The Luce Cannon

Businesses are not the only ones that are selfish

2011-02-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

Why do leftists always come across as selfish to me? Could it be because they are? The latest battle with the unions in Wisconsin is a classic example.

The state is deeply in debt, not to mention the country as a whole. Everyone who has an ounce of common sense knows we can't continue to spend the way we have. Somehow, someway, something has to give, and in the case of Wisconsin I would say everyone has to give to a certain degree.

Enter the unions. I will admit they have given a few concessions. Yet these concessions are short term and don't deal with the long term problem which is the unions stranglehold on the state's pursestrings. If the people of Wisconsin want to truly make lasting changes that will get them permanently on the road to recovery and a budget that is in check, the union is going to need to give up some of its power to negotiate contracts so the state can keep it in check. Otherwise, the state will be in the same position 5 years from now.

The protesting union members say they are abandoning their classrooms and protesting "for the children" but it seems that unless they are willing to give up the power that got the state into this mess in the first place, they are just blowing smoke.

In the early part of the 20th century, the unions were much needed. I don't know anyone that denies that. The power was in the hands of the businesses, and they were abusing that power. Now it seems the tides have turned and the unions seem to have gotten too much power, and now it is bankrupting state governments left and right. Just as we tweaked the direction of power against businesses back in the last century by giving more power to unions, it is now time to turn that power back into the hands of the people of the state of Wisconsin so they can rein in the abuse of power the unions have wrought over their state government.

If union members want to see more jobs available in their respective fields, the best thing they can do is allow the state to do its job in adjusting the budget to practical levels and give its people a chance at recovery.

Are You Still Here?

2011-02-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still alive and kicking. I've been out of the blogging business for a while and decided I need to spruce up my writing skills for future projects, including possibly a book.

I'm sure those that have perused this site in the past are long gone, so I will have to build up my readership from scratch, but frankly I'm in it for the practice, so the audience is gravy. I appreciate any comments, and certainly would like a big readership, but right now I will be happy to get my thoughts out on paper. I'll think about who actually reads my rantings at a later time.

I have to say that even writing this little bit is a joy. It just gets my creative juices flowing, and allows me to have an outlet on a myriad of subjects, which I have total freedom to pursue.

So here I am again world! Hold onto your seats because I can guarantee this will not be a boring ride!

It's the Commercials, stupid!

2007-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

Do all these people at Superbowl parties really come to see the game? Of course not! Don't you know that the best commercials of the year are on 1 day of the year, Superbowl Sunday. I could say that I'm excited about the game, but I would be lying. I used to get mildy excited when I was younger, but it has always been more of a social event than anything else for me. Forget the game! Let me know when the commericals are on. Need I remind you that it was on Superbowl Sunday when Apple initially showed the commerical introducing the Macintosh to the world? Need I say that beer companies have huge sales directly before and after Superbowl Sunday because of the commercials they put on in between plays? Need I mention "waaaaatsuuuuuup?"

I think it is clear how much of a social event the Superbowl has become, and how much more it is than simply a game. The reason it gets as many people to watch is at least as much from the hoopla surrounding the game as the game itself. I know quite a few people who have confided in me how much more they want to watch the commercials than they do the actual game.

And so I say as I go to the party at my friend's house: "Forget the game! Let me know when the commercials are on!"

A New Experiment

2007-02-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

Michael Medved has been one of my favorite radio talk show hosts since I started listening to him 5-6 years ago. The Dennis Prager/Michael Medved dynamic duo have been mainstays in my daily regimen for quite a while. So I thought I would do a fun experiment. I'm going to do a running recap of one hour of his show ferreting out all the juicy tidbits. Now I'm doing this in real time, so it might be a little rough, but that is part of the magic of it. Writing on the fly! We'll see how it turns out. Feedback is encouraged.

The economy is doing terrific.

Things are looking bright because of Bush's economic leadership.

Bush went on the Wall Street floor to talk about the economic advances in his presidency.

Newt will not be a true presidential candidate because he won't decide until September, too late.

Newt commented about John Edwards building the largest house in South Carolina.

He talked about Two Americas based on values and ideas. Which one does John Edwards belong to?

He is estimated at a worth of $12-69 million. He is a part of the legal/industrial complex.

Someone who is a trial lawyer do not help anyone but themselves and a few choice select people who get decisions in their favor.

There have been a huge number of jobs that have been created since Bush became president.

He has increased the typical income in America by $2500 since his presidency began. That is not chicken feed.

Edwards didn't allow photographers to come in to take pictures of his house, but helicopters have done it anyway. Where are the enviornmentalists?

Biden made a stupid, insulting comment about Obama. He has apologized, but it was definitely patronizing. A Republican would have been raked over the coals for comments like Biden's.

A black caller talks about how racist this society is and how "4 out of 5" blacks have been arrested at gunpoint for something. He believes Hussain was innocent and should not have been hanged. Our emphesis in spending is in the wrong place. Michael responds we spend 10 time more on AIDS in Africa as we do on building prisons.

Another caller says wages have gone down since the 60's. Michael responds that is nonsense considering provision for health care by companies. 70% of Americans have their health care taken care of by their company.

The stock market is up 111 points now. We are doing much better than our counterparts in Europe. Income is up $2500 a month. If you put $400 a month of that in the bank, you'd be able to retire a millionaire.

We are increasing Pell Grants. We send too many to college who shouldn't be there. We are spending $13.6 billion just on Pell Grants as a country. Way too much.

Another caller asks if he were a recent college grad, where would he go to in Detroit? There is a new computer company that is booming in Detroit. Boeing is doing really well. Microsoft is doing really well.

Opportunity is out there if you want it.

A caller debates that the deficit is going up. It is actually going down. Including the war.

Well, there it is. Maybe not the most organized, but it was fun to try it. Who knows. I might just do it again sometime and then I'll be even better at it.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine!

2007-02-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

Through some unnamed sources of which I cannot reveal, it has been reported that Walden Media who made Narnia such a success have decided to make Screwtape Letters into a feature length film as well. This is certainly an unusual choice for a movie adaptation, but considering how well they translated The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe onto celluloid, I think they might have a shot at it.

Lewis was always a smart and creative writer, and Screwtape was not exception. He chose to juxtapose himself into the mind of a demon and show how successful that demon might be to use certain tactics with humans to get them to sin and lose their battle with the flesh. Certainly a worthy theme for a book considering how little we think of Satan and his tactics. But I'm still concerned if they will be able to make an adaptation that will work well on film, much less be entertaining. I would hate to see them completely mess it up or misconstrue some of Lewis' points.

Oh well. There is no point in debating it now. When I actually see the film, then I'll have a better idea if they have acheived something worthwhile. The mere fact that they are setting out to do it is a promising sign, especially considering what they could choose to make instead. Rocky Horror Picture Show II? I don't think so.

The Riftwar Saga

2007-02-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

I have read Raymond Feist for quite a while. I have always been amazed at his creative plots. Magician: Apprentice was his first book as a professional, and plotwise it lives up to its reputation, which is substantial. However, the more I think about it, the more I have a problem with his prose.

I'm sure he must think long and hard about his plots, and this is no exception. The idea of a rift between two worlds with one being an entire society bent on the destruction of the other is pure genius. And since the story is not finished, maybe I should withhold judgement. In fact, I might eat my words. However, because I know his writing as well as I do from other books, I must say that the actual telling of the story is kind of dull. It simply doesn't get me excited about finishing the story. I will, simply because I have heard so much about the ending, but I have a feeling that even finished the story is going to disappoint.

Certainly, this is more a matter of personal taste. I see Feist as someone who is a great writer, just not as much my cup of tea. Others may go completely bonkers with his storytelling craft. I am just not one of them.

I definitely accept him as one of the early masters of epic fantasy which include Brooks, Donaldson, McCaffrey and Kurtz, especially since he has been writing them since the early 80's. I just will not gravitate towards his writing style.

Give me Brooks, Goodkind and Kurtz any day over Feist. Now those are some wonderful writers.

The New Warmakers

2007-01-30T12:58:00.000-08:00

You knew they would be there. The Hollywood left felt it was important to grace the DC war protest with their presence to annoint it as an official engagement. They also knew that there would be better news coverage for it if they were there. And that the NY Times would say there were 400,000 there instead of 50,000 to 100,000.

No doubt, 50,000 is a fair sized protest. But they are promoting an agenda of immediate pull out without any thought to the consequences. Will it save more US lives? Probably. But it will also cost a tremendous amount more Iraqi lives, in addition to giving Iran more oil and telling the world that the US will not follow through with what it says it will do. Seems to me immediate withdrawal will kill more people than it will save.

Once again, this is typical looney left behavior. "I don't care how many lives it costs, I want peace right now." What a childish idea. And how short sighted. Regardless of your position on whether we should have gone in in the first place. We are dealing in the here and now. Now that we are in, are we going to do the same thing we did in Vietnam by pulling out suddenly and starting a million man blood bath? Is that what the left means by peace?

I'm sick and tired of people who give no thought to the consequences of their actions. There is no peaceful solution to the situation we are in, so deal with it. We will get out as soon as the job is done. Not before. If we do not, it will mean a whole bunch more deaths than it will save.

Peace at any cost? Not in the real world, Jane. And Susan. And Tim. And Sean. And Maxine. And Jesse.

Liberals Don't Debate

2007-01-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

There is a major gulf between left and right in this country, and it isn't just about policy, but about the way we debate. First off, by definition this is a generalization, so don't think I am saying all liberals are one way and all conservatives are another. But in general, conservatives tend to want to debate ideas, and liberals tend to want to call conservatives names. There are a litany of names that liberals keep ready at hand to stifle debate, not encourage it. These are not simply names that demean, but call into question the other person's character.

The typical names that a liberal might use are terms such as racist, homophobe, sexist and bigoted. Now think about these terms for a second. When I call someone a racist, am I simply trying to demean them or say they are evil because they hate blacks? Seems to me it is more than a negative description, it is a word used to end debate by calling a conservative an evil person. Liberals don't want to deal with having to actually argue their points, they want to shut off dialogue by saying "you're not worth debating because you're a scumbag." The worst part about it is that they almost do it without knowing what they are doing.

I am perfectly happy to debate a liberal any day of the weak. But it seems we need to stick to arguments and not call someone's character into question every time they happen to disagree. We would have much more of an exchange of ideas if this were true. Someone who uses these terms on a regular basis doesn't have the best arguments which is why they resort to these types of tactics.

I will fight this with everything I've got. Either give me an argument or get out of the way so I can debate people who actually have some.

Rosie and Donald: A Match Made in Heaven

2007-01-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

There is nothing I can think of that I actually agree with Rosie O'Donnell about. She and I are on different planes of existence, and that's not because we're different sexes.

But even I can see from a cursory glance that this feud she is having with Donald Trump is getting to be juvenile. Both of them are to blame. But I have to say, Rosie started the entire mess making fun of Donald Trump and his willingness to give Ms. USA a second chance after she screwed up.

I don't defend either of them. It seems they are both having a sandbox fight on national TV. Of course the question at hand is why? But Rosie seems to consistently need to stick her foot in places where maybe she should show a little tact. She has obviously made a tremendous amount of enemies acting as if she is the queen bee and everyone needs to do things her way. I might actually think she were funny if she didn't constantly make fun of those that don't do it her way all the time.

I hope this current feud dissipates very quickly, cause I'm already sick of it. Both of you, grow up!

The Best Ensemble

2007-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have been a Star Trek fan since I was a kid. I've never been a geek, but I have been known to go to a few conventions in my time. There is a difference between going and dressing up and going. I am definitely of the former.

Star Trek: Voyager was the 4th incarnation of the franchise, and I must say, after watching it up through the 5th season on Netflix, this is the best ensemble cast they have ever had, and probably ever will. Star Trek is definitely past its prime in popularity, and I doubt they have any other television shows in the works at present after the dismal failure of Enterprise.

From 7 of 9's dichotomy of being Borg and human to the typical vulcan Tuvok to the sociable Neelix to the mischievious Paris to the fiesty klingon B'tana to the incredibly funny doctor, I find these shows to be the most enjoyable specifically because there is such a diverse crew. They are so different, but have an amazing chemistry. This is incredibly necessary for a TV show to be watchable, and they are able to pull it off in spades. I even like the Captain, even though they put her as Captain to be politically correct.

I can't think of a bad character on the show. Tess was the closest thing, and they pulled her after the 3rd season.

It is too bad the franchise was destroyed by Enterprise, because I would like for TV like this to be out there still. It looks like we will have a long wait as far as Star Trek is concerned. If they do continue it somehow, they better make sure it has an ensemble to rival Star Trek: Voyager, or it will be doomed.

A True Culture Warrior

2007-01-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

When it comes to the big picture, no one gets it right better than Bill O'Reilly. On his TV show, he has demonstrated fearlessness in going after people who need to be gone after. I might not agree with him on every issue, but his philosophy of why he does what he does and what targets he chooses is impecable. Case in point is his latest book which I just got around to reading, Culture Warrior.

Bill O'Reilly realizes his books are for a pop audience, so his analysis is a little shallow. But the overall theme to Culture Warrior which is that the culture war going on in this country is of vital importance to us all is as important a theme as you can get. He clearly defines both sides, who the major players are and what the fight is about. He then asks the reader to choose sides realizing that the more people realize what the situation is, the more they will want to get involved.

Personally, I prefer Dennis Prager's columns last year on "The Case for Judeo-Christian Values." They will soon be put into book form, but you can read them online at townhall.com. His is more in depth analysis of what traditionalists believe and why. Those would be a next logical step in understanding the fight we have for the soul of this country.

O'Reilly may have a few rough edges, but he has a large enough audience that his book will have more impact, and may just get some traditionalists off their butts and into the arena. It's about time.

A Gift from God

2007-01-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

For the most part, I'm an inside kind of guy. You know, computers, movies, reading. All the things normally associated with being indoors. Everyone, however, including me, has episodes of insanity where I need the fresh air and open space of the out of doors.

Today is one such day. What a perfect day, as SoCal days go. Very little smog. The sun is shining. The air is crisp. The sky is oh so blue. And this is in the middle of winter. It is quiet and serene.

Like I said. This is not my norm. Usually I couldn't care less. But days like this are meant to be enjoyed. I am going to try. Make sure in all the hustle and bustle of life you don't also take a day or two (pick good ones) and enjoy the scenery as well. These are gifts from God. Meant for our pleasure.

Apple is Coming to Town

2007-01-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

For anyone who is even remotely a fan of Apple computers, this is the time of year go crazy. The MacWorld Expo is next week. Need I say more?

Of course I do. Apple sets up this conference as the time when all their newest technology comes out. They are truly the most innovative computer company out there right now, hardware and software, and they are truly beginning to come into their own as far as market share. Microsoft has been at the top of the heap for so long they've lost their edge, and is is time a company with true momentum take its place. The iPod has given them the chance. They have over a 75% market share of all portable players sold on the market today, and they are making inroads in their market share of computers as well.

