A Little Hump Day Rule 5: Dorothy Mays And Valerie Lane: TCOTS

From my blog bud, Bob Belvedere!!!!!!!!!!
http://thecampofthesaints.org/2011/06/29/a-little-hump-day-rule-5-dorothy-mays-and-valerie-lane/

D O R O T H Y   M A Y S   &   V A L E R I E   L A N E…

Hit the link up above and enjoy the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Spot on Quote of The Day-------------From The Camp Of The Saints

This one is too good to just link. So here is the whole thing!


…is awarded to Yuval Levin for this brilliant one-sentence summation of Little Barry’s press conference yesterday:

It all had the feel of a childish tantrum by a person who desperately wishes he were living in a different reality—one in which he is the heroic man of action and his opponents are irresponsible and weak….

Spot-on.

If you didn’t watch the spectacle, well then, you were fortunate as you were spared witnessing Barry’s stomping of his verbal feet and hissy hysterics.

How about an examples: as reported by Mr. Levin, the man-child responding to a question about his position on ‘gay marriage’:

I’ll keep on giving you the same answer until I give you a different one, all right? And that won’t be today.

There’s much more that can be found in the transcript here – if you dare read it without ingesting tranquilizers.

Also, check out Doug Bandow’s look at an example of Julius Obamacus Nero Caesar’s tyrannical arrogance from yesterday.

Stacy McCain looks at the worst, most petty, most arrogant thing our Fearless Leader said yesterday and comes up with a simple answer to the question: What are we going to do about this jug-eared clown?

He also has the story on Mark Halperin [no friend of the Right] who said something we in the VRWC can all agree with, but which got his sorry-arse suspended.

playaroundwithme dots com says:

I am starting my channel with another option to choose! VLOG OF MY DAY, with episode series! Its more like motion dairies rather then just writing it on a diary with a pen. this will serve me even better memories in future. i will do VLOG whenever I am out to celebrate, shop, chill or even behind the scenes of my jobs. been wanting to try doing a VLOG, but my camera has been down till recently, i manage to find spaces to save all my videos. and there i have, uploading my first episode.

Yesterday was a joyful day, a gathering with Chitorowa and also a farewell party for a friend, Nic. hes going back to KL. we had steamboat! its truly along time since we seven have gathered together to stir food around bowl of soups! it was awesome, until i ate a spices which immediate fill my hunger full. the unknown spices i ate was superb nasty, the after effect of it was stinging sensation. and its horrible, i drank up my Aloe Vera juice almost immediate. and i had to order for a second cup, its weird why drinks aren't free flow, unlike the others i went. It was near Marymount area, 天下第一刷 was the stall name. the food was average, service average, place was alittle wee-bit over charge, its was my personal opinion. because i can get better yet cheaper one somewhere else.

The whole eating feast ended about 10.30pm, went straight Keris house for some monopoly deal game! i got nuts idea about how to play it in card form, normally the one i played was with a big board, dice and some funny plastic houses and some other stuffs. Like usual, i can never win in the game even with the help of ZR. don't like and will never like playing games with money, that includes gambling. I was busy recording my VLOG, trying to capture some funny moment, it was a good head start for me, never did one before, was wee-bit shaky and inconstant in progress. editing was little out too, will try to do a better one on Episode #2! And also, I did a mock up look of Nicki Minaj, Superbass. The bright neon yellow shadow and pink lips.


And if you want to watch, click on the name!

VLOG Of The Day Episode #1

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..~♥ღ`*.¸.*´ღ♥ Come Back Soon~!

The old and the new: Enterprise and George H.W. Bush

From Theo at Last of The Few.
History made in this one. As some of you may know, Enterprise is due to be decommissioned some time in 2013. She was commissioned on 25 November 1961. I was seven. She has been in service for almost fifty years.
http://www.theospark.net/2011/06/red-sea-june-21-2011-navys-oldest.html


Go to the link and you can see it much larger.
Thanks Theo.

Ticked... And Triple T. (Does that make it quadruple T if I'm ticked too?)

I am ticked that I have missed yet another Tuesday. I created Triple T, making a top ten list for every Tuesday like 6 weeks ago and I think that I have posted only 1 list. I'm ticked because seriously EVERY TUESDAY for the past too many weeks Tuesdays have magically become my busy run-around-with-your-head-cut-off kind of day and I fail to post the list that I made originally for like some Tuesday back in May. DUH! Today I had a few minutes to post (or so I thought) and I just got super busy doing other things. So, I have failed yet again at posting this Top Ten List. But instead of waiting till next Tuesday and making you all think that I forgot about my own invention, I have decided to just break the rules and post it on Wednesday. (Well, it could still be considered Tuesday because its 12:36 am and I am still up blogging. But probably all of you will not see it until Wednesday unless you are like me, reading blogs at one in the morning.

So, here you go, this is one of my favorite lists…

My Top Ten Favorite Musicals.

Some of these are only movies, some of them are only theater productions, some are both… But I decided they can fall into the same list because they are all musicals.

I tried to put these in order of my liking, but I just couldn’t do it. So, in no particular order:

1.       Tarzan

Now, it is critical to note that I am NOT talking about the Disney movie (although it is a pretty good movie.) I am talking about the original Broadway show.

I saw this on Broadway in 2006 and was S.M.I.T.T.E.N.

This is us, totally SMITTEN
It has the most brilliant music, and it had brilliant staging and costumes and I still think about those scenes that I only saw one time 5 long years ago.

Check it.

2.       Newsies 

Of course this is only a movie, but am I not the only one who thinks it is one of the greatest oversights in our UNIVERSE that no one has made it into a Broadway show yet? Hello??? It's destined for greatness. And how yummy is Jack Kelly “you think I'm lyin’?”

It was one of the first musicals I ever saw as a child. I still remember the first time I watched it. I was in 5^th grade, visiting my aunt in Texas, my cousins friend brought it over. Little did I know what I was about to feast my eyes on.

3.       Little Shop of Horrors

Now, I have only seen one stage production of this. Actually it was my first exposure to the show. I'd never even heard of it prior to my junior year of high school. (Don't judge, my parents are not big musical lovers and therefore why would they have introduced me to the magic that is Little Shop?)

My good friend Jessi did a brilliant job at playing Audrey and I still remember how brilliantly she mastered that unforgettable voice.

Besides that play the movie is the only showing I have seen of this play. And holy Rick Moranis is a gem.

And Steve Martin steals my heart, except that he is a sadist wacko. No biggie.

