I just came home from work and my kids are watching Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Elizabeth's Chest or whatever the hell it's called and, I swear, it's just about the stupidest big-budget movie ever made. I want to scream as I write this. I've sworn an oath not to view the movie in it's entirety. I mean after the first one, why in hell would I want to (I suppose I'd view the movie to laugh at it with RiffTrax but that would be it)?
Anyway, this entry really doesn't have a point. It's just gonna be a long night and Johnny Depp is a frakkin' sellout!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Veteran's Story
Veterans day was six days ago. I have a story about a veteran of World War II.
Robert LeRoy Bremser was born in Fredericktown, Missouri on January 22nd, 1922. The youngest of ten children, his father, William Edward, was a medical doctor and owned a farm in the Ozark mountains where Robert was raised. When the U.S. became involved in World War II in 1941, Doctor Bremser was put in charge of medical examinations for the area in preperation for the draft. Not wanting to be accused of favoritism, Dr. Bremser made sure all four of his sons passed their physicals. All four were then drafted. Robert was drafted by the U.S. Army, completed his training, and was assigned to a demolition unit.
Robert served several months in France disarming landmines and blowing up bridges. On November 11th (Veterans Day), 1943, Robert stepped on a landmine losing most of his lower left leg. There was heavy fighting in the area between U.S. and German forces and the ambulance carrying Robert was caught behind enemy lines. He and the other soldiers with him were captured by the Nazis.
The German troopers took Robert and his fellow soldiers into a town somewhere in the French countryside not very far from the front. A temporary headquarters and hospital had been set up. The Germans unloaded Robert and the other injured Americans from the ambulance and carried them into the makeshift hospital. Robert recalled how frightened he was as two Germans carried him up a flight of rickety old stairs and deposited him upstairs. A German medic did his best to take care of Robert's wound but he was only a medic and other than stop the bleeding, there wasn't much the medic could do.
As Robert lay their wondering what would become of this Missouri son, two Germans began looking over the POWs and recording their names and serial numbers from their dogtags. As they read Robert's 'tags, the two men became excited. They proceeded to carry Robert downstairs, out of the hospital and behind one of the nearby buildings. Robert didn't understand what was going on. And when one of the German soldiers left, Robert feared the worst. It was only later, after the second German returned with ice cream for the three of them to share, did Robert come to understand what was happening. The reason for the excitement was because one of the German soldiers shared his last name: Bremser! Where the ice cream came from is still a mystery.
A few days later, the U.S. captured the town in which Robert was being held. The Germans, preoccupied with their own lives, left the POWs behind. Robert's ordeal, at least as a POW, was over. But the pain that resulted from his injury would last the rest of his life.
When Robert's father, Doctor Bremser, heard that his beloved son had been seriously wounded and had suffered the loss of his leg, it aged him. Family members around Doctor Bremser at the time recall how the news wearied him beyond his years. Doctor Bremser never forgave himself for, as he saw it, sending his youngest child to war.
After returning to America, Robert was sent to a military hospital in Brigham City, Utah--of all places--to recover. There this 21 year old Catholic boy from Missouri met a 29 year old Mormon girl and volunteer nurse's assistant from Ogden, Utah. They soon married and soon after that, Robert converted to the LDS church. They eventually had two sons and a daughter, and later, eleven grandchildren of which I am one.
To every American veteran--which includes both my grandfathers, my father and two of my sisters--, thanks.
Robert LeRoy Bremser was born in Fredericktown, Missouri on January 22nd, 1922. The youngest of ten children, his father, William Edward, was a medical doctor and owned a farm in the Ozark mountains where Robert was raised. When the U.S. became involved in World War II in 1941, Doctor Bremser was put in charge of medical examinations for the area in preperation for the draft. Not wanting to be accused of favoritism, Dr. Bremser made sure all four of his sons passed their physicals. All four were then drafted. Robert was drafted by the U.S. Army, completed his training, and was assigned to a demolition unit.
Robert served several months in France disarming landmines and blowing up bridges. On November 11th (Veterans Day), 1943, Robert stepped on a landmine losing most of his lower left leg. There was heavy fighting in the area between U.S. and German forces and the ambulance carrying Robert was caught behind enemy lines. He and the other soldiers with him were captured by the Nazis.
The German troopers took Robert and his fellow soldiers into a town somewhere in the French countryside not very far from the front. A temporary headquarters and hospital had been set up. The Germans unloaded Robert and the other injured Americans from the ambulance and carried them into the makeshift hospital. Robert recalled how frightened he was as two Germans carried him up a flight of rickety old stairs and deposited him upstairs. A German medic did his best to take care of Robert's wound but he was only a medic and other than stop the bleeding, there wasn't much the medic could do.
As Robert lay their wondering what would become of this Missouri son, two Germans began looking over the POWs and recording their names and serial numbers from their dogtags. As they read Robert's 'tags, the two men became excited. They proceeded to carry Robert downstairs, out of the hospital and behind one of the nearby buildings. Robert didn't understand what was going on. And when one of the German soldiers left, Robert feared the worst. It was only later, after the second German returned with ice cream for the three of them to share, did Robert come to understand what was happening. The reason for the excitement was because one of the German soldiers shared his last name: Bremser! Where the ice cream came from is still a mystery.
A few days later, the U.S. captured the town in which Robert was being held. The Germans, preoccupied with their own lives, left the POWs behind. Robert's ordeal, at least as a POW, was over. But the pain that resulted from his injury would last the rest of his life.
