Financial Crisis's European Vacation

As you might have noticed, several U.S. lenders and insurers have fallen recently. Turns out those falls affected some failures in Germany and Belgium, some worries for the entire EU, an end to Ireland's fiancial boom and, oh yeah, Iceland is almost down for the count. What's next in this financial cascade, could we bring down the Euro?

International Economics is a vague, hazy, relatively not unpleasant memory sunk in the "undergraduate file" of my brain. From what I remember, I know I liked the idea of an inter-connected economic world, but I think my professors did a poor job of impressing upon me that: there is a downside. If you can handle a few economic equations, check this out

Paul Krugman: The International Finance Multiplier (a.k.a. Today We Are All Brazilians)

It'll give you an idea of why the world is financially falling apart.  Or you can just watch the National Lampoon's European Vacation above. Same idea, just in amusing pictures.

Click through for more thoughts....


History professors, however, did impress upon me the Peter Pan/Battlestar Gallactica notion of "all of this has happened before and it will happen again." So I'm keeping up with the economic changes to see if they will affect the same political changes of the past...or better yet if we have learned and are able to avoid or mitigate the political consequences of the past.

Readers who actually know something about economics, feel free to chirp in in comments or privately. Directions to good blogs, articles or thoughts are always appreciated.


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Same Plot Device, Different Show

I watch Doctor Who. This Spring and Summer the BBC aired several episodes. One episode, Silence in The Library, introduced a type of thought communication called ghosting. Another episode, Midnight, introduced an unexplained being who read and repeated your thoughts while and even before you could say them.

I've been watching Fringe. This Fall Fox has aired several episodes. One episode, The Ghost Network, "introduced" a thought communication network called ghosting. Another Episode, The Arrival, "introduced" an unexplained being who read and repeated your thoughts while and even before you could say them.

Get my point? Odd coincidence? Theft? Great minds think alike? These plot devices have been around a while? Any shows you watch seemingly steal plot devices from each other?
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What SNL Did Do: Week 2

The accuracy of my predictions:

• "I've only been doing this for five weeks!" Completely wrong. They didn't do this one.
• "Doggone it." Oddly, I was wrong about this too. I think Tina Fey said "Gosh darn it" instead.
• Refusal by Palin to answer the question asked. They did this MULTIPLE times.
• Instead of answering a question Palin talks about energy policy or Alaska. They did this but she talked about being a maverick instead of energy or Alaska
• Palin blatantly winks at and poses for the camera. They did this the entire time.
• Palin's answer on global warming. They did this too.
• Both Palin and Biden's answers on the rights of homosexual couples. And they did this one.

Looks like I did a lot better this week with my predictions. Tina Fey found plenty of material to use in mockery of Sarah Palin. And I was pleasantly surprised at how SNL managed to hilariously mock Joe Biden as well. His "I love John McCain, but he's a raging lunatic" comments and his "Scranton, PA is a cesspool" rant had me laughing. As usual, SNL was hardest on the media: mocking them for grading Sarah Palin on a super-generous curve, mocking moderator Gwen Ifill for asking no substantive follow-up questions, and by poking fun at Palin, mocking the media for daring to suggest it couldn't be done anymore. It was an funny sketch. Click through to watch it.


If you notice at the end, SNL also pokes a little fun at me and the drinking games I play during speeches and debates. I just have to say though, Tina Faux Palin, I gave up on the "maverick" drinking game, it's just too easy. "Reform" was Thursday night's drinking game.

For regular readers, stay tuned on Tuesday night for the next Presidential debate. There will be no live blogging but if they have the time, SeaBean and StitchWiggler will be back for pre-Debate and maybe even post-Debate chatter. And we'll have a SPECIAL MYSTERY GUEST AS WELL. Stay tuned.......


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What Will SNL Do: Week 2

Time to play this weekend's guess-what-SNL-will-mock game. The consensus from newspapers and pundits I read and heard after the VP debate was that Sarah Palin came across as competent and did not give late night or Tina Fey much to work with tonight. I, unlike the pundits, do not underestimate the fearsome talent that is Tina Fey!

