Sunday, May 28, 2006

weekly post from May 27, 2006

Hello friends & loved ones,

Jim and I had two date nights in a row but we are not doing well with movies. Yesterday we went to see X-Men III: The Last Stand and it was not even close to as good as the first two. I like to joke that it's because the first two were directed by a gay guy. The third one had too many mutants and not enough story for them. There were some good special effects though. After the movie we went a Lebanese restaurant called Oasis. The food was fabulous. We had a salad (I really like Greek salads), an entree and dessert and neither one of us felt full or uncomfortable. The waitress was a young, cute and chatty college student. The cook even came out and made Jim Turkish coffee (like he used to have in Baghdad). And it was a restaurant that I had never eaten at before (Jim, of course, had been there before. He's been everywhere it seems.).

Today we went with our church group to see The DaVinci Code. Really, read the book. The book was exciting and fast paced while the movie was boring and long. There was no excitement and the ending seemed to go on forever. I honestly cannot see why anyone would want to picket the film. The only thing I can think of is the movie may cause people to question and to think for themselves and not what the church tells them to believe. After the movie today we went to a Thai restaurant called The King & I. Both of our dishes were spicy and the food was not nearly as enjoyable as the food at Oasis.

Now we are relaxing and getting ready for Sunday. I just finished mowing a bit and will finish the rest tomorrow. The whole area I mow covers an acre. For some strange reason I enjoy it; I don't enjoy sweating though.

Well, wherever you are tonight, enjoy yourself. Also have a restful Memorial Day weekend and remember be safe, be healthy, and be happy. And don't forget to think for yourselves.

love,

paul

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Friday, May 26, 2006

Exceptional powers

Jim & I went to see X-Men: The Last Stand. Hopefully this will be the final one and while the special effects were cool, the costumes were gay and a lot of the dialogue was corny. There was even a transgendered mutant (I don't mean that disparagingly, the characters with special powers are called mutants). The film focuses on a cure for the mutants; will they or won't they opt to live a "normal" life? Also Jean Grey is back but she's evil and her power is uncontrollable and deadly.

The third one is definitely not as good as the first two and the director is Hollywood womanizer Brett Ratner instead of gay director Bryan Singer. There were a number of exciting parts but I've already forgotten most of them.

peace,

paul

Monday, May 22, 2006

weekly post from May 20, 2006

Hello my friends & loved ones,

It's been a chilly week and it's the middle of May. The sun has been refreshing yet the overcast days and cold nights have made it seem more like fall than spring.

Last evening, Jim and I went to see a very funny film called Kinky Boots. It tells the story of a young man in Northampton who, after his father dies, is compelled to take over the family shoe business. The business has been in operation for several generations and faced with having to lay off his staff and potentially having to sell the business, the man realizes he needs a new product. Enter a drag queen named Lola who gets him interested in women's boots, or rather boots that are strong enough in the heel to hold a man. The film is very funny and charming.

This weekend was our church's big garage sale and Jim and I spent some time this weekend helping out. Actually, I should say, Jim spent a lot of time helping out and I spent some time helping out. Although I did get to show off my man muscles by helping move some big pieces of furniture; including a dryer and a tv. I like the way people are impressed by how manly I am.

I've lived in this area for 6 years and I've missed the Lilac Festival every year, including this one. It just seems we have other things going on every year when the festival is going on. One of these years, hopefully, I'll get to go.

That's it for this week. Next week I'll review The DaVinci Code. A success or a terrible adaptation. Enjoy your week and take care of yourselves. Stay safe, stay happy, and stay healthy.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Finale Finish

I like tv, a lot. So I've decided to rate the season finales of the 2005-2006 season; only for the shows that I watch though (that's only fair). This year seems to be the season of the 2 hour finale. It's too big and there's just too much to fit into one hour. Oh, please, it's just an excuse for them to drag it out even longer. They could fit everything into one hour if they tried. So here goes, I'll grade the finales of some of tv hottest shows.

