Psychocosmos

Transcript From An Episode of 'Kung Fu'

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Young Kwai Chang Caine: I loved him.

Master Kahn: He was my master.

Young KCC: How did you know where he was?

Kahn: There could be only one place for him. His favorite path in the foothills. We found Master Son's body, in a comfortable position. His back resting against the boulder. Staring down at our valley. His face glistened in the frost. But his lips were black, from the poison of the wild berries.

Young KCC: Everyone loved him. Why did he take his own life? (Master clasps his hands together.) Yin and Yang?!

Kahn: The Yes and the No. In him, the No conquered.

Young KCC: But I sensed that he was in harmony.

Kahn: Perhaps he looked into our valley, knowing that soon he would have to leave it. But instead of the beauty we observe, he saw ugliness.

Young KCC: How is that possible?

Kahn: He looked with his eyes. As we look with ours.

RIP
David Carradine

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Budget Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:37:00 +0000

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle needs your support!

In 2008, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle received $100,000 from the City of Raleigh to fund our programs and provide services to low-income citizens in Raleigh. Just this morning we were informed that the $100,000 we expected to receive for 2009 has been cut and the Food Shuttle has been completely omitted from this year's budget! With $100,000 last year, we were able to provide food to 24,325 Raleigh residents each week and distributed 3,727,595 pounds of food during the year. Simply stated, our services are not possible without the City of Raleigh's support.

Tonight Jill Bullard, Founder, along with our Board of Directors and Food Shuttle staff, will stand before the City Council to request inclusion in this year's budget. Yet, we also need you to let your representatives know how important it is that we continue to drive hunger from our communities. Here's what you can do:

* Meet tonight at 6:30p in front of the City Hall 222 W. Hargett Street. Tonya Post, our Director of Programs will be there to meet you.

*Call and/or write your City of Raleigh Councilor in the next 5 days to let them know food is a basic right for all citizens and the Food Shuttle needs the support of the City of Raleigh to feed people in need! Click on this link to locate your Councilor: http://raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_306_207_0_43/http;/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Government/Elected_Officials/Cat-MCH-2006509-142902-Council_Districts_and_Me.html

Please see the attached document for an overview of programs and people we serve in the Raleigh area.

Raleigh Services ... if this link doesn't work, let me know

Thank you for your time and continued support!

In Service,

Amanda Soltes
Operation Frontline Assistant Coordinator
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
http://www.foodshuttle.org
919.250.0043

March Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:03:00 +0000

The Magic Christian (1969) - another Terry Southern and Peter Sellers film, this time with Ringo Starr playing the adopted-as-an-adult son of Peter Sellers' millionaire. They both go about proving that everyone has their price.

Goodbye Mr. Chips! (1939) - Time and tradition move slowly in an ancient English boys school where a teacher opens up and creates his own definition of family. Sam Wood directed both this and A Night At The Opera.

Picnic (1955) - I loved this tagline "It's too hot to stay home." A lot of time is spent watching William Holden with his shirt off. He seems angry. Kim Novak is strangely attracted to this brooding, half-dressed man. Rosalind Russell makes it for me as the last-chance lady on the edge of Spinsterhood.

Oliver! (1968) Oliver Reed! Jimmy! I mean, Jack Wild!

The Future of Food (2004) - We're screwed! Save your seeds!

Blow Dry (2001) - I caught this at a friend's recommendation only a week before Natasha Richardson's sudden death. Interestingly, she plays a hairdresser dealing with her own death. But it's a musical and a comedy, really. Fun cast including Alan Rickman and Billy Nighy.

Young Bess (1953) - Jean Simmons plays her recurrent role as a feminine but strong-willed woman, this time as the young Queen Elizabeth I.

Moulin Rouge (1952) - Toulouse Lautrec is played by Jose Ferrer who so loved the part he bought the rights. John Huston worked out a deal with him playing the lead if Huston could interpret the movie from the paintings.

Madeleine (1950) Madeleine_Smith
This is an historical drama set in Scotland without a single person bothering to speak in character except one Frenchman.
Don't get me wrong, this movie's lighting, closeups, and direction (David Lean) make it a must-watch. There are subtle edits that just kept me glued.