When Robert's father, Doctor Bremser, heard that his beloved son had been seriously wounded and had suffered the loss of his leg, it aged him. Family members around Doctor Bremser at the time recall how the news wearied him beyond his years. Doctor Bremser never forgave himself for, as he saw it, sending his youngest child to war.
After returning to America, Robert was sent to a military hospital in Brigham City, Utah--of all places--to recover. There this 21 year old Catholic boy from Missouri met a 29 year old Mormon girl and volunteer nurse's assistant from Ogden, Utah. They soon married and soon after that, Robert converted to the LDS church. They eventually had two sons and a daughter, and later, eleven grandchildren of which I am one.
To every American veteran--which includes both my grandfathers, my father and two of my sisters--, thanks.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
America has been largely racist free for a long time.
I am praying for Barak Obama. I am praying that he will be a good president. I'm a Republican but I don't want him to fail as president just because he's a Democrat and I didn't vote for him. If he falters as president, America falters.
President Obama will be treated more kindly by Republicans and conservatives than the Democrats and the left treated President Bush (the unfounded accusations thrown at President Bush make me ill). And please, left-wingers, you owe the nation an apology for all these years of accusing us of being a racist nation (I'm not holding my breath). You think this nation transformed overnight? Obama's election is proof this nation is not racist and hasn't been for decades.
This election will challenge the Republican party and conservatives as we look to who will lead us, as a party, in the future. Even more, this election will seriously challenge leftist thinking. White Americans have been told by liberal whites and blacks that we are a racist, xenophobic, bigotted nation. The election of Barack Obama disproves that.
Still, there will be those who accuse the Republican Party--the party of Lincoln--of being racist. Dude, the reason why we voted for John McCain and not Barack Obama is because Obama isn't a Republican! He doesn't share our values. We, and I can speak for all Republicans in this, don't care about the shade of your skin, but we do care about your values (this is not an attack on Obama's values, it's just that ours are different). A strong black Republican candidate for president would get as many Republican votes as John McCain did (actually, a strong black Republican candidate would get more Republican votes than John McCain).
Some on the left may declare America racist free after Obama's election. I, a man of the right, declared America largely racist free a long time ago.
President Obama will be treated more kindly by Republicans and conservatives than the Democrats and the left treated President Bush (the unfounded accusations thrown at President Bush make me ill). And please, left-wingers, you owe the nation an apology for all these years of accusing us of being a racist nation (I'm not holding my breath). You think this nation transformed overnight? Obama's election is proof this nation is not racist and hasn't been for decades.
This election will challenge the Republican party and conservatives as we look to who will lead us, as a party, in the future. Even more, this election will seriously challenge leftist thinking. White Americans have been told by liberal whites and blacks that we are a racist, xenophobic, bigotted nation. The election of Barack Obama disproves that.
Still, there will be those who accuse the Republican Party--the party of Lincoln--of being racist. Dude, the reason why we voted for John McCain and not Barack Obama is because Obama isn't a Republican! He doesn't share our values. We, and I can speak for all Republicans in this, don't care about the shade of your skin, but we do care about your values (this is not an attack on Obama's values, it's just that ours are different). A strong black Republican candidate for president would get as many Republican votes as John McCain did (actually, a strong black Republican candidate would get more Republican votes than John McCain).
Some on the left may declare America racist free after Obama's election. I, a man of the right, declared America largely racist free a long time ago.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Truth is not a value highly regarded by the left.
On his radio show Dennis Prager often talks about the values held by the right and the values held by the left. Dennis frequently notes that truth is not a value that the left holds near and dear. The leftist mantra "Bush lied, soldiers died" is the best example of this. President Bush did not lie about weapons of mass destruction. But, as Dennis Prager points out, if a lie is repeated often enough, people believe it. And that is what happened with this whole Bush lied nonsense.
Look, I may be beating a dead elephant here but if Bush lied then so did the CIA. And the inteligence services of the UK and Australia, both of whom supported us in Iraq. The French and German intelligence services lied as well if you believe Bush lied and France and Germany did not support the invasion of Iraq. In order to believe Bush lied you must believe President Clinton lied when he said during his administration that he believed Saddam Hussein had WMD. It's a stretch, kids, that all these folks lied. The may have been wrong or relied upon faulty intelligence or whatever but they did not lie. A lie, for those of you who have attended university, must be a conscious effort to conceal the truth. President Bush must have known there were no WMD in order to lie. Otherwise, it is just a mistake. Like those who used to believe the sun revolved around the Earth, they really believed it. They weren't lying. They were mistaken.
But the Bush administyration lost the communications war on this one. Bush lied is now so widely believed on the left, it is nearly impossible to even talk about. Truth is not a value of the left. Feelings and emotions are. Reactive, knee-jerk politics are, but not truth.
Look, I may be beating a dead elephant here but if Bush lied then so did the CIA. And the inteligence services of the UK and Australia, both of whom supported us in Iraq. The French and German intelligence services lied as well if you believe Bush lied and France and Germany did not support the invasion of Iraq. In order to believe Bush lied you must believe President Clinton lied when he said during his administration that he believed Saddam Hussein had WMD. It's a stretch, kids, that all these folks lied. The may have been wrong or relied upon faulty intelligence or whatever but they did not lie. A lie, for those of you who have attended university, must be a conscious effort to conceal the truth. President Bush must have known there were no WMD in order to lie. Otherwise, it is just a mistake. Like those who used to believe the sun revolved around the Earth, they really believed it. They weren't lying. They were mistaken.
