So I was reading up on Elie Wiesel today because I was trying to remember which book he wrote that deals with the pre-Israel Zionist terrorist group that executes a British soldier (it was Dawn). Elie Wiesel is famous for Night, his autobiography about the Holocaust, of which he was an Auschwitz survivor. Wiesel is pretty much "the guy" when it comes to Holocaust awareness and he has done so much. He even has one of the most successful charity organizations for running Holocaust education events.
But you know what's coming based on the article title...the organization lost all of it's money in the Madoff scandal. Oh and Elie Wiesel lost all of his personal wealth too. Wow. Kind of ridiculous.
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rants. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Another month
I just got back from Europe and my head is chalk full of things I'll never get to blog about - basically detailing all of my adventurous exploits, commentary on the obama/clinton/2008 mess, and lots of other things that suddenly are not coming to me.
About books - all the ones I read toward the end of second semester that I thought would help me start posting book reviews here (mostly classics I never read in high school) or the ones I read on my trip (mostly Cormac McCarthy's The Road).
About all the gelatto I ate in Europe - my rankings of the cities (1. Rome, 2. Florence, 3. Trier, 4. Meersburg, 5. Lindau, 6. Venice, 7. Bregenz, 8. Munich, 9. Gindelwald, 10. Lux City, 11. Paris, 12. Kaysberg (Alsace), 13. Sion, 14. Zurmat
But I will start blogging again since its summer for whatever its worth.
About books - all the ones I read toward the end of second semester that I thought would help me start posting book reviews here (mostly classics I never read in high school) or the ones I read on my trip (mostly Cormac McCarthy's The Road).
About all the gelatto I ate in Europe - my rankings of the cities (1. Rome, 2. Florence, 3. Trier, 4. Meersburg, 5. Lindau, 6. Venice, 7. Bregenz, 8. Munich, 9. Gindelwald, 10. Lux City, 11. Paris, 12. Kaysberg (Alsace), 13. Sion, 14. Zurmat
But I will start blogging again since its summer for whatever its worth.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Colin Powell Live from Millett Hall
Colin Powell Live from Millett Hall
Last week (January 22nd), I got to see Colin Powell speak at Miami. The one speaker I had seen previously in this speaker series was Mikhail Gorbachev who’s speech was in Russian and the translation took a lot out of it. Powell though, was interesting and a very good speaker. He mixed in a lot of humor, about retirement, old age and stuff along those lines. He spoke for about an hour and the first half hour was mostly his standard speech-circuit routine about him and what he is doing/did.
Finally, for the last twenty minutes or so he talked about the topic – Democracy. He talked about Russia, China, Japan, and a few other countries and regions more vaguely. He had a great story about Russia, about how he talked with an angry Gorbachev who berated Powell – and the U.S. – for not giving him more support. And then he calmly called Powell out and said, “you liked having us as an enemy, but now you will need a new one!” And Powell admitted that the stability of the U.S.S.R. as an enemy had been the bedrock of his career in the military.
He talked briefly about how Deng Xiaoping was a great leader who modernized his country.
More entertaining was his story about Koizumi – whom he called his favorite world leader – where Powell talked with him and after they were done Powell asked Koizumi if it was true that he loved Elvis. And Koizumi grew very animated and gushed about how much he loved the king. And Powell responded by saying that he had known Elvis in the service, and Koizumi grew even more excited.
Powell also talked briefly about some of the things he did as Secretary of State and certain ongoing crises. He talked about the shock of 9/11, the necessity of Afghanistan, the hardline on Iran, the impetus for the Iraq attack and the steely resolve of North Korea.
He talked about how he thinks we do need to finish what we started and that he has a lot of faith in General Petraeus to make the surge successful. He thinks Guantanamo Bay should close down because he worries about the strength of the Geneva Convention.
I was really liking his speech overall until he ended with this bull shit hot dog story about how this one hot dog vendor recognized him and told him that Powell didn’t have to pay for his hotdog because, “America has already paid me.”
