and out of his clothes). And considering the massive popularity of his blog, what started earlier this year as “an experiment” certainly didn’t hurt Christian’s profile.

“It is going to be tough stopping on December 31,” said Christian. “I still am having second thoughts. I guess we will wait and see.”

In the interest of keeping Christian’s fingers typing, perhaps we can appeal to his weakness. Christian is a stat head: “What I am addicted to most of all is the affiliate program statistics. I love, love, love stats.”

So when you’re in the comfort of your own home (DEFINITELY NOT AT YOUR WORK COMPUTER), be sure to check out his site and contribute to his hits. Who knows—those hits might change his mind and inspire him to keep typing well into the New Year.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 3: Christian on the Hot Seat

Part III

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work). What follows is the third and final part of my piece spawned by Christian's candid answers to my goofy questions.


The triathlete in action

Part 1 here
Part 2 here

What follows are some of the interesting and quirky things I asked Christian that I wasn't able to fit into the rest of the piece. Most of them focus on his fitness regimen, a facet of his life he adheres to religiously.

On a personal note, Christian agreed to answer my questions site unseen and got back to me quickly in his typical, well-thought-out manner. He provided me honest responses; and while this is a very positive review, he never asked me to change anything, which I appreciate.

It’s hard to know whether a guy is good or not without ever meeting him, but at a minimum, Christian is as real to his readers behind the scenes as he is with his posts.

Christian at a Glance
How much can you bench press?

It’s been years but probably 350 or so. I do 6 sets—12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 reps and go up in weight from 225, 235, 245, 255, 265, AND 275

Favorite workout: Chest

Favorite discipline in the triathlon: The Bike

Advice would you give an aspiring triathlete? Don’t worry about being terrible at first; it makes the resulting workouts much more satisfying.

How do you improve upon triathlon transitions? T1 and T2 times are easy to improve on: run through all parts of the area and practice changing from swim to bike and bike to run.

Who are the five people—alive or dead—that you’d like to have dinner with?
Ivan the Terrible, George Washington, Thomas Edison, Larry Bird and Anna Nicole Smith.

(Ed. Note-I bet Ivan and George would flip when Christian pulled out his camera and started taking photos although Edison would find it enthralling. I bet these shots would drive up his hits immensely.)

Favorite Book: Too general, I have hundreds of books.

Favorite movie: Let’s go with a classic, Casablanca.

Who did you vote for: I don’t discuss my politics.

Note 1 According to Christian, there are no male ‘stars’ in the female-driven porn industry. “Any dude who tells you he is a "porn star" has an out of control ego and is to be considered a super douche,” says Christian.

Note 2 About the only thing I don’t like about the site are the sidebar ads feature adult performers engaged in their craft. This makes it a tough site to check in the airport or on the Long Island Railroad.

Note 3 The name of the site is a little joke: 'Christian sings the blues,'” he told AVN.com, “I complain about my life where I get laid every day and make good money and only work about four hours."

Note 4 When pressed to estimate how much he spent dining out this year, Christian passed, “I don’t even want to attempt to guess for fear of getting depressed,” he said.

Note 5: I am now afraid to think of why Mrs. Morganobrien.com was always so eager to shop at the commissary.

Note 6: There will be no post-porn classroom redux for Christian who reports that adult entertainers would not be welcome working with high school students, to say nothing of the five-year hole in his resume.

Note 7: And this does not include the more than $1,000 Christian has earned from affiliates that advertise on his site.

Note 8: According to Christian, the average life span of a male performer is about 10 years.

Note 9: Interestingly, the mainstreaming of the industry has had the counterintuitive effect of drawing more female talent in front of the camera, a trend not lost on Christian. “As a male, it hasn’t affected me much, but if I were a girl, I would be pissed,” he said. “There is now a huge explosion of new porn girls.”

North Dakota in the News (Update!)

With news out of the Land of Lincoln showing that Chicago politics are as crooked as the day is long, Illinois must be America's most corrupt state, right?

Wrong. Illinois only checks in at number 18 according to a USAToday investigation of Department of Justice statistics.

