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I am sure many of you are familiar with that phrase, having been exposed to the adventures of our favorite boy wizard. But this post is not about Voldemort, or even Harry Potter. This piece is about a Filipino superstition that is still being practiced (and believed) in these modern times.
While munching on some snacks late one afternoon, I suddenly saw a rat speeding across the kitchen floor towards the fridge. It was a small one, juvenile by their standards but a rat nonetheless. Not wanting to alarm my mom (she usually overreacts), I said nothing. Late that night, I secretly set up two pieces of sticky flypaper with a bait of sugar at the center. This usually worked. I read somewhere that sugar is the best bait for mice and it has never failed me since. However, the bait was untouched when I checked it the next morning. Instead, I was greeted with a quizzical expression on Mom’s face. She had seen my flypaper traps and was waiting for an explanation.
"There is a rat in the house. It went under the fridge last night and I swear I’m gonna get him, that son of .." But before I could finish my rant, I was stopped with an authoritative and stern SHH. "Don’t talk about hmm. The hmm might hear you and do more damage. Don’t even curse him, for that will make him even angrier!" I stood there, surprised. For a split second there I didn't get her point. "Why is she humming? Why is my mom acting this way," I asked myself. Then I remembered the (stupid) superstition. I’ve heard of this when I was a child but, in this day and age, is it still relevant? And do rats understand our language now? Or maybe they have interpreters on standby. He he. She then gestured for me to keep my mouth shut. OMG, I never thought I’d be playing charades with my mother at her age! He he.
Later, I found her whispering to Dad in English about the hmm (yup, they still used the word “hmm”), talking about buying some hmm poison to kill the hmm that night. I stood there laughing. “How do you know the rat can’t understand English too? Maybe he even has a Google translator, or even a college degree. He he.” It was then that I noticed the look on Mom’s face. It was that stop-or-you’re-gonna-get-it look! Yikes! I got the message and never talked about the hmm after that.
The hmm poison got him. We found the poor hmm sprawled near the dining table the next morning. Good thing he was killed before he did any damage. But even after his death, we still didn’t speak his name, still playfully referring to him as hmm. Why? His family might still be lurking around, and we didn’t want a “revenge of the hmms”!
Have you heard of this superstition before, or is your family another victim of this foolish belief? I have since referred to it as the "Harry Potter superstition". He he.
Later, I decided to give the hmm a name. From now on, he will be called Voldemort! (Or should I call him Harry Potter?)
Update: This article was originally posted six months ago. However, I decided to repost it (with a few revisions) after watching a replay of the last episode of 'The Amazing Race Asia 3' a few minutes ago. In one their challenges, Geoff and Tisha had to look for a specific carpet design from a stack of hundreds. As they started their task, several small rats jumped out. As Tisha jumped and screamed, I heard Geoff referring to them as 'friends'. I couldn't help but laugh. Yup, we call them 'friends' too as part of the (stupid) Filipino superstition to never offend those pesky little rodents, in words and in deeds for they might retaliate! But I couldn't believe that Geoff followed the superstition too. After all, he grew up in New Zealand. Or is this superstition followed in other cultures too? Tell me, please.
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One of the biggest and most anticipated movies of the year, 'Twilight', premiered in Los Angeles last night, with thousands of fans (mostly teenage girls) reportedly crowding the vicinity of the venue and screaming their lungs out. Indeed, this movie has created a lot of buzz in recent months, perpetrated no lees by feverish marketing campaigns on television, in print and, of course, in cyberspace. And it looks like their campaigns worked as interest in the movie can only be described as 'volcanic' leading to its opening in a few days. Originally set to open next month, 'Twilight' took next week's lucrative Thanksgiving weekend slot after Warner Bros. pulled out 'Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince', opting to release the wizard boy's sixth installment next summer instead.
But what is it about 'Twilight' that has captured the public's fancy? What is it about this movie that has created almost as much anticipation as a Harry Potter movie, or 'The Dark Knight'? It is the vampire-human love story twist, or probably the special effects? Is it the way the story was told? Or is it because of its main stars, most notably Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who have been very popular with internet searches lately? These are just some of the questions running in my (wild) mind as I try to analyze why a lot of people are looking forward to this movie. In the meantime, for those who have been living under a rock in the past months and have no idea what I'm talking about, here is a brief summary of 'Twilight' from imdb, followed by the film's trailers and some pictures from the movie.