He took six questions –
1) A German student asks about Iraqi intelligence from foreign services and Powell said that everyone believed the intelligence and he thinks they got some stuff right, and a lot wrong, but the consensus was firmly behind the intell they had.
2) this scatchy guy began his question with a “don’t taze me bro” joke which was not funny – and then he asked a cliché question about what Powell thought the greatest issue facing our generation was and Powell answered with some b.s. about getting involved and voting – yawn.
3) Some guy asked this boring five minute question and the crowd started yelling “taze him” and the question basically called Powell out for getting fat off of the lecture circuit and Powell was kind of like, I already said I did that – big deal.
4) Then this other guy asked Powell, the military guy, an economic question about the devaluation of the dollar and china – Colin said that it wasn’t his area of expertise, but he didn’t think the government could do anything. Apparently the guy was a Ron Paul supporter because he asked about the gold standard, which Powell rightfully laughed at.
5) Someone asked what to do about global warming and Colin just said – adopt Gore’s café standards. Another yawn.
6) Then someone accused Powell of sanctioning the use of nuclear weapons because Powell okayed depleted uranium bullets – the crowd booed and Colin asked the crowd to let the kid finish his long question and then cut the kid down and said – “those weapons are effective, and science is on my side – they aren’t a radiological risk – I guess we’ll agree to disagree.” It was a strong end to an entertaining speech.
Last week (January 22nd), I got to see Colin Powell speak at Miami. The one speaker I had seen previously in this speaker series was Mikhail Gorbachev who’s speech was in Russian and the translation took a lot out of it. Powell though, was interesting and a very good speaker. He mixed in a lot of humor, about retirement, old age and stuff along those lines. He spoke for about an hour and the first half hour was mostly his standard speech-circuit routine about him and what he is doing/did.
Finally, for the last twenty minutes or so he talked about the topic – Democracy. He talked about Russia, China, Japan, and a few other countries and regions more vaguely. He had a great story about Russia, about how he talked with an angry Gorbachev who berated Powell – and the U.S. – for not giving him more support. And then he calmly called Powell out and said, “you liked having us as an enemy, but now you will need a new one!” And Powell admitted that the stability of the U.S.S.R. as an enemy had been the bedrock of his career in the military.
He talked briefly about how Deng Xiaoping was a great leader who modernized his country.
More entertaining was his story about Koizumi – whom he called his favorite world leader – where Powell talked with him and after they were done Powell asked Koizumi if it was true that he loved Elvis. And Koizumi grew very animated and gushed about how much he loved the king. And Powell responded by saying that he had known Elvis in the service, and Koizumi grew even more excited.
Powell also talked briefly about some of the things he did as Secretary of State and certain ongoing crises. He talked about the shock of 9/11, the necessity of Afghanistan, the hardline on Iran, the impetus for the Iraq attack and the steely resolve of North Korea.
He talked about how he thinks we do need to finish what we started and that he has a lot of faith in General Petraeus to make the surge successful. He thinks Guantanamo Bay should close down because he worries about the strength of the Geneva Convention.
I was really liking his speech overall until he ended with this bull shit hot dog story about how this one hot dog vendor recognized him and told him that Powell didn’t have to pay for his hotdog because, “America has already paid me.”
He took six questions –
1) A German student asks about Iraqi intelligence from foreign services and Powell said that everyone believed the intelligence and he thinks they got some stuff right, and a lot wrong, but the consensus was firmly behind the intell they had.
2) this scatchy guy began his question with a “don’t taze me bro” joke which was not funny – and then he asked a cliché question about what Powell thought the greatest issue facing our generation was and Powell answered with some b.s. about getting involved and voting – yawn.
3) Some guy asked this boring five minute question and the crowd started yelling “taze him” and the question basically called Powell out for getting fat off of the lecture circuit and Powell was kind of like, I already said I did that – big deal.
4) Then this other guy asked Powell, the military guy, an economic question about the devaluation of the dollar and china – Colin said that it wasn’t his area of expertise, but he didn’t think the government could do anything. Apparently the guy was a Ron Paul supporter because he asked about the gold standard, which Powell rightfully laughed at.