And guess who's the most corrupt--that's right, North Dakota:

North Dakota tops analysis of corruption
By John Fritze, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Its largest city is legendary for machine-style politics and its elected leaders have been under investigation for years, but by one measure, Illinois is not even close to the nation's most-corrupt state.

North Dakota, it turns out, may hold that distinction instead. (continued)

A statue of "Honest John" Burke, governor from 1907 to 1913, stands in front of the North Dakota's state capitol building in Bismarck. North Dakota had the highest rate of public corruption convictions won by federal prosecutors from 1998 through 2007. (From USAToday)

When you consider this along with all the recent craziness at Minot, maybe there is something in the water up on the Northern Frontier. Or maybe they're just on top of their game in the Peace Garden State.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 12.13.08

My new favorite military vegetarian



Apparently, PETA hosted a contest to honor the military's sexiest vegetarians and recently announced the winners. I'd like to take this opportunity to send my most sincere congratulations to the Air Force's representative:

* Air Force 2nd Lt. Gina Lewis, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., has been a vegetarian since she was 6, when she said she realized that Bambi and his mother were no different from other animals killed for food. The former model has completed four marathons since entering the Air Force, proving wrong those who told her she wouldn’t be able to maintain her vegetarian lifestyle in the military. She has cared for rescue animals at every duty assignment, and hopes to convince the Air Force to switch to leather-free combat boots.

Commercial Contest
I must figure out a way to get in on this:

12/9/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Senior leaders are asking Airmen to get behind the camera and submit a video for the next Air Force advertising campaign. The contest has begun and runs until Jan. 9.

Airmen are encouraged to create a video depicting what their unit or they do to support the Air Force mission, as well as highlight why people should join the Air Force. The videos potentially will be used for the next recruiting and retention advertising campaign, according to Keith Lebling, the contest manager. (continued)

I'm going to mess around with my flip camera one of these days, and I promise to create something worthy of entrance into said contest.

Air Force Combatives


Mrs. Morganobrien.com takes no prisoners!

Great. Just after I get out of the service, the Air Force introduces combatives (link). Now I'm not saying there weren't a few guys that would have roughed me up pretty good, but I can think of at least one dude I would have loved to meet in the octagon. Unfortunately, I'm sure the wuss would fake a knee injury and then brag about getting a 100 on a modified PT test.

Oh, and Carson Smith (read this crap) deserves a beating, too. Although, as I write this, I realize that I have know idea how big Mr. Smith is. But for beating a defenseless rat terrier to death with a golf club, I think even he realizes that he deserves to be cut down to size by someone bigger than him.

PS-I bet Mrs. Morganobrien.com could hold her own in the octagon.

MMA = not for the faint of heart

...and speaking of combatives, after my sign off, check out these badass videos from the world of MMA (courtesy of Deadspin)


As always, With my greatest respect
xOxO
Morgan




Feets don't fail me now!



You don't know how long I've been waiting to do that!

First women at Air Force Academy honored

Gen. Gabreski is an incredibly impressive, accomplished officer. The article below shows that she began her career doing great things for women in uniform from the time she was a second lieutenant and hasn't stopped busting boundaries since.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — History shows that the first women to enter the Air Force Academy arrived in the summer of 1976.

And history is wrong.

Months earlier, in a little-known chapter of Air Force lore, a dozen pioneering women, already officers, endured the hardships the first female cadets would soon face and kicked open the doors for women at the service academy.

“It laid the groundwork for what women now do as a routine part of our Air Force mission,” said Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski, one of the dozen second lieutenants recruited as “air training officers.”

LINK

Here's hoping her return to the Academy reminded her of her role as an example for women in uniform and the challenges they still face in a male-dominated culture. Thankfully, in spite of these challenges, she's well positioned to do so both system-wide and especially within her own command.

After all, 32 years wasn't that long ago; and present challenges show we still have a long way to go:

They were also the first to face the ingrained sexism at the Air Force Academy.

“We took a lot of heat,” said Gabreski, who now serves as vice commander of Air Force Material Command.

North Dakota in the News

For a variety of reasons we are not at liberty to discuss, events in the Peace Garden State catch the eye of Morganobrien.com from time to time. This weekend, two pieces caught our eye:

The first was written by a member of the extended Chaminade alumni family network and long-time Morganobrien.com favorite, Maj. Patricia Traynor. Minot Air Force Base has seen a number of military dignitaries visit it's hallowed grounds.

