manzoniman

One Simple Reason

2012-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

There's only one simple reason why 2011 was a shit year.

I lost my dad.

I have written on this blog a few times about death, people that I've known and known of, passing on and the impact they've had on me.

But until I lost my father, I had never experienced a real loss.

Thankfully, in the end, all the drama surrounding his passing, the endlessly complicated whirlwind of human and chemical factors that brought about his death - none of that matters.

The turmoil in myself over what I could have done differently is fading. I am instead overwhelmed with unconditional love for him and I have long forgiven him and myself for all the sins and bullshit that all human beings typically cannot escape anyway, no matter where they come from or what they have to endure.

I can sincerely say that very soon I will have nothing traumatic left about my dad - I love him and I know he loved me. Nothing feels wrong or bad about his being gone save for one cold hard fact.

The simple fact that he IS gone and I can't call him up or fly down to see him. Ever.

That is the one simple reason, the one crushing obstacle that I don't think I will overcome.

2011, outside of this one simple reason, was a damn good year. Good career, loving wife and kid. I'm healthy and the future looks bright.

But God I miss him.

We were not as close as I would have liked, but I know he is so much of who I am that in the end the less than ideal closeness didn't really matter. He was hardwired into my brain and soul, and I'd like to think that I was to him as well.

Even in stretches of a month or more where we didn't call each other, I know we were still bonded. Partly it was his disease that kept me away, but also I know that we both had our own busy lives and it was okay. As Merrill men, that's just how we rolled.

I do regret a bit that I didn't call more often, but I know he's okay with it because of our unspoken bond.

And I know that wether it was destiny or choices that brought about his end, as Forrest Gump posits at Jenny's grave - Are we a feather just floating on the breeze or can we choose? Maybe it's both... In the end it doesn't really matter. What's happened has happened and it's okay, except of course that he's not here any more.

That's the one simple reason why I'm in pain and probably will remain so for a long time.

But I can also smile and know that in the ways that mattered most he was a great man, the smartest and strongest I've ever known. And that I'm going to do my best to live up to the best parts of him. The fun parts that were stubborn and righteous, but also the parts that were thoughtful and kind.

I'm looking forward to the new year, and though I'll always miss him terribly, I know I'll also have a part of my dad in my heart forever. I feel a small jolt of bittersweet joy stirring in my soul these days whenever an event pops up that reminds me of him. For example, when I sit down to a great home cooked meal or take in a fun "caper" movie like Mission Impossible 4 that I saw the other night.

It's good and it's bad, it's happy and it's sad. But in the end I treasure these little pangs of memories - and truly hope they don't fade too much. I love that I can be flipping through channels, hit a Seinfeld rerun and then suddenly be focused like a laser on a vision of my dad. I don't want to lose this, because as time passes, these flashes become a little less painful and a little more comforting.

True, 2012 will be tough because of the one simple reason, but I'm also grateful that I still really miss my dad, and that he can present himself to me at unexpected times. As hard as it is, it is also wonderful - and in that I can find some consolation.

Pwned.

2011-11-14T13:19:00.001-08:00

I haven't been watching the endless Republican debates, because frankly without Christie or Giulliani in the race, I don't really have a horse to root for - but someone recently sent me this.

Gingrich dismantles a smug CBS anchor beautifully here, and perfectly articulates the disconnect between comprehension-impaired liberals and the rest of us who get it.

The funny thing is, I know that the idiot "journalist" here probably doesn't even get that he was just served up and down and side to side. There is simply too big of a short circuit in the elitist brain.

So now I know, that despite his skeletons, despite his wacky asides (an incredibly stupid video with Pelosi springs to mind) I will be voting without holding my nose for Newt should he be the man against his Obama-ness. This guy is one smart mo fo, and I would be happy to have him as my president.

Confused?

2011-11-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Don't be.

Recently in political discussions people have been assuming and lumping me in with religious nuts.

While I confess, I do believe in Jesus and his teachings, it's really kind of a private thing between me and him.

When it comes to my politics - my faith has both everything and nothing to do with where I stand.

Follow me if you can.

When it comes to who should be elected into higher office, I'm not interested in Jesus. I'm interested in freedom.

I have very little in common with bible thumping loons. I am a free thinking pro-choice, pro-gun, pro-capitalism, pro-gay marriage and pro-liberty dude from Berkeley California.

To me, freedom of the individual is sacred above all.

I am against a redistribution of wealth, against the death penalty, against higher taxes and bigger government.

Most of all I am against someone else telling me how to live my life and taking the fruits of my labor and giving them to someone else.

Capitalism is what made and continues to make this country the greatest on God's green earth.

Our troops are what keeps us free.

What's between me and my God is my own business.

Clear things up a bit?

One and the same?

2011-11-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

In a nutshell, I have come around on my initial opinion that the Occupy Wall Street movement is analogous to the Tea Party group. At first blush, I thought that the ernest young people in Zuccotti Park were simply expressing themselves and their discontent, much as libertarian and right of center citizens have been doing for the last 2 and a half years.

Well, I suppose they are technically doing that - but in every other respect they could not be more different than the TP's.

The first difference is message - the Tea Party has one. Even if you disagree with it, their premise is simple. Lower taxes, smaller government.

What is the OWS message?

Banks are greedy and corrupt and made off like bandits as the economy collapsed.

"Okay, and?"

"That's it man. Corporations are evil."

"So what's the solution then?"

"More regulations and more government."

Okay...

As a wing-nut you all know that I find this preposterous, but setting fundamental disagreements aside, this "message" is not only unfocused, it's incoherent both in it's presentation and apparent absence of a solution.

In other words - Where's the beef?

There is no substance here, only the same dreck the radical left has been pushing for my lifetime entire, and for decades prior.

That said, they still have a right to protest, right?

Absolutely.

Were they to organize and communicate effectively per the Tea Party, march on specific targets, disrupt actually culpable organizations - they would have some sympathy from me. Alas, as it is, they have decided to take their message to public spaces by squatting.

Zuccotti Park in New York City is now in squalor. Trash everywhere, human feces too. Used condoms and drug paraphernalia litter the ground. The stench of weed is overpowering. And the drums are really annoying.

Great. These are the values of OWS.

An incoherent message, and a delightful medley of shitting, fucking and drug use.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Not to mention a blizzard of sexual assaults, not only in Zuccotti but every other major city with an OWS movement.

Peace, love. Get your rape on. But don't talk to the cops. We'll handle this.

And the parks, which everyone used to enjoy, are now off limits to people who actually live in the neighborhoods. Local businesses are suffering, laying off workers and even shutting down.

Remind me again - why is this necessary?

Let's say for argument sake, that OWS actually has a message that makes sense - let's say that blaming the banks (rather than the government and and their lackeys such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) is entirely logical.

It's a big leap, I know - but stay with me.

Let's say they are not idiotic. Isn't there a better way to not only get their message across, but to affect real change in the system?

Yes, I suppose they could march in the tens of thousands on Washington (as the Tea Party did) in a calm and organized manner, clearly articulating what it is they want (again, as you know who did) and being respectful of their environment, other citizens and law enforcement.

But where's the fun in that? You can't smoke it, crap on it or screw it - so what's the point?

Fuck it.

At least, that's the impression these fine folks are giving me.

Okay, so they don't have a coherent or half intelligent message. Okay, so they are disruptive and destructive. They still have a right to protest, right? Yes on the first, no on the second.

There is no such thing as an unrestricted right to free speech. Charles Cooke from the National Review says it best.

"There is no right of “occupation” included in the Bill of Rights, nor does a desire to protest accord a right to take over private property, or disregard the laws of the land. They couldn’t march into Barnes & Noble and take it over for a month with impunity."

And therein lies my biggest rub with this whole smelly fiasco.

Because these protestors, with their stupidity and their destructive tendencies, fall in line politically with liberal elites (who also happen to be in charge of most urban cities) - they have been given a free pass to take a shit in the faces of law abiding citizens.

Can you imagine if the Tea Party had deigned to set up a campground at Zuccotti and refused to leave?

Are you kidding me? This violent mob, as our president has referred to the Tea Party, would have been summarily squashed under the thumb of the police state.

The mayor of Oakland, a life long tool of union progressives, lost her mind for a brief moment and tried to do just that to the smelly squatters in her city. It lasted for less than 12 hours. She was back to praising them and even called on city unions (excepting the police of course) to endorse their ham-handed general strike which succeeded only in damaging local businesses and shutting down the 4th biggest port in the world. Bizarro world indeed.

The rule of law has been dismissed out of hand in favor of populist opportunism and mob rule.

The problem for the liberals is that they forget their history all too quickly.

In 1968 the anti-war hippies were at the height of their power, and they were going to take their candidate to the White House and get out of Vietnam immediately.

Except that their guy lost in a landslide to Richard Nixon. Nixon in fact carried the vast majority of the youth vote.

Uh-oh.

Obama and his lackeys have made yet another fatal error, by throwing in with these Flea Baggers (man it feels good to say that after being called a Tea Bagger for so long) they have distanced themselves, perhaps irrevocably from most Americans.

The sad part is, I and many agree with the one kernal of common sense that the OWS is spouting - the banks should have never been bailed out. But Bush started it, and Obama finished it decisively. The fact that all the private banks and corporations that were helped by the government paid back their loans with interest is lost on OWS, but I can even agree with them that we shouldn't have dumped the money in the first place.

I would also like to point out to them that Obama has received twice the donations to his campaign from Wall Street that Bush did.

But don't let facts get in the way.

Take a crap, stick it in, smoke some dope and throw a brick.

My 53%

2011-10-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

I am one of the few and the privileged, I am an American.

In my work as a videographer I have been to 31 countries, many of them third world.

I have seen the worst poverty imaginable, from the streets of Bombay to the slums of Nairobi.

I have seen a baby starving to death right in front of me.

I have walked through raw sewage to get to a tin shack, where a family of 10 lived.

I learned of the rape gangs that prowled their neighborhood, and I met the grandmother who had been a frequent victim.

I have been to 6 communist countries.

In China I saw the television go blank when a news story about Tibet started to come on.

In Russia we were pulled over for no reason in particular by a police officer standing on the corner.

With hardly a word, my driver payed the cop 900 rubles in cash ($40) so we could drive on.

In Nicaragua, every street vendor had a pistol in his belt.

Every truck driver had someone next to him with a shotgun.

In Egypt I asked someone where the bathroom was, he took me there - and then demanded money for his help.

This kind of thing happened over and over and over again during my visit.

I have also seen poverty and despair in America, but only in my work with Feed the Children.

Yes there are hungry families here, yes these are tough times.

But the guy on the street corner in Nike shoes with an ipod asking me for change is not hungry, he is strung out on drugs.

The kids in a park near Wall Street, wallowing in grime and trash, having sex and consuming copious amounts of drugs in public, do not engender sympathy from me.

They are selfish and self obsessed.

They presume to speak for me, when they have not seen genuine poverty a day in their life.

They are decadent, self-loathing narcissists who have confused freedom with entitlement.

America is an opportunity, it is not a guarantee.

I have been blessed beyond belief that my hard work has reaped material and emotional rewards.

But I know it could all end tomorrow with a bit of bad luck or a tragic event.

If it does, I won't look to anyone for compensation.

I don't want a dime from my government. I don't want a dime from anyone.

****

Whatever the happenstance or the circumstance, if things go bad, I will make my own way.

Because I live in the greatest country on God's green earth, and I have the OPPORTUNITY to
do it myself.

By the sweat of my brow, by the determination in my soul.

Like my forefathers before me, who toiled a hundred times greater than I ever have - I will fight and fight and fight to make my way.

And I will not presume that anyone owes me anything.

I am the 53%.

Now get off my lawn.

Ten Years of Regression

2011-09-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Firstly, there are idiots like this. Dennis Miller calls them out beautifully here.

Then, there are morons like this. Yes, I'm calling George Will, a conservative that I otherwise admire greatly, a moron. He has been a defeatist over the war on terror for over half a decade now. When it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, he has no clue.

Finally, the biggest jackasses of all - the ones who are so full of self loathing and contempt that they are leaping out of their skin to throw our country under the bus.

Unfortunately, the last group is now conventional wisdom of the media and leftist elites.

Really? Is this what we've learned in the ten years since that fateful day?

I beg to differ.

This is a video I edited and posted in January of last year.

The music of Five for Fighting, and the pictures I found through simple google searches - speak perfectly to my thoughts and feelings on that day.

But let me also add what I put on facebook last week.

"Just remember; despite that the media and government will avoid saying this at all costs in the next few days - 9/11 was perpetrated by Muslim Extremists in the name of their faith.

They killed almost 3000 Americans because they hate us and they hate our freedom. And there are still Islamo-facists out there who want us dead, not because of what we have done, but because of who we are.

Never Forget. Never forget that Americans were forced to jump to their death because of these monsters. Never forget that we were all united against them in the days that followed.

The words of appeasement dominate our vocabulary today and threatens to consume us. I pray most of us will have the courage to remain defiant against the people among us that would have us tolerate the insanity of sharia law in our midst."

This innocuous little post - which I would hope echoes the inner sentiments of most Americans of all faiths, was branded as "the voice of hate" by someone that, until I was summarily de-friended, I thought was a reasonable liberal.

I'm beginning to think that they are far and few between.

There seems to be a real disconnect in the liberal mind, between logic/reason and emotion/reaction. It stems from complete indoctrination into an anti-American world view that is bolstered by an utter lack of ability in reading and comprehension.

All my post said, was a statement of fact. There was no judgement therein, no supposition, and absolutely no condemnation of the Muslim faith at large.

I know practicing Muslims. I've been to half a dozen Muslim countries. I know of what I speak.

Muslims, by and large, are peaceful and good people. Just as most Christians are.

When the left calls out radical evangelicals, the kind that shoot abortion doctors and bomb clinics - where is the stampede of accusations from the right?

Oh yeah, right wing Christians are able to distinguish the majority of their flock (peaceful, law abiding) from the nutballs.

But I say a completely factual statement about 9/11 and the RADICAL Muslims that perpetrated it - and I'm the "voice of hate."

Give me a break.

Read this carefully - RADICAL Islamo-Fascists hate America because they hate freedom. Their twisted view of a peaceful religion colors everything they are trying to accomplish - which is primarily to kill as many Jews and westerners as they can.

Our foreign policy has jack shit to do with their motivations. It is who we are, not what we have done, that fuels their hatred.

Frankly, I can be ostracized by my friends and even family until the cows come home and I will not lose my courage.

I will always remember September 11th, 2001 as a day that freedom was attacked by evil.

A day when we resolved to strike back at our attackers - and did so. And in the end we prevailed.

And I will teach my daughter these simple facts.

God willing she will be a "voice of hate" - in other words, she will be courageous in speaking to the truth. She will not blink in the face of ostracism and being shunned, dismissed by those who are more comfortable smearing and shrieking than discussing the cold reality of evil.

She will not back down to anger. She will not be intimidated by histrionics and posturing.

She, like my father before me, will only be interested in the truth - no matter how "uncomfortable" it makes those who wallow in the indulgence of self-loathing and fear.

My Towering Fortress

2011-08-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

My father passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday morning, August 7, 2011.

Here are the words I wrote for and spoke at his memorial service on Friday, August 12.

****

My father leaves behind a legacy of kindness, compassion and a quiet dignity that touched many lives profoundly, not the least of which was my own.

In raising my brother David and I, Allan Merrill was a towering fortress, both literally and figuratively. One of my earliest memories of my dad was trying to keep up with him in the Hukilau parking lot, his long strides made it very difficult for my little legs to keep up. I was running, he was floating.

But as a father he was very much a gentle giant.

It must be my memory playing tricks on me, but I cannot remember a single incident of my father raising his voice to me. And I know for a fact he never raised his hand either. Don’t get me wrong, he could be stern - but something about him, his presence, his values, his dignity - made a withering look from him far more effective than any scream or belt could ever be.

But he was rarely, if ever, disappointed with his sons. I truly feel unworthy, as an adult with all my faults and sins - to be a lifelong object of such unconditional love from my dad. I recognize though, what an amazing and pretty rare gift that was.

He was always proud of us, always. He never stopped bragging to his friends on the island about my traveling for my job or my brothers achievements in medicine.

When I look at my dad and all his accomplishments and how many lives he has touched, I am truly humbled by the everlasting love and admiration that he bestowed on my brother and I, from the time we were babes in his arms to recently when I had a baby of my own.

Yes, he was always a big man. I mean, even as a 40 year old man, I still had to reach up to hug my dad.

But bigger still, was his heart and his compassion. In every way, Allan Merrill was to me - and always will be - larger than life.

His grandmother had an X on her front porch railing a signal to passing transients that her home had food available for the asking. Allan took his cue from this all of his life.

I can remember as a child making plates of food for men who would show up around back at the Hukilau kitchen.

If there was a holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas, more than likely you could find my dad and Linda serving up hot food to the needy at a local shelter or mission.

My dad had an unending compassion, not only for the less fortunate, but for the people he surrounded himself with and also the people he employed over the years. These folks were more than just workers to my dad, they were to him - truly family. It sounds crazy, but it’s true - he genuinely had love in his heart for the people who were so instrumental in making his business ventures so successful.

There is a long list of people, and there is a room full of people here, who repaid my dad in kind with love and loyalty. To all of them, to all of you, you have my family’s everlasting gratitude and appreciation.

If there’s one thing I am taking from my dad today, across the countless, priceless, memories him it is a great gift he gave me. The gift of dignity.

He had a presence about him, I really believed he was touched by the divine, in his ability to bring dignity through himself to his surroundings and those around him.

He had an innate sense of goodness, of right and wrong - and while he was no saint (and who is?) he bestowed this inner awareness of justice in me right from the beginning.

My father taught me, not in words, but in how he lived his life - that through the chaos, the hurt, the sorrow, the anguish in life - we must always step back and compose ourselves, and remember… we are, all of us, in this, the greatest country on God’s green earth, we are all - truly blessed. Take stock. Take measure. Keep your bearings. Keep your dignity.

One small but very telling example of his gift - my father never swore in front of me. Ever.

This makes, an impression.

It speaks to everything about him. Time and a place. Good times, good friends - but always keep your wits about you. Keep your focus where it needs to be. On those you love and on the good Lord above.

This is what I’ve been given. This is what we’ve all been given. Everlasting, unconditional, not always perfect - but always eternal, love.

Thank you all for being here for him, I know he is here among us, laughing along as we share stories and memories.

Thanks to all of you who helped make today happen.

Thank you pastor Larry for your beautiful words and all the comfort you’ve brought to my family.

Please, all of you, enjoy yourself today. Share, and reminisce all the good times and even some of the tough times. Laugh and cry - embrace that this gentle giant, has once again brought us closer together. And remember the endless love in his heart. Let it flow from him to you and to your loved ones.

Me, I’m going to close my eyes and smile, imagining myself in the parking lot, trying to keep up. Yep, I’m still running - and he’s still floating.

I love you dad.

Children please...

2011-07-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

I'm disgusted with just about everyone involved in this debt ceiling thing, but I'm most disappointed (once more) with our president.

He takes to the airways not to lay out a plan of action, but to lay blame in the most churlish and childish fashion imaginable. It is beneath him and the office he holds. He hides behind his campaign mode to disguise the fact that he is in way over his head.

Meanwhile, conservatives now are fighting amongst themselves wether or not they should vote for Boehner's shitty short term plan that barely scratches the surface of the spending cuts that are needed.

On the other side, Reid and his cronies are proclaiming the GOP bill dead on arrival anyway, and have drawn up their own ineffectual plan which bears not much difference from the Boehner plan, other than it puts off having to actually deal with this crisis until after the 2012 election. Hmmm, imagine that.

Funny how the MSM and "conservatives" like McCain are spinning the GOP's division and ineffectiveness in hopes that the party in power will somehow be absolved of blame when the shit finally hits the fan. Sorry guys, it's 2 to 1, the president and the senate are democrats.

The former has no plan, the latter has a plan that is solely designed to kick the can down the road until after the election. Obama and his gang will take the hit on this if it goes south. That's just the way it is.

But regardless, if given a choice between stubborn ideologues who stand up for what they believe in, and political opportunists who are more concerned with saving their own asses than finally acting like adults and cutting spending, I'll go with the wing nuts, thanks. As annoying as they can be, at least they aren't trading in their souls for political expediency.

That said, I really just wish all these a-holes would just grow up and find a pair.

Spending needs to be cut drastically. Period. You can call the cuts severe, draconian, inhumane, I really don't give a shit. Times are tough, it's time for hard decisions, it's time to act like an adult. It's time for leadership - and our president is right now failing us on this front in spectacular fashion.

Because he is such an ideologue, or maybe it's because he's in George Soros' pocket, it doesn't really matter which; he insists on pushing the politics of fear and class warfare.

All these "millionaires and billionaires" need to pay their fair share. Are you kidding me? Raising taxes in a recession? Really?

And by the way, we're not really making any significant cuts to spending. We're just going to keep on keeping on - dumping money on education and health care for illegal immigrants, "social justice" programs that have a 60 year history of spectacular failure, random subsidies that reward non-productivity and provide incentive for incompetence and impotence in the face of todays global economy.

Yep, government is bigger than ever, and it's not shrinking any time soon. If the left has it's way, it will get it's tentacles into every aspect of our lives.

Have a fat kid? Child protective services will take him away.

Enjoy junk food? We're going to tax it.

We're going to take your money and give it to someone else, someone less fortunate than you. They deserve it. You don't. You have enough money already.

We need a level playing field.

We need things to be fair.

That 6 year old looks suspicious, better give her a pat down before she gets on the plane.

Nice restaurant. Is that trans-fat? You can't serve that. Seriously, it's illegal. Stop laughing.

Circumcision is immoral. We're going to make it illegal. Really. By the way we hate Jews.

Welcome to our Veteran's cemetery, by the way don't mention God. Ever.

And if you don't like any of this, you're a racist piece of shit.

*****

Sorry, I got a bit carried away. Sort of.

I know it may seem that this laundry list of nanny state nonsense is unrelated to our current fiscal dilemma - but in my mind they are both part and parcel of the same problem. The left's unending obsession and fantasy about making things "fair".

There is nothing fair about our economic debacle, just as there is nothing fair about kids who eat crap and terrorists that blow up planes. But we do have to deal with these problems in a realistic fashion.

We cannot wish or hope these problems away. We cannot wave a magic wand and change what is in people's hearts or the cold reality of hard numbers.

We have to look at obstacles with a critical eye, and devise real world solutions.

You cannot legislate what's in people's hearts, just as you cannot steal money from successful people and give it to people that you deem worthy. It is a preposterous way of thinking and seeing the world.

Much better to make hard choices that will do the least damage in the long run.

When you tax job creators, you cost people jobs. When you give people hand outs rather than show them how to help themselves, you rob people of dignity and self worth. Even worse, you make them dependent on the state.

It is, in a very real way - a form of slavery.

This debt ceiling business is a perfect illustration of liberal versus conservative thinking. One side wants to simply take money out of American's pockets and then spend it all on the impossible dream of making things "fair."

The other side, my side, has had enough of dumping money down a black hole of failure. It is time for accountability. It is time for a social safety net that gives incentive and rewards to those who help themselves and discourages sloth, fraud and deceit from those who refuse to do their part.

If and when this country defaults for the first time in it's history - there will be no joy from either side of the aisle. It will be a tragic thing, but in the end it will be the misguided Robin Hood's of "social justice" that will be responsible for such a failure. They are the ones who are running the joint, they are the ones that will have to try and pick up the pieces, and they are the ones who will face the music in November of 2012.

Why people call him The King

2011-06-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, now I get it.

Last week the wife was able to hook us up with tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show "Viva' Elvis" in Las Vegas - and I was simply blown away.

I've heard many a report and review, that this Cirque show is the weakest of the many Vegas offerings (save perhaps the dreadfully uncomfortable Adults only "Zumanity"). Certainly it would not have been my first choice - I've always been (as you may have read on this blog) a Beatles guy. Elvis never had near the appeal to me as much as the fab four did. I want very much to see the Cirque show "Love" and I'm sure I will some day. (As an aside, Grandma and Grandpa took my 7 year old to that one. She said she loved it, because she knew most of the songs, I'm proud to say.)

Elvis always seemed of an earlier generation than my parents - a bit stuffy and old fashioned. A rube, a hick, a simpleton. The music was definitely good, but not great. And yet, in the back of my mind, something does stir when I see that old footage of him - whether from the super early days when he clearly was an unstoppable force of sexuality and swagger, to his electrifying 68' comeback special or even his jumpsuit days in Vegas (just before he became a blobby mess) - I can see it, he clearly was a world class entertainer.

But I never got why they called him "King" until last Thursday night. He was a relic, a symbol of an ideal long passed.

This show - "Viva' Elvis" was made for people like me and younger, to tell us what all the fuss was about.

First and foremost, it was about the music. The music, the music, the music. As I often say about movies, it's all about the story, here with Elvis, it was all about the music.

You may recall that the Elvis estate has over the past few years re-issued some of his old songs, remixed and remastered to an electronic beat. These redone versions, "A Little Less Conversation" and "Rubber-Necking" are both enjoyable and capture the spirit of Elvis well, but they fall just a bit short of capturing what was so great about him. He is mired, almost in the background, behind thick electronic filters and a mechanical wall of sound. It's cool to hear him modernized, but there is something missing in the heart and soul.

Thankfully, the music in this show - Viva' Elvis - puts Elvis' voice front and center in the mix, raw and unaffected almost entirely. Then, and only then, do they go to town on re-mixing and re-arranging. By keeping the pure power of Elvis' voice and performance (through incredible vintage footage on a huge screen) front and center Cirque delivers a powerhouse showcase for a truly legendary performer.

From the opening chords and then vocals of "Blue Suede Shoes" I totally got it.

This, was, Elvis.

Most important of all, Cirque made Elvis himself the lead performer in this show. There are live singers sprinkled in here and there, particularly lovely is the rearranged "Love Me Tender" as a gorgeous duet, but by and large - 80% of the singing is The King himself.

If this were just Elvis singing and a bare bones concert, with just the Viva' Elvis band, it would still be a great show. The musicians on stage are tremendously talented - a top notch horn section, a very enthusiastic rhythm section with 2 drummers and two extremely energetic and flawless guitar players - unleash an amazing re-imagining of the King's standards, again with Elvis' voice at the heart of the mix, not auto-tuned or filtered.

From this incredible foundation, we are then taken on an emotional journey.

Viva' Elvis has all the great narrative devices of a Cirque show, floating people and objects, fog machines, shafts of light, lanterns, etc. that lend a real emotional resonance and power to the story of Elvis, and provide a solid foundation for the wallop to the soul that the backbeat inflicts.

There is also a good amount of high flying thrills to entertain. The acrobatic performers in the show are as always, top notch. But I can see why some Cirque fans might dismiss this show. There are less jaw dropping aerial feats in this show than in the other "classic" Cirque presentations. I've seen "O", "Mystere'" and "Quidam", all three very typical and wonderful Cirque shows, full of jumping, spinning, flipping and diving. Viva' Elvis sticks closer to the ground frequently, putting the emphasis on dance, and that may be why long time CDS boosters have given this one a thumbs down.

But that is entirely unfair, and misses the point. This show is about the King, and about his legacy - which is, first and foremost, the music. And this show delivers a one-two-three punch to the gut of anyone and everyone like me, who didn't quite get the hysteria for a simple son of the south.

And all the crazy bullshit in Elvis' life - his drug use, the womanizing, the lunacy (using a 44. pistol for a remote control on his televisions) - none of that matters in the face of the music. Cirque delivers a gripping narrative of the stuff that matters; family, faith, hope and yes, even love.

This show is a must see obviously for Elvis fans - but it is also required viewing for anyone who loves rock and roll, and who wants to know why this artist was great.

Couldn't resist...

2011-05-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

Euphoria, relief and reflection...

2011-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

So I guess we can ignore that last post. Nothing can stop Obama know, barring a colossal tanking of the economy and/or a significant hike of income taxes.

I was sitting on the couch Sunday night, watching Geraldo Rivera of all people (really can't stand that guy) and he was handed a blue card while he waited for an unexpected speech by Obama.

Bin Laden was dead, killed by a predator drone strike over a week ago.

My instincts told me it was true - that he was dead. Elation gripped my wife and I, as we watched enraptured, soaking up each detail as it came. Then the president swaggered down the hall and made it official.

America - fuck yeah.

Even better, it wasn't a cold and distant machine that brought him down from miles away and a week ago. It was CQB (Close Quarters Battle) bullets earlier that day - two taps to the head. Clack! Clack!

It was a great evening for our country; Obama had made good on Bush's promise. We will find you, we will hunt you down, justice, will be served. Indeed it was.

I couldn't help but smile as the news covered jubilant throngs in front of the White House, at Times Square and yes, Ground Zero. Family members of 9/11 victims, comrades of the fallen first responders, all joined together. We were united again, we were whole.

But a tiny scratching in the back of my brain, flashed to the radical mobs who danced in ecstasy nearly ten years ago across the Arab world upon hearing of the twin towers fall. My stomach recoiled at the sight of these primitives celebrating the massacre of 3000 innocents. And yet here we were, dancing at the thought of a bullet to the brain of a monster.

I, and the rest of the country, are conflicted. Relieved and overwhelmed that true evil has been vanquished at the end of a righteous gun, and yet, that euphoric glow is tinged with a melancholy that only grows with time.

It is a heavy burden we bear, as the shining beacon of hope and a truly, deeply moral force in the world. We cannot allow ourselves to embrace fully the animalistic lust of hate and revenge. Even the most hawkish of hawks, of which I fully admit to being one, will eventually have to pause and reflect.

A man was blown away at our behest. We have now learned that he was likely unarmed. On the one hand, this is not troubling whatsoever. The world is safer, that is certain. A great evil is surely burning in hell.

But the passing of this pathetic excuse for a man will not bring back those that were lost. Time will reveal, as it has with other great atrocities, that though the triumph over this living symbol of hate was an absolutely necessary course of action, we will still bear scars from our necessary violence.

It is the price we pay for being the greatest nation on God's green earth.

In this information age, there were plenty tell tale signs of our inner conflict. Throughout facebook, my friends and acquaintances alternated quotes back and forth- a long and rambling one by Martin Luther King, that I'd never heard before, that warned against the evils of celebrating a death. The other quote was one I'm familiar with by Mark Twain - "I've never wished a man dead, but I've read many obituaries with great pleasure."

I thought both quotes were highly appropriate for our quandary. I was certainly a bigger fan of the Twain quote. But it turns out, neither quote is correct. The MLK quote is a mash up from various people, and the Twain quote was said by someone else.

No matter - the juxtaposition fit.

I am elated that Bin Laden is dead.

I am sad that I am elated over one of God's children meeting a most gruesome death.

