tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110178832024-02-19T04:46:01.414-08:00GR2BR<center><b>good riddance to bad rubbish</b></center>
<p><center>Why "gr2br"? Because. <br>I mean, who wants bad rubbish around?</center>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.comBlogger375125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-13487309243698977432012-11-12T21:57:00.002-08:002012-11-12T21:57:52.754-08:00Wait... haven't I seen that before?So I went to see Skyfall this weekend (yep, it lives up to the hype) and there were a gazillion trailers. In fact, for the FNDG crowd readers out there, my guess would've been "a gazillion" — and I woulda won.<br />
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As usual, I can't remember all the trailers but a select few.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1428538/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ-zlY6mY4x9eSKSYjZdrhseEFEowEwdGYJB75pTTH2OCRD8AqbiAd6IbWykGM8zNM5VRxIy5mkRb8bgw5pXd2xVZLo2PSStE24JEE1UghBz48Pt5y-MYES6A3INsq8rzrWC8Vg/s200/movie+poster+hansel+and+gretel+witch+hunters.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1428538/" target="_blank">Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters</a></i> — <i>not</i> because I'm panting with anticipation to see what looks to be a fairly ludicrous movie, but because I just couldn't bring myself to totally write it off. I mean, you've got Hawkeye/Aaron Cross himself playing Hansel and wielding some wicked cool weaponry. Also, Gemma Arterton looks eerily like Jennifer Garner from the bygone Alias days, which is not a bad thing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606378/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN2VIDT7v_VsRgXuXPfsfRKaUPdJu9JJLSC4kHoRTqinwodDYhP_B2nku3vwpxMbam0J29bCm_4f6lNKbapgLk1ziVXPneqPxUKd_w8PyuPHoOpx3SC7atG8ACpTM870NsDtHeA/s200/movie+poster+a+good+day+to+die+hard.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606378/" target="_blank">A Good Day to Die Hard</a></i> looks to be right up my wisecracking alley. I'm pretty much always game to spend a couple of hours with Bruce Willis — even if he's shooting helicopters with taxicabs and taking down fighter jets with semi-trucks — he just never fails to entertain me (except maybe when he's in some incomprehensible, trying-too-hard indy flick wearing shorts the whole time, then not so much). You know, just because the line is obvious doesn't mean it's not funny.
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJjvre3Vih7Fee9UflsvIJ9hLvyf1kXEuLvb2wmqpSaaDUQke0lnhymd9Bwj4TuHmdcLoClswlR4rkl1YDITNcQRM8jxP0WcPnkUqw52zuRyTA79slidXgDnynwOKPr0w4IVwAg/s200/movie+poster+iron+man+3.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/" target="_blank">Iron Man 3</a>,</i> which I hear it is to <i>Iron Man 2</i> what <i>Ocean's 13</i> was to <i>Ocean's 12</i>, except more so. We can only hope. Also, it's written and directed by Shane Black, who wrote the first <i>Lethal Weapon</i> and the story for <i>Lethal Weapon 2</i>. Remember when Riggs destroyed the bad guy's house on stilts by dragging the legs out from under it with a tow rope and his pickup truck? It's amazing what a couple of decades and a bigger budget can do... this time it's the good guy's gorgeous (and, sadly, completely imaginary) Malibu aerie that bites the bullet — or as the case may be, bites an RPG — and goes crashing gloriously and with conviction down the cliff.</td>
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Not surprisingly, both demolition derbies benefit from action rather than still photography:</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WqzJvhR9Fo" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBTxSxgVRWjBPHMETWm9GUPGqds-K0Lo4KInNwyR7onYElpNVt3srr0zTyAhOqtromAz5GNRvovmMZdadmmQzPNdLtE1tF3_pRqDfAYOFL1FbxboyQuDkRL_qzLs_ORcLZC-zaQ/s320/lethal+weapon+2+house+on+stilts.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
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(for the far more impressive Lethal Weapon 2 video clip, go <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WqzJvhR9Fo" target="_blank">here</a>)</div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1265935385/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtJ3D8oPefjxcVSs8PJfOiomGaB5MRcS_BvNRejll9sbQjwWc6iiTxx63AOzDDGL6rUA4UF8Ui0tPCW4ZAr7tkuz8HY4mrhntTbmRyX9lhUl5K-gJmQiKdmud2YDw5y_Bew-Vbg/s320/tony+stark+house+falling.tiff" width="320" /></a></div>
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(this too is waaaaay more impressive in action —watch it <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1265935385/" target="_blank">here</a>)</div>
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And really, that's what I walked away with after sitting through a gazillion trailers — Shane Black liked knocking a house down a cliff so much the first time, he's doing it again.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-45530864418294753102012-07-03T09:21:00.000-07:002016-12-07T09:12:30.131-08:00I'll take famous fathers for $200, Alex<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i><b>
Famous Fathers for $200: “Robin, Stefan, and Stella”</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are… famous kids with famous parents?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1-HuJvXxmU4AqLRBa00NJ-pF060glXteho1cTgYUzegVqUKPk4XFpKXxY7on3ejCaoraCXvZ4bHNwDZnpMdpsZ29Drhfd9Z_MyeHZjzlwjheH9KVGJbsECb7Y4FRuvQ7KhT1Tw/s1600/paul+stella+mccartney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-right: 1.5em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1-HuJvXxmU4AqLRBa00NJ-pF060glXteho1cTgYUzegVqUKPk4XFpKXxY7on3ejCaoraCXvZ4bHNwDZnpMdpsZ29Drhfd9Z_MyeHZjzlwjheH9KVGJbsECb7Y4FRuvQ7KhT1Tw/s320/paul+stella+mccartney.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>(photo from <a href="http://www.mccartney-fanclub.com/?tag/stella" target="_blank">McCartney Fanclub</a>)</i></span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">R&B star Robin Thicke is the son of Alan Thicke — you might remember him from that ground-breaking TV show “Growing Pains.” </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">We have Stefan Kendal, legendary music producer Berry Gordon's son, to thank (or blame, depending) for the incessant chant "party in the house tonight" we've been hearing for over a year. Along with <i>his</i> son, Skyler Austen, he started that band LMFAO.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Isn't there a saying about fashion and rock 'n roll? Hugely successful British designer Stella McCartney just happens to be the daughter of a member of a hugely successful British band, the Beatles' Paul McCartney.</li>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt; margin-top: 5px;"><i><b>
Famous Fathers for $400: “Angelina, Sofia, and Anjelica”</b></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are… Oscar winning kids with Oscar winning parents?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmnLK-eNjJq0gaQcrinrKisbFcwbU9H6G0iVyfM_k_TcQmk_CBfYCT_-GCcW68HPtokx3Xpo4dxTXXt2CwDxVMV3jrb-3hAgS__CcWWhTllqK_AjgKsBdNlmaIOM3Ads_UXs_Aw/s1600/jon+voight+angelina+jolie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmnLK-eNjJq0gaQcrinrKisbFcwbU9H6G0iVyfM_k_TcQmk_CBfYCT_-GCcW68HPtokx3Xpo4dxTXXt2CwDxVMV3jrb-3hAgS__CcWWhTllqK_AjgKsBdNlmaIOM3Ads_UXs_Aw/s320/jon+voight+angelina+jolie.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>(photo from <a href="http://www.eonline.com/celebs/Jon_Voight/112516" target="_blank">E Online</a>)</i></span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Angelina Jolie won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Girl Interrupted” in 2000. Her father, Jon Voight, won the award in 1979 for Best Actor in the film “Coming Home.” Hard to say which one was better looking when they picked up the award.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Sofia Coppola won an Oscar for her screenplay “Lost in Translation” in 2004. Her father, Francis Ford Coppola, has won five Oscars, including Best Director, Screenplay and Picture for “The Godfather: Part II” in 1975. Neither of them won any Oscars for "The Godfather: Part III."</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Anjelica Huston, who won the Best Actress award in 1986 for her phenomenal work in “Prizzi’s Honor,” gets Double, make that Triple, Bingo. Not only did her father, John Huston, win Best Screenplay and Best Director for "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" in 1949, but...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bingo #2</span>: Anjelica is the only Oscar winner who is the <i>grandchild</i> of another Oscar winner. Her grandfather, Walter Huston won Best Actor in 1949 for “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” the same movie for which his father won those aforementioned two Oscars. (For all you yahoos out there who think the quote "badges? we don't need no stinkin' badges!" comes from "Three Amigos" — please watch "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," then get back to me.)<br /><b>Bingo #3</b>: John Huston directed both his parent and his child to (in?) Oscar-winning performances; and he did it in two different movies, almost 40 years apart.</li>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt; margin-top: 5px;"><i><b>Famous Fathers for $600: “Ken, Mohammed, and Yannick”</b></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are… famous athletes with famous athletes for sons?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepfeQgspcLfg-8tbmb4RQdFoaebgmeT7PQJoHk3nsOHm9t0UKWGItvPDMw9ObFCHstJ5LnJ-DtTkqpUDJEiD-oOO5DsKUPrW0yZuIro205B88PT4c6Vm90xhirA8gIaLrOKniKw/s1600/griffey-jr-and-sr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepfeQgspcLfg-8tbmb4RQdFoaebgmeT7PQJoHk3nsOHm9t0UKWGItvPDMw9ObFCHstJ5LnJ-DtTkqpUDJEiD-oOO5DsKUPrW0yZuIro205B88PT4c6Vm90xhirA8gIaLrOKniKw/s320/griffey-jr-and-sr.jpg" width="310" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>(photo from <a href="http://martelli.mlblogs.com/tag/ken-griffey-sr/" target="_blank">MLBlogs</a>)</i></span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">World Series winner Ken Griffey and record-setting Ken Griffey, Jr. are the only father-son baseball duo to have played Major League Baseball at the same time (in 1989), on the same MLB team (in 1990) and the only pair to have to have hit back-to-back home runs in a game.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Laila Ali knocked out her opponent in her first match in just 31 seconds — I guess she was learning about the butterflies and the bees from her dad, Mohammed Ali, when the rest of us were still on the birds and the bees.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">French Open champ Yannick Noah was the first Frenchman to win the French Open in 37 years when he triumphed at Garros in 1983. His son Joakim apparently prefers red balls to red courts — after helping his college team win two consecutive NCAA Championships, he was drafted into the NBA. Not too shabby.</li>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13pt; margin-top: 5px;"><i><b>Famous Fathers for $800: “Martha, Emma and Rashida”</b></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are… famous fathers that might surprise you?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzOyv8nxMvpS927oExabd2sVxUCSpK-hN-8-gnmuRE2ctEQFNDRocIeDuXlR-jhA2DrYw93r0hcSGQKOtxv56HTvnjO7Nxvd4yTU_t-gvnC8mEdmf0VlFHZ85SePuS5-Lf5QyEg/s1600/Rashida-Jones---Dad-Quincy-rashida-jones-129746_230_319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1.5em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzOyv8nxMvpS927oExabd2sVxUCSpK-hN-8-gnmuRE2ctEQFNDRocIeDuXlR-jhA2DrYw93r0hcSGQKOtxv56HTvnjO7Nxvd4yTU_t-gvnC8mEdmf0VlFHZ85SePuS5-Lf5QyEg/s320/Rashida-Jones---Dad-Quincy-rashida-jones-129746_230_319.jpg" width="230" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>(photo from <a href="http://www.fanpop.com/spots/rashida-jones/images/129746/title/rashida-dad-quincy-jones-photo" target="_blank">Fanpop</a>)</i></span></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">The Carradines are the new Barrymores? Martha Plimpton, from “Raising Hope,” among other things is the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Keith Carradine, who, among other things, played the Sheriff in last year’s “Cowboys and Aliens.”</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Music legend Quincy Jones actress Rashida Jones' father (she of “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” fame). As if that weren't enough, Rashida’s mother is Peggy Lipton, the uber-cool 70s chick who starred in “The Mod Squad.” </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 1em;">Emma Roberts (if you're over 35, that name may not mean much, but it will) has not only a famous aunt (Julia Roberts), her dad is Eric Roberts (remember “Star 80”? With Mariel Hemingway? Thought so.) I'm assuming you already know Julia and Eric are siblings.</li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Okay, is it just me, or does it seem as though famous fathers have a thing for girls' names ending in "A"? I mean, c'mon — AngelinA, EmmA, RashidA, AnjelicA, MarthA, SofiA, StellA? And I didn't even <i>try</i> to do that.</span>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-71547947661871475012012-06-07T14:19:00.000-07:002012-06-07T15:42:35.436-07:00Oh, this old piece of geometry? Yeah, I own it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsSm40a-11VyzllPaIpIaPCCR3Gx9N7VAtggKNtYagb9RkvQokFGg_akQLTl0_l_nflMIcmGW0L9bp6XuaFowzsnCh1Rtndxu-MHnbq0Ca7LgtHTOJ_yH_pjwmaBJ_brBlzlBnQ/s1600/macbook+air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsSm40a-11VyzllPaIpIaPCCR3Gx9N7VAtggKNtYagb9RkvQokFGg_akQLTl0_l_nflMIcmGW0L9bp6XuaFowzsnCh1Rtndxu-MHnbq0Ca7LgtHTOJ_yH_pjwmaBJ_brBlzlBnQ/s320/macbook+air.jpg" width="320" /></a>
Granted, I am not an intellectual property attorney, I'd rather see than be one, and I have never played one on TV.<br />
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Nonetheless, allow me to weigh in on the new patent Apple was just awarded — for the shape of the Macbook Air. That's right, Apple patented <i>the wedge</i> (known in some circles as... <i>the</i> <i>triangle</i>).<br />
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It appears that, for right now anyway, Apple's patent is limited to "ultrabooks," but with the ferocity that company's been showing recently in its pursuit of patent primacy, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that infringement warnings are to be served imminently on Renee Pascal, Bermuda, Pythagoras, traffic warning signs, and hapless first graders banging away in music classes everywhere.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD1FvjLonlKxngPpTdw6cJTDn7IXTgN6XhpAX8aqLuFivfVVV_uTciHotbOC8HViKd0MdGPZuV-fKDVbS0hySsXQBnRerGGLk5ZKJybFFXwJOFMfL4wGJPEr9OVZ1Bbs8rEWR7g/s1600/uncrustable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTD1FvjLonlKxngPpTdw6cJTDn7IXTgN6XhpAX8aqLuFivfVVV_uTciHotbOC8HViKd0MdGPZuV-fKDVbS0hySsXQBnRerGGLk5ZKJybFFXwJOFMfL4wGJPEr9OVZ1Bbs8rEWR7g/s320/uncrustable.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
You know, I seem to recall Smucker's attempt to patent the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Granted it was some horrible frozen round version (called an "uncrustable" of all names) of the classic, but at the end of the day, it was just a ravioli version of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich — so sayeth the Grand Poohbah Patent Examiner and so affirmed the all-mighty appeals court. Patent denied.<br />
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Because you can't patent PB&J, and I bet you can't patent ye olde right triangle either. But what do I know? I'm just a writer.<br />
<br />ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-26344626924042436792012-06-05T06:32:00.000-07:002012-06-05T06:36:22.453-07:00Try to remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBPId1FKJtmEVMBKn52NNP2tCgLqPPlyn5QScoRh6YBDVBAcus99wSbq_4E1oUhVnWSn70UBuSAFGWAnP-7zbiQ5pKVD0AUll4HmMG6FFGAa0aLW9UYLq5VP_MWJa_YIpw8iE4g/s1600/575319_10151152280347506_432241237_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBPId1FKJtmEVMBKn52NNP2tCgLqPPlyn5QScoRh6YBDVBAcus99wSbq_4E1oUhVnWSn70UBuSAFGWAnP-7zbiQ5pKVD0AUll4HmMG6FFGAa0aLW9UYLq5VP_MWJa_YIpw8iE4g/s320/575319_10151152280347506_432241237_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, I don't know who Nat Gertler is, and I can't get to his (her?) <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nat.gertler">page on Facebook</a> (if you can, don't hold it against me — I have it on good authority I'm technologically cursed).<br />
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I'm reasonably confident, however, that she (he?) is responsible for this little goody about the late, great Kathryn Joosten, which, given I just attended a mega double-digit high school reunion, seemed particularly apropos as well as worth sharing.<br />
<br />ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-65472473016138136682012-05-30T06:57:00.000-07:002012-05-31T05:11:41.412-07:00Some you know, some I betcha don't<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi2cXgpk51OYV635PoZRRL6d5_KFGKkOQolGAljIAYPE-YorQa-TlpYAEZ3hB_TUkFkok3p-MeHX9x3c_H8Wweie1WuQf8DdsnDsta0WwaDDGdHnF7HYGW64MRpSE8WkYdLZYcQ/s1600/jfk+sunglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi2cXgpk51OYV635PoZRRL6d5_KFGKkOQolGAljIAYPE-YorQa-TlpYAEZ3hB_TUkFkok3p-MeHX9x3c_H8Wweie1WuQf8DdsnDsta0WwaDDGdHnF7HYGW64MRpSE8WkYdLZYcQ/s320/jfk+sunglasses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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John F.
