Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

My excitement is reaching an all time high.  I haven’t been this geared about getting to the theatre since Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King or Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith.  What can I say?  I’m a sucker for classic action-adventure trilogies.  In any case, this will probably  be the final coup for Harrison Ford as Indie, though he’s said several times over the years, so long as there is a role written under the name Indiana Jones, he would play it.  What I suspect is there will be a lot of Danny Glover/Lethal Weapon getting to retire jokes about, but undoubtably no one could ever imagine Indy actually giving up his adventures, just like his father.  In any case, we have reached the countdown at 25 DAYS! The Temple Of Doom, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and The Last Crusade hold high standards for this film, and many like me are salivating for it’s return.

Semi-Pro Bear Kills Trainer

The 7 and a 1/2 foot, seven hundred pound Grizzly Bear named Rocky that had a cameo in the recent comedy Semi-Pro starring Will Ferell mauled his trainer to death on Tuesday.  Rocky was being put through obedience training in Big Bear, California when the incident occured.  There are tapes being reviewed to determine whether the incident was an accident or not.  Rocky will be euthanized if it was considered intentional.

Many wild animals that have either been born into captivity or saved and acclimated to it are still considered dangerous and this incident proves why.  No matter how much these creatures love and adore their human companions, they still have the native instinct of a wild animal.  Bears in particular are noted for this trait of unpredictability.   Even Siegfried and Roy had an accident with one of their Tigers, and though it wasn’t the fault of the animal, a massive injury was the result.  There is no doubt these animals love their owners, but nonetheless it simply isn’t natural for a wild animal to be held captive, and so long as they are, be it for their well being alone or not, these kinds of accidents will continue to happen.  It’s a real shame considering the trainers of these animals suffers injuries and even death like Stephan Miller, from the animals that they loved so dearly and dedicated so much of their lives to.

Megan Fox Is The Sexiest Woman Alive

According to FHM Magazine Megan Fox is the sexiest woman alive for 2008.  After, 9 million votes were cast, here were the results:

1 Megan Fox
2 Jessica Biel
3 Jessica Alba
4 Elisha Cuthbert
5 Scarlet Johansson
6 Emmanuelle Chriqui
7 Hilary Duff
8 Tricia Helfer
9 Blake Lively
10 Kate Beckinsale

Some stunning ladies in that grouping, but the Transformers star edged them all out!  She has that old Hollywood stunning beauty to her, yet a vivacious youthful thing that makes her feel contemporary all the same.

For more details read here.

The Real World Hollywood-Episode Two

Season Twenty Drama Continues!

Word of the day? BOOBIES!

Sarah/Will Love Triangle:This episode starts with Sarah on the phone telling her boyfriend that Will has approached her in earnest about crushing her.  Immediately her boyfriend gets defensive and Sarah projects the entire situation on Will, even though she was the obvious instigator of their interlude.  Her reaction to his absence at her birthday celebration only furthers her obvious attempt to manipulate the male sex.  Whether she has any intentions to cheat with Will, her intentions at least require his attention and crush on her to stimulate her desperate ego.  Ladies, playing and using men that way, is just as dirty as men using women sexually and then hitting the road.  Don’t complain if you’re going to do the same dirty right back them.

Dave is a slut?!?  Honestly, how naive does one have to be to not understand inside of five minutes that Dave is a slut and not just your average slut, the kind that calls a woman’s breasts, tits, cans, ta-ta’s: BOOBIES.  That’s right.  Dave is the guy who calls them boobies!  What haven’t you understood Kimberly about the big giant sign he has written across his head that says SLUT.  It’s not as though he’s coy about his intentions, and flirting and toying around with you certainly isn’t going to stimulate the Boobies mans needs.  Trashy girl or no, he just wants some play.  As a bartender, you’d think Kimberly could spot these guys a million miles away.

Sarah says Dave is desperate!  This is easily translated as “Manipulator who hides her true intentions and personality is intimidated by the BOOBIES.”  Sarah is really just intimidated by the big breasted woman because she puts her true intentions out there.  That girl is screaming sex, meanwhile Sarah is a fake hiding behind walls and pretending to be something different to anyone she sees fit.  It makes her more comfortable to label Dave as desperate, but anyone with a brain can see it’s simply her own insecurities screaming out for attention and validation.  She’s jealous of the BOOBIES.