(In other Magic City-related news, pop star Fergie was also spotted working out in town on Thanksgiving. Apparently visiting beau Josh Duhamel's family. Seriously).

Deterrence is not a fading concept, CSAF says

by Maj. Patricia Traynor
5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/6/2008 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz reminded community members and North Dakota's senior elected representatives at a luncheon here Dec. 1 that "deterrence is not a fading concept."

(link)

And while North Dakota is often the butt of numerous jokes, look who's getting the last laugh:

A Placid North Dakota Asks, Recession? What Recession?
By MONICA DAVEY
Published: December 6, 2008
Surging oil production, a good year for farmers and a conservative culture have shielded the state.
FARGO, N.D. — As the rest of the nation sinks into a 12th grim month of recession, this state, at least up until now, has been quietly reveling in a picture so different that it might well be on another planet.

A slow afternoon at the Fargo branch of Job Service North Dakota, where the state employees outnumbered the job seekers.

The number of new cars sold statewide was 27 percent higher this year than last, state records through November showed. North Dakota’s foreclosure rate was minuscule, among the lowest in the country. Many homes have still been gaining modestly in value, and, here in Fargo, construction workers can be found on any given day hammering away on a new downtown condominium complex, complete with a $540,000 penthouse (still unsold, but with a steady stream of lookers).
(link)

Oh, and the best part of the article...

Katie Hasbargen, a spokeswoman for Microsoft’s Fargo campus, which is in the middle of a $70 million or so building expansion and is, even now, looking for a few additions to its work force (of more than 1,500), said false perceptions of the state are the problem when it comes to recruiting workers. “The movie,” Ms. Hasbargen said, referring to the 1996 Coen brothers’ film that bears this city’s name, “didn’t do us a lot of favors.”

IAVA-Ad Council "Thank a Veteran" Commercial

I just really dig this commercial:

Army-Navy Game Uniforms by Nike (football)

While a tough Navy team shellacked the Black Knights of the Hudson 34-0 in Philadelphia today, the highlight of the game were the Nike-designed uniforms sported by both squads.


Some folks are banging on them, but I think they're fun and pretty sharp (here's the release):

Nike Launches New Army and Navy Football “Enforcer” Uniforms

Next Evolution of Lightweight Football Uniforms to Make Its Debut on Field During Classic Football Matchup

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nike (NYSE:NKE) will debut its new “Enforcer” football uniforms this weekend as one of college football’s most storied rivalries enters into its 109th meeting. The new uniforms, which will be seen for the first time during the Army vs. Navy football game, were developed as the next evolution of Nike’s shrink wrap uniform with high performance materials that will help the athletes perform at their highest standard.



The Nike “Enforcer” uniforms designed for the Army and Navy squads are lightweight, breathable and more form-fitting, enabling superior field performance. The uniforms provide greater moisture management and reduction of grab points while also incorporating inspiration from two of the nation’s military units in its design.

I had a tough time finding many good pictures tonight, but here are the baddest of the bunch:




I always thought it would have been great to have Nike design our PT gear, instead of the sub-par stuff they foist upon us (by the Air Force especially, great job Moseley):



Beyond actually fitting, Nike-designed workout gear--instead of Lighthouse for the Blind or whoever had the contract--would have a shelf-life that extended outside the base and act as a promotional tool. Getting non-military folks to wear Air Force-inspired clothing is a coup, it promotes the service and get this--people would pay for the right to do so!

It should be noted that there's a precedence here, Brooks Brothers designs some of Navy's dress uniforms and Teddy Roosevelt wore Brooks Brothers military uniforms. Oh, and I should also mention that when you let the government design uniforms, this can happen:



Action shots from AP: (link)

All too real AF photoshop from this awesome collection: (link)

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO, College Edition

BCS News
I'm rooting for Florida this weekend, but I hope my man (and fellow Oct. birthday boy) John Parker Wilson does well. I'm trying to emulate his haircut...

In the Big XII, I have ties to Texas (as reported here) and think they're getting kind of screwed. I'd love to see Chase Daniel come up big and lead Mizzou to an upset.