And in these two thoughts, which I have just now written down - I find my salvation. Through the help of my creator I can submit my fallibility and my sins to Him. I can let myself feel both, and pray. Pray for our troops, pray for my country, and even eventually pray for the rotting corpse at the bottom of the Arabian sea, along with the tens of thousands who seek to kill in the name of their hijacked faith.

Ultimately we must let go of the anger we feel for Bin Laden and his kind, the twisted and radical purveyors of hate. We must let go of our own hate, lest we become consumed by it.

So I'm not too bothered by Obama's decision to withhold the gruesome photos of Bin Laden's opened skull. There is a morbid part of me, and a vengeful side of me that would derive satisfaction from it. There is another part of me that would want the 9/11 families and first responders to have access to it if it would somehow bring them even the tiniest fraction of peace or closure.

But Obama is absolutely right when he says we don't need to spike the football. We should be more sure of ourselves.

We don't string bodies up on bridges. That's them.

We don't mutilate corpses. That's them.

We don't throw acid in the faces of little girls who want to go to school. That's them.

We don't rape little boys. That's them.

And we typically don't kill unless we have no other choice.

When we do, there is usually no joy. The joy that does arise on occasion, when the target of our wrath is particularly heinous, is always fleeting.

Right now I'm feeling humbled. Humbled by our troops, especially the heaven sent SEAL Team 6, and humbled to be free. Free to live my life as I please, to raise my family in an atmosphere of laughter and love. And to look forward to a brighter future, as the fall of this pariah and the decimation of his organization al qaeda seems to have drained the fervor just a bit.

I pray that the same fate that befell the Japanese, that is - having the "crazy" literally beaten out of them - is already befalling radical Muslims. I pray that we will not have to go as far as Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

But if we must, we must.

And we must not falter, we must not fail.

We must bring a righteous fist upon our enemy if his actions demand it, and we must put our faith in God to redeem any transgressions in this path if we are forced to take it.

God bless our troops. God bless our president. And God bless America.

It's too late.

2011-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

I love my country and I support my president - but last night was horrific and heart breaking, by far the worst speech by a president since a peanut farming buffoon sat impotent in the throes of a national hostage crisis.

The Wall Street Journal sums up the particulars about the POTUS' catastrophic and deceitful reaction to the GOP's reshaping of the budget debate better than I ever could here.

But even a layman and political novice such as myself was taken aback as Obama's staggering lack of leadership and initiative was laid bare last night. The hot glare of truth can no longer hide that the junior Senator from Illinois who didn't draft one piece of even marginally significant legislation in his stunted term in office, is completely and utterly out of his depth and painfully ignorant of our constitution and all that it implies.

It goes beyond that he is going to raise taxes. On the super rich. And the rich. Oh, and probably me and you too. It goes beyond that he really sees this approach as the only viable solution to the fourteen TRILLION (with a T) dollar deficit that he has dumped on our children and grand and great-grand children. Soak the successful, because dammit, they have a patriotic duty to unload their "burdens" on the less fortunate.

No, this all goes to a fundamental precept of the left that rather than live within our means, and be fiscally responsible, we need to keep failed social programs right where they are and simply tax, print, or somehow magically produce more dollars. Unicorns and rainbows. Fucking brilliant.

Throwing money at a problem always works out. Just look at California schools. It is state law that 60% of all income taxes (which are the highest in the nation of course) go to education.

Our schools are ranked 47th out of 50 states and we have a 50% drop out rate among African Americans and a 25% drop out rate of ALL students. These numbers have not changed in 30 years, despite a massive upswing in funds.

This to me is such a basic, fundamental illustration of the fallacies in the thinking of "progressives". You cannot buy success and excellence - you have to earn it, by spending wisely and responsibly first, not just dumping billions of dollars in the laps of corrupt idiots.

I have long said that Obama will win handily in 2012, barring two occurrences. The first happened last night, Obama's staggeringly foolish lack of judgement and disconnection with the American people at large with a speech that is already going down in history as his "Waterloo" moment.

The second occurrence that will make Obama lose is the emergence of an electable and smear-resistant Republican candidate. So far this hasn't happened.

But regardless if Obama wins next year or not (laughably he's already kicked off his campaign, the only political arena as far as I can see where he really shines) I would posit that in many ways it's already too late for him and the party of entitlement.

I think I speak for many hard working and successful Americans when I say, Mr. President you need to keep your grabby grabby mitts off my God damn money.

I work for the government through April as it is, I'm not working beyond that.

You want to get a moderate, slightly right of center, usually thoughtful voter - who actually did ponder voting for you the first time - pissed right the fuck off?

Congratulations. Last night did the trick.

Movies 2010

2011-02-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

First, the usual disclaimers;

I am a HUGE fan of movies, but only somewhat of a fan of films. Movies have stuff exploding, thunderous scores, bare breasts, and all around mayhem for it's own sake. Films have the sad clown of life and often look like they were shot in a broom closet.

Both movies and films can affect you deeply, but only the first has the spectacle that I fell in love with (the opening shot of Star Wars) when I was 7 years old.

Also, I don't get out much these days; the only reason I can come up with 10 movies on this list is because of Netflix and the occasional screener I pick up from work.

Here my top ten favorite movies of 2010.

10. Alice in Wonderland.

Screw the haters- jaded film critics and film snobs alike who just don't get Burton's work. Movie lovers do, though not necessarily on a conscious level. I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Tim Burton's art taps into the primal core of humanity; he uses imagery and pantomime to reveal soul stirring portraits of the human psyche. Dialogue isn't a primary or even secondary component of his work; so in the eyes of "intellectuals" his films are often seen as simplistic or heartless. I'll concede the latter to a point, because his characters are often simple archetypes, there is typically an absence of deep emotional resonance on the surface of the stories; but these movies stick in your brain long after the lights have come up, and I often find myself pondering the deeper matters that lie within, days or weeks later.

Such is the case with the visual feast that is Alice In Wonderland. In every way it is an old fashioned morality / fairy tale, but it is also a girl power epic. Neither a remake nor a re-imagining, this is much more of a continuation of where we left off, truly a sequel to the Disney animated feature. There is a reason this movie pulled in a billion (that is, with a "B") dollars solely on it's theatrical run, it is a modern classic.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

My favorite book in the series is my third favorite film out of 7 so far. Only Azkaban and Phoenix have done it better, and this one could still exceed them both if the second half (which comes out this summer) matches the first in quality.

School is over and the kids are gone - all that remains are three terrified young adults in the throes of everlasting evil. I was on the edge of my seat from the first frame to the last in this very strong offering from writer Kloves and director Gates. All three leads very much know what they are doing by now, and as usual the supporting cast is an endless string of greatest hits from the British acting all-star team.

If you don't know of or care for Harry Potter, this one is a miss - but if you are at all intrigued by J.K. Rowling's world, this is a must see.

8. Tron: Legacy

Okay, okay, this is a fairly mediocre film - but it is a very good movie, made EXCELLENT if you were 12 when the first one came out.

I remember enjoying the original, but I was never a huge fan. Still, when it came out, it was a bit of an event. And this new one gave me that feeling and more. All of the sudden, I felt like a kid again, in the face of overwhelming visuals, a powerful score and a surprisingly tight story that only meandered occasionally. Unlike the first movie, which is, to be kind, sloppy and slow. This one kicked ass in more than a few sequences, and I can't wait to see it again.

7. Despicable Me

2010, even more than 2008 (which was an amazing year for animated movies) is THE year of animation, as you will see as you read on down this list.

Despicable Me is an absolute delight, gorgeously animated with a good use of 3D gags that enhance the experience rather than distract from it - it also, more importantly, has a huge heart to go along with all the bells and whistles of great gags and genuinely funny slapstick and dialogue.

As the daddy of a little girl, I couldn't help but be moved at the bond forged between the lead "villian" and the three orphans. Everything works, everything clicks - like the best Pixar movies, every piece fits; and you are left satisfied with a spring in your step as you exit.

6. Tangled

Just when you think Disney Feature Animation had completely lost it's touch, there was a glimmer of hope with last years enjoyable "Princess and the Frog" and then - this year, the first home run in a long, long while.

"Tangled" is majestic, and another girl power winner. The songs (yes, Disney finally did a great musical again) are better than good (unlike PATF, where the music was passable) and the movie is truly stirring. Best of all here, the comedy is actually pretty darn funny. Disney had long been passed by Pixar and even Dreamworks in this department, and it's great to see a return to Lion King form.

Sumptuously animated and magnificently directed, "Tangled", is one for the ages that I look forward to watching endlessly with my little girl.

5. Kick Ass

And this is one I won't be sharing with my kid, at least not until she's well into her teens.

Kick Ass, does just that. It is surprising, shockingly violent, and perhaps the most original action flick in a decade.

Every action sequence is shot differently, and each vignette has something new to offer. Best of all, beneath it's harsh language and even harsher gore is a righteous, even sanctimonious morality play; brought to bear in the form of a little girl who wields her wrath like an angel of death sent from the heavens to smite evil. Can you guess why I love this movie?

4. Toy Story 3

Another grand slam from Pixar. I'm a huge, huge, HUGE fan of the first to Toy Story movies, and this one might be the best of them all.

I actually wrote a full review here but if you don't feel like reading all that, suffice it to say - this one has all the pathos and uplift that you'd expect from Pixar. They are still batting 1000.

3. Inception

Just saw this the other night, and my brain is still reeling. Chris Nolan is one of the premiere film makers of the last decade, and along with Cameron and Spielberg, will probably end up making the Mount Rushmore of great movie makers of the early 21st century.

It has heart, it has mind blowing effects and great performances. But best of all, it really takes us someplace new, which is so rare these days (as movie geeks know that all the best stories were told by 1986 or so).

This is one I must see again, and fast! Plus, I can't wait for the behind the scenes docs and commentary, as the story is so dense and there is so much that I know I missed.

2. True Grit

I'm not a fan of remakes, especially when the originals are classics. Happy to say though, thanks to the Cohen brothers and a little girl named Hallie, this version of True Grit blows the one with John Wayne away.

This is a genuinely old fashioned film, but it feels fresh and overwhelming in it's scope and emotional resonance.

Hallie Stienfeld is a 13 year old tour de force who carries the film, appearing in every scene and almost every frame, save for the gorgeous second unit work.

Like in all of the very best westerns, in True Grit, I really felt transported to another time and place. And this was a place that was full of fascinating people and imagery.

Plus, as with all the movies that I fall in love with, there was so much going on here on a deeper level. Like "Kick Ass", True Grit is a morality play of the highest order - a tale of righteous revenge and redemption. To me, it approaches the very pinnacle of powerful movie making.

1. How to Train Your Dragon

This one was a total surprise to me. Not a surprise that I loved it, Dreamworks proved two years ago that they can make great animated films when they produced "Kung Fu Panda" - but a surprise that it would end up at the top of my list. Better than "True Grit"? Better than "Toy Story 3"? Really?

Well, maybe not better. But of all the movies I loved in 2010, this one, the simple tale of a boy and a girl and a dragon - is the one that I've found stirs my soul the most.

You really have to see it, to get it - but I think I can sum it up by saying it combines the best of both worlds perfectly; the movie with it's bombast and spectacle, and the film with it's heart and passion.

Dreamworks has finally out-Pixar'd Pixar. "Dragon" soars this year like no other.

Honorable Mentions -

Other movies that I really liked;

Machete - All the gore and violence of Kick-Ass, but instead of a fresh take, this is another Grindhouse send-up. Still love it.

The Social Network - Liked it very, very much. The critics had my expectations way too high though, I wanted more in the subtext and "bigger message" departments. Still, I have to see this again.

Black Swan - Often great, sometimes transcendent. Very derivative. I've seen this story many times before, and better in much older European movies. Still, I was never bored.

The King's Speech - Very moving and the perfect Oscar bait. A little too perfect.

Megamind - What can I say, in many other years this would make my top ten, but animation is just simply too strong these days. Very fun and touching.

My big disappointment:

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - how can a movie with incredible visuals and a cute, spunky girl heroine (one of my favorite things in the entire movie world) be dull? This one pulls it off.

Ones I really want to see:

The Town
The Kids are Alright
127 Hours
Restrepo
Red

All in all, a pretty good year for the movies. I don't know how animation can get any stronger at this point - here's hoping that Cars 2 is better than the trailer.

An Honest Brawler

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Recently lefty blow-hard Keith Olbermann went off the air.

You might think that I, as a right of center fiscal and military conservative with strong libertarian social tendencies, would rejoice at the sudden departure of this loud mouth.

You couldn't be more wrong.

I have so much respect for someone like Olbermann, just as I do for Beck or Limbaugh or O'Reilly or Maddow or any number of mouthpieces who speak from their hearts and try to genuinely impart an honest point of view - though I frequently disagree with all of the them, and just as often turn them off because I can't take it anymore; these voices are passionate and righteous, even when they're full of shit.

I don't judge their hearts, I don't attribute any malice to their motivations beyond a deep love for their countries and a desire to make things better for everyone. I understand that often the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I don't think the righteous path can be found without genuine intellectual honesty, and from what I can tell most of these vitriolic voices are dogged about pursuing it.

Olbermann embodies the very best of the American political spirit; he is a straight shooter, who will look you in the eye and tell you how it is. No BS, just "This is A because of B, and if you don't see that D is C, then I can't help you."

That's what I want to hear from a political commentator, this is what I want! To be challenged, to be forced to think through my positions. The time and the place for strong political discourse is on talk radio, or for that matter on MSNBC or Fox News after regular news programming.

Contrary to what the intellectual elites would have us believe, that bloggers and talk radio people are idiots, I believe that we are truly in a golden age of information and ideas - where on any given morning I can get 30 different viewpoints on a controversial subject, each laced with nuanced differences. People may be entirely wrong, or even obnoxiously wrong about what they are saying - but I get to investigate further and ultimately decide for myself, based on literally as many sources as I choose to seek out.

This whole sanctimonious and erroneous view, that if you don't report news for a network or a major market paper - then your point of view is somehow less valid, is frankly un-American. There is so much information out there right now, that anyone who puts in even a minimal amount of time and effort to educate themselves can stand toe to toe with most "intellectuals", especially when it comes to the common sense concepts of individual liberty and freedom.

And that's why I welcome left wing loud mouths. The more the better!

So they get personal from time to time, so their hearts are inflamed and at times beyond the voice of reason. So what?

I like vitriol. I like rhetoric. I don't need another snobby soft voiced pansy on NPR, or even worse a smug network anchor who doesn't realize that the show he's on is a dinosaur that will soon sink into the tar.

Give me honesty - straightforward, unabashed bias; every single time. At least then I know what I"m listening to.

Don't give me "objectivity" that is nothing more than a condescending sham of left wing kool-aide.

Someone on facebook sent me a link of Anderson Cooper, and God as my witness, I just couldn't watch it. This guy really thinks he's coming from a neutral position, that he's really very different from Olbermann or Beck. He just reports "the facts" and he takes it very seriously.

The guy is a lightweight and even worse, he's devious.

This is what I can't stand. The duplicity of Katie Couric. The joke that is the New York Times.

I would much rather have an honest brawler. Someone who says what he means and means what he says.

Someone like Keith Olbermann.

Anger rising... fading... ...rising!

2011-01-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not one to normally get my dander up when it comes to politics; as you've no doubt read here many times before, for me it's almost never personal. It's simply silly when it's simply politics; political talk fascinates me and I enjoy it, but I recognize that many are plainly not where I am and it's okay. It doesn't make me a bad person or them either. At the end of the day, we all want peace and prosperity, we all love our country (mostly) and we want to leave this world better than we found it.

So when something comes along that is catastrophically tragic, like the shooting in Tucson over the weekend - I am always grateful that through the horror we can find the best in each other, common ground and love through a shared ordeal. Whether it was the space shuttle blowing up, the towers coming down, or any number of unspeakable massacres and atrocities - I always take a moment to recognize that even in (or rather, especially in) our darkest hour, the very best of who we are will emerge.

Most obviously, the heroes that brought down the mad man at the scene demonstrated selfless courage at it's most pure. And then there are the countless friends and family who are heroic in their courage to go on living in the face of such a devastating blow.

Of this group, most of all I cannot fathom how the parents of the murdered little girl, who was born on 9/11/01, are able to continue. But continue they will, relying on the love and support around them and the strength of their creator to give purpose and meaning to their existence despite the irrevocable cataclysm that has forever wounded them.

Call it what you will, a silver lining, my own naiveté', but I cling desperately to hope - the shining beacons that emerge everywhere when a real life nightmare presents itself.

That is why, in the face of this atrocity, I am aghast, appalled, and very angry at what is transpiring from the mainstream media and from some of the liberals in my life.

Literally within minutes of the shooting, the tweet-verse was agog in condemnations - not to the deranged shooter - but to Sarah Palin. Her vitriol brought this about. We all need to reflect on how hate speech can insight violence.

Left wing bloggers have taken this line and are running with it - turning a blood drenched incident into a flashpoint for the politics of fear.

And it turns my stomach.

What is really going on is simply this - a bald face attempt at crushing free speech by radical leftists, using a non-political act of violence to leverage guilt against those that they disagree with.

That some would stoop so low, drenched in the blood of the innocent because they are tired of losing intellectual arguments to talk radio and Fox News, pisses me the fuck off.

And that's why I write my thoughts and feelings down here, so I don't tweet or post something I might regret.

And another thing, to all those who are sure to pounce shortly, on this event as an impetus to pass anti-constitutional gun control laws - I say a big fuck you. You will take our guns from our cold, dead hands. And I don't even own a gun.

I'm just kind of funny that way about the constitution. Plenty of cafeteria intellectuals prefer certain amendments over others, I myself have a soft spot for all of the bill of rights. Especially the second amendment, which probably the biggest reason that the first amendment is allowed to exist at all. People should never be in fear of the government, but government should absolutely fear the people.

Also, in the realm of pissing me off -

Some progressives, this would be acquaintances on facebook, have had the unmitigated gall to compare this shooting to the Times Square bombing.

Right. A calm and socially fluent terrorist with formal training in Pakistan directly from al qaeda is just like a mentally ill outcast and lone gunman. Don't think so.

I can concede there is more of a comparison to the Fort Hood shooter, but even then, the man who pulled the trigger was not sick in the way that Laughlin clearly is. He was a functioning and influential member of society, a doctor, with 15 years of higher education and a relatively normal social life.

But whatever. Even when he did shoot a bunch of people - I barely heard a whisper from the right attacking the left about how now they should tone down their vitriol and rhetoric.

There was some talk, and rightly so, about how we all need to be vigilant against terrorism - but there wasn't near the amount of hate and fear as is now being spewed by people like Keith Olbermann, focused directly against one political persuasion.

The Fort Hood shooting was a primarily non-political event, a terrorist act by a lone gunman - and it was dealt with by both sides as such.

This Tucson shooting, was simply a lone crazy person with no agenda whatsoever (though there is actual evidence to suggest he was a leftist, as his preferred reading material was the communist manifest) and now it is being ham handed into a political opportunity.

********

To be fair, many on both sides have been voices of reason. Most appreciated by me was my cousin Bob, who has taken great pains to point out that the magnitude of the suffering dictates that people be sensitive and use sense. I know he is in the majority of all of us, and that I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me when a few misguided fools parade around behind the bodies of people who have been killed for no reason.

But it's tough to stay calm sometimes.

Permission to Pledge

2010-12-23T20:04:00.000-08:00

Recently Massachusetts, in it's infinite thoughtfulness and wisdom, decided that kids in their schools would need to have permission slips signed by their parents in order to say the pledge of allegiance.

I think this is patently ridiculous, so I put the article on facebook.

Here are three responses from three very left of center folks, one a long ago friend who seems like a nice enough guy, the second an occasional poker player in my home game and the last guy someone I knew once in 6th grade.

Response 1:

"So what? We didn't say a pledge of allegiance. It's a stupid idea anyway. Being compelled to recite a text by rote like a drone which has the gall to mention "Liberty" is a joke."

Response 2:

"Why is this even a bad thing? I vividly remember being uncomfortable as an elementary school kid saying the pledge, because I didn't know exactly how I felt about God (still don't, really) and the way the pledge is worded felt like an ominous blood oath. If you're not feeling it, the recitation feels heavy. All the while, it does nothing to enhance the quality of education, reeks of faux-Patriotism/unnecessary religious overtones, and is a relic of days when we used to search under the bed for Communists among us."

Response 3:

"It's part of the state-worship programming juggernaut. I think they should cut-out the middle: "I pledge allegiance to... liberty and justice for all." At least we don't make kids salute anymore since the nazis copied us... (and then he posted a link to an article about the writer of the pledge. I knew about this guy, and he's pretty interesting.)

The first responder is reasonable, though misguided, as is the second, but the third one is pretty much in his own little world. He believes the United States should be dissolved and that anarchy is the way to go. Seriously, that's actually what he believes.

Whatever. I don't know these guys very well, but I felt compelled to respond.

Shortly after, I deleted my response, as deep down I do know them well enough to know that they are both too far gone to ever get why saying the pledge is important. When the hammer of truth comes down, things can get very nasty and very personal very quickly; so I'd much rather avoid that with these men that are in the end, fellow travelers just trying to get by.

But I was impressed enough with my own response to re-print it here.

***************

Did it ever dawn on either of you that the main reason most Americans want to say the pledge of allegiance, and raise their kids to do so as well, is because we don't have to?

A permission slip to say the pledge, is very misguided.

If anything it will only serve to ostracize the kids whose parents are so full of decadent self loathing and so absent of faith and hope as to tell them that the pledge of allegiance is wrong or wrong headed.

And Frank, I know I sound like a broken record, but you can stop with the state-worship dogma shtick. I get what you are saying, but you couldn't be more off base on this.

We are free in this country, not because we worship the state - but because we answer to a higher power and a natural law that dictates that all men are CREATED equal. It is not men or government we pledge to, but to providence and the promise of liberty. The God given right to pursue happiness and be free. America is far and away the closest thing we have to making this fundamental truth a reality.

By the way, I really enjoyed the Bellamy article, though I've read most of the same on Wikipedia before - and I find it deliciously ironic that the pledge's less than ideal origins transformed into something that speaks plainly and earnestly to the love of freedom. Very much opposite of what Bellamy was trying to achieve if this article is to be entirely taken at it's word.

We are also certainly free to say no to liberty, to push for a totalitarian state or an anarchist's fantasy - but those who do, do so only because they are allowed to by the greatest country on God's green earth and the men and women who fight and die for them against the forces of evil across the globe.

They fight because they believe in faith and freedom. Not a dictator (Chavez, Castro) or a government (China) or because of fear (Iran, North Korea).

As an American exceptionalist, I was thrilled when my 5 year old came back 2 weeks into kindergarten with the pledge memorized - not because I want her to fall in line like a good little drone, but because I know she will grow to understand the meaning behind the words, and what makes them so powerful.

It's easy to be dismissive and guilt ridden about America when you grow up in it and reap the benefits. I have traveled to 29 countries and been knee deep in some of the worst poverty on the planet - my eyes have been opened to not only how good we have it (health, wealth and stuff) but how we are truly touched by God to be a beacon of hope to the downtrodden and oppressed.

A Tale of Two Charlies

2010-12-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Recently my little girl, 6 years old and as smart and sweet as they come, watched the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie at her YMCA after school care. I know this because she was singing the Oompa-Loompa song from her car seat when I picked her up that day.

I could tell that the movie had fascinated her, as we talked and laughed about the great scenes and songs.

As with most of the great movies of my childhood, I had hoped to introduce my kid to the book first - I have "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe", "A Wrinkle in Time", "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" and more than a few others, lined up for her on the shelf, to read to her in the very near future.

The book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" sits there as well, it is one of my absolute all time favorites. Roald Dahl was a genius, and his children's books are a whole other level of greatness beyond most children's literature. The stories are dark, a bit twisted and yet thoroughly infused with a surprisingly righteous morality that sucker punches kids under the tasty guise of the macabre and surreal.

So I had missed my chance with Charlie, but I was delighted that my little Natalie embraced the film. If I remember correct, she watched it again that night at home on DVD (or it might have been the next Saturday morning).

I myself, love the movie. Gene Wilder is beyond brilliant. The film has heart, vividly drawn characters and a surprisingly good story structure that pays off handsomely in the final act. It also benefits tremendously from the warm glow of nostalgia that I attach to it - I was ten or so when I saw it for the first time, and I loved catching it on television thereafter (in those pre-VHS days) and even got to see it on the big screen at the UC Theater in Berkeley more than once.

And yet...

As with most movie adaptions, the film really does suffer in comparison to the brilliance of the book. The movie has it's dark moments. The book is dark, period. Sinister even. Willy Wonka is a bit of a scamp in the movie, in the book he starts out that way but the reader quickly realizes that Willy is out for blood.

The book also conveys, in a way that most movies simply can't, a thoroughly realized world. A hyper-reality that exists on it's own, not a pale imitation of our own world.

The movie is also dated. Most prominently it suffers from pacing problems, as well as a couple of very unfortunate choices that almost derail the movie before it has a chance to start. The "Candy Man" musical number comes off as creepy, forced and under produced. "Cheer Up Charlie" is simply a dreadful and morose song, sung by a fairly untalented actress/singer who, like Charlie in the movie, looks like she just came straight from the commissary.

Most obvious of all, and this has no real bearing on the ultimate worth of the movie - is the production value in general. Pre-factory everything looks great, the city of Prague is certainly unique enough - but once inside you can really see the seams and lack of resources that the film makers had to deal with. Granted, there is a lot of talent and creativity at play, and because you care about the characters you can forgive a lot - but really, it is pretty cheesy and ultimately doesn't even approach what I had in my imagination when I read the book. In simpler terms, the production design is dated and inadequate at bringing Dahl's world to life.

So when I heard Tim Burton was remaking the movie, I was anxious to see it.

At the risk of comparing apples to oranges, I have to go out on a limb and say that I vastly prefer the new movie to the old one.

I know I'm in the minority on this one.

But frame for frame, the new movie gets everything right about what makes the book so great. You enter the world, you believe it. It's not just the production value, which is about a million times more impressive than the previous film, but you really feel wrapped up in what Roald Dahl brought to bear in the book.

Charlie is skinny. He looks malnourished.

Everyone is odd. Off. Grandpa Joe is both scary, creepy, silly and endearing. He's not a double chinned Broadway crooner.

The town does not exist in our world. Charlie's house looks like it should have fallen over years ago, and yet it remains at a 45 degree angle.

When characters talk about something interesting - as when Willy gives us the Oompa-Loompa's origin story - we go there. He doesn't just talk about it. We see Oompa-Loompa land! This is what the book is like. Think it. Go there.

To me, this movie gets it - gets what Dahl was trying to share with us in a way the old movie doesn't even approach.

It's a world of wonder, of the bizarre, and there are also sinister things at play if you don't stay on the straight and narrow.

These new rotten kids are 100 times more intriguing than the original gang (with the possible exception of Veruca, who is so brilliantly drawn up in the book that it would have been impossible even then for casting agents and writers to screw it up).

Augustus is truly abhorrent and fascinating in a car wreck sort of way.

Violet is a revelation, as is her amazingly disturbing mother - characterized a bit different from the book, but incredibly compelling and hard to turn away from.

Veruca is note perfect, and I'd say just as good as the girl in the first movie (I'll concede that the first time around her writing was better). Best of all is her dad who absolutely brings it, in a nuanced performance that perfectly conveys the helplessness of a powerful man in the grips of a demon child of his own making.

Finally, the most sinister of all, Mike TeeVee, who this time is truly given justice as the worst of the worst. Mike in my mind is one of the most brilliantly ahead of his time characters ever put down on paper in a book. He is heartless cynicism personified. He is jaded, he is bored. He is everything that is wrong with the last 3 generations of kids. He is a future serial killer because he has lost his ability to empathize or even sympathize with anyone.

When we see the rotten kids at the end of the movie - probably the most singular important scene in the story (and inexplicably omitted from the first movie) - Mike TeeVee is the only kid who is physically deformed beyond repair and will have to live the rest of his life as a freak in society. This is no accident by Dahl, there is a message here. Consequence for a cruel little boy.

And then there is Willy Wonka.

In the new movie, let's just say they go off on a tangent. Or two or three.

We get far, far, far more information on who Willy is. Is it necessary? Probably not. Does it work? Absolutely. It brings a real emotional resonance to this strange little man - who is played as even more of a freak than he is in the book. He is creepy, he is reclusive, he is deranged and damaged. And yet, in the end, he is redeemed. This movie, even more-so than the misnamed original film that was actually called "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" really is about Willy. His journey, his path to Charlie, and the recovery of his humanity through a child.

And Charlie himself, is fully realized in this film - you really get that he is impoverished and humbled by his circumstance. Deep down, like another certain bespectacled wizard of recent lore, he is heroic and one step from greatness - simply because he is genuine and thoroughly infused with love for his family and even for his mere existence. "And you, why you're just happy to be here." Willy perfectly observes of Charlie at their first meeting. In this scene, and in many others, there is a lot more going on beneath the surface. It's what I loved about the book, and it's what I love about this movie.

Deep themes, brought to vivid life by the genius of Tim Burton.

It's something that most of Burton's critics miss. He is truly a master of the silent movie. For him Dialogue is merely a secondary tool and bringing characters and stories to life - it is the flair of the visual and of the performance (a subtle look, an inner turmoil) that elevates Burtons work to a primal place unmatched by most other film makers. His movies tap into the deep and dark places of our subconscious. Critics, self-aware and jaded, don't get it. Audiences do. Witness his recent "Alice in Wonderland" a positively outstanding and ravishing work of art that also happened to make a billion (with a "B") dollars on it's first theatrical run.

Burton was the perfect choice to bring Dahl's masterpiece to life and I think he did so brilliantly.

Detractors of the new movie point out that R. Dahl himself wrote the screenplay of the first movie. I like to point out, that he actually wrote the first draft and was disgusted at the final product, even trying to have his name removed at one point. Furthermore, his granddaughter I believe, was a consultant on the new film and has been quoted endlessly how her grandpa assuredly would have looked more favorably upon this newest incarnation of his work.

A perfect example of this is the Oompa-Loompa songs. Which film would you guess has the original Dahl lyrics? If you guessed the first one, you guessed wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of these book "purists" who thinks a film has to slavishly adhere to it's source. The first two Harry Potter movies are fairly dreadful because of this impulse. A movie has to be a good movie, first and foremost - faithful to the book second. But in this case, so much of what was great about the book was left out of the first movie. I'm just so happy and relieved to see that this new product recaptured so much of what was great on the printed page.

In any event, as I've said, I still think there is real merit in both movies. I'd even concede that the first movie probably works better on a simpler story telling and heart strings level. It is more mainstream and more effective at delivering Dahl's message of hope tempered by consequence which is universal to all children and children at heart.