Kennedy, the 35<sup>th</sup> President of the United States, would have
been 95 years old on May 29<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. A wreath was laid
on his grave at the Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, VA on his birthday</b>
earlier this week. (See the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150315383723976.413006.198366988975&type=3">Arlington
Cemetery’s album</a> of the ceremony on Facebook, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150315383723976.413006.198366988975&type=3">here</a>,
and a <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45344064#45344064">video
of the ceremony</a> on MSNBC, <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45344064#45344064">here</a>.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQpKvQLXdud3M8jqbEi2zZzWZYxFogcr2afmfCip_-pUvhyHXQNIqqN74Bww_ywstDYnpQDn7Uy_jOXmqQx016CFnqHHmvyjYo59GbPY0pxW5BRNRmJAbu4KxQuoZETTAmInUyQ/s1600/jfk+2012+wreath+laying+moment+of+silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQpKvQLXdud3M8jqbEi2zZzWZYxFogcr2afmfCip_-pUvhyHXQNIqqN74Bww_ywstDYnpQDn7Uy_jOXmqQx016CFnqHHmvyjYo59GbPY0pxW5BRNRmJAbu4KxQuoZETTAmInUyQ/s320/jfk+2012+wreath+laying+moment+of+silence.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Ted Sorenson,
Kennedy’s good friend and speech writer, is considered one of the best
Presidential speech writers ever.</b><br />
When asked whether he or Kennedy was
responsible for the phrase most identified with President Kennedy — from his
inaugural speech in 1961:<br />
“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ask not what
your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,</b>”<br />
Sorenson invariably replied “ask not.”<br />
(See <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/10/ted_sorenson_sp.html">Ted
Sorenson’s obituary</a> in the Boston Globe, <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/10/ted_sorenson_sp.html">here</a>.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQQnvzAr0Kzjpc2fvGG2fGqUWsZi26jxALvRd50h90lEglqQXW2hMWBEMEGr3MdPBD4wH3X65Y7_QOMaF_qBAsEXTdexN693FCh20o8BKiUtXxVfj235tW0PBNxJ5GAH7cB5BbA/s1600/jfk-inaugural-address.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQQnvzAr0Kzjpc2fvGG2fGqUWsZi26jxALvRd50h90lEglqQXW2hMWBEMEGr3MdPBD4wH3X65Y7_QOMaF_qBAsEXTdexN693FCh20o8BKiUtXxVfj235tW0PBNxJ5GAH7cB5BbA/s320/jfk-inaugural-address.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. JFK and the 16<sup>th</sup>
President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, have more than a few things in
common:</b></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>they entered office exactly 100 years apart (in
1960 and 1860, respectively); </li>
<li>they were each elected to Congress exactly 100
years apart (1946 and 1846, respectively); </li>
<li>President Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy
and President Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln — Lincoln’s secretary
is said to have warned him not to go to the theater and Kennedy’s secretary
supposedly cautioned him against going to Dallas; </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"></span>both were succeeded by presidents named Johnson
(Lyndon B. Johnson and Andrew Johnson); </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"></span>both were assassinated on a Friday by a shot to
the head</li>
<li>both perpetrators (Lee Harvey Oswald and John
Wilkes Booth) were assassinated before reaching trial</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;"></span>For more coincidences, see the <a href="http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp">list on
Snopes</a>, <a href="http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TooBaagQSNxPsD3ReGBh-RG6pkOWMJ_N17YhcKD2nB7-PcrDGKSKvwsPiBH99LTyn6WQTOxOuP667s4nxrH_3RCVL4dCUzCEJ34YiaAj0xcb-zlnC6B_GLgdZvGsML9rFcxtIA/s1600/lincoln+kennedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TooBaagQSNxPsD3ReGBh-RG6pkOWMJ_N17YhcKD2nB7-PcrDGKSKvwsPiBH99LTyn6WQTOxOuP667s4nxrH_3RCVL4dCUzCEJ34YiaAj0xcb-zlnC6B_GLgdZvGsML9rFcxtIA/s320/lincoln+kennedy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Classic photo of John
F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. at the White House</b> (for more JFK
images, visit <a href="http://thechive.com/2012/05/29/celebrating-jfks-birthday-with-some-rare-photos-of-the-man-30-photos/">Celebrating
JFK’s birthday with some rare photos of the man (30 photos)</a> on <a href="http://thechive.com/2012/05/29/celebrating-jfks-birthday-with-some-rare-photos-of-the-man-30-photos/">The
Chive</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6REeTUoYzoPUTBOO-IwT7B0MH3CfC_xNwIJ8LUX1L9RPwF3nqCe0YGlpsoG4VEduK6VjEznx1DYwx_g-Ct2KGqj_gOoSjEIBEquKKVGWf1cw2rS8HpCB-dauhx-CNNVGLR5N1WQ/s1600/jfk+and+jfk+jr+white+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6REeTUoYzoPUTBOO-IwT7B0MH3CfC_xNwIJ8LUX1L9RPwF3nqCe0YGlpsoG4VEduK6VjEznx1DYwx_g-Ct2KGqj_gOoSjEIBEquKKVGWf1cw2rS8HpCB-dauhx-CNNVGLR5N1WQ/s320/jfk+and+jfk+jr+white+house.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Would the Crimson
admit JFK today?</b> JFK’s application to Harvard University was recently
released; he wrote a one paragraph essay in response to the question “Why do
you wish to come to Harvard?”</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoBlockText" style="text-align: center;">
"The reasons that I have for wanting to go to
Harvard are several. I feel that Harvard can give me a better background and a
better liberal education than any other university. I have always wanted to go
there, as I have felt that it is not just another college, but is a university
with something definite to offer. Then to, I would like to go to the same
college as my father. To be a ‘Harvard man’ is an enviable distinction, and one
that I sincerely hope I shall attain."</div>
</blockquote>
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See the full article on <a href="http://www.good.is/post/with-35-000-applications-even-jfk-might-not-get-in-to-harvard/">Good.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.good.is/post/with-35-000-applications-even-jfk-might-not-get-in-to-harvard/">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0WOTZN_fxlO9lz9QS4SrYhgH2W9_dvFjHWBHYGnDn43hKL-Fh8AUEN-2-fSBwBZXaC4dUqUYVOofD2GBOvbM-X8t3_1wFIYkMWBi3BBowkEGCaVbIbDEL79j8rnNVu67_ISxcQ/s1600/jfk+harvard+grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0WOTZN_fxlO9lz9QS4SrYhgH2W9_dvFjHWBHYGnDn43hKL-Fh8AUEN-2-fSBwBZXaC4dUqUYVOofD2GBOvbM-X8t3_1wFIYkMWBi3BBowkEGCaVbIbDEL79j8rnNVu67_ISxcQ/s320/jfk+harvard+grad.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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6. He once said, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Liberty
without learning is always in peril; learning without liberty is always in vain</b>.” The quote comes from the <a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkvanderbiltconvocation.htm">Vanderbilt
University 90th Anniversary Convocation Address</a> he gave in May, 1963.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAKN6OlsFicmYL3QZmL9iEhbg4hORHV3zz9MYTOYwNnCl0v-U1XPTNdkMvDDPrmKazS8eDi7Qp8r-kYkfffFGZROpVptKJBWhrEcg7NWvfvdKtf0lZ3dTx2LkyVTqpzuIVu2Qsg/s1600/jfk+vanderbilt+convocation+american.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAKN6OlsFicmYL3QZmL9iEhbg4hORHV3zz9MYTOYwNnCl0v-U1XPTNdkMvDDPrmKazS8eDi7Qp8r-kYkfffFGZROpVptKJBWhrEcg7NWvfvdKtf0lZ3dTx2LkyVTqpzuIVu2Qsg/s1600/jfk+vanderbilt+convocation+american.gif" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. “A Thousand Days”
is a 20 minute archival documentary</b> of JFK’s time in office, produced by
the U.S. Information Agency. You can find it <a href="http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.53755">here</a>, and select
clips on <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/on-jfks-95th-a-look-beyond-happy-birthday-mr-president/257794/">The
Atlantic</a>, here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vXdF0vexzRDc1856AEw4226JxYF67jNXu5cqV2PZI3GmzTWJt-6bN7uyV4-82u-98pSa-KwiqqRA4_MxID4o71LRo9obXV4-h6RET5YNwVu2590LdGRySPVXXL_Oo5p8-anBhg/s1600/jfk+oval+office+resolute+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vXdF0vexzRDc1856AEw4226JxYF67jNXu5cqV2PZI3GmzTWJt-6bN7uyV4-82u-98pSa-KwiqqRA4_MxID4o71LRo9obXV4-h6RET5YNwVu2590LdGRySPVXXL_Oo5p8-anBhg/s320/jfk+oval+office+resolute+desk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>8. During World War II while serving in the United States
Navy, Kennedy’s boat, the PT-109, was rammed by a Japanese destroyer and cut in
half.</b> Kennedy, who had once been on Harvard’s swim team, towed one crew member
too badly injured to swim three and half miles to the nearest land mass.
Eventually, Kennedy scratched a message on a coconut shell and
persuaded some natives to take it with them in their canoe to the nearest base. They were rescued soon after.