The thing that is the clincher this time is they are unveiling their new operating system which has the capability of switching your Mac from OSX to Windows, so now you will have 2 computers in 1 if you buy a Mac. Talk about win win. How could someone not buy a Mac now over an IBM? I'm saving up my money right now to do just that. Right now, I have one of each. One for work, one for play. Now, I can have both in one. What an awesome idea. And what a great way to increase market share.

Watch out Microsoft. You are going to have your hands full once the general public gets a hold of what Apple is going to unveil next week.

More to come...

Why Do They Do It?

2007-01-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

I've watched COPS long enough to know that when criminals try to evade the police, they will get caught eventually. It blows my mind how many people actually think they can get away.

I guess the thinking is that Cops have to follow certain rules of engagement that everyone else doesn't, so if they just do whatever it takes to get away, they will succeed.

Yes, Cops have rules, but they also have a whole police force with more cars, guns, ammo, helicopters, etc than anyone else could hope to have. And they have something you don't: time. They have all the time in the world. Time is on their side. Eventually, you will get caught.

So take my advice. If you are ever pulled over and a cop asks you to do something, make your life easier and DO IT. Who knows, you might actually stay out of jail, rather than find yourself with a criminal record. Just a thought.

Oprah got it Right!

2007-01-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

For once, I think I actually agree with Oprah on something. Not that I watch her on a regular basis. But I have some new respect for her now that she has had on Bill O'Reilly on her program, and for this latest comment she made about why she chose to spend $40 million making a school in South Africa rather than in the US.

Here was her response. "If you ask the kids [in the US] what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."

Now she has got it right on the money, excuse the pun. American kids as a whole have lost the drive to succeed. They expect things to come easily. They aren't as "hungry" for success as they were even 30-40 years ago. They don't know the meaning of suffering and have been coddled since they were born. Now the school systems are asking them to actually work hard for their grades and to develop good skills and knowledge and they're being beat the world over because they don't care.

If our kids do not learn the meaning of hard work, they are going to have a rude awakening when other countries who do will begin outproducing us. Oprah is saying something that while it is sad, is true. If American kids don't value education, then she needs to put her money where she feels it will do the most good.

The school system doesn't need more money. It needs kids who aren't spoiled and have some drive to get something done. I lay this at the parent's feet. If parent's give their kids everything their hearts desire, why should they strive for these things when they are given them for free. This is the American spirit of self-reliance, and it is on its way out.

Like Rocky Balboa, our kids have lost "the eye of the tiger." Let's help them get it back

Little Miss Actress

2006-08-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

It is not often you find a kid who's got acting chops. Haley Joel Osmot was one. Drew Barrymore proved herself as well, even when she was younger. And the little girl from Little Miss Sunshine, Abagail Breslin, has also proven herself in this fairly good movie.

I won't say the movie is pure magic, because it isn't. The jokes have a little too much raunch for my blood. The dialogue was extremely realistic, yet the end was kind of cheezy. So the movie isn't a classic. The scenes with Breslin were something to watch. she didn't overplay her role, but came across as a regular everyday kid who is a little unsure of herself, but naive enough not to let it affect her. She is just coming into her own. That is not an easy character to pull off, but she does it with flying colors.

I'm actually looking forward to the next time she comes on the screen. Let er' rip!

The New Hitler

2006-08-23T05:49:00.000-07:00

This man wants nuclear weapons. He and his cronies would like nothing more than the instant respect and firepower that nuclear weapons could provide. The ultimate weapon that can hold an entire city hostage. The question is, do you trust him not to use it.

The whole point of nuclear weapons is to not have to use them in the first place. They are used as deterence, to prevent certain bullies from taking over. An insurance policy so to speak. The man who has no problem actually using them for his aims is someone who cannot be trusted with them

Do you actually believe the President of Iran has no intention of actually using nuclear weapons if and when he gets a hold of them? He has made repeated statements that his administration has 2 goals: the destruction of Israel first, and the destruction of the US next. Easier said than done, mind you, but goals nonetheless. With those types of crazy propositions, he obviously cannot be trusted with the most powerful weapon ever developed.

The President just told the UN he has no intention of stopping development of the uranium enrichment he needs to make his first weapon. So I don't see that we have much of a choice. The West is going to have to stop him somehow, and while it is the last resort, we cannot take military action off the table. Even if this means simply using our superior air power to knock out key areas of leadership that would allow the people to revolt. The present government isn't nearly as popular as it would like to think it is. If we could get a revolt going, we might be able to get these people out of office.

I'm not sure what our strategy should be yet with Iran. But I do know we are quickly running out of diplomatic options. We tried to appease Hitler. That didn't work too well. The President of Iran seems to have more similarities than differences to that 20th century dictator. I doubt we want to relive those days. Just a thought.

Why?

2006-08-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Why exactly do we follow these cases? I ask you. Jon Benet Ramsey's case has been in the news as an unsolved murder for the past 10 years. Are we really that desparate for this kind of entertainment that we follow the new culprit no matter how ridiculous his story is?

I know she was young when she died. And I have sympathy for the people who lost in this horrible way. But unless they have solved this case with DNA evidence and blood in his car, lets get over it as a nation. This guy who has confessed I don't even know his name as overtaken the news for the past 4 days. He got exactly what he wanted. The spotlight. He doesn't care that he didn't do it and that he is stomping on the families emotions. He wanted out of Taiwan and used this as a way to get free, be treated like a king, and get the spotlight turned on him until everyone finds out what he already knows. He didn't do it.

Yet, we still watch. Well, I don't. But now the story is crowding in on all the news shows I watch. It's like getting Greta 24/7. I'm sorry, Greta. I'm sure you're good at what you do. But a show totally devoted to this kind of stuff is overload before I even turn you on.

I refuse to watch. You go ahead and give the TV stations what they want, ratings. I'm going to change the channel every time I see the story come on the air. I hope they do find Ramsey's killer. Until they do, let's find out what to do in Iraq, Iran and Lebannon, can we?

Late Night Heebie Jeebies

2006-08-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a glutton for punishment. I put myself in danger and don't know why. And I do it over and over and over again. What exactly am I talking about? I watch Forensic Files late at night right before I go to bed.

What could be dangerous about that you ask? As if you didn't know. Forensic Files is a real life CSI type crime show. It shows the real McCoy, however. All those rapists, pedophiles, murderers, serial killers are on the screen in gory detail. Now don't get me wrong. It is a great show to watch. But at 11 at night as if I'm giving my dreams ideas? As if my bed isn't close enough to that window a killer could easily break into? As if I'm actually safe?

I know. This is paranoia in action. But how else can I react when I watch the show so close to my bedtime. I know I can't break the habit. The show is too good not to watch and it always comes on later.

So I guess I'm stuck. All the freaks are going to be lined up at my window waiting to get in after I shut out the lights. As long as I get my Forensic Files fix, I'll be OK.

Required Watching

2006-05-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Whether you are on the left or the right, United 93 should be a movie that is required watching for anyone over 13. There are few films I would ever say that about, but because of the subject matter and how well it was done, I can't help myself.

For one thing, it was endorsed by all the family members who lost loved ones on the flight. They wanted the movie to be released. Many of the actual players on the ground during the incident played themselves in the movie. Even if you take a look at www.rottentomatoes.com, you will see next to universal praise for a movie that attempts to portray the valiant members of that flight that lost their lives so that others could be saved.

Self-sacrifice is very rare in this world. Giving your life for others should always be something that is praised as the most corageous thing one can do. The people on this flight are heroes and deserve at the very least the respect enough for every US citizen to watch this accurate portrayal of their sacrifice. I hope that they will.

The Basic Building Block

2006-04-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

It seems to me there needs to be some clarification in regards to homosexual marriage and what we should be promoting as a society. Obviously this is a hot issue today with many diverse opinions in whether to allow the practice in the US.

This is definitely an issue where the rubber meets the road. It is a very clear marker of where our society is headed in the future.

First off, I do feel there needs to be a distinction made between my personal beliefs about homosexuality and government policy regarding it. I do believe homosexuality to be unequivically wrong as far as the Christian faith is concerned. I could bore you with biblical passages, but that is not my point in this article. However, we do have a secular government that makes laws in regards to all faiths, not just Christianity. Therefore, my personal morality cannot dictate law. I have no problem allowing each person to decide what goes on in their bedroom.

Now that we have that clear, though, we need to figure out what to do legally as far as gay marriage is concerned. The government should remain neutral regarding gay relationships. It shouldn't promote them and shouldn't denounce them. Why? Government should not be in people's bedrooms. But government should be involved in promoting those relationships that are able to make the next generation. After all, these are the future citizens of our country. Any relationship that is not able to make the next generation is of no consequence to the government, so the government has no stake it. As such, heterosexual couples are the only relationships that can create the next generation, and therefore are the only ones that should be receiving governmental endorsement (legal marriage). Any couple homosexual or otherwise can get married in any institution that will do the ceremony. So a "wedding" is not being deprived even today. The real issue is legal matrimony.

In addition, I do not think it is in the next generation's interest to by design deprive a child of a mother or a father, which gay marriage would do. There is something unique a father can give that a mother cannot and a mother can give that a father cannot. These are the facts of life and provide for the best chance for the next generation to succeed, thus the government has a stake.

It is also true that in Denmark where they have gay marriage as the law of the land, marriage rates across the board have gone down. The Danes are getting the idea of marriage clouded and are figuring it isn't worth it to get married anymore. I find that to be a disaster. Out of wedlock birth is the #1 way to grow up in a disadvantaged home, and I can see where that trend will take Denmark. Straight into the toilet.

Certainly, people are divided on this issue. But heterosexual marriage has been the norm in this country since its inception for a reason. Because it works. It is the foundational building block of Western civilization. Once we begin to toy with that idea, it won't be long before the country loses all footing on its heritage and the things that made this country great. I find that a deplorable option.

Juvenile Tactics

2006-03-11T05:33:00.000-08:00

When a culture war begins, the first thing to go is the truth. Case in point was the recent attack on James Dobson that should have the left throwing up in disgust. George Soros and friends have decided to target those people he disagrees with politically and take cheap shots at them by trying to destroy their character.

This latest attack was a full page ad in the New York Times and a commercial showing Dobson and others taking donations from Jack Abramhoff to fight against indian gaming casinos. OOO, that evil Dobson who has to be in bed with Abramhoff because that is just what he does. He is someone who stands firm against abortion and the homosexual agenda, therefore he must be a money grubbing capitalist who will screw all his listeners just so he can use their money to destroy caring and defenseless people. What a crock!

A few responses. First, I have been a faithful listener of Focus on the Family for well over 20 years, almost since it began. James Dobson has more integrity than all of his foes put together. He has no hidden agenda. If you actually listen to his program, you will know exactly what he stands for and what he is attempting to do. There is no hidden agenda. If there is one thing the extreme left will never do, it is make points on Dobson's character.

Second, I think since this charge as usual doesn't even have basis in fact, Dobson has a lawsuit. Whether he will go forward with that is up to him. But people who continouously take pot shots at him are looking to see how he will react in this case. He cannot be someone who gets run over all the time. He is eventually going to have to fight back. I doubt he'll hurt them financially, but he will send them a message: back off. I guess politics has come to that stage of the game where we can't simply have disagreements, that they have to turn to smearing someone's integrity to damage their message. Despicable behavior, but it is true.

Finally, this seems to prove that Dobson is having an effect. They wouldn't resort to these types of repugnant tactics if he wasn't holding sway with part of the country at large. His beliefs are finally making a difference and the fringe left can't stand it. These are tactics by desparate men. If they can't get their point across legitimately, then they feel the need to go after someone's integrity.

The only thing I have to say to the left is: get some class, get some integrity, grow up and get some values and fight for those. However you may disagree with his politics, you need to give credit where credit is due. James is a true christian who is sincere in his beliefs and has nothing to hide. Stop judging the man's character and start making arguments. That is the only way you are ever going to win over the American people.

Credit Where Credit is Due

2006-03-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

The Academy did a much better job that I thought they would ever do on award night. John Stewart was actually funny without doing the typical screw Bush jokes. The most politically charged line he made was in reference to Cheney, and that was actually funny and light-hearted. George Clooney was surprisingly controlled compared to his typical tactics in other venues. And the night went off without a hitch. Why are the Academy Awards still in a major slump in viewership, then.

I have a couple of ideas. The most obvious to me is that there were very few blockbusters that were up for major awards. It makes logical sense that if next to nobody has seen these films, next to nobody is going to have any investment in who wins. Good Night and Good Luck? You've got to be kidding. The biggest money maker won Best Picture, so at least there is that.

In addition, The Academy has got a lot of ground to make up in winning over the confidence of the majority of the American people. If the Oscars is going to be a night to rival the Superbowl, it needs to be a family affair. There were quite a few gags that were not suitable for kids. And in general, the past few years have been highly politically charged. If you are going to turn an event into a political rant, you will automatically offend half the audience. That's not the best way to attract a crowd.

I will give them credit. The Academy did much better this year, the host and the recipients. If they continue along this trend, they might just get a bigger audience in future Oscar nights. We will see if this holds.

Oscar is a Lib, Part Deux

2006-02-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Because there has been such a response to my article on the liberal agenda in Hollywood, I thought I would make a crucial distinction in my argument that many seem to be confusing. When I am talking liberal vs. conservative in a Hollywood sense, I am specifically talking about politically conservative. There needs to be a distinction between religious conservative and political conservative. While I am both religiously and politically conservative, the two are not mutually exclusive.

There are certainly some films that are made that could be considered a little more religiously conservative (The Passion of the Christ, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lord of the Rings) and certainly these movies have done well at the box office, and in some cases, at the Oscars. What I am referring to when I say Hollywood has an agenda is a political agenda, not a religious agenda.

Now that that distinction is made, the implication is clear. Brokeback Mountain has a very clear pro homosexual stance that does not have a counterpart in Hollywood. Good Night and Good Luck has a very negative view of those that went after Communists during the 50's that has no opposite. Syriana is an anti-big business movie with no answer from a different perspective. Transamerica has an extremely pro-transexual message that doesn't have an answer from the other side. Yet all these pictures have Oscar nominations in some category.

If one is going to deny a liberal bias, he or she is going to need to come up with specific examples of answers to these films or films with very clear politically conservative messages. We can debate idealistic notions all day long, but until we get to the nitty gritty, this exercise isn't very helpful.

To help compare, I will go ahead and use my next post to make a list of the politically liberal movies that have come out in the last 5 years. Whoever wants to can make a list of politcally conservative films. Then we can compare quantity and quality of the conservative and liberal bias and begin to come to a more concrete conclusion.

I've already got a head start with 4 from up above, and that is just this year. I guess you better get started!

Affleck vs Talent

2006-02-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

Whenever I hear Ben Affleck's name, I always seem to hear that duck from the Aflac Insurance Company saying "aflac, aflac." That is about how seriously I take Affleck as an actor. Paycheck was simply a movie Ben could use to do exactly that, collect a paycheck.

Was the movie terrible? Eh, it's hard to say. The plot came from a Philip K. Dick short story, the same person who wrote Blade Runner. So the movie could never be a total loss. And there developed a certain intrigue about the envelope Ben's character carried around, not knowing when he was going to use each of the items in it.