4.       Memphis

I've blogged about this show before. I saw it on Broadway once and a taping of that show two other times. I cried the second and the third time watching it. I can't really say much else about this show other than go to New York right now to see it. It's that good. It's Tony-award-winning-for-best-musical-in-2010-good.

I'm head over heals. 

5.       Wicked

Everyone knows about this show and everyone knows why it is amazing. I saw it on Broadway only once. It's on the bucket list to see at least another time in the big apple before I die.

6.       Thoroughly Modern Millie

This is another one that is both a movie and a stage production. I have seen both and don't really care for the movie, which is surprising because Julie Andrews is one of my favorite actresses.

Sutton Foster one the Tony for her role as Millie the week before I saw her perform the role on Broadway.

She completely and totally lived up to her award. I adore this show.

7.       Sound of Music.

I have also blogged about my love for this musical before. I have never seen a stage production of this (even thought I actually was in one back in 2003) but it’s not my favorite on stage. There is only one song that is different than the movie that I care for. I love Julie Andrews in the film version though, as well as Christopher Plumber and every other cast member.

It's such a gem. It is the first musical I ever remember watching and one of the few that my father loves. He definitely gifted to me that love of this musical.

8.       Singing in the Rain

This is one movie that I could watch over and over and over again and never tire of. Debbie Reynolds is majestic and Gene Kelly is one of my idols. They are so charismatic together. I LOVE THIS FILM.

9.       Aida

I have only seen this show on stage twice. At a little local theatre that did a magnificent production job. You know I love something when I make plans to see it again, this is one such show. I’d actually never even heard of it before I went to the showing. Not knowing what to expect I immediately fell in love with it. The plot, the music. Its magical. So, in my immediate  love affair I went home and bought tickets to go see it again the next night. I have done this several times with shows I love. I have yet to do it in New York but I always wish I had after I am done. I am taking this into consideration for the next trip I take.

And finally # 10.

Footloose. 

I really like the movie version of this show. I mean how yummy is Kevin Bacon?

But my true love for the show is in its theatre production. I've only seen one high schools pathetic version of the show being done as an audience member. I was in the show in high school, but my real love came simply from the original Broadway cast recording soundtrack. It's magical, for lack of a better word. (all of these shows are magical to me in some way)

And there you have my top ten favorite musicals. What are yours?

 
Before signing off though, I have a sort of embarrassing confession to make… It is super duper juvenile but my runner up that barely got cut from the list is Annie. I have only seen the movie and not that new one they came out with just a few years ago. The original from the 80’s. The reason I love it is the freeking talent that it showcases, and actually not Annie herself… she is ok in my opinion but NOT the reason I watch it. Burnadette Peters and Tim Curry blow me away.

And who doesn’t adore Carol Burnette in all her villan-ness.

And Ann Reinking is to die for.

Totally juvenile and embarrassing but I truly love this movie.

As I said when I created Triple T, I did it because it is a way I get to know people in real life. I am always asking people to give me their top ten of something. You can really learn a lot about somebody from their top ten lists. That is what I love about it. I think you all will get to know me better from this lovely and I want you all to participate too. Make your own Top Ten lists and let me know about them. I will get a linky party going someday! 

playaroundwithme dots com says:

Another contest entries, taking part for a Youtube friends, SUPPORT!

She is looking for the most Gothic-licious makeup look you can come out with, apparently, you can draft out using your face chart to submit. i was actually researching for quite afew inspiration online, too many commonly used factor for gothic, messy black liner, scenes hair, teary marks. therefore i restrict myself from doing the same, instead of messy, i make it more glamorous, while doing halfway, i realize i am missing out something without the boarder of our face being filled up, so i came across this particular voodoo mask that got me filled up with ideas!


What i have in my eye area was actually the reverse of black an white with a tint of purple eyeshadow, i was actually trying to imitate Shu Uemura spongy effect, but apparently, i don't have any cream pot for the effect therefore i did another version. also making my liner look wee-bit of cat-eyes. with thick lashes, deep contouring with black shadow and black bold lips. I think it look great with my tribal add-on (the 2 triangular horns)! so tell me how I score for this look! Till then, TC!

CLICK NAME FOR CONTEST LINK
suzuki500bitch

CLICK NAME FOR VIDEO TUTORIAL
TheChrrian

ps: one thing for sure, if i can do it on paper, i could do it on face too.


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..~♥ღ`*.¸.*´ღ♥ Come Back Soon~!

TARGET MARKET OF THE THE POWER OF DREAMS CAMPAIGN

‘‘The Power of Dreams’’ targeted a large and diverse audience. While Honda wished to attract younger buyers, they were not the company’s only focus. With a wide range of car models, from the lower-priced Civic to the higher-end Accord, Honda could potentially appeal to drivers within all age groups and socioeconomic statuses. All potential new buyers, whatever their age, represented Honda’s target market. Thus, of the many different media that ‘‘The Power of Dreams’’ employed, television advertising, with its ability to reach a wide audience, was expected to be the most effective. Further, by portraying Hondas as hip and fun, the commercials appealed to a broad range of potential buyers. Honda’s new campaign mainly focused on raising public awareness of its cars—especially in Europe and the United Kingdom, where Honda was largely associated with motorcycles—and, in particular, getting new customers to visit Honda showrooms. There was also an emphasis on pleasing return customers. The company wished to improve communications with Honda owners and thus make them feel good about their choice of Honda; this in turn would convince them to buy a Honda the next time around.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE THE POWER OF DREAMS CAMPAIGN