5) Someone asked what to do about global warming and Colin just said – adopt Gore’s café standards. Another yawn.
6) Then someone accused Powell of sanctioning the use of nuclear weapons because Powell okayed depleted uranium bullets – the crowd booed and Colin asked the crowd to let the kid finish his long question and then cut the kid down and said – “those weapons are effective, and science is on my side – they aren’t a radiological risk – I guess we’ll agree to disagree.” It was a strong end to an entertaining speech.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Favorites? Best ofs?
I love lists. I mean, "Top 10" is one of the major phrases of my vocabulary. And now that I read a lot more blogs, end of year time pushes that into overdrive as there are retrospective lists as we all fall all over ourselves to outdo the next person. Sometimes these best of lists boggle me. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead? Really? That goes on there? Ratatouille? BEST of? I think that it just begs the question of opinion.
As all my favorite movie blogs posted their “best of 2007” lists I tried to write mine. Then something dawned on me. I didn’t remember 2007! No, my realization was more along the lines of, what makes a movie the best? I mean, when it comes to entertainment, nothing is objective, you like what you like. If I said Knocked Up was the best, my friend Katherine (Heigl – we go way back) would probably call me a chauvinist while if I said No Country for Old Men over There Will Be Blood some might say I chose blood…over oil? Maybe there isn’t a good joke to be made there. But what I’m trying to say is that favorites are the way to go because it (barely) escapes the pretension of “best of” lists.
As all my favorite movie blogs posted their “best of 2007” lists I tried to write mine. Then something dawned on me. I didn’t remember 2007! No, my realization was more along the lines of, what makes a movie the best? I mean, when it comes to entertainment, nothing is objective, you like what you like. If I said Knocked Up was the best, my friend Katherine (Heigl – we go way back) would probably call me a chauvinist while if I said No Country for Old Men over There Will Be Blood some might say I chose blood…over oil? Maybe there isn’t a good joke to be made there. But what I’m trying to say is that favorites are the way to go because it (barely) escapes the pretension of “best of” lists.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
I love Apple, but...
Is it just me or is the iPhone product placement getting to be a little too much? It seems like every TV pilot can't seem to get off the ground without having at least two characters sport an iPhone. Then it seems like it has been creeping into everything else.
Perhaps I'm still just super jealous of people who have iPhones and I'm bitter. But come on. Most of the times, in REAL LIFE, I can make it down the street without seeing FIVE people with a $500 phone!
Sheesh. Okay, I admit it, I want one SOO badly...
Perhaps I'm still just super jealous of people who have iPhones and I'm bitter. But come on. Most of the times, in REAL LIFE, I can make it down the street without seeing FIVE people with a $500 phone!
Sheesh. Okay, I admit it, I want one SOO badly...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Obama deserves one thing
I was never THAT big of an Obama fan and thought he was barely tolerable until I saw the Obama Girl Music Video that made me smile (and she was really hot). Beyond that I am mostly annoyed by him ruining what would be a good candidacy in eight years by running now. Sure you had so much buzz, but you have never:
(1) won reelection, proving that you were not in fact a fad, but that you had the ability to win over the public and stand up to a real campaign, and even a real candidate (most people don't realize that alan keyes, a transplant from new england, still managed to win over 30% of the vote).
(2) written/proposed legislation, does he even know how the political system works? can he use it? how is he supposed to run it? all his amazing new ideas won't mean shit if he can't get them through congress and use some real politik to influence senators and get some hard votes.
(3) had ANY exeuctive experience, I mean, he has never really even run an office, or any organization, and certainly not in the political realm. our past few presidents - Clinton and Bush both had exeuctive experience from being governors. When it comes down to it, Obama doesn't really have ANY experience generally because he has only been in Washington for 2 years.
So what does he deserve? He deserves to get stomped AND not be chosen as a VP candidate. He should not be rewarded for jumping the gun and letting his political desires get ahead of him.
