Hello,

I went to see the film North Country, the new film by Whale Rider director Niki Caro, which tells the story of a landmark class action suit. Set in Northern Minnesota (it's not called South country), the film stars Charlize Theron once again deglamorized yet not as hideous as she was in Monster. Theron plays Josey Aimes, a woman who leaves her abusive husband, moves in with her parents and attempts to start over by finding good paying work at the local mine. The problem is the mine is a veritable den of testosterone and harrassment and Josey is a girl no matter how tough she claims to be. The men start out harrassing Josey (the other women have resigned themselves to it) but they start small. Little things like comments and leering looks but once she starts the complaining the men start turning it up a notch. BAM! Josey is groped. BAM! Dirty words are written on the walls of the women's changing room with something truly dirty. And in one truly disgusting scene a couple of the guys topple over a port-a-potty with one of the women inside. While the acts of the men are shocking and appalling, I felt as if the director was intentionally trying to outdo himself with each new act.

Theron does a good job in the acting job, although she doesn't have the emotional heft of Sally Field in Norma Rae and is not as riveting as Meryl Streep in Silkwood. Also her beauty is an asset and a distraction. Her character is accused numerous times of being a tease and of "asking for what she gets" and the fact that she is not as homely as the other women made me not totally believe a woman with her looks would work in such a place.

The film is inspired by actual events which only means there was an actual case and events leading up to the case and the case itself were used for the movie but no doubt a lot of adding and tweaking were used.

The film is played out with the Anita Hill hearings playing in the background. Hill's story is the same one only on a larger scale. And in one scene we see a clip of the quintessential tv show about sexual harrassment in the workplace: Alice.

The supporting cast is wonderful: Sissy Spacek (with not enough to do) and Richard Jenkins as Josey's parents; Woody Harrelson as the lawyer who takes Josey's case; and Frances McDormand (who I wouldn't be surprised to see nominated for this role) as Josey's friend and the labor union rep.

I can see Caro getting a director nom but I don't see the film getting nominated for best picture.

the leaves are really falling now and Mother Nature is having her way with our country and the rest of the world too. Mudslides, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis. I can picture the Christian Conservatives are rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of the end of the world.

Free at last, free at last, free at last: The frail 77-year old man in India is Machal Lalung. He was sent to a mental institution back in 1951. His epilepsy was mistaken for insanity; not unlike the way manic depressives were mistaken for being possessed. A National Human Rights Commission discovered the error (that's putting it mildly) and Lalung was released. His senses have been dulled, he's forgotten what foods he likes and he has forgotten his family; his immediate family have all died. He lives with his nephew and has "no use grumbling now"(about what happened). Today he is "just waiting for death."

Today let's all be thankful that we are free.

paul

Anytown, USA: I went to see Cameron Crowe's (Say Anything, Jerry Maguire) new movie Elizabethtown. The film stars Orlando Bloom (he of the flowing blond hair in the Lord of the Rings movies) and ever effervescent Kirsten Dunst. Bloom plays Drew who is fired after a major failure at work. And after he finds out his father died, he goes down to Kentucky to bury him and mourn him. Along the way he meets Claire (Dunst) who teaches him about life and eventually the two end up falling for each other. As with many of his other movies Crowe douses the film with music; the music ultimately makes the film upstaging both Dunst and Bloom. Having said that Bloom does do a fine job in a modern role. Dunst, however, is a different story. Don't get me wrong she is perky and fun but everytime she was on screen I kept picturing her in a truly evil and nasty role. Someone with no morals who hides behind that bubbly smile. I've never been a fan of romantic comedies; there are some out there that I really enjoy but I can't think of any right now. I did really like Shaun of the Dead but that was technically a zom rom com (zombie romantic comedy).

Oscar video pick of the week: Have I ever picked such a recent film (if 10 years is recent) to highlight. Braveheart, the ultra violent and historical film directed by Mel Gibson is this week's pick. I remember when this film was nominated for the Oscar and reading about how it was so violent and that such a film could not possibly win the prize. It ultimately did win the prize and Gibson won best director too. The film tells of Scotsman William Wallace who leads a revolt against England's Edward I, the tyrannical king of England in the 13th century. It's the country of Scotland that's at stake and Gibson's film is really an art film in disguise. It's evident in almost every scene. Not only that but the film is a precursor to Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, it could even be considered a companion piece. All of the elements are there right down to the cross that Wallace is placed on as his fate is sealed. Angus MacFadyen shines as Robert the Bruce, the man who betrays Wallace only to discover that he wants to be as courageous as the man. Unfortunately the film garnered no acting noms. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Jaw dropper of the day: As if you needed more proof that we live in a truly sick and twisted world, here it is. Peggy Jo Conner of Ford City, PA, was arrested on the charge of aggravated assault and attempted homicide after she clubbed her neighbor, drove her to the woods and tried to cut her neighbor's baby out with a knife. Conner hit Valerie Oskin over the head with a baseball bat. Luckily a driver happened upon the women and Oskin had to undergo a Caesarean section at a hospital. Conner's home contained baby paraphernalia and her husband believed she was pregnant. Thankfully Conner is now in jail without bail.

One more: I've written about this show before but I can't stop raving about it. I recently watched the entire second season of Arrested Development. This show used to be on Sunday nights, a night that my spouse and I watch other shows that conflicted with Development. The tv Gods have smiled on us (or me anyway) as the show moved to Monday night this season. This show has a lot of truly laugh out loud and irreverent moments. 97% of the comedies on tv don't make me laugh out loud; chuckle, yes, giggle, certainly, but Arrested causes me to guffaw. And with such guest stars as Martin Short, Henry Winkler (gone now), Ed Begley Jr., Ben Stiller, Zach Braff, and Dick Van Patten, the show has it going on. I wish the ratings were better. I've never believed that just because a show doesn't get good ratings that it's not a good show. Throughout tv history there have been many shows that have gotten good ratings that weren't very good at all (in my humble opinion anyway). And now this season has Charlize Theron as hunky Jason Bateman's (yes hunky) romantic interest.

that's all for now,

paul

According to James Dobson (yes, Mr. Focus on the Family), Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers belongs to a church that is almost universally pro-life. Huh? Alrighty then.


Happy coming OUT day.

I'm out, are you?

paul

Rotten/Rockin' Remake: There was a song a few years ago called Grey Sky Morning (Best I Ever Had) by a group called Vertical Horizon. It was a mournful song that sounded pretty (even if it was a ballad). Now Gary Allan, a country singer, has remade it and it sounds like a mournful country song. It sounds quite similar to the original but with a country twang. I don't like it; it's worse than the original.

A remake I am enjoying is Melissa Etheridge's remake of the song Refugee, originally done by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. She of course has her own sound and sings the song in a way that gives it new meaning and importance (factor that in with the fact that she recently came through breast cancer and it's a homerun hit all over again).

The caption for this pic is, "Why FEMA never got the call." I couldn't resist. AWWWWWW poor Bushie. Actually I disagree with those who say it is all Bush's fault. It's mostly not his fault.

Lock your doors, hide your pets, and hold your kids up high. There's an epidemic in Florida. Hot on the heels of a 6 ft alligator being half eaten by a 13 ft python, a 12 ft Burmese python had a 1-year-old pet Siamese cat for breakfast.

