One of General Counsel’s pet peeves is drunk driving. I despise drunks who get behind the wheel. It’d be a lie to say I’ve never had one (or 5) too many and cruised the backroads home. But that was when I was a naïve, young lad, and before I had a law license to protect. Unfortunately, ye olde drunke driving has become somewhat of an epidemic on the scenic roadways of Long Island, particularly Nassau County.  So, General Counsel is going to make it his business to bring you all of the news that's fit to print about his home county's campaign to not only jail, but embarrass each and every drunk driver.

[Photo: Gothamist]

Here's a little back story:  the Nassau County’s District Attorney, Kathleen Rice (who is completely doable, in that she’s older, authoritative and probably likes it in the pooper) and Nassau County Executive/greasy sleazeball Thomas Souzzi have unveiled the best thing since busty milf porn, the Nassau County DWI Wall of Shame. The “Wall of Shame” posts the mug shots, names and hometowns of all persons arrested in Nassau County on the charge of Driving While Intoxicated.  And, remember all persons are innocent until proven guilty. 

This “Wall of Shame” has provided General Counsel’s office hours upon hours of entertainment. The mug shots are priceless. It’s a shock that these mongoloids even have driver’s licenses. Unfortunately, there aren’t many shirtless “Cops” esque mug shot on the “Wall of Shame.” However, the spoiled, rich, upper middle class women in their mid-20s on the verge of tears, because Daddy couldn’t bail them out totally makes up for it. A major bonus was seeing a girl I almost took to the senior prom. I swear I don’t have any residual issues from my teenage years. 

Much press has been given to the program on the pages of the hallowed paper of record for Long Island, Newsday. Some are crying foul over the publication of names and mug shots. Some think it will deter future drunks from getting behind the wheel after a few too many. Personally, I’m just enjoying the hard-hitting journalism. My favorite is an article from late May, in which Gianna Vigliotti (probably a Yankees fan) claims the whole DWI arrest was one big mistake. See she hadn’t been drinking, just making out with a boy who was drunk, thus causing her to drive erratically, and blow a .15 on the breathalyzer, nearly twice the legal limit. Nevermind the slurred speech, four empty beer bottles under the passenger seat, and wait for it…the empty beer can in her purse. How much do you want to bet she was coming home from the Crazy Donkey (or as the locals call it Da Donkey 1)?

Stay classy Long Island!

This Thursday at 10am, Christie's is set to go forward with an auction that would make over 320 items previously belonging to James Brown available for purchase.  Among the items are stage suits, handwritten lyrics, and numerous musical instruments.
 
Due to the continuing feud over the Godfather of Soul's estate, however, it is not clear if the auction will happen as scheduled.  Christie's says it is confident the sale will be held on schedule, according to the New York Times. The fight between the two former business managers and the trustees of Brown's estate has escalated since his death in December 2006, most recently resulting in a decision by a South Carolina judge to issue an emergency stay for Thursday's sale.
 
Personally, although we'd love to own a bedazzled blue velvet suit profusely sweated in by the man himself, the estimated selling price of $15,000 is a little steep for us.  Fortunately, the items will be on display at 20 Rockefeller Plaza (49th St. @ 6th Ave.) through Thursday. Go here for a virtual tour of the items and more information.

I do my best to make the rounds at as many NYC bars as I possibly can, and over the course of my travels, I plan on reporting back to you.  So, without further ado, here's what my Saturday night was like:

I was fourteen and fat. I had a handful of friends, and they were the best friends in the world.

My twin sister, Rebecca, went to an all girls prep school, which was a great advantage to me. She knew a plethora of girls that never saw boys, and if they did, they still were not sure what to do or say around them. It worked out beautifully. In some ways, it still does.

Hiding in the woods covered in sweat and vomit was when I began to hate drinking. The school security guard jogged up the trail behind my high school, yelling for me to come out. Like some bad thrasher movie, I drunkenly knocked over a branch and his head snapped in my direction. Barely eighteen, with 2 weeks left of my senior year, I did what any not so juvenile delinquent would do, I ran.

I mean, it’s a fair question. This here blog’s my best shot at a straight answer. We’ll start with what I ask all of the musicians and guests here on the show.

Name: Allan Delgado

Occupation: Bartender