Bella Swan has always been a little bit different. Never one to run with the crowd, Bella never cared about fitting in with the trendy, plastic girls at her Phoenix, Arizona high school. When her mother remarried and Bella chooses to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she didn't expect much of anything to change. But things do change when she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen. For Edward is nothing like any boy she's ever met. He's nothing like anyone she's ever met, period. He's intelligent and witty, and he seems to see straight into her soul. In no time at all, they are swept up in a passionate and decidedly unorthodox romance - unorthodox because Edward really isn't like the other boys. He can run faster than a mountain lion. He can stop a moving car with his bare hands. Oh, and he hasn't aged since 1918. Like all vampires, he's immortal. That's right - vampire. But he doesn't have fangs - that's just in the movies. And he doesn't drink human blood, though Edward and his family are unique among vampires in that lifestyle choice. To Edward, Bella is that thing he has waited 90 years for - a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. Somehow or other, they will have to manage their unmanageable love. But when unexpected visitors come to town and realize that there is a human among them Edward must fight to save Bella? A modern, visual, and visceral Romeo and Juliet story of the ultimate forbidden love affair - between vampire and mortal.
Twilight movie official trailer: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart
Twilight teaser trailer 2: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart
Twilight Movie Pictures: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart
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Just two weeks after the release of the Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince trailer #2 comes another one, and they're calling it the Half Blood Prince trailer #3. Presenting another look into the highly anticipated fantasy movie, the new trailer turns the focus to professor Horace Slughorn. Kicking it off with the introduction of Slughorn to Harry by Dumbledore, the footage moves on to show Slughorn teaching at Hogwarts and Ron accidentally drinking poisoned mead. The trailer also displays Ron, who after mistakenly eating the tainted chocolate cauldrons Romilda Vane meant for Harry, finds himself madly in love with her, prompting him to force Harry to introduce him to Romilda. Providing a good balance between good and evil, this trailer highlights on Dumbledore sharing the memories he's collected in his Pensieve with Harry to make him understand the past.
I was a bit surprised to find a third trailer for the Half Blood Prince just two weeks after the release of the previous one on the web. No movie has ever done something like this before. And to think that the first trailer was released in July, five months ago. Is this a new marketing strategy from Warner Bros. designed to awaken our waning interest in Harry Potter's sixth installment after its play date was moved to July of 2009? After a few checks in cyberspace, I found out that this this is not actually trailer #3 of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It's just another version of the international teaser trailer #2 that was leaked (?) online two weeks ago.
I wonder how many more trailers are in store for us? With the release date of the movie postponed until the summer of next year, my guess is at least two more. Warner Bros. has to keep the excitement going after disappointing millions of Harry Potter fans with the new play date.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer #3 / Preview Video
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer #2 / Preview Video
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer #1 / Preview Video
"Half-Blood Prince" will follow Potter in his sixth year at Hogwarts during which the wizarding world is at the edge of war as his nemesis, Voldemort, grows even stronger by day. Helped by his two trusted friends, Ron and Hermione played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson respectively, he has to uncover the mystery behind the nickname Half-Blood Prince he finds in a potion book.
Following Potter in his sixth year at Hogwarts, this sixth Harry Potter movie will deal with darker matter as it resolves around the ever growing threat built by the evil dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, to the wizarding world. Being the only one who has survived his attack years before, Harry accompanied by his two loyal friends, Ron and Hermione has to prepare for his ultimate battle while the walls that used to keep him and his friends away from danger may not be a safe haven anymore.
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I first found news of this apparent suicide yesterday (late last night in our neck of the woods) at TMZ, one of the first sites to feature it. I read it then forgot all about it, or at least I tried to. Who'd be interested in news about Paula Abdul, much less her stalker, I thought. I didn't even think anyone would be interested in stalking her. Well, probably ten or fifteen years ago when she was still singing and dancing her way to the top of the charts. But after her recent (infamous) antics on TV via American Idol, I didn't think she even had fans. Obviously, I was wrong and Paula Godspeed (is Paula her real name or did she change it because of her Paula Abdul obsession?) is one of them. Since yesterday, the story about her death has taken a life of its own.
According to reports, Ventura police were initially alerted when her parents reported her missing and were told to check Paula Abdul's house because of her "unnatural Paula obsession". The alert was then relayed to the Los Angeles Police Department who eventually discovered the body of Paula Goodspeed in the car, a few yards from Paula Abdul's house.
The world first got a glimpse of Paula Goodspeed when she auditioned in front of her idol on American Idol season 5 in 2006. She introduced herself as an artist, and said that the first picture she ever drew was of Paula Abdul. It was obvious then that she was obsessed with the star, dressing like Paula and showing her numerous collection of sketches of, who else, Paula Abdul. She didn't sing any of her idol's songs though, choosing a Tina Turner classic, 'Proud Mary', instead. It was horrible! She didn't make the cut, was ridiculed by Simon for having too much "metal in her mouth" and went home utterly angry and disappointed. "The love affair is over," Ryan said in the voice over.
