28 Sherman

Movie Idea: Swamp Spirits

2012-01-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Setting: Florida, small town, panhandle Gulf Coast side. Old beautiful house built post WW2. Very large downstairs layout, smaller upstairs. Big lot (couple of acres).

Family: Dad (40-45), Mom, 3 sons (15-13-8)

Set up: Man inherits old home from his deceased father who used it for wintering and rented it out for years. Home was in family for decades first as rental then as snowbird residence. Monsters are there, and they have to find the cause and the way out.

Man is moving his family to Florida for architecture/planning type job. That was his father's job. Hangs up photo of his dad with two other developers of post-WW2 Florida which includes original owner of this house and third man. Opening scene is the move in, which is in Winter. Home gets decorated, things look great, one co-worker/local acts surprised they are living in house year round, and mentions how that original owner was found dead in the home and there had been other odd accidents the first few years, but things cleared up when his dad bought the home for a song.

Evening 1: On Summer solstice, they have a BBQ. Things go well, the mom and Dad have a drink at the end of the day, and just after sunset she mentions looking forward to the 4th of July for an even bigger party. The Dad lets the dog out and after a minute or two of silence, hears a yelp. He grabs a flashlight and finds the dog dead by a tree with dirt all over it's neck/head area.

Next day, vet says dog must have died running into the tree in the dark. Need a scene of the mom noticing the basement storm entrance is covered in what looks like muddy hand prints. She also has a visit by a neighbor who is shocked someone is living year round there, what with the accidents from the 50s. She wishes the family good luck and leaves behind a housewarming gift/charm. Dad has to explain death to the little boys, and he has heart to heart with older son about losing the dog they'd had his whole childhood. Wife starts digging stuff up online. Can't find much, but news report of original owner's death is news with the weird dirty death.

Evening 2: Dad buries dog in back yard as kids act all sad. Husband-wife have wine/beer, get busy and sleep, but are woken up by someone pounding on doors and 1st floor window is broken. Husband runs down to find odd clump of dirt/grass inside broken window and see shapes move away from the window. On front of house they see smeared revenge.

Next morning, husband scours the yard for tracks, but finds none. Impossible he thinks. Goes back into house and checks rental records from 60-80s. All start after fall, and none end after summer solstice (Oct-May). Normal snowbird season but special stipulation with realtor who handled rentals to never go between those dates. see photo of dad with original owner and other developer. Looks for developer's name. Calls his still in existence business. Gets his oldest son, and location of developer (nursing home). Wife goes to local library and finds newspapers that weren't online to see other mysteries. Accidents and deaths at that house were at night, after summer solstice and happened each year until owner's father bought the home. She calls husband about it. He tells her what he knows, she comes home and he goes to see old timer. He tells her to barricade the upstairs with the kids if he isn't home by nightfall. He drives to retirement assisted living home. Developer is in alzheimers/dementia wing. Nurses say he hasn't made sense in a while but has spells of coherence. Lead brings up living in the home. Developer confuses lead for his dad. Speaks of accident of the two boys, no right the original owner pushed the construction job so hard, should have made right before moving in. Dad leaves not before old developer says "that man must pay for what he did".

Evening 3: Dad is driving home as the sun sets. He race up their driveway and notices the shapes of men moving in the front. He grabs a bat from the garage and charges in to see through hallways what look like earthen swamp men rampaging through the house. They leave everything smeared with mud and dirt. One sees him and charges. He knocks it to pieces with the bat, but it reforms slowly. He yells at his wife to stay tight and upstairs until morning. He goes to the front lawn to draw the 2 things away, they follow him and he leads them away from the house. he hollers and yells for them, leading them down the driveway. As he leaves the driveway, he notices they cannot cross the property line. They withdraw to start going back to the house, but he charges from behind and knocks them to pieces. They are on ground trying to reconstitute T-1000 style, and repeatedly does this as he waits til sunrise with them there. Notices the dirt/grass seems deactivated at sunrise.

Next morning after sunrise, husband wakes up wife and kids to show them what is up. Horrified to see, but more horrified to learn that the damage is from dirt/grass beings, not people. Dad sasy how they seem stronger with each evening. Dad tells Mom about what the developer said. She says "Duh, they never looked for deaths before the original owner". He tells her to take kids and find out what she can and get out of there. She gets kids packed to go with backpacks and money. Oldest two sons say "no dad, we're going to fight these f*cking ghouls with you, they are real, not ghosts, they can be hurt, you proved it". Mom takes youngest boy and goes to library fro old newspapers for construction. She and youngest see that 2 men died during construction. She looks into their records: 1 a single male, 1 a husband and father of 1. Husband and boys are finding what they can from their unpacking to fight monsters. Some macguyver type bits with the bros like using a high pressure water cleaner, axes, load rocks onto the 2nd floor, they slam away at half of the staircase and set up a rope ladder to get to the 2nd floor. One son grabs a hockey stick and says "what else am i going to use this for here in florida?" Mom calls husband with info. He says "find that daughter".

Evening 4: Sun sets. Father gives them a talk that it is possible to crush these guys. Might be swinging all night. Save energy to last the night. This is their house. Worst case scenario, they make a run for the property line. The father and boys have all lights on, outside lights on, and multiple fires going in pits to light the yard. They wait for it, and then hear mud splatter on overhead, exterior lights. The monsters want to reduce visibility. Cut to scene of Mom and youngest son arriving at trailer. Find mid-50s woman living alone. She speaks a Southern patois. Mom explains why she is there, how she found her, she knows her story. Trailer lady explains what happened. Dad from Louisiana came for construction job, brought pretty young wife and daughter. Father died from original owner pushing ahead with construction on questionable evening. Promised under the table overtime pay. Two men died. Afterwards original owner took interest in vulnerable widow, banged her, gave her gifts, then tossed her aside with some token cash. Widow got angry, cursed ground. Called on some Louisiana mumbo jumbo. Didn't think it would work. Went mad and died once she realized what she unleashed a few years later. As she is leafing through an old looking book, the woman says she thought her mom only wanted to bring her dad back to haunt the man. Cut to scene of dad and sons finding the monsters and bashing them. Pick their spots and fight. Dad says they are more coordinated, faster and stronger than before. Sons use all weapons shown in the build up scene. Some fun water hose melting of the beings as they reconstitute faster than the night before. After a severe beating to the monsters, with the middle son bailing out the older son with whacks to a monster, the dad orders them up to the 2nd floor so they can throw rocks at the monsters. Cut to Mom and youngest son with Southern lady. She's setting up some voodoo type sh*t with the grimoire. Says she respected it more than her mom and knew not to meddle with this. She lights candles, looks in the book and says she thinks she can make a spell to get rid of them. She needs blood of the child of the original team where the tragedy was. Mom stumped for a min since she wasn't the daughter, but wait, she has her son, who was the grandson of the one of the develops. As the ceremony starts, Mom looks up and does the good Southern girl plea to Jesus "Lord, forgive me for this". Voodoo thing starts as the scene is intercut with the dad fighting off the monsters. The boys are throwing rocks at the monsters which makes one aware they are inside and upstairs. Dad fights one off with bats, sticks, shears, you name it. Cut back to woman doing ceremony. Quiet plea for mercy and peace for those souls. Blood debt has been paid in both destruction and sacrifice. Innocent lives taken that were never meant to be taken. Dirt monster tries climbing rope. Boys whack at him. Can't stop him so they barricade themselves in room. Monster gets up and starts pounding at door. Dad is smashing other monster, but he keeps coming back. Dad is tired. Cut back to Southern woman mumbling creole sounding words. Cut back to house where suddenly pounding stops and as Dad goes to knock the 2nd arm off a monster, it disintegrates to pile of dirt on the ground. Man yells to sons, they yell to their dad. They slide down rope ladder and all embrace. Wife thanks Southern woman & hopes it will work, expresses sorrow for what happened to her family, "what is done is done. you shouldn't ask for forgiveness. the actors of that day did not know the history they would leave". Wife and youngest child drive to reunite with husband/sons. Reunion scene in driveway as sun rises. I see the film ending with them in the driveway and the camera pans through the destroyed home and out to the woods on their lot.

Cast:
Dad - Patrick Wilson - Smart looking yet really dad like in his build. He has that bearish look to him that you could see swinging a baseball bat at monsters, but smart enough to be an architect who pieces together the mystery with his wife.
Mom - Reese Witherspoon is too highbrow now, but I think the smart loving Southern mom is right up her alley.
Kids - 15 yr old should be the lanky type, 13 yr old that stout early teen and the 8 year old is the cute little one.
Southern Voodoo Orphan - Ileana Douglas - As long as she can do a Southern accent, she can be in this movie? A little make up to make her look older would help.
Old Developer in Nursing Home - Hal Holbrook - Yeah, I use him a lot, but he's awesome. Maybe Phillip Baker Hall. I love his work, and he can do a gret Southern accent.
Flashback Developer - The guy who plays Roger Sterling. Slick older gentleman who would seduce a young, poor widow and then toss her aside? That is sterling.
Flashback dead guy and pretty wife - Can we just grab one of the 'couples' off Friday Night Lights?
Neighbor - Alfre Woodward. I like her, and since this is set in the South, I have an excuse to cast her.

Movie Idea: Love Strikes Back

2012-01-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

Rom-coms suck for the most part. In my tradition of Ang Lee style movie making, I will dare to conjure up a rom com that might be super cliche, but pretty entertaining for 20s somethings. Have I posted this before? Who knows, let's roll that beautiful movie idea.

A young man wrapping up law school has his folks visiting for the graduation. Annoyed by his folks incessant pressure to marry, he talks his ex-girlfriend from undergrad days into posing as his fiancee for the weekend. First twenty minutes is guy dicking around with friends and enjoying 3rd year law student life: playing video games, eating bad food, doing 'manchild' things. Parents call him up to tell him they are coming for the long weekend graduation thing. Phone conversation has to be awkward and show the stupid family pressure. He then concocts plans with his roommate about how to cover this. There needs to be a whiteboard scene where the guys go through his list of ex-gfs before settling on one. He reaches out to ex-gf from college who lives in NYC. Her dumb friends all live that wanna-be s3x and the city life. He calls her while she is about to go out one night with them, she says she might do it, friends bash the guy, they go out drinking appletinis and girlie drinks, only to wake up crying with their giant sunglasses on the next morning. That image has to be in the movie, crying with giant sunglasses on. Ex-GF decides to take him up on his offer and they meet for a lunch to square away the details. Lunch has them hash out some details. I want there to be a flashback scene, Rashomon style, of some event that caused the end of their relationship like him getting drunk and insulting all of her friends before pissing on her lawn, but he describes it as getting drunk after she had neglected him for the umpteenth time and delved deeper into her big city girl life. they look at this as a fun challenge.

His parents and sibling (prob a sis) arrive first for a dinner on thursday where he introduces ex-gf as his fiancee. The family acts happy and all is well. The dinner involves them being put awkwardly in a position to answer questions that they can't get the right answers to or have difficulty in explaining. at one point the mom asks the ex-gf how they got back together and she portrays it in a way that makes him look like he begged her back and then he follows it up with a different recollection of how it happened to top hers. this would be like a bad interview. they go separate ways until the parents say "arent you going home together". they spend the night together, in which they stay up having long talk. he makes the move to stay in his own bed, and she tells him to hightail it to the couch. This might be the biggest suspension of disbelief in the movie. friday has him doing grad things with friends and explaining to them that no he is not back together with his ex and he's got to put the game on chicks. saturday they have a lunch soiree graduation dumb ass thing with his fam where the guy goes to have a drink at the bar with his dad while the mom and sister tell the ex-gf that they are so happy they got back together and how he never truly stopped loving her. of course coming back from that, the two leads talk where she confronts him about this which he denies but this ends up in a fight where he yells "it was you who walked away" or something lame like that. she drives away listens to some grrrl rock song, and then he texts the hottie from the prior scene and goes back to his place to find her waiting for some banging. this has to happen as it happens in every romantic comedy with the one difference being the chick never finds out. of course on graduation sunday there is their final "show" in front of his fam for graduation. there's got to be some kind of heart to heart with the mom and the ex-gf. The dinner after the graduation is where it all comes together. he has to end up in some dumb embrace with her as they have to whisper to one another how they should truly get married.

Movie Idea: A Bi-Curious Remake of "Vertigo"

2011-12-21T13:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not dancing around it. Hollywood is a shit factory that destroys what it touches and filters everything through a terrible Hollywood view. They churn out a lot of crap and are remaking everything. I want one more remake, in the spirit of a new twist on the original concept. I want to see Hitchcock's "Vertigo" remade but with the Jimmy Stewart character cast as a woman for a bi-curious/lesbian version. Phew, the lightning bolt didn't just kill me. I love Hitchcock's movies, and watch them on a regular rotation. Hollywood remakes everything or turns toy lines into big budget action films. Let's spend a little money and remake Vertigo with an interesting twist.

The original Vertigo can be analyzed in novel format and length because of its beautiful story telling. I consider it one of the greatest uses of the film medium to tell the tale of love, lost love, fear, masculinity, modern life, etc. It is a wonderful expression of the human condition. You can have arguments that nothing after the 'therapy' clinic scene is real. It pushes buttons and makes you think. A remake that veers in a different way would be a fantastic homage to that film, unlike the terrible "Psycho" remake with Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn.

Ok, so here's my pitch: San Francisco - 2011 - Joan "Scottie" Ferguson is a 'retired' cop who quit the force due to a height related event. She's kind of femme but does dress in an androgynous manner. She hangs out with bohemian, artisty, hipster type bi girl nicknamed "Midge". There's the reference that they hooked up after "Scottie"s army days. An old Army male buddy who has done well financially contacts Scottie for a surveillance job. We follow the exact plot of the original "Vertigo" set in San Fran with some small time updates. The spirit that enchants Madeleine is a '60s woman who lost her child because of the evil patriarchy and went mad on hippie drugs and died. Pop Argosy who knows the 'old time' San Fran history would now be a total flamer. Scottie just kisses Madeleine, and we know they love one another but Scottie kind of fights it as it's a journey of self discovery and the confusion of her sexuality. We then follow the plot to the point of revelation where we learn that Madeleine/Judy was a bit of a attention seeking bi girl who manipulated Scottie as the Army buddy had a 'vibe' on her bi-curious ways. The ending is the same. No changes for modern America.

Cast
Joan "Scottie" Ferguson - This is my dream, so Angelina Jolie. Dress her in slacks and a tight vest over a dress shirt and other slightly butch looks. This will also pull in male viewers.
Midge - Hmmm, hipster bohemian type who gets rejected by Scottie and wears dorky glasses. Zooey Deschanel. Done.
Madeleine/Judy - Amber Heard. She's got the young, petite sexually adventurous manipulator and really launches a career in drama.
Gavin Elster (Army buddy) - Would McConnaughy take a role this small? Maybe.

This would be kind of like a Brokeback Mountain for the lesbian crowd.

Dead Aid - Book Review

2011-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

The solutions mentioned in Dead Aid are:

1. African countries borrowing on the global debt markets

2. Foreign Direct Investment - We give you money for resources. We give money but expect something we can use in return. We also expect you to cut rates on your share of the 'stuff' mined or processed.

3. Reduce trade barriers by expanding African econ zones, remove subsidies in the US/Europe/Asia, reduce tariffs.

4. Microfinance - Great idea. I fully support this idea.

In Dead Aid, a former Goldman Sachs employee spends 150 pages ripping on the corruption and lack of education in Africa, saying aid has good intentions but is actually harmful, and that aid only creates more problems that create the need for more aid, that creates more problems.The farm subsidies will not be dropped, and why would the world want to rely on African farmers, who have failed so miserably that they have to import food. Zimbabwe went from a food exporter in 1980 to a food importer now despite 30 years of technological improvement in farming. Her solutions remove Western Govts (usually full of do gooders), Christian charities, NGOs and non-religious charities from positions of power of doling out the cash, and replaces them with Wall St banks (bond sellers and traders) and foreign multinational companies who would provide direct investment for resources. So we used to give Africa developmental aid and aid more designed for humanitarian/medical/health reasons (gifts really). Now she wants us to replace that with $$ designed to develop resources for other countries to use, and Wall St bond traders that will control the flow of cash instead of a sympathetic bleeding heart lib or Christian charity. The charities also work to bring US & Euro MDs to Africa to give them basic care that they can't provide themselves. No way is Goldman doing that! That sounds like a f-cking horrible trade of money masters.

This is pretty exploitive or nefarious. When the African countries default, they will have their collateral open to a vulture fund. You think Goldman or JP Morgan is going to be kind? No way, they will sell the rights to the land or mine to a vulture fund that will develop the resources and make big bucks. This already happens to African countries that have defaulted on debt. It also keeps Africa dependent on foreign money, except now the foreigners are going to get something out of it. This system if put in place would be neocolonialism. What the Chinese are doing is cheap resource removal like those aliens in Independence Day. Instead of Victorian era Brits with a paternalistic view of the Africans, you now have Chinese and Wall St guys looking to squeeze every oz of minerals for as cheap as possible. She kept mentioning Botswana as a success story. Botswana has low pop density, huge diamond mine wealth and is de facto run by the DeBeers mining co. An African non-aid success story is a diamond company running a country.