Fade to Grey:

The second season of Grey's Anatomy, the hospital tv show with more coupling than a porno, featured surgeon Isabel's beloved heart transplant patient, Denny, dying of a stroke. Who says tv isn't ironic? After which she quit the hospital and walked off into the sunset. Razor sharp Cristina was seen showing a much softer side as she attended to her beloved, Dr. Burke, who was recovering from a gunshot wound. And as for the titular character, Meredith Grey, she was forced to choose between the dreamboat vet and Dr. McDreamy himself as they both called her name hoping to be chosen.

My prediction: Isabel is gone and the show will pick up some months later with Grey having chosen neither guy and quit medicine to live as a cloistered nun. Actually, that last part is made up but I am hoping she remains on her own without a man; at least for a while. Grade: B

Break Out:

The show Prison Break hit the ground running last August and had lots of promise and the ratings to make it a hit. The premise: A man, Lincoln Burrows, is on death row facing his last days and his little brother, Michael Scofield, robs a bank to end up in the same prison as his condemned brother. Why? Linc is innocent and Michael is going to break him out. The conspiracy stretches all the way to the White House. Despite the convoluted plot: I'm still not clear why the "murdered" man's death was faked or what was up with that whole energy deal, this show was the one to watch in the fall. Fast forward to Nov and the show is taken off the air for four months. When it returned this past March the show had lost some of its steam and the writers put in more twists and turns and dead ends than that maze in The Shining. The brothers did finally escape and Veronica, Lincoln's former girlfriend who has been trying to prove his innocence in the outside world, came face to face with the man that Linc supposedly murdered. That was, by far, the best scene of the episode. The cliffhanger, however, with the brothers, and a few other inmates, running through an open field with the cops right behind, was ridiculous. After their only form of transportation literally flies away in the sky, the cons are forced to run. Seriously, the chances of them getting away are very very slim. Having said that this is a tv show and we all know how art doesn't always imitate life.

My prediction: One of the runners will be caught and Veronica won't be sharing her find with anyone, at least not anytime soon. Grade: C

Barely Legal:

The second season of Boston Legal, the David E. Kelley (Picket Fences, Ally McBeal) comedy-drama, came to a close with nary a cliffhanger; except for wondering if the show will be back in the fall. I started watching this show when it first premiered and then dropped it because I had too many shows and then picked it up for a while when Candice Bergen started as no-nonsense Shirley Schmidt. The writing is still tongue-in-cheek and the banter between Bergen's Schmidt and William Shatner's Denny Crane is fun to watch. Parker Posey is also interesting as an acerbic lawyer hoping to make partner. Posey seems to do the same character over and over but switches it up just enough to keep it fresh. James Spader's unctuously slimy Alan Shore was the centerpiece of the show when it started and now it's an ensemble that aims to entertain.

My prediction: The show will be back with more outrageous, yet true to life, cases. Grade: C+

Just Surviving:

The show with backstabbing, two-faced players, and grueling immunity challenges, Survivor, this time set at Exile Island (Panama provided the backdrop), wrapped its 12 installment. Survivor: Exile Island started out very ho-hum and didn't get really interesting until the big merge. One twist which was nice was one player was always banished to the titular island where the only consolation was to find an immunity idol which could be played and save the person who found it from being voted out if they had the most votes. It would have been really neat if heman, fighter pilot Terry had not found it and then won all of the immunity challenges and end up not needing to use it. With whackos Courtney and Shane life on the island was rarely too boring. The final two were medical sales rep Danielle (the least deserving of the final four) and yoga instructor Aras. Aras, one of the more likable males, took the money but a more riveting showdown would have been between Aras and nurse Cirie, arguably the most likable female. Thankfully, exile island will be back for the next go round which will be on Cook Island, between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Prediction: More colorful characters for the lucky #13 and Survivor better start thinking of some really shocking twists to keep the game exciting. Grade: C+

