Dictum Ridiculum - July 2003

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Dictum Ridiculum: July 2003

Archived rants and raves from the main page of the Colin Campbell Network.

Sunday, July 27, 2003
Let’s Give A Warm Welcome …
… to TV’s Joseph Aiden Estrada! He’s the firstborn son of my dear friends Ray and Larisa, and today was his … uh … zero-ith birthday! (That means, of course, he was born today! About three hours ago, to be precise.)
Parents willing, I’ll post a picture of the newborn (perhaps with me? Perhaps …) in the next couple of days, but let’s all take a moment to say congratulations to Larisa and Ray!
As for you, Joseph, well, what can I tell you about your parents? They are incredibly kind, generous, unfailingly supportive, and truly wonderful and loving people. I’m sure you’ll find that out, and more, over the next couple of decades. I firmly believe that cool parents create cool kids, and if that is indeed the case, you’re going to turn out fantastic.
And as for the chaotic rest of the world … shape up! Joe Estrada’s here now, so knock it off!

Transmitted 08:59 PM PST | Link |

Saturday, July 26, 2003
A "Conquest" Review
London's Evening Standard published this review of Conquest, the History Channel show I'm working on, and it is well, well worth a read.
I must also note that the episode the reviewer discusses is NOT an episode I worked on, but damn, it's a great review. Which reminds me ... look for a Monkey-Plex update in the next day or so!
Transmitted 11:08 AM PST | Link |

Monday, July 21, 2003
The Buck Stops ... Uh ... Over There With That Guy
Josh Marshall has posted a nice excerpt from a recent White House press briefing, where reporters tried to get a fairly simple answer out of President Bush's new press secretary, Scott McClellan. They asked the question: Does the President take full responsibility for what goes in to the State of the Union address? I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at McClellan's circular obfuscation.
And here's a joke I wrote that's a week or so too late:
Presidental press secretary Ari Fleisher is leaving the White House to enter the private sector. Fleisher said after two and half years on the job, he's simply run out of lies.
Transmitted 11:46 PM PST | Link |

Sunday, July 20, 2003
This Year's Moon Day Celebration

Thirty-four years ago today, they landed in peace, for all mankind. I still say Neil Armstong and Buzz Aldrin's moon landing, July 20, 1969, is the most monumentally under-appreciated and under-celebrated event in recorded human history. I mean, these two guys ... and many others who made the journey off our planet ... are still with us! And they went to the moon. That bright thing in the sky? The focus of man's attention for millenia? Yeah, they went there. It was a 225,000 mile trip (one way) the likes of which had never before been attempted, and to date, has been repeated a mere five times.
I still get goosebumps reading things like NASA's Mission Log of Apollo 11. It's a good read; check it out and be amazed.
As always, freaky conspiracy theorists (you know who you are) should check out this article on ABCNEWS.com called "Why Does the U.S. Flag on the Moon Have Ripples?" And freaky conspiracy theorists? Lay off the espresso, okay?
I'll leave you with a shot taken by a European Mars probe from about five million miles away, showing both the Earth and the Moon. The journey from one to the other doesn't look so tough, does it? Then why haven't we been back?

Transmitted 11:16 AM PST | Link |

Friday, July 18, 2003
Yet Another Reason Why Finland Is Cooler Than the U.S.
Just read the wire story called Finnish Leader Gets Down With James Brown, and picture our own leader, with his uncomfortable chuckles and inappropriate grins, stumbling around up there.
On the other hand, there was this bit of Finland-related hockey news. It was recently announced that the Kings would not be bringing back my favorite player, Mikko Eloranta. Yeah, like he was a big part of the problem! He worked his Finnish ass off, every night, hitting everything in sight and staying on his skates, for the most part. It's completely wrong to make Mikko the fall guy for the Kings stumble from playoff contention. All he ever did was work hard, and eat carp. If you ask me, the Kings could use a lot more players like Mikko.
(Sniff) Wah. My favorite player is gone! Wah!
Ah, Mikko, we hardly knew ye ...
Transmitted 12:02 PM PST | Link |

Tuesday, July 15, 2003
A Lie is a Lie is a Lie ... Isn't It?
I guess it all depends on what your definition of the word "lie" is, right? Well, as Michael Kinsley writes over at Slate, it's tough finding someone to take the blame for the very simple lie at the heart of the whole Bush-Uranium-State of the Union debacle. A sample:
The president says he has not lost his confidence in CIA Director George Tenet. How sweet. If someone backed me up in a lie and then took the fall for me when it was exposed, I'd have confidence in him too.
Click here to read the whole thing. It's well worth your time.
By the way, if lying about an intern giving you a sexual favor is worth an impeachment, then what's the appropriate response to lying about a reason for going to war and killing people? Just curious.
Transmitted 03:52 PM PST | Link |

Monday, July 14, 2003
If You’re Interested …
I’m pretty happy with my work on the TV show Conquest, which airs on the History Channel. An episode I wrote about knives and daggers premiered last night, and I must admit, I still get a kick out of seeing something I wrote on the TV.
Anyhow, thanks to everyone who watched. If you weren’t among last night’s viewing audience, you’ll get another chance to see what all the fuss is about on Monday evening, July 21st. Check your local listings for the time Conquest airs in your area, although like most History Channel shows, it should be on twice during that night.
And, for more information, here's a link to the Conquest Page on HistoryChannel.com.

Transmitted 12:59 AM PST | Link |

Tuesday, July 1, 2003
Fantasy or Reality, Sign Me Up
I have no idea exactly how effective the National Do Not Call Registry will be. It seems like a well-intentioned tool to help cut down on the number of annoying calls I seem to receive, even with fairly high call screening and blocking standards already in place on my phone.
On the other hand, it's from the goverment, and it's here to help.
I suspect it cannot hurt, though, so I signed up. Perhaps you should, too.
Transmitted 12:15 AM PST | Link |

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