Saturday, November 29, 2014

Walk About Yesterday

UWell, before my team laid the proverbial egg, Eddie and I had a nice walk about. 
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First we meet Barbara and Jill for lunch (Jill was down fron Leeds) at the Tate Modern. 
Then we took a walk over the Mellenium Bridge to St Paul's for a walk about. We didn't go in, they want 16.50 POUNDS. Well that is Angilcan Highway Robbery and we were having none of that. We didn't fight a civil war to be charged nearly $25 to see some church. 
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So Ed and I pretended to pray and looked at the free bits.😳

Finally we went up to Oxford Streetcor a moment. Can I say that for some reason Brits seem to copy only out worse bits. Black Friday has hot here, complete with fisticuffs and Police at Walmart (Asda)
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It was a zoo, so we went back and had s nice Itslian dinner with Jane. 

Warwick Castle

So we are in jolly olde.  Having a lot of fun. We went to Warwick Castle the other day. Great fun, if a bit "6-flags"y. 
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Apparently the last Earl of Warwick sold the Castle to Taussod's and they have done it up. Luckily we went on a damp winter week day and it was not busy so we wandered at will. 
The Castle from the admission site. 
The towers from next tower over. 
Below are Ed and I looking back on the residences. 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Safe at last

Tamir.  He is 12.  Shot in the park playing with a toy gun.  No doubt he will soon be cast as a thug that had it coming.
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After the string of police killing black young men, it is hard to look and not see a pattern.  One that Fox News and many others subtly play without acknowledging it. 
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The not-at-all-subtle message is to the black community at large, "There may be a black President, but don't think that changes anything.  We can chock you, stomp on your rights and even kill you at will."
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We look back at the obvious racism of the south and are appalled at it.  How could that happen?!
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Hopefully future Americans will look back and say, "How could those people make excuses and look away from actions and pretend they were all justified?  Why was it okay to value black lives so cheaply in a just country?"
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Until then we can thank the police of Ohio for making us all safe from a twelve year old playing on the swings at a park.
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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Off To Jolly Olde - For the Thanksgiving...

If you want to know what we are in for, a lot of crying... as per  Russell Brand (approximately a minute and half in)...
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Friday, November 21, 2014

And that got me thinking

So, my brain makes random connections all the time.  Random. connections  All.The.Time.
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So I love reading someone else’s prose who’s brain works as my does.  This time it was an Entertainment Weekly Recap of Survivor the other night (LINK).  Read this wonderful digression….
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The immunity challenge was a foot fetishist’s dream! Seriously, Rex Ryan must have watched, rewound, paused, slow-mo’d, and rewatched this thing like 1,000 times. The object was to unspool a rope holding up blocks and then stack the blocks and flag using only your feet. It actually got me thinking about that Dug podracer Sebulba fromThe Phantom Menace, who did everything with his feet. And then that got me thinking about Jar Jar Binks. And that got me thinking about Darth Vader as an annoying little kid running around yelling "Yippee!" for no reason. And that got me thinking about how Han Solo no longer shoots first, because even though that is not even in the same movie, everything about Star Wars comes back to the fact that Han Solo no longer shoots first and Han Solo should ALWAYS shoot first. And that got me mildly depressed 
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For the Visual among my readers....
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Survivor Match makes one think of foot fetish.
which brings to mind...
Sabula from the Phantom Menace who used his feet as hands.
which brings to mind...
Annoying young Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) yelling Yippee! after winning said pod race
which brings to mind
Annoying changes by George Lucas, including the rerelease of Start Wars (now Star Wars 4 a New Hope) in which Greedo shots first, this ruining Hans' mojo....

