Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Perfect Comments from the UK's Guardian Newspaper

The Guardian's take on Wiki Leaks is PERFECT. Including, if this one guy can get this, you can bet your ass an enemy would. I quote at length.
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The job of the media is not to protect power from embarrassment. If American spies are breaking United Nations rules by seeking the DNA biometrics of the UN director general, he is entitled to hear of it. British voters should know what Afghan leaders thought of British troops. American (and British) taxpayers might question, too, how most of the billions of dollars going in aid to Afghanistan simply exits the country at Kabul airport.

No harm is done by high-class chatter about President Nicolas Sarkozy's vulgarity and lack of house-training, or about the British royal family. What the American embassy in London thinks about the coalition suggests not an alliance at risk but an embassy with a talent problem.

Some stars shine through the banality such as the heroic envoy in Islamabad, Anne Patterson. She pleads that Washington's whole policy is counterproductive: it "risks destabilising the Pakistani state, alienating both the civilian government and the military leadership, and provoking a broader governance crisis without finally achieving the goal". Nor is any amount of money going to bribe the Taliban to our side. Patterson's cables are like missives from the Titanic as it already heads for the bottom.

The money‑wasting is staggering. Aid payments are never followed, never audited, never evaluated. The impression is of the world's superpower roaming helpless in a world in which nobody behaves as bidden. Iran, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, the United Nations, are all perpetually off script. Washington reacts like a wounded bear, its instincts imperial but its power projection unproductive.

America's foreign policy is revealed as a slave to rightwing drift, terrified of a bomb exploding abroad or of a pro-Israeli congressman at home. If the cables tell of the progress to war over Iran or Pakistan or Gaza or Yemen, their revelation might help debate the inanity of policies which, as Patterson says, seem to be leading in just that direction. Perhaps we can now see how catastrophe unfolds when there is time to avert it, rather than having to await a Chilcot report after the event. If that is not in the public's interest, I fail to see what is.

Clearly, it is for governments, not journalists, to protect public secrets. Were there some overriding national jeopardy in revealing them, greater restraint might be in order. There is no such overriding jeopardy, except from the policies themselves as revealed. Where it is doing the right thing, a great power should be robust against embarrassment.

What this saga must do is alter the basis of diplomatic reporting. If WikiLeaks can gain access to secret material, by whatever means, so presumably can a foreign power. Words on paper can be made secure, electronic archives not. The leaks have blown a hole in the framework by which states guard their secrets. The Guardian material must be a breach of the official secrets acts. But coupled with the penetration already allowed under freedom of information, the walls round policy formation and documentation are all but gone. All barriers are permeable. In future the only secrets will be spoken ones. Whether that is a good thing should be a topic for public debate.

New Neck Lift Treatment

I don't know. It sounds somehow more painful than a full on lift.
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Trampoline Necklift

Image: Getty Images


Five years ago, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Gregory Mueller invented a way to refine the jawline and eliminate a double chin without incisions, often without anesthesia and virtually no recovery time. Now, doctors around the country are using his technique of making a series of punctures in the ligaments along the side of the jawline, then inserting a system of sutures using a fiber optic rod under the neck. The sutures are sewn together, permanently tightening the area. “We just tie it in a knot and it lifts the skin and muscle underneath,” he says. “The results are natural appearing.”
Cost: $6,500
Downtime: Three to five days

Why did the Oscars release THAT picture of James Franco

Let's face it. James Franco is hot. A computer set to make people more attractive didn't change his face at all. With the right lighting, makeup and soon after he throws up he is face-of-the-sun' hot.
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So why oh why do the Oscars release a picture of him with a full on pornstach? If you are talking up your hot hosts, release a good picture of both (FYI - it is a nice picture of Ann Hathaway - although she does look a little horsey).

Franco for Gucci.

More for Gucci.
Fashion Shoot.
Looking cute but dumb.
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And I didn't even include the half nudie pics.

Wiki Leaks has no new news re: Mideast

The WikiLeaks documents are a total crack up when discussing the Mid-East. It reads like a Jerry Lewis movie. This is what they tell us.

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1) Israel, despite denials, is supporting (albeit it after the fact) Iranian dissenters

2) Iran, despite denials, is support Iraqi dissenters.

3) Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Nations despite denials, are urging the US to attack Iran to stop them from getting a Nuclear weapon.

4) Hezbollah is illegally using Ambulances and Medical Shipments to smuggle arms in from Iran.

