Need a Lift?

The LA Times had a front page article today about Chinese citizens having leg lengthening procedures to make themselves taller. In China, height is equated to success, opportunity and better jobs. The taller the better.

Here is the contraption that is used to make the tibula and fibula longer after a surgeon breaks the patient's legs:



Read the full article here: Stature of Limitations in China

I'm even thinking about having this procedure myself. 5 more inches equals 7 footer! Who's the BIG DOG now?

Star Wars Spoofs

Brad at Flying W Things turned me on to these funny movies:

AtomFilms - Pink Five

AtomFilms - Pink Five Strikes Back

Enjoy!

Get the Fork

The Lakers are done. Not this is news to anyone that follows the NBA, but it is all over for this season. As far as I am concerned they are now playing for lottery position which is fine by me since they are a team in rebuilding mode. I was optimistic that they would be a better team this year than they are. I figured the second round of the playoffs was a reasonable goal. I still agree with trading Shaq's big whining butt and would do it again. I have never loved the deal with Miami, but it was the best the Lakers could get while keeping him out of the Western Conference. Lamar Odom and Caron Butler are exciting players but Brian Grant's sore knees and 13 million a year contract aren't so hot. The guy has lots of heart, which I love, but he's too expensive and 4 years past his prime.

This season has been a tough one all around. New players, new coach, new offense, quitting coach, new interim coach, old offense and no defense. The way some of these opponents are scoring on the Lakers makes me think that if I suited up against them I could probably score a dozen or so points. Ok, definitely not. But they are pretty bad. Should a miracle happen and they make the playoffs, I'll be surprised. When they get swept out in the first round I won't be. Don't get me wrong, I still love this team like I have since as far back as 1971 but this season is all but finished. Fortunately baseball and fantasy baseball are on the horizon.

Meet the new boss...

...not the same as the old boss. "I believe in the bottomline not the headlines." -Bob Iger

This morning I attended a "Conversation with Bog Iger," the newly named CEO of the Walt Disney Company. It was held in the main theater at the studio. It was me, Bob and several hundred Disney castmembers. Bob told us that he is using these meetings to reach out and talk to us and give us a feel for him and the future.

Let me say that I have seen Bob speak in person 5 or 6 times and I have thought from the first time 4 years ago or so that he should be Michael Eisner's heir apparent. He is smart, subtle, witty, intelligent and humble. He is quick on his feet with a huge breadth of knowledge about any subject regarding TWDC that he is asked of. Needless to say I am very happy that he has been named Disney's next CEO. I was very excited to attend the meeting this morning and wound up sitting in the third row on the aisle. Shortly before 9:00am Bob sat down across the aisle from me looking a tad out of place and maybe a bit nervous or unsure of where to be. People around me noticed him and there was a little buzz about his presence. I thought to myself that he has always been approachable and since he was bantering a bit with others near him, I leaned across the aisle as he started to get up and said "excuse me sir, but I think that seat is taken." He smiled and laughed and walked up to me and told me and two of my co-workers that he was a little out of sorts as he had forgotten his speech. I extended my hand and congratulated him. He was warm and gracious and said "thank you" with a big smile.

As corny as it may sound I felt very honored to shake hands and talk to Bob for that brief moment. I don't get starstruck very often having grown up in Los Angeles and seen celebrities all my life. As a young boy I saw Danny Thomas in the elevator at the dentist office. At a summer program, I met Groucho Marx shortly before his death. With my grandmother on Hollywood Blvd. I almost stepped on Cornel Wilde's star before Cornel Wilde himself said "don't step on my star." As I remember he was rather dashing on that day as he was in so many of his movies. There have been two encounters that stand out for me where I was awestruck. The first was a couple of years ago when I had the chance to shake hands twice with former President Bill Clinton at a Rolling Stones Concert at the Staples Center. The President had introduced the Stones and I ran into him in the men's room and told him he did a great job. I saw him again after the show and shook hands with him again. A president of the United States. Wow, now that was big time. The other big celebrity encounter of note was when I met Pete Rose at his son's graduation from my wife's school. Debby had Pete's daughter in her class the year his son Tyler graduated. Debby was 5 months pregnant with Kylie at the time. After the graduation Debby introduced me to Pete. My first words to him were "you deserve to be in the hall of fame." I just blurted it out and I felt sort of stupid as soon as I did. Pete was friendly and gave me a firm handshake. He pointed at Debby's bulging tummy and said "good job." Charlie Hustle telling me I did good. Can it get much better than that?

Back to Bob Iger. After shaking his hand my co-workers told me that I did good and that I was on my way to the top. I sat back and enjoyed the moment. I had just met Bob Iger, the new head of Disney. It was as good as meeting President Clinton and Pete Rose.

Congratulations Bob.

Cube Rules

Originally published by Steve Harvey in the Los Angeles Times on March 3rd, 2005:

Writer Don Barrett's laradio.com website obtained an interoffice memo sent to employees by Clear Channel Communications, owner of more than 1,000 stations, including KFI-AM (640) and KIIS-FM (102.7):

• Never enter someone's cubicle without permission.

• Behave as if a cubicle has doors.

• Don't loiter outside someone's cubicle waiting for them to finish a phone conversation.

• Eat quietly.

• Avoid gum popping, slurping, humming and pen tapping.

• Never eat hot food at your desk.

• Perfume and cologne should be avoided in a cubicle arrangement.

Now to add a few rules of my own as I am a cube dweller at the Mouse:

• If I look busy, I am.

• If my music is too loud, enjoy it.

• If I look like I am trying to ignore you, I am.

• If I look like I am paying you lip service just to get rid of you, I am.

• If I look like I enjoy absolutely no privacy, I don't.

• There is no sign that says information desk at my cube.

• Just because I look friendly and inviting doesn't mean that I am.

• Cold hard cash goes a long way with me.

• Reaching over my cube wall and playing with things on my desk is a sure fire way to piss me off.

• Shining my desk lamp in my face will get you an ass whooping, everytime.

Turning Twenty

Tonight my 2002 PT Cruiser turned twenty. Twenty Thousand miles that is. I got my PT in October of 2001 and after three-and-a-half years I am only now topping twenty thousand miles. How cool is that! I keep saying that I will drive this car until Jamie is sixteen and then give it to her. That is seven years away. At the rate of six thousand miles per year my Cruiser will be ten years old and have only sixty thousand miles on it. I think she'll make it. Jamie is already excited about getting my car. Happy Milestone!

One Step Closer

I cannot take this anymore
I'm saying everything I've said before
All these words they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear the less you'll say
But you'll find that out anyway
Just like before...

Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break

I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again
Just like before...

Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Break break break break break

shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up shut up
I’m about to break

Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Break break break break break break

shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up
shut up when I'm talking to you
shut up shut up shut up shut up
I’m about to break

Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break

Linkin Park - "Hybrid Theory" Track 2