And Harriet Miers: Conservative or Libertarian? In her bid for city council, Miers filled out a questionnaire saying she favored equal rights for gays and supported AIDS education. However, during her run as a Texas lawyer, she tried to get the ABA to vote in favor of abortion rights. She believes in the rights of women yet also believes in the right to bear arms. Not only that but many conservatives are not happy at all with her as a choice for a judicial nominee.

paul

I went to see the film In Her Shoes, the new film by director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile) and while it is a chick flick it's a well done chick flick. I've never been a fan of Cameron Diaz; do I think she has talent? Everyone does to some degree (some more than others). But do I think she is a good actress? No. I do think that she was born to play the role of Maggie Feller; the selfish, spoiled, thoughtless nymphomaniac she plays in the film. Toni Collette, on the other hand, is talented and a good actress. She is homely, as my spouse likes to point out, but, thankfully, that does not mean someone can't be a good actor/actress. Shirley MacLaine is as always cast in the matronly role but this time she is not as harsh or imperious as she usually plays. She's toned down and quite good.

If you are planning on flying Southwestern airlines then leave those offensive shirts in the closet. This past week a woman from Washington was booted off a Southwestern flight when her offensive shirt kept showing. Passengers originally complained of the shirt and then passenger Lorrie Heasley put a sweatshirt on but when she dozed off the sweatshirt revealed the shirt again. She was ordered to keep it covered or get off the plane; she and her husband chose the latter. The shirt: A picture of George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleeza Rice with the words Meet The Fuckers (a play on the film title Meet The Fockers). I want one of those shirts!!!!! I'd wear it EVERYWHERE.

I'm liking the songs Soul Meets Body by Death Cab For Cutie (that's really the name of the group), the Casting Crowns song Lifesong and Chris Tomlin's song Indescribable. That's what I'm listening to.

Enjoy your day,

paul

I went to see the film In Her Shoes, the new film by director Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile) and while it is a chick flick it's a well done chick flick. I've never been a fan of Cameron Diaz; do I think she has talent? Everyone does to some degree (some more than others). But do I think she is a good actress? No. I do think that she was born to play the role of Maggie Feller; the selfish, spoiled, thoughtless nymphomaniac she plays in the film. Toni Collette, on the other hand, is talented and a good actress. She is homely, as my spouse likes to point out, but, thankfully, that does not mean someone can't be a good actor/actress. Shirley MacLaine is as always cast in the matronly role but this time she is not as harsh or imperious as she usually plays. She's toned down and quite good.

If you are planning on flying Southwestern airlines then leave those offensive shirts in the closet. This past week a woman from Washington was booted off a Southwestern flight when her offensive shirt kept showing. Passengers originally complained of the shirt and then passenger Lorrie Heasley put a sweatshirt on but when she dozed off the sweatshirt revealed the shirt again. She was ordered to keep it covered or get off the plane; she and her husband chose the latter. The shirt: A picture of George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleeza Rice with the words Meet The Fuckers (a play on the film title Meet The Fockers). I want one of those shirts!!!!! I'd wear it EVERYWHERE.

I'm liking the songs Soul Meets Body by Death Cab For Cutie (that's really the name of the group), the Casting Crowns song Lifesong and Chris Tomlin's song Indescribable. That's what I'm listening to.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Just finished a gruesome yet fascinating book called The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin. Well researched and quite descriptive, the book tells of the storm that wreaked havoc on the open prairielands; Minnesota, North & South Dakota, and Nebraska. The storm was so powerful it even affected Texas and Mexico. It was a wake up call to the immigrants who had so excitedly settled in the midwest. On January 12, 1888 a cold front that had been travelling from Canada hit the midwest and was so deadly that in a matter of hours the temperatures plummeted; In Kansas, 29 degrees in seven hours; Iowa 55 degrees in a matter of eight hours; In Nebraska 32 degrees in 13 hours and so on. The storm was so deadly that people and animals froze in their tracks. The book tells of the many stories of teachers, parents, children as they tried to brave the storm or find loved ones who may have been out doing chores or at school. The eerie part is that January 12 started out as a quite mild day; the first one in a while. It was, for many, a veritable "heat wave." The book is called the Children's Blizzard, and this is where the gruesomeness comes in, because once the storm passed many children were found frozen to the ground. Many children had been in school that day because the weather had been so nice and they tried to make it either to their home or a warmer shelter, warmer than the schoolhouse anyway. The estimated death toll was around 500. Adults and children lost limbs, died of cardiac arrest, or froze together (literally). Of course people wanted to place blame and while the very new Signal Corps weather indicators (the name was a precursor of weather forecasters) was partially to blame, it's an eerie reminder that mother nature does strike (as she so violently did recently in MS and LA) and people should be quite aware of where they live and how weather can and does affect them. It's a fascinating book and if you have any interest in weather it's a must read.

tv update: I had too many shows to watch and I've already dropped the shows CSI, Bones, and Grey's Anatomy. As my spouse says, "It's only tv."

Oscar video pick of the week: A 1931 film starring Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper, The Champ is a moving movie that never falls into melodrama or schmaltz. Not to be confused with the half baked 1979 version with little Ricky Schroeder, the original features Beery (in his Oscar winning role) as an unglamorous former heavyweight champion boxer. His sidekick and caretaker is none other than Dink, his nine-year-old son. When The Champ's ex-wife/Dink's mother comes back into the picture, the Champ realizes that Dink needs a stable homelife. He makes a sacrificial decision only to have it backfire. It's a shame the supporting Oscar categories were not around in 1931 because Cooper would have been a lock for supporting actor. He delivers a superbly percocious performance. As it was, the previous year he became the youngest actor (at age 9) to ever receive a lead actor nomination; a record he holds to this day. The youngest actress is Keisha Castle-Hughes who was nominated a couple of years ago at the age of 13.

Jaw dropper? More like jaw catcher: A 13-foot python in Miami, FL, tried to eat a 6-foot gator. It's the fourth such reported incident. Sadly for the python it didn't make it. It was found with the hindquarters of the gator protruding from its midsection. The snakes stomach was filled with the gator's forelimbs, shoulders, and head. The snake apparently exploded; probably a result of the gator clawing at the stomach of the python. Talk about gruesome.

Welcome to America, you're a winner: How's this for the first day of being a US citizen? A Kenyan man took the oath to become a US citizen last Friday. Soon after he played Iowa's Hot Lottery game and discovered he had the winning ticket. The prize: 1.89million dollars. I've often said that in order to win one is usually trailer trash, a ex-con or in this case a new US citizen. My spouse and I play but we are not obsessive about it. We often say it would be nice to win so we can both go back to school and fix up our home a bit.

Enjoy your day,

paul

"Wanna braid my beard, baby?" Another contestant in the Beard and Mustache Championships.

Check out this pic of a contestant in Berlin's World Beard and Mustache Championship. There's a porcupine on his face.

Could President Bush's have been lazier in his pick for a justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor? Harriet Miers, whose most high profile role has been legal counsel to Bush, has never even been a judge. What's more she has no record on any of the hot button issues. Bush took the easy way out with this nomination. Neither the Dems or the Repubs can latch on to something about her they don't like; there's nothing there. I'm not sure what my feeling is just yet. These hearings should be interesting.

more later,

paul

Court is back in session and John Roberts is right there with the other 8 justices. Of course Sandra Day O'Connor is still in the Supreme Justice chair and will be until a new one is confirmed.