But the Bush administyration lost the communications war on this one. Bush lied is now so widely believed on the left, it is nearly impossible to even talk about. Truth is not a value of the left. Feelings and emotions are. Reactive, knee-jerk politics are, but not truth.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Chicken. Little.
I'm tired of Obama's rhetoric. Over the weekend, he claimed that John McCain and Sarah Palin don't want to debate the issues. Is that why you, Senator Obama, turned down a series of townhall debates with John McCain? Who is afraid of debating issues? Or speaking off teleprompter for that matter, Senator Obama?
Both campaigns spin. That's the nature of politics. But Obama, if he is serious about debate, would've agreed to townhall debates which are far more loose and less-scripted than your run-of-the-mill sound-bite contests that pass for debates these days. But he knows he isn't good off teleprompter (barely coherent in fact) so he makes up stuff about his opponent. Honestly, those on the left don't care if Obama makes stuff up. They just want a Democrat in the White House and they'll vote for the One no matter what. Hopefully, unaffiliated voters do care 'cause that's who decides elections.
The closer we get to Barak Obama, the smaller he appears. The incredible shrinking candidate.
Both campaigns spin. That's the nature of politics. But Obama, if he is serious about debate, would've agreed to townhall debates which are far more loose and less-scripted than your run-of-the-mill sound-bite contests that pass for debates these days. But he knows he isn't good off teleprompter (barely coherent in fact) so he makes up stuff about his opponent. Honestly, those on the left don't care if Obama makes stuff up. They just want a Democrat in the White House and they'll vote for the One no matter what. Hopefully, unaffiliated voters do care 'cause that's who decides elections.
The closer we get to Barak Obama, the smaller he appears. The incredible shrinking candidate.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Some things I've learned.
Some important things I've learned in the last decade. Many of which I learned listening to the Dennis Prager Show:
Humanity stinks; individual humans can be wonderful. Humanity doesn't have a good track record. That's why I always laugh when the left says we (the USA) should care what the rest of the world thinks. First you do what's right, regardless of world opinion. This is big difference between left and right. The left believe that humanity is primarily good ("Everyone is good inside.") and the right believe that, while not necessarily evil, then at least neutral.
The world doesn't hate America, the left in the world hates America. The huge majority of media in the world are left. They hate America so they think the world hates America, too. It isn't true. If President Bush is so despised by Europe, for example, why have pro-American leaders in a multitude of countries (like Germany, France, and Italy) been elected? In India, the second largest nation in the world, President Bush is viewed as a hero.
The best and brightest Americans are serving in the Armed Forces. The left would have us believe that the military is mostly made up of the poor and disadvantaged and desperate when in fact the middle-class is over-represented in the military. The left would also have us believe that the best and brightest Americans are at university. The best test takers go to university, but the best go to the United States military.
Actions are more important than feelings. Don't be stupid, folks, the only person who cares about your emotions and moods is you. The rest of us are primarily concerned with how you act. Don't allow your feelings to shape your actions. That's how you hurt others and make bad decisions.
President George W. Bush has done more for women rights than the feminist movement and the UN combined. Women rights groups and the United Nations stand idly by and watch nation after nation in the Middle East and elsewhere enslave and degrade women. Meanwhile, President Bush overthrows dictatorial regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq liberating twenty-five million women in the progess.
On the left, positions and policies are primarily felt. On the right positions and policies are primarily thought out. That's why it is more difficult to be on the right; Being on the right actually requires you to think. It's easy to be on the left because all you are required to do is emote. That's why kids--teens and college-age youngsters--are more likely to support Democrats. You know the saying: If you're young and not a Democrat, you don't have a heart. If you're older and not a Republican, you don't have a brain.
Thoughts?
Humanity stinks; individual humans can be wonderful. Humanity doesn't have a good track record. That's why I always laugh when the left says we (the USA) should care what the rest of the world thinks. First you do what's right, regardless of world opinion. This is big difference between left and right. The left believe that humanity is primarily good ("Everyone is good inside.") and the right believe that, while not necessarily evil, then at least neutral.
The world doesn't hate America, the left in the world hates America. The huge majority of media in the world are left. They hate America so they think the world hates America, too. It isn't true. If President Bush is so despised by Europe, for example, why have pro-American leaders in a multitude of countries (like Germany, France, and Italy) been elected? In India, the second largest nation in the world, President Bush is viewed as a hero.
The best and brightest Americans are serving in the Armed Forces. The left would have us believe that the military is mostly made up of the poor and disadvantaged and desperate when in fact the middle-class is over-represented in the military. The left would also have us believe that the best and brightest Americans are at university. The best test takers go to university, but the best go to the United States military.
Actions are more important than feelings. Don't be stupid, folks, the only person who cares about your emotions and moods is you. The rest of us are primarily concerned with how you act. Don't allow your feelings to shape your actions. That's how you hurt others and make bad decisions.
President George W. Bush has done more for women rights than the feminist movement and the UN combined. Women rights groups and the United Nations stand idly by and watch nation after nation in the Middle East and elsewhere enslave and degrade women. Meanwhile, President Bush overthrows dictatorial regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq liberating twenty-five million women in the progess.
On the left, positions and policies are primarily felt. On the right positions and policies are primarily thought out. That's why it is more difficult to be on the right; Being on the right actually requires you to think. It's easy to be on the left because all you are required to do is emote. That's why kids--teens and college-age youngsters--are more likely to support Democrats. You know the saying: If you're young and not a Democrat, you don't have a heart. If you're older and not a Republican, you don't have a brain.