Read about the entire adventure at <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Remembering-PT-109.html">Smithsonian
Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Remembering-PT-109.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51d5Y09F56SOE2a667xCZISjYSkKKsYAASPqtEWqiBZKXmETg0NSw2e7Je104ZIEfA4zBeQyZNgncxJTKbOL5LW3C7GnkE2RiB9N0On5e2bbZl_iqtJit-aJcxODIJEIgk1sNHA/s1600/jfk+coconut+shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51d5Y09F56SOE2a667xCZISjYSkKKsYAASPqtEWqiBZKXmETg0NSw2e7Je104ZIEfA4zBeQyZNgncxJTKbOL5LW3C7GnkE2RiB9N0On5e2bbZl_iqtJit-aJcxODIJEIgk1sNHA/s1600/jfk+coconut+shell.jpg" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The coconut shell, which Kennedy had made into a
paperweight, reads </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">“</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Nauru
Isl commander / native knows posit / he can pilot / 11 alive need small boat /
Kennedy.”</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. The most famous
association made with Kennedy’s birthday</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is of course Marilyn Monroe’s performance</b> of “Happy Birthday” in
1962, which you can see on <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45344064#45344064">Youtube</a>, <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45344064#45344064">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXR6HtqTKaTmJCb1lY6OLkJW4nSULaqZjcIER99utNjHaZU-D_LGecqrKHOYrcBxtdF1IGLwJZnjz9SiQrseff5BgTPonRXvDY8___8KHp4gMBnJNR79AcFSMht20wso-Rs6g3w/s1600/jfk+birthday+performance+marilyn+monroe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXR6HtqTKaTmJCb1lY6OLkJW4nSULaqZjcIER99utNjHaZU-D_LGecqrKHOYrcBxtdF1IGLwJZnjz9SiQrseff5BgTPonRXvDY8___8KHp4gMBnJNR79AcFSMht20wso-Rs6g3w/s320/jfk+birthday+performance+marilyn+monroe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-37995194378325194302012-02-22T12:14:00.000-08:002012-02-22T12:29:33.632-08:00Except for February, Which Hath 28 (usually)Just so you know — finding 29 facts, myths and superstitions about leap year was NOT easy. The things I do for you. Sigh.<br />
<br />
Ready? Take a deep breath...<br />
<ol>
<li>According to Irish tradition, February 29th is the one day women have the right to propose to men. Which probably has nothing to do with why <i>The Proposal</i> was so much better than <i>Leap Year</i>, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWGv_Xq2U9-4MlE3CrGJRU6b7PPUT77yUB-k-ZjYn9Yg16E5IILXfV71-w3kEBbE8KjXFGx05HYD3UjZLVNr2dUjFTbcI5oF9tXkhITTnFZsA56seZ0UlfugaG0STWOwNDhxSxA/s1600/the_proposal+sandra+kneeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWGv_Xq2U9-4MlE3CrGJRU6b7PPUT77yUB-k-ZjYn9Yg16E5IILXfV71-w3kEBbE8KjXFGx05HYD3UjZLVNr2dUjFTbcI5oF9tXkhITTnFZsA56seZ0UlfugaG0STWOwNDhxSxA/s320/the_proposal+sandra+kneeling.jpg" width="320" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>From the "read the fine print" files:<br />
The hero in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance,” Frederic, happily anticipates ending his pirate apprenticeship upon turning 21. But... "not so fast ye young pirate-in-training," says ye olde Pirate King. You see, according to the precise terms of the indenture contract, Frederic's apprenticeship terminates upon his 21st <i>birthday</i> — which, since he was born on February 29th, is another 60 some years away. The devil's in the details.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6CApalwldoSqlIqvca9l2KNHhf0McJA8tq_J5ck9zt9UOB8oOn9syHllYN7HXJGMci19Jng7MBou8vZXV0qqD1jkK0Rh-SubFpQyhZLosQegb3rwEhfR455iEohjMGHaDZU9RA/s1600/pirates+of+penzance+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6CApalwldoSqlIqvca9l2KNHhf0McJA8tq_J5ck9zt9UOB8oOn9syHllYN7HXJGMci19Jng7MBou8vZXV0qqD1jkK0Rh-SubFpQyhZLosQegb3rwEhfR455iEohjMGHaDZU9RA/s320/pirates+of+penzance+poster.jpg" width="193" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>In Welsh, February is called the little month — <i>y mis bach</i> — because it normally has only 28 days. In America, it's just called February, because "January, Uhmisboch, March, April..." is a mouthful.</li>
<br />
<li>Using a calendar based on the moon's rotation around the earth — which governs the tides: better than nothing. Shifting to a calendar based on the earth's rotation around the sun — which governs the <i>seasons</i>: pretty smart. Coming up with the leap year thing to deal with those pesky extra quarter days so seasons and months stay in sync? Priceless.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tSKaXkwtDYODeXUOLlKBV7hVjAhSzDt_wSJJbyO2Vph3pC4xT0r-qkDKBlIH9tavmjlMzPrNZPJWG3m11HWCDRVWrK9ZVB3lanz7EOziyA1AABNgr02sDrZmp3KiI8hoOoVHMw/s1600/seasons+4+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tSKaXkwtDYODeXUOLlKBV7hVjAhSzDt_wSJJbyO2Vph3pC4xT0r-qkDKBlIH9tavmjlMzPrNZPJWG3m11HWCDRVWrK9ZVB3lanz7EOziyA1AABNgr02sDrZmp3KiI8hoOoVHMw/s320/seasons+4+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>Where's Irving Berlin when you need him? If we stopped having leap years, in a couple of centuries, Christmas would fall about when Halloween falls now and Michael Buble's great- great- great- grandson would be crooning (or trying to croon) something like<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>
<br />I'm dreaming of a gold Christmas<br />
Not snowy white like sung by Bing<br />
Now it's pumpkins in flames and children who claim<br />
Only losers go caroling.</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoaA4eNW2stXBDh9wcma7roNwkQcXpQ-bMxbTD2EqfcgxZBvCHYi8ONxZysbbnQniuU6fblB2OFPlMge2VfJosFXN_f3T4bOfmsl8gU3DmpZDs-yc-L6qRi07-_CtlmoU_G5dew/s1600/bing-crosby-christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoaA4eNW2stXBDh9wcma7roNwkQcXpQ-bMxbTD2EqfcgxZBvCHYi8ONxZysbbnQniuU6fblB2OFPlMge2VfJosFXN_f3T4bOfmsl8gU3DmpZDs-yc-L6qRi07-_CtlmoU_G5dew/s200/bing-crosby-christmas.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Oy. </li>
<br />
<li>“What is a frog’s favorite time?” “Leap Year.” ROTFL.</li>
<br />
<li><i>Now</i> you tell me? According to English law, February 29th is ignored as a day and has no legal status — hence crimes on that day traditionally were not prosecuted. Forget the Twinkie defense, how about this: "It's impossible for my client to have stolen the crown jewels on February 29th, your honor. There is no February 29th." <i>Riiiiight</i>.</li>
<br />
<li>Hail Caesar. In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar decreed that the entire Roman empire abandon the lunar based calendar and go solar. The whole empire. No ifs, ands or buts. I know CEOs who can't even get all their employees to use the same <i>email</i> system.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_eiOedpxrfwfJdIAPNSGYAgurjOzmh69lxmV7Sj7HeyV22F-H8_AXTy0TGDg3bzGh8Q9KK-86S_w3bCqf4lFuab8EOTeNod-bzvPabve5xQ0jt5CQVysV-adffaJEeDVPkUvA/s1600/julius+caesar+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy_eiOedpxrfwfJdIAPNSGYAgurjOzmh69lxmV7Sj7HeyV22F-H8_AXTy0TGDg3bzGh8Q9KK-86S_w3bCqf4lFuab8EOTeNod-bzvPabve5xQ0jt5CQVysV-adffaJEeDVPkUvA/s320/julius+caesar+statue.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</li>
<br />
<li>It was Caesar's ("fat and sleek-headed," I presume) astronomers who informed him that the solar cycle is actually 365 and 1/4 days long. No worries, said he — another decree, and the newly adopted calendar system included an extra day every four years. And that's how we got the Julian calendar avec leap years and all.</li>
<br />
<li>This year, 56 countries are recognizing February 29th as “Rare Disease Day,” a movement that supports research into — shocker — rare illnesses. Personally, I'm not sure how much progress they'll make for their cause campaigning only every four years, but what do I know?</li>
<br />
<li>Run, Forrest, run! In Scotland, it was once illegal for a man to turn down a proposal of marriage from a woman made on February 29th. Supposedly fines were levied if the man refused — "anti-alimony?" Or maybe, "ante-alimony."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPN2OSkibpgfT4Vb7jYbhCKWEH07LbW4RSi_Ct7cIib3UGna_x1rlbbLruJgZKVZ898aMzgUbDVlJl90Nfd-Zkh3cGLBP3L1KjTG98QSSDEiXJhkjKIfXC0_JUtJWm496RTuDUw/s1600/bride+chasing+groom+on+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPN2OSkibpgfT4Vb7jYbhCKWEH07LbW4RSi_Ct7cIib3UGna_x1rlbbLruJgZKVZ898aMzgUbDVlJl90Nfd-Zkh3cGLBP3L1KjTG98QSSDEiXJhkjKIfXC0_JUtJWm496RTuDUw/s320/bride+chasing+groom+on+cake.jpg" width="214" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>Julie turns into Greg. No surgery — just some math, ma'am.
<br />Sometime in the 16th century, the church noticed Easter was falling earlier each year. Putting two and two together, they came up with 11 — turns out the solar year is 11 minutes <i>shy</i> of a full 365 1/4 days — over time, those missing 11 minutes began to mount up and make some noise. Like three days every 400 years kind of noise.
<br />Pope Gregory XIII decreed (what, you thought only Roman emperors did that?) by papal bull — a perfectly ironic euonym if ever there was one — that, to make up for the missing time over time, a leap year would be skipped every century, except for every fourth century. And although not part of the papal bull, the Julian calendar was no more; long live the Gregorian calendar. ("Papal bull" — don't you just love that?)</li>
<br />
<li>The odds of a person both being born and dying on leap day are 1 in over 2 million. For the rest of us shmos, the odds of dying on our birthday is a measly 1 in about 133,000. Not that I would ever call Ingrid Bergman (August 29, 1915-August 29, 1982) a shmo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtJFvGjbfxLI1U9-WZ0l5gV99PrtmOyWJxU9t7i_bM1Y-SBg9lJeq42r4JDhb0RJzf7w3IXtKkDfkXZhFMJoIFkkNLXfr0kd5JG2ynQ5kLuFwURHU08GbqbF0omIWCgDJr8BrAQ/s1600/ingrid+bergman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtJFvGjbfxLI1U9-WZ0l5gV99PrtmOyWJxU9t7i_bM1Y-SBg9lJeq42r4JDhb0RJzf7w3IXtKkDfkXZhFMJoIFkkNLXfr0kd5JG2ynQ5kLuFwURHU08GbqbF0omIWCgDJr8BrAQ/s200/ingrid+bergman.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1BgRkq6DoArkVddNCCxEsPkR-ovIvGpsRhUZ4ha-0faoYETZg9V6w2acy7h1aszIf0x471UchlHz6lrCwP-i4hcdiZJaov8cffzS9tPpKcVtrJ2zg9vtaY2tp7o5K1vwn48DIQ/s1600/ingrid+bergman+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1BgRkq6DoArkVddNCCxEsPkR-ovIvGpsRhUZ4ha-0faoYETZg9V6w2acy7h1aszIf0x471UchlHz6lrCwP-i4hcdiZJaov8cffzS9tPpKcVtrJ2zg9vtaY2tp7o5K1vwn48DIQ/s320/ingrid+bergman+grave.jpg" width="270" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>Don't ask, don't tell. The technical term for a leap year is “bisextile.” In Caesar's time, the extra day wasn’t added to the end of the month as it is now, but on the sixth day before the Calends of March ("calends" being Latin for the first day of the month) — so in leap years, two of these extra days would occur in February — hence “bi” (for two) and “sex” (for six). All I can think is that it would make scheduling your next hair appointment a real pain,
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"How is Tuesday, February 24th for you, ma'am?"
<br />"Hmmm, does he have anything available on Wednesday, the 24th?"
<br />"No, sorry, the 24th is all booked."
<br />"Didn't you just offer me an appointment on Tuesday, the 24th?"
<br />"Yes, we still have some time on that 24th."
</i></span><br />Who's on first? He sure is.