The predictions of tropical storm Stan is that it will weaken; let's hope it does because frankly the people on the Gulf and in the south have probably had more than enough.

It's the first week of October and the dog days of summer are behind us. The smell of winter hangs in the air like the sick after a night of bingeing.

Enjoy your day,

paul

We just saw a deeply moving movie called Rory O'Shea Was Here. It's about two wheelchair bound youths who just want to be out in the world on their own. Along the way the experience discrimination, rejection, love, loss and death. The two actors, James McAvoy and especially Steven Robertson, who needs an interpreter to decipher what he is saying, are terrific in their roles. It's a touching movie, a bit depressing at times, but fulfilling. It's one of those independent, artsy-fartsy films I enjoy so much.

I went to see the movie A History Of Violence, David Cronenberg's new movie. This movie was well done and thought provoking and disturbing. There are some graphic moments and of course the movie does live up to its title. It's the story of a man with a past and he wasn't a nice guy. Now he has a family and the respect of the community but his past has caught up with him. There are a couple of things in the movie that don't quite add up but that's true of most movies. Maria Bello and Viggo Mortensen are nicely cast and the film features two of the best placed, storyline appropriate and realistic heterosexual sex scenes that I've seen in a long time. They are both vastly different as well. It's even got something in the film that I am tired of seeing; a vomit scene. Thankfully they don't show the person throwing up but it seems that no matter what I watch on tv or film, there's a throw up scene. The film does feel like it's missing something like there's some story we're not getting or maybe I wanted something more from the film. Anyway if you like violence this movie's got the V for YOU.

paul

A two headed tortoise found in Havana on 9/27/05. How cute!!!! Mommy can we get one? Doesn't it look like they are thinking, "Excuse me, but would you please put us back in the water?"

I'm so glad I didn't grow up Catholic. Don't get me wrong, I know some wonderful people who grew up Catholic and growing up Missouri Synod Lutheran was not great for my psyche, however, hearing and reading about the stories of fear, hurt, anger, apathy, and doubt that the Catholic religion has caused in people, I'd choose Luther over the Pope anyday. Now reading about the fact that the Catholic church wants to crack down on homosexuals in the priesthood, it's like gays in the military all over again. Kudos to the Rev. Gerald Chojnacki, a Jesuit, who wants to lead a strike and petition denouncing this witch hunt. If I were clergy, I would be right there with Rev. Chojnacki on strike to show just how important gays are in the priesthood. The statistics show that 25%-50% of Catholics are gay. The irony here is that the Catholic church wants to hunker down and get the gays out but that's not necessarily going to curb the pedophilia that is rampant within the church. Statistics show that pedophilia has nothing to do with being gay but being in control. Hello!!!!!! Let's get the facts here, just because you keep the gays out doesn't mean the priests are going to be celibate and not abuse their parishioners. This is America; the people should demand the truth, the facts, the real story.

Ok, I'm done ranting for the night. I'll write again tomorrow.

Good night,

paul

Yea!!!!!!! It's finally Friday and I'm so excited. Oh, that's terrible I've got that Pointer Sisters song in my head.

I'm glad that the Roberts confirmation is over. I think he'll do good things as Chief Justice. Not a bad showing from the Dems either; only about half voted against him. Now let's hope and pray that Bush's next choice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor is not the right wing Christian conservative we (meaning I) dread.

I'll write more later.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Happy Birthday to Kermit De Frog. 50 years ago today the green amphibian was born.

Oscar video pick of the week: A well written, wonderfully acted film from 1930 with an all star cast. My pick this week is A Free Soul which stars Leslie Howard (Mr. Ashley Wilkes himself), Norma Shearer (fresh from her Oscar win for The Divorcee the previous year), a young Clark Gable, and an almost unrecognizable Lionel Barrymore in his only Oscar winning performance. Barrymore plays Stephen Ash, a drunken defense attorney whose daughter, Jan (played by Shearer), meets gambling playboy Ace Wilfong (Gable). Ash is appalled that Jan has become enamored of Ace. Ash, and everyone else, are hoping that Jan will wed stable and honorable Dwight Winthrop (Howard). The two make a pact; he'll give up drinking if she gives up Ace. Needless to say that pact doesn't last very long. Jan eventually sees through her lust for Ace and realizes she's not the kind of man she needs or wants. What happens next forces Ash to come out of hiding and sober up quick to defend his possible future son-in-law. The courtroom scenes are terrific and Shearer, once again, is riveting. She brings an honesty to the role and gives herself over completely. Barrymore brings a vulnerability to this role. His role in It's A Wonderful Life is no longer his most memorable; not in my mind anyway. And there are less than 5 months until the 2005 Academy Awards.

Enjoy your day,

paul

The tv show House is into its second season and it is arguably the favorite show of my spouse and I. We recently watched all 22 episodes of Season 1 within the span of a week and one of the things we enjoyed the most was House's crabbiness and harsh British put downs/humor. I'm happy to report that all of those things are still front and center in the second season. We also like how the show tries to fake us out with who will be the patient of the week.

I saw Joan Rivers on the Today show this morning and is it just me or does she look permanently ready for Halloween? She has had so much done to her face that she really looks as if she is wearing a mask. It's amazing she tries to smile and make expressions with her face but it's just like stone. It wants to move but it doesn't; it can't.

I was going to write about my Oscar video pick of the week but I'll do that tomorrow. I didn't see anything worth writing about last week.

Whatever you write about today.....enjoy.

paul

The world has lost another comic talent. A mere 3 weeks after the passing of Bob "Gilligan" Denver, Don "Maxwell Smart" Adams has passed away. I remember growing up and seeing reruns of Get Smart and being highly entertained by Adams's Agent 86. Born Donald James Yarmy (he took the surname of Adams from his first wife...talk about being modern), Adams was also the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo and Inspector Gadget. I've no doubt that he will be missed.

In the "how the heck did that happen?" category: An 18-month old in Warsaw (that would be in Poland) started the family car and ran over three of the family members. (Oh, so that's where we left the keys dear.) The mother tried to stop the car when it began going backwards. She and her four year-old daughter were run over and poor grandpa got pinned against a barn. What I don't understand is how the car started going backwards once the car was started. Was it already in reverse? And what a smart little bugger the 18-month-old is to know how to start the car. Now all he needs is a cracker jack box.

That's it for now. Enjoy your day,

paul

After the beautiful weather we had this weekend it is now back to the rain. It's wet, gray, gloomy and Monday no less.

Try to enjoy your day anyway,

paul

The second episode of Survivor has come and gone. Last week the senior citizen was voted out and this week the young "hottie" was voted out. They wisely kept the fishmonger, seriously that's what she does (whatever a fishmonger does that is). Speaking of the players on Survivor, I knew that out of 17 people at least one of them had to know that Gary Hogeboom was an NFL player. Sure enough there is a sportscaster in the group and she knew and his secret is out.

The songs I'm enjoying on the radio right now are Held by Natalie Grant, Brave by Nicole Nordeman, Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On by Neal McCoy, You'll Think Of Me by Keith Urban, and Have A Nice Day by Bon Jovi.