Ryan Seacrest was apparently wrong. On Paula Goodspeed's MySpace page, which hasn't been updated since April 2007, she posted a picture of Paula Abdul licking her lips with a caption that reads, "My secret crush, shhhhh." Moreover, neighbors of Paula Abdul have told police that Godspeed's car was a fixture in the neighborhood with a woman just sitting inside for hours. They first thought she was a paparazzo and alerted the police about her. They eventually found out about her obsession when she overdosed in the exact same area around one year ago.
Reports on other sites say Paula Goodspeed suffered from "extreme mental illness" that spun out of control in the last two years. Was this because of her American Idol meltdown in front of her "crush"? Probably. She blogged about her American Idol rejection on her MySpace page, saying how hard it was to deal with the "awful things" being said about her, "just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was ready vocally, emotionally and physically." Hmm, it sounds like she was seriously affected by her embarrassment on the show. (Read a copy of her blog entry below.)
Found in her car was a laminated photo of Paula Abdul hanging from her rear view mirror, and her California license plate that says it all: ABL LUV. Godspeed to you, Paula Goodspeed. May you have a peaceful journey.
Paula Abdul Stalker Paula Goodspeed's 'Idol' Audition Video
Paula Goodspeed's MySpace blog entry about her American Idol audition
Saturday, February 25, 2006 February 2006:
Paula Goodspeed Audition city:
Austin Tx.
And yes, I like wearing pink and I had pink rubber bands on my braces; so here is the story my adventure!
In mid-August of 2005 the American Idol auditions were being held in Austins, Tx
I was going to Audition in San Fransico, it was close to LA , where I live…but it was too last minute and I didn’t feel like driving all-the-way there…..my friend Brianna was going to audition with me too, but she couldn’t figure out if she was going to go or if she could {shes 16} and there was only 3 days before the audition date. So I thought, the hell with it and decided it was just going to be my mom and I, I didn’t want to drive all the way to San Fransico so I called different airlines asking about their rates, but it was ridiculously expensive, and I wasn’t about to pay &600.00 a person, when I could fly for half of that price If I waited a week and flew to Austin, Tx the 2nd city in the Idol tour…sooo thats what my mom and I did..
When we arrived in Austin, it was around 10pm, we had to go straight over to the arena where the audition process was going to be held, so we could get our wrist bands and arrival info etc..After that, we took a cab to the Radisson Hotel to get some sleep.
We woke up at 4am to get ready…*thats right, I said 4 in-the-morning..i HATE mornings…but what can ya do, ya know?
We arrived back at the arena at 5am and had to stand in line for almost 3 hours along with thousands of other people!
Luckily we were standing more towards the front of the line. A couple of hours after we got in line, the camera crew came out and had all of us say some stupid things to the camera like “Simon, don’t mess with Texas!” and “Welcome to Texas, Ye-haw!!” ugh!! I didn’t really say the stuff, because there was so many people, that nobody would hear me anyway…Plus, obviously I’m not from Tx. {I was the only one that flew to TX to audition..everyone else either drove from the states next to Tx or were from TX.} I didn’t really have the Tx spirit anyway..Not being a morning person and all…. NOT being a morning person and all..
And it was just really cheesy stuff they were making people say… No offence to anyone from Texas.
Anyway, Finally at almost 9am they let us in and from there we all had to check in and get our seating tickets and maybe get something to drink….so after my mom and I went to find our seats ~section 26~ I was thinking ” cool, I won’t have to wait too long to audition…..Well, when everyone took their seats and the executive producers started talking to us about what was going to take place that day.,they told us that they were going to start with section 48!!! I was like “oh no!” I felt like I was auditioning in vegas all over again! what a waste of time!!
The year before, I had flown to Las Vegas to audition and I was in section 28, and my section was almost the last section to be seen so just about the time we got on the floor, the producers were cutting off braclets. *thats what the producers do when a person doesn’t make it to round 2 or if they ~Idol~ have reached their quota* Sooo, when the producers announced that they were going to go from the highest numbered section , down..I thought “yup, just like last year, why did I even bother to come here?” My mom was like “don’t worry about it, just think positive”
So around 2:45pm it was my sections turn to go down to the tables where each section before us had sung for 3 producers at each table…but this season would be a little different, because everyone had to get in the line formed to get their picture taken and then get in whatever line in front of the tables that the producers directed them to go. *There are table booths where 3 producers for the show sit and judge., the tables are marked with numbers* I was directed to booth #12, the closest table to where I had my picture taken Soo I didn’t have to walk very far, luckily, I wear heels all-the-time and this occasion was no exception! *I am around Paula Abdul’s height*
When it was my turn to sing, I belted out “Holding out for a hero” by Bonnie Tyler .
