I have noticed than when I keep my thoughts off of work and think about all of the things that life has to offer - I feel so much more relaxed. I will adhere to your advice, Spauldo - stay Postal Free. Football season has started and the Olympics are on TV. OK, sure, there is no Official Tin Foil Hat for the 2008 Olympics, but I am not alone in making phony presentations in the name of the Olympics. If you had the chance to see the opening presentation for the Olympics - it was a wonderful sight. Very colorful and correographed dance numbers. It was unique and amazing. Typically Chinese, the precision of so many people performing together was awesome. Later, this fireworks show was displayed, supposedly at Bird's Nest Stadium. Admitted on ESPN, the fireworks show did not exist at Bird's Nest Stadium. It was all computer animated from Gao Xiaolong's company in Beijing called Crystal Stone. So, I say, what is the harm of a fake endorsement to lead off my blog? :)

There are also some good movies to watch at your local theater. The new X-File movie is out, although I have to admit I like the old TV series better. And, of course, there is The Dark Knight. It is a real tragedy that Heath Ledger isn't with us anymore because I thought he really made this movie work. Unlike the X File movie, this one has a good script and it is worth watching.

If my friends are busy I like to go hiking to hidden lakes in the mountains with my dogs and go fishing. I usually enjoy a fresh rainbow trout for dinner over an open fire while Joanie and Diablo are Hot Dog addicts and they don't like fish. (That sounded cannibalistic in some sort of strange way.) I will cook my trout and some Hebrew National wieners for the dogs when we go out on these outings.

By the way, if you were lucky enough to go to the Beijing Olympics, I have some sad news for you. No dog meat is available!!

True story, I truly am not making this one up! As part of being picked as the host city, the Olympic Commitee forbade China to sell dog meat at the stadium. Sorry, no Fidohouse Steak for you!! This got me to think about how clever the Chinese government is.......

They want to portray China in the best possible light to the world. Sure, they are the biggest polluters in the world like the United States was in the 1950s. China is amongst the most repressive nations in the world. I could never write a blog like this in China - but they have provided internet access to those who are stay in their hotels and paid dearly for their Olympic tickets. When these visitors leave their hotels - they ride in taxi cabs with hidden microphones.

The government of China are giving it their best shot in hiding the ugliness of communism. The torture, the jailing of dissidents, the execution of outside Christian ministers. No doubt, their government will be able to pull off this charade. If you listen to certain presidential candidates - Americans are the evildoers in the world that can only say 'Merci, beaucoup.' Those same people are afraid to criticize the poor management of their homeland. While the world waits for China to become a free society openly engaging with its workers that feed the coffers of their government - their own government already has its own agenda. Just like the Postal.......

(OK, Mark, listen to Spauldo, be Postal Free......relax your fingers, relax your toes.....breathe deep.)

I feel better now!! We are free in America to enjoy the freedom of expression and the freedom of this wonderful summer. There is so much of life to embrace.

I hope that, one day, that waiter in China will have the freedom to ask, "Do you want fries with that Chihuahua burger?"