<br />
<br />Oh, you want to know <i>why</i> the Romans added the day on the 24th, rather than the end of the month? So do I.</li>
<br />
<li>Remember "keep it simple, stupid?' Ha! To be a leap year, the year must a) be divisible by 4 and b) NOT be divisible by 100, unless c) it’s also divisible by 400. Or you could just Google it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ-B1Z5ZorZiJX2ZrkxotSw71Pqjw1QdBq-hFRoN5aUoUqtXq9RT-xMIkHkn8k-wxgrB414NQElrXtW-2hAx_8eojWaQShWetCNAd2Ww6_AOkW1lpt2W3vIopSC1-FDEJk8IUsg/s1600/neon+four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZ-B1Z5ZorZiJX2ZrkxotSw71Pqjw1QdBq-hFRoN5aUoUqtXq9RT-xMIkHkn8k-wxgrB414NQElrXtW-2hAx_8eojWaQShWetCNAd2Ww6_AOkW1lpt2W3vIopSC1-FDEJk8IUsg/s320/neon+four.jpg" width="211" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>What do Giacchino Rossini (composer—<i>Barber of Seville</i>), Dinah Shore (singer and Burt Reynolds' ex), Ja Rule (rapper), Al Rosen (baseball player), Tony Robbins (really rich motivational speaker and tanorexic), Jimmy Dorsey (band leader) and Aileen Wournos (serial killer) have in common? One guess. (Hint: it has to do with their birthdays).</li>
<br />
<li><i>Oh, yassum she did!</i> For her portrayal of Mammy in GWTW, Hattie McDaniel became the first black person to win an Academy Award, which she did for Best Supporting Actress on February 29, 1940.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA2zkRdYOVwkpx2VQSqwgq-ppFpw996b46rGRAGu6QoZMedy__aT08B3whgFkdYaaZg9X1BIRs1R-pA0HQUoU46TUsjSdjBT93Hz79IRwOXINZb9OFqbJks100oG9_Sj2fhkU7A/s1600/hattie-scarlett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 4em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA2zkRdYOVwkpx2VQSqwgq-ppFpw996b46rGRAGu6QoZMedy__aT08B3whgFkdYaaZg9X1BIRs1R-pA0HQUoU46TUsjSdjBT93Hz79IRwOXINZb9OFqbJks100oG9_Sj2fhkU7A/s320/hattie-scarlett.jpg" width="320" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>"Eight days a week... is not enough to show I care" — or so say the Beatles. How about 15 months a year? That Caesar was a busy guy; in addition to the whole "so long lunar, hello solar" thing, he also decreed that the year 46 B.C. be 15 months long to make up for the seasonal discrepancy that had accumulated to that point. Really bad news for those criminals sentenced to a year of punishment.</li>
<br />
<li>From the "oh no, she di'int!" files: <br />
Karin Henriksen of Norway gave birth to three children on three consecutive leap days — in 1960, 1964 and 1968.</li>
<br />
<li>People born on leap day are called "leaplings" or “leapers.” People born on other days are called "babies."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4jSei0Lapk96t_eWiA3GW55tVlkNqiR5U2ryTesJryfwd87yXKS71zVxLfLAAIwZ3LLKEXrIlQ0sVqCO8vvZOG5Tr3Sow6PSOwWTjvUc3EGC4O9aApKHvuajItaVuMWJubQ0rg/s1600/baby+in+birthday+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4jSei0Lapk96t_eWiA3GW55tVlkNqiR5U2ryTesJryfwd87yXKS71zVxLfLAAIwZ3LLKEXrIlQ0sVqCO8vvZOG5Tr3Sow6PSOwWTjvUc3EGC4O9aApKHvuajItaVuMWJubQ0rg/s320/baby+in+birthday+hat.jpg" width="213" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>Leap years are the only year when there are five instances of the same day in February — February 2012 is a month of Wednesdays. 2032 is the next time February will be a month of Sundays. In case you were wondering.</li>
<br />
<li>It is considered unlucky in Scotland to be born on leap day. Which means there are 39 seriously pissed off Scots cursing the day they were born.</li>
<br />
<li>From the "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" files:<br />
In 1928, Henry Craddock — the head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London — introduced the Leap Year cocktail (4 parts gin, 1 part sweet vermouth, 1 part orange liqueur, with a dash of fresh lemon juice). <br />
We suggest that after a night of those, you start off your next morning with Craddock's infamous Corpse Reviver #2 ("four taken in swift succession will un-revive the corpse again") — a refreshing, or deadly, mixture of equal parts fresh lemon juice, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc and gin, with a dash of absinthe.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fk-i7Xgqpi627zERw4W4yZuDBWZY4lxpVaTc8x8srqAJBGCyLpnICREmqL12RKtN8wucQryAEYHbe_InydkHhqZQtQmVK9T__zRax-pSQQK4i7jkYXjC1bLbQjndSg-nYeW84Q/s1600/martini+with+lemon+curl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fk-i7Xgqpi627zERw4W4yZuDBWZY4lxpVaTc8x8srqAJBGCyLpnICREmqL12RKtN8wucQryAEYHbe_InydkHhqZQtQmVK9T__zRax-pSQQK4i7jkYXjC1bLbQjndSg-nYeW84Q/s320/martini+with+lemon+curl.jpg" width="320" /></a> </li>
<br />
<li>All leaplings are born under the sign Pisces, and, according to astrologers, have unusual personalities and talents. Which sounds a lot to me like the Chinese curse, "may you live an interesting life." I'm just saying.</li>
<br />
<li>It is called a “leap year” because in England the extra day was not recognized under law, the day was ignored — or “leapt over.” And because it's easier to say than "intercalary year."</li>
<br />
<li>According to legend, it was the nun, St. Bridget, who campaigned St. Patrick in the 5th century for women’s right to propose — something previously inconceivable. St. Patrick finally relented — and permitted women to propose to men one day every four years. Big of him.</li>
<br />
<li>In 1712, Sweden had two leap days, February 29th and February 30th — to facilitate the country’s switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. At least they didn't have two February 29ths. 'Cuz that would have been confusing.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpI5m9f0VZ-4wAzHJlC-A_qVVSNFHu-8v-JZ56aMA8Wq39KOV-Chded2gv5bvU5PW7G4SP9sG3w_U7dPHPCnQsms3D-Z9I-ux3jN6Ai60B2zTi8vKTKxHo7MgE5EXwbySiiwZCA/s1600/stockholm+sweden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpI5m9f0VZ-4wAzHJlC-A_qVVSNFHu-8v-JZ56aMA8Wq39KOV-Chded2gv5bvU5PW7G4SP9sG3w_U7dPHPCnQsms3D-Z9I-ux3jN6Ai60B2zTi8vKTKxHo7MgE5EXwbySiiwZCA/s320/stockholm+sweden.jpg" width="320" /></a></li>
<br />
<li>In America, once every four years just isn't enough. Thanks to Al Capp, we have an <i>annual</i> role reversal day: “Sadie Hawkins Day," so named for the comic strip character whose father bemoaned ever marrying her off. He instituted an annual footrace for the single gals to chase the unmarried Dogpatch men — and marry the one they caught. Think "The Bachelorette" meets "The Amazing Race."</li>
<br />
<li>The beginning of this century, the year 2000, will be the last century to start with a leap year until 2400. (I told you, 29 facts is <i>hard</i>!)</li>
</ol>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-60843766278492474012012-01-31T08:56:00.000-08:002012-06-07T15:38:28.771-07:00Couldn't have said it betterI had to share an excerpt from Ramin Setoodeh's "<i>One For The Money</i> Review: Does Katherine Heigl Have Fans?" from <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/27/one-for-the-money-review-does-katherine-heigl-have-fans.html">The Daily Beast</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w9JkmFAw9NR_6liilVlawuDDbOmClbqhFXsB0K7gBy-kke8H04AfrEqLNE6B4747DnD9jULPmQcOYWF9iNNFWCpciGSECWxE_wemDtUy0xhchU3XmG0O2mSv44iNi4bH7vpW_g/s1600/quotation-mark-gray.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w9JkmFAw9NR_6liilVlawuDDbOmClbqhFXsB0K7gBy-kke8H04AfrEqLNE6B4747DnD9jULPmQcOYWF9iNNFWCpciGSECWxE_wemDtUy0xhchU3XmG0O2mSv44iNi4bH7vpW_g/s320/quotation-mark-gray.png" width="68" /></a></div>
On Friday morning at 12:01 a.m., I went to the movies to see <i>One for the Money</i>, the new Katherine Heigl crime caper that’s so lousy the studio wouldn’t screen it early for critics. I had to watch it at the first public showing in a Manhattan theater, with all of Heigl’s groupies, if they exist. Here’s what happened, as recorded in real-time on my BlackBerry.
<br />
<br />
<b>11:50 p.m.</b> A 26-year-old man working at the concession stand tells me how much he enjoyed Heigl’s performance in <i>Zack & Miri Make a Porno</i>. I point out that Heigl was not in that film.
<br />
<b>11:53 p.m.</b> I find my seat. Number of people inside the theater, including me: 1.
<br />
<b>12:00 a.m.</b> I am still the only person here. This is worse than going to your high-school prom alone.
<br />
<b>12:04 a.m.</b> A few others have trickled in. Number of people inside the theater, including me: 5.
<br />
<i>(blah blah blah)</i>
<br />
<b>12:35 a.m.</b> Number of people inside the theater, including me: 3. Two teen girls have already fled.
<br />
<i>(blah blah blah)</i>
<br />
<b>1:03 a.m.</b> At this point, Heigl does the impossible: handcuffed naked to her own shower pole, she’s still boring.
<br />
<i>(blah blah blah)</i>
<br />
<b>1:37 a.m.</b> Heigl is shot in the butt. Is that supposed to be a metaphor.
</blockquote>
I'm guessing he's not a fan.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-51280946849857289152012-01-27T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-27T14:12:14.258-08:00Are we clear?<a href="http://weknowmemes.com/2011/12/the-us-budget-explained-in-simple-english/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zHq5MGU-hVMOhBAilhFU22gNsGMg7bmJHrX4hVBIR06543a794ot4536Csb5LW7mU5_TR_hUWWJeetuksyuftx1CaXG2wBJCoMgOeQm0fPZZbq8KqJiLKAiuI3obTbnlWOLRzw/s400/the-us-budget-explained.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<div>
<i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are we clear?</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crystal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-64025867063069374862012-01-26T14:15:00.000-08:002012-01-26T14:15:44.934-08:00Down or Not - genius<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downornot.com/">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKC6WmSsAC4-o7oRuY2P-qtw1hp910woYG6JQ8SErrqezwCbCJNV5zwSznyMuqi6byzVYcdDfjw9xp6jzQFIzoO5nhgDkpaOHq7i4vvQWGs1Bdl7S6gbU1f57vZDEqLYogeMjWA/s1600/downornot+logo.jpeg" /></a></div>
<p>By now, you might have an idea that I'm something of an inveterate surfer (web not water). As far as I'm concerned, when a site goes down, it qualifies as a natural disaster.<br /></p>
<br />
<p>Of course, when a site goes down — and I'm talking an ordinary, every day kinda site — my first thought is that it's my fault. There must be something wrong with <i>my</i> browser, <i>my</i> network, <i>my</i> internet connection. Which does in fact turn out to be the case... occasionally. More often, shockingly, the problem has nothing to do with me (yeah, yeah, I know... there's a larger life lesson in there).<br /></p>
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Downed sites were really a cause of angst and frustration... until I discovered <a href="http://downornot.com/">downornot.com</a> (good lord, I sound like an infomercial... "<i>my acne was so bad, I was embarrassed to go outside, until I discovered Boa Balm"</i>). Rest assured, I have not been paid, compensated or otherwise remunerated for this post.<br /></p>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PUM6X4bHKWp831MZ3OmhRtbvUz_cwhigrvO6-F2DinsgO6busDofe5IhqI6nxK-ynntV02DQ2Fdizyz0lsRwvLY0VfmjMIQkWnnUKONnT6xIwKKIESKq4Nxb9UkTFQ3QDFYKtA/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-26+at+1.52.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PUM6X4bHKWp831MZ3OmhRtbvUz_cwhigrvO6-F2DinsgO6busDofe5IhqI6nxK-ynntV02DQ2Fdizyz0lsRwvLY0VfmjMIQkWnnUKONnT6xIwKKIESKq4Nxb9UkTFQ3QDFYKtA/s320/Screen+shot+2012-01-26+at+1.52.21+PM.png" width="320" /></a>
<p>Anyway, my point is, now instead of immediately going to "it's not you, it's me," I go to downornot.<br /></p>
<br /><p>
Man, am I in trouble if downornot goes down.</p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-87551708882546151432012-01-20T09:13:00.000-08:002012-01-20T15:10:40.406-08:00How do I love thee, David Pogue?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_W2wkasj1hezjRohCaTDyEBWldHazVHPGlIpaeSm2-ylH6T8WTB2c6U9x7P_I3liNiXFZ8e1gH3dq1P2CDuLdn1eWg_JpCfVAMrDupXg58vBG8EZh8H7e0KI-FTmH339fWgWJA/s1600/sopa-logo2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699846409917660914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_W2wkasj1hezjRohCaTDyEBWldHazVHPGlIpaeSm2-ylH6T8WTB2c6U9x7P_I3liNiXFZ8e1gH3dq1P2CDuLdn1eWg_JpCfVAMrDupXg58vBG8EZh8H7e0KI-FTmH339fWgWJA/s320/sopa-logo2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 180px;" /></a>I'm hoping if you use the internet, which you do almost by definition if you're reading this, you've been following — even peripherally — the whole SOPA/PIPA controversy. (By the way, doesn't the British pronunciation of that word — con-TRAH-versy — sound so much more elegant than ours?)<br />
As with most controversies, the right and wrong on this one is not clear-cut. Not exactly. The goal of finding a way to better protect copyrights and reduce online piracy is in and of itself a pretty good idea. The way Congress has chosen to approach achieving that goal, however? Not so good.<br />