“golden tickets” were hard to come by, but after I sang, I got thru to the next round and was told to where the same outfit.
Sooo, according to the Austin newspaper..5,300 people auditioned and out of that amount only about 250-300 people made it thru to round 2.
A couple of days later we auditioned for round 2 at the arena again, but with alot LESS people. This time around we had to sing at least 3 songs, 1 fast song, one slow and one that the producers picked. When everyone arrived, we were given a lyric sheet of the song that we were required to sing for our next audition. The producers chose “Rockin Robin” an oldies song. The song was played on the arena stereo on repeat..before I went in to audition.. the song must have played , like hundred times or something! I was next to the last group to audition….This time we had to sing for Nigel Lithgoe and ken Warwick, the shows ~executive producers~
Yes! It is such a *grueling process* to participate in, VERY stressful and nerve racking!
Soon , it was my turn to go in the audition room…keep in mind that not alot of people were getting thru soo it was even more nerve racking! The 1st song I sung was “Holding out for a hero” Ken Warwick immediately liked me and my fashion sence…so he said Yes! Yes! your thru! before I even sang my 2nd song!!….Nigel Lithgoe already knew me from my audition for the TV show “So you think you can dance” I auditioned for, 4 months earlier. Both judges were really cool to me and really getting into my performence! The 2nd song I sang was “Money changes everything” by Cyndi Lauper and then I sang “Rockin Robin” , Needless to say I made it to round 3:: There were only
about 85-100 people that made it thru to ::: Paula, Randy, and Simon…that audition would take place a month later in September….over two days!!!
A day or two after I flew back to Los Angeles, Hurricane Katrina hit that part of the country and then another one “Rita” hit almost a month later…..sooo needless to say, American Idol called me while I was in Orlando Fl. vistiting my friend and told me that the 3rd round *Paula, Randy and Simon* audition was NOT going to be held in Tx. because of all the distruction that the two Hurricanes caused, so they said that the 3rd round would be held in Las Vegas….but then a couple of days later , Idol called back to let me know that the audition would be held in …..you guessed it!! San Fransico!! And because of all the hurricane mess…Idol paid for the contestants to fly to Frisco…due to weather conditions that made it ~impossible~ to finish the Austin auditions in TX. Hotel costs were paid by Idol also.
What are the odds?? I was going to audition in Frisco, but didn’t and the next thing I know, I am continuing my Austin auditions in San Fransico!! Weird!!!!!
Anyway, during the month I had before my audition for Paula, Randy, and Simon I went to my vocal teacher to work on “Holding out for a hero” more , after a few lessons she decided she liked “proud Mary” for me better…sooo we worked on that song…I had *always* been uncomfortable singing that song because it’s a Tina Turner song, anyway we worked on it and got it tight. Soon it was time for me to fly to San Fransico to continue my Austin auditions. My group was next to the last to audition..again..while we {contestants} were waiting in the holding room, Ken Warwick {executive producer} came in to give the contestants and family members a rundown of what the audition day would consist of. Soon after Ryan seacrest came in and spoke to all of us and answered any questions that anyone had, thats where I took that picture of him that is featured in my myspace pictures and on my website!! Paula, Randy and Simon came in to greet us about 45 minutes to an hour later….while I was eating!!! Paula comes over to us and interviews {shes with Entertainment Tonight} the “teacher” the guy with olive skin/dark hair and pink t-shirt /jeans I was sitting right behind him, with my hair pulled back… I’m sure that was caught on camera!!!! I didn’t feel like putting my hair down, unless I was having an interview or in my actual audition.
I also did an interview with Paula and the another woman…the interview was about my fashion sense…..how I get my ideas for outfits and where I got my fashion inspirations, No-offence to Paula Abdul….I *didn’t* get my style from her…actually ..my style is a mix of 1980’s icons: Punky Brewster, Rainbow Brite and Cyndi Lauper.
That’s where Idol mistrewed some things! It’s TV and they will say whatever…I guess….