Friday, November 30, 2007
This is the End
I was sitting on the bus today. I was surrounded by college students hunched over in their seats, their eyes glowing in the blue light inches from their faces, fingers rapdily punching in letters in their cell phone. Texting! I thought bird flu was bad.
It's one thing to walk around, constantly talking on your cell, but it is another to be launching text after text to all your friends. or *gasp* mass texting. Phone conversations at least include the exchange of oral communication, almost like actual interaction. But one of my friend's sisters accurately described her love of texting by saying, "it's like, communication without acitonal social interaction!"
And all the old people complain about the death of culture and ask why people don't talk anymore. The answer? Because they have nothing to say. By the time you're actually in the same room with your friends, they already know all about what has happened to you, because every waking moment, you are punching away at your cell key pad, sending them a text about what happened.
Furthermore, texting cemented "aim speak" into people's lexicon. I wouldn't be surprised if the new generation stats abreviating their words for everything. "Why not? We do it on the cell," they will say. Young inexperienced teacher familiar with texting quickly crumbles, unable to find an answer that will satisfy her own laziness to abbreviate everything.
Perhaps this is an overreaction (it is - for sure), but it could also be serious. Maybe.
It's one thing to walk around, constantly talking on your cell, but it is another to be launching text after text to all your friends. or *gasp* mass texting. Phone conversations at least include the exchange of oral communication, almost like actual interaction. But one of my friend's sisters accurately described her love of texting by saying, "it's like, communication without acitonal social interaction!"
And all the old people complain about the death of culture and ask why people don't talk anymore. The answer? Because they have nothing to say. By the time you're actually in the same room with your friends, they already know all about what has happened to you, because every waking moment, you are punching away at your cell key pad, sending them a text about what happened.
Furthermore, texting cemented "aim speak" into people's lexicon. I wouldn't be surprised if the new generation stats abreviating their words for everything. "Why not? We do it on the cell," they will say. Young inexperienced teacher familiar with texting quickly crumbles, unable to find an answer that will satisfy her own laziness to abbreviate everything.
Perhaps this is an overreaction (it is - for sure), but it could also be serious. Maybe.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Ballpark bankrupcy
I went to a baseball game yesterday (an exciting Reds victory in 12 innings) and I have this pet peeve about not buying food at the ballpark. Or really any sporting event, because the prices are so inflated. I'm really annoyed by this, to the extent that if I think I'm going to want any food, I sneak it in. Honestly, things are about FIVE TIMES what they should be. Bottles of water and candy bars are FOUR DOLLARS. Vending machines have that stuff for like, seventy-five cents. Why is it so much more expensive? I guess they assume they can get people to pay that, but that doesn't really make it right in my book.
Yesterday was different. After munching on candy for awhile, one of the people I was with wanted to try "fried cookie dough." Yes, FRIED cookie dough. I'd never even heard of it before. I'll admit it sounds pretty good. So I decided to make an exception and try the cookie dough. But when I got to the vendor, I saw that the price was $7. SEVEN DOLLARS. I thought that it was a lot, but that I probably wasn't going to try it again, so I might as well do this considering it was a once in a lifetime thing. Needless to say I couldn't really finish it because it was DOUGH. And it made me kind of sick to my stomach. And since I'd been chomping on candy for about six innings, my stomach was starting to crave "normal" food. And the only normal food I could really get my hands onto was pizza. So after all that sugar, all I could do was get something greasy to "calm my stomach."
The slice of pizza was five dollars. Frankly, I was okay with that. And I guess it was worth it. But I'm not used to spending $12-$15 at the ballpark.
Yesterday was different. After munching on candy for awhile, one of the people I was with wanted to try "fried cookie dough." Yes, FRIED cookie dough. I'd never even heard of it before. I'll admit it sounds pretty good. So I decided to make an exception and try the cookie dough. But when I got to the vendor, I saw that the price was $7. SEVEN DOLLARS. I thought that it was a lot, but that I probably wasn't going to try it again, so I might as well do this considering it was a once in a lifetime thing. Needless to say I couldn't really finish it because it was DOUGH. And it made me kind of sick to my stomach. And since I'd been chomping on candy for about six innings, my stomach was starting to crave "normal" food. And the only normal food I could really get my hands onto was pizza. So after all that sugar, all I could do was get something greasy to "calm my stomach."