Wall St found a cute native who has her PhD and just happened to have worked at Goldman for 8 years to write a propaganda piece that sets up a perfect situation for Wall St and their big $$ buddies. She can say things no white writer can say, and of course the TV shows will want her onscreen. The book gets a big bestseller push, and suddenly the dialogue is not 'how much aid?', but 'can we stop aid?'. People have donated less to charity, and what do you think will be one of the first things cut as rich countries trim their budgets? It's so devious that I do believe Goldman has thought this one out completely for the perfect front woman. Gosh, they are so f-cking smart & evil. She very carefully avoided anyhealth or educational issues, which time and time again macroeconomic studies show you need to improve a nation's health and education before you can get good economic growth (all of Asia & Brazil come to mind).

Here's a bunch of things that the author left out that might have to be fixed before a privatization program could work:

1. Lower the birth rate. Africans live in such terrible poverty, but they have the highest birth rates in the world. If the birth rate is above 3.0

2. Reduce the rate of rape and murder. Some countries sell rape insurance to women. The murder rates are scary.

3. Reduce HIV infection rate. 20 years of foreign MDs going there and working with them haven't helped.

4. Polygamy & Farming. I kid you not, the polygamy and the ease of farming (which is a female job) incent men to work enough to get the first wife, and then after that the farm allows him to get more wives, but not much else. Things grow so well there & the land is not as densely populated.

5. Education and intellectual capital. Pre-school age African children score incredibly low on intelligence tests, and the education system there is terrible, which doesn't coach them up. They have a limited class of students that go beyond the 5th grade, and then when they do make it to university, they get their degree in the US or Europe and stay there. Their best and brightest leave & rarely come back.

6. Corruption. She bemoaned the corruption issue, but how does it end? How is corruption eradicated or reduced enough to allow for effective government? Argentina & Chile had to have Truth Commissions that eventually sent many top dogs to jail. Do you think that would happen in an African nation? I have a strong feeling the only solution would be, ahem, neocolonialism that cleaned out their govt systems and worked with Africans for 10-15 years to install checks and balances and then slowly ended. Didn't this all just happen in the 50s and 60s in Africa when Europe left?

7. Reduce intertribal rape, murder and warfare. Many of these countries have multiple tribes in them. The stuff I read about the Congo is horrible, and it's a story of people looking to literally cut the heart out of anyone not in their tribe. You can't build a nation with that constantly present from the ground up.There is no trust in a nation with that foundation.

I have no clue how to fix Africa. I think African leaders, businessmen and academics should be the go to people. I think charities with good intentions are a nice social safety net that have prevented mass starvation die offs and perversely kept the birth rates high. I also think Chinese style investment and throwing them to the wolves of the current bond markets would be terrible and set up a neocolonial system. I do think the world will get a bit more insular, and Africa will be forced to deal with many problems on their own if they do not want the gripping hand of Chinese or Wall St businessmen on their natural wealth. If they do not care enough and corruption is too ingrained in their culture, they will just be a natural resource source for the developed world.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

Despite the feeling that the world around us is slipping into war and chaos, despite the myriad of problems facing common everyday people, and despite the fear that seems to be creeping more and more into the lives of the people I know and love, I am thankful for the life that I have.

Baseball and My Family

2011-11-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

Sports have always been a part of my life. When I was a kid, I played the traditional big 3 (baseball, football, basketball) each corresponding season. As I grew, I found my specialties and strengths. Once done with school, I played on and off with friends in pick up games and lost interest over time as I grew older and more ticked off by the corporatization of professional and even college sports infected more and more with criminals and the weird obsessive behavior at the little kid level. While I rant and rave on how much a waste of time sports are or the evils of college sports programs covering up rapes of female students and, now at Penn St children, there is another element of sports I have overlooked that is a positive. It can bring people together. Not in the cheeseball crowd of strangers cheering on one event, but in the personal connection way.

I live in a geographic spot that is between several MLB franchises (6 are roughly equidistant). There is no hometown team for my kid, and I am not forcing him down my team's path. One team I was leaning towards was the St. Louis Cardinals team which is also my grandfather's favorite baseball team. My boy already had a little onesie as a gift earlier this year, and the photo of him in the onesie is in the center stage showcase for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren at my grandfather's house. This past baseball playoffs really drove that 'sports can bring people together' theme home for me. I spent a month calling my Pepere before every Cardinals game to tell him that my infant son would 'watch' the 1st or maybe if he was good the 1st and 2nd inning. I'd let my boy sit in his swing or on the floor with the TV on for one inning while I got his bath and final bottle ready. As the weeks rolled on and the Cardinals' wins kept coming, it was a nice joke between my Pepere & I. We called my son the good luck charm. It was a nice way for us to talk on the phone for 20 mins a few times a week.
I'm not going to lie, my grandfather and I had a cold relationship for the first 17 years of my life. He wasn't warm to me or supportive. He was with my other cousins and he was with my sister. I grew up wondering what I had done wrong, and it took years for me to figure out, it wasn't me. Now I had two grandfathers who loved baseball. I'd talk about it with them often. My paternal Grampa was an excellent player. Only freshman to play varsity as a short stop for 50 years at my high school. He'd tell me stories of playing short or catcher, or the season when George H.W. Bush played for another team in his semi-pro league after WW2 (he played 1st base and could hit well). The Grampa who I had a better relationship with never once came to any of my games. He was the same with his sons as well who all played ball. The other would occasionally show up. I lived no more than 8 miles away from either grandfather. People say kids don't care if grandparents show up. They might be annoyed at you showing up all of the time, but believe me, never show up and they will notice.
I would have killed for either of them to show up consistently and be supportive. It hurt. It hurt even more because my Dad did coach me, and while my Dad has a brilliant baseball mind, he never should have coached me. Our relationship with baseball was like the kid in Bad News Bears who has the awful father as his coach. I have multiple friends who's most distinct memories of little league involve their first hit, the hardest time they got beaned, a bad play they recall, a close win/loss on the final play and my Dad yelling at me for some dumb reason. Here's the thing: I was good. I played short stop mostly with great range and a good arm, or other infield positions when needed. I was a great hitter. I got speed as I grew up. I would hit in the basement before the season began, and would work with my sister when she started playing softball. Somehow that wasn't enough. I played on edge with high stress levels. When my Dad wasn't there, I played entirely different, enough so that my friends would notice it. I would have loved my Grampas to have come to games because every time one of my uncles showed up or my Gramma showed up, my Dad would have to behave and they'd always shout out encouraging words for my friends and I. I stopped playing after tearing my shoulder in back to back school seasons, I found out I was very fast for track, and honestly, I grew to hate playing. Looking back on it, I hated how my Dad made me feel when playing. He made it a job, and one that I'd fail at no matter how many game winning hits I had or game saving defensive plays I made. I really wish my grandfathers had shown up.

Both my grandfathers went through heart trouble around my 18th birthday. They both changed, softened up, and became friendlier men like the Grampas in movies. They had faced death. One had actually died on the operating table. I vowed to never live my life so that facing death would change how I feel about family or friends. I know where I was when my Pepere was dead for several minutes on the operating table. I was 17 and it was Halloween of 1997. I could have left that waiting room knowing he died and not cared. We've spent over a decade now actually having a friendship and relationship. This playoff run by the Cardinals will always stick in my mind for the little connection between my Pepere, my son and me. When the miraculous game 6 comebacks were needed, my son woke up screaming. My wife brought him downstairs, and he calmed down, sitting with me watching the game. Like in the movies, the Cardinals rallied to tie it up. Roughly half an hour later, the same cycle repeated itself. Cardinals go down by 2, my son starts wailing in his crib, he comes down, watches the game, and the Cardinals come back. The next day I told my grandfather and he was laughing his little old man giggle. He reminded me to keep my son up for as long as possible because the good luck charm was working. My mom, his daughter, was visiting that next day. She took a bunch of photos of my son in his swing watching the game with a Cardinals bib on. When the Cardinals got the final out in game 7 and the game & series were won, I called him. It was late but he answered laughing at age 87. "The little good luck charm worked".
I don't have a lot of happy, friendly moments from my childhood with my Pepere. I can't change that. For the time and moments we have spent since that Halloween in 1997, I've learned to let those awkward years go and enjoy what we have had since that night. We've spent too many Christmas Eves talking until 1am, too many afternoons talking about WW2 & the good ol' days, and too many hours chatting about history & books we recently read. When my son is grown, I will tell him about his first World Series and the magical month of October 2011 for the Cardinals. I will tell him how separated by 1000 miles, the three of us, my grandfather, my son and me, with our TVs on and phones on speaker all shared a great feeling. When I take my son to Busch Stadium to see the Cardinals for the first time when my grandfather is gone, I will think of him. For all the bad there is with sports, that month of baseball can shine bright as a special memory for us.

Remember when OWS was Considered Similar to the Tea Party

2011-11-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

Recent years have seen two organic protest movements take shape that the media is trying to portray as completely opposite, yet they are incredibly similar. Occupy Wall St has a distinct target with a focus on the big Wall St banks that control over 60% of US assets, while the Tea Party focused on the extreme levels of government spending that threaten to bankrupt our nation and at the least dilute the value of our currency. Occupy Wall Street is a much younger phenomenon than the Tea Party and has some unworkable ‘demands’, but they both strike at the heart of the problem of modern American politics and economics: crony capitalism. It is not just a banking issue, as the Solyndra scandal shows that the problem lies in government being in bed with big business, but banking is the most egregious example. For our nation and economy to move forward, we must sever the close ties between business and government, and a start would be with truly reforming our banks.

Occupy Wall St and the Tea Party are expressions of a frustrated citizenry that does not feel that their politicians are serving their interests. The Tea Party started with Rick Santelli’s tirade over the bailing out of Wall St banks, AIG and then GM & Chrysler. Occupy Wall St is targeting the Wall St banks that received bailouts yet continue to behave as they did prior to the Lehman crash in 2008. Starting under the Bush administration and continued under President Obama, Wall St banks have privatized the gains and socialize the losses through their bailout monies, yet nothing has translated to savings for citizens. In spring of 2009, the feds added to the bailouts of AIG and Citigroup in addition to relaxing accounting rule FAS 157 allowing banks to carry assets at whatever value they wanted. The zero interest rate policy of the FED is an additional bailout to the banks and punishment to American savers and fixed income seniors. At every step, the citizens of the United States have taken a back seat to the Wall St banks. Taxpayers have shouldered more and more responsibility for Wall St’s failings. Small and regional sized banks will tell you that Wall St banks have an unfair funding advantage, hurting their business. Occupy Wall St and the Tea Party are cries from ordinary Americans to stop this game rigged in favor of Wall St.

America needs a politician with the willpower to take on the Wall St banks and protect the currency and interests of Main St. We need a politician who understands that this recession is not like normal recessions. This is a cheap credit fueled, balance sheet recession with a huge debt hangover. In 2008 and 2009, the government bailed out the Wall St banks and wounded the economy. They portray their actions the other way around. Obama’s talk of reform is just that: talk, while he fundraises on Wall St and keeps Wall St lackeys like Tim Geithner in his administration. No politician is discussing it, but a stimulus idea that would not involve any public funding is the following plan. Wall St banks must mark their assets at the proper values. If this causes them to be insolvent, then the Federal Reserve can take those banks into receivership and wind down assets. As those assets are wound down, debt writedowns will occur on mortgages, student loans and consumer loans. These debt writedowns will turn into principal reductions. Removing the debt overhang from many American’s budgets will put dollars back into American pockets, affecting both consumers and small business owners.

This proposal could cause a couple of the Wall St banks to go into receivership. It might shrink some of those banks. Breaking up the big banks and writing down debt will jumpstart the average American household and help business owners’ balance sheets without adding another dime to the national debt. The other effects will be reduced rents as residential and commercial property owners will have lower costs to set their rent. The potential is there for economic growth, which will help alleviate the unemployment problem and increase tax receipts which will help the government deficit problem. Leaving zombie banks alive is the path Japan followed as they have had minimal growth for 20 years because they did not address the bad loans and banks. This plan does not have support from either political party. That tells us more about Democrats and Republicans than it does America.

Russian Doomsday Device is/was Real

2011-11-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Soviets actually built a doomsday device like in Dr. Strangelove and didn't tell anyone. It is pretty amazing how advanced they could build some systems but how terrible they were at producing basic goods.

Movie Idea: Speak-easy, Kill Softly

2011-10-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

The setting is Prohibition era NYC with the roaring '20s raging away and alcohol flowing in the countless speak-easies of NYC. The film opens with a young, female reporter starting out at a new magazine and being shuffled around to their social circle coverage. The first scene is of her getting the lowdown of the lame social 'about town' events and happenings she is suppose to cover. She leaves one dinner party of hoity toity people, and goes with a handsome young man to a speak easy. She gets terribly drunk and loses her notes from the hoity toity party. We then get a shot of what looks like a man making love to a woman in an alley, but really he's strangling her. She decides to write up about the night at the speak-easy and its underworld. Her editor gives her a ripping for not covering the dinner party, but loves the speak-easy column. He has her write under a fake name, and gives her total freedom with covering speak easies. We see the cops working the crime scene and are introduced to the lead detective. Lead detective is an honest cop in a city of bought policemen. He doesn't understand how a strangled woman who reeks of alcohol is in that alley. Other cops look at one another and laugh softly. They know the speak-easy is nearby.

We then would get a series of scenes of the young columnist going to different speak-easies and meeting random folks. She befriends/bangs one guy, and they go to speak-easies together. Maybe a montage with jazz playing over it, which has shots of a jazz band with a black saxophone player she befriends. He's a bit fey, and loves beign able to play for more money with his band in white clubs. The murders keep happening near the speak-easies. Victims are all females, some white, some black. The lead female figures it out, but she can't tell the cops about the speak-easy connection because then they'd shut down the beloved speak-easy night scene. She and romantic partner start detective work, while the young detective keeps up at his game. The next time they are at a speak-easy, there is a 'near miss', and they get to the crime scene too late and have to run away themselves. The female lead and her partner figure it out that it has to be someone mobile, someone who will go to all of the different clubs, and someone who could have an alibi built in. It has to be a jazz band member. They think it's their new friend. The detective figures out at a murder through a weird 'hole in the door' scene that there are speak-easies near all of these crime scenes. While off duty, he decides to go undercover into the speak-easies.

The couple figure it out through their contacts at the speak-easies that one jazz band happens to have played at each bar where a murder happened. They will go to their new friend's band's next performance. The detective asks the illegal bartender about patrons, but he avoids answering. The detective notices a band poster from the night before, and decides to go to their next performance at another bar. Scene at the bar is a jazz joint in Harlem (Hollywood will require that setting). Work in a great dancing scene for the show as the young journalist eyes the detective. Jazz band says they are going to slow it down as some members take 5. Journalist approaches detective to dance. They slowdance and have small, witty 1920s talk while they both eye the band members who are off duty. Never telling one another, they notice that a few are taking five, but they can't account for two of them. One is her saxophone playing friend. The duo stops dancing and excuses themselves. Detective goes out the door. Journalist grabs her man and says she knows which one it is (the sax player). Couple runs through a slightly opened door to find a freshly killed woman. Journalist reaches down to check her and the man is hit from behind, knocking him cold. Journalist screams. Cop hears the scream and thinks it is the murder in progress. He enters from another side of the same building. He sees tall bassist clutching journalist from the back with an arm around her throat and his hand going for her skirt. He turns her to face him and she sees the cop over the bassist's shoulder. She keeps up the act, repeatedly saying "please don't kill/rape me". Detective yells at bassist, he turns, cop shoots bassist (didn't want to shoot him in the back). Cop orders journalist to call for ambulance & police from speak-easy. The docs can save the bassist, the journalist's love interest is OK but have a concussion headache, the sax players turns a witness as he knew bassist was violent and had a 'dark' past and the detective closes the case.

Female Lead - Hilary Swank - Is she too old to play young women now? Maybe Leighton Meester can play the young socialite who plays amateur detective. Kat Dennings?
Romantic Partner - someone good looking and fun. Is Chris Evans available or maybe someone more foppish looking?
Detective - Ed Norton - Could we lure him out of his weird semi-retirement to play this role.
Jazz Band Friend - Anthony Mackie or whichever black young male that Hollywood will cast. I have to say young because Hollywood would probably be idiots and cast 70 yr old morgan freeman as the character.

This film's journalist is based on Lois Long of the New Yorker.

Quick Book Review: The Tibetan Book of the Dead

2011-10-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

"The Tibetan Book of the Dead" is a 'classic' of Buddhist literature. It is suppose to help one deal with the change that leads from life to death and the transition phase. It is suppose to help one even live their life better. Honestly, I didn't dig it that much. I also happened to read more on Buddhism here and elsewhere, and uhhhh, yeah I am a Christian who thinks Buddhism's key concepts are smart. I like Buddhism's philosophy on life, but I am a Christian. The multicolored light shows, six armed Gods and other stuff just isn't for me. This book cemented that. I guess this book did help with a transformation: this steered me back to my Christian roots. At least this book only cost me $4.

Quick Book Review: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

2011-10-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

If you want to read a beautifully written and well researched book that is of a style not used anymore, read the Roman masterpiece by Gibbon. Gibbon created a huge work that people do not attempt anymore because it was so large in scope. Currently, historians focus on narrow subjects and mine the subject down to a nitty gritty. One professor of mine once said someday they will reward a PhD for someone who wrote a dissertation on the first paragraph of Hamlet. Gibbon writes elegantly, can stir emotions, and makes you wonder about the glory that was Rome.

A secret bonus to this book that I did not expect were the chapters on the early Christian faith, the chapters on the Crusades, and the rise of Islam as a mostly destructive force. I read a work that had selected chapoters, with many just summarized. It still clocked in at 1000 pages. One recommendation would be to focus on chapters for the parts you want to read. I was actually bothered that my edition did not have the full chapters on Justinian and Belisarius (although I have read much on Belisarius) or more on the Byzantine emperors. This is still a fantastic work. If you're a current American citizen, you might read some passages, look around, and just sigh because of the familiarity.

