Black's Been Better .....

... MUCH better, really. I've seen worse films than "Year One" ... but not very many, and not that much worse.

Considering the film starred Jack Black, and was directed by Harold Ramis, I thought it could be pretty good. Unfortunately, it came-and-went from local theaters pretty fast ... now I know why.

I'm wondering if the filmmakers really had any idea what they were doing, or where this film was going. Most of the story covered ground that had already been covered - and covered a lot better - by other films such as Caveman, History of the World - heck, even the dramatic film 10,000 BC.

However, the makers of Year One plodded along until someone realized it was 90-minutes-or-so long ... so they suddenly wrapped everything up with a big fight scene, and everyone went home.

And home's where I saw this film. One of the bennie's to seeing something on DVD is - in the event of disappointment - you're only out the time and cost of the rental. I would have REALLY hated to watch this after investing the time and money needed for a theater experience, including popcorn and soda.

If you're in the mood for some Jack Black, I strongly recommend Nacho Libre or - even better - School of Rock and Be Kind, Rewind, instead.

'Empty Bowls' in the Tall City Tonight .....

An especially good fundraiser is making its way to the Tall City this week, and I hope you'll do your part to fill-up some empty bowls.

Midland first 'Empty Bowls' event takes place Friday, October 23, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 4000 W. Loop 250 North. Proceeds raised benefit the West Texas Food Bank.
CLICK HERE to read more on this story from the MRT

For $10, you receive a hand-made ceramic bowl (created by local art students) and dinner (soup and bread). Accompanying your dinner will be music by the Odessa High School orchestra and the UTPB jazz band.

Empty Bowls is a grassroots effort to raise money and awareness in an effort to end hunger and food insecurity. Each group that participates in the Empty Bowls project works with their community to create their own event.

According to Empty Bowl's Wikipedia entry, "Art teacher John Hartom initiated the project during in 1990-91 when he joined a drive to raise charitable funds in his Michigan community. Hartom's idea was to organize a charitable event to give artists and art students a way to make a personal difference. Hartom's students made ceramic bowls in their high school art classes. The finished products were then used as individual serving pieces for a fund-raising meal of soup and bread. Contributing guests kept the empty bowl. During the next year, Hartom and other participants developed this concept into 'Empty Bowls.'”

I've participated in Empty Bowls before, at the UTPB C.E.E.D. Building between Odessa and Midland, and later in Odessa. This is the first year that they are having events in both cities. It's a wonderful event, and leaves you with a lasting memento ... and a reminder that some bowls out there are still empty.

Won't you please do your part to fill those bowls.

(re-do) My Sons Like This Spot .....

... and so do I. Now, let's see if I can publish this post correctly this time!!! Can a commercial for a video game effectively capture - not just the excitement of the virtual game, but the passion for the actual sport that inspired the game?

Yes it can ... submitted for your consideration, the two-minute trailer for EA Games' FIFA 10. But, be warned, Madden Maniacs ... we're talking futbol, here, not football.

A good answer to the question ... "How big can soccer get?"

'Empty Bowls' in the Tall City This Friday .....

An especially good fundraiser is making its way to the Tall City this week, and I hope you'll do your part to fill-up some empty bowls.

Midland first 'Empty Bowls' event takes place Friday, October 23, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 4000 W. Loop 250 North. Proceeds raised benefit the West Texas Food Bank.
CLICK HERE to read more on this story from the MRT

For $10, you receive a hand-made ceramic bowl (created by local art students) and dinner (soup and bread). Accompanying your dinner will be music by the Odessa High School orchestra and the UTPB jazz band.

Empty Bowls is a grassroots effort to raise money and awareness in an effort to end hunger and food insecurity. Each group that participates in the Empty Bowls project works with their community to create their own event.

According to Empty Bowl's Wikipedia entry, "Art teacher John Hartom initiated the project during in 1990-91 when he joined a drive to raise charitable funds in his Michigan community. Hartom's idea was to organize a charitable event to give artists and art students a way to make a personal difference. Hartom's students made ceramic bowls in their high school art classes. The finished products were then used as individual serving pieces for a fund-raising meal of soup and bread. Contributing guests kept the empty bowl. During the next year, Hartom and other participants developed this concept into 'Empty Bowls.'”