The slice of pizza was five dollars. Frankly, I was okay with that. And I guess it was worth it. But I'm not used to spending $12-$15 at the ballpark.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Too much roadkill
I've been doing a lot more driving lately and I have seen a lot of roadkill. Too much roadkill.
Honestly. Have animals gotten dummer? Has their intelligence regressed? Have their adaptations to life among humans been somehow weeded out? Are we driving faster so they can't get out of the way? What's the deal.
Frankly I don't care, I just do not want to have to steer my car around a dead animal everytime I get on the road.
Another thing that bothers me about the roadkill I have been seeing is that some of them are squashed birds. Seriously, come on. If you're a bird, and there's a car coming FLY AWAY. You have wings, use them. You should never be at a loss for getting out of the way. You should never have to WALK across a busy road. In fact, you should always be able to fly well above the road. Birds are actually the only animals I don't break for either. Because if they can't get out of my way, I'm only helping their species evolve.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Is Arnold Right?
I read a story today that bashed Arnold for saying something along the lines of, "immigrants should stop watching Hispanic television and watch English-Language television, because that's how he learned English when he came from Germany." To provide some further context Arnold preempts his statement by saying, approximately "I know some might think this isn't politically correct, but I'm trying to help."
What have things come to that people can't even speak from their own experience AND say things they know could get them into trouble, but say them because they think it could be beneficial. Arnold KNOWS some might be offended and essentially says, I don't mean to be offensive, but this is what helped me.
For instance, at the second Democratic Debate they asked all the presidential hopefuls which one of them would make English the National Language. One guy was brave enough to say he'd do it. Before people jumped all over him he said that he would do it, because in America, people speak English. Whether or not you speak it at home, you're going to speak it most of the time in school, work, everywhere else. Sure, that might not be politically correct, but its TRUE.
Besides, I'm tired of political correctness.
What have things come to that people can't even speak from their own experience AND say things they know could get them into trouble, but say them because they think it could be beneficial. Arnold KNOWS some might be offended and essentially says, I don't mean to be offensive, but this is what helped me.
For instance, at the second Democratic Debate they asked all the presidential hopefuls which one of them would make English the National Language. One guy was brave enough to say he'd do it. Before people jumped all over him he said that he would do it, because in America, people speak English. Whether or not you speak it at home, you're going to speak it most of the time in school, work, everywhere else. Sure, that might not be politically correct, but its TRUE.
Besides, I'm tired of political correctness.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Music videos - guys or gals
I know I just posted a rant about why I love youtube. And why I love to use it for music videos. BUT...this rant is kind of me rambling my way to an open question. Sure, I like to watch music videos. But who are music videos marketed towards?
At first I used to think it was just teenagers in general. But really, are they just marketed towards teenage girls? Are teenage girls the ones who are supposed to be watching them? To guys even watch music vieos? Generally?
It seems that music videos are usually chick flicks with music, regardless of what kind of music. Yes, I know there are exceptions, especially the more politically motivated artists. But honestly, those artists are just a few.
My question is this, do guys watch music videos anymore?
At first I used to think it was just teenagers in general. But really, are they just marketed towards teenage girls? Are teenage girls the ones who are supposed to be watching them? To guys even watch music vieos? Generally?
It seems that music videos are usually chick flicks with music, regardless of what kind of music. Yes, I know there are exceptions, especially the more politically motivated artists. But honestly, those artists are just a few.
My question is this, do guys watch music videos anymore?
Thank G-D for youtube!
Honestly, what would I do without it?
Its great for music - now that itunes went totally lame and makes you pay for more than 30 seconds of a music video, you can luckily find them (and in many different languages if that amuses you like it amuses me) on youtube!