In April 1964 Honda spent $300,000 to sponsor the Academy Awards, becoming the first foreign corporate sponsor in the event’s history. With the tagline ‘‘You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda,’’ the Honda advertising campaign was a success, becoming one of the bestremembered advertising campaigns in the company’s history. Nevertheless, although the campaign promoted Honda’s motorcycles well, it did little to sell Honda vehicles. The reality was that Honda was better known for its motorcycles than it was for its cars. This long remained the case in most of the countries where Hondas were sold. In Japan, where big-splash promotional efforts for Honda’s cars were common, the problem was not so severe. The 1981 campaign to promote Honda’s model the City, for one, was omnipresent in Japan, incorporating large-scale TV, radio, and print advertising. There was even a variety of City novelty goods for sale and a specialty magazine called City Press. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Honda automobile production had yet to begin. Honda cars had been available there as imports, but not enough units were ordered to establish a presence. Further, the prices of imported cars could not compete with that of vehicles manufactured within the country. Thus, at the time, any sales push in the area focused on Honda motorbikes. In 1992, when Honda automobile production began in the United Kingdom, the shift toward promoting Honda automobiles there began, albeit slowly. But the potential market for the new manufacturing plant was huge: located in Swindon, England, it was responsible for producing vehicles well beyond the United Kingdom, including mainland Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As such, Honda felt the need to begin a major campaign within the United Kingdom. Eventually it happened. ‘‘The Power of Dreams’’ replaced the 1999 global tagline ‘‘Do You Have a Honda?’’ This earlier campaign employed print, radio, and television, and portrayed the dreams of Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda, who envisioned providing the world with all the possible means of travel. Soichiro Honda himself had repaired and created bicycles and motorcycles as well as both road cars and racing vehicles. The ‘‘Do You Have a Honda?’’ ads thus incorporated images of all of these means of transportation as well as more creative means, including a hot-air balloon and a cable car. Although the ‘‘Do You Have a Honda?’’ ads spread worldwide, the United Kingdom was barely affected by the campaign. From 1998 to 1999 Honda automobile sales in Europe dropped from 240,000 to 235,000. The decline continued through 2002. In the United Kingdom, Honda auto sales began to drop in 2000. In 2002 ‘‘Do You Have a Honda?’’ was replaced with the campaign ‘‘The Power ofDreams.’’ Although the tagline was part of a larger global focus, the campaign, under the leadership of ad agency Wieden+Kennedy in London, centered on promotional efforts within the United Kingdom.

OVERVIEW OF THE THE POWER OF DREAMS CAMPAIGN

In 2002 Honda Motor Company was the number-three Japanese automobile manufacturer in the world, behind Toyota and Nissan. While Honda’s automobile sales in Japan and the United States were considered strong, sales in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe were thought to be weak, even though automobile production in the United Kingdom had been ongoing for a decade. Further, Honda vehicle sales had been declining in these regions since 1998. In response to these problems Honda hired ad agency Wieden+Kennedy’s London office to create an advertising campaign that would directly address the issues.
‘‘The Power of Dreams,’’ released in 2002, was an omnipresent campaign in the United Kingdom and beyond, using television, direct mail, radio, posters, press, interactive television, cinema, magazines, motor shows, press launches, dealerships, postcards, beermats (coasters), and even traffic cones. It built upon Honda’s company slogan, ‘‘Yume No Chikara,’’ which was first endorsed in the 1940s by the company’s founder, Soichiro Honda. Translated into English, it meant to ‘‘see’’ one’s dreams. Wieden+Kennedy used this phrase as the basis of its question to consumers: ‘‘Do you believe in the power of dreams?’’ The global campaign, which centered on this tagline, included print and television components starring ASIMO, a humanoid robot developed by Honda. While the ASIMO ads gained widespread recognition, the 2003 television commercial called ‘‘Cog’’ was clearly a pinnacle of the campaign. In a single take with no special effects, more than 85 individual parts of the new Accord interacted in a complicated chain reaction. The spot won 37 advertising awards. Honda considered ‘‘The Power of Dreams’’ an advertising success. Worldwide sales of Honda vehicles rose dramatically from 2002 through 2005, from 2.6 million units per year to 3.2 million units per year. In the United Kingdom sales improved by 28 percent. In Europe sales in 2002 increased from 170,000 to 196,000, which rose to 217,000 in 2003. The campaign also won IPA Advertising Effectiveness awards, British Television Advertising awards, and even a 2003 Gold Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival.

More HAMBO'S HAMMER

From yesterday at the PIGAZETTE.
Good Read, folks. Really good read.

