"World Trade Center," Oliver Stone' new film about the September 11 attacks, managed a No. 3 finish at the box office. The better-than-expected tally included $19 million in weekend tickets sales alone, landing "World Trade Center" in third place at the North American box office for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Will Ferrell's race car comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," from Sony Pictures Entertainment, returned to the top of the box office with $23 million in its second weekend, raising its cumulative total to $91.2 million.
The big surprise here, I guess, is that a goofy comedy did better than the serious dramatic story. To me, it proves that, for the most part, people want to be entertained. There isn't a person old enough to go to the movies that doesn't remember the horrible events of Sept. 11, 2001. I don't know what revelations Stone could have brought to the film that we don't already know - and don't particularly want to re-live right now. We know the police, fire and first-responders were heroes that day. I don't know what a movie could tell me that I don't already remember. Meanwhile, goofy-ass Ferrell keeps us entertained and takes our minds off the relevant issues of the day - which is what movies are supposed to do.
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While watching the Phillies today (speaking of horrible events not worth re-living) I noticed a guy in the stands who caught a home run ball. He was wearing a t-shirt that proclaimed "DALLAS SUCKS - T.O. SWALLOWS" referring to Terrell Owens. What I don't understand is why someone would wear a shirt with something like that printed on it to an event where not only were there about 40,000 people, but among them, children who may not think it was particularly funny. I guess there's no accounting for tastes. In a world of a million t-shirts, why would someone choose something like that to wear in public?
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans are carrying a lot of excess weight and desperately want to slim down. No, not their waistlines -- in the size of their homes. The average home size went from 1,500 square feet in 1970 to more than 2,400 square feet in 2005. During the same period, the average household size declined, from 3.11 to 2.59.
It's about time that the great excess came to a grinding halt. What were people thinking? Were they trying to keep up with their affluent friends, showing off or just being stupid? In my area of the world, the homes that are being built are more appropriate for the Brady Bunch than a 3-person family. Meanwhile, more storage facilities are being built to house the accumulated junk that these museum homes cannot hold. More junk - more space - fewer people - skyrocketing energy costs and higher property taxes. What's wrong with this picture?
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WASHINGTON - Air travelers were handed new rules Sunday, given permission to carry small amounts of liquid nonprescription medicine onto a plane and instructed to remove their shoes during security checks. On Saturday, the TSA added mascara to the list of banned items, which includes baby teethers with gel or liquid inside, children's toys with gel inside and gel candles. Homeland Security' Secretary Michael Chertoff' reassured people things would only go so far.
"I don't see us moving to a total ban on hand baggage at this point," he told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.
Why not? A total ban on hand baggage seems like a viable solution to me. Check all your luggage and walk onto the plane with nothing that you can't carry in your pockets or purse. What ... we can't take a little version of our luggage on the plane to inconvenience passengers? Why, whatever will we stow in the overhead compartment? How about nothing. People taking "Gilligan's Island" 2-hour flights get on the plane with a carry-on bag? The TV news this weekend was filled with stories about long lines at airports. Perhaps it's time we did away with the notion that we are entitled to a carry-on bag. What's the point, anyway?
Before you start whining about your "inalienable rights", consider that we may also be entitled to board an airplane that won't blow up over the Atlantic Ocean. That would make me feel a lot better than a bag with an extra t-shirt and some toiletries.
2 comments:
Think of how much faster boarding & deplaning would be without everyone trying to cram their overstuffed carry ons into the overspace compartments....I'm with you. Just check all the bags and be done with it.
I have an inappropraite t-shirt story I'll tell you later.
Great post!
I saw Will's movie this weekend!! Yes yes I, Kate, actually saw something "current"!! Thanks thanks..... It was funny very entertaining..I enjoyed it, of course it was two hours with out my children so that could of played a HUGE factor.
When looking at all the ridiculous houses out there two questions always plague my mind.... What do these people do to afford such houses...and who wants to keep said house clean??
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