Watch for:

• "I've only been doing this for five weeks!"
• "Doggone it"
• Refusal by Palin to answer the question asked
• Instead of ansering a question Palin talks about energy policy or Alaska
• Palin blatantly winks at and poses for the camera
• Palin's answer on global warming
• Both Palin and Biden's answers on the rights of homosexual couples

This post isn't meant to be a dig at Palin, more of a defense of Tina Fey. Pundits, you underestimate her and the political comedy writers at Saturday Night Live. You forget that competent and even highly intelligent politicians can be regularly lampooned late at night. Sarah Palin cleared a very low bar Thursday night, which in and of itself can be mocked. What with the media throwing down the gauntlet this week saying "late night jokes could cease,"and "Tina Fey's job just got harder," Tina Fey will come out swinging tonight. Check back to see how accurate I am.

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March of the Penguins...to Brazil?

Did you watch the movie March of the Penguins? Did you adore that movie? Did you want a penguin of your own? I looked into it. Owning any single penguin as a pet in the United States is expensive and pretty darn inhumane. Well, it looks like if I were to move to coastal Brazil I could live in temperate paradise AND be visited by Magellanic penguins:

From his lifeguard post on Copacabana beach, Capt. Rodrigo Maia has watched dumbfounded as the little swimming footballs waddle to the sand amid bronzed surfers and bikini-clad women.

That quote is from this article, which reports that the little guys are washing up on Brazilian shores in growing numbers. The cause is unknown. Climate Change is always suspected, but the sudden surge in penguin visitors hints at a more immediate cause like ocean currents and hurricanes. Read the article, you'll see. Meantime, I'm going to go research time share opportunities for beach houses in Brazil.

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Vice Presidential Debate '08: Liveblogging

It's baaaack. Political live blogging. This Thursday night and this Thursday night only the perfect storm of conditions (a wireless connection and clear television broadcast transmission) conspire to allow me to blog for you. I hope to be ably assisted by my roommate and her little dog too, who will each no doubt invent clever monikers for themselves (much cleverer than SisterT). Thursday night 9:00PM EST. See you then.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Expectations Game
Wall Street Journal: Palin Proved to Be Formidable Foe in Alaska Debates
New York Times: Though an Experienced Debater, Biden Is Often Tripped Up by Spontaneity

Best pre-debate Summation of Tonight's Expectations and Implications
The Veep Debate: That's Entertainment!

How They Match Up
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-debate Chatter

8:07
Sister T: Welcome. We're starting early so that I can make proper introductions. Welcome special guests. Will you introduce yourself?
SeaBean: I am SeaBean and this is my little dog the StitchWiggler.
Sister T: Welcome. Does StitchWiggler have a particular politcal affiliation?
SeaBean: Yes. She's a socialist. She believes in equal access to kibble and chew toys.
Sister T: Especially tennis balls, I know. How do you two feel about Sarah Palin?
SeaBean: She needs more prep work. And I have now started investing in Aquanet the hairspray.
Sister T: So you like the bee hive?
SeaBean: Modified French Twist bubble flip! It's very corporate.
Sister T: How long do you think it takes her every night to wash the hairspray out?
SeaBean: It's not so much a question of washing out, as I remember from my mohawk days. I worry about the teasing. I think there is a paper towel holder in there holding it up.
Sister T: What do you think of Joe Biden? "Who?" is an acceptable answer.
SeaBean: Well if Roosevelt and the TV were around in 1929 I might respect him....
Sister T: Do you realize that when FDR did finally address the US on TV in 1939, John McCain was alive?
SeaBean: Wow.
Sister T: He was three.
SeaBean: He is old enough to be our grandpa twice over!
Sister T: Did you know he has a biological daughter who is younger than we are?
SeaBean: Eew. That's gross. Eew. Eew. Eew.


