Watch the clip, it speaks for itself!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bush or Palpatine
I found this on the web and thought it was kind of fun....
The answers:
Palpatine: 1,4,6,7,8,11,13
Bush: 2,3,5,9,10,12,14
QUOTES FROM EITHER
PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES
GEORGE W. BUSH
OR
SENATOR/CHANCELLOR/EMPEROR PALPATINE
FROM THE STAR WARS MOVIES
BY JASON MCGREGOR
1. "Your friends have failed!"
2. "As a matter of common sense and self-defense, [we] will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed."
3. "If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the [Republic or U.S.], has developed that capability, harbors those aspirations, then I think the [Republic or U.S.] is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force."
4. "The [Republic or Nation] is not what it once was—the Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good."
5. "That will be part of the resolution, authorization of use of force. If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force."
6. "Now witness the firepower of this fully operational battle station."
7. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."
8. "You will pay the price for your lack of vision."
9. "Delaying a vote in [Congress or Senate] would send a message that the [Republic or U.S.] may be unprepared to take a stand, just as we are asking the [international community or universe] to take a stand."
10. "My [country or planet] will continue to encourage all parties to step up to their responsibilities as we seek a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict."
11. "I will not let this [Republic or Nation]... be split in two. My negotiations will not fail."
12. "We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security and for the permanent rights and the hopes of mankind."
13. "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy, I love the [Republic or United States of America]. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated."
14. "The [chancellor or president] is authorized to all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force."
2. "As a matter of common sense and self-defense, [we] will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed."
3. "If we have reason to believe someone is preparing an attack against the [Republic or U.S.], has developed that capability, harbors those aspirations, then I think the [Republic or U.S.] is justified in dealing with that, if necessary, by military force."
4. "The [Republic or Nation] is not what it once was—the Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good."
5. "That will be part of the resolution, authorization of use of force. If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force."
6. "Now witness the firepower of this fully operational battle station."
7. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."
8. "You will pay the price for your lack of vision."
9. "Delaying a vote in [Congress or Senate] would send a message that the [Republic or U.S.] may be unprepared to take a stand, just as we are asking the [international community or universe] to take a stand."
10. "My [country or planet] will continue to encourage all parties to step up to their responsibilities as we seek a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict."
11. "I will not let this [Republic or Nation]... be split in two. My negotiations will not fail."
12. "We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security and for the permanent rights and the hopes of mankind."
13. "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy, I love the [Republic or United States of America]. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated."
14. "The [chancellor or president] is authorized to all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force."
The answers:
Palpatine: 1,4,6,7,8,11,13
Bush: 2,3,5,9,10,12,14
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Pumpkin Head or The Coletonus Progressionis
Friday June 23 at about noon
About 6:45pm
Fifteen minutes later, 'nuff said!
Studio 60
Earlier this week I posted a slightly condensed version of this as a comment to Bruce’s Blog entry Sorkin's Segue. I was going to leave it at that, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt it deserved an entry of its own. So, here it is:
I have said it many times and I will say it again, Aaron Sorkin is a GOD! He is responsible for what is one of, if not the best written shows on television – EVER! The West Wing won a record 9 Emmy Awards its first season! It won the award for Best Drama Series its first four years. After the fourth year, Sorkin left The West Wing and you could certainly tell the difference. This fall he along with past collaborators Thomas Schlamme, WG Snuffy as well as Bradley Whitford and several others are returning to prime time with a new series, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Here is the promo and here is a quick clip from the pilot. Check them out!
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Soylent White or the Other Other White Meat
Well, I am not exactly sure how I feel about this, but, I can’t say it surprises me. It seems scientists are working on test tube meat. Yes, you read that correctly, edible, lab-grown meat. A professor of meat sciences (who knew there was such a degree) at Utrecht University is working on growing artificial pork meat out of pig stem cells. They believe a form of meat suitable for burgers, sausages and pizza toppings could be available within a few years.
Paul Kosnik, vice president of engineering at Tissue Genesis in Hawaii says “All of the technology exists today to make ground meat products in vitro.” They just need to figure out how to mass produce it.
Jason Matheny, a University of Maryland doctoral student believes the easiest way to create edible tissue is to grow “meat sheets” (Cassandra?). Meat sheets are layers of animal muscle and fat cells stretched out overlarge flat sheets made of other edible or removable material.
Taste is an unknown at this point. Real meat is of course, more than just cells; it has blood vessels, connective tissue, fat, etc. Matheny notes to get a similar arrangement of cells, lab-grown meat will have to be exercised and stretched.