Its great for movie fans - say for instance you're looking for a famous scene or famous introduction (like the james bond title sequences), you can probably find it on youtube. I say probably, because some of them have been taken down.
Its great for guilty pleasures - if you love a music video that you dont want your friends to know you love (for me its, shhh....Finish reading this article at Rhianna's "Umbrella" and Avril's "Girlfriend" and youtube lets me watch them over and over and over (because they're really addicting).
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that youtube is the best website to go to when you have no idea what to do, are bored out of your mind, and you want something (need something) to do.
Its great for music - now that itunes went totally lame and makes you pay for more than 30 seconds of a music video, you can luckily find them (and in many different languages if that amuses you like it amuses me) on youtube!
Its great for movie fans - say for instance you're looking for a famous scene or famous introduction (like the james bond title sequences), you can probably find it on youtube. I say probably, because some of them have been taken down.
Its great for guilty pleasures - if you love a music video that you dont want your friends to know you love (for me its, shhh....Finish reading this article at Rhianna's "Umbrella" and Avril's "Girlfriend" and youtube lets me watch them over and over and over (because they're really addicting).
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that youtube is the best website to go to when you have no idea what to do, are bored out of your mind, and you want something (need something) to do.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Movies to videogames to movies
For awhile, I was totally down with people making movies with built in audiences, tv shows, comics, even video games. But now with the over saturation of the market with way way way too many comic book movies, I've decided to pick on the video game movies. Why not the comic movies? Because every once in awhile, there is a good comic book movie, while the video game ones are few and far between.
While the "Resident Evil" movies were mildly entertaining, they were largely the same and to say the least, unimaginative. Which is part of the problem altogether - Hollywood is running out of ideas. But please please, look for ideas beyond videogames. Some of these movies, like "Silent Hill," "BloodRayne," "Mortal Kombat," "Street Fighter," to name both new and old examples, essentially REQUIRE you to have played them to know what's going on. Or they just suck at character development/explanation. One of those two.
On the other side of the problem is the oversaturation of the videogame market with movie inspired videogames. Sure, the studios need to make their buck whenever and however they can because ticket sales are dropping, but come on, there are just way too many movie-video games. It's almost impossible to peruse through imdb without stumbling upon all of the "VG"'s as they're listed of your favorite movies. It made sense to make videogames out of James Bond movies because that was when the first person shooter genre needed some life, and Goldeneye was THE game then. But now, there are plenty of other games that do a decent enough job telling their story without needing a movie to streamline them.
In the end, both industries seem to slowly be sucking the other dry, turning fans on both sides against the other. Overproducion has killed the golden goose for both. Sometimes, you just have to sack up, and carve out your own story.
While the "Resident Evil" movies were mildly entertaining, they were largely the same and to say the least, unimaginative. Which is part of the problem altogether - Hollywood is running out of ideas. But please please, look for ideas beyond videogames. Some of these movies, like "Silent Hill," "BloodRayne," "Mortal Kombat," "Street Fighter," to name both new and old examples, essentially REQUIRE you to have played them to know what's going on. Or they just suck at character development/explanation. One of those two.
On the other side of the problem is the oversaturation of the videogame market with movie inspired videogames. Sure, the studios need to make their buck whenever and however they can because ticket sales are dropping, but come on, there are just way too many movie-video games. It's almost impossible to peruse through imdb without stumbling upon all of the "VG"'s as they're listed of your favorite movies. It made sense to make videogames out of James Bond movies because that was when the first person shooter genre needed some life, and Goldeneye was THE game then. But now, there are plenty of other games that do a decent enough job telling their story without needing a movie to streamline them.
In the end, both industries seem to slowly be sucking the other dry, turning fans on both sides against the other. Overproducion has killed the golden goose for both. Sometimes, you just have to sack up, and carve out your own story.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Go for the head
I'll issue a warning that this post might be a tad sadistic. But it was something I was thinking about lately (perhaps I'm sadistic then?) So here goes.
