How beautiful we all are!

As my friend Anna said in her introduction to this video, "How small the world is and how beautiful we all are!" After my blues last night, this was exactly what I needed. Thank you, Anna.

Visit www.wherethehellismatt.com to read about Matthew Harding, see his other videos (including the outtakes) and read his blog.

His final odyssey

I just want to say good-bye to one of my favorite science fiction writers: Arthur C. Clarke. I hope you enjoy your newest adventure!

The world will be a much poorer place without new stories from him.

"It's 'cause of you that I'm this way."

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
April 4, 1979–January 22, 2008

Image source: Yahoo! Movies

I'm going to miss Heath. I thought he was a fantastic actor and would become even better, the way he was choosing his roles so carefully. I never got attracted to his looks, though, unlike many of my younger girl friends, but his voice—that's what I found sexy. Now, he's not going to finish "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" and when I watch "The Dark Night" later this year, I'll be thinking that he's gone and that might diminish my enjoyment of the movie.

Of all the news articles that I've read today about his death, I like The New York Time's article the best. The reporters took the time to interview his neighbors in SoHo, and they liked him as a neighbor. He seemed like such a nice person.

I truly, truly hope that it wasn't suicide. Let's just say that I'm not a very happy person right now.

Email from Santa

Fun! I was surfing Blogger's Blogs of Note earlier this week and one of them was the Santa Claus Blog: Periodic Updates From North Pole, Inc. Chairman & CEO Santa Claus. The entry I read said that he and Mrs. Claus were off to a vacation in Maui and that when he comes back, he'll be negotiating with the CEOs of toy companies (for supplies) and with various governments (air space issues). So I left Santa a note, wishing him an enjoyable vacation, good luck with the negotiations, and reminding him to visit the Philippines more often this year. And dear, dear Santa emailed me back!

Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 23:36:56 -0800
From: "Santa Claus"
Subject: Thank you

Thanks for the kind words and nice wishes. I will definitely be visiting the Philippines often.

Have a great 2008!


Love, Santa

Santa Claus
Chief Executive Officer
North Pole, Inc.

Thank you, Charice. Thank you, Ellen.

After a year marred by questionable government deals and a failed coup attempt led by a rebel soldier elected into the Senate who decided he wanted to hole up in a five-star hotel with his men, this little girl with a big voice from Cabuyao, Laguna gave the Philippines a much-needed morale boost at year-end. Charice Pempengco is all of 15 years old and she appeared in The Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 19.

Enjoy! She's fantastic!

Rock stars can be rocket scientists

Queen guitarist named chancellor by British university

LONDON (AFP)—Queen guitarist Brian May has been appointed chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University in Britain, they announced Monday.

May, whose band hits include "Bohemian Rhapsody," will start the job as honorary head of the university in February, when he takes over from Cherie Blair, wife of former British premier Tony Blair.

"Yes, I will be celebrating tonight. How? With a delicious vegetarian roast and a glass of choice dessert wine!" May said in a statement released through the university.

May was awarded his doctorate in astrophysics in August. He started the PhD in 1974 but ditched it when Queen's fortunes took off before returning to his studies last year.

Saw this snippet of news in the papers last night and I was so tickled by the thought, I just had to share it.

Sigh. I wish all our celebrities were as smart, level-headed and responsible. He even sounds like a vegan!