8:23
Sister T: What do you think Sarah Palin will be wearing this evening?
SeaBean: Skirt suit, pantyhose, heels, lipstick (naturally) and her signature Tina Fey glasses.
Sister T: She doesn't wear pantyhose.
SeaBean: Oh, she wears pantyhose.
Sister T: I've never seen her wear pantyhose.
SeaBean: Trust me she's wearing pantyhose.
Sister T: What makes you think so?
SeaBean: She's of that age. All the women who ever read "How a Woman Should Dress for Success" in the 70's (by the way written by a man; if someone can explain that logic, they win fifty points) wear pantyhose. It's as much an unwritten rule as the conservative skirt suit on the Hill. Besides, she's a beauty queen...Is that why you call her "Queen Palin?"
Sister T: No, that was truly a Princess Bride reference. Seriously, Buttercup. Out of nowhere, plucked from the people. But Buttercup wouldn't kill a moose. She'd have Westley do it.
SeaBean: True true.
Sister T: As you wish!

[degenerating into Princess Bride quotes.]

Sister T: Hey do you think they'll talk about how to start a land war in Asia? Biden is a gaffer! And it is one of the classic blunders. Did you know that this is the most Irish both sides have shown ever? I read a post on it.
SeaBean: Hunh. Does this mean we'll get to listen to good music during the debate?
Sister T: No. There is no music. That would make the debate entertaining.
SeaBean: But I like bagpipes. Or, in this case, Uillean pipes. Yes the spelling sucks. Irish was written down by some illiterate men who were not just simply drunk, but mean drunk. Are you humming the German national anthem?
Sister T: No, it was the Minuet in G by Beethoven. Oh, was that elitist of me?
SeaBean: It might be a little elitist. But that's okay by me.
Sister T: What kind of music wouldn't be elitist? Because I think even indie pop and rock would be elitist, since only the overeducated people in Austin and Seattle listen to it extensively. I've got it - country.
SeaBean: Country music can be fun.
Sister T: O Brother Where Are Thou? soundtrack is good.
SeaBean: True but that's bluegrass. Which is really just elitist country.

---------------------------------------------------------
The Great Debate!

9:00pm Jim Lehrer on the TV! Talking to Mark Shields and David Brooks about this wacky Veep Debate.

9:01 SeaBean is making popcorn excellent!

9:02 SeaBean offers me some cheesey puffs. Sadly, I must deny myself, don't want cheesey bits infecting the keyboard

9:03 Gwen Ifill, the moderator asks a question, and Joe Biden addresses this week's bailout/rescue vote in the House.

9:05 First mention of the "middle class" by Joe Biden

9:06 Palin talking about fear and soccer moms. What happened to hockey? She also says "reform." Guess what tonight's drinking games are: "middle class" and "reform."

9:06 She mentions the campaign suspension. Baiting Biden?

9:07 Biden is taking the bait. Clever Sarah.

9:09 Gwen asks Palin to blame someone for the subprime mess. She blames predator lenders.

9:11 Biden goes on the attack blaming McCain for the subprime mess.

9:12 Gwen asks Palin if she wants to respond about the health care hit Biden threw, she wants to respond to the tax issue that Biden didn't even mention.

9:14 Biden calls Palin on not answering the deregulation question.

9:14 Palin basically says she can answer a question any gosh darn way she pleases and goes on to answer the tax question she was NEVER ASKED.

9:15 Gwen asks a tax question.

9:16 "middle class" drinking game is ON! SeaBean is off to get the wine. But she doesn't think it pairs well with cheesey puffs.

9:18 Gwen forces Palin to talk about McCain's health care plan

9:19 She is fully capable of talking about it. Take that Katie Couric!

9:20 SeaBean has chosen a very patriotic Napa Valley wine from California called "Worthy" Full disclosure: the vineyard is called Axios which is sort of Greek.

9:21 Additional disclosure: SeaBean is using her mickey mouse cork stopper. What's more American than that?!?

