JohnnyRussia

I started this blog as a kind of travelogue, I guess. I was a hand-carry courier in early 2008 because I just wanted to fly and see new places. I don't really remember, but I have an archive! Welcome to JackRabbit Cafe, my new blog and early warning device. Let's just say that it's in "beta" mode now, and will (hopefully) be tweaked and prodded until I like it enough to stop tweaking and prodding. I'm leaving sometime Sunday for Taipei, then Guadalajara, and decided that a blog may be the... Read Full Story

From ESPN.Boston: The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that, at long last, Bill Russell will be honored with a statue in the city of Boston. "We are honored to play a role in paying tribute to such an extraordinary athlete, leader and legacy," Celtics managing partner/co-owner Stephen Pagliuca said. "Bill Russell will forever be remembered in Boston, and it's fitting that the ultimate benefactors of his legacy will be future generations of our beloved city's youth." Said Mayor Thomas M... Read Full Story

Jim Dickson, a key architect of the '60s folk-rock sound and the original manager of the Byrds, died of unknown causes April 19 in Costa Mesa, Calif. He was 80. Born in Los Angeles, Dickson worked as a record producer in the early '60s, cutting proto-folk-rock sides by singer-songwriter Hamilton Camp, progressive bluegrass units the Dillards and the Hillmen (which included future Byrds member Chris Hillman) and singer-songwriter David Crosby. He took up management of Hillman and Crosby's... Read Full Story

Red ink at Chavez Ravine: The Dodgers currently do not have enough cash to meet payroll through this month, potentially accelerating a showdown between owner Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball . The cash shortage was confirmed Tuesday by two people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the possibility of McCourt filing suit against MLB. McCourt received a $30-million loan from Fox last month, which provided funding for the Dodgers' two April payrolls and... Read Full Story

NESN has this: If you looked quickly at the beginning of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, you'd probably recognize the attempted "whiteout" going on. As teams often do, Heat fans were either encouraged to wear white to American Airlines Center or they were given white T-shirts upon arrival. Apparently, the fans aren't the only ones in on the action -- the actual seats were, too. It's a solid tactic when you think about it. Seats draped... Read Full Story

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I'm a Celtic fan, but I've always liked the Spurs out West. The Griz beat 'em tonight, and the River City window might have been shut tight. See ya, boys; go OKC... Tweet Read Full Story

So it's Celtics/Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The insufferable Heat have been celebrating the Stunning Magnificence of Themselves since before they played a single game together. In this picture from last summer's PresumptionFest, they didn't yet know who the go-to guy would be or how they'd close out tight games : They still don't. Celts in 6. Game 1, Boston at Miami: Sun., May 1, 3:30 p.m. Game 2, Boston at Miami: Tues., May 3, TBD Game 3: Miami at Boston: Sat., May 7, 8 p.m... Read Full Story

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These graphs are from a piece by David Cay Johnston. Go here to read it in its entirety; Johnston nails it. This is your country. Tweet Read Full Story