Paul Kosnik, vice president of engineering at Tissue Genesis in Hawaii says “All of the technology exists today to make ground meat products in vitro.” They just need to figure out how to mass produce it.
Jason Matheny, a University of Maryland doctoral student believes the easiest way to create edible tissue is to grow “meat sheets” (Cassandra?). Meat sheets are layers of animal muscle and fat cells stretched out overlarge flat sheets made of other edible or removable material.
Taste is an unknown at this point. Real meat is of course, more than just cells; it has blood vessels, connective tissue, fat, etc. Matheny notes to get a similar arrangement of cells, lab-grown meat will have to be exercised and stretched.
Suddenly Meat Wad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force is only a few years away.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Earth Sandwich
As I was driving to my parent’s house this past Father’s day, I heard a fun and interesting story on NPR about creating an Earth Sandwich. The supposition of the report was if you dig a hole through the Earth, where would you come up? If it were technologically possible, could you really dig a hole to China?
Well, for most of us, the answer is no. In fact, for most of us, if we were to dig through the planet, you would come up in water.
Here is the article from NPR:
Weekend Edition - Saturday, June 17, 2006 · Let's suppose -- just for sake of argument -- that you had a drill capable of plowing below where you are standing right now and grinding its way straight through the middle of the planet to the other side. Where would you end up?
Well, for all of you reading this in North America (and specifically in the 48 contiguous states) with very, very (I can't overemphasize this, so make it very, very, very, very) few exceptions, you would come out in the middle of an ocean. The U.S mainland is antipodal to the sea that is west of Australia, down near Antarctica. So if your mother puts you in the backyard and says "Dig a hole to China," bring along a wetsuit.
Unless -- and this is the fun part -- you happen to be standing in three (by my count) lower 48 state locations that are opposite land. They are near a Colorado highway, a Junior College campus also in Colorado and part of a Montana town. In all three spots, you could drill straight through and come up in a place where you might bump into the occasional seal and, in one place if you arrive at the right time of year, a scientist or two.
But don't take my word for it. Wikipedia has a map of world antipodes that you can look at. I found that map -- and a "find the opposite tool" -- on a blog run by Ze Frank.
Ze is a perfomer, satirist, essayist, composer, dancer and wonderfully weird guy who challenged his audience last month to create the world's first "Earth sandwich."
To make an Earth sandwich you must:
1. Put a piece of bread on the ground.
2. Have someone else put a piece of bread on the ground directly on the other side of the Earth from you.
3. Do this at the same exact time, so the Earth at that moment is "sandwiched" between two pieces of bread.
To inspire his audience, Ze composed a ballad, "If the Earth were a sandwich…"
It's hummable. Beautiful even.
So for the last few weeks, all over the world people have been rushing about, emailing, texting and trekking in an effort to arrange a simultaneous sandwich moment. This past week, apparently, it happened. Somebody in Spain put half a roll on the ground, and somebody in New Zealand put something breadlike opposite. Ta Dah!
(Except, instead of lying parallel as they would on a normal sandwich, the two pieces of bread may have been perpendicular to each other, making a kind of X-like structure. But... who's quibbling?)
It was Ze's challenge that got me thinking about antipodal Earth geography.
I found two towns in Illinois that were founded in the 1820s by settlers who thought they were on prairie directly opposite Chinese cities: Peking, Ill., and Canton, Ill. (Thank you, Ian Frasier, for writing an essay on this subject in The New Yorker.)
With my engineer, Manoli Wetherell, and help from my NPR colleague Robert Smith, we decided to see where you would have to go on this planet to be able to dig a whole straight through to China.
So if you happen one day to be in Concordia, Argentina, which is about 150 miles north of Buenos Aires near the Uruguayan border, a concerted effort at digging would have you emerging somewhere pretty close to downtown Shanghai.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Timmy’s Titillating Tunastic Trist
In a response to the Waste Not Want Not blog entry, Timmy inquired how many Maguro Goma Tataki salads he could eat for the price of President Bush’s trip to Iraq? With a little simple math, the number was easily computed and it turns out he could devour over 107,800 salads!