I've participated in Empty Bowls before, at the UTPB C.E.E.D. Building between Odessa and Midland, and later in Odessa. This is the first year that they are having events in both cities. It's a wonderful event, and leaves you with a lasting memento ... and a reminder that some bowls out there are still empty.

Won't you please do your part to fill those bowls?

Blog Action Day - Recap: 31,000 Posts .....

So, how did 2009's edition of Blog Action Day, an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance, fare?

Here's a report from Robin Beck, Lead Organizer of Blog Action Day 2009:

Hey bloggers, you did it!

You and bloggers in 155 countries across six continents wrote about a single issue that impacts us all, and turned Blog Action Day 2009 into one of the largest social change events ever held on the web.

Your participation helped change the conversation and showed the power of the web to connect people across the world who despite their varied backgrounds have one shared desire: to make a difference. According to blogpulse, we increased the number of posts about climate change on a given day by 500%, and CNN wrote a great article covering the excitement and diversity of the day's event across the web and around the world.

Here are some highlights:

We hit 31,000 total trackable blog posts, and our current estimate is that together we reached at least 17.9 million people yesterday. We just exceeded 13,000 registered bloggers on the site and are working to get all of you who posted but haven't yet registered into the final count.

We had at least three major world governments as active participants in this year's event. United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown posted the first Blog Action Day entry in Britain at the stroke of midnight on the 15th, which was followed by Foreign Minister David Milliband and many others from the UK stationed around the world. The PSOE governing party of Spain hosted a bloggers event focused on climate change and transformed their website for the day to promote Blog Action Day. And late in the day, President Barack Obama's White House blog joined in, becoming part of the global movement of bloggers shaking the web.

Of course, well-known bloggers were a big presence as well: The Official Google Blog gave a green tour of the company's campus; Mashable asked what you're doing to reverse climate change; The Unofficial Apple Weblog suggested "Five apps to help save the world"; Treehugger gave us two simple things that could, by themselves, stop climate change; Global Voices posted a roundup of bloggers from around the world writing in many languages; Gadling spent the whole day posting about green travel; BlogHer covered the road to the next international climate negotations in Copehagen.

You should all feel proud of this remarkable collective effort. And it doesn't have to end today. For many, we hope this serves as an entry point into the broader movement to address the issue of climate change. There are a number of ways and some amazing organizations through which you can continue to remain involved, and we encourage you to check out our Take Action section to learn more.

We will continue providing updates and information about the success of the event and ongoing opportunities for involvement - including the the October 24th International Day of Climate Action organized by our friends at 350.org - in the weeks ahead, and we hope you'll stay with us.

Thank you so much!

Singing a Birthday Song .....

... for Samuel Francis Smith - Baptist minister, journalist and author, who wrote the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," which he entitled "America" - who was born on this day in 1808.

Many will say Smith's homage to our country is the best to ever be set to music, and it did serve as a national anthem of sorts for many years. Posts on the song and its history include this one from the Library of Congress, this one on Cyber Hymnal, and this one on Wikipedia.

A Special Appeal for Chuck Jones Fans .....

... could be found in the following report, from this morning's segment of The Today Show. The story was good to start with ... Al Roker made it priceless!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

A Good Night of Good Work

At the 6th Annual Tour de Vine benefitting the March of Dimes!

Mobile Blogging from here.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Blog Action Day - Mid-Day Update .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

As of mid-day, say BAD organizers, we have 9,571 blogs participating in this year's event, representing 150 countries, and reaching an estimated 12,933,824 readers. And it might be even more. Although I am registered and acknowledged, my own blog doesn't show up in their "Search" feaure ... and there may be others who are lost in the virtual blogjam.

Here's a report from Robin Beck, Lead Organizer of Blog Action Day 2009:

October 15th is finally here and nearly 10,000 bloggers around the world are writing about climate change today for Blog Action Day 2009!

At the stroke of midnight we got off to a great start when UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown surprised us with a Blog Action Day post on his blog saying that "climate change is the biggest threat to all our futures."