21st BDAY!  Apparently in the manipulating world of Sarah it is acceptable for herself, who has a boyfriend to  bring a guy back to the house, but Dave, the single ladies man, cannot.  Hmmm.  Wow.  Didn’t call that one.

Joey/Bri-  Bri is actually the most likable female in the house.  She doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not, she embraces her sexuality, she’s honest, and she has confidence, unlike the other two girls.  Her hooking up with Joey, the only real man in the house makes sense, and thus far I kind of like the idea of the two of them together.  Big shocker: the two grownup seek solace in one another

Sarah/Kimberly gossip about Bri-  Not that being a stripper is the best profession in the world, but at least Bri gets paid for being a tease.  Kimberly and Sarah do it for funsies and inflate their ego’s by it, Bri is doing it as a job and getting paid cash for it.  I’m still not condoning the job, but I certainly have more respect for Bri than the two bimbo’s that suffer from a plethora of hypocrisy already.

Will & Greg-  It’s nice that Greg is at least finding friendship in someone out of the group and Will being the ulimate friend is going to be more tolerant of Greg’s “idiosyncrasies” than the rest of the bunch will  be.  I’m still not sure why Will is continuing to pursue Sarah when it’s obvious she is a tease.

Kimberly/Brianna Fight-  Kimberly deserved to have her lights knocked out.  Unfortunately, it’s so dim in there it happens there is nothing to be knocked out.  She may have called Bri “ghetto” but all she proved is she is a dimmed witted ignorant white girl.  And then to top it off saying she’s not dealing with “inner city blackville”.  Unfortunately Will and Greg weren’t around to hear her comment, but I wish they were.  Her ignorant, hypocritical mouth is going to be trouble.  Maybe when she re-watches the video she’ll see she started to yell first, not Bri-and also that she was fuming afterwards while Bri was having fun with the rest of the house.

Greg as Mediator?  Wow, slap me and color me shocked.  Greg really seems to be making a genuine effort this episode to at least get along with “the peasants”, he even squashed the argument between Bri and Kimberly, though I see Bri’s insight to the future as a realistic one.  Good for Greg.

Final Thoughts?

If the rest of the season is this insane it’s going to be a long long ride.  So far I like Joey, Bri, and Will the most.   Dave and Greg are okay.  And Sarah and Kimberly need a good swatting.

BOOBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

The West Wing-Pilot Episode

This is a show I’ve been meaning to watch for years now, but it’s also one of those shows I never really wanted to start in the middle.  Nonetheless, I acquired the first four episodes and have dove in head first.  In the inspiration of a much better writer than myself, the show had me at  hello.  Here’s my elaboration:

Show Synopsis

The show focuses on the Presidents closest officials.  For example Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg, the Press Secretary.  It shows both their personal and professional lives and how each interfere with each other.  Relationships are quickly established, and it becomes apparent that not everyone on the same team is friends, but they all do what they can to work for the same common goal.  Martin Sheen plays the President though the show is actually not structured around him or his Presidential responsibilities, but everyone  who responds and reacts to them.

My Reflections

From the pilot episode it’s obvious this show has a ton of possibility.  With a ridiculously strong cast, the actors fall into their roles naturally instantly.  There is no awkwardness involved.  It’s as though they’ve all been playing their character’s for years already.  The show is focused on the people who work for the President, and instead of names and faces these are real people exploring how their dealing with realistic Oval Office issues.

The character’s are all very intriguing and very complicated, but each is obviously very strong.  What some will take a stand on and some wont.  The things that are acceptable to some and aren’t to others is a constant topic of debate.  These character’s have a lot of manueverability and room to grow and change.  It’s apparent that some of their role structure’s have been set up to take plumits and rises.  It’s very compelling.

Moreso, it’s just plain interesting and entertaining.  Yes, it’s a very smart show meant for intelligent viewers, but it has a real wit and intellect about it that plays with the same clever sense of humour.  The comedy is often subtle, but it’s definitely there.

The Point

This is serious quality programming that I can see myself getting very hooked on.  The only negative issue I have is it has been on for many many seasons and a typical theme in shows like this is the plotlines stray from their simple story telling and venture into the world of outrageous events and unlikely character arcs.  As good as it seems on a first view, I hope it stays on the same path, because this is good tv.

