Could not help but not post this. An SNL tribute to all those Matisyahu wannabes.

A couple of Sundays ago 60 Minutes aired a report on Spanish media darlings and brothers Francisco Rivera and Cayetano Ordoñez. The story centered around the same o’l angle of the brothers being Grandsons to Antonio Ordoñez and the inevitable inclusion of Ernest Hemingway’s contribution to the world of bullfighting in the 50′s and 60′s. What the report failed to highlight was the incredible 2008 temporada which is concluding in España. José Tomás is not mentioned once or given the credit for singled handedly breathing life into the bullfight in Barcelona a couple of years ago and caping it off by his indulto in the same plaza this past September. Instead, Cayetano’s popularity and Fran Rivera’s consistency are credited for the resurgence of bullfights in Spain. No mention of Miguel Angel Perera and his triumphant campaign in all first class plazas in 2008. No mention of El Juli’s single most mature and convincing temporada in years. Instead, Cayetano is heralded very erroneously as the savior of the Fiesta Nacional. Despite this, its great to see this type of reporting on Bullfighting. It shows a willingness of the American media to air bullfight content. With the release of “The Matador” and this 60 Minutes report, bullfights no longer ruffle the collars of the executives on Madison Avenue. That I can credit Cayetano to. Cayetano though has emerged as the poster boy of La Fiesta Brava. Featured on countless fashion magazine covers in Spain and around the fashion world, Cayetano’s looks have soften the P.I. blow to the masses. One can only hope this acceptance continues.

Enviado por email del Club Torres Online:Os damos unos cuantos pasos a seguir, muy fáciles y rápidos que te serán de gran utilidad en el momento de proceder a la degustación de tus vinos preferidos:
1. Las copas. Se recomiendan siempre las copas incoloras, de cristal transparente, que permitan apreciar con claridad la limpidez y el color del vino.
2. Servir cada vino a la temperatura adecuada, que normalmente viene indicada en la contraetiqueta de cada botella, pero en general será:
- Tintos jóvenes (del año) entre 12-14ºC
- Tintos de crianza o más añejos entre 16-18ºC
- Blancos secos entre 10-12ºC
- Blancos semi secos, 9-11ºC
- Rosados, 10ºC
- Espumosos y champagnes 6-8ºC
3. Muestra la botella a tus invitados con orgullo, el buen vino prestigia la mesa y a quien lo ofrece.
4. Corta la cápsula por debajo del gollete.
5. Limpia cuidadosamente el gollete o cuello interior de la botella con una servilleta antes y después del descorche.
6. Elimina las primeras gotas en una copa aparte; posiblemente puedan contener algún pequeño trozo de corcho.
7. La copa conviene llenarla solamente un tercio o, como máximo, a la mitad de su volumen.
8. Para los vinos tintos o grandes reservas, puede utilizarse un cestillo de mimbre o metálico, con el fin de mantener la botella en posición semi-horizontal.
9. Decantar previamente los tintos añejos si éstos presentan poso natural en el fondo de la botella o si has tenido la suerte de descorchar un gran vino de guarda que necesita airearse antes de servir.
10. No olvides probar cada nueva botella que se incorpore al servicio, aunque sea del mismo tipo y añada.
Como cada vino es diferente, la contraetiqueta estará repleta de consejos concretos para el vino en cuestión. Esperamos que estos prácticos consejos te sean de gran ayuda.

After a brief derailment, DBB is back online. I will soon be redesigning the site with the same Toros, Futbol, Vino and Political reports, opinions and off the wall observations. Maybe less brown next time. In the mean time, enjoy this jewel which was forwarded to me.

On the morning of the VP Debate, I am mortified for Sarah Palin. I can’t stand her, but as an American I am embarrassed for her. How can the GOP be confident in her lack of preparedness she is displaying in her interviews? Might as well dress her in a burka and mute her like her Afghani sisters because everything that comes out of this Governor’s mouth is digging a bigger grave for the McCain campaign. No wonder the GOP has bent over backwards to keep her away from reporters. In the Katie Couric interview, Palin continually stumbles over her replies to Couric’s questions which any politician, especially a Vice Presidential candidate is expected to answer. When asked to name other Supreme Court decisions she doesn’t agree with other than Roe vs. Wade, Palin’s characteristic “dear in the headlights” look was classic. Tonight’s Debate will be a bloodbath. Biden must be licking his chops.

On Saturday, September 27th my wife and I rushed on a busy afternoon to see this film screen at the San Diego Film Festival. I am so relieved to report The Matador was not your typical overdone 1950′s or 1960′s cliché bullfight film. There wasn’t apologetic warnings before the blood was spilled. There wasn’t obligatory educational dialog on what happens next. There wasn’t Hollywood’s perspective of bullfights with Stan Laurel or Tyrone Power in rental Traje de Luces. Most important there wasn’t the “love bullfights because Hemingway said so” angled to incite the viewers into legitimacy. The documentary chornicals David Fandila “El Fandi” quest to become a top Matador. From entrenando to tentando, from the carretilla to the tying of the machos. “El Fandi” allows the camera to enter his private world of sacrifice, stress, pain, heartbreak, brotherhood, travel and fear. The milestone of reaching 100 corridas in a season is the underline story and goal of this Matador’s story, but its the small details which makes this film a success to the savvy viewer. “El Fandi” athleticism is touched upon, but it is not mentioned how it is this point many critics are not convinced of him. This athletic perception of “El Fandi” is unintentionally highlighted in the film. Nevertheless, the cinematogrophy and score are the best I have seen in a Taurine film. Good news has come upon this film too. City Lights Pictures has picked up the film and in November 2008 will distribute The Matador nation wide and eventually on DVD. This is a big accomplishment in the day and age where PETA gets more headlines globally than do Toros. Photo Courtesy of City Lights Pictures and Mauricio Berho.