JFK (1991) - Courtroom speech, Kevin Costner as Jim Garrison
"..The assassination reduced the President to a transient official. His job, his assignment is to speak as often as possible of this nation's desire for peace, while he acts as a business agent in Congress for the military and their hardware manufacturers.."
But of course, my favorite quote is "Back, and to the left. Back, and to the left."
Anyone remember what was the 'magic bullet' in Seinfeld's parody?

Flight of the Conchords: Season 1: Disc 1 (2007) - New Zealand artists sing tongue-in-cheek of the plights of trying to make it in NYC. This sit-com series also has The Daily Show's pixie-voiced Kristen Schaal as their personal fan club.

Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks (1987) - Odin gives two thumbs Up!

Rachael Getting Married (2008) - I wish I could get Robyn Hitchcock to play my event. Anne Hathaway struggles with being a recovering addict waking to the tragedy she created while an ever-distant mother, Debra Winger, just isn't involved.

The Key (1958) - Sophia Loren's giving William Holden nightmares? You'd think it would be the other way around. He doesn't keep his shirt off as much in this one.

A Night At The Opera (1935) - Classic Marx Brothers, showing their incredible range of talent. I LOVED the scene in Groucho's ship cabin.

The Edge of the World (1937) - Filmed on the northeast Shetland island of Foula but based on the 1930 evacuation of the western-most Scottish island of St. Kilda (or Hirta) in the Hebrides. The hardship of life on such a remote island is dramatized as the last few natives make the decision to leave and give the next generation a better chance.

Rain (1932) - Young, big-eyed and pouty Joan Crawford is an escort on Pago Pago, where it is constantly raining. Then she becomes big-eyed and prayerful thanks to the stern preacherman.

Hedda Gabler (1963) - Ingrid Bergman plays the starring role in the made-for-TV adaptation of Henry Ibsen's play.

Pinky and the Brain: Vol. 1: Disc 1 (1993) - Classic evil plotting. Now which one's Brain?

Enchanted April (1992) - Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright both star in this scenic vacation in April to Italy, circa 1920.

psychocosmos.blogspot.com

February Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Meet the Robinsons - a surprisingly good Disney animated film
Pink Panther Classic Cartoons: Disc 1 - just as it says - Classic - Saturday morning memories
Jean de Florette / Manon of the Spring - one of the best - and it's two movies on one disc!
Nights in Rodanthe - it was where Odin was conceived so I wanted to see more of the area
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - interesting trivia: Slim Pickens played all his scenes straight. He was not given the rest of the script which would make him realize it was a black comedy. He essentially played himself, a red-blooded Texan. In this clip, instead of "weekend in Vegas" he really said "weekend in Dallas" since he was the token Texan. However, the movie was supposed to have it's first screening on November 22, 1963. Then Kennedy was shot. They dubbed over with "Vegas" and took out the pie-fight scene in the war room at the end. One of the lines in the pie-fight was "Gentlemen! Our gallant young president has been struck down in his prime!" after President Muffley takes a pie in the face. They then moved the premiere to the beginning of 1964.
Religulous - Bill Maher provokes and makes me laugh and makes me miss Politically Incorrect. I hang my head when one of the first places he visits is Raleigh. I recognize churches he passes on the highway. I'm glad he mentions the myths of Krishna, Mithra and Horus, beginning in writings as early as 1280 BC. And I'm glad he doesn't just focus on Christianity. The extra monologues and deleted scenes on the DVD are worth your time, as well. I'll have to say, he found some wise priests high up in the Catholic church (Fathers George Coyne and Reginald Foster) who have a realistic view of the Bible's lack of science and how fundamentalism has given Christianity (and all religions) a bad name. Directed by Larry Charles who brought us such greats as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Tick, Entourage, Borat, Fridays, Mad about You, etc.
Lust For Life - Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn paint and drink absinthe in this biography of Vincent Van Gogh - fun and tragic. Quinn won best supporting actor as Paul Gauguin.
Darling - Julie Christie won best actress for this in 1965 - it's a sardonic look at the sexcapades of a model in the Swinging 60's of London
Fly Me To The Moon - Flies stow away on the Apollo 11 mission. Had to explain to my son that the Apollo landings are most likely accurate, since he knows most cartoons, especially about space, are not. Buzz Aldrin does come on during the end-credits to tell us that it would have been impossible for real flies to live on the spaceship. Aw...
GiGi - musical about a young woman being raised to be a courtesan in Gay 90's Paris - swept the Oscars that year.
W. - I just couldn't get over the casting. It was spot-on!
Kiki's Delivery Service - Another lovely movie by Hayao Miyazaki. A little witch quickly discovers that she can't take her abilities for granted.
Mansfield Park (2007) - Billie Piper, of Doctor Who fame, is Jane Austen's main character, Fanny, in this BBC TV adaptation.
A Nous La Liberte' - Assembly-line work in factories is shown to be no different from assembly-line work in prison. But really, it's a comedy and a musical and a silent film, sorta.
Carnal Knowledge - "You're a real prick, you know that?" Ann Margaret says to Jack Nicholson. She received her first Oscar nomination for this one.
Bob, Carol, Ted & Alice - Free Love, anyone? "I came here because I want a better orgasm. It's just not good enough." Besides that line, I'll watch any movie that opens with a drophead XKE being driven along the winding PCH - especially with Robert Culp and Natalie Wood inside.
30 Rock: Season 1: Disc 2
My Sister Eileen (1942) - my role model, Rosalind Russell, was nominated for an Oscar in this one
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Grand Hotel (1932)
Groundhog Day
Ninotchka - Greta Garbo. Enough said.