Space Invaders:

The tv show Invasion, from Shaun Cassidy, the creator of American Gothic and half brother of David, just finished its freshman season and was beset with controversy from the get go. Set to air last year, right after Hurricane Katrina, the show didn't get off to a good start. The show featured a Florida town hit by a devastating hurricane and the aftermath of the storm. Some people changed, not for the better, and the water became as scary as it was back in the days of Jaws. Seems some alien life forms were inhabiting the bodies of humans to create a hybrid species and the town sheriff may or may not be a bad guy. Eddie Cibrian from Third Watch played Russ, a park ranger, who is married to a local reporter. In an exciting twist, the finale featured another hurricane and this time an evil mad-scientist alien threatened to have aliens inhabit more people in a scene reminiscent of the Nazi death camps. Also the pregnant reporter is fatally shot and the sheriff does the only thing he can to save her; put her in the water. Her husband arrives too late. The show suffered from erratic scheduling and a plodding storyline, although it was a nice companion piece to Lost.

Prediction: The show does not appear to be on the fall schedule. Yikes! Grade: C+

Dem Bones:

Another show that just finished its freshman run, Bones, features David Boreanaz, as Special FBI agent Booth, and Emily Deschanel, as Dr. Brennan a forensic anthropologist. She studies bones to figure out who people were and how they died and he puts the bad guys away. The chemistry between the two lead characters is good and hopefully it will get hotter. The finale featured the revelation of what happened to Brennan's mom when she was 15 and the fact that she is not who she thought she was. And, in a final twist, it's discovered that Brennan's dad is NOT dead.

Prediction: More digging and delving in the second season and Booth and Brennan share a passionate kiss. Grade: B

Desperate situation:

The second season of the primetime soap Desperate Housewives found Bree escaping from the mental institution she checked herself into; Susan divorced Carl (again); Lynette made steps to reconcile with Tom after discovering he fathered another child (or did he? We've yet to see the child); Gabrielle threw Carlos out after discovering he was sleeping with their maid, who's pregnant with their child and we got to see how the housewives met. The second season ended similarly to the first. In the first season ender Mike, the plumber, was walking into the door of his house where Zach was holding a gun on Susan and this season found Mike lying in the street after being run down by dentist Orson Hodge. Hodge is set to figure in next season's mystery. Meanwhile, Susan is waiting for Mike so she can propose to him and Hodge appears to be courting Bree, whom he met in the mental hospital. The mystery of the Applewhites was cleared up when it was discovered that Betty's son Matthew, and not Caleb, was responsible for the murder of the girl in their mystery.

Prediction: Mike will die causing Susan to move on and get her life going again; a better mystery (hopefully) and a stronger season. Verdict: C

Getting Cold:

The third season ender of Cold Case found the detectives investigating the death of a drug rehab counselor who saw a resident kill another resident. The resident who was killed discovered the murderer having an affair with one of the owner's of the rehab center. Who killed the counselor? Lilly is quite taken with the picture of the counselor and then discovers that he is alive and lies to her boss about it. So, if he is not dead, who died? The counselor's junkie brother who was shot by the owner-wife's husband. In the end, we see Lilly and the counselor seeming to hook up and the other detectives sitting around celebrating another case solved but minus Lilly. Is this the end for her?

Prediction: Lilly will be back and more hot cold cases. Verdict: B

Also Known As:

The fifth and final season of Alias wrapped up with the gang chasing after Sloane, naturally. The present was interspersed with flashbacks of Sydney's childhood; those were really nice scenes. Among the people who perished are Jack (Sydney's father), Irina (Sydney's mother), Dan (Balthazar Getty's character) and Sloane was banished underground; literally. After cheating death, in a lame plot twist, he was caught in the explosion Jack set off in an underground tunnel and ended up under a large boulder. The episode ended with a flash forward to the future as we see Vaughn and Sydney living by the beach (in a very remote location) with their second child and Dixon comes with an assignment for them (get Sark!). Meanwhile, Sydney's first child Isabel, displays a propensity for complex puzzles the same way her mother did when she herself was a child. A future Sydney? Look out CIA. One thing I will definitely miss is the character of Marshall; his rambling explanations were always worth a laugh.