From there we have seen thousands of interesting posts from bloggers in 150 countries. The Official Google Blog provided a green tour of their campus, Gadling is featuring green travel posts all day, and Grist has a great round-up of some of the best posts thus far. Nonprofits including Oxfam, Greenpeace , 1Sky and TckTckTck have all put up new posts. Blog Action Day has been the top Google blog search today and CNN just wrote an article about us!

Right now posts are pouring in constantly. It's truly an impressive display and there’s too much going on to list it all in an email.

You have to check it out yourself!

You can follow all the latest posts and tweets on a new live stream on the www.blogactionday.org homepage. You can also get breaking updates and more in-depth information on the official Blog Action Day blog.

If you are on Twitter, you can follow @blogactionday and use the #BAD09 hashtag in your tweets.

Thanks to all of you who have already posted and to all of you who will throughout the rest of the day. If you haven't, you can still register and participate today!

This has already been an amazing day and the Blog Action Day team couldn’t be more impressed with how many bloggers from all parts of the global are coming together for such an important issue.

Thank you so much!

Blog Action Day - As Seen on the Big Screen .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

There's nothing like the prospect of disaster, mayhem on a massive scale, to get filmmakers' creative juices flowing. Just ask Roland Emmerich, who tackled alien invasion in Independence Day and giant radioactive monsters in Godzilla, and next month will offer a glimpse of the end of the world on 2012. Here is is take on climate change in Day After Tomorrow ...

Blog Action Day - By the Way, What IS 'Climate Change?' .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

I probably should have made this my first post of the day, but ... "What is 'climate change' anyway?

A good online starting-point for research is this post on wikipedia, which tells us, "climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth."

That same wikipedia post goes on to state - and this is particularly important in the current debate over climate change - "In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate (see global warming)."

Another online source - one of my favorites, really - is the NASA Climate Change website.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Change site "offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments."

The EPA also has a Climate Change Website for Kids ... I know, I know - it's another example of President Obama and the government trying to indoctrinate your kids ... but the site is interesting and informative, nonetheless. And it may be a little more broad-minded than you expect, when it tells visitors, "Earth has warmed by about 1ºF over the past 100 years. But why? And how? Well, scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth could be getting warmer on its own, but many of the world's leading climate scientists think that things people do are helping to make the Earth warmer."

And if you'd rather crunch numbers than mince words when discussing climate change, then energyliteracy.com might be the website for you.

True, there are A LOT of sites out there that address the topic of climate change. This is just a sampling ... go surfing, and find some that suit you.

There are a lot of videos, too. Here's one from naturalist and broadcaster, David Attenborough ...


Or, you could go with this one from Futurama...

Blog Action Day - Speaking of 'Costs' .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

Cap-and-Trade Would Slow Economy, CBO Chief Says
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A House-passed bill that targets climate change through a cap-and-trade system of pollution credits would slow the nation's economic growth slightly over the next few decades and would create 'significant' job losses from fossil fuel industries as the country shifts to renewable energy, the head of the Congressional Budget Office told a Senate energy panel Wednesday.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this report from the Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin

So, what is Cap-and-Trade?

Meet Cap 'n Trade from Marketplace on Vimeo.

Blog Action Day - How About Carbon Sequestration? .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

There are no lack of ideas out there about how we - as a people, as businesses, as governments - might address climate change. But, so far, no single idea has stepped forward as THE idea, the panacea, the one-size-fits-all solution to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, and heading-off their contribution to climate change.

There is one idea out there that could help. And it involves a technology more-than-a-little familiar to the Permian Basin oil and gas industry - carbon sequestration. And while it may not emerge as THE idea, it is one that could do its part ... depending on ...

"Curbing greenhouse-gas emissions to counter climate change would involve action on multiple fronts, and the contribution from each front would probably change depending on the price for CO2," the Congressional Budget Office notes in this September 2007 report.

"No one mitigation strategy will single-handedly meet the challenge of alleviating climate change, and considering any one strategy in isolation is likely to overstate its potential contribution. Examining mitigation strategies as a group highlights the fact that their collective potential falls short of the sum of their independent potentials and alters their relative importance. Ultimately, society can achieve more at a lower cost with a wider mix of approaches—taking advantage of the least costly options early on and, when those are exhausted, exploiting more expensive options as CO2 prices rise."

