movie minute

Oztalia: The magnificent and brilliantly artistic Baz Luhrmann is back with a movie that is as grand as the country it is set in. Australia is a sweeping epic that is visually stunning from start to finish.

The movie is set just before WWII and tells the story of Lady Sarah Ashley (the beautiful as ever Nicole Kidman) and her struggle to finish what her husband Maitland Ashley started; bringing a cattle farm in the harsh outback of Australia back to life. The film is told from the point of view of Nullah (played by Brandon Walters) an aborigine whose mother dies while hiding from the police. Sarah takes a maternal interest in the boy and does everything she can to protect him as. As Sarah and the company she has hired struggle to move the cattle to the wharf in order to sell them, she and cattle herder Drover (the talented Hugh Jackman) butt heads over how things should be done. Sarah and Drover are a modern day Rhett and Scarlett and it's clear from the day they first meet that these two are destined to be together.

The main story of the film is not about the fiery relationship between Lady Sarah and Drover but about young Nullah's quest for a home, family and sense of belonging. Nullah becomes a part of Sarah and Drover's family but once the war begins, he is wrenched away from the two and put with all of the other half-casts on Mission Island.

Like Scarlett in Gone With The Wind, Sarah undergoes a major transformation as she discovers within her a courage and strength she did not realize she had. Drover, like Nullah, realizes that he is longing for a family after closing himself off from the pain and disappointment of love. I have to say that this is arguably the best role I've seen Jackman in and the young boy who plays Nullah is incredibly precocious.

The film is a shoo-in for some major Academy Award nominations unless voters are put off by the length. At 2hours and 45 minutes, the film could have been about 20 minutes shorter. Having said that, however, the landscapes, scenery and costumes are amazing and Luhrmann does know how to keep the story moving swiftly.

If you are a fan of Kidman, Jackman or Luhrmann you'll enjoy this movie. If you are a fan of stunning cinematography, you'll enjoy it even more.

Bags of popcorn (out of 5): 3.5

Academy Award nominations predictions:

Best Director
Best Picture
Best Costume Design
Best Cinematography

Long Shot:
Best Actor: Hugh Jackman

encouraging video

My man Keith speaking out for the GLBT people...Yea!!!!

http://www.queerty.com/keith-olbermann-special-comment-on-gay-marriage-20081110/

Enjoy!!!

Wanna quit your day job? Just do what Steve Demeter did. Write a game for a phone. Steve wrote the game "Trism" and put it on Apple's App Store for just $4.99. After just two months, the game earned him over $250,000. Steve promptly quit his job and started his own development studio. He's currently working on five new games, including a sequel to Trism. Trism can currently be played on the iPhone.

peace,

paul

powerful passing

A 13-year-old boy at a Martin County school was arrested by police on November 21 because he was disrupting his class by (get ready for it)....passing gas and turning off the computers of his classmates. What I don't understand is exactly how was he turning off the computers? Was it his mighty wind or was he actually getting up and turning them off? Either way, his mother must have been so proud (not!) when he was released into her custody. That's my boy!!!

peace,

paul

Help...I'm dead!

I may have posted this before but it's too funny NOT to post again. Cop confiscates pot and then bakes it into brownies. The second video is a parody of the first. Enjoy...


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1f4_1179038976

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5574/marijuana-brownies-the-911-call-from-secretfuntime

Wouldn't hurt a fly

Another bank robbing story this time from California. An elderly grandmother has robbed two banks and both times told the tellers she was being forced into robbing the bank. She played up the fact that she was fearful for her life and even appeared to be strapped to a "bomb". Victim or Genius? You decide...Enjoy the clip.


http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=10752950&src=news

Stop that chair...

A 45-year old man in a wheelchair was arrested in Florida last week after allegedly robbing a Space Coast Credit Union. The guy managed to wheel a whole block before being captured by police.

Christopher Reed, a paraplegic, entered the credit union and demanded money and saying he was armed with an explosive device (insert your own joke here).

After being captured, Reed told police that two men forced him to commit the robbery and that he had given the money to the men but eyewitnesses said Reed was the sole culprit and the money was found in Reed's prosthetic leg. Also found; a bottle of vodka in his motorized chair.

What I want to know is how in the world did he get out of the bank in the first place? Is his chair really that fast? And who held the door for him? Did people actually see the explosive device or did they just take his word for it? So many questions that will probably never be answered, alas!

Now Reed will be in jail and he'll have all that he needs: Food, water, exercise, entertainment...