The Real World- Episode One (Season 20)

It’s been at least a decade since I watched the show that was once so engaging I would spectate with salivating glands of curiousity.  The shock that so many years, and so many seasons have past since the original seven entered the loft in New York nearly sent me in a nostalgic coma.  The first four or five seasons were full of ethnically diverse people that all had really compelling back rounds and personalities and became a real source of human interest to watch how they interacted with one another.  This integrity seemed to slip away in replacement of one dimensional people that were obviously going to have a lot of conflict around season six or seven.  This train wreck was fun for maybe two seasons and then just wore thin.  Partying, fighting, and being ungrateful lazy people begins to get repetitive and certainly doesn’t stimulate the thinking mind.  However, I’ll never forget those adolescent years of enjoyment and pleasure at watching a show that really opened doors for reality television.

Cruising my apple box in need of some mindless entertainment I stumble upon The Real World-Season 20.  This show is still on?  How is that possible?  I thought all the past years of cast members parished in the gauntlet and destruction of overexposure.  I was wrong.  Apparently the appeal to watch good looking young people make out with each other and fight every two minutes will never wear thin.  I take a deep breath, purchase the first episode and prepare to cringe.

Usually the first few episodes of these shows people are careful around each other, and because they don’t know the other people or understand their temperants eggshells are a necessity. Nope, not in this house.  Everyone seemed to be getting along great, and then the “model” internet winner shows up in all his meglamaniac glory.  He’s too cool to do anything, and is already alienating the rest of the cast who seem to be mostly interested in hooking up, getting wasted, and hooking up.  Ooh, and did I mention partying?  The cast member’s of this season were obviously picked because of their good looks and ability to collide with one another.  Introducing Season 20:

Kimberly Alexander is a 25-year-old aspiring gossip talk show host from Columbia, South Carolina.  She is currently a bartender/party girl.   She is the house cast member that would be the most ignorant thus far as she said on the first episode: “Will is so good looking and nice.  I can’t believe he’s from Detroit.  It’s supposed to be this inner city bad place.  oh my god.  Can I say that?  Wait rewind.  Take it off.”  Then she collapses into giggles.  Obviously, the ideal of Detroit hasn’t changed in the U.S.  While Detroit might be “bad” I’m at least glad it’s not being represented in the way SC is with the drunk, dumb bottle blonde.

Joey Kovar is a 24-year-old aspiring entertainer from Evergreen Park, Illinois.  As a former body builder, recovering from an addiction to steroids, he is now a personal trainer that seems to be his own personal motivational speaker.  In a surprise he seems to be pretty mellow and down to earth until he is provoked by the annoying “chosen one” and his temper snaps.  Suddenly in 24 hours he’s become the guy that could go all “roid” violent.  I bet he doesn’t even realize he’s a foregone conclusion.

David Malinosky is a 22-year-old aspiring actor from Hagerstown, Maryland.  He isn’t sure he wants to be an actor, he just wants to be popular.  He’s the guy that jumped on the show for exposure and to get even more easy access to the ladies.  He’s got that all american boy look and seems to suffer from the stereotypical dumb jock syndrome.  So far all he seems to care about is partying and ladies.  Relatively harmless.  I doubt he has anything worth saying anyway.

Brianna Taylor is a 20-year-old singer from Warminster, Pennsylvania that also made it to the top 45 in one of the American Idol seasons.  So this girl out of the bunch actually seems to have a talent and drive and isn’t just there for the free room and board and vacation.  However, Brianna is unfortunately suffering from her own stereotypes.  In the first episode we discover she is an exotic dance.  She dresses like one and doesn’t seem ashamed of flaunting the fact when it suits her, though in contrast she says she can’t wait to get out of the business and hates it.  She also already is being called back to Philly for a court date because of a domestic assault issue.  So far things are not looking up for “the stripper”.

Will Gilbert is a 25-year-old music producer from Oak Park, Michigan which is right next door to Detroit itself.  Will is not at all a ghetto thuggish ruggish boy that some people would expect an African American from Detroit to represent.  He’s intellectual, extremely handsome and well groomed, seems to have a real talent, and is totally out for romance.  First he wanted Brianna until he discovered her occupation, and then he was already making moves on Sarah.  Will seems the most mellow of the bunch, and the most likely to avoid conflict. 

