Please Don’t Believe the Hype

This makes much more sense to me that this.

Ragin’ Cajun

Al Copeland lost his battle against cancer on March 23, 2008.  He was a true original, we’ll miss ya Al.

George Bernard Shaw

Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence. Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness but it is greatness. – George Bernard Shaw

Global Warming Is A Hoax

I’ve always been in this camp.  Now we have this from John Coleman, a meteorologist and founder of The Weather Channel.  I don’t want to be narrow minded, but I’ve heard enough.  This issue is a dead letter in my book.  Carbon credits, carbon offsets – what a fucking joke.

I Miss Angie

A distinct flavor of my grandmother’s pasta fagioli ran over my taste buds today. Nobody made it like Gram. In fact, no one – no, not even my wife or mom – could cook like Angie, just ask Susan. Gram lived to the ripe old age of 95. I’m convinced it was her liberal -LIBERAL – use of olive oil. Her eggplant parmigiana was other worldly. I’m convinced she could give her meatball recipe to anyone but nobody could duplicate the way hers tasted. Oh yeah, and garlic. It could go into anything.

Susan and I lived with Angie for a few months when we came back up from Philly. I will never forget how she cursed the hours Susan worked. She’d sit by the front picture window and look for the bus to pull up to the bus stop. “Ah, va a Napoli” or some similar Italian expression she’d say as she shuffled off to get dinner on the table. Old fashioned, but her own woman.

She was literally one in a million. I miss you Gram.

Man Burns Salt Water

Photo courtesy of Mahesh Hedge

Here’s a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story about a guy who discovered salt water can burn.  Apparently scientists believed this was impossible.

A guy names John Kanzius was tinkering with a radio-frequency generator he’d invented and stumbled upon the ability to burn salt water.  There is so much we know, but so much we don’t know.  This story is just another reminder to question that which is known and unknown.  You never know what answers you’ll uncover.

Acting Not Copying

Just read a blurb about Cate Blanchett getting early Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Bob Dylan.  You read that right, actress portraying Dylan.  The flick isn’t out yet, I’m sure she does a fine job.

But I’m sick of portrayals being widely praised, to the point where the last 3 Oscars for Lead Actor and last 2 Oscars for Lead Actress went to people portraying some historical figure.  Idi Amin, Truman Capote, Ray Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and June Carter Cash.

Give me an Alonzo or Maximus any day.  That’s acting, creating a character out of whole cloth.  I appreciate biographical stuff, but the ultimate form of acting is creating a fantasy.  That’s why we typically see movies, escapism.  So let’s get back to honoring the actors that take us somewhere we’ve never been before.