Conspiracy Theory: American Idol All Staged

2011-09-27T17:23:00.001-07:00

American Idol was all a set up vehicle for the music industry to release their 1-4 pop singers a year. Prior to Gaga and Katy Perry, who performed on Idol and received boosts to their exposure through Idol, there was a long gap with no good pop solo artist released unless they were Idol participants. Idol was the perfect vehicle. It gives you months of exposure to build a fan base through TV's highest rated show, and then a concert tour to hit the entire nation after the show. This would allow for the industry to release surer bets for their pop sensations.

The voting is rigged, the top 3-6 is set depending on quality of their crop of potential stars, the rabbits are set up for the top 12 and controversial water cooler contestants as well. I think they have the called in potentials Q rated during the initial rounds, Hollywood week, and then the whittle from 24 to 12. How a performer rates on favorability in those initial rounds refines who they bring tot he top 12 to sell to America. The tryouts are a way to get morons to perform who will be the circus part of the show, set the story for the top 12 so you get emotionally invested in them, and get the nation talking about some of the worst contestants as Idol figures out how to pace the top 12. We then get a roller coaster ride of voting and performances. In a weak year with one stand out to sell, they have to pack the top 12 with weird folks or s3x appeal. The weeks build up a resume of songs for people to sing, plus it gives the industry a feel for how many albums they can sell of an individual performer.

How many top 12 folks now have had label deals before that fell through or records produced quietly prior to contesting?
How many performers have gone on to be in Broadway shows?
How many performers have had good Gospel album releases?
How many rabbits are there?

The rabbit concept is an important one. The rabbit in dog racing is a stuffed animal that is on a bar and whips around the dog track to entice the dogs to chase after it. It is set at a pace to get them running fast. This is done in some mile races as well with a rabbit who will run a specific split for a lap to let the leads gauge their pacing off of him. The rabbit in Idol is usually an older contestant with a good to great voice who does not have commercial viability as a pop star, but is good enough to get viewers to watch and 'push' the featured star. Perfect examples of this are Bo Bice who was the rabbit for Carrie Underwood, and Melinda Doolittle who was the rabbit for Jordan Sparks. The rabbit gets a small record deal and is set for a while with being able to tour and make money due to their exposure on Idol. That's their payoff. Idol has learned that female winners are easier to push as the pop star, and that there is a bit of a turn off for some listeners if someone was the Idol winner. Chris Daughtry as a rocker is easier to sell than Chris Daughtry the rocker who won Idol. Adam Lambert was their greatest performer, but did not win as he's a bit non-pop to sell. He's easier to sell as an edgy, flamboyantly gay pop rocker to 20-somethings when he's not the Idol winner. The Adam Lambert season was the best example of this as the no. 3 finisher, Gokey, has released Christian albums, Lambert has had success and Chris whats his face has released a pop album. Brilliant.

Idol is a talent funnel, and an incredibly smart one at that. I can't believe I never thought of this before now.

The MLK Statue

2011-09-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Anyone been reading up lately on the MLK Memorial in DC? It is an absolute mess.

1. A Chinese sculptor designed it. Why not an American, or maybe an African-American, sculptor design this? Because the Chinese government chipped in $25 million towards the memorial which was falling short of fundraising goals (still not there).

2. The stone is from China. The final assembly was suppose to be done by DC based firms, but nope, Chinese crews. Oh, did I forget to mention that MLK looks like he is Chinese in the statue?

3. The MLK family shook the memorial foundation down for using his likeness and words from his speeches. This is pathetic and disgraceful of the family.

4. MLK is misquoted on the statue.

5. Looking at the major contributors, it is interesting to see Hilfiger up there due to the urban legends of how he viewed blacks wearing his clothes. It is also interesting to see that they have raised $114 mil, when $10 mil was from the US govt and $25 mil was from the Chinese. They have nearly 100 major donors listed (George Lucas for some reason). Somehow they have almost $35 mil from two federal governments, 100 corporate donors, then there are small, individual donors, and they haven't collected $120 mil.

This is the perfect baby boomer nostalgia with a dash of white guilt monument. Black Americans spend $9 billion a year on hair care products. With the US government matching program and corporate sponsors up the wazoo, this should have been an easy goal. It is a crying shame that fundraising problems forced the MLK Memorial board to select a Chinese sculptor with Chinese stone. The Chinese connection as well as MLK family money grubbing might be the perfect little capsule for the spiritual status of our nation.

Medical Profession Handles Diversity Well

2011-09-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

In my four years in the Midwest, I have yet to pick a physician. I have seen a doctor once for an infection, but no settling down and finding an MD for me. I would need to find an MD open to new patients, but unlike other Americans, I wouldn't give a crap about my doctor's race (nor gender). It doesn't matter to me. I've had male, female, Asian, and white doctors. If you're board certified, you're good for me. It does to some people though, and of course, some people think the medical profession needs to be more diverse. In defense of the medical profession, they do a great job of bringing a diverse physician workforce to the marketplace for Americans. It just seems like the diversity of the medical profession is not the PC community's preferred version of diversity. Let's check out the facts and see what can be done.
Physicians don't reflect the exact racial proportions of the US. That is easily seen in the above "aspiring docs" link. The "aspiring docs" link reveals that since 1980, medical schools have done a great job of increasing minority students. All minorities have icnreased their share of medical school enrollment and Asians have made huge gain. The data is incomplete (here) because 22% are unknown, but there is overrepresentation by Asians and underrepresentation by Hispanics and blacks. Possibly a better indicator for MD diversity work is to check out exact numbers of medical school enrollees by race (here). Whites make up 58.2% (under), Asians make up 20% (over), Blacks 6% (under), Hispanics 8% (under), so there are differences, but there is plenty of minority representation. Oddly enough male-female splits are 55% male to 45% female despite women outnumbering men in undergraduate programs.

Is this acceptable? It is tough exactly lining up percentages. Who loses spots to make up the 6% black and 6% Hispanic underrepresentation? Do we tell Asian students they need to come back down more in line with their 4% population %? Heck, even Whites have a reason to bitch. This is the danger of representation whining. What is even worse is dumbing down acceptance standards to achieve diversity. A realignment would also really really hurt Asian applicants. Look back at this chart and look at the average MCAT scores and GPAs for Asian applicants. Asian enrollees have higher MCAT averages than any other group. Limiting their numbers would push that MCAT average up as you would have to be even better to be accepted if limited by quotas. It is surprising to see Asian and black scores side by side as Asians are nearly 2 standard deviations higher than blacks. When lives are on the line, do we want to sacrifice aptitude for the sake of a few extra different faces? I would rather have a meritocracy where no matter the background, the best of the best were selected for medical schools. Medical schools seem to have taken that track in the last 25 years by boosting Asian acceptances with the high scores and high GPAs.

Is there a solution? There is probably nothing medical schools can do themselves to boost black or Hispanic enrollment (without severely compromising admission standards), but there is plenty those communities or lower level schools (junior and high schools). The important thing to consider with medical schools, like all other graduate schools, is that there is a giant filtration process that starts with graduating high school. Eeverythign starts with finishing high school. Black and Hispanic high school dropout rates are much higher than white and Asian dropout rates (more here). Then you have enrollment in college. Then you have to complete college, take the MCATs and score above the average for applicants (not enrollees) for your group. Underrepresented communities need to focus on their kids finishing high school. The high school science programs could explain the importance of science and its application with medicine. These schools can also explain that being pre-med in college means you took the 4 courses required to qualify. That way, college does not become an all or nothing focus for students entering college hoping to go to med school.

Is the current system fair? Sure if you think rewarding higher scores is fair. Is it fair if you're a PC kumbaya dreamer? No, but you're have to find solid excuses and outlets for a lot of brilliant Asian students, and you'd have to lower admission standards significantly for underepresented groups. If that happens, you might see more patients requesting to be seen by a similar physician. This would be determining winners and losers not by ability but by race, and no one likes that... except when it benefits them. Medical schools have done a tremendous job of expanding minority enrollment in the last 25 years, and they do not need any new programs to serve the needs of the PC police. We live in an imperfect world, and when we discuss wishes for diversity we should be honest with ourselves about what we mean.

Yoga Pants

2011-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yoga pants are the wonderbra for asses. I've yet to see a bottom that was worse when in yoga pants. That explains why so many women where them when not doing yoga. It's like those tight shorts college volleyball women wear.

Infanticide Stats

2011-08-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

The local news reported on a sad case of infanticide in our metro area. These news stories hit my wife a bit harder now since we have a wee little one now. As she said, "babies cry for a few reasons, diaper, food, sleep, no need to hit them". The child was two months old yet died of blunt force trauma from multiple hits. With all of that Casey Anthony uproar in the back of my mind, I decided to look for some statistics on infanticide in America.

The breakdown of who does the killing surprised my wife and I, as it was dads at 31%, moms at 29% and male 'acquaintances' at 23%. No wonder many dads don't feel to keen on strange new boyfriends of their ex or baby momma being in the house where their kid lives. The percentage killed by acquaintances has risen since 1976, which I bet is tied back to the number of illegitimate kids rising and children living in divorced homes.

The breakdown of who dies by age is the majority are under 2 years of age. People are killing children who can barely communicate with them. Maybe the 2 year mark is a break point where the ability of adults to cope with the quicly elevated stress levels and alarm of a crying child is conditioned.

The racial breakdown is pretty sad for the black community, but at least it has come down in recent years. The white rate per 100K has been stable since the '70s, and the black rate has come down, but it is still 3x the rate of white infanticide. I do think they are sliding the hispanic rates into whichever color breakdown hispanics place themselves. I do notice that the 'other' rate is lower than the white rate, proving that Asians take care of their kids. This is another self inflicted wound in the black community.

This last part might be part of the media circus with Casey Anthony. It was a ridiculous story of lies, deceit and no remorse. Add to it a pretty woman. Add to it a pretty white woman with a weird family. These things all together make her case even more unusual.

Favorite Bands That I Don't Own an Album Of

2011-08-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

3. Flaming Lips - I could listen to them all day long, but I don't have an album.

2. Led Zeppelin - I have mp3s of my favorite tunes by then, but no albums. No high school purchases or even jr. high when I started listening to harder rock. I will keep the radio on no matter what song it is by the Zep.

1. The Rolling Stones - Regardless of mp3 downloads, it is a sin that I do not have a complete album by the Stones. I feel sicken realizing this.

What is Worse the Loser or the Loser who Admires the First Loser?

2011-08-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Another season of Bad Girls Club has started. My desire to play amateur psychiatrist and social pundit is strong (I should have been a shrink), and Bad Girls Club is too much to resist. This is Human Zoo TV. These women are horrible, make horrible decisions, act horrible, and don't realize what they are doing and how they are acting leads to their problems. What is scary is not just their behavior, but that this behavior is portrayed positively as if they are empowered. What is scary is that other young women in America watch this show and identify with them, consider them people to look up to and want to be that way in their lives. Watching this show, I finally understand some of the previously perplexing things about modern human nature.

The first key into the lock moment was that these women are near 'wild' in behavior. Feral is not the true term as feral means they were domesticated but turned wild. These women are truly wild; no domestication process has happened. They have little to no future time orientation. They can't read other humans. Every slight can turn into a physical altercation. They mate quickly with selection being proximity and basic physical attraction. They have no idea that the world around them does not care. They do not understand decorum and manners. They are like wild dogs that you do not adopt when you have kids. Extrapolating this out from BGC, many prole women (low socioeconomic class) exhibit some of these behaviors. They might not do them to the degree or in complete combination as the BGC women, but they exhibit behaviors that as short as 40 years ago would be shocking or at the least shameful. There is the twist though, there is no shame after their actions or statements.

The second a-ha moment centered around that odd conundrum that has vexed some modern social scientists where low class women have higher levels of self-esteem or positive body image feelings than women of higher socioeconomic class. This a-ha moment coincided with a 2nd insight into why do low class women turn the smallest slights (usually around respect) into physical fights that could land them in jail. Someone might brush by you and you think "jerk" but move on with your life. Bump shoulders with these women (the men do it, too), and someone is going to end up bruised. The entire high self esteem wrap and quick defense of any slight is because they have no true accomplishments, no wealth, little ability, and are nobody with no futures, so any slight or 'dis' if not defended to allow for the avalanche of criticism, revealing what a loser they are. It is all a front. They have to lie to themselves all of the time that they are awesome and all that while vigilantly defending their facade because it is a shell. They must constantly keep their rep up because once one dis is allowed, then all of the true things about them (poor health, no money, little ability, etc.) would be ammunition to destroy their falsified status in their minds and in front of their loved ones.

These women, and their fans are just a symptom of a sick society. Glorifying the odd and troubled, even if there are Human Zoo TV viewers like me, is not a healthy culture. This might sound like hyperbole, but this show is Oxygen's highest rated show. It has more than 1 million viewers each episode. I have yet to see a boycott called by women's groups or even the NAACP as women and especially women of color are constantly shown in the worst light. It might sound dramatic, but even if one life is changed for the worse due to this show, it is a problem.

New Primary Thunder Rd Association

2011-08-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Music is such a personal and emotional artform. Whether it is classical or cheeseball pop summer songs, music can be the perfect expression of the human condition for a specific moment or feeling in your life. "Thunder Road" will now forever be associated with driving through Pennsylvania at 2:33am screaming this song with my cousin.

Movie Review: Captain America

2011-08-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

Summer movies are supposed to give you fun and entertaining escapes from normal life. Big action pictures are the normal fare, and you need some Raisinettes and popcorn to get the full experience. Captain America is a fun and well paced action flick that delivers. Shooting Nazis? Check. Period piece set in the '40s with great costumes? Check. Explosions? Check. A couple of great actors to give the picture some depth? Surprisingly, a check. Great pacing and story that makes the 2 hours fly by? Check. Captain America is a good family action flick that can entertain the parents as well as the kids.

I didn't read Captain America the comic book. It was pretty terrible when I was a kid. I never understood why CA wasn't fighting commies all over the world. That was a built in genius setting. Instead he did stupid stuff with cartoonish villains and plots. Maybe I was expecting too much, as it was a comic book. The movie is fantastic. Here's some warnings though:

- Suspend your disbelief that a man would have a handlebar mustache and bowler hat while fighting in a war.
- Suspend your disbelief that there would be a unit with Americas, one Brit and one Frenchman
- Forget that the US military wasn't integrated until 1948 (Hollywood needs to sprinkle in blacks regardless of history).
- Suspend your disbelief that the black soldier in 1943 would be college educated and speak 3 languages, yet was just a private.

OK, back to the review. The villain as well as ancillary characters are well acted by Huge Weaving (he's racking up bad guy credits), Tommy Lee Jones as a grizzly, old officer and the always enjoyable Stanley Tucci as the scientist who creates the super serum. Having some good actors involved, and letting them flesh out characters, was a nice touch. I enjoyed Tucci's German scientist character. Chris Evans, who definitely gives the ladies some eye candy, does a good boy scout job acting as Steve Rogers/CA. If he plays his cards right, he could get a bunch of action roles as Hollywood is lacking in handsome, macho leads right now. He did a nice job of playing the little guy who finally gets big. He plays it not overly nerdy a la Michael Cera, just a little, shy guy who wants to do the right thing.

The story is well laid out, and the pacing is well done. The director builds things up and doesn't force the action. I kind of liked the 'war bonds sales' and rejection of CA by the troops sequence. It was a great way to slow things down after the dramatic NYC spy chase scene. It was a nice character building bit before we got into the "shit gets blown up" action shots. Shit does get blown up. CA jumps into the belly of the beast and shows why he is the super soldier. It's a fun action sequence of tanks, bad guys and anything metal getting blown up. The shield gets tossed around a lot. There are humorous moments and the requisite love story arc forced on us, but the love story is minimal. The ending is about sacrifice, and really that's the great theme through this book. Steve Rogers is ready to sacrifice his own needs or his personal safety for others, while the Red Skull is givent he same powers as CA but uses them for his own gain. This is popcorn fun, but with a nice message. I stood up after the credits and couldn't believe it was 2 hours already. I recommend it, and hope that Marvel can produce more fun and quality adaptations of their comics like Iron Man and Captain America in the future.

Will Obama Pull an LBJ?

2011-08-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

Every single time I think Obama can't look any weaker, he manages to surprise me. The debt ceiling deal is amazing as he didn't get anything he asked for, went back on things he'd vow he wouldn't do "I will not yield", and gave in to the party that held one house of congress. No one ever associated debt ceiling limits with other policy decisions. How in the world did Obama not see this when he extended the Bush tax cuts???? Is he that bad of a politician?

Yes. He is. He is great at selling himself. He is very book smart. He allowed people to project onto himself whatever they wanted? Brilliant technocrat moderate. Fierce liberal who will fight liberal fights. Calm under pressure. The smart black man married to a proudly black woman. The black kid raised by good white people. Whatever you wanted, he allowed you to think. A friend who works in congress thinks Obama would be best at a law school, wowing the 1st years and saying pleasant things to the academics. He called him the accidental president. I disagree. I believe president is a job he's always wanted, but once he attained it, he hated it. He's floundering now, and does he have any good surprises in the basket between now and fall of 2012? I don't think so.