Anyway, back to the audition process….a little bit before I went into the audition room to face Paula, Randy and Simon..I was having second thoughts on the song I was going to audition with…I was in the ladies room with a bunch of other girls who were all going over their songs or just talking …I was talking with a girl who was my {hotel} roommate and my mom and I was trying to decide what the hell I was going to sing because I didn’t want to sing “Proud Mary”..it made me feel intimadated to sing the song and I just felt uncomfortable with the whole idea…~~I guess if a person is at that state of singing where they feel uneasy singing certain songs..they should just stay home~~..I probably should have! If I realized what a mess I was going to make of the song…..I was just going to stick with my song that got me thru the 1st two rounds…*Holding out for a hero*….. I ended up singing both songs and asking a couple of the girls in the bathroom which one should I sing…~~Never do that!! No-One wants to see anyone do well..Lets Admit it people!!~~~I was more comfortable singing “Holding out for a hero” But because I did soo well singing “Proud Mary” in my lessons, a class room structsure..comfort zone..in other words…once I was taken from my comfort zone..things were NOT good enough…I took the chance with “Proud Mary” because I didn’t want to let my teacher down., …thats right*..I only worked on that song for a short time…and with the nerves and stress, well, thats what everyone got…I sincerly appologise…
Anyway, People..if you saw my clip, you know what happens next.
We’re back to present day, five {5} months later. Feb.25th 2006 and I have changed vocally, Ballparks since then. I had to learn how to sing the *correct way and I worked on my vocal tone. I still want to sing professional one day and one day I do ~hope~ I can get a second chance to redeem myself and my talent….I’ve always had singing talent but picking the wrong song and nerves DON’T mix and I learned my lesson! Apart from that , I wasn’t ready to put myself out there.
It’s very hard reading such awful things being written about yourself…..or hearing things being said….. not like alot of people would understand what it’s like having so many haters , just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was ~even~ ready vocally, emotionally and physically.
I have to believe there is ~something good about me…..
Simon made that comment about my braces 5 months ago in Sept. 05 and now …since the show aired this month {Feb. 06}, theres been soo many people bashing me for having braces, as if “I am the only person on national television that wears braces”!!!!!!
I think some people just need to grow up…or save that kind of stuff for the playground!
Soo, thats my story!! Better luck next time, I guess……
~Thanks to all the people that have gone to my offical website, have signed my guestbook….and that made the effort to locate me thru Myspace.com to tell me that they liked what they saw and are supporting me….it doesn’t stop here…soon I will prove myself worthy as a singer and take the world by storm, with my fashion, dance…etc!!
~Paula Goodspeed~ forever
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Jennifer Aniston was my ultimate crush. Correction: Rachel, her character on 'Friends', was my ultimate crush. In fact, crush is an understatement. I was in love with her, and so were millions of other young men at the time. Rachel was sexy, funny, sometimes quirky but all-the-time lovely. Girls wanted to be like her and guys wanted to marry her, and take her home to mom. He he. But after 'Friends' drifted into the horizon, we thought we had lost Rachel too. Wrong. Rachel became Jennifer and Jennifer became Rachel, and our love affair continued. We were not jealous when she found love in Hollywood's prince charming, Brad Pitt. But when that 'fairy tale' ended, we were crushed as well. Suffice it to say that I was not too happy with Angelina Jolie because of this, despite idolizing her too and finding her sexy before all of this. I'm sure many of you felt the same. There were rumors the Aniston-Pitt divorce was a messy one, a bitter split for the Hollywood couple, and our hearts melted further in favor of dear old Rachel, er, Jennifer. Both parties never talked about it since then, fueling more speculation about the split. But Rachel Jennifer Aniston finally set things straight after a long period of silence, but not before speaking her mind on a few issues about Angelina.
Gracing the December issue of Vogue magazine, Jennifer Aniston admits that she isn't too happy with some of Jolie's public remarks about her love affair with ex-husband Brad Pitt. She complains that Jolie went too far when she admitted falling for Pitt on the set of 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', when Jennifer was still married to the actor. "There was stuff printed that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening," Aniston says of the Jolie interview. "I felt those details were a little inappropriate to discuss. That stuff about how she couldn't wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool."
However, she was quick to dispel rumors about the reported bitter divorce with Brad Pitt, adding that it was an amicable split. "Well, it never was that bad. I mean, look, it's not like divorce is something that you go, 'Oooh, I can't wait to get divorced!' But I've got to tell you, it's so vague at this point, it's so faraway in my mind, I can't even remember the darkness. I mean, in the end, we really had an amicable split. It wasn't mean and hateful and all of this stuff that they tried to create about Brad can't talk to Jen and Jen can't talk to Brad because this person won't allow it. It just didn’t happen."
"The marriage didn’t work out. And pretty soon after we separated, we got on the phone and we had a long, long conversation with each other and said a lot of things, and ever since we’ve been unbelievably warm and respectful of each other." She adds, "We have exchanged a few very kind hellos and wishing you wells and sending you love and congratulations on your babies," she says. "I have nothing but absolute admiration for him, and... I’m proud of him! I think he’s really done some amazing things."