I popped in the new movie the other night for Natalie to watch. She dug it, though she was a little scared at first. Once I assured her that this movie was the exact same story, and even less scary in parts (no chicken getting it's head chopped off) she happily settled in.

I really tried to not tip my hand that I like the new movie more, I just told her that I liked them both. So does she. But I think she might be leaning more towards the new one, because she's asked to see it again more than once.

Stupid Americans

2010-11-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

Handy Dandy Evil Voting Guide 2010

2010-10-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

For California in 2010, this is how I roll.

For Guv'ner - unfortunately I have to vote for Arnold II; that would be the Meg Whitman, a phony republican who says one thing in english (that she's tough on illegal immigration) and something else in spanish. Whatever, at least she's not a political dinosaur and corrupt lying sack.

Lieutenant Governor - Abel Maldonado, even though he's an Ahnuld crony and as crooked as they come. I would have to commit seppuku if I cast a vote for Gavin Newsome.

Secretary of State - incumbent's gotta go. Voting for Damon Dunn, small business owner and not (so far) a corrupt democratic hack.

Controller - same as Secretary of State - old guard's gotta go. Voting for Strickland, who is just as bad as Maldanado, but not in the same universe of evil as Chiang.

Treasurer- gotta go with Mimi Walters. Can't screw our state any worse than Lockyer has.

Attorney General - this is the first no-brainer. Cooley is the man - the L.A. County DA who has helped drive the crime and homicide rates through the floor here in Los Angeles over the past five years. He is a guy I get excited about, because he is tough as nails and a total badass when it comes to crime.

Insurance Commissioner - Mike Villines is a liar and a fake republican who reneged on his promise to not vote for taxes in the legislature. That said, hell will freeze over before I vote for Dave Jones - so lying Mike gets the nod.

State Board of Equalization - so pathetic here in district 4 that we don't even have a republican candidate. So the libertarian, Pete De Baets get's the nod over the incumbent criminal Horton.

US Senator - Fiorina of course. Boxer turns my stomach for obvious reasons. I honestly don't think there is a dumber US Senator right now in Washington. Feinstein I may disagree with on a lot of stuff, but I can respect her tenacity and intelligence. Boxer... oye.

US Rep - Reed of course. Sherman's gotsta gotsta go. In line with Obama on every bad piece of legislation over the last 2 years.

State Assembly - Ramani, who doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell to win against Gatto and the rigged voting districts of the California legislature. (But hopefully prop 20 will fix that for next time).

Judges - don't know much, don't care much, but I go by these guidelines. Always pick the prosecutor - especially the gang prosecutor. Always avoid the defense attorneys. If it's a wash in these categories, go with kicking out the incumbent.

School Superintendent - This is a tough one, I hate both of them! One is a retured school superindendant (yuck!) the other a teacher and California Legislator! (Double yuck!) I'm going with the single yuck.

County Assessor - Going with Wong, only because Noguez is tied up with those Bell motherfuckers.

State Measures! Finally!

19 - Legalize Marjuana. Big hell yes on this one. Can't wait to get stoned. Actually, think it's none of the governments business and the war on drugs has been a huge failure.

20 - redistricting. Yes. Can't make things any worse.

21 - vehicle license fees for state parks. Hell no. Our state is the WORST when it comes to spending money efficiently and sensibly. This has as much to do with state parks as a fish does with a bicycle.

22 - Prohibits state from borrowing or taking funds blah blah blah. Too long. Voting NO.

23 - Suspends green jobs initiative until unemployment hits 5.5%. Big time YES.

24 - Repeals legislation that allows businesses to lower tax liability. NO. Duh.

25 - Changes budget passing from 2/3 to simple majority. NO. Our legislature is democrats. Do you think I'm crazy?

26 - Requires that state and local fees be approved by 2/3 vote. YES. Obv.

27 - Redistricting counter to 20. NO.

Well there it is, that's what Imma doing. I would hope that no matter how you vote, educate yourself and study the issues carefully. If you haven't been paying attention - do us all a favor and stay home. I am not from the "Vote or Die" school of thought. I'm from the - "Educate yourself and make an informed decision, otherwise don't vote." school. A bit more thoughtful and nuanced, but really the right way to go I think.

De-Friended

2010-09-10T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well this happened surprisingly fast, but I'm not shocked at all that it did come to pass.

An old acquaintance and ex-employee from work who is very good at posting political links on facebook, but not so great at articulating his own thoughts beyond the Kool-aid drenched party line of the American left, has de-friended me, without so much as a word through e-mail or a phone call.

He's the one a few posts below who suggested to me that we shouldn't draw Mohammed because radical Muslims might blow something up if we do.

This has happened before, and it will happen again.

Eventually people realize with amazement that I am a person of conviction, who has ideas and principles outside of the narrow and decadent paradigm of liberal elites.

Even more incredulous to them, is that I don't go away and I don't back down. When this happens, things get personal really fast and they almost always take the cowards way out. First the cryptic chirping, then the personal insults, and then finally turning tail and running away like the babies they are.

Funny how I could care less when they bash the Iraq war (in my mind they are bashing the troops) or say Universal Health Care is a really great idea. I don't for one second get mad. My pulse rate doesn't quicken. I am bemused, and sometimes amused.

And this is simply because - I don't think my friends are idiots, or evil. I just think they're wrong.

In fact, I'm so confident in my views - I actually can get a good actual laugh when someone tells me that we need BIGGER government, MORE regulations, LESS military spending, ZERO tolerance of faith in the public sector unless it's Islamic. I think this idiocy is hilarious, and I'm not threatened by it at all - because I know I'm right.

If I were to get mad, throw insults, cut off discussion - I would be one of them.

I have literally been told on separate occasions by different friends, and even a relative- I'm endangering a friendship, I should just shut up, I should go away, I am an idiot, I am a racist and I am uneducated.

Not for one instant did it enter my mind that any of these labels applied to my accuser. Not for one instant did I consider insulting them, beyond a good natured barb of sarcasm or condescension (hey, I am human).

Anger and fear really do seem to only flow one way - out of the hearts and minds of those who disagree with me.

I'm used to it.

It is true, I routinely intellectually beat up on liberals like a red-headed step-child, and I guess it's pretty tough to stand up to to an overwhelming barrage of principle and common sense that doesn't involve smug self-loathing. My passion is driven by relentless patriotism and exhaustive experience in traveling the globe - it's gotta be tough for anyone who worships the State to process the truth when it comes out of my mouth .

Ah well, another one down.

Perspective

2010-09-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

So this crazy asshole in Florida plans to burn the Quran on September 11th.

What a jerk.

It will probably incite hatred, possibly violence and maybe even put American soldiers lives at risk.

I don't agree with this guy - I think what he is doing is wrong.

But I believe he has every right to do it without interference from our government.

The first amendment does not take sides, the Constitution is (thank God) impartial.

And as crazy and as wrong as this so called man of the cloth is, he's no worse than the radical Imam who seeks to divide Americans and incite hatred and fear by building an indoctrination center for Sharia law at Ground Zero.

Nor is he worse than the New York Times when they publish military secrets that put our troops in harms way.

He's just a lone kook.

The Imam has real power and influence over a large group of followers who will hang on his every word, and possibly even react violently if the GZ mosque has to be relocated.

The New York Times has an audience of millions who still believe that they are objective - and that they do no harm by exposing military intelligence and emboldening the enemy.

That so much attention has been paid to this lone nut ball, with even our president imploring him to restrain himself, and liberal elites falling all over themselves with anguish at the prospect of a few books being burned - strikes me as pretty ridiculous.

I am very skeptical that the elite bloggers and media stooges are genuinely righteous about protecting the Quran - to me it seems more like they are afraid of a violent reaction, that is - they are playing right into the hands of the radical Islamists.

People burn American flags all the time. No one raises an eyebrow.

Christ is routinely blasphemed in movies and television shows. Meh. So what?

But one jerk-off in Florida wants to torch a couple of books and it's the end of the world? Give me a break.

Muslims, even radical ones, have to learn that there is a price for freedom. All religions in a free society are targets, even theirs.

I wish they could get on board, like the rest of us have to, and fucking deal with it.

Not quite good enough.

2010-08-31T22:22:00.001-07:00

Tonight Obama gave a speech about Iraq. He basically got across that the combat phase has ended and that the Iraqi's need to step up to the plate. I'm with him on these two points.

He also praised our soldiers to a great extent, for which I am glad. And of course, this is what a president must do.

He also strayed a bit, pointing out early on that he was fulfilling his campaign promise to wind the operation down.

Um, no one gives a shit about your campaign promise sir, this isn't about you.

But overall, the speech was a good one. Beautifully written as always, and Obama is a master speaker. If his aim was to inspire Americans, overall, he succeeded.

So well done troops, well done Iraq, well done everyone and God bless us all.

And Columbo turns back at the last second...

Oh, one other thing. Two other things actually.

First of all, he gave zero, and I mean ZERO credit to George W. Bush.

No mention that the surge, which Obama said would fail, actually succeeded.

No mention that the entire drawdown plan, soup to nuts, was and still is entirely GWB's. Obama has literally kept exactly with the Bush blue print presented to him on his first day in office by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Fine. I didn't really expect our president to show grace in this matter. It's academic really, Bush will forever be the Dark Knight - hated, but ultimately 100% right when it came to winning the war and keeping us safe.

Second of all, and FAR more importantly.

He withheld from our troops a real victory by not specifically saying that they have achieved it.

He did praise the US and coalition forces profusely, which I thought was great, and despite my gut instincts, I don't judge his heart - I take him at his word. But he didn't go far enough.

Regardless of how one views the war, the simple fact is that our soldiers succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Iraq is stable, and has a real shot at remaining so. That, to me, is an indisputable victory.

Because as a Senator Obama was against the war, against the surge, and in my view against our soldiers, he now refuses to swallow his pride and do his job as president - give our soldiers the full honor they deserve - calling a victory a victory.

I understand he doesn't want to look like Bush on an aircraft carrier with a big banner of "Mission Accomplished" behind him.

But this isn't really about him, and tonight he failed to see that in spectacular fashion.

Edit: Here is a great little blurb from Hot Air that beautifully encapsulates what I wrote last night. I'm pretty proud that it basically restates (though much more elegantly) what I already came up with.

"Tolerance"

2010-08-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

This whole ground zero mosque business seems to have inflamed passions all around. The idea of a mosque not too far from the rubble of the WTC isn't that repugnant to me, if anything it seems like it might be a good idea to help build a bridge between cultures and demonstrate to the world that America values religious freedom above bigotry.

But this "Cultural Center" that is being planned is anything but just a mosque - it is a garish 13 story behemoth that will be the American headquarters for promoting Sharia law and will be spear headed by an Imam who blames the US for 9/11.

It is these facts, along with the mainstream media calling anyone who bristles at them Islamo-phobic, that have firmly placed me in the anti-ground zero mosque camp.

This is an issue that is, underneath, not at all about religious freedom. The forces behind this mosque are provocateurs of the most insidious kind. Their choice of location (the site of a building damaged during the 9/11 attacks) is just the first step at dividing Americans.

The planned "activities" for the center, which will likely include a sex segregated worshipping area, a non-admittance policy to non-Muslims into the mosque, and stern lectures from Sharia pushing Imams, will vividly illustrate the one way street that is "tolerance" in the "moderate" Muslim world.

Cultural elites view those of us who oppose the location of this indoctrination center (excuse me, I meant mosque) as intolerant bigots. The fact that women in most Muslim countries are at best second class citizens seems to be lost on them.

Can you imagine non-Catholics, or even non-Christians, being turned away from St. Paul's cathedral? Did you know that non-Muslims aren't allowed anywhere near the Haj in Mecca?

I've been to Muslim countries. A few hardcore (Egypt, Jordan) and a few moderate (Morocco, Indonesia). It was while I was in Indonesia early on a Friday morning that I asked our guide Mr. Malik if I could join him for services. He laughed and smiled. Absolutely not. I was "an infidel" (his exact words) in the eyes of his faith. Though he was kind to me and took great pains to explain and professed to not believe this himself, he was very clear. Absolutely not.

Indonesia is supposedly the most liberal Muslim country in the world.

Am I the intolerant one for thinking that the GZ mosque Imam is a bit of an asshole for wanting to plant his flag on the graves of people who were blown up in the name of his religion?

The main thing that seems to be missing from the pro-GZ mosque bunch is common sense.

I could care less about a radical dick-head wanting to build a center for his religion. He can go ahead and build it. It's what our country is all about. The right to be a douche, and have a douchey religion. But please, pick a different location. Try a mile or two away. Knock yourself out. If a radical Christian asshole, like the guy in Gainesville Florida who is going to have a Koran book burning this weekend wanted to build a church on or near Ground Zero, I'd say hell to the no as well.

Let's use our brains and not our knee-jerk politically correct self-loathing passions to guide us to the correct choice.

Show a little respect for the dead. Show a little class.

Toy Story 3

2010-07-13T10:26:00.001-07:00

Toy Story 3 may be the best movie of the trilogy because the stakes are so high.

This is the endgame for the toys - the pay off, the culmination of all the arcs and themes of the first two chapters.

And they don't drop the ball.

Star Wars. The Matrix. Spider-man. Three great movie trilogies - three substandard final installments.

Return of the Jedi is probably the first "epic fail". Planet of the teddy bears ending with a teddy bear picnic.

Matrix Revolutions - takes all the clunky dialogue from the first two movies and doubles it, then finishes with a tepid action set piece and kills off Trinity.

Spider-man 3 - yeesh.

But it's hard to write a good ending - probably the hardest part of any story.

Toy Story 3 somehow pulls it off, respecting and honoring the first two films, but it also striving to be great on it's own.

Some spoilers follow, so if you haven't seen the movie yet, bookmark this for later.

I love that this movie comes out 10 years after the previous one, and it is also that way IN the movie itself. Instinctively, the movie feels right.

The opening is spectacular and hilarious - Andy's imagination come to life before our eyes. Then it is revealed, after a heart-tugging montage of nostalgia infused home videos, that time has passed and Andy has grown up. But he has not forgotten his playthings, nor how important they have been to him.

We feel this and we know this because we have been with the toys on their journey through the first two movies and we recognize, both consciously and unconsciously the heavy matters these movies deal with.

Toy Story presents to us that a child's play is faith - and the faith is real. The toys are faith, come to life.

Our imagination is powerful and limitless, and Toy Story gives us a fantastical glimpse of this in action.

TS3 is loaded with clever peril and slapstick gags that propel the story - through a series of expertly staged mishaps and misunderstandings the toys find themselves narrowly missing the garbage pile and ending up in a day care center.

One of the biggest themes in TS3 is loyalty, more specifically - fidelity.

It's easy for the toys to think they're in heaven when presented with the idea of an endless buffet of kids, who when they grow old are replaced right away. No fear of loss, no attachment and so - no heartache. Easy and painless. But also empty. Woody knows right away that he has to go home to Andy, to be there in case he is needed. Woody is faithful.

The day care center turns out not to be heaven, but a hellish prison - which makes for an engaging send up of "The Great Escape" and many other highly entertaining prison movies. Loaded with gags and puzzles, the middle stretch of TS3 is great at doing what Pixar does best. It's all about the story, painstakingly researched and executed with every piece fitting perfectly into place.

The movie's villain, Lotso (a strawberry scented teddy bear) is, like Stinky Pete from TS2, a toy that is broken on the inside after being abandoned. But Lotso is a much more flushed out character. He makes for a perfectly nasty foil who is beyond redemption - a strong choice that I applaud. All too often in this touchy-feely day and age there is a false effort to "humanize" the bad guys at the expense of realism. Lotso is perfect, because we see his story and we do feel bad for him, but he's still very much twisted and evil beyond repair.

The great escape goes awry, and our heroes, thanks to a final betrayal from Lotso, end up sliding down a mountain of landfill, facing the open mouth of a furnace and their doom. As the end approaches, they look to each other and reach out to hold hands. They are out of tricks and clever schemes, this is the end, and they face it together. They are afraid, but their love for each other sustains them even in their darkest hour.

This sequence, in all it's naked terror, for me was the highlight of the film. Very powerful. We all will ultimately face our maker, our end, and the small plastic objects in this story show how we need to do it. With love in our hearts and a submission to the great unknown.

When the toys are rescued at the last possible instant, it is a great Hollywood moment - and it works because it is driven by emotional resonance and hope. Yes, the toys will be gone someday, but not today.

But for Andy, it IS time to let go. He eventually gets his toys back and thanks to Woody's quick thinking, finds himself donating his precious possessions to a little girl named Bonnie.

It is yet another spectacular tear-inducing moment; 17 year old Andy introducing the toys to a wide eyed 4 year old who happily embraces them.

Andy was planning on taking Woody with him to college, but the little girl sees the cowboy in the box and reaches for him. Andy hesitates, but then he knows - it's time to move on and grow up. Andy and Bonnie play together with the toys, laughing and screaming with fun and delight.

Andy will hold on to his toys in his heart, but he has passed on to grown up land. His passing on of the toys, and his spirited play with the little girl, reaffirms his faith while at the same time acknowledges that he must step into a larger world of responsibility where his actions and choices, not the albeit necessary self indulgence of child's play, will bring the love in his heart to bear on the people around him and the world at large.

Helping or hurting? Don't really care.

2010-05-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I posted a link on Facebook from one of my favorite libertarian sites, reason.com.

It talks about "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" and the reasons behind it. It is well thought out and illuminates that the point is not to "make fun" of a particular religion but rather to stand up to intimidation by crazy people.

My Facebook post that accompanied the link:

"Everybody draw Mohammed! I know I will! This is what the very best part of Berkeley is all about - freedom of expression and ideas. I refuse to be intimidated by real or implied threats of violence by religious fanatics."

Then, within minutes, I got someone responding. A left of center friend who is usually pretty moderate and sensible when it comes to social issues and matters of foreign policy.

He said:

"I'm torn by this. While I totally agree that we have every right to exercise our freedom of speech, I don't know if this is something we should ridicule. I mean I see stories everyday about how our troops are over there trying to win the hearts and the minds of the Islamic community by showing that we all aren't just racially and culturally insensitive bastards there to oppress. I don't see how belittling their religion is going to support our troops and help the war effort. Just my thoughts, would love feedback."

My response:

"That's kind of the whole point - we (meaning most secular Americans) ARE culturally insensitive bastards and Muslims just have to fucking deal with it. Just as Jews and Christians have had to for the past half century.

Islamic facists don't get a pass just because they are the most comfortable with cutting people's heads off and blowing shit up.

Obama has taken any and all references to Islam out of all the DOJ literature on terrorism.

Guess what?

They still hate us. And they always will.

Everybody draw Mohammed day is not about "ridiculing" a particular religion. It's about freedom. Freedom of thought and freedom of ideas, even offensive ones.

I'm not going to play nice. I'm not going back down from my right to be a total idiot - no matter who I am making fun of.

It is my God given right to be an asshole, and it is protected by the US Constitution. Many men greater than I have died defending it, and I'll be damned if I'm going to cower in fear because some nut-bag has it in his head that his particular religion deserves special treatment.

Radical Islam can suck it and so can Mohammed."

So now it's official - I said Mohammed can suck it. Both here and on Facebook.

(Kathy Griffin said Jesus could suck it on national television, but that's neither here nor there of course.)

These are just words, but I can't help but feel a faint chill of fear run down my back at the thought of some crazy person stumbling across my remarks and taking action. This makes me sad, and angry.

Much as with flipping some random person off on the 405, it doesn't seem worth it to exercise my right to free speech, if a random wacko is going to be so offended as to want to do me or a loved one bodily harm. The 405 road-rager because he's probably on drugs and had a shitty childhood, the radical Muslim because he's got a massive inferiority complex about his God.

But yes, I am so pissed off about this quashing of freedom - freedom of speaking one's mind, that I am willing to risk my life (though it's very unlikely that anything will come from this) just to exercise my right to be a dick.

Imagine that.

How Quickly We Forget

2010-04-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Seems like only yesterday that Bush 43 was being demonized for his failures, both at war and on the domestic front. That Iraq turned into a success and that his deficit is dwarfed by our current president's, is beside the point.

Bush was Satan incarnate - Hitler's spawn. The worst president of all time and a truly evil man. We could all pretty much agree on that.

Now Barack is in office, and seeks to take over a sixth of our economy (that would be health care) and has projected a 13 TRILLION dollar deficit by the year 2012. He'd also like to punish Wall Street (big business, rich fat cats, etc.) by over-regulating and taxing them into oblivion.

He's also escalated Bush's war in Afghanistan and is skeptical over the latest efforts by Arizona to stem the tide of illegal immigrants. He'd very much like to pass immigration reform first, before securing our borders, and give everyone who's snuck in here a path to citizenship. And actually, securing the borders, he probably won't bother with that.

He's also stated that a VAT (Value Added Tax, aka a National Sales Tax) is on the table as an option to help plug the deficit hole (okay, canyon). Excellent. More taxes will definitely help.

But remember, dear children, lest we forget - if you disagree with the ONE or say anything bad about him, you are a racist.

Clearly, I am a racist because I disagree with him, and think that a tenfold government expansion and an eightfold deficit expansion are bad ideas.

Not only am I racist, but I clearly I am inciting violence by speaking out.

Clearly, if Barack were white, and people disagreed with him, they would be much more respectful then they have been.

Like they were with Bush.

Oh wait... that's right, they were unhinged with Bush. Bush-deraingement syndrome, I think it was called.

Bush was: Hitler. Satan. Evil. Worst president ever.

If you believe this, you are exercising your right to free speech.

Obama is: Wrong. Socialist. Inexperienced. Naive. Incompetent. A charismatic speaker.

Clearly, if you believe this, you are a hate-mongering racist and you are inciting violence.

Glad we cleared that up.

Since I am a defacto hate-mongering, violence loving racist, it makes it much easier. Now we don't have to talk about the issues. You can just demonize me, the way you demonized Bush, and maybe even throw me in jail for sedition.

Damn, that first Amendment sure is pesky when it protects a clearly deranged tea-bagging bigot like myself.

We'll have to do something about that.

Movies 2010

2010-04-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

As long time readers (all five of you) of this blog know, I love movies. Not films, though I like them very much - but movies. Explosions, profanity, bare breasts, mythical creatures, loud music, and endless tracking shots.

The art house stuff is fine and dandy, if you're into that sort of thing. Me, I like my entertainment to be, oh I don't know, entertaining? I've got enough angst in my life, and there is enough pain in the real world, I generally don't need to subject myself to it for $12 in an uncomfortable seat while someone can't shut up two rows behind me.

I also don't get out much - so you're getting a pretty slim view of 2010 overall; for the most part these are the flicks that I actually dragged my ass out of the house for - and happened to enjoy. There are a few exceptions where I had to wait for Netflix.

My Top Ten MOVIES of 2010

11. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Okay, this one is number 11 - but I couldn't resist mentioning it, because it's so dern good!

Yes, I have a five year old. So whenever I get a chance to see a movie with her, and she absolutely loves it, it changes my perspective a bit. I can even tolerate watching the entire "Alvin and the Chipmunks" crapathon because my daughter thinks it's the greatest.

Thankfully, I probably would have loved "Meatballs" even if I was childless. It is a fun hoot and a holler, with great not so sub sub-text on our gluttony as Americans. Plus it's loaded with amazing non-eye-straining 3D and fantastic gags. And it's got Mr. T!

10. Whip It

A recent rental, this is one of the sweetest pro-female movies I can remember. Under Drew Berrymore's gifted light touch in her first directorial debut, along with that Juno chick's ultra-natural performance, this coming of age story quietly soars without even a hint of the inevitable dread (you know, that something TERRIBLE is about to happen) that usually infects such fare. This alone makes "Whip-It" highly enjoyable, but a great supporting cast and an a-typically unpretentious script along with an amazingly three dimensional antagonist (Juno chick's mom) make this one to savor. Plus, it's about roller-derby!

9. Where the Wild Things Are

Very pretentious throughout (that is, up it's own ass) and slow in parts - Spike Jonez is such a talented filmmaker that this movie still works. It, like the book, is quietly heart wrenching - I have to see this again.

8. Adventureland

Like "Whip It" this is a fairly realistic but very sweet coming of age tale. There's quite a bit more angst here - and this time, as told from a male perspective, it can be a bit painful to watch occasionally. But the emotional resonance, and ultimately the positive outlook of this film make the journey well worth it. Plus, it has some very funny (to me, meaning either gross or broad) moments. A far, far, FAR better take on growing up 30 years ago than the incredibly overrated "Dazed and Confused".

7. Drag Me To Hell

If you love over the top horror, and in any way shape or form are a fan of Sam Raimi, this one is automatic. I did manage to sneak away and see this in the theater. Somehow they got away with a PG-13, but the gags are huge and gross in the best tradition of hard R scare-fests. It WILL make you jump.

Before I continue, let me just say, I really like the bottom five here - but the remaining top 6 of 2010 are the very best to come along in a long time. Any one of these films could easily make the top spot in other years over the last decade.

6. Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino returns to top form, though I've loved his recent works almost as much as his classics. This is a great war/satire adventure - of dialogue, suspense, shock and awe. The A-Story actually has naught to do with the titles namesakes; a rag tag bunch of Jewish nazi killers, and it is mesmerizing. Only Tarantino, master of tongue in cheek schlock, could pull off such an over the top and historically deviant circus. The climax has to be seen to be believed.

5. Star Trek

As a life-long Trekker, yes I've been to conventions, I have to say that the team behind this one got it and even more impressive - they didn't fuck it up.

It is, and remember I love Star Trek - including all the other movies, even the bad ones - BY FAR, the best Star Trek film.

By far.

It moves, it has emotion beyond the scope of any of it's predecessors. The gags and VFX are first rate. The story is tight. The supporting cast is WAY more fleshed out than the old gang. The leads, with the exception of Nimoy, are all better actors than those who came before.

Most importantly, this movie succeeds because it is great on it's own, whether you are a fan or not, and still is at it's heart 100% Trek. Hallelujah, they got it. The biggest money maker by far, so far, for the franchise. My great love is back and better than ever.

4. The Hurt Locker

Though many troops have decried this film as an un-realistic portrayal - I was deeply moved by how powerful and how intense the scenes of a US IED bomb squad in action were.

I also love how finally, a film did not demonize our troops. It humanizes them, for sure, but great stories have to have this. I can say that I love this movie because it is not political, but I can also say that I love this movie because it very much IS political - in the very best of ways.

The bad guys are the terrorists. Period. They do horrible things in this movie - and Kathryn Bigelow does not flinch from showing us this. God bless you Kathryn, for shining light on what really goes on over there, and giving a truthful (and therefore sympathetic) insight into the soul wrenching sacrifices that our men and women overseas make so that the rest of us can be free.

Great movie.

3. District 9

Staggering; perhaps one of the best science-fiction movies ever made. A great message movie, that still delivers kick-ass action sequences and a tight story structure driven by first class actors and a unique hybrid film-style of documentary and traditional narrative.

The CGI is remarkable, and when it's combined with jaw-dropping location filming in the slums of Soweto, "District 9" is transformed from a story with potential to a classic for the ages. A purchase for sure.

2. Avatar

Another triumph for the king of modern movie story telling. Avatar is a masterpiece of visuals wrapped around a classic tale. The dialogue can be clunky, but no line or scene for that matter, is wasted. At just under 3 hours, "Avatar" flies by, releasing us from it's grasp of wonder all too quickly.

It is powerful, it is great. It is a movie experience unlike any other this year.

I love "The Hurt Locker" - it's another great movie. And of course you all know I love the troops, more than just about anything that isn't God or my family. But the Academy was wrong on this one. THL is an important movie. Avatar is ground breaking and has changed the game.

At least the Oscars are consistent - they did it before in 1977, preposterously giving Annie Hall best picture over Star Wars. What a joke. This time it isn't quite so egregious, but still a pretty big blunder that will be looked back on with a similar eye-roll as the Annie Hall idiocy.

1. Up

So after all my gushing praise for Avatar and how ground breaking it is, how could another movie top it?

Simple - have the best movie studio, with 9 perfect movies so far, put out their best movie ever.

Up, is a remarkable adventure for the heart and soul. It makes me cry. Every. Single. Time. Even Avatar can't do that. Up, in all ways that matter the most - is the perfect movie, and the perfect film.

If you've seen it, you know I need not say more. If you haven't seen it, do so.

Runners Up...

I also enjoyed...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
While I was initially disappointed in the theatrical release, I've watched it a couple of times on DVD, and there is a lot of good stuff to chew on - and it's very faithful to the spirit of the book, which is one of my favorites in the series.

Coraline
Saw it in 2D at home, and really enjoyed it. It's not great like Nightmare Before Christmas, but it has lots of fun stuff to look at - and an interesting subtext to ponder.

The Hangover
Overrated? Sure. Funny as hell? Absolutely. My kind of comedy - ridiculous and crude. My favorite character - one that I still quote, is the crazy Asian guy who jumps out of the trunk naked. Good stuff.

And my biggest disappointment...

Transformers 2
Though again, this one fares much better on DVD - it still pales in comparison to the original, which was an absolute blast. Trans2 is just too loud and explosion-y for too long - and for me to say that, you know it has to be BAD. :)

Super Lousy

2010-02-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Memo to "The Who": You are old.

Too old to play the superbowl half time show.

Forget "dad" rock. You are "grandpa" rock. Get off the stage and let somebody, oh I don't know, under 40 maybe, have a chance. Ridiculous to have grandpas singing songs about teenage angst.

The band was okay, but that's because they were all quite a bit younger than the two founding members (the other half of the band is dead, lest we forget).

Old doesn't mean useless, but it does mean that your time as a rock and roller on a national showcase is OVER.

Sure, let people like me and my parents spend ridiculous amounts of money on tickets to see these geezers in concert - yes, by the way, I'm a fan of the Who and I love their music. But I don't agree with subjecting the poor young people to this dinosaur stuff.

Rock and roll is for the young. New talent, new faces.

Rock is young, rock is angry - rock is not icy hot patches and bladder infections.

Rock is not content with life. Rock is not settled.

Rock is political. Rock is infused with energy.

These guys were tired about half way through.

As for new music, I don't have to like it. It can sound like noise to me - in fact, IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE NOISE TO ME!!! I'm 39! I'm not supposed to like it, or even get it.

That half-time show was all kinds of wrong, because Rock and Roll, REAL Rock and Roll - is about rebellion.

The Who are not rock and roll. They are classical music. Great classical music. Meant to be listened to quietly and enjoyed. Still good, still relevant, in the same way that Beethoven is.

Get somebody young up there, please.

Someone who is 19, and will spit on the camera, kick over a marshall stack and flip the bird.