Out of sheer boredom, I wondered how many tuna it would take to make the 100,000+ salads??? I believe the salad uses seared spicy Ahi tuna. Ahi refers to two species of tuna, Bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares). Based on current statistics, the average Bigeye weighs 33 to 44 pounds. The average Yellowfin tuna currently weights between 11 and 44 pounds. However, tuna weighing about 100 pounds are preferred. Since 100 pound fish are favored we will assume all the tuna served at Sushi Neko derive from 100 pound tuna. Ahi tuna yields about 65% edible meat. However, in Timmy’s case, it is probably closer to 90% - but we won’t go there. So, this means the average tuna produces about 65 pounds of editable flesh. Assuming the salad is composed of mixed greens and 8 ounces of tuna, this means we get 130 salads from a tuna. Thus we can easily compute one would need approximately 829 tuna to serve up 107,800 Maguro Goma Tataki salads.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Waste Not Want Not
OK, for the most part, I generally stay off my soap box when writing a blog entry. If I can’t stay off the box, I try to avoid a foray into the political. However, today, I have been irritated just enough that I can do neither. I simply must take odds with President Bush’s secret surprise trip to Iraq.
As you may be aware, the President has been holding a summit on Iraq with his cabinet members and advisors. On Tuesday’s, June 13, 2006, agenda, was a scheduled video conference with the new government of Iraq. Instead of hanging with his advisors, the President decided he would hop his plane, at our expense, and participate from across "The Pond".
As you may be aware, the President has been holding a summit on Iraq with his cabinet members and advisors. On Tuesday’s, June 13, 2006, agenda, was a scheduled video conference with the new government of Iraq. Instead of hanging with his advisors, the President decided he would hop his plane, at our expense, and participate from across "The Pond".
Monday evening, President Bush, indicating that he was tired and “losing altitude” excused himself at 7:34pm Eastern time from the Camp David meeting. Instead, however, of going to bed, he snuck off to Andrews Air Force Base, where, at 9pm Eastern time, he boarded Air Force One, and departed for Iraq.
What’s wrong with this you ask? After all, he is the President of the United States! Well, my problem is the cost of the excursion! Air Force One landed in Iraq an 8am Eastern time. The President plans on spending approximately 5 hours on the ground in Iraq. This is an 11 hour flight (22 hours round trip) for a 5 hour meeting. The cost of operating Air Force One is in excess of $60,000/hour. Yes, that is correct, $60,000/hour. On April 7, 2005, the Washington Post reported that “In 2000, when jet fuel prices were lower, the GAO estimated that flying Air Force One cost $54,100 per hour, or $60,250 in today's dollars.” In the same article, the Washington Post further reported “Excluding security and aircraft costs, the White House has estimated that staff costs on presidential trips average between $22,000 and $59,000”.
Not included in Air Force One's direct costs are the support equipment required for a Presidential visit. According to CNN “Accompanying any tour are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft carrying the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and -- for especially sensitive areas -- several additional limos for use as decoys.” Want to guess what they cost to operate? According to the Military Analysis Network, the C-5 has the highest operating cost of any weapon system. They further report it consumes 46 maintenance man-hours per flying hour.
I can’t even being to guess what the security costs for this trip are. The President travels with a battalion of Secret Service men, not to mention the US military assets where used to secure the Baghdad airport, streets and meeting places in Iraq. Just looking at the things we do know, $60,250/hour for Air Force One and staff costs at a minimum of $22,000 the cost of the trip has already topped $1,347,500! In all fairness, the White House is reporting the trip was planned well in advance of today, however, it is still a colossal waste! It wouldn’t surprise me of the total cost of the trip was into the tens of millions of dollars.
What’s wrong with this you ask? After all, he is the President of the United States! Well, my problem is the cost of the excursion! Air Force One landed in Iraq an 8am Eastern time. The President plans on spending approximately 5 hours on the ground in Iraq. This is an 11 hour flight (22 hours round trip) for a 5 hour meeting. The cost of operating Air Force One is in excess of $60,000/hour. Yes, that is correct, $60,000/hour. On April 7, 2005, the Washington Post reported that “In 2000, when jet fuel prices were lower, the GAO estimated that flying Air Force One cost $54,100 per hour, or $60,250 in today's dollars.” In the same article, the Washington Post further reported “Excluding security and aircraft costs, the White House has estimated that staff costs on presidential trips average between $22,000 and $59,000”.
Not included in Air Force One's direct costs are the support equipment required for a Presidential visit. According to CNN “Accompanying any tour are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft carrying the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and -- for especially sensitive areas -- several additional limos for use as decoys.” Want to guess what they cost to operate? According to the Military Analysis Network, the C-5 has the highest operating cost of any weapon system. They further report it consumes 46 maintenance man-hours per flying hour.