Sitting at 1600 Penn Ave on the deck smoking a cig, does he have such an ego that he will run even if it looks dark or will he pull an LBJ and bow out? He's going to make that decision early 2012 to give the Dem team a chance to put together a candidate (Hillary or Howard Dean most likely) and get the cycle cranked. I think his ego is too big to play the humble role of LBJ, but let's put some odds out there. I would make it a longshot, but I'd say it is 20-1 right now that he'd not run for re-election. I made it a closer long shot as the long knives are coming out now, and his internal polling must reveal some scary data for a guy 15 months from election day with no economic recovery in sight. To my Democrat friends, I hope for your sake he steps down and gives Hillary a shot because she's your best chance in 2012. To my GOP friends, don't gloat because you can still lose, and even if you win, you have 3 years to get anything going. Of course, the Dem bench is so weak that '16 might see a 69 yr old Hillary running or some thin resumed fresh face.

Another New Song With Great Retro Sound

2011-08-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

This song sounds like it is from 1972. I love singing this and inserting any interesting combo of words I can in the 'money grabber' lyric place. It is great to see a band so committed to their total package like this band. This entire video has a time marker on it. It evokes that period of soul music. The little back to back dancing at 1:52 is a nice touch. It's something silly they would have done in a promotional video back then. The outline sequence from 2:02-2:18 is my wife's favorite part of the video. It is a very Austin Powersy touch. The look, sound and lyrics are fantastic and true to that old soul feel. The lead singer sounds like Hall from Hall and Oates. Great voice to sound like. I hope these guys come our way.

Fun New Song

2011-08-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

My wife and I love this song. I heard it on the radio one day and told her she had to listen to it. That bass line is just too menacing. We love the chorus for it's uplifting melody-dark lyrics fusion. We sing this song to our infant son. We have problems. I love the whistling. Best use of whistling since "Patience" by GnR.

Debt Deal or No Deal

2011-07-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

All sides have a share in the fault here. I'd once again state that Obama's advisors have failed him by not alerting him to tackling this when he caved on the Bush tax cut extensions. He is also a weak leader, and not having a plan of his own was a sad admission this week. I cannot believe a Democrat President is willing to cut SS and medica instead of discretionary spending. The fact that he nixed a deal the Senate Dems had worked out with the GOP is amazingly self-centered, but we shouldn't expect more than that from a guy who has written two books about himself. This is all a terrible kabuki theater act. We are broke, and the first step in tackling a problem is admitting it. Got gold?

Saying Goodbye to my Gramma

2011-07-24T18:45:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I received the call that my paternal grandmother had died. I 'spoke' to her on the phone the Friday before which was me telling her I loved her and that it was OK to go. All I heard was labored breathing like the dying breath of a suffocating woman. It really burns in my memory. She died in her sleep, which somehow comforts me. I'm glad she wasn't aware of her death nor that anyone has to live with the memory of her dying in their presence. My 15 year old cousin had visited her hours before her passing, and I am thankful he didn't witness that as he cried streams of tears after saying goodbye. I spent a few days home, saw lots of family, paid my respects and realized this was a lot easier now than it would have been 10 years ago.

When I was growing up, I often said I had two moms. My mom and my gramma. My parents both worked and she took care of us, later to be 'helped' by my retired grandfather. She was awesome to me. She was in her 50s through my childhood, so she had plenty of energy to keep up with us and do fun things. She had also given up on parenting so my teen aunts and uncles had free roam, while she could be super gramma to my sister and me. She was fantastic. My grandparents were dirt poor, lived in the scariest house I have ever been in, but they loved me immensely. Because of their love and my grandmother's care and affection, I never needed anything more and never cared that they did not have hot water in their house even in the 1980s.

My grandmother frustrated me, too. As she got older and her health started to fail, and as I got older and could recognize her (and my grandfather's) bad behaviors, I would get upset even though I knew they always loved me. I didn't like her manipulations of my dad and aunts/uncles, but she was a person, not just my gramma. I encouraged my gramma to eat right, to listen to her doctors, to do the rehab the nurses recommended, and to stay on top of her Diabetes and Parkinsons. When her thumb starting to tremor I got on her to get checked for Parkinsons. Her answer was "it's just a shake, I'm old". I said "No it might be Parkinsons and YOU'RE MY GRAMMA!" She was diagnosed in her late 60s and thankfully, the meds she was on could keep it limited for years to one hand/wrist. She rarely listened to her docs. It was aggravating. I knew she had limited time. Why didn't she? This was a downward spiral of worse health, more isolation, and the eventual state of her being overmedicated (cholesterol, parkinsons, diabetes, anti-cancer drugs all at once) and a prisoner to her own body. Her mind was still there; she just couldnt move. Heck, she couldn't sit up straight. My wife met her 8 years ago when she was immobile but still peppy, talkative, sharp as a knife and funny. We noticed she wasn't like that the last few years. If someone had not seen her for 5 years, they thankfully missed the worst years.

- My grandparents would argue, mostly in good humor but sometimes angry, and the exchanges would break down to her saying "Up yours/Fuck you, Arthur" and flipping the smallest 'bird' ever, then he'd say "Jesus Christ Jeanie". I was age 3-9. For a few years I thought Jesus Christ's last name was Jeanie.

- My gramma said "I love you" every single time I spoke to her.

- When I told my gramma about my first love and how she broke up with me, she said, "I knew you'd be like your grampa and fall hard, and she sounds nice but any girl that would break your heart is one fucking bitch".

- She didn't drink because of the alcoholics she grew up in the same home with, and she didn't smoke because during the war they sent her down as a little girl with ration stamps for meat. She stood in line and when she got to the coutner she realized they were ration cards for cigarettes. She cried, the store owner gave the stamp booklet's worth of cigs and she walked home in the rain with other people's cigarettes.

- When I found out in 2004 that she had cancer, my first thought was "What if she doesn't see me get married?" and my 2nd thought was "What if she dies before the Sox win a world series?"

- I called her when the Pats beat the Rams, when the Sox finally won it all, and even when the Sox lost to the Yankees the year before in crushing fashion.

- My gramma cried during games 6 and 7 of the 1986 World Series.

- When I first got my license, I drove right down to tell my grandparents. They were happy for me, congratulated me, and told me to DRIVE SAFELY. When my kid was born 15 years later, I called my gramma and couldn't keep her on the phone longer than 45 seconds. That hurt. That showed me how much she had changed and how far gone she was. The gramma who beamed at me driving and later graduating college became the gramma who couldn't stay on the phone for a minute when my first child was born whom we named in honor of her husband. What was her social calendar for that hour, day, week? Wait to die. Her change had helped me move down that process of accepting her death.

- When people die, I think the prime thing you can do is honor their memory and sacrifice in what you do and how you live your life. A great thing for you is to both take on their best traits and behaviors and learn from their mistakes.

I'll end this with a memory that was a constant repeat. My mom would drop us off sometimes dressed sometimes in pajamas in our pre-school days. I was 3-5 years old. On days when she had time, she'd put my shirt on and let me dance around the room to music like Tom Cruise in "Risky Business". On days when she had less time and patience, I'd put my pants on and then she'd say, "get up on the bed". I'd climb on her bed and be about her height. She'd say "arms up, eyes closed". She'd pull my shirt over my head and in that second where your skin scratches from the fabric she'd give me a kiss. I'd say "Gray gray" (my name for her) all annoyed, and then we'd hug. After a while, I knew what was coming, and she knew that I knew, but we didn't say anything. We kept up that routine and always end in a big hug. I hope once in your life you love a child and they love you as much as we loved each other.

Off to Maine

2011-07-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

I reflected just long enough for that family member to die.

Quiet, Just Reflecting

2011-07-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

I've been quiet recently as my paternal grandmother is facing death. This is the end, no question about it. As both grandparents will be dead on that side, it is a time to reflect on that side of my family, and the bits of family history that they have told me. I've prepared for this change and the coming loss. It still doesn't change it being a sad loss.

Casey Anthony: Why was Facebook on Fire?

2011-07-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Casey Anthony was a character in a made for court TV drama about a woman suspected of killing her daughter so it would not interfere with her awesome 20s lifestyle. She was found not guilty of murdering her child and even of child abuse/neglect, and the Facebook was not happy. Facebook was a great example of the public outrage as people might as well called for her head on a stick followed by the idiot jurors and prosecution team members. I have not seen such vitriol since W was in office.

Why? Who cares? This was a murder trial in Florida of the most horrific type crime in our imagination (filicide) by an attractive young mom, who then went out and partied for a month before saying the child was missing. There is a web of lies, and then a circus trial with the accused's mom playing a role in freeing her daughter. Yes, it is horrible, but it is one murder. This is the problem we run into with modern media and crime. While nationwide people knew of the Lindbergh baby or Lizzie Borden, murders like this did not get the nationwide media attention they do now. There also wouldn't be the Facebook friendly drinking and partying pictures to display of the horrible murdering mother. She didn't act remorseful on prison videos. She was 'bad'. We know too much and can be too connected.

It is a horrific story perfectly tailored for TV. It hits all of our 'oooh that's bad' buttons. The outrage at the not guilty verdict is also the release of pent up frustrations at our legal system, at the thought that there are two justice systems (rich vs. non-rich), at the oddities of family court, at the corruption elsewhere, reckless bankers that have not been arrested, and the knowledge of slaps on the wrist for other murders. Compare the Casey Anthony single murder to the Grand Rapids Mass Murder last week. The media showcased how one man murdered 7 people all because his wife was leaving him. His family blamed it on his bipolar disorder (which he received Social Security disability payments for), while others pointed out how violent he was and how many run ins with the law he had. We see that and think "why is he loose?". Some see it and think "Why were women having kids with him and dating him?". It's a far more heinous event than a single murder, but we can't scream for his blood as he killed himself. Casey Anthony was accused of murder and got off. She is most likely a monster who either killed her daughter or acted irresponsibly in a way that caused her daughter's death (suffocation by accident theory) and partied for a month after. Is she a career criminal who kills 7 people, including his own daughter, in a murdering rampage? No. Should we move on and focus our energies elsewhere? Yes. Your mental ejaculations on Facebook are worthless.

Mississippi vs. Colorado

2011-07-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

Mississippi has the highest obesity rate while Colorado has the lowest. This little blurb reinforces a lot of well known things in regards to obesity stats, and even mentions how willpower alone is not enough to stay thin. I agree. Willpower combined with common sense on portion sizes, food selection and activity can keep a person fit. The scariest thing is that Colorado's obesity rate (just under 20%), would have been the highest of all states in 1995. That is 16 years ago.

Song Reaction: Last Friday Night

2011-07-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

The recent pop release for Katy perry is "Last Friday Night", which my sister did not appreciate hearing with the 13 yr old and 1 yr old in the car. My wife and I were surprised, as my sister is not a prude so we searched for it online to listen to. The content of the lyrics are adult, but the context of a 'young' pop singer singing this in her teenybop way for the teen girls (and gay men) is what makes it a bit weird.

The beginning has house party imagery spotlighted by the stranger in the bed, hangover head ache, minibar smell of protagonist, and a Barbie (the doll) on the BBQ. Then the protagonist says it might be a hickie or a bruise, with pics online of the night, but just "oh well" and "it ruled". The imagery is of teen parties with plenty of bad adult behavior, but 'oh well' and hey it ruled. No consequences or fear. It will all work out.

Why?

Because the chorus and later verses. The chorus which talks about doing shots, not sure about sexual contact, maxing out credit cards and behaving so badly the bar kicks her out. THEN they streak, skinny dip and have a 3 way, with the chorus saying 'do it all again'. No consequences. The later verse references having a job, a car, and a party dress (adult items). The behavior is repeated, but now the subject is older. In the course of the song, the lyrics take you from wild child teen to wild child adult. No consequences. Do it all again, it will rule, because the worst thing that could happen is that the photos will end up online. Oh well.

The Hippies of the '60s

2011-07-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Great article, here, on the '60s radicals by Mark Ames. I do agree that the '60s have been overly portrayed as a sex, drugs, fun period for radicalism, with the harsher element to the Yippies covered up. It does portray them more naive and innocent to future generations, easier to dismiss and mock, but I think it also covers up the radical and dangerous side that many adults walking around today can tuck away for polite society. The political robberies, shootings and kidnappings of the ;ate 60s and early 70s seem like from a comic book. Even the extreme eco-terrorist people don't snatch people.

"Hey kids did you know mom and I were part of a commune style living organization that occasional robbed capitalist pig banks to bring the system down?"

"Wait, what? You sh*ts don't even want me to write a bad letter to the principal out of fear it will go on my record!"

Ridiculous.

Book Review: Caesar's "The Civil War"

2011-07-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Modern political memoirs or autobiographies are self serving tomes of doucheness. As I stated in my previous Caesar book review, the man was promoting himself, but discussing awesome political and military events. Caesar's "The Civil War" is a continuation of the Caesar literary tradition. Caesar explains what happened, from his point of view, and takes you 'there' to the moments of action or decision. Yes, history teachers, it is dead white guy reading, but this man set things in motion that we still feel the effects of today. At 140 pages, it is a quick and educational read.

Caesar makes a note in this book which is different from his tales from Gaul. He says "I think", which is odd as throughout his writing he writes in the third person. When he says "Caesar decided" it is the true thoughts of Caesar as he is the one writing it. This slip is right after his defeat at Dyrrachium to Pompey. He is explaining why he thinks Pompey did not follow through and rout his forces after the defeat and retreat. It appears Caesar is recalling a moment that could have changed his and Rome's trajectory (worldwide even more than he knew), and it shakes him so much that he drops the third eprson cold narration to say "I think". Whenever he wrote this memoir/history, that moment became a more personal reflection than the simple "I'm the righteous Roman", "Here's my strategy" or "this is how the battle went". One simple passage, but I loved seeing it.

This is the type of reading that a classics or Roman history professor should assign for everyone to read. It is a great discussion starter as it kind of reads like Caesar was doing some CYA in case he lost, he could defend his law abiding reasons for his decision to battle. It also reads like he is laying groundwork for what he had to sacrific and his followers efforts if he did win and would rule a bit cruelly. Throughout the Gaul book and this Civil War book, you see that Caesar was always thinking like a grand strategist. He would use all methods to defeat an enemy. He would spare his troops where he could. He picked the best fighting conditions when possible. He understood and encouraged his men, and was merciful to fallen enemies. He also left out parts that were nastier or a bit tricky. It is fascinating to read. It also shows once again, why the best generals or leaders think multidimensional. They approach the Gordian knot with a sword in hand as Alexander did. Problems should be looked at from all possible angles.

Happy 4th

2011-07-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the 4th with those you care about, and if you can't call them.

OK Prudent Homeowners, Get the Pitchforks Ready

2011-07-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me? Read this. The big banks are now reducing principal on mortgages for 'at risk' borrowers, yet still can claim the loan is worth the original amount on their accouting reports. I am ready for the pitchforks, tar, feathers and assorted 18th century public shaming techniques for these banksters.

The DSK Sexual Assault Fiasco

2011-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Because I dislike the low value, big media attention of political sex cases, I dislike writing about them. I see them as sideshow things like the Rep. Weiner lameness. The media loves to sell that type of news, and doesn't put in the effort to follow up on Fukushima, the Financial Crisis origins, etc., which are more of a process than a clean quick event. I did want to discuss the DSK fiasco as it has worldwide impact, has a 'hit' vibe to it, shows horrible decision making by the DA's office, and shows how bad the coverage was initially.

- DSK was head of the IMF. He was the lead challenger to Sarkozy in France for the presidency. He has stated that the world might have to change from the dollar as the reserve currency, and Sarkozy is in serious trouble as the country was mad at his leadership in austerity measures that helped keep France solvent (for at least another year).

- DSK was arrested and smeared as every questionable thing he had done with women was dragged up. He's gone from the IMF. He is smeared enough to leave Sarkozy with no big, public face to run against. Magically, the IMF installs a new chief and the case then comes into question. They just waited to have his replacement secured, then started expressing doubts? How long did they doubt the story but kept it under wraps so he couldn't attempt to get his old IMF job back? Banksters need to have their way.

- Physically, men can easily overpower many women as the average man is 5 inches taller than the average women and much stronger (on average). DSK is 62, a touch on the short side, tubby, and supposedly overpowered a 30 year old who is 6 feet tall to force her to perform fellatio on him. Physically, this just doesn't make sense.

- The media portrayed the accuer as an immigrant who had come to America for asylum, who had two small children, was deeply religious, and wanted a better life in America. She left the room in a hurry which could be seen on security cameras. The media wrote how DSK left the hotel in a hurry and got on a flight to get out of the country. Rape and run; that is how it was presented.

- The case is now on the verge of collapse. The accuser has far more dirty connections than anyone knew. The accuser spoke to her man in prison and talked about shaking DSK down for big money. The accuser's story has changed multiple times, and has been accused of lying on the witness stand in front of a grand jury by authorities. Men deposit money in her bank accounts, and she has 5 cell phones in her name yet only uses one. The accuser's asylum story doesn't match up as she has claimed a prior rape.... that no one can find any record of. She did not run from the room, but instead cleaned another room aftert he supposed attack. The smear now is on her as the rumors are that she was assigned to that hotel as a maid/prostitute.

- DSK left the hotel, had lunch with his daughter, phoned the hotel to say he left his cell phone behind, and then got on a plane to go back to France, which he had planned beforehand. Either his is one cold eyed sick man or an innocent guy who had sex with a maid.

- The DA decided to arrest DSK, a high profile individual, without evaluating the story beyond the initial report. DSK would have to return to America as head of the IMF, and you damn well know France does extradite criminals (Sarkozy would love handing him over). They could have investigated this further before creating an international scene. Why the rush to arrest?