Why don't people always shoot for the head? Like, its a lot easier. Well maybe not easier, because it is a slightly harder target (being smaller than the chest), but it is a definite kill (unless you're that lame ass guy from "The World is Not Enough.")
Just think how many problems are created when the guy doesnt shoot the guy in the head. The whole movie "The Assassins" happens because Sly couldn't shake bad habits and shoot the guy in the head. Hell, maybe Hartigan could have gotten into Nancy a few times if he'd plugged the Yellow Bastard in the head the first or even the second time. Even Clint knows that he can get away with a stove top because the guy isnt gonna go for his head. And then Marty copies him!
Those are just a few examples from movies I like, but this is a much larger theme. Frankly what if the guy is wearing a bullet proof vest? Or they happen to have a bible over their heart (this happens more than you would think).
I know I know, that bad guys can't always die the first time because they always need to survive the first encounter so there's a whole movie instead of a twenty minute short, but come on, when you've got the shot, take it.
Why don't people always shoot for the head? Like, its a lot easier. Well maybe not easier, because it is a slightly harder target (being smaller than the chest), but it is a definite kill (unless you're that lame ass guy from "The World is Not Enough.")
Just think how many problems are created when the guy doesnt shoot the guy in the head. The whole movie "The Assassins" happens because Sly couldn't shake bad habits and shoot the guy in the head. Hell, maybe Hartigan could have gotten into Nancy a few times if he'd plugged the Yellow Bastard in the head the first or even the second time. Even Clint knows that he can get away with a stove top because the guy isnt gonna go for his head. And then Marty copies him!
Those are just a few examples from movies I like, but this is a much larger theme. Frankly what if the guy is wearing a bullet proof vest? Or they happen to have a bible over their heart (this happens more than you would think).
I know I know, that bad guys can't always die the first time because they always need to survive the first encounter so there's a whole movie instead of a twenty minute short, but come on, when you've got the shot, take it.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Does fundamentalism foster homosexuality?
For some reason, fundamentalism has been on my mind recently, after the passing of the Reverend Jerry Falwell. And I was also recently having a conversation about the societal assumption, and near obsession with dividing the sexes - summer camp, dormitories, etcetera. This division continues, and quite reasonably becomes more vigilant, as we grow older.
Now, in certain institutions and among people with certain beliefs, this ritual gender division is more rigidly adhered too. Fundamentalism is a perfect case in point - sitting seperately in church or requiring chaperones in mixed-gender company.
A perfect example is Falwell's Liberty university where males cannot be in female dorms for any reason. Cutting through all the BS - the reason is obviously to prevent the kids from having sex. Now, even in a place like Liberty where they try to fanatically stamp out homosexuality, they assume that children will only desire heterosexual sex. So there is essentially a type of sex that these systemic gender rules will not prevent.
Furthermore, it seems to me that such radically fundamentalist type rules foster same sex relationships. Think about it - tensions are getting high, kids are maturing and forming opinions, their sex drive is running into a brick wall, they want release - and the only avenues for them to pursue or those in their own dorm.
Just think about it.
Now, in certain institutions and among people with certain beliefs, this ritual gender division is more rigidly adhered too. Fundamentalism is a perfect case in point - sitting seperately in church or requiring chaperones in mixed-gender company.
A perfect example is Falwell's Liberty university where males cannot be in female dorms for any reason. Cutting through all the BS - the reason is obviously to prevent the kids from having sex. Now, even in a place like Liberty where they try to fanatically stamp out homosexuality, they assume that children will only desire heterosexual sex. So there is essentially a type of sex that these systemic gender rules will not prevent.
Furthermore, it seems to me that such radically fundamentalist type rules foster same sex relationships. Think about it - tensions are getting high, kids are maturing and forming opinions, their sex drive is running into a brick wall, they want release - and the only avenues for them to pursue or those in their own dorm.
Just think about it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Second rant...concert tickets
I was just thinking about how much I missed going to concerts and I had this powerful urge to jump on tickemaster and start looking for some tickets. Once there I realized that my desire to go to a concert was just not great enough to fork over about $70 for the actual ticket and about $15 to ticketmaster for "handling fees."
