Put that thing back where it came from….or so help me!

When I was in college, I was lambasted for my proposal to have children run on treadmills to generate electric power. Well, along comes Monsters Inc., where Monstropolis is powered by the screams of frightened children. Was I a visionary? Or just an evil genius? Who can say?

But seriously, the movie is fantastic. Funny, sweet, fast-moving, and always running around corners so you’re not sure of the next move. The voice talent is top-notch, and the technology behind the movie has definitely taken some steps forward since Toy Story. (I read that some individual frames took 80 hours of computer time to render.) As usual, there are so many little details and touches that you’ll never get it all in one viewing. What a relief to finally see a really good movie this year. Bravo, Pixar.

A friend and someone I respect said to me today, “The U.S. Government doesn’t have to justify its actions to you.”

The hell it doesn’t.

I am so disturbed by the widespread attitude of unquestioning obedience that so many around me have slipped into since this crisis began. (“Crisis,” not “war.”) I thought my Bill O’Reilly quote from a few days ago was scary enough coming from him, and now I hear words like it everywhere. Everywhere. And it scares me. I know that a lot of it is just an understandable defense mechanism – “They know best and if they’re taking care of it, I don’t have to think about it. And thinking about it is just too disturbing now.” But that doesn’t excuse it. We started this nation so we could make our own decisions. Let’s not forget that.

How many of you out there can sing the “We The People” Constitution song from Schoolhouse Rock from memory? I can, at least the chorus.

Been enjoying this installment of “Survivor,” even as they announced that they’ll be going back to an island setting for No. 4. What, you couldn’t think of anything more interesting than that? You’ve got the whole world to choose from. I still think my underwater idea, ala Deep Blue Sea, would be a great setting. They could still prance around in next to nothing, and you would add the element of claustrophobia and paranoia to the mix. Fun!

And while this installment does bring thoughts of “been there, done that,” last week’s challenge with the giant boulders kicked ass, especially when the contestants would begin to get smushed between the huge rocks or trapped underneath them. Am I becoming a sadist? As Groucho Marx said, tragedy is when I cut my finger; comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.

Things that make me happy

-Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
-The West Wing’s C.J. Cregg
-Hot showers
–Road Runner cartoons
-a Halloween card from my mom
–Rushmore
-books from Amazon
-a clear fall day
-getting a new client
-Edy’s Lemon Sorbet
-weblog comments

With just a few days until launch, reports that Microsoft’s X-Box video game console is freezing up and otherwise behaving like the PCs that bedevil us all make me smile. But the gaming community is much more ruthless and unforgiving than the huddled masses toiling over their Excel spreadsheets, so Bill Gates will have to fix the thing – and fast – if he doesn’t want this whole enterprise to go up in flames.

It’s good that he has a little thing called Windows to fall back on.

I am so psyched to see “Monsters, Inc.” How long has it been since there’s been a really good movie in the theaters? I can think of two really good movies I’ve seen this year – “Mulholland Dr.” and “The Princess and the Warrior.” But that’s it. The previews for “Monster,” especially the “You. Won’t. Believe. Your. EYE!” one, have been so witty and funny and entertaining, I can’t wait. And word is there will be an Episode II trailer before the movie. I’m practically drooling.

Arthur has been writing some eloquent prose about “The War on Someone or Something, We’re Not Sure Yet” (my title, not his). Go there now.

Imagine I call you up, and say that you’re going to die tomorrow.

Well, maybe not die, but you could be seriously hurt. And maybe not tomorrow, but soon. I really can’t say how, or anything about the circumstances – who, what, where or when. I’ve heard this from reliable sources, but I won’t tell you who they are. And yes, I told you the same thing last week, and nothing happened, but I was less sure then. Trust me. You should just really be on the alert, because this is a serious thing. You could die.

How do you feel?

What’s wrong with this picture?
“Vice President Cheney has been moved to an undisclosed secure location. Meanwhile, tonight the President will be attending Game 3 of the World Series.”
-actual news report on NPR this afternoon