My Favorites

One quick way to glean some insight into someone is through the things they like and therefore I would like to offer these "favorite" lists for your perusal.  This is in no way complete, just whatever happens to be going through my head when I update this page.  Also, none of the entries in the lists are in any particular order--my absolute favorite changes depending on the day you happen to ask me!

Favorite Movies

Now, the way I rate my favorites is by deciding which movies I enjoy so much that I can watch them at any time.  There are some that I would have included but have seen sooo many times that I can't really watch them any more--two examples being Monty Python and the Holy Grail and National Lampoon's Animal House (both which I can probably recite in their entirety from memory) .  Therefore, to all of you that know me well, I still believe these to be GREAT movies but they have fallen off of my favorite list because I just can't sit through them any more (and I never thought I'd live to see the day!)  So that being said--here they are, my favorite movies:

• The Reluctant Astronaut--definitely one of Don Knotts' best (and we shared July 21 as birthdays.)  He will be missed.
• Operation Petticoat--this movie is just a year younger than I am and my favorite Cary Grant (or Gary Granite for Flintstones fans) movie.
• Secondhand Lions--A great feel-good movie.  Michael Caine and Robert Duvall are just phenomenal.
• Girl Happy--My all-time favorite Elvis movie.
• Live and Let Die--My favorite James Bond movie and you can't beat the Paul McCartney theme song!
• Casablanca--It's hard to believe this masterpiece was cranked out as just another one-a-week movie back in the days when actors were under contract to the various studios.
• You've got Mail--one of the rare movies that I enjoy the remake better (my apologies to Jimmy Stewart).
• Castaway--Every time I watch this movie, I deeply feel Tom Hanks' sense of despair and loneliness--suspension of disbelief at its best.
• Back to the Future--Specifically the first two installments.  Since that my criteria is that I can watch the movie anytime, I have to leave the third one off the list.  They are also a great reminder of how fun of the 80's were.

Favorite TV Shows

• Route 66--Especially the episodes with George Maharis and (of course) Martin Milner.  I really love the black and white cinematography and the Nelson Riddle theme song is sooo cool!                                                                       
• Hawaii Five-O--Book em' Danno!  And another great theme song!
• The Name of the Game--Preferably the episodes with Tony Franciosa.
• The Avengers--Specifically the episodes with Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (I prefer the 1966 episodes since they were in black and white.)
• The whole Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction/Green Acres trilogy thing--It was a sad day for me when Pat Buttram (Mr. Haney) passed away.
• The Twilight Zone--The original of course; Rod Serling was coolness incarnate!
• The Outer Limits--Again the original--one of my early science influences
• Newhart--Bob (as Dick Loudon) playing straight-man to Larry, Darryl and his other brother Darryl was a hoot!  I also loved the inn.

Favorite Cartoons

• Top Cat--Hanna Barbara's best and definitely the indisputable leader of the gang!
• Tennessee Tuxedo--A small penguin who tries but can't succeed-o.  It was another sad day when Don Adams passed away.
• Ruff and Reddy--You have to be rather old to remember this one (The Mad Monster of Muni Mula anyone?)
• Yogi Bear/Huckleberry Hound/Quickdraw McGraw/Snagglepuss--Hanna Barbara classics!
• The Pink Panther--Mancini's theme defined this cool cat!
• Foghorn Leghorn--The WB rooster.  I say, I say, listen up boy--I keep pitchin' em and you keep missin' em.  I think there's a bit of Foghorn in me.
• Super Chicken--When you find yourself in danger; When you're threatened by a stranger; When it looks like you will take a lickin' (buk, buk, buk); There is someone waiting who will hurry up and rescue you; Just call for Super Chicken (buk ack!)--I can hear William Shatner doing this in his Capt. Kirk style...
• Jonny Quest--the originals of course and the theme song was the coolest!  I always wanted to be Jonny...

Favorite Bumper Sticker

• If this looks blue, you're driving too fast! (this was on the back of my truck; ya gotta love geek humor!)

Favorite Books

• In Defense of Elitism by William A. Henry
• The Third Alternative: Christian Self-Government by Bill Burtness with Patrick Butler
• A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat by Zell Miller
• Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell

Favorite Quotations

Being an avid reader, I have started a page to collect quotations that resonate with me.  I have included one of my all time favorites below:

• When two elephants are fighting, it is the grass that suffers. – Dr. John N. Oriji  (This wonderful African proverb, from a History 315 course at Cal Poly and presented in a rich Nigerian accent, was used as a metaphor to describe Europe's dilemma  had war ever broken out between the United States and the U.S.S.R.)