I just can't figure out how he got to be the star that he is. I could do a better acting job. I guess Hollywood is a sucker for looks rather than talent these days.

What I can't understand is Affleck keeps making flops and yet he still gets more leading roles. His last 5 roles have been Gigli, Paycheck, Jersey Girl, Surviving Christmas and Elektra. And they think he brings people to the box office because...

Oh well. This movie was mildly entertaining, but poorly acted and too little bang for the buck. Ben will have to show some talent in a movie eventually. I don't think I have enough time, however. I turn 80 in 45 more years.

The Lesser of Two Evils

2006-02-23T19:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not afraid to disagree with the President when he is wrong. I have particular differences with our Commander in Chief when it comes to the border and spending, just to name a few. But with the UAE port issue, I think he might know more about what might happen if we kick them out unilaterally.

Think of it. UAE is one of our only allies in the Middle East. It has actually captured some Al Quaida members and gave them to us. The only other ME country we can say is even close to an ally is Kuwait for obvious reasons. Do we really want to jeopardize that over a port?

A compromise seems like the best option. Congress needs to work with the President to ensure this doesn't happen again and make a law to that effect. But since they are already at the port, why not try to work with them and show them some respect? If we allow them to keep the port with US inspectors in place, we not only keep that port safe, but we don't pick a fight we don't need to and turn an ally into an enemy.

Believe me, we need all the friends we can possibly get over there if we are going to have a chance at winning the War on Terror. Why make it more difficult?

Calling All Voters!

2006-02-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

All right, so Cheney isn't the best hunter in the world. An no, I wouldn't go quail hunting with him the next time he's in town. But my gosh, guys, is this the best shot you can take at the Vice President?

The past week has been absolutely mind blowing in its ridiculousness. Cheney accidently shoots an old friend in a hunting accident and the press is worried that they didn't get the first scoop or get it soon enough? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING! I thought Al Gore was off his rocker. The entire press core in DC are collectively coming close to that same level of craziness. Who gives a **** whether he told the local press or the White House press corp. And, of course, a 20 hour waiting time before informing the press formally is inexcusable.

Maybe this was a slow week newswise. But I think it is about time the press begin to take a reality pill and learn how to focus on things that actually make a difference to people outside their elite circles. This aftermath is the perfect example of the idiocy they demonstrate on a daily basis, if in much smaller doses.

This un-story has no significance in my life or the lives of most of the voters, as polls of the event and its coverage clearly demonstrate. This story will only serve to make it more likely that Republicans will win. The more loony the left gets, the more they drive the public to the right. I hope they realize what they are doing.

Bullies are in the Sandbox

2006-02-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is. This is the most famous of the Muslim cartoons causing all the riots and bombs. I'm amazed at how such a miniscule thing can cause such a worldwide phenomena among a specific group. Yes, I realize that it is against Muslim teaching to make a "graven image" of Mohammed. Yes, I realize that this is an extremely offensive cartoon. But I think it is time the leaders within Muslim circles begin to take drastic action in controlling the most naive within their circles.

The original publication of these cartoons by a Danish newspaper was irresponsible and intentionally inflammatory. But once the riots started and they began bombing some Danish consulates, the game changed. Now the Muslims believed they should be able to be free from criticism while all other religions get bombarded with negative press every day. Now this was not simply a lesson in bad taste and unecessary rhetoric, it became a battle for free speech.

No matter what religion we refer to, none is beyond reproach. If we in the West are going to uphold this particular value to be free to say and publish our thoughts and ideas without threats of violence, we must stand tall against anyone who would try to box us into a corner. Now that they are out, we need to publish them in every nook and cranny so the radicals realize they cannot take away what we have fought so hard to achieve.

Most European newspapers have caught on. It is time for our newspapers to do the same. Now is not the time to cower from the bullies. It is time to let them know once and for all we will not follow their rules simply because they will throw a hissy fit if we do not.

I'm not afraid to show them. Let's see if the American newspapers have the guts to publish these cartoons as well.

An Undeniable Success

2006-02-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

President Bush has scored another one for the good guys. Regardless of what you think of the overall War on Terror, you have to give credit to Bush for putting the pressure on the people who would try to do us harm. He has revealed today that because of our efforts overseas, we stopped a plot in the making in 2002 to take out the tallest building on the West Coast, the Library Tower in LA. We also, of course, have captured quite a few major players in Al Queda. And, of course, the biggest success from our efforts is fighting the terrorists where they live instead of here.

This is a heartening development. It backs up the validity of Bush's strategy and gives us a little perspective on the benefits of such a strategy.

One of the most irritating factors in the conservative liberal divide is the left's inability to acknowledge those things that Bush does right. Basically, to give credit where credit is due. They hate him so much that anything he does right is attributable to other causes, and even things he has no control over are magically his fault. This is one of the major reasons we are so sharply divided in this country and why politics is becoming so vicious.

I am perfectly capable of giving credit to Clinton for what he did right. He had 8 years of basically unfettered growth. Now this was with the help of a Republican Congress, but I'm still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Are Democrats willing to do the same with Bush? Let's see.

Let's just see how many Democrats actually say something positive about Bush after this latest report which unequivically is a very good result of a Bush policy.

I have a feeling I will be waiting an awful long time...

Tale of Two Families

2006-02-06T23:02:00.000-08:00

If you ever wanted a great read, this is it! One of the best historical novels ever written and yet an extremely accessible book. I have read this book quite a few times and have always gotten something new out of it every time. Even if you don't normally read historical fiction, this story will grab you and pull you in from start to finish, not to mention give you a great background of the Civil War.

The story revolves around two families both of which were prominent 20 years before the the Civil War. The only difference between them is one is in the North and one in the South. One of the sons from each family meet at West Point where they become best friends. The rest of the story revolves around the changes that happen to their friendship as the country gets ready for war.

What is so magical about the book is that it is able to portray all of the different views of slavery within the members of these two families and they become a microcosm of what the entire country was going through. Yet the story flies by. You are interested because of the human story that is told of the friendship that barely holds together despite a war that tells them they are supposed to be enemies.

Great drama from a great author. Check it out! It's well worth it.

A New Old Friend

2006-02-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have been listening to someone I hadn't listened to in quite a while. She is as feisty as ever, but I do think she has become even more wise with age. I have always respected her, but now she has developed a certain compassion. Yes, Dr. Laura actually has compassion. It is just used in a constructive way. Those that argue she abuses people haven't listened to her recently. I don't always agree with her, but it is more than evident her motivation in protecting the next generation at all costs. Every piece of advice she gives is geared towards that end.

I realize she can get brutal, but in most cases it is necessary. How so many people can accept the horrendous behavior that is described on her program on a daily basis is beyond me. But this is one of the reasons why her program makes such a difference. Most people get sympathy from someone. Too few are given wise advice and tough reality from someone who knows what works. Dr. Laura is the kick in the pants that gives many people the gumption to do "the right thing." To cut through the crap takes a lot of talent, and she does it like no other.

Yet I think Dr. Laura has shaved off some of the harshest edges and is more focused than ever. I have a feeling some of that maturity came from her experience on TV. She seems more open about her own life and is more willing to share. She is someone we can relate to a little better now that she has taken some hard knocks in public.

I hope she keeps doing what she does for another 20 years. I have a feeling she will.

A Voracious Appetite

2006-02-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

The vast majority of men have it. Not nearly as many, but some women have it also. It has a voracious appetite and is never quite satisfied. It is always lurking somewhere in the background but becomes prominent 2 or 3 times a year for major events. What is it, you say? The obsession that becomes some people's whole lives! The one! The only! The sports gene.

Some people have it, some people don't. I am definitely of the later. No matter what I did growing up, I could never seem to get interested in watching sports. Now I did play some sports. I was on a swimming team, soccer team and could play a mean game of tennis when I wanted to. But I just could never watch sports or collect cards or dream about playing as a professional.

Now, obviously, I'm going to be watching the Superbowl, but to me it will always be a chance to watch the commercials and socialize, not to show off my encyclopedic knowledge of every player that has ever set foot on the field. I leave that to my brother, Mark, who happens to know exactly that. I think he got a double portion of the gene so I have none.

For all those out there who do have the sports gene, have at it! This is not a "sports is stupid" blog. Don't let me stop you. Squeeze the life out of every event. I'll just be content to hang out, watch the commercials, and enjoy the Superbowl for what it is worth.

A Deadly Picture

2006-02-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

We are beginning to see the true nature of certain Islamic countries coming into the light. According to typical liberal thinking, if we just reason with Syria, Lebannon, etc. we can work out any problem. It's just that simple. It is becoming clear how ridiculous that thinking really is.

Case in point is what happened this weekend in these two countries. Both Syrian and Lebanese protesters attacked Danish embassies in their own countries in response to some political cartoons published in a Danish newspaper insinuating Mohammed was a terrorist. Now I realize these cartoons were in very poor taste, and were very inappropriate.

But let's just analyze the situation here. You protest a picture you don't like by throwing gernades into a building and causing 100's of thousands of dollars worth of damage, much more threatening the lives of the people inside? Do the people inside the embassies have anything to do with the pictures, much less agree with their printing?

These incidences are showing the rabid Islamicists in thier true light. Not all muslims are at fault. I recognize this. But there is a much larger portion of the Islamic faith resorting to these extreme measures than is expected of a major world religion. I think it is time those who are responible begin to take steps to see it end. If the overwhelming percentage of muslims agree that this is unacceptable behavior, it is about time they curb the behavior of this wayward faction. Or is it as small and as fringe as they say it is? That seems to be the question.

Shh...Don't Tell Anyone...Oscar is a Lib

2006-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

As I have said in the past, Hollywood has an agenda. They may deny it. But it is there as sure as there is an agenda in journalism. And because of this agenda, there is a disconnect between the people who make movies and the overwhelming majority of people who go to movies.

Case in point is this years picks for the Oscars. If you take a look at the choices for Best Picture, you find not one of them in the top ten is gross box office. In fact, the highest grossing picture on the list is Crash at $54 million. Considering Star Wars III alone made close to $900 million, that is very telling. While I don't necessarily want Revenge of the Sith on the Best Picture nominations, you get the point. The movies the American public are interested in are not the same movies the Academy is interested in.

If you begin to take a look at the content of the movies that were picked, you begin to see a trend. Most have some specific political point to make. Need I mention Brokeback Mountain where "being who you are" is more important than keeping 2 families with kids together? How about Capote which sympathizes with a serial killer? Good Night and Good Luck trivializes the infiltration of Communists into the US during the Cold War. Do you think the majority of Americans would support that type of attitude? They sure didn't at the box office since nobody saw it. Then there is Munich which fabricates many of the facts surrounding the massacre of the Jewish atheletes in the 1972 Olympics. This is one of the lowest grossing movies for a Spielberg movie ever. So the American people stay away in droves, and Hollywood rewards these same movies by making them the "best movies of the year."

I'm certainly not suggesting that these movies don't have technical merit. In many ways, they are beautifully made pieces of art. But what you say is as important as how you say it. A beautiful portrait of a dung hill is still crap no matter how you shovel it.

If Hollywood wants to be taken seriously, as well as earn a bigger paycheck, then they need to actually get in sync with their audience. They might actually even make a conservative film for once. I can't remember the last time I saw one.

Exercise is dah BOMB!

2006-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Exercise is the bain of my existence. There is nothing that can get me more bored than thinking about working out. I'm sure part of it is that it is so repetitive.

Think of walking. You swing your left foot forward. Then you swing your right foot forward. Then repeat.

Wait. Maybe lifting weights is a lot more fun. Lift a weight with one arm. Bring it down. Lift a weight with your other arm. Bring it down. Repeat. Hmm. Not exactly nuclear physics.

I know. Biking. Get on the bike. Peddle the left leg down. Peddle the right leg down. Repeat. I guess I can turn every once in a while.

Sorry. I know it sounds cynical, but people who use their brains for a living usually are the fattest people I know. And there's a reason for it. Talk about lack of stimulation.

Now I know what you're going to say. It's good for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know I have to do it, and it's going to catch up with me if I don't, but why did God have to make exercise such a chore.

Wait a second...A stationary bike you say...with a TV? I'm there.

Problem solved.

Never mind.

The American Gibraltar

2006-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was worried there for a little while. I didn't know whether Bush was going to be able to pick himself up out of the grave of last fall's popularity slump. Things are really starting to look encouraging.

The poll numbers themselves have gone up to the mid 40's, but I've never really put much faith in them. What has really given me a bit more hope is the fact that we are beginning to see the start of lasting changes in the direction of our government. Samuel Alito is basically a shoe in now that the Dems have failed to fillibuster the vote. The economy is still moving in the right direction, albiet a little slower than it was previously. Hamas is being forced to the bargaining table possibly making way for real changes in that part of the world. And Iran is finally being acknowledged by liberals and conservatives alike for the dangerous government that it is.

This country has been through a lot since Bush took office. And most of it has been thrust on us from forces out of our control. From 9/11, to the War on Terror, to the War in Iraq, to hurricane Katrina, we have held our own. Bush to me is the symbol of the steady rock that has weathered the storms with determination and steadfastness, and is ready even now to take us to even greater heights.

Depending on what happens in the next 3 years, it is very possible Bush will be remembered as a good President, even a great one. Time will tell.

Palestine Forced into Puberty

2006-01-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

It's time Hamas and the Palestinians grew up. The entire world has been anxiously looking at the elections in the new Palestinian state flabbergasted that they have voted the terrorist organization Hamas into a majority position. At first glance, it would seem like a major downturn in the War on Terror. I see it as a major victory. Why?

Now that there is no doubt the majority of the Palestinians support Hamas and their actions and are willing to vote for them, we have finally come across a bargaining tool. The Palestinians have run out of excuses. President Bush and the European Union have already made statements forcing Hamas either to renounce terrorist acts and their determination to annihilate Israel or they will get no further aid from either the US or Europe.

The ball is in their court. They have a very important decision to make. The Palestinian people are incredibly poor and unable at this point to take care of themselves. They make nothing in significant quantities and don't have access to any valuable commodity. So how will they survive apart from assistance from the outside? One of their leaders has already made statements to the effect they will not accept help from Iran. So they seem to be running out of options.

Now that they have graduated to the level of a democracy, the Palestinians are going to have to start acting like one. Democracies don't deal with terrorist states. Either they renounce the violence they have so tightly held onto for these many years or they watch their budding government waste away from lack of money, and their people starve from a lack of economic ability. It is obviously their choice, but from my perspective they don't have much of one.

Will they be able to mature past their legacy of terrorism? We will have to wait and see.

It's That Time of Year Again!

2005-11-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year. No matter the pressures of getting presents, or the pain of travel, or the tensions of being with family, it always seems to turn out to be special.

I can't say that I've ever really had a bad Christmas. I'm sure quite a few people have, but I haven't. But a lot of that comes with attitude. We have the ability to make of the holiday season what we want of it. If we want it to be special, just like the glass being half full, we will perceive our entire holiday season more positively. And what could be a better time of year to have that type of attitude than with the season of Christ's birth.