Have a great day.

paul

These are always fun and they'll make you feel better about yourself (unless one of them is about you). Enjoy.

paul


Idiot Number One of 2008:

I am a medical student currently doing a rotation in toxicology at the poison control center. Today, this woman called in very upset because she caught her little daughter eating ants. I quickly reassured her that the ants are not harmful and there would be no need to bring her daughter into the hospital. She calmed down and at the end of the conversation happened to mention that she gave her daughter some ant poison to eat in order to kill the ants. I told her that she better bring her daughter in to the emergency room right away.

Here's your sign, lady. Wear it with pride.

Idiot Number Two of 2008:

Early this year, some Boeing employees on the airfield decided to steal a life raft from one of the 747's. They were successful in getting it out of the plane and home. Shortly after they took it for a float on the river, they noticed a Coast Guard helicopter coming toward them. It turned out that the chopper was homing in on the emergency locater beacon that activated when the raft was inflated. They are no longer employed at Boeing.

Here's your sign, guys. Don't get it wet; the paint might run.


Idiot Number Three of 2008:

A man, wanting to rob a downtown Bank of America, walked into the branch and wrote this, 'Put all your muny in this bag.' While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller's window. So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to the Wells Fargo Bank. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller. She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest light in the harbor, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to Bank of America. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, 'OK' and left. He was arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at Bank of America.

Don't bother with this guy's sign. He probably couldn't read it anyway.


Idiot Number Four of 2008:

A motorist was unknowingly caught in an automated speed trap that measured his speed using radar and photographed his car. He later received in the mail a ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of payment, he sent the police department a photograph of $40. Several days later, he received a letter from the police that contained another picture, this time of handcuffs. He immediately mailed in his $40.

Wise guy.... . ... But you still get a sign


Idiot Number Five of 2008:

A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all of the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and said, 'Because I don't believe you are over 21.' The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because she didn't believe him. At this point, the robber took his driver's license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and she put the Scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later.

This guy definitely needs a sign.


Idiot Number Six of 2008:

A pair of Michigan robbers entered a record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, 'Nobody move!' When his partner moved, the startled first bandit shot him.

This guy doesn't even deserve a sign.


Idiot Number Seven of 2008 Arkansas :

Seems this guy wanted some beer pretty badly. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back knocking him unconscious. It seems the liquor store window was made of Plexi-Glass.The whole event was caught on videotape.

Yep, here's your sign.


Idiot Number Eight of 2008:

I live in a semi-rural area. (Weyauwega, Wisconsin). We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road. The reason: 'Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! - I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.'

STAY ALERT! They walk among us... and they REPRODUCE...and they VOTE!!!

Goodbye, Charlie Brown...

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Can I have one, mom, huh, huh, can I?

Found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia after an eight decade absence, these tiny nocturnal insectivores are reminiscent of the gremlins that were seen in the 1984 movie of the same name.

Researchers were hunting for the pygmy tarsiers that weigh 2 oz in order to fit them with tracking collars. An anthropology professor from Texas A&M had her finger bitten by one when she was putting a collar on one of them; they have the ability to turn their heads 180 degrees (move over, Linda Blair).

Although the lil creatures are of the primate family, they have claws instead of fingernails. They are the smallest and rarest primates on the planet and are probably house broken so chances are they wouldn't make that good of a pet. Besides, they don't like bright light and should NEVER EVER eat after midnight.

peace,

paul

weekly post from November 1, 2008

Hello friends & loved ones,

It's been a very weird week weather wise. We actually had some snowflakes in the chilly air this past week and yet today it's sunny and in the high 60's...Welcome to Western, NY weather; one day you could be in short sleeves and shorts and the next in your winter coat.

I've been in an introspective mood this week and I've been thinking a lot about love this past week and how we love certain people but want nothing to do with others. Two people can be exactly the same and yet we love one and can't imagine loving the other (for whatever reason). I've always maintained that I'm shallow when it comes to my first reaction to meeting or seeing someone. Yes, I do look at the physical appearance first and then everything else follows. Of course, what does follows is even more important...truth, morals, kindness, sensitivity, spontaneity, a zest for life, humor, humility, relaxed, strong Christian values and ability to life at the absurdity of life. It's puzzling what draws two people together and even more puzzling why two people who were so hot and heavy for each other can a month later be at each other's throats and claim to "not love the person anymore." I don't believe in the term "falling out of love" because you either love someone or you don't. If you truly love someone, you make it work with that person and stick it out through the good and bad times, no matter what. Unless your life is in danger or the person is just truly a jerk, you work it out and stay together. I have been guilty of not living up to that and have had the other person in my life decide they don't want to make it work. Relationships are difficult and sometimes can be complex but either you love the person or you don't People don't just magically fall out of love, they just stop trying It's still the same person you originally met but people seem to think that you can only love someone if they are who you want them to be instead of who they actually are.