David Pogue — my all-time favorite geek-gadget-tech-cool-things columnist — took a step back for a better look at the issue in yesterday's blog post, <a href="http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/put-down-the-pitchforks-on-sopa/">Put Down the Pitchforks on SOPA</a>. I highly recommend you read it — only Pogue could so clearly break down the issue and the merits and flaws of the opposing positions, while still getting in zingers like these:<br />
<div>
</div>
<blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">"In a perverse stroke of curiosity, I thought maybe I’d actually study these bills." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">"For the record, I think the movie companies have approached the digital age with almost slack-jawed idiocy." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">"In this case, the solution is to work on the language of the bills to rule out the sorts of abuses that the big Web sites fear. (And to fix the other minor point, which is that the bills won’t work....) "</span></div>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://americancensorship.org/infographic.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699771565272209890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPrNCDOAP8H4XWjA3ktTIglVvgzUyy4nox3G0CTg2-9p9XVkY5uSlh1fbcZ2BGIr4JT53n05mbJGctJCg2bfvyQAQqt_FNu03poaDDBs2Psld5h4yGkQe_zPDCtbCWtk65hkCZA/s400/what+is+sopa+infographic.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0;" /></a>AmericanCensorship.org did this great infographic on SOPA/PIPA (click on it so it gets big enough to actually read — it's pretty nifty).<br /></p>
<p><i>And for those of you keeping track — I haven't forgotten I owe you the list of the other nine EGOT champs. Patience, grasshopper.</i></p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-81332095839853833592012-01-19T11:26:00.000-08:002012-06-07T15:09:04.058-07:00Now, THAT'S a list I can get behind<p>You know that post I wrote about the <a href="http://gr2br.blogspot.com/2012/01/smarter-than-he-looks.html">surprising Kris Kristofferson</a>? Truth is, I really meant to write about Mel Brooks. People get those two confused all the time, don't they? No? Fine. Be that way.</p> <div><p>So anyway, back to Mel... I stumbled upon this awesome article on <a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/">Topless Robot</a> (I stumbled on it, I didn't name it) — "<a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/01/10_kickass_things_mel_brooks_did_besides_his_movie.php">10 Kickass Things Mel Brooks Did (Besides His Movies)</a>" — which led me to my 'unknown brainiac' spiel... which led to Mr. Kristofferson... which led to... oh, to live in my brain. But today — today, I really <i>am</i> going to write about Mel Brooks.</p></div><div><p>Here are the "10 reasons you should be impressed besides how many times he got you to watch <i>Blazing Saddles</i> and still laugh." I could try to put it better, but why work that hard? (Many kudos to <a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/01/10_kickass_things_mel_brooks_did_besides_his_movie.php">Topless Robot</a> for this list.)</p></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjL1w5qXQo7_x92Wk6rbG_TLAUwdesJTN9lRWesAWhQAmRzaC9Su1X6y6PlmbNmMZ7aiWLybUs3yxUhVgimmLFUetBznXIhVCH4ZIfnT_Q3CxQSluFXWAOkziCA5pksv71Z3-jA/s320/get+smart+cone-of-silence.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699461113195952690" /><p><b>Created <i>Get Smart</i>.</b> Yep, that was him — with Buck Henry, who, by the way, besides playing Liz Lemon's dad on <i>30 Rock</i>, was nominated for an Oscar for writing <i>The Graduate</i>, which starred Anne Bancroft (see below) — there is just no end to these brainiacs in hiding.</p></div><div><p><a href="http://newshopper.sulekha.com/mel-brooks-max-brooks-henry-brooks_photo_1281295.htm"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XMM1DlqTBcLNg39U8EFJtNqGmsS0XjK4ZJwOi9Qpl3hlBhnoP2VxvUSya0OSuIAevDmzawAuCbLb6TaIwj4OoAvv3TYfpTNpYiEJhiDtO4IPzz1Du3tOURVcOJZgf_hCArXDFw/s320/mel-brooks-max-brooks-henry-brooks-2010-4-23-15-53-14.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo from Sulekha.com" title="Photo from Sulekha.com" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699461110326318722" /></a></p><p><b>Gave us Max Brooks. </b>If nothing else, Mel's son has been credited (or blamed, depending) for the recent uptick of zombies in pop culture — his 2003 book, <i>The Zombie Survival Guide</i>, pre-dates the truly hilarious <i>Shaun of the Dead</i>, Zack Snyder's <i>Dawn of the Dead</i> remake, the film adaptation of <i>I Am Legend</i> (you know what <a href="http://gr2br.blogspot.com/2008/01/legend-i-am-not.html">I think about that movie</a>), the Cinderella story movie (the actual movie, not the plot) <i>Zombieland</i>, AMC's <i>The Walking Dead</i>, to name a few. That and his next book, <i>World War Z</i>, are both on their way to the silver screen. Plus — how cute is Mel's grandson, Henry Mel?</p></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayCfFRZ8hh-oX5hhqUSZF3DL_txgq49-soGm71p3DqOjZn_NkQXskxdCv-1L0cshykssXeMFiLUuMZ51_MLcsjpoEzmIL4bxF3el3fH-2fynr_tlIan96_ENgN-5xU23ekqaE1g/s320/broderick+lane+bway+producers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699461116571787586" /><p><b>Rocked Broadway. </b>You know all those movies that have been musicalized and transported to the Great White Way? Blame Brooks. His production of <i>The Producers</i> won 12 Tonys, and <i>Young Frankenstein</i> was nominated for three. Next up, he's writing the book and music for a Broadway version of <i>Blazing Saddles. </i>"The sheriff's near."</p></div><div><p><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T5sKtbcEuinOitH2teIi2eE685cWdD7SdUDXJ5fP_q512eaOtag3hwoqHzPEG58MdKb6ijrQQptTC5D_G2NMRg5rDuHEtTwt3nvQfHep3_wPlC6TMz5JG0PIjkQeFor_TvbYJA/s320/the+writers+room+plaque.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699461127798890306" /><b>Wrote in comedy's version of the Brill Building.</b> If it weren't true, it would be ridiculous. Nah, it's <i>still</i> ridiculous. Wrap your mind around this round table: Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, Daniel Simon, Larry Gelbart, Selma Diamond, Michael Stewart and Mel Tolkin. Uh huh. In one room. Writing for one guy (Sid Caesar). For the record — those minds brought us (just a sampling, mind you): <i>Blazing Saddles</i>, <i>Manhattan</i>, <i>The Jerk</i>, <i>The Odd Couple</i>, <i>Sleeper</i>, <i>Young Frankenstein</i>, <i>My Three Sons</i>, <i>Bye Bye Birdie</i>, <i>Diff'rent Strokes</i>, <i>M.A.S.H.</i>, <i>Hot in Cleveland</i>... you get the drift.</p></div><p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfptoOZKO0jQqeh6CWrAH13gBY9rgF2VarCo5j2Xb-_SL8ic6j7x3js_CmOr3VS9fVzg2u5BObDvAnuwmwy3-qtP0lyERPPLl1b5e1elMboSVBCzNIrCWSBc03E890ZSa9zl-0A/s200/dave+chappelle+robin+hood.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699465767583193538" /></p><p><b>Discovered Dave Chappelle.</b> Betcha didn't know that. DC's first film role was in <i>Robin Hood: Men in Tights</i>. Thanks for that, Mel.</p><p></p><img style="float:right; margin:0px 10px 10px 0px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEMTCcUCs46p9xF1vJLRBYT_KiMVIasG1C9Hddq6SXS36sR1zmvFJXdI0ehEn03iV6Q4tW9kgSwQk-UTTB8ogpOPxMY-kYqVaCSGPmOOZYIogoONz2J3bAB7PIaoc9EMVAJfqdA/s320/EGOT.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699461125787506562" /><p><b>Got the EGOT.</b> Mel Brooks is one of only ten people — EVER — to win the grand slam of entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. I know, I know — you want to know who the other nine are. Hey, I need <i>something</i> to write about tomorrow.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwgSd2WHRv_RZ1Bk0WywrezC_jhFdchwWs0CSSnhhZRgx9n_Mc09gF4HW-GzTvGTEUJPjjbMxYViNk4tWwDT4DH4JddjzB6EC844QAm4dv9CAnChVYgACDqAeBulahFhmgYJhg/s1600/mel+and+anne.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwgSd2WHRv_RZ1Bk0WywrezC_jhFdchwWs0CSSnhhZRgx9n_Mc09gF4HW-GzTvGTEUJPjjbMxYViNk4tWwDT4DH4JddjzB6EC844QAm4dv9CAnChVYgACDqAeBulahFhmgYJhg/s320/mel+and+anne.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699466526309054386" /></a><p><b>Won the heart and hand of Anne Bancroft.</b> A duo right up there with Newman & Woodward for Hollywood romances that make you believe in "wuv, true wuv" (recognize that? It's from a movie directed by Carl Reiner's son... see how that works?). And proof positive that women go for men who make them laugh. Really.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZvF-yvmEyx0nhyphenhyphenCFmqk04nhPXuwYQBjsr34fzZXX_VGBbIV9G3qet1_eJj4XCM-1adwjbmVpSX4RJKKULrXPF5m7bCH6ZeMjKzX3YYAnYmyKBONoBXIEB6PFwP-SQK1yxT1KAg/s1600/elephant+man+poster.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZvF-yvmEyx0nhyphenhyphenCFmqk04nhPXuwYQBjsr34fzZXX_VGBbIV9G3qet1_eJj4XCM-1adwjbmVpSX4RJKKULrXPF5m7bCH6ZeMjKzX3YYAnYmyKBONoBXIEB6PFwP-SQK1yxT1KAg/s320/elephant+man+poster.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699466524067031202" /></a></p><p><b>Brought us The Elephant Man.</b> Not only did Brooks produce this far from funny story of the "classic wandering Jew" directed by David Lynch, he was on set every day. Though... would you believe it was Brooks' kids' babysitter who gave him the script? That's at least a little funny.</p><p><b>Defused landmines.</b> No, really. Brooks joined the Army Corps of Engineers when he was 17. Legend has it that when the Germans began blasting propaganda at the American troops through loudspeakers, Brooks set up his own loudspeakers and blasted back with his impression of "Toot Toot Tootsie." Take that, you stinkin' Krauts! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hAxMbTJEnsRarCVsFNwXuSvThJ7pVmjanz-Xkc18haJPym61gxB31JPNHlc9b6ajDqZf-KexndCkR4fE-tUTzW38a65PgdC-_CYmzDshE45y35n0Rq8ujAkiHpjrHWpLVSFYhA/s1600/gene+wilder+jim+the+waco+kid.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hAxMbTJEnsRarCVsFNwXuSvThJ7pVmjanz-Xkc18haJPym61gxB31JPNHlc9b6ajDqZf-KexndCkR4fE-tUTzW38a65PgdC-_CYmzDshE45y35n0Rq8ujAkiHpjrHWpLVSFYhA/s320/gene+wilder+jim+the+waco+kid.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699466528544271618" /></a></p><p><b>Gave us Gene Wilder.</b> Further proving my beautiful-women-love-funny-men theory, it was Anne Bancroft who introduced Mel to Gene after she worked with him on stage. Three years later, Mel cast Gene as Bloom in <i>The Producers</i>, after which we got Gene as <i>Willy Wonka</i>, Gene as <i>Young Frankenstein</i>, Gene as <i>Jim, The Waco Kid</i>. Happy days.</p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-41939962677976064182012-01-18T20:12:00.000-08:002012-01-19T14:17:29.269-08:00Smarter than he looks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM4CnqqDgIktZRa9P5D45m7blA9vH6iXGfSHOOxBQ_iLwTsCj53WE_gfqGQi7b332tM_2-uAopVxmnZqbPHTAmCbzE-jKhOOf1xgH9oY0SrU2VOR09U1x6eyS2wO7AH5I-hh5mQ/s1600/KrisKristofferson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM4CnqqDgIktZRa9P5D45m7blA9vH6iXGfSHOOxBQ_iLwTsCj53WE_gfqGQi7b332tM_2-uAopVxmnZqbPHTAmCbzE-jKhOOf1xgH9oY0SrU2VOR09U1x6eyS2wO7AH5I-hh5mQ/s320/KrisKristofferson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699198641743582242" /></a>There are few things I love more than surprising brainiacs — and I don't mean sneaking up on Alfred Einstein and yelling "boo!" I mean people who surprise you by being far, far smarter and more accomplished than you ever thought they were.<div><br /></div><div><p>Like whom, you ask? </div><div></p><p>Like Kris Kristofferson — depending on how old you are, you might remember him as Obi Wan (c'mon, he is!) in <i>Blade,</i> or as the only cool thing about the vastly unfortunate Streisand remake of <i>A Star is Born. </i></div></p><div></div><div><p>I bet you anything you don't know half what you think you know about this guy. Seriously, check out this bio of him written <i>in 1958</i> in Sports Illustrated: </div></p><div></div><blockquote><div>"This dashing young man in the Rugby outfit plays standoff on the team at Pomona College in California, where he is a senior. But this is only a small facet of 21-year-old Kris Kristofferson's amazing record. He is also starting left end on the varsity football team, a Golden Gloves boxer, sports editor of the college paper, outstanding cadet in the ROTC battalion of which he is cadet commander. As an English major he is an honor student and member of the four-man senior honor society on campus. Kris won four of the top 20 awards recently given in a creative writing contest for college students. He composes folk songs which he sings to his own guitar accompaniment. And to crown this varied list of accomplishments Kris is a Rhodes scholar-elect, one of 32 young Americans chosen to go to Oxford this fall.</div><div></div></blockquote><div><p>Yep. A Golden Gloves boxer <i>and</i> a Rhodes Scholar. Not to mention, he's been nominated for an Oscar, won a Grammy or three, won a Golden Globe and in 1985, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (you do know he wrote <i>Me and Bobby McGee</i>, right?). And that picture... <i>Crazy Heart</i>, anyone? </p></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div>Hear that? That's Kris Kristofferson yelling "boo!"