Troubles will always come and go. You might not even do much with the holiday season. But if you always remember who the season is about and that our attitude is the crucial issue in the kind of season we have, I think things will begin to look a little differently than you thought. You may just have a Merry Christmas after all.

"Merry Christmas" No More

2005-11-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Walmart is caving in. The pressure I guess was just too great. They can no longer say those dastardly words "Merry Christmas." They have decided to change their slogan during this season to "Happy Holidays." It doesn't matter that at least 85% of the American people celebrate Christmas. They aren't worried about that 85%. They are more worried that the other 15% might take offense at the word "Christmas."

When did the left become so weak? Why is it that saying the word "Christmas" is automatically offensive. No matter what your faith is, Christmas is a wonderful, peaceful, gracious holiday. Taking offense at a word that represents this holiday is wimpy. So you don't celebrate the holiday. And? You think that your rights are being taken away because someone wishes you a Merry Christmas? You think that people are going to persecute you because you don't celebrate the holiday?

My gosh, guys, get some backbone. This country has a rich tradition of Christian faith and it is because of the values within that faith that we all have the freedoms that we do. This hypersensitivity not only divides this country further, but takes time away from much more important issues.

Personally, I'm offended that Walmart will not wish me a Merry Christmas. Now that I am offended, are they going to change their policy?

A Better Choice

2005-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

I will admit it. I was wrong. I still believe Miers would have made a good justice. However, circumstances being what they may, I am much happier about the present choice of Alito. Once again, the Conservatives are unanimous, and I have to say, just like Roberts, this is a hard nominee not to take seriously.

Are we going to still have fireworks? No question. But Alito is the kind of nominee Conservatives are comfortable with. Miers was just too much of an unknown. I was relying on the judgement of Bush in order to support Miers, and frankly, looking back, it wasn't enough, especially with the amount of qualified knowns.

The filibuster doesn't seem as likely with this candidate as I once thought. It looks like we may avoid it all together. And I think we just might be able to break it even if it does take place.

I didn't think Miers was going to remove herself from the nomination process. However, now that she has, we can go full force with Alito. There are no qualms about his qualifications or what kind of judge he would make. Now the only question is, will the Democrats to the right thing and allow the President to nominate who he wants. He won the election. To the victor go the spoils. Let us see what kind of fiber the Democrats are made of.

The Phantom is Getting Even Uglier

2005-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Andrew Lloyd Webber waited way to long to bring this incredible play to film. Michael Crawford is the original, the best and the only phantom that should ever have been given this role. He made it famous. He was the one who drew people to the play when it came out in the late 80's. And he is the only phantom that can play the role right.

I realize why Webber didn't have Crawford in the movie now. Obviously, he is too old. Although, I still think he could do a great job singing and acting. He just looks like phantom's grandpa now.

Webber should have had the smarts to make the film in the early 90's when Crawford was still in his prime. The play was still fresh in people's minds and it would have been a major hit with Crawford in the role that made him famous.

Everyone in the film version looks contrived, and nobody looks like they are actually doing the singing. One thing you have to do in a musical is get the lip syncing right. Otherwise, it looks like a Japanese version. The most I can say for the film is that everyone looked the part. Schumacher is good at visuals, but he has no idea how to make a musical.

I never thought I would stop the movie before the end. I almost never stop a movie short of the ending credits. This was simply too bad to continue. It was so disappointing to see something I loved so much as a play be destroyed on film. But it is true. Where are you, Michael? Please come back! WE NEED YOU!

Reluctantly Hopeful

2005-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have held out as long as I can. I have never been much of a constitutional scholar and don't know much about any of the people who were on the President's short list to replace O'Connor. But it is time Conservatives quit being petty and support someone we have every reason to believe is going to be a conservative on the court. Harriet Miers was a very smart choice for President Bush for a very important reason: she will be able to slip through the hearings with a minimum of fuss and without a filibuster.

I thought at first that because we had the majority in the Senate, we would have no problems getting someone through. It seems John McCain has dashed those hopes. His gang of 14 has enough clout to sway the vote one way or another. We can lose the vote if he doesn't approve. I would think as a Republican he would want to go for unity because he shares our values. It doesn't look like it.

So be it. If he is going to manipulate the system, so can we. Harriet Miers might not be the top Constitutional mind Bush could have picked, but she does have the ability to slip under the radar, which all the other possiblities do not. One thing more important than ideology is practicality, in this case at least. Bush could have named the most conservative intellectual this country has ever seen, but if he or she doesn't get confirmed, we're just playing tiddly winks. Miers is stealth, no doubt, but I have every confidence from Bush's past track record that she will be a solid conservative and will vote the way we desparately need her to.

She isn't number 1 as far as qualifications. She is as far as confirmation. I think it is time we at least hear her out instead of throwing tantrums because we can't get our way. Now there's a sign of maturity.

Arrogance is Easy for George Galloway

2005-09-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

I had heard a lot about George Galloway as an ultra-liberal British Member of Parliament, but I had never actually known what he was like until today. There are plenty of liberals that I can disagree with yet still respect as people. Galloway is not one of them.

From the first moment he got on Michael Medved's program, he was the most pompous, arrrogant, hyperagressive person I have ever heard in quite a few years. I thought Barney Frank was bad. Michael hadn't even asked him his first question before he started in on the personal attacks and inuendo.

His first attack came when Michael opened his show with what he always opens with, "the greatest nation on God's green earth." Of course, someone who has a problem differentiating between terrorism and liberation would have a problem with that characterization. Nevertheless, he then began to call Medved a mere disk jockey, an Israeli fanatic who was out to smear him, and someone who isn't up to Galloway's intelligence, so he can't possibly understand Galloway's higher intellectual reasoning. In the course of an hour interview, I heard at least 7-8 cheap shots at Medved personally. There was one point in the interview where Michael almost lost it, and I have rarely heard him lose it. Galloway repeated the Israeli fanatic charge one too many times, and Michael got this close to calling him an anti-semite.

I would have done a tremendous amount more than that. It is one thing to disagree with someone elses politics. It is quite another to make ad hominem attacks at someone because you disagree with them politically.

If it were "The Michael Luce Show" I would have directly confronted him with the names, tell him to cut it out, or he is off the show. I don't care what kind of prestigious title he has in the UK. He should have enough sense to actually act like a human being. If he couldn't, I would have used security to remove him from the premesis and then spent the rest of the program explaining why. Then I would have asked every question I was going to originally ask him and answer it with my own answers.

There is nothing that gets me as mad as a pompous know-it-all. If you want to hear me yell sometime, come over when George Galloway is being interviewed again. Believe me, you'll be going deaf afterwards.

Vietnam vs. Iraq: There is a Difference Pt 2

2005-09-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

In the last post, I described some of the differences between the Vietnam and our present conflict in Iraq. The more we know about the differences, the more we realize that there is a good probability of success in Iraq. The left believes this is another Vietnam. It is not. Why?

6. In the 60's and 70's (the height of the Vietnam War) the Democrats were clearly in control of both houses of Congress. By the late 1960's, these Democrats had turned against the war and wanted to end it as quickly as possible. Today, of course, the Republicans are in charge of Congress, the Presidency, and the majority of governorships in the US, all of whom support the President's policy as close to unanimously as possible. Even some centrist Democrats have come to support the Iraq War.

7. The end of Vietnam happened at a time when the President was under scandal. Because Nixon was under investigation for Watergate and eventually removed giving way for a damaged office, the Democrats were free to prevent Ford from fighting the war to win. It became inevitable that we would eventually leave in disgrace. Today, if nothing else, the presidency is as strong as ever with big backing from both houses and a reelection of the President who started the war.

8. Vietnam was halfway around the world and really would not effect the US directly no matter how the war turned out. The North Vietnamese were not planning an invasion of the US in any, way shape or form. So the dissenters to that war convinced the public that it wasn't it our interest to continue. With the War on Terror, it is very clear that the terrorists, many of whom are in Iraq, are capable and willing to hit America directly. So on top of the the advantages it would give the people of Iraq for us to stay for now, it will also give us an opportunity to take the war to them, not allow them to determine when and where in the US they will strike next. I find this a much better option.

The Left in America seem to think in the short term. I want to think long-term what is going to prevent a larger amount of deaths. While we didn't get Vietnam right, I think it is imperative that we get Iraq right. It will have far-reaching implications for the future stability of our nation and the world.

Vietnam vs. Iraq: There is a Difference

2005-09-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Vietnam War had quite a few problems. I still defend it's necessity and was disgusted by how we got out of it, but the fact of the matter is that if we are going to fight a war, we better fight to win. Today there are many on the left that will tell us that Iraq is another Vietnam. But there are quite a few differences between the two wars which make all the difference in the world. Here are a few pointed out by Michael Medved:

1. North Vietnam had a battle-hardened million man army. In Iraq, we have a rag tag shadowy band of terrorist thugs who are back by no army, no country, with no clear goal or alternative plan for Iraq.

2. The North Vietnamese had the support of two of the biggest superpowers on earth, Russia and China, who gave them supplies, ground-to-air missiles, tanks, MIG's, artillery, ordinance, you name it. No country on earth is supporting the terrorists, because they know what will happen if they do.

3. Vietnam had a draft, which of course was the biggest controversy during that time. Those in Iraq are a part of a 100% volunteer force.

4. In Vietnam we lost a total of 58,000 men. As tragic as all deaths are, we have only lost 1,800 men by comparison. Even considering deaths per year, there is a huge difference.

5. Media power during Vietnam was limited to a very few sources: CBS, NBC and ABC, all of which took a negative stance of the war. During the Iraq War, we have news sources that promote another opinion, such as Fox News, talk radio and the blogsphere.

More Differences to come!

A Love Lost, A Love Gained

2005-09-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've stayed away from classical music as long as I did. I think the love of classical music is a lot like the love of sports, either you were born liking it or nothing on earth can get you to enjoy it. This seems to be a genetic thing. I have always said I never had the sports gene. My brother Mark makes up for both of us combined in that arena. But I do have the classical music gene.

Now for a while there, I wasn't using the gene. I took a mild detour into of all things, country music. They seem to be the furthest genres from each other, don't they? I know. I was surprised by the country thing myself. Nevertheless, for about 10 years I was spending most of my listening time with Shania and Collin.

It was this week as I was listening to Dennis Prager that I stumbled across classical again. Dennis was asked by one caller what he would first listen to if he were first starting to listen to classical. Being a conisuire, Dennis mentioned Beethoven's 5th Symphony and Handel's Water Music, both of which I remember liking a tremendous amount. Well, that got me thinking. Here I bought a large collection of classical when I was in college which had a smattering of everything. Was this just going to go to waste? I hadn't even transferred my favorites to my iPod yet, which was a crime. So I dusted some of those CD's off, and away I went.

I had so much fun I can't tell you! I started with exactly what Dennis suggested. But as I finished those, it became natural to check out the rest of the collection. Soon I was listening to Haydn (my personal favorite), Handel, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Chopin, etc. I couldn't stop. I conducted at my desk, and even devised a way I can listen to this stuff on a regular basis. It is one of the few types of music I can effectively listen to as I am working without it being distracting. It must use another part of the brain, because it made me more effective at my job, not less. I was a much happier individual.

Now I know most of you out there think I'm crazy. How can you like music that is in most cases hundreds of years old. Like I said, it's genetics. What can I say? This doesn't mean I will never listen to anything else. But I am enjoying it too much to put it on the back burner any more. Rock me, Amadeus! (A little 80's humor there)

Chief Justice Johnny, Here We Come!

2005-09-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Chief Justice Supreme Court nominee John Roberts is a shoe in. I see nothing that can stop him now. His performance was outstanding. He is a smart, concise, warm, able judge who will do exactly what he is supposed to do, play umpire! I really feel that explanation is one that will stay in the history books 100 years from now because it is such a clear analogy. It is also a death knell for those who choose to be players rather than calling the plays. It is about time!

My fear is the next nominee. The Democrats have basically given up all hope of stopping Roberts from getting in. I think their strategy right now has to be in stopping whoever Bush nominates to fill O'Conner's spot. He certainly has a wide range of possibilities. But he better pick wisely. Any flaw these days will be met with the utmost of criticism considering the stakes. The make up of the court is starting to change. Finally! But Bush needs to keep his head about the job of making a smart choice. If he can get someone like Roberts, we have it in the bag. If he picks someone with a long paper trail or anything out of the ordinary, watch out! Dems are watching every move.

One down, one to go!

It Is A Natural Disaster, Not A Political Agenda

2005-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Democrats attempt to turn Hurricane Katrina into a way to get extra votes is discpicable. When a natural disaster comes our way, our first instinct needs to be caring for those people who are the victims. Yet the Dems will find any way to Bush bash, no matter how irrational.

We can certainly look into how the federal government can act faster, but the first lines of defense in a situation like this are the state and local governments. They were already supposed to have their plans in place, and in fact, they did. Yet Mayor Nagin, for whatever reason, decided not to follow it. The image of those buses being flooded is proof positive there was a shortcoming on the local end of things. The state government had a plan to bring people to the Superdome, yet didn't have the necessary food and water to take care of them once they were there. Again, not the job of the President.

Another line of argument says the hurricane would never have happened if Bush had signed the Kyoto Protocol. What a sad commentary on how low politics will reach in order to get votes. Nothing on a piece of paper could have prevented a hurricane, and certainly the changes suggested in that protocol would not have had any effect on the weather yet, if ever.

The President made a speech this week that went well beyond recovery from the storm. It was a plan that attacked the very heart of poverty in New Orleans. He wants NO to be built back better than ever with an increase in home values and the job market. I know he will dedicate quite a bit of his time this term in making that a reality. If he does, we will see New Orleans flourish as never before and all this talk of inadequate help will all go away.

Let's stop the rhetoric just for once and begin looking out for the welfare of these people. The election is quite a ways off. And like it or not, Bush is going to be our leader until then. The more we do to help him out, the more we will help these people. Seems like a much better idea than irrational Bush bashing. But that's me.

History Turned on It's Head

2005-08-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Sure, it's outlandish! Sure, it's over the top! But it is also an exciting romp into US history. Of course, I'm talking about National Treasure, which I saw in the theatres when it first came out, but I also just watched on video. It is surprising what people don't know about US history these days. Sometimes, it takes a good piece of entertainment to get the general public at least thinking about it. National Treasure is just such a video.

No one could ever steal the Declaration of Independence. And the whole secret treasure idea really is crazy. But that is not the point as far as I'm concerned. The fact that a movie like this at least gives us an introduction to the foundings of our nation is the point. The Fact that the men who wrote the Declaration knew what they were doing when they wrote it is the point. The fact that we should learn how to appreciate our heritage is the point. If only a few people get turned on to US history as a result of this movie, it would make it all worthwhile.

For most Americans, the Revolutionary War is way too far back in time to make any difference. We need to change that. It seems to me that how this country was founded has a direct influence on where this country is headed. The more we know of our own past, the more we will be able to influence it's future. Hopefully, Hollywood will learn from the success of this movie and make more like it.

