Monday, January 26, 2004

Just When You Thought Life Wasn't Weird Enough You'd think I'd gotten this news story from a satire site like The Onion, but I didn't.  Got it straight from CNN. Papal blessing for break-dancers Monday, January 26, 2004 Posted: 8:32 AM EST (1332 GMT) Pope: "Artistic talent is a gift from God." VATICAN CITY (AP) -- In an unusual spectacle at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II presided over a performance of break-dancers who leaped, flipped and spun their bodies to beats from a tinny boom box. The 83-year-old pontiff seemed to approve, waving his hand after each dancer completed a move, then applauding for the entire group. He watched the performance from a raised throne. "For this creative hard work I bless you from my heart," he said. (click for the rest of the story) Maybe now that the Pope has given his blessing, all these breakdancers can get into Breakdancing Heaven. Related sites: The Physics of Breakdancing NPR's Present at the Creation:  Breakdancing Is the Pope Crazy? 9:23:10 PM     |

Small World After All Seems like the Howard Dean folks are using the same photo-hosting service that I use.  I've been using Smugmug for almost a year now, mainly to post travel pictures and to store the pictures for this site.  Howard Dean has been using it to post photos from the campaign trail.  Browsing through the galleries he has posted is facinating in a weird, political way.  Just the number of people he has had to appear before and the number of speeches he's had to give is mind-boggling.  Of course, not nearly as mind-boggling as his screaming performance after coming in third in Iowa.  Talk about political suicide. By the way, did you know you can get your own Howard Dean action figure?  Thirty-six bucks seems a little steep, though.  He also seems to be the butt of a lot of late night talk show hosts' jokes back in the states.  Here's one of my favorites: "Howard Dean came in a disappointing third place. Afterwards Dean said 'Iowa is behind me and now I look forward to screaming at voters in New Hampshire.'" —Conan O'Brien I'm still not voting for Bush -- but I am keeping an eye on him. Related sites: Photos for America:  Howard Dean's Galleries Photos for Mauldinia:  Alex Mauldin's Galleries 11:04:17 AM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.