I guess everything is more expensive these days, but $85 is a LOT of money - especially for kids, who, it seems to me, would be the largest target audience. Who can just drop 85 bucks at the drop of a hat anymore? I know I can't.
As I thought about it though, I began to realize that the problem wasn't JUST the cost, but it was also the musicians themselves. It's one thing to drop $80 for the Rolling Stones, but when they're asking about that much to see Tool (this is just an example, I would never even entertain going to see Tool), it starts to get you down. For me personally, I realized that there are few artists I would even want to pay more than $60 for. Sure, I did that for The Red Hot Chili Peppers and I thought it was well worth it, but that's probably one of the few I'm willing to fork over a bunch of money for.
I dont know, hit me back with artists you think are worth $60+
I guess everything is more expensive these days, but $85 is a LOT of money - especially for kids, who, it seems to me, would be the largest target audience. Who can just drop 85 bucks at the drop of a hat anymore? I know I can't.
As I thought about it though, I began to realize that the problem wasn't JUST the cost, but it was also the musicians themselves. It's one thing to drop $80 for the Rolling Stones, but when they're asking about that much to see Tool (this is just an example, I would never even entertain going to see Tool), it starts to get you down. For me personally, I realized that there are few artists I would even want to pay more than $60 for. Sure, I did that for The Red Hot Chili Peppers and I thought it was well worth it, but that's probably one of the few I'm willing to fork over a bunch of money for.
I dont know, hit me back with artists you think are worth $60+
Sunday, May 20, 2007
First rant...chic movies
I just got finished watching "She's the Man" and after thinking it over for awhile, I realized the movie was actually pretty good. It would have been a hell of a whole lot better if it hadn't been trapped in the box/lines of Disney movies. If you think about it, there arent really any movies that are rated R that are really "for girls".
Guys get trash like American Pie and all that that are thin on pretty much everything and then just chock full of sexuality and nudity. I'm not saying the answer is to follow that formula and give us a chick flick full of full frontal male nudity. But there has to be some way.
I'll admit, that the reason there arent many R-rated girl movies is because the large female audience is mostly little girls who watch the Disney channel, hence all the movies are the same. But there has to be some sort of middle ground.
What I want to see is "She's the Man" with real teeth. For instance, the movie is a pretty thinly veiled female version of "Sorority Boys." And that movie was better not just because of the nudity, or the Elizabeth Banks' shower scenes (those did help) but because the movie could take off the kiddie gloves and make some real jokes. Most of the time the jokes were pretty lame flatuence or homosexual jokes but just every once in awhile there was a pretty humorous joke that didnt have to be falsely executed in kiddie speak.
I know this seems to be a pointless rant, but when you really think about it, most of these movies have decent unknown actors and actresses - much better than the unknowns that the American Pie style movies draw in. So these movies have the tools to be decent movies. They have SOME hope. We just need to help them along a little.
Guys get trash like American Pie and all that that are thin on pretty much everything and then just chock full of sexuality and nudity. I'm not saying the answer is to follow that formula and give us a chick flick full of full frontal male nudity. But there has to be some way.
I'll admit, that the reason there arent many R-rated girl movies is because the large female audience is mostly little girls who watch the Disney channel, hence all the movies are the same. But there has to be some sort of middle ground.
What I want to see is "She's the Man" with real teeth. For instance, the movie is a pretty thinly veiled female version of "Sorority Boys." And that movie was better not just because of the nudity, or the Elizabeth Banks' shower scenes (those did help) but because the movie could take off the kiddie gloves and make some real jokes. Most of the time the jokes were pretty lame flatuence or homosexual jokes but just every once in awhile there was a pretty humorous joke that didnt have to be falsely executed in kiddie speak.
I know this seems to be a pointless rant, but when you really think about it, most of these movies have decent unknown actors and actresses - much better than the unknowns that the American Pie style movies draw in. So these movies have the tools to be decent movies. They have SOME hope. We just need to help them along a little.
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