5) Iran accuses America of releasing these documents on purpose to embarrass Iran.

6) The United States is attacking “terrorists”, but accidentally civilians in Yemen.

7) 7. Yemen is taking credit and/or blame for US attacks on its civilians.

8) 8. Rich Saudi Arabians are still funding Al Queda which we are actively fighting in Yemen, Somalia and Afganistan.

9) 9. Syria arms Hezbollah, and lies about it.

Of these issues:

1, 2, and 7 are embarrassing but not illegal

3. would be an act of war and an act of “terrorism” as defined by the United States

4, and 9 are illegal but we all know Hezbollah and Syria lie

5 is silly

6 is an illegal act of war – but we don’t care because we are doing it.

8 is disgusting, but we kowtow to Saudi Arabia anyway so no one cars

To quote Suzanne, the place is a giant Cluster F. No new news.

How I See It 2

Select for larger version

Monday, November 29, 2010

Ed's Cousin and Family on the High Line


So this is Ed's Cousin and his family.
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Kendra, Terresa, Jeff, Tony (the cousin) and Eddie.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Burlesque: Cam Makes Good

Cam Gigandet (Ex Mascot of the Month) has finally found a role suited to him. Boy toy in Burlesque. Who wants a cookie?

Thanksgiving Pics

So these are just a few random pics from our Thanksgiving Dinner.
This is Jon, me and Randy.
. Angela, Sam, Cameron, Katherine and Eddies (with Trevor checking it all out).


The spread. We got a Honey-baked Ham & Turkey and made stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Jon and Randy brought candied yams, home-made beer bread and cranberries.

Cameron with the traditional turkey olives.

Sam and his pup, Babe, right after explaining that Babe didn't get on the couch.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Trevor Watching the Dog Show


Trever watches the dog show.


Republicans vs. Democrats: A Parable

(from Dr. Gary)
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A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost, so she lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below.
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She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
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The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above ground elevation of 2,346 feetabove sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."
She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be an Obama Democrat."
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"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."
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The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Republican."
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"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"
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"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it's my fault.

The Macy's Parade


So the parade is this morning. And they are routing down through Times Square this year. So when I walked Trevor this fine AM there were lots of vistors want to pet the pooch! Trevor - though he pretends to be annoyed - kind of digs it
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But too busy for his business.
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As for Thanksgiving, we have two lovely ladies with us for the holidays from LA and today Randy and his +1, plus Sam and his Mom will be joining us. Mom (whom we haven't met yet) is from Jolly Old - so that will be fun.
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It should be a nice day.
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As for yesterday's Rant. Ed and I have agreed to disagree on my anger. I shan't bring it up again - butneither shall I delete the post.
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Compromise is the key to a good marriage. (Of course if he just agreed with me all the time that would be okay too.)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

OMG How Much does the Catholic Clergy in the US HATE Faggots!!!!

I have almost no words.
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I have no printable words.
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The Pope, no lover of the gays - we all know that, finally comes out and says, "Fine. Condoms do help prevent the spread of AIDS. So, when there is no procreation at risk - wearing a condom is okay. Like gay male prostitutes."
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But this is an outrage to US Catholics. An Outrage! Gay Male Prostitutes should be forced to get AIDS. What is wrong with this Pope, they ask?
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For fuck's sake, how much do you have to hate faggots to wish death on them? Not just eternal hell-fire death - but full grown waste away in front of your families and friends death. Not just death in the abstract.
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Faced with a changing outlook from Pope Benedict XVI on condoms and their role in preventing the spread of HIV, many prominent conservative Roman Catholics in the U.S. are rejecting the Vatican's own explanation of what the pope said.
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The uproar is over comments Benedict made in the new book, "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times." In an exchange with the author about AIDS in Africa, Benedict said that for some people, such as male prostitutes, using condoms could be a step in assuming moral responsibility because the intent is to "reduce the risk of infection."
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I thought Fred Phelps was bad. At least people condemn him. Here is a nice Monk getting what US Catholic Clergy thinks he deserves.

Tea Party Lie Count: 03 (new Earmark from John Kyl)

Wow! I don't even have to get a new picture of the idiot - whoops I mean LIAR.
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Only three days after GOP senators and senators-elect renounced earmarks, Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, the No. 2 Senate Republican, got himself a whopping $200 million to settle an Arizona Indian tribe's water rights claim against the government.

