Remember who is up there?

Tariq MalikSenior EditorSPACE.com – Tue Jul 28, 7:01 am ET
The 13 people aboard the International Space Station will say their farewells and split up Tuesday when the crew of the shuttle Endeavourundocks from the orbiting laboratory.
Endeavour's seven-astronaut crew is due to cast off from the space station at 1:26 p.m. EDT (1726 GMT), marking an end to nearly a week and a half of construction work alongside the outpost's six residents.
"It has been a spectacular and successful docked phase, but all good things must come to an end," Mission Control told Endeavour's crew in a morning message.
The joint crew has been the highest population ever for the station and the largest single gathering in space by humans in history. All 13 astronauts, who represent each of the five major international partners building the station, plan to hold a brief farewell ceremony at about 10:23 a.m. EDT (1423 GMT).

COME ON HOME and bring that crazy freaking dog with you.!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Update on THE GOD PARTICLE.....The HIGGS baby

From Wikipedia

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, intended to collide opposing particle beams, of either protons at an energy of 7 TeV per particle, or lead nuclei at an energy of 574 TeV per nucleus. The Large Hadron Collider was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with the intention of testing various predictions of high-energy physics, including the existence of the hypothesized Higgs boson and of the large family of new particles predicted by supersymmetry. It lies in a tunnel 27 kilometres (17 mi) in circumference, as much as 175 metres (570 ft) beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. It is funded by and built in collaboration with over 10,000 scientists and engineers from over 100 countries as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories.[3]
On 10 September 2008, the proton beams were successfully circulated in the main ring of the LHC for the first time.

On 19 September 2008, the operations were halted due to a serious fault between two superconducting bending magnets. Due to the time required to repair the resulting damage and to add additional safety features, the LHC is scheduled to be operational in mid-November 2009.

Construction accidents and delays
On 25 October 2005, a technician was killed in the LHC tunnel when a crane load was accidentally dropped.
On 27 March 2007 a cryogenic magnet support broke during a pressure test involving one of the LHC's inner triplet (focusing quadrupole) magnet assemblies, provided by Fermilab and KEK. No one was injured. Fermilab director Pier Oddone stated "In this case we are dumbfounded that we missed some very simple balance of forces". This fault had been present in the original design, and remained during four engineering reviews over the following years. Analysis revealed that its design, made as thin as possible for better insulation, was not strong enough to withstand the forces generated during pressure testing. Details are available in a statement from Fermilab, with which CERN is in agreement. Repairing the broken magnet and reinforcing the eight identical assemblies used by LHC delayed the startup date, then planned for November 2007.

Wikinews has related news: CERN says repairs to LHC particle accelerator to cost US$21 million
Problems occurred on 19 September 2008 during powering tests of the main dipole circuit, when an electrical fault in the bus between magnets caused a rupture and a leak of six tonnes of liquid helium. The operation was delayed for several months.

It is currently believed that a faulty electrical connection between two magnets caused an arc, which compromised the liquid-helium containment. Once the cooling layer was broken, the helium flooded the surrounding vacuum layer with sufficient force to break 10-ton magnets from their mountings. The explosion also contaminated the proton tubes with soot.
Two vacuum leaks were identified in July, and the start of operations was further postponed to mid-November, 2009.

OF COURSE EVERYBODY INVOLVED SAYS

It's no big deal....just a small glitch....nothing to worry about....simply a magnet problem.

IMAGINE THE ARC THAT DAMAGED THE MAGNETS

These people are the best and the brightest.

I'm truly not looking forward to the next effort, in November, to uncover THE GOD PARTICLE

IMAGINE THE NEXT ARC BEING EVEN LARGER THAN THE LAST ONE

OMG.....maybe the arc was a small warning from the source.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

Wikipedia opening paragraph regarding Universal Health Care

Universal health care is health care coverage for all eligible residents of a political region and often covers medical, dental and mental health care. These programs vary in their structure and funding mechanisms. Typically, most costs are met via a single-payer health care system or national health insurance, or else by compulsory regulated pluralist insurance (public, private or mutual) meeting certain regulated standards.
Universal health care is implemented in all but one of the wealthy, industrialized countries, with the one exception being the United States.[1] It is also provided in many developing countries and is the trend worldwide.


ANTI-UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROPONENTS, OF WHICH THERE ARE A FEW IN MY FAMILY, CLAIM THAT IF IT HAPPENS THEN THERE WILL BE NO MORE DOCTORS.