On the subject of her current relationship with John Mayer, dear old Rachel Jennifer says they "adore each other". "This whole 'Poor lonely Jen' thing, this idea that I'm so unlucky in love?," she says. "I actually feel I've been unbelievably lucky in love ...I'm right where I'm supposed to be." Aniston also believes she will have kids one day: "I'm going to have children," she declares. "I just know it."
All of these is good news to us. Our Rachel (the love of my life ten years ago, he he) has finally cleared the air and thrown a few punches of her own (I wonder how Angelina will respond to this). Best of all, it's good to know that she's happy. But if there will come a time when she'll be loveless once again, there are many of us who'd welcome her with open arms. (Forgive me if my post is too "Hollywood-y". I just had to write about it after reading about Rachel's Jennifer's comments regarding Angelina. He he.)
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If there's one thing great about John McCain that we've discovered since the end of the presidential election, it's that he's definitely not a sore loser. He refuses to pin the blame about losing his presidential bid on anybody, not even Sarah Palin. In his recent appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, McCain warded off suggestions that his choice for vice president damaged his presidential bid and dismissed anonymous criticism aimed at her following their crushing defeat. He also disputed that a different vice presidential pick would have changed the outcome against Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden. "I'm so proud of her and I'm very grateful she agreed to run with me. She inspired people, she still does," McCain told Jay Leno. "I couldn't be happier with Sarah Palin."
This was John McCain 14th appearance on the Tonight Show but his first since losing the presidency is a hard-fought and historic election campaign. He looked relaxed, well rested, unlike his previous appearances in other shows in the past wherein he appeared tense, sometimes even 'lost'. When asked by Jay Leno how he was, this was his reply: "Well, I've been sleeping like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry." Ha ha ha.
And while there is strong speculation about his one-time running mate's political plans for the future, the Arizona senator was quick to parry suggestions of a comeback in 2012. "I wouldn't think so," McCain told Leno, with a hint of resignation in his voice. "We are going to have another generation of leaders come along."
Read more about John McCain's appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno from the full transcript below, or watch the video.
John McCain on Leno's Tonight Show (VIDEO 1)
John McCain on Leno's Tonight Show (VIDEO 2)
John McCain with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show (November 11) Full Transcript of Interview
Leno: As I said, today is Veterans Day. I cannot think of a better person to have as my first guest. Vietnam veteran, real American war hero, also just ran a hard-fought campaign against Barack Obama, now our President elect.
Please welcome, in his first television interview, Senator John McCain. Welcome back, sir. McCain: Thank you, my friend. And thank you for having all these brave servicemen and women here. I'm honored to be with you. Thanks.
Leno: It's been a week since the election. How are you doing? McCain: Well, I've been sleeping like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. McCain: I gotta tell you one quick story about Arizona. As you know, the great state of Arizona I've had the honor to represent. And we have a problem in Arizona. It's really kind of a sad thing, because Barry Goldwater from Arizona ran for President of the United States.
Morris Udolf (sp.) from Arizona ran for President of the United States. Bruce Babbitt from Arizona ran for President of the United States. I, twice. Arizona may be the only state in America where mothers don't tell their children that some day they can grow up and be President of the United States.
I mean, that's a sad story.
Leno: How about your wife Cindy? How is she taking it? Because sometimes McCain: Yeah, it's tough. It's tougher always on the family members. But she's doing fine. She's doing very fine. Thanks for having her and Meghan on the show. Appreciate it.
Leno: They were great guests. McCain: Thank you. And I'm glad to be back for my 14th time. I'm happy to be on.
Leno: The day after the election, it was so weird. I turn on the TV, and I see you coming out of your house or apartment. You get in your car, and you drive somewhere by yourself. McCain: Yeah. To get a cup of coffee, yeah. I didn't have a single accident.
Leno: I mean -- McCain: Maybe one.
Leno: What was that like to suddenly be surrounded -- "He's coming down the hall. Remove" -- and then suddenly -- I mean -- McCain: Well, secret service people, despite the idiot you talked about tonight, they're wonderful people. They're brave. They serve the country. They're just really the best of America. But it is a bit confining, you know. So I'm able to --
Leno: So what did you do that first day? Where were you driving when you -- McCain: Went down to get a cup of coffee. Cindy and I went down to get a cup of coffee and -- not the newspaper. I knew what it was going to say.
Leno: And you went up to the mountains too? McCain: Yeah, went up to our place near Sedona and had a very nice time.