Jetpacks Are Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:49:00 +0000

I was incredibly disappointed after the turn of this Millenium.
Growing up, we were given visions of the future.
We'd have phones that would allow us to see the person - or just be telepathic, we'd manufacture products by special-order only to eliminate waste, our homes would be completely off the grid, we'd be traveling by air in our flying cars or self-propulsion...

Well, remember the jetpacks on Lost In Space and Bond films?
They were real, but could only take you for a ride of less than a minute fueled by hydrogen-peroxide or less than 10 minutes with jet fuel. Well, now they've created a pack fueled by highly pressured water!

"Designer Ramke's invention can power the rider to a height of 50 feet, has a top speed of 30mph, and can travel almost 200 miles before it needs to be refuelled.

A floating pump powered by a 150 horsepower four-stroke engine sends water through a 140ft-long hose to a pair of nozzles mounted on the jet pack."

The new Jet-Lev Flyer company implores us to "Stop Dreaming! Start Flying!"

NOW WHERE'S MY FLYIN' CAR??!!

Nonprofits Team Up to Battle Unhealthy Eating

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:02:00 +0000

I am volunteering for OperationFrontline which is essentially nutrition, cooking, budget planning and grocery shopping classes and then in the spring I hope to help set up their inner-city gardens and mini-Farmer's Markets.

I'm so excited to find a charity that is doing EXACTLY what I have had in mind - that poor people need to eat healthfully and save money (on groceries as well as good nutrition since preventative health care always saves $). Maybe I'm an oddball because I don't believe throwing $$ at a problem is always the answer. What better way to walk the talk than "teach a man how to fish" if you know what I mean.

This article is Durham-centric and was published in this past Sunday's Herald Sun
but the program with whom I'm volunteering in Raleigh is the same:

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Ingredients: one chef, one dietitian, one class assistant and many hungry participants.

Through healthy cooking classes taught by volunteer professionals, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, in partnership with Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline, is cooking up a simple recipe for a healthier Durham.

Operation Frontline's classes teach healthy eating, food shopping and budgeting, and basic cooking skills.

"We give participants education on eating healthy, and education on how to do that, and then we give them recipes to put that in to practice," said Katherine Andrew, the Food Shuttle's nutritionist.

Local residents could use the advice.

According to a survey of 310 Durham residents by the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics, 64 percent of adults in Durham were overweight or obese in 2007. People at or near the poverty line are at a higher risk for developing nutritional deficiencies and obesity.

The economic cost of the unhealthy lifestyles of some Durham county adults is more than $347 million annually, according to a February 2008 study by Be Active North Carolina, Inc. The study predicts that this number will climb to $487 by 2011 if current trends continue. Costs from unhealthy lifestyles include medical expenses from obesity-related diseases, such as type-2 diabetes.

Offered once a week, the classes last four to six weeks. In a typical class, students will have a nutrition lesson and then prepare their own healthy recipes under the direction of a chef. After each class, students leave with a grocery bag of ingredients, such as canned goods and vegetables, to make some of the recipes they learned.

Classes follow the same basic model but come in several different varieties based on the population group served. Classes are offered for adults, teenagers, teen parents, children and families.