I can’t even being to guess what the security costs for this trip are. The President travels with a battalion of Secret Service men, not to mention the US military assets where used to secure the Baghdad airport, streets and meeting places in Iraq. Just looking at the things we do know, $60,250/hour for Air Force One and staff costs at a minimum of $22,000 the cost of the trip has already topped $1,347,500! In all fairness, the White House is reporting the trip was planned well in advance of today, however, it is still a colossal waste! It wouldn’t surprise me of the total cost of the trip was into the tens of millions of dollars.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Fraiser and Niles Classics
Frasier: I know what you think about everything. When was the last time you had an unexpressed thought?
Niles: I'm having one now.
The Good Son
Niles: Hello there Frasier!
Frasier: Oh, what fresh hell is this?
Space Quest
Frasier: Niles, you're a good brother and a credit to the psychiatric profession.
Niles: You're a good brother too.
Space Quest
Frasier: We've got a free evening. This sounds like the perfect opportunity for a couple of guys on the loose to hit a sports bar, have a couple of brewskies, maybe take in a game or two.
Niles: Right. But what shall we do?
Frasier: Dinner?
Niles: Perfect. No place fancy, I'm sure neither of us wants a heavy meal with lots of wine and expensive desserts.
Frasier: Oh, it's your turn to pay, isn't it?
Niles: You know me so well.
Beloved Infidel
Niles: That was the same period where you insisted on wearing the wax earplugs and the slumber mask.
Frasier: Well I had to, what with you underneath the covers with a flashlight looking at the National Geographic.
Niles: I was looking at the maps.
Frasier: That's what makes it so scary.
Beloved Infidel
Niles: Frasier, you're my brother. That entitles you to my bone marrow and one of my kidneys, but this is an imposition!
Travels with Martin
Niles: You know, I wanted to be a psychiatrist like Mom way before you did, but because you're older you got their first. You were first to get married. You were the first to give Dad that grandchild he's always wanted. By the time I get around to doing anything, it's all chewed meat!!
Author, Author
Frasier: I DO NOT HAVE A FAT FACE!
Niles: Oh please, I keep wondering how long you're going to store those nuts for winter!
Author, Author
Niles: My God, I'm having a flashback! You're climbing in my crib and jumping on me!!
Frasier: YOU STOLE MY MOMMY!!!
Author, Author
Niles: What is that? Rain?
Frasier: No, God is crying!
Niles: I asked a simple question.
Frasier: Do you ask any other kind?
My Coffee with Niles
Niles: Now order has been restored. By hiring a plumber, that plumber can now afford, say, a Dolly Parton album. Miss Parton can then finance a national tour which will of course come to Seattle, allowing some local promoter to make enough to send his cross-dressing teenaged son to us for $150 an hour therapy.
Frasier: To the circle of life. (They clink glasses)
Seat of Power
The Crane boys on basketball:
Frasier: It's the archetypal male-bonding ritual!
Niles: Couldn't we just go into the woods, kill something and have done with it?
Retirement is Murder
Frasier: What's the one thing better than an exquisite meal? An exquisite meal with one tiny flaw we can pick at all evening.
Niles: Quite right. To impossible standards!
Retirement is Murder
Niles: Oh! So I'm a coward!
Frasier: Yes.
Niles: Well, I'm a coward with a hickey!
Daphne's Room
Niles: As some illustrious person said, popularity is the hallmark of mediocrity.
Frasier: You just made that up, didn't you.
Niles: Yes, but I stand by it.
Someone to Watch Over Me
Frasier: You, ice-fishing?
Niles: Well, why not? I've always thought of myself as a man of the great al fresco.
Frasier: Niles, you get a runny nose watching figure skating on TV.
Breaking the Ice
Niles: You spoke to a patient of mine today - Caroline. As a result of your fast-food approach to psychiatry, she left me.
Frasier: Caroline was your patient?
Niles: Two years of my hard work wiped out by one of your two minute McSessions.
Frasier: Niles, I merely suggested that she consider a change.
Niles: Based on what diagnostic method? One potato, two potato?
Dark Victory
Niles: We all have to remind Dr Crane that this is real psychology now, not the radio. No hanging up on the hard ones here!
Shrink Rap
Frasier: I'll just be observing today, I don't know you well enough to render any opinions, so just pretend I'm not here.
Niles: And good luck with that.
Shrink Rap
Daphne: You burnt down the garage [as children]?
Niles: I'm having one now.
The Good Son
Niles: Hello there Frasier!
