As we prepare to enter the final leg of summer, it's good to know that the world outside keeps providing plenty of material on which to riff comedically! True, my life of late has given me much time to reflect and I've come to the realization that the theme song from Good Times has become more and more appropriate to score that self reflection. "Temporary layoffs - Good Times!" Check. "Scratchin' and survivin' - Good Times!" Check. "Keepin' your head above water, makin' a wave when you can." Check and check. So, what do you say kids, shall we make some waves? Yes we shall, and all without name dropping explosives as an exclamatory statement!

Word on the street is that the magazines People and Hello! have ponied up somewhere between $10 and $15 million for pictures of Angelina Jolie's twins. It might be that I'm in a period of enforced frugality due to my current lack of employment, but I don't know why someone would pay that much to see the twins when they can just rent the movie Gia and see the twins in all their glory. Not only are they depicted in still photographs, but also swingin' free in the breeze! And they are spectacular, but really . . . $10 million? C'mon folks - they're just breasts.

Speaking of incredible boobs, Senator John McCain's presidential campaign manager has accused Senator Barak Obama of "playing the race card." Y'know, because he happened to notice that he's black. But the crime isn't in noticing that you're black (not yet, anyway . . . they're saving that for McCain's second term); the crime is letting other people know that you've noticed you're black. I think McCain is just upset that Obama has yet another facet that enables average Americans to distinguish him from George Bush. I must admit that I tried to play the race card once, but apparently the poker dealers in Vegas don't take kindly to bringing Mille Bornes (no relation to Jason Bourne) into the mix.

McCain, on the other hand is using a whole other set of tactics to draw attention away from his similarities to the current occupant of the White House. He's denied that he made statements to the press saying that he doesn't know much about the economy. He's given up on the beliefs that made him a "maverick" in the Republican party, now coming out in support of overturning Roe v. Wade, in support of offshore drilling for oil and cozying up to folks like Jerry Falwell, who he once rightfully called an "agent of intolerance." I could give more examples, but I think I've given enough to support my point. He's old, he's forgetful, he's embracing the so-called Christian right, he supports tax cuts for the rich and their corporations . . . John McCain isn't trying to be George W. Bush . . . he's trying to be Ronald Reagan. Which is fine by me since America has no shortage of guys who are trying to be John Hinckley Jr. Thank you very much, NRA!

And as Kenny Rogers once implored Ruby, there's no need to bring your guns to town when you get together with your friends to save gas and carpool to The Comedy Store's Belly Room (8433 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 323-650-6268) on Tuesday, September2nd, to see Dr. David Robinson perform as part of the “Crazy Cindy Show.” The show starts at 8:00PM and they’ll let you in for free if you get there before 8:00PM. After 8 o'clock, it's just ten bucks. Y'know, because being on time isn't really it's own reward. Dyn-O-Mite, indeed!

See you on the 2nd!

Vaya con Carne –

Your pal David