Archive for September 2007

The monthlies.

• Press Lines Them Up, Bush Hits Them Deep

  Bush was asked about the state of the economy at today’s press conference, which I unfortunately missed. There were some good lines, including Bush starting off by saying, “I say that the fundamentals of our nation’s economy are strong.” Simon says. Bush: “You need to talk to an economist. I think I got a ‘B’ [...]

• In the News

  - A bill that would allow the children of illegal aliens that have excelled in high school to be exempt from deportation if they go to college is being considered in the Senate. This is what we are waiting for, sensible immigration policy. Alas, the right are calling it “amnesty.” Amnesty is “an act of [...]

• Lilo and Stitch 2

  Lilo needs to create a hula and Stitch “has a glitch.” Trouble ensues. (I think this is a Dickens’ adaptation, if I am not mistaken.) Not nearly as good as the original. The best thing: only 70 minutes in length. (Returned 07/07/06.) Rent with Netflix.

• In the News… Quote Me.

  Thought I’d go two days without an in the news… – Rudy Giuliani’s new campaign slogan: “I’m probably one of the four or five best known Americans in the world.” Better than the last one. – Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the Iraq war: “If I’d known then what I know now, would I have [...]

• Syriana

  Overhyped. This film has its good parts and its boring parts. A powerful film that could have been, in my opinion, a little better. Several actors certainly deserve praise. In the end, the hype unfortunately ruined it for me. Plus it is hard to follow, but that could be my fault. (Returned 07/03/06.) Rent with [...]

• Early Evening Politoon

  Toles on the planning of the great heist… Image: Washington Post

• Firewall

  You cannot go wrong with any Harrison Ford picture, but this one doesn’t live up to the standard. We have seen this storyline before — wife/family gets kidnapped, quiet Harrison Ford saves the day. And the movie just ends suddenly. (Returned 06/27/06.) Rent with Netflix.

• Early Evening Politoon

  Toles on America’s patience… Image: Washington Post You see what I did there, a pun… patience, patients. I’m so smart.

• Origin of General "Betray Us"

  The now-infamous General Petraeus / General Betray Us ad may have it’s true origins centered around here… reyonthehill. Back in May, while liveblogging a Bush press conference, I made an off-hand remark that Bush’s repetitious naming of “General Petraeus, General Petraeus” reminded me of a song from a classic Simpsons episode. A reader at this [...]

• In the News… Again.

  - Markos (of DailyKos) turned down a meeting with Bill Clinton, because he “had better things to do with [his] time.” That’s dumb. I’ve got better things to do than blog, but I still do it. (What am I saying? No I don’t.) – Bush really wants a speedy confirmation of his newly-appointed attorney general. [...]

• In the News

  - Former Federal Reserve Chairmen Alan Greenspan on the economics of the Iraq war: “I have never heard them [President Bush and Vice President Cheney] basically say, ‘We’ve got to protect the oil supplies of the world,’ but that would have been my motive.” Mine too; it’s the only logical reason. – I’m thinking Bush [...]

• The Weather Man

  An “everyday man” story. This film has been greatly overlooked. It should be considered in the league with American Beauty; the genres (and stories) are similar. (The Weather Man may be better.) (Returned 06/21/06.) Rent with Netflix.

• Best of Travels in Europe with Rick Steves: France

  This may be a tad dated, but Steves is the best in the business. He is just so “cute” sometimes. (Returned 06/16/06.) Rent with Netflix.

• Midmorning Politoon

  Auth on Bush’s plan for success in Iraq (pass the buck)… Image: Yahoo!

• Police Interview OJ Witness

  Police: And what did the criminal look like? Witness: OJ Simpson. Police: What do you mean? Witness: I mean, he looked just like OJ Simpson. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was him. He was wearing Bruno Maglis and black gloves. Police: Are you sure? Witness: Dude, it was fuckin’ OJ Simpson.

• Freedomland

  This is one of those movies where you really don’t want to keep watching because you don’t really care for the characters, but you want to see what happens. (Returned 06/12/06.) Rent with Netflix.

• When Nanotechnology Calls, You Answer

  Random email of the week, maybe year (not caught by my spam filter)… Just this April, a large cross-departmental group of Stanford faculty was awarded a multi-million dollar grant to take up such challenges and develop new devices and technology for use in 3-D ICs. Chidsey, for instance, is one of the researchers involved in [...]

• Keys to Success

  John Hodgeman presented his keys to success in Iraq on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart… (By way of Swampland.)

• In the News

  - MoveOn.org apparently paid less for ad space in the New York Times than conservative groups. This has upset the conservatives to no end, and they “demand the same ad rate [that MoveOn.org] paid.” Someone get a textbook, teach the conservatives the laws of supply and demand. – Speaking of MoveOn.org’s now infamous ad — [...]

• A History of Violence

  A great story. (Returned 06/08/06.) Rent with Netflix.

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