</div><div><br /></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-41136609348948788872011-10-14T11:41:00.001-07:002011-10-16T21:15:08.619-07:00You have to see it to believe it<div style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa6V23r9b82qP7WY2mZQKJsTtCwFdLbmMonFAvn89Y7FtFk0W5Q7ZUic7trBFasAoeJ7kgCcSmRdAGY-05-xCYjitfZPci75b4q5_jmFC-f_Qyj-PGTFZt_vZyjpg0mkuxRNuhA/s1600/Schwarzenegger-Shaquille.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa6V23r9b82qP7WY2mZQKJsTtCwFdLbmMonFAvn89Y7FtFk0W5Q7ZUic7trBFasAoeJ7kgCcSmRdAGY-05-xCYjitfZPci75b4q5_jmFC-f_Qyj-PGTFZt_vZyjpg0mkuxRNuhA/s320/Schwarzenegger-Shaquille.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664291701310215362" /></a></div><div style="text-align:center;">Say hello to my little friend.</div><br /><div style="text-align:center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7LfO2emR7dPA90lxWeeC_OqPdPUW7vw9WAmTFQyFjjK8TSQ810SilZMncs9pe0Ns1cFqJ_ssTal2j6MeovdiJVXTcwgmtYu_8fPjYx_JIZ6CH8QPVBDodQL4pAHYX0cuKjRemA/s1600/Clapton+Lennon+Richards.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7LfO2emR7dPA90lxWeeC_OqPdPUW7vw9WAmTFQyFjjK8TSQ810SilZMncs9pe0Ns1cFqJ_ssTal2j6MeovdiJVXTcwgmtYu_8fPjYx_JIZ6CH8QPVBDodQL4pAHYX0cuKjRemA/s320/Clapton+Lennon+Richards.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664291711282364770" /></a><br />The lion, the witch and the wardrobe? Nope.</div><div style="text-align:center;"> The scarecrow, the tin man and the cowardly lion? Uh uh.</div><div style="text-align:center;">Clapton, Lennon and Richards?</div><div style="text-align:center;">Duh.</div><div style="text-align:center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V1cK7ChRHqHOqQyPs77t0Zzqmk-zhP1HZtj07EwRWwFgL1Kf40P89X_axjz042O2bueHtGcLR2UQPh3XAXFfwAzcIbhkbuFG2IHjx7EQXdBE8g6fn9fyhzOOAkdHUmvFqEDBug/s1600/Tippi+Hedren+by+L+Schiller.Jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V1cK7ChRHqHOqQyPs77t0Zzqmk-zhP1HZtj07EwRWwFgL1Kf40P89X_axjz042O2bueHtGcLR2UQPh3XAXFfwAzcIbhkbuFG2IHjx7EQXdBE8g6fn9fyhzOOAkdHUmvFqEDBug/s320/Tippi+Hedren+by+L+Schiller.Jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664291700367962754" /></a></div><div style="text-align:center;">Sneaky, sneaky Hitchock.</div><br /><div style="text-align:center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACHRbwYnghtlXsPE2CqBt0ooc46HeY-LpFO2uk_8IvGt-if8TpkgWIU9a48Iqt18uFxoGCChRhacQt7YxZM59K0uBhCKT9oO_JhyphenhyphenDeB5uYVI-aV6NMUf5sDAyLC9LGnqvSknVA/s1600/Lucas+Bowie+Henson.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigACHRbwYnghtlXsPE2CqBt0ooc46HeY-LpFO2uk_8IvGt-if8TpkgWIU9a48Iqt18uFxoGCChRhacQt7YxZM59K0uBhCKT9oO_JhyphenhyphenDeB5uYVI-aV6NMUf5sDAyLC9LGnqvSknVA/s320/Lucas+Bowie+Henson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664291700102196098" /></a><p>From the minds that brought you Star Wars, Ziggy Stardust and The Muppets comes... </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE55I8bgA_I_g3gsY-rQjqAl_sbhpB9lPBoM35DjHtZ1lmRdaw6oRYnxUJsC0WPCb4Nj6ns29UPv6uu2BCkfG7fapx9yrY4rgJxt5hGwtpiSH0cC_29AsAygmwCvpe0BTDGS42aA/s1600/labyrinth+movie+poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE55I8bgA_I_g3gsY-rQjqAl_sbhpB9lPBoM35DjHtZ1lmRdaw6oRYnxUJsC0WPCb4Nj6ns29UPv6uu2BCkfG7fapx9yrY4rgJxt5hGwtpiSH0cC_29AsAygmwCvpe0BTDGS42aA/s320/labyrinth+movie+poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664301686726995794" /></a>Don't quit your day job, guys.<br /><br /></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-82452559992727942722011-09-18T16:12:00.000-07:002011-09-18T22:55:44.935-07:00You. In 160 characters or less.Maundering around the web as I am wont to do, I happened upon these "best" Twitter bios. I had to share.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /><b>@DianaSilvaSays — </b>I love my husband, my dogs, all things marketing, three-day weekends, high-heels, reading, running, knitting, sushi, wine, long walks on the beach…wait, what?<br /><br /><b>@badbanana — </b>Sometimes I just want to give it all up and become a handsome billionaire.<br /><br /><b>@smuttysteff — </b>I tweet hard, fast, & often. I’m opinionated & swear CONSTANTLY. Don’t like it? Don’t follow. Otherwise: You’ll take it & like it.<br /><br /><b>@katefettie — </b>You know the burnt-out college student in front of you in line at Target who was intermittently chuckling to herself? Nice to meet you, too.<br /><br /><b>@ZacharyColbert — </b>S P E C T A C U L A R V E R N A C U L A R<br /><br /><b>@bgibbs73</b> — Currently working towards an MBA with an emphasis in fantasy football.<br /><br /><b>@TheBloggess</b> — I have friends in spite of myself.<br /><br /><b>@cubedweller</b> — Brand igniter, angel investor, public speaker, former Virgin.<br /><br /><b>@jpundyk</b> — Nice guys finish lunch.<br /><br /><b>@cryjack</b> — Fight stupidization.<br /><br /><b>@HotAmishChick</b> — Will show ankle for five minutes of wireless<br /><br /><b>@JeffCThorson</b> — I recently gave up Warcraft so my productivity, and drinking, have increased dramatically.<br /><br /><b>@wanderingbiker</b> — Unemployed computer guy takes off on his motorcycle seeking fame, fortune and adventure.<br /><br /><b>@howardgr</b> — A man of mystery and power, whose power is exceeded only by his mystery.<br /><br /><b>@ohyesshecan</b> — social strategy & implementation. will work for shoes.<br /><br /><b>@radmul</b> — If I could sum up my life in one line I would die of embarrassment<br /><br /><b>@nancyfalls</b> — I’m @JasonFalls’s wife. I am not on Twitter. Go do something useful.<br /><br /><b>@QueenRania</b> — A mum and a wife with a really cool day job…<br /><br /><b>@Glinner</b> — I apologise in advance.<br /><br /><b>@oilman</b> — Recommended by 4 out of 5 people that recommend things.<br /><br /><b>@TheMadHat</b> — Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic — Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.<br /><br /><b>@AllisonBatof</b> — Naturally and artificially flavoured<br /><br /><b>@RebeccaWoodcock</b> — I am a sample size of one, not statistically significant, nor representative.<br /><br /><b>@KRCraft</b> — An ounce of perception – a pound of obscure.<br /><br /><b>@EzraButler</b> — I’m the illegitimate love-child of Strategy and Creativity. Now neither parent admits to having me…<br /><br /><b>@cshirky</b> — Bald. Unreliable. Easily distracte<br /></span><br /><br />Culled from <a href="http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/12/09/20-of-the-all-time-best-twitter-bios/">The 20 all-time funniest bios</a> (parts 1&2) and <a href="http://ironshirtink.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/30-awesome-twitter-bios-that-demand-attention/">20 Twitter Bios that Demand Attention</a>. Nicely done. <p>Oh, mine? </p><p><b>@AnswerG</b> — Wait. I'm still thinking.</p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-66436774605897490622011-09-17T16:13:00.000-07:002011-09-17T16:56:06.410-07:00Ah, yes, I remember it well<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAod1IavrHi0opTirAiif-sTCf9ZX6kMdIdO_4Z_dS6SZd3CBWukBRU0w3F1D52GV9J6BHv35qVj5P6eVSlhmDAKFPaGBC6UNcWS6Wp-GYAmlJ0jxe5l7Sn0LxNSI2eHhquVV9iA/s1600/gigi+gingold+chevalier.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:none; margin:0 10px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAod1IavrHi0opTirAiif-sTCf9ZX6kMdIdO_4Z_dS6SZd3CBWukBRU0w3F1D52GV9J6BHv35qVj5P6eVSlhmDAKFPaGBC6UNcWS6Wp-GYAmlJ0jxe5l7Sn0LxNSI2eHhquVV9iA/s320/gigi+gingold+chevalier.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653472726535588626" /></a><br /><ul type="none"><li>Him: We met at nine</li><li>Her: We met at eight</li><li>Him: I was on time</li><li>Her: No, you were late</li><li>Him: Ah, yes, I remember it well</li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small; ">(If you’ve never seen the movie, you can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sISWPzEqHLQ">watch the clip here</a>).</span><p></p><p>Has this ever happened to you? </p><div>You <i>know</i> you were with the Johnsons when you got food poisoning.<p>Your spouse <i>knows</i> you were with the Macintyres, and in fact you’ve never even <i>had</i> Chinese food with the Johnsons.<br /></p><p>Fear not. According to Dr. Steve Dewhurst from Lancaster University, memories, it turns out, are <i>not</i> faithfully recorded in our minds as we like to think, but are “updated each time we bring them to mind to fit our current knowledge and beliefs.” Yep, that's right. Memory is mutable. </p><p>The book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307459667/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=g08b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307459667">The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us</a> — the title comes from the famous, and infamous, Gorilla Experiment (I won't tell you any more, you can try it for yourself <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo">here</a>... it only takes a minute) — explores these “everyday illusions of perception and thought, including the beliefs that:</p><ul><li>we pay attention more than we do,<br /></li><li>our memories are more detailed than they are,<br /></li><li>confident people are competent people,<br /></li><li>we know more than we actually do,<br /></li><li>and our brains have reserves of power that are easy to unlock.”</li></ul>One of the authors puts it this way:<br /><blockquote>“we assume that when we recall a personal experience vividly; that the richness of our memory means it must be accurate. The idea that we can remember our experiences as if our brain were a camcorder is fundamentally wrong.” </blockquote><p>So the next time you remember a different when, what, where or who than your husband, wife, father, sister, or son — try remembering this: you could both be wrong! </p></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-16054790144488425532011-09-15T15:53:00.000-07:002011-09-18T22:36:45.393-07:002011 Without Steve Jobs?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgZSFElPDerIlfhDTqT1OYHky3EaihxWGuBbwmVRJqgoRAyAzUcckWqLDg8QKisNpuwB8TMwXrgZ9zn2ZdNwrXNwAYdeA_62JYSnSLMcGhP4pSpLwI92LmJ7rg2nnz7WjkkxC7g/s1600/apple-logo-silver.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgZSFElPDerIlfhDTqT1OYHky3EaihxWGuBbwmVRJqgoRAyAzUcckWqLDg8QKisNpuwB8TMwXrgZ9zn2ZdNwrXNwAYdeA_62JYSnSLMcGhP4pSpLwI92LmJ7rg2nnz7WjkkxC7g/s320/apple-logo-silver.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653838855186204130" /></a><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Can you imagine the world without the iPod? The iPhone? iPad? Pretty weird, huh?</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Most people under the age of 30 probably won’t believe this, but... <i>Apple did not invent the portable music player.</i> That would have been Sony, in 1979, with something called the “walkman." Nor did Apple invent the laptop, the tablet, or the cell phone. In the last 10 years, under CEO Steve Jobs’ leadership, it only seemed as though it did.</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Last month, <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/204271/20110826/apple-inc-steve-jobs-resign-tim-cook-macintosh-mac-ipod-iphone-ipad-steve-wozniak-ronald-wayne-paten.htm">Steve Jobs announced his resignation from Apple</a>, leaving a legacy of breathtaking design innovation and juggernaut market dominance. Instead of invention, Apple focuses on transformation, impacting our expectations as much as, if not more than, our capabilities. Apple didn't invent those consumer products, it's true — what it did do was redefine them.</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Believe it or not, it was only 10 years ago, in 2001, that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN0SVBCJqLs">Steve Jobs introduced the very first iPod</a>. Which, with an LCD screen, a click wheel and a whopping 5Gb of storage, retailed for $399. (FYI, the current iPod Classic comes with a full color screen and 160Mb of storage — and retails for $249.) While Sony brought us a miniature version of our same music experience, Apple gave us an entirely new music experience.</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFSeItIDjBYQOl0h8g6smPudIpTcrDjnl1Z_aXf1fII3sEa-OJ7LPpVG9IVXzk9xXp2DlRzwGwKPu_jQX9eFIsR2mX_ltfEdTaXZez_eOQfkDv9KKQc2t5Jk1zehO_aBHLuGFLQ/s1600/ipod_original.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFSeItIDjBYQOl0h8g6smPudIpTcrDjnl1Z_aXf1fII3sEa-OJ7LPpVG9IVXzk9xXp2DlRzwGwKPu_jQX9eFIsR2mX_ltfEdTaXZez_eOQfkDv9KKQc2t5Jk1zehO_aBHLuGFLQ/s320/ipod_original.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653838264908633426" /></a>The iPod was simple, slick and — with the iTunes 99¢/song music store — so easy, my grandmother could use it. As Steve Jobs put it, “design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but here are what a few analysts and reporters had to say about the device (from <a href="http://news.cnet.com/Apples-iPod-spurs-mixed-reactions/2100-1040_3-274821.html">CNET.com</a>) at the time:</div></p><blockquote>“An analyst at NPD Intelect said that the iPod… may have trouble digging out a niche in the market.”