Leno: Now, which house is that? Number 12? McCain: You know what? That's -- let's see. 27.
Leno: 27. McCain: But we're -- you know, look, it's a great honor. It's a great privilege. It's an incredible thing that I was able to do. And I saluted, as you know, and admire and respect the winner, Senator -- President elect Barack Obama.
Leno: Actually, to me, that was, I thought, a nice moment when you were talking somewhere. In the campaign when I saw ugly things going back and forth and a woman said, "Well, Barack Obama, he's an Arab or a terrorist," and you stopped and you said, "No, he's a good man and he's a family man." McCain: Yeah, a good and decent person.
Leno: And I like that. I thought that was quite impressive. McCain: Well, you've got to have a respectful campaign. And that doesn't mean it isn't tough. I mean, campaigns are tough, and they should be because you're seeking the most important position in the world. But there's a difference between being tough and being personal or angry. And look, America right now -- I don't have to tell you -- I don't have to tell anybody out here, especially those members of the military -- that we're in two wars. We've got housing problems. We've got economic crisis. We've got all these problems. Now it's time for America to join together and support the man who was just elected President.
Leno: Now, what do you think was the main reason you lost. I mean, it was close. You got -- McCain: I think personality.
Leno: Personality fault? McCain: Maybe too many people saw me on the Jay Leno show.
Leno: What would you -- is there anything, looking back, you would have done differently? Seriously, is there anything you said, "Maybe I shouldn't have said this"? McCain: You know, one of the things -- I do study history. And every book I've read about presidential campaigns is the person that one ran a perfectly flawless, beautifully machined, great campaign, and the person who lost, "Oh, my God, all screwed up." I could tell you a lot of things that we may have made mistakes on. But Jack Kennedy, after the failure of the invasion of the Bay of Pigs, said, "Victory has a thousand fathers. Defeat has one more lonely orphan." He didn't use the word "orphan," but we're on television.
So that's the way it is. Look, I'm so happy to have had the friends, go to the places we went to, Gee's Bend, Alabama, where Martin Luther King went before the March in Selma. And I met a group of African-American women who make quilts, singing. I'll never forget so many of those wonderful experiences that I had that no other way I could have had -- I could have had the experiences I had.
Leno: When you sit with friends, you discuss it, it does seem like, as viewing this, knowing you, I would see sort of two McCains. Sometimes I would see one McCain, and then the times when you were being funny, like at the Al Smith dinner and "Saturday Night Live" and said, "Oh, that was" -- I said, "Why can't we get" -- "where is that McCain?" That one didn't seem to be quite as visible. Is it the pressure and the tension of -- McCain: I think these are tough times, and you have to -- and campaigns are tough. I don't, frankly, think that a lot of people wanted a standup comic. They wanted to know how we were going to address the issues. That's why I didn't worry about your write-in candidacy.
But, you know, you just do the best that you can. And again, it's an incredible honor. You know, we're not -- I'm not denigrating my past, but I stood fifth from the bottom of my class at the Naval Academy. If my old Marine company officer were here today, he'd say, "In America, anything is possible."
Leno: Let's talk about Governor Palin now. The polls show that she hurt you. I know you're too much of a gentleman to probably answer this question, but did she? Do you think it hurt you at all? McCain: No, look, Sarah Palin and her husband, who is an amazing guy, four-time champion --
Leno: Snow machine. McCain: Yeah, snow machine --
Leno: I didn't hear that. Was that mentioned? McCain: One time the guy -- with 250 miles to go, Todd broke his arm and finished the race. Look, I'm so proud of her. And I'm very grateful that she agreed to run with me. She inspired people. She still does. And look, I'm -- I couldn't be happier with Sarah Palin. And she's going back to be a great governor, and I think she will play a big role in the future of this country.
Leno: Did she ever get off message at one point? McCain: Did you expect mavericks to stay on message? I'm sure that from -- look, we did a lot of things together, a lot of these rallies. The people were very excited and inspired by her. And that's what really mattered, I think. Look, she's a great reformer. She took on the governor of her own party when she ran for governor.
Leno: Gotcha. McCain: She understands all the energy issues. There's a $40 billion pipeline coming to bring natural gas to places like California. And so look, she's a marvelous person.
Leno: Now, these aides that were criticizing her -- and I think everyone agrees there were Republican aides who were criticizing her. I know you wouldn't go for that. I know you're an old soul. You don't let people talk -- but why? McCain: One -- these things happen in campaigns too. I think I have at least a thousand, quote, top advisors. "A top advisor said" -- people I've never even heard of, much less a, quote, top advisor or a high-ranking Republican official. It's -- these things go on in campaigns, and you
Leno: Why don't we just move on. McCain: I'm just very proud to have had Sarah Palin and her family, a wonderful family.