Thoughts?
It's funny to mock people with disabilities.
The Obama campaign hit a new low last week running an ad that mocks John McCain because the senator from Arizona does not use e-mail.
According to a story from the Boston Globe in 2000, John McCain does not use e-mail or use the internet because the injuries he sustained during his five and a half years in a POW camp make it difficult to use a keyboard. Hot Air has more. Oh, McCain can't comb his hair and tie his shoes without help, either. I suppose that's funny, too.
For those Obama defenders out there who will claim that the Obama campaign didn't know McCain has a disability, it doesn't hold up. You'd have to believe Obama and his campaign are stupid and ill-informed to say that. They aren't stupid. Just dirty.
I guess Barack Obama can now claim two qualifications for president: Community organizer and e-mailer.
As recent polls show McCain moving ahead in the poular vote and electoral college, I guess we can expect the Obama campaign to hit more lows in the last fifty-odd days of the campaign.
According to a story from the Boston Globe in 2000, John McCain does not use e-mail or use the internet because the injuries he sustained during his five and a half years in a POW camp make it difficult to use a keyboard. Hot Air has more. Oh, McCain can't comb his hair and tie his shoes without help, either. I suppose that's funny, too.
For those Obama defenders out there who will claim that the Obama campaign didn't know McCain has a disability, it doesn't hold up. You'd have to believe Obama and his campaign are stupid and ill-informed to say that. They aren't stupid. Just dirty.
I guess Barack Obama can now claim two qualifications for president: Community organizer and e-mailer.
As recent polls show McCain moving ahead in the poular vote and electoral college, I guess we can expect the Obama campaign to hit more lows in the last fifty-odd days of the campaign.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Palin is more qualified than Obama.
The left is going nuts because of McCain's Palin pick. But their line of attack is not well thought out (big surprise). They are attacking Governor Palin for not having enough experience! You know that Barack Obama guy has several years of valuable experience in the Illinois state legislature and almost four years of experience in the US senate. Palin just doesn't stack up.
Wait a sec. Sarah Palin is a governor, an executive. She actually makes decisions. Even more importantly, Governor Palin has a long list of achievements. The narrative of the McCain campaign has been experience vs. inexperience. But I believe the narrative is flawed. Achievement, not experience, should be the narrative.
Barack Obama has no achievements as a legislator. Not in Illinois, not in the US senate. Even his election to the US senate is not an achievement considering the circumstances (Republican Representative Jack Ryan drops out of race because of Chicago Tribune publishing his divorce papers and is replaced by the worst candidate the Republicans could find, Alan Keyes). And outside of politics, other than his two books, Barak Obama has zero noteworthy accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has a long list of achievements which are summed up quite well here.
If the Obama campaign wants to keep pushing this inexperience line, it will only hurt them in November. I find Palin's resume to be far, far more impressive than Obama's. Her work with Canada puts her far ahead of Obama in foreign policy matters.
Even if you don't buy the achievement/experience line I'm feeding you, it should be noted that Sarah Palin is "only" running for VP. Obama, the underachiever, is running for president.
Wait a sec. Sarah Palin is a governor, an executive. She actually makes decisions. Even more importantly, Governor Palin has a long list of achievements. The narrative of the McCain campaign has been experience vs. inexperience. But I believe the narrative is flawed. Achievement, not experience, should be the narrative.
Barack Obama has no achievements as a legislator. Not in Illinois, not in the US senate. Even his election to the US senate is not an achievement considering the circumstances (Republican Representative Jack Ryan drops out of race because of Chicago Tribune publishing his divorce papers and is replaced by the worst candidate the Republicans could find, Alan Keyes). And outside of politics, other than his two books, Barak Obama has zero noteworthy accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has a long list of achievements which are summed up quite well here.
If the Obama campaign wants to keep pushing this inexperience line, it will only hurt them in November. I find Palin's resume to be far, far more impressive than Obama's. Her work with Canada puts her far ahead of Obama in foreign policy matters.
Even if you don't buy the achievement/experience line I'm feeding you, it should be noted that Sarah Palin is "only" running for VP. Obama, the underachiever, is running for president.
Friday, August 29, 2008
It's on! McCain-Palin vs Obama-Biden!
I thought John McCain would play it safe with his VP pick by picking Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. Pawlenty would have been a fine choice. But John McCain, the Maverick, made the unconventional pick of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.
Wow!
It's a gutsy choice. And a smart one. Ed Morrissey of Hot Air sums it up pretty well:
Wow!
It's a gutsy choice. And a smart one. Ed Morrissey of Hot Air sums it up pretty well:
Palin spent her entire political career crusading against the political machine that rules Alaska — which exists in her own Republican party. She blew the whistle on the state GOP chair, who had abused his power on the same commission to conduct party business. Obama, in contrast, talked a great deal about reform in Chicago but never challenged the party machine, preferring to take an easy ride as a protegé of Richard Daley instead.Palin has no formal foreign-policy experience, which puts her at a disadvantage to Joe Biden. However, in nineteen months as governor, she certainly has had more practical experience in diplomacy than Biden or Obama have ever seen. She runs the only American state bordered only by two foreign countries, one of which has increasingly grown hostile to the US again, Russia.
And let’s face it — Team Obama can hardly attack Palin for a lack of foreign-policy experience. Obama has none at all, and neither Obama or Biden have any executive experience. Palin has almost over seven years of executive experience.