At least someone who doesn't look like he's about to keel over from one windmill too many.

Stuff is NOT the problem.

2010-02-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

Recently I was pointed towards this:

There are two other parts that you can find on YouTube, but you get the idea.

It's a very cute and pleasingly done piece, but it is ultimately a deceptive and fear driven rant against capitalism and consumerism.

The worst part of this is, it's being foisted on kids in public schools. I can only hope that my daughter will be spared such indoctrination, but in the event she is subjected to it (and in all likelihood she will be, if not directly from this particular video, from some other source - a professor or two, or three or twenty) I will do my best to give her the whole picture.

And it might sound something like this...

Well guess what lady, I've traveled a bit too, and somehow came away with a different perspective.

After 15 years of traveling abroad, I can safely say that I'm now more than ever, an American Exceptionalist.

Of the 28 countries I've been to, including more than a few third world, communist, socialist and first world "utopia"'s of western Europe, there is no place on earth that holds a candle in generosity and humanitarian spirit to the home stadium of the evil giant that is capitalism, the good old US of A.

I truthfully don't think we should aspire to be like any other place, especially places where you can't own a firearm, get a liver transplant if you're over 50 or keep more than 60% of your income. Or for that matter can't get ice in your drink or free refills.

And when it comes to the juggernaut that is big business, I don't deny that industrialization and corporate greed haven't caused a lot of problems. Pollution and child labor, especially in the third world places that I've been to like China, Kenya, India and Egypt run rampant and unchecked. But from what I have seen with my own eyes, it's the governments of these places, not private corporations, that have their boots firmly on the necks of these people and allow less scrupulous companies to enslave their children and contaminate their rivers and streams.

And from what I've seen first hand, the only reason hell holes like Kenya see any relief at all is from private sources of revenue. Were it not for commercial companies and individual entrepreneurs, private non-profit aid organizations that I have worked for like Feed The Children wouldn't be feeding a dozen kids a day in Nairobi, much less a quarter million like they actually do now. It sure as hell isn't the government of Kenya that gives hope to it's people. They rule over a country rich in resources with a thick coat of corruption and an iron fist.

Yes, aiming for the almighty dollar has caused a lot of misery in this world, but conversely. were it not for the pursuit of "stuff", Americans and other first worlders wouldn't have a fraction of the prosperity, innovation and high quality of life that all of us (even those who purport to hate corporations) enjoy.

Furthermore, were it not for the enterprising spirit of the individual that the American system fosters, I can only conclude that the third world would be infinitely worse off.

I agree that we need to be generous and ambitious in our pursuit of helping those less fortunate, but where I part ways with big government folks is that I believe people have to be moved in their hearts to give - people should not be mandated by the state to sacrifice the hard earned fruits of their labor.

The smug demonization of private industry by the affable but ultimately dim-witted lady in the "Story of Stuff", especially to our children who are living day to day under the blanket of prosperity wrought by the blood, sweat and unparalleled American work ethic of their parents and forefathers, does little to actually improve the lives of those trapped in despotic regimes.

It makes professors and students feel good about themselves in the halls of academia, and gives protestors something to crow about when political conventions roll around - but where the rubber meets the road, the ACTUAL back breaking work of getting food to the hungry and disaster relief to the stricken doesn't come from anti-capitalist regimes or their puppets. It comes from the greatest country on earth, and the power of big business behind it.

I have been blessed in the past five years, to work for an extraordinary private NGO, which gets 100% of it's funding entirely from the private sector.

Our government will be giving a hundred million dollars to Haiti. That is fantastic and good.

Feed The Children has pledged to commit nearly two hundred million in aid to Haiti for 2010. And they are not even the largest private aid group with boots on the ground right now.

Feed The Children typically receive a billion dollars annually, most of which comes from corporations and wealthy benefactors, one of which that I know personally, a man who I will not name (as he prefers to remain anonymous in his contributions) who is a highly paid lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. He has personally pledged over a million dollars to the southeast Asian countries that were hit by the tsunami, and I imagine he will commit a similar amount to Haiti. .

I understand that it makes us feel less guilty when we all chime in about how terrible big business is and how greedy and shitty we all are for wanting to play XBox and buy hundred dollar shoes; but we do it anyway. We live our lives as hypocrites - decrying the system, yet busting our asses for "the man" and plunking down hard earned dollars for big macs and porn.

I would not be able to live in America and be happy if I truly believed that big business was all or even mostly evil. I would leave. I actually know a co-worker who did leave, after Bush won in 2004, and I respect her highly for it. (She did eventually come back, growing up a bit and realizing how good she had it, but I still give her mad props for sticking to her principles until she was able to educate herself).

I try my best to live here with a clear conscience and enjoy the many blessings of this country, while still recognizing that we have problems and need to work hard to fix them.

Most of all, I do my utmost to avoid indulging in a counter productive and decadent daily dance of self-loathing. After seeing so much suffering, all over the world, with my own eyes, that is only relieved by private and mostly American money and people, I find it offensive to point the finger of blame at my country.

The gauntlet of experiences that I have gone through, has led me down the path of a deep and abiding faith.

Faith.

Faith that most Americans, even those in corporate suits, are ultimately working to make the world better, and it's only through the free marketplace, of both products AND ideas, that we may actually someday reach the "utopia" envisioned by big government proponents.

So, my daughter, I am not on board with "The Story of Stuff" which, much like the right wing nitwits such as Limbaugh and Beck, paint the world in black and white. I am not on board, and I will do my utmost to give you another side to the story, despite whatever indoctrination you might endure at the hands of your teachers. I will do this, simply because I have seen too much good undertaken with my own eyes to buy into the fable that big business is entirely or even mostly to blame for the suffering on this earth.

We are the greatest country on God's green earth, and no amount of moral relativism shrouded in hyperbole and self-hatred can obscure this truth.

A (tough) Year to Remember

2009-12-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

This has been an especially memorable Christmas for me, mostly because of my little girl. She is five years old and full of wonder and awe over Santa and the deluge of presents and Christmas cheer he brings. Much of the fatigue and humdrum that I have endured as an adult through recent holiday seasons past is almost nowhere to be found, in the face of Natalie's innocent joy.

I've been hugging her extra tight of late - holding on to my little girl fiercely with a mixture of overwhelming love and of the equally powerful fear of ever losing her.

This is something that every parent endures on a daily basis. The mind races with unspeakable imaginings of what could happen. But at Christmastime, the fearful flights of my imagination seem to occur at an alarming rate.

This year has not been an easy one - I lost an old friend who was a police officer, he died in the line of duty at the hands of a mad man. I lost a dear man who was the spiritual leader of my company and a beacon of light in my life. He left this earth suddenly and without warning.

And on September 30th I lost someone who I had never met, yet her passing has left a hole in my soul. This is by far the most crushing loss I've ever had to bear in my life so far - and yet I know I don't feel 1/1000000th of the agony that her family does.

The best man at my wedding has a four year old niece who is now with the angels. She fell into her family's swimming pool. There was a fence. Yet somehow she got in, and in an instant it was over.

I never met this little girl, nor her father or three brothers. I probably haven't seen her mother in 15 years. But I think of them all every single day.

I tell everyone I know with small children what happened. I know very few details of the event, and I don't really need to. The point of the story isn't to depress people or to make them fearful, but to make them aware that those we love most can disappear suddenly - and we need to cherish them with all of our hearts every single day.

When I look at my little girl sometimes, I'm overwhelmed at the thought of losing her. My mind races and I literally shake in my shoes. My wife and I have cried ourselves to sleep more than once over the thought of what happened on that fateful day.

But then I turn to my faith - my belief that there is a power greater than all of us who has a plan beyond our comprehension, and I am comforted.

This little girl, who was only here for an instant, has already touched so many more lives than her parents will probably ever know. Every single person that I've shared this story with has been affected, deeply. From the owner of my company to random lighting techs and associate producers. The freelance teleprompter guy who has a 3 year old. The producer of the Daytime Emmy's who has a toddler son. All of them nearly moved to tears, quiet and contemplative. I know they will hug their kids extra hard and love them even more than they thought possible.

Margareta was her name. And she was a very real angel, sent here for a very real purpose. She was put on this earth to touch us profoundly and to teach us just how precious life is.

And I have no doubt that there are many other lessons she imparted as well. For me personally, the most powerful gift she has given me is to rejuvenate my relationship with God.

It is through God that I find comfort in the arms of my little one. She's about the same age as Margareta and no doubt just as sweet and precocious. This is probably why this event has been so tough on my wife and I. Every little thought and detail (real and imagined) that enters our heads about what happened, we can imagine it so easily happening to Natalie. I hold her impossibly tight, close my eyes and pray to God that she stays safe and happy. But with the anguish in my heart that Margareta's passing has brought, she has also brought me closer to the big man (or woman) upstairs - and in doing so has helped melt some of the adult hardness around my heart.

I recognize, as with Margareta, that Natalie is here on God's time. As are we all of course - but children, especially little children, are living breathing angels among us. Both Margareta and Natalie make it easier for me to let go of my adult cynicism and to recognize just how small I am in the face of my maker. As I turn the corner in my own mortality and recognize that in all likelihood I have fewer years ahead of me than behind me, I see that really - life is so precious and fleeting that every day is truly a gift.

I hope and pray that Natalie has a long and full life ahead of her, that she will touch people's lives profoundly as a fiesty teenager, a passionate young woman, a mellowed but still joyful middle aged go-getter and as a contented elderly sage of wisdom. But it is not up to her, nor me. She is on a mission, as are we all - to try and be the best we can be, to face every day with love and wonder in our hearts, to let go of fear and jaded disdain, to embrace the unknown and recognize that we have no control over our fate - only control of how much love we bring to bear on those around us.

This is the lesson that Margareta has taught me and I will be forever grateful to her for it.

I am overwhelmed with sadness and love for Margareta's entire family, and for anyone who ever had the gift of meeting her in person. I cannot begin to comprehend the anguish that they feel and that they will never fully recover from.

But I hope they find some small comfort in just how far and wide the love of this little girl has already spread, and will continue to spread, as ever expanding ripples in water - touching the hearts and minds of people who never even met her in a truly beautiful and profound way.

Peace and love to all of you this holiday season, and the very happiest of new years.

Country first.

2009-12-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

I refuse to condemn our president for his long delayed and potentially inadequate troop surge in Afghanistan.

It's easy to look at his decision, a long time coming - nearly 9 months since his General's request for a minimum of 40,000 troops, as one directed more at appeasing his moderate constituents than towards winning the war. Obama's strategy will surely infuriate those on the left end of the spectrum, Michael Moore already has a ridiculous letter of condemnation up on his website, and those on the right side as well.

Speaking as a considerably right of center hawk, when it comes to our military and what our role should be in the war on terror, I can tell you that there is a lot that is troubling here.

Anything less than a whole hearted pursuit of total victory in Afghanistan I fear is guaranteed to fail.

We cannot sacrifice the lives of our soldiers with a plan that includes an exit date. Nor can we second guess the most qualified people on the planet, that would be the strategic minds and operational commanders of the US military, as to how to best kill al qaeda and the taliban. These two inescapable facts I fear, combined with the historical truism of Afghanistan as a graveyard of empires and a cesspool of corruption, may have already sealed our fate.

It very well might be possible that this war is already lost.

But I'll be God damned if I am going to treat the 44th president the way his far left supporters treated the 43rd.

I may disagree with Obama's approach - which smacks of fulfilling a campaign promise rather than fighting a war that we must win, but I will from this moment on, put my fears into the far back of my mind, and concentrate on positive hopes and prayers for the outcome of this - the most important conflict of our time.

Obama has said from the beginning that he supports killing terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I respect him for that, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Obama has said he will finish the job - while also acknowledging that the Afghans themselves must begin to take responsibility for their own peace and prosperity. I can get on board with this.

I also have a healthy respect for history, and I see that Obama is following in the footsteps of someone who got it right.

Same exact secretary of defense, same exact anti-insurgency plan of battle.

From www.michaelmoore.com comes an unintentionally brilliant series of side by side quotes.

Obama: "We Did Not Ask for This Fight"
Bush: "We Did Not Seek This Conflict"

Obama: "New Attacks are Being Plotted as I Speak"
Bush: "At This Moment ... Terrorists are Planning New Attacks"

Obama: "Our Cause is Just, Our Resolve Unwavering"
Bush: "Our Cause is Just, Our Coalition [is] Determined"

Obama: "This Is No Idle Danger, No Hypothetical Threat"
Bush: "The Enemies of Freedom Are Not Idle"

Obama: "We Have No Interest in Occupying Your Country"
Bush: "I Wouldn't Be Happy if I Were Occupied Either"

Who knew that Obama and Bush were two of a kind? Honestly, in a weird way, I'm relieved. Both men have been charged with protecting the free world, both men have risen to the challenge.

At this point it's obvious to me that the one topic that no one, especially not the liberal press, wants to mention is Iraq. Like it or not, believe it or not, we are leaving that country better than we found it with the day to day violence an ever fading memory.

Facts are facts, and no amount of anti-Bush vitriol can change hard numbers. Casualties, both civilian and military, right now are microscopic in comparison to the streets of Detroit or Washington DC.

Number of US Military killed in Iraq in November - 11.

Number of COMBAT related deaths of US Military killed in Iraq in November 2009 - 1.

That's right. This is NOT a typo. This is the biggest story you'll never read about. 1 US soldier lost his life in combat in Iraq last month. The rest were vehicle accidents.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_nov09.htm

Rant and rave all you like about the horrible costs of this war - I can't disagree with you. But face the inevitable - right here, right now, we are not losing in Iraq.

There is an argument to be made, though you may disagree, that we have already won.

Truly, I believe in my heart that thanks in large part to the convictions of George W. Bush, a man whom I never voted for, nor agreed with on many issues, we have achieved enough success in the region to declare victory and go home.

He was my president and I KNOW he put his country FIRST.

I would be honored to shake his hand.

Those who place the love of their country second to their political convictions will attempt to rewrite history and bring dishonor to Bush, our troops and our country's role in Iraq. But I have faith that intellectual honesty and hard numbers will somehow weather this fog of partisanship, and much like Harry Truman, who was reviled when he left office, George W. Bush - at least when it comes to the war on terror, will emerge as a man who got it right as far as conducting and winning the war in Iraq.

Now whether we should have been in Iraq in the first place is an entirely different issue, and one that I am less certain of. I can certainly concede that it might not have been the best idea, nor was it really related to 9/11.

However, seeing as how we hung the Iraqi people out to dry in the first gulf war (watch the movie "Three Kings" for an excellent treatise on this) I am ultimately glad we went back and righted what we did wrong - though the cost in civilian and military casualties does make me wonder sometimes if it truly was worth it. It's not a black and white matter - but evil has been vanquished, at least for now.

In the end, Iraq is not perfect, there are still violent stragglers, but al qaeda has been decimated and Iraq is slowly but surely returning to normal. The withdrawal plan, which was drawn up by Bush and Petraeus (not Obama as many probably have deluded themselves into believing) is underway and is proving not only workable but sustainable.

I have a great faith and hope that the same may some day be said for Afghanistan.

This is a war in which many on the left have said is a "good" war. Though many in congress have conveniently forgotten this, I have faith that our current president actually meant it when he said so. There is, even right now, far more support for our presence in Afghanistan, both from within the US and from international sources, than there ever was for Iraq.

As long as Obama doesn't waiver and wholeheartedly pursues this task, I have to believe he can succeed.

I will support him and our troops. I will pray for total victory and for an end to the drug trade and corruption that seem to have riddled the people that we helped put into power.

I will pray that the lives lost in the coming months will not be in vain.

Obama has done his job; he has decided that Americans WILL die for the protection of liberty and the defense of freedom. I cannot discount nor condemn him for this.

He is my president and I KNOW he will put his country FIRST.

I would be honored to shake his hand.

Enough already.

2009-11-14T00:27:00.000-08:00

The shooting spree at Fort Hood was not a random tragic occurrence committed by a mentally ill lost soul, it was a pre-meditated act of terrorism by an Islamic extremist who knew exactly what he was doing, why he was doing it and who he was doing it for.

In other news, seems as though we now want to bring the mastermind of 9/11 into our civilian courts and treat him like a common criminal. Another great idea. Even better that we give him a platform in New York (of all places) to legitimize him and make sure that his "views" are heard.

In the meantime civilian judges, many of whom are like most Americans and just don't get it, can allow the spilling of plenty of information in the courtroom about our intelligence gathering techniques so that other Islamo-facists can use this info to expedite killing us.

Fundamentally, it's a refusal by the current administration to acknowledge that we are at war, and it turns my stomach.

Treating this as a criminal justice issue, as Clinton did with the first WTC bombing is a huge step backwards.

9/11 wasn't just terrorism, it was an act of war. These men are not just criminals, they are war criminals and deserve to be treated as such - as have all enemy combatants over the last 100 years. We didn't haul Goering into a local courtroom in 1945, and it's preposterous to consider such an act today with men who are just as crazy and on top of that refuse to wear a uniform.

There is no wiggle room here for the forces of evil to somehow escape from a criminal justice system rife with the rights, technicalities and loopholes that we afford citizens of a free society.

Nor is it acceptable to give these same forces a platform (on the sacred ground of NYC of all places) to voice their madness.

Most importantly, we cannot allow the courtroom to be turned into a circus, a vessel for defense attorneys to not only do their utmost to free these men but to grandstand and downplay the all too real war on terror.

I know it's fashionable right now to deny that such a war exists, but to do so is to disgrace the memories of those who died on that fateful day and to dishonor the forces overseas who are fighting to put down the disciples of the 9/11 mastermind.

This whole matter to me reeks of politicized opportunism, and a genuine lack of intellectual honesty from this administration. Not to mention a staggering ignorance of history and of the true nature of evil.

But none of this matters as much as one inescapable fact. Most of the relatives of those who died on 9/11 are very angry about this - so that's good enough for me to be too.

Note to the Unknown Soldier

2009-10-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

A little tribute video I cut together;

I was inspired by the Five for Fighting song
"Note to the Unknown Soldier"

Once the video starts, click on the lower right corner of the video to go to YouTube and see the video properly in widescreen.

2009-09-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to a housewarming party at my brother's new place - he's recently moved in with his girlfriend who is lovely in every way. Kudos to him.

A big highlight to the gathering was everyone playing and enjoying his recently purchased Beatles Rockband game.

It's fun, it's silly, it's addictive. For those who don't know, Guitar Hero and Rockband are musical video games, that involve mimicking rock n' rollers with plastic pint-sized instruments. Rockband is especially goofy because it involves guitars, drums and a microphone.

Once dignity has been dispensed with, it's a heck of a lot of fun, not only for people actually playing, but for observers as well.

But what makes the recently released Beatles version of the game especially great is, well, The Beatles.

I was struck last night at how everyone in the party, playing or not, took time to enjoy the music. One great thing about the game, is that the music you hear is the actual Beatles - not a cover or close proximity. It's really the boys, thanks to the miracles of modern sound engineering, separated onto different tracks. So if you're on drums and flub a beat or two, you hear Ringo's drumming drop out while the guitars and bass keep going. It's very slick.

The graphics are kind of creepy at first - robotic looking Beatles strum and strut through the numbers. For the earlier music you're in the Cavern Club, the Ed Sullivan Show and various stadiums and arenas. Later tunes feature the fab four in studio, but as the songs get underway they transform into psychedelic dreamscapes.

Once I got past the fact that John, Paul, George and Ringo looked like mannequin androids, I was impressed at the attention to detail, both in the bands mannerisms and technical playing as well as the digitally crafted environments. The music and the imagery combined with an enthusiastic group of friends who happen to love the Beatles, creates a unique and surprisingly powerful interactive experience.

Beatles Rockband, as surreal and as ridiculous as it is - is actually very special. It brings the best band in the world to a whole new audience, in a completely original way. It was put together with a lot of thought and care, and carries the seal of approval from the band's surviving members and the widows of George and John.

The Beatles are quite simply, the most influential and most beloved rock and roll act of all time. And happily, I am part of the vast majority of earthlings who have been enthralled and forever affected by the fab four.

Their music has meant very much to me personally over the years - it was a big part of my childhood, and today I still get emotional over the memories that are induced when certain tunes are played. I'm also especially struck, now as an adult, at just how cohesive and perfect the overall arc of the Beatles music is.

13 outstanding albums. Zero reunion tours.

Yoko Ono said it best, shortly after the bands breakup. I'm paraphrasing - "The Beatles were like a perfect temple, that was destroyed right after being built. Now they will always be perfect."

And it's true, unlike certain other "legendary" British bands, they will never be a tired old joke. They will never "retire" only to resurface with a mediocre record and world tour two years later, strutting around the stage in their 60's after endless plastic surgery and pilates. They will always be perfect.

Whatever twinge of sadness we might feel over never having the chance to see The Beatles play live, ever again, we can take more than enough solace in the fact that they will forever and for always be great. And their ultimate message, their gift to the world - is love. This will likely not tarnish or be diminished for at least a millennia or more.

But I confess, one of the great recurring daydreams of my life, is what would have happened if John hadn't been taken from us so abruptly. Recently before George was diagnosed with cancer, the three remaining lads became not only amicable but friendly to the point where they collaborated intensely on The Beatles Anthology and even crafted 2 brand new songs using John's old vocals. It captured my imagination. What if John had been in that mix? Would they have gone on tour?

Entertainment Weekly recently ranked the 50 best Beatles songs. A preposterous and pointless exercise. So much greatness, how can they only pick 50? I think it's patently ridiculous to even try. But to imagine what a set list might have been at a Beatles concert were it held today, where there would be at least some logic to picking and choosing, now that's a great idea!

My dream Beatles concert would go something like this...

ACT I:

The stage and lighting would be bare bones. Dark except for the instruments illuminated by harsh overhead spotlights. The iconic drum kit on a small riser, the classic Hofner bass, Gretch Duo Jet and Rickenbacker guitars on stands and waiting for their masters. The arena is plunged into darkness. Over an ocean of screams the cyclorama is illuminated, and four men arrive in silhouette. Three picking up and strapping on their guitars, one sitting down at the drum kit, the blackened shapes meander a bit - and then the first chord is struck...

A Hard Day's Night
Get Back
Revolution
In My Life
Paperback Writer
I Feel Fine
Taxman
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Yesterday
Ticket to Ride
I've Just Seen a Face
Something
She Said, She Said
Back in the USSR
Ballad of John and Yoko
Help!
All Together Now
I Saw Her Standing There

The first act is entirely The Beatles only, no additional musicians or instrumentation. The production design is also very flat and basic. The focus is the music. There are no costume changes, and a minimum of instrument changes. When the curtain rises on Act II, however, there is a full Orchestra, as well as additional percussionists and of course, Billy Preston on Keyboards. The staging, especially lighting, is a lot more elaborate and colorful.

Act II

Here Comes the Sun
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band
A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds
Within Without You
Hello Goodbye
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Day In the Life
Blackbird
Yellow Submarine
Let It Be
Norwegian Wood
I Am the Walrus
Hey Jude
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
All You Need Is Love

Just a single encore, but what an encore. Once again, it's just the boys, stripped down and simplified.

ENCORE:

She Loves You
Please Please Me
From Me to You
Money Can't Buy Me Love
Love Me Do
Twist and Shout

I know, I know, not enough George and Ringo songs. Too many hits, not enough obscurities. Well tough. Make you're own! This one is mine! I really tried to make it feasible number of songs, in a non-chronological order (for the most part) that would have a very good rhythm of both upbeat and slower numbers, with nice builds towards the climaxes of each act and the encore.

I love the idea of a stripped down first act, a psychedelic second act, and a third mini-act that mimics the original set lists from those early stadium shows. About a 3 and a half hour show; a perfect evening that hits all the right notes and memories.

And one things for sure, this concert in my head is most likely WAY better than any actual show would have been.

ACORN's going DOWN

2009-09-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

When Jon Stewart, the most powerful political voice in the country as far as anyone 25 and younger is concerned, turns on your organization - it's time to go. This is an incredibly funny video, the humor is a bit crude and there are a few bleeped f-bombs, but hang in for the whole thing and be amazed.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

The Audacity of Hos

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

In case you don't watch Fox News or listen to right wing radio, this ACORN deal is the biggest story ever that the mainstream press still refuses to cover. Maybe now that their poster boy of comedy has finally seen the light, this story might get some legs.

It basically confirms what "crazies" like Limbaugh and Hannity have been saying for years now - that ACORN is a fundamentally corrupt and criminal organization, funded largely by taxpayers. I'd say, it's days are numbered.

Just About the Creepiest Thing I've Ever Seen

2009-09-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

I know I just posted, be sure to read below this post, but OMFG.

Am I crazy? Is this not Mao? Castro? Chavez? This is insane.

Yes, 90% of it or so is fine, inspirational even. But the other 10%? Dear God.

Newsflash - I'm not here to serve the president, or any man. He's here to serve me.

I'm going to continue to flip people off who cut in front of me.

I'll drive whatever the hell I want.

I will not chant in unison with other pin-heads, even though I may be hopelessly in love with my own sanctimoniousness.

Am I a bad person because this video makes me very angry?

I pledge to play video games and internet poker.

I pledge to watch movies with lots of explosions and graphic violence.

I pledge to eat at the Olive Garden.

I pledge to eat Oreos, heavily laden with trans-fat.

I pledge to speak out against socialized medicine.

I pledge to recognize that I am smarter than Ashton Fucking Kutcher.

I pledge to support our military by supporting their mission.

YES, DO YOU THINK THEY COULD HAVE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT OUR TROOPS ARE FIGHTING AND DYING RIGHT NOW SO THAT THESE RICH ASSHOLES COULD MAKE THEIR SHITTY KIM JONG ILL-ESQUE VIDEO?

Sorry. This one definitely got my blood pressure up.

Creepy.

Sad.

FAIL.

Teach Your Children Well

2009-09-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

So the president will be addressing our kids. Should be okay. I guess.

I doubt he'll try to push any of his policies or reforms explicitly on them, he's a pretty smart and savvy man. Even moderates probably wouldn't stand for such an overt indoctrination. But the cynic in me suspects that Obama realizes that most of our nation's public school teachers will do the dirty work for him anyway.

Here's an example; and if my little girl was a bit older and happened to be in a typical urban public school (thankfully she's in a school where they say the pledge of allegiance every morning) she could very well be up against something like this: (Skip ahead a little bit to the classroom).

Now, to be fair, I am a political junkie of sorts and certainly in my adulthood I find myself a bit to the right of center. My wife however, while not politically apathetic, could care less about the latest Michelle Malkin column or what Keith Olberman has been saying about healthcare.

With that in mind, when it comes to my child, I sincerely don't plan to directly indoctrinate her with my own views. No doubt she'll adopt some of them by osmosis, but my fondest hope is that she'll make up her own sensible mind about politics and at the same time become as big a fan as me on government happenings and social issues of the day. I pray that she spends her time surfing sights like hotair.com or moveon.org instead of TMZ or Perez Hilton.

And in my fondest partisan dreams, I hope she'll be a wide eyed liberal in her teens (showing she has a heart), then surprise herself by adopting conservative views as she enters adulthood (showing she has a brain) and eventually find herself somewhere in the middle ground of common sense where she is able to cast aside ideology for a more practical and thought fueled approach. Always asking questions, always being a healthy skeptic.

In any case, I hope she can at least recognize the shrill insanity of the woman in the video (as I was able to in my addle-brained teachers at Berkeley High school) and come to her own more fact based conclusions on stuff that matters.

Obama and Nixon

2009-08-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

We now return to our regularly scheduled politically inflammatory blog.

UPDATE: Now apparently dissent is only patriotic when you're thrashing George W. Bush. If you dissent over health care, you're un-American.

The whole health care matter is complex, and I'm not necessarily on one side or another. I'll confess, my instinct is always for free enterprise and less government interference - but I'll concede that clearly our current system is badly damaged if not broken. It needs to be fixed yes, I'm just not sure that burning down the house (instead of a sensible renovation of the current system) is the way to go.

Having also been lectured on three different occasions in three different countries (Canada, the UK and New Zealand) about how shitty nationalized care is (rationed, endless waiting lists, a stifling of innovation, etc.) I'm a little hesitant to jump on the bandwagon when it hasn't worked anywhere else to any great effect that I can see. Michael Moore's movie notwithstanding where it did appear that the health care in Cuba was quite excellent, LOL. (Yes, I did watch sicko, it was entertaining if nothing else).

But believe it or not, I can be persuaded that maybe national health care is the way to go. I don't know for sure. I'm not really that passionate about it, so I'm willing to listen. Both sides make good points.

But the issue that is gnawing at my craw of late is the Obama administration's Chicago style tactics in dismissing thousands of politically active Americans, many of whom are saying the things that I'm thinking.

Obama and Pelosi with her Nazi swastika comparison, don't just disagree with the protesters - they see them as illegitimate. Oh the Irony. How quickly they forget that the government subsidized Acorn recruited homeless people to their protests in exchange for box lunches.

I guess when in doubt - go for the classic tactic of attacking the messengers and ignoring the message. Especially when the messengers are an ANGRY MOB.

But once again, right wing tool Rich Lowry says it much better than I could. Hooray for right wing talking points.

In Pursuit of a Silent Majority
Obama wants the majority that opposes or questions his policies to stay silent.

By Rich Lowry, NRO

Like Richard Nixon, Barack Obama wants to govern on the strength of a silent majority, although with a twist. Obama wants the majority that opposes or questions his policies to stay silent.

Obama’s White House and its allies have unleashed a barrage of criticism and condescension at people daring to show up at town-hall meetings and ask their elected representatives pointed questions. “Fired up and ready to go!” apparently works only one way. If engaged citizens shower Obama with adoration at stage-managed rallies, they are the very stuff of American democracy. If they boo their congressman, they are a scandalous eruption of fake or hateful sentiment.

The Democratic National Committee has called the hostile questioners and protesters at town halls a “mob.” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that they represent “manufactured anger” ginned up by nefarious corporate interests, and referred to them as “the Brooks Brothers brigade.” California Sen. Barbara Boxer, too, took offense at the untoward lack of shabby dress, noting with disapproval that the protesters are “well-dressed.” It’s the attack of the haut polloi.

All of these Obama mouthpieces must forget that the president once was a community organizer. As a young man in Chicago, he got people to meetings and primed them with questions to ask city officials. By the Gibbs standard, when Obama prodded his community activists to get the Chicago Housing Authority to remove asbestos from a public-housing complex in the 1980s, it was contemptible “manufactured” outrage.

Conservative groups are publicizing the times and locations of town-hall meetings on the Internet. They are calling and e-mailing people on their membership lists and urging them to make their voices heard. No one prior to the troubled career of Obamacare thought town-hall meetings should be closely held secrets, or considered basic block-and-tackle political organizing as out of bounds.

