Global Warming...Why Can't Polar Bears attack Congress

Today is Al Gore's birthday. Once given up as Political Roadkill, a funny thing happened to the former VP. He found a real cause and actually stuck to it. Before Clinton-Gore, he was a student of what Global Warming can do. That cause faded as he ran for President. Oh what a Bush administration can change. Whether it is being in the pocket of oil and energy or the refussal to approve Kyoto, this admin has poked it's thumb to the world.

Which leads us to Gore. Last week following his Oscar win, he made his eager return to the Capital. It was his first since the '01 Inagural and it was as memorable as it was then. For the Dems, the rock star status and entrance was expected. But the other isle showed signs of respect as well.

And then there was the crazies. Such as TX's Joe Barton and the Hon. Sen Isenhof from OK that still refuses to admit that this global warming thing could be real. In the end, Gore showed them all why he's a rock star...but the Crazies? Still makes my head shake in befuddledom

Once upon a time, Global Warming was looked at as some crazy variant of Sci-Fi. But that was along time ago. Gone are days when McDonalds sold Big Macs in styrofoam cartons. Gone are the gas guzzling engine cars of the late 70s. Gone are CD packaging that populated the stores of the 90s. Today, we have light bulbs that swirl like an ice cream but has a 1/4 the wattage of the old school light bulb. Today, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles are sold in our mainstream dealer showrooms. And recycled package is as common as a tree in the forest.

But ignorace is still bliss. SVUs suck gas just like those cars did so many years ago. Only the gas is different octane and even developed with corn. And somewhere the Kyoto Treaty sits without the signature of the US. Our country, uses nearly 1/4 of the world's resources and we are nowhere near a purpotional size for that usage. In yet the Government in charge sits in its comfy chair fully in the hand of the big powers.

Things are really up to the little guy. Change can start on the ground level and start changes. I am a man of my word. My house, which I rent, uses energy efficient light bulbs and I use an energy provider that uses only renewable fuels. In Texas, where utilities are deregulated, I use power from wind turbines that look like space age spinwheels, located somewhere in East Texas.

So where does that lead us? Tell the government they are wrong and we will no longer ignore their blindness to the future of our environment. Go Green. Ford, a company that stopped making a good car years ago and relies on its trucks is near bankrupt. All because gas prices finally hit a threshold that people said was too much. Truck sales are down and Car sales are up...foreign sales that is.

Will corporate America get the hint? Perhaps only when sales are suffering. Then change is possible.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Here is a new section. I will review some of the cool things in TV, Radio, Books, Movies, and Pop Culture. Your comments are appreciated

BSG: Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)

If you aren't watching this program...you are missing out on some great TV. This is not the same BSG from the 70s with oversized Toasters and Face from A-Team (though Lorne Greene was damn cool). Heavily influenced by the current war on terrorism and Iraq, it is the struggle of the enemy we do not understand, finding a piece of paradise. The finale was splendid-- Baltar's verdict, The revelation of the Cylons, and the Shocking ending of the future...and we have to wait till 2008? That is the cliffhanger for sure!

Music: What was on my radio (XM Radio)

It should come as no surprise that I left Terrestrial Radio over a year ago when I purchased XM Radio. The end is near for regular blah radio. Instead this is the future: quality venues for everyone and every taste. For me it's Ethel, U-Pop, and XMU. Austin's great South By Southwest was aired on XMU the college music channel. I was pleased to see two of my recent favs on stage: The Bravery and De Rocca. The second is more well known at this time as Kiefer Sutherland's band. Actually he found them and was in a doc on their Europe tour. But both are great additions to the music landscape.

Books: The Dark Tower: Gunslinger (Marvel)

As a fan of books, comics are my fav. One of my favs right now is the Dark Tower. Inspired by Stephen King's series of books, the limited series spotlight's the protagonist The Gunslinger. Telling all new stories from his origin, the series is part Lord of the Rings, Part Unforgiven, and all Stephen King. If Comics mean only spandex and capes to you, check this one out you will not be disappointed.

ALSO: Civil War (Marvel)

I just started getting back into Comics and missed this series. Coming in April as a Trade Book the prelude has just been release and is an exception read. Riding on the idea of the Patriot Act, the Government is ordering superheroes to register. Everyone falls into two camps--That on Iron Man's side that support the act and Captain America, who doesn't. It has changed the Marvel Universe. The recent death of Steve Rodgers as Captain America was a rippel caused by Civil War. Check it out.