Have a nice evening,

paul

Ahhhh Finally Friday....once the night of such popular shows as Wild Wild West, The Brady Bunch, Dallas, Webster, and Providence, this year offers nothing compelling (at least not to me). I might check out the new Fox show Killer Instinct or the ABC show Supernanny (such bratty kids, such awful parenting) And if I feel the need for something heartwarming or tear inducing I can always check out Amy Grant's new show Three Wishes.

By far the best season premiere I've seen this fall was Lost's premiere. It started out looking like an Alias episode. A male character gets out of bed, goes to the computer, exercises, fixes a disgusting looking protein shake and then there is an explosion. The camera then pans from the man's (we never see his face) "apartment" to the opening of the hatch that the characters have just blown open. The ending was a little too "small world" for my taste but considering the rest of the episode I'm willing to forgive that. As long as the writers keep the thrill and interest and make the mystery work, I'm happy.

More later. Until then, enjoy your day,

paul

Inauguration of the Apollo Bridge in Slovakia.

A rainbow colored Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence, Italy. This was taken on 9/11 commemorating the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

A picture of Gaza City Beach in Palestine.

Thursday, once the night of The Cosby Show, The Waltons, Magnum P.I., and Friends, this year I'll be watching Survivor and CSI.

The brianiac network execs have decided to pit Alias and Survivor against each other so I've been forced to choose (Survivor) and a friend of mine will record Alias, however, I'm hoping that Vaughn bites the dust because the whole Sidney/Vaughn romance is tired.

Survivor: It's hard to believe this show has been on for 5 years and I've watched each season. For the 11th go round the setting is Guatemala and while the show is definitely showing its age the show is still alive. As long as the producers continue to think of new and exciting twists that change the game, this show can remain fresh. Just please no more bringing back competing tribe members that were already voted off (this means you Lillian).

CSI: Another show that my spouse got me turned on too although I've warmed to the show very slowly. It's not the kind of show I typically enjoy but I'm enthralled at how the investigators determine the killer each week. Besides, George Eads's Nick is gorgeous and William Petersen's Grissom is dreamy. After last season's overhyped, character assassinated, Quentin Tarantino directed finale, the sixth season promises new cases and no doubt more bizarre deaths.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Welcome to the last day of summer and this morning it feels it but by the afternoon it is supposed to be up in the 80's. Who says this is the last day? Of summer weather anyway.

Hurricane Rita (sounds like Katrina) is heading right for Galveston. Little Paul used to go to Galveston beach with his mom and dad. I have memories of being at the beach and frolicking in the water with my dad. I lived in Texas growing up, not very far from Galveston beach. Very fond memories.

Wednesday, once the home to popular shows such as Green Acres, Lost In Space, Dynasty, and Eight Is Enough. This year I'll be watching the behemoth Lost and the new mystery show or Lost Part II, Invasion. Lost ended the season with a so-so finale, it started out exciting but was disappointing. This season we are supposed to find out what is in the hatch during the first episode but, naturally, that will lead to more questions. The show did a great job of sustaining the suspense last season and the character development was handled deftly. This season let's stay out of lame territory and keep the story fresh and exciting and keep killing of major characters. I'm not talking about killing someone every week but I do think that it's not believable that everyone would keep surviving. People die, even on an island.

Invasion, the new show in the vein of Lost, offers mystery, conspiracy and "monsters." Its premiere episode also has the misfortune of featuring an eerily familiar disaster, a devastating hurricane. Supposedly ABC stood up to pressure to edit the show and it didn't budge when pressured to postpone the show. It looks promising and will no doubt feature weekly cliffhangers, however, the chances that it will be as clever or interesting as Lost are slim.

Network Notches: CBS: 1 ABC: 4 Fox: 5 NBC: 0

Well that's it for now. Enjoy your day,

paul

A gray and wet Tuesday and only a couple of days to the official start of fall. I just have to say how great it is that people have opened up their homes to hurricane Katrina victims. People in states as far away as Massachusetts have provided a place to live to people who have lost everything. Who says human kindness is dead?

Tube talk Tuesday: Once the home to such shows as Make Room For Daddy, The Fugitive, Happy Days, Who's The Boss, and Hart to Hart (one of my personal favs growing up) this year I'll be watching Bones and House.

Bones: A little bit Cold Case and a little bit CSI. A forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent study the bones of a dead person to figure out how they died. One thing this show has that those other shows don't have is dreamy David Boreanaz from Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

House: This is our new favorite show. Gregory House is a medical diagnostician; he's erudite, arrogant, standoffish, he distances himself from relationships and, oh yeah, he's British. The humor on this show is wonderful and each episode focuses on one patient as House and his staff try to figure out the mysterious illness that ails the patient. My spouse and I just crammed all 22 episodes from the first season and we didn't want them to end. Luckily the second season is here and we can enjoy it again. House is sometimes very similar to my spouse. He will do or say something that my spouse would do or say and if my spouse were British and just a titch crankier, he and House would be twins.

Network Notches: CBS:1 ABC: 2 Fox: 5 NBC: 0

The ones that got away: The Office with the American Ricky Gervais. That would be Steve Carrell. This show keeps the awkward pauses and uncomfortable situations that were so prevalent in the British series. Unfortunately we don't have TiVo and I'll have to wait for the season 2 DVD. Another show I'll have to miss is My Name Is Earl. This show looks interesting and looks like it might be quite humorous especially with Jason Lee (is it just me or is he somewhat of a sex symbol, especially with that trailer trash mustache).

Well that's it for now. Enjoy your day,

paul

Monday: The start of the work week and on tv once home to such popular shows as Little House on the Prairie, MASH, MacGyver, Murphy Brown, and Melrose Place. This year I'll be watching Arrested Development. This show won the Emmy for Best Comedy last year and made it cool to watch sitcoms again. It's quite clever and funny and who knew that Jason Bateman would turn out to be such a hunk?

The other show I'll be watching on Monday night is Prison Break. This show is maddeningly frustrating and is told as a serial with a mini-cliffhanger each week and subplots and characters galore. It's the prison equivalent of the show 24.

So far that's 2 Fox shows, 1 CBS show and 2 ABC shows.

The Emmys were handed out last night and while most winners were not surprises, there were a few. Best Drama award went to Lost; Patricia Arquette won Best Actress in a drama (for Medium); and Felicity Huffman beat out the other Housewives to win Best Actress in a Comedy. At least the show House (my new favorite show) won something, best writing for its penulitmate episode last season, "Three Stories." I watched a bit of the show but Ellen seemed off and the audience didn't seem very receptive to the jokes, anyway, I didn't stay up to watch the whole thing but I'm so glad I got to see Donald Trump in overalls and a straw hat. That had to have been the best part of the show.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Ahhhhhhh......fall. The cooler weather, the delicious apples, the changing of the leaves, the new tv season. Yes, this week marks the week that the television season swings into full gear. Some shows have already started and the bulk of the shows start this week or next. Below is the beginning of my tv week (the shows I'll be watching) and a few predictions.