Obama once extolled such organizing as one of the marvels of American democracy. The same DNC operative who attacked the “angry mobs of a small number of rabid right-wing extremists” ran a union-funded group in 2005 opposing Pres. George W. Bush’s Social Security reform. It organized protests and town-hall meetings, and ran TV ads. But never mind — it’s activism for me, not for thee.

The Obama team labors under the misapprehension that its sweeping, $1 trillion health-care plan is popular. Pluralities in almost every poll disapprove of the Democrats’ proposals and disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care. Polls show that opponents of Obamacare feel more intensely about the issue than supporters. It’s not surprising, then, that town-hall meetings would be uncomfortable for members of Congress plugging for Obamacare.

In politics, every action prompts a reaction. If Obama had had his way, health-care reform would have passed both houses of Congress a week ago in a pure power play. If Obama gets his maximalist version of reform through, he will depend less on persuasion than on sheer political muscle in Washington. Only a public quiescent to the point of obedience would meekly accept a rush to reorder one-sixth of the economy. And only a conservative opposition that had curled up and died wouldn’t raise holy hell.

The ultimate point of the attacks on the town-hall protesters is to define that opposition as illegitimate. Which is also why liberal opinion-makers are so obsessed with the “birther” conspiracy theorists who believe Obama was born in Kenya. The birthers have been denounced by every reputable conservative. But the Left still wants to use them to tar all Republicans as extreme in what it hopes will be a self-fulfilling narrative of conservative obsolescence.

This narrative will encounter the same difficulty as the health-care plan: reality. Obama is sinking toward a 50-percent presidency, with the public evenly divided over him. In New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races this year, Republicans are leading by 14 points in the latest polls and appealing to the center. No matter how fervently Obama may wish it to be so, his skeptics won’t be silent.

Touched by Greatness

2009-06-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of people, and even love some of them. The ones I love are pretty much restricted to my family or closest of friends.

There is one exception to this.

One extraordinary soul that only departed this earth last Wednesday loomed large in my life - not just as an employer, but as a unique force in my life entire.

Paul Sharratt was 75 when he succumbed to a heart attack in the arms of his wife at 630 in the morning on May 27th, 2009.

He was a successful performer in his native land of Australia, with plenty of fame and awards to compliment his formidable skill set in the arts of comedy, song, dance and hosting. He was knighted. He has a park named after him. He won 12 "Logey" awards (the Australian equivalent of our Emmy).

He was an executive producer at my company, again with plenty of accolades and benchmarks of professional accomplishment. He has an American Emmy. He has traveled all over the world, not only for broadcast programming but for the outstanding charity work of Feed The Children. He has been instrumental in the success of my employer and by extension my employment.

But his legacy goes far, far, FAR beyond commercial achievement.

I have struggled for days and days on end to put into words just what made Paul Sharratt such an incredible force, not only in my life, but with everyone he encountered.

Honestly, I think he was touched by God.

He had a light in his spirit that was inescapable, and undeniable.

Don't get me wrong. He was not a saint, he was mortal. He had plenty of human faults and sins that were plainly visible at times. And yet, it didn't matter one bit. Everyone wanted to be around this man.

Case in point - an ex-employee (one of many) was at Paul's service. He drove all the way from Utah to be there. He had been personally fired 6 years ago BY PAUL. It didn't matter. He was there and he loved the man.

Everyone. And I mean everyone, loved Paul.

I've never met a man before quite like him, and I know I'll never meet one again.

I have been with my company for 13 years, and I've had the privilege of working with Paul on most days in that time period. Both in Los Angeles and all over the world, in locales as diverse as his homeland, Africa, China, southeast Asia and all across Europe.

By nature, especially at work and in my day to day interactions with the world, I am a private person. I save my inner thoughts and vulnerabilities for my wife, my brother, my mom and a small handful of my closest friends.

I rarely had any "deep" conversations with Paul, it was always pretty much work - good humored and good natured, but pretty much about business.

I loved the man, probably within a few months of meeting him, but I always respected his position as my employer and never sought to connect with him beyond my role as an employee who had a healthy respect for him.

There are two exceptions I can remember where my usual business-like manner was let down with him. I cling to these instances now fondly - as I wish with all my heart I could have had another conversation to tell him how much he meant to me.

The first instance was in Rome, after we had all enjoyed an audience with Pope JP II. I have written here before that I, not a religious person whatsoever, burst into quiet tears of joy upon seeing the holy father. I had a lovely talk with Paul that evening about the experience, and I could see that he was genuinely touched that I had been so moved (as had he) in seeing the pope.

The second instance was back in LA, when Paul had just returned from his cancer surgery. I looked into his eyes and told him how great it was to see him, he squeezed my shoulder gently and smiled with his usual magical warmth and a twinkle in his eyes, not saying a word, but clearly touched by my concern.

Reading back on what I've written, I think I've pretty much failed to convey what was so great about Paul.

I can say all sorts of wonderful things about him that are true and give you a sense about him as a person - but you really had to know him to understand that he was so much more than the sum of these parts.

He was warm. He was charming. He had a fun and wicked sense of humor. He had charisma, but still seemed down to earth.

He was a good listener, but generally had already formed an opinion - and yet, he didn't come off as close minded at all.

He could be irritable - and yet, somehow, people were still drawn to him, even when he was cross.

He didn't suck up to people. Ever. He didn't kiss ass - and yet, somehow, even people that he had to deal with professionally (yes, he did fire people on occasion) never held a grudge, never wished him ill. It sounds unbelievable, bizarre even, but it was true.

I honestly believe there was a light in him - that he could be fallible - and yet somehow never lose his connection with the divine.

I have been deeply affected over losing him - though as I say, I wasn't by any means a close friend of his. But I am overwhelmed and so deeply honored to have, as Ruta Lee so beautifully said at his memorial service, lived in close proximity to such an incredible thread in the tapestry of life.

I take great comfort from Paul's wife, who told me in private that Paul thought very highly of me.

My heart breaks for her, and Paul's daughters - one of which worked with her dad here in LA for many years. How hard it must be for her to come back to a place that is so much filled with Paul's presence.

All of Paul's girls (his wife and 2 daughters) are in my prayers - I know they will get through it, because Paul is with them and helping them along the way.

He is with me as well - and I know he doesn't want anyone to be overwhelmed with grief. He wants us to enjoy our lives.

I know those closest to him will eventually persevere. And the rest of us will get through as well.

Looking around at the people who knew him, it is very evident that Paul has left a little piece of his divine light behind - and it is shining in our hearts, as brilliant and as bright as the sun.

We are now, as he was in life, touched by greatness.

Wow. Just... wow.

2009-04-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting a whole lot of empathy for my friends on the left who suffered "Bush Derangement Syndrome." over the past 8 years.

And then there's this supreme idiocy.

This Carter-esque bumbling is not only stupid, but I would argue (as Teddy Roosevelt did) that such extreme fealty and blind pacifism is inherently immoral.

There were stretches of 2006 and 2007 (when things in Iraq were really bad) when my aforementioned left leaning friends fell into despair about the future of our country.

I'm in one of those pockets right now.

I guess more than anything, I'm scared of being right.

I hope that the land of Unicorns and Rainbows that our president speaks of really does exist - and that somehow the 60% tax rates of Europe and fun stuff like government mandated thermostats will turn out to be the very best thing for all of us.

Oye.

Rest in Peace, Officer

2009-03-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Nearly fifteen years ago I umpired one of my last baseball games, at St. Mary's college in Moraga - my partner was John Hege, a stocky fellow a few years my senior with a good head for umpiring and a wicked sense of humor.

The game I don't really remember, my life was changing and I still loved baseball, but I knew I was headed for different things. But I do remember the conversation John and I had in the parking lot. He told me he had joined the Oakland PD as a reserve officer - and he loved it. He spoke excitedly about being a cop, how the adrenaline he and I experienced from laying down the law on the ball field was nothing next to the rush of playing the role in real life.

I don't remember specific sentences, but I'll never forget that enthusiasm in his eyes. He had found what he loved.

I at one time had aspired to be a police officer; it appealed to me. Helping people, seeing justice served. But I knew well before my conversation with John, that such a life, while enticing, was ultimately not for me. Police work, like umpiring, was thankless - and truth be told, I am the type who would have a knot in my stomach for days after I made a bad call. I was, and still am, sorely lacking the thick skin needed for the job.

Not John. He could have a coach screaming in his face (though it didn't happen that often) and happily eject the loudmouth with a smile. Inevitably he would have a scathing joke about the offender afterwards that would leave me in stitches.

John and I, over about 4 years, maybe umpired a hundred games together. He, along with my good buddy Jay, was my favorite guy to work with. We also went to the Joe Brinkman professional umpire school together in 1991. He did well, but came down with a very nasty cold that saw him fall just short of moving on to the Major League Umpire Development program.

I lost contact with him, along with all my other umpire associates, when I moved to Tucson and away from the baseball life in 1994. I had fond memories of my time on the diamond, but my brother told me years later that I was a much happier person afterwards. Umpiring was for men of a different breed, men like John Hege.

Police work is even more daunting, and far more important. When a prowler came to my bedroom window at 2 in the morning, only 2 weeks after my little girl was born, the cops came quickly - and eventually caught the piece of trash. "Go back to sleep sir, this doesn't happen in Burbank." was what the officer told me.

Apart from the handful of instances where police have helped me directly, and even one time where they pulled me over because I matched a suspect's description, I know there are countless other instances where because of their mere presence or prior actions - I have been spared the evils of society.

I am in awe of these men and women, and I literally thank God that this thin blue line is there for me and my family.

On Sunday John and his partner pulled over a man for a minor traffic violation. The man put a bullet in John's head and killed 3 other officers before being killed himself. John as of this moment is still on life support, but is brain dead and will be allowed to go to his maker as soon as organ donation arrangements can be made.

The memory of John has been with me all day, and I am hurt and angered by the thought of such scum taking John's life. But I am also remembering the good times, and most important of all - reminding myself that John knew what he was getting into and was ready to give his life so the rest of us could be safe.

These days, my life is good. I am a successful television editor, on a show about, of all things, cops. I have seen first hand, raw footage, reel after reel after reel, of officers doing their job. Being human, yes, being tough, yes - but always having compassion and a greater need to serve their community and protect the innocent.

They are lied to, over and over and over again. And yet they keep their composure and their humanity. They pray before hitting a search warrant - pray for their safety and the safety of their families. And they pray for the safety of the suspects whose homes they are about to invade.

It will take awhile, but eventually I know I must pray for another man who now lies dead in the morgue - the man who took John's life and the lives of his fellow officers. The man who shattered the lives of the families and children, not only of the police, but of the people who knew him and probably even loved him.

In the mean time I am praying for John, that his passage into the next life will come soon and peacefully. I'm praying for those that loved him and the doubtless thousands of people whose lives were touched by his service and are now saddened at his passing.

In my mind, I can see John, that wry grin and twinkle in his eye as he stomps out to the mound to break up the coach and players bullshit session. Then he's back behind the plate, slams the mask down.

Play ball.

Deal With It

2009-03-18T08:44:00.001-07:00

Movies 2008

2009-02-17T22:11:00.001-08:00

My faves for 2008

Keep in mind I don't get to see many moves, compared to what I used to watch pre-kid. Not complaining, but my choices are much more limited these days.

10. Cloverfield
Perfect DVD rental. Loved it from first frame to last - strong choices top to bottom and a great faithful ethos to b-movies.

9. Prince Caspian
Love the books - greatly admire the movies. Very moving for a fan and a person of faith. Caspian is not perfect, but a great addition to the series.

8. Milk
Sean Penn is amazing (too bad he's such an idiot as a person). Film expertly captures the time and illuminates a historic event that I thought I knew very well.

7. Man On Wire
Stunning documentary, almost derailed by ridiculous sex scene reenactment. Beautiful otherwise.

6. Speed Racer
Unconventional. Not Hollywood. Plenty of heart. Phenomenal visuals. Ahead of it's time.

5. Iron Man
Great ride. Downey is amazing - set pieces are exhilarating. Even Paltrow is tolerable (actually perfectly cast for once.)

4. Kung Fu Panda
I was absolutely floored by this film. A MUST for anyone who loves Kung Fu movies. Finally Dreamworks Animation approaches Pixar quality in story and animation. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

3. Tropic Thunder
One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Instant classic.

2. Wall-E
Pixar's masterpiece. Incredibles is a better movie, Wall-E is a better film, and the best of the Pixar crop.

1. The Dark Knight.
The standard by which all comic book movies should be measured. Along with Wall-E, this is one of the most profound movies of the decade.

Honorable Mentions - movies that I enjoyed and would recommend.

The Spiderwick Chronicles
Great little fantasy film, plenty of thrills and chills plus a great heartfelt punch.

Horton Hears a Who - almost made the top ten, but how many cartoons can I have up there? I know I'm a dad, but oye! A delightfully realized romp. It will always have a fond place in my heart also because it's the first movie my little girl saw in a theater.

Jumper - Very flawed story, but still a hell of a lot better than Twilight. Great gags and effects, a fun ride. Listing it here because I know it will be overlooked.

Incredible Hulk - Damn good comic book movie. Until I saw Iron Man and Dark Knight. Still a blast and a definite purchase.

Bolt - Very good adventure, hard to compete against Pixar and Dreamworks. Some great character work and plenty of heart.

Madagascar 2 - Yes, I have a 4 year old! Honestly, I've become a great fan of these movies (even after, or maybe because of, seeing them both dozens of times). Borat is hilarious as the lemur king. Good times, great movie for kids and silly grown ups.

Honestly, I can't remember a year with more animated home runs. Any other year Horton Hears a Who is a top ten movie on my list.

Movies I REALLY want to see badly.

Frost/Nixon - Heard nothing but good things. Nixon fascinates me.
Ben Button - Love Fincher's work. Zodiac was amazing.
Gran Torino - This one more than the others I'm dying to see. Heard it's a big un-PC Dirty Harry as a geriatric flick.

Worst Movies I saw in 2008

Rachel Getting Married - What. The. Hell. I like Hathaway, but honestly, her character needs to shut up. Like, now. And what's up with the long ass scenes in real time that don't go anywhere. And the twist? Unbearably contrived and just stupid. Crap on crap. Did I mention I didn't like this movie?

Mamma Mia - I love musicals. I even like Abba. I hated this. Hated it. Meryl Streep is a big loser for bullying her way into this role. "I'm Meryl Streep. I have 2 dozen oscars. I like Mamma Mia'. I demand the lead!" Newsflash - You can't, freaking, sing.
How can you have a musical with lead characters that can't FREAKING SING? The numbers are somewhat well conceived - Dancing Queen is a visual delight. But it all falls apart, because the actors driving the show, don't have the tools to do the job. I felt sorry for all involved in this fatally flawed mess.

Twilight - meh.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - There's lots here that I actually like a lot. Love the 50's atom bomb sequence. Enjoy Shia' and the visual gags that accompany him. Love the college motorcycle chase, love the ants in the amazon. HATE HATE HATE the Crystal Skull itself. Looks like a model for the actual prop. "So Steven, this is a mockup?" "No, this is it." "This is what?" "The actual prop." "But it looks like acrylic with saran wrap inside of it. It looks like ass." "I'm Steven Spielberg, End of Discussion." And the final act is just terrible.

That's it. Overall, I really enjoyed most movies I saw this year. And I can't say enough about the Dark Knight and Wall-E, two of the best movies I can remember in a long, long time.

2009-02-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

Hope he gets all the credit.

2009-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:00

God Bless America

2009-01-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

As I write this, the President-Elect is mere moments from being sworn in.

I am fully prepared to give the same level of support and optimism to Obama, as the democrats did to Bush.

Er... actually, I want Obama to succeed.

It is a great day for our nation, from a historic perspective. Obama, an African American, will be sworn in under oath on the same Bible that Abe Lincoln used in 1865. Pretty amazing stuff.

I pray for our new President's safety and success.

I also hope those who are infatuated with him, don't crumble in despair when it hits them that he is merely a human being faced with one of the toughest jobs on the planet. As leader of the free world, he will make mistakes. Big ones.

He will not fill your gas tank. He will not pay your mortgage.

In fact, one of the things I really admire about Obama - and goes largely un-highlighted by the press and his supporters; he pushes responsibility and accountability of the individual. True, he is a hopeless liberal, who currently has plans to expand the government even beyond our previous president (who spent more on failed social programs that the previous four administrations combined), but he also will stand before a black congregation and call for fathers of the community to stop abandoning their kids. I have faith that more of the latter and less of the former Obama will emerge as he realizes that the Presidency is not tantamount to playing "wish fairy" for the loudest complainers in the social strata.

To me, the biggest surprise, or you could say, elephant in the room is that Obama's America, will actually, be pretty similar to George W. Bush's. I laugh at the deluded folks who are saying things like "Now, I feel like I can come back to my country." Newsflash; your country has always been here - and will remain long after our current President departs.

This inauguration still has a prayer, before and after - this time led by a right wing pro-life pastor of all people. We still fire massive cannons after the oath of office is taken - and I have no doubt that Obama's speech will contain a warning to our enemies that amounts to "You mess with us, we will kill you." Some things about the Presidency will in fact, never change. At the end of the day, he still has to man up and do his job.

I am hopeful, but not deluded. I am, right now, choking up at Obama's speech. Our country faces challenges, and no one man can solve them. We are indebted to our country, and the ideals it was built on. I may disagree with Obama on many of his views - but I can say I have faith that he will fight to defend us from tyranny, and preserve our way of life.

God Bless America.

If the shoe fits...

2008-12-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Did you see the President duck? Man, even if you can't stand the guy, you've got to admit - the man's got some moves.

I myself look at the presidency of George W. Bush as overall, a failure. A failure to be a true conservative - to do what Reagan did, cut government spending and let the market be mostly free. This recent subversion of the will of the people, after the Senate categorically rejected the Big 3 bailout, to throw 17+ billion at these corporations that are "too big to fail" is pretty reprehensible.

It illustrates far better than all the war on terror related examples pointed to by the anti-military left, how this administration has truly been ruled by men, rather than the rule of law.

If you want to talk about ignoring the Constitution, and the principles it was founded on - the idea of limited government and freedom for the individual to achieve AND fail - look no further than the class of 2000. The big government Republican, the "compassionate" conservative, is an abject failure when it comes to business and prosperity.

But as for the war on terror - sorry, W. and his ilk got it right. I will concede that Iraq probably wasn't the best place to fight it. But If you want the most incredibly compelling example that it was ultimately a good thing, look no further than the shoe throwing chump below. I wonder if he would have been so emboldened to try the same stunt with the previous leader of Iraq?

It's over son, you lost, deal with it.

2008-12-14T12:49:00.001-08:00

Happy Hanniquanzmas!

2008-12-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us, and this is a true story.

After a fantastic visit up north with my mom and her husband on Thanksgiving, the following Monday morning the wife and I were back home - fast asleep when the clock radio went off. It literally clicked on and immediately blared out in song "It's the most, wonderful time, of the year!"

I had to chuckle, but it also struck me - why is the holiday season always fraught with a hefty thread of anxiety for most of us?

One big reason these days, in the information age, is that it's no longer just Christmas. It's all the other holidays as well. And people for some reason seem to be really bent about this.

Christians and Christmas fans are severely irritated that they can't say "Merry Christmas" to every single person they run into.

Everyone else, let's face it, still feels excluded from the holidays. Hanukkah and the other celebrations of the season are even in this day and age, a distant second to the bad ass known as Jesus, and his wing-man Santa Claus. It can be pretty off-putting. I actually had someone at my poker game last night say "Yeah, the holidays are great, if you're Christian! Not so much for the rest of us!"

I say, both "sides" need to just relax.

Christmas boosters especially should chill. Though it may seem at times that the whole world has gone secular, Christmas - and the religion that goes with it, are still number one. By a LOT. Especially in America - Christmas is the Elvis, the Beatles, the Madonna (so to speak) of holidays. It's not going anywhere.

Really, Christianity is by far the biggest faith in our country. The majority of folks, even those who don't go to church (yes, that would be me) have thrown in their lot with the holly and the mistletoe.

In light of what Jesus actually preached - the whole "do unto others", "turn the other cheek" , "love thy enemy" shpeal - I'd say, we need to remember what Christmas is actually about. Hope and brotherhood - not exclusion and fear.

If I don't know someone's faith - I say "Happy Holidays". If I do know, I say Merry Christmas or whatever is appropriate. It's really not that hard, and frankly not that big of a deal. I could care less which category someone fits into - the true spirit of Christmas applies across the board.

As for those who are not down with the jolly fat man, it's best to recognize that Christmas isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And if someone does get all up in your grill with a big and loud "Merry Christmas!", it's not worth getting twisted over. It's better to take the spirit behind the message - which is really universal.

Merry Christmas also means God Bless You which also means Happy Hanukkah which also means Peace and Joy which also means Happy Festivus.

It really is, all the same. The method of delivery is merely semantics, and not worth fretting about.

Really, Tiny Tim said it best - "God bless us, every one."

LOL.

2008-11-07T12:52:00.001-08:00

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Obama, Pelosi & Reid - Oh my.

2008-11-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

Read on if you like, but be forewarned - Darth Vader is in the house at this moment.

The election is finally upon us - and I plan to vote for McCain.

I'm just about the only one I know in my circle of friends and family who is casting his vote for evil. The rest of the lot want sunshine, rainbows and lollipops. Well, they're welcome to it.

I really am trying to be optimistic, but it really seems like a lose-lose for us gun-loving, bible-clinging folks.

If McCain loses, then we really do face the unholy trilogy of Obama, Pelosi & Reid. An unfettered socialist juggernaut that will potentially dwarf even big government republican spender George W. Bush in the amount of well intentioned but ineffective social programs; not the least of which is the nightmarish scenario of government run health care.

And then there's the whole "spread the wealth around" mentality - which are the literal words of the democratic candidate. No really, he actually said this. And he's still favored to win the election. This alone demonstrates the level of hatred and disgust with our current president.

A few weeks ago Obama promised he would lower taxes for everyone making less than 250K a year. Just recently that number has dropped to 125K. Guess who makes about that a year? I can't wait for the number to drop again after he wins. That way, I can give some of my hard earned cash to those who really deserve it - the ones who dropped out of high school and are struggling to make ends meet with multiple kids and various habits involving narcotics.

I'm just a selfish bastard for wanting to hold on to the fruits of my labor I guess. And Biden thinks I'm unpatriotic.

Sigh.

If McCain wins, then I have to put up with four more years of the blame game of how the election was stolen and how our country is a racist pile of dung. Plus McCain may just revert to his old "Maverick" (read - liberal) self, and give W. a real run for his money in spending and opening the flood gates for illegal aliens.

Whatever. It will all be over soon.

I guess this may be what it takes to wake people up. When the massive victory party, complete with Roman columns no doubt, finally dies down - and the emperor has to deal with actually being president, then we'll really find out where we stand. Under the leadership of an inexperienced ideologue, who cut his teeth as a fundraiser for social programs driven by the ideals of wealth redistribution and social "justice". Obama will have to face the music on November 5th, and his on the job training will begin.

I just pray that he has enough good people around him to lift him out of the fog of false compassion that blinds his base.

Close to two years ago, I bet money with a couple of my friends that Obama would be our next president. I took advantage of their fear based Berkeley mindset (our country would NEVER elect a black man as president) and managed to bet a good amount on what I knew was almost a sure thing, even before Obama was the democratic nominee. I had seen his speeches, I knew I was looking at the next president. Man I hate being right sometimes. Still, I look forward to collecting my winnings so I can donate them to the RNC.

Reflections on Kenya

2008-09-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Over a month ago I traveled for work to Kenya. My job was to shoot compelling HD footage for a television special to air around Christmas time on MyNetwork TV - called, "Eyes on Africa."

The premise sounds a bit thin - six "D-list" celebrities embark on a voyage of discovery, journeying deep into the heart of the slums of Nairobi as well as the wilds of the Masai Mara wildlife reserve. In the process, they help some kids and learn a lot about themselves.

Not exactly something I would go out of my way to watch, but I have to say - the footage we shot has a lot of potential. In much the way "Dancing With the Stars" became an unlikely hit by following people who barely have careers - I think this show, if cut correctly, can be entertaining, and just as compelling in it's own way. I'll post a link to the website when it goes up, which should be soon.

I also think because of who we are working with, that there is a good chance the program will be not only watchable, but worthwhile.

Our partner on this project is Feed The Children, a tremendous organization that is one of the largest food relief agencies in the world and one of the most transparent in terms of where the money is put to use.

The people that founded the organization, Larry and Francis Jones, along with their daughter Larry-Sue, are the real deal. They fly coach, they live in a home not much bigger than mine - they walk the walk. I consider it an honor to be associated with them.

We spent 7 out of the 11 days we were in Kenya in the slums of Nairobi.

I've seen extreme poverty of this nature before, in Calcutta and Mumbai (Bombay). It was just as overwhelming there. But in Nairobi, I wasn't just driving through it. I was getting out of the mini-van, meeting people, shooting them (with video) and really absorbing the situation.

Quite frankly, I decided before I even left, that when I came face to face with this poverty, I was going to shut myself down emotionally - so that I could do my job. It wasn't easy, but for the most part, I did it.

The first day we traveled with Lou Gossett Jr. to meet a woman and her children. They lived in a region called Dandora. The second largest slum in Nairobi, but still one of the largest in the world. Their home was a rusty tin shed, maybe six by ten feet at the most. The floor was dirt. No electricity, no water, but they did have open sewage at their doorstep.

The woman had six children, five of them were HIV positive. She had no job or husband, yet had to pay a warlord a monthly rent for her hovel. She was six months behind and faced imminent eviction. Thankfully, Lou and FTC were there to help her immediate needs.

We were informed ahead of time, not to give money directly to those in need. The woman's life would likely be in danger if I had given her what was in my pocket at the time - for her a life changing sum of about $200. We were allowed, and encouraged to give through FTC - and they would see that those we designated would get what we gave.

Lou and his handler each gave generously to the woman, and I have no doubt that her problems - at least for awhile, have been reduced dramatically.

Much of what we saw and did was of this nature - directly helping people and their immediate needs. Whether it was for a young lady who wanted to go to beautician school, or small children who literally had nothing to eat. It was such an overwhelming difference in the scale and scope of the problems we have in the US. And yet, somehow giving "hand-outs" in such an extreme environment, seemed like the very best thing to do, simply because the need was so urgent.

Another day we went to Kibera. The largest slum in Nairobi, and many say the largest slum in the world.

Kibera is basically, a massive garbage dump - that happens to have over 600,000 people living atop it. This was definitely Calcutta caliber poverty. The stench was overwhelming, and the despair was palpable.

I should mention, that in Nairobi, wherever we went, we had armed guards with us. When we went to Kibera and Dandora, we stopped at police stations to pick up extra security - intimidating officers with AK-47's.

Kibera was where we went to one of FTC's many schools -and literally fed the children. The celebs scooped out a rice and bean mixture from a giant tub to about a hundred kids, each with their own small plastic bowl. It was heart wrenching to see these beautiful little faces, who were basically coming to the school only because if they didn't, they wouldn't eat at all.

I noticed that many of the kids had lids to go with their bowls. These kids would sit and eat maybe a quarter of their bowl, and then put their lid on it. Larry informed us that's because they would take the food back to share with their families. It was pretty overwhelming to see kids who knew REAL hunger, still have the self discipline and pride to stop themselves and share. I know plenty of westerners, myself included, who were they in the same situation, would probably just wolf the food down.

These were tough days, but I was holding up pretty well - and very happy with the footage and stories that we were getting.

Logistically, I think it was a nightmare for the producers and planners. But I had a fantastic trip, in good and bad/sad ways - from beginning to end.

On our last day in Nairobi, we toured FTC's amazing Abandoned Baby Center. A first class facility, that goes a long way to ease the horrific phenomenon of baby abandonment in Nairobi. It was very moving to see how well the kids were taken care of, and to see that indeed, money donated was going directly to help combat a dire situation.

That afternoon, we went with Shannon Elizabeth and the Massey brothers (the former a fairly well known actress and the latter tv kids show stars) to a decrepit hospital in the heart of the city. We were there to literally rescue three abandoned babies from their situation. When we think of a hospital in the states, even the crummiest of county hospitals - we think of a sterile, relatively efficient place of healing run by clean and competent people. This place, this "hospital", was none of these things.

Dirty, grimy, understaffed, and over run with infected people - not to mention GSW (gunshot wound) victims. My fellow camera op informed me that on a previous trip he had seen dried bloody footprints upon entering the ER.

The babies, there were six in the sweltering hot room, are quite simply - neglected. They lie in canvas hammocks all day and all night. They are never picked up except to change and feed - they are only changed once in the morning and once at night. They lie in their own waste most of the time. Many are severely underdeveloped mentally. A six month old we saw was unable to sit up on her own.

It is, an outrage. And yet, there it is. A combination of lack of resources, and a lack of caring - combine to create this abominable situation.

And then there is Francis Jones and her Abandoned Baby Center. As often as she can, she relieves "hospitals" of the burden of "caring" for these castoffs - these innocent angels who have been left on trash heaps, deposited at police stations, or even been born at the "hospital" only to be discarded. Francis gives these babies a second chance - the ABC center is often able to repair the damage that has been done, giving the castoffs a real shot at a happy life.

I was there, and I saw this miracle. Shannon Elizabeth, who until this point had disengaged herself somewhat from the daily horrors (as had many of us, myself included), finally let down her wall. As she cradled an impossibly beautiful baby in her arms, and Francis described what the babies are subjected to, tears flowed down Shannon's face like a river. I confess, this is the moment that got to me as well. I kept composed and focused, but my face was a soaking mess.

The baby that Shannon held had immediately bonded with her - smiling, happy, wide and bright eyed; clearly this baby hadn't been neglected long. This child had a bright future, and it lit up that dingy room in a way that went beyond the physical realm. God was with her, and the rest of us, searing and unbelievably strong.

All three celebrities, each with a baby in their arms, took the "parade of joy" (as Larry called it) down the hall and got the hell out of that Godforsaken place. It was incredibly painful for Shannon to hand the baby over to the ABC staff, but she was finally able to - knowing that her angel was in good hands.

Shannon I know, wants to adopt the baby very much. But the government of Kenya, in it's infinite wisdom and compassion, requires a minimum residency of 6 months (which usually lasts 2 years or more) for prospective parents - and even then there are no guarantees. Impossible, is the situation.

Even Larry and Francis, who have adopted a baby boy named Daniel (who had half of his face chewed off by wild dogs as an infant) have had to clear incredible and potentially heartbreaking bureaucratic obstacles to finally get Daniel stateside.

Finally, we left Nairobi behind, and flew to the Masai Mara wildlife game reserve. It has long been a dream of mine to see the migration - and on this trip, I got to live it.

