it was a gift!

Russian president gets Super gift from Patriots owner
June 30, 2005
BOSTON (AP) -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he likes the way Vladimir Putin is quarterbacking Russia -- and that's why he gave him his diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring.
Kraft was among a group of U.S. business executives who met with the Russian president Saturday at Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg. Near the end of the meeting, Kraft took off the ring and handed it to Putin. Putin tried it on, put it in his pocket and left, according to Russian news reports.
``I showed the president my most recent Super Bowl ring,'' Kraft said in a statement Wednesday. The Russian president ``was clearly taken with its uniqueness,'' Kraft said.
``At that point, I decided to give him the ring as a symbol of the respect and admiration that I have for the Russian people and the leadership of President Putin,'' Kraft said.
According to Patriots spokesman Stacey James, the ring -- which is encrusted with 124 diamonds -- has a value of ``substantially more'' than $15,000.
Before Kraft issued his statement, reports in the U.S. media -- first by The New York Sun and then by The Boston Globe and The Associated Press -- had questioned whether the Patriots owner had intended to give the ring to Putin as a present.
A senior Kremlin official, Dmitry Peskov, told The Associated Press that Putin had given the ring to the Kremlin library where other foreign gifts are kept.
Kraft's business interests include paper and packaging companies and venture capital investments. He handed out Super Bowl rings to players and coaches at his home two weeks ago.

thanks to warner...

...i have a great story to post:

It is unclear whether ring was a gift
Associated Press
BOSTON -- Russian President Vladimir Putin walked off with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's diamond-encrusted 2005 Super Bowl ring, but was it a generous gift or a very expensive international misunderstanding?

Following a meeting of American business executives and Putin at Konstantinovsky Palace near St. Petersburg on Saturday, Kraft showed the ring to Putin -- who tried it on, put it in his pocket and left, said Russian news reports.
It isn't clear yet if Kraft, whose business interests also include paper and packaging companies and venture capital investments, intended that Putin keep the ring.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Wednesday that Kraft was traveling and he hadn't talked to him in four or five days, despite e-mails and calls. "He's still overseas, I can't even tell you where. ... He's not due back until next week."
"It's an incredible story. I just haven't been able to talk to Robert Kraft to confirm the story," James told The Associated Press.
However, a Kremlin official who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of compromising his position said the ring was a present. "Such a present was made," the official said.
He said Putin had given the ring to the Kremlin library where other foreign gifts are kept.
James said the ring's worth was "substantially more" than $15,000, as the value had been reported. He refused to be specific, but noted that the ring has 124 diamonds.
Kraft handed out Super Bowl rings to players and coaches at his home two weeks ago.
The Patriots have won three of the last four Super Bowls.

me and bill, out of the closet. 

i am out of control

here is my latest act of cat craziness. prompted by the store employee at the LA neighborhoodies store and the chance of winning a free sweatshirt, i submitted this email with the photo posted above to the company website:

Barooni and me were sick of hiding our affection toward each other any longer so we marched over to Hollywood & Highland and picked up matching Neighborhoodies. We think that man/cat love is totally cool and we plan to usher in the new "it" trend. Thanks guys, you make dreams come true!

Sincerely, Lance & Barooni

they responded:

hey lance, thanks for the hot man/cat shots. we think you're really on to something there, and we're glad we could help you come out in such glorious style. keep spreading the love and stay connected to neighborhoodies.com, home of the indie fashion revolution!-- -- big, big love from the kids in the 'hood! neighborhoodies
45 main street, suite 516brooklyn, ny 11201
"know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly."--epictetusps - if you're on myspace, we'd love to be your friend!check us out here: http://myspace.com/neighborhoodies

i will keep all posted if i get on the website for neighborhoodie of the day.