Archive for December 2007

George Washington Myth

The myth of George Washington is a long and storied one (and let us pause for a moment to realize that Washington was not the first president of the United States, he was the first president under the Constitution; the distributed Declaration of Independence, for one, was signed by “John Hancock, President”), and this music [...]

Major League

This is certainly in the top five baseball movies, and is the best baseball comedy, hands down. This must be seen in its original version, and not on TBS or another cable outlet that dubs over every curse word, because there are so many, and they are a part of the film. (Returned 06/04/07.) Rent [...]

Democrat Bracket, Final

This is what it is all about. (1) Hillary Clinton – NY===================== Clinton(8) Dennis Kucinich – OH ==================================== Clinton (4) Bill Richardson – NM===================== Richardson(5) Joe Biden – DE ================================================== Edwards (3) John Edwards – NC===================== Edwards(6) Christopher Dodd – CT ==================================== Edwards (2) Barack Obama – IL===================== Obama(7) Mike Gravel – AK There is [...]

Globe Trekker: California

California is too big to cover in only one hour. And too much time was wasted in Hollywood. Ugh. (Returned 05/18/07.) Rent with Netflix.

Muccubus

At the seminal moment in the South Park television program, Chef’s father accurately described Chef’s bride-to-be, “She’s a god damn succubus.“ But what is the opposite of the succubus? Where a succubus is a “woman sent from Hell to suck the life out of a man,” what is the term for a man who sucks [...]

Treacherous Endorsement

The term “traitor” is thrown around so loosely these days, but it does apply to Joe Lieberman, the former democrat that has endorsed John McCain’s campaign for the presidency (and we haven’t even got through the primaries yet). During Lieberman’s tough re-election fight in 2006, he had this to say in a debate… “I want [...]

Flags of Our Fathers

World War Two movies are too sad to watch. This is a film that was directed well, whatever that means. Ryan Phillipe should not be allowed to act anymore. The union should lock him out. He is keeping back the profession. Actually, he is not half-bad in this film. (Returned 05/01/07.) Rent with Netflix.

Lieberman Jumps On Old Man Express

John McCain is all but a relic of his former self. He had thought it would be 2000 all over again, with the media swooning over his straight talk, an easy nomination. But eight years of a disastrous Bush presidency, and five years of a worsening war in Iraq, McCain has had to make adjustments [...]

Casino Royale

This was a nice relaunch of the series, the first story in the saga, the making of 007. For those who never wanted to get caught up in the Pierce Brosnan era, this is a way for you to jump aboard. (Returned 04/20/07.) Rent with Netflix.

Seeing The Light

Al Gore sees the light at the end of the tunnel, not just on global warming action, but for all of America, the end of the Bush presidency… “My country’s been responsible for obstructing the process [on global warming]. Over the next two years the United States is going to be somewhere where it is [...]

The Good Shepherd

Matt Damon is good, as always, but this film is a bit on the slow side. The beginning stages of the CIA is an interesting story, but this film ultimately fails to excite the viewer. (Returned 04/10/07.) Rent with Netflix.

Democrat Bracket, Round Two

The semifinals. (1) Hillary Clinton – NY===================== Clinton(8) Dennis Kucinich – OH ==================================== Clinton (4) Bill Richardson – NM===================== Richardson(5) Joe Biden – DE Imagining as though this were a national contest, with only these two on the ticket, Hillary would run the floor. She would play soft until she needed to bring out the [...]

Blood Diamond

This is a great and exciting story, and it is eerie to realize that this represents reality in Africa. Leonardo DiCaprio has clearly become one of the finest actors of his generation. He has shown a lot of improvement since his days as a troubled youth on Growing Pains. (Returned 04/02/07.) Rent with Netflix.

An Old Man

When I was growing up, college football bowl games had real names, like the Peach Bowl, the Tangerine/Citrus Bowl, the Copper Bowl. Now it has all been commercialized (and over-marketed*). The Peach is now the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Citrus is the Capitol One Bowl. The Copper is the Insight Bowl. It disgusts me. My two [...]

Resurgent Draft: Untitled Rant

I must have been drunk when I wrote this on March 4, 2007. There is no other explanation. It makes sense for me to have relegated this “post” to the status of draft, and it makes absolute no sense for me to publish it now. So it goes. This post has been cleaned up. There [...]

The Believers Musn’t Worry; The Apocalypse Is Already Here

The apocalypse is clearly upon as. The following remarks have been made in the 2008 presidential campaign… “Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?“ Mike Huckabee has a point though. Mormonism is a sham of a religion, similar to Scientology. (At least Scientologists, however, don’t knock on my door on Saturday mornings, [...]

Idiocracy

There are very few alright parts in this horrible movie, a satire of modern consumerist culture. Do not let anyone fool you; this one is really bad. (Returned 03/26/07.) Rent with Netflix. UPDATE: I do admit that there are several biting satirical moments in the movie, like the use of Gatorade to water crops, but [...]

House of Sand and Fog

I rented this movie after reading the book and it is interesting to see how the director takes liberty with the story, even the plot. I kept saying out loud, “That is not how it happens.” It really ruined the moment. It was a much better book, but still a very sad, disturbing story. (Returned [...]

The Tumblr Ruse

I have fooled around with Tumblr. It is alright. I would grade it as “so-so.” It is not a god-send. It is not other-worldly. It is a blogging platform. Er, it is a microblogging platform. It is a mix of Blogger and Twitter. It is not the second coming. These are truths. Tumblr is a [...]

Excerpts From Bush’s Memoir

I was just thinking, if Bush really let loose in a memoir — and assuming it was ghostwritten (if would have to be, right?) — George W. Bush’s memoir of his time in office may be the most provocative of any president in modern history. (I am thinking only Nixon’s memoirs would be as filled [...]