Sarah Ralston is a 21-year-old aspiring reporter who actually went to college to achieve this dream.  She is beautiful, book smart, and a complete manipulator.  She is ready to cheat on her boyfriend that has been with her for years within 12 hours of entering the house.  This girl tries to put on the appearance of dignified respectful suburian princess, but in reality she is a trampy slut just waiting to lay herself out across the Sunset Blvd.

Greg Halstead is a 20 year old model from Queens, New York, but the way he describes himself you’d think he was born of literal royalty.  He is arrogant, boring, and obviously thrown into the house so get under everyone’s skin.  After the first night everyone hates him.  He has no redeeming qualities and has the brain power of a knat.  He thinks he’s very clever and special but in reality he’s boring and common.  Here is our drama instigator.

So…….I don’t know if I can stomach more than one or two more episodes here, but I’m going to try and give it a fair shake with the hopes that the show becomes less about the drama and more about the people.  Well, that was naive of me. I guess realistically I hope that the drama is at least fun and interesting.  Season 20 officially has begun.

 

Tag is Outlawed!

That’s right.  In a time where keeping score is no longer necessary and everyone makes the team in Little League, and to help harbor the ”gentle” psych of children, political correctness has now expanded to recess.  Dodgeball has been eliminated from schools all over because it’s considered  too violent, but the reason behind Tag being banned from some Massachusetts schools is because some kids will feel left out?  Who are we kidding?  It’s no wonder kids these days are so reliant on their parents!  It’s no wonder it’s completely acceptable to move back home or stay there until the age of thirty.  It’s no shock grandparents and daycare’s are predominantly raising the children of today instead of the parents who are too busy focusing on their careers or still going to the bar every weekend because they still have the mentality of an adolescent.  The word of the decade is “coddle.”

This generation and some following after have lost the ability to think for themselves.  No one has a voice anymore, because there is nothing but grown up children walking around looking to their parents for direction, or what the politically correct news says they should think instead of doing it for themselves.  Why has this happened?  Because of banning games like tag.  Because of forgetting to keep score.  it sounds trite, but think about it.  In attempting to shelter kids and soften them instead of teaching them to be vigorous independent thinkers and preparing them for the real world, we are molding a sense of personality that requires them to be dependent and afraid.  This epidemic starts at a young age when the morals and ideals about life and instilled in children, and coddling at a young age does not prepare them for the adult world that is cutthroat.

It’s okay to protect our children.  It’s our nature, but this is nearly abuse in my opinion.  The adults of today need to grow up and stop relying on their parents for everything because they are modeling that same behavior to their children who in a world where “tag” is an unnacceptable game, they need to strong voice and strong image to show them how to be independant.  Yes, how to fight!  How to defend yourself.  How to perservere!  It says a lot more to say keeping a score is wrong, than trying to win the game.  Try to win.  A healthy competiveness is good.  You need that in school and college and life to succeed.

Here is the article I read from the Los Angelas Times that evoked this rant.  Life is getting more and more outrageous everyday.  Those that can’t or don’t think for themselves are afraid of those that do, and unfortunately are too lazy because they aren’t competitive enough to stand up and think for themselves.  When my kids are old enough the first movie I’m going to sit them down to watch is Dead Poets Society and show them what true inspiration and independence and creativity is about.  God, by then I may be one of those crazy hippies that’s homeschooling.  At least then, they’ll get to play normal children’s games.

In the words of Maynard Keenan James:

Think for yourself, question authority.

Top Ten Worst Movies Of All Time

10.  From Justin to Kelly- I think it’s still open to debate whether or not this actually qualifies as a film, as it was inspired to simply put $$$$$ in Fox’s pocketbook, and was successful it’s goal.  However, it failed miserably at it’s attempt to put a movie together.  I’d rather be caught watching Lifetime in my sweatpants with a bowl of Cool Whip and only my finger to scoop it out, than ever watch From Justin to Kelly again.

9. Batman and Robin- This is universally referred to as one of the worst movies of all time. Clooney and ODonnell’s homo-erotic ambiguously gay duo theme meshed with the pathetic one liners seeping from a dead pan Schwarzenegger made this movie fall limp in every direction.  Perhaps they should have spent more time on the script instead of the Batsuits nipples.