Kids Up Front classes teach children age 8-12 basic cooking skills, nutrition information and food-safety advice. In a national survey of 1,207 participants, 73 percent said they learned at least one new thing about nutrition, and 89 percent said they learned at least one new thing about cooking.

"I enjoyed seeing the kids pleasantly surprised at how good healthy food can taste," one Kids Up Front instructor said.

A recent Kids Up Front class was offered at the Campus Hill Recreation Center in Northern Durham. Volunteers taught the class to children who were enrolled in the after-school program at the center.

Chef Beverly Tucker taught the children about the "claw" grip. When cutting vegetables, grasp them with your fingers curled inward, so the tips of your fingers are not exposed, she said.

Eating Right classes teach low-income adults how to prepare healthy meals on a limited budget. In a national survey of 1,870 participants, 77 percent reported eating more vegetables at the end of the course and 72 percent reported eating more fruits. And 99 percent said they would recommend Eating Right to a friend.

Classes provide adults with a social setting where they can learn about eating healthy and budgeting for food.

"We do a lot of food-resource management," Andrew said. "Once they know how to budget for food, it frees up money for other things."

An upcoming Eating Right class will be offered at Urban Ministries, a faith-based community shelter and kitchen in downtown Durham.

Operation Frontline courses were first offered in Durham in April. The program is expanding its offerings locally to meet a growing demand.

"There is definitely a bigger demand once people know about the classes," Andrew said. "We have a pretty high interest among adults."

© 2009 by The Durham Herald Company. All rights reserved.
BY KAITLYN JONGKIND : The Herald-Sun
I'm posting the full article because HeraldSun online is a subscription-only newspaper.
Feb 15, 2009

Grassroots Motorsports April 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:46:00 +0000

I want to note that two awesome people are in the April issue of Grassroots Motorsports!
There is no online link for the articles, but I just want to brag for them, to those who know them!

Carlota is on page 68 in "Who's Who?" in the $2008 Challenge. She's in her red 1988 Mazda 323GTX - noted for attending the Gainsville, Florida event despite living in California at the time. That's hardcore dedication!

Sean is on page 80, pictured with Jason and Laurie who went with him to the $2004 Challenge.
He's in the article "25 Choice Challengers", noted for his innovation.

"The Suprang was like nothing before or since, as the vintage Mustang featured the front and rear suspension grafted from a 1982 Toyota Supra. Why? Why not?"

For more on the "Suprang", see suprang.com and www.suprang.com/suprang11 and www.spkorb.org/suprang2

See Original Post for video

Current Dilbert

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Congressman Capuano of Massachusetts Chides Bankers

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:35:00 +0000

(L-R) Jamie Dimon, CEO JPMorgan Chase; Robert Kelly, CEO Bank of New York; Ken Lewis, CEO Bank of America; Ronald Logue, CEO State Street Corp.

Mike Capuano, Massachusetts Congressman
took full advantage of his time to scorn bankers accepting bailout money during the questioning by the House Financial Services Committee.

"You come to us today to say 'We're sorry, we didn't mean it, we won't do it again, trust us.'
Well, I have some people in my constituency who actually robbed some of your banks.
And they say the SAME THING!"

"I can't wait to get the Credit-Rating agencies here someday again"
- I can't TELL YOU how I want to witness this guy taking on the credit-reporting businesses.
But if you knew me, you knew I stood up and cheered in the theater when they blew up the TRW building in Fight Clu b - JACK "I believe the plan is to blow up the headquarters of these credit card companies and the TRW building."
STERN "Why these buildings? why credit card companies?
JACK "If you erase the debt record, we all go back to zero. It'll create total chaos."

BUT I digress...

Video Link

See 'Original Post' for video

Spinal Tap Returns!

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Caught this exciting news from The Guardian today:

"Take out your gloves and smell them. For the first time in 16 years, Spinal Tap are recording new material.

The legendary fake band will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the This Is Spinal Tap mockumentary by releasing a new album, their first since 1992's Break Like The Wind. "It'll be for download as well as on conventional media later this year," Harry Shearer (aka bassist Derek Smalls) confirmed to BBC 5 Live.

The fictional English heavy metal group is the work of Shearer and two more American actors, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest. They last reunited in 2007, playing the Live Earth concert at London's Wembley Stadium.