The Art of the Not Possible

The wholesale loss of African Elephants in the wild is a tragedy that few will understand.  I say this with no joy and I know the statement has more than a twinge of snobbery – I apologize, it is unintended.  But the truth is, elephants are hard to fully appreciate until you see them in the wild or working with people (as in much of Asia).
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The reasons for saving them are esoteric, but actual.  They are amazing creatures that must be seen to be believed.  However, they also play a complex role in ecosystems that is not easily replaced.  Parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi that were denuded of elephants have not  recovered since.  Savana and scrub land that supported a wide variety of animal life (and tourist dollars) has become barren or supports a fraction of the previous wildlife.  The vast tracks that have become home to crocodiles and  little else bring in no tourist dollars.  Rhinos could play them same ecological role, but they are all but extinct.
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There is only one reason for killing elephants , and it has returned with a vengeance.  A poacher can get $30,000 for elephant tusks.  That is a pretty vast wealth for people on the fringe of society.  And there is a massive demand from newly wealthy Chinese, a population that historical values ivory and is moving, in great numbers, into the position to afford ivory.
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Humans previously stopped poaching by reducing the demand for ivory in the late 70’s and 1980s.  As Japan and southeast Asian countries became rich, demand for ivory went up.  It took a concerted effort to make ivory ownership distasteful.  Money for campaigns, famous celebrities advocating for Elephants, governments (Japan and Korea) cracking down very hard on smuggling and a desire of the people of Japan and South Korea to emulate western values – all of these created the environment where elephant flourished and ivory trade reduced to a trickle.
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But the Chinese have a much lower desire to emulate Western Values, and Chinese officials have been notoriously bad at stopping smuggling.  Just as the US cannot stop drug smuggling if the population demands drugs, China cannot stop ivory smuggling unless the population stops valuing ivory.  Some key Chinese figures, for example, Yao Ming, are trying to make a difference.  I hope they succeed in time to stop the trade.
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But until the Chinese change their habits, elephant extinction looms.  West African jungle elephants are already probably past saving in the wild.  Elephants in Kenya, Tanzania are on the decline in great numbers.  Park ranchers are being killed, and safeguards are being overrun.  In South Africa, there are still great numbers of elephants, but as the elephant numbers reduce in the rest of Africa, the price of ivory will rise until the risk are worth poaching there.  Already armed poachers are encroaching onto the major preserves.
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It is a tribute to the elephants and the park ranchers that still protect them knowing they do so at the threat of their own lives.  Park Ranchers make much less than poachers, and do the job out of love for the animals and the countryside.
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Making eventual recovery even harder is an unfortunate problem that is less well understood.  Elephants live in complex social groups and trauma inhibits the return of population, even after poaching is effectively ended.  The devastation in Mozambique occurred not from poaching, but from a civil war that exploded and killed vast herds of elephants.  Those that survived were too emotionally scarred and unable to repopulate the region.  They were killed in herds by the thousands, and so the survivors avoided herds at all costs.  Mating occurred occasionally, but without the family units to safeguard them, the newborn fell victim to predators.
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Elephants, as a species, will probably survive.  Of the Asian Elephants, smaller and more domesticated, only the males have ivory, so wholesale slaughter doesn’t usually occur.  But the world will be a less interesting place without Elephants (and Rhinos).  I know it is a small concern in the world of (liberally-speaking) climate change and (conservatively-speaking) illegal immigration growth.  But it is heartbreaking.
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PS – the NRA has blocked legislation to prohibit ivory trade in the United States ONLY because some old guns have ivory handles. Please, if you are an NRA member, voice your support for an ivory trade ban.  These majestic creatures really are worth the cost of stopping trade in old ivory handled revolvers.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Cat Bibs

Seriously, cat bibs!
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Now I understand the purpose.  Cats kill a lot of wildlife.  This is generating big news in England (where they love their garden birds) and Australia (where the cats are doing some real harm).  In Australia, the cat population is decreasing as people understand they are one of the primary contributors to environmental problems.
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These bibs are designed to prevent the "fast cat paw leap".  It makes them stumble or slows down their cat-like reflexes.  The look idiotic, and birds fly away laughing.  OK not really.  In reality it apparently cuts innocent bird deaths by about 85% (in a controlled test).
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But my point here is not that these stylish bibs are or aren't useful.  Or even why people have cats (aside from Cat Art Critics).   Many of my best friends love cats.  So I am clearly not prejudiced against cat people – per say.  But these cat owners are deluded.  They have posted pictures of their "happy cats" with the cat bibs on.

Look at the pictures of these poor poor cats.  They are (left to right) Mittens, Chester, Marvin and El Gato.  Mittens and Marvin seem annoyed, but willing to put up with bids.


Chester, on the other hand, is plotting a terrible and twisted response to this indignity.  I would step carefully around  Chester for a while.  He is not a happy cat.

As for El Gato – lock up the guns, now.  El Gato is not subtle (like Chester).  In fact, I have my doubts that the picture taker is still alive mere moments after this picture was taken.  I see a dead old lady, with a purple cat-bib stuffed into her unbreathing maw – with an “innocent” El Gato licking his privates nearby.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Nincompoopery Round Up

Concierge vs. Valet
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Our building has a “Concierge” Desk.  When the building was built, 10 years ago, they were all the rage.  But now, not so much.  Now, if you want tickets to an event – you go on-line. If you want a Black Car, you contact Uber.  If you really want a Concierge, then you Platinum Credit Card and use their service.  Our “concierge” mainly coordinates dry cleaning, house cleaning, dog walking  and package delivery.
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So yesterday, in my Condo Board meeting, they proposed changing the name to Valet.  To which I think, why?  We just bought the “Concierge” letters and redid the room.  Why screw with the sign for no return and that will probably annoy people. They may not have used it, but they liked the possibility of using it.
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Instead of raising this, perfectly reasonable, reasoning and discussing it for hours, I simply fell into being an annoying LA President and shut down the talk with the comment, “If they don’t park cars, they aren’t a Valet.  Next.”
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Sanctity of Marriage
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Charles Manson, 70 year old serial killer in jail for life, is getting married to a 25 year old woman.  This is legal in every state, however my and Ed’s marriage is sinful and illegal in about 20 states.  Nincompoopery.
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Charles and the intended Mrs. Manson