9:23 Now Palin's talking about the energy plan that she was NEVER ASKED ABOUT. Seriously, she might run out of talking points. She keeps jumping ahead.

9:25 Biden agrees with the Governor! Repubs will replay that moment. Independants will like it. Someone's been paying attention to the last debate's focus groups.

9:26 Gwen asks Palin a question she doesn't know the answer to about bankruptcy, but she transitions to a different talking point a lot better than her faulty non-attempts to transition with Couric.

9:27 Biden answers the actual bankruptcy question. John Q Public probably won't notice.

9:29 Palin has no clue how to respond at all and akwardly transitions to a talking point about energy.

Sister T: My SNL predicition is that Tina Fey will answer every question by just ignoring it and talking about energy.
SeaBean: Less time doing your hair, more time studying.

9:30 Gwen asks about climate change.

9:31 Palin admits there is climate change. She wants to ignore the causes. But she will created a "sub cabinet" to study the impacts.....without of course studying the causes.

9:32 Biden sews up the youth vote by saying "It's man made."

9:34 Hee, Hee it sounded like she said Seantor O'Biden.

SeaBean: Oh nooooo! She said nuclear wrong.
Sister T: She can't do it without the teleprompter spelling out "New Clear" for her.

[Confession: I, Sister T, standardly mispronounce it "nu-cu-ler," so rather than say it, I make a concerted effort to say it as little as possible]

9:38 No one up there supports gay marriage.

9:39 Sarah Palin is so proud, SO PROUD of the Surge.

SeaBean: And she can see Russia from her house!

9:42 Sarah Palin tells Biden that the Obama plan in Iraq is a white flag of surrender.

SeaBean: Talibani?
Sister T: It's right.

9:45 Gwen asks which is the greater threat: Unstable Pakistan or Nuclear Iran.

SeaBean: Pakistan!
Sister T: Pakistan!
Biden: Both.
Palin: Both.

9:47 SeaBean can't take it anymore. Palin keeps pronouncing nuclear wrong.

9:50 Biden points out that Ahmadinajad is NOT in charge of Iran. He does not, however, mention the Council of Guardians or Khamenei. Sigh!

9:52 Biden refers to himself in the 3rd person. Sort of pompous.

9:54 Palin chastizes Biden for looking at past mistakes too much....and then talks about how she will learn by looking at past mistakes.

9:56 SeaBean recoils in PAIN!!!! Sarah Palin mispronounces nuclear.

9:57 Sarah Palin asks if she can talk about Afghanistan. She wants to stick with her assigned talking points.

10:00 They argue about what General McClellan said. That'll be a job for fact checkers to deal with later.

[Update: the fact checkers say there is no such person as McClellan commanding troops in Afghanistan.]

10:02 Biden is talking about himself too much. "I did," "I said," He transitions to talking about Darfur (which Gwen did ask about)

10:03 Sarah Palin ignores the question. And talks about Iraq. Hey wow! She actually answers the question and talks about Darfur and ties it to Alaska!

10:07 Gwen asks how their own administrations would differ from the top of the ticket. Biden doesn't answer. He talks about how much his administration would continue Obama's policies.

10:09 Palin would drill in ANWAR of course. But then she would do whatever McCain was doing.

SeaBean: new drinking game "end the corruption and greed on Wall Street"

10:11 Drink! "middle class"

10:11 Palin in one sentence throws in a "Say it ain't so Joe," "there you go again," and "doggonit."

10:13 Palin throws a shout-out to her brother's 3rd grade class which is getting extra credit for watching the debate.

Sister T: Shouldn't those 3rd graders be in bed right now?
SeaBean They're in Alaska. Time difference.
Sister T: Good point.

10:13 Palin is self-deprecating about a lame joke she made. I don't know what "joke" she is talking about?

SeaBean: Reform of government, Drink! Do you think she put vaseline on her teeth?
Sister T: Probably. Or maybe they grow them that way in Alaska!