I originally was skeptical of the accusation, but wanted to wait for evidence like security camera footage and the rape kit results. Things did not add up early, and are worse now. My final take is that the bankers, the elite and the cartel did not like DSK's statements about the dollar, gold and bailouts. Sarkozy did not like him, and Sarkozy has been a nice buddy to the euro banks with the Greece, Ireland, euro issues. This was a way to eliminate DSk as a threat. This also creates headlines to distract people from the 2nd great depression and the Libya fiasco. The big loser: women who do get raped and fear coming forward. Odd cases or false accusers that get huge coverage (the Duke lacrosse case) create a horrible environment for true rape victims.

Strength Training Article

2011-06-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Nice article on strength training in Men's Journal. First thing I have read in MJ in years.

Meditation Improves Your Health

2011-06-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Nice to see some science backing up something that feels right. We'll see if more studies can support the real impact meditation can have on our health. I like meditation just to get myself centered after a rough day or hectic moment. There is a mind-body connection, and we barely know anything about it.

Kid Fight Club

2011-06-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

As I come to the conclusion that organized sports are insane, I'm researching different martial arts for the bambino to participate in for some fun, some healthy activity, and some basics of self defense. There is so much mumbo jumbo with organized group sports nowadays that I loathe the idea of my boy playing team sports. My father is coaching baseball for what feels like the 40th year (close), and he says the ability is great but kids don't practice as much to refine their skills and there are more injuries from overuse. He talks about neverending seasons and people offering to pay him $100 for a 2 hour hitting 1 on 1 tutorial. Sounds like baby boomer late parents have found another child activity to kill. It's just as bad with other sports, but I'm willing to let the little guy try whatever he wants. Despite all of that, I'd like him to do a martial art just to see if he'll like it. It's just him, however hard he wants to push it.

Back in the '80s, my mom signed me up for a introductory boxing class at the organization that I believe became the Portland Boxing Club. In the 1980s with the Karate Kid and Rocky 3 and 4 movies, kids either wanted to box or do karate. Most of the kids in my neighborhood did karate at Villari's and some of us did boxing. After 3 months of beating each other up in the neighborhood (Kid Fight Club), my mom (and other moms) pulled me out of it for fear I was becoming too violent. The memory of this period went down the rabbit hole, but I forever remember the basics of punching, avoiding a punch and 'what you put in is what you get out'. I liked watching boxing matches but stopped after Don King rigged the first Holyfield-Lewis fight. I have drifted to MMA even if it feels like prison fights. I remember getting in a couple group fights in college and remember being amped up more than scared. How bad can Ivy League frat fights get? Fighting is wrong, but it is good to know you can defend yourself.

Enough with my '80s nostalgia! Here are the 3 disciplines I have researched that have gyms in the area:
1. Krav Maga - A big positive is that classes start as young as 3 years old just to learn coordinated moves and get a feel for movement. Downside is that most folks who know martial arts say that once you get past the 'mystique' of it being the Israeli Defense Forces combat training, it basically really good street fighting. The two gyms are very close by, so that gets a thumbs up.
2. Muay Thai - The classes start at age 7, and while one place is close the other gym far away. Lots of cool stuff that I think a kid would like, and it looks fun. It also seems like an intense work out, and if the boy wonder's energy levels now are any indicator of the teen years, he's going to need an outlet.
3. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Classes start at age 7, but I swear I saw a studio that started at age 5. Multiple studios in the area, and just about the best grappling technique I have read about on forums and websites. I also have memories of the Royce Gracie destroying opponents in the original UFC despite being much smaller than the other guys.

Gay Male Deaths from AIDS vs. Bully Inspired Gay Suicide

2011-06-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Gay men account for over half of the US HIV infections. Since 17,000 Americans died from AIDS in 2009, one could safely estimate that at least 3000 gay men died from AIDS related causes (most likely much higher). How many gay 'youth' suicides were there last year? 3 or 5.

Which was considered an epidemic?
Which got airtime on Ellen?
Which got an "It gets Better" video?

I'm straight, but I still care about HIV-AIDS. It is a lot higher on my medical priority list than gay teen suicides. It is like the media forgot how to cover big, long term stories. The media will guilt people over a few gay suicides like it is an epidemic (they can blame straighties), but will remain silent over the continuous death toll from HIV-AIDS. It's now just another statistic for them to report. It is a death sentence. Even with the great drug cocktails and antiretroviral drugs, infected people still die and god forbid they lose their insurance and have to go back on the 'old' drugs. Did they make the AIDS quilt for nothing?

So I Bumped into Gov. Daniels of Indiana

2011-06-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

I ran into Gov. Mitch Daniels last night and was really struck by a few things. I think there are some other reasons he did not run that no one has mentioned. Of course, he probably did private polling, evaluated campaign donation potential and then said "Nope", but I think there are a few reasons that other politicans will probably heed in the future. I'm not shy, and I gave him crap for not running and mentioned we're looking for a good governor to ride in compared to our current candidates. He gave me the 'there are a lot of reasons for not running' to which I answered "of course of course, plus you have to have the personality to go after that office". He couldn't look me in the eye when he gave his excuses. I think he'd make a good president, but I think he'd make a terrible presidential candidate.

1. He's soft spoken. Sadly, I don't think we can have that anymore in 24-7 media.
2. He's short. Any report of him being 5'8" is generous. I'm 6'1", my dad is 5'4" and no way is Daniels 5'8". He is 5'6"+/-.
3. His combover is terrible.
4. He'd look awful in HD. HD TV will probably prevent dumb Americans from ever voting for a candidate over 65 again. This might be why last year Obama was dying his hair, to slow down the aging process so he doesn't look like a tired, old man so soon. Daniels would look bad with his 62 year old skin (63 in 2012) and combover. HD TV will impact who runs. I now think Hillary will not run in 2016 because by then she is going to look awful in HD nearing 70.

We need to adjust our expectations of who will run, why they can run and the realistic chances in our modern technological age.

Red Wine for Good Health

2011-06-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

A lot of healthy eating and living advice sounds like a drag and no fun. One item I have warmed to over time is red win consumption. If you are a low carb person or paleo eater, red wine packs a lot of positives without a lot of carbs. Futurepundit has a lot of links to studies that point out the anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-obesity and good health boosting power of red wine. Wine drinking is also a part of that Mediterranean diet that scientists are high on, and red wine tastes good. It can help you 'feel' good, too. From my "Young American" years, I know very well how alcohol can make one feel good.

In different articles I have read, red wine is one of those good items for men's cardiovascular health. The blood thinning that comes with red wine drinking helps ease things for our hearts. I have seen a wide range of advice on daily drinking units. One of the above links says that less than a glass of red wine a day extends a man's life by 3.8 years, but I have read that 2 glasses a day can benefit a man's health. I average about half a glass of red wine a day (some days are dry). Some weekends I drink some hard alcohol, but hard alcohol is becoming a special event drink. My goal is to keep a nice balance in my diet and to add a touch of red wine a day. Like many others, I can get red wine migraines, so I have to make sure my red consumption is not all super dry reds. We can make a grown up version of the apple a day saying. A glass of red a day to keep the doctor away.

New Age Girl - Embedding Enabled

2011-06-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

I have typed my love for this song before, and now the record company has enabled embedding. Let's listen and enjoy.

The Anti-Incumbency Cycle

2011-06-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

It is going to happen again, and it will repeat 2 years later, and then again in 2016. The voters of America will throw out incumbents to replace them with other puppets of their donors (big money). This started in 2006. Dems replaced the GOP in Congress. They didn't do much of anything. Voters then replaced the party in power of the White House in 2008. 'Stuff' was done, which did not change much. The Dems were jerks about things, using a bit of procedural trickery to pass a health care bill no one knew the contents of, and were epicly booted out of office in 2010. The losses in Congress do not paint the full story as the Dems had 'retirements' of famous names (Dodd and Bayh) that were forced. Not much is getting done again because of gridlock and a President not smart enough to follow the Clinton-Reagan playbook and work with the other party in an effort to coopt their moves. I predict an Obama defeat in 2012. Don't worry Dems, I predict that POTUS to lose in 2016 unless he takes on the big banks (fat chance). We have entered the anti-incumbency cycle and will not break it until we recognize the problem of the system.

In my large metro city (1 mil pop), there was a property tax revision in 2007 to cover rising union costs. It happened and people got pissed off. The 2 term mayor who enjoyed popularity and had a voter party registration advantage was thrown out of office. Was it his fault? Not really, but he was the scapegoat for the system that through the years had awarded city employees richer and richer benefits. People still don't understand this problem fully despite the police department stating they had to put off buying active cops cars and equipment to put $2 mil in the RETIREE fund. Hello????? I predicted a huge anti-incumbency vibe in our country that would spare no one. It has largely proven correct, and is partly tied to the Tea Party movement which is anti-bailout, anti-crony capitalism. We have non-RINO Republican governors and senators in swing states and deeper blue areas like New England, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Some governors will enact reform which might spare their state carnage and buy them a 2nd term. Will the senators do the same? If not, they will be tossed out at the end of their first terms.

This will continue until the big banks are dealt with, we get serious about government reform, and we are honest about the need to balance the environment with the economy. When that happens, we will have true economic growth, which will give a President or the party in power a breather. I doubt this happening anytime soon as many folks though Obama's short track record was a good thing as he had less time to be corrupted. Wrong. Look at his campaign fundraising and his behavior in office with big business. He had 4 years as a US Senator, 2 of which were spent campaigning for POTUS, and he still was corrupted. When government services, power and control is lessened, businesses will pump less money into it. When the money is removed, the anti-incumbency cycle will end.

Overkill: Going After Smokers Some More

2011-06-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

It is not enough to have TV ads against smoking. It was not enough to educate people for decades on the health risks associated with smoking. It was not enough to raise taxes upon taxes on smoking. It was not enough to shake the cigarette companies down for billions, which did not bankrupt them as they just raised prices. Now they have to gross us all out with weird warning labels.

We lowered smoking % from 40% to 20%. It has stalled there. Maybe that is the lower bound. Maybe 1 in 5 adults will still be addicted to nicotine no matter what you say to them.

I'll be waiting for them to put labels like this on alcohol bottles.

Dads, Part 2

2011-06-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Try reading this and not feel a lump in your throat. This one had me thinking of my grandfather; multiple jobs, sunrise to sunset, work hard, lots of kids, and his dad was a cop.

Bastard Children in 2011

2011-06-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

of course, the news would throw a bucket on celebrating fathers' dya with sad stats about our present society. This study reveals a whole lot of common sense. Having a kid when married might lead to a more involved dad? Younger dads more likely to have kids out of wedlock? Guys who go to college are less likely to have kids out of wedlock? White men less likely to have kids out of wedlock? Go figure to all of this. It is still shocking that 41% of all children are born out of wedlock now compared to 5% in 1960. That is only 50 years. This will create problems. While I do not agree with this writer's policy ideas, he points out the dangers of 'fragile families'. The comments are great, and changes will ultimately come when we as a society stop looking the other way or staying silent when the family jackass says, "Jenny can raise Billy just as good as Mike and Jan could raise their kid".

While my fellow men have much to work on, there is a really glaring missing item from this article.

"Compared to women of previous generations, women are making poor choices by not using contraceptives nor in choosing sexual partners who might make good long term mates, creating environments that lead more often than not to future criminals.”

Governments enjoy rising tides and go broke, economies expand and contract, but people remain.

Dads

2011-06-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

While recently discussing politicians, athletes, criminals and every combination of those three, a friend and I were discussing how fathers are involved so importantly in shaping how these men act as adults. I boiled it down to a simple binary input model to explain the success of the individuals we were discussing.

1. A dad instills a belief in their son that they have the ability to put in the effort and the natural ability to overcome obstacles and achieve what they seek.

or

2. A dad tears down and constantly rips their child so that the child has a massive chip on their shoulder and works forever on becoming the best.

Simplistic, yes, but we ran through example after example and found the same two input models. Many people we discussed had achieved similar success and int he same field, but they might have a different dad input.

The Final Statement of the NH Man who Burned Himself

2011-06-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sad story of how the family court system works. The system pushed the wrong Army veteran who did quite a bit of research into his 'final statement'. Watching friends & family go throught he family court system, there is no doubt in my mind that reform needs to be made there. I hope to never find myself in the family courts. Sad.

I do love that this NH man cited the history behind "Live free or die". It's my favorite state motto.

Brazilian Blogger Destroys Self Righteous Black American Female

2011-06-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

So on tumblr, they have an 'ask' feature where you can ask a tumblr blogger a question. On the tumblr that is devoted to posting photos of the beautiful women of Brazil, one of those self righteous bloggers left a comment that was not a question but an ivory tower, multicultural, mini-rant full of lies. The blogger said they receive comments like this and decided to respond to this one. It is awesome. I had to click on the commenter's tumblr. Lame.

That blog is not safe for work. It is full of barely clothed or naked women of all stripes.

Grass Fed Butter

2011-06-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

Is there really a difference in the taste of grass fed cow butter vs. grain fed cow butter? This page has the benefits of grass fed butter, but come on, the real bit is the taste test. I'm going to look for some, and I hear very good things about Anchor. While I dislike the air of moral superiority that people put on when they talk about organic food (you mean the farming that seems to be the source of all e.coli outbreaks?) and shopping at Whole Foods, I am always in search of healthy food that tastes great. If anyone knows of American grass fed butter brands, let me know.

I'll get it salted too as yes, salt doesn't kill you; you're more likely to die if you don't eat enough of it.

Movie Review: Less Than Zero

2011-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Totally '80s! That is "Less Than Zero" in 2 words. Another title could have been "Just Say No", as this movie was a huge anti-cocaine movie at the end of the '80s. The movie hits you over the head with it. Is the movie fun? Yes. is the movie an awesome time capsule fo the '80s? Yes. Does it feel like an MTV made movie? Yes. "Less Than Zero" is entertaining & memorable, and that is what films aim for, right? It is popcorn fun, but let's discuss a few things.

1. The Christmas dinner scene needs to be saved as a time capsule for the '80s. The clothes, hair, decorations, paint, and make up all scream the '80s. It was like the '80s exploded in that room. That horrible toast with the awkward blended family dinner was unintentionally funny. What were we thinking in the '80s? The shoulder pads are atrocious. They not only pop shoulders up an inch or two but they jut them out beyond the normal shoulder curve.

2. James Spader plays the jerk, Robert Downey Jr. is the wild card and Andrew McCarthy is the good boy. This was an '80s formula. Spader played a jerk in multiple '80s films, and really sells his gay drug dealer character well. I enjoy his work (great work on one ep of Seinfeld), and wish he had a bigger career. McCarthy has the same face in everything and is a horrible actor. "But I love her", might have been his most repeated line in all of his movies. Wooden acting could not extend his career once his looks started to change. Downey does a great job and is incredibly charismatic. I loved the little scene he had with McCarhty's sister. I always liked Downey but considered him the Scott Weiland of acting in the '90s where he had a lot of talent but loved heroin. I am glad he cleaned up. Prison can change some people.

3. Their smiles are all off except Spader, including Gertz. Hollywood before widespread use of veneers is interesting to see. Same goes for Gertz and Downey's old noses.

4. Why did Gertz not have a bigger career? She was in "The Lost Boys", "Square Pegs" and this... and then did nothing. She plays the coke party girl well, and all of her dialogue when high seems pretty authentic. She turned down the role of Monica on "Friends". I bet she wishes she had that one back.

5. The apartment McCarthy has as a frosh 'back east' in college has the biggest bedroom I have seen an 18 year old have. That could be in a movie in 1987, but not now. Too many people know about how college works and how expensive an apartment is in NYC.

Movie Idea: Gypsy Fire

2011-06-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

This is a vigilante movie, but because you can't make vigilante movies anymore in America (why is there no Death Wish remake???) as the criminals would have to be made politically correct (multicultural gangs that don't exist in real life), I will set it in France.

Opening credit sequence is American living in French suburb gets dressed for the day and kisses wife and toddler good-bye. Car driving sequence into Paris, with an obvious showing of how his neighborhood is kind of a deserted suburb with some odd gypsy families occupying some of the homes. In Paris, American discusses his latest, completed manuscript and mentions some uncertainty concerning where he wants to take his writing in the future. He gets a cell text stating emergency. He ends meeting and calls wife, frantic call and he needs to go to police station, child is missing. At police station, wife recount tale. They did have a chip implant in their boy when he was a baby. Call is made to that company and police/that company locate child, maybe have a middle of the night, sleeping in the police station moment. Child is located in some gypsy child stealing network location. Police are thankful as a lot of people don't have that child tracking bit, and this might help others by locating some of these child snatchers. Couple uhhh, prods the police about their neighbors who are gypsies, and the police say they will investigate. On drive home ending as they pass by gypsy occupied homes, husband acts naive and expects some resolution, French wife informs him it will go nowhere.

Following scene is family out on walk with kid in stroller. When they pass a gypsy home the husband stops by to talk to a gypsy family. Skirts around child snatching, but mentions he wants to be friendly neighbors. Gets stonewalled. Wife tells him he doesn't understand and should not even talk to them. He asks why they can occupy a home, she says she doesn't know but knows the subdivision failed which is why they got the home for a song. They start getting weird 'messages' like a dead rat in their driveway or windows broken while they are gone. The couple call the developer and meet him. In his office, small model of the subdivision. He (old man) explains how the subdivision couldn't find buyers, he cut prices for a few families (where leads live) and then gypsies started to move in near the division's entrance. By French law, even if he clears them out, he has to sell the homes within 60 days, if not, they can occupy them again and it is a back & forth game. He hates it as it kills him financially. Husband is dumbfounded by the squatters' rights. They leave. Next scene is a middle of the night frantic wake up as a room is on fire. Something burning was thrown through a window. They put out fire. Husband tells wife to take child and go to her parents' house. They pack and go. He says he'll settle this. He gets on the phone and calls his older brother.