Kyl slipped the measure into a larger bill sought by President Barack Obama and passed by the Senate on Friday to settle claims by black farmers and American Indians against the federal government. Kyl's office insists the measure is not an earmark, and the House didn't deem it one when it considered a version earlier this year.

But it meets the know-it-when-you-see-it test, critics say. Under Senate rules, an earmark is a spending item inserted "primarily at the request of a senator" that goes "to an entity, or (is) targeted to a specific state."

Earmarking allows lawmakers to steer federal spending to pet projects in their states and districts. Earmarks take many forms, including road projects, improvements to home district military bases, sewer projects, economic development projects. A key trait is that they are projects that haven't been sought by the administration in power.

(from MSNBC)

Thanksgiving Day Photos from the Daily Beast





Always Elevated isn't Elevated

Idiots.
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In a sensible move, Homeland Security is thinking of getting rid of color codes.
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In a nonsense move, they propose to be constantly elevated. Which means, of course, never being elevated.
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(from AP)
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One of the recommended names for the new system is the National Terrorist Advisory System, replacing the current Homeland Security Advisory System. An option under consideration is to go from five threat tiers to two: elevated and imminent.
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Badgers Against Bullying

Picture for Lynn


From the Sofia, Bulgaria Zoo.

Tea Party Follies: Part 02

Today's Bozo: John Kyl...
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I defer to Peter Beinhart (a Iraq war cheerleader!) to discuss the new "seriousness"...
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"One can see a new sobriety in the air,” announced David Brooks the other day in The New York Times. “There is an anxious seriousness in the air.”
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Tell it to Jon Kyl. Like virtually every other Senate Republican, he is hell-bent on reducing the deficit. And like virtually every other Senate Republican, he wants to begin by extending the Bush tax cuts, even for millionaires, thus boosting the deficit by close to $4 trillion over the next 10 years. But Kyl doesn’t stop there. In recent months, he’s bludgeoned the White House into promising to increase the amount the U.S. spends on modernizing its nuclear arsenal by at least $14 billion over the next decade. (According to a report in last week’s Times, the actual cost could prove far higher). Is that a wise use of money given that many nuclear experts say the U.S. can assure the reliability of its arsenal without this infusion of cash? Has Kyl proposed cutting any other programs—or, heaven forbid, raising any taxes—to pay for this new expenditure? Has he explained why Washington can afford to build new nuclear-weapons labs but can’t afford to extend unemployment benefits over the Christmas holiday? Of course not.

But here’s the twist. It now appears that Kyl may not get his money after all. The nuclear-modernization windfall was essentially a payment by the Obama administration to win Kyl’s support for ratifying the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty it negotiated with Russia. Kyl, however, is now signaling that the money is not enough, and that he will block a ratification vote this year, which will likely kill the treaty. It’s a revealing move, which illustrates that Kyl’s foreign-policy views rest on the same basic principle as his budgetary ones: A complete unwillingness to make hard choices between competing priorities.

Kyl, like most Republican senators, supports an all-out counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan. Preventing the Taliban from retaking power, he believes, is worth all the blood and treasure the U.S. is expending there, if not more. But he’s also sympathetic to military action—by Israel or even the United States—against Iran. Iran’s assistance, as it happens, is crucial to our ability to salvage something in Afghanistan. It was Tehran’s help, in fact, that helped the U.S. overthrow the Taliban and install Hamid Karzai in the first place. Is Kyl worried that going to war with Iran (even if Israel struck, the Iranians would surely blame us) will destroy our chances of winning the war on Iran’s eastern border? Who knows? He doesn’t do tradeoffs.

Now he’s set to sink the START treaty because, he says, the Obama administration is still not ponying up enough for nuclear modernization. But there’s a reason that Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Brent Scowcroft, and most of the Republican—not to mention Democratic—foreign-policy establishment is begging for ratification. Because killing the treaty will wreck America’s relations with Russia at a time when we need Moscow’s help to get supplies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and when we’re hoping the Russians will apply pressure on Iran to halt their nuclear program. Is Kyl more concerned about maintaining America’s nuclear stockpile than preventing Iran from developing one? Would he rather build new weapons labs than keep the Taliban from power? We’ll never know because Kyl doesn’t think like that. In foreign policy, as in fiscal policy, he and most of his fellow Republican leaders want everything and its opposite. They don’t have a clue how to govern in an era in which money and power are massively constrained. Ain’t that “new seriousness” grand?

Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book is The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Different Company Different Holidays

Thomson and Citi outsource to different places - so I have all new holidays to accommodate. Now, of course, we have Catholic / Christian Christmas + the Jewish Hanukkah and Dawli (everyone knows Dawli - it is the Indian / Hindi Festival of Lights).
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At Citi, Chinese New Year's was a big thing too.
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We outsourced a lot to a Shanghai Development center - so forget about work for at least 2 weeks at the new of January / beginning of February.
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Persian New Year was big too, but only 1 day long.
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Here are Thomson there is a lot of outsourcing to Belarus - Minsk in particular (Belarus is also know as Belorussia or White Russia) - so I know have to learn when Russian Orthadox Christmas is. (January 7th - fyi)
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What is funny is they have have a contractor furlough over Christmas (Western Christmas) but then all the developers are off for their Christmas.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Tea Party Liars: 01

Well that didn't take long. Remember when the Tea Party said it wasn't racist. It would be against anyone that voted for TARP and put the country on the road to ruin? Remember.. Remember.. Remember..
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No, The Tea Party isn't against government because Obama is Black. They are against anyone that willfully ignores the people and votes for TARP and Health Care.
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Well, they voted for the leader of the House of Representatives just the other day. And to PROVE they are different. to PROVE they aren't racist, but actually just sure of their convictions, they elected a new leader.
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John Boner. Elected without 1 dissenting vote. Unanimously. What was the last thing piece of legislation that he delivered? Oh right. TARP.
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Saturday, November 20, 2010

With the Cadet Twins


Yep.. I stopped them for picture time at the Notre Dame Army game.

Me and Eddie at the Notre Dame game

We are on the field before the game.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Why Barack Obama and Terry Donahue Blow It So Often

Back in the olden days, before the BCS (Bowl Championship Series), Terry Donahue was the very successful coach of the UCLA football team. For a while he held the record for the longest streak of New Year’s Bowls (when that meant something), UCLA had the longest streak of non-shut-outs in the nation and we kicked ass in football (we won the Rose Bowl in 1982, 1983, 1985 and the Fiesta, Cotton, Freedom and Aloha in 84, 85, 86, 87).

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But Terry was an old-style gentleman who didn’t run up the score. This was fine when the Rose Bowl was the goal. But with the BCS introduction, polls meant more. And running up the score helped immensely. Suddenly, UCLA’s style was dated. We were still winning, but by not running up the score, we didn’t get ranked high. And not getting ranked high, meant that we didn’t get good recruits.

Good recruits went to K-State. The year that Terry was up by over 12 points with 1:30 to play, we took a knee 3 times, running around in the back field to wear out the clock. We were nice. K-State up by 69 – 3 called a time out with 2 seconds left in the game to set up a 56 yard field goal so they scored more than 70. UCLA now languishes with crap recruits – and Nick Saban has won 2 national championships. Being an asshole is totally rewarded in college football now. Sportsmanship is dated and a loser's game.

Now on to Barack. Obama plays nice. Essentially he takes a knee – while the Republicans are running up the score.

Take this asinine discussion about the “need for military tribunals”. Look at this Fox Opening Statement (repeated endlessly by dip-shit Republicans in New York). According to them, the 20 year sentence was a near-acquittal.

You would assume that the Gitmo Tribunals had better results. You would be wrong. Four tribunals trials were held, and NONE PRODUCED A SENTENCE THAT WAS THIS LONG. This “near acquittal” is the LONGEST SENTENCE yet handed down!!!!

But, the Repulbicans run up the score. Call it a near-acquittal loudly and long enough and people listen. The Republicans don’t want the country to do well, they want to run the country - and the way to win (just like the football polls) is to run up the score. It is all about the perception.

Fine, fight back. Dirty, and hard. Bill Clinton knew how to play politics, but Barack Obama is a gentleman. And in politics, like football, he is a losing anachronism. Do I want an asshole for a coach or President? No. But better an asshole than a loser for me.

So did Barak come out and call bullshit on them. No. He got the win and took a knee - fat, happy and dumb. He is brilliant - but dumb as a box lead weights.

And yes, UCLA lost last night to Washington – and will probably not go to a bowl AGAIN.

The good and bad of Hollister Jeans


Surprise, not an excuse for me to post pictures of half nakid young men. No, I really do like Hollister Jeans.
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Their boot cut actually fits me well, even though it is a little low. The problem is that the back pocket is way too low.
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So I can't wear my wallet.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

My Site in the New York Times!

Lookie!
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Click and expand. Under "Peronsal Enemy" is Reviews Off Broadway Quote. Me! That's Me. Here is the review (which I really do believe).