Intelligent Designs Masterpiece

2005-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I never watch science videos. I would almost rather listen to rap than be forced to listen to people who for the most part do not deal with the real world, but with hypotheticals. In addition, naturalistic science has for the most part been a field that is antithetical to my Christian faith. Finally, a science video has comes out that is professionally done and presents more of a Christian worldview.

First let me describe the quality of this production. They got John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from Lord of the Rings) to narrate. Next, the soundtrack was of full length movie quality. It was dramatic and pulled you in from start to finish. The computer animation did exactly what it was supposed to: take the viewer where they can't go and visually support the ideas that are being presented. The animation was never overbearing, but it was a powerful tool the director used to its full effect.

The reason the substance of the film was as convincing as it was was its sutlety. This was not a preachy film. It presented scientific evidence and left it to the watcher to come up with their own conclusions. Yet the conclusions were unmistakable. Any scientist would have a hard time refuting their ideas because they aren't religious claims, but logical assertions based on the evidence. This is the difference between "creationism" as it used to be called and "intelligent design" as they are now referring to it. The latter is focused on the evidence that points to creation, not making dogmatic religious statements. Leave those kinds of statements to the church. Science is in the business of evidence, so let's give them some.

I can fully see this being played on PBS, it is that good. I'm not expecting it, considering their agenda, but it is about time someone in the Christian community starts taking back a discipline that used to be in the Christian realm and has been hijacked by the naturalists. Illustra Media, get busy! I want more!

Conservatives Are Funny After All!

2005-08-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Do conservatives have a sense of humor? You tell me.

Reactions Make All the Difference

2005-08-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Liberals have been saying since the beginning of the War on Terror that there is no moral difference between the US and terrorists. Who are we to judge someone who kills innocents? After all, we have crazies in our country too, like Timothy McVeigh. So how can we condemn them?

I have an answer. The judge of a society is not when we have freaks. Every society has freaks. We cannot control whether or not we have idiots in our society. We can, however, control how we react to these people. In every instance when we talk about incidents like the Oklahoma City bombing, the American publics reaction has been one of universal condemnation. You could not find anyone who agreed with McVeigh or supported him.

Yet in the arab world, you have a different picture. Terrorists are not universally condemned. In fact, the usual situation is either neutrality or in actually supporting those who blow up innocents. Now how can you possibly not see any difference between the two societies?

The true judge of a society is in how they react to these kinds of people. Are they supportive of heinous acts or do they condemn them? If they cannot condemn them, they are no better than the terrorists themselves.

It seems to me we need moral clarity if we are going to win this War on Terror. These kinds of distinctions are crucial if we are to justify our continuing fight against tyranny.

Attitude is Everything (Well, Almost)

2005-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Chuck Swindoll has never failed to encourage and inspire me in my walk with Christ. He was one of the few people that always touches my heart with things that I realize need some tuning. So it is no surprise that today's program was another call to change.

Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we choose to respond. What a wonderful way to deal with anything that comes my way. God will not give us more than we can handle. He has obviously put certain things in our path to make us into the kind of people he wants us to be. So if we change our attitude from one of "Why is this happening to me" to "How can I learn from this and be content in it" this turns the situation on it's head. We can now take the situation by the horns and overcome no matter what comes our way.

This is certainly not easy to do, but it is the best way to live. If we want the most out of life, we are going to have to get it out of our heads that life is SUPPOSED to be a bowl of cherries. It never has, it never will, and that never was what God intended in this life. Changes are necessary. Changes are good. Changes are what make us more like Him.

My attitude needs some tweaking, does yours?

The Magnificent 7

2005-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Whevever I see have seen a Japanese film in the past, it has been with a sense of mirth. From the bad timing of the dubs, to the pathetic plots, to the fights that lasted just a bit too long, They never had much substance for me, and I would usually do a very bad impression of one of the characters and then quickly change the channel to something more enlightening. I just couldn't take any Japanese film seriously.

Here's the exception. The Seven Samurai is a cult classic that was suggested by a friend after we had talked about the ridiculous nature of the typical piece of celluloid coming from the land of the rising sun. Imagine. A plot you could actually follow. Characters that actually had their own personalities. A story where many of the main characters actually died. And it was black and white, made I believe in the 60's. Yes there was some overacting. And try as they might, the romance was much to be desired. But the movie actually made sense. I was entertained, and I learned something about strategy in Shogun era Japan.

This movie was so influential with Americans, there were quite a few American movies made with the same general plot line, including the western The Magnificent 7. Seems to me kudos are in order for this unique, worthwhile film.

Gradual Transformation

2005-08-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

To say that Michael Medved has made a few changes in his beliefs since he was a youngin' is an understatement. Yet the changes he has made, from his positions on abortion and health care to whether or not Republicans were "evil," did not come automatically for him. These weren't beliefs he changed at a moments notice with very little or any thought. Michael started as a typical liberal Jew and grew into his conservative positions through a series of lessons he learned throughout his life. As you can tell, I just finished his book, and I have to say, I'm very impressed.

Michael is an extremely intelligent guy who grew up in your everyday Jewish household that would never even think of voting for a Republican. He eventually made it to Yale, where he met among others John Kerry, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and was in the class behind George W. Bush. He became a political campaigner for quite a few prominent Democrats and was thoroughly entrenched as a liberal. Yet through life's lessons, he began to question every stereotype of Conservative views and began to change his beliefs one by one until he finally became so disgusted with the Democrats, he changed parties and helped Ronald Reagan to get elected.

He also changed his religious life drastically as well, coming from an agostic position and gradually moving into Orthodox circles, where he eventually helped to start a synogogue in Venice.

What I respect most about his transformation is it's authenticity. You can't read his book and not believe how real his transformation was. This wasn't an attempt to make a few bucks. Michael knows what he believes and it is really as a result of growing through these situations and learning from them.

This is an excellent book from a historical perspective, especially in dealing with the Vietnam war era at Yale. It is a great read from a ethics standpoint in that he really lays out why he believes the way he does. It is incredible from a more personal standpoint in that you really feel like you know him after reading his story. Part autobiography and part self help book, this is the kind of memoir worth taking to heart.

Keep 'em coming, Michael!

"Tear Down This Wall!"

2005-08-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's not his birthday, or the day he gave an important speech, or anything along those lines. But lately I've been appreciating how profound many of Reagan's quotes really were. There are whole websites designed around this influential man's sayings, and I can't help but display some of my favorites here as well. So here it goes...

"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."

"I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of a national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting."

"The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying."

"This fellow they've nominated claims he's the new Thomas Jefferson. Well let me tell you something; I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend of mine and Governor... You're no Thomas Jefferson!"

Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence."

"We who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down. Only when the human spirit is allowed to invent and create, only when individuals are given a personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefitting from their success -- only then can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive, and free. Trust the people. This is the one irrefutable lesson of the entire postwar period contradicting the notion that rigid government controls are essential to economic development."

If you want more, just go to google and type in "Reagan quotes." You'll have a blast!

The Outdated Boob Tube

2005-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've had enough! I have wasted enough of my life to the idiot box. I've finally realized what so many others have, that this machine for the most part is a collosal waste o' time. Therefore, with a few exceptions, I am going to stop the addiction and move on to things that for me are so much more meaningful and will count for more.

In my life, it will free time up to accomplish the things I want to. I want to become an expert medical transcriptionist. I am determined to become a writer. This will also give me the time I need for that. Just to use the time to hang out with other people will be an incredible blessing.

I will be able to help others more as well. It will free me up to devote my time to developing friends, projects and services to my community. I can become the kind of Christian I always should have, and that God would be proud of.

Now I know this solution isn't for everybody. I'm not advocating that anyone else do the same. I am just too addicted to looking at the screen at the expense of everything else. I refuse to do that any more.

Now, are there exceptions? Sure. My Netflix account will still be active, and believe me I will use this. But now what I watch is a choice, and is not left up to what is on at that time. If I go over to a friends house, and they are watching a movie, get out of the way! I love to spend time having fun and watching with others. What I will not do is use TV as an escape from other things I should be doing. It is too all encompassing, to addicting, and too time consuming. No more!

The Art of Hating Seafood

2005-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

What is it about seafood that people find so appealing? I have never understood what the fascnination is. I don't like how they look. I don't like how they taste. You have to eat a whole lot of them to satisfy. Give me a steak any day.

Let's take a look at these here shrimp. Yes, they are fancifully displayed. Yes, in this setting they look slightly festive. But look at those tails. And the taste. I can feel the chew of the sponge in my mouth right now. I can taste the seawaterish flavor permeating my tongue. And what about the the rubbery feel of this nastiness going down my throat. Who ever thought up the idea that these things were good to eat?

Seafood in general makes me cringe. Yet there are a few exceptions. The ones that taste like something other than fish. The most obvious is fishsticks. Need I say more. What do you taste? The bread. Delicious. Exception #2. Fish tacos. If they are done right (Rubio's and Del Taco) once again they don't taste like fish. The breading actually makes it taste wonderful. If it doesn't taste like fish or the sea, I'm in.

I'm sure there are plenty out there who disagree. More power to ya. You can go to Red Lobster and eat the all-you-can-eat shrimp whenever your heart desires. Just save me the steak and I'll be happy.

The "Religious" Left of the ACLU

2005-07-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

The ACLU has done more harm to the US in the past 50 years than almost any other organization. Once again, their religious zealotry is showing. How can an atheistic organization show religious fanaticism? By thinking their ideas are right regardless of what the people believe.

Case in point, the cross in San Diego. The ACLU has been waging a campaign to have this cross removed from a federal sight. They believe it crosses the line separating church and state. What is more, the people of San Diego got a petition signed by over 100,000 residents saying they wanted it to stay, and a poll was taken suggesting 75% of all San Diegans want it to stay.

Now if this were settled by the people, it would be an open and shut case. But the ACLU couldn't care less what the people want, they know what is best for everyone else. Therefore, they stand by these "religious" convictions and use the court to try to do their bidding. Does this sound like the kind of debate the founder's intended when they thought up the judiciary? To thwart the will of the people?

We need to stop sitting on our butts and begin taking action or this country is not going to be the same place even 10 years from now. We cannot let these idiots take over our country by judicial tyranny. The ACLU has already won one victory with the LA seal, at least for now. If we want to stop them, those who want to retain their religious freedoms better do something now.

Technology, The Double-Edged Sword

2005-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our technological advancement these days is beyond belief. Who would have thought in 1905 that by 2005 we would have global access to information, have landed on the moon, be able to video conference around the world and create any world our minds can think up with special effects. Whenever we talk about technology, however, it always seems geared toward the postive. We do need to recognize that with the power of technology comes responsibility.

TV is a perfect example. Can the television be a force for good? Certainly. There are quality shows that not only educate, but entertain. It is a powerful medium if used for the betterment of society. But how many hours do kids especially sit in front of that thing? Are they watching the kinds of shows that will make them into responsible adults? And what could kids and adults be doing if they turned it off every once in a while?

In the medical field, our ability to help cure the general public has increased 100 fold. We've cured polio in this country, developed vaccines for countless types of diseases, improved our ability to bring healthy, happy babies into existence without disease or mental disorder, etc. But we are also able to kill someone if they become too inconvienent (unborn, older). We have decided that stem cells taken from an embryo do not end a human life. We've taken a man and made him into a woman. Are these the kinds of things God expected us to use the gift of technology for?

As with any other gift, we need to use it wisely. God gave us some tremendous possibilities. But he also provided us with a conscience. Let's always keep our heads on and recognize that just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

Gene Hackman at His Best?

2005-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have had the French Connection on my list of movies to see for quite a while. It got so many praises by so many people, I thought there must be something to it. Gene Hackman is an excellent actor who is always likable regardless of whether the movie itself is bad. So I thought surely there must be something to this movie.

Maybe it is because I have seen so many movies like it, but this piece of cinema was just your everyday run of the mill thriller minus any plot twist. As I was watching it, I kept thinking something was coming that would change around the whole plot. Certainly this wasn't just another drug smuggling movie. But it was. Gene Hackman as usual gave a performance that was wonderful. Roy Scheider did fine as his sidekick. But there wasn't a point in time where the plot was all encompassing. There weren't scenes where I said, wow, what an incredible acting job. It almost seemed too grandiose a build up for the fizzle that came. No bang for your buck.

I'm not expecting special effects. I realize that films have gotten a lot faster paced than they were in the 70's, but can this be all there is? Drug smuggling? Wow, what a concept! Even in the 70's this had to be at least somewhat old hat. Either way, I always appreciate Gene Hackman. He will still pull me to watch whatever he puts out. Just don't make me see this again. It wouldn't be pretty.

The Ideal Candidate

2005-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Is this the face of a saint? According to Luis Palau it is. I was just listening to Ravi Zacharias' radio program (a great philosopher and evangelist if you've never heard of him). In the course of his sermon, Ravi mentioned an encounter Luis Palau had with Manuel Noriega in prison. Luis I guess was in the Florida area where Noriega was inprisoned, and decided to visit him, realizing he would probably be a very lonely guy.

If you know anything about Noriega, in the 80's he was a brutal dictator in Panama and the US eventually took him out of power, hence the jail sentence.

Luis was expecting to see a defiant, tough, arrogant man claiming his innocence. What he didn't know is that a prison guard years before had led Noriega to Christ.

Now I know we need to be skeptical about anyone in prison saying they have changed their ways, but here's the scene. Noriega was extremely humble. Other than an exercise bike and his bed, the only thing he had in his cell was a table upon which laid a bible that had obviously been frayed from usage. Noriega knew who Palau was, and was overjoyed to see him, because he said, he needed to ask Luis some questions. He had through his bible study written a list of things he couldn't quite understand. Luis, of course, was shocked that this former dictator would be asking him questions on the bible. He told Palau of his conversion experience and then talked about how much peace he had in his life now.

This is one for the record books. I'm sure God is smiling knowing that someone as cruel and brutal as Noriega could eventually turn his whole life around and be at peace doing God's work in a prison. Will he ever get out? I severely doubt it. And that to me could very well be a good thing. There are plenty of prisoners in his prison that haven't experienced the peace he has now. Who is going to reach them? The saint! The one! The only! The former dictator himself! MANUEL NORIEGA!

This Movie Has Still Got It!

2005-07-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am not usually a fan of older movies. I don't know what my problem is, but movies older than 1970 seem to have cheezy special effects, slow plots, and overacting. I know that is painting with a broad brush, but I have a hard time with many of them for these reasons.

Not so with North by Northwest. If there is any director that can get me to watch his older stuff, it is Hitchcock. I can see why this was one of his most popular movies. It had an intriguing plot, engaging characters, great backdrops and a fun ending. I don't think any movie has dared to go back to Mount Rushmore since because of how well this was filmed. There were a few times where the dialogue was getting a bit long winded, but I was willing to stick around to find out how it was going to be resolved.

I am forcing myself to watch a few more oldies, ones that have been recommended by friends and family, so if you know of any more along these lines that you think would hold my attention, speak up! Who knows, your movie might be the next topic to be expertly taken apart by the Luce Cannon!

