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"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

Wednesday, December 31, 2003

They are like kids…
Rep. Christopher Shays (R. Conn) said he would not go to the Times Square bash "for anything," citing possible terrorism.

Mayor Bloomberg called a Connecticut congressman a coward for not having the "courage" to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve celebration.

But Rep. Christopher Shays fired back that if took courage to go to Times Square, then that means there's something to be worried about.

Monday, December 29, 2003

Coming Soon: my Best 10 Movies, Bop 5 Actors & Actresses in 2003!

BUT before that, FYI, my Best 5 Movies in 2002 are:

1. LOTR: The Two Towers (so, you can imagine my 2003 Best!)
2. The Hours (see I like such a depressing movie)
3. Pianist (see, more depressing)
4. Chicago
5. Catch Me if You Can
Mega Millions!!!

Another lottery! Again, to contribute to this damn blog, I bought Mega Millions lottery. Results will be known tomorrow. I bought 10, so I think I can likely win $150M!!

Oh my god, what should I do with that $150M and Green Card!!
Maybe I can run for Governor of California!!

I will let you know the result unless I lose.
Rewards & Punishments?

As deadline comes tomorrow (12/30) to apply for Visa Lottery of Green Card, I finally submitted today. Procrastination is my cursed saga or karma. Anyway, if you don't know about Green Card, it is a Visa which allows you to run for Governor of California. Every year, 50,000 foreigners can get the right to run for Governor of California.

But some countries are excluded from eligibility to get the admission. The following are some examples this year:

Eligible countries:
North Korea (country Bush loves to call Axis of Evil)
Iran (country Bush loves to call Axis of Evil)
Iraq (country Bush loves to call Axis of Evil)
Saudi Arabia (birth place of Osama bin Laden)
Japan (my country)

Ineligible countries:
UK (ally)
South Korea (ally)

I wonder if there is any intension behind it. Maybe not.

Sunday, December 21, 2003

Movie Review No.11
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Rating: 5+++++++)

This is unratable... I don't think any movie could beat this trilogy forever. Every scene never fades from my eyes, music never mutes from my ears, and characters' emotion is never forgotten by my heart. Even though Saruman is deleted, endings are many, and movie is very long, it's literally perfect. Of course, Legoras and Gimli were counting the deaths!

I don't want to spoil the movie, so I shall talk about little story. It's basically straightforward from the Two Towers. Frodo and Sam go to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring. Other fellowship and Rohan people try to fight with Gondor against Sauron. And Aragorn is about to become what he was born to be!

Finally, my 3 years of journey is over (although I will see it again at least twice more). I feel satisfied, but very sad & empty at the same time. My friend (who went to 11-hour LOTR Marathon!) said she feels as if she opened all the X-mas presents. So, now we have to wait for P. Jackson to film Hobbit!

Finally, what I learned from the story: We need second breakfast. Just kidding...

"There is always hope." by Aragorn

Saturday, December 20, 2003

Good to know that Bush speaks Japanese

Yale was Dean's study and Bush's fun house
DAILY NEWS

Both (Bush & Howard Dean) were students at the Ivy League school in the late 1960s. But while Dean hit the books and got good grades, Bush snoozed in the college library and seemed to major in having fun.

The university's grading system was based on an evaluation scale of "honors, high pass, pass, fail."

Dean's transcript shows he scored seven honors, 17 high passes and 14 passes. Bush's transcript, leaked in 2000, shows he scored zero honors and mostly passes.

In his years at Yale, Bush, a history major, managed high passes in history and Japanese but struggled with astronomy and political science.

"If you're like me, you won't remember everything you did here," Bush told the (Yale) graduates. "That can be a good thing."
Mike's face value on eBay increases

A mere 24 hours after an autographed picture of Mayor Bloomberg fetched just 1 cent in an eBay online auction, the mayor's face value skyrocketed - with an identical item going for more than $80 yesterday.

After the Daily News wrote about the barely selling picture, seller John Peyton's second attempt suddenly attracted major interest.

By late yesterday, there were 47 bids on the auction, which had reached $81.80 - with six days left to go.

Thursday, December 18, 2003

So, Paris for Prez!
Paris outmatches Bush on TV
Daily News

Diane Sawyer's exclusive sitdown with Bush, just days after the capture of Saddam Hussein, drew fewer viewers than Fox's "The Simple Life," starring hotel heiress (Paris) Hilton.

"The Simple Life," which is built around Hilton and her pal Nicole Richie living and working on an Arkansas farm, averaged 11.78 million viewers between 8:30 and 9 p.m.

Bush's chat with Sawyer on ABC averaged 10.78 million in the first half-hour at 8 p.m. and 11.23 million in the second.
What is he doing this for? And what is this Prof?

Cent of a mayor
By DAVID SALTONSTALL
DAILY NEWS

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Mayor Bloomberg's apparently is worth just 1 red cent.

A signed photo of Hizzoner was posted for sale last week on eBay. When the bidding closed last night just before 11, only one offer had been made - for a penny.