I was going to start this yesterday but Saturday is the Siberia of television. Once the night of such popular shows as All In The Family, Love Boat, Golden Girls, Mission:Impossible, and the Jackie Gleason Show, today arguably the most exciting show on this night is Cops. Oh well! It's a perfect day to catch up on the taped shows during the week.

Sunday: Once home to such popular shows as Bonanza, Alice, Murder She Wrote, and One Day At A Time, this year boasts Desperate Housewives, Cold Case, and Grey's Anatomy.

Cold Case (or yet another show that my spouse got me hooked on that I probably never would have watched if I was single). This show follows one case a week of a person who has been dead for a while. Through flashbacks we see how the person died, what happened leading up to the death and the people involved, then and now. What first hooked me is the fact that music that was popular the year the flashbacks take place is played over the flashbacks. I must have first seen an 80's flashback show and it was a really good song and from then I was hooked. It also features the sexy Danny Pino who plays brash and quick-tempered Scotty Valens.

Desperate Housewives (or the Melrose Place of the 2000's). We got hooked on this show last year and I have to say that Teri Hatcher is deserving of the accolades she's been receiving as klutzy mom Susan Mayer. The season finale was a bit disappointing but I'm thinking that Gabrielle will lose her baby by falling, probably down a flight of stairs and Alfre Woodard (the new resident) will add a wonderful new dynamic to the cul-de-sac. Kudos to the casting department for their casting choice. Let's face it it is 2005.

Grey's Anatomy (or, oh no, not another hospital show). This was a midseason replacement last season and it's pretty good. It's got some funny moments and the cast includes the wonderful Sandra Oh. I just hope we don't have to deal too much with the obstacles between Patrick Dempsey's character and Ellen Pompeo's character. He plays a doctor, she plays a resident and, as we found out last season, he's also married.

The one that got away: Charmed, a wonderfully witty and creative show about three witches. Hello DVD.

That's the Sunday lineup. 1 CBS show and 2 ABC shows.

Enjoy your evening,

paul

9/17/05

Ahhhhh Saturday, I'm still awake after working six days in a row. I worked for a co-worker last night (the good part is she is working my shift on Sunday night). I haven't had a lot of time to write in the old blog this week and sometimes I just don't feel like writing but I do now.

I recently watched a 2000 primetime cartoon series that aired on NBC. It's called God, The Devil, and Bob. It only aired for four episodes but the dvd contains all 13 eps that were filmed. It tells the touching story of God making a bet with the Devil that if God can find one person to convince Him the world is worth saving, He won't destroy it. The Devil, of course, is allowed to pick the person and he picks Bob. Bob is a slightly below average intelligence, dim-witted, father and husband. He works at an auto plant and hangs out at a bar called the Classy Chassis. The episodes deal with issues such as God's girlfriend, adultery, and free speech as Bob tries to convince God that the world is worth saving. Needless to say, the Christian conservatives had a hand in getting this yanked off the air. I don't know why, it's entertaining, mildly humorous, completely perverse in its view of God and the Devil. By the way, God looks like Jerry Garcia and talks like James Garner; the Devil is a sensitive, insecure dude who talks with a Scottish accent. He even has a sidekick, whom he abuses, called Smack (how appropriate). Some of the other voices, besides Garner's, is Alan Cumming, Laurie Metcalf, French Stewart, and Nancy Cartwright.

Oscar video pick of the week: A 1929 movie that yielded a Best Actress Oscar for Norma Shearer (the 3rd woman to win the award). The Divorcee tells of a woman (Shearer) whose husband cheats on her and when she evens the field her husband can't deal with it. He leaves her and wants nothing more to do with her. This is a female empowering movie and I could not take my eyes off of Shearer. She was truly riveting and reminded me of other riveting actresses such as Sally Field and Jessica Lange in her earlier roles. The kind of actress that one wants to focus on and then finds that the other action(s) in the scene are being missed. Shearer was also reportedly the first choice for Scarlett O'Hara in the film Gone With the Wind but the public didn't like that idea. Imagine the different casting choices today if the public had that much influence on who plays what roles. Shearer turned down the role in Mrs. Miniver that eventually went to Greer Garson (Garson even won an Oscar, damn, tough luck Shearer).

I'll be gathering more pics this week. Enjoy your Saturday.

paul

It was another gray and rainy day, blah!!!!

The 11th round of Survivor is off to a.....start. It has a different feel to it than the other seasons and the two Survivors they brought back are actually a part of the game and can be voted off. I think they should have brought them back in a different capacity or at least given them some sort of reprieve from being voted off. Of course the old guy was the first one to get the boot (the former fire chief no less).

A record I want to beat. Suresh Joachim is the new Guinness World Record holder for watching tv. He watched all ABC shows and logged a total of 69 hours, 48 minutes. The previous record was 50 hours, 7 minutes. He was allowed one 5 minute break each hour and one 15minute break every 8 hours and had to have his eyes on the tv at all times. Is channel surfing allowed, I wonder?

Enjoy your evening,

paul

This Chinese born Red Panda at Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo plays in a tree. This pic was taken on 9/5. The bear-like panda weighed 8kg or 19lbs. at the time. It was purchased, in exchange for two giraffes, from Singapore for $11,000 (ha! pocket change). How cute!!!!!! Mommy, can we get one?

Day one of the John Roberts hearings is over and this man is impressive. My favorite part is when he said, "no one is above the law, not even the President." Yes, but does he know who the President is? And speaking of President, Bush actually took the blame for the federal government taking its time to respond to the hurricane Katrina victims. Has hell frozen over?

Jaw dropper of the day: 11 kids in Wakeman, Ohio, were removed from a home after the discovery that some of them were made to sleep in cages, less than 3 feet high. The adoptive parents, during a custody hearing, denied allegations that they had abused or neglected the children. There was no immediate indication that any abuse had gone on but several of the children slept in cages rigged with alarms. The parents seemed to think it was ok and said it had been recommended by a psychiatrist. More like a PSYCHOatrist. I think they need a second opinion. The ages of the children ranged from 1-14 and some had conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome and autism. If being made to sleep in a cage, like a dog, is not abuse then I don't know what it. It has to be some form of abuse. How about humiliation? That is just wrong.

Enjoy your day,

paul

A breaking news story photo put out by Skynews Ireland. Cost of the whole world seeing the truth about Bush: Priceless

I don't mean to dwell on the tragedy in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, however, I'm getting a little tired of hearing reporters and leaders in Washington say that this is unlike any disaster our country has ever experienced. What about the Great Mississippi flood in 1927 that killed over 1,000 people and left thousands more without homes; the 1950 New England Hurricane that killed more than 600 people from Boston to NYC and the disaster that is still considered the deadliest in US history, the Galveston hurricane of 1900 that killed over 10,000 people and spawned a wonderful non-fiction book called Isaac's Storm. The book, by Erik Larson, tells of Isaac Monroe Cline, an employee of the just starting weather bureau who predicts the storm but is called a chicken little by everyone else. It's a wonderfully told story that draws on history and personal rememberances. Erik Larson wrote another really good book called The Devil in the White City; a story of the first World's Fair in Chicago. The book jumps back and forth between the preparations of the fair and the story of Chicago's own Jack the Ripper, Dr. H.H. Holmes. Jack the Ripper had frenzied the East End of London only five years prior to the opening of the fair.

