Deb, Justin, and Dave sent us this great frame as a 3D memory of our vacation. We think it's wonderful and appreciate the thoughtfullness they put into it. It shows the statue of liberty from our New York visit. There is box of candy from Stuckey's, peanuts fron North Carolina, a camera, and sea shells at the bottom left corner.

When you go down South, you have to buy and eat a moon pie. These are made out of graham crackers, marshmallow, and lots and lots of sugar. After eating one, insulin is recommended. 

This is the Pecan House located in the southern part of Mississippi. We bought a dessert topping, pralenes, and other good stuff here. The outhouse at the left has air conditioning and running water. It was impressive.

Grey's Anatomy Dissects CSI

The TV show "Grey's Anatomy" is getting better ratings on Thursday night than "CSI." That's not a surprise to me. "CSI" was unique and fresh when it started but now there are too many clones: "CSI: New York" and "CSI: Miami."

And all the CSI shows use the same formula: crime discovered, crime needs to solved, lots of lab work, crime solved. This plot structure worked the first hundred times but is now wearing thin.

Another example of this is the TV series "Law and Order." I liked that show and was a faithful viewer until it was cloned and again the same plot was used a couple of hundred times.

All TV shows have a natural life cycle: they are born, they live, and they die. The funeral for "CSI" won't be held for a few years but watch the obituaries.

Runaway Plot

New TV Shows: "Runaway" and "Smith"

Like Hollywood, TV networks discover a fresh plot device and then that plot device reproduces like rabbits. One really popular plot device now is the character who is in trouble or has troubles but also has a family that also goes through the troubles. One old example of this is "Medium." Psychic chases ghosts and murder suspects while raising a family.

Now there are at least two more new shows with this same plot device: "Runaway" and "Smith."

"Runaway" is the story of a family whose father is framed for murder and the family is now on the run from the police and the bad guys who committed the murders. One would think that running away with a family in tow would add to the suspense of a show. It doesn't. In fact, I found the show boring. Waiting for the teenage son, or the teenage daughter, or the young son to make a mistake which will lead to the family's arrest or death is just that: waiting, waiting, and more waiting. There are close calls with the police and lying, lying and more lying, and then waiting. This all makes for a rather boring show.

The actors in "Runaway" are fine: Donnie Wahlberg, Leslie Hope, and the rest. The writing is competent but unoriginal and mundane. And I don't see this series getting better. So, I won't be TIVOing this show.

"Smith" has the same problem as "Runaway." In the TV show "Smith," the main character is a thief with a family. Again, this would seem to make the plot more interesting but it doesn't. We wait for the main character, Smith, to make a mistake. We wait for his family to find out that he is a thief. We wait for the police to catch the thief. Waiting is boring.

And again, I like the cast, which is led by veteran actor Ray Liotta as the master thief. But the writing is not up to par with "Mission Impossible" or any other show which depends on clever crimes to keep the viewer interested. And again, I don't see this show getting any better. So, I won't be TIVOing this show.

A story device that involves the main character in trouble and dragging his or her family around is more difficult to write than one would think. And these two shows just aren't succeeding.

Imperial Palace Theater

An interesting side note is that I saw the movie Invincible in a casino. The Imperial Palace casino in Biloxi has a movie theater inside the casino.

Except for turning my wife, Wendy, loose in the casino for an hour and a half, it worked out great for her to gamble while I watched the movie. Hopefully, I won't find out later that Wendy has sold the house and cars.

Impressive Invinicible

I'm not a big fan of sports movies. Sports movies tend to be even more formulaic than most movies but I did enjoy the movie Invincible.

Invincible is the true story of Philadelphia resident Vince Papale. Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil was hired to turn around a losing team. One of the things Coach Vermeil does is ask for non-professional football players to try out for the Eagles. Down on his luck and pressured by his friends, bartender Vince Papale tries out for the Eagles and makes it. Of course, the rest of the movie is like a dream come true for Vince.

Actor Mark Wahlberg plays Vince Papale. Athough isn't my most favorite actor, I enjoyed his performance in this movie and a few others. Wahlberg hasn't been spoiled by the Hollywood scene and can still act like an ordinary guy.

So, if you like sports movies, this one might be the right one for you.

Heading South

Wendy and I are heading for Mississippi next week. We will be spending some time with my parents.

We also are hoping to drive down to New Orleans and get some photos.

See you when we get back.

Goodbye to Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter" was fatally wounded by a sting ray on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia on Monday. My family and I have enjoyed his TV shows for many years.

When friends of ours were here visiting from Australia, I asked them about Steve Irwin. My impression was that they were not fond of the idea of him being the unofficial ambassador for Australia. I don't remember their exact words but kind of a looney character describes their opinion of him. And I understand their embarrassment.

But, first of all, I never thought that Irwin represented all Australians in profession or personality. Like all nations, I don't think Australia is a nation of crocodile hunters/wrestlers. Nor, do I think that most Australians are wild and wacky. And there are plenty of other Australian ambassadors here in the states who are well known: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, and Paul Hogan. (I wanted to use Russell Crowe but he's had some anger management problems lately.)

My heart goes out to Irwin's children and wife. They have some difficult times ahead of them. My fondness for Australians and Australia is as strong as ever. And I am glad that I invited Steve Irwin into my living room: he was a an entertaining guest that I didn't want to leave.

You can read more about Steve Irwin's life and career at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin#Family

_____________________________________________________________

Conversation overhead tonight between two crocodiles in an Australian swamp:
"Hey Freddy, didja hear about Steve-o."
"No, Malcolm. Tell me."
"He's gone, mate."
"Gone? Gone?"
"Yes."
"Crikey!"
"He was a battler. He was. A cobber to all of us crocs."
"I hear ya."
"The world is a much more dangerous place now."
"It is. G'night, Malcolm."
"G'night, Freddy."

____________________________________________________________

If you want to hear or read how Australians feel about Steve Irwin's death go to:

Australian Internet Radio Stations:
http://www.3aw.com.au/main_index.shtml

http://www.2gb.com/

Australian Internet Newspapers:
http://www.smh.com.au/index.html

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/

Me and Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise and I have had a relationship for over twenty years. I admit it's been a one sided relationship: he doesn't write, call, or invite me over for dinner. But Tom and I have been getting together at my local neighborhood movie theater at least once a year, if not twice a year, since 1983.

Our relationship started with the movie All the Right Moves. After viewing that movie, Tom and I were buddies, friends, a guy I wanted to hang out with. But recently, I've been spending less and less time with Tom. And I'm not sure yet, but our relationship could be at an end.

You see, I don't enjoy Tom's company any more. Instead of the down to earth guy I knew and liked, he has become something of an arrogant oddball. So, at our usual social gatherings at the movie theater, I've been avoiding him.

The strange thing is that the less I know about a movie star, the better our relationship is. For example, I know almost nothing about the personal lives of Harrison Ford, Jimmy Stewart, or Tom Hanks. What this means is that when I watch their movies, they can play any character or role and they are believable to me. And I'm not sitting there in the dark theater fighting stray thoughts or questions about the actors' personal lives.

While watching an actor perform, I don't want to sit there wondering if that actor is high on drugs, an alcoholic, or belongs to some cult.

Yes, we live in the information age. But I don't read tabloids, gossip columns, or People magazine. So, it takes an incident like being arrested for drunk driving and cursing police officers for possibly being Jewish to get my attention.

So, Tom, there's no other way to put it: it's over. You and me are kaput. I wish you well but don't bother to write, call, or invite me over for dinner.