I spent the first few days shooting around the lodge, Roger Moore doing his host stand-ups, and finally the big celebrity interviews where they talked about the whole trip. All the other operators got to go on game drives every day. Ironic, seeing as how I have over five years experience at filming wildlife. But I knew the last day would be my chance. I arranged an early morning departure by jeep. Our destination - the Tanzania border, and the Serengeti. Unlike the other operators who had been tied to celebrities, and their penchant for short drives, short attention spans and long naps during the day - I got to travel with my best buddy Cali and my old boss JR, who was also a wildlife freak like me.

Awesome doesn't begin to describe the day. We first found two massive male lions - the first of the trip for anyone. Then we came across a baboon that had just killed a baby antelope. Awesome. Then we saw four giraffe, up to their necks crossing the Mara river. A first time for me, and for our guide who had been taking this trip for over 20 years. Finally, the Wildebeest.

With my own eyes, I saw the migration. Perhaps over half a million animals in front of me. To say I was awestruck, would be the understatement of the year.

The same could be said for the whole trip really - it changed me, as has Botswana, as has India and Indonesia, and Russia, and Egypt - and half a dozen other places. I have been uniquely blessed with more travel opportunities than anyone else I've ever met.

When I look back on my career choice, to work for a smaller production company that may at times seem a little less than the "big leagues" - I can confidently say I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

God and Country

2008-09-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Recently my group of e-mail buddies (they the America hating liberals - me the Evil Facist) have been, shall we say, very active, and, um...passionate.

It goes without saying in such an exciting election season that our hearts would sometimes speak louder than our heads.

Still, things haven't gotten nasty, yet.

So in the spirit of cooling things down, I'll vent a bit here on the latest topic to fire my jets, lest I once again carelessly stomp on 30 year old friendships in the name of me always being right.

The current topic: Should we take "God" out of the pledge of allegiance and off of our money.

My belief, um...no.

Their view. A hearty yes.

I mentioned that we are a nation founded on the belief that all men are created equal, not by other men, but by a divine power.

Then I got this e-mail.

***
That may be true, however I find it telling that The Founders didn't
make a point of it when they wrote the most critical documents of this
nation's birth. The creation of this country is first and for most
about freedom from tyranny, equality, liberty, and property rights.

Interesting that the word God is used only once in the Declaration of
Independence. The words "in God we trust" or "one nation under God" do
not appear anywhere.

In the entirety of the eighty-five Federalist Papers the word God
appears twice... once in a reference to a Greek god and once as used
in the Declaration of Independence (nature's God).

Both the Constitution and Bill of Rights do not contain the word God.
There are two references to religion, both of those relate to
preventing the influence of religion in our daily lives.
****

I still haven't gotten across to them the difference between a belief in God (faith) and an adherence to Religion (an institution created by men).

Still, I was game to try.

My response:

You made my point perfectly.

You said:

***
The creation of this country is first and for most about freedom from tyranny, equality, liberty, and property rights.
***

And I would say, yes, because ALL men are entitled to it! Not because the government says so!

If we take God/creator/maker/head dude or lady off of our money, or out of our pledge, and obliterate every single oblique mention of Providence from our buildings, monuments, courtrooms, etc. - where does that leave us as far as all those amazing things you mention?

Freedom. Freedom from tyranny. Equality. Liberty. Property Rights. Happiness.

Who is going to deem that we have the right to these? Barak Obama? John McCain? Thomas Jefferson?

All of them can kiss my ass. I was BORN with these rights. A piece of paper didn't give it to me, no human being bestowed them.

Our founders were the first government EVER to recognize this.

Case in point; the reason we swear on the Bible, is NOT because we are worshipping Jesus, or Muhammad, or any other religion.

We do this because the very core of our country, and all branches of government including our justice system puts TRUST in a higher power - a FAITH in something greater than ourselves.

I believe our nation exists, because of this faith - no matter if it's called God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

And I believe that this faith is why we are the greatest nation on earth, and the last best hope for peace in our time.

Just my opinion of course, but our nation's foundation in Faith, not religion, is right at the top of the list of why I love my country so much.

Vets For Freedom

2008-08-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

A non-profit non-partisan political action committee founded and operated by combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Back from Kenya!

2008-08-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Just got back and am a bit jet lagged. I've got a lot to say about the trip, but it will have to wait until I recover. Until then, here's a nice piece on CNN that was shot while we were making our documentary. Don't blink, I'm in two of the shots.

Dark Knight Descends

2008-08-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Snuck out with the wife recently for a movie night (once every six months or so, whether we need it or not) and settled on what seems to be the critical darling of the moment "The Dark Knight".

Well I have to say I was a bit floored by the film. I'm a fan of the Burton movies, Batman and Batman Returns; less so of the Schumacher sequels, especially the fourth film - what a pile of guano that one is. But this Batman movie is a whole other ball game - this time, it's for keeps.

When I was a kid (meaning 13 or so) I was pretty well hooked on comics - Daredevil by Frank Miller was my rag of choice. It was dark, it was gritty, and at times truly terrifying. And I loved it. Daredevil was a vigilante with a code of honor, that he routinely had to stretch to the limit. Even looking back on the comic today (yes, I have a glossy book of the old issues) it is hyper violent, sadistic at times, and truly, truly dark. The stakes were high, the fight looked un-winnable; but Daredevil always picked himself up and did what needed to be done. He was a true hero because he lost so much, and yet never lost his faith.

Today, having skimmed other glossy books (okay, okay, "Graphic Novel") of the old Batman comics, I can see that even in the 70's and early 80's, the comic book Batman was akin to Daredevil. His story was equally ruthless and harsh. Batman is a bad ass you do not want to tangle with. And yet he fights a hopeless battle, in the process losing those he loves most, even sacrificing his own humanity.

The movie "The Dark Knight" is faithful to this ethos. It's the very best popcorn flick (yes, even including my beloved Lord of the Rings) to illustrate to what the comic books have been telling us for years - there are things we must fight for, even at great cost. And what makes the film so powerful, as with comic books, is that the story is set in a world that feels absolutely real.

This is a post 9-11 movie in the very best sense, it is dark and disturbing - and brutal; but like Batman himself, the film carries a code of righteousness and faith that cannot be shaken. Even in the face of the psychotic Joker, who is not hammy (Cesar Romero) or exciting (Jack Nicholson) but truly both banal and terrifying in the way a real life serial killer is - the movie never misses it's focus or moral center.

In case you haven't caught on yet, this is not a movie for kids. But let me add, it is absolutely a movie for mature 13 year olds and up. Like "Saving Private Ryan", this is almost required viewing. The violence is not glamorized in any way shape or form - but the violence Batman inflicts is revealed as required in the face of true evil. This is a very mature, "growing-up" Batman flick. It's moments of chaos, despair and sadism (the Joker is not remotely glamorous) are beautifully off-set by Batman's necessary crusade.

Yes, the stunts are grand, the special effects are amazing, and the fight scenes pretty cool. But what lifts the film above it's peers is the raising of stakes and emotional impact to a higher level. Battlestar Galactica has already found this, nice to see that the movies have finally caught up.

Many have read into this film beyond what the filmmakers intended, and I am no exception. Some see it as a cynical and sadistic corporate creation - devoid of humor and heart. Others just think it's cool because shit blows up in it real good. The critics have also thrown in with their various views which mirror the many shades of the political spectrum.

Here's my personal take on the movie.

I really believe the message of "The Dark Night" mirrors what we have experienced with 9-11 and it's fall out. Batman is America, who starts out trying to do what is right. He puts criminals in jail, he makes the streets safer. Then, just as things start to look like they're getting better, the Joker (Jihadist) arrives and unleashes mayhem, for no other reason than just wanting to watch the world burn.

It is an untenable situation. How to you fight an enemy with no morals, no qualms about slaughtering the innocent? How do you put a stop to him without becoming him? Batman finds a way. But it isn't easy. And by standing up to evil, when no one else will, Batman makes things worse. MUCH worse. But he knows he has to. He knows the road is long, and maybe even unending. But a price must be paid, evil MUST be confronted.

Batman must sacrifice everything. He loses the woman he loves. His once cooperative relationship with the police evaporates. And even the once unquenchable love from the citizens of Gotham vanishes. Whatever tiny shreds of humanity he has at the start of the film, are long gone by the end. Just before the credits roll, Batman is universally hated by everyone. And to him, because he can see the big picture, it doesn't matter. He may have to endure hatred (and the lowest approval ratings in the history of super heroes) but at night the children of Gotham will sleep safer - they and their parents will remain oblivious to the protection the Dark Knight provides. He does what he has to, because no one else will.

Sound familiar?

Still here!

2008-07-15T10:08:00.001-07:00

This has been the longest I've ever neglected this blog; but I plan to keep going despite my cooling passion for it. I have an idea germinating for a series of posts based around a favorite tv show of mine; but don't worry, it's not what you think it might be.

Stay tuned.

Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

2008-04-26T09:25:00.001-07:00

Michael Yon is an independent (and independently funded) journalist who has undoubtedly spent more time in Iraq than any other reporter. He is no cheerleader, he has been most critical of the military brass and the politicians at home over the fiasco that was the Iraq war from 2004 to 2006.

But now things have decisively turned around. Here is a great op-ed piece by Michael, published in the Wall Street Journal. The message needs to get out about the miracle in Iraq, and we need to make sure that whoever takes over in January 2009 doesn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Yes, victory is not only possible, but highly probable. The distorted world view of the left leaning Vietnam generation just doesn't hold up in the light of truth of what is ACTUALLY happening in Iraq today.

Read and digest:

Let's 'Surge' Some More
By MICHAEL YON
April 11, 2008; Page A17
It is said that generals always fight the last war. But when David Petraeus came to town it was senators – on both sides of the aisle – who battled over the Iraq war of 2004-2006. That war has little in common with the war we are fighting today.

I may well have spent more time embedded with combat units in Iraq than any other journalist alive. I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.

The change goes far beyond the statistical decline in casualties or incidents of violence. A young Iraqi translator, wounded in battle and fearing death, asked an American commander to bury his heart in America. Iraqi special forces units took to the streets to track down terrorists who killed American soldiers. The U.S. military is the most respected institution in Iraq, and many Iraqi boys dream of becoming American soldiers. Yes, young Iraqi boys know about "GoArmy.com."

As the outrages of Abu Ghraib faded in memory – and paled in comparison to al Qaeda's brutalities – and our soldiers under the Petraeus strategy got off their big bases and out of their tanks and deeper into the neighborhoods, American values began to win the war.

Iraqis came to respect American soldiers as warriors who would protect them from terror gangs. But Iraqis also discovered that these great warriors are even happier helping rebuild a clinic, school or a neighborhood. They learned that the American soldier is not only the most dangerous enemy in the world, but one of the best friends a neighborhood can have.

Some people charge that we have merely "rented" the Sunni tribesmen, the former insurgents who now fight by our side. This implies that because we pay these people, their loyalty must be for sale to the highest bidder. But as Gen. Petraeus demonstrated in Nineveh province in 2003 to 2004, many of the Iraqis who filled the ranks of the Sunni insurgency from 2003 into 2007 could have been working with us all along, had we treated them intelligently and respectfully. In Nineveh in 2003, under then Maj. Gen. Petraeus's leadership, these men – many of them veterans of the Iraqi army – played a crucial role in restoring civil order. Yet due to excessive de-Baathification and the administration's attempt to marginalize powerful tribal sheiks in Anbar and other provinces – including men even Saddam dared not ignore – we transformed potential partners into dreaded enemies in less than a year.

Then al Qaeda in Iraq, which helped fund and tried to control the Sunni insurgency for its own ends, raped too many women and boys, cut off too many heads, and brought drugs into too many neighborhoods. By outraging the tribes, it gave birth to the Sunni "awakening." We – and Iraq – got a second chance. Powerful tribes in Anbar province cooperate with us now because they came to see al Qaeda for what it is – and to see Americans for what we truly are.

Soldiers everywhere are paid, and good generals know it is dangerous to mess with a soldier's money. The shoeless heroes who froze at Valley Forge were paid, and when their pay did not come they threatened to leave – and some did. Soldiers have families and will not fight for a nation that allows their families to starve. But to say that the tribes who fight with us are "rented" is perhaps as vile a slander as to say that George Washington's men would have left him if the British offered a better deal.

Equally misguided were some senators' attempts to use Gen. Petraeus's statement, that there could be no purely military solution in Iraq, to dismiss our soldiers' achievements as "merely" military. In a successful counterinsurgency it is impossible to separate military and political success. The Sunni "awakening" was not primarily a military event any more than it was "bribery." It was a political event with enormous military benefits.

The huge drop in roadside bombings is also a political success – because the bombings were political events. It is not possible to bury a tank-busting 1,500-pound bomb in a neighborhood street without the neighbors noticing. Since the military cannot watch every road during every hour of the day (that would be a purely military solution), whether the bomb kills soldiers depends on whether the neighbors warn the soldiers or cover for the terrorists. Once they mostly stood silent; today they tend to pick up their cell phones and call the Americans. Even in big "kinetic" military operations like the taking of Baqubah in June 2007, politics was crucial. Casualties were a fraction of what we expected because, block-by-block, the citizens told our guys where to find the bad guys. I was there; I saw it.

The Iraqi central government is unsatisfactory at best. But the grass-roots political progress of the past year has been extraordinary – and is directly measurable in the drop in casualties.

This leads us to the most out-of-date aspect of the Senate debate: the argument about the pace of troop withdrawals. Precisely because we have made so much political progress in the past year, rather than talking about force reduction, Congress should be figuring ways and means to increase troop levels. For all our successes, we still do not have enough troops. This makes the fight longer and more lethal for the troops who are fighting. To give one example, I just returned this week from Nineveh province, where I have spent probably eight months between 2005 to 2008, and it is clear that we remain stretched very thin from the Syrian border and through Mosul. Vast swaths of Nineveh are patrolled mostly by occasional overflights.

We know now that we can pull off a successful counterinsurgency in Iraq. We know that we are working with an increasingly willing citizenry. But counterinsurgency, like community policing, requires lots of boots on the ground. You can't do it from inside a jet or a tank.

Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.

Mr. Yon is author of the just-published "Moment of Truth in Iraq" (Richard Vigilante Books). He has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan since December 2004.

China

2008-04-16T12:25:00.001-07:00

I went for 18 days, shooting lots of pretty video for the small production company I work for. We have a fun little travel show that you can find here. Plenty of nice high def images to look at and not too much substance to get in the way. The show also puts a bit too much emphasis on high end shopping for my tastes. Who wants to go to all the way to China only to shop at Louis Vitton? But for a low budget production company, the quality is very high - and at 22 minutes the show screams along and stands up against just about anything you can find on the Travel Channel.

As for the trip; I had a blast. I also had the best job, I was the third camera crew (me and a local assistant) whose only job it was to drive around and shoot the sights. I was surprised that we didn't work directly with the government, but rather with the local tourist bureaus; which created some frustrating situations with being shut down by local police. But overall things went pretty smooth.

Hong Kong was my least favorite, simply because it was the most westernized and basically a giant city. The food was pretty good, and the locals were friendly enough. Still, it was congested and noisy. I really longed to see some rural scenery, but the best I got was half a day at a beach called Repulse Bay that had a beautiful Chinese Temple style lookout. The rest of the four days in Hong Kong were of the urban sites, big shiny buildings and such. The night shooting was fun, with all the neon and party people (reminded me of UC Berkeley's cafe's at night) plus I also got to go on a dinner cruise around the harbor which was pretty spectacular.

The vibe in Hong Kong was definitely upbeat, even on the occasion when I would walk around by myself or with my fellow crew members; but I expected as much in a city that is basically capitalist and enjoys many of the freedoms we do here at home. I braced myself for the mainland, expecting a much more somber outlook from the locals.

I was surprised that the people of Shang-Hai were just as upbeat, maybe even more-so, than their Hong Kong counterparts. Again, it was basically a big urban sprawl, and my duties were to shoot big ugly buildings and shopping centers - but I still got a lot out of occasionally stepping off the beaten track to fascinating little alleys and markets. I was pleasantly overwhelmed by people's friendliness at meeting an American, everyone seemed to put on their best face for this goofy faced visitor.

In Hong Kong I had been following the developments in Tibet on CNN. When I got to Shang-Hai I tuned in faithfully that night, only to have my screen go completely blank when a Tibet story started to come on. I checked the BBC, it was the same result. Somewhere someone was watching what I was watching, and pushing a big red button when anything they didn't approve came on. Chilling. I also noticed in the hotel and elsewhere, there were no western newspapers. No NY Times, or even USA Today. Yes people were upbeat, the city was big and modern - but it also had shanty towns, a multitude of poor people, and COMPLETELY controlled media.

After the skyscrapers of Shang-Hai, the town of Xian was a huge relief. Only a small city (merely 8 million) in the center of the mainland, the outskirts of Xian had lots of the rural imagery that I had been waiting for. The people were also even friendlier still. Plus I got to meet about 8000 soldiers from two thousand years ago. The Terra Cotta Warriors were breathtaking. And we got to get down at eye level with them. A day of a lifetime which I'll never forget.

It is hard to describe, but my mother's mom, who has been gone for a few years now, was with me very strongly in spirit the moment I stepped inside the massive pavilion. As I caught my breath at the sight of the soldiers, the image of my grandmother filled my head. I was surprised by her presence and the emotions that hit me at the thought of her, she who had mentioned to me only once or twice how excited she was to have made the trip. As cynical as I can be, I couldn't escape that somehow I was connecting with her. Real or imagined, who knows, but I am ever grateful that it felt real to me that she was there.

We were only in Xian for one full day, so I'm sure I missed the many other places it has to offer. The rest of the crew got to see the ancient city wall, which they said was awesome. I was stuck seeing a sight of ancient hot springs, which was cool seeing as it was well over two thousand years old as well.

Next was my favorite; Beijing. Like London, Washington DC, Paris, and Moscow, the city is so overwhelmed with history, that it couldn't help but affect me greatly. I would have like to spend a few weeks taking it all in - but in our limited time we got a good dose of highlights.

We encountered our first real dose of bureaucratic stupidity, repeatedly getting denied to shoot big sights that had been arranged ahead of time. This kind of doublespeak was very familiar to me from my adventures in India, but it drove my boss crazy. Still, we managed to get permission eventually to shoot everything we came for.

First was the great wall. The pictures don't do it justice, and neither does the gorgeous video I shot of it. The cherry and peach blossoms were in full bloom, and though the day was overcast, there was enough filtered sun to get some tremendous shots.

The Forbidden City was, well, forbidden. We were allowed only one camera, so I got to basically take the afternoon off and play tourist. Fine by me. I got to take my time and really see it on my own terms. Massive is the one word that best describes it. Of course the big main building that you see in the Last Emperor was covered in scaffolding and the good people of Beijing failed to mention it to us (hey, we didn't ask) but I know our lead operator still got great stuff.

A bunch of other highlights included, the Summer Palace (big ass man made lake, huge pagodas) the Temple of Heaven (the best and biggest dose of real local culture that I found on the whole trip. A long outdoor corridor filled with local street performers and citizens playing cards and mahjong.) Snack Street, a local night market that served all kinds of tasty treats, including scorpions, snakes and cockroaches.

But perhaps the biggest highlight (or most memorable, would be the right word) of the whole trip for me, was on our last day. With tiny camera in hand (we weren't allowed to shoot with the big one) I journeyed by myself to Tianneman square. For those of you even vaguely familiar with the history of this place, you would be overwhelmed - as I was, at the sheer emotional weight the place carries. From the giant Mao picture at his mausoleum to the big ugly open space that was the sight of so much turmoil and bloodshed; it was another day that I'll never forget.

We left a day early, having exhausted our resources at convincing the government to let us promote their country. I was pretty nonplussed by the idiocy - but I know it made a lasting bad impression on my employer.

Overall my own impressions were decidedly mixed. I was amazed and overwhelmed at the history and culture, and hungry to see more. Even this trip which was decidedly focused on urban China, held so much to fascinate and enthrall - I've really only just touched on it here. China has A LOT going on.

I was also a bit saddened at the censorship, and at the solemnness that eventually did come out of my local guides when we talked for any length on the subject of Chinese history or politics. Yes, they have come a long way - and with the advent of cellphones and the internet the genie is truly out of the bottle; but I think the road they face is still very long and rocky yet.

In my occasional internet forays I was unable to access basically any of the political blogs I enjoy stateside; and the news suddenly turning off was just as disconcerting to me on the last day as the first.

I look back on China fondly, and I pray that it's people will eventually kick the old guard out. In a country where the "official" tally of people executed last year was over 8000 (as opposed to the US tally of around 60) it stands to reason that they have some serious work to do.

I hope the Olympics go well, though I know deep down we probably shouldn't be there. And I hope we can all find a way towards peace as the inevitability China's world dominance comes to pass.

China - beautiful, impressive, kind of scary, well worth going.

I Take It All Back

2008-04-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

Everything negative I've ever said about John Stewart and his Daily Show. Simply brilliant.

Oscars! (Anger rising...)

2008-02-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

So angry...still shaking....about threw my tv through the wall.

So Tom Hanks comes out and decides he's going to "let" the troops participate in the most magic of nights for Hollywood. We go to Baghdad and through the wonders of satellite technology we get five chipper soldiers, one from each branch of service, cheerfully THANK THE ACADEMY and then announce the nominees and winner for documentary short subject.

They THANKED HOLLYWOOD. Wow.

And Tom Hanks, whom I've admired for his staunch support of veterans, couldn't be bothered to thank them.

Wow.

Of course the winner was one of a number of anti-America hatchet jobs taking square aim at, you guessed it - our troops! Having DVR'd the show, I rewound to look at the winners face when his name was announced as a nominee. You could see him wince at the fact that an American soldier was saying his name. Then he gets up on stage and takes several shots at our military of course, again, like Hanks, neglecting to thank them or even remotely acknowledge the fact that the entire evening wouldn't even be possible if not for our brave men and women in uniform. Anger, rising....

Also, delightfully awful - high heeled peacocks and their sugar daddies wearing orange ribbons. Protesting the treatment of prisoners in Gitmo. Perhaps they'd like to be treated the way al qaeda treats their prisoners (cut off hands and feet anyone?) or the religious police in Saudi Arabia who recently yanked a westerner out of a Starbucks and beat her for three days for sitting with a man.

And John Stewart needs to hang it up. How much more of his pedantic, smug and smarmy "jokes" do we have to put up with? Not funny dude; it works better when you're by yourself on a colorful set with a fancy graphic behind your head - but here, you need to step it up a bit. We get it - your a self-absorbed lib of the worst kind; a fear mongering spiteful narcissist who hates the military and is going to vote for a socialist just so you can get rid of your white guilt. Whatever.

Overall, a lousier night than usual. At least George Clooney didn't win.

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T12:31:00.001-08:00

Now burn in hell infidel!

On a lighter note, the folks in my home town of Berkeley have found a lovely way to express their appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy.

This of course was taken at one of the currently ongoing protests in front of the Marine recruiting station on Shattuck Avenue. In a nutshell, the Berkeley city council took a vote last week and decided that our armed forces are evil and they should get the hell out of dodge.

The irony of course was lost on groups like "Code Pink" who have been bombarding the recruiting station every week (and the surrounding merchants) with ear bleeding bullhorn diatribes about the evil and immoral war in Iraq.

That "Code Pink" is allowed exist in the first place BECAUSE of our military, for some reason seems to go unrecognized.

But really, I couldn't say it better than this blog - (where I got the picture from as well, http://www.neptunuslex.com/2008/02/13/distressing/#more-3614)

"Flag burning is, of course, constitutionally protected speech. And it doesn’t anger me so much as it makes me sad: That flag stands for all of us. For you and me.

There are 13 stripes that stand for the 13 original colonies, and the bold citizens thereof who swore their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to throw off the yoke of tyranny in a noble experiment in personal freedom and self-government. The red in those stripes stands for hardiness and valor, while the white testifies to purity and innocence - always a goal, even if not always a destination. The blue canton symbolizes vigilance, perserverence and justice. It carries 50 white stars, themselves symbols of celestial perfection and which in combination with the canton speak to the great union of many several; states, colors, creeds and philosophies.

It stands for mothers who crossed the country to show up in Berkeley to support their soldiers living and dead. It stands for Code Pink and even ANSWER, who have the right to express their opinions. It stands for the truly radical notion of a government of, for and by the people. It stands for the waves of young men and women who have fought and died in wars against slavery, oppression, militarism and fascism, without whose sacrifice the world would be a far poorer and uglier place.

It stands for labor unions that fought against a different form of oppression to ensure that their the working class got a fair shake. It stands for immigrants who saw that in that flag the chance to build better lives for themselves and their families. That flag stands for freedom and democracy. In some strange way, it even stands for the constitutionally protected right of porridge-brained high school students who have never known a moment’s hardship, nor an instant’s introspection, to burn it.

There was never anything made by the hand of man so perfect that the evil among us could not turn it to their own uses. Villains have wrapped themselves in that flag to support their base ambitions and petty cruelties. Politicians and soldiers have committed crimes under the color of that flag’s authority. But those that did so usurped the flag without fundamentally changing the fact that the it represents the noblest of human ideals.

And so I’d like to ask that student something: If you burn the flag of the land that gave you birth, little girl, the flag of the community that shelters you, your neighbors’ flag, the flag of those sworn to defend your rights at the cost of their own lives, the flag that generations of your predecessors lived under in individual freedom and common hope against all of mankind’s wretched historical precedents - what then will you raise in its place?

I’ll give you some time."

Wicked Fun

2008-01-31T15:15:00.001-08:00

So the wife really, really, really wanted to go see the musical "Wicked" at the Pantages theater here in L.A. Tickets ranged anywhere from $90 to $300, which I guess is standard these days for a Broadway caliber show. Prices are awfully steep these days, but I guess it's better that the artists and people responsible for the show get the money, rather than scalpers.

Still, we are not made of that kind of money. So the wife tells me that they have a lottery 2 1/2 hours prior to every show. This is apparently a long broadway tradition, where you put your name in a bin and get a chance to win two of 26 available front row seats for $25 each.

I've been going to this lottery on my own, an average of once or twice a week, since the Christmas holidays. It's been fun watching people win great seats, but alas, always ending for me with disappointment and a cold walk back to the car.

Well this last Tuesday night as I drove home from work I didn't even have the lottery on my mind as I glanced down Hollywood Blvd. from Vine St. It was almost lottery time, and there was hardly anyone there! I nearly got killed cutting across two lanes of traffic, but I parked and headed over.

The line nearly doubled by the time I dropped my name in the bin, but there were still far less people than usual. I figured my odds were about 1 in 5. Once again, the lady on the mike did her shpeal and started calling out winners. She always implored people to clap for each other. "It's good karma!" was her mantra.

This lady of course has no idea what the real meaning of "karma" is. I've been to India and had it explained to me several times by various people. The American version of "karma" is - do something good and good things happen to you, and vice versa.

The original Hindi conceit, is that everything in the universe has it's place - and a disruption of that order is bad karma. In other words, if you are born a window washer, good karma is to remain a window washer and maybe even be good at it. But if you are a bad window washer, that's still A LOT better than trying to be something else - like a successful businessman. Rewards don't come in this life, they come in the next one. Don't try to better yourself outside of your station, that is bad karma.

Every time I had been through the lottery, I had clapped dutifully for the winners. Tonight I was cold, and wasn't clapping. Inwardly I was still happy for most of the people who got tickets; I say most because I thought the lady who showed up with one minute to spare and had to park in the loading zone really DID NOT deserve to be the fourth name called.

But outwardly I remained stoic and hoped it would at least be over quickly. The last names were called, and I sullenly started to turn away. A voice cried out "Are you serious?" It was a man, ALREADY IN LINE with his wife who had been picked earlier, and he said he didn't need more tickets. There was another chance!

The lottery lady dipped into the drum once more. She butchered my last name, but it was still unmistakable.

I won!

The phone call to my wife was one of the happiest I can remember making in a long while.

And the show was absolutely phenomenal.

I did feel pangs of guilt at my lack of clapping for previous winners that night, but it sparked a discussion in my brain about "karma" and such.

My first impulse is to subscribe to the American version of universal order. I want control. I want to help so that I can be helped. But more and more I realize that doing something good, or keeping positive in the face of negativity - should be done for it's own sake. Not because I will be rewarded for it.

The full western version of "karma" is pretty downright selfish.

I can go along with the first part, and the first part alone - do something good.

Then I think I'll take a good chunk of the eastern definition. (I am such a cafeteria spiritualist! Picking and choosing what I like!) I find a lot more inner peace if I recognize that I simply don't have control over all of what happens in my life.

When other people were picked, I was for the most part genuinely happy for them. But I was also selfish at the same time, wishing that I had one. This is okay, and really, very human. As Forrest Gump says "It's a little of both" it's fate, and it's what you make of it.

Incidentally, the show kind of related to all this too. It was an amazing grown up story of the Wizard of Oz, told from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West.
It examined, in a very powerful and emotional way, what being "wicked" really is. And how the very best and worst of us is shaped from our life experiences and our own perspectives.

That who we are is defined BOTH by what we experience, and what we DO with that experience.

I laughed, I cried, I only kissed $50 goodbye.

A phenomenal cast, incredible sets and costumes. Top notch singing and dancing. This hetero male musical lover was in absolute heaven. Oh yeah, and the wife loved it too. I look forward to taking my daughter when she's about 12 or 13. I have no doubt this show WILL be around then; it's that good. One of the best musicals I've ever seen.

There's nothing in it that is inappropriate for younger kids, a tiny bit of raunch and no violence to speak of; but I really think pre-adolescents and up will get the full thrust of the story and the powerful emotion behind it. If you fit into this demographic currently, it's an absolute must see!

No Country for Old Legends

2008-01-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Managed to squeeze in two of my wish list movies (see post below, two down) before the end of the year so here is my new official top ten.

300
Ratatouille
Beowulf
Hot Fuzz
Grindhouse
Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Harry Potter 5
I Am Legend
Transformers
The Simpson's Movie

So Bourne Ultimatum gets bumped down to the honorable mention or 11th spot.

Loved "I Am Legend", as it harkened back to one of my all time favorite movies - Cast Away (the one with Tom Hanks alone on an island.) It's a classic story, losing everything and finding redemption somehow. Plus it had zombies!

Zombies, you say? Why they've been overdone to death. True, but this movie is loosely based on the original 1954 novel "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson. A book that was most influential in spawning the "zombie" genre in movies. While this flick deviates substantially from Matheson's story, it is compelling, and ultimately bittersweet stuff. Especially effective are the "Lost" style flashbacks to life before armageddon, showing Smith's doomed family and his efforts to save them. Will Smith again proves why he is a movie star, in the grand tradition of " the every man" such as Gable and Ford. Excellent movie.