Verdict: B-

Another day:

The fifth season of 24, the 2nd best season so far (the best goes to last season's story), wrapped up and it looked like the President was going to get away with murder, terrorist attacks, and conspiracy; yeah, right. It started with the deaths of former president Palmer and the death of Michelle Dessler, and later Tony Almeida. Jack eventually kidnapped the President but failed to get a confession; he got one later and what a doozy it was. The season finale also saw the appearance of Chloe's ex-husband and, in true 24 fashion, a twist at the very end. It seems the Chinese government finally caught up with Jack and have some big plans for him. What those plans are and what will happen will have to wait until Jan. 2007, when season six kicks off.

Prediction: More new characters, intrigue, bigger plot twists, and, yes, Jack. Verdict: A

Idol Singers:

Season 5 of American Idol is over and the new season won't start until January; they always start in January. I was wondering how on earth they could stretch out the final show for two hours but then I remembered Mr. and-the-results-of-the-vote-are....going to be shown after this Seacrest. He certainly likes to draw out the suspense. Anyway, since this is the first season of Idol I've seen, I don't have anything to compare it to. I was shocked when powerhouse belter Mandisa was voted out early in the competition and when Elliott, the smooth crooner who got better and better toward the end, was voted out and just missed the final two, I was disappointed. I liked Katherine and Taylor, however, I was rooting for Elliott; he was the underdog. When, on the penultimate episode, the final two contestants sang the songs that would potentially become their first single, I knew that Taylor probably had it in the bag. His song was uplifting and inspirational and had a nice sound. Katherine sang her song well but it was trite. The finale featured the singing talents of Prince, Dionne Warwick, Mary J. Blige, Live, Al Jarreau, Meat Loaf, and Toni Braxton. Also featured were Wolfgang Puck and Burt Bacharach. During the show, some awards were given out and the nominees were some of the more colorful (read: awful) contestants who didn't make the cut during auditions. One winner, who was so overtly trying to copy the look of season two runner-up Clay Aiken, got a surprise after he received his award and was actually invited to sing. The real Aiken showed up and eclipsed his voice; thankfully. They even featured the three cowboys and the "trailer" for Brokenote Mountain. Another highlight was the sight of a teary-eyed David Hasslehoff in the audience after the winner was revealed; also shown was Tim McGraw (no Faith though). Sixty-three point four million votes were counted for the final vote that saw Alabama man Taylor Hicks beat out California girl Katherine McPhee. No worries though as I will be surprised if she is not on the charts soon. His single should be a chart burner as well.

Prediction: A #1 hit for Taylor and major withdrawal for me. Verdict: A

In the House:

The final episode of season 2 of House was one of the most surreal episodes to date. House is shot and ends up being able to walk cane-free and having deep, philosophical conversations with his shooter and finds himself losing his knowledge as he works on a case with his team. It's one of the more bizarre ones the series has featured. One of the patient's eyes and testicles pops out and his tongue is so swollen it protrudes from his mouth. The end is a twist that explains the whole is-he-hallucinating-and-losing-his-mind episode. When it's revealed the whole thing played in his head and we see him wheeled into the hospital emergency room, the question doesn't become will he change but how will he change?