As I stated previously, I've traveled extensively throughout my life and it is upon these travels that I base my next two "favorites" lists:

Favorite States

• Hawaii--I proposed to my wife while we were on the highest peak at the top of Diamond Head.  I would love to live there someday; one of my dream jobs would be piloting helicopter tours of the islands...
• New Mexico--Lived there (2.5 years)  I especially enjoy Carlsbad Caverns.
• Arizona--I really enjoy the southwest and it has some of the best Route 66 restoration.
• Nevada--Love to visit but I think Vegas would be too much to handle if I lived there!
• Rhode Island--Lived there (2 years)  Love the seafood and the whole "nautical" ambience.
• Pennsylvania--Live here now (cumulative--8 years)  Mainly for the change of seasons; a year actually seems like a year when it is punctuated by snow!
• South Dakota--I love this state and am happy to see that Tom Daschle is no longer their Senator!  As you drive across the state on I-80 you can't help but want to stop at Wall Drug (due to the abundance of billboards advertising such things as dinosaur exhibits, 10¢ cokes, 25¢ ice cream cones, FREE ice water, etc.).  They also have the Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore.  This was our favorite state as we drove cross-country from Pennsylvania to California.

Favorite Countries (other than the United States of course!)

• Australia--This is my absolute favorite; I've been there four times and have traveled extensively through the outback (alone I might add).
• Malaysia--Kuala Lumpur is one of the most exotic cities I've ever seen and just outside the city, people still plow with water buffalos!
• Spain--Castles, wine, cheese, history, Toledo, Seville, Jerez de la Frontera; I could live there for years and not get bored.
• Thailand--Just got back (Feb 24, 2006) from my sixth time there--without a doubt my favorite "ethnic" food and an just an all-round exciting place.
• Scotland--Green surroundings, super-friendly people (hint: stay at bed-and-breakfast's if you really want to experience Scotland)--castles everywhere!
• The Netherlands--Just an all-round general fun place!  The cities are a great mix of contemporary and classical and the countryside is some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.
• Philippines--We honeymooned there for three weeks.  We began in Manila where we visited Francis Elyon del Prado, our sponsored child (through Compassion International) and his family, followed by a trip to the islands of Cebu and Palawan.  On a great note, Francis did so well in the school that our support enabled him to attend, that he won a scholarship through the Ministry of Science (to pursue an education in science) and is no longer in the Compassion Program.  We now support two new children in the Philippines through Compassion International.  Having seen first-hand the good the money does (approximately $400/year/child), I can't recommend this program enough. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change the world for a child.  Believe it!

Favorite Music

• 80's New Wave--This genre marks the last time that I actually enjoyed the majority of the music that was currently popular (i.e. in style.)
• Frank Sinatra--I really love his cool style.  I would have enjoyed watching his show  in some smoky bar in Las Vegas.
• Chicago--Great fusion of electric and brass; watching them in open-air venues  from the cheap general admission grass area has become a summertime favorite.
• Pink Floyd--Does it get any better than Dark Side of the Moon?  David Gilmour's guitar solo on "Time" is my absolute favorite.  Wish You Were Here was an excellent follow-up album as well.  Having seen them five times, I would also have to say that they are the best live show ever!  Their innovative use of lasers, animation, lights, etc. have to be seen to be believed.
• The Dave Brubeck Quartet--"Take Five" is the greatest jazz piece of all time and watching him play live is an exhilarating experience.
• The John Pizzarelli Trio--He's a jazz guitarist extraordinaire and they perform one of the most rockin' versions of "Route 66" I've ever heard.
• Blue Oyster Cult--Specifically, the old stuff (70's.)  These days they play smaller bars and clubs and the shows are excellent!

Favorite Non Sequitur

“Why would a Wookiee, and eight-foot tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor, with a bunch of two-foot tall Ewoks?  That does NOT MAKE SENSE!  But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case?  Nothing.  Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case!  It does NOT MAKE SENSE!  Look at me.  I'm a lawyer defending a major record company, and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca!  Does that make sense?  Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense!  None of this makes sense!  And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense?  No!  Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does NOT MAKE SENSE!  If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit!  The defense rests.” – Johnnie Cochran, South Park

Well, that's it for now--please feel free to drop by occasionally as I do update this site on a semi-regular basis.  My next plans are to incorporate more photos that I've taken from around the world on my Travels page.  If you have any questions about any of the countries I've visited, please feel free to email me and I'll give you my thoughts....