Politically, this puts Obama in a very tough position. The Democrats had prepared to launch a full assault on McCain’s running mate, but having Palin as a target creates one large headache. If they go after her like they went after Hillary Clinton, Obama risks alienating women all over again. If they don’t go after her like they went after Hillary, he risks alienating Hillary supporters, who will see this as a sign of disrespect for Hillary.
For McCain, this gives him a boost like no other in several different ways. First, the media will eat this up. That effectively buries Obama’s acceptance speech and steals the oxygen he needs for a long-term convention bump. A Romney or Pawlenty pick would not have accomplished that.
Second, Palin will re-energize the base. She’s not just a pro-life advocate, she’s lived the issue herself. That will attract the elements of the GOP that had held McCain at a distance since the primaries and provide positive motivation for Republicans, rather than just rely on anti-Democrat sentiment to get them to the polls.
Third, and I think maybe most importantly, Palin addresses the energy issue better and more attuned to the American electorate than maybe any of the other three principals in this election. Even beyond her efforts to reform the Oil and Natural Gas Commission, she has demonstrated her independence from so-called “Big Oil” while promoting domestic production. She brings instant credibility to the ticket on energy policy, and reminds independents and centrists that the Obama-Biden ticket offers nothing but the same excuses we’ve heard for 30 years.
Finally, based on all of the above, McCain can remind voters who has the real record of reform. Obama talks a lot about it but has no actual record of reform, and for a running mate, he chose a 35-year Washington insider with all sorts of connections to lobbyists and pork. McCain has fought pork, taken real political risks to fight undue influence of lobbyists, and he picked an outsider who took on her own party — and won.
This is change you can believe in, and not change that amounts to all talk. McCain changed the trajectory of the race today by stealing Obama’s strength and turning it against him. Obama provided that opening by picking Biden as his running mate, and McCain was smart enough to take advantage of the opening.
It's time to face facts, Democrats, you guys are going to lose yet another presidential election. That'll be eight out of the last eleven. Bye-bye.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Coolest characters in sci-fi/fantasy history (TV & movies only)
No James Kirk? No Neo? No Aragorn or Gandalf?
Damn straight, skippy. As cool as those guys may be, they can't touch the coolest sci-fi/fantasy characters of all-time:
5. Jack Burton (Big Trouble in Little China)
Famous line: "It's all in the reflexes."
Best line: "Okay. You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn, call the president."
Best movie: Uh, Big Trouble in Little China. Still waiting for a sequel. More Trouble in Little China?
4. Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly TV series, Serenity movie)
Famous line: "I aim to misbehave."
Best line: (Over the ship's intercom) "This is the captain. We have a little problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and then explode."
Best episode/movie: Serenity. The movie is where he's at his best.
Where's my big damn clip?
3. Han Solo (duh)
Famous line: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Best line: “Had a slight weapons malfunction, but everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine, we're all fine, here, now, thank you. How are you?”
Best movie: It's kind of a tie. He's cool and sassy in Star Wars but in Empire, the sarcasm and wit are taken up a notch. In Jedi he's kinda lame.
2. Indiana Jones
Famous line: "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
Best line: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."
Best movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Oh s**t, no clip!
1. William Adama (Battlestar Galactica, new series)
Famous line: "Launch all fighters."
Best line: “When you stand on this deck, you be ready to fight, or you dishonor the reason why we're here. Now remember this: When you fight a man, he's not your friend. Same goes when you lead men. I forgot that once. I let you get too close. All of you. I dropped my guard. I gave some of you breaks, let some of you go, before the fight was really over. I let this crew and this family disband. And we paid the price in lives. That can't happen again.”
Best episode: "33"
No clip for you!
Damn straight, skippy. As cool as those guys may be, they can't touch the coolest sci-fi/fantasy characters of all-time:
5. Jack Burton (Big Trouble in Little China)
Famous line: "It's all in the reflexes."
Best line: "Okay. You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn, call the president."
Best movie: Uh, Big Trouble in Little China. Still waiting for a sequel. More Trouble in Little China?
4. Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly TV series, Serenity movie)
Famous line: "I aim to misbehave."
Best line: (Over the ship's intercom) "This is the captain. We have a little problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and then explode."
Best episode/movie: Serenity. The movie is where he's at his best.
Where's my big damn clip?
3. Han Solo (duh)
Famous line: “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
Best line: “Had a slight weapons malfunction, but everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine, we're all fine, here, now, thank you. How are you?”
Best movie: It's kind of a tie. He's cool and sassy in Star Wars but in Empire, the sarcasm and wit are taken up a notch. In Jedi he's kinda lame.
2. Indiana Jones
Famous line: "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
Best line: It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."
Best movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Oh s**t, no clip!
1. William Adama (Battlestar Galactica, new series)
Famous line: "Launch all fighters."
Best line: “When you stand on this deck, you be ready to fight, or you dishonor the reason why we're here. Now remember this: When you fight a man, he's not your friend. Same goes when you lead men. I forgot that once. I let you get too close. All of you. I dropped my guard. I gave some of you breaks, let some of you go, before the fight was really over. I let this crew and this family disband. And we paid the price in lives. That can't happen again.”
Best episode: "33"
No clip for you!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Which D&D character am I?
I'm happy with the results:
I Am A: Lawful Good Human Cleric (5th Level)
Ability Scores:
Strength-15
Dexterity-12
Constitution-15
Intelligence-15
Wisdom-17
Charisma-11
Alignment:
Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.
Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.
Class:
Clerics act as intermediaries between the earthly and the divine (or infernal) worlds. A good cleric helps those in need, while an evil cleric seeks to spread his patron's vision of evil across the world. All clerics can heal wounds and bring people back from the brink of death, and powerful clerics can even raise the dead. Likewise, all clerics have authority over undead creatures, and they can turn away or even destroy these creatures. Clerics are trained in the use of simple weapons, and can use all forms of armor and shields without penalty, since armor does not interfere with the casting of divine spells. In addition to his normal complement of spells, every cleric chooses to focus on two of his deity's domains. These domains grants the cleric special powers, and give him access to spells that he might otherwise never learn. A cleric's Wisdom score should be high, since this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.
Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)
I Am A: Lawful Good Human Cleric (5th Level)
Ability Scores:
Strength-15
Dexterity-12
Constitution-15
Intelligence-15
Wisdom-17
Charisma-11
Alignment:
Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.
Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.
Class:
Clerics act as intermediaries between the earthly and the divine (or infernal) worlds. A good cleric helps those in need, while an evil cleric seeks to spread his patron's vision of evil across the world. All clerics can heal wounds and bring people back from the brink of death, and powerful clerics can even raise the dead. Likewise, all clerics have authority over undead creatures, and they can turn away or even destroy these creatures. Clerics are trained in the use of simple weapons, and can use all forms of armor and shields without penalty, since armor does not interfere with the casting of divine spells. In addition to his normal complement of spells, every cleric chooses to focus on two of his deity's domains. These domains grants the cleric special powers, and give him access to spells that he might otherwise never learn. A cleric's Wisdom score should be high, since this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.
Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Barack Obama: The Most Unqualified Major Party Nominee Ever?
Yes.
But we are told to vote for him because of judgment, not experience. Yet on the most important issue of the last four years, the surge in Iraq, he was wrong. He still wants a timetable for troop withdrawal even after--finally--acknowledging the success of the surge. When asked challenging questions by Katie Couric of CBS and, later, by Terry Moran of ABC's Nightline, Obama stuttered and sputtered and was very inarticulate in his explanation (when not reading from a teleprompter Obama can barely spit out a coherent sentence on policy issues). After multiple times listening to him explain his position, I still can't figure out what the Hell he's talking about. The man is not qualified to run the corner drugstore much less the presidency.
John McCain, in contradistinction, advocated the surge years before it was implemented. John McCain was right on the most important issue facing the U.S.'s war on Islamonazism. McCain has excellent judgment.
So who do you think is more qualified to be president. Is this a question? There really is no question, is there?
But we are told to vote for him because of judgment, not experience. Yet on the most important issue of the last four years, the surge in Iraq, he was wrong. He still wants a timetable for troop withdrawal even after--finally--acknowledging the success of the surge. When asked challenging questions by Katie Couric of CBS and, later, by Terry Moran of ABC's Nightline, Obama stuttered and sputtered and was very inarticulate in his explanation (when not reading from a teleprompter Obama can barely spit out a coherent sentence on policy issues). After multiple times listening to him explain his position, I still can't figure out what the Hell he's talking about. The man is not qualified to run the corner drugstore much less the presidency.
John McCain, in contradistinction, advocated the surge years before it was implemented. John McCain was right on the most important issue facing the U.S.'s war on Islamonazism. McCain has excellent judgment.
So who do you think is more qualified to be president. Is this a question? There really is no question, is there?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Don't lie to me!
According to this little quiz, I can spot a liar pretty well:
You Can Definitely Spot a Liar |
 Maybe you have good instincts. Or maybe you just have a lot of experience with liars. Either way, it's pretty hard for someone to pull a fast one on you. You're like a human lie detector. |
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
What kind of nerd am I?
Well, according to a test I just took, this kind of nerd:
While it sounds like the creator(s) of this test don't no the difference between a nerd and a geek (what the hell?), it's the first time in my life I've been described as uber or cool or king. I'll take it.
But really kids, one does need to know the difference between nerds and geeks.
While it sounds like the creator(s) of this test don't no the difference between a nerd and a geek (what the hell?), it's the first time in my life I've been described as uber or cool or king. I'll take it.
But really kids, one does need to know the difference between nerds and geeks.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Iron shapes iron.
There is a Hebrew proverb which states "Iron shapes iron, friend shapes friend."
So, yes, it matters with whom one chooses to associate with especially as friends. It matters, Senator Obama, stop trying to pretend it doesn't.
Left-wing radical bigot Reverend Jeremiah Wright, unapologetic terrorist Bill Aires, convicted developer Tony Rezko. It matters.
If you had fifty friends you could point too and say "Look, these friends of mine are alkl good folks" fine. But so far the three individuals I named are virtually the only friends we know about.
Iron shapes iron.
So, yes, it matters with whom one chooses to associate with especially as friends. It matters, Senator Obama, stop trying to pretend it doesn't.
Left-wing radical bigot Reverend Jeremiah Wright, unapologetic terrorist Bill Aires, convicted developer Tony Rezko. It matters.
If you had fifty friends you could point too and say "Look, these friends of mine are alkl good folks" fine. But so far the three individuals I named are virtually the only friends we know about.
Iron shapes iron.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
The end of Saddam's nuclear program.
According to the AP, which isn't exactly friendly to the Bush administration, the last remnants of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program has been removed from Iraq.