Prediction: The show is called House so the chances of the doc dying are slim to nil, however, he will be affected by the shooting and it should make for some interesting changes to Dr. H. But will he be able to walk cane-free the way he did in his mind? Verdict: A

Ungraceful Exit:

I stopped watching Will & Grace after the 4th season because it wasn't funny; Jack was way too stereotypical (and not funny) and Karen was shrill and mean (and not funny), while Will & Grace's relationship bordered on unhealthy (and was not funny). The 8th and final season (thank God) wrapped up and the foursome is no more. The episode did have one semi-humorous part; the beginning in which we see senior citizen Will & Grace raising Grace's son. Graces has an ass bigger than Texas and Will wears a toupee. Jack, meanwhile, is tan and fit (and married to Kevin Bacon) and Karen looks the same as she always did (and is married to Rosario). Also in the episode, Will & Grace are dealing with the fact that their relationship has forever changed and Karen loses all of her money. One highlight is character actor Leslie Jordan plays billionaire Beverly Leslie and is literally swept away.

Verdict: Good Riddance! D+

Lost World:

The writers outdid themselves with the second season Finale of Lost; not a huge feat considering last year's lame "they just opened the hatch door" finale. Desmond's backstory was featured, the others let Michael & Walt sail off (presumably off the island to be rescued), the others kidnapped Sawyer, Jack, and Kate and told Hurley no one can come get them, the hatch seems to have exploded, the reason the plane crashed was explained (an electromagnetic force) and Locke and Eko are possibly dead after the explosion.

Prediction: This show can only last 2, possibly 3, more seasons before its welcome is worn out. Next season has to be riveting and exciting. And where are Jin, Sun, and Sayid? They were on a mission to rescue Hurley, Sawyer, Jack, and Kate. Will Michael really flee the island? I say no. Otherwise why wouldn't he tell people about the others stranded there? I think Kate, Jack, and Sawyer will be rescued or escape but not before being brainwashed or something. Verdict: A

Friday, May 12, 2006

Who says there's nothing good on the radio? Some songs I'm enjoying right now are Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns (Christian), Only Grace by Matthew West (Christian), Be Without You by Mary J. Blige (R&B), and Because We Believe by Andrea Bocelli (Classical).


paul
This year marks 25 years since the word AIDS became a permanent part of our vocabulary. I don't have a solid memory of hearing about AIDS before 1985 (I was 12 that year) but I'm sure I must have. The first memory I have is when news broke that Rock Hudson had AIDS. I used to secretly (after my mom thought I went to bed) watch Dynasty on Wednesday nights and I used to read Soap Opera Digest (the quintessential soap opera magazine) so I knew the story and what had happened. Had he infected Linda Evans when he kissed her on Dynasty? Who knew the 50's and 60's era heartthrob was gay? Today there are over 40 million people living with the disease and more than 25 million have died. There's a very informative and well-written cover story on AIDS in this week's Newsweek magazine with contributions from Melinda Gates, Bill Clinton and Peter Piot, a doctor who has been tracking the disease since the 70's. It's definitely worth checking out. And remember, let's respect our bodies and the bodies of others and play it safe...no matter what!

peace,

paul

water-logged

Because I am a glutton for blood and carnage; because I thought the wave in The Perfect Storm was lame; because I wanted to see another gay character; because the original wasn't cheesy enough. If you guessed that these are all reasons I went to see the movie Poseidon, then advance to the head of the class and pick out a gold star. I know it's a remake and it does have some very cheesy lines, however, there are a few exciting moments in director Wolfgang Petersen's (The Perfect Storm, Troy) remake of the 1972 original; including a freaky underwater death. This movie tries so hard to be cool and hip right down to the dropping of the words The and Adventure in the title; it doesn't succeed. As in the original, a rogue wave (the movie's definition for it, not mine) hits a cruise ship and causes it to literally turn 180 degrees. Several passengers (the ones that didn't perish) must find their way to the top, sorry bottom, of the ship before it completely sinks. If you couldn't wrap your mind around the down is up and up is down idea in the original, you won't in this one either. The film does have one thing going for it; it's a relatively short film, only an hour and thirty-eight minutes. The wave hits a mere 16 minutes into the film. It even has a "Shelly Winters moment." If you've seen the original, you know what I'm referring to. However, my mind did still wander many times during the movie, thinking, why am I watching this;especially in the wake of the disasters of Katrina and the disaster in Indonesia. I was also re-casting the movie in my head and instead of using mediocre Hollywood stars such as Kurt Russell, Mia Maestro, Josh Lucas and Andre Braugher, I used Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts and Will Smith. I'll break it down below.