Unintended Consequences
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It is cold as can be in the states.  This was unexpected in Climate change.  You see we don’t understand all unintended consequences.  We know that Europe could get colder.  The idea is that as Greenland’s icebergs melt quicker, more very cold water will mix with the warm Gulf Stream that keeps Northern Europe habitable (London, Paris, Berlin and Prague are all further north than Winnipeg Canada! – Venice is farther north than Minneapolis.)  So with the Gulf Stream being not so warm, Europe will start to shiver in the winter.

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We did not know that Arctic Sea Ice kept the low pressure system over the North Pole.  Once the very cold water of the Arctic Sea  turns from Ice to Water, the land of Canada is suddenly colder, the low moves south and voila, freezing cold in North America in the winter (and hotter in the  summer).
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Exodus (the Movie)
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Looks like a Computer Graphics disaster with Christina Bale as over emoting Moses on steroids.   Only Ridley Scott can make Charlton Heston look like a paragon of subtle nuance.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

TheaterMania Stress Hugh Jackman's Talent in the Photo Shoot for His New Show

Yeah, it's all about this acting in this new show.  Which is titled "The River" and subtitled "Look at Those Arms". LINK
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Thursday, November 13, 2014

"New" Office Floor

They moved my floor recently and you can't believe how old it is. There is a 1993 sign prohibiting smoking at work - and yes, the floor still smells of my old cigarette smoke. 
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And look at this legal minimum wage sign!
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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

David Brooks : Lt. Cmdr. Obvious misses the analogy

AND!
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AND!!!!
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In addition to the stupidity of the article (LINK), he says this with a straight face.

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Other countries lacked this cultural brew. Worse, life was marked by fear, by arbitrary power, by suspicion that people are watching you, by distrust. People raised in this atmosphere of distrust have trouble forming companies and associations. They are more likely to be driven by a grab-what-you-can logic — a culture of corruption and appropriation. They are more likely to hunker down and become risk averse.
Many of the ailing countries are marked by distant power relationships. Those with power — even in an office or neighborhood — are aloof and domineering. Those without power hanker for security at all costs. They’re nostalgic for the imagined stability of communism. When everything seems arbitrary and crooked, people tolerate strongman rule.
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Now, I don't know about you - but this seems, in many ways, the America we are heading for. .
"Life marked by fear".. did you see the run up to the election with stories about ISIS (who is 10,000 miles away without a plane or boat) getting ready to 'attack' us?  How about 'Ebola" - or as the right called it in the run up to the election, Obama's power grab.
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Talk to the folks in Furgeson, or Trevor Martin's family - of the Staten Island may chokeholded to death about "arbitrary power".
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We aren't marked by "suspicion that people are watching you..." our government actually does this all the time (which we know from court documents, since the government won't tell us this).
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"Those with power - even in an office or neighborhood - are aloof and domineering."
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My only argument here would be that the comment "They're nostalgic for the imagined stability of communism" should be changed to "Americans are nostalgic for the idea of true democracy."

David Brooks: Stupid or Lazy? (Part One Stupid)

David Brooks offers up one of his asinine opinion pieces today.  I mention it because the New York Times Carries his work as the "intelligent" conservative voice.  Today's column is breath-taking in it's simplicity and ignorance.  Really, the vast chasm between reality and his mind is stunning.
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He is writing about Eastern Europe today and takes us through a catalog of winners and losers.  Essentially - in his pea brain - winners are those that embraced capitalism and losers aren't.  Also, winers also have a healthy fear of being invaded again.  He then provides just enough examples to where he tries to prove his point - but not if you have half a brain.
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It's easy to quibble with any particular example he makes:
- Bosnia is a loser because they don't embrace capitalism - not because of a war.
- Belarus is a capitalistic winner - even though it is a communist kleptocracy.
- Countries that don't fit aren't mentioned int he Fall of the Berlin Wall story - East Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria.  Yes, he doesn't mention well over 1/2 of the countries because they don't fit his narrative.
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I am personally offended by this sloppy half-assed column because in 1990 (one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall) in my Grad school at Pacific International Affairs, I wrote a paper on why Poland would succeed after communism (based on the lessons learned from the Asian Tigers).
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So the lazy shitty half-truths from David Brooks are offensive.  wrong, offensive and stupid.
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Argh!