Leno: I sort of guessed -- when Barack Obama picked Joe Biden, I -- it seemed to me he picked Joe Biden because Russia had just invaded Georgia and it seemed like, "Wow, I want to go with somebody with became a choice because of that. That's just my guess.
If this economic thing had happened a month earlier or prior to you choosing, would you might have gone with an economic person, maybe a Romney or somebody like that? Is there any chance -- how much did the world events play in the decision?
McCain: The world events didn't play a role. I just looked at people, and I saw all of the things that she had to offer. And all of them that we had to actually, quote, choose from or ask to serve with us were all good people. I like them all very much.
It wasn't an easy process. I just thought that -- I really believe that Sarah Palin is amongst some, like Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, there's a group of young Republican governors and -- mainly governors, but also some in the Senate -- that I think are the next generation of leadership of our party. And we're probably going to -- our party has a lot of work to do. We just got back from the woodshed.
Leno: How about Joe Lieberman? Was he a close choice? Was that possible? McCain: Joe is one of the finest, most wonderful men I've ever known in my life. I have never known a finer man than Joe Lieberman, and I believe I won the nomination because right before the New Hampshire primary -- and I know I don't expect a lot of you to remember all the details -- he came out to supported me. It mattered. Independent voters voted with us. I love Joe Lieberman.
Leno: That might cost him the chairmanship now. Is that -- McCain: I hope not, because Joe is a wonderful person. And we want people to stand up for --
Leno: Can you do that? Can you lose your chairmanship in the Senate just because you picked what your party perceives as an -- McCain: It generally is not done. I don't, obviously, know what -- what's going to happen. But I know that Joe Lieberman is one of the -- and by the way, on national security issues, he's really, really good.
Leno: And he's an independent now; right? McCain: He's a, quote, independent Democrat.
Leno: Would you want him to be a, quote, independent Republican? McCain: No, no.
Leno: Try to get him over on the other side, kind of lure him over -- McCain: I'm honored to have --
Leno: -- get him some clothes, expensive clothes, maybe nice suit? McCain: Neiman Marcus?
Leno: Neiman Marcus. McCain: But yeah, I think that -- I think that Joe is going to probably remain as what he is, an independent who stands up for what he believes in. We need more people like Joe Lieberman.
Leno: I want to talk to some more. When we come back, I want to ask you about a couple of issues and if you think the outcome would have been different if those issues had been different. More with Senator John McCain.
Let me ask you this: If the main issue had remained the Iraq War, do you think the outcome might have been different?
McCain: If frogs had wings --
Anyway, won't finish that line. You know, I don't know, Jay. If you get into this "might have been" or different scenarios -- we fought, I thought, a good campaign. I'm honored by the friends we made. I'm honored to have had the opportunity. I know it sounds a little repetitious, but that's what I'll take with me. By the way, Senator Obama inspired millions of young people, and I think we inspired some people too. And that's really what I think was important, that legacy.
Leno: At what point did you feel like you're up against almost a historical movement? It seemed almost bigger than either candidate. You know, when I watched Senator Obama give his speech and I saw people who had not been part of the process -- McCain: Never been -- oh, yeah.
Leno: -- suddenly moving -- McCain: Especially a lot of young people too.
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Heidi Klum's Guitar Hero commercial has been out for more than a week now but it's still as hot as ever! The ad, following the 'Risky Business' theme popularized by Tom Cruise in his movie of the same title, features the sexy German supermodel strutting her stuff with a guitar in hand. Though the video in itself is enough of to bust the hotness meter, nothing compares to the following photos vividly capturing Heidi's sexy moves (courtesy of tvshark.com). Whew, Seal is one lucky guy! He he. The scenes on the table and on the couch are my personal favorites!
I was a fan of Tom Cruise during his 'Risky Business' days and, like millions of his followers, that dance sequence was a favorite. I also liked David Cook's rendition on American Idol a few months ago. However, these two are nothing compared to Heidi Klum's version. The Victoria's Secret supermodel definitely scorched the screen with this one! Anybody thinking of doing their own rendition of this 'Risky Business' dance sequence better think twice before doing it. This Guitar Hero commercial is one very tough act to follow. (All photos on this page are from tvshark.com)
I am sure many of you are familiar with that phrase, having been exposed to the adventures of our favorite boy wizard. But this post is not about Voldemort, or even Harry Potter. This piece is about a Filipino superstition that is still being practiced (and believed) in these modern times.