The Summer of Remakes

2005-07-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

Is Hollywood running out of material or what? From Batman Begins to Bewitched to The Bad News Bears to War of the Worlds, this is the summer, if not the year, of remakes. And they tend to remake things that have already been done well.

War of the Worlds was good, but not great. I have never been a great fan of Tom Cruise, because even though he has some acting chops, he always seems to go back to the arrogant, know it all idiot roles that made him famous. I know he can play other roles, but he likes this type of character very well. And I personally get very sick of it very fast.

What I do like about the film is, of course, the special effects. There were certain scenes that I was about ready to pee in my pants at, and that says a lot about how real it came across. This movie blows you away when it comes to making you feel like you are a part of the action.

Dakota Fanning is one of the most incredible actresses I have seen on the screen, and she is what, 9? She played Cruise's daughter in this and she went through so many emotions in this with such conviction she had me in the palm of her hand. You usually expect the sons and daughters to play supporting roles in movies such as this, but she was just as much a part of the movie as Tom was. What a performance.

There were a few scenes in the middle that went on far too long, and actually took away from the film in my opinion. But on the whole, the movie was well worth it.

Just wait another 50 years. We'll see another remake of this movie. Count on it.

I Always Love a Piano Man

2005-07-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

Ray Charles

Before I watched the movie Ray, Ray Charles was more of an enigma. I had an idea of his typical style, and of course, one of the most popular of his songs, Georia on My Mind. Other than that, I was in the dark about this very popular musician.

So it was fascinating to watch what this man had to overcome in order to make his mark in music. Growing up in the South with a poor beginning, dealing with the death of his brother, going blind at the age of 9, and being sent off to a special school for the blind I think were instrumental in making Ray Charles as successful as he was. Some of the most successful people are not just people with talent. They also have to have the drive to get there. Ray wouldn't have done much of anything without his drive to make the kind of music he eventually became famous for.

Now I will say that his vices were very severe. The womanizing and the heroin were things he got into to numb the pain of his youth. What I like about the movie is that they didn't sugar coat these issues. They were things that eventually would have taken away everything he had acheived if he didn't deal with them. And he did. And because he overcame them, he became a better performer and husband.If more biographies were made in this way, I think they would as a genre become more popular. It is certainly a lot easier to just lay out the facts and put up a picture or two along the way. Using creativity in recreating the time period and the person takes more effort, but man is the result a tremendous amount more powerful.

This is a movie well worth watching.

Franklin the Industrious

2005-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love good biographies. If told right, they are able to let you get a glimpse into the soul of a person, and usually you can learn about success in the process. Such was the case in watching a biography of Ben Franklin.

Certainly, there are things about Franklin that bothered me. He was a little too loose with the ladies. He had some sort of works salvation he held to. And toward the end of his life, he refused to forgive his son, who used to be his best friend.

Yet one thing that struck me as the secret of his success was his industriousness. His mind was not only always on the go, but he was always trying to improve his life and the life of others. He used his talents to make an impact for the greater good. He realized that is was not just about him, and that he should never give up, never give in, but always work toward making a contribution. That is the kind of person I want to be as well.

I need to begin to take a look at the bigger picture, and make a mark, rather than waiting around for the next life. I need to be always looking for ways to improve life here on this earth not just for me, but for everyone.

If I can do that with the rest of my life, I might just have something I can be proud of when I die.

Sincerity Counts

2005-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

The President addressed the nation today in an attempt to get them back on board the War on Terror and specifically the things we are doing in Iraq. He has never come across to me as a dynamic speaker. But the thing I appreciate about the President the most when he does give a speech is his sincerity. You can tell he truly believes what he says and is adamant about following through with it.

Tonight, he needed to come across as someone who knew what his plan was and was going to get it accomplished. He did this in spades. Despite the difficult nature of what we are doing in Iraq, his firm resolve is the exact type of reassurance we need as a country when these tasks come our way. We didn't ask for this assignment. It was thrust on us. But the President made it clear we are going to finish it.

If Bush is able to succeed in getting the job done and removing our troops before he leaves, he will definitely go down as a great President in my book, and hopefully in the annals of history as well. We will have to wait and see. But for now, we can rest in the fact that we have a Commander in Chief that will not back down and will do what he needs to to keep us safe. That says a tremendous amount about what kind of man he really is. Thank God we don't have Kerry.

Jumanji in Space

2005-06-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Zathura

You know a movie is in trouble when it becomes the least remembered thing you did that night. I just recently was able to go with some friends to a special sneak preview of Zathura. Since most of us are in our 30's, we certainly weren't expecting much.

This movie was an exact replica of Jumanji but in space. It was even written by the same guy. A boy finds a game in an old house that he plays with his brother that will forever keep them in space until they finish the game. Is this starting to sound familiar? The brothers need to learn how to work together in order to finish the game. every time they "spin," a card pops out of the center of the board telling them what is coming next. Hmm. I'm trying to place this...wait a minute. The brothers eventually work out their differences and use their ingenuity to finish the game and pop back into this universe as if what they had just experienced was a dream.

Now I know they're getting desperate in Hollywood for a hit, but at least come up with something new. This is the biggest been there done that movie I think I've ever seen. There is definitely some good acting done by the older brother. For his age, he is excellent. But I could think of an unlimited amount of newer ideas than this to spend that much money on.

Like I said, the most fun I had that night was the dinner we went to afterwards. We didn't mention the movie once. But believe me, we had a lot of fun. No thanks to the movie. Well, at least it was free.

Keep It Pithy!

2005-06-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Bumper Sticker

Just recently, I came across these bumper stickers that were just too much fun not to share. I can't show pictures of every one, but I think you'll get the point.

Guns don't kill people, Abortion clinics kill people

Forget the Village, Where are the Parents?

No Oil for Pacifists

Question Liberal Authority

Peace- Through Superior Firepower

My SUV Loves Iraqi Oil

Newsweek Lied, People Died

Taxation WITH Representation Aint So Great Either!

Stop Global Whining

CNN- Communist News Network

Even on Drugs- Rush is Right!

Bigot: A Conservative Winning an Argument with a Liberal

First Earth! We'll Pave the Other Planets Later

Liberal: A person so open-minded their brains have fallen out.

Animals: It's What's for Dinner

When I find more, I'll be sure and share them with you. Until then, keep your spirits up and hold to the truth!

Is America a Force for Good?

2005-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

America the Beautiful

Chat lines have always been an educational experience for me. I get to spar politically and ethically with people who are diametrically opposed to my views. And I get to improve how I present those views to others.

A topic that seems to be coming up more and more not only in chat rooms but in the general dialogue we are having in the United States is, are we a force for good? Would the world be a better place without having us around? A person's answer to this question is very revealing about thier beliefs.

To say that the US doesn't have any problems is ludicrous. I would never suggest we are perfect, or that we can't work on certain things in our society. But we also have to recognize when our country does something right.

I do hold to the notion that America overall is a force for good in society. The three lines of argument I like to use to demonstrate this are as follows:

We are one of the few societies that has a system that is able to correct itself over time. Because we are a representative democracy, if an idea has enough support, it will be accomplished. You can't say that about very many other forms of government, including communism and a monarchy. So while the US makes mistakes (like slavery), we are able to correct those mistakes (The Civil War).
When we get in conflicts around the world, it is in an attempt to give others the right to govern themselves. The US just took a brutal dictatorship and turned it into a representative democracy, with it's first election ever. This is what we are good at.
The US gives it's citizens the right to express any views they want, including the right to disagree with this column or with the leader of our nation. Every time someone calls the President "Hitler" they are proving again what a great country they live in.

The mere fact that so many people are literally risking their lives getting here is a sign we are doing something right. Perfect? Not even close. A force for good? Unquestionably.

The Disgusting APA

2005-06-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Child Abuse and Homosexuality

Well, I've had an eye opening experience this week. A friend of mine had a research paper to write as she is working towards her goal of getting her counseling license, and I was asked to help research. She was trying to answer the question of whether children of sexual abuse tend to become homosexuals or not.

The more I researched, the more flabergasted I became. Not only had the American Psychological Association (APA) taken the stance that homosexuality did not stem from sexual abuse, they went so far as to suggest pedophilia in general wasn't such a bad thing. They were literally trying to insinuate that the kids forced into sex at an early age eventually learned to bond with thier abusers, and that this was a good thing. This isn't some fringe element of the APA, this is the majority of the members. In fact, in the past few years, the APA has been actively looking into trying to change the law and making these kinds of perverted activities acceptable.

It makes you stop and think where this country is headed. Nothing is taboo anymore. The more we as a nation forget the Judeo Christian values that made this country great, the more we dig our own graves. If this kind of thought is allowed to take hold, I don't see anything short of revival that is going to bring this country out of the death knell it is in. God obviously has given the US leeway in the past, but I doubt he is going to consider us much better than Soddom and Gomorrah if we are so callous to His Word that we can't even prevent pedophilia from becoming the norm.

Pray for this country. Pray that we might see the Lord work in mighty ways to bring a revival to this land. Pray that we like Nineveh begin to recognize how far off the path we have gotten, and turn back to God. Only then will God look at us with favor once more. How far we have fallen!

Blade is Showing His Age

2005-06-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Blade: Trinity

The magic number for sequels is usually 3. After the geniuses in Hollywood have made a trilogy of films, the storyline tends to get old. With Blade:Trinity, I think they made 2 movies too many.

I was really interested in the original. Blade had an interesting take on the whole vampire mythology, and I was actually suprised that an idea as old as Dracula could be made into something entirely fresh. Anne Rice never got my attention, and in general the whole genre was just plain dull until I accidently watched the first one.

When the producers turned Blade into a franchise though, it seemed to become just another cliche. Even by the second film, everything was already old hat. There was no more sense of wonder. So I reluctantly netflixed Blade:Trinity with the hope that it might get back to basics and tell a good story.

While it was better than #2, dealing with Dracula himself, I kept waiting for something to happen that would spark my interest once again. It never happened. I spent over 2 hours watching another ho hum vampire flick. Dracula wasn't even that scary. I don't know what they were attempting to do, but as usual my mind went wandering again.

I refuse to even netflix anything else that bears the name Blade. Just like The Matrix, they should have either done it right or not at all. They tried real hard, but in the end the movie series became nothing but blah. And that is definitely not a word any moviemaker wants to have said about his movie. I could repeat the word twice, but I think he gets the point.

Back in Action!

2005-05-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

General Grievious

Out of the three prequels George Lucas was trying to impress his audience with, I knew the third would be the charm. It certainly was the most dramatic of the stories out of the three. I wasn't sure how much I would like it, but like I said in a previous post, I didn't want to come to the movie with any preconceived notions. Man, did I love this one!

It was like a breath of fresh air. For the first time in a while, the magic was back. The characters weren't quite as likable, but it more than made up for that with sheer storytelling. Instead of boring you with paragraph after paragraph, let me give a bullet point version of my comments. Maybe that will keep your attention:

No one does a visual like Lucas. His technical expertise is what he has always mezmerized us with, and this movie blew every other movie away.
Ewan McGregor needs to get more credit than he has in the past. He was the glue that held the entire trilogy together. Without him, these movies would have been worthless.
Hayden Christensen actually grew as an actor in this one. He wasn't great, but at least he was a little more convincing. That helped.
Next to no Jar Jar!
A robot villian. What a fun idea! And he coughs no less!
The light saber fights were without a doubt the best they will ever do. The only problem is going to be when you see 3 and 4 back to back. Talk about a let down!
George answered all the questions he needed to in order to tie the two series together. Believe me, I had a list in my mind, and I checked each one of them off! Good job, George!

Well, that's it for now. As I think about it, and maybe see it again, more thoughts might come to mind. But go and see it. Well worth the wait.

Born or Bred, That is NOT the Question

2005-05-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Gay Marriage

Many years ago, when I was a teacher, I used to have lunchtime discussions with other teachers about politics. This being a place of education, you can well imagine how often I agreed with my counterparts (almost never). However, I at least got the opportunity to hone my debating abilities and listen to both sides before making up my mind on a plethora of issues.

When the topic came to gay marriage, I began to see a certain trend in their line of argument. Homosexuals were thought of as a minority group. Now homosexuality was not a behavior, but a state of being. Homosexuals were not people who were commiting homosexual acts, but a whole "race" of people whose actions we were obligated to accept as OK or we were bigots. It would be the same as being black, or Native American, or Chinese. I'm sure other people reading this today have also come across this line of reasoning.

Liberals will tell us that what homosexuals are facing in today's society as far as persecution is identical to the treatment blacks received from whites in America in the 50's and 60's. Yet there is a condescension there as well that says if you don't accept this 'obvious' truth, you are just less enlightened.

If there is one thing I can't stand, it is when the other side implies I'm just not as smart as they.

I think homosexuals are BOTH born and bred. There are obviously some men and women who are more prone to become gay. But there is quite a bit of evidence to suggest that how you are raised plays a big part in who you become. Anyone who says they know for sure is lying. Only God truly knows at this point.

But let's say that liberals are right, that a homosexual was born that way. Does that justify the behavior? What about an alcoholic? Studies suggest genes play a crucial role in determining whether someone becomes an alcoholic. Should they be proud of who they are? Should they flaunt their drinking ability? Should they go into schools and teach that this is normal, and that 10% of each group is an alcoholic? Should we give special exemptions for drunk drivers, knowing that is just who they are? Maybe alcoholics should have their own parade, drinking up a storm and defending their right to ruin their lives.

You see my point? Even if someone is 100% born a homosexual, that does not make homosexuality OK to do. All of us have urges, things we would like to do, that would be fun to do, that would give us gratification. But we also know that many of those things are harmful to us and that we should avoid those types of activities at all costs. That is called responsibility. God gave us the ability to recognize the implications of our actions and change them accordingly if they were harmful.

So the true question should be not whether homosexuals are born or bred, but rather is homosexuality a good thing or a bad thing. This is also not an easy question. But I think getting the right question to answer is sometimes as important as answering the question. You can get the wrong answer and try again. You get the wrong question and the game is over.

Now that we have the right question, my next blog will attempt to get the right answer. Hold yer horses, it is on it's way!

Changing Perceptions...

2005-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Star Wars

Talk about perfect timing. The Star Wars mania began when I was 7. Just the age George Lucas was hoping to latch onto. And he did. I have always had a special place in my heart for the Star Wars universe.

But as is common with Star Wars fans, I developed an idealism about the space opera that made me become overly critical. Every character in the prequels had to have the same likability as Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. Every actor needed to deliver their lines perfectly. Every scene had to have me begging for more. This was Star Wars, not some cheesy B movie.

I had such high expectations for these three movies, I didn't have time to enjoy them. Can't I just go to the movie to have fun and not expect perfection? I would think that is the point of going to movies, to enjoy them.

I was disappointed with the first two prequels. I'm going to go into this one with no expectations except to be entertained. Once that happens, I have a feeling my perception of this film will be extremely different. I may even like it. Even if I don't, the Star Wars legacy will live on, especially in the next generation of filmmakers for whom these films will undoubtedly have an impact. I know they have for me.