I guess what I'm trying to say is let's have a lot more love and really try to make relationships work and if they're not working, try something different. Whatever it takes with the exception of cheating, lying or killig. If you're in a relationship, really take a long look at the person you're with and ask yourself, "Do I really love this person?" "Do I know what truly loving someone means?" and "Do I have what it takes to make this work, no matter what?" There's enough hate in the world...let's add a lot more love and drown the hate.

Be loving this weekend to everyone you know; even to people you don't know.

Pray for each other as I pray for you.

Stocking Stuffers

Tina Fey better watch her back because there's a new rival for her Sarah Palin impersonation...she's a doll, literally.

The Sarah Palin cabbage patch doll is going to be auctioned off for charity on eBay's website. There's one thing wrong with this doll and I can't belive no one thought of it. It doesn't talk. There should be some Palinisms. Pull Sarah's string and you can hear such gems as "My record is out there", "Alaska is all over the map right now", "Gosh darn it", "Darn tootin'", "We're taking the high road", "You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska", and some bonus ones like, "John McCain is my MAVERICK", "We need a change, not more of the same" (irony, anyone?), "I'd like to use one of my lifelines." Imagine the fun she'd be at a party.

Barack Obama, John McCain and Joe Biden have also been made into cabbage patch dolls. The proceeds will benefit the US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots foundation.

peace,

paul

Halloween Bowling

Have fun....

paul


http://www.itsga.com/fun/cat_new.swf

I can't see Russia but I can see the ocean from this house.

No, Gosh darn it this isn't the home of a terrorist or political hater. Instead it's a West Hollywood home who has decided to cross the line of tastelessness in the name of free speech. A dummy Sarah Palin (as opposed to the real dummy) is hanging in effigy while an angry looking John McCain burns in the chimney on the roof. Although I think it looks a bit more like Nixon than McCain. Officials have determined that no laws are being broken (except for the "white trash" law) although Secret Service officials did visit the house for fear that the owners were a threat to the Presidential and VP nominees. The city received dozens and dozens of calls from people all around the country complaining about the "decorations". No word on whether any of those calls were from Alaska.

peace,

paul

Bringing the tricks & treats back

For the town of Oil City, PA, this Halloween will be the first festive one in a long time. Sixteen years ago an 11-year-old girl was abducted and murdered and that began a long dry spell for trick or treating after dark. Yes, it was banned.

The only way this was going to be overturned was by the will of a child and that's exactly what happened. Fifth-grader Elizabeth Ross got all the necessary signatures, essayed her argument and spent an (exhausting, I'm sure) entire two months trying to get City Council to bring back nighttime trick or treating. Well, it worked. (However, I would like to know how involved her parents were in the City Council part).

Yes, some people are still skittish and will be taking extra precautions to protect their children; including tethering them (perfectly safe, I assure you). There will also be extra policemen out (a whole 7 instead of 4), extra security guards and some crossing guards too because if all else fails you can always use the huge STOP sign as a weapon to deter criminals.

Seriously, though, I do hope the town of Oil City has a blast tomorrow night and that no one takes the fun out of the "poor man's Christmas."

peace,

paul

weekly post from October 17, 2008

Hello friends and loved ones,

The smell of autumn is permeating the air outside and the leaves are dropping from the trees fast and furiously. Even though I've been somewhat out of commission for the last week and a half, thanks to bronchitis and pneumonia, it's great to be alive and to be able to breathe.

This email was inspired by a brief conversation I particiapted in at church and as I was formulating how to begin and what to say, a song came on that I really like. A song, I might add, by a rapper I had brought up in the aforementioned conversation. The song is called "Lose Yourself" and I lost myself in it as I blasted as high as it would go without the bass starting to shake, rattle and roll the car.

If you're not familiar with the song, it's ok because you might be familiar with the artist: Eminem. Yes, I listen to the occasional rap song and, yes, I like Eminem's music. We hang out with friends and family everyday and think we know them like the back of our hands and then BOOM! we discover something we never would have guessed; such as Paul likes Eminem's music.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't like some of the things Eminem has said and done in the past but I can separate the two and realize that despite his messy personal life he is still a talented songwriter and has crafted some great tunes.

Just as we don't really have a rhyme or reason as to who we choose to love, I also believe that each person likes different things (even the most shocking) for different reasons. Would I let my kids listen to Eminem? Not a chance! At least not until they are 18.