But it could work ... and in the case of the Permian Basin, it could be 'put to work' enhancing recovery in our older fields. And THAT is something that might have some impact on the cost of the process. It's definitely worth looking into ... just ask the folks in Fort Stockton, Pecos County and Sandridge Energy (and Oxy).

Blog Action Day - Is the Answer, My Friend, Blowing in the Wind? .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

Do changes addressing the creation of greenhouse gases in energy productions - whether in industry, or government - have to move at the glacial speed? Or, could they perhaps move with the speed and force of a West Texas wind?

In an August 24 article at renewableenergyworld.com, Sean Casten, President and CEO of Recycled Energy Development, suggests that the national debate on climate change legislation "continues to be based on a false assumption: that any major reforms will inevitably take decades to make a serious dent in greenhouse gas pollution."

Casten cites examples of renewable energy production under development - or already at work! - in New England. But I'm thinking the rapid development of wind energy in West Texas - a 21st-century adaptation of a centuries-old technology - could also provide some evidence in support of his thesis.
(Photo from www.smartpower.org)

So, how does wind stack up on greenhouse gas emissions ... especially when the "total fuel cycle" (including manufacture of equipment, plant construction, etc.) is considered?

According to the American Wind Energy Institute, "the claim is sometimes made that manufacturing wind turbines and building wind plants creates large emissions of carbon dioxide. This is false. Studies have found that even when these operations are included, wind energy's CO2 emissions are quite small — on the order of 1% of coal or 2% of natural gas per unit of electricity generated. Or in other words, using wind instead of coal reduces CO2 emissions by 99%, using wind instead of gas by 98%."

Here's another take on wind energy in West Texas, from CBS News ...

Blog Action Day - If I Had My Druthers .....

Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. The focus this year is on Climate Change.

Praraphrasing the old song ... if I had my druthers, I druther have anuther.

In August, BAD organizers asked for input in selecting the topic for this year's event. My first choice was Human Rights, and my second was Education. But the majority went with Climate Change ... and I told organizers I would participate this year ... so I will.

Won't You Join Us Tonight? .....

We're getting together tonight, over at First Prez-Midland, for food and fellowship, wholeness and healing ... won't you join us?

We get together every Wednesday night ... what can I say? Wednesday's still "church night" for some of us. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. with burgers, baked potatoes and all the trimmings, drinks and desserts, all served buffet style. The food is really good, and the fellowship is great. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for kids under 12 years-of-age. Our kitchen and dining/fellowship hall are located on the north side of the church building, and there's parking lots facing both Texas and Illinois streets.

After we're finished with dinner, we're heading into the sanctuary for our annual Service of Wholness and Healing ... a low-key, but high-yield sort of affair where we gather for music, prayer and words of assurance.

"We come to such services seeking healing in our bodies, our lives, but also wholeness in our families, our congregations, our communities, and our world," it was once suggested. "We seek God’s shalom, justice, healing, peace, and compassion."

Sure, it's not the traditional service you may be used to ... but it may have something for you, nonetheless ... won't you join us.

Happy Birthday to the First Pennsylvanian .....

William Penn - champion of democracy and religious freedom, scholar and theoretician, and one of colonial America's foremost community organizers - was born on this day in 1644.

Penn's legacy is felt to this day, in many different ways, from the sublime (how his Pennsylvania Frame of Government laid the foundation for the United States Constitution) to the ridiculous (how the "Curse of Bill Penn" haunts professional sports in Philadelphia). And no, say the people at Quaker Oats, the guy on their oatmeal box is not William Penn.

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on Penn's life and times, which includes several good links to writings about Penn, and writings BY Penn.

Social Action on Social Media .....

I like how people put things to work ... for example, the way comedian, television host, blogger and soccer fanatic Drew Carey is putting Twitter to work raising awareness and funds for LiveStrong ...

"Follow @DrewFromTV and he'll donate $1 for each follower (up to a million) to LIVESTRONG until end of '09"

Tonight, Pictures Worth a Thou... No, a MILLION Words .....

On the premise that, "what the eyes have seen, the heart cannot forget," you are invited to experience the plight of the displaced children of Burma through an interactive exhibit of paintings and stories.

