burrito day 4/29/05

(btw -- see the 1st ever "Lazy" Kyle summary at the bottom if you are astime-strapped as our fearless leader)

The BDC chairman is back. No more short 1-liners for BDE (Burrito Dayemails). Rumors of hostile takeover of Burrito Day were abound, but tono avail. The committee remains as it is, at least for one more month!

Speaking of sensational rumors, William Randolph Hearst, the builder of Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, is the man who effectively coined the term. Hearst dominated the publishing scene early in the 20th century as his hand-me-down publishing company owned many publications such as the San Francisco Examiner, New York Morning American Journal, Chicago Examiner, and Boston American. He became synonymous with the term"yellow journalism". Believed by many to have initiated the Spanish-American War to encourage sales of his newspaper, he also advocated political assassination in an editorial just months before the assassination of President McKinley. Full of personality and a zest for a top-quality social scene, Hearst eventually built quite a mansion in San Simeon, CA to host whomever he damn well-pleased. While his empire may have been adverserial, Hearst used this popularity to lure top-notch guests, such as Winston Churchill, Calvin Coolidge, Cary Grant, Charles Lindbergh and Howard Hughes, to his mansion in San Simeon. Having toured Hearst Castle (which it only came to be name after the house was donated to California Parks & Recreation in 1955 by the Hearst family) this past weekend, I can assure you that there are many eccentric stories that are consistent with a man of his character. Examples --

1) guests were allowed to stay as long as they like as longas they followed HIS rules (jpresent for cocktails at 6:30; dinner at7:30; no more than 3 drinks per night -- YIKES!);
2) men must wear woolshirts while in the pool -- what? ,
3) Hearst set up two phone lines at each end of the pool so that one could call down to the other side if he/she saw something interesting -- Fantasic idea! ..and remember, this was in the 1920s-> 1940s.

One story appeals to the BDC more than any other however -- guests had assigned positions at the large rectangular oak dinner table every evening with Hearst sitting in the middle of the action. If you had something interesting to offer then you were offered a seat closer to Hearst himself the following night. However, if you were boring or lacked personality, you were moved down to the end of the table by the end of your visit. Simple really -- come to the table with an interesting story, and let your personality shine! The BDC is whole-heartedly behind this concept, and will enforce this at upcoming burrito day outings. HA!

The 1st "Lazy"- KYLE SUMMARY (newly invoked as the result of hissheer laziness, preventing him from reading brilliantly crafted emails)-- Hearst was an eccentric, talented businessman who built a mansion;invited popular people to his mansion; if you had something interestingto offer during your visit then you were offered a closer position atthe dinner table to Hearst himself and eventually invited back; the BDCwhole-heartedly backs this philosophy!