Gone but not Forgotten (Hopefully)

Hello disciples,

The Samurai Buddha is on Summer Hiatus.

Check back in September.

Stephen Harper: "We don't break contracts"

I love this story concerning the ongoing battle between the federal government and the governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoudland about allegedly broken accords aimed at protecting the economic security of the two eastern provinces. The best part is Harper's rebuke;

"It's a contract. We don't break contracts. We respect contracts. Normally, I expect, if someone says you've broken a contract, they are going to follow that up by going to court to make you abide by the contract. But I don't see that happening."

"We don't break contracts." Hmmm.... I guess he doesn't count the Kyoto Accord. OOOPS!

Thanks Dad!

Another reason why the United States is stuck in Iraq

President George W. Bush does not know how to pour a beer.



Poor Form, indeed.

There is a reason why I'm against homeschooling

And here it is:

Evan O'Dorney, winner of the 2007 spelling bee and grade A oddball. This kid is in desperate need of some social interaction.

Crystal

I checked out the recently revamped Royal Ontario Museum yesterday and I must say that I was quite impressed. I know a lot of people are going to be hating on the new design but I just ask that you reserve judgment until you actually check it out from the inside because I think the museum will be world class once they get all the exhibits in there. The architect, Daniel Libeskind, did an excellent job combining the new building with the old. Check out the new Michael Lee-Chin crystal.

Hotter than a Pistol

Pistol Pete Maravich is generally believed to be the best college basketball player ever. While at Lousiana State University, Maravich averaged an amazing 44.2 points per game under the tutelage of his father Press Maravich who trained him in ball handling and shooting from a very young age sometimes making him dribble two balls outside of a moving car. It is difficult to fathom the artistry and grace with which he played the game. Pete went on to have a very successful career in the NBA playing with the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. A leg injury forced him retire in 1980, at which point he became a recluse for two year practicing Yoga, studying Hinduism and UFOs.

In 1988, while warming up to play a pickup basketball game, the Pistol collapsed and died of a heart attack due to a congenital heart defect fulfilling a prophecy he had as a young man. At age 23 Pete said, "I don't want to play 10 years [in the NBA] and then die of a heart attack when I'm 40."

A fascinated new biography about Maravich was published recently by Mark Kreigel. If you're a basketball fan, pick up this excellent look into a very interesting character.

Here's a great highlight mix so you can get an idea of what I mean:

Boy Wonder

In the May 28th issue of The New Yorker has a great article on one of my favourite childhood characters, Tintin. Anthony Lane discusses Tintin's creator Hergé (Georges Remi) and how he went about creating the intrepid Belgian reporter as well as his cohorts Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and, of course, Thomson and Thompson. He also discusses various literary interpretations of the Tinitin. If you're a fan of Tintin I'm sure you'll find this article interesting.

More interesting is the prospect of a Tintin movie. Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have signed a three-picture deal to bring Tintin to the big screen. After reading the article, I'm tempted to think that a film about Hergé himself wouldn't be too bad either.

I can't wait. Who should play Tintin?