I don't know who said it first but liberals, Democrats, and the left don't hate Bush because of the war, they hate the war because of Bush. If Bill Clinton or Al Gore had gotten us into the Iraq war, they would not lose an ounce of support from Democrats. But Bush lied, soldiers died.
The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" — the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment — was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.Did you get that? Five-hundred fifty tons of so-called yellowcake. This, of course, is not receiving any coverage by the the vast majority of media outlets. Surprise. Try and point your liberal friends to this article and gage their reaction. Nothing will change. Even in the face of facts, they'll still maintain the stupid mantra of Bush lied about WMD. I've said it before and I'll say it again, truth is not a quality the left values.
I don't know who said it first but liberals, Democrats, and the left don't hate Bush because of the war, they hate the war because of Bush. If Bill Clinton or Al Gore had gotten us into the Iraq war, they would not lose an ounce of support from Democrats. But Bush lied, soldiers died.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
It's values that count, not theology.
Republicans criticize Senator Obama for not being open about his Muslim background (yes, Barack Obama has a Muslim background) while Democrats claim that questioning Obama is dirty because Obama has no Muslim background.
While there is some legitimacy to ask why Obama will not be open about his Muslim past, it's a bit silly for Democrats to deny that Obama doesn't have one.
To be clear, Barack Obama is a Christian who, when he was a child, was considered by some to be a Muslim because his father was somewhat Muslim (Obama's father was not a practicing Muslim for most of his adult life).
My position? It doesn't matter if Barack Obama is a Muslim (he's not) or a Christian (which he is) or Hindu or Buddhist or Jewish or whatever. I, frankly, don't care what religion a candidate belongs to. What matters to me is which candidate I share values with, not theology. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and there are some active LDS folks I don't share many values with like, say, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Harry Reid and I may share theology but we certainly don't share many values and I would never vote for him in any capacity. John McCain, on the other hand, attends a Baptist church. We don't share the same theology. But we do have the same values. That's why I'm voting for McCain this November. Obama? We don't share any values so he will not get my vote.
My point? If a Muslim ran for president and did share my values, I'd vote for him. There are literally millions of Muslims who do share my values. I don't see a problem.
It is a bit funny that Democrats are trying to deny and distance themselves from Obama's Muslim background. Mainstream conservatives don't hold it against Senator Obama, why do the libs and lefties think average Democrats and unaffiliated voters will? Aren't we told by the left that it doesn't matter if someone is a Muslim? Aren't we beat over the head with ethnic diversity and multi-culturalism? Then why are Democrats making a big deal about Obama's Muslim background? Why isn't Obama more open about it? Isn't it an asset or, at the least, a non-issue?
Silly, little Democrats.
While there is some legitimacy to ask why Obama will not be open about his Muslim past, it's a bit silly for Democrats to deny that Obama doesn't have one.
To be clear, Barack Obama is a Christian who, when he was a child, was considered by some to be a Muslim because his father was somewhat Muslim (Obama's father was not a practicing Muslim for most of his adult life).
My position? It doesn't matter if Barack Obama is a Muslim (he's not) or a Christian (which he is) or Hindu or Buddhist or Jewish or whatever. I, frankly, don't care what religion a candidate belongs to. What matters to me is which candidate I share values with, not theology. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and there are some active LDS folks I don't share many values with like, say, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Harry Reid and I may share theology but we certainly don't share many values and I would never vote for him in any capacity. John McCain, on the other hand, attends a Baptist church. We don't share the same theology. But we do have the same values. That's why I'm voting for McCain this November. Obama? We don't share any values so he will not get my vote.
My point? If a Muslim ran for president and did share my values, I'd vote for him. There are literally millions of Muslims who do share my values. I don't see a problem.
It is a bit funny that Democrats are trying to deny and distance themselves from Obama's Muslim background. Mainstream conservatives don't hold it against Senator Obama, why do the libs and lefties think average Democrats and unaffiliated voters will? Aren't we told by the left that it doesn't matter if someone is a Muslim? Aren't we beat over the head with ethnic diversity and multi-culturalism? Then why are Democrats making a big deal about Obama's Muslim background? Why isn't Obama more open about it? Isn't it an asset or, at the least, a non-issue?
Silly, little Democrats.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The end of talk radio?
One thing that has a good chance of happening under a President Obama is the re-institution of the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine was in place in US radio up until 1981 (I think) and it said that every single radio station that had political opinion had to make sure an equal amount of opposing opinion was represented.
This could end political opinion talk radio aka conservative talk radio. Radio stations may simply opt out of talk radio because twelve hours of lefty talk ain't gonna sell advertising space. Radio stations will take on different formats so they can make money. As Air America proved, liberal talk radio doesn't sell.
The scary thing is that a President Obama does not need congress enacting the Fairness Doctrine to kill conservative talk radio. There is a little known clause in the communication act that allows the FCC panel to force liberals on radio station advisor boards in the name of community representation. This doesn't guarantee the death of talk radio, but it makes more likely. And while the FCC has to have two Democrats and two Republicans on it's panel, the fifth member is a presidential appointee. An Obama appointee.
Don't think it could happen? You may be right, but just the other day House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she wants Congress to look into the Fairness Doctrine again.
The Democratic congress is trying to kill conservative talk radio. Yet us religious conservatives are accused of being frascists and trying to force our way of life on everyone else all the while clamoring for a smaller government. Smaller government means a less powerful government, folks. How can we be for forcing anything on those we disagree with if we want smaller government? The fascistic tendencies are on the left.