Freedom of Speech

[The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on video games has the usual suspects bellowing their contention that the U.S. Constitution gives the Nanny State the power to protect them from speech they don't want to hear. They use the term 'free speech', because it implies that there is some speech which is NOT free. 'Free Speech' is term Korrectniks brandish when they are creating speech codes, promulgating thought crime laws (aka 'hate speech'). Free Speech, and its fellow traveler Restricted Speech are at the heart of political correctness. If the term 'free speech' is a trap, what's the proper term for this inalienable individual liberty? That answer is enshrined in our First Amendment. Anyone who takes time to read the First Amendment, will notice that the Founding Fathers don't cite 'free speech', They use the unambiguous term 'freedom of speech', a term which does not give the eager censors any wiggle room. The opposite of freedom is tyranny, and nobody in their right mind thinks the Founding Fathers wanted any part of that.] This venerable Hambo rant explores the following elements of the PIG Doctrine, in greater specificity: The exaggerated sensitivities of others are not my responsibility, nor do their hurt feelings empower them to abolish my right to Freedom of Speech. Since a word is nothing more than an ethically-neutral sequence of sound waves, it only has as much power for good or evil as the listener bestows upon it. There are no intrinsically 'offensive' sound waves, there are only hypersensitive listeners who are predisposed to being offended by them. America And The Sounds of Silence It's no accident that our inalienable birthright of Freedom of Speech is enshrined in the 1st Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. Its primary purpose is to remind the Nanny State to back the hell off when it comes to our Freedom of Speech. A secondary purpose, probably an unintentional one, is to remind each and every one of us that Freedom of Speech involves other sovereign individuals who can, and will, say things that we don't want to hear. Unhappily, neither of these lofty purposes has been achieved. From the dawn of time, humans have been trying snuff out speech that they didn't want to hear. Each of us is afflicted with this utterly human malady. We want our voice to be heard, without restriction, but few of us have the stones to tolerate an opposing point of view. The Free State of PIG calls this phenomenon the 'Sounds of Silence'. The Sounds of Silence have a long, sorry history. For example, when Iggy the Apeman started to feel frisky and went searching for female companionship, he would, invariably have his trusty club resting on his shoulder. Why? When he meet a suitable playmate, the last thing he wanted to hear from Cuddles the Cave Cutie is 'Not tonight, Iggy, I've got a headache'. A little love tap from his club resolved the pesky issue by imposing the sweet Sounds of Silence. Not much has changed since Iggy and Cuddles' time, and humans continue to do everything in their power to snuff out speech they don't want to hear. They prefer the Sounds of Silence, because they can't handle speech that makes them defend their views, makes them listen to an unfiltered dose of objective reality. These self-appointed censors, invariably, use the government's monopoly on the use of force, to impose their preferred Sounds of Silence. * Over the centuries, supernaturalists - from every sect - imposed the Sounds of Silence with blasphemy laws criminalizing 'religious' speech they didn't want to hear. We regret to report that such laws persist, to this very day, in parts of Europe, and in most Jihadikaze infested nations. * Over the centuries, tyrannical regimes imposed the Sounds of Silence by making it a "shut up or we'll kill you" class crime to criticize the current regime. That, too, persists in certain notorious liberty-nuking blights on our globe. * When it comes to censorship, when it comes to imposing the Sounds of Silence, America's true believers have a long, ignoble history. During the earliest phases of America's Colonial era, supernaturalist enclaves were imposing the Sounds of Silence on anyone who didn't spout the 'party line'. The differently-religious, along with true believers from the WRONG Cross Cult sect, got the Sounds of Silence bum's rush right out of town. Those who refused to comply were taught the errors of their ways. The Sounds of Silence's infamous history was one of the reasons that America's Founding Fathers did their best to protect our Freedom of Speech birthright from a government-imposed Sounds of Silence. Unfortunately, human nature won't be denied and our 'shut the hell up' instincts seem to be winning this two centuries old battle to impose the Sounds of Silence from sea to shining sea. Despite the 1st Amendment's protection of Freedom of Speech, sovereign American individuals, on both sides of the political spectrum, do their utmost to silence speech they don't want to hear. Technically, the 1st Amendment is still the law of the land. Technically, it continues to tell the government to 'back off'. Technically, it continues to warn sovereign individuals to 'get over it', when it comes to hearing things they don't like. Technically, but 21st century reality tells a different story. * The Demoncrats imposed the Sounds of Silence on debates during primary elections by refusing to appear at any debates hosted by Fox News. That 'liberated' them from listening to, from answering, any hard, challenging, questions that could expose their views to the chad-punching public. * When it comes to the Sounds of Silence, Messiah Barry is without peer. In a daring, preemptive, strike, he took numerous items off the table. These include, but are not limited to: his supernaturalism, his middle name, his rogues gallery of friends and associates, his inexperience, his blatantly Marxist platform, his unrelenting flip-flopping, and his unsuitability for that Oval Office job. He snuffed out any comments on these, and other matters, with a Sounds of Silence weapon of mass destruction: the race card. * The Elephant Clan is equally adept at imposing the Sounds of Silence. They, too, favor the preemptive strike and it's almost as good as Messiah Barry's race card. Determined to snuff out any Freedom of Speech that exposes their sorry, government expanding, liberty nuking, antics, the Elephant Clan's Sounds of Silence trump card is their venerable mantra: We know that we really, really suck, BUT, the Demoncrats still suck more. * Believe it or not, even on the Internet, where Freedom of Speech is alive and well, the Sounds of Silence have gained a foothold.A year or two ago, some Blogspot sites were shutdown by the parent company, Google. The Sounds of Silence scheme is simple and very effective. A group of Daily Kossack Obamatons singled out sites that were critical of Messiah Barry, then complained to Blogspot/Google that the sites are 'offensive'. Armed with those complaints, Blogspot/Google locked out the perpetrator of that Blogspot site while the investigation was under way. The ensuing Sounds of Silence resulted in several of the bloggers moving their sites to a competing blog site provider, but it will take time for them to recover their lost readership. Many of the targeted blogs are run by disgruntled Comrade Hillary supporters, who refused to be dazzled by Barry's bullshit. * Until President Reagan eradicated it, the Sounds of Silence were very successful in snuffing out political speech on radio and television with the 'Fairness Doctrine'. In the name of promoting Freedom of Speech, this Draconian Nanny State stinker chased it off the 'public' airwaves. The instant the Sounds of Silence were dropped like a bad habit, talk radio exploded onto the scene, generating the robust political debate that the Fairness Doctrine promised, but never delivered. The leftwing loons did their best to make this 'robust, wide-open political debate' work for them, but their primary success is on certain boob tube networks that were already dominated by lefties. The problem, as they soon found out, is that relentless liberal whining isn't viable in the marketplace. Whenever we the people are given a choice, we dump the liberal offering like a bad habit. That's why, depending on the outcome of the forthcoming election, this stinker could be disinterred, re-animated and used to restore the Sounds of Silence on the 'public' airwaves. If the libs can't make us listen, the next best thing is to use the Sounds of Silence to eliminate what rational adults want to hear. * Juan 'Do You Want Salsa With That Citizenship, Chico' McCain succeeded in putting a muzzle on political speech, because Freedom of Speech gives incumbent Elected Tormentors a boo-boo. His Campaign Finance Reform imposed the Sounds of Silence during the critical phase of any election cycle, by criminalizing the Freedom of Speech of sovereign, chad-punching individuals. * The neo-Marxist Eggheads, who dominate America's Ivory Towers, began imposing the Sounds of Silence, decades ago, with campus speech codes. Now, in the 21st century, roving gangs of Korrectniks intimidate any rational adult, who strays onto a college campus, into surrendering their Freedom of Speech birthright. The vaunted 'free exchange of ideas' has been unceremoniously evicted from the campus, by these cultural Marxists. * Mecca Maniacs have reset the Sounds of Silence bar to dizzying heights. Their zeal, in this regard, is off the charts. If you dare to exercise your Freedom of Speech birthright about their prophet, their supernaturalism, their deity, or simply make them feel bad, THEY WILL KILL YOU. In their special circle of hell, Freedom of Speech is a synonym for "death sentence". * America's properly hyphenated horde has whined its way around the 1st Amendment and prodded the Nanny State into criminalizing any speech that gives them a rash. It's called 'hate speech' and it's so loosely defined that it applies to any speech they don't want to hear. The Sounds of Silence are the law of the land, in this land conceived in liberty. * Elements of the Vast Right-Wingnut Conspiracy have - in the name 'of the children' worked tirelessly to impose the Sounds of Silence on entertainment fare. Because some breeders can't, or won't, properly supervise their tykes, the Nanny State imposed Sounds of Silence which, systematically, deny sovereign individuals adult-themed content. Anything more daring than a test pattern is too 'edgy' for the boob tube. Any movie DVD that is aimed at an individual older than 5 can't be sold in the local outpost of capitalism, because - GASP - a child might get his mitts on it. Music albums that contain adult lyrics must be exiled, affixed with warning labels, and, wherever possible, removed from a store because some tyke might find it. Video games that give the VRWC a rash must be banished from the marketplace. Too many alleged adults are hooked on the Sounds of Silence. Too many alleged adults take the easy way out by snuffing out speech that they can't handle, or just plain don't like. Too many alleged adults seem to forget that the Sounds of Silence are the quiet that proceeds the thunder of jackboots goose-stepping over our liberty. It's time to flush the Sounds of Silence. It's time to grow a pair and confront that exercise in Freedom of Speech that gets on your last raw nerve. It's time for each and every one of us to restore Freedom of Speech - as the Founding Fathers intended it - to its rightful place in this land of the not as free as we're supposed to be.

