Life in the Banana Patch

A collection of thoughts and asides about life. And if I think of anything that needs to be mocked, it will show up here.

"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."
--Bertrand Russell

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Pat Morita
1932-2005

Ever seen The Karate Kid? Me too. I saw it in Japan in 1985 while as an exchange student. To tell you the truth, I didn't buy Pat Morita in the role of Mr. Miyagi for the first half of the movie. He was still Arnold from Happy Days to me.

After I returned home he did a Pizza Hut commercial. I remember it to this day, even though I have only seen it one time: Morita has a slice of pizza in one hand, a pair of chopsticks in the other. He looks at the pizza, then the chopsticks. He tosses the chopsticks over his shoulder with a muttered, "Dame da, kore wa," and takes a bite. I thought it was hilarious. My parents, less so.

Sayonara, Morita-san. The world is a darker place without you.