Update on the story reported by Agent Courtney and Captain Glitter Biscuit: National Guardsman Optimus Prime, firefighter and Transformers fan extraordinaire, now has a website and a weblog.
Agent PerfectChild is rallying anti-warchests world-wide to take a stand for peace, love, and global understanding. For more information about how you and the girls can get involved, go to the Twins for Peace Project and help rack up the resistance to war.
While this questionable war and the sad state of American democracy has had fans of Leisure everywhere feeling out of sorts and ready to flee, this American soldier provides faith in humanity's commitment to Leisure! A man whose very life, nay, his name, has been "transformed" by Leisure, his story will touch in the way that only local news can. We salute you, Optimus Prime, and wish you a safe and speedy return to Ohio. If you were not saddened by the terrible cost of this war already, Optimus' story will surely convince you that there are far better activities for the nation to be engaging in. And, many of then involve toys. The full story can be found here.
Millions of years ago, Optimus Prime started as Orion Pax, a worker Autobot. He was destroyed by Megatron (the first Decepticon) in one of Megatron's energy raids. Fortunately, The Aerialbots were thrown back in time to that point and they saved Orion by bringing him to Alpha Trion, who rebuilt Orion into a member of Ohio's 5694th National Guard Unit in Mansfield, Ohio.
For some of us, the name Optimus Prime calls to mind this strapping fellow:
However, if you are a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Optimus Prime may make you think of someone a little different:
WKYC in Cleveland informs us that this fellow above (birthname unknown) will be shipping out to the Middle East complete with his 30th birthday present to himself - the new, Decepticon-repellent legal name and title of Optimus Prime.
His name has won him acclaim from peers and superiors. One general wrote him that "it was great to have the employ of the commander of the Autobots in the National Guard."
As the winds of war blow harsh on grown folks and children alike, I salute this Ohio guardsman, for bringing the most Leisurely of pastimes (toys) into the least leisurely of environments (war).
Godspeed, Prime.
On a recent visit to Istanbul, I discovered the lovely tradition of nargile: the Turkish waterpipe.
You sit in a cafe, or in our case, on the roof of a cafe, and the nice man brings you a hookah. It's tall, with an etched-glass bowl and a tin enclosure about the size of a coffee can on top (this is a nice example). The coffee can contains a tiny tin of tobacco and a few pieces of burning charcoal. The tobacco has been soaked in apple juice, and smells delicious.
When you inhale it burbles like a bong, but the smoke is smooth and sweet-tasting. There's no nicotine buzz that I can discern - a purely aesthetic experience.
Friend of Leisure DQ enjoys his smoke with a mosque in the background.
Evie, our hostess in Istanbul, indulges.
Agent Courtney attempts to blow a smoke ring as hostess Evie looks on.
The pleasure of this experience will run you about 4,000,000 Turkish lira, or $2.50.
Ooooooooh, tesekkurler, Mr. Waiter Man. Tesekkurler very much.