In the Kurt Russell role as the former mayor of NY and the over-protective father I would cast Jim Carrey. In the Emmy Rossum role of the daughter of Russell's character and newly engaged beauty I would cast Scarlett Johansson. In the Mike Vogel role, the fiancee of Rossum's character and the "young hunk stud" I would cast Jake Gyllenhaal. In the Jimmy Bennett role, the kid who gets lost because he can't stay with his mother, I would cast Dakota Fanning. In the Mia Maestro role, the stowaway on her way to see her sick brother, I would cast Julia Roberts. In the Andre Braugher role, the captain of the ship who bites it, I would cast Will Smith. In the Jacinda Barrett role, the mother who screams and becomes hysterical at the drop of a hat, I would cast Sandra Bullock. In the Richard Dreyfuss role (yes, he plays the requisite gay character which is further proof that "we" have completely invaded the pop culture) the man who is thinking of suicide because his lover left him for another man, I would cast Will Ferrell. And in the Josh Lucas role, the brash, take charge leader, I would cast Adam Sandler. Check local listings for showtimes.

peace,

paul

word of the week

The word of the week this week is Christianism. Christianism is not to be confused with Christian, which is someone who follows Christianity and treats others as Jesus did. Christianism is something for the religious right zealots who want to put politics in religion. Jesus would not have had a political party; maybe Independent. A man who said that his "kingdom is not of this Earth" would not have been walking around carrying a sign with an elephant or a donkey.

The Gospels mention nothing of political parties or anyone by the name of George W. Bush. The religious right wants to wield religion as a weapon and make everyone else bow down to that weapon, however, instead of bowing down we should continue to walk the earth the way Jesus did, converting one person at a time until everyone sees the light.

peace out,

paul

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Look out Brangelina


Muhamad Noor Che Musa, an ex-army serviceman in Northern Malaysia, got married last week. The woman, Wook Kundor, is 104 years old. He didn't do it for the money; Kundor is poor. She has taught him Islamic religion and he has helped her with Roman script. He felt a connection with her because she has no children and she's old; ancient is more like it. Lest you start to feel sorry for Kundor, don't, this is her 21st marriage. All of her previous husbands are still living. This woman is old enough to be his great-grandmother. And on the honeymoon, if the wrinkles are a rockin', don't come a knockin'.

paul

Numeros

There are some fascinating things to be found in Time magazine; just one of the periodicals I read each week. According to a recent survey, 63% of Americans, age 18-24, cannot locate Iraq on a map. I can and will if you ask me. Now for the scary part; 50% of those people could not find NY State. I'd say some people missed a few too many geography classes.

Some other numbers worth mentioning: 46 million people voted the week that Paris Bennett was voted off American Idol and 35% of Americans that were polled believe that the votes on AI matter as much as or more than the votes cast in the presidential election. Yeah, tv and presidential elections, those go hand in hand.

peace out,

paul

Sunday, May 07, 2006

weekly post-May 6, 2006

Hello friends & loved ones,

It seems like the past week just flew by.

It's May already and the weather the past week has been absolutely gorgeous. Clear blue skies, moderate temps; weather just meant for shorts. There are a lot of critters and animals crossing the road lately and a lot of foxes. Speaking of animals, last night Jim and I were awakened by a very eerie noise. It was a high pitched scream sound that came in short bursts. I have to admit that for a few seconds I was terrified because I didn't know what it was. But then I was the one that got out of bed to go look. I went outside with the flashlight and heard the noise coming from the trees across the road. No, it wasn't the Blair Witch, according to Jim, it was a fox. I went to a fox website and listened to some different sounds that foxes make and one of them is the same sound we heard last night; the sound of a fox in distress. Jim thinks that it was two male foxes fighting over a female yet I think it may have been a fox that was hit by a car and slunk off into the woods. The pretty fox makes some freaky noises. One noise that everyone should have a chance to hear is the sound of a fox singing its song; it's a trilling sound.


