Almost Famous? Not even close.

In this post-modern era it is possible to make a fine living off of the husk of a once successful showbiz career like many of the has beens and never weres that can be seen on television. Thanks to Ronald Reagan's trailblazing efforts fallen idols like Danny Bonaduce, Kathy Griffin, Kirstie Alley, and past present and future cast members of The Surreal Life have hope for their lackluster careers.

With the advances in modern plastic prosthesis and the progressive efforts of the nations leading plastic surgeons, you can now make a comfortable living impersonating celebrities, hasbeens, and the never weres.

Look Alikes.net

I have to add that I find great amusement that the name of the talent manager is Mulligan Management. For those of you that arent familiar with golf terminology a mulligan is defined as, "a second shot permitted without penalty."

Rome: Then and Now

HBO's new series Rome had some amusing lines in its most recent episode.

After watching her son play fight with a Roman Legionary and remarking on his handsomeness while fighting she proclaims:
"If Ceasar were to see you now he'd put you on his staff immediately."

Atia again taunts her son and his bookishness, urging him into manhood:
"I swear if you don't penetrate someone today I will take your vile books and burn them in the square."

Atia, attempting to make good with an influential Roman woman whom she crossed tries to make good by sending her the gift of man. Her daughter protests at the gift to which she responds:
"Nonsense! Large penis is always welcome!"

Here Here!

I just now realized that all these lines are from the character of Atia. Tongue in cheek humor aside this show is really well done. I enjoy it greatly.

And in modern day Rome....

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Washington

Here is some more quotes that I think we should be aware of. Information about Miers is going to come largely from her tenure in the Dallas City Council and other public offices in Texas.

I have to modify my stance from my earlier blog post. I think this woman is a trojan horse. Her credentials are lacking and her affiliations with the administration are far too close. This nomination is a farce. I know that one need not be a judge before becoming a Supreme Court Justice but you had damn well be a superb lawyer who is distinguished in rulings and writings. Miers' past is neither superb nor distinguished but certainly dubious and clandestine, qualities unbecoming for a guardian of our democracy.

Dont Abort. Sell!

Many luxury cars in Dallas bear a bumper sticker with this image on it. The bumper sticker is this image but flanking it is "We (Heart with children inside it) Kids." In effect, we love kids. The odd thing is that below that it says "Salesmanship Club of Dallas." This sticker perplexes me for three reasons.

#1 The sticker and image have an oddly pedophilic overtone.

#2 What does salesmanship have to do with loving children?

#3 All of the children depicted are white and from a 1950's Stepford Utopia.

Who are you? Who Who. Who Who.

I have no idea what to think of Harriet Miers. I cannot tell if this is a shrewd political move, more outright cronyism, or just plain stupidity. This woman is accomplished but not so much as to earn her a nomination to the highest court in the nation. We'll just have to see how this plays out. I'm sure there will be more on her background as the week progresses.

Two things about her bother me: She was a retained Bush attorney before she ever held any office and her legal background is in litigation for corporations like Microsoft and Disney. If those are her credentials that she's hoping to ride on I cannot see how that can translate into qualifications for being able to interpret the constitution.

Although, it might be a good thing that she doesn't have any judicial experience. Perhaps she might offer a fresh perspective?

Clarence Thomas is to Antonin Scalia as Harriet Mier is to John Roberts? Lets hope not!

A Machiavellian Black Comedy

Last night Brad and I continued our pattern of watching a movie that he had never seen before and I thought was a must a must see. The selection was "In The Company of Men."

Here is another movie that when I watched it when I was younger I liked it but I did not get the same appreciation as an adult viewer. What at a terrific movie. I highly recommend it to all. Its not something that you might want to see over and over again but it definitely should be seen at least once.

The portrayal of the American businessman machismo is alluring and repelling at the same time. The viewer is disgusted by the mind games but drawn in by some anthropologic hunger to watch more. You feel sorry for the beta male character, Howard, but at the same time loathe him for his inability to separate himself from the preprogrammed moires of american capitalist masculinity.

The movie's crowning glory is Aaron Eckhart's performance as the ruthless and vicious Chad. What an amazingly despicable character. You have to give credit to the writer for this character because everything that is disgusting about this man is in his language. His tongue is far more forked than that of Shakespeare's most evil villain, Iago.

Some of my favorite quotes from the film are:

"You know if we were in India you could burn that fiance of yours on a pyre in the middle of the village square for what she did to you."
-Chad
"I get so used to saying what people want to hear I forget sometimes they might just want the truth."
-Howard
"Women. Nice ones, the most frigid of the race, it doesn't matter in the end. Inside they're all the same meat and gristle and hatred just simmering."
-Chad

And my very favorite is when Chad is in bed with his girlfriend at the end of the movie and he is feeling so self satisfied for destroying two peoples lives. His girlfriend said she heard voices in the other room but Chad says it was him practicing a presentation for work and he says to her, "You know me, once I get going working I can sound just about like anyone." Watch the movie and you'll see why that line is so great.

Mixed Signals

There is a shirt that I wear to the gym quite often. It is an artifact from the day when I was a devout catholic boy. I used to sing in the choir, I was a lector, and I was highly involved in the youth group and the confirmation group. More than anything I was attracted by the ritual of the catholic church, but there were times where I felt as if I was being filled with the holy spirit. I see now that it was just the singing and being around all my friends that I enjoyed.

Being that I was so involved in church I received many free T-Shirts, . This is my all time favorite free T-Shirt and I got it when I was a freshman in high school. My best friend Heather, who was involved with the church then as well, can attest to the greatness of this T-Shirt as well, she wears hers to sleep and swears its the most comfortable shirt she owns. In fact even after we had left the church for other viewpoints of faith, we used to ask her mother, who worked at the church, that if there were any extra SPIRIT shirts that she should pass them on to us.

Because of its comfort and the fact that its very flattering to my features (chest, arms, shoulders), I wear it to the gym on a regular basis. Being that I am gay and that I love to look at men, especially muscled men, I think I have confused many of the gay and the straight patrons at my gym. They see a young man gawking at muscly men wearing a shirt with SPIRIT emblazened on the back of it accompanied by a cross that is emanating light. On the front left there is another SPIRIT and underneath "St. Pat's Teens." They must be utterly confused.

Setting The Example For Democracy

Buying of News By Bush Aides Is Ruled Illegal

Freedom is Slavery; War is Peace; Ignorance is Strength

No Child Left Behind; Clear Skies Initiative; Department of Homeland Security; The Patriot Act