Frasier: Oh, what fresh hell is this?
Space Quest
Frasier: Niles, you're a good brother and a credit to the psychiatric profession.
Niles: You're a good brother too.
Space Quest
Frasier: We've got a free evening. This sounds like the perfect opportunity for a couple of guys on the loose to hit a sports bar, have a couple of brewskies, maybe take in a game or two.
Niles: Right. But what shall we do?
Frasier: Dinner?
Niles: Perfect. No place fancy, I'm sure neither of us wants a heavy meal with lots of wine and expensive desserts.
Frasier: Oh, it's your turn to pay, isn't it?
Niles: You know me so well.
Beloved Infidel
Niles: That was the same period where you insisted on wearing the wax earplugs and the slumber mask.
Frasier: Well I had to, what with you underneath the covers with a flashlight looking at the National Geographic.
Niles: I was looking at the maps.
Frasier: That's what makes it so scary.
Beloved Infidel
Niles: Frasier, you're my brother. That entitles you to my bone marrow and one of my kidneys, but this is an imposition!
Travels with Martin
Niles: You know, I wanted to be a psychiatrist like Mom way before you did, but because you're older you got their first. You were first to get married. You were the first to give Dad that grandchild he's always wanted. By the time I get around to doing anything, it's all chewed meat!!
Author, Author
Frasier: I DO NOT HAVE A FAT FACE!
Niles: Oh please, I keep wondering how long you're going to store those nuts for winter!
Author, Author
Niles: My God, I'm having a flashback! You're climbing in my crib and jumping on me!!
Frasier: YOU STOLE MY MOMMY!!!
Author, Author
Niles: What is that? Rain?
Frasier: No, God is crying!
Niles: I asked a simple question.
Frasier: Do you ask any other kind?
My Coffee with Niles
Niles: Now order has been restored. By hiring a plumber, that plumber can now afford, say, a Dolly Parton album. Miss Parton can then finance a national tour which will of course come to Seattle, allowing some local promoter to make enough to send his cross-dressing teenaged son to us for $150 an hour therapy.
Frasier: To the circle of life. (They clink glasses)
Seat of Power
The Crane boys on basketball:
Frasier: It's the archetypal male-bonding ritual!
Niles: Couldn't we just go into the woods, kill something and have done with it?
Retirement is Murder
Frasier: What's the one thing better than an exquisite meal? An exquisite meal with one tiny flaw we can pick at all evening.
Niles: Quite right. To impossible standards!
Retirement is Murder
Niles: Oh! So I'm a coward!
Frasier: Yes.
Niles: Well, I'm a coward with a hickey!
Daphne's Room
Niles: As some illustrious person said, popularity is the hallmark of mediocrity.
Frasier: You just made that up, didn't you.
Niles: Yes, but I stand by it.
Someone to Watch Over Me
Frasier: You, ice-fishing?
Niles: Well, why not? I've always thought of myself as a man of the great al fresco.
Frasier: Niles, you get a runny nose watching figure skating on TV.
Breaking the Ice
Niles: You spoke to a patient of mine today - Caroline. As a result of your fast-food approach to psychiatry, she left me.
Frasier: Caroline was your patient?
Niles: Two years of my hard work wiped out by one of your two minute McSessions.
Frasier: Niles, I merely suggested that she consider a change.
Niles: Based on what diagnostic method? One potato, two potato?
Dark Victory
Niles: We all have to remind Dr Crane that this is real psychology now, not the radio. No hanging up on the hard ones here!
Shrink Rap
Frasier: I'll just be observing today, I don't know you well enough to render any opinions, so just pretend I'm not here.
Niles: And good luck with that.
Shrink Rap
Daphne: You burnt down the garage [as children]?
Niles: Well, with Frasier and his Bunsen burner, and me and my mosquito repellant, in retrospect it was unavoidable.
The Friend
Frasier: The man talks endlessly on subjects that are of no interest to anyone but him.
Niles: Gee. I can't imagine what that's like.
The Friend
Niles: The rental agency didn't have a single luxury car left. They stuck me with some vehicle I think they call a hunchback.
Frasier: I think that would be a hatchback.
Niles: It's painted panic-button red, and has a huge rear window that pops open.
Frasier: That would be the hatchback.
Niles: There's a novel idea - name the car after its most hideous feature. I presume it was a tossup between that and "What's that odour coming from the floor?"
The Friend
Frasier: The man talks endlessly on subjects that are of no interest to anyone but him.
Niles: Gee. I can't imagine what that's like.
