That thing you do

It was fall 1996 when I first watched this movie in school. I was as young as these singers. To top it all, the song "That thing you do" is phenomenon.

"One hit wonders," said Mr. White (Tom Hanks). But who cares? You dreamed, you tried. Doesn't matter, in the end, whether you made it or not. That's all I ever want.

PS. This movie is based on a true story that written, directed, starred, and produced by Tom Hanks, who is my all time favorite. I even like the Lady Killers. Go figure. It is also the only movie so far that I see Rita Wilson in the same movie with Hanks. This is also probably the first time ever I saw Liv Tylor. Frankly, she's better actress in this movie than the three Rings.




You, doin that thing you do
Breaking my heart into a million pieces, like you always do
And you, dont mean to be cruel
You never even knew about the heartache
Ive been goin through
Well, I try and try to forget you girl
But its just so hard to do
Every time you do that thing you do
And i, know all the games you play
And Im gonna find a way to let you know that
Youll be mine someday
Cause we, could be happy, cant you see
If youd only let me be the one to hold you,
And keep you here with me
cause I try and try to forget you girl
But its just so hard to do
Every time you do that thing you do
I dont ask a lot girl but I know one things for sure
Its the love I havent got girl
And I just cant take it anymore (whoa!)
Cause we, could be happy, cant you see
If youd only let me be the one to hold you,
And keep you here with me
cause it hurts me so just to see you go
Around with someone new
And if I know you, youre doin that thing
Every day, just doin that thing
I cant take you doin that thing you do

The A. M. H. case and its implications to A. Mae H.

A. Mae H. is a lovely eight years old who most likely won't recognize her birth parents or realize the scope of the bitter legal battle around her over the past seven years. It, most likely, will take years for her to know her birth parents, S-Q He & Q. Luo, who recently regained their parental right and custody.

At the center of the battle are two families fighting for this lovely girl at the two opposite extremes of the society. Jerry and Louise Baker were an affluent couple with six figure income in Memphis and the Hes are temporary visitors to the US working in low paid restaurants. Today's ruling (hopefully) may be the end of their legal battles for this matter, all parties (including Mae) came out as losers.

Personally, I'm leaning to blame the Bakers for their greediness and nasty techniques throughout the eight years. Although I admit they may well be attached to Mae and love her, what they have done do not seem to be able to raise Mae as a good person. So, even in the best interests of the child, they can't won. Not in here.

For those who don't know the history of the case, a reading of the recent Tennessee Supreme ruling (No. W2004-01225-SC-R11-PT) will help. It is too complicated and obviously very difficult to get an impartial picture of all the facts. Nevertheless, here's how I see it:

Jan. 19999
Due to special circumstances, the Hes had financial difficulties when Mae was born. The have little income and no health insurance. They agreed to give temporary custody of Mae to the Bakes so she can have the care she needed as an infant.

Jun. 1999
For health insurances purposes, the Hes signed temporary custody transfer agreement to the Bakers based on the understanding that this is only "temporary" and they would have "open visitation" rights.

Oct. 1999
The Hes decided to ask Mae back and the Bakers refused. The legal proceeds started and the Hes still got to visit Mae.

Jan. 2001
During their visit, the Bakers called police and ask the Hes "never come back to this house, or you will be arrested."

The Hes then turned to the court to resolve, but the Bakers use every right to delay the process.

June. 2001
It's four months since the last Jan. visit and the Bakers claimed that the Hes "abandoned Mae by willfully failed to visit her."

The local court bought this and striped the parental right from the Hes. This was done without an official hearing and later proven to be an under the table deal between Bakers' lawyer and the court official.

In the next three to four years, the Hes tried their case at different courts and failed. One court even order them to pay $15,000 to compensate their expenses. Considering this is a couple with no permanent job, fighting a legal battle, and raising two other children.

Jan. 2007
All previous rulings have been overturned and reversed by the supreme court of Tennessee for:

1. The failure to visit between Jan and Jun, 2001 is NOT "willful". The Hes have initiated two court hearings and were delayed by the Baker's lawyer.

2. Reject "the contention that when a child has been in custody of a non-parent for a significant period of time, a less standard should be applied in determine whether parental right may be terminated. "

Because "such a standard will increase the likelihood for delaying cases in order that the child remain in the custody of the non-parents.

3. "Financial advantage and affluent surroundings simply may not be a consideration in determining a custody dispute between a parent and a non-parent."
"Mere improvement in quality of life is not a compelling state interest and is insufficient to justify invasion of Constitutional rights."

I'm sure the drama will eventually make its way to Hollywood.

Bush's State of the Union Speech 2007

Kissing Nancy Pelosi's ass won't get my sympathy, at the least. She seemed pretty grateful, on the other hand. I support getting more women to the top jobs, but remember equality is the key word. That means equal opportunity for man, at times.