Sh*t gets real. Lead picks up his bro at airport. Bro is veteran. Harder around the edges. After military life, has been kicking it in south america. Opposite of his brother the family man writer. On drive home mentions he waned some fun. Brothers discuss old hunting trips with their dead father. Talk about amateur pyrotechnics. After drive back, which takes them through Gypsy part of division with revelry and noise. The brothers have a beer at his house and lead explains what has happened. Brother has ideas. Brother also has to joke on the lead's domestic life. End scene with "we need to go shopping". While they are out buying items, the lead calls the developer. After the shopping trip, they meet. They have a strained conversation about the Gypsies. Developer oddly gives him a slight blessing and hands him the model of the subdivision. Back at the lead's home, the bros use the model of the subdivision to plan some events and in the garage, they are brewing up 'things'. This is a montage of course. The brothers wake up the next day to see police cars next door and another family has made a complaint about the gypsies ('someone' set their trash cans aflame full of garbage). Police say they will talk to Gypsies, but the neighbors are distraught and excitedly talk of packing up and scramming for a bit. Sympathetic cop shrugs his shoulders and mentions a remark about how he can't get the gypsies out. Lead talks to male neighbor, and male neighbor says they do not want to move but want to get away for a week or two. That will calm his family down. lead calls developer and apologizes for any damage, asks about insurance on development for the developer, and tells him he will take care of things this weekend. This is the last straw.

After sunset, you see the brothers moving things around in the neighborhood and setting some trashcans upside down in odd spots. Back at the house, they suit up, burn the subdivision model (oooh, symbolic foreshadowing), and even the vet bro puts on a ghetto looking night vision goggle. Yeah, I want a night vision cam in this action sequence. They tear sh*t up. First you see a flare get shot near the gypsy occupied home and it catches fire and burns some vehicles. Gypsies come out and start yelling at each other. They walk towards an upside down trashcan and as they get close it blows the f*ck up. Gypsies come out of the homes with guns, screaming obscenities. Standard action sequences with sh*t getting blown up, people scramming off in vehicles, houses on fire. Vet bro uses up all their home made explosives to leave nothing behind. There are dead bodies everywhere. Brothers walk back to the house as random explosions go off. They clean up and enjoy a beer together. A car comes up to the driveway and the vet bro grabs a shotgun. The doorbell rings and the lead answers to the door to find the developer. He has a bottle of wine in his hands and mentions that they will need an alibi. As they drink, they phone in the disturbance. Police come, take statements, "we didn't call right off the bat as they make noise over there often", sympathetic cop says how it must be gypsy gang violence. Next morning, driving sequence of lead and bro going to wife's family home. Reunion scene with kiss and hugs. Last scene is shot of demo crew razing the burnt homes as lead's family is out for walk in the neighborhood.

Cast

Lead - John Krasinski - You know, this guy is actually a decent actor on the office. He's an everyman, and I can see him being macho enough to pull off some vigilante justice, but sensitive enough to be a writer living in France. I also think he could physically transform over the course of the movie from well dressed family man writer to vigilante, blow sh*t up guy.
Vet Bro - Thomas Jane - Macho older brother type. Always enjoyed his work. I like him in grittier roles. I think he'd excel as the wise cracking, gun toting, explosive making older brother.
Wife - Eva Green - Yes, this is an excuse to cast another hot French chick.
Developer - White haired old guy who is slightly overweight. They can find some old French actor for this role.

What Happened to My "Liberal" Friends?

2011-06-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

It seems as if my old liberal friends and family members are selling out, morphing or becoming pure statists. I find out old ex-gfs that said they'd save the world are now selling real estate. I see my friends who said they would be journalists to uncover truths or professors to educate students go to law school and become corporate lawyers and consultants. Even worse, my super liberal family members are part of those 'word' crusades. You know the ones where they say using a word is not cool, unacceptable or "makes you the worst person since Hitler". These are the same family members who embraced socially liberal things before everyone else. Now.... don't dare call someone 'queer', 'slut' or 'retarded' in front of them. I guess freedom of speech went out the window with their sense of humor. I miss the old friends and family I used to have.

Voting for Democrats and supporting gay marriage does not make you liberal.

The American Tar 'n Feathers Resistance: For Profit Educators: Pigs at the Trough

2011-06-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

The American Tar 'n Feathers Resistance: For Profit Educators: Pigs at the Trough: "James Chanos is one of the best out of the box thinkers in the investment world. He predicted the Enron house of cards -- I highly recommend..."

- Please read this as it discusses shenanigans of the for profit college racket. This scratches the surface of problems, and hopefully, you might see more work on these schools. Kaplan Colleges are part of this racket, and they are owned by the Washington Post, generating much needed revenue for the Wapo family. This is why they will not take this racket on int he media; they make too much money as a part of it.

Saving Money: Make Your Own Baby Food

2011-06-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

In the current climate of food inflation, people are looking to save money wherever they can. People also are getting the guilt trip to eat organic (I don't care and slightly dislike organic). Organic food usually costs more. Baby food costs big bucks because it is for babies and anything with a baby or wedding label has an automatic 30% mark up. You see the conundrum. What is a person to do with a baby?

Make your own baby food.

It is pretty easy. Buy the produce you wish to feed your child. Cook it, skin it, whatever it. Puree it to the recommended consistency. Chill in an ice cube tray for longer term storage. Feed child. Cackle with laughter at your savings over organic baby food. My wife recently made 18 oz of baby banana food with a bunch of bananas that cost $1.59. Compared to the baby food at that Amazon link, my wife's per oz cost was around .09 vs. the packaged cost of .22 (excluding shipping). Huge savings, same organic feel good vibe, except you know no preservatives or additives are in the food.

I am reminded of a previous argument I had with how easy it is to eat well or a prepared meal, with of course whining by a bleeding heart lib in the comments section, and this is no different. This takes very little time and investment. Buy a blender or one of those hand power mixers, which are useful in general in the kitchen. For banana preparation, all it takes it a fork to mash the bananas properly. It takes time. Spend 15 minutes prepping your kid's food rather than watching TV, surfing the Internet or being an ass, and save some money. It really is easy. It just takes a small bit of effort. In the end, it's a benefit for your kid and your wallet.

Odd Background Star Wars Characters: Salacious Crumb

2011-06-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

When I look back at the Star Wars original trilogy, I am constantly amazed how well done the puppet characters were. The puppets are of course fake, but they look much better than the CGI creatures of the prequels. The cantina scene from a New Hope might be the finest collection of puppets in a scene ever. Consider how the movie going public easily accepted a scene that was mostly men in alien costumes and puppets. Just 6 years later, that scene was considered superior to the scene in Jabba the Hutt's palace. Until CGI can properly capture grime and filth, I'll take puppets and make up over CGI every day and twice on Sunday.

There is one puppet I was repulsed by as a child but enjoyed: Salacious Crumb. He was the upright rat looking creature next to Jabba. He cackled and was a jerk. He was so gross looking. He mouth was a different color, and not a red or pink, but a brownish-black. Look at the photo! He's gross. He has turkey neck wrinkles and mangy hair. Even worse, he kind of eyes Princess Leia when she's chained to Jabba. That would not stand with 3 year old me! While a small, background character, Crumb is a wonderful little detail. It is the care that makes a film a classic and beloved. It's why the prequels will never be a match for the original trilogy.

Gays Less Than 5% of US Population

2011-05-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

Vindication. The General Social Survey data reveals some interesting stuff, and the blogger I linked to did a tally of those who claimed to have same sex partners. He threw in bisexuals as well and split it out by race (not quite, but I bet the Asian data sample was too small at 5% of total US pop). I'm even shocked it is 3.5%, but adding in a fudge factor for people who would lie in an anonymous survey, the number maybe gets to 5%. Americans think it is 25% or so. Maybe they watch too much TV. Big paper here.

Just happy as I once tried to tell a teen that gays make up 5% of the population, maybe 10% if including one time experiments. Thankfully, the GSS is available and not locked under politically correct key.

La Resistance Lives On

2011-05-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

Nice blog right here that is hoping to spread some good information on the problems right now between the revolving door between Wall St. and Washington D.C. and how it affects us all. His stuff is well researched and not too long to read. After hearing how bad the Memorial Day Holiday was in soem big US cities, I can't imagine how bad it could get when the food stamp EBT cards aren't refilled.

I Thought Libya Would be Days Not Weeks

2011-05-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

America's involvement in the Libya action has passed the war powers resolution line and would now require Congressional approval. Obama claims that the 'kinetic action' is so minimal that it does not, yet when he began the Libya thing he cited the war powers piece as his justification for not needing Congressional approval. What I find disturbing is that the media has turned a blind eye at this entire operation. I shouldn't be surprised they will do it for a Democrat president, but ahem, isn't this a pretty lame breaking of the rules, in a lame operation, with no real cause, and oil at the heart of it. Isn't this tailor made for the media to get morally outraged over?

Anyone know why we're involved? Who we're aligned with? Why we're involved here but not in Syria? When it will end? Are we targeting Qadafi or no? How stupid this all looks?

Israel Gets My Support

2011-05-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

About 40 secs in, a heckler jumps in. Netanyahu gives her a moment, and calmly reminds the audience, Congress, that this is OK. This is the beauty of real democracy.

The Jews made a nation in a sleepy backwater of the Middle East that couldn't grow anything. I'll support Israel as long as they are a beacon of free speech and support for the US in an area of the world that hates us and the basic rights of men and women.

California to Release 46K Criminals Back into the Population

2011-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

The liberal wing of the Supreme Court and Justice Kennedy voted to allow Cali to release 46K criminals back into the population (5 to 4, dammit!). Kennedy was the swing vote, as he has been for what seems like 5+ years now. The guy will have a great book written about him after his retirement how his moderate stance gave him control of the SC for years. I really hope the 'wise Latina' Sotomayor and her fellow liberal justices feel good allowing California to release 46,000 criminals back into the population.

We were making good progress in reducing violent crime (5.5% drop). Wonderful progress despite the economic depression around us. Guess that bleeding heart poverty causes crime thing doesn't hold up. I could see poverty causing a robbery or crimes against property, but not murder or rape. That takes a special level of depravity.... not being poor.

Woman Rips Beyonce's Fake Girl Power Anthem

2011-05-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Nice takedown of the new Beyonce song. I alwasy found it odd that Beyonce could sing songs like "No Scrubs" and "Bills Bills Bills" which wanted a man who could pay for her life, and within the same year release "Independent Women". Yeah... no mixed messages there.

Extreme Couponing

2011-05-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

I am all for saving money. I support my wife's couponing to help offset the horrible food inflation going on in our Great Depression 2.0. I just hope she does not turn into one of those extreme couponers. At what point does it turn from a hobby to save money to a form of OCD? I'd put up with excessive hand washing instead of stockpiling laundry detergent.

Love

2011-05-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

When work absolutely sucks, I just pull up one of my boy's little pictures. The world is right again.

People I'd Vote for President in 2012

2011-05-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Democrats
1. Howard Dean
2. Mark Warner

Republicans
1. Chris Christie
2. Rick Perry
3. Mitch Daniels
4. Mitt Romney

Rapes of Peace Corps Volunteers

2011-05-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

I find it quite disturbing that the Peace Corps would have a climate of cover up in regards to rapings of idealistic & young female volunteers. The Peace Corps stands behind their statement that they do not put their volunteers in unsafe environments, but let's be honest, if the Peace Corps is there, it is an unsafe country. I fully support the legislation of Congress members Poe (R) and Tsongas (D), who are trying to make the Peace Corps (PC) responsive to attacked females. Side note: everything bad about COngress is on display int he last few paragraphs as some Democrats are hesitant to undermine PC as it might hurt the legacy program of a Democrat president. Jeee-sus. I think the spirit of PC is awesome, but we should face facts that these people are volunteering in tough locations, not a Swiss ski resort. At the core of this problem though is why would the PC cover this up? Let's consider the program, its volunteers, its target audience and all of that fun stuff.

1. Locations: you go to shitholes that need volunteers from America to provide basic things we Americans take for granted. Look at that map. You little volunteer are not staying at the Ritz and seeing the Great Wall of China. No, you're going to the interior with the industrial pollution and malnourished kids.
2. People: You the volunteer are probably some doe eyed college graduate who thinks America is evil and unsafe, and that the 3rd world is full of happy natives just waiting for you to help and enlighten. You might have had it so easy, that you don't have to get a job right out of college and can fuck off for a year or two. The people you are helping, and probably thought were oppressed 3rd worlders, are probably living on less than $3 a day, have lots of problems, have a culture that doesn't think highly of women, and might have anger management issues.
3. The Peace Corps: They are a government program of liberals who will cover up any bad behavior by any person who is poor in order to rope more volunteers and more funding. It is a lot harder to persuade people that a program is good when the volunteers who are trying to HELP the oppressed people come back raped & scarred for life. Sorry, Suzy, you're just going to have to take one for the liberal team. Think parents would support their kids joining the PC if they had that in the back of their minds.
4. Moral Snobbery: Volunteer for the PC and you get to hang that over every other person who claims to care for the poor. "Yeah, I helped some kids in Tanzania plant a tree... it was the first tree they ever planted.... they laughed & danced in a circle... I cried watching them from a few yards away". That is the type of story the moral snobs will throw in your face about their PC experience. That is gone when someone gets raped. Think they are going to tell you about the kids they helped or the water project that worked. F*ck no, they won't even let out one peep about that time as rape at knifepoint in a 3rd world country is pretty horrible and can scar a person for life.

It has to be sad to want to help the world, and in that process of helping, have the darker side of the world reveal itself. We take for granted the freedom of fear we have in many communities in America. I know a healthy dose of college education in the humanities pounds it into people's heads that Western Civ is bad, the 3rd world is no worse (moral relativism), and peopel are at their base 'good' (society makes them evil). Sorry, the real world is grey. The real world is pretty scary. Yeah a "Take Back the Night" event does make sense in big American cities, but for the 3rd world, it's "Don't go Out at Night". I spent time in developed European countries, and I sometimes felt that below the surface danger. I can't imagine what goes through these young women's heads when they are giving their time, energy and emotion into a volunteer project, and they are violently attacked. The Peace Corps owes it to them to treat them with dignity and the improve protection.. maybe even provide some social justice.

Zombies & Conversation Narcissists

2011-05-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

The previous 6 month period has been one of reflection. Part of it was anticipating the birth of our first child. Part of it was disgust with a lot of people I interacted with, society in general, and the further devolution of the nation/world. Another motivator was discussing a lot of life's big questions or ideas with enlightened & younger family members, and how would my wife and I craft an environment that would be best for our future son. A major theme has been how people define themselves; their prime motivators for living. What to do in and with one's life?

One thing I focus on is the idea that even if I disapprove or am not happy with the adult decisions my child will eventually begint o make at age 18, I'll support him as long as he is healthy and happy. Whether Buddhist monk or chemical engineer, I will give 100% support. How he chooses to define himself, through work, travel, lifestyle choices is up to him. As long as he is healthy and happy, that is what I can wish for. This has been a constant refrain between my wife and I. What baffles us, is how so many people make decisions that do not lead to good health or happiness. The idea of soul development might as well be alien to them. Why is this? Why do people choose to become morbidly obese? Why do people choose lazy outs with bad results, that they know are coming, rather than reach for something more? Why do people become TV zombies?

People do want more. People will usually select 'more please' for good things or will desire optimal health/looks. They don't do the work though to get those things. Many people seem to desire more, but also seem to look around and go "screw working for anything" and settle into a routine of face stuffing, mind numbing and vegging out. It takes work to think, act, expand one's circles and knowledge, and that might be it. People just take the path of least resistance. Some social pundits have stated that the supreme goal in our mdoern society is to maximize status. This runs counter to what I see. How are people who cocoon themselves and zone out choosing to maximize status within their social or familial circle? I would support the notion that people try to maximize their status when in conversations or social settings as conversation narcissists, but when out of that environment turn back into zombies. It is fake. It is a fraud. It is easy to see through, but annoying to witness.

We have a conversation narcissist at work who is 250+ lbs and hates her life. She never speaks positive of anything in her home life, she turns every other person's anecdote into a way to relate or turn it back to her, and she has to stay at work 10 hours a day because she 'times out' of work too often from her socializing. She joins weight watchers every year to lose like 25 lbs, then gain 40 back. She walks weird and will probably die before age 70. I wonder what she would say if asked what her prime motivator in life is. These are the thoughts that run through my head when conversation narcissists and zombies cross my path.

Sat Night Music: Cry for Help by Rick Astley

2011-05-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Soooo smooth. The music industry had no clue how to market this guy with his beautiful voice and flaming red hair. That jacket is so early 90s. Just enjoy that 2nd verse and the bridge. That is a smooth, f-ing pop ballad.

Book Review: The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar

2011-05-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

Why yes, this is a book review of a work by the Julius Caesar. Caesar wrote commentaries, which read like memoirs, of his near decade warring, exploring and conquering Gaul. The book is living history and a primary source for events from 2000 years ago. While not a fantastic piece of writing, it has a value in its mere existence. Caesar was quite the warrior and statesman, but could he write?