The $50 Million Proposition

2005-05-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Women's Rights

Harvard's President Dr. Summers has decided the school is going to spend $50 million dollars in finding out how to diversify and hire more women. This, of course, is a response to the comment he apologized profusely for suggesting that men's and women's brains are different. This is an observation he should feel sorry for? This is an opinion he should make restitution for?

This just goes to show how screwed up the education system is. I thought the main decision in who to hire was based on who was best qualified. I assumed a college would maintain a higher standard of education by hiring people who do their job better than anyone else. Funny me. I guess I must be crazy.

And where does Harvard get off spending this amount of money on such an easily solvable problem. Even if I agreed with their premise, my response would be, "then hire more women." Why do they need $50 million to figure this out. If I were a liberal, I'd want to spend that money on something more practical, like building a homeless shelter, not trying to assess a problem that already has an answer.

Harvard, let me make a proposition. You give me the $50 million dollars, and I'll give you a solution that works. Give the best person the job, man or woman. Once I get the money, I'll make sure I put it to good use. Like starting a school that will be worried about education, not social enlightenment.

Jewish Prophet Dennis Prager

2005-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dennis Prager

Dennis frequently makes predictions that come true. The latest piece of prophecy? This is actually a 2 parter. He first called into question the veracity of the Newsweek story before they renounced it, and demonstrated that even if it were true, Newsweek should have withheld the story knowing the kind of reaction the Muslim community would have to it. Just like clockwork, the story was revealed to be false, and of course it did cause the rioting.

But the second prediction is what really gets me, the reaction of the news media. Dennis suggested that there would be silence in newspapers across the country about the story. And low and behold, the very media that is so quick to call Bush to fault for his actions in the Middle East are dumb (excuse the pun) when it comes to a grossly fabricated story that caused rioting and death in many countries in the Middle East. Should not Newsweek be raked across the coals for this despicable act that caused people to die? Should not the biggest outrage come from the very print media that the story came from?

The only response I can see in the entire news mechanism is to blame who else, but Bush. Of course, it has to be Bush's fault that these people are rioting. Not the article that came out last week that says America is spitting in the face of all Muslims. No, it couldn't be that. It has to be Bush. He's to blame.

Idiocy knows no bounds.

Newsweek: The Illusion of Truth

2005-05-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

Muslim Protests

The liberal news media has done it again. Newsweek has now admitted it's source for the story about pages of the Koran being used as toilet paper in a US prison camp were not as concrete as they wanted us to believe. And they thought the Fox News Channel had lowered it's standards?

How is it that Newsweek, the New York Times, the LA Times, etc, who are blatently liberal seem to get very mild recriminations when they do something like this which is obviously an attack against the President and his policies, yet suddenly when the Fox News Channel starts getting bigger ratings Hitler's name becomes associated with them. They can't just be wrong, they are "evil." Shall we now call Newsweek "evil" for making up a story they knew had no backing? Is Newsweek "Fair and Balanced." Are they letting us "Decide for Ourselves?"

This just backs up my point from an earlier post. There is no such thing as an objective news source. Why should news organizations cloak themselves in the banner of objectivity when it is abundantly clear this is an illusion? We need to abandon this unrealistic idealism and begin to develop opinion pieces based in fact. These reporters need to prove their case to the best of their ability and then let their audience decide the truth for themselves.

This is not the first example of bias, and it will not be the last. Get used to it. We are going to have to become perceptive Americans, reading multiple sources, and thinking for ourselves. Is that really all that tough. I hope not, or we are not going to have that much of a country left for very much longer.

Narnia Unleashed!

2005-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Just recently, Disney released the first of the trailers unveiling the first movie in the Narnia series, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardbrobe (you can see it at www.moviefone.com). This is the first time I've actually been excited about any adaptation of a Narnia book. It looks like they have finally done it right.

I have some reservations about the content, but the look of it is perfect as far as I can tell. We will have to await for the movie to be sure about the content, but I have inside information that it will still retain it's Christian themes. The producer who is in charge of making the decisions for this movie is a Christian who goes to Grace Community Church. If there is one thing you can be sure of, Grace is definitely conservative. They do not water down the gospel or anything else for that matter. I have friends that go to Grace that have talked to this producer, and he assures them that while he is in charge, Lewis' message will be kept intact.

For The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, that is essential. This book more than any other in the series presents the gospel message. If you mess with that, you might as well put the movie in the trash.

This is why I'm as excited about this movie as I am. If this is a big hit, we could see a tremendous amount more of these types of movies being produced than are being produced at present. And wouldn't that be a nice change of pace for Hollywood.

Get ready, everybody! Hollywood might actually develop some family entertainment after all! Miracles never cease!

Peace at Any Cost

2005-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Make Love Not War

As the country tackles issues such as the Iraq War and Usama Bin Laden, I think we need to make something very clear. The peace at any cost crowd is simply living in a fantasy world. Considering the hippie culture the vast majority of these people came from, that is not too hard to imagine. Nevertheless, this type of idea needs to be debunked. Too many of our children are being influenced in this direction by these very people, who are now in the high schools and universities of "higher education."

Whenever I am developing my ideas on a certain political issue, I usually get my answer from the most extreme of examples. That way I can test my theories to the limit. When we talk about pacifism, the most poweful example I can give comes from where else, World War II, mainly because Nazi Germany is an evil everyone can recognize.

When we take a look at all Hitler got away with in Europe (bulldozing over Western Europe, killing 6 million Jews, Invading Russia, stomping out democracy, complete control over his subjects) a natural question comes to mind. If he were alive today and threatening the US and it's allies in Europe once again, would peace at any cost work? You can see how ridiculous the answer would be. Hitler couldn't care less how sincere we were, how peaceful we were, how much we loved each other, whether we wore a flower in our hair, etc. All he would see is a land that wouldn't put up a fight and that would be ripe for the picking.

Today we have quite a few characters on the world scene that Hitler would probably be friends with if he were alive today, people who don't give a rip what we are like or how loving we are to them. They see us as an obstruction and an evil way of life. Freedom doesn't sit too well with them. If we choose not to defend ourselves in these cases, then we choose to be under tyranny. There are no two ways about it. Should we always fight at the least provocation? Of course not. But we also need to come to the realization that at some point there are good reasons to pick up a weapon and defend this country and our way of life.

Babylon 5 is True Science Fiction

2005-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Babylon 5

Originality and compelling characters are the key to a good TV show, and Babylon 5 has both in spades. It is science fiction at it's best.

In the first place, Babylon 5 has done what I don't think any other TV series has done, have a beginning, middle, and end. Over the 5 year story arc, one central plot is the focus. They certainly have some stand alone episodes, but it presents the series as a novel does. They introduce the characters, develop the conflict, bring it to a climax, and then have a resolution. To do that with a 5 year story is quite a feat. But they got away with it, and created some enthralling drama as well.

Even if a plot is not original, a show can catch people's attention if the characters are interesting enough. Once again, while Babylon 5 did have a good plot, one of the things that kept me coming back for more was how well the characters grew on me. I wanted to find out what happened to them. Each had their own weaknesses, yet they worked together into a meaningful whole.

If this wasn't enough, this show did what all good science fiction does, it asks the right questions: who am I and why am I here. I didn't agree with all of their answers, but to me the important thing is not always to agree, but to ask the important questions in life. This show analyzed these questions in depth throughout the series.

If you can get used to the make up and red colored contacts, Babylon 5 is well worth it to check out. I'm taking a peek at Crusade right now, a follow up, but I will always appreciate the depth that Babylon 5 was able to produce in a world of TV shows that are the epitomy of shallow.

Iran Part 2

2005-05-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

Iran

As I mentioned in a recent post, Iran is putting a tremendous amount of effort toward building a nuclear weapon, one they could use at the very least to explode in space and send an electromagnetic pulse to the US, destroying any electronics for hundreds of miles.

As I was watching The O'Reilly Factor tonight, however, I caught a snipit of President Bush saying in an interview point blank that he would not allow Iran to get a hold of a nuclear weapon nor develop one. He made it crystal clear that we would strike at Iran if he felt they would get a hold of one. He obviously wants to resolve this diplomatically, and he made that clear as well. But if push comes to shove, he will use our armed forces to prevent such a disaster.

It is coming to a head very quickly. It might be a while before action like this is taken, but you have to face reality and recognize that if they continue along this path despite the pressure of the world community bearing down on them, they have got what is coming to them.

We can always hope for a peaceful solution. But I just have a feeling that Iran is going to push the limit one step too far, and is then going to find out what Hussein and Bin Laden learned the hard way.

Outfoxed? Hardly

2005-05-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

I want to give credence to the left whenever they come up with legitimate points of disagreement with my own. I can respect a different viewpoint as long as it is based in solid reasoning.

Outfoxed is definitely not in this camp. In case you are unfamiliar with this "documentary," it attempts to castigate the Fox News Channel as an evil force on society and claims that if we don't get rid of it, journalism will never recover it's exhalted status as objective. Sound melodramatic? That's because it is. Here I was in the mood to tackle actual arguements when all I seemed to see were ridiculous exagerations and straw men that were so easy to destroy it wasn't worth my time.

Case in point. There first line of arguement was that Fox wasn't objective, but was, no, don't say it, CONSERVATIVE. No way. If they didn't say that, I wouldn't have known. I thought Fox was supposed to be "Fair and Balanced." How could they do this to me? I never would have watched Fox if I thought it was conservative. This is a BIG secret that Fox is trying to conceal, isn't it? Wow, how clever they are. I'm so glad there are people making documentaries that reveal this top secret information so I don't go down the wrong path.

This is the best they've got? You've got to be kidding me!

If that isn't bad enough, they then go into a tirade about how journalism needs to be a bastion of facts, not opinion, and that Fox is bringing down the standards of journalistic integrity that are going to cause other networks to opt for opinion to get bigger ratings. I guess they are finally getting a taste of their own medicine. For more than 30 years, the 3 big news stations (and CNN) have liberalized the news and put opinion ahead of fact. I don't know of one news organization that doesn't have a point of view or promotes a certain worldview. Personally, I think it is impossible. So why try?

The big networks these days are holding onto the ridiculous idea that they can be fair and impartial. I've followed politics and news long enough to realize that this is a fantasy. These organizations have to come to the reality that a point of view is not something to avoid, but rather to embrace. I like news that has some bite to it. I think people are smart enough to watch and listen to those people who support their core values and to "vote" for them by giving them higher ratings. Newspapers in Europe don't seem to have these hang ups, although the overwhelming majority of them are unabashedly liberal. But they realize what American journalists have not, that a point of view is unavoidable. The question is what point of view are you going to take. Once they realize this, then we can have an honest discussion about the facts. And, yes, the people are actually smart enough to filter through the opinion to get to the heart of the issue and decide for themselves.

Is Fox "Fair and Balanced?" Do I even need to answer that question? Listen to them and others, and then decide for yourself. It is only when we begin to truly think for ourselves about these issues that we are going to make a difference.

Famous May 9th Birthdays

2005-05-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

This being my birthday, I couldn't help but take a look at famous people, besides myself, who were born on this day.

Here they are:

1800 John Brown (Just who I wanted to be associated with)

1918 Mike Wallace (Another winner)

1920 Richard Adams

1936 Albert Finney

1940 James L. Brooks

1942 John Ashcroft

1946 Candice Bergen (Yikes)

1949 Billy Joel (Now there's someone I can be proud of)

1960 Tony Gwynn (Not much of a sports fan, but oh well)

I also wanted to check to see if anything happened literally on the day I was born, and low and behold, I saw this:

May 9, 1970 100,000 people protested against the Vietnam War

I guess I must be the answer to their protests.

Alias Has Got My Vote

2005-05-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

The vast majority of shows to watch on TV aren't worth the TV they're being watched on. Whenever I channel surf, I become more convinced of this. There is one show in particular that has recently got my attention. Alias is a wonderfully written show that is fun, entertaining and actually has some depth.

I just finished Season 3, so I'm not caught up with the rest of America, but I have watched enough to know it is a quality series. Jennifer is one of those natural beauties that doesn't even need to try and she still looks hot. The spy scenes are intricate enough that they at least seem plausible. I never tire of the tech guy's antics, and the overall plot is hugely engrossing.

What I like the best about Alias, however, is how Sydney's family is slowly but surely coming together. It's a very unique family dynamic, but everyone associated with that family is coming out of the woodwork and at least becoming a part of Sydney's life. The relationship she develops with her father is always evolving, as a true relationship would, with maybe a little more drama than your typical father/daughter bond. But these relationships help glue the show together so the other pieces can become a meaningful whole. There isn't a lot of TV these days that does that.

I hear the 4th season isn't nearly as good, so I'm prepared for the worst. But even if there were never another episode, the trip was worth it. TV doesn't have many gems, other than at HSN, but when you find one, it really shines. Three cheers from a guy who rarely watches TV. Keep up the good work!

Apple vs. Microsoft

2005-05-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

I think I have come to the conclusion that Apple computers will never have the market share that Microsoft computers will. But I really don't mind. I also realize that Macintosh has always come out with a better quality product. I don't want to be a part of the crowd. I would rather be a part of the elite. Apple with Steve Jobs behind it is the most creative technology company in existence, and there is no one better at making powerful machines that are simple to use. Simple, not simplistic. There is a difference.

Simple means they are intuitive. You automatically know how to use the product almost without instructions because it is so well designed. That is the essence of Mac software. Microsoft you can eventually figure out, but not without trial and error.

Mac's also do anything they make with style. If they are going to make a camera for video conferencing, it will be the coolest looking camera you have ever seen. If they make an mp3 player, it will be so simple to use, even an IBM user can figure it out.

Not to insult anyone out there, but check Mac out for yourself. You might be getting a taste of the genius of Apple with the iPod for IBM, but you are missing the joy of simplicity if you don't at least take a look at the rest of what the people at Apple are coming out with.

Jennifer Wilbanks Needs Help

2005-05-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

The case of Jennifer Wilbanks is screwy indeed. What person in their right mind would ever make a false 911 call to the police about being abducted all because she had cold feet near her wedding day? What I find remarkable is the reaction of her fiancee, family, and friends. How can you take a look at her actions and say she is ready for marriage?

If I were in his place, no matter what she had said or done in the past, this would be a serious time of contemplation about the future. Obviously, Jennifer has some sort of mental imbalance to go through all this. Is this the kind of person I want to have kids with? Is this the kind of person I want to get stuck with for the rest of my life? You have to think these questions are going through his mind. Yet when she finally came back and confessed, the first thing he did was put the diamond ring back on her finger. So I guess now we have 2 people who are mentally disturbed.

In the overall scheme of things, this is a minor story with minor characters. And I certainly am not going to but into their lives and feel I have a right to make their decisions for them. But you have to wonder about whether these two have a full deck if one lies to the police and the other acts as if that is par for the course in getting ready for marriage.

I'm going to have to throw up my arms for now. What else can you do?