Succes 2011: François Hollande, politician cotat cu mari şanse de a deveni viitorul preşedinte al Franţei

François Hollande (born 12 August 1954) is a French politician. From 1997 to 2008, he was the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party. He is also a deputy from the département of Corrèze and the mayor of Tulle.

He was born in in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, and is a graduate of HEC, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and ENA, and his former profession was as councillor in the Court of Accounts.

In 2004, he took the position of 'yes' on the French referendum on the European Constitution, thus opposing number two of the party, Laurent Fabius. Hollande organised an internal vote on the party's position on December 1, in which representatives voted with 59% margin for 'yes', but the constitution was eventually defeated by the French public in May 2005.

His partner was former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, with whom he has four children - Thomas (1984), Clémence (1985), Julien (1987) and Flora (1992). In June 2007, just a month after the French presidential election of 2007, the couple announced that they were separating.

Shortly after his split from Ségolène Royal was announced, the French website lepolitique.com published details of a relationship between Hollande and a French journalist, Valérie Trieweiler. Many considered this to be a breach of France's strict stance on politicians' personal privacy. In November 2007, Valérie Trieweiler discussed openly her relationship with Hollande in an interview with French weekly Télé 7 Jours.

He is seen as a leading contender for the socialist nomination as candidate for the 2012 presidential election.

Political careeer

Electoral mandates European Parliament

* Member of European Parliament : 1999-2002 (Resignation, reelected member of the National Assembly of France in 2002).

National Assembly of France

* Member of the National Assembly of France for Corrèze : 1988-1993 / 1997-1999 (Became member of European Parliament 1999) / And since 2002. Elected in 1988, reelected in 1997, 2002, 2007.

Regional Council

* Vice-president of the Regional Council of Limousin (region) : 1998-2001 (Resignation).
* Regional councillor of Limousin (region) : 1998-2001 (Resignation).

General Council

* President of the General Council of Corrèze : Since 2008.
* General councillor of Corrèze : Since 2008.

Municipal Council

* Mayor of Tulle : 2001-2008 (Resignation).
* Deputy-mayor of Tulle : 1989-1995.
* Municipal councillor of Tulle : 1989-2008 (Resignation). Reelected in 1995, 2001.
* Municipal councillor of Ussel, Corrèze : 1983-1989.

Political functions

* First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party (France) : 1997-2008. Reelected in 2000, 2003, 2005.

New Header Pic

I needed something with snow and ice..............and having a retro painted EA-6B and EA-18G of The Vikings of VAQ129 out of NAS Whidbey Island WA flying over Mount Rainier seemed to work. It is a beautiful shot, don't you think?

Some PIG!

Hambo's Hammer for Monday, 27 June 2011!

What is an American
[A Southern Mexifornia fishwrap, the O.C. Register, asked its readers to answer the question, 'What is an American?', but they only gave the reader 100 words to get 'er done. I have already answered that question, but it's somewhat longer than 100 words.]
What is an American? The answer to that depends on whom you ask:
Mahmoud al-Gilligan, and all his Jihadikaze home boys will tell you that an American is evil personified. He will insist that an American is a demon who inhabits the Great Satan, their term for the United States of America.
Messiah Al's disciples will tell you that an American is a carbon-spewing, energy swilling junkie who is callously destroying Mother Earth.
Hugo "Skipper" Chavez and his Marxist cohorts will tell you that an American is a capitalist exploiter who is enslaving the underclasses.
Cindy Sheehan class peace punks will insist that an American is a war monger who won't rest until he has trampled defenseless nations underfoot and enslaved the denizens of those nations.
Before we can get a meaningful answer to our question, we need to seek the answer to another, equally important question: What is it that defines a national identity like "Italian", "Canadian", or "American"?

Ethnicity: Many national identities (Japanese, for example) are based, in part, on a shared ethnicity. That's a viable standard, but it won't work for America, because Americans can, and do, come from any/every ethic group. There is no ethnic/racial litmus test that will exclude someone from becoming an American.

Culture: Another common criteria for a national identity is a shared culture that stretches back centuries or millennia. That won't work for Americans who have a propensity for remaking their culture on the fly. Americans, routinely, borrow elements from other cultures, especially when it comes to foods, fashions and terminology.

Geography: Being an American isn't tied to a certain portion of the North American continent. It's not the land itself that makes someone an American. An American is an American, no matter where he, she, heshe or it lives.