What we have are translations to read, unless you want to find a version in Latin and go wild. Caesar is very smart to leave out some cruel realities of a war of conquest in hostile territory in ancient times. Caesar gives some interesting details on the peoples that he is meeting: the Gauls, the British Gauls, the Germans and random areas of France. I enjoyed reading how the tribes were eager to get their hands on as much wine as possible. I never knew that the Gauls were taller than the Roman (and laughed at their diminutive stature), and the Germans towered over the Romans. His descriptions of Gaul and German life is a bit of fluff compared tot he action elsewhere, but it is an itneresting look at one leader's mind and views of 'barbarians'. This can't be surprising considering modern France's reputation for wine and champagne. One important thing to keep in mind is Caesar wrote this not for historical preservation, but for his own reputation in the contemporary political landscape of the late Roman Republic. He protects some people in his commentaries, and he pushes the complexity of his task. This is a bit like the memoir of Douglas MacArthur and a bit like the self serving memoirs of modern US politicians like Barack Obama, Romney and McCain. These are much closer to MacArthur's book as they explain tough decisions in a position of leadership.

Examining Caesar's performance as a general, wow, talk about writing a great memoir to explain one's amazing ability. He has one defeat, which is mostly due to zealous soldiers and tribunes who disobeyed an order. He uses spies. He uses trickery to disguise numbers or fool the enemy. He negotiates with wavering neutrals to secure forces. He is merciful at times, but he is cruel at other times. He tries to only engage the enemy when the battleground favors his men. Caesar is a great blend of politician and warrior, as he can play the different tribes off one another yet has the military intelligence to win battle after battle. He gets the most out of his men, listens to the centurions, and keeps at his soldiers despite fighting in an alien land. These commentaries are dry, but definitely an interesting read.

Grey's Anatomy Overboard

2011-05-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have disliked Grey's Anatomy (GA) from day 1. It's a super chick show. It's really obvious in its PC crap. I did think it is weird how the writers made the original female characters so despicable and every man an amazing well rounded man. That threw me off. I understand that Hollywood and TV go way out of their way to PC up or push certain narratives, which GA did an amazing job by having the hospital in Seattle have 3 black doctors (one who was chief) but only one Asian doctor... yeah, because that is realistic. I have noticed a real push not just in a particular narrative, but how they set up editing which has forced me to not even be in the room when my wife watches the show.

Grey's Anatomy has spent the last few season basically saying "straight people take for granted marriage and are bad with it, while gay marriage is a beautiful expression of love that is superior". This is coming from someone who supports gay rights to recognition of unions. While reading on the couch, my wife watched her Tivoed episode ("White Wedding") of GA. Any straight person reacting less than super supportive to the gay ceremony was bad, and they threw in religious maliciousness for good evil measure, and the final scene was split between a straight couple going to a judge for a quick civil ceremony to make their marriage legal while the gay couple had this huge, 'beautiful' ceremony that sadly you evil person that is part of the 50% at home that don't consider it a real marriage should recognize. Grey's had previously juxtaposed a surgeon quickie marriage to a stranger to get him on her health insurance in an altruistic move to 'help' someone w/o insurance (hahaha, another lib narrative pushed) while a gay guy was hurt by an accident at the ceremony his partner set up that was over the top to try to make the marriage 'mean' something special more than just going to a judge for a civil union event. What was GA trying to brainwash you with in that episode? White Wedding took it to a new level.

I rolled my eyes at about 20 spots during the new, White Wedding episode. The final scene of quick editing to bounce betweent he straight take it for granted vs. gay beautiful but not recognized was so obvious and lame. It saddens me how obvious and overt the message is, and that to even push back on it would get a person the 'homophobe' smear. I've spent nearly 30 years watching TV (far less now), and have seen countless handsome and superfit gay men, countless attractive lesbians, and the gay relationships are always pure of heart with evil relatives that don't understand and occasionally that enlightened parent/sibling that supports and embraces the gayness on TV. This does have an impact on people as TV is sadly a large impact on our culture and society, and people are weak. I can't count how many unattractive and overweight gay men I have met. I can't count how many absolutely ugly lesbians I have met. I openly have discussed the lightning speed that my gay friends' relationships seem to be paced at. Yes, TV portrays just about everything in a skewed manner, but gay stuff on TV is ridiculous. Grey's takes it all to another level on one specific topic within the gay community.

The OBL Raid Pic

2011-05-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

One thing The Obama advisor team is good at is PR. They have really stunk it up with the OBL raid. Actually, it does seem fitting that the military would TCB and then the politicians would flub it. That has been our last 20 years of history. The story changing, the withholding of any photos, releasing info that Valerie Jarrett said NOT to do it and she is a special advisor to Obama, and countless other things have all added to a 'it's the rookie squad' feel to this. Back to the photo, what idiot released this as the photo of the raid viewing (which has changed into a blackout viewing)? Can you spot which person is the POTUS who made the decision in this photo? This photo was totally controlled, and they could have rigged it better.

1. The POTUS should be in the big chair. That projects power and control.
2. The POTUS should be centered.
3. The POTUS should not look scared and desperate. He's hunched over and looks down. Contrast Obama with lower right corner white shirt wearing man, standing suit man, AF guy, and even Hil-dawg. Lower right corner white shirt guy looks in control and serious. Someone should have said to Obama, "hey, do what this guy is doing and sit in the big leather chair".
4. Why is the POTUS wearing a winter/fall looking coat indoors?
5. If this is staged, and the White House has admitted some of these things were staged and chnaged their story, why didn't they take 5 mins to do a wardrobe change and rearrange the room? This could have been a powerful photo and iconic image for Obama, but I doubt he'll want to use it in the future.

Things I Talk to My Black Female Coworkers About that I Couldn't Say on TV

2011-05-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

I know I am a charismatic guy, but for some odd reason, two of my closest friends at work are black females 10+ years my elder. It might be my hidden knowledge of 1970s 'black music', my jokes on rappers turning into beer spokesmen and family movie stars, or my 'unexpected' ability to dance well. In reality, we share common interests, laugh at many of the same jokes, and are honest with each other. Over the course of 4+ years, we have discussed many things that I'd get banned from TV for asking or discussing. I can get away with things because that is what I do in general, and because we are good friends. They are both great coworkers, have been to my house, were some of the first to know at work about my wife's pregnancy, have great senses of humor, and are good people. I enjoy finding out answers to things I'd never hear the truth about on a TV or NY Times article. The topics, which we will bring up multiple times, are:

1. The constant eye rolling of black women at the antics of black men. Supposedly, they can roll their eyes while closed.
2. The dearth of good brothers to marry, but the pressure from mom to stay within the black race while their brothers sleep with fat white women.
3. How one ABW (angry black woman) is Ok in a situation, but two will lead to trouble. Two can enter, only one can leave.
4. White woman welfare (child support), which I think I posted about before here.
5. The pressure to give in with regards to sex at a young age because there are fewer men to go around so all options are used to try to keep him.
6. Fighting the good fight to get your kids to behave well when no one else's parent seems to be trying.
7. Bad schools because of the kids from the hood who will hold your kid back academically but your child will want to do everything socially with the very same kids.
8. Hair, hair care, hair extensions, wigs, and black on black female pressure concerning hair.
9. The circling of the wagons to defend any black male celeb (R Kelly is mentioned often) accused of any wrong doing, but no circling of the wagons to defend black women who are single moms not by choice but by a man running out on them blasted by politicians for years who are at the bottom of society's totem pole.
10. The 50% black male drop out rate, and how every excuse will be given for them when the same schools graduate much higher rates of black females.
11. Money vs. Wealth: how the black community needs to explain the difference.
12. There is no female Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton because she is too busy with a real job.
13. Finding out on date 3 that your date has served time in jail for the 5th time in your life.
14. The competition that ensues over a man with a job as a W2 normal worker. The underground, cash economy is even bigger than I assumed.
15. Wanting to adopt but fearing the behavior of the birth mother. (this applies to everyone but no one would say this on TV and survive)
16. Wanting to move to the suburbs but getting pressure to not sell out, not moving, then listening to the same family members that pressured you to not move lament over the state of the schools in your community.
17. Seeing Jackson/Sharpton ride into town over a black male in trouble that is his fault but no attention for the countless rape victims within the black female community (this has happened in my metro area & was the saddest conversation we have had). From all of our conversations, I'd guess that sex crimes & cover up in the black community are a HUGE problem even bigger than the statistics show.
18. The 73% illegitimate birth rate, and how it seems only their mom was the one that stressed the importance of getting married first.
19. How come most of the mainstream black female sex symbols seem to have one white parent?
20. Queen Latifah stealing roles from black unknown actresses. "Robbery" was the exact word used in relation to Queen Latifah being the lead in any movie.

I'm an equal opportunity person who just wants the best classmates, coworkers, bosses, people around me. I don't buy into the diversity kumbaya crap they sold me in school as to why diversity is good for a school, a company, etc. It is fascinating, as a seeker of knowledge, to learn about a community, even if there is little I'd want to enjoy within that community. Regarding the realm of diversity, diversity of religions has had the greatest impact on me. Learning about the Jewish faith & code of living, learning about Buddhism & Hinduism from South Asian friends, and learning that Islam has a mystic following (Sufism) as well as the hard line Salafist/Wahhabist styles has had a great impact on how I live my life.

Rewarding Feeling

2011-05-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

It was wrong for Obama to send more soldiers to Afganistan; we needed to leave!
Enhanced interrogation was a moral outrage!
The JSOC was Cheney's personal assassination death squad!
We should respect the sovereign rights of nations!

All out the window when your guy is POTUS. I really dislike lies, and I love my country. I am happy about the death of the spiritual head of Al Qaeda and terrorist no. 1, Osama Bin Laden. It is the exclamation point to the demise of Al Qaeda's influence and power. What is especially rewarding is seeing my Demo-douche friends on Facebook cheer on an event that was possible primarily through all of the mechanisms that they protested and blasted as 'evil' for years. Welcome to the dark side.

Breaking the Chains of Love

2011-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

I used to dance around to this as a kid. This song was written for all those who had died from AIDS in the gay community in the 80s. Man, was I a sheltered kid from Maine.

2nd Thoughts: Pakistan Duped Us for Years

2011-05-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Osama was living in a giant compound with 12 foot walls less than a mile from the Pakistani Military Academy, two hospitals and other swank spots. We had known of his whereabouts for 10 months but waited until now to make a run at it. We just tossed his body into the sea without any photos to show the world as proof. I am glad to see him gone, but something feels wrong. Well, something besides Pakistan duping us for a decade while they sheltered him. I also want to point out that Pakistan lied to the US for decades about their nuke program and received aid, all the while aggressively working on a nuke program.

Nice article here.

Bin laden is Dead

2011-05-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

He is just one man, but some men matter more than others. Osama Bin laden is dead.

It took 10 years, but it is hard to go into hostile territory the size of California looking for one man when he's got plenty of friendly cover. Looking back on 10 years of conflict, Bin laden's way of doing things and his ideology has been a big failure. Jihad has seen its support decrease, Iraq had a choice between Islamofascism with jihadis in control & a republic with connections to Western ideas and they chose to work for the republic, Arab nations are expressing a desire for more freedoms, and Bin laden dies in a cave on the run. He hadn't even put out a taped message or video recently. The Al Qaeda power structure is looking more and more like a mob family. Sure there are sympathizers and cells, but what does it do for a cause to see its biggest name tracked down and killed like a dog? Time will tell what impact this has on the entire war on terror, and we can only hope it leads to greater peace and prosperity ahead.

Book Review: The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

2011-04-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

I love alternate history and what ifs. I do get a bit annoyed how so many alt history novels involve Nazis, but in the authors' defense, the Nazis are a truly odd regime with a lot of paperwork, audio and video left behind. Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" is set in an alternate America, Alaska to be exact, in our contemporary era but with some twists. The basic premise is that the Jews found refuge in Alaska in 1940, saving millions of lives in Europe, but after the Jewish state was stillborn in the Middle East in 1948, more Jews relocated to Alaska. The province is facing 'reversion' back to US control, and the Jews face another Diaspora. In the middle of all of this, a detective who is at the bottom of society's totem pole won't give up on a fishy murder of some heroin junkie in his flea bag hotel.

This is a fun book that is a wonderful homage to old detective noir tales and immigrant Yiddish culture. Sometimes it is tongue in cheek like a cop named Spade or kind of lame like the need for the detective to have a drinking problem that he can fix by the end of the book (whoa, he didn't need Intervention?). I enjoyed a lot of the Jewish-Yiddish stuff as it took me back to college at Cornell, candles lit in December and Matza during Passover. My Jewish friends seemed a bit exotic at the time, and when thrown together were like force multipliers. This book is like that, and delves into those niches of casual Jews, orthodox, and then the super-strict. The small references to their odd alternate world, as well as the definite post-9/11 influence, make this topical and interesting, but the characters hold the book together. Detective Landsman, Berko, and the random Jews of Sitka are fun characters. I liked the buddy cop interplay, the constant chess references, and the family ties.

This book is being turned into a movie by the Coen Brothers. Of course. There are enough quirky characters in this book to meet their needs. I'd love them to turn this into a 3 part miniseries for HBO to really flesh it out, but I'll settle for a Coen classic. I can just see Buscemi, Turturro and of course Goodman (as the Verbover rebbe Shpilman) in this. This is a fun read, and you can find it cheap on amazon.com's marketplace. Check out used book stores as well. It's a breeze to read and would make a great summertime beach book.

Easter with Family

2011-04-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was great seeing family for Easter. Normal good times were had and good food was consumed. My highlight was spending about 8 hours smoking cigars, drinking whiskey and expanding minds with my cousin. I was smart and bought a smaller cigar and smoked slower. Nature worked with us and the temperature stayed above 60. It was an excellent night. No hangovers, no bad coughing, no nicotine poisoning. Much talk about the comic moments of the past and the opportunities of the future. I think I also explained the oldest memory of a musical connection for my cousin. Just a great night. There will be many more. Spend time with the ones you love, and you will be rewarded.

The Reason I Can't Wait to Get Home

2011-04-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Have a good Easter weekend. We have family coming in to see this little guy. Every single day, I bring his photo up on my computer at work just to look at him. He looks a lot like mom, but he's a big flirt already like dad.

My Brush With Nicotine Poisoning

2011-04-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

After a month of sitting in my new cigar box, I managed to take out one of the nice, smooth Macanudos I bought for a nice night and smoked 80% of it in about 20 mins.

1. I forgot you should smoke cigars much slower than that
2. I am not a regular smoker
3. I am pretty sure I had a bout with nicotine poisoning.

I had almost all of the symptoms listed. I know that certain cigars can do this to me, as I had to lie down once when I smoked half of a Cuban I brought back from my honeymoon. I am not a smoker, and my biochemistry is sensitive to nicotine. I used to have cigars in college and randomly once I graduated. I was trying to wait for the first warm spring weekend night, and because I jumped the gun smoked it fast in the cold. Nicotine does give me a slight head rush, which I know from all 13 cigarettes I have ever smoked. Cigars can contain the nicotine equivalent of a half dozen cigarettes, and because your lips absorb nicotine very effectively, it hits you faster. Nicotine, like cocaine, caffeine, marijuana, etc., is a drug like any other.

Book Review: The Arabs by David Lamb

2011-04-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Looking at the recent news, a really interesting book to read to get a leg up on others is "The Arabs" by David Lamb. This is a much less intense book and shorter in duration. Part of that might be from the stability of the Middle East during Lamb's time there compared to Africa's tumultuous late 70s. Lamb does a nice job of giving an overview of the strong men who rule, the way Islam has permeated all forms of life in the Arab world, the odd space cities out of sand oil provinces, and the people who with sudden wealth have done a lot to try to pick the best of modern technology while retaining their way of life. Lamb also gives a pretty even handed account of the Israel/Arab/Palestinean relationship, which is so dysfunctional in all regards.

This is the revised edition, so it was written 20 years ago and then updated. I would love to see Lamb write another book say 5 years from now. To know there is a 2nd fledgling democracy in Iraq now, to see the Middle East countries on fire, and to see Khadafi giving the middle finger to the US, UK, and France must be on the tip of Lamb's tongue and on his mind. Seriously, the other Arab dictators and Saddam dead in hell, must be jealous of Khadafi's stand. As his book points out, there is tension beneath the surface in many of these countries that increases in food prices could start riots. This is a quick and good read.

What is a shame, is that you will read this book and realize that if we did not depend on oil so much (especially imported oil), we would not be subject to the volatility of oil, and therefore not base our foreign policy decisions on supporting dipsticks because it keeps oil prices down. Imagine the US not intervening in what would be a sleepy portion of the 3rd world so often because someone is an oil producer. Imagine the US being able to stand besides the oldest democracy in the Middle East, Israel instead of having to be somewhat impartial and 'understand' the other side that calls for Israel's destruction. Imagine either an America/West that could either respect the goings on inside the oil producers' borders and socieities or not have an economic blackmail piece to push the dictatorships towards democracy and better human rights. An American economy not tied so tightly to oil would make this a reality. I can hope for change.

Book Review: Gulag Archipelago Vol 2

2011-04-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

After reading volume 1 of the Gulag Archipelago by Alexander Solzhenitsyn, I had to find the 2nd volume. Solzhenitsyn picks up where he left off and this is once again a sledgehammer to the farce of Communism and to the reader's soul. The first volume ended just on the cusp of 'camp' and this 2nd volume takes you inside the camp. Solzhenitsyn's dark humor is on display here with witty and humorous comments throughout the book and even in the footnotes. How is this different than the first volume? How does Solzhenitsyn keep you hooked for another 700 pages after the onslaught of volume 1? He does it with beautiful writing and the truth.