The Friend
Niles: The rental agency didn't have a single luxury car left. They stuck me with some vehicle I think they call a hunchback.
Frasier: I think that would be a hatchback.
Niles: It's painted panic-button red, and has a huge rear window that pops open.
Frasier: That would be the hatchback.
Niles: There's a novel idea - name the car after its most hideous feature. I presume it was a tossup between that and "What's that odour coming from the floor?"
High Crane Drifter
Niles: That was dirty pool, using a Freud quotation. It's the Crane boys' kryptonite.
Frasier Loves Roz
Frasier: Niles, aren't you going to join me?
Niles: I would, but I have a routine. I come every day, order coffee, and spend some quality time... with myself. You understand.
Frasier: Niles, I've seen you once in the last two years!
Niles, after a pause, with surprise: Oh, that is your point! Oh!
You can go home again
Frasier: I remember your fourth birthday party, when Grandmother took us to the park to ride the carousel, and you made all those children wait while you wiped off your painted pony.
Niles: I was wearing Bermuda shorts and that saddle was slick with toddler sweat.
You can go home again
Niles: This fruit-nut muffin contains a number of things I don't care for. Currants, a husk of something... away, wrinkly thing!
Frasier: You know, if you and Maris ever reconcile, I'm going to miss these tranquil mornings - I reading my newspaper, you tweezing your muffin.
The Two Mrs. Cranes
Frasier: Advertising? Isn't that a bit commercial for a psychiatrist?
Niles: Said Dr Pot to Dr Kettle.
Love Bites Dog
Niles: I know I don't have your total support, but ... how shall I put this?
Frasier: You don't care.
Niles: That was dirty pool, using a Freud quotation. It's the Crane boys' kryptonite.
Frasier Loves Roz
Frasier: Niles, aren't you going to join me?
Niles: I would, but I have a routine. I come every day, order coffee, and spend some quality time... with myself. You understand.
Frasier: Niles, I've seen you once in the last two years!
Niles, after a pause, with surprise: Oh, that is your point! Oh!
You can go home again
Frasier: I remember your fourth birthday party, when Grandmother took us to the park to ride the carousel, and you made all those children wait while you wiped off your painted pony.
Niles: I was wearing Bermuda shorts and that saddle was slick with toddler sweat.
You can go home again
Niles: This fruit-nut muffin contains a number of things I don't care for. Currants, a husk of something... away, wrinkly thing!
Frasier: You know, if you and Maris ever reconcile, I'm going to miss these tranquil mornings - I reading my newspaper, you tweezing your muffin.
The Two Mrs. Cranes
Frasier: Advertising? Isn't that a bit commercial for a psychiatrist?
Niles: Said Dr Pot to Dr Kettle.
Love Bites Dog
Niles: I know I don't have your total support, but ... how shall I put this?
Frasier: You don't care.
Niles: If you could work the phrase "rat's ass" in there you'd have it.
Mixed Doubles
Niles: Frasier, you look like an authentic jock. I'm half-tempted to hand over my lunch money.
Frasier: And is that your idea of appropriate baseball-watching attire?
Niles: Obviously you failed to detect the subtle diamond pattern in my tie.
The Unnatural
Niles: Well I'm sorry if my tracking skills aren't up to your standard. Perhaps instead of asking for a baby brother you should have asked for a German shorthaired Pointer.
Frasier: I did!
A Crane's Critique
Young Frasier: I specifically requested my macaroni and cheese al dente.
Young Niles: I know. This lunch is a culinary Hindenburg.
Where Every Bloke knows your Name
Mixed Doubles
Niles: Frasier, you look like an authentic jock. I'm half-tempted to hand over my lunch money.
Frasier: And is that your idea of appropriate baseball-watching attire?
Niles: Obviously you failed to detect the subtle diamond pattern in my tie.
The Unnatural
Niles: Well I'm sorry if my tracking skills aren't up to your standard. Perhaps instead of asking for a baby brother you should have asked for a German shorthaired Pointer.
Frasier: I did!
A Crane's Critique
Young Frasier: I specifically requested my macaroni and cheese al dente.
Young Niles: I know. This lunch is a culinary Hindenburg.
Where Every Bloke knows your Name
They're Back
No, no, no this is not a reference to Poltergeist, nor to the return of my friends David and Shimmy from their Mexican adventure! This is far more important!
