Somalia and the Pirates

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On the news recently was the report that four Americans that were hijacked in Somalian waters by Somalian pirates were killed during a rescue attempt. Obviously, this is a great tragedy.

But even though the waters are patrolled (ineffectively, apparently) by various nations to protect shipping from pirates, I keep wondering why Somalia hasn't been invaded by U.S. (or other) troops, and occupied, until the pirates are eliminated.

And the only reason I can think of is that Somalia doesn't have any oil reserves. It doesn't matter that scores of ships have been hijacked, and the crews killed, or imprisoned until some kind of ransom can be paid.

No oil - no strategic importance. If it were Iran or Iraq who were sending out pirates, then there would be no hesitation to invade them.

No, wait! That's already been done, and they have oil.

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Somali Pirates

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I read in the newspaper this morning that four Americans on board a yacht were captured by pirates . . . off the coast of Somalia!

Now I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but even I know that you don't travel in, or even anywhere near, someplace where pirates are operating!

I'm sure these people are scared and possibly have been harmed, but maybe, just maybe, they are getting exactly what they asked for.

Use some freakin' common sense for a change!

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Fairly Legal

I started watching a new show lately on the USA network on Thursdays at 10 pm ET called "Fairly Legal" starring Sarah Shahi who plays Kate Reed, a former lawyer who is now a legal mediator. I know, I never heard of her either (unless you watched "The L Word" - she played Carmen).

Anyway, it is a pretty darned good show - some good drama, some good humor, and so far some pretty good stories.

And the cast is pretty good too. Besides Kate (Sarah) there is her young ex-mother-in-law Lauren (Kate's father died leaving the firm to Lauren) played by Virginia Williams (who I never heard of either), a co-worker Leonardo (Baron Vaughn; ditto on not knowing him) and Kate's ex-husband Justin - someone I know! Michael Trucco (he played Sam Adams on Battlestar Galactica).

Sarah is very good in the role, but I have to admit I only started watching because in the previews she looked damned hot - and she IS! (Check out the link - the "Fairly Legal" title.)

Don't know how long it will be on the air, but from what I've read it's getting good ratings so maybe it will last a few years. Here's hoping.

The official site - http://www.usanetwork.com/series/fairlylegal/

New Year's Resolutions

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2011 already!! Seems like the year was just turning over to .... 2000!

That good old Y2K bug that was going to infest and infect every computer in the known universe.

Never happened.

But I digress. It's time to make those 2011 New Year's resolutions that no one ever keeps (that I know of).

And it's time for mine.

And it's the exact same one I've been making for more than a decade, and that is ---

To only make ONE New Year's resolution.

And I just made it.

SO simple, and SO easy to keep!

Hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and financially secure 2011.

(i.e., "Live long and prosper.")

2011 Golden Globes Awards

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Jan 18th is the Awards ceremony. And I'm mostly apathetic about it. I rarely go to the movies, so no interest there. And the TV shows I like and watch regularly are almost never nominated (still angry that Lauren Graham and "Gilmore Girls" was never nominated for either a Golden Globes or an Emmy).

But to scan over the nominations --

Never saw any of the movies nominated (one exception) so I don't care about them or the actors or actresses in them. I did go see "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D, and I was sorely disappointed in it. Not sure what I was expecting but I can't deny the effects and 3D were pretty good. It's just that the story wasn't very exciting, or something.

TV nominations --

Never watched any of the dramas nominated except "The Good Wife." So I think it should win.

Four actresses nominated (in shows I watched) are Katey Segal for "Sons of Anarchy;" Piper Perabo for "Covert Affairs;" Juliana Margulies for "The Good Wife;" and Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer."

Kyra won last year, so she is eliminated. Piper was pretty good in "Covert Affairs" but not that good. So that only leaves Katey and Juliana. Both were VERY GOOD, and I can't decide who was better, so they should share the award.

As far as the guys nominated in dramas (I didn't watch), the only show I've seen is "House." But not regularly. I got tired of the same old formula - mysterious disease, lots of things tried to cure the patient but only makes things worse, the patient is eventually cured, and House is real dick.

So, I don't care who wins that category.

I don't watch sit-coms because they are never funny and mostly boring. So I don't care which show, or which man or woman wins or loses.

I don't watch mini-series.

So, basically I don't care about any of the categories except Best Performance By An Actress In a Televison Series - Drama.

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TSA Pat-Downs

Since everyone seems to have an opinion about the airport pat-downs, here's mine --

Why not let those people getting patted down choose whether they want it done by a man or a woman? I know I certainly don't want some guy feeling ME up. If it's going to be done, I'd rather it was done by a woman, regardless of how unattractive or overweight she is.

And I'm sure there are women who would rather be felt up by a man.

(Of course I'm sure Lesbians and homosexual men would just as soon have it done by their particular gender).

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Talking about the new showcase at Universal Studios in Orlando. (Actually, the HP thing is in the Islands of Adventure side).

Went there last week on vacation. Price wasn't too bad - a 3-day pass for two adults came to just under $300; cheaper than Disney. Parking from last year had gone up from $12 to $14 on Monday, then was $15 on Wednesday.

Just looking at the entire thing was more than impressive - The mountain-top where Hogwarts is was amazing! And Hogsmeade, the village, was also outstanding.

B U T

Although there are lines of shops, only four or five are really open, and you have to stand in line with 30 or 40 other people waiting to enter from one end (they are all connected) to walk through them, to shop, and then to exit the last one. A LONG wait. In fact no wait was shorter than an hour, except for the line to buy the famous Butterbeer. But there were still 20 -25 people in line, all the time. And I wasn't about to stand in the hot sun waiting to pay an outrageous price for what is essentially butterscotch soda.

However, the MOST outrageous cost was the price for a Harry Potter wand (basically, a handle, a 12 inch or so length of wand that looked like a stick, and something on the end (maybe it lights up). How much were they asking for this?

THIRTY DOLLARS ! !! !!!

Needless to say I didn't buy one.

The line to ride that wasn't a high-speed roller coaster led you back and forth and up and down just like the lines at Disney World. And after a half hour or more you actually got inside what was supposed to be Hogwarts. I kept hearing how wonderful it was, and how it was one of the highlights, but all I saw were a few talking pictures and cheap-looking video of Harry, Hermoine and Ron talking about stuff, but the quality was so bad I couldn't understand what they were saying.

On the ride itself we were following Harry on his broomstick, zooming up and down and careening all about. That was pretty cool. Then we went down into some cave and were twisted and jerked and dropped and it made my stomach churn a bit. The seats were moving up and down and etc, but we weren't actually zooming.

Maybe if I was a teenager I would have been more impressed with everything. I realize it cost millions to construct the exhibit, but it would have been better if we were actually able to explore more of Hogwarts on our own - the dining hall, the dorm rooms, etc. (seeing the moving staircases would have been cool).

Should you go? Certainly, if you are a Harry Potter fan. And if you don't mind long waits, crowds, and over-priced food and souveniers.

Would I go again? Maybe, in a year or two, when the new has worn off and the crowds are more manageable. And maybe if the prices have come down.