MemeMachineGo!

Tuesday’s the cheap day at Berkeley’s second-run theatre, the Elmwood — all admissions are $4.50.

For whatever reason, they were playing a much less current than second-run film, Shaolin Soccer. I’d been interested in seeing this when it first came out, but hadn’t gotten around to it then.

Best. Movie. Ever.

Well, okay, maybe not. But it rivals Breaking Away for my favorite sports movie ever.

Subtle, it’s not — it takes unbridled joy in its excess. It’s over-the-top Hong Kong action film kung fu applied to playing soccer. And making buns. If you have ever enjoyed a silly kung fu fight scene, you should see this movie.

And if you want to see real Shaolin monks performing seemingly superhuman stunts, check out Shaolin science.

After the movie, I walked up Telegraph Ave. There was some stencil graffiti on the sidewalk: against a red star background, “Bush Kerry or Revolution. Choose or Lose.”

Closer to home, I saw a woman walking what, from a distance, I thought was a big black dog (I’m nearsighted and usually walk around without my glasses.) Closer, I saw that while it was as tall as a big dog, it wasn’t furry like a dog. And it had a big, saggy belly. And it didn’t have a dog’s face.

It was a sow. And not any cute little Vietnamese potbelly pig — she was big. She wasn’t on a leash; the owner was guiding her with a stick.

The pig was busily munching on some grass. The owner complained “You don’t have to eat every one!” and slapped her on the shoulders with the stick. The pig ignored her.

I stopped to watch. The owner turned to me to say “Just going around the block takes 45 minutes, ‘cause she has to stop to trim every blade of grass!”

Finally, the sow had her fill and wandered on.