CLICK HERE for more on this exhibit
from the MRT's Ruth Campbell

"Hope Behind the Red Bamboo" will hold an opening event and reception tonight (Tuesday, October 13) from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Claydesta Atrium, in Midland. Presented by the Champions for Burma Ministry, and First Presbyterian Church of Midland, the exhibit features artwork from children ... decidedly different from what you might have hanging on the door of your refrigerator at home.

The paintings are the product of an art therapy program conducted at an IDP (internally displaced person) camp inside Burma. Along with the paintings are the faces and stories of each child artist - memories of their life before and after the enemy came.
Raising awareness ... and raising funds. 100% of the proceeds raised through this exhibit will directly support the relief efforts of Partners Relief & Development, a registered non-profit charity helping thousands of refugees and displaced people in Thailand, Burma and Indonesia; and the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian service movement that brings help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma.

Culinary Connections .....

There is more than a little movement - more than competing networks Bravo and FoodNetwork might admit - back and forth between their competitive cooking shows.

This was brought home to me the other night, as I watched a rebroadcast of a Season 3(2006) episode of Iron Chef America, an American adaptation of the Japanese hit, where world-class chefs tackle one the show's Iron Chefs in the Kitchen Stadium, producing a lineup of dishes incorporating a "secret ingredient" that will be judged for taste, creativity and presentation.

This particular episode, "Battle Chick Peas," had Iron Chef Mario Batali answering a challenge from Atlanta, Georgia chef Richard Blais, who may have failed in his bid to defeat the Iron Chef ... but have have raised his profile in the process. The next year, Blais appeared as a cheftestant in Season 4 (2007) of Bravo's Top Chef where he went on to the final round before losing to Stephanie Izard.

Blais continues to blog for Top Chef ... and maybe that has given him some input on recommending possible cheftestants for new seasons of the program. One of this year's crop is Atlanta-based Eli Kirshtein, who has worked his way up through the ranks, including stints at two of Blais' restaurants.

Not surprising, then, to notice that one of the two sous chef's baking up Blais in the 2006 episode of Iron Chef America, was none other than Kirshtein. I love seeing developments like that ... it makes you think that maybe - just maybe - there is actually some reality in 'reality TV.'

Guess It Depends Upon Where and When You Are .....

It's Columbus Day, honoring the man who - for better or worse, you decide - ushered in a new era in world history by opening up the Americas to European exploration.

Here is a good online resource from the History Channel, and another good resource from Wikipedia

Some government offices are closed, and some are not. Some school districts are giving students the day off, and others aren't. Some merchants are having a holiday sales event, and some are not.

I guess it depends upon where and when you are ... not just whether or not you mark the day, but how you mark it - as a day for celebration or lamentation. At one point or another over the thirty, forty years, we've seen it all.

I remember it being a bigger deal when I was growing up, especially when my dad was posted to the northeastern U.S. The day was a major source of pride for the Italian communities in our cities - like Pittston, P-A, for example.
(At right, is a photo of Pittston's statue honoring Columbus.)

And it still is a big deal ... though not on as broad a scale as it used to be. A lot of different ethnic and racial groups are offering different views - some embracing, some condemning - of the man, his accomplishments, and his day.

Me? I still raise a glass of vino in honor of the old explorer who never achieved his goal, found something else entirely, and mistook what it was he found ... pretty human, really ... but notable, nonetheless.

Congratulazioni, Christophoro Columbo!

Won't You Join Us Wednesday? .....

We're getting together Wednesday night, over at First Prez-Midland, for food and fellowship, wholeness and healing ... won't you join us?

We get together every Wednesday night ... what can I say? Wednesday's still "church night" for some of us. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. with burgers, baked potatoes and all the trimmings, drinks and desserts, all served buffet style. The food is really good, and the fellowship is great. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for kids under 12 years-of-age. Our kitchen and dining/fellowship hall are located on the north side of the church building, and there's parking lots facing both Texas and Illinois streets.

After we're finished with dinner, we're heading into the sanctuary for our annual Service of Wholness and Healing ... a low-key, but high-yield sort of affair where we gather for music, prayer and words of assurance.

"We come to such services seeking healing in our bodies, our lives, but also wholeness in our families, our congregations, our communities, and our world," it was once suggested. "We seek God’s shalom, justice, healing, peace, and compassion."