8. Stargate- It’s because of this film version I waited to watch the show until six or seven seasons in.  With Kurt Russell and James Spader on this adventure that really sounded innovative and compelling, you’d think a great movie would come together.  I have never officially sat through this film in it’s entirety.  I always end up shutting it off.  It’s terrible.  Don’t use this as a basis of comparison for the show.  The only thing they have in common is their title.

7. My Best Friends Wedding-Who actually loves this over-rated piece of crap?  How could anyone fall subject to the obnoxious selfishness of Julia Roberts character in this movie?  Let’s look at the big picture.  Cameron Diaz is adorable, infectious, and wonderful in this role. I even like her, and Dermont Mulroney seems truly happy to be marrying her, but because Julia’s character has a moment of insecurity she decides to try and tear them a part and ruin the wedding? And this is a romantic comedy?  More like sadistic insanity!  Honestly, this earns a well deserved WTF.  It’s maddening in it’s annoyance and the only ocassional saving grace is the charisma of Rupert Everett.

6. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer- Don’t you kinda get the feeling from the title that this can only go bad places?  The original with Gellar, Freddie and Love was only “ok”, so why build a dynasty on a movie that was simply lucky to survive the horror flicks of that particular season?  It’s baffling.  What was more baffling was the lack of humour and lack of scary involved.  And even more baffling was Brandy’s performance. *cringes*  Stick to sitcoms Moesha!

5. Lake Placid- This is the only title of my list to which I can laugh about having seen it, but that being said, it’s still worth being #5 on my list.  This giant Alligator is killing people all over Lake Placid and it’s some natural phenomenon, except they find out it’s not!  It’s Betty White’s pet!  The Golden Girls gone Wild!  Seriously, this film is just inexcusable.

4.  Armageddon-  For my explanation read here.

3. Event Horizon- It was one of the most boring and uninteresting, not to mention bizarre Sci-Fi movies ever.  It’s a movie that makes other Science Fiction movies look bad. I love Sam Neiil too.  This was a plague on Hollywoods big screen.  Don’t see it. Ever.

2. Reindeer Games- You think Charlize Theron, Gary Sinise, and Affleck……this has got to be good right?  Wait!  Did I say Affleck?  Well, that explains everything.  I like Ben Affleck a lot, so long as he stays out of my action movies, or dramatic roles that require him to act.  He should be in comedy’s or Disney movies exclusively.  Granted Reindeer Games was obnoixous on it’s own, but when you added the terrifying attempt of Affleck to play this hard dude, just did NOT fly.  In fact, it crashed and destroyed a whole city.  A waste of time.

1. Random Hearts- This banal movie makes me want to claw my own eyes out.  Kristen Scott Thomas and Harrison Ford discover their spouses have died in a plane crash. A plane they weren’t supposed to be on.  It turns out the two had an affair.  Those are the only points this movie makes and it’s TWO AND A HALF HOURS.  Even Harrison Ford is dry and uncharismatic, and that’s against all the rules of physic’s and the universe.  I seriously would PAY someone to not watch this movie.  You will never get that time back, and you will have wilted a little inside from suffering it’s lameness.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: A Knights Tale, Dr. T and The Women, Epic Movie, and Supernova

 

The Best Shows On TV

What is everyone watching right now?  I know there are some great shows that I’ve missed, but there are some of the best shows in the history of television on right now.

House M.D.- Hugh Laurie as House, one of the most disdainful character’s ever on television, is one of the best performances on a television drama I’ve had the pleasure of watching.  The central character’s of the show are just fascinating, though mostly in their relation to House rather than their own lives.  It is probably one of the best written, most clever shows ever.  How they have pulled off Season 4 with the cast thrown in the air is a coup in itself.  You can turn this show on it’s head, get rid of most of the likable character’s, and you become left with the maniacal House, who somehow balances both charisma and mutual taste of dislike for the world in general.  After all, everyone lies.  Relationships are a waste.  On a sidebar, his relationship with Wilson is some of the best chemistry and between two contrasting character’s that somehow manage a relationship one another.  The only better I’ve seen is between Buffy and Spike from Buffy and GKar and Londo on B5.  I love this show.