THE SCARE TACTICS OF THE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FLAT OUT GOOFY

BUT......

THEY SEEM TO WORK BECAUSE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE NEVER GETS PAST THE CHAMBER DOORS OF REALITY

I THINK IT'S TIME TO FINALLY OPEN THAT DOOR

I suggest going to Wikipedia and read the part about arguments for and arguments against and then sent an e-mail to your congressman and help make it happen.

It's time!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

THE SHAME?

As reported in LA Times July 24 2009

An 8 year old girl was recently raped in Arizona by four boys ranging in age from 14 to 9.

That in itself is a horrible tragic story but it gets worse.

The father of the victim told family services that he didn't want her back. "Take her, I don't want her," he was quoted as saying when Child Protective Services contacted him.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas explained that the refugee family from Liberia is very strict in their belief systems regarding woman and acts of violence. Women are blamed for being raped or for enticing a man by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Tony Weedor, a Liberian refugee and founder of CenterPoint International Foundation says "It's a SHAME-based culture so the crime is not as important as protecting the family name and the name of the community."

"They are much more concerned about the shame she brought on the family."

THE SHAME?
THE SHAME?
THE SHAME?

I'm sorry but if that family doesn't take her back then they should be put on the first boat leaving for Liberia.

I realize it might be the best thing that could happen if she found a new family and tried to start a new life....but I don't see that happening.

The intense amount of therapy needed to explain things to the father of this poor girl might not be enough to change his mind...after all his family name as been shamed.

As far as I'm concerned his family name is SHIT and that harsh name calling was brought about by the father's action and has nothing to do with the girl.

THE FATHER HAS NO IDEA HOW STUPID HE SOUNDS AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE VICTIM'S DON'T FEEL SHAME FROM THE BEHAVIOR OF SICK AND VIOLENT PEOPLE.

And speaking of SICK people.

THE PARENTS OF THOSE FOUR BOYS SHOULD ALSO BE ARRESTED AND HELD FOR QUESTIONING....and then sent to bad parents prison.

This is an example of extremely poor parenting and they should be held accountable!

I think the best solution would be to have the 8 year old girl adopted by Brad and Angie and then send her father and any family member who agrees with him...back to Liberia.

America is the land of opportunity....not the land of stupidity.

I hate this story and I feel sick to my stomach that I had to read something so horrible on a beautiful Friday morning.

I apologize for extending the misery.

But sometimes there is no shame and this story confirms that there are still pre-Homo-Sapiens existing on the planet.

The weather in Santa Monica is once again 72 and there is a slight breeze coming in off the ocean. My garbage disposal was just replaced by the landlord after months of on and off and on and off behavior.

I wish I could deposit the memory of this story in the new disposal....
hum....maybe I can if I use some of Harry Potter's and Dumbledore's tricks.

Take the memory...put it in a small container and then drop it in the disposal....

It probably worked but I shouldn't have used a glass vial...it made a very ugly sound.

And a small piece of glass flew up in my face and now I have to go to the emergency room.

Shame on me!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Two different views of 1969

From July 20 to August 2o of 1969 was one incredible period in American history.

Way more highs than any previous 30 day period.

I learned recently that Neil Armstrong actually attended Woodstock and drove one of the buses shown above.

NOW....that's a movie!

The people planning to go to Woodstock probably started their journey on July 20 by smoking a fatty in honor of our moon landing.

I watched The Right Stuff on the night of the 40Th celebration and once again marveled at the early developments of our space program.

We currently have a crew in space and nobody seems to know or care. When I say nobody I mean well into the majority of people. If you went out on the street and asked about our astronauts and their current assignment...0ver 50% of the people wouldn't have a clue. I hope it's not over 70%....but it could be.

The fact that our continuation of the human species started on July 20 1969 is quite an amazing thing.

First stop on the way to finding a new home....THE MOON.

Finding a new home before the Sun burns out had to start somewhere.

And since the Sun will burn out in about 10 billion years it was important that WE got started in the area of NGL ...New Galaxy Locating

I wonder how many hallucinations in August at Woodstock included Moon landing and Space tripping?

Those people at Woodstock laid in the field at night, stoned out of their minds,and looked up at a moon that would never be the same. A moon that had been visited by human beings.

I realize that economic priorities are important but there are some dreams and some goals that stand above and beyond the normal operation of day in and day out governmental responsibilities.