Sure, it's not the traditional service you may be used to ... but it may have something for you, nonetheless ... won't you join us.

Was Olympics Decision Ever Really About Obama? .....

When it came time to select the site for the 2016 Olympics, I think there was something else, something bigger at work than whether or not our president was part of America's bid to host the event.

In the wake of the International Olympic Committee's decision to send the 2016 Summer Games to Brazil, some of the criticism that's been directed at President Obama has been funny, to say the least ... especially some of the elephantasmagorical concoctions created by punditz from the right side of the commentary spectrum.

However, one of the better analyses of the IOC's decision came from one of those debauched harlots of the mainstream media ... (pausing here to give the boos and catcalls a chance to subside) ... NBC News. Their world map, marking the location of cities that have hosted the modern Olympics, showed a large swath of the world that has been neglected, with an emphasis upon Europe and North America way out of proportion to their population.

NOW, IT IS TRUE that these same parts of the world had the greater ability to host such an event and - even more important - build the infrastructure needed for the event. But if a country from the southern hemisphere can make a serious and realistic bid ... then it's time to give that bid some serious and realistic consideration.

And THAT is one item, I think, that came into play when the IOC announced that Rio de Janeiro would host the the Olympics ... the first time the Olympics will take place in South America, and only the third time in the entire southern hemisphere (Australia's had the Olympics twice).

If the personality of those who came to Denmark to endorse their country's bid, DID indeed come into play, then America's entourage was at a handicap, judging by one of the faces I saw in the Brazialian entourage as they celebrated the IOC's announcement. It was none other than Edison Arantes do Nascimento, named as one of the "100 Most Important People of the 20th Century" by Time Magazine, and "Athlete of the Century" by none other than the International Olympic Committee. This is the same guy that had such worldwide renown, we're told, that in 1967, the two factions involved in the Nigerian Civil War agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire so they could watch him play an exhibition soccer game in Lagos.

Most of us know him better by his nickname ... Pelé.

With someone like that endorsing Brazil's claim, I don't see what President Obama - or even Oprah Winfrey, for that matter - could have accomplished for the U.S.

Lost a Dog? ... Looking for One? .....

Maybe we have just the one for you. This small-breed female has been hanging around the intersection of L and Pine streets for the last few days. After initial wariness of strangers, she's friendly enough ... and is more than happy to curl-up indoors, and be held. She's small enough to fit just about anywhere.

She may be lost ... or she may be abandoned ... no collar, no tags on an obviously domesticated dog. Either way, she's looking for a good home ... if you have a home for her, give me a call at 557-2510.

Congratulations, but .....

I'm sure the blogosphere will have no lack of punditz - myself included - stepping forward to comment on the news that President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

What they have to say, what I have to say ... you can take it or you can leave it, as you see fit. BUT ... I am interested in comments from some real experts on the Nobel Peace Prize, and what today's announcement means ... not so much for what President Obama has done, but for what it is hoped he will do.

"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate. "This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act."

"It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope," said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize in 1984.

The message of hope still resonates with some of us. It is why I congratulate the President on this award, and why I hope and pray that the encouragement, the promise is fulfilled.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

For Me, This REALLY IS 'Must-See TV' .....

"Here comes the wedding four years in the making," we are told. "Don't miss the one-hour Office, Thursday - TONIGHT! - at eight o'clock (central)."

You bet!

Over the last few years, this series - one of the most successful American adaptations of a British program - has found its own path, its own vision, and its own large fan base.

But in one respect, at least, the two shows from opposite sides of the pond have shared a common and significant thread ... the twists-and-turns, the ups-and-downs of the relationship between Pam and Jim. In Britain, the acceptance of that relationship - in a special, final episode - provided a high point in the story line for the entire series, as well as a wonderful closure for the show and its fans.

Now, its the Yanks' turn ...

Another Picture Worth a Thou... No, a MILLION Words .....

On the premise that, "what the eyes have seen, the heart cannot forget," you are invited to experience the plight of the displaced children of Burma through an interactive exhibit of paintings and stories.

CLICK HERE for more on this exhibit
from the MRT's Ruth Campbell

"Hope Behind the Red Bamboo" will hold an opening event and reception Tuesday, October 13, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Claydesta Atrium, in Midland. Presented by the Champions for Burma Ministry, and First Presbyterian Church of Midland, the exhibit features artwork from children ... decidedly different from what you might have hanging on the door of your refrigerator at home.