"We've never recorded the song we did at Live Earth, Warmer Than Hell, and I think [Spinal Tap] are trying to revisit their old success," Shearer said. Rob Reiner caught up with the band at the time of that gig, shooting a short film showing what Spinal Tap's members had done with their lives. Guest's Nigel Tufnel was raising miniature racing horses, Shearer's Smalls was recovering from an internet addiction, and McKean's David St Hubbins had become a hip-hop producer.

The band will revisit the same rich lyrical vein they plundered with their early hit Gimme Some Money, Shearer promised. "We'll do a song called Gimme Some More Money, probably with ... dubious results."

The band have yet to announce their new drummer. (!)

January Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:23:00 +0000

List of movies watched in January, rentals or otherwise:

Freakazoid!: Season 1: Disc 1
My Neighbor Totoro
Castle in the Sky
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This Is Spinal Tap
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
30 Rock: Season 1: Disc 1
My Man Godfrey
The Muppet Show: Season 1: Disc 2
Dodgeball
The Tudors: Season 1: Disc 2
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Galaxy Quest
Time Bandits
Be Kind Rewind
The Earrings of Madame de...
The Duchess
A Mighty Wind

"Television Man" by Man...or Astroman? The Music Meme

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Here's a current meme I'd like to share.
I have enjoyed reading the results from others as well as my own.

Rules:
1. Put your iTunes or other music playlist on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next/forward button to shuffle and get the next answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag/mail your friends and include me so I can see your results.

I used the playlist I share in my profile, so you, too, can hear these 'answers'.
http://www.playlist.com/Psychocosm

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday - The Pogues with Cait O'Riordan

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Reefer Man - Cab Calloway

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Reasons for Waiting - Jethro Tull

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Whiskey, Mystics and Men - The Doors

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
The Theme from "Time" - Dave Clark 5
I love that *THIS* song is the answer!

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Ascension Day - Talk Talk

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Mr. Tamborine Man - The Byrds

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Back To Life - Soul II Soul

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Five O'Clock World - Dave Clark 5

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Mirror In The Bathroom - English Beat

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Love Rain - Jill Scott and Mos Def

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Donovan

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Long Time Gone - CSNY

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
I'm A Man - Spencer Davis Group
I just keep giggling at this answer

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
That's Entertainment - The Jam

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Happiness Is Easy - Talk Talk

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Corn Liquor - Southern Culture On The Skids

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Black Betty - Ram Jam

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Today - Jefferson Airplane

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Television Man - Man...or Astroman?

Kay Yow

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Today, we lost Kay Yow.

"Almost everybody is dealing with something," Yow said in a 2006 interview, referring to her battles with breast cancer.

"We're all faced with a lot of tough issues that we're dealing with," she said. "We know we need to just come to the court and let that be our catharsis in a way. You can't bring it on the court with you, but we can all just think of basketball as an escape for a few hours."

Yow won more than 700 games in her coaching career. In 1975, Yow became North Carolina State University's first full-time women's basketball coach and also coached women's volleyball and softball. Three years later, for their first season of league play, her women's basketball team earned the ACC championship. She coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in 1988, won four Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships, earned 20 NCAA tournament bids and reached the Final Four in 1998.

ESPN article

The First 100 Hours

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:04:00 +0000

Writers at The Guardian list how Obama spent his first 100 hours as President.

"From ordering the closure of Guantánamo Bay to approving missile strikes, we take a look at the first 100 things he did in office."

End of An Error - Credits for the Last 8 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:17:00 +0000

The Daily Show's Moment of Zen, 19 January.

Bush's Final Press Conference, 12January, 2009

David Letterman's Farewell Tribute To Bush

The Ascent of Money

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Today I watched The Ascent of Money with Niall Ferguson,
a resident faculty professor of History at
The Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies at Harvard.
His book by the same name has been recently published and the video aired on PBS.

In the span of two hours he speaks of our first use of lending money with interest was a religious divide, unallowed by Christians, through the early sale of Louisiana with John Law, causing the first real estate bubble, to today's securitization trusts and the derivatives market.

Last week on Fareed Zakaria's show, GPS he spoke with Dr. Ferguson.

Currently, I'm watching My Man Godfrey (1936)

'Misunderestimate' tops list of notable 'Bushisms'

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:12:00 +0000

He did it again, within the first sentence or two of his last news conference, he chided the reporters in front of him for "misunderestimating" him.

No, I think they got it right.

"Of the many things for which President G.W.Bush will be remembered, his language mistakes, faux pas, and "unique" terminology may rank near the top.