An occasional trip to the moon by human beings is a pretty impressive endeavor. I realize we have plans for a Mars landing and that should be incredible....but a short trip to the moon every so often wouldn't be a bad thing.

IT HELPS PEOPLE SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

ANYTHING THAT EXPANDS THE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS IS A VERY GOOD THING.

Between July 20 and August 20 of 1969 there were probably more moments of expanded human consciousness than any other 30 day period in American history.

And then add THE MUSIC!

OMG

Michael Timothy McAlevey

ALMOST but still wonderful story

Nine feet of grass and 8 feet 6 inches of roll equals 6 inches from the one of the greatest sports story ever created.

THE PUTT never had a chance but Tom Watson gave everybody, and I mean everybody except the family and friends of Stewart Cink, an incredible experience. An experience for the ages...something golfers will remember and talk about for a long time.

Of course not as long a time as if he had won...but that's one of the problems in the wide gap between being first and second at something. Being second at something is considered a negative something by every media pundit in the world.

Even when that second was created by 6 inches of grass between a small white sphere and a small round hole.

I know Tom Watson wanted to win the Claret Jug for the sixth time but when the golf gods decide that 5 might be enough and that the other player deserves his first... than so be it.

There is no disgrace and no choking and no reason for Tom Watson to feel bad about what happened. Of course he will, because he is one of the great competitors of all time and still continues to perform at his game on an extremely high level....but finishing second at his age in that arena... is still one of the great sport stories of all time.

ALMOST is such a funny word. So many ALMOST jokes out there. So many athletes in all sports ALMOST achieved nirvana in their field of endeavor.

How many great athletes have finished second in the Olympics and live with the ALMOST tag?

How many great teams have finished second in various team sports and live with the ALMOST tag?

ALL OF THOSE ATHLETES, OF BOTH INDIVIDUAL SPORTS AND TEAM SPORTS, WHO FINISHED SECOND, SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF WHAT THEY DID.

THE MEDIA SHOULD BE TELLING THEM HOW GREAT THEY ARE....but I always refer back to the first time an announcer started making athletes feel bad. It was Jim Gray and he was talking to a United Stares sprinter, after an Olympic race, who had just finished second in the 100 meter race. I think it was about 20 years ago.

His opening question was "why didn't you run faster?"

MOMENT OF SILENCE and then a weak smile and the athlete just walked away.

NOBODY FEELS WORST THAN THEN THE GUY WHO ALMOST FINISHED FIRST

If Jim Gray had said...."America just wants you to know that we are extremely proud of your efforts over the last four years and we are sorry you didn't win but we still love you" perhaps everything would be just a lot less hostile in the world of sports reporting.

IF ONLY and ALMOST should become part of the winning team. Being nominated should truly be part of the winning brand. Finishing second and sometimes even third should be included in the story.

If Michael Phelps had gotten 7 Gold Medals and one silver, the press would have ripped him apart...maybe not ripped but for sure they would have made him feel like he was a loser with their questions about why he didn't get the last one.

I am not downplaying the importance of being first...because that takes care of itself. Being first doesn't need a boost.

What needs help are the ALMOST got first place participants. They pushed the winners to the peak and yet they are regarded as losers.

I haven't read the papers yet today but if anyone in the media thinks Tom Watson is a loser than that person, and the paper that printed it, should be suspended for 50 days. Since papers are failing by the wayside, maybe the suspension should only last 5 days....but the reporter who says Mr. Watson choked and that he had a chance for immortality should be sent packing.

TOM WATSON is already an immortal name in the world of golf and nothing will ever change that. IN FACT the last four days at Turnberry in Scotland...adds another level in how fans regard him. We all knew he was a great player back in the day but he wasn't Jack or Arnie.

He's never going to be Jack or Arnie but now when people talk about great golf moments they will quietly say the word TOM and there will be a moment of reverence.

IT'S STILL ONE OF THE GREAT GOLF STORIES OF ALL TIME even if it didn't become the GREATEST GOLF story of all time....and that will never change.

There should be a parade for TOM WATSON and the level of thank yous should overwhelm him during the next 12 months until he is ready to try again next year at St. Andrews.

And anyway, it wasn't even his fault that he missed the putt. That honor belongs to Andy North.