The other movie I caught, ultimately stays off this list because it is more of a "film". "No Country for Old Men" is one of the best motion pictures I have seen in years. Like the best of the Cohen brothers work, it transcends and blurs the film/movie line, and also delivers the very best of both genres.

For the first 3/4 of the story, it's a movie. A heart racing suspense and gore filled thriller. But a quiet subtext, delicately introduced in the movie's intro, and threaded throughout, grows and grows until it consumes the last half hour of the film. Climactically, after showing us lots of graphic violence and shocking encounters - the directors masterfully use the art of NOT showing what should be the action centerpiece of the movie, to deliver a powerful emotional punch and pathos, and yes a message.

Like the movie "Unforgiven" (the western with Clint Eastwood that won a ton of academy awards) this movie is ultimately a film in the REAL world of violence. We recoil in our seats at one unshakable (though not violent) image in the last five minutes, and we realize, we have been entertained by something that is both gruesome and banal. Real evil. Not pretty, not sexy, and sometimes inevitable.

Great movie, great film. Disturbing AND enthralling.

A powerful film that will stay with me for a long time. And confirms in my mind that the Cohen brothers, as pretentious as they can be sometimes, are probably the greatest film makers of this generation.

By the way, also caught Superbad and Hairspray on DVD. Loved them both. Hairspray is a GREAT musical, and I love musicals. Pretty much suitable for everyone. Superbad is HIGHLY offensive, and at the same time a wonderful and very moral film. Judd Apatow, the producer on this one - director on other similar raunch-fests, has a real knack for shocking and disgusting us (while of course making us sickos laugh our butts off too) and then sucker-punching us with sweetness and ultimately uplifting and very real feeling bittersweet romance. That's right, he's the master of the gross out chick flick.

Resolutions of Faith

2007-12-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

2007 was a great year of both highs and lows. Thankfully more of the former and less of the latter.

Looking ahead I am excited about the new year. I have lost nearly 80 pounds on Jenny Craig, and I look and feel great. My daughter is happy and thriving, my job is steady and rewarding. My wife's company is in a bit of trouble with the writers strike upon us, but I am confident that if her employment ends, she will have only a short time before she can bring her skills to bear at a new job of comparable pay and benefits.

I truly feel things are just getting better and better, despite the day to day challenges we face.

The airport soundproofing crew is coming to our house at 730am on January 15th. My father-in-law will be staying with us to oversee their work at installing all brand new windows, doors and central air/heat. Should be great, all at no cost to us. (That's our tax dollars at work people!) I am thrilled at the prospect of quieter evenings and added value to our home in a market that is a bit scary these days.

I am scheduled to go to China in March. God willing it will be as safe as it will be exciting; traveling with my work is always an adventure. I'm giddy at the prospect, yet also mindful of the realities of overseas travel, especially to a country that is for all intents and purposes - evil.

After my return, I plan to ask for a big raise (long story, I'm underpaid, but though very appreciated, the money is not quite enough - it's time to get more). Failing an increase in income, I plan to for the first time seriously seek out employment elsewhere. It may take a long time, I need a full time gig with benefits; but I am truly committed to bringing my pretty formidable skill set up to the level of pay and challenge it deserves. Of course, a lot of this will hinge on my wife's situation as well, but I've put it in God's hands to see us through what promises to be a year of very big changes.

A big part of what has allowed me to see this last challenging year as a true triumph, and to be optimistic about the new one, is a fairly recent surge in my faith. Over the past few years the subconscious trust I've had in a higher power has slowly but dramatically manifested itself in my heart.

It's very hard to put into words, but somehow, with all the abject horror that this world can bring - and all of the terror that seeps into my mind late at night (when I think about the many possible fates of my family and friends), I have a true belief that we are all in the Lord's hands. No matter the agony that the future brings, and it WILL bring agony, I can somehow weather the storm with God's guidance.

I don't go to church, and I don't hold organized religion in very high regard, but I have been an indirect witness to the teachings of Jesus through my work; on various Bible related projects, and all of that partial exposure to his teachings has given my spirit a courage that I've never known before.

It was sparked off when I saw the Pope at the Vatican. Even to this day I loathe the Catholic Church as an organization. Any group of people that shields child rapists isn't exactly number one in my book. But when John Paul II came into the large arena, I don't know if it was the energy of the crowd or truly the Holy Spirit, but my body was wracked with energy and I found myself quietly crying uncontrollably behind my cameras viewfinder. It was the "proof" that I've searched for all my life. Or was it? Doubts lingered.

Over the next couple of years, bit by bit, little by little I began to see clearly. A segment I cut for the American Bible Society show that we help produce featured a "Christian Tattoo Artist". It was a nice piece with a nice message, but it was a single sentence that cut me to my core. When asked how he got non-believers to be comfortable and open minded in his tattoo shop, the owner said "Someone once told me, preach the Gospel as much as you can; and when absolutely necessary, use words."

This really had an impact on me. I am convinced that the very best way, for people to take Christ (or simply the love of God) into their hearts is to see it plainly existing in the day to day lives of believers. Not from proselytizing, not from Bible thumping. But from THE ACTIONS, the simple love and kindness of those who have Him in their hearts. It seems to me very clear that if we are to love our enemies, and truly turn the other cheek - that our ONLY chance of spreading God's love -and honestly I think whether it's Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Ganesha or Buddha, it makes ultimately no difference - is to LIVE that love and NOT force it by judgment or reprimand.

My whole life, people have told me about God and his son, and it all sounded good to me. Looking back, I think on that day in the Vatican I was confronted with a force beyond my understanding. But who knows really. What's important is that the real revelation came to me just recently. I've slowly realized; that whether this event was real or imagined by me does not matter.

The faith inside me IS real, it's growing and it sustains me through moments of anguish and doubt. Some day I may go to Church, it sounds like it might be nice to worship among like minded people; but right now it seems kind of unnecessary. God is with me, I feel him/her/it every day. I see the face of God's love in my little girl.

Don't misunderstand. I know in my heart that there are no easy answers, and that part of God's greatest gift to us is free will; we live at our own peril on a day to day basis. I understand this. Yet something tugs at my soul and tells me to be a good person, to have faith, and all will be done as He wills it. And without having the words to truly express it, the best I can say is that everything will be okay - even if it's not.

I wish everyone the safest and happiest New Year.

Africa 1997

2007-12-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Recently unearthed in my friends e-mail group archives. In 2001, my buddy Paul asked about my 1997 trip to Africa.

My response.

South Africa, beautiful, dangerous. Could there be a place with more guns per square mile than the US? Try twice as many. In loverly South Africa.

I don't think I've ever been as scared as I was in Johannesburg; I didn't really see anything dangerous, but everyone I met and talked at any great length with had a story of someone they knew staring down the wrong end of an assault rifle from their car.

A girl named Sonja I met in Botswana, who was born in South Africa, said she would never go back. She lost her brother in
a South African car jacking (kind of like the American version of a car jacking, except it concludes with a bullet through the brain about 98% of the time.) Another man I met in Cape Town lost his wife to a gang of thugs who mercilessly raped her and then killed her with machetes (he didn't go into this detail, he just said he lost her, I found out from our driver afterwards
the gruesome details, BTW, S.Africa also has one of the highest rape rates in the world), and they took her purse which contained eleven dollars.

Every half decent house in Joberg, (every white owned house) is surrounded buy massive walls and barbed wire. Joberg also has about 125 homicides every month, one of the highest rates in the world (second only to Bogota, Columbia). Cops are routinely part of those statistics, they get about as much respect as teachers do in the US. (Sorry Jay!)

But would I go again? Absolutely. You have to go to Kruger National Park, the oldest and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It's truly awesome. The adjoining game lodges are cool but can be very expensive, and a bit like a big fancy zoo (they stock their properties with animals people want to see, Leopards, Rhino, etc.; it was good for our filming purposes, but
it didn't really give that rush of being in a truly wild place.)

I would also plead with you to go to Botswana's Okavango Delta; it's a truly wild Africa out there (plus an added benefit of Botswana being one of the only actual democracies in Africa, 50 years of peaceful sovereignty is a rare thing in that part of the world.) Here the private reserves are the way to go, you won't see other vehicles or people, besides the few people in your
group. It was a place that really changed my whole view of the world.

As I said, South Africa is absolutely beautiful. But it is also dark and frightening. It's a third world country with a gun loving white infrastructure where the chickens really are coming home to roost. Black on black crime has always been high, especially since the end of apartheid. But now, with the inept ruling government in place, the tide has really started
to turn against whites as well. This is what happens if you get a large group of people together who have never run a government. The maximum penalty for murder has changed from a mandatory death sentence to a maximum of 9 years in prison. The sentence is the same if the person you kill is a cop.

Just as when you travel anywhere, be really aware of your surroundings. I was sitting at a sidewalk cafe with my boss and two of our guides. One of the guides had her purse stolen literally from under her seat without any of us noticing; it has lots of cash and a cell phone in it. It was pretty surprising, considering she had wrapped the strap around the chair leg when
she sat down. Also, the driving is really dangerous; we saw 3 fatal accidents on our trip (one involved a bunch of kids that had been in the back of a pickup, their bodies were strewn all over the road.)

If you want to read a really cool book about deadly locales, I would highly recommend the travel book by Robert Young Pelton called "The World's Most Dangerous Places" it details all the juicy nasty bits about all the countries
you may or may not want to avoid. Most of these places are in Africa.

Travel safe!

Movies 2007

2007-12-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

This post will be updated once more at the end of the year, as I anticipate my top ten to change. I don't see many movies (compared to how many I watched in my bachelor days) and I'd really like to catch at least a couple of these.

Rescue Dawn
Enchanted
No Country for Old Men
Zodiac
King of Kong (A Fistful of Quarters)
American Gangster
Sweeny Todd
I Am Legend
SuperBad
Hairspray
Bee Movie

My current top ten "movies" of 2007 are:

1.) 300
The most original and striking movie of the year. Unbelievable that in this day and age such a politically hawkish and righteous story could ever get a green light. Highly stylized visual effects are propelled by an overwhelmingly operatic story structure. This is a GREAT movie.

2.) Ratatouille
Once again, Pixar brings the story and emotions stronger than almost any other live action movie. I really hope my dad gets to see this one. It's a beautiful exploration of the food in our lives and the passions that go with it.

3.) Beowulf
A great companion piece to 300, I do loves me some sword and sandal epic stuff. This motion capture animated showcase is next step in film-making and must be seen in 3D to be believed. Plus it has a mighty and timeless emotional wallop to go along with the eye popping visuals.

4.) Hot Fuzz
Mind blowing tribute to big block-buster action movies, wrapped up in a European film sensibility. A follow up to the critically hailed "Shaun of the Dead", this one in my mind exceeds it's predecessor in every way. The tightly wound story structure and detailed homages are an absolute delight.

5.) Grindhouse
A delicious two fisted punch to the gut of movie lovers everywhere. If you LOVE the movies, then what could be better than watching two master movie makers do their thang paying tribute to the films that they love. "Planet Terror" is both uber-shlockerrific and vintage Robert Rodriguez. "Death Proof" is a very accurate send-up of the low budget revenge film, with a jaw-dropping ending that has to be seen to be believed.

6.) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Simply put; I LOVE these movies. And currently this third installment is my favorite. If you in any way find the Pirates movies confusing (and I think most people do) then I can't help you. I love the dense story telling, I love the production design, and I absolutely LOVE how these films are very un-Hollywood in very unconventional ways.

7.) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Second only to "Prisoner of Azkaban", this movie is a great treat after the mildly disappointing "Goblet of Fire." As it is an adaption of my favorite Potter book, again I seem to be in the minority in this opinion as well, I could not be much happier with it.

8.) Transformers
As good as Michael Bay gets; and the visuals are simply awe inspiring. This would be higher on the list if only it didn't suffer from occasional Cuisinart editing syndrome and a lack of wide angle lenses. Still, it is MILES above Michael Bay's usual work. I can't stand "Armageddon" or "Pearl Harbor" they are two of the worst "movie's" I've ever seen. This one is a fun ride from start to finish; plus there's quite a bit of actual pathos to chew on. It's political subtext, like 300, is also appreciated by this viewer.

9.) The Simpsons Movie
I can't believe they pulled this one off. I love the show, even in it's current carnation; and I'm just delighted that this movie works from start to finish. It doesn't have the "loss of bodily function" laughs that the "South Park" and "Beevis & Butthead" movies do - but it is definitely more across the board funny than either of those two.

10.) The Bourne Ultimatum
I imagine this one will get bumped off of this list when I see "Sweeny Todd" or "No Country for Old Men", but it still deserves a mention. This is probably the strongest of the trilogy, and I love Greengrass' work here. The story is compelling and the pacing never lets up. The editing and shaky cam are not my favorite style by any means - but when they are done exceptionally well, then I'm happy to sign up for the ride.

The one movie that was the biggest single disappointment:

Spider Man 3
How the same creative team that brought us the amazing first two chapters could be behind this muddled mess is beyond me. Toby McGuire is weak. Too many villains. No emotional punch. Lame. If this were the first Spider-Man movie, I'd say it was pretty damn good; but we've seen so much better before this.

These are the movies that I'm in no rush to catch:

Rush Hour 3
The Golden Compass
Live Free or Die Hard (simply for it's PG-13 rating alone).
Sicko (anger....rising...)
Redacted (anger....still rising....)
Lions for Lambs (faading.....rising!)

Better than Most

2007-11-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

So the President of France, an unapologetic conservative, recently came over for a visit and made a stirring speech.

>>>
SARKOZY (via translator): To the millions of men and women who came from every country of the world and who -- with their own hands, their intelligence, and their hearts -- built the greatest nation in the world, America did not say, "Come, and everything will be given to you." Rather, she said, "Come, and the only limits to what you will be able to achieve will be those of your own courage, your boldness, and your talent." (applause)

SARKOZY (via translator): The America that we love throughout the world impedes this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance, another chance, because, in America, failure is never the last word. There is always another chance. Here -- in your country, on this soil -- both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That is what constitutes the moral value of America. (applause)
<<<<

All I can say is wow. He gets it better than most Americans do.

We are entitled to nothing. Everything must be earned. Wow.

Viva' la' France!

10 Things To Put You at Ease

2007-11-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

1. I believe the government has no business legislating morality.

2. I abhor abortion, but I believe the best way to have less of them is to keep it safe and legal.

3. The war on drugs has failed. It's time for legalization, pretty much across the board.

4. Faith has a place in our government, specific religion does not.

5. If two guys are in love and want to get married, who are we to judge and say they can't?

6. Bible thumping televangelists are repulsive. The God I believe in isn't short of cash.

7. The death penalty is wrong. So is letting pedophiles out of prison, ever.

8. I don't like Hilary Clinton, but if she becomes president I would still be thrilled to meet her.

9. I want the troops to come home. (After they win of course.)

10. Chris hardly ever speaks about himself in the third person.

Choices

2007-11-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

My last couple of posts have been particularly passionate, okay - downright ornery. So maybe I need to lighten things up a bit.

Like a goofball, I love collecting the state quarters.

My favorites are

and

Both designs are highly detailed, yet simple and beautiful. There is no sledgehammer to the face - on the nose, THIS IS STATE X! Such as with this not so great design...

Yuk. Too obvious, no subtlety, cluttered. Spelled out and clunky. If you actually have to have the SHAPE of the state on the dang coin, at least make it look cool and majestic, like this beauty...

Not my favorite style, but perfectly executed.

A couple more that I really like...

Now that's majestic. Again simplicity rules, but it's not an absolute. This next one is super detailed, it could have been a disaster, but it's stunning.

And here are two quarters that I detest. (As much as I CAN detest them, State Quarters are just so darn cool!)

First we have

Please don't post "Why do you hate Helen Keller?" comments, my annoyance at this quarter has nothing to do with her. I know she was heroic and stuff. It's just, what in the blazes does she have to do with Alabama? Other than the coincidence of her being born there?

Now, I don't know much about Alabama - but doesn't it have something interesting or beautiful that we can put on the quarter besides a brave lady. I'm sorry, I don't get it. This thing smacks of the worst kind of political correctness; whoever made this decision was clearly not interested in aiming towards truth and beauty about the state - rather they had their sights set on assuaging guilt and making people "feel okay". Blech.

But the sanctimoniously offensive Alabama quarter pales in comparison to the worst one of all.

Let's not make something classic and gorgeous, let's not be intellectual in a good way. And please, let's not be clear, simple and powerful. Let's spoon feed everyone specifically what we THINK is great about the state.

I know there was a contest for the design, but I'm shocked that this cluttered mess was chosen by the people of California. What a PC nightmare. It's actually laughable.

A redwood tree, check. Halfdome, okay, check. The California Condor! (The ultimate endangered species.) Check! And how can we be subtle about this? Hmmm...I've got it!

Let's LITERALLY PUT JOHN MUIR ON THE COIN! THAT LOOKS GREAT!

Um, it sucks. Ugly and patronizing. Smug to the extreme, everything I can't stand about modern liberals.

The California quarter should have been the Golden Gate with a sunset. That's it. Simple, beautiful, iconic.

Instead we get JOHN MUIR HIMSELF!! AND HE WILL TEACH ALL YOU ENVIRONMENT HATERS THAT THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR (which, oh yeah, has never been seen anywhere near Yosemite) WILL FLY OVER YOU AND SHOW YOU HOW TO NOT BE SUCH A MONEY GRUBBING BASTARD!!!!

Oye. Did I say I was going to lighten up?

We HATE the troops.

2007-11-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry kids, I'm just a cranky "evil conservative" these days. I blame it on Berkeley, my teachers and peers who drilled into me to always question - never take anything at face value; they've created a monster.

So congressman Pete Stark 2 weeks ago had these lovely remarks about our President and our troops.

"Republicans sure don't care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you're telling us today? Is that how you're going to fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if he can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement."

Even House Speaker Pelosi had the decency to call him out on this at the end; reminding congress members to refrain from personal attacks on the president. My respect for her grew a bit as she chastised the clearly insane congressman. (Though we all know that deep down George W. Bush HATES children and delights in our soldiers being decapitated by explosives.)

I suppose I'm naive for wanting everyone on the same page, for all of us to just accept certain things. The president and our troops deserve respect. The 9/11 hijackings were not perpetrated by our government. I must be out of my mind.

Eventually Stark apologized, and seemed genuinely remorseful for his remarks. Fine, we all say stupid things, apology accepted. But what bothers me about his remarks most, is that I suspect deep down - that not only do some people not like that our troops are in Iraq, they simply just don't like our troops.

Case in point, "Redacted" is a movie that's out, directed by Brian DePalma, that details the true life story of marines in Iraq who raped and murdered a young girl and killed her family as well. Horrible stuff that should certainly be held up to the light of truth, exposed for everyone to see and the perpetrators brought to justice.

In fact. this is a story that has been covered by most media outlets; and the soldiers involved are all likely to spend the rest of their lives in prison - and may even face the death penalty thanks not to the diligence of the anti-war crowd, but the military itself which brought the story to light in the first place and has been exemplary in providing both a vigorous investigation and prosecution of the monsters that did this.

But DePalma wants to take it further; it isn't enough to point out a few bad apples. His movie and his mindset are pointedly directed at proving that fundamentally, the military is predisposed to this behavior. And our unjust and illegal war is making monsters out of our men.

Of the systematic and mass torture, rape and murder that went on under Sadaam Hussein for a quarter of a century - he remains mum.

Of the mutilations of our soldiers, and the mass killings of Muslims by al qaeda over the last five years - DePalma has nothing to say.

He has to make a movie, graphically detailing the very worst thing a soldier could do - and hold it up as what is representative of our military as a whole. Let's not kid ourselves, this is what he's doing.

No mention of the lives our troops have saved, of the infrastructure they are helping rebuild. The recent success of the surge, the flat out crippling of al qaeda.

He can't even put together a thoughtful look at the many legitimate arguments against the war. He has to sensationalize and brutalize - both the victims of the crime and the US military at large.

He is also ignorant of history and the nature of war itself - bad stuff happens. Ever hear of Sherman's march? By his reasoning, DePalma thinks that because some soldiers raped and murdered civillians, we should have just let the south win and condemned the union army.

This moderate, meaning me - (pro-choice, anti-censorship, anti-death penalty, etc.) is convinced that DePalma, and many on the anti-war fringe, HATE our soldiers and see them ALL as nothing more than potential rapists and murderers.

I may be wrong, but this is in fact, the impression I get. If it's not the impression I'm supposed to have, then here's a suggestion -

STOP DOING DAMAGE TO YOUR OWN CAUSE BY DEMONIZING OUR TROOPS, PATRONIZING OUR ALLIES AND EMBOLDENING THE ENEMY. GIVE OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN A CHANCE TO WIN, GIVE THE IRAQI'S A CHANCE FOR FREEDOM.

If the fringe can't see that the tide has now turned in Iraq, then they are truly blinded by ANTI-MILLITARY ideology. (Notice I didn't say Anti-War, these folks are flat out anti-soldier period.)

Meanwhile, Depalma and his ilk are cranking out anti-war/anti-troop Hollywood movies that are not surprisingly bombing. Millions of dollars to get shove anti-millitary dogma into our faces. "Lions for Lambs" is the next slap in the face, due out next week - that is overflowing with talent behind the scenes. Redford, Streep and Cruise head an all-star production. The story line will probably scream '" WE HATE OUR TROOPS." And it will bomb.

Hollywood needs to wake up. It's 2007, not 1967. This generation ain't playing that shit.

More Scare Tactics

2007-10-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Don't read this post!

So much idiocy this last week, it's hard to know where to start.

First, Sean Penn on David Letterman going on and on about what a great guy Hugo Chavez is. http://youtube.com/watch?v=S7BSiZxxJWo This guy makes Paris Hilton seem smart.

Also, up to the same old tricks, the left has renewed their character assassination attacks against Clarence Thomas with the release of his memoirs (an excellent read about an amazing man by the way) - they just can't stand the fact that the most influential black people in this country (Thomas, Rice, Powell) just happen to be conservative. Newsflash; as my coworker Sam (who happens to be black) likes to say "Jesse Jackson is not the ambassador for black people."

Continuing this thread with the whole General Betray-Us mentality (where apparently you don't need to debate if you just call your opponent a liar and a traitor) is this excellent article on the ridiculous situations at Duke and Columbia respectively. http://tinyurl.com/39o8rq If you don't want to read all that - in a nutshell; the falseley accused Duke athletes got lynched by their school and minuteman leader Jim Gilchrist got shouted down and disinvited from Columbia while Iran's crazy ass president got the red carpet treatment. So much for content of character and the first amendment. (These things only apply when they fit your world view, donchaknow.)

Not saying that republicans haven't done this kind of thing before, in fact they are pretty much masters of this technique; it just saddens me that the democrats smell blood in the water (a presidential victory in '08) and are now determined to get down in the mud with us righties.

The fairness doctrine is the next fun project, where the "marketplace of ideas" that are so often espoused by liberals is likely to be slammed shut in the interests of "equal time" - meaning, the government will determine the content of what you hear on the radio.

I told you not to read this! How about those Rockies? I'm a Phillies fan myself, but those Colorado boys have the smell of destiny about them these days.

Stalking My Friends

2007-08-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again; for six years now, I've been heading up north to play war with my buds. Paintball on privately owned land, with a group of friends I've had for 25+ years, is something I look forward to all year long.

Yes, we are playing war; even as our brave men and women overseas are in the shit for real. Lately they've been making headway, much to my quiet relief. My friends of course, they being of the Berkeley school of "War is bad NO MATTER WHAT" are aghast at my periodic e-mails expressing my relief that things are not completely awful right now.

Bush is a monster. The war is hopeless and unjust. Yaddah yaddah yaddah. That's fine and dandy. But what is continually perplexing to me, is the sinking feeling that my homies really want the United States to fail. I'll take that a step further, and say that the possibility of their being a positive outcome from this whole thing, for them - simply doesn't exist.

I can concede a lot to them. The war IS awful. I feel bad for the Iraqis, I feel bad for our troops, I feel bad for our country. I truly and frequently pray for all three. But my mind can't wrap around exactly why they always insist on not only seeing the glass half empty, but not even really acknowledging the glass at all.

In their eyes, the United States went into Iraq - from the get go, as profit seeking ransackers. Invading (not liberating) and plundering resources. Of course my friends conveniently forget that most all Democrat congress members, and all Democrat senators, voted to go into Iraq. But even when I remind them, the shrill "Bush lied!" is all I get.

Then they say they support the troops. "Okay, so you support the mission right?" This is when the needle gets pulled off the record.

"Well, no the war is wrong."

"Okay, the war is wrong, I get that - but you want our troops to win right?"

"This conflict is unwinnable."

Long pregnant pause on my end. "Okay, the war is wrong, the conflict is unwinnable, and you SUPPORT our troops?"

"Yes, absolutely."

Sigh.

I know we all want peace. But am I crazy to think that it's not going to magically just happen? We can't sit by and wish for peace, and we certainly can't talk with fanatics.

Bush recently spoke about the potential parallels between the fallout of our withdrawal from Vietnam (systematic liquidation of millions) and what might happen if we are to cut and run. I mentioned this to my fellow Berkeleyans, and immediately received a six person lecture on how the anti-war movement of Vietnam bore ZERO responsibility for the Vietnamese/Cambodian genocide that erupted in the mid 1970's. I could certainly accept that the US governments presence in the first place, helped put events in motion - but history shows me quite clearly that it was the US brokered "peace agreement" and withdrawal that basically directly resulted in the horrific killings by Ho Chi Mhin and Pol Pot's forces.

Or maybe I'm just a right wing nut job.

Anyhoow, that will all be water under the proverbial bombed out bridge this labor day weekend. As I take to stalking and shooting my friends in the woods. At night, as the cards fly and the liquor flows, I will no doubt be subjected to more "lecturing" about the evils of our president and even the evils of our troops; the "torture" at Abu-graib and Gitmo, the "crimes" of our soldiers (gasp!) shooting unarmed men in the streets; which of course never happened in the "good" war -WW2.

I plan, as usual, to sit quietly and smile - lest I be subjected to a gang bang of stern finger pointing. And the subject will pass, and we will shuffle up and deal.

Stunned

2007-08-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have to say, the Barry Bonds thing bores me, and ultimately I'm more sad than anything about whole thing. Small consolation that he is a junkie and a cheater and will always be known as such. Others have said that if we are to condemn him, then we must condemn all others - but I disagree. I condemn first and foremost the one with the biggest record in baseball. For his visibility and prominence and for his utter lack of remorse or conscience. I also despise McGuire and Sosa for their "alleged" drug use, but in 10 years no one will care about them (or any other 'roid users for that matter.) Bonds discrace will last generations, and for that - he gets magnum vilification.

In other, more shocking sports news; the story that has literally put a knot in my stomach is this NBA referee gambling scandal. Tim Donaghy, a highly rated veteran ref, has pleaded guilty to two counts; conspiracy and fraud, and faces 20 years in prison for betting and getting paid for tips on games that he refereed. Wow.

As someone who was almost a professional sports official in his life, who had a chance to live and breathe the professional mindset at umpire school for 6 weeks; I cannot even begin to fathom how to tell you how earth shattering this is. Just so far beyond words, for one of these men, who truly devote their lives, not just livelihoods, to fair play - for one to succumb to an alien sickness such as this - is beyond comprehension. My brain has basically shut off, as it did when I saw the towers fall. Right now, this does not compute.

I suppose I'll sort it all out eventually, but for now my mind is both racing and numb.

When I was 12, I bought a cassette tape from the National Association of Sports Officials, that had a lecture on it by the late great Durwood Merrill. (No relation.) A crusty old major league veteran umpire. He talked about balls and strikes ("I'm a striker. I look for strikes!") and safes and outs ("You've got to watch the ball and the runner!" -Bad advice it turns out, at least according to my instructors years later). But at the end of his lecture he waxed philosophic about the life, and even touched on temptations. Yes, there are baseball umpire groupies, and yes - umpires are human beings. But Durwood briefly spoke about and warned of the most evil thing at all. He didn't say it by name, but it was clear he was talking about the temptation to take money for affecting the outcome of the game. He said, and I'm paraphrasing; "Watch out, they're going to get one of us one of these days."

That shiver down my spine is the prescience of his words. He was right. I couldn't comprehend it then, and I can't even think about it now. But he was right.

Spoiler Sport

2007-07-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

So a handful of the very few souls who read this thang, have expressed a bit of outrage of my blatant reveal of the winner of this year's World Series of Poker main event champion, one day after his victory. Apparently ESPN actually starts broadcasting the tournament on August 21st, so I spilled the beans, I guess. Whoops.

I mistakenly assumed anyone who was passionate about the subject, would of course be following along as the event unfolded live. After all, there's nothing more exciting than following poker on an internet radio with no hole card cameras. (Trust me, you haven't lived until you've tried to follow Pot Limit Omaha/8 this way!)

Okay, in a game where so much rides on visual information, maybe it's a bit like having someone describe a beautiful painting - you might want to wait for the video on this one. My apologies for giving things away.

So who wants to talk about the ending of the new Harry Potter book!

Seriously, this is where you stop reading if you at all care about this stuff and haven't finished the latest installment. Spoiler Alert!

I thought JK Rowling knocked this one out of the park; the story was taught and gripping from beginning to end. And I'm not sure things could have been resolved any other way. There were certain threads that I thought were handled just perfectly.

My favorite non-lead character, the ultimate poster boy for tragedy, Snape, got the exact ending I would have hoped for - horrible pathos and passion. Lily was his unrequited light, his sole reason for making the right choices in spite of himself. Brilliant.

Ron and Hermione finally snog, and thank God, the moment is absolutely 100% earned. One of the toughest things to get right in literature, and in story telling in general I think, is life long love - and Rowling absolutely nails it here. A tremendous arc over 7 books, that culminates beautifully, with Harry perfectly punctuating the treacle so we can all breathe again.

Harry walking through the forest, knowing he is going to die, is for me perhaps the strongest moment in the entire series; again, a brilliant culmination, where bits and pieces laced throughout all the previous stories, seem to come together exactly right for the payoff. The resulting meeting with Dumbledore at King's Cross Station, struck this God fearing (but not particularly religious) reader deep in his heart. And like Lord of the Rings before it, this story for the ages, is ultimately about what matters most. Making the best of the time we are given, by putting our own needs second to those we love. Having faith, in our creator and in our hearts - that good will triumph, in spite of our sins, our failings and innate selfishness, it is our choices, our actions in life, that will ultimately bring us peace.

There was also a bunch of other stuff that I thought just flat out was cool, and will make a great movie someday - this is probably, and it has been said by other reviewers, JK's most cinematic work yet.