After 16 years and 6,680 performances Les Miserables closed on Broadway in May of 2003. It is still, however, touring the US. Now, just a mere three and a half years later, it is set to reopen on Broadway in October of this year. It is being called a revival….boy, it’s a revival worthy of the bible belt.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Les Miserables is my favorite musical. I love the story and want to see it again. But, I wouldn’t call it so much a revival, as, oh I don't know, the return from an extended vacation. Cancun perhaps?
After 16 years and 6,680 performances Les Miserables closed on Broadway in May of 2003. It is still, however, touring the US. Now, just a mere three and a half years later, it is set to reopen on Broadway in October of this year. It is being called a revival….boy, it’s a revival worthy of the bible belt.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Les Miserables is my favorite musical. I love the story and want to see it again. But, I wouldn’t call it so much a revival, as, oh I don't know, the return from an extended vacation. Cancun perhaps?
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Marmot
Yes, yes, yes, I realize that this has been lifted from the Internet. I just didn’t have the energy to be creative and derive a formula to relate the size of the average groundhog to its metabolic rate and correlate that to its strength, mood, and want/need to chuck. So, here is the answer to the age old question. Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
This is difficult to question answer. The amount of wood that woodchucks would chuck on a given day varies greatly with the individual woodchuck. According to a Wall Street Journal article, New York State wildlife expert Richard Thomas found that a woodchuck could chuck around 35 cubic feet of dirt in the course of digging a burrow. Thomas reasoned that if a woodchuck could chuck wood, he would chuck an amount equal to 700 pounds.
Some say it depends on three factors:
The woodchuck's desire to chuck said wood.
The woodchuck's need to chuck the aforementioned wood.
The woodchuck's ability to chuck the wood.
Others say:
He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
If he could chuck wood, the woodchuck would chuck as much as he could!
A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
A woodchuck would chuck all the wood that the woodchuck would chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
If a wood chuck could chuck wood, he would and should chuck wood. But if wood chucks can't chuck wood, they shouldn't and wouldn't chuck wood. Though were I a wood chuck, and I chucked wood, I would chuck wood with the best wood chucks that chucked wood.
If a woodchuck could chuck wood, then s/he'd chuck all the wood, s/he'd chuck and chuck and chuck and chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
It would chuck the amount of wood that she sells seashells on the seashore divided by how many pickles peter piper picks.
One quarter of a sycamore if you give him a quarter for every quarter of the sycamore he cut.
It might depend on how many female woodchucks were present.
Or, it could depend on whether the woodchuck's mother-in-law was around or not. If she was around, he'd be chucking all day. If not, he'd be watching the football game.
Some maintain that woodchucks do not chuck wood at all.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Star Trek, The Previous Generation?
Being a Star Trek fan/geek, I was both thrilled and troubled by this article which I found on CNN this morning:
__________
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- More than three years after the last "Star Trek" movie crashed at the box office, the venerable sci-fi franchise is being revived by the director of the upcoming "Mission: Impossible" sequel, Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition.
The as-yet-untitled "Star Trek" feature, the 11th since 1979, is aiming for a fall 2008 release through Paramount Pictures, the Viacom Inc. unit looking to restore its box-office luster under new management, the trade paper said.
The project will be directed by J.J. Abrams, whose Tom Cruise vehicle "Mission: Impossible III" will be released by Paramount on May 5. Abrams, famed for producing the TV shows "Alias" and "Lost," will also help write and produce.
Daily Variety said the action would center on the early days of "Star Trek" characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer-space mission.
The paper described "Star Trek" as Hollywood's most durable performer after James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1 billion and 726 TV episodes from six series.
The 10th film, "Star Trek: Nemesis," bombed at the box office on its December 2002 release, earning just $43 million in North America. Last year, Viacom-owned broadcast network UPN pulled the plug on the low-rated series "Star Trek: Enterprise" following a four-season run.
__________
I was excited to read that there was a new movie in the works! I have read and heard rumors over the past 6 months or so, but this is the first concrete evidence I have seen indicating there was an upcoming movie. To make it even better the hiring of J.J. Abrams as director is a fait accompli (no pun intended). J.J. will certainly ratchet up the action level (MI-III and Armageddon) and plot twists ala Lost and Alias. I can hardly wait. The only thing I am a little unsure about is the return to the first generation. TV’s romp to the early days, Enterprise, was not very successful and didn’t really hold my interest. However, this may work out since the characters are already well known. Who do you think will be cast as Kirk and Spock?
__________
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- More than three years after the last "Star Trek" movie crashed at the box office, the venerable sci-fi franchise is being revived by the director of the upcoming "Mission: Impossible" sequel, Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition.