Andy North is one of Tom Watson's best friend's and 2 seconds before Tom putted... Andy said on worldwide television (200 million people watching around the globe) "HE IS GOING TO MAKE THIS PUTT AND WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP"

Talk about a jinx moment. Imagine Vin Scully in the bottom of the ninth inning in the 1988 World Series saying ten seconds before the pitch to Kirk Gibson....."HE'S GOING TO HIT A HOME RUN AND THE DODGERS ARE GOING TO WIN THIS GAME."

Had he said that... Kirk would have struck out...and there would be no greatest moment in Dodger history.

And if you don't think Andy North had anything thing to do with jinxing Tom Watson then you just don't get the big picture. It wasn't you and I saying it....it was his best friend, on air, with 200 million people watching.

Had he simply said....."I SURE HOPE HE SINKS THIS AND WINS THE TOURNAMENT"....then that ball would have rolled the last six inches and this article would never have been written.

BUT IT SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN FUN TO WRITE THE OTHER STORY

Stewart Cink was long overdue for a Major and we can't start making him feel bad because we wanted Tom Watson to win his ninth.

There are reasons for everything that happens.

The mysteries of the Universe far outnumber the known realities
and things happen that appear to have no explanation.....but
there's always an explanation.

It might not be what you want to hear
but
if you allow yourself a moment of reflection you can almost know that it's true.

ALMOST

ALMOST

ALMOST

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Elementry my dear Watson

I know many people who don't play golf and many others who think it's a stupid sport. ..and some who don't even think it's a sport. That last group has never played anything but miniature golf.

I also know many people who regard it as the sixth major religion.

Whatever your viewpoint might be, tomorrow in Scotland at a golf course called Turnberry, a rather amazing thing could happen.

A 59 year old gentleman will attempt to win THE OPEN. Also known as the British Open and also known as The Open Championship....and when I use the word gentleman I am describing Tom Watson to a TEE.

The television (ABC)coverage starts at 5 AM but if you wake at a reasonable hour you can catch the back nine.

All of us who play golf and reside on the northern side of 45 are regarding this as one of the most incredible sporting stories to unfold in quite a while.

Over the years....sport AARP types have had Stachel Paige, George Foreman, George Blanda and Greg Norman last year in this same tournament, but this might end up being the best of the lot.

Tom Watson swings his clubs the same as when he was 25. He is a calm and cool customer and he happens to be one of those people with a permanent smile on his face.

He also has a history in THE OPEN...having already won it five times.

One small last detail....TOM WATSON had a hip replacement in 2008...I think Phil Jackson should be paying close attention

Maybe Tom's doctor has a superior method...but then again it might have something to do with Phil being 6'10"

All I really know is the oldest player to win a MAJOR golf match was 46 year old Julius Boros.

59 would be off the charts.

Tune in Tuneberry early and hopefully watch history unfold.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

ELI STONE SUMMER BONUS

I have to adapt to my favorite TV shows being canceled because over the years they always get canceled. Sometimes they last a few seasons... sometimes they last 13 weeks...COP ROCK...and sometimes I get extremely lucky...BOSTON LEGAL and WEST WING...and they last for multiple years.



ELI STONE was the latest victim and during the year it simply stopped after 8 or 9 shows. The story had multiple future ramifications regarding the plot line and when it stopped there was absolutely no closure and no Internet rumors about anything except that it was dead in the water.

It always blows my mind when shows with non-organized divinity ramifications* can't generate an audience. Eli Stone during it's regular run was averaging between 6 and 8 million viewers.

*NON-ORGANIZED DIVINITY RAMIFICATIONS = shows that introduce us to new and creative ways to experience GOD's love. Joan of Arcadia and Eli Stone both fell into that category and both had wonderful writers and great ensembles.

About 4 weeks ago I happened to look in the newspaper at the TV shows for Saturday night and there was an ELI STONE episode at 10 pm with an N next to the name. N of course being NEW SHOW.

It turns out that they had four more episodes that were either shot before the cancellation or shot since the cancellation. I don't really care because what they were able to do was gently wrap up the story line and leave their limited fan base with a certain type of closure.



The audience over the last four weeks had averaged 2.6 million so there were numerous previous fans who have no idea that the show had four more episodes.

If you get a chance to rent the 26 Eli Stone episodes....you will be highly entertained.



The creators Greg Berlanti and March Guggenheim should be commended for trying something different and although there aren't many of us....I just want them both to know that....


I GOT IT!


But like most shows I love...I will get it no more.


SAVING GRACE is the latest version of this unique genre and they don't need a huge audience because they are on TNT. Holly Hunter might easily be the best actress working on TV.