One more note about hurricane Katrina; now the sound bite songs are being played on the radio. These are songs, usually ballads or slower tempo songs, that feature snippets of victims, reporters, Washington leaders, commenting on the tragedy and devastation. The two songs I've heard so far are U2's song "One" and the remake of "Listen To Your Heart" by DHT, which sounds eerily like the original only not as good. Songs like this were also heard after the 9/11 incident.

By the way, there is a wonderful issue of Time out right now; the Sept. 12 issue, it's a special hurricane Katrina issue and there are some really well written and informative articles in there. It's definitely worth the read.

That's all for tonight. Enjoy your evening,

paul

I was sent this picture by a friend and, while my spouse thinks it is silly, I think it's funny. So here it is!

I'm back!!!!! I didn't fall off the face of the earth I've just been lazy. I wanted a bit of a break from writing but now I'm back and chattier than ever.

The cause of Yasser Arafat's death is being blamed on a stroke. However, the cause of the stroke or why Arafat got sick is still up for debate and his medical records are heavily guarded and his widow refused an autopsy. A report by the New York Times said that Arafat had disseminated intravascular coagulation (D.I.C.), a blood disorder. The times also said that the stroke was a result of the DIC from an infection that was not identified. The report rejected that the infection was AIDS or poison. However, Arafat's personal physician, Dr. Ashraf al-Kurdi, said that Yasser did have AIDS and was given AIDS to cover the poison. I don't understand why it has to be such a damn mystery. The man is dead; it's not like he can be hurt or harmed anymore.

Pause for the passing: William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was laid to rest yesterday. He served on the nation's highest court for 33 years and the dirt was barely covering the casket when talk was that John Roberts would succeed Rehnquist as C.J. My spouse has never had a bad feeling about Roberts and I think Roberts might not be a bad choice. His resume is impressive and while he was brash and controversial in his youth, he seems to have mellowed and grown up. I really think there could have been much worse choices.

Movie minute: Something light; my Oscar video pick of the week. A 1964 crime caper starring Maximilian Schell, Melina Mercouri, and Peter Ustinov in his second Oscar winning role. The film Topkapi is campy, fun, intriguing and suspenseful. It follows six thieves as they set out to steal an emerald dagger from a Turkish museum. Schell is the dashing and sexy Walter, Mercouri as the obsessed with gilt Elizabeth, and Ustinov as the hapless schmo Arthur. It's in the same vein as the caper Ocean's 11, the big budget movie with George Clooney, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts. Topkapi, however, is more exciting and better acted. They make very few movies like this anymore. Ok, it did come out AFTER the original Ocean's 11 with Frank Sinatra but it was four years and the film is still fun and worth watching. I didn't think I would like this movie when I started watching it because it's not the type of movie I usually enjoy or get into. I was very pleasantly surprised. The movie is mostly set in Turkey but for some inexplicable reason the music is all Greek. How fun! It is also obvious that the film was made in the 60's. The climax when the thieves steal the dagger is truly breathtaking in the sense that I found myself holding my own breath for fear I would set off the alarms if I breathed too hard. I didn't quite understand the ending but, hey, no movie is perfect.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Another plea for help message on the roof of a home in New Orleans. Now residents are being forced to leave very much like the citizens in the Gaza Strip. They have no choice at this point. They are being forced to leave for different reasons but the emotional aspect is the same.

A pic of some Hawk T-1 jets which are part of the British Royal Air Force's Red Arrows squadron. They were in Athens for an air display.

It's the Saturday before Labor Day and what a glorious weather day it is. On the Saturday before Labor Day last year, I was 15,000 feet in the air making my first tandem skydive. I remember being absolutely petrified and I don't remember the first 2 seconds right after I jumped. I do remember the roar of the wind (it's not an exaggeration) as we were free falling. I would do it again in a second (it is expensive, however, and an almost three hour drive from where we live).

The Christian fundamentalist groups are blaming the destruction in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana on God. They are saying that God has punished New Orleans because it is a wicked city full of debauchery. I don't buy that for one second. God does not control the weather; weather is determined by jet streams, ocean currents, the moon, the sun, and to some extent humans. If God were to blame then we could blame ALL disasters on God. Hell let's just blame Bush's election and re-election on God (I didn't know God was a Republican). Ok, I could go on for pages and pages. I'll just say this, God has no say in the weather.

Enjoy your day,

paul

This girl at California's State Fair puts some money into a great big oink oink. It's not a real pig but it is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest piggy bank. It is 14 feet tall, 21feet long and 18 feet wide. The money received during this Labor Day weekend will be donated to the American Red Cross to help victims of the devastating hurricane Katrina. And Maria is churning away.

Now no one can say that it can't happen in this country.

My Oscar video pick of the week is a film from 1937 that tells the exciting story of prolific French author Emile Zola. Zola spent his life fighting for truth and justice and the conspiracies and lies that hid within the French army and government. His life really got interesting when he took on the case of Alfred Dreyfus, a French Captain who was wrongfully accused of treason. Based on evidence he received, Zola took on the French army and ended up being tried himself. His libel case, which is the centerpiece of the film, is frustratingly farcical. Most of the case and questions can't be heard or asked because they could compromise national security. The film still resonates today in light of Abu Ghraib and false reasons for going to war. The lies, cover ups and scandals of the present day government are echoed in this film as Zola tries desperately to get to the truth. Joseph Schildkraut, who plays Dreyfus, won the Supporting Actor Oscar. It was the second such Oscar ever handed out. Paul Muni, who plays Zola, and so memorably played Louis Pasteur the year before, almost became the first actor to win back to back Oscars. He lost out to Spencer Tracy, who ironically did become the first actor to win back to back Oscars. Thankfully the film has a satisfying ending as the truth about Dreyfus is revealed and we are shown, once again, that deceit and secrets never stay hidden. The film also won the best picture of 1937 and if you like a good courtroom drama this movie is for you. Muni acts his heart out in the role and the film also features Gale Sondergaard who won the first Supporting Actress Oscar the previous year.

Enjoy your day and pray for our sisters and brothers in the South.

paul

An aerial view of Mississippi after the carnage of Katrina

This pic of New Orleans probably doesn't even begin to show the devastation people are facing in the South.

A day after the devastation in the south there's looting in Louisiana and mayhem in Mississippi and I have to say if one were going to shoplift then right after a major disaster such as Katrina would be the time to do it. Just beware of the cops with the shotguns ordering people to drop their loot.

The first great new show of the tv season is Fox's Prison Break, or as I like to call it, this year's 24. It follows structural designer Michael Scofield and his plan to get himself put away in the same maximum security prison as his brother. Michael's brother is played by hunkalicious Dominic Purcell who was on the short lived tv show John Doe. Purcell's character, Lincoln, was convicted of killing the Vice President's brother. No, not the v.p. of GMC, the v.p. of the free world. All of the evidence pointed to his guilt but Michael is certain there's been a cover up and that Lincoln was framed. Once inside the prison, Michael starts his plan in motion. The show features, in just the first two episodes, a riot, the shooting of a bishop, and the chopping off of a characters pinky toe with garden shears. It should be interesting with twists and turns galore and a conspiracy that may go right to the top of the U.S. government. Helping Michael and his brother is lawyer Veronica, who was once romantically involved with Lincoln. Oh, and there's one more snag: Lincoln is set to be executed in 90 days. I don't think it's a coincidence that Purcell's character is named Lincoln (possibly after our 16th president).