MOVIES: 300

Another comic influence, but not many movies out. If you haven't read the graphic novel by Frank Miller, go for it. Influenced by the history lesson, this story is all Frank Miller. Retold for the screen much like Sin City, this movie relies heavily on CGI and Blue screens. While all that is amazing (and it is), the story still grabs you by the throat and won't let go. Also check out the villian Persian King. If he looks familar, it's because he's been on Lost as that Brazilian guy that no one likes and just died. I'd write his name but I don't know it and at this point in watching Lost it doesn't matter.

Toby The Rockstar

Ah Friday, time to file away the week's work and prepare for the weekend!

For those you are unaware, I have a soft spot for Dogs. Especially the Golden Retreiver. So here is an amazing story to check out.

CALVERT, Md. - Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman's chest. The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.


Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told the Cecil Whig she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved.

"The next think I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders," she recalled. "He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest."

That's when the apple dislodged and Toby started licking her face to keep her from passing out, she said.

"I literally have pawprint-shaped bruises on my chest. I'm still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I'm OK," Parkhurst said.

"The doctor said I probably wouldn't be here without Toby," said Parkhurst, a jewelry artist. "I keep looking at him and saying 'You re amazing.'"

...So this is why this is Man's best friend. Hell Yea.

Time Flies...and it Stings

Greetings Everyone!

It has been awhile since I've blogged...a crazy stretch of time I must say. But Good news. It is Spring. Ah Spring, the temperatures rise, the sun stays out longer (Thank you Daylight Savings Time), Baseball starts up again, and of course Tornadoes ripping the South apart. The videos look like my Dorm room on Sunday morning. Ah Those were the days.

This weekend is a special one. First we are off to Austin for a wedding and bumming around the Capital. If you haven't been to Austin, you haven't lived. One day I hope to make during South by Southwest which is a truly big deal. Also this weekend: The official start of baseball! It's starts Sunday with Your World Champs St. Louis Cardinals Vs. The New York Mets. Ah World Champs. It may have been October but it never gets Old.

That's it for now. I hope to get back to regular blogging soon. There is just so many hours in the day and there are some good books and music out there to check out. My Recommendation for the Day: The New Modest Mouse CD. You won't be disappointed

Today Crazies

On this day the Alamo was overun by Santa Anna. Among the casualities william Travis, and Davey Crockett. Eventually, the story was made to film starring Billy Bob Thornton as Crockett. Ah Bad Santa as the man who killed a bear when he was only three. Goes hand in hand doesn't it? On that note, Welcome to the Crazies

• A German man who spent 10 days in a self-made box atop a 72-foot-tall pole to protest a looming jail term was lured off his perch by his wife -- who sent up a topless picture of herself in his lunch box.
  
  
  
  
  The evil empire got in a cheap shot. But the Tar Heels won the fight ( and the season series) Ha Ha
  
  
  
  
  
  And Finally, do you like Lost? Do you paintin's on the web? Well here is John Locke (Terry Quinn) as done by a computer artist
  
  
  

Random Ramblings

Happy Monday Everyone!

Hoppy eveyone had a great weekend. This weekend we saw Zodiac by David Fincher, the greatest current director in America (my top three: Fincher, Brian Singer, and Tarintino). Plus an Inconvenient Truth. Great Doc. A few weeks ago, we replace the majority of our lightbulbs with cost efficient lightbulbs. Our utility companies in TX are gouging citizens like crazy. Plus, it helps the environment. Our Gov't won't so we should at least try.

A cool purchase this weekend: 300 by Frank Miller. It's a graphic Novel and will be released as a movie this friday. Excellent book, winner of the Eisner Award, the Oscar equivalent for comics.

And now for some ramblings

• The Moran of the Day goes to Ann Coulter. Whatever you party affiliation, she is nothing but a loudmouth with no logic or reasoning to her diatribes. I thought I had heard her worst. And then she opened her mouth. What is worst? The group that allowed her to speak, the candidate, Mitt Romney, that introduced her; or the audience cheering her. Anyway here is her latest speil.
• 25 Years today John Belushi died of a drug overdose. He was only 33. His work included Animal House, Blues Brothers, and the first five years of SNL. And Continential Divide. I don't blame you if you haven't heard of it. It's what some actors call stretching. Eddie Murphy did that for Dreamgirls. And then made Norbit. Sigh.
• The seminole indians have purchased the Hard Rock Cafe. It is not clear if Coach Bowden will be serving Florida Gator Tails or Miami Tuna Steaks.
  