It's worth an hour of your time. Tuesday nights at 10PM on TNT

I wish ELI STONE had been on cable but then the production values would have not been as polished.

Oh well...at least Smallville keeps hanging on. Pretty soon Clark will have to put on the suit and that will be that. Of course Smallville doesn't fall into the genre I was referring to but everyone needs a comic book fix from time to time.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

RYAN FLYING

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Ryan Seacrest is Fox's 45-Million-Dollar Man.
The "American Idol" host has closed a major new three-year deal with CKX, parent of "Idol" producer 19 Entertainment, worth $15 million per year.
Under the pact, which is believed to be the richest ever for a reality host, Seacrest will be exclusive to CKX in broadcast TV primetime to host "Idol" or any CKX-produced show that might succeed it.
The pact, which had been in the works for the past several weeks, more than triples his previous salary of slightly less than $5 million per season.

SO IF RYAN SEACREAST IS NOW MAKING 15 MIL A YEAR FOR HOSTING AMERICAN IDOL...DAVID LETTERMAN SHOULD BE MAKING 100 MIL A YEAR FOR HOSTING LATE NIGHT.

I REALIZE THAT AMERICAN IDOL HAS MORE VIEWERS IN ONE NIGHT THAN DAVID HAS IN A WEEK (maybe a month) SO THE NUMBERS PROBABLY MAKE SENSE BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THIS TO MAKE SENSE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG...I UNDERSTAND THAT RYAN IS THE NEW DICK CLARK AND HE APPEARS TO BE A NICE GUY BUT 15 MIL FOR INTRODUCING NEW TALENT AND MAKING WISECRACKS WITH SIMON????

AND THE BEAUTY OF HIS LIFE IS THAT AMERICAN IDOL IS JUST ONE OF HIS DEALIOS. HE PROBABLY PULLS DOWN ANOTHER 10 TO 15 MIL ON VARIOUS OTHER PROJECTS.

I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT SIMON COWELL MAKES 70 MIL A YEAR.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!

It's a good thing Ryan doesn't work for the state of California. He would be getting a 15 million dollar IOU.

Speaking of California...I have to assume that there will be a lot of changes in Sacramento during the next few elections. In fact rumors have it, that maybe you might even run for an office.

Arnold was simply not big enough for the job. He needed more "JUICE"

Jerry Brown should just take over right now.

It's not like he needs to be told what to do or where to go and because of his previous experience maybe he could help divert the coming disaster.

Welcome back Jerry!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Sheriff Hell

Accidents are always a pain in the butt. But having an accident with an off-duty sheriff is well beyond a pain in the butt...and when you toss in the fact that the sheriff's who filed the accident report are from the same station that the off-duty officer works.....IT TURNS INTO

SHERIFF HELL

The good and the bad news. Nobody was hurt and it wasn't me, but I wish it had been, because then I would be perfectly clear on everything that took place.

My beautiful daughter Lily is the victim. But the sheriff's department is trying to claim otherwise.

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE STORY IS THAT WHEN THE OFF-DUTY SHERIFF HIT THE CAR LILY WAS DRIVING, THE FIRST THING SHE SAID WAS...."YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON."

SHE DIDN'T ASK HOW SHE WAS OR IF SHE WAS OK....SHE SIMPLY SAID I DON'T THINK YOU HAD YOUR LIGHTS ON.

LILY had just driven from Santa Monica to the Ventura Freeway via MALIBU CANYON ROAD.

The accident happened at the Lost Hill's on ramp to the Ventura Freeway.

How many people do you think could drive Malibu Canyon Road without their lights on....and besides, the lights turn on when the car turns on....and they were still on after the accident.

THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IS SAYING THAT IT'S NO BODIES FAULT BECAUSE OF THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE STATEMENTS AND THAT EACH PARTY SHOULD JUST HAVE THEIR OWN INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKE CARE OF THE DAMAGE.

I just got off the phone with the WATCH COMMANDER of the station and and when I said that the driver of the other car was flat out lying his answer was.....some times people make mistakes on what they see. My answer was the off-duty officer is a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER and that's a pretty serious mistake or a flat out lie. And then when I asked him why she didn't ask how my daughter was after the accident he answered that he can't control what people say and don't say after an accident.