Finally, Ohio State shouldn't be in a BCS bowl. Let Boise State play (at least they know how to win in the BCS)! Heck Boise should at least play Ball State--it's a shame that won't work out.

Awesome West Point stunt:


Go Army,Beat Navy

UNC Hates Jeeeeezuuz

As a Yankee down South, I quickly realized that my fervent Catholicism stood no match for the rapid Christianity wrought by residents of the Bible Belt. And for that, I can't imagine this new policy will last long:

UNC libraries to forgo Christmas trees
Chapel Hill library chief says staffers complained about the display.
By Eric Ferreri
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.

CHAPEL HILL For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC Chapel Hill's two main libraries.

Not this year.

The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the associate provost for university libraries.
more

That said, Christmas trees are not religious symbols--at least not Christian religious symbols--and it should be noted that Christmas is both a state and federal holiday.

Carolina's new chancellor and fellow Maui Invitational attendee Holden Thorpe chimed in, although not very convincingly:

I understand that the Library staff made the decision not to put up a Christmas tree this year after giving it a lot of thought. The university administration doesn’t get involved in decisions like that. Departments can choose to put up a tree or not. And if you take a walk across campus, I think you’ll see that. The façade of Memorial Hall, our major performing venue, is fully decorated for the holiday, and The Nutcracker is its major December attraction. Student Stores is like any retailer this time of year. They have a tree decorated with Carolina ornaments in the window and, in the store, there is a mantle decorated with Carolina stockings. The Student Activities Fund Office has a Christmas tree in its window. There’s a big Christmas wreath with a Carolina-blue ribbon on it in the Student Union. Our own Carolina Inn is again featuring its Twelve Days of Christmas displays throughout the hotel. And just as we have for the last 59 years, our Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is featuring The Star of Bethlehem.

So Christmas is recognized on this campus.

Thanks for your interest in Carolina, and have a joyous Christmas season.

Holden Thorp

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO 12.04.08

Doug Larsen with a photo of himself and Ronnie Winchester, left. Winchester, a Marine, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Neat article in today's NY Times about two of my classmates.

For those who don't know me, I'm proud as hell of my alma mater, and think that being a Chaminade man means a whole hell of a lot--a point underscored when you recoginze how we answer our nation's call to service, and the unmatched commitment to our country. The Marianists mean so much to so many, and the values they consistently instill upon generations of young men is commendable.

When I caught the ND-Navy game a few weeks ago, it was hard to root against Navy, because you respect each and every one of the Middies, and the same would be true of West Point. I probably would root against USAFA.

I'll be watching Saturday:

In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
Marc Steiner for The New York Times
In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — As Army renews its college football rivalry with Navy for the 109th time Saturday in Philadelphia, Doug Larsen’s mind will surely drift back to the game in 2000.

That was when he looked across the line of scrimmage and saw his friend Ronnie Winchester. They were like brothers, having met as freshmen at Chaminade High School, an all-boys Catholic school in Mineola, N.Y., on Long Island. But for a few hours on that day eight years ago in Baltimore, they were rivals, and loving every minute of it.

continued...

Great call on Bob Gates
Morganobrien.com supports president-elect Obama's choice of Bob Gates to stay on as SecDef. We're huge fans of Gates, and think it's a great move for our troops in the field.

During a busy week, Gates also found time to visit the megalopolis of Minot, N.D. Morganobrien.com's spies were not available to gather intel, but Time did a nice write-up:

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had his famous rules, a written roster of commands about how to deal with Washington, including such pearls as "It is easier to get into something than to get out of it." Robert Gates — his successor in the Bush Administration and, as of this week, the Obama Administration — doesn't have a list of rules. Those who only see his serious pronouncements about the nation's wars might even get the impression that Gates doesn't have a personality.

But confidants say Gates can be a funny guy who specializes in punch line humor inspired by Bill Cosby, Sam Kinison and W.C. Fields. After leaving the CIA following a 26-year career, Gates spent more than a decade giving speeches and honing his delivery. On Monday, after being tapped by Barack Obama to continue managing the nation's two wars, Gates jetted to Minot, N.D., to become the first Defense Secretary ever to visit the airmen at the missile base there. "It's always great to be out of Washington, D.C. — the only city in the world where you can see a prominent person walking down lovers' lane holding his own hand," he quipped.