Now, less than two weeks before Bush leaves office, a group of language monitors in his home state of Texas has compiled a list of the top 15 "Bushisms" -- words and phrases coined by "the decider" himself in his two terms in the White House.

"The era of Bushisms is now coming to an end, and word watchers worldwide will have a hard time substituting (President-elect) Barack Obama's precise intonations and eloquence for W's unique linguistic constructions," said Paul JJ Payack, president and chief word analyst of the Global Language Monitor.

"The biggest linguistic faux pas of the Obama era thus far involves the use of the reflexive pronoun 'myself.' This is a refreshing shift from the Bush years."

The Global Language Monitor said it compiled the list through nominations from language observers around the world, then ranked them with an algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media.

1. "Misunderestimate" Stated in the immediate aftermath of the disputed 2000 election. One of the first and perhaps most iconic Bushisms (November 6, 2000).

2. "Mission Accomplished" Never actually stated by the president, but it appeared on the banner behind him when he stood on the USS Abraham and declared Iraq's major war operations over (May 1, 2003).

3. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Said to soon-to-be-discharged FEMA director Michael Brown in the immediate aftermath of Hurrican Katrina; it came to symbolize the entire debacle (September 2, 2005).

4. "I'm the decider." Said in response to his decision to keep Donald Rumsfeld on as the secretary of defense, it came to symbolize the "imperial" aspects of the Bush presidency. (April 18, 2006).

5. "I use The Google" Said in reference to the popular search engine (October 24, 2006).

6. Iraq Shoe Throwing Incident In the Arab world, throwing a shoe is a symbol of immense disrespect. Some have suggested this to be the visual equivalent of a spoken Bushism -- inappropriate, surprising, embarrassing, yet compelling to repeat (December 14, 2008).

7. "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." Came to symbolize the president's environmental policy (September 29, 2000).

8. "You work three jobs? ? Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." Critics used this to symbolize Bush's detachment to the plight of the working class. Said to a divorced mother of three in Omaha, Nebraska (February 4, 2005).

9. "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" Uttered before the first primaries in 2000 (January 11, 2000).

10. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." Cited by his critics as revealing his true thoughts (August 5, 2004).

11. "It was not always certain that the U.S. and America would have a close relationship." Used while speaking of the Anglo-American relationship (June 29, 2006).

12. "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." Explaining his communications strategy (May 24, 2005).

13. "I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?" Scribbled on a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a U.N. Security Council meeting in 2005.

14. "When the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma." Said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, this apparent belittling of the bloodshed in Iraq provoked outrage around the world (September 24, 2006).

15. "Stay the course." Stated on numerous occasions during the course of the Iraq War. Bush's change of course with the troop surge actually made a dramatic difference in the conflict. Bush may have invented a few words, but he's not the first U.S. president to do so.

The Global Language Monitor cited examples of now-common English words invented by presidents of the past:

Administration (George Washington)

Belittle (Thomas Jefferson)

Bully pulpit (Theodore Roosevelt)

Caucus (John Adams)

Countervailing (Thomas Jefferson)

Hospitalization (Warren G. Harding)

Muckraker (Theodore Roosevelt)

Normalcy (Woodrow Wilson)

O.K. (Martin Van Buren)

Sanction (Thomas Jefferson)

I think they 'misunderestimated' the full expanse of his gaffes. I like this list and this one, too. I mean, how can this list forget the 'internets' statement?

(view original post for video)

Medics: 169 Palestinian children killed in Gaza

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:25:00 +0000

AP wire is reporting the number of children who are the victims of what is becoming the genocidal bombing of Gaza. And now the Red Cross is claiming Israel is delaying access to the wounded. The more this information is made available, I'm sure the more recruits there will be to Hamas and terrorism against Israel and it's allies in general.

"...In the ongoing chaos of Gaza, it's difficult to get exact casualty figures. Since Dec. 27, at least 750 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza Health Ministry official Dr. Moawiya Hassanain.

Of those, at least 169 were 17 and younger, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which posts staffers at hospitals to track casualties. The United Nations, citing Ministry of Health figures, said 257 children have been killed — about a third of the total fatalities. UNICEF said at least 100 children and minors were killed in the first 10 days of fighting.

