In Case You Were Wondering...

A computer has concluded that the Mona Lisa was "mostly happy." I am so glad the computer cleared this up for us. This has profound implications for the fields of psychology and psychiatry.

People Really Need to "Lighten" Up

Look, I understand that not all of us have a dark sense of humor, but I do think people should still at least try to appreciate a good joke, dark or not. What can you do?

Some people are up in arms about this holiday display. I think it's pretty funny and as close to a true artistic statement as Christmas lights can approach.

Some important points to make:

1. I say the above and I STILL am an animal lover.

2. Rudolph is a fictitious and at best, cartoon character.

3. They are fake deer made from lights.

Just my two cents.

Of Penguins and Men

This past weekend, I watched "March of the Penguins." I am often accused of anthropomorphizing animals by those who think animals are all reflexes and biological instincts with no consciousness or feelings. I don't know how someone with such beliefs could continue to believe in such a way after seeing the film. It is clear that animals feel and have fealty, express loyalty, and experience grief and pain. The story of the mating ritual of these emperor penguins makes these realities abundantly clear--whether you see a penguin show tendernous and commitment to another penguin and their offspring, or whether you see the penguins who survive the arduous journey stand (sadly) over one of their fallen comrades or young, or watch a bereaved mother penguin actually try to steal another's young. Some animals are really no different than us, even though they can't grasp with a thumb and use tools or verbally express themselves through human languages. Perhaps those things aren't important in the end anyway if we are all the same at the core. I highly recommend the film. It was amazing, educational, and touching.

I Blame "Timer"

Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand cheddar cheese. It's not an allergy and I didn't have a bad experience with the stuff. I just have an automatic gag reflex when I smell it or taste it in even the most minute amounts. Yet, I've had to live in a culture (no pun intended) that worships cheddar. It's almost literally in every American food. People are aghast when they find out that I despise cheddar cheese and try to "convert" me. Tonight, I had a revelation about who's to blame for this mania for cheese. I blame the humorous cartoon with the catchy song. I blame the character named "Timer...."

Richard Pryor: 1940 - 2005

A very sad day in the comedy world.

"There's nothing worse than being an aging young person"

--Richard Pryor