Thanks! I thought I had found some hum-dingers in the past, but I was either scooped, or their time was not yet right. I just don't have the patience or savvy to sift as well as most of the people here. I just wanted to not be a "P" anymore!

I would be a little more comfortable with this if they had chosen to show ambient temperature throughout the video. I was doing the metric conversions in my head at the upper end of the scale, only to notice that it starts off at approx. 125 C, which is hotter that the boiling point of water. So even as the tape begins, the environment is inimical to human life unless you're wearing some serious protective gear. What I'd like to see is how quickly the temperature rises from what would be considered 'normal' air temperature to the point at which the trees begin to smolder (and that's just damn cool).

You mean something like this?

http://www.videosift.com/video/1987-Tonys-Les-Miserables-Performance

I'm a huge fan of the musical, and I'm sorry, but this is ass-and-a-half. The performance is so much more than people walking up to microphones and belting out their bits. Yes, this is the 'Dream Cast', but would you pay top dollar to watch the 'Dream Team' of basketball screw around shooting hoops? What's happening AS they sing is just as important as what they're singing--where they stand, what they do, etc. And then to fill that gaping void with a gazillion people who paid top dollar for the chance to 'sing with the cast' while wearing their official 'LesMiz' t-shirt--pathetic. Somewhere out there, someone has the actual musical being performed, and in a side by side comparison, this one doesn't even rank.

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever." - George Orwell, 1984

Some days I think Orwell was an optimist.

"Well... this oughta be different."

Great, great, completely unexpected line that totally humanizes a minor character. I was laughing so loudly when I first watched it that I had to back up the ol' TiVo to catch what I'd missed.

I'm a teacher in Chicago (librarian, in fact... my first battle in this war was putting the first 'r' back in li-berry), and I find it most useful to subtly parrot back what they've just said (and never in a mean, mocking way). In general, I speak so well, that the 'clunkers' that come out really rattle them. They smile, sigh, and try again. Probably the most amazing connection I've discovered is how closely linked the use of profanity is to poor grammar--that if I call them on a bit of linguistic nastiness, they'll check themselves, realize that someone around them cares not only about what they're saying, but how they're saying it, and the proper grammar flows. I really think that it's all about expectations. In Behind the Color Lines, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. interviews Colin Powell, and there, surrounded by an all Black film crew, Powell lets his guard slip and starts talking 'Black'. It's apparent from the manner of presentation that his 'proper' way of speaking is NOT an act-- he, like any good warrior, becomes aware of his surroundings, and modifies his behavior to maximum effect. If he had 'kept it real' all his life, he'd have to work twice as hard for half the result.

There's a good article on this at Esquire.com: a word of warning--the title is NSFW: http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1206BLACKESSAY_108

* NSFW @ T-7:22 and on.

The bigger picture that's being missed here is the concept of civil disobedience, or more precisely effective civil disobedience. Guy wrote 'fuck the president' on a sign. Cop had a problem with it--disrupted the peace or something. Kid needs to say, "I disagree with your interpretation of the law, but my need to say what I need to say is infinitely more important than any discomfort that I may cause an apathetic soul, and far outweighs any consequences that you may inflict upon me. I would prefer not to be arrested, but do what thou will." And the next day, five of his buddies need to be holding up the exact same sign, and say the exact same thing when THEY get arrested. And the next day it should be ten, 20, 40, until finally someone says, "We can't win this. They're peaceable but passionate. Next time Mrs. MacGillicuddy calls to complain about the language, read her the First Amendment, and hang up." But (and this is critical) always get everything on tape.

But anyone who is unwilling to put up with discomfort in pursuit of their beliefs probably doesn't hold those beliefs too dearly.

That's true in the case of the Japanese spy, but it's still interesting in all the little touches. It's obvious this wasn't meant for public consumption: the breast mikes, etc. Though the most jarring thing is the news agent reading SEX magazine while waiting for a customer. Rather risque.

"I don't hate anyone for their different ideas. Why, that just wouldn't be the kind of a thing a freedom-loving person would do--hate someone with a different opinion."

Harlan Ellison (not my favorite person, but a brilliant writer nonetheless) once said, "You are not entitled to your opinion, you are entitled to your informed opinion. If you are not informed on the subject, then your opinion counts for nothing." That's what's wrong with O'Reilly and his ilk--their 'opinions' are so badly misinformed at times, and they just don't care. They believe that the louder you shout, the more truthful you must be.

"I was surprised that O'Reilly actually gave Donahue the last word"

Well, this is O'Reilly's show after all--regardless of what he says to your face, he's going to get the 'last word,' whether it's after the commercial break, or during one of those inane talking points memo a week from today. He'll do it when you're not there.