The great Gringott's caper, with a spectacular dragon escape is the scene that jumps first and foremost into my mind as being most movie-worthy, but the battle of Hogwarts, complete with Giants and Spiders and Spells - oh my, will certainly be the most challenging to capture. I thought all of the action sequences, were easily the best Rowling has written - in terms of clarity and dramatic impetus. Every encounter, every action set-piece, mattered the most; because this was it; the payoff, the end.

I'll confess, Return of the King is my favorite Lord of the Rings Book, because it's the culmination of the promise of the first two stories. One of the reasons I treasure the books, and films so much, is that the ball is absolutely not dropped at the end. One of the absolute hardest things for any story (electronic or written) to get right is the ending.

As you know, you don't want to get me started on Return of the Jedi. But what befell Star Wars is, for most tales, the rule rather than the exception.

I'm overjoyed to say, as of right now, The Deathly Hallows is by far my favorite Potter book. It's the promise delivered in every way that matters. And perhaps best of all, despite an epilogue to put our minds at ease that Harry does indeed live on happily (these are children's stories after all) there is still enough left to our own imaginations - that for many years to come we can fill out the rest of the story quite nicely on our own. There are still countless adventures for Harry and his friends to embark on, in the minds of children and children at heart everywhere.

Silly and Soft

2007-07-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

A psychologist has won the World Series of Poker's main event. Hailing originally from Laos, the 39 year-old Californian Jerry Yang won over 8 million dollars last night, or rather at 3am this morning - defeating over 6000 other players over a week long tournament. Wow.

And unlike last years champ, sleazy Hollywood agent Jamie Gold, this guy seems to be truly humble and genuine. For starters, Jerry will be donating 10% of his winnings to charity. Class act.

I have indulged a bit over the last month, obsessively following all the bracelet events and this last main one online. Some big name pros took down the gold, as well as the usual wide assortment of amateurs. Some day I'm going to do it; save up and enter a small event. What a thrill just to be there.

Other silly things have been taking up my time as well. I saw Transformers with the wife; a ridiculous, loud movie, perhaps the ultimate "movie", with more explosions in two hours than you could shake a stick at. Loved the new Harry Potter movie as well, and am currently chomping at the bit to get my hands on the latest and final book which comes out Saturday.

Oh the silly and soft pursuits of my life. I look back over this blog and I find I'm either raging pissed off about politics, or I'm geeking out over some ridiculous thing like music or movies. I really do need to grow up, but it's hard to help myself.

I guess I feel guilty, while men and women are dying overseas so that I can buy DVD's and play poker; I really get the sense sometimes that I'm just a big kid who can't get his act together to do something meaningful.

And then I look at what is happening to my daughter. She is so full of joy, intelligence, laughter, energy, healthy, vibrance, and on and on and on. My wife and I must be doing something right, because this little girl is so bright and happy; she is truly loved to the point of bursting with exuberance. I know in my heart she will be happy and live well, and I have played a pretty big part in that so far.

I take solace, that at least where being a dad is concerned; I am every bit the responsible grown up. Until my very last breath, I know she will always be provided for and loved fiercely. The energy I put towards indulging my silly pursuits is dwarfed by my devotion as a father. Things are good, and I know my existence has meaning - I see it and live it every day, through that little miracle that dances through the day and sings herself to sleep.

Star Wars Manifesto

2007-05-29T11:11:00.001-07:00

Be forewarned, the first part of this post is fairly easy to follow, but the second half degenerates rather quickly into Star Wars Speak. It may be hard to grasp for the un-indoctrinated.

But before I tell you all why the new Star Wars movies are ALMOST as good as the old ones, let's back up a bit.

In 1993 a movie came out called "Being Human", it starred Robin Williams and featured him playing an every-man in 4 different stories set across 4 different periods of history. Starting in the age of the vikings, moving to ancient rome, then to the age of exploration and finally settling in the present day. The movie was a bit uneven, pretty much devoid of humor or heavy pathos - and yet it sticks with me to this day because of one scene in the final story.

In the present day Robin plays a divorced dad who has been in prison for awhile, he's recently been released and picks up his kids to spend time with them on the weekend for the first time in a long time. There are problems getting to know them again, a boy of about 8 or 9 and a sulky teenage daughter.

He takes them to the beach and things go poorly, a crappy amusement park on the board walk doesn't help elevate the mood. Finally, as the day ends, the kids - especially the daughter; see that the dad is really trying, and so they warm to him just a bit. As they sit around a hastily built beach fire, the dad and daughter roast hot dogs and chat quietly as the boy falls asleep. Things seem to be better, and Robin Williams character is relieved.

"Well, it looks like things are going to be okay..." he says. The daughter cocks an eyebrow and then she says something that has stuck to my brain almost every day of my life since.

"What do you mean things are going to be okay? This is it. This is as good as it gets."

And in that moment it dawns on him - that the moment he is in, the moment right...NOW.... with his daughter who had forsaken him, now smiling at him; NOW is the moment to cherish and recognize that for all we cling to the past and for all we treasure with the sentimental and the "ideal", there is truly nothing as great as a moment in the present that you can RECOGNIZE as great.

Things are not going to be "okay". Things are great. Right. Now.

And I guess I knew this all along, but it has never been articulated better for me than in this silly little movie; which to this day isn't even available on DVD.

Star Wars fans, those that are fans of the original trilogy only; which is probably the majority of all Star Wars fans; are stuck on May 25, 1977. And they are still waiting for things to be "okay".

They nervously cluck about the new shitty prequels. George Lucas is insane. George Lucas is a corporate tool, full of greed, and overwhelmed by the urge to make crappy kids films.

George Lucas raped my childhood.

This last hyperbole is the geek rallying cry for the anti-Lucas crowd of "fans" on the internet today.

Give me a wookie-sized break.

This kid at heart, this young boy in a 36 year old body, (who last night was dazzled by the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie by the way) is NOT waiting for things to be okay. This kid is enjoying the moment, and the movies that George Lucas has made for us and for himself.

I could wallow by the camp-fire at the beach, and bemoan how crappy things are, and how dismal movies are, and why oh why me Lord, and yada yada yada. Sorry, I've got bigger fish to fry, and some cool movies to go spend my hard earned cash on. Apparently, if you go by the numbers, so do legions of other Star Wars fans who happen to HATE the new movies. Bizarre? Yes.

I've asked myself, if I was like the "haters" in movie geekdom today, and genuinely despised Star Wars Episodes 1 through 3 or even held them as "beneath" the original trilogy; why in the holy F-word would I WASTE my time and money on going to see them, posting incoherent rants on the internet and complaining endlessly to other "fans" about how bad the movies suck?

Doesn't make much sense I know. About as much sense as the original trilogy worshippers reasons for disliking the new movies. There are three that stick out as particularly stupid.

1. I hate Jar-Jar Binks.

Okay, they have a point with this one.

But let's see, you have a movie with stunning light saber battles (light years beyond what is found in the original trilogy) a pod-race that is one of the great all time "asides" in geek movie history, a villain that is more bad-ass than Vader, gorgeous production design of fully realized and truly alien worlds (not just location work in Norway or Tunisia), and the compelling origins of a mythology that we all LOVE, with an open ending and the promise of much more to come - hampered only by wooden dialogue (like there wasn't any of that in the original trilogy) some bad acting (again, Mark Hamil that master thespian really could teach Natalie Portman a thing or two about acting) and about 38 minutes of screen time of a character that is the movie equivalent of finger-nails on a chalk-board.

Jar-Jar Binks. "Meesa so stupid!"

Well, when it comes to which movie I prefer; the one with all of the above - or the movie that wraps up the entire trilogy on a planet of F-ING TEDDY BEARS! With a TEDDY BEAR PICNIC as the final scene, I have to think about it for, oh I don't know, about HALF-A-BLEEDING-SECOND and go with Phantom Menace over Return of the Jedi.

And Luke talking with Lea outside of the Teddy Bear Tree-House, sorry; that scene beats by far the very worst acting in all of the Prequel movies. Don't believe me? Well let's look at the number 2 complaint by the old-school haters.

2. The acting/writing is terrible.

"But I wanted to go to Toshi Station and pick up some power converters!"

That's really all there is to say.

But since we're here to ramble; let's just go over the actors side by side shall we?

Jake Lloyd is bad. So is Hayden Christiansen. Mark Hamil is worse. MUCH worse. Natalie Portman is serviceable (as an actor you filthy pig), Carrie Fisher is terrible - especially in Jedi. Ewan McGregor is damn good. Harrison Ford is better. Alec Guinness is a legend, yet in these movies he's not that much better than Ian McDiarmand (arguably, Ian is better).

And please don't forget that yes, though the original trilogy has Mr. Colt 45 himself - the new movies have Samuel Mother-F-ing Jackson. And Christopher Lee. The original trilogy has Wedge.

So, side by side; sorry there's no overwhelming favorite.

As for the writing; yes, I will concede that Empire is by far the strongest - in dialogue and in story-structure. But Return of the Jedi sinks far below the new movies - in outright laziness, sloppiness and silliness.

First, let's negate the passion and power of Empire Strikes Back - by resolving the Han Solo thing in oh, say, about 20 minutes. We'll go to the palace of puppets, put Lea in a bikini, and then have an awkward and contrived "rescue" plot push the reset button so we can remake the first movie on a planet of merchandise friendly teddy bears.

What. The. F.

Yeah, and Phantom Menace is a terrible movie. Wake up original trilogy slaves, you've been served.

3. Lucas is a meddler. Greedo doesn't shoot first!

And yes, this is an actual argument original trilogy sycophants actually use after the first two peter out. Never mind that it doesn't really have to do with the issue at hand (old movies vs. new movies) it, like "Haliburton", is the old stand-by catch phrase that is bandied about ignorantly when arguments they don't like won't go away quietly.

Lucas IS a meddler. These are his God Damn Movies.

He has provided hours of life altering, imagination firing, entertainment for the price of a movie ticket. He doesn't owe you, or me, or anyone anything in the first place, but the truth is - he has given so much of himself and his passion for these stories that he loves; and in return he gets spit in the face by the "fans".

If he wants to put Jar-Jar in a slave bikini or give Harrison Ford a mohawk in his next versions of the movie; that's his right. And it's my right as a fan to say "Well that sucks, I guess I won't buy it or COMPLAIN ENDLESSLY about it. I'll just MOVE ON, and enjoy the DVD's that I already own."

"Oh but wait!" They cry. "George never released the original movies on DVD." Wrong. He did last year.

"But wait!" They cry. "These are non-anamorphic and no surround sound! And there are garbage mattes on the effects shots!"

Guess what a-holes; the original movie was in Dolby 2.0. And the original print was 4:3 with a wide screen matte (letterbox). And yes Virginia; there were garbage mattes aplenty, not to mention blue screen aliasing and other "imperfections" in the original FX work. THAT was the movie.

And Lucas GAVE it to you! And you STILL COMPLAIN!!!! AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

So what these self absorbed whiners are really saying isn't "Give us the original movie" they're saying "Give us what we want the original movie to be." Sanctimonious and self-serving you are. As Yoda would say.

Now grasp what I'm saying. I roll my eyes when Greedo shoots first; I think the scene in Episode 4 with Han and the crappy digital Jabba has no reason to be in the movie, I could do without any number of "improvements" in the original trilogy, but guess what - the majority of them ARE improvements. The two biggest "alterations" make the movies immeasurably better.

The sound of the original trilogy has been revamped and redesigned pretty much from scratch - at the cost of millions upon millions of dollars out of Lucas' pocket to make the movies an audio experience that holds up to and surpasses most blockbuster films made today.

The digital work extends beyond the effects themselves, and into cleaning up the prints and making them "pop" like never before - including when they were originally released.

The movies, from a movie standpoint, are better than ever from top to bottom. I recognize this and don't let the few questionable choices Lucas has made, dampen my enthusiasm beyond a single shrug.

And so that's about it. Did you get the three prong assault on the original trilogy zombies?

Jar-Jar sucks, the Ewoks are far worse.

The acting and writing is bad - in ALL of the movies.

These are George Lucas' movies, NOT the fans' movies. (Very hard for the self-entitled crowd to swallow, but this applies to most Americans these days. You are not ENTITLED to anything, let alone to control the movies that someone else made.)

And yet, the funny punch-line to all of this, is that I actually prefer the original Trilogy. (Well, maybe not Return of the Jedi).

Empire Strikes Back is probably the most perfect sci-fi movie ever made; and if the other two old movies were of that caliber, then the OT morons would have at least a leg to stand on in their diatribes against Jar-Jar and baby Vader.

That said, the Original Trilogy will always be first in my heart; because it taps directly into the seven year old inside me; because I was there. Even though Return of the Jedi is ridiculous, sloppy and lazy; I still love it. I remember the thrill I got from a goofy teddy bear jumping on a speeder bike, or playing bongo drums on a storm troopers helmet. I still remember that Gawd awful Yub-Yub song (which thankfully Lucas removed, an improvement that rivals the sound and fx overhauls) and yet I loved it - and still love it.

But this is the sentimental. I am enraptured by the past true, but I am not hamstrung by it.

I recognize, that the GREAT moment is now. This is it. It doesn't, nor should it, get any better.

We can hold on to the sentimental, put it on a pedestal, hold it up so high that we have no hope for our current lives or the lives of our children. Or we can let it go, and wake up to what's happening.

This is it. Things aren't going to be okay. They are GREAT. Right. Now.

THE Genre

2007-05-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

I could talk about movies for years. They are still, even with a family, a big part of my life. I also love films, but I'm absolutely crazy for movies.

Oh, you don't know the difference between a film and a movie?

Let me tell you how it is.

Films may win awards, praise from critics and explore the human condition. Films may be emotionally stirring or boring beyond words. They may be pretentious and irritating, they may be quiet and marvelous. Films may have naked people to represent an emotion. Films may have profanity, as long as it's true the characters. Films can portray the ugly and the beautiful. Films can put you to sleep quickly.

Films are truthful. Plenty of good stuff, LOTS of bad stuff.

Movies are in THX surround sound. Movies may have explosions and car chases. Movies take us someplace new. Movies are sometimes set in outer space, sometimes in an apocalyptic wasteland. Movies have a bombastic score. Movies have crane shots.

Movies tell a story. Plenty of good stuff, LOTS of bad stuff.

But I love the roller coaster, I love the MOVIES.

I want blockbusters, I want scope. I want explosions, bare breasts, gunfire, profanity laced diatribes, decapitations, last minute rescues, martial artistry, super heroes, elven warriors, and a bit of comic relief. But most of all it has to be spectacle AND heart. Spectacle without emotion is just empty pretty things. Heart without bombast, is just a film.

When I was six years old I was in Reno with my mom and we were going to the movies. I wanted to see "The Rescuers" a Disney cartoon with mice. My mom, for whatever reason, couldn't bear the thought of sitting through another kid flick. But she'd heard about this new movie that was family friendly enough, and yet live action. I was disappointed, and even a little afraid that we would be seeing this "Star Wars". I'd seen the trailer on TV, frankly it looked like a horror movie. Big hairy sasquatch looking guy, intense gun battles, a snake wrapping itself around some guy in a pile of garbage. What was my mom thinking?

I remember to this day, clearly; sitting in that theater. As a giant Imperial Star Destroyer roared, yes roared, overhead. The theater shook and my eyes were as big as dinner plates. It was the greatest movie, ever. Ever. I wanted to see it again and again. I got the toys. All of them. It forever changed my life. That was what I wanted to do, in some way, be a part of that. THE genre. Movies. The bigger and badder, the better.

So as an adult I am peripherally involved; I do shoot and edit video. Using the same gear that the big boys do. I am happy in my work; and though I am 36,I still love the movies. I also enjoy films, but make no mistake, my heart and mind is where the mayhem is.

Many of my peers, especially in the self important world of cyberspace, do not, in fact love the movies.

There is a cynicism that permeates the "geek" culture now. A sort of jaded, non-plussed, "meh" attitude that is only occasionally abated. Everyone pines for the glory days of "genre" cinemas.

What they forget, is that movies in the late seventies (movies, not films) and early eighties, generally sucked.

Not only that, there were far FEWER "movies" than now. "Films" it could be argued, were more numerous and better than their modern day equivalents.

I can count on one hand the number of blockbuster movies that came out before Jurassic Park, that really hold up to today's quantity and quality of MOVIES. The Terminator and T2, Alien and Aliens, The Empire Strikes Back, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Die Hard and the Road Warrior. Okay that's two hands.

Blade Runner is not only overrated, it kind of sucks. (And I am a HUGE Riddley Scott fan.) The Directors cut is fair - though it makes Matrix Revolutions look like a masterpiece. Blade Runner suffers too much from trying desperately to be a film. It's a movie. Twenty years later, it really needs to get over itself.

The Superman films, 1 & 2, are good. Not great. They are dated and slow. The heart is there, but the effects take me out of the moment one too many times. A blockbuster first and foremost must have heart, which these movies do; but it cannot fail in realism in the world it creates.

ET doesn't hold up. It's sweet, and it still makes me cry. But it's dated, and simplistic in parts. Don't get me wrong, as a film it succeeds brilliantly, but as a movie it falls behind it's peers.

Return of the Jedi is weaker than Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. I'd put it on par with Phantom Menace. Sorry, that's just the way it is. I will be blogging soon my manifesto to put the Star Wars movies in perspective. Stay tuned.

Both Indiana Jones sequels are fun, but not great.

ALL of the Star Trek movies, were serviceable, and some (Wrath of Kahn) even had shades of greatness. But let's get real. They were never in the same ballpark as Empire Strikes Back. And I'm the biggest Trekkie you're ever gonna meet. Star Trek V. Need I say more?

And honestly, off the top of my head, that's all of the "good" movies that I can remember. I'm sure there were others, but really - when it comes to movies, the 80's were mostly filled with crap. Teen sex farces, bad Sci-Fi, and lots of experiments that are incredibly dated when you watch them now.

And then in 1993 there was Jurassic Park. The critics were lukewarm. They missed it. I knew immediately that it was a revolution. Suddenly, anything was possible. The young movie makers that had grown up watching Star Wars, now had the tools to make dreams reality.

We had crossed over; and "movies" entered a true golden age. Problem was, and is, the movie geeks, who began to crowd the internet with their "meh" and "worst movie ever" pabulum, were blinded by nostalgia. They have missed it completely.

Many decry the over use of Computer Generated Imagery, CGI; and they do have a point to some extent. Movies like "The Mummy Returns" and "Lost In Space" suffer greatly from an over dependence on it - though I would argue that they are hampered far more by pandering story structure and poor direction. But CGI, is undeniably an incredible tool - which when used properly and when integrated with practical elements, can tell a story like never before.

Pre-CGI, the movies made were but a training ground for what we have now, filled with a small amount of genius work (Cameron, Lucas, Spielberg) but mostly stuffed with cheese (Ladyhawk, Ice Pirates, Legend, Willow, etc.).

Now, was and is the time to see the best of the best. We are witnessing a murderer's row of movies.

A murderer's row.

And it's happening. Right, NOW!

WAKE UP OLD MOVIE GEEK LOSERS!!!

Ahem...

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy flat out blows away the most of the best of the "golden age". Star Wars may be the exception.

The Matrix Trilogy, especially the first movie, puts Blade Runner to shame.

The Harry Potter Movies are incredible in their scope, effects work and heart. Nothing remotely that good and consistent could have sprung out of the 80's. Especially not four, soon to be seven, films.

Comic Book movies are for the most part fantastic. Spider Man is great, as is the X-Men series. I'd say Daredevil was a stinker. But even Hulk and Fantastic Four were better "superhero movies" than all but the first Superman movie. And oh yeah, comic book movies in the 80's, oh yeah, that's right, compared to now - THERE WEREN'T ANY!!!

Pirates of the Frikkin' Caribbean. Sweet Jesus, point me to a movie in the 80's (a MOVIE) that even comes close to kicking it's butt. The sequel was just as good. Critics, and old people (meaning people in their 30's) hated it, the rest of us loved it, and showed our love with our hard earned cash. Dead Man's chest is number 6 on the all time US gross list.

The Chronicles of Narnia. The rest of the series to follow. Beautiful and Brilliant.

All of the Pixar movies. Don't deny the influence of 80's films on these, just recognize that the stories and effects are now done much better.

300. Revolutionary. Extraordinary. (WAKE UP OLD MOVIE GEEKS!!! WAAAKEE UPPPP!!!!!)

Sleepy Hollow. Big Fish. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. From the master Burton. Ed Wood is more of a film, but still great.

Gladiator. Kingdom of Heaven.

The Bourne Identity and Supremacy.

Casino Royale. The best James Bond movie since, well, ever.

Forrest Gump. Contact. Castaway.

The Sixth Sense.

Children of Men and Apocalypto. My absolute favorite "movies" last year. The former does lean heavily into the "film" category - but only because it's effects are so seamless. The latter (despite the director being a racist nut-job) is one of the most inspired "movies" I've ever seen. (Though heavy on the violence and gore.)

There are more great ones I'm forgetting I'm sure. But the point is, I didn't even have to think too hard to come up with many GREAT "movies" post-Jurassic Park - that ALL stand up and even exceed the best of movies in the 80's.

Granted there are lots of other movies today, a majority in fact, that are just plain good, mediocre, or even lousy. (Elektra anyone?) But I'd say I'm fine with that. I'd much rather have a decent "Ghost Rider" than time and energy spent on another flick with the effects quality of say "Dragon Slayer" or "Dark Crystal" (Wow did both of those movies suck. They, sucked.)

Even with the looming threat of the next Die Hard sequel being cut down to a PG-13 (an awful, awful, awful, awful idea) I know it will likely be way better than parts 2 or 3. I hate the whole PG-13 concept; movies should go for the throat, every time (that's what made the 80's movies that were great, GREAT) but I can live with it as long as we get Lord of the Rings and Pirates level of quality on occasion.

Again, in case you forgot the whole first part of this lengthy diatribe, I'm talking about "movies" not "films". Frankly, I don't have enough interest in films to be able to tell you if films today stand up to those made 20 years ago. But if you're talking movies, guess what? For this grown-up who will always be a kid at heart, it ain't even close muchachos. Movies today, flat out rock.

Stay tuned for my manifesto on why the Star Wars Prequels are just as good as the original trilogy.

Oh yeah, one other thing.

Can't wait till' Shrek 3 comes out. Sorry, I love the Shrek movies. And so do the rest of us idiots. Take solace in the fact that Shrek 2 has passed ET in domestic gross. Probably because it's a better "movie".

Poked Out

2007-04-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been obsessed with poker. I close my eyes at night and see flops, turns, rivers, pot odds, implied odds, all kinds of poker jargon and equations. It's probably because I'm addicted to playing online; no, not for real money, just for play chips and the occasional World Series of Poker seat giveaway freeroll.

What I play is not really poker. The chips have no value. People tend to go all in at far less than the drop of a hat, so I'm sure my actual poker skills are probably wrecked right now. I've been "successful" in that I've turned 1K of play chips into 300K over the last six months. I've also final tabled three times in the World Series of Poker freerolls (beating out 600+ other people for a shot at entering another tournament of 5000 people where the top 9 get to have ANOTHER tournament, where the two top finishers get 10K of real money to enter the World Series of Poker Main Event. Whew!)

Any kind of success, even phony success, can be pretty addictive. Many a time I've been playing after midnight, on a school night no less, and have to listen to the wife complain and cajole me into bed. So I try to go to sleep, again, with visions of bad beats, miracle cards and mountains of virtual chips filling my brain.

During the work day, when I'm rendering or find myself with a light work load; I occasionally slide over to the web for a bit of light reading about, gee, can you guess? Poker. There's no shortage of information on the subject. Most fascinating of all I find, is reading other peoples blogs about poker. Yes, there are journals upon journals dedicated pretty much soley to America's favorite game, on both real and virtual felt.

Over the past couple of months, I've noticed an inescapable trend in these blogs. Google "Poker Blog" and you can read for yourself. A sizable majority of these web journals about poker, are decidedly downbeat. In other words, there are heaps of tales about - losing money, bad beats, losing interest in the game, going back to a "real" job, bad luck, and just generally bad times. It seems the luster is off of the poker boom, and many of it's players are finding it extremely hard to maintain the level of success, or for that matter any success, that they've had in the past.

I find this fascinating, because I've also been following poker news. Of course the big story is, the US Government tacked on a proviso in a port security bill that bans online gambling - including poker! (Of course lottos, horse racing and sports betting are exempt - because everyone knows there's a lot more skill involved in those activities than poker. Durrr! But that's a whole other topic for another rant.)

The impact of this law, isn't that individuals can be prosecuted for playing online, the Department of Justice isn't bothering going after Joe-Sixpack; but that banks and credit card companies CAN be prosecuted for dealing with gambling funds. So now if you want to play online you have to deal with a third party money transferring organization that is based overseas. Long story short - you can still play poker online, but it is a major logistical pain in the butt to get your money to and from your account.

Consequently, most of the casual players, have stopped playing. The "fish" (as losing players are called) have left the pond. Fish are what drive the poker economy. Online poker statistics reveal that only 10% of ALL online poker players make a profit. As recent as a year ago when online poker was more accessible, there were more players than ever. With this recent law, the poker population as a whole has dropped significantly.

But the ratio of winners stays the same, so this group of profitable players (10%) is now much smaller. That means, WAY more losers. Many of which used to be successful.

And their tales of woe are fascinating to read.

I think these tales are a blessing for me. They remind me of the potentially addictive nature in the game that I love. I have read story after story of not only players who have lost their poker bankrolls, but who have lost their bank accounts, homes and spouses. Yikes!

Only a year ago I was seriously contemplating opening a real money poker account online. Now I know better. I play for fun. That's it. And like I have done with video games and television in the past, I now try to limit myself to only two nights of online play a week. I get great satisfaction from playing, and I hope poker will be part of my life for the rest of my life. In fact, before I leave this earth I would love to sit down at a World Series event (not the 10K buy-in main event, just a 1K regular bracelet event) just to be able to tell my grandkids that I did it. But even then, I'm going to do it strictly for fun and for love of the game.

That takes a lot of gall.... bladder!

2007-02-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

So I've been having these 20 minute to 2 hour attacks of severe pain in my abdomen every other week or so for the last two months. It all started with an apple pie induced whopper of an attack three days after Christmas, which had been preceded by a series of much milder attacks the week prior.

I went to the emergency room in Las Vegas, and after nonchalantly confirming that my earth shattering agony (from which I was bent over, unable to see straight, or communicate coherently) was not in my chest, the triage nurse bluntly told me to "Have a seat. It'll be a while". Two hours of moaning and groaning later, I was finally admitted, at which point the pain finally had receded. I was so happy to be out of the land of blinding agony, that when I was ultra-sounded and then diagnosed as having gallstones - I was more relieved than worried.

The attacks continued when I got back home, less frequently and less long in length thanks to my low fat diet. But after a particularly more severe episode than normal, it was time to see a doctor in LA. He concurred with the Vegas ER doc and sent me to a surgeon, who also concurred. The gall bladder had to come out.

This is the treatment of choice for such a problem. Not zapping the stones, that's kidneys, not removing the stones, that's old-school. Nope, just pull out the whole organ. Apparently, we don't really need it anyway. At least that's what all three physicians told me. So fine, let's take the sucker out.

I had to wait till after my vacation in Key West with my girls to visit my Dad and his wife, a trip that was absolutely fabulous BTW; good times were had by all despite the rain and colder temperatures than LA. Especially great was to see my grandmother, 87 and sharp as the proverbial whip and mobile to boot, getting to enjoy high quality time with her first great grand child. Also great news, no attacks in Key West, but alas, a doozy of an attack on the plane ride home.

So three days later I was admitted, the procedure knocked me out but good. It was over in less than 20 minutes; four tiny incisions, laproscopic instruments inserted and wa-lah! Gall bladder is history! The surgeon told my wife that the offending organ was indeed inflamed and scarred - the true culprit of my suffering.

Getting put under is totally bizarre. Lying on my back under big lights, the room starts spinning; I close my eyes - a split second later I open my eyes; the operation is long since over, I am in recovery. I promptly throw up and go back to sleep. A deep but normal sleep, not the black timeless abyss of anesthesia. I groggily wake up and crash several more times before regaining coherent thought. My wife is there, everything is fine. But boy do I feel like crap.

Crummy-ness continued for another two days, spent at home in bed, before I started to feel human again. Now here it is, a week later, and I think I'm actually going to be just fine. Still not a hundred percent, but everyone around me seems to think it's going to take a little more time. Glad to be here. The phone calls and concerns mean a lot to me, every last one of them. I Love you all.

Disgusted

2007-01-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm pissed about the war right now. Those who think that plywood makeshift memorials and smelly marchers are things that in any way respect or honor our troops are best off not reading this.

I guess what galls me most of all is, not the brainless anti-war movement, but the sheer cowardice on display from our congress. If I was anti-war I would be mad as hell, as Cindy Sheehan and her ilk are presently. Disgruntled Americans put the Democrats in power, and the best the new congress can do is pass a non-binding resolution saying that the war in Iraq is not in our best interests.

Non-binding, toothless, and spineless. This makes me angry. You are against the war, do what you really want to do - cut the funding. Stab our troops in the back, give the Iraqi's what you think they deserve, exponentially more bloodshed.

Its ridiculous but true, Democrats and some patently insane Republicans (a Nebraskan Senator who has simply lost his mind is the most visible example) refuse to stand up to even their own misguided convictions. They are cowards as much as our fighting men and women are heroes.

The first hundred hours, as far as the issue that matters most, were pointless. You could give these idiots a hundred years, and they would never find principles to stand on.

Do it. Cut the finding, you gutless, useless, cowards.

I believe most Americans, including myself, are against the war NOT because it is illegal, immoral (insert your own bullshit touchy-feely platitude here) or whatever; but because we are not winning.

There has been an astonishing lack of leadership from the top, and it starts and ends with our president. I fear that the most recent (and long overdue) change in strategy will be far too little too late.

Our soldiers should have been given a much broader discretion in rules of engagement from the beginning; freedom to attack and pursue enemy targets - without interference from beauracratic brass and/or granola journalists who don't know a war zone from a bikini zone.

Likewise, they should have been put in charge of what they do best; killing people and breaking things. After the enemy was neutralized, nay pulverized, into submission, the nation building (which should have been planned out way in advance) needed to be executed by experts from the state department and private sector. Not by our soldiers. The fact that these cowardly suits still sit in government buildings, while our fighting men and women muddle through the thankless task of picking up the pieces (while still under fire for God's sake) churns my stomach.

Still, I pray every day (perhaps naively) for our brave soldiers, for them to come home after a lasting peace is established in Iraq. The most I can concede for the thousands that marched on Washington last weekend, is that they pray for the former. They certainly don't care about the latter.