The evil that is MySpace

has sucked me in.

A very talented family

My cousin Katie Hatch, full member of the secret cousin's club (i'm still waiting on your dues check, btw), is the inventor of the "fuzzy telescope", an innovative device involving donuts and monsters. I'm so proud of my family.

Top Ten Movies

Top ten lists are unnatural, arbitrary, and usually reflect the mindset of the creator only for a brief window of time.

That said, here is a list of my top ten most favoritest movies of all time, ever... At this particular moment... With a little bit of padding:

1. Gattaca
   
• "I never saved anything for the swim back." Watch this movie. Now.
2. Emperor's New Groove
• Kronk. HA!
  
3. Kung Fu Hustle
4. Life is Beautiful
• The DVD's special features really ought to include Roberto Benigni jumping up and down on the seats at the Oscars.
  
5. Count of Monte Cristo
   
• I'm aware that the movie bears no more than a passing resemblance to the book. I don't care. I enjoy both for different reasons. Also, the book is depressing, and unnecessarily so.
  
6. The Island
• Light and fluffy, like a 3 Musketeers.
  
7. Mirrormask
8. Fiddler on the Roof
• leHayim!
  
9. Solaris
• Two too many shots of Clooney's butt, but a great movie to make you think.
10. Frequency
11. Serendipity
    
• A perfectly tolerable Chick Flick with John Cusack, who is always easy to relate to.
  
12. The Empire Strikes Back
• Luke gets his hand cut off, finds out Vader is his father and Han gets frozen and taken away by Boba Fett. All "Jedi" had was a bunch of Muppets.

Newt Gingrich

I used to have a bad taste in my mouth when it came to Newt Gingrich.

I have a dim recollection from the Clinton days of being disgusted with both sides. Clinton for his moral laxity and the Right for dressing the entire affair in bangles and making a circus out of it.

In those days, Gingrich was hounded by various ethics charges, and took a good beating in the media.

In the past few years, though, my respect for Gingrich has grown significantly. When I hear him speak, I’m usually nodding in agreement.

Yesterday on NPR, he spoke about 2008 presidential hopefuls and campaigns that are already in full swing (although the election isn’t until next November). The major problem, says Gingrich, is political consultants that start the whole process earlier and earlier with each go around. These consultants encourage candidates to poll-test every decision and statement.

Narrowly-focused, consultant-led campaigns are no way to see how a candidate would lead if elected. It bears almost no relation to the job in office. And it actually shrinks the candidates — who are remarkable men and women — in the process.

I’m in full agreement, Newt. I don’t care to have a country run by focus groups and polls.

Poignant

Not long ago, my friend Tony and I went to see Glen Phillips in Denver. After months of hard touring, Glen and his wife came close to divorcing. They mended their marriage, but during the difficult time, he wrote this song. As I listened to this live recording, I thought about how it would have been 'easier' just to leave the remnants of the relationship there in the park... But Glen and his wife decided that 'easy' was not their prime value.

It's a sad, slow ballad and it broke my heart the first time I heard it, even with the comic relief at the end.

It's Over Now

You take the house
You take the car
I'll take a microphone
and my guitar

We'll meet in the park
watch the kid's playing
and silently guess
what the other's not saying

It's over now
You've had enough.

Now you're climbing trees
like that girl in the song
and I haven't seen you
so bright in so long

Who could have known
that it was so easy
that all that you needed
was simply to leave me

It's over now
You've had enough.
You've had enough.

Maybe there's hope for us
I don't want to doubt you
but I've got my work to do
with or without you

But what will it mean,
if many years later
you are still Padme
but I am Darth Vader?

It's over now
You've had enough.
You've had enough.