NOBODY WAS HURT and that's the best news but the Sheriff's Department at Lost hills Sheriff's station is a rather tight fraternity and it will be rather difficult to find someone there who thinks it might have been the fault of the off-duty officer.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AND HOPEFULLY MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECIDES THAT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY

I suppose I should be looking for law firms that like to take on the sheriff's department. They are probably far and few between. Nobody wants the sheriff's department or the police department mad at you. It's a uneven playing field.

THEY HAVE REALLY FAST CARS AND GUNS AND COOL UNIFORMS and a communication system far beyond the norm.

THEY WIN EVERYTIME!

But in this case an off-duty officer who is lying might just have stepped over the line.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

I was hopeful but.....

I didn't get a chance to watch Michael Jackson's last show at Staples Center but I was really hoping the news would report that Michael popped out of his coffin and started singing his new song called "Life and Death" that he had been working on for the last few years.

IF ANYBODY WAS CAPABLE OF PULLING OFF THAT TYPE OF STUNT IT WOULD BE MICHAEL

BUT ALAS.....no stunts just more entertainment. I talked to a few people that watched it and they said it was a very emotional show.

Watching the aftermath of Michael's passing it's very easy to say that he was indeed an icon and one of the top five entertainers of all time. His popularity is equaled to Elvis and his world wide support far surpasses the other King.....but then one has to remember that Elvis had no video and no Internet exposure.

I'd like to imagine the King of Rock and Roll welcoming the King of Pop to the BIG KINGDOM and immediately asking him how he did that crazy backward walk....and then the King of Pop simply says to the King of Rock and Roll....."hey dude...how did you sing like that?"

AND THEN THEY STROLL OFF CASUALLY AND WALK DOWN BY THE RIVER AND CHIT CHAT ABOUT LIFE AFTER LIFE.

I appreciate having watched both of them in my lifetime.....

.....almost as much as watching ACDC....but not quite.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

HAPPY 233rd BIRTHDAY

Santa Monica decided not to have a Fireworks show this year off the Pier. The fun part of the previous events was trying to figure when they would have the show. Sometimes it was at 5 am and sometimes the night before and I think a few years ago they decided that one week before would be a good idea.

Something to do with crowd control.

This year I'm sure the economy gave them a great excuse to say no.

I know this might sound harsh but FIREWORKS really have nothing to do with celebrating 233 years of America. We are entering unique territory when it comes to longevity of a political system such as ours.

In truth when you compare previous free enterprise democratic judicial systems it's quite hard to find something like what we have here.

IT'S THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT and it's still moving forward 233 years later.

Not only do we have a unique political system but we are also regulated to being caretaker of world problems. Sometimes we aren't asked...but mainly we attempt, through economics or stronger methods, to fix wrongs.

Sometimes it backfires and pisses off the natives.

But that's just the cost of being America in a time when most other countries are trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and how they can get there.

WE ARE HERE

AMERICA KNOWS WHO SHE IS AND ON HER 233rd BIRTHDAY IT APPEARS THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE, WHO DON'T LIVE HERE, WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

Imagine for one minute that every government in the world announced tomorrow that anybody who wanted to leave could go anywhere they wanted.....FREE OF CHARGE.

VISUALIZE THE AIRPORTS OF AMERICA

compared to all other airports in the world.

SERIOUSLY.....no contest.

Enjoy your Birthday Bitch........you've done well

Michael Timothy McAlevey

MANUEL SHOULD CUT HIS HAIR

Tonight Manuel (Manny) Ramirez returns and the one thing he should have done was follow Vladamir Guerrero's lead and cut his dreadlocks.

I mean if you really want a fresh new start and you want to take the heat off....change the look.

It's only hair Manny.....it will grow back.

Unless of course it's not real.

Picture Manny starting to go bald about six years ago from the "Juice" and he starts buying these wigs every three months that are just a bit longer than the previous purchase.

SHOWBIZ DUDE!!!!! IT'S EVERYWHERE

And Manny is at the top of the SPORTS SHOWBIZ FOOD CHAIN.

THE VERY TIP TOP

Forget those wimps in New York.....and those bad boys in Boston. Manny is the news and has been for an extended period of time.

His story was the dominate news story of the 2008 Baseball season and I don't recall anything being a close second.

Philadelphia would to think they had the biggest story but in reality they just had the happy ending. Manny ruled the sport airwaves for the last four months of the season....and then lo and behold the 2009 season starts and Manny lowers the boom with a 50 game suspension.

NEWS HOG MANNY!