10:15 Gwen asks if the Veep job is executive or legislative. Palin says it's a flexible job and highlights her executive experience.

10:17 Biden calls Cheney the most dangerous Veep in the history of the U.S. Careful Joe, he has a gun and has been known to use it.....on people.

10:18 Gwen asks about their biggest weaknesses. Palin starts off not answering the question.

10:19 She didn't answer it. Will Gwen let her get away with it?

10:20 Biden says his weakness is too much passion. Hmmm. Maybe I'll use that in my next job interview.

10:23 Biden attacks the Maverick record on health care, education, the war, i.e., things talked about around the kitchen table.

10:24 Last question from Gwen is: think of a policy issue on which they changed their mind to accommodate change. Biden used to think the ideology of a judge didn't matter, now he believes that it does.

10:25 Plain talks about budgets she didn't veto. She differentiates between "compromise" which is bad and "working together" which is good. I don't really understand the difference other than one means every body changes their opinion to something less desirable; the other you make other people change their mind to yours.

10:29 Closing statements! Palin claims she wants more opportunities to debate and speak without that pesky Main Stream Media in the way. She also takes a shot at Michelle Obama.

10:31 Biden gives a closing statement.

Sister T: how many times do you think he will say "middle class"
SeaBean: he's said it 2x already, so, at least 3 more times
Sister T: he didn't say it again? how are we supposed to get drunk?
SeaBean: we are already drunk. we've been drinking all night to dull the pain.

10:33 It's over. She didn't screw up. Sarah's political future is secure!

Thanks to SeaBean and StitchWiggler for their company and help. That's it for debate blogging. For the Obama-McCain presidential debates I actually care and pay closer attention....which makes live blogging very difficult. Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it.


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The Subprime Primer Slideshow

You may have heard some noise about the U.S. economy either slipping into or teetering upon a devastating financial crisis. If you are like me, and could use some illustrative yet entertaining help understanding how we got here, check out the slide show I've linked to below. I discovered it courtesy of UESider, who knows her stuff regarding the current financial mess. (Warning: the last few slides contain profanity, so keep the kiddies away from the computer screen.).

Click Here to view the slide presentation

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Harry Potter Meets The Office

(beware of poor British accents)

Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | More Video Clips

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Franz Ferdinand Is Murdered...Again

Leave it to the house band on Dancing With The Stars to murder another great song! This time it was the band Franz Ferdinand's song "Take Me Out." I guess I should just be glad the show recognized the song's existence, and I will interpret the song's murder as an historical homage.

(Song starts at the 2:10 mark.)
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Clarification: She said, She said

It has come to my attention that my last post didn't clearly distinguish between what Real Sarah Palin said and what Tina Faux Palin said. The point I tried to make at the end of my last post was that often the SNL writers lifted words straight from Palin. Click through to see some video comparisons.

The $700 billion bailout
Real Sarah Palin

Tina Faux Palin



"I'll bring 'em to ya"
Real Sarah Palin

Tina Faux Palin



Russia
Real Sarah Palin

Tina Faux Palin


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The Presidential Debate: What SNL did do.

Well, I was completely wrong about what Saturday Night Live would mock about Friday's Presidential Debate

• My bracelet's better than your bracelet. Each actor wore a bracelet, but neither mentioned it.
  
• Obama cannot remember John McCain's name. Not mentioned.
  
• Obama gives intricate, detailed, boring answer on an issue and McCain still patronizingly claims Obama doesn't "understand" the issue. They hit this general idea, but addressed it differently. Instead of an overly professorial answer by Obama they had him complain about McCain once singing Bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-Iran to the tune of Ba-ba-ba-ba-Barbara Ann. McCain then patronizingly explained who the Beach Boys are and what their "Barbara Ann" song is.
  
• McCain calling Obama and GW Bush stubborn. Not done.
  
• Miss Congeniality. Not mentioned, but McCain did explain how as a Maverick he spent the last eight years undermining his party and President Bush.
  
• McCain's Eisenhower letter story. Not mentioned.
  