"I don't think 1 cent is indicative of the mayor's political fortunes," said Baruch College Prof. Doug Muzzio. "But when Mike Dukakis is worth 200 times more than you, it's time to worry."

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Movie Review No.10
Big Fish (Rating:5)

I saw the movie just because of the names (Tim Burton & Ewan McGregor). But it turned out one of the best movies. As typical Burton film, there are lots of fantasy tales, but unlike him the story ended up with very emotional scenes. I felt embarrassed because I couldn't stop crying, but actually everyone around me was also crying at the ending.

Edward Bloom (Why Tim Burton film always uses Edward?) was always talking about his life adventure to his son Will. But his stories were too big for his son to believe such as witch, giant, war hero, even his marriage story. Therefore, Will didn't know what his father really was. When his father was dying with heart disease, Will tried to find out what was the truth.

At first, I thought all the too big tales are just funny crazy fantasies. And it could have been stupid movie. But everything was necessary for the ending. It's really Oscar worthy!!
That's good news...

Still in J.Love, Ben tells Stern
DAILY NEWS

During a surprise call to shock jock Howard Stern on his WXRK radio show yesterday, Ben Affleck came clean and insisted he still wants to marry Jennifer Lopez.

"I certainly hope so," Affleck told Stern. "If I'm lucky."

Friday, December 12, 2003

Oh no... this is info from FriendOfHillary.com

"She is ruthless She's unaccountable," says Bill O'Reilly.

Neal Boortz refers to her as "Hitlary."

Human Events, a conservative publication, is selling a deck of cards called, "The 52 Most Dangerous Liberals." They advertise it by exclaiming, "Move over Saddam -Hillary is the new Ace of Spades."

"Hillary's main following is made up of a core of emotional idiots. This core is a personality cult similar to rock groupies, blind and oblivious to the real world as they swoon over their dear leader," says Newsmax columnist Charles Smith.
NYT, 12/3
Gen. Wesley K. Clark said on Wednesday that he would consider asking Eliot Spitzer, the New York attorney general, to be his running mate if he secures the Democratic nomination for president.

Newsday, 12/9
Sen. Hillary Clinton continued to glide above the presidential fray
Tuesday, even as her name emerged in vice-presidential speculation.

In New York, Clinton cautioned against coronating Howard Dean as the Democrat's nominee in 2004 as his rival Wesley Clark told reporters in New Hampshire he'd consider tapping her for running mate.
I wonder which is strange...

Nixon on Reagan: 'Strange, not pleasant to be around'
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Talking politics with White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman at Camp David in August 1972, Nixon switched the conversation to two Republican governors, Reagan of California and Nelson Rockefeller of New York. Both men unsuccessfully sought the 1968 Republican presidential nomination that Nixon received.

“On a personal basis, Rockefeller is a pretty nice guy,” Nixon said. “Reagan on a personal basis, is terrible. He just isn’t pleasant to be around.”

“No, he’s just an uncomfortable man to be around,” Nixon said, “strange.”

Monday, December 08, 2003

Hobbit and Worth The Fighting For

Death, that really struck me considerably last Friday. I usually love snow, even eat frequently. But last week's storm, blizzard, whatever you name, almost killed me. I was waiting for a bus in the very isolated area in Scarsdale. However, that dumb vehicle never ever forever came, kept me abandoned without any hat, gloves, or scarf. One hour later, I really thought I was about to die, you know because heavy snow means death for hobbit.

Naturally, right before dying, human being tends to consider of what you have done, your most loved one, or even your to-be-born child you are destined to have. But what I genuinely and sincerely came up with was, "I cannot die before Harry Potter graduate from Hogwarts School of Wizards and Witchcraft..." Yes, that idea has made me alive, that's what worth the fighting for.

(Eventually, I gave up the bus and took a train.)

Sunday, December 07, 2003

Movie Review No.9
Last Samurai (Rating:5)

When I was in Japan, I was really crazy for this kind of samurai war dramas, which you can see every day on TV. Above all, Ken Watanabe, who plays samurai lord Katsumoto in Last Samurai, was truly my hero. Therefore, when I saw this movie, although I was not that impressed by Tom Cruise, I was psyched to see Ken as good as or even better than he used to be.

Story is similar to Dance with Wolves and predictable. At the end of 19th century, Tom Cruise was hired by Japanese gov. to train emperor's army so they can terminate samurais' group, who gathered around respected leader Katsumoto. But when the army fought with samurai group, Cruise was captured. During his stay at their village, he started relating to samurai people.

This is the best of the trilogy (after Lost in Translation and Kill Bill). It is true that so many things don't make sense (like samurai speaks fluent English and apparent New Zealand's field), but I think what the director really wanted to tell is about Bushido (samurai spirit). If you are interested in such philosophy, you would love this movie. Battle scenes are also thrilling.

p.s. You can learn some Japanese in the show. If you want to review, here are some.

chopstick=hashi
nose=hana
ear=mimi

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