10 Things to Think About on a Friday

You won't believe this, but today just got more Friday.  As we watch the summer fade away with the last weeks of August (and how nice it'll be to have all those little urchins back in school), we sometimes must reflect.  Personally, I like to reflect on the kind of insanity that has existed in the world this week.  This weekend is sure to be interesting as I'll have a new roommate to introduce to y'all (be nice now), and we'll be working on getting her settled in and ready to live in California (like it's really that hard.)  So, before you go drowning your workweek memories in booze this weekend or start making copies of your face on the printer, here's 10 things you can think about as the day drags to 5.

1)  Well, looks like the Military is taking great concern with the possibilities for enemies to use Twitter feed to gain intelligence.  Therefore, they've banned it.  What I'd like to know is why the NFL feels the need to do the same.  Shouldn't players be allowed to connect with fans on any level that will help raise awareness of the game?  Mr. Cromartie of the San Diego Chargers decided to tweet that the training camp food was bad, and that got him a $2,500 fine.

2)  I'm wondering what kind of strainer we'd need to get all of this plastic crap out of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.

3)  In the opening of Gattaca, the time frame is given as the "Not-Too-Distant Future."  Well, it looks like it's partially here already as China has started providing genetic breakdowns to parents as guidelines for hobbies, interests and future career paths.  Whatever happened to growing up naturally?=

4)  Those Russians are tough.  Bush goes out into the woods with a chainsaw on his ranch and tries to look rugged.  Putin?  That guy goes out to Siberia, does the butterfly in the river and then walks around bare-chested.  Who is the leader of men now?

5)  California, in an effort to reduce over-crowding and free up financial resources, has decided to release 40,000 inmates from prisons throughout the system this year.  No word yet on whether Charles Manson will get to be one of them, but my guess is more than a few stoners.  Which is sad, because when you think about it, what is the overall cash swing when you exchange their 5 years in prison on tax dollars with the tax revenue we would have been bringing in were marijuana legal and taxed and they were smoking for those 5 years?

6)  Here's an idea I can't get enough of...Ridley Scott, director of Blade Runner, bringing his vision and direction to a big screen adaptation of Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World.  

7)  In some bizarre tales, check out this father and daughter who disappeared together 10 years ago and have still not been found.  Tragic regardless of their fates.

8)  If you're a Bay Area native, what do you think the first few things the new roommate should do to get acquainted with the area?

9)  If you had to choose only one album to listen to on repeat for the rest of your life, would it be Radiohead's Kid A or Portishead's Live at the Roseland Ballroom in New York?

10)  Finally, my thoughts are on the sad news yesterday that John Hughes, who I most fondly remember for his direction of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, passed away due to a heart attack.  Directing Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck and Weird Science, his movies helped define 80s youth and pop culture, as well as providing some of the more memorable quotes for a generation.  Also passing away this week was Budd Schulberg, the screenwriter responsible for Marlon Brando's breakout performance, On the Waterfront.  "I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody."

That's it folks...next up, some more going away parties, new roommate and Madre's birthday next week.  Until then, remember to tie your shoelaces.