Longevity: In some instances, a national identity is based on how long a group of people have lived in a certain place. Excluding Siberian-Americans, those most commonly identified as Americans have only been living in the New World for 400 years, at most.
Obviously the usual traits that define a national identity don't seem to apply to 'American'. The 'American' identity isn't limited by ethnicity, culture, geography and longevity. We need to dig deeper for the answer to this question.
What is an American? It's not the vile things that our critics claim and it defies the conventional criteria for a national identity. The essence of being an American was shaped by this land, but not defined by it. The essence of being an American was, and is, enriched by the many ethnicities that inhabit this land conceived in liberty but isn't limited to any one of them. The essence of being an American is demonstrated by, not defined by, American culture.
The traits that define an American aren't anything tangible. Being an American is an attitude, a singular mindset, that we carry inside each and every one of us who are proud to state "I'm an American". The central fact about Americans is that their national identity was created, from scratch, by those rugged individuals who made their home here.
We are, as the open borders crowd insists, a nation of immigrants. Each new wave of immigration has put its own mark on the American character, redefining what it means to be an American, in the process.
The first immigration wave to the New World was undertaken at least 10,000 years ago, in the waning days of an ice age. Leaving the world they knew, those original immigrants - those individuals I call Siberian-Americans - gazed upon the land bridge spanning the Bering Straits and boldly began a long journey into the unknown. They were the embodiment of that classic human trait that makes us seek the answer to the question: "I wonder where that leads?" They started out on a dangerous journey into unknown territory to face its dangers head-on. Why did they risk it? Because it's a primal human impulse to find out what's around that next turn in the road, beyond that hill on the horizon, or across that dangerous stretch of ocean.
The next wave of immigration began when determined individuals in Europe started out on their own dangerous journey in boats that were barely up to the challenge of a notoriously unforgiving stretch of ocean. They landed on the new world and began to populate its eastern shores with men and women who dared to dream of a bold, untried form of government. Many of those who started that journey never lived to finish it. Some of those who completed that dangerous passage, didn't survive the rigors that the New World imposed on them. Those who emerged from that trial by an unflinching Mother Nature laid the ground work for that singular individual we call an American.
Americans are, by nature, innovators, risk takers. An American is an individual who wants to test, his, her, hisher or its personal limits. An American wants to see how far, how high, their intellect, talent and hard work can take them. An American seeks "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" without Nanny State interference.
That seems to explain why people around the world spend years jumping through bureaucratic hoops, and surmounting countless hurdles for the right to become an American. Many of them understand what it really means to be an American better than most native born Americans. In many cases, these newest Americans put us to shame with their classically American work ethic, their determination to build their lives from scratch. They want to make their mark on the world, without Nanny State assistance.
There's a lot we can learn from these legal immigrats who work so hard to enter America through the front door. They have much more to offer than exotic foods, fashion trends and new terminology. They are a badly needed lesson, a warning, that we are allowing the Nanny State and its damn social safety net to strip all the real meaning from America's national identity.
It's my considered opinion that too many native born Americans have lost their way. The Nanny State's siren song of artificial rights and safety nets that 'spare' us the essential, character building, life lessons is destroying us. Those life lessons, those blows that the Nanny State absorbs, are vital when it comes to forging the American character. We have become fat, lazy and much too complacent, while the Nanny State chips away at our birthright of inalienable individual liberty. We are, in short, our own worst enemy when it comes to the erosion of that rugged individualism that is the solid foundation which gives being an American its unique meaning.
We've lost our way, but the situation isn't hopeless. Many - perhaps most - of America's legal, front door, immigrants harken back to the essence of what it means to be an American. They don't want a handout. They don't want a safety net. All they want is their chance to become that self-reliant, that self-made, individual, an American.
What is an American? If you still don't know, ask any legal immigrant. Ask any of those determined individuals who walk that long, torturous, path that ends at a ceremony where they are sworn in as a certified American. Ask those eager immigrants who dip their toe into those teeming capitalist waters with that donut shop, convenience store, dry cleaners or gas station. Ask that endlessly patient individual who is on that years long waiting list, ready, willing and eager for permission to realize that dream of becoming an American.
What is an American? A dreamer, an innovator, an arrogant, swaggering pain in the butt, who dares to tell the rest of the world: "I'm living proof that there's a better way."

Ordinary Day?

Took the Missus to LAX to catch the Allegiant MD-80 to Wichita. She made it safe and sound. Going to spend time with the kids and grandkids. Then she and the oldest grand daughter head back on the Southwest Chief to Barstow. I have to meet the train at about 0200 on the 12th of July.
On my way back I made a stop in Glendale and had brunch with the one, the only Little Miss Attila!!!!!!!!
Joy McCann herself!!!!! Took a picture and sadly when I got home, I hit the wrong button on the Kodak and lost it. I am so bummed. Joy was the first blogger I was able to meet in person.
That being said we had a nice visit.
Back to the grind tomorrow for a short week. Friday is liberal leave/move your RDO(regular day off). I moved mine to Friday, four day weekend. And the forecast is for HOT!!!!!!!

playaroundwithme dots com says:

Hello Gorgeous Boys & Girls!

I do need little help here!
If you have a Youtube account, or even if you don't have, please go create one!
Thereafter, hop over to this link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y7cWjjFRPM
Cast your precious vote for me! Just mention my User name: TheChrrian/AlanHuang
And click "LIKE" on my video!
I would really love to win the entries as i put in crazy amount of effort, the prizes are awesome!

D O H E L P M E

As a little present for you all because you voted for me! Im going to share with you my blog on best friend bash birthday which was held at Zouk, a local club in Singapore on 25June2011. Going club is not something i like as i feel that as thinking of the crowd, the amount of grinding around the sweaty people is so sickening! but then, once awhile popping these around could actually bring fun and laughter! So one of my best friend, Mirene from CHITOROWA (7 flower band if you could remember), its her birthday! so we met together in the club itself, went to Holiday Inn to get drunk first before heading inside to the club, reason being because its cheaper to buy outside. for me, i dont drink so doesn't make a different. and chill at some random area around Zouk with 23 people, YES, 23 of them! how honor is it to be celebrating with 23 people, honestly, i had never celebrate such grand party before. sigh.

So we went into the club soon after, the crowd are crazy pack! needless to say, so many HOT DUDES! they are mostly from the army, botak! but i swear they are freaking hot to the max! with looks, bods and their kill charm! i never dance all the time, just sitting around and scouting for these hot boys. and also, i am not in the mood to shake around. so in another worlds, i go to Zouk just because of birthday girl! well, here is the photo taken! do enjoy and remember to vote for me! TC! :DD

~♥•´(¯`´¯)`•♥•'`•♥•´
..~♥ღ`*.¸.*´ღ♥ Come Back Soon~!

Day by Day Cartoon 06/26/2011

Day by Day Cartoon

06/26/2011

I also have a link in that date to the DBD site. It is one we should all read, regularly!

787 Dreamliner arrives at Paris for the Air Show.

I have to admit that at first I did not like the lines on this bird. But having seen the footage of it in flight, I have begun to like it.
And it is quite the performer, as I can tell. And as with any new technologically advanced and laden product, it had it's problems early on.
But enjoy.

Cool Video (And Hot FLIR) Views Of The 787 Landing At Paris

Got this one from AirPigz. One of the best, off the wall aviation blogs around. Always has neat stuff up! But this one is really cool!



http://airpigz.com/blog/2011/6/24/cool-video-and-hot-flir-views-of-the-787-landing-at-paris.html

SR-71 Low Pass From Bring the Heat, Bring the Stupid

Blackbird low level in afterburner.
Thanks Guys!
http://xbradtc.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/sr-71-low-pass/

Rule 5 Saturday Night: Ana Beatriz Barros

H/T to Maggie's Notebook and the link to it from The Camp Of The Saints.


http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2011/06/rule-5-saturday-night-ana-beatriz-barros/
Kind of slow today, so here is some serious eye candy! Follow the link to the rest!!!!!

From xbratc: Two members of religion of peace arrested for plan to attack recruiting center in Seattle.