Some other things I like: Fish (just about any kind), Survivor, Akon, country music, singing in the car, Newsweek magazine, silver as opposed to gold, Keith Olbermann, documentaries and a good bottle of Pinot Noir.

So, as you're going along this weekend and the coming days; don't be ashamed of what you like. You are you and nobody else. Therefore, enjoy what you like with pride. And remember it doesn't make you a bad person if you listen to rap...it might be a different story if you start taking some of the words to heart, however.

Next week: Falling out of love? Fact or Myth?

Until then pray for each other as I pray for you.

Stay safe, stay happy and stay healthy.

peace,

paul

weekly post from October 5, 2008

Hello friends & loved ones:

This is not the email I had planned to write but when the spirit calls, one should listen (or face the consequences).

I will get this out of the way first: This is the time of year that I begin to get excited because the new tv season has started (From late Sept. to May I am a tv junkie; look out if one of my shows is on) and it's also the time of year when the movies that will be nominated for major Academy Awards begin to be released. I enjoy the mad dash to see them all before the big show. But as excited as I am during this time of year, I'm also hit with a sadness of sorts. I'm a giver/doer/helper and it's hard when I meet someone or love someone who does not appreciate that or takes that for granted or does not know how to give back fully. Thanks to my Pastor I've learned to enjoy life to its fullest and I even wake up cheerful now which is something I NEVER used to do. I give with all my heart; live passionately; revel in laughter; seek the fun that each day has to offer and try to squash negativity at every turn. It's not easy (at least not for me but I did learn from a master at it). It's very liberating and even when everything is going wrong, as long as I look at the irony and oddity of life I know I'll be smiling and realizing that everything is going to be alright.

It's great to be alive and it's even better to give your love to someone. The hard part comes when that love is not appreciated or when that love is not readily accepted. One has to realize that not everyone is suited to be together and sometimes one person is just not ready to be loved or share their love. It might just not be the right time. It's difficult and also a life lesson. It helps to grow us and make us better people.

I feel like I'm rambling so I'm going to wrap it up; but I will leave you with this. Realize your gifts/talents/assets and use them 100%. Don't become discouraged if you come up against someone who does not appreciate what you have to offer. Instead pledge to strengthen your resolve and sharpen those gifts so that the next person you meet (one who will surely appreciate what you have to offer) will certainly be damned thankful they met you.

Continue to pray for each other as I pray for you.

Until next time: Stay safe, stay happy and stay healthy.

love,

paul

weekly post from September 26, 2008

Hello my friends & loved ones:

I'm sitting here in my office (thankfully I still have one, especially after last week's bombshell at the company) on my lunch break with the beautiful September sun shining at my back while the music pounds in my ears and I'm thinking how grateful I am for so many people and things. And that started the idea to write about this week's topic: Enjoying life.

It sounds so simple, I know but so many people go through life with no enjoyment. I'm not saying that we should all aspire to be Mary Poppins 24-hours a day; no one can do that, although it is possible to come close. What I'm talking about is enjoying the people, pleasures and daily activities that life brings our way each and every day. This includes being thankful, truly thankful for the loved ones and friends we have been blessed with. I will admit that I'm not the best at always staying in touch but I do try to do my best everyday. I can also appreciate the many beautiful things that surround me each day and find joy and laughter in just about everything. It's not an easy task if one is not used to doing it but it can be done and once you get in the habit, it becomes easier and you'll find you get more out of life. It is true what they say, 'Laughter is good for the soul.' I think that's what's wrong with so many people; they don't laugh (or smile) enough. Yes, life can be difficult and people can truly suck sometimes, however, it's what you make of this life that counts. What matters is how you treat others, the good you do, how passionately you love, the joy you try to bring to others, the smiles you share with those who aren't smiling, the truth you strive for, the honesty you strive for each day, the positive attitude you allow to permeate your soul and the laughter you elicit from others. The importance of each of the above are what should be stressed each day.

As I sit here, continuing to write and share these thoughts with you I'm thinking of how good it feels to be back sharing myself and letting each of you into my heart, mind and soul. It can be difficult to share and open up to someone, especially if the other person won't or can't do the same. It becomes troubling when someone you love doesn't share in your daily enthusiasm, passion and love. Where does one go from there? How much does one try to break through to someone before giving up? These are the thoughts I have roaming through my head on this cool, sunny and crisp September day.

Wherever you are today, I hope that you are praying for each other as I pray for each of you (even if you don't think you are a blip on my radar; I know who I'm writing to).

Stay safe, stay happy and stay healthy.

peace,

paul

fact checking

I like these...the day after the debates the real truths come out.

Click on the link to find out the real deal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081003/ap_on_el_pr/debate_fact_check