Last week I talked about how the birds sing out and make noise every morning and how we should be more like them in singing out and using our mouths. This past week I watched a movie called Speak. In the movie, a teenage girl has something horrible happen to her that she keeps to herself. She goes from popular and outgoing to withdrawn and the butt of many jokes. All around her people are wondering what's happened, what's changed. However, she continues to walk through life, hardly affected by anything. One character in the movie tells her, and I'm paraphrasing here, "You can't stand up for what you believe in and be silent." In order to cause change one has to open up and say something. Eventually the girl begins to realize that she needs to tell someone her secret and that becomes the catalyst that turns her around. If we don't speak up and speak out, then no one will know what's going on with us or what we believe in. This coming week, let's all practice speaking out for what we believe in and sharing ourselves with our loved ones.

Have a restful weekend. Until next week, stay safe, stay happy, and stay healthy.
Here's the new Who's On First. Clever.


George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?

Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China .

George: Great. Lay it on me.

Condi: Hu is the new leader of China .

George: That's what I want to know.

Condi: That's what I'm telling you.

George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China ?

Condi: Yes.

George: I mean the fellow's name.

Condi: Hu.

George: The guy in China .

Condi: Hu.

George: The new leader of China .

Condi: Hu.

George: The main man in China !

Condi: Hu is leading China .

George: Now whaddya' asking me for?

Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China .

George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China ?

Condi: That's the man's name.

George: That's who's name?

Condi: Yes.

George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China ?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China ? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.

Condi: That's correct.

George: Then who is in China ?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir is in China ?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Then who is?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China . Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.

Condi: Kofi?

George: No, thanks.

Condi: You want Kofi?

George: No.

Condi: You don't want Kofi.

George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi?

George: Milk! Will you please make the call?

Condi: And call who?

George: Who is the guy at the U.N?

Condi: Hu is the guy in China

George: Will you stay out of China ?!

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi.

George: All right! With cream and two sugars.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Karl Rove, get out, you're guilty.
Here's a little brain teaser. The woman who sent it to me (thanks, Sherri) had to tell me the answer. I couldn't get it on my own.

This is an unusual paragraph. Can you find what is so nonstandard about it? I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about this paragraph. It looks so plain you would think nothing is wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual, though. Study it, think about it, and try to find out what is so abnormal about this paragraph. You may not find anything odd at all. But if you stick with it and work at it a bit, you might find what is so odd. (You may find it surprising!) Try it - it's not a conundrum - but try it without any coaching! You can do it!

peace,

paul

Saturday

I went to see the film Akeelah and the Bee with some friends from church and it's definitely a feel good movie. It's not overly sentimental and have a terrific ending. There's also a surprising amount of humor. It tells the story of an 11-year-old girl in South LA who is flunking out of school and is pushed to participate in the school spelling bee. She may be skipping classes and not passing her classes, however, spelling is where she shines. She ends up going all the way to the Nationals with the help of her coach, played by Laurence Fishburne. It's a different kind of role for Fishburne and refreshing too. The film also stars Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer plays Akeelah.

Speaking of things I like, I'm really enjoying the song Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall. It's an upbeat song with a different sort of sound and was recently sung on American Idol by one of the more talented contestants. She did the song proud.

Not much else going on this Saturday. My spouse and I are sitting here; he's reading and I'm watching I Love Lucy. After seeing just about every episode, more than once, it still makes me laugh. Of course my all time favorite is the vitavetavegamin episode.

Take care.

paul