Solzhenitsyn starts witht he history of the first work camps and from there describes all of the inhabitants and how camp culture permeated Russian culture while the archipelago was in place. It is incredibly depressing to read how camps were designed, run and staffed. You might read 75 pages and have to take a break because the subject material is so heavy. Solzhenitsyn goes through every type of camp citizen from the common thieves, the plight of women, the politicals, the 'trusties' (prisoners given better jobs), the camp keepers, and the wretched children in camps. A reader will understand daily camp life. A person might ask how does a country staff the camps for their own people, and Solzhenitsyn answers it with the camp keeper MVD selection process. I found the passages on camp 'marriages' entertaining, as even in the most shitty conditions, humans seek companionship and love. The sections about the plight of women and children are heart wrenching. One thing that I love about Solzhenitsyn is that he explains how each piece can fit intot he larger Soviet society framework and within each section he can display an example of said topic or an outlier.

In this book, he is a bit critical of the post-gulag era literature and takes to task people's memories. I really enjyoed his slaying of the rose colored reflections, the after the fact confessions, the focus on certain types of prison suffering but not others or the complete amnesia about certain things. He intends to shine the light of truth on the system so that the younger generations do not hear a filtered, sanitized version of the gulag. He is no saint as he admits int he book how the camp security came after him to be a stool pigeon, and he sort of caved partially. Solzhenitsyn had to write sections of the book in different locations out of fear certain apartments could be ransacked and the manuscripts found and destroyed, and these other fools would gloss over the horrible system or say "nothing like that could happen now".

The most beautiful and sad part of the book is the section (part 4) about the soul and barbed wire. This is the how the mind works in gulag section. How does one survive? How do you cope? How does a nation cope? How does a person not be corrupted? How does the soul progress in prison? He weaves a wonderful picture of how the mind operates in prison when it knows it is innocent, how the politicals who were innocent endured, and how the human soul can fight on. While this is a depressing book, it is also an inspiring book. The final 100 +/- pages about the soul in camp will inspire a reader. Eeven when all hope is lost, when everything is grueling and these people felt isolated, they endured and survived. His book is their testament and their story.

Political Cartoon on Inflation

2011-04-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

I bet this political cartoon comes back from the '70s very very soon. Prices are higher in the middle of a depression with no wage increases or new jobs in sight. This cartoon captures that awful feeling that the middle and lower classes share right now. It will be back.

Work, Being One of Them

2011-04-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

We had a wave of departures:
1. retirement - happy, yeah!
2. new job elsewhere - happy, yeah!
3. VP lost a political battle - boo hiss!
4. Someone got let go as they are useless - meh.

It is sad to see anyone los their job, especially in this economic environment, but the termination was super emotional for her. She spoke to me for 10 mins then started crying. She has not had any good other opportunities as first interviews don't lead to call backs. It was uncomfortable, and I enjoyed working with her. I also was freaked out by her focus on the job giving her a sense of purpose and her exaggeration on work. I get work is important, but it should not give you a sense of purpose. You should find that elsewhere.

Seriously, work can pay the bills, it can be fun, it can give you a sense of pride, it can give you a lot of emotions or a sense of satisfaction, but a sense of purpose? Purpose, as I understood her use of it, is the reason to exist. I think she might be a little over the top as she is losing her job right now and has nothing lined up. I never want a job to be my purpose. To feel that way, I'd become one of them. I never want work to define my identity or why I get up in the morning. I won't become a zombie.

Absinthe Poster

2011-04-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

I love this poster. I love that it was an advertisement for a trippy drink with a semi-nude woman in 1896. Wonderful.

The Hunt

2011-04-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

I read American Psycho about 4 years ago when I first moved to the Midwest. I gave my copy to a family member. I am now hunting for a 1st edition. It has to be first edition as subsequent editions were tamed down for public consumption. This and the Memoirs of Marshal Mannerheim are on the top of my rare books list. Abe Books supposedly has both and for decent prices, but has anyone ever used Abe Books?

Why Reverse Mortgages are Bad Ideas

2011-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

Please click here and read why reverse mortgages are bad ideas in retirement. I had this debate years ago with my parents about handling my grandparents' situation. I said if they take out a reverse mortgage they can kiss selling that home and having anything to pay for nursing home care if needed. The link is a great housing blog with a cheeky attitude. If I may add....

1. A reverse mortgage creates a new debt in retirement for your estate and heirs to pay off
2. A reverse mortgage creates a debt based on fictitious wealth: "home equity"
3. A reverse mortgage opens you up to the banks and their stealth fees and penalties
4. You can access that equity in your home by selling your house and downsizing or moving to a less pricey area.

I bring the 3rd point up as my credit card company tried to tag me with a finance charge when I paid my bill in full on time. Yup, $15 and change, and I called them about it. No basis for it. The customer service person handled it well and apologized for whatever demented executive that came up with the idea of randomly charging finance fees on stable customers and seeing if they will fight it. The 4th point is that you can't have it all. You can't stay in the same home but have access to that equity without paying your pound of flesh or leaving that home. Life is a series of trade offs.

Paglia on Taylor

2011-04-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

Cosign. I wish more women in Hollywood could physical and sensually represent what Taylor represented. It is OK to have strength in sexiness. Shame it gets confined to the random, odd actress like Christina Hendricks and Sofa Vergara.

RC Copters

2011-04-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Purchasing two RC copters for me and my boy. Sure he is only 2.5 months old, but he can watch me and his mom fly them.

Japanese Nightmare Nuclear Scenario Once Again Possible

2011-04-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Video is at the link. There is now the possibility, which previously had been 'ruled out', of Fukushima going Chernobyl now. This is especially troublesome as there is more nuclear material in Fukushima than there was at the Chernobyl site. As Japan has run out of plans, it appears pouring concrete on the reactor is there only solution to dealing with it, which a week ago was seen as a worst case option.

My First Gun Show

2011-04-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

I grew up going to my grandparents constantly with hunting rifles and shotguns on the wall of my grampa's den. Never in 15 years of visiting with those guns present did I ever find the ammunition. When my grandfather stopped hunting, an uncle took his (and his father's) guns and kept them in a cabinet in his house. I grew up amongst responsible gun owners. I first fired a rifle and hand gun with my friend and his dad as a teen. Once again, we had never seen the ammunition but knew where his guns were on the rack in the basement. I've also had a loaded gun pointed at my face by an irresponsible gun owner. That idiot kept a loaded gun under his bed and stumbled out of his bedroom, WITHOUT HIS CONTACT LENSES IN, into his living room to check on the intruder using his computer at 3pm. I still don't talk to my aunt's husband. There are good gun owners and bad gun owners. My father-in-law has recommended that I purchase a gun for home safety (or personal safety in my car) and offered guidance with making a selection. With the arrival of a quarterly gun show, I took him up on his offer.

As a threesome, my father-in-law took me and my 21 year old cousin for a trip into the subculture of gun owners in America. My cousin had seen a Lady Gaga show recently, so this was the Yin to that crowd's Yang. What we found were very friendly vendors. The sellers were incredibly nice with trying to help us find the gun we were looking to purchase. One might have expected the sellers to be condescending to say a 21 year old female in a hipster looking outfit, but they were very friendly. It helped to have my extremely knowledgeable father-in-law as an interpreter and insider. Even as a novice, the vendors did not speak to me like I was a dolt outsider. They asked for my 'needs' and did not try to upsell me, which could have been very easy. There was something a bit old timey how they often said, get this in your hands and get a feel for it before you narrow down your choices.

While the sellers were nice with me, I absolutely loved their interactions with my younger cousin. The very first vendor had us cracking up. He consciously took into account a female keeping a gun in her purse as he explained why she should look at hammerless revolvers. He drew up a hypothetical of a Jammal or Bubba walking toward her on the street late at night. He even looked at her purse to consider what would fit. This honestly made us all laugh. At each table, they would see her and as she viewed different hand guns, they'd pull out the pink handle gun they kept under the table for the one feminine looking woman per show (I assume). When she would say "I don't need a pink gun, I just need something that can kill", they would laugh and put it away. There was an odd chivalry about it. One vendor said "2 shots will kill Mr. Rapist, but next 3 are to make sure". I asked one seller about the pepper spray advancements and taser guns, but as he said "men on meth don't stop for pepper spray". Sad truth of modern drug abuse.

I ended up purchasing a hand gun. Thanks to modern technology, they can use the internet to do a background check in 5 minutes. One clean record later, and I was looking for ammunition. My next purchase is for a fingerprint locked small safe to store this gun. I do not want a combination or key lock as a kid can always find a way around it. With a fingerprint lock, I can keep access limited to my wife and I. My father-in-law and I have talked about it, and while a fingerprint/biometric lock might be more expensive, it is the safer way to go with curious kids.

Why I Don't Support Anything Beyond a No Fly Zone in Libya?

2011-04-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

This other blogger does a great job of listing some ideas on Libya and how we can or should act. Gadafi is a tyrant who was behind the Lockerbie bombing and has supported terrorism for years. The unfortunate thing is President Obama has waffled with what the objectives are and most importantly, we do not know who the rebels are or how big of a force they are. They sound more and more like a small band of fighters with limited support that have ties with Al Qaeda. A no fly zone can be administered and handled in a multinational way (the Brits sent 1 submarine, hahahaha), but what we are doing now is beyond a No Fly Zone as we bomb ground forces and cities (which could kill innocent civilians, the horror). Russia has commented on this mission creep, as this could set up an odd precedent.

Syria has had protests and is gunning down civilians yet Sec of State Clinton said that we will not intervene. So killing civilians with helicopters is worthy of intervention but using just machine guns is within a sovereign nation's right? The Ivory Coast has a civil war type conflict, slaughtered civilians, and calls for the leader to step down. Will we intervene? Most likely no. No oil in Syria or the Ivory Coast. This is the slippery slope one slides down when the rationale for war is flimsy, when objectives are ill defined and when you have a half hearted effort for a commander in chief who does not sound like his heart is in this. Obama's half hearted efforts in so many things are extremely dangerous when war is involved. This is where his squishy inability to stand up even for things he was supposedly voted into office to do or his base desires with strong support (public option, taxing the top 1%, pulling out of Afganistan) really hurts us as a nation. He also hurts himself with his non-stop chatter in useless ways, like when he said the fighting would be 'days not weeks'. Never overpromise and underdeliver, wait that is his entire career.

A problem with Libya is that the rebels have limited weapons and limited money. They are dependent on outside aid. Heck, they sound like they do not like fighting. France was smart to recognize them and set up an embassy to start covert aid. That should be the funnel for aid, money and weaponry. The rebels are going up against an oil wealthy dictator with over 100 tons of gold. Gadafi's gold wealth could keep a fight going for years. I was surprised when it looked like Gadafi would be overthrown so quickly, and am depressed to think that I had a better view of how Gadafi would fight back than our Sec of State and President. Our military has grown too powerful and awesome for the civilians in charge of it. This statement applies to the last 15 years of our republic.

Zombies Beware

2011-03-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

The guy's accent is awesome, as is the ESPIRIT t-shirt.

Prostitots - Who to blame?

2011-03-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

Prostitots is a word I picked up from a funny football website guru that I exchange emails with from time to time. This word sprung to life after several trips to a city mall in Philly where he was swarmed literally by packs of 11-14 year old girls wearing skimpy clothing and lots of make up. I have been running with this word ever since I heard it. It is in any mall in any area. Some areas have more than other, but it is a nationwide phenomenom. How did this happen? When did this behavior that was always present in 'those girls' go mainstream?

One Wall St Journal op-ed dared to lay blame at the moms' feet. Salon got out a horse from the stable to defend moms (and slutty dressed tweens) because no one should ever be criticized. One survey showed teens are having less sex nowadays (I'd add Internet Porn to a reason the blogger lists for less teen sex). There is definitely something disturbing about pre-teens and teens tarting it up, and this is something both parents (mom and dad) have a responsibility to handle. While Salon does have a point that dressing slutty doesn't automatically lead to regret, but at 11-14, a young girl might have the physical tools or know how the basic process goes from a class or a talk with mom and dad, but that does not mean she is mentally ready to handle sex with most likely a slightly older, horny 15-16 year old who has been rejected by girls his age and needs some release. Why can't people let kids be kids? The dress and shotgun blast of makeup will attract many young men. That attention sometimes comes with activity. Why are parents setting their 11-14 year old daughters up for situations that they might not be ready mentally or emotionally for? This has gone mainstream when we know early sexual activity doesn't have a lot of happy endings. Salon misses the point as they cannot lay blame at any woman's feet, god forbid the feminism liberated sexuality narrative be destroyed.

I do blame moms. As the primary role model, they can set the tone. They can be a good model and also the first line of defense. I cite moms first because we live in a society where 41% of new births are bastard children so mom is the sole parental figure. I cite moms because more often than dads they get custody in a divorce. They also have 'been there'. They understand the game. I think one of th ebest Mad Men dialogues ever was when Betty Draper explained to Sally why a first kiss is special. Dads are also to blame, but I will cut slack to dads who had family court screw them over with custody. Dads know the mind of a teenage boy. Why would you drench a swimmer in blood and drop them into the shark tank? This is the same as sending a skanked out daughter to the mall with her friends. This is absentee fathering at its worst. If a dad is home and lets this happen, it is even worse. Sack up and tell your wife to fuck off for once before your daughter devolves into a Sex and the City mini-me who only feels right if there is a man in her life and a cosmo in her hand.

While this skank dress up and aggressive behavior has always been with us, it has not been so mainstream. A good friend cited how the Britney Spears media blitz really brought it to life as she was constantly pushed as a saucy minx.... and she was still 18. Miley Cyrus has not helped, nor has the general lowering of female standards when it comes to behavior. A far more insightful analysis fo this entire slutty tweens idea is here, "Raising Feral Females". What happens to the prostitots by the time they reach 21? With so many out there, how can we tell? This is a huge national experiment. Will oral cancer, HPV and herpes infections just keep rising? Probably. Will these girls grow up to be women who only assign value to their looks and how many guys they can attract, therefore suffering catastrophic ego destruction if they are not married by 30? Yes, I see it already in my generation. Will we see more out of wedlock babies? Most likely.

5 Mins of Tidal Wave Fury

2011-03-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

New Shocking Video Of The Japanese Tsunami by timbarracuda

Syria Protests

2011-03-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Now Syrians are openly protesting against their government. This is a revolution we should support as the reigning crew is an ally of Iran. Let our admin use nice words to support the pro-democracy groups. Rule in the Middle East should be: If Iran wants to see the revolution, don't support it. If Iran doesn't like the revolution, SUPPORT IT OPENLY.

NY Times Discovers Islamists Might Eventually Control Egypt

2011-03-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Gee whiz, the Islamists might end up in charge of Egypt after that glorious revolution shouting for democracy. The NY Times finally caught on!!! Why are libs and the media they control always so naive about 'revolutions'? Wait, these are the same assholes who thought the Russian Revolution of 1917 and subsequent Soviet republic was a good thing.

Jeez, even I was worried about that months ago.

Japanese Reactor Damage

2011-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Zero hedge has been a better source for news on Japan's nuke problem and cover up than th emainstream media. Let us hope this news means that the lies and dishonesty have been to prevent mass panic and help allow for orderly evacuations.

RIP Liz Taylor

2011-03-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Last of the old Hollywood glam guard. She had such a high peak, and maintained a high level of dominance and glam for so long. From Father of the Bride through the 70s, she was incredibly beautiful and glam. By the time I was a kid in the '80s, she was a tabloid figure and a crusader for AIDS research.

Free to Fail

2011-03-23T17:47:00.001-07:00

"There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail", Eric Hoffer - social writer and philosopher.

Between my thoughts on childhood identification and hearing a Chuck Klosterman interview where he described the world around us as one that is increasingly being designed and configured as if everyone was a child, I have been focused on that fascination people have with childhood and the nostalgia of going back. There are different views on freedom, and my beloved view is that we are free to be ourselves to act in our best interests as long as we do no harm, being free to succeed, fail, pursue and possibly find happiness. There is another view, which I like to call the statist liberal view of freedom, that means all the tough stuff will be taken care of by some 'other' and you're free to have no consequences fun.

There is a huge pull towards the statist liberal view of freedom. Who wouldn't want to not have to worry about the tough stuff? I view that as a simplistically childish view. Right there is where the draw is: childhood. Consider how many people wish to relive their childhood. Consider how many people want to go back. Why? They want to go back to when life was simple because nothing you made a decision on had a major consequence, yet part of that desire to go back is so you can do things differently because so much looks so important in hindsight. Bills, the future, and where you'd live were problems for your parents to figure out; all you had to do was wake up, maybe do a chore, and then play all day long. Even at school, you followed orders and a schedule designed by someone else. If we do say that true childhood ends around ages 10-11, nothing you had in class for a subject was too taxing. The tough stuff was taken care of, all you had to do was wake up, live by someone's rules (who put the roof over your head and food on your plate), and play. It still blows my mind that idea of going back and reliving it being held by people who simultaneously would redo many things.

I am always worried about the 'tough stuff accounted for, just go have fun' freedom because of my experiences with college friends who grew up in Russia and the Eastern bloc. No consequences can lead to no conscience or no motivation. The 'important stuff' taken care of by the state can mean one set of goods for you and one set of goods for the guy who is connected. It means a loss in the freedom to choose your life, the responsibility to those you have a contract with, the reliability as an adult member of a community, not just the fun stuff, but the complete life you want to live.