What about the old guy?

Every time I see a news item on Barack or Hilary, I keep wondering what the election will reveal about the two candidates that we don't already know. It just feelslike one of them is a candidate the general voting population wants. Then there's "Pastorgate" for Barack (in the form of Rev. Wright) and "Snipergate" for Hilary (in the form of being outed by none other than the "comedian", Sinbad, no less!) that clouds the positions the two candidates take. But how about McCain? He had an alleged relationship with a lobbyist, but what else is out there? Can he beat either of the Dems? Is he just too damn old looking? I mean, I wouldn't use that as a pre-requisite for my vote, but it's hard to get past his appearance sometimes. I wonder if when people are in the privacy of that booth, what will compel them to pull--or not pull--the trigger on a certain candidate. Will age, race or gender play a role? Anyone who doesn't think so is fooling themselves. Maybe it will all come down to which running mate is chosen to assuage the fears of the voters to the shortcomings they feel for a particular candidate.

Your Life (in 6 words or less)

Local columnist Neal Rubin had written a column where he touched on the compilations contained in the book, "Not Quite What I Was Planning-Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial $12). Since I'm a HUGE Neal Rubin fan, I sent him an email to say hello and offered my own 6-worder. You can see what I contributed by clicking the headline to go to the article online. I'd love to hear what you all would put as your own sparse memoir. It's not as easy as it sounds.

My Favorite TV Show

Just a little homage to my favorite TV show. The Office is one the best pieces of writing and acting on TV. These four; Jim, Dwight, Michael and Stanley, are my favorite characters on the show.

Where did the time go?

My oldest child and only son, Gino, turns 16 today. He's a truly unique kid, a description which seems to be fading with every week. His voice is deeper than mine, and he can probably grow a better beard already (he got the Sicilian genes from my wife's side). More than that, he's mature and has a sophisticated sense of humor that I love. And the kid can really dance, truly. I felt compelled to depict him standing on the rock in front of Harrison, surrounded by two of his favorite characters and pictures of his sisters and buddies. Happy Birthday, Gino. I love you kid.

Favorite Shows

There are a lot of funny shows on TV. During the writes' strike, I missed The Office, 30 Rock, heck, even Desperate Housewives. But I really love House, M.D. The show really grew on me. Hugh Laurie, the lead character, possesses a wry inflection that never tires. He's really created one of the more iconic, memorable characters in television. While much of the plots are merely window dressing to allow House to espouse his cynical take on the cast and the emergency situation at hand, it's all great fun. Do you have a favorite show now? And what shows from the past are untouchable as far as Top 10? Mine are below, in no particular order:
1. All in the Family
2. M*A*S*H
3. Taxi
4. Seinfeld
5. Barney Miller
6. NYPD Blue
7. Hill Street Blues
8. Cop Rock.
That was a joke.
8. The Bob Newhart Show (the Suzanne Pleshette one)
9. The Jeffersons
10. Night Court

Review and giveaway

Diane Kidman, the author of the writing blog, Carp(e) Libris Reviews, has posted a really nice review of the book, along with a giveaway. Thanks Diane, for helping get the book into the hands of people who might have missed it otherwise. To read the review, click the headline of this post.

Nicole Kidman

I always thought Nicole Kidman was a beautiful woman, especially considering the coloring she was blessed with. And I also prefer her pre-whatever the hell plastic surgeon she visited. Looking at her in recent photos, I don't know what the hell she was thinking. Anyway, here's my take on her when she was just in the post Billy Bathgate era, probably around the time she starred with her future nutjob husband, Tom Cruise.

More Favre Love

I was listening to the national take on Brett Favre retiring and much of it centered on John Madden's "Man Crush" on the venerable number 4. So yesterday I came across Gladiator, and like any other red-blooded male, I of course stopped and watched it. Why not just pop the DVD into the machine that was sitting there? Because this way I could watch it and still flip through other channels. Anyway, an image of Maximus as he was wearily defeated blended with "the Louisiana Gunslinger" stumbling off to sell Wranglers and whatever else, while a blubbering John Madden is left to mourn for the rest of his days. Whatever, it made for a fun drawing.

Brett Favre

God knows how John Madden and Tony Kornheiser will ever make it through another football season now that the object of their desire has retired. Yes, Brett Favre has hung up the spikes, and the biggest Lion killer since I've been cognizant enough to follow the Leos will be removed from the picture. Not that it will matter, they still will suck, of course. As much as the media fawns over the guy (it's not his fault that there's a Brett-lovefest) I have to give it up to him. There aren't many football players like him and he made watching football a lot more fun to watch. Damn, I wish the Lions could get a QB like him.

Kwame

Kwame, Kwame, the Kwamenator. Who would've thunk that such a promising, intelligent up and comer could fall so fast? I've thought through this whole debacle, "That has to be the worst phone contract in history. Eight + million for 14,000 text messages". I really can't believe the citizens that live in my former hometown will put up with him anymore. He needs to go, and soon. Later K. LOL.

You Like Me! You REALLY Like Me!

I told anyone that would listen that the Clinton Machine isn't dead yet. It will be really interesting to see where the Dems go with their candidate selection given the political hot potatoes of having a woman running against a person of color. I think there will be great division in their ranks as Hillary tries to gently suggest that Barack's just not experienced and ready to lead the country without setting off all kinds of claims of said suggestions being perceived as condescending by the black community. For the time being though, like Sally Fields after snagging the Oscar for Norma Rae, old Hillary knows she still has pals in the country.

Who gets your vote?

With a form of Super Tuesday approaching Ohio and Texas, and the empty feeling left for us in Michigan (because the Democratic party from our state and the national post screwed things up) I wonder who people are leaning towards. I still don't know who I'm going to vote for. But the guy who I think would be most fun to draw is Barack. I just added a very distraught, disheveled Hillary. She's got that look that says, "Hey mister! Wait your turn!"

I'll try a McCain at some point, but let me know if you feel like sharing your political leanings.