The paintings are the product of an art therapy program conducted at an IDP (internally displaced person) camp inside Burma. Along with the paintings are the faces and stories of each child artist - memories of their life before and after the enemy came.
Raising awareness ... and raising funds. 100% of the proceeds raised through this exhibit will directly support the relief efforts of Partners Relief & Development, a registered non-profit charity helping thousands of refugees and displaced people in Thailand, Burma and Indonesia; and the Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian service movement that brings help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma.

"The now inescapable bar code celebrates its 57th anniversary Wednesday—a milestone unmissed by Google, which replaced its home page logo with a bar code doodle that translates to 'Google.'"
More on this story from National Geographic

"Now used to track just about anything bought and sold in many countries, the standard bar code system was patented in the United States on October 7, 1952, but took about 20 years to go mainstream."

And that now includes my humble weblog, courtesy of the folks at www.barcoding.com

Back to the Brits .....

In November, AMC will present The Prisoner miniseries, a reinterpretation of the British 1960s cult hit series that helped get me hooked on television from the other side of the pond.

If you have about ten minutes, here's a more extended preview of the series ...

I'm waiting with more-than-a-little anxiety. The original series, with Patrick McGoohan as #6, was one of several from Britain that counted me among their devoted fans. Others included The Avengers and Danger Man; later, the Benny Hill Show and Monty Python's Flying Circus; and still later, Miss Marple, Poirot, Dalgliesh, Inspector Morse and other adaptations of classic British mystery stories.

When it come to The Prisoner, though, one question I have in advance of next month's premier is, "how much respect will producers of the 'reinterpretation' show for viewers' intelligence and imagination?" As much as producers of the original showed? I hope so.

I'm from Pennsylvania, and I'm Perfectly Happy to Think About Football Right Now .....

What a difference a week makes! Oh, Yeah ... and OH, YEAH !!!!!

I Can and I Will, So .....

I would love to embed a video from Blu and David Ellis, with what Eric at Fire Ant Gazette calls, "an amazing example of stop-action video+animation" ... and the embed code they provide WORKS. So ...

COMBO a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis (2 times loop) from blu on Vimeo.

Speakin' of Boithdays .....

Julis Henry "Groucho" Marx, star of stage and film, radio and television - and the funniest thing I ever hoid - was born on this day in 1890, in New York City.

I am not the only one to hold in high regard that particular brand of zaniness served-up by Groucho and his brothers. In a 2005 poll, Groucho was voted the 5th-greatest comedy act ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. His glasses, eyebrows and moustache are comic icons. "Groucho Marx was the best comedian this country ever produced," Woody Allen once said. "He is simply unique in the same way that Picasso or Stravinsky are." French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard reportedly described his politics by saying, "I'm a Marxist of the Groucho variety,"

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on Marx, which ends with a number of links where you can find out more about the man, his life and his career. My favorite links include this post by snopes.com about Groucho's famous 'Casablanca' letter to Warner Brothers. There are also a number of wonderful audio/video clips on YouTube, including 7-cent Nickle, Hello, I Must be Going, Stateroom and Hail, Hail Fredonia.

I Would if I Could, But .....

I would love to embed a video from the Odessa American, with a time-lapse look at how they 'ice' the Ector County Coliseum for a Jackalopes game ... but the embed code they provide doesn't work.

So, here is a link to the video, instead.

Birthday Blessings, Bapu .....

Political and spiritual leader, advocate of truth and non-violence, and community organizer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on this day in 1869.

Gandhi lived modestly, practiced the truth and non-violence that he preached, and advocated that others do the same. He was the pioneer of resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience. He was a tireless advocate for India's independence, and for civil rights (which included ending untouchability and expanding women's rights), building religious and ethnic amity, tax relief, easing poverty and increasing economic self-reliance.

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on Gandhi. And while there does not appear to be an "official" Gandhi website, there is www.gandhismriti.gov.in/ (created by the Indian government). Other good links include Works by Mahatma Gandhi at Project Gutenberg, and the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya Gandhi Museum & Library.