Copied directly from Bring the Heat, Bring the Stupid. Facebook friend and denizen of Whidbey Island WA. His home was where I did eleven of twenty years.
One of our big papers in the area was the Seattle Times. Liberal fishwrap. Bird cage carpet.

Two men have been arrested in Seattle in what federal agents say was a terrorist plot to attack a military recruit processing station in Seattle.

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, 33, of Seattle, and Walli Mujahidh, aka Frederick Dominque Jr., 32, of Los Angeles were arrested Wednesday and charged in a complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Among the charges were conspiracy to murder U.S. officers, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and unlawful possession of firearms.

via Local News | Two men arrested in plot to attack Seattle military processing facility | Seattle Times Newspaper.

I first joined the Army at the Seattle Military Entrance Processing Center.

Read the whole article.  The Seattle Times at least does mention their religious affiliation (if only quite a ways down the column).

Via Ace, who stole it from DPUD.

Succes 2011: Bernard Cribbins, english character actor, voice-over artist and musical comedian. Wilfred Mott, companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who

Bernard Cribbins, OBE (born 29 December 1928) is an English character actor, voice-over artist and musical comedian with a career spanning over half a century who came to prominence in films in the 1960s, has been in work consistently since his professional debut in the mid 1950s, and as of 2010 is still an active performer.

He is particularly known to British audiences as the story-telling voice in The Wombles, a children's programme running which ran for 40 episodes between 1973 and 1975. He also recorded several hit novelty records in the early 1960s and was a regular and prolific performer on Jackanory on BBC TV between 1966 and 1991. Cribbins' most recent prominent role has been as Wilfred Mott, companion of the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who.

Cribbins appeared in films from the early 1950s, mainly in comedies. His credits include Two Way Stretch (1960) and The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) with Peter Sellers, Crooks in Cloisters (1964) and three Carry On films - Carry On Jack (1963), Carry On Spying (1964) and Carry On Columbus (1992). Other appearances include the second Doctor Who film Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD (1966), Mr Albert Perks, the station porter, in The Railway Children (1970) and Felix Forsythe in Alfred Hitchcock's distubring thriller Frenzy (1972). Later films include Dangerous Davies - The Last Detective (1981) and Blackball (2003).

Other television appearances have included The Avengers (1968), Fawlty Towers (1975), as the spoon salesman Mr. Hutchinson (mistaken by Basil Fawlty for a hotel inspector), Worzel Gummidge (1980), Shillingbury Tales (1980) and its spin-off Cuffy (1983). Later television appearances have included Dalziel and Pascoe (1999), Last of the Summer Wine (2003), the role of Wally Bannister in Coronation Street (2003) and Down to Earth (2005).

In January 2007 he guest starred as glam rock promoter Arnold Korns in the Doctor Who radio play Horror of Glam Rock for BBC Radio 7. In December he appeared as Wilfred Mott in the Doctor Who Christmas television special, "Voyage of the Damned"; he then reappeared as the same character throughout the 2008 series, as the grandfather of companion Donna Noble[5] He attained 'companion' status himself in "The End of Time", the two-part Christmas 2009 special that saw the end of David Tennant in the role of the Doctor.


Cribbins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to drama.

R.I.P. Peter Falk. Lieutenant Columbo has left the building

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles, and has been nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960's Murder, Inc. and 1961's Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once. Director William Friedkin, when discussing Falk's role in his 1978 film The Brink's Job said that "Peter has a great range from comedy to drama. He could break your heart or he could make you laugh."

In 1968 he starred with Gene Barry in a ninety-minute TV pilot about a highly-skilled, laid-back detective. Columbo eventually became part of an anthology series entitled, The NBC Mystery Movie, along with McCloud and McMillan And Wife. The detective series stayed on NBC from 1971–1978, took a respite, and returned occasionally on ABC from 1989–2003. He was "everyone's favorite rumpled television detective", writes historian David Fantle. Describing his role, Variety columnist Howard Prouty writes, "The joy of all this is watching Columbo dissemble the fiendishly clever cover stories of the loathsome rats who consider themselves his better."

Despite his stage success, a theatrical agent advised Falk not to expect much film work because of his glass eye. He failed a screen test at Columbia Pictures and was told by studio boss Harry Cohn that "for the same price I can get an actor with two eyes." He also failed to get a role in the film Marjorie Morningstar despite a promising interview for the second lead. His first film performances were in small roles in Wind Across the Everglades (1958), The Bloody Brood (1959) and Pretty Boy Floyd (1960).

Falk's performance in Murder, Inc. (1960) was a turning point in his career. He was cast in the supporting role of killer Abe Reles, in a film based on the real-life murder gang of that name, which terrorized New York in the 1930s. New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther, while dismissing the movie as "an average gangster film", singled out Falk's "amusingly vicious performance."

The film turned out to be Falk's breakout role. In his 2006 autobiography, Just One More Thing, Falk said that his selection for the film from thousands of other Off Broadway actors was a "miracle" that "made my career", and that without it he would not have gotten the other significant movie roles that he later played. Falk, who played Reles again in the 1960 TV series The Witness, was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his performance in the film.

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

In 1961 multiple Academy Award winning director Frank Capra cast Falk in the comedy Pocketful of Miracles. The film was Capra's last feature, and although it was not the commercial success he hoped it would be, he "gushed about Falk's performance."[6]:217 Falk was nominated for an Oscar for his role. In his autobiography Capra writes about Falk:

"The entire production was agony . . . except for Peter Falk. He was my joy, my anchor to reality. Introducing that remarkable talent to the techniques of comedy made me forget pains, tired blood, and maniacal hankerings to murder Glenn Ford (the film's star). Thank you Peter Falk."

For his part, Falk says that he "never worked with a director who showed greater enjoyment of actors and the acting craft." Falk says, "There is nothing more important to an actor than to know that the one person who represents the audience to you, the director, is responding well to what you are trying to do." Falk recalled one time that Capra reshot a scene even though he yelled "Cut and Print", indicating the scene finalized. When Falk asked him why he wanted it reshot, "he laughed and said that he loved the scene so much he just wanted to see us do it again. How's that for support!"