• Ahmadinajad. Also not mentioned.
  

Of course, I was also wrong to hope that the debate sketch would be funny. As I had to do yesterday, the sketch writers painfully searched for elements of the debate to mock and came up with mediocre material. The funniest bit came at the end when the moderator thanked Hillary Clinton for showing up ready to step in, in case McCain decided not to come. Perhaps acknowledging the lameness of the sketch, director Lorne Michaels did not place it as the opening sketch of the show. That honor, went instead, to a much funnier send-up of Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric. No surprise appearance by the real Palin, but there was this gem:

Every morning when Alaskans wake up one of the first things they do is see if there are any Russians hanging around… It’s our responsibility to say, ‘Shoo, get back over there!’

Click through to watch the actual Palin-Couric sketch as well as the Debate sketch via hulu.



Now compare with what Palin actually said during her real interview with Couric. Sometimes the comedy just writes itself:

Couric: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more, and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

Palin: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it's got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade -- we have got to see trade as opportunity, not as, uh, competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation.

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The Presidential Debate: What will SNL do?

Did you watch the Presidential Debate Friday night?  I did.  And I paid close attention to........what Saturday Night Live writers might choose to mock tonight in their opening skit.  Below are my guesses:

• My bracelet's better than your bracelet.
• Obama cannot remember John McCain's name.
• Obama gives intricate, detailed, boring answer on an issue and McCain still patronizingly claims Obama doesn't "understand" the issue.
• McCain calling Obama and GW Bush stubborn.
• Miss Congeniality.
• McCain's Eisenhower letter story.
• Ahmadinajad.

This list picks on McCain quite a bit, largely because Obama played it so safe last night and what McCain said and did was more memorable.  Actually, I don't think there was much to mock from the debate, but I hope a talented SNL skit proves me wrong.  What I'd almost rather see is a skit about McCain's decision to suspend his campaign and the will-he-or-won't he show up to debate shenanigans.  Also, be on the lookout for a surprise Sarah Palin guest stint.  Her security did a walk through on Wednesday.  So watch tonight and check back for an update to see how prescient I can be.

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Now THIS Is Effective Product Placement

plus

equals Perfect Product Placement

Thursday night the USA show Burn Notice included near the end of its mid-season finale a car chase scene which, in my opinion, perfectly integrated a product: the Saab 9-3 convertible. The character Fiona aided main character Michael by using the sporty Saab to interfere with and frustrate the gang of cars chasing his motorcycle. Specifically, she used the Saab's Electronic Stability Control Program (ESP) switch to turn off the Saab's traction control and slide the car around the other cars chasing Michael. Michael's trademark voice-over cheerfully describes what's she's doing.

The voice-over giving helpful knowledge of how to use devices and functions to get by in the spy trade is a typical narrative device of Burn Notice, so, to me, use of the sporty car and specific mention of its features fits seamlessly with the show's tone and style. Some might disagree. But then I don't come down that hard on product integration generally. I accept it as a necessary trade off. Most of the shows I like to watch are well written enough that product integration never gets in the way of the story, and occasionally, a show like this will integrate the product in a way that enhances the story. Well done, Burn Notice. Click through below to view a snippet from hulu explaining the car chase stunt and the product integration. And watch the show. It's very good.


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Lost in Literature

Across the pond on ITV (a British television station) they currently broadcast a miniseries entitled Lost In Austen. It tells the tale of modern day girl, Amanda Price, who wanders into and gets trapped in the novel Pride and Prejudice. (Pictured to the right: Elizabeth Bennet, Amanda Price, and Mr. Darcy). Amanda unintentionally trades places with the novel's heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, and proceeds to make a mess of the novel's major plot points, i.e., Jane marries Collins, Bingley runs off with Lydia. Additionally, she seems to cause almost every male character and at least one female character to lust after her. The greatest enjoyment of the miniseries, however, is to watch this modern-day girl run into much beloved characters and discover how closely or how distantly they resemble a reader's opinion from the book.