Friday, November 07, 2014

So I was Thinking.. You Know What Might be Fun...

I was walking the dog this morning and I saw a poster for the Brooklyn Night Bazaar.  It sounded and looked kind of fun.  So I went and saw it on the web.
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Still looked kind of fun.  Until I saw some pictures.
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Forget they are young - is it not the ultimate BK Hipster stereotype brought to life?!?!
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The Hat, the Scarf, the Cheap Beer in a can, Dayglow Minigolf (alright - do love the mini-golf!)
It is kind of a Hipster Heaven / Hell
Heaven or Hell, depending on your age I think.  I am old.....

Thursday, November 06, 2014

My Eddie found this for me...

I am no longer waiting...
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The Milwaukee Art Museum

My picture - with sails closed
In our trip to Milwaukee we also stopped by an amazing exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum of Art.
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My picture from across the road (a storm moved on).
First - about the Museum.  It is a gorgeous building designed by Santiago Calatrava (who designed the new PATH station at World Trade Center area in New York).  My pictures show the wings closed.  I will copy a stock phot of the building with the wings open.  They are open when the Museum is open - but it was open extra late for a function the night we were there.
Stock Picture with wings open.
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Beautiful.
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A picture I took of the interior of the building
We saw a fun show at the Museum called "Of Heaven and Earth: 500 of Italian Painting from the Glasgow Museums".  It was very interesting.  Walking through this beautiful show, you see Italian Masterpieces, collected in a Scottish Museum and then shown in Milwaukee Wisconsin. One was transfixed.
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One of the paintings from the show.
Transfixed until you heard that flat  midwest accent say, "Oh gez, come here, hun.  Lookie here, it's that little baby Jesus again."  That kind of broke the whole "transfixed" spell.
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Architect's PATH station

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Wish Fulfillment As Non-Reality

Eleanor Cliff, The Economist, CNN… the list goes on and on.  So many people think that President Obama can work with the new Republicans on a lot of areas.  I understand the idea as it comes to selling eye-balls.  But it isn’t reality.  It is, at best, wish-fulfillment.  And, at worst, setting up the President or Senate for failure.
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The majority of the New Republican office holders in Washington (and the previous 2 new Republican batches) were elected specifically to NOT work with the President.  They are proud of it.
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President Obama has embraced multiple Republican positions, only to have the Republicans vote against him.  I am not blaming the new officials – they campaigned and were elected on a policy of obstruction only.  Why would they do anything different?  There entire campaign was based on the premise of stopping the Obama Agenda.  Therefore, anything the President agrees to IS the Obama Agenda and must be stopped.
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I expect the members to do exactly what they promised in the campaign, nothing if it involves working with the President.

Milwalkee Domes

So a couple of week-ends ago we were in Milwaukee on our way to a football game in Madison.
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The Domes - "Mod Architecture" at its finest
Eddie decided to show me the Milwaukee Domes, which are three domes that make up an arboretum in Milwaukee.  They date from the late 60's early 70's, and are interesting.
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I did love the desert dome.  It is fascinating to such a lush environment and think of it as desert.  Many of the plants were massive, having lived 40 - 50 years inside the dome with no wind, wildfires or flash floods.

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The Tropical Dome was less interesting to me.  I mean it was very nice, and lush.  It was probably less interesting exactly because it really did mimic the tropics.
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This was my favorite, the "Blood Tree" that is only found (naturally) on a single island off Yemen. It was the largest I have seen that I remember.
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My Eddie texting under the Blood Tree (he was not as fascinated as I was)

Monday, November 03, 2014

Mascot of the Month: Dawn French

Dawn French is one half of French and Saunders - a highlarious and highly talented comedy writing duo.
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The two of them created a variety / sketch show that was very funny.  They also created Absolutely Fabulous, and Dawn was a producer / writer by didn't star int he show.  She did appear on several episodes.
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She is also quite famous (in England) for the mainstream comedy The Vicar of Dibley.  In it, she plays a newly appointed Vicar (like a parish priest) to the town of Dibley.  The residents are not ready for a female Vicar, nor one with a sense of humor (and an affinity for horrid puns and bad jokes).
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I have loved her since I caught the first season of French and Saunders (bop - a do be doo) over 20 years ago on Public TV.
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That first season isn't available on DVD - and I wore out my VHS copies many moons ago, but it convinced me that I loved British humor, if that is what it was.  (Actually I just checked and found that they have finally released the entire first series on DVD - yay!).
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Here is one of the very funny sketches they did from a later series.
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I find her very funny and she always makes me feel better.  So Mascot of the Month is Dawn French!