Don't cross us: Since 1983 the Red Cross has prohibited any man, who's had sex with another man since 1977, from giving blood. Now comes news that gay friendly churches and organizations in Ohio are refusing to host bloodmobiles. Also gay tolerant volunteers who might otherwise help out with such efforts such as disaster relief are starting to turn against the Red Cross. Australia and the Netherlands are backing away from the prohibitive policy. The testing of blood has come a long way since 1983 and I think it's time the Red Cross stopped the discrimination. A whole population out there is being denied permission to give blood in a nation where blood shortage is a common occurrence. Kudos to other countries that are realizing the absurdity of prohibiting gay men from giving blood. It's just like all of the other nations around the U.S. that are granting same sex couples all of the rights of marriage that different sex couples have. Maybe, as a country, we are still in the dark ages.

Enjoy your day but not in the dark,

paul

The Hualapai tribe is spending $40 million dollars to turn 1,000 acres of land into a major tourist attraction. The land will feature a Western-themed town, an Indian village and a glass skywalk that will jut out 70 feet from the Grand Canyon. This picture was done by an artist and based on this picture the glass walk looks awesome. Expected to open in January it would probably be amazing to watch this being built.

Mother nature has struck again: Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana all hit hard by Katrina. Over 20 feet of water, damage in the billions of dollars, and people's whole lives literally washed away. Mother nature seems intent on showing us the massive strength and power that she holds.

Jaw dropper of the day: A man in Savannah, Ga, will think twice before attempting to rob a bank. Michael Lyons was celebrating his 13yr-old daughter's birthday with a group of other 13 year olds when he gave a note to one of the girls to give to one of the tellers inside the bank. The note read, 'Give me all of your money, this is a stick up.' Needless to say the teller pressed the alarm and police promptly responded. All they found in the way of criminals was Lyons and the girls. Lyons is charged with criminal intent of robbery by intimidation.

Wherever you are today, enjoy and pray for our sisters and brothers in the South.

The big story this morning is of course Big Meana Katrina. She's no longer a category 5 storm but still mighty deadly and threatens to cause catastrophic damage to New Orleans. Here is a pic of Fort Lauderdale, FL from Aug 25. The sand from the beach is blown around. Since 1900 there have only been three cat 5 storms and they've only had names since 1950. The three we've had were in 35, 69, and 92. The one in 35 hit the Florida Keys. 1969 saw the arrival of Camille as she slammed into Mississippi and Louisiana and 92's storm was Andrew as he devestated Florida.

Another story out of Spain this morning is the running of the bulls. 63 people were injured during this sport and two were seriously injured. The injuries happened as a result of a pileup at the bullring's entrance which is where the run ends. The bulls weigh up to 1,300 pounds. What a wonderful idea, let's see if we can outrun these huge animals before they gore us or trample over us. Why?

Enjoy your day,

paul

The hilarious movie The 40-year-old Virgin is #1 at the box office for the 2nd week. I'm so glad it kept the top spot, it's a fun movie with a lot of funny lines.

I can't even imagine having to deal with the situation in New Orleans. Over a million people trying to leave the city and having the threat of a completely flooded city.

Jaw dropper of the day: World-Toilet Organisation, the Singapore based company is offering a course at the Toilet College. Students will learn such things as changing bulbs, getting rid of urine salt in the toilet, and technical cleaning. The first 30 students will begin their training in October and the course is designed to teach cleaners to improve their lavatory cleaning skills. I wonder if the chairs in the classroom are actually toilet seats.

Enjoy your evening,

paul

The breeze this morning was, as my spouse likes to say, delicious. It's warmed up a bit but is only about 80, although I think it feels warmer.

We rented the movie Guess Who with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. Guess Who is an updated remake of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? That film starred Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. Guess Who has 2 maybe 3 funny moments in the whole film. Otherwise it is predictable and ho-hum, although it is entertaining. The special features (which is usually my favorite part of a dvd) are lame except for the previews of upcoming films. There is a preview of Rent which comes out in November and a non-scene preview of next year's The Da Vinci Code. It's a trailer that shows no scenes from the movie (hmmm could that be because it's still being filmed? Probably).

Speaking of movies, here are the films that I just have to see this fall (or life won't be worth living). I'm so glad I'm not dramatic.

Flightplan: Jodie Foster is back. She last kicked butt in the thriller Panic Room and now she's back kicking butt 40,000 feet in the air. She plays a mom who's daughter disappears on a transatlantic flight. Is she telling the truth or is she some whacked out escaped mental patient?

Proof: Originally done on the stage this film, directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden, stars Gwyneth Paltrow (who was directed to an Oscar in Shakespeare) plays daughter to Anthony Hopkins's brilliant mathematician. He's also mentally ill. Yes, it does sound like A Beautiful Mind but it does have a good cast. It will either be really good or really depressing....or both.

Syriana: A CIA agent looking for a terrorist in the Middle East. Sounds heavy and not the sort of film I'd usually want to see. It does star George Clooney though and for me he is eye candy. Yes, even with 35 pounds packed on and his beard and salt and pepper hair, and dreamy eyes... Oh sorry, I forgot where I was.

Walk The Line: Or as I like to call it, this year's Ray. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon play Johnny and June Carter Cash. They supposedly do their own singing and are already being called major Oscar contenders. We'll see.....

Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire: The wizarding tournament, the Quidditch, the death of one of the students, the rebirth of Lord Voldemort (played by Ralph Fiennes, so vicious and creepy in Schindler's List) and the turn from happy go lucky Hogwarts to deadly serious and loss of innocence. Oooooooooo

Rent: Adapted from Jonathan Larson's Tony- and Pulitzer- winning musical (he died right before it hit the stage). Only two of the major cast members were not in the Broadway version of the show. This film could be this year's Chicago or it could be a major flop. I've got my fingers crossed for the former outcome.

The Producers: Not out until December but I'm looking forward to seeing this and thankfully it has the two stars from the Broadway show. Those stars are of course Nathan Lane (my Natey is back) and Matthew Broderick. It would have been nice to have seen these two performers live but I'll have to pay a lot less to see them this way.

Brokeback Mountain: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger play gay cowboys in a film that promises to be daring and risque. Yeah, we'll see.

These movies are not movies that I have to see but probably will see just because they will no doubt be event movies.

King Kong: Peter Jackson (the hobbit who directed some film called The Lord of the Rings). Naomi Watts plays the role made famous by Fay Wray in the film that boasts cool special effects.

All The King's Men: Another remake, I know. The original film (based on a book, so it wasn't original to begin with) won the Oscar for Best Pic and took two acting awards. The new cast screams Academy Award: Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Sean Penn, James Gandolfini, Kathy Baker, and Anthony Hopkins.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The adaptation of C.S. Lewis's first book of his seven part series. Could be this year's Lord of the Rings.

As they say; See you at the movies.

That's it for now. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

paul

Check out this pic of a streaker at the Jackson Hole, Wyoming demolition derby. Police officers brought him down and then one deputy tasered him in the back as over 3,000 spectators looked on. I wonder if he really needed something as big as a fire extinguisher to cover himself. The blue globe is something added to the pic to cover his other (ass)ets.