And while we're at it, we're huge fans of Gov. Richardson and appointing Gen. Jones as the NSA was a killer move, too. (As a matter of policy, morganobrien.com does not comment on our chains of command, unless they're in a good video with Jay-Z).


Farewell to Heroes
We lost two Doolittle Raiders this week (story here).

If I were more enterprising, I'd work on a piece about these American Heroes. Here's the Wikipedia entry for more information: (link)

Backhanded Compliment/Unfortunate Quote of the Week


Hey, Big Spender!
Former Air Force Secretary Verne Orr left us this week. I don't know much about Sec. Orr, nor could I say that I even knew who he was until I read the article.

I did find Sec. Donley's quote very interesting--let me know if I'm being hypersensitive:

"Former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr was a leader and a professional committed to the United States Air Force and our nation during a crucial period of change," said current Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Although he served during a time of increased defense spending and modernization, (emphaisis mine) he will be remembered most for his deep commitment to our Airmen and their families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one."

OK, I get it, we're trying to be responsible nowadays about defense spending, but why even mention that? I thought rule #1 in Air Force obituaries was to never use the word, 'Although' to begin a sentence.

You know, we did win the Cold War on the heels of his tenure, so one could argue that the spending was worthwhile...just sayin'

As always,
With my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Oceanside Bank Robber: Find this guy

Man, Long Island's letting me down lately. After those animals committed unforgivable brutality at the Valley Stream Wal Mart (who knew we even had one?), now we have to deal with bank robbers in my beloved hometown of Oceanside, which, for the record is not beside the ocean.

This sounds like a case we might need to farm out to the Fairfax County PD and bring in the big guns, if you know what I mean.

Cops seek would-be robber of Oceanside bank
From Newsday
Police are searching for a man who tried to rob an Oceanside bank Tuesday but fled when the teller refused to accept his note.

The description of the would-be robber of the HSBC Bank at 3544 Long Beach Rd. matches the description of an individual who has committed three bank robberies and attempted one other since late October, Nassau police said Wednesday.

A black male, 27 to 30 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing a blue baseball cap with white lettering and a blue hooded jacket, entered the HSBC branch at 1 p.m. and tried to pass a folded note to a teller, detectives said.

The teller refused to take the note, so the suspect grabbed the note and left the bank on foot, heading north on Long Beach Road, detectives said.

Police request that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. Callers will remain anonymous.

NY Times on White Russians

I just thought this was an awesome article, and felt compelled to share--I love the fact that this was in the dining and wine section:

White Russians Arise, This Time at a Bowling Alley
By STEVEN KURUTZ
Published: December 3, 2008
The White Russian, a sweet cocktail made with vodka, Kahlúa and cream or milk, is seeing a renaissance thanks in large part to the cult following of “The Big Lebowski.”

more

Oh, yeah, I gotta try this:

...a variation [is] called the White Trash Russian. “You take a bottle of Yoo-hoo,” Mr. Russell said, “drink half, then fill it with vodka and enjoy.”

And for the record, here's the recipe:

White Russian
Adapted from Dale DeGroff

Time: 5 minutes

1 ounce coffee liqueur
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounces heavy cream.

Scoop a big handful of ice into a shaker, add all ingredients and shake well. Strain and serve in an old-fashioned glass.

Yield: one cocktail.

Variations: Substitute brandy for the vodka and the drink is called a Dirty White Mother. Substituting brandy for the vodka and milk for the cream results in a Separator.

Bro. Jimmys + Bacardi = Flaming Good Time

I'll always remember the Bro. Jimmy's on Amsterdam Ave. as the place I watched the Tar Heels capture the national championship. That same night, I met Paul O'Neill. I could have died on the way home and been fulfilled.

I now watch the Heels play at the Bro. Jimmy's by Penn Station, and pre-gamed there before I caught Kid Rock and Skynyrd at the Garden.