People's Sexiest Man Alive as The Green Lantern

Plainly Palin

I love her. She might be the first Mascot of the Month to be President after being Mascot. We would have Gold Medalist, Sexiest Man of the Year and now a Possible President.
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Why oh why do I love her?.. This quote.
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The inner circle of Sarah Palin’s political organization is notoriously difficult to crack, but in an over-7500-word piece in the New York Times Magazine posted online Wednesday, Robert Draper offers a rare glimpse into Palin-land – as well as buzzy quotes from an hour-long interview with the former Alaska gov.

In the key excerpt ricocheting around the media today, Palin gives a clear indication that she is seriously mulling a 2012 run:

“I am,” Sarah Palin told me the next day when I asked her if she was already weighing a run for president. “I’m engaged in the internal deliberations candidly, and having that discussion with my family, because my family is the most important consideration here.”

I want to just diagram her sentences. This is a two parter. Part 1 "I'm engaged in the internal deliberations candidly.." So she is talking to herself (okay - fine... I'll give her the benefit of the doubt... "thinking" to herself) and for a change isn't lying. Why do I say for a change? Well, she has to specifically call out that she is being "candid" with herself. So, for a change, she isn't being delusional.
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Then part two "..and having that discussion with my family, because my family is the most important consideration here." I would think being President had some pretty considerations all around. Particularly when you agreed to run for vice President pretty much on a whim.

Skyline: The Definition of So-Bad-It's-Great

Poor Eric Balfour.
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First he kills almost any tV show he is in (Haven is holding on for dear life). Now it turns out he is movie Kryptonite too!


Salon's Guide to Sexy Men.. I would put #12 into the #1 Spot

Salon has the top 15 sexy men of the year that leans heavily towards the super smart and sexy (and includes Chyenne Jackson - as any good Sexy men list should). And, although I have agreed with past pics for #1 like Joesph Gordon-Levitt and James Franco (before he was ubiquitous) I have to disagree with this year's #1, Russel Brand - and disagree hard.
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But you gotta love #12.

12. Tom Hardy

The pansexual "Inception" star haunts our dreams

Those who recall his brooding Heathcliff in 2009's television adaptation of "Wuthering Heights," his appropriately named Handsome Bob in "Rocknrolla," or his pugilistic leading man in "Bronson" know 33-year-old Tom Hardy is an actor of depth and intensity. This year, it was his turn as dream invader Eames in the summer blockbuster "Inception" that made him an international star -- and an icon of fluid sexuality.

When a woman cops to her same-gender dabblings, it's cause for titillation. But when a man does it -- as as he put it, "Of course I have. I'm an actor."

It's easy to see why everybody wants Hardy, with his throaty Londoner growl and a mouth made for sin. But though he says he's "done experimenting" with men, it's the fact that he's refused to treat his past as shameful or acknowledge it as a mistake that makes him a new kind of star. What's sexy now? A man who's honest, who's comfortable in himself, and, OK, who happens to be ridiculously handsome. Tom Hardy, you can haunt our dreams any time.

"Art From Space" from MSNBC



Van Gogh From Space

In the style of Van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night,” massive congregations of greenish phytoplankton swirl in the dark water around Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. Phytoplankton are microscop

ic marine plants that form the first link in nearly all ocean food chains. Population explosions, or blooms, of phytoplankton, like the one shown here, occur when deep currents bring nutrients up to sunlit surface waters, fueling the growth and reproduction of these tiny plants.






A Russian Volcano.
Iceland's Fjord as a Tiger's Head
The Mississippi near the Louisiana border.


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Looking at the other side


So I got a pleasant slap on the side of my head about my message yesterday. Yeah Yeah, I have had an amazing life – so I will shut up a little (not a lot!).

I was going through my memories last night and there are so many I can’t even stand it. To list them is bragging. But there were some moment for me that transcend the personal and move into the spiritual (in the Buddhist sense).

Watching a giraffes at watering hole in Africa at Sunset with Eddie and Lynn on her 50th Birthday.

Entering a covenant of marriage with Eddie in that magical window of 2008 when everything looked faboo.

Seeing Paris reflected in my mom and Nick’s face.

Watching Monks at Sunrise in Luang Prabang.

Saying good-bye to Zela and Mark.

So there you go. My life has been great. I know it and appreciate. But I still want a neck lift.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Better than 1

If you saw "How I Meet Your Mother..."