bears, guy who hates bears, something unrelated to bears.

This is absolutely NOT funny.

Being eaten by bears is not funny.

Also:

Stephen Colbert and Richard Branson (of Virgin Mega-Airlines-Music-Mobile-Spaceships fame) get into an on-air water fight. As in, fist-a-cuffs throw-down. Cannot wait to see that.

At some point this week I'll have something more to say other than regurgitating news stories which amuse me. But for now, really fantastic dancing that pretty much no one else will appreciate.

Lacey and Pasha Hip-Hop -- In the Morning by Junior Boys. ch'd. by Dave Scott

Lauren and Pasha Hip-Hop -- Fuego by Pitbull ch'd. by Shane Sparks

Hok and Jaimie Contemporary -- The Chairman's Waltz from Memiors of a Geisha ch'd. by Wade Robson

and last but not at all least (because it gives me chills ever single time.)

Last Season's Top Six -- Hide and Seek Imogen Heap ch'd. by Mia Michaels

(with and without screaming audience.)

PS - The dance videos are from So You Think You Can Dance, which although has ended for this season, is an unbelievably fantastic dance show. They have choreographers like Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Dan Karaty, Wade Robson and Tyse DeOrio... so it goes without saying that there are some bangin' dances. Mia Michaels was even nominated for an Emmy for a contemporary piece last year. Case in point: you missed the boat of you haven't seen it.

lately I'm a desperate believer- walkin' in a straight line.

"To live with her was to sit completely on the floor,
entirely on the grass, wholly on the hollow
of her crossed legs, utterly in the mud.

To live with her was to sing out all the notes
even if you didn't know most of the words,
to scribble down each idea thats sprang at you in the dark,

to recall the exact phrasing of every folded message
you found tucked under your pillow."

-Excerpt from "Matka" by Donna Kaz

Today, on GNN -

Russia plants flag on deep-sea Arctic Shelf. Canada laughs.


Sometimes I really do feel like Russia is that elementary school kid who always shouted the answer right after someone else had said it.

Teacher: "Class? What is 8 times 8?"
Timmy: ::raises hand::
Teacher: "Timmy?"
Timmy: Sixty fo--"
Russia: "Sixty Four!!! Sixty four."
Timmy: "You just... you heard what I said and said it after me."
Russia: "Nope, no. I said it first, I knew the answer. Sixty four."

Plus the fact that... Hi, Russia? Yes, umm... I'm not sure that anyone who actually ever makes it down there, will take a look at the flag and go:

"Ooops! Shit. Guys, we can't explore down here. Yeah, Russia figured it out first, see? They put their flag there... Well, pack it in! We're going home for cocoa."

Additionally:

"This is fully in line with Russia's strategic interests," local media quoted him as saying. "I am proud our country remains the leader in conquering the Arctic. I am proud United Russia members took part in this unprecedented mission."

...

Ahhh, true. Canada ad America are too busy frittering away valuable time in another Arctic region... on Mars.

As for "unprecedented" : Google News Archive search of "Arctic" and "Explore".

Alright, enough making fun of Russia. It's too easy to be entertaining for long.


In more serious stories, a nod to the horrible bridge collapse that happened yesterday... its lucky that they were able to rescue so many people. Regardless of whether it highlights a need for our country to perhaps be spending more on our own infrastructure and public roadways instead of puring money into other, shall we politely say, "less constructive" things, its a terrible tragedy.

Something else interesting, is doctors reawakening a man after almost six years of being in a coma.
In one camp, its astounding the kind of strides that can be made in science. By keeping this man alive using medical machines, doctors were able to keep him alive until technology caught up, and were able to electrically shock him into consciousness.

However (and there is always a however), it makes me... ill at ease to think of lying in a bed with tubes and wires living for me. But doctors were able to essentially bring this man back to life.

Are we crossing a line? Medical theory and Frankensteins monster tip-toe closer and closer together. There is something inherently un-natural to me about this, about human beings fascination with overcoming death, with cheating the natural order of things.

No one deserves to die an early death, but this gleam in our eyes is almost sinister... believing we are one step closer to cheating the one thing we can't buy more of -- Time.
Time is out of man's control... you cannot purchase, cheat, or bargain your way into more. Perhaps you can prolong your time here, but in the end, it will overtake you. If you believe in fate, technically your time has already been allotted, and there's nothing you can do to change that, no matter how clever or rich you are.

It seems ironic, in a way, that its often the most religiously-based people -- who are so bent on keeping their loved ones from proceeding onto the one thing they all pray for so constantly, the after-life. I can't say I know what I'm talking about here, since I would hope my family would know to DNR me after a good year or two,but wouldn't it follow that after a while... you would want to let go and let someone move on? Do they deep down, NOT trust in God? I don't know.
I'm not being callous either... I can understand not wanting to let someone go. But I'm just not sure human beings were ever supposed to discover this sort of technology.. I'm not sure we have the control or capabilities to use it morally and ethically yet.
And deep down, I'm not sure I really trust that its for the greater good.

Wow... this post sure did an emotional and intellectual 180.

So I guess I better pick it up with this:

Ellen, Anderson Coop, and SJP to take a stroll on Sesame St. :)