And now just imagine if he showed up tonight with a BUZZ CUT. He would be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

But knowing a bit about Manny I don't see him getting a trim. How happy would Joe Torre be if Manny showed up with a shinny head?

*****
Anybody who is a Laker fan and doesn't think the team just got considerably better does not know the game of Basketball.

Kobe has got to be so freakin happy to get Ron Artest.

Two of the best defenders in basketball are now on the same team. Two of the top 10 defensive players will now be playing along side each other.

Nobody should worry about Ron going wacko....he was young and keep in mind someone in the stands did throw a drink on him.

Phil Jackson coached Dennis Rodman and compared to Dennis...Ron is like Mother Theresa.

It is another great move on the part of the Buss family and Mitch and Magic and everyone else involved.

WOW!

I still hope they can figure out how to keep Lamar Odom......he is a key because of his verstailty and because they guy is a perfect teammate.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Whatever Works and Public Enemies

I've seen two movies in the last week and only one gets my recommendation.

Whatever Works, the new Woody Allen movie, is a typical Woody Allen movie and in my opinion that's a very good thing. No one else writing and directing comes close to supplying the amount of information that Woody pours forth during his 90 minute films. It's non stop social commentary and because of his comic genius he is able to present the bleakest sides of human nature with enough humor to make it not only bearable but extremely funny.

It's almost so rapid fire that the movie requires a second viewing just to digest the entire rant.

And the fact that he was able to use Larry David for the character he would normally play is incredible. Mr. David is a taller version of Mr. Allen and they both appear to be quite similar in their neurotic behavior. Of course I don't know either of them but the persona that they want us to envision is totally based on multiple forms of neurotic behavior.

AND IF THAT IS THEIR GOAL THEY FAR EXCEED THE TARGET.

Evan Rachel Wood should get a Oscar nomination for her role. She nails the character and I looked forward to every scene that she was in. Brilliant job.

I highly advise everyone to see this film....even though I know there aren't masses of Woody Allen fans. The majority of his fans probably reside in NY, Los Angeles and Chicago. Hopefully there will be enough viewers to cover the distribution costs.

THE NEXT FILM THAT I SAW WON'T NEED ANY HELP COVERING DISTRIBUTION COSTS

BUT

PUBLIC ENEMIES....

.....makes no sense and has no social value and says nothing about anything important.

If it wasn't for Johnny Depp this movie wouldn't do $25 million in box office but because of Mr. Depp it will probably go over a $100 million.....this weekend.

IT'S SILLY...and it just doesn't make very much sense.

Johnny Depp does less in this film than any film he's ever made.

Am I really suppose to empathize with John Dillinger because he fell in love?

Am I really suppose to understand why he doesn't think regular people's money is in the bank?

I've read reviews on both of the above movies and both reviewers completely disagree with my opinion of each movie....so I'm just humbly asking you to ALSO see the Woody Allen movie...because I know you will see the Johnny Depp film.

AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Which film makes you think?
Which film gives you hope for the human race?
Which film has genius behind the camera and the script?
Which film has more machine gun fire than you ever seen in your life?

I'm really looking forward to seeing Johnny play the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland so I can get the feeling once more that Mr. Depp is the best actor alive.

I think Larry David should have played John Dillinger but that's just flat out ridiculous.

Go see
Whatever Works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

SNL finally hits the SENATE

Eight months after the election SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is finally being represented in halls of our great governmental body.

Chevy Chase is now a United States Senator......I mean Dan...er John....seriously....Mike Myers is now in the Senate....I meant to say Adam Sandler....or Al Franken....or maybe Gilda.

One of those clowns from SNL is now a United States Senator

Funny thing about clowns....sometimes they graduate from Harvard with a degree in Government like Al Franken.

It's not quite like Mr. Smith goes to Washington but it is a compelling story and it gives the Democrats 60 votes in the senate. The last time that happened was during the Carter Administration.

I don't remember but how did that work out?

I suspect that Lorne Michaels feels a special pride this morning knowing that one of his boys has made the big time. I wonder if he will be calling for tickets to the next strategical hearing on ear marking in the senate?

I look forward to the SNL routines in the fall regarding this matter. They should have Al actually do an update from the Senate on a regular basis.

Life inmates art or art inmates life?......it doesn't seem to matter anymore with all the silly reality shows on TV.

And now that a SNL alumnus has joined the Senate it just makes reality even a bit more vague and bit less transparent.

Break a leg Al....and keep em rolling in the aisles.

Michael Timothy McAlevey