The Office-What I find most bizarre and simultaneously compelling about this show is it’s ability to render me completely shocked, uncomfortable, and entertained all at once.  The show is so awkward and most of the character’s are so unforgivingly wrong it’s difficult to understand why I love watching it.  The dry sense of humour, yes, but I’m more inclined to believe it’s the trainwreck aspect.  I under no circumstance am willing to turn away.  And I don’t think I’m going to until it becomes Operation Game over for Micheal and the rest of the crew.

Scrubs-Yes, yes, yes, it’s coming to an end, but this show really had something so original and so different than any other show of it’s genre, and it still stands out.  It took two seasons of watching before I completely understood how plain and simply silly it actually is.  I will miss Kelso’s nonsensical one liners, Dr. Coxes rants, J.D.’s daydreams, Turks dancing, The Janitors dead pan glares, Ted’s sweating and high pitched voice, Jordan’s bitching, Elliot’s slap stick comedy, The Todds perversiveness, and even Carla’s voice of reason.  This was one of the best comedy’s of all time.  Though it’s ready, I’m sad to see it go.

Heroes- I feeling like I’ve been hung out to dry on this series, but it’s still one of the best shows on television right now, and though it’s been subject to the writers strike and won’t be picking up again till the fall, I will be loyally waiting to see where they go with the show for Season 3.  Season 2 was a series of ups and downs, but it really had some outstanding episodes of character and future plot development.  This is one of the most promising shows on tv.  I really hope it doesn’t get lost next year.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles-The Best New Show on Television!  I can’t begin to explain my excitement about the brief, though shockingly good first season.  What intrigued me most about TSCC was that it pretty much disregarded the third films attempt to destroy James Cameron’s original mythology behind the storyline.  That plot and storyline easily explained and shoved aside it built it’s character’s, it’s belief system, and it’s own mythology in accordance to James Cameron’s creative genius.  But they weren’t straight copycat’s either.  The show brought new and different conflicts of interest that have made the show it’s own separate entity from the films.  This is amazing stuff.  If Fox cancels it, it’s only further proof that they are morons when it’s comes to television programming.

Stargate Atlantis-It’s nearing Season Five and getting some of it’s best ratings to date.  This spin-off of SG-1 has really managed to encompass the rights and back round from it’s creative forefather, but has emerged as a very different show, with a very different feel and quality from it.  Atlantis has a real focus and drive on the story  being told and utilizes the character’s to tell it instead of the other way around.  This has left some of the character’s less than developed but has made for an extremely entertaining show.  Rodney McKay is possibly one of the most annoying and likable character’s ever.  He is right up there with George Costanza and I adore him.  It’s a really great show that has developed and morphed over the years into a very solid and fun show to watch. I recommend this show to everyone.

Dexter- See I do like shows that aren’t on NBC!  This show is based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter and the first season follows the novella very closely.  The character’s of the show are gripping, and some nearly insane, which is fair considering our main character is a serial killer.  Season 2 had so many twists and conflicts of character’s that really changed the stories feel, and has left me in complete shock wondering where season 3 is going to go.  The possibilities are endless.  At first I found Rita to be one of my least favorite character’s and now she is one of my favorite on the show.  Great writing and great cast.

South Park-As long is there are politics to discuss and celebrities making asses of themselves South Park will never grow old or dull.  This is a timeless show.

 

Dirk Pitt Anyone?

Has anyone picked up any of these books by Clive Cussler? They aren’t half bad, some fun adventure ridden stories with insurmountable and seemingly unachievable goals with the fate of the entire planet hanging by a thread. Usually it’s saved by the inevitable last minute by the brute force of Pitt. His overwhelming sense of machismo is coupled with undeniable charisma that makes his stories likable and fun. 

However, Cussler himself comes across as a megalamaniac freak. He actually adds himself in as a respective character PLAYING HIMSELF in each novel. Don’t good writers kind of write themselves into a multitude of characters to live vicariously threw, rather than actually say, Hey there’s this guy Clive Cussler to help save Pitt’s ass again. It’s become obnoxious to the point that I don’t want to read another one of his novels for awhile.  Seriously, is this guy for real?  What an egotiscal pompous freak!