This could end political opinion talk radio aka conservative talk radio. Radio stations may simply opt out of talk radio because twelve hours of lefty talk ain't gonna sell advertising space. Radio stations will take on different formats so they can make money. As Air America proved, liberal talk radio doesn't sell.
The scary thing is that a President Obama does not need congress enacting the Fairness Doctrine to kill conservative talk radio. There is a little known clause in the communication act that allows the FCC panel to force liberals on radio station advisor boards in the name of community representation. This doesn't guarantee the death of talk radio, but it makes more likely. And while the FCC has to have two Democrats and two Republicans on it's panel, the fifth member is a presidential appointee. An Obama appointee.
Don't think it could happen? You may be right, but just the other day House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she wants Congress to look into the Fairness Doctrine again.
The Democratic congress is trying to kill conservative talk radio. Yet us religious conservatives are accused of being frascists and trying to force our way of life on everyone else all the while clamoring for a smaller government. Smaller government means a less powerful government, folks. How can we be for forcing anything on those we disagree with if we want smaller government? The fascistic tendencies are on the left.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Bounce.
Senator Obama is experiencing a bounce in most national polls (Rasmussen has Obama leading McCain 50 tp 43 percent). The bounce comes on the heels of Obama officially clinching the Democrat nomination last week.
Don't fear, my weak-kneed Republican friends, I assure you this bounce is temporary.
This sort of thing happens every election cycle. This won't be Obama's last bounce, either, as he will likely receive a similar bump after the Democrat National Convention in August. John McCain, too, will receive a bounce in the polls after the Republican National Convention convenes in September. Bounces will likely occur for both candidates after running mates are chosen.
So don't worry, the only polls that count are the ones taken right before the election. Pay close attention to Rasmussen and Election Projection (Google it) because they are by far the most accurate when it comes to presidential races.
Don't fear, my weak-kneed Republican friends, I assure you this bounce is temporary.
This sort of thing happens every election cycle. This won't be Obama's last bounce, either, as he will likely receive a similar bump after the Democrat National Convention in August. John McCain, too, will receive a bounce in the polls after the Republican National Convention convenes in September. Bounces will likely occur for both candidates after running mates are chosen.
So don't worry, the only polls that count are the ones taken right before the election. Pay close attention to Rasmussen and Election Projection (Google it) because they are by far the most accurate when it comes to presidential races.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
John McCain will win the White House.
Just saw a segment on Fox News with former President Clinton adviser Dick Morris as a guest. He said in a year when the Democrats will win the White House they nominate a guy (Obama) who can't win and the Republicans, who shouldn't be able to win the presidency, nominate a guy who can't lose in McCain.
I believe this is the first time I've said this on my blog but I'm convinced Senator Obama can't win. If you look at the electoral map and states that are, right now, swing states, it is damn hard to imagine those states breaking for Obama. I'm sorry, but even though Election Projection (the most accurate site for election predictions) currently shows Obama winning the election 293 to 245 in electoral votes, I cannot see Obama winning most of the states he now has a small lead in while on the other hand I do see McCain keeping states he has slight leads in. Come on, folks, do you really believe that when November comes around that Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Pennsylvania will all remain Obama states? And, conversely, do you really think Nevada, Missouri, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, or Louisiana will switch to Obama?
Of the seven states that Obama has a weak to moderate edge in, Pennsylvania could go either way (but for the purpose of this analysis, we'll give it to Obama) and Michigan will go to Obama. The rest will break for McCain. Of the nine states in which McCain has a weak to moderate edge, I frankly don't see Obama winning any of them.
That gives McCain exactly 300 electoral votes to Obama's 238.
John McCain will be the next president. When swing state voters show up at the polls in November, most who were considering voting for Obama will balk at the idea of electing America's first left-wing president and instead will opt for John McCain.
By the by, don't believe this nonsense about how Republicans will be slaughtered in the House and Senate. The GOP may lose as many as five seats in the Senate but that's far from a filibuster-proof majority. In the House, the GOP may lose as many as a dozen. Not good but hardly the slaughter some hysterics are forecasting.
If you think I'm smoking crack, tell me why.
I believe this is the first time I've said this on my blog but I'm convinced Senator Obama can't win. If you look at the electoral map and states that are, right now, swing states, it is damn hard to imagine those states breaking for Obama. I'm sorry, but even though Election Projection (the most accurate site for election predictions) currently shows Obama winning the election 293 to 245 in electoral votes, I cannot see Obama winning most of the states he now has a small lead in while on the other hand I do see McCain keeping states he has slight leads in. Come on, folks, do you really believe that when November comes around that Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Pennsylvania will all remain Obama states? And, conversely, do you really think Nevada, Missouri, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, or Louisiana will switch to Obama?
Of the seven states that Obama has a weak to moderate edge in, Pennsylvania could go either way (but for the purpose of this analysis, we'll give it to Obama) and Michigan will go to Obama. The rest will break for McCain. Of the nine states in which McCain has a weak to moderate edge, I frankly don't see Obama winning any of them.
That gives McCain exactly 300 electoral votes to Obama's 238.
John McCain will be the next president. When swing state voters show up at the polls in November, most who were considering voting for Obama will balk at the idea of electing America's first left-wing president and instead will opt for John McCain.
By the by, don't believe this nonsense about how Republicans will be slaughtered in the House and Senate. The GOP may lose as many as five seats in the Senate but that's far from a filibuster-proof majority. In the House, the GOP may lose as many as a dozen. Not good but hardly the slaughter some hysterics are forecasting.
If you think I'm smoking crack, tell me why.
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