From EW.com:

"It's back to Middle Earth for Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and the boys from New Line. Finally, the years of disputes have ended, and the partners (including co-producer and co-distributor MGM) are gearing up for two new Hobbit movies."

So are they going to divide the book into two movies, or film one movie based on the whole book and the second movie based on something else?  Either way, I CANNOT WAIT.

Unlike most people, it seems, I don't have a lot of shopping to do for Christmas.  We don't have any relatives on the islands and all my friends (all two of them) are back in Illinois.  The only shopping I really have to do is for my parents, wife, and dog.  We used Amazon.com for my parents and my dog will get a piece of meat from the butcher. 

That leaves just my wife to shop for.  I have no idea what to get.  Maybe I'll just get her a piece of meat too. 

Another random photo from downtown Honolulu:

WAIT! DON'T CLICK AWAY!  I know you're thinking: "oh great, another Star Trek post from Sammy."  But this post isn't really about Star Trek.  Even if you're not a fan of Star Trek (boo!), this book is pretty interesting.  It doesn't delve deeply into the subject matter, but gives an overview of theories such as utilitarianism, hedonism, etc.  Once again, you don't have to like Star Trek to appreciate the book, but obviously it helps.  The author uses various scenarios from the Star Trek episodes and movies to illustrate points about ethics. 

My question(s) to you involves the Vulcans and the nature of the emotion of love.  Vulcans are a race that have learned to suppress all emotion and live according to pure logic.  In the Star Trek series there have been a few instances of a Vulcan marrying a human (such as the character Spock's parents).  If the Vulcans don't feel love, then I'm assuming they base their decision to marry on how useful the partnerhip would be - a logical decision.

Most of us humans (there are always exceptions) marry because we love the other person and we feel that they love us in return, right?  How do we know that our partner loves us (other than actually hearing them say so)?  Don't we feel that we are loved by seeing the sacrifices and other actions that they take on our behalf, like working, spending time with us, and getting us things we need and want?

But wouldn't a purely logical race like the Vulcans also work, make sacrifices, etc. for their mates?  If that's the case, then how exactly do we feel the love of others?  Is it based on their saying so?  Do we somehow "feel" love in the air?  If you were married to a Vulcan couldn't you still "feel" love when you see them make sacrifices for you?  Perhaps this goes back to the age-old question, "what is love?"  Hmm....

Silver Bells

White Christmas (the only version I really like is Bing Crosby's, although Louis Armstrong's was good too):

Feliz Navidad (simple song, but for some reason it's really catchy):

Silent Night (uh, I don't particularly like this version...but it's The Hoff!):

I'll Be Home For Christmas:

Do people really go Christmas Caroling?  The only time I ever did this was for grade school one year (I had to because I was in the school choir) and I've never seen anyone come to our house or even on our block.  Have you ever gone?

A somewhat blurry cellphone picture of the Holiday lighting in downtown Honolulu.  Looks much better in person.

Since I'm the "new guy" at work, I get stuck with all the uncool tasks.  They don't let me do the fun stuff like dazzle juries with opening statements or meet with high-powered millionaire and celebrity clients.  Instead, I mostly do research, file documents, and summarize things....LOTS of things.  I've summarized so many cases, briefs, documents, letters, etc. that I've become an expert.    If you recite the alphabet to me I can summarize it for you, A to Z.   

Just call me The Summarizer.  Sure, it's not as intimidating as "the Terminator," but it's more useful, especially if you need something summarized.

I haven't been to a Starbucks in a while.  Do they have one of those holiday-seasonal-egg-nog type drinks now?   

Would you like to sleep in a treetent?

According to my wife's friend's teenage son, the Wonder Girls are hot right now in Korea:

Jerjonji always posts videos of male idols, this is to balance that out! Not my cup of tea, but if I were 16 I would probably like them. Do they have super powers too? (or was that the Wonder Twins...or Wonder Woman). 

The Honolulu Marathon is tomorrow.  I think there are about 15,000 runners who fly over from Japan just to run.  As in any marathon, some people run in costumes and overall, it's a pretty fun day.  My father will be running too.  But he took a year off last year from running in the Chicago Marathon (because we were busy moving here).  We'll see how he does. 

EDIT: The official site has a descripion of the course with some pics.   My neighborhood is described as follows:

"In the sixteenth mile, runners turn left onto Hawaii Kai Drive into a valley community created by and named for billionaire industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. The course through residential Hawaii Kai loops around an inland waterway. Looming ahead is Koko Head, a volcanic crater eroded on one side by the ocean into the popular snorkel spot, Hanauma Bay. The course turns right back onto Kalanianiole Highway at Maunalua Bay Beach Park, a popular spot for parasailing and outrigger canoes. "