So that got me thinking. What pieces of literature would I enjoy getting literally lost in? If I had to chose an American novel, I think I'd pick The Winds of War. Sure, it's dangerous, what with the whole world war brewing, bombs falling, and Jews deporting, but I would dearly love to meet Victor "Pug" Henry and his family. I would dearly love to smash a very sharp object over Aaron Jastrow's head. I would dearly love to hang with Pamela Tudsbury. And I'd dearly love to brush shoulders with history the way Pug did. It'd be great fun, just so long as none of the bombs hit me and the Nazis stay far away from wherever I am.

Click through to see what other novels I'm contemplating losing myself in and to see my mini critique of the miniseries Lost in Austen.

The mini critique
Two parts of the Lost in Austen miniseries do disappoint me.

• The script lacks clever wit and snark. Jane Austen's writing style demands this kind of homage. See the movie Clueless for proper, modern script treatment of a Jane Austen work. 
  
• The script lacks clever references to other works of Jane Austen. For example, modern-day girl Amanda Price shares a surname with Fanny Price, the heroine from Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, but the script fails to elaborate on whether the surname is a coincidence or a purposeful wink. I'd appreciate a reference by Amanda to a scrupulously moral older sister or her nosy Aunt Norris. Another example, when Amanda briefly takes on the persona of a wealthy merchant's daughter and attempts to bring Bingley and Jane as well as Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas together, the script fails to point out Amanda's similarity to Emma, the know-it-all, rich, matchmaking heroine in the Jane Austen novel Emma. 
  

Those are just my tiny nitpicks.

Happier thoughts continue as I get lost in........

The Great Gatsby. I just want to go to one of those fabulous parties that Gatsby throws, catch a glimpse of the man, maybe chat a bit with Nick Carraway (if that snob will even talk to me) and then head west and get away from that corrupt lot as quickly as possible.

The Three Muskateers. I would hang out with the boys: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. I will convince them not to waste their time on that pesky d'Artagnan and let me join their little group. If I catch sight of Milady de Winter, I'll warn Athos and he'll take care of it. I'll tell them Richelieu is not such a bad guy and we'll just take it easy. Sure, the plot of the novel will be ruined, but I'll be chillin' with my Muskateers, so who cares!

Northanger Abbey. If I had to chose a Jane Austen novel to lose myself in, this is it. I would absolutely LOVE! to talk to Henry Tilney. He is the only Austen hero who while being funny and charming still manages not to be a complete cad. He loves books and fashion, his sister is pretty cool, and his future wife Catherine is sweet with a fantastically wild imagination. Also, I'm as big a sucker as Catherine is for grand old abbeys, and hanging out in Bath in the 1800s would be quite fun and enlightening.

Lonesome Dove. Okay, I wouldn't want to stay lost for long in this novel for fear of losing a leg, or an arm, or my sexual dignity. The world in Lonesome Dove, while adventurous, is dangerous and hard. The novel has a high death count. But I would love to just sit and listen to Gus and Call bicker using them purty, McMurtry words.

I might think of some more novels later. Let me know in the comments what novels you'd get lost in.
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Glengarry Bhoys: Fiddler in a Kilt

I spent a chunk of this weekend at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, principally on the trail of the Glengarry Bhoys, a wonderful high-energy Celtic Folk/Rock band. The best discovery of the weekend, other than a delightful band by the name of Pogey, was the new fiddle player for Glengarry Bhoys. His name is Darcy. He hails from Ireland. He wears a kilt. He fiddles. He spins. He steals the show. Also, he is a dead ringer for this guy.

Alan Tudyk

Seriously, I heard some great live music this weekend and I encourage anyone who reads this blog to visit these websites and give a listen to these great Canadian independent Bands. Pogey has a myspace page where you can hear their music. I highly recommend the song Johnny's Bottle. The Glengarry Bhoys also have a myspace page, and they offer samples of more songs at their own website.
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