Why Some People Should Be Shot

Hi All

Hope everyone had a great weekend. This was something that finally hit CNN over the weekend. Here in DFW, it has been a serious story since mid-week. Outside of FW, there is a town called Watuga. It is not much more than a small rural feel suburb. But this week EVERYONE knows the town.

A video began circulating on YouTube of two kids, barely 5 smoking Pot. Shocking? Yes. Insane? Indeed. But the true sadness of it all is the enabler was their teenage cousin. His answer was tragic as well.

Mr. McCoy talked about how his nephews didn't get high while smoking the marijuana. He predicted the youngsters would have eventually smoked the drug anyway.

"They wasn't even high," Mr. McCoy said. "They didn't even inhale it right."

The youngsters on the videotape are the children of Mr. McCoy's sister.

Mr. McCoy said he has been around marijuana all of his life and that drugs, for many, is just a part of growing up.

"Some people give their kids alcohol, let them smoke ice, methamphetamines. Weed ain't going to kill them," he said.

I don't know about you, but I slapped my head I was so dumbstruck. For those who haven't seen the video, here it is. Be prepared it is not a joke

MODERN RAMBLINGS

The Spirit of Vengeance!!! Number #1 movie baby!! I'll post a review after I've seen it myself.

This weekend was to see Pam's Labyrinth. Great Art Fantasy flick. Definitely worthy of oscar nominations. Amidst the backdrop of the Spainish Civil War in WWII, the film blends fantasy and the horrors of war. A fairy tale with a dark angle. Like many of the best ones. This year has been a sorry year for great Oscar flicks. I've checked out The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. Babel is awaiting on my NetFlix. But The Queen? I'll pass. My Pick: The Departed.

For Valentine's Day, I received the latest The Shins album. Great, great album. If you've seen Garden State, this is a scene with Zack Braff and Natalie Portman about a song that will change your life. That band was The Shins. Go and check it out.

Jorg's in Downtown Plano had a great review in DallasNews. An authentic Austrian restaurant, it has become a major player in the renaissance of Downtown. As this area is my job to fix up any good news, like a review is great. So check it, they are good people and serve great food.

Something Crazy in the water

SO I normally stay away from Celeb chatter...too sad and pathetic for my tastes. There is something trainwreck about the last couple of weeks. Anna Nicole Smith and her death is just sad no matter how you look at it. But Britney is absolutely crazy. For those unaware what happened this weekend check this out...

For a view of the Crazy media reaction:













Amazing, crazy, loony. Number #114 why she shouldn't have had kids with that loon K-Fed.

Leaving On a Jet Plane...(Just not today)

This week during the crazy winter storm on the Northeast border, a JetBlue flight was awaiting departure in NY. And it waited...and waited. 10 Hours infact. As incredulous as that may sound, it is not the only such time in recent months that has happened. American Airlines had the same experience here in Texas back in December in Austin.

How long is 10 hours? In the hustle and bustle lives we live to sit for 10 hours, how can you compare such a thing? So to give everyone a perspective on how dreadful such an ordeal would be here are some facts on 10 hours:


It is the length of one battery pack on a Playstation Portable

Length of the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy extended version

Distance from Dallas to St. Louis

And the length of the trip Katrina evacuees experienced from San Antonia to New Orleans to vote back in May for Mayor.

The entire Broadcast of Live8 on MTV

The duration of one day on the planet Saturn

The average night of sleep for a young child

The battery length of a First Generation iPod

AND the extras on Spiderman 2 DVD


Think about that the next time your captain says your plane will be delayed. You could home watching Spidey deleted sceness or play NHL 2007. I choose the PSP.

WELCOME!

Congratulations on finding my blog. Today is Friday. After a long week of seeing this world go crazy over Anna Nicole Smith, Iraq (again), and Why Tim Hardaway is an idiot, I felt it was time to start blogging. I may never see this blog get big or more than for some friends to enjoy, everyone should have a venue to be creative and speak out. So here is my venue. And on the lighter side, enjoy this clip from the Late Show, that aired Tuesday. ENJOY!