Anyway, here's a list of what his proposing:

• ENERGY: Twenty In Ten: Strengthening America's Energy Security
• HEALTH CARE: Affordable, Accessible, And Flexible Health Coverage
• EDUCATION: Building On Results: A Blueprint For Strengthening NCLB
• IMMIGRATION: President Bush's Plan For Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• HIV/AIDS: Leading The Worldwide Fight Against HIV/AIDS
• MALARIA: The President's Malaria Initiative Is Saving Lives
• DEFENSE: Strengthening Our Military
• SPENDING REFORMS: Reforms To Spend Tax Dollars Wisely

Anything new? I'm surprised by the HIV/AIDS part. As for health care, at least that's a step forward to provide basic care to the poor. However, tax cut won't be a good idea. The poor probably won't spend that money on their health insurance while the rich gets a tax credit.

As for energy policy, ethanol does get a big boost. However, I still believe in car pool and public transportation. We need higher gas prices to get that going, unfortunately.

One interesting thing I'd like to point out is that he left so many unanswered questions to the new Democrat congress and senate. Now he has the perfect excuse if his plan doesn't work, blame the Democrats! At the same time, he's asking for more patience and a second chance for his Iraq policy. May be he talked to Donald Trump recently.

Realize your American Dream or Die Tryin

American Idol is back tonight in the format of a 2-day 4-hour premier. Among all reality shows, it is obviously the best. It is reality to its best, realize your American Dream for a moment like this. A perfect example is the girl from Columbia singing Shakira tonight. She came with only two bags to America while only 15 years old. She used to live on the street in Miami and now she's going to Hollywood.

FOX definitely hit a home run with this show. It was the No. 1 show in the nation for both 2005 and 2006 season. In February 2005, FOX network hits the No. 1 for the first time ever.

Last night, 2003 American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson won a Golden Glob for her performance in the "Dream girls."

Again, the Cinderella story is Kelly Clarkson as portrayed in "A moment like this":



What if I told you it was all meant to be?
Would you believe me, would you agree?
Its almost that feeling that we've met before so tell me that you dont think Im crazy when I tell your love is here and now.

A Moment like this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I cant believe its happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

Everything changes, but beauty remains.
Something so tender I cant explain.
Well I may be dreaming but til I awake..Can we make the dream last forever?
And I'll cherish all the love we share for a moment like this.

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I cant believe its happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

The speed of waiting love of all.
I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall.
So let me tell you this.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this...

Some people search a lifetime for a moment like this.
Some people search forever for that one special kiss.
I cant believe its happening to me.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

More facts about Arthur Anderson that I don't know

Company motto: Think straight and talk straight.
------- I have to give that they are straight talkers that think they can get away with it, may be too straight.

This is a firm that Mr. Anderson, is founder, refused for sign off an fraudulent audit report from a major (if not the biggest) account for "all the money in America."
------ Apparently, Enron and WorldCom have more money than those from America.

It had major crisis BEFORE of it's fall with Enron in relation with its consulting division, Accenture. They even set up a separate consulting firm Arthur Anderson Business Consulting (AABC) to compete with the now Accenture.
------ I had thought it was a friendly spin-off for cash.

In 2002, the conviction of "obstruction of justice" ended essentially all its business since the SEC "does not allow convicted felons to audit public companies."

In 2005, this conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States due to flaws in the jury instructions during its trial.

A total world wide work force of 85,000 employees has been reduced to 200 in Chicago to mainly deal with "pending law suits and orderly dissolution of the company."

The only current revenue generating business it runs is the Q-center in Illinois.

For love of the game

One of the sports movies among my favorite Tin cup. It also have a strong cast with Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, and John C. Reilly.

Besides the romantic factor shared with the Tin cup, I like this movie the most for the "love of the game," which lies at the core of sports. Not winning or losing.

Two dissipointments in one night

The Sopranos premiered on A&E on Wednesday. As one of the mostly claimed (by both the critics and audiances) drama series that over taken The West Wing in every award show they competed together, may be I'm the a few that hasn't watched it yet. But I ended up falling asleep after 45 minutes. I found the pace is too slow and the story line is kind of boring. May be real crime is boring than the Departed, or may be I'm not in a good mode. Either way, I'm unlikely to keep watching.



Well, the night was still young and I switched to An Inconvenient Truth, another movie I wanted to see for a long time. Again, it's proven a disappointment. The sciences is good, but Al Gore's presentation is too political. There is too much mentioning of his failed political past. What would he do that? Does he still hopes to run some day?

No Way.

This is the guy who so screwed in 2000 that he not only lost to Bush without put up a real fight in the end, he didn't even carry Tennessee, his own state.

Office Space (1999)

One of the better job movies. One thing makes it standing out is all this coming out of BEFORE the market dive (and the subsequent layoff) of 2001.