<br /><br />“An IDC analyst said Apple may take some heat for entering the consumer electronics market, which typically has lower profit margins than Apple gets from its computers… but… It's another incentive for them that can convince people to buy a Mac.”</blockquote><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Let’s see. Dig out a market niche? Check. Lower profit margins? Hmm… not so much; it’s estimated that Apple makes close to 60 percent profit on each iPhone. As for convincing people to buy a Mac? That may be so, but as of 2010, the iPod and iPhone accounted for twice as much of Apple’s revenues than the entire Mac product line.</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;">And so the iRevolution began.</div></p><p><div style="text-align: justify;">Author and consultant Simon Sinek, in <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html">his presentation at the TED conference</a>, talks about what makes Apple stand out. Apple, he says, doesn’t tell you they make computers and music players and cell phone — all of which look cool and work great. No, what Apple tells you is this: “Everything we do – we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use and user-friendly. We just happen to make great computers (music players, cell phones). Wanna buy one?”</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Apple may not be responsible for inventing the laptop, the tablet, or the cell phone, but Steve Jobs is responsible for changing our perspective and raising our expectations of how those things should work — for us.</div></p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-21523566107057231822011-09-15T13:54:00.000-07:002012-06-07T15:09:04.032-07:00Don't you have to write it to own it?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnle8j0LHYscOBFalu3fdGbl9FnX2_pzmN-R21o1MPkOItCMw-MEyvWt5wtEKEV-FnZezk2M3y1ES32BhRKd4PyYmRCdSWDfBlEoDvkKIHruPnfHGBFKwJXdM4eZtPOuzYJFGGDw/s1600/wbyeats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnle8j0LHYscOBFalu3fdGbl9FnX2_pzmN-R21o1MPkOItCMw-MEyvWt5wtEKEV-FnZezk2M3y1ES32BhRKd4PyYmRCdSWDfBlEoDvkKIHruPnfHGBFKwJXdM4eZtPOuzYJFGGDw/s320/wbyeats.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652693074962109826" /></a>In a seeming triumph of culture over commerce... of high art over pop art... of the little guy over the big, bad mogul... author Chinua Achebe has succeeded in forcing rapper 50 Cent to change the title of his upcoming movie.<br /><br />As reported last week in the culture blog, <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/09/50_cent_chinua_achebe_things_f.html">Vulture</a> (and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/50-cent-things-fall-apart_n_961964.html">HuffPo</a> and <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/09/15/50-cent-vs-chinua-achebe/">EW</a>, etc.) the facts lay out as follows:<br /><br />In 1958, Achebe wrote what is widely acknowledged as the most read African novel of all time, titled "Things Fall Apart."<br /><br />In 2010, 50 Cent wrote, produced and financed a film directed by Mario Van Peebles, about a football player diagnosed with cancer, also titled "Things Fall Apart."<br /><br />In 2011, Achebe's lawyers contacted 50 Cent to rename his movie prior to its release. In response, 50 Cent offered Achebe $1 million to be allowed to use the title. Mr. Achebe's legal team refused 50 Cent's offer, saying "the novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before [50] was born). [It is] listed as the most-read book in modern African literature, and won't be sold for even £1bn."<br /><br />This is the point at which 50 Cent agreed to rename his movie “All Things Fall Apart.”<br /><br />Were I 50 Cent, rather than acquiesce, I might instead have replied to Achebe's representatives, "tread softly, because you tread on my dreams," and then gently reminded them that Chinua Achebe took <i>his</i> title from a William Butler Yeats poem, "<a href="http://www.online-literature.com/yeats/780/">The Second Coming</a>":<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><blockquote>Turning and turning in the widening gyre<br />The falcon cannot hear the falconer;<br /><b>Things fall apart</b>; the centre cannot hold;<br />Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world...</blockquote></span></div><p>I might have gone on to note that 50-some years ago, when Mr. Achebe's novel was about to be released, Yeats' legal team evidently declined to ask Mr. Achebe to re-title it, nor did they point out that "the poem with the said phrase was initially published in 1920 (that is 10 years before [Achebe] was born). It was written by one of the most venerable poets of the 20th century, and won't be sold for even £1tn."<div><br /></div><div>"The worst are full of passionate intensity." Indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">(This post is dedicated to my big sister, who introduced me to Yeats, and to Achebe and Didion, and to a whole assortment of great authors — and who can recite this poem from memory.)</span></i></div>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-26772442371957275222011-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:002012-06-07T15:06:16.429-07:00A Tale of 100 Movies<p><b><a href="http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx" target="_blank">AFI's 100 Greatest Movies</a>: The Story You Haven't Heard</b></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWXQ8Wpg_q-lQA9RKeZSFlmR2PhUH9cK1JsXKG5mTub21K2yeqITxF8BQ6_uOidJWISAwodw9zEtg-201SdcTzwAmlYQzeh650HKOa4xjKNG8Z6FnlWA377npbdjbb2_UAQSANw/s1600/L+of+Arabia+Otoole+Sharif.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWXQ8Wpg_q-lQA9RKeZSFlmR2PhUH9cK1JsXKG5mTub21K2yeqITxF8BQ6_uOidJWISAwodw9zEtg-201SdcTzwAmlYQzeh650HKOa4xjKNG8Z6FnlWA377npbdjbb2_UAQSANw/s320/L+of+Arabia+Otoole+Sharif.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645234650409283026" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It happened one night that Lawrence of Arabia went north by northwest, following Sullivan's travels until he reached Casablanca. Arriving before the last picture show aired on the network, he began to tell a few good fellas the west side story, which goes something like this:<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On a dark and stormy night, the general, the graduate — even the godfather! — went singin' in the rain on the waterfront. Entranced by the sound of music under the city lights, the wild bunch opened a swing time cabaret, where they planned to mash the grapes of wrath and drink all night, eat venison delivered by the deer hunter and serve duck soup at two temperatures because some like it hot. But then, in the heat of the night, Tootsie arrived with news of the gold rush in Nashville — and suddenly, they were all gone with the wind.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">All was not lost, as the searchers managed to keep Schindler's list up-to-date: according to reports, one flew over the cuckoo's nest when Sophie’s choice meant saving Private Ryan and letting the others go. The midnight cowboy flagged a taxi driver to head over the bridge on the river Kwai. Bonnie and Clyde, still unforgiven, escaped the deafening silence of the lambs and fled to Chinatown. The blade runner, not surprisingly, took the maltese falcon to kill a mockingbird. Shane was last seen riding away on a streetcar named desire, gazing out the rear window at Sunset Blvd. shimmering at sunrise. As for that psycho, Annie Hall — she gathered 12 angry men and a raging bull to go after the treasure of the Sierra Madre.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzNFyEu_Km8rnpzvz4rh7a39fQbBYKtbbt0c_b7v5sUPfFZmsvgPUQ1fGg3ZTdTwGDMgVLgD20YOHMpESw8NWVUloKLun3-E7Jhl_Me7syb7ewVmJ_yBK1uhdxd_fo4o5ukSi-w/s1600/BC+and+the+SK+Newman+Redford.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzNFyEu_Km8rnpzvz4rh7a39fQbBYKtbbt0c_b7v5sUPfFZmsvgPUQ1fGg3ZTdTwGDMgVLgD20YOHMpESw8NWVUloKLun3-E7Jhl_Me7syb7ewVmJ_yBK1uhdxd_fo4o5ukSi-w/s320/BC+and+the+SK+Newman+Redford.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645234646238207282" /></a>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid spent a night at the opera, hoping for a toy story featuring the Wizard of Oz and the Lord of the Rings. The fellowship of the ring, sadly, turned out just to be some pulp fiction all about eve, so they returned to the apartment, where the African queen was reading the Philadelphia story. She swore the sixth sense let her see Snow White and the seven dwarves, but Dr. Strangelove insists there is no such thing — all she saw was some American graffiti.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow at high noon, Mr. Smith goes to Washington to ask "who's afraid of Virginia Woolf bringing up baby?" Going there is just step one, according to the godfather, part 2 is getting double indemnity, so he can ask whatever he wants. Also in our nation’s capitol, all the president's men decided finally to let yankee doodle dandy become a citizen. Kane made the French Connection by reversing his nouns and adjectives and presenting the easy rider with a clockwork, orange. King Kong ate Jaws and apparently ET (the extra terrestrial) sent Rocky back 10 years to fight in the Star Wars. Last we heard he was suffering from vertigo and writing his memoir, 2001: A Space Odyssey.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL2nN7PMMTybx0R2SVq0wA12qtfcv3Q3ztWgTlQS1Via1PJ5OBpFFk4jCccMVaX4RbudAwEuHoqdNJ-KCtvsxQTsjbu-V5MvLcWgQr-IUcIqq4bmygmeA9dGicbUnUxhmaNrohA/s1600/shawshank+robbins+freeman+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL2nN7PMMTybx0R2SVq0wA12qtfcv3Q3ztWgTlQS1Via1PJ5OBpFFk4jCccMVaX4RbudAwEuHoqdNJ-KCtvsxQTsjbu-V5MvLcWgQr-IUcIqq4bmygmeA9dGicbUnUxhmaNrohA/s320/shawshank+robbins+freeman+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645236162323051378" /></a>The raiders of the lost ark were going to do the right thing, of course, and take a platoon to save the Titanic, but Spartacus, still stinging from intolerance, announced "these modern times call for an apocalypse, now." Luckily, Ben-hur and Forrest Gump, fresh from the Shawshank Redemption, were able to dissuade him, convincing him it's a wonderful life and these are the best years of our lives.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you don't believe me, here's a hint: 9, 20, 25, 14, 19, 13.</p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-80403202469776831712011-07-29T00:33:00.000-07:002012-01-19T14:18:53.688-08:00Look, Ma! No gravity<p>Superlatives are the most overused parts of speech around. </p><p><i>Best</i> Buy. The <i>Greatest</i> Story Ever Told. Droid <i>Incredible</i>. America's <i>Most </i>Wanted. The <i>Supreme</i> Court. The <i>Biggest</i> Loser. The World's <i>Fastest</i> Indian. The <i>Genius</i> Bar. </p><p>Really? A whole bar of geniuses? C'mon.</p><p>But... The League of Extraordinary Dancers... <i>are</i> extraordinary. Don't believe me? Check out this video from their performance on So You Think You Can Dance. No strings. No trampolines. No wires. Just... dancers. <i>Extraordinary</i> <i>dancers</i>.</p><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ROb4f4SN05g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Trebuchet, serif; font-size: 12px; ">(Note: video. And no fooling, you really, <i>really</i> want to click <a href="http://gr2br.blogspot.com/2011/07/look-ma-no-gravity.html">here</a> - or even <a href="http://youtu.be/ROb4f4SN05g">here</a> - if you can't see it)</span></p><p>What is <a href="http://www.thelxd.com/">The LXD</a>? It's <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/stepup/">Step Up</a> meets <a href="http://gr2br.blogspot.com/2008/05/unlikely-hero.html">The Justice League</a>. It's <a href="http://www.nbc.com/heroes/">Heroes</a> — except in this war of good vs evil, the superheros dance instead of fly. As <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/arts/dance/25webdance.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1311926577-jxqVew40G5wuX37G8vg1/w">The New York Times</a> puts it, it's "Jerome Robbins for the hip-hop age."</p><p>Start with a dash of Gene Kelly, a sprinkle of Mikhail Baryshnikov, a skosh of Eleanor Powell, a pinch of Ann Miller, a generous helping of Fred Astaire, and a whole lot of Michael Jackson. In a separate era, blend hip-hop, acrobatics, break dance, tumbling and krump. Mix well and cast absurdly good-looking, really, truly, <i>ridiculously </i>talented dancers. Drop 8-minute episodes on the web once a week.</p><p>(Seriously. Who can <i>do</i> that?)</p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-59090362214944406882011-07-13T08:27:00.000-07:002011-07-13T09:06:38.655-07:00The things you can do today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26lfq78wI6pUtUcX6KNtrWAhIFpQ-lIGD58nNWbPeXZvRJ59AW2YCPYIkY9Mwx3yxe8qLygxY547QREIa3O8C2JYWDP4Emj-J7_daWNrRReZy2KQzKn_efocrlafR_BUVHDeFFg/s1600/handelingenkamer-tweede-kam.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26lfq78wI6pUtUcX6KNtrWAhIFpQ-lIGD58nNWbPeXZvRJ59AW2YCPYIkY9Mwx3yxe8qLygxY547QREIa3O8C2JYWDP4Emj-J7_daWNrRReZy2KQzKn_efocrlafR_BUVHDeFFg/s320/handelingenkamer-tweede-kam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628859394246449442" border="0" /></a>Something about this picture tickled my fancy.