Charlton Heston, of all people, made one of the most concise and insightful observations about filmmaking, "The trouble with movies as a business is that it`s an art, and the trouble with movies as art is that it`s a business."

Hugh Laurie (yes - Dr. House) gets in blackface in one episode of "Jeeves & Wooster" - and it's funny. But because it shows the cluelessness of the Drone Club members.

Oh, and @ Juliebird: I usually enjoy your thoughts but this "idiot" atheist will go on continuing to enjoy his "Solstice" or whatever tree and its lights in the dead of winter.

@cporter88 - you wrote, "Why is it that only human beings have the ability to read, write, manufacture and create?

I'm only an amateur nature lover, but even I can think of other species that possess the ability to:

Read: What do you think animal mimicry is about? Animals & insects can "read" abstract patterns to decide whether to eat/mate/avoid

Write: Ever seen a honeybee dance instructions to its hive on how to get to a great, new cache of pollen? It's not jotting symbols on a piece of paper - but it's basically the same. And animals mark their territory with scents which work just the same as a "keep out" sign. Other animals "read" this marker to add to the above example.

Manufacture: 1) Termite mounds. 2) Bees manufacture honey so efficiently that we can take and use their excess. 3) Other primates make tools to hunt for insects.

Create: Look up what Bowerbirds create to attract mates. These structures serve no practical purpose (like being a nest) - they are art. Whales create new songs.

Still feeling special? Why can't "human beings" run as fast as a cheetah? Jump proportionately as high as a flea? Why were we so poorly "designed" dammit!?

... somebody got mad enough to do an ONLINE PETITION!!

Boy - that'll show 'em!

Here's one good summation as to why people don't - and shouldn't - trust Realtors® (what other "profession" is a registered trademark?):

http://www.laestatehomes.com/media/2004_oct_26_statistics.html

And a nice animation of the Crisis of Credit visualized:

http://www.vimeo.com/3261363

Don't feel too guilty about your role as a Realtor - you would have f*cked things up worse with an MBA.

Go to London, England. Music, theatre, free museums, lovely parks, great pubs - and it's quick to get into the countryside on the train.

"...when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

— Samuel Johnson

Or you can come up and stay at our B&B in Stratford, Ontario (link in sig.). It has the feel of an English country village and also has world-class theatre and dining.

@ Madame Marie

I emailed a friend and native Tucsonian regarding pizza there:

Two of my favorites are Rocco's and Brooklyn, which happen to be featured in this article:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/04-29-99/chow.htm

Here are a couple of obscure (location-wise) favorites:

Track Town Pizza,

Eugene, Oregon

Pazzo Pizza,

Stratford, Ontario

Neither time nor distance takes away my craving for these pies.

What, no fans of Flight of the Conchords here? Listen to Bret introducing the song "Boom" back in 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT5AQIlmM0I

"Plus I've tasted just enough success to whet my appetite."

Curtis, stay away from Las Vegas...

@stevedew (since you were once part of this "field") or anyone:

What does someone like John Thain actually do in an average workday?

For another reason to be skeptical if some random person "gives" you something on the street, Google "paris ring scam."

@ agore:

Nuclear weapons wiped out "Nazism"??

"Neocons" built new, free countries out of the ashes of the Axis??

Where do you learn your history, the Perry Bible Fellowship comic strip?

http://pbfcomics.com/archive_b/PBF209-Now_Showing.jpg

http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_tvbg_main.php

Some anecdotal evidence that the word "liberal" has been successfully demonized: I have a number of print-on-demand shops at cafepress covering a variety of subjects including nature, peace, impeaching Bush, old-school skating, etc.

A couple of years ago I, too, thought it was time to reclaim the word "liberal" in its purest sense. Even though I have made sales in every other shop I opened, I have not yet sold a single item from my "Proudly Liberal" shop:

http://www.cafepress.com/proudlylib

People are still too afraid of the word - don't want their cars "keyed" - or something. Maybe this can change, I dunno...

Looks like it will come down to this in America:

When they kick out your front door

How you gonna come?

With your hands on your head

Or on the trigger of your gun

And of course there are Thomas Jefferson's thoughts:

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

... when it's hot and you're thirsty, drink water - that's what I do because when I want a beer I want something with good flavor and body.

I'll throw these films out there as I remember enjoying them on TV as a kid: The Ma & Pa Kettle films - good ol' cornpone fun!

Add to the list to obtain near coffee perfection: roast your own beans.

This just takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on the method/device. Green beans are cheap, keep for a long time and the best coffee will be had from roasted beans that are less than a week old.

Here's a good primer:

http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html

Also, for the best drip coffee maker check out Technivorm - a tad expensive but they're made in the Netherlands (not China) and brew at the proper temperature.