Unfortunately, not everyone will share these positive memories about the bar:

Torched woman sues after stunt at Brother Jimmy's turns horrific
BY JOSE MARTINEZ
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, November 20th 2008, 8:59 PM

A Manhattan woman who went up in flames to "Great Balls of Fire" when a bartender lit a match to 151-proof booze is firing back in court.

Lauren Sclafani is suing the owners of the Brother Jimmy's chain of barbecue restaurants after she suffered second- and third-degree burns in March in a fiery stunt gone bad.

"I was just about to leave when they decided to light the bar on fire," Sclafani said. "The next thing I know, I am on fire."

Sclafani and a friend were at the Brother Jimmy's on Amsterdam Ave. when the bar was doused in Bacardi 151 rum and lit on fire while the classic Jerry Lee Lewis tune played.

Her suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, charges the bottle of booze exploded, shooting flames that engulfed Sclafani's face, arms and arms.

"It's like lighting gasoline," said her lawyer, Thomas Moore. LINK

Notes from the Aloha State

Making a splash on the islands
While we didn't file last week, we were in no shortage of interesting topics generating from paradise. For instance. I read the following article in USA Today, and have to admit that Mrs. Morganobrien and I did some searching for Punahou High School while we were in Oahu:


Barry in his Punahou days

Hawaii's latest lure: Obama tourism?

By Herbert A. Sample, Associated Press Writer
HONOLULU — It happened to Plains, when Jimmy Carter became president and a tiny hamlet in western Georgia became famous as the hometown of a certain peanut farmer.
It happened to Crawford, Texas, when George Bush took the White House and the town closest to his getaway central Texas ranch blossomed with tourists and the businesses that catered to them.

But Honolulu, which already lures millions of tourists each year, is only beginning to see development of tourism tied to Barack Obama, the Hawaii native son who becomes the 44th president of the United States in January.

And I have to admit, I'm pissed I didn't make this flight and I'm now convinced that there's nothing Tyler is incapable of:


When a hero comes along, have the strength to carry on

Hansbrough, Thompson aid ill passenger on flight
The Associated Press
Published: December 1, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.: North Carolina forward Deon Thompson won't soon forget the top-ranked Tar Heels' flight home from the Maui Invitational.

Thompson, reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough and team video coordinator Eric Hoots helped carry an unconscious passenger to the airplane's galley where paramedics treated him before the flight home on Thanksgiving Day. Thompson, a 6-foot-8 junior, called it a scary moment.

After last week, I can now proudly announce that I've visited all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. And I'm not even thirty although it is creeping up.

Unfortunately, I've yet to get a hit from Wyoming, the lone holdout as I strive to get hits from all fifty states. Do I have to write about FE Warren to make it happen? Dick Cheney? Yellowstone? What gives?

Regardless, God Bless America.

Free Mango

After a week recharging the batteries, morganobrien.com returns ready to serve. Unfortunately, our first post back details the disheartening news of a dognapping:

Help Find Missing Key Lime Pie Pup
Steve Tarpin, who runs Steve's Key Lime Pies in Brooklyn, has been looking for his missing dog since Saturday. Mango, a Jack Russell terrier, was last seen outside Jake's BBQ and the B-61 Bar, at the corner of Degraw and Columbia Streets in Red Hook, where he often sat, greeting other dogs and customers--more details here. Tarpin tells the Post, "Absolutely someone took him. He would never walk away with anyone. Even if they were dragging a T-bone behind them he wouldn't go." He adds on his website, "If indeed some nefarious naerdowell did scoop him off, I am asking the good people of Brooklyn to assist in returning Mango to his rightful home and his rightful routine with our family and friends, including his 32 children, his partner Mammey and us."

MANGO ALERT
Someone absconded with our trusty sidekick Mango on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at aproxamently 7:00 PM from in front of Jake's BBQ and the B-61 Bar, corner of Degraw and Columbia streets. For the past few years, Mango has hung out at that corner, greeting passing dogs in his venerable fashion, entertaining those of us who have come to know him, greeting customers of Alma and B-61 (sometimes laying on the doormat inside the entrance). In his many years of untethered freedom, he has lived as good a life as a dog could.

Be sure to check back for updates. Rest assurred, Morganobrien.com will not rest until Mango is found.