Ok, I'm officially sick of driving through Geneseo. When I first moved to the area, Geneseo was busy as it is a college town but there was no Enterprise, there was no Cingular, there was no KFC and Taco Bell, there was no Aldi's and there was no Tim Horton's (which just opened). There was no road across the street from Wegman's and now there is a road and as if one Wal-Mart wasn't enough now they have to build another one; a Wal-Mart Super Center. Heaven only knows what's going to go into the old Wal-Mart building. From now on I will NOT drive through that town unless I'm dying and there's a hospital there and it's the only hospital that will take me. I'm so glad I'm no dramatic.

This Oscar business is really starting to become an obsession. I like the Oscars, a lot. Not only have I channeled my inner nerd and memorized all of the winners of Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress but now I'm watching all of the films that won one of those awards that I've never seen. I went to one of the big libraries in the city today and checked out four movies that I had never seen that were major Oscar winners of some sort (two of which I really don't want to watch because they are musicals but will anyway). It's almost like I'm taking a college course. Which isn't that far off since I took a couple of film courses in college. I saw three other older movies I had never seen that I wanted to see but denied myself because they had nothing to do with Oscar. One of those movies was the original The Ladykillers with Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. Peter Sellers is the main reason I wanted the movie. Ever since I saw him in Being There I find myself wanting to see some of his other work; besides the Pink Panther.

Well I hope you are enjoying your Friday. I am and now I'm going to turn on and tune in.

paul

My Oscar video pick of the week is a good-natured and heartwarming story made in 1979 about a simpleton (read: mentally challenged) who goes from being a nobody to knowing the President of the US. Being There tells the story of Chance the Gardener, aka Chauncey Gardiner, who doesn't seem to exist. He has learned everything he knows from watching tv. After a slight misfortune he meets Eve (played nicely by Shirley MacLaine) and her husband, financial tycoon Rand. Peter Sellers plays Chance and I haven't seen a lot of Peter Sellers's films but I know a good performance when I see one. Sellers is truly wonderful in the movie and doesn't play Chance as a victim or a joke. Everyone who meets Chance/Chauncey is quite taken with him. Because of his silence and cryptic answers and the suits he wears people think Chauncey is a brilliant, intelligent and well-bred man. What I knew about this movie before watching it: It was Sellers's penultimate (I really like that word) role, he had been nominated for an Oscar, it had a man who was dying. I did some research after watching the film and found out that the thinking is Sellers lost the Oscar (to Dustin Hoffman) because of the blooper scene that played over the end credits. It's quite funny, don't get me wrong (although the scene was NOT in the movie) but it did not fit at all with the rest of the movie and should not have been played over the credits. It was a violation of the movie and I believe that's why Sellers didn't get the Oscar that year. I've seen Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (the role he won for) and I believe Sellers had the better role and was more talented. Not to mention dashing, sexy. Melvyn Douglas who played the financial tycoon won the award for Supporting Actor and Shirley MacLaine should have been nominated for her performance for the masturbation scene alone. I also read after watching the film that Laurence Olivier had been offered the role of Chance but didn't want to be in a scene in which MacLaine had to masturbate (it's one of the best scenes).
Sometimes the Academy gets it so right and sometimes they get it so wrong. Sellers was robbed but don't let that stop you from seeing Being There.

According to tests run on frozen urine samples from 1999, Lance Armstrong had EPO in his system. EPO is a substance that boosts red-blood cells. Armstrong has defiantly denied that there was EPO in the samples and all of the other samples tested since then have been negative. I'm not saying that Lance Armstrong is guilty or not guilty what I am saying is this: Baltimore Orioles player Rafael Palmiero vehemently denied that he used steroids and then got caught with them in his system, Jose Canseco admitted to using steroids, Mark McGuire refused to answer whether or not he did (but did use Andro at one time) so what's the difference between them saying they never used drugs and getting caught and Lance Armstrong?

Jaw dropper of the day: Or should I say eye dropper? An eye doctor in South Orange, NJ, was performing a cataract surgery when an SUV crashed into the building. The doctor had just put in the silicone lens with a plunger (probably not the kind used in the bathroom) when the vehicle smashed through the wall and stopped short of hitting the doctor and the patient. The doctor was thrown onto the patient (who wasn't totally sedated by the way) and only missed being hit because the vehicle's rear tires hit the curb. The 77-year old driver was backing his Toyota 4-Runner out of the parking spot only he didn't put it in reverse, he put it in drive. The driver had been leaving the office after making an appointment. I myself would probably look for another doctor at that point.

And where in the world is Patrick McDermott, Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend of nine years?

Enjoy your day,

paul

Mei Sheng, at the San Diego zoo, celebrates her birthday on August 19. Happy Birthday to her. That is frosting on her cheek, not blush. 

This panda, born on July, 9, at Washington's Smithsonian National Zoo weighs 4.2 lbs and is 17in long. The previous pics were of the twin pandas born in China and they were born on August 6 

And the baby starts to kind of look like an actual panda bear. 

Here's another pic of one of the cubs born to 18 year old Xue Xue 

Xue Xue, the giant panda in Northwest China gave birth to twin cubs on August 9. I had no idea that panda cubs were born so small, one could fit it in the hand. How adorable. It almost looks like a tiny pink alien. 

A deliciously cool day here in Western, NY. According to the weatherman though the humidity is supposed to come back. It doesn't matter because August is on it's way out and September will soon be here with fall not too far behind.

Jaw dropper of the day: Talk about having a driver's license from a cracker jack box. An 86-year old woman in Minnesota has been ticketed for reckless driving. Pauline Lillian Meyerhoff of Goodview, Minn, decided to drive down a busy, crowded street on Sunday afternoon. The problem: She drove right through a parade. Driving her red cadillac (surprise, surprise, why do so many elderly people want to drive Cadillacs?) she turned down the town's main drag and almost plowed down adults, children and a gymnastics team. And instead of stopping or at least slowing down, Meyerhoff sped up (now that's a GREAT idea) and got up to speeds of between 35 and 50 according to the police chief. Fortunately not long after she arrived at her home, a policeman also arrived and ticketed her. The police chief explained that Meyerhoff was very upset at being ticketed when the law wasn't enforced to keep people out of the street while she's trying to drive on it. I think it's time to start calling a cab.

Enjoy your day,

paul

Religious 'Right?' Talk about saying stupid things.....Pat Robertson is probably not having a good morning after saying the following about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." He continued, "You know I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it." Robertson is no stranger to controversial statements. In 2003, he said that feminism encourages women to "kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." Why don't we just kill anyone who doesn't agree with us. I'm sure Jesus walked around preaching that same thing, "I don't like what that tax collector stands for, let's take him out. Who's with me? Peter? John?"

A California Supreme Court has ruled that same sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples when the two of them break up. They must provide for the child. The judge ruled that being a legal parent "brings with it the benefits as well as the responsibilities." One attorney of Liberty Counsel said, "That policy establishes that moms and dads as a unit are irrelevant when it comes to raising children." What?!!??? It doesn't say that at all. Maybe he's the one who's irrelevant.

Ok, enough ranting for the day. Enjoy yours,

paul