Stop Outsourcing Roles in Pro-Obama Videos!

The plight of the American celebrity -- I propose trade sanctions.

Why they call it the music "business"

Two of my favorite things...

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Women's beach volleyball and The Office -- things that make TV not suck.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Olympics are over.

TV sucks again.

Conveniently located....

I have my 30-year high school reunion this weekend.

Feeling pretty good about it. I've dropped about 12 pounds since January, still have all my hair, have my lies all worked out (yeah, I'm a venture capitalist...yeah, I'm a test pilot for the Navy...yeah, I'm chairman of Disney...yeah, this is my wife -- former Playboy Playmate of the Year AND a brain surgeon...). Hey, I'm from out of town -- nobody checks this stuff.

At least I WAS feeling good, until I got the directions to the Friday night mixer at the American Legion Hall (emphasis added): You'll come down Main Street and turn left at Stewart's. Just go down about a block or so...that's John Street. Look for the Legion on your left, the funeral home on your right.

Yeah, that's right -- some joker booked the reunion into a place RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A FUNERAL HOME.

I guess that will come in handy if anyone keels over dead while disco dancing to "Boogie Oogie Oogie."

Restraint

Okay, I'll admit it -- I like women's beach volleyball. It's a great sport that moves fast, the rules are easy to understand, and let's be honest the women are beautiful -- long, lean, tanned and athletic.

Earlier this week, President Bush stopped off to see U.S. gold-medal contenders Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, who traded a few volleys with the president and offered up a few tips -- along with one more thing.

It's a tradition in beach volleyball, ostensibly, for players to pat one another on the behind for luck. And keeping with that tradition, Misty turned around and offered the president a swat, with a playful "want to?"

As the LA Times observed in recounting the tale, "Want to has nothing to do with it in public life."

The president, choosing propriety and judiciousness over irresistible temptation but not wanting to insult or jinx the athlete, instead brushed his hand across her lower back.

I stand in respect of the man's incredible restraint.

China Gold

U.S. Olympic swimmers Garret Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps erupt as teammate Jason Lezak clinches the gold in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Leaving the trash-talking French team to choke on their brie and bordeaux in second place.

Three Movies

Watched three movies this weekend -- all varied in their style and subject.

First up was the theater debut of Swing Vote -- only the second time this year I've actually gone to the theater to see a movie (the last one was Speed Racer with my eight-year-old).

I won't spoil the plot, but will mention that the theme is particularly timely to this year's presidential election.

Interesting to note, the movie stars Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper -- three of the biggest Republican stars in Hollywood. Which makes them quite a rarity.

Next up was Rescue Dawn, starring Christian Bale (the latest Batman), recounting Navy Pilot Dieter Dengler's escape from a Pathet Lao prison camp after being shot down over Laos in 1965. A bit plodding at times, but faithfully rendered and well acted.

And finally, in preparation for the sequel, we watched Hellboy. I had never seen the whole thing before. This one has it all. Story. Action. Special effects. Humor. Romance. Heroes. Villains. Looking forward to seeing Hellboy II: The Golden Army now.