"We are talking about urban war," said Abdel-Rahman Ghandour, the Jordan-based spokesman for UNICEF in the Middle East and North Africa. "The density of the population is so high, it's bound to hurt children ... This is a unique conflict, where there is nowhere to go."

Bodycount Update from AP, 17Jan09:

Today, Israel declared a unilateral Gaza cease-fire. "More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive began on Dec. 27, according to Palestinian and U.N. officials. At least 13 Israelis have also died."

Two-Tequila Lunch!

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Jibarra finally opened their downtown restaurant this week! and they're offering lunch and brunch. Check them out for one of the most creative menus in Raleigh's choices for Mexican fare.

The Ultimate Power Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:14:00 +0000

"All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office," Obama said. "For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary."

I wonder if this is an historical event with this number of living presidents gathered together?
Oh, to be a fly on that dining room wall! Really, I'd probably only want to engage Carter, who's my favorite - the only man to use the Presidency as a stepping stone to greater things...

Clinton apparently only commented on the light brown rug.

.

December Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:25:00 +0000

List of movies watched in December, rentals or otherwise:

Schoolhouse Rock!
The Jungle Book
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noel)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
The Tudors: Season 1: Disc 1
Princess Mononoke
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
12 Monkeys
Talladega Nights
Duchess of Duke Street: Series 1: Disc 4
MST3K: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
Ivanhoe (1952)
Bender's Game
Christmas on Mars
Elf
Tropical Thunder
Bolt in 3D
Run Lola Run

Fullsteam Brewery in Durham to open this year

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:29:00 +0000

"...Three years ago, Sean Wilson led the charge to overturn the state's 70-year-old ban on high-alcohol beer, busting the 6 percent cap.

This year, he opens Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, celebrating both mad science and local flavor. There you'll find beer brewed with scuppernong grapes, sweet potatoes -- even kudzu.

If his experiment works, he will have given the state a signature drink, a beer as synonymous with North Carolina as Anchor Steam is to San Francisco.

"We want to create something that's distinctively Southern, that's us, that lays claim to this region that we love," said Wilson, 38.

Wilson's "Pop the Cap" lobbying changed beer's definition, inviting a new class of stronger specialty beers brewed to enhance a good meal.

His calling came after he sampled barley wine and triple IPA beer, then learned that his adopted home state deemed them illegal, their alcohol content too high.

So he quickly co-founded Pop the Cap, and in 2005, successfully lobbied the legislature to raise beer's alcohol limit from 6 percent to 15 percent. This was no easy feat, given North Carolina's history as a control state, managing the sale of all alcoholic beverages. Opponents argued that higher-alcohol beers would be marketed directly to poor minorities..."

Habanera For The End Of The Era

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:49:00 +0000

(URL to video)

Have A Happy New Year Folks!

(see original post for videos)

Bad Checks Tee

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:12:00 +0000

Errol Englebrecht design circa-1985

Happy Kiss My Ass, Horsley Style

noreply@blogger.com (Psychocosmos) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Sebastian Horsley, my favorite irreverent Dandy, writes on his views of Christmas and what pisses him off about it.

"...Christmas we meet ourselves as we really are. That's why it's so hard to bear for the depressed. The day glows like a fire through dimpled cottage windows in an unforgiving season. But for those who can only peep through the curtains, for those who will never be invited in, it only opens even wider that empty gulf of yearning between other people's happiness and your own cold despair.

What about those on the inside? What about those who descend into the bunker of the family? It shouldn't take Christmas for us to recognise that Santa Claus definitely had the right idea. Only visit people once a year and make sure, while you are at it, that you don't actually meet them.

But aren't we forgetting the true meaning of this day: a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus? Isn't it strange how the whole world observes Christ's birthday while absolutely nobody observes his beliefs.

Jesus was a great and radical philosopher. Here was a truly autonomous mind; here was someone who was prepared to do his own thinking, no matter what the price. A Jewish thinker enrolling in the school of the Greek cynics, he drew on traditions of outspokenness, shamelessness and unconventionality. He spoke of anarchy, anti-materialism and identification with the poor.

His message, quite simply, was that family and personal property must go. Only then could we have peace on earth and goodwill to all men. So we celebrate Christ's birthday by gathering our families together and stockpiling mountains of possessions to wage war on one another over TV schedules and who will clear up.

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild? No one made more trouble than this baby. The ass-like cult of Christianity that stands around his manger is the antithesis of the man. Christ was an anti-Christ. He was a true radical."