Eeeeeek it's Emily. Dennis is barely a memory and now Emily is pounding on the door of the US. A prayer for our brothers and sisters in the South.

I'm disappointed that Discovery did not launch yesterday, however, better safe than sorry. It may not be too much of a setback though if NASA can get it up in the air on Saturday.

My video pick of the week is a comedy-drama from 1978. California Suite, a movie adapted from Neil Simon's play, follows several different storylines set at a California hotel. There are some funny moments in the movie, the funniest being when Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, and their spouses suffer one pratfall after another. It's absurdly hilarious. The best vignette is the one with Maggie Smith and Michael Caine. Smith plays an actress up for an Academy Award. She is considered the dark horse. Caine plays her husband who uses his status as her accessory to his advantage. He's also bisexual. Yes, that's the future Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies sparring with Michael Caine. When Smith's character tells Caine's character she saw him hitting on a hot young stud Caine replies, "We shared a butter plate." "How spreadably cozy," Smith replies. Then she tells him, "You did everything but lick his artichoke." How deliciously campy indeed!!!! In an ironic twist, Maggie Smith actually got nominated for her role in the movie; and she won (her second Oscar). I can't help but think that Smith herself was a dark horse in the real Oscar race. The movie featured players such as Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Walter Matthau, Elaine May, and Michael Caine. Smith got the only acting nod; the film wasn't even nominated. Smith was up against actresses such as Dyan Cannon, Meryl Streep, and Maureen Stapleton. She is fabulous, she deserved to win.

I'm also raving about Word Wars: The Tiles and Tribulations on the Scrabble Game Circuit. It follows four players as they lead up to the 2002 National Scrabble Championship. These people are the ultimate nerds and have an amazing knowledge of the game scrabble and the words that can be played. These guys will put a bingo on my ass: Using all the tiles in one turn.

Well, I've rambled enough today. Enjoy your day wherever you are.

paul