The as-yet-untitled "Star Trek" feature, the 11th since 1979, is aiming for a fall 2008 release through Paramount Pictures, the Viacom Inc. unit looking to restore its box-office luster under new management, the trade paper said.
The project will be directed by J.J. Abrams, whose Tom Cruise vehicle "Mission: Impossible III" will be released by Paramount on May 5. Abrams, famed for producing the TV shows "Alias" and "Lost," will also help write and produce.
Daily Variety said the action would center on the early days of "Star Trek" characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer-space mission.
The paper described "Star Trek" as Hollywood's most durable performer after James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1 billion and 726 TV episodes from six series.
The 10th film, "Star Trek: Nemesis," bombed at the box office on its December 2002 release, earning just $43 million in North America. Last year, Viacom-owned broadcast network UPN pulled the plug on the low-rated series "Star Trek: Enterprise" following a four-season run.
__________
I was excited to read that there was a new movie in the works! I have read and heard rumors over the past 6 months or so, but this is the first concrete evidence I have seen indicating there was an upcoming movie. To make it even better the hiring of J.J. Abrams as director is a fait accompli (no pun intended). J.J. will certainly ratchet up the action level (MI-III and Armageddon) and plot twists ala Lost and Alias. I can hardly wait. The only thing I am a little unsure about is the return to the first generation. TV’s romp to the early days, Enterprise, was not very successful and didn’t really hold my interest. However, this may work out since the characters are already well known. Who do you think will be cast as Kirk and Spock?
Friday, March 24, 2006
Der Rings des Tolkien
A few months ago I read that a musical production of Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings was being produced in Toronto. Bruce and I discussed this briefly and the idea didn’t give either of us a warm fuzzy. When I mentioned it to David he snarled.
The $25 million dollar production features 55 performers, 17 elevators and 500 pieces of armor. Trying to condense the three books which compose the Lord of The Rings into one night of stage work (albeit three hours and forty five minutes worth) seems overly eager to me. Wagner broke Der Ring des Nibulengen into 4 parts totaling 14.5 hours of stage time.
So, it had its premiere last night and opened to mixed reviews. Most of them say it is “spectacular” to look at, but falls short in the score and story adaptation. Here are a few reviews from the BBC and Broadway.com
Thursday, March 23, 2006
V is for Tongue Twister
“This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.” -V
This past Monday David, Shimmy and I went to see V is for Vendetta. V is the latest offering from the Wachowski Brothers - who also brought us the Matrix Trilogy. V stars Hugo Weaving (The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings Trilogies as well as The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and Natalie Portman (Star Wars Episodes I – III and Cold Mountain).
I won’t go into the story line as it has been espoused ad nauseam elsewhere.
I haven’t read the graphic novel the story was based on so I can’t say how well they followed the original, but it was an entertaining movie! The pace of the movie was good – the few times the action slowed down, the story line stepped up to the plate. V is a bit more graphic (mainly blood) and contains slightly less action than the Matrix series. However, the story with its graphic novel background is stronger and better developed. The torture scenes with Evey and subsequent letters from Valerie are great and add a humanizing element to V. The destruction scenes are quite impressive as well.
All in all, a good movie! If you need to kill a few hours one evening, I highly recommend it.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.” -V
This past Monday David, Shimmy and I went to see V is for Vendetta. V is the latest offering from the Wachowski Brothers - who also brought us the Matrix Trilogy. V stars Hugo Weaving (The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings Trilogies as well as The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and Natalie Portman (Star Wars Episodes I – III and Cold Mountain).
I won’t go into the story line as it has been espoused ad nauseam elsewhere.
I haven’t read the graphic novel the story was based on so I can’t say how well they followed the original, but it was an entertaining movie! The pace of the movie was good – the few times the action slowed down, the story line stepped up to the plate. V is a bit more graphic (mainly blood) and contains slightly less action than the Matrix series. However, the story with its graphic novel background is stronger and better developed. The torture scenes with Evey and subsequent letters from Valerie are great and add a humanizing element to V. The destruction scenes are quite impressive as well.
All in all, a good movie! If you need to kill a few hours one evening, I highly recommend it.
“Evey Hammond: Who are you?
V: Who? Who is but the form following the function of what. And what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey Hammond: I can see that.
V: Of course you can. I am not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.”
V: Who? Who is but the form following the function of what. And what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey Hammond: I can see that.
V: Of course you can. I am not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.”
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