<br /><br />I wanted to share it, so I went looking for the original — I saw this one on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/thecopybot.com">thecopybot.com</a> (a great blog on writing for the web, by the by)...<br /><br />...though I have to say the post on which this particular image was included, "How to Read a 291-page Book in Two Hours" isn't one of my faves... I mean a) 291 pages isn't all that long and 2) didn't we graduate from CliffNotes? If you want to read something, READ it... otherwise, go see the movie. Not that I feel strongly about it or anything.<br /><br />As I was saying, I went looking for the original and found... this (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffey/222234560/">on Flickr</a>).<br /><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffey/222234560/"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63-0llowWWfHI25hDPWybFkgLe7wubi-EAcShUwTMLjgPsY5qQz83Y3oAELsEPxfW38gCp1iptdSk1RYgYI34-b1Te9AswHakPXv8a_o8xYabKuGpNfKkUwnnQCvCdh5GAZBNkw/s320/HANDELINGENKAMER-TWEEDE-KAM+Orig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628860602374167858" border="0" /></a>The same, yet not.<br /></p><p>Crazy what the average joe can do to a photo these days.<a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11/16/beautiful-examples-of-tilt-shift-photography/"> Tilt-shift</a>, anyone?<br /></p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-86676221421089406462011-06-01T12:19:00.001-07:002011-06-01T12:28:32.225-07:00Mrs. Doubtfire or Mr. Mom?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAe05ZRi0QKZLoVju-1V8vtOnLbZTG05j18lui_VK9Ac-SlgsBMxaEFyCfQM9mP2wS0XHet1kEus96RMNKBtvlgq34IuVByVqF59Z6vj4exht6qjREo8phvQ7UswqtpwGIlwk-w/s1600/Juno_24332_Medium.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAe05ZRi0QKZLoVju-1V8vtOnLbZTG05j18lui_VK9Ac-SlgsBMxaEFyCfQM9mP2wS0XHet1kEus96RMNKBtvlgq34IuVByVqF59Z6vj4exht6qjREo8phvQ7UswqtpwGIlwk-w/s320/Juno_24332_Medium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333175645256546" border="0" /></a>Hollywood has always had a soft spot for fathers. From Spencer Tracy in <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007154-father_of_the_bride/">Father of the Bride</a> to J.K. Simmons in <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/juno/">Juno</a>, dads on film have always held a special place in our hearts. Here are some of my faves:<br /><br />5. For his endless imagination and unflagging determination to give his son a childhood in the face of formidable obstacles, Roberto Benigni’s father in <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1084398-life_is_beautiful/">Life is Beautiful</a> really is a thing of beauty.<br /><br />4. Whether he belongs on the best housekeeper list or best Dads list, Robin Williams as <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mrs_doubtfire/">Mrs. Doubtfire</a> undoubtedly belongs on a Top 5 list somewhere. Willing to go to any lengths to be with his kids, he eventually triumphs, gaining not only his kids, but also his own TV show.<br /><br />3. When your mom dies and you have to travel five thousand miles to live with your dad, you really hope he turns out to be like <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fly_away_home/">Fly Away Home’s Thomas</a>. What other dad would not only let you adopt a flock of geese, but build you your very own Ultralight (painted like a mama goose, no less) to migrate your flock hundreds of miles south from Canada to North Carolina?<br /><br />2. I have always had a soft spot for <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/professional/">Leon in The Professional</a>. Just goes to show biology isn’t everything. Then again, what hitman wouldn’t want to adopt an adolescent Natalie Portman?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MCptUApbnL5_HGgvdDDSE_Am6vzwpbARX-lsBnVWrl1-HTeYsgW-B_gO9POjA1nuEuQ-DL0PFhp3oi3TzXnmxUKOVPSkSjwb9UJjPPtFHa6y_Dsk-I1pMu9MXoxdnXli1ONx7Q/s1600/AtticusFinch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MCptUApbnL5_HGgvdDDSE_Am6vzwpbARX-lsBnVWrl1-HTeYsgW-B_gO9POjA1nuEuQ-DL0PFhp3oi3TzXnmxUKOVPSkSjwb9UJjPPtFHa6y_Dsk-I1pMu9MXoxdnXli1ONx7Q/s320/AtticusFinch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613333375931866930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1. Was there ever a better father than <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/to_kill_a_mockingbird/">Atticus Finch</a>, as portrayed by Gregory Peck? “Stand up Jean Louise, your father’s passing.” Stand up indeed.<br /><br />Whatever real life might have in store for you, the good ol' silver screen always gives you something to dream about.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-35834242856260401202011-04-03T11:37:00.000-07:002011-04-03T11:43:31.850-07:0035 million views - for a reasonOne of my all time favorite commercials ever. Ever. Ever, ever, ever. Like forever and then some. (No, seriously, I really dig this ad.)<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R55e-uHQna0" allowfullscreen="" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">There is a video clip here and if you can't see it, you're really missing out if you don't click </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0">here</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> to watch it.</span></span><br /><br />Not a word is spoken and you never see his face. And yet...<br /><br />One of the few car companies to make commercials worth watching. I guess the force is with them.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-34464796033683489232011-03-27T08:16:00.000-07:002011-03-30T08:33:51.210-07:00Greek Yogurt + Green Goblin + Dr. Seuss = MagicThis is what it's like if Willem Dafoe reads you bedtime stories.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cSo3HbkmiQU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(There's a video here. It's short. And, if you ask me, it's worth watching, so if you can't see it, click </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSo3HbkmiQU">here</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.)</span></span><br /><br />Thank you, Mullen (an agency in Boston) for this treat. Their own Brian Tierney (<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BCTierney">@BCTierney</a>) wrote the copy.<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing (and hearing) this ad again? Check.<br />Remember the product it's shilling? Check.<br />Spectacular? Check.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-60851427436504683542011-03-25T03:29:00.000-07:002011-03-25T03:29:00.142-07:00Sundays are ad days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_vP4IO0MZchrfMbNPJw6f0ox35ZonAZde0HFNP18tTjprvcB_PyaILcXwhUA3ZbVmmPE18UuuCkz6ucCvGCX2ahzTOigOZdfkGFvZAn7CIf4KxhTN_iuRcJGO0B0trGzC4t9aw/s1600/BJORK+SWAN+jan5.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_vP4IO0MZchrfMbNPJw6f0ox35ZonAZde0HFNP18tTjprvcB_PyaILcXwhUA3ZbVmmPE18UuuCkz6ucCvGCX2ahzTOigOZdfkGFvZAn7CIf4KxhTN_iuRcJGO0B0trGzC4t9aw/s400/BJORK+SWAN+jan5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586621505257912418" border="0" /></a>For me, commercials fall into two categories: "spectacular" and "not".<br /><br />What, you say? What about the terrible? The awful, the egregious, the outrageously bad? Settle down, I'm with ya. That is, you see, the beauty of the word "spectacular"— could be spectacularly good or... not.<br /><br />Sometimes it's a whole campaign, sometimes it's just one ad... but I find it fascinating how much money is spent on advertising, and how many sadly mediocre commercials are produced.<br /><br />Because a spectacular fail is better than a "play it safe and bore 'em to death." Don't believe me? Do you remember what Bjork wore to the 2001 Academy Awards? Bet you do. How about Julia Roberts? Or Catherine Zeta-Jones? No? See? Spectacular fails can still be marketing successes (along the lines of that old chestnut: "no publicity is bad publicity").<br /><br />Spectacular Sundays are born: my weekly personal homage to the Clio (or Razz) worthy. Don't all clap at once.ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11017883.post-71571856188196531172011-03-23T09:09:00.000-07:002012-06-07T15:06:16.441-07:00God has another most beautiful angel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-farr/elizabeth-taylor-star_b_839481.html"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIgzcXY7AMqNT4N7kQseZmT6i3abG9CQ3Nc95dVx3KbQh01Y0tE-aI1h5c7jajwJVnDeoCbxJsHRGl-ofTBmROB96WDuCyRfSY2xFUDbNgJDCs88J_RG6HNhg3tfCgtQdCXzRGA/s400/LizTaylor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587312162181226498" border="0" /></a>When Audrey Hepburn died, Elizabeth Taylor said, "God has a most beautiful new angel."<br /><br />Elizabeth Taylor died this morning, and as my friend Amy would say, "that's some heck of a team God is putting together up there."<br /><br />If you're not an old movie buff like moi, your idea of Liz Taylor is probably incomplete. Husbands out the yin yang, weight gain, weight loss, weight gain, pills, rehab, crazy hair. Perfume shiller. Maybe you even think of her as an AIDS research advocate and fund raiser extraordinaire.<br /><br />Personally, she was also known for being an extraordinary friend. By all accounts, she saved Montgomery Clift's life after his car accident near her home, climbing through a back window because the doors were too mangled to open and reaching into his mouth to pull out loose teeth that were blocking his airway. She continued to care for him, renting a suite at the Chateau Marmont for his recovery and doing her part to see that he continued to work in Hollywood.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dd0NubAiu8wnWxSHFPej0Qi9YVbagUJeFYP0lUFHZAb1C41ytD2n_PL_3K5knAzuZBuf3HosabMqGciLYXaG9mnsOd_To5kcbSJsyFqz9Hdgp-WS16S6Z8M2Bnvp60pfdJlm0Q/s1600/LizTaylorWhiteDress.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dd0NubAiu8wnWxSHFPej0Qi9YVbagUJeFYP0lUFHZAb1C41ytD2n_PL_3K5knAzuZBuf3HosabMqGciLYXaG9mnsOd_To5kcbSJsyFqz9Hdgp-WS16S6Z8M2Bnvp60pfdJlm0Q/s400/LizTaylorWhiteDress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587317665781889922" border="0" /></a><br />Indelibly linked to AIDS and AIDS research, she was inspired to campaign for the cause when another friend, Rock Hudson, announced he was suffering from the disease. Against the advice of friends and publicists, Elizabeth went ahead and became the face and voice for a disease that at the time, no one wanted even to discuss, let alone acknowledge the scale of the threat it posed.<br /><br />Professionally, Elizabeth Taylor won two Academy Awards for acting (for "BUtterfield 8" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"). One of the last fixtures of "Old Hollywood," she was almost so un-really gorgeous, it's sometimes hard to see her performances past her face, but they're there. Everyone has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-farr/elizabeth-taylor-star_b_839481.html">their favorites</a>, but for me, it's<br /><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuTEizK3GNcWdaOEKcwOt7SA5ng30jsoRqjVlB5csAFjXlLHLsJmTBbMR0PJ0SfRitdkCS8EEJA2y0c4BPQOk6WFQPUrp9p7AIufXNyrMZANfSLoJbsDI4OpLwUYMcoRqvpFVhA/s1600/LizTaylor_PaulNewman.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuTEizK3GNcWdaOEKcwOt7SA5ng30jsoRqjVlB5csAFjXlLHLsJmTBbMR0PJ0SfRitdkCS8EEJA2y0c4BPQOk6WFQPUrp9p7AIufXNyrMZANfSLoJbsDI4OpLwUYMcoRqvpFVhA/s400/LizTaylor_PaulNewman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587321686631442050" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Giant"><strong>National Velvet</strong></a> (I don't care, I love that movie)<br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1003755-cat_on_a_hot_tin_roof/"><strong>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</strong></a> (Paul and Liz in the same movie? Need I say more?)<br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/place_in_the_sun/"><strong>A Place in the Sun</strong></a> (when Montgomery Clift was almost as beautiful as Liz)<br /><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/suddenly_last_summer/"><strong>Suddenly, Last Summer</strong></a> (though really, it's Katherine Hepburn in that movie who is so riveting — can you say twisted and obsessed? Brrrrr.)<br />and <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/giant/"><strong>Giant</strong></a>. Not because I should, but because I actually do. And also because in it, Dennis Hopper plays Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson's son. Who knew?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(By the way, the average RT score for those movies? 94.4. Nice going, Elizabeth.)</span><br /></blockquote><p>Albert Einstein said "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity." Feels like Elizabeth Taylor was here not even a minute.<br /></p>ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02397325127816682981noreply@blogger.com1