For the remainder of the 1960s Falk had mainly small movie roles and TV guest-starring appearances. He had one of the larger roles in the epic 1963 comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, a star-studded adventure that saw him playing a cop-hating cab driver who gets caught up in the hilarity. Other roles included a comical crook in the 1964 Rat Pack film, Robin and the 7 Hoods, and the 1965 spoof The Great Race, with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Although Falk appeared in numerous other television roles in the 1960s and 1970s, he is best known as the star of the TV series Columbo, "everyone's favorite rumpled television detective", writes historian David Fantle. His character was a shabby and ostensibly absent-minded police detective lieutenant, who had first appeared in the 1968 film Prescription: Murder. Falk described his role to Fantle:


"Columbo has a genuine mistiness about him. It seems to hang in the air . . . [and] he's capable of being distracted. . . . Columbo is an ass-backwards Sherlock Holmes. Holmes had a long neck, Columbo has no neck; Holmes smoked a pipe, Columbo chews up six cigars a day."

Television critic Ben Falk adds that Falk "created an iconic cop . . . who always got his man (or woman) after a tortuous cat-and-mouse investigation." He notes also that the idea for the character was "apparently inspired by Dostoyevsky's dogged police inspector, Porfiry Petrovich, in the novel Crime and Punishment.

Falk tries to analyze the character and notes the correlation between his own personality and Columbo's:

"I'm a Virgo Jew, and that means I have an obsessive thoroughness. It's not enough to get most of the details, it's necessary to get them all. I've been accused of perfectionism. When Lew Wasserman (head of Universal Studios) said that Falk is a perfectionist, I don't know whether it was out of affection or because he felt I was a monumental pain in the ass."

With "general amazement", Falk notes that "the show is all over the world". He added, "I've been to little villages in Africa with maybe one TV set, and little kids will run up to me shouting, 'Columbo, Columbo!'" Singer Johnny Cash recalled acting in one episode, and although he was not an experienced actor, he writes in his autobiography, "Peter Falk was good to me. I wasn't at all confident about handling a dramatic role, and every day he helped me in all kinds of little ways.

The debut episode in 1971 was directed by 25-year-old Steven Spielberg in one of his earliest directing roles. Falk recalled the episode to Spielberg biographer Joseph McBride:

"Let's face it, we had some good fortune at the beginning. Our debut episode, in 1971, was directed by this young kid named Steven Spielberg. I told the producers, Link and Levinson, This guy is too good for Columbo. . . . Steven was shooting me with a long lens from across the street. That wasn't common twenty years ago. The comfort level it gave me as an actor, besides its great look artistically—well, it told you that this wasn't any ordinary director."

The character of Columbo had previously been played by Bert Freed in a single TV episode and by Thomas Mitchell on Broadway. Falk first played Columbo in Prescription: Murder, a 1968 TV-movie, and from 1971 to 1978 Columbo aired regularly on NBC as part of the umbrella series NBC Mystery Movie. All episodes were of TV-movie length, in a 90 or 120 minutes slot including commercials. The show returned on ABC in the form of a less frequent series of TV-movies, still starring Falk, from 1989 until 2003.

Falk was a close friend of independent film director John Cassavetes and appeared in Cassavetes' films Husbands, A Woman Under the Influence, and, in a cameo, at the end of Opening Night. Cassavetes, in turn, guest-starred in the Columbo episode "Étude in Black" in 1972. Falk describes his experiences working with Cassavetes, and specifically remembers his directing strategies such as "shooting an actor when he might be unaware the camera was running."

"You never knew when the camera might be going. And it was never: 'Stop. Cut. Start again.' John would walk in the middle of a scene and talk, and though you didn't realize it, the camera kept going. So I never knew what the hell he was doing. [Laughs] But he ultimately made me, and I think every actor, less self-conscious, less aware of the camera than anybody I've ever worked with."

In 1978, he appeared on the comedy TV show, Dean Martin Celebrity Roast where Frank Sinatra was the evening's victim.

Falk continued to work in films, including his performance as a questionable ex-CIA agent of dubious sanity in the comedy The In-Laws. Director Arthur Hiller said during an interview that the "film started out because Alan Arkin and Peter Falk wanted to work together. They went to Warner's and said, 'We'd like to do a picture,' and Warner's said fine . . . and out came The In-laws. . . . of all the films I've done, The In-laws is the one I get the most comments on." Movie critic Roger Ebert compared the film with a later remake:

"Peter Falk and Alan Arkin in the earlier film, versus Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks this time. . . . yet the chemistry is better in the earlier film. Falk goes into his deadpan lecturer mode, slowly and patiently explaining things that sound like utter nonsense. Arkin develops good reasons for suspecting he is in the hands of a madman."

He also appeared in The Princess Bride, and (as himself) in Wim Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire and its 1993 sequel, Faraway, So Close!. In 1998, Falk returned to the New York stage to star in an Off Broadway production of Arthur Miller's Mr. Peters' Connections. His previous stage work included shady real estate salesman Shelley "the Machine" Levine in a Boston/Los Angeles production of David Mamet's prizewinning Glengarry Glen Ross.

Falk also starred in such holiday television movies as A Town Without Christmas (2001), Finding John Christmas (2003) and When Angels Come to Town (2004). In 2005 he starred in The Thing About My Folks. Although movie critic Roger Ebert was not impressed with most of the other actors, he writes in his review, ". . . we discover once again what a warm and engaging actor Peter Falk is. I can't recommend the movie, but I can be grateful that I saw it, for Falk." In 2007, Falk appeared with Nicolas Cage in the thriller Next.
Falk married Alyce Mayo, whom he met when they were both students at Syracuse University, on April 17, 1960. They adopted two daughters, Catherine (who is a private investigator) and Jackie. They divorced in 1976. On December 7, 1977, Falk married actress Shera Danese, who guest-starred on the Columbo series on numerous occasions.

Falk was an accomplished artist. For many years he took classes at the Art Students League of New York. Examples of his sketches can be seen on his official website.

Falk was also a chess aficionado. As one example, Falk was a spectator at the American Open in Santa Monica, California, in November 1972 and at the U.S. Open in Pasadena, California, in August 1983.

He wrote his memoir, Just One More Thing, published by Carroll & Graf.

At a two day conservatorship trial in Los Angeles in June 2009, one of Falk's personal physicians, Dr. Stephen Read, reported Falk rapidly slipped into dementia after a series of dental operations in 2007. Dr. Read said it was unclear whether Falk's condition worsened as a result of anesthesia or some other reaction to the operations, he went on to add that Falk's condition was so bad he could no longer remember the character of Columbo. Shera Danese Falk was appointed as her husband's conservator and requested the media to respect his privacy.

Falk died at his Beverly Hills home on June 23, 2011. According to his daughter, Catherine Falk, the actor had been suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.