The Sword of Shannara

2005-05-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

There are few books that have a profound impact on me, and even fewer authors. Terry Brooks is just one of those writers that no matter what he writes, I can read it and get something out of it. I appreciate his creativity, his plots, and his pacing. He writes a mixture of fantasy and action/adventure, and as far as I'm concerned, there is no one more adept in today's market. His first book, The Sword of Shannara, has always been one of my favorites, and combines all the elements of great fantasy into a seamless story that blows it's audience away.

Many people have called it a rip off of Lord of the Rings, and I can see where they might have gotten that from. Many of the elements of LOTR are there in the beginning, but Brooks takes the story in an entirely new direction after the first 100 pages or so. And he has proven his creative energy is still intact by writing more than 20 novels since then. He is the singular most consistent story writer that I know, and I never tire of his tales.

One thing in particular that Terry does so well is the structure of the story. He has three plots going on all at the same time that will eventually weave back into one overall quest. He builds one storyline up until you can't wait to find out what happens, then will end the chapter and go on to the next story. That story he will build up until you are dying to find out what happens and, whoops, end of chapter. He does this every chapter until you are built into a frenzy, and then finally he brings the threads back together again for an incredible finish. There aren't many authors who can do that, and certainly not on the fantasy front.

I could tell you all about the story, but that would destroy your enjoyment of it. Try it out. I dare you to get past the similarities and get lost in one of the best adventure stories ever to be written.

A Bad Mistake

2005-04-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, Netflix makes a mistake. I had ordered the next disc in Alias Season 3, which by the way is an incredible series, and instead I received A Home at the End of the World. What a piece of crap! I rarely dislike movies as much as this one.

And the reason is simple. Movies that attempt to warp and twist morals and values to the point where they are unrecognizable are not only a waste of time, they can actually have a negative impact on society.

The plot revolves around two men and a woman who try to develop a "loving, lasting relationship" in the midst of raising a baby. Once again, traditional values are set aside for the "superior" values of the baby boomers. How pathetic and naive.

The only redeeming value in the entire film that I can see is the fact that the woman eventually leaves the other two, knowing that it will not work. There is a very clear promotion of homosexuality as nothing out of the ordinary, just another choice in life.

There was a reason God set up the family the way he did. He wanted to provide us with the best possible senario for success so that families would stay together. Even by the example of the film, that wasn't possible. So how do we get to the place as a society where we completely ignore what works and promote what we already know doesn't work.

All I can say is Netflix better get it right next time.

The Worship Controversy

2005-04-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

Many churches in America today have been going through some drastic changes in style. The substance of the message is still essentially the same, but how we deliver that message is changing on a day by day basis. In particular, the plethora of worship bands and worship songs have created a controversy. On one side are the traditional churches that suggest that we should only be singing hymns, and on the other are the more progressive churches who feel the need to modernize how we worship in order to attract people who wouldn't normally come to a church, much less worship. Who is right?

From the outset, let me make one thing clear. This is a secondary issue, not an essential of biblical doctrine. That we worship is the important issue. How we worship is more of a gray area. Any other outlook is majoring on the minors.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's get into the issue. Both genres of worship have something to offer. The hymns are deep in theology, helping us to remember great biblical truths, and also reminding us that there are a legion of Christians that have come before us, preparing the way. I can't think of a better way to help us remember our heritage than singing great hymns of the faith.

Yet there is something missing from most hymns. This is where modern worship comes in. Hymns tend to be 3rd person, which detracts from our personal interaction with the Creator of the Universe. Modern worship excels at making a personal connection between those singing and their God. What an incredible impact these songs can have in making that personal connection. I will admit, however, that modern worship has to some degree lost a sense of depth, in particular in the lyrical content.

What is the solution? Instead of either/or, I think both/and is the temporary solution. A regular exposure to both will keep the depth of hymns, yet allow us to make the personal connection we can only get through modern worship.

Yet I think we can do even better. God has called all of us to excellence, not mediocrity. If the church would start to raise up musicians dedicated to developing modern worship with deep theological truths imbeded within, what a legacy we would leave for future generations. We would have the best of both worlds, and who could argue with that? Certainly there are some out there that could make this a reality. If you are one of those people, ask God whether He might be able to use you for this mighty purpose.

We will only leave a legacy if we go beyond talking and start doing what He has called us to do.

It Ain't Over Yet

2005-04-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

They are going to have a cow. Liberals in this country are going to go ballistic when they find out what is brewing in the not too distant future. Reports are coming out of Iran suggesting they are within months of being able to develop a nuclear weapon. But from our best sources of information, they don't plan on trying to explode the weapon inside our atmospere, but outside, causing what is called an electromagnetic pulse. This would in essence fry every circuit for hundreds of miles. Everything from a computer to a toaster would become useless.

Think of the effects. Exploding dozens of these weapons over the US would shut down hospitals, banks, government facilites, etc. Every computer would no longer function. One researcher likened it to putting us in a time warp back to the 1880's. And it would take at least 6-9 months of concerted effort to bring us even close to recovery. Our entire economy would practically be at a standstill.

Never fear, Bush is here. He is in process now of drafting a request that the UN use it's power of persuasion to convince Iran's mullahs to drop this idea. Short of that, there are only two options, Israeli planes or ours. The Israelis have no problem making a preemptive strike, knowing that if they do nothing, Israel will be the first target. And, of course, it will also be a testing ground for the bigger target, the US.

Once again, there isn't much of a choice in this. If they are close to developing these weapons, we have to stop them. Iran has been funding terrorism for years, and if it can find a way to hurt the US and try to bring our country down, Iran will.

The liberals will call Bush every name in the book, and he will happily accept their insults, knowing he preserved thier right to make those barbs, and saving the US from another disaster at the same time. Not a bad legacy, don't you think?

Straight from the Horse's Mouth

2005-04-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

As a former teacher, one of my kids' favorite things to do when we had extra time was to have me read some idioms and find out where they came from. It's funny how many phrases we have as Americans. I think that's why it is so hard for a foreigner to learn American English. The idiom is king in this country. And if you don't know them, you're left in the dark half the time.

So just for fun, I thought I'd offer a few choice phrases I got from the book Straight from the Horse's Mouth. Some you may know, some you may not. But see if you can recognize the meanings without an explanation. Then you'll begin to see what a foreigner has to go through.

Here it goes:

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Carrying coals to Newcastle.

Do a number on someone.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Fiddle while Rome burns.

Get your ducks in a row.

Have a mind like a steel trap.

In the swim of things.

Jump out of your skin.

Know which side your bread is buttered.

Let bygones be bygones.

Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Not worth a hill of beans.

Open Pandora's box.

Are you starting to get the picture? There are 8,500 more just in that one book that we use very frequently. You might want to consider that the next time you use an expression, only to here someone say, "huh?"

Michael & Me

2005-04-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I don't know why, but I did it. Against my better judgment, I netflixed the film that started Michael Moore's career, Roger & Me. As much as I detest the tactics he uses in his films, I wanted to see if his first film was any better than the filth he put out last year.

I was actually surprised. Michael was different in many ways, most for the better. He was a tremendous amount lighter. He was much more polite. The film still had the same style as a typical Moore "documentary," but the devious nature and the warped and twisted logic wasn't present. You could tell the story was near and dear to his heart. I can understand why the film did as well as it did.

Do I agree with it's basic premise? I definitely think GM had a responsibility to try to help it's loyal workers retrain for other positions. In a typical job situation, I would just tell them to go get another position. But in a town totally dependant on one company or industry, GM should have realized the impact their decision would have made for the people of this town and responded accordingly.

But at the same time, is GM supposed to refrain from modernizing to compete in the ever expanding automobile market? Are they supposed to just keep things the way they are rather than constantly improving? Are they supposed to stay behind while the rest of the market moves forward? GM is a company whose main purpose is making a product for the least amount so they can sell it for the most profit. If they can make a car at a lower price by getting other people to make it , more power to them. American companies will be weaker if they don't, and GM is no exception. Moore demonized GM and it's leader because they didn't take care of their workers, with that I will agree. But for a company to ignore the future does no one any good.

If Moore stayed at this level of respect and decency in all his films, I wouldn't have a problem with him. But the ego must have gotten in the way once he began making more money and exerting more influence. The idiocy that he comes out with today is arrogant, cruel, devious, and frankly, a pack of lies. I think I'll just have to present Roger & Me as the first and last documentary Michael Moore ever made.

Understanding an Introvert

2005-04-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Introverts are one of the most misunderstood groups in American society today. Being one, I should know. I can't tell you how many times friends and aquaintances have misinterpreted an interovert for someone that wants to be by himself all the time. If that is the extent of your knowledge of this segment of the population, you need to get better informed.

An introvert is one that gets his or her energy from within. The vast majority of the population gets their energy from others. Think about the difference. The more an introvert is around people, the more he needs to recharge his batteries. The more an extrovert is around people, the more energized he becomes. It is not something that I worked hard to become, it is something that I am.

Does this mean I never develop lasting relationships? Does this mean I don't want to have fun with other people? Does this mean I want to live like a hermit, with as little distraction from other people? Anyone who know me well realizes that is not the case.

What it really means is that I need a regular time of rejuvination in order to make an impact in others lives. I cannot be effective as a friend, family member, etc. unless I have that time to recharge. Balancing these two parts of my life is difficult, but necessary.

Most people would think of this as a curse. I recognize it in many ways as a blessing. The majority of writers and deep thinkers in this world have had this tendency. Where would we be without their wisdom? How about the people who spend long hours doing research an analysis. How would this society get along without people willing to do this?

God created each person with unique capabilities, and with that certain necessities. Mine just happen to be different than the majority of people on this earth. That doesn't make me weird, it simply allows me to do what many people can't.

Understanding an introvert is the best way you can make a friendship for life. And who knows, you may value the rare gifts that friendship can provide more than you think.

Is "R" Really Necessary?

2005-04-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

A recent article I read on the web discussed the weak year the movie industry is experiencing financially. They are always trying to figure out why they can't beat last year's total. And every year conservatives come up with the same response. The lower the rating, the bigger the box office. Taking a look at the box office draw so far this year, only two movies in the top ten are rated R (Constantine and Sin City). In 2004, The Passion of the Christ was the only R rated movie to make it to the top ten. In 2003, only The Matrix sequels made the top ten for the year. In the most generous of years, you will see maybe 2-3 R rated movies make big box office. Yet the ratio of R to PG-13 and below rated films is still in the R camp.

So the question becomes, are they making these films to sell tickets, or are they making the films to promote their liberal ideology. It is not exclusively one way or another. I realize that many of their decisions are money driven. But if the majority of the audience is paying to see PG and G movies, and the Hollywood crowd is paying to make R movies, it becomes obvious even to a layman that money is not even close to their soul objective.

Should we ever have R rated films? I can't take a look at The Passion and think otherwise. But if the Hollywood elite want to make some real cash, I think they better begin to invest in the kind of movies that the whole family is able to see, and save their ideology for where it belongs, in the New York Times.

A Protestant Revering the Pope?

2005-04-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

As I saw the ascendancy of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the office of Pope Benedict XVI, I felt the need to evaluate how I would deal with him as a protestant. On the one hand, I didn't want to just cast the office of pope aside out of hand. John Paul II's legacy would at least give me a reason not to do that. On the other hand, there needs to be some separation between his belief structure and mine. We obviously don't agree on some of the major theological issues according to official Catholic Church teaching, especially in regard to a works salvation. So a balance was necessary.

Do I revere the Pope? According to my old pal Webster, to revere means, "to regard with deep respect, love, and awe; to venerate." On that note, I don't even come close to revering him.

But I definitely think there are some concrete things we can agree on and work together for in the overall scheme of things. We share a tremendous amount of values. We respect the authority of Christ and the disciples. And in many issues, we have a common goal, to reach the world for Jesus Christ.

I certainly don't want to underplay the differences between Catholics and Protestants. We have had many justified disagreements. And I question whether many in the Catholic faith are truly saved. But I think it is about time we begin to work with each other toward those things we can agree on, and use that as an opportunity to work out those things we can't. Only by demonstrating the love of God to each other will we begin to bridge the gap that has separated us for so long. We don't change their minds by staying apart. We change their minds by demonstrating what Christ demonstrated to us. Otherwise we can't say we truly love those within the Catholic faith.

Jesus said to forgive your enemies and do good to them that curse you. If we are not willing to do these things with our Catholic friends, then we shouldn't bother to call ourselves, "little Christ's." They will know we are Christians by our love.

Do Fantasy and Theology Mix?

2005-04-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

The popularity of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter in the past few years has caused many in the Christian community to condemn the fantasy genre in general. Is it a good idea to watch or read about wizards, goblins, elves, dwarves, magic, spells, demons, and hobbits? After all, doesn't the bible condemn witchcraft and any form of divination? Aren't we to stay away from the hint of evil?

Now I definitely have a bias on the subject matter. Since I was in my early teens, I have had a fascination with fantasy, in particular fantasy books. I always had a creative bent in me that helped me to appreciate anothers ability to create a world out of whole cloth, a world that was totally separate from our own, yet one that I could relate to. I have never outgrown this interest, and from what I see of the popularity of fantasy today, I know I am not alone.

But as I grew older, I also began to question why I read this particular genre. What was it that made me come back for more? It wasn't simply for fun, or I would have stopped reading these books a long time ago. The more I thought about the stories I had read, the clearer it became.

Fantasy is simply a conduit for ethics. It is a way to explore what is right and what is wrong. When you create a world, YOU set up the parameters. Any good fantasy writer uses that freedom to explore ethics in a more pure form. They might not always get all the right answers, but at least they are asking the right questions. That is the kind of material worth reading.

Lord of the Rings is a perfect example. J.R.R Tolkien was a christian who wanted to, among other things, express his beliefs within the confines of a story. He used magic, yes, but he also developed his ideas about courage, love, loyalty, truth, angels, death, making a difference, and even resurrection (remember Gandalf coming back to life). All these themes couldn't have been explored in nearly the same way in another genre. And according to the sales of these books for the past 50 years, he has gotten those ideas across to a tremendous amount more people than he would have if he had written a book of theology.

Coming this year to the theaters, of course, in the Narnia series, written by a buddy of Tolkien's, C.S. Lewis. He as well uses magic, but even more directly than Tolkien, uses it as a conduit in order to tell the gospel story. When The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe comes out this Christmas, don't just push it aside as one of those evil fantasy stories. Check it out and see if there might just be some redeeming values in there. You might be surprised.

The Unconditional Love of God

2005-04-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Why is it so hard for Christians to accept the unconditional love of God? I had a conversation with someone last night in which we discussed theology. When we began a talk about soteriology, or the study of salvation, we came to an impase. The crucial issue was whether someone could have assurance of their salvation with a shortage of works.

Now let me be clear. We agreed on quite a lot as far as salvation was concerned. We both held to sola fide, or being saved by faith alone. We both believed that works were an outcome of salvation. We both recognized that no one is perfect, that we all make mistakes, and that we all need the continual grace of God to make it through this life.

Where we had trouble was in recognizing God's unconditional love to his children. In this instance, I brought up the book of Hosea, because it has a message that isn't widely shared at pulpits these days. Hosea was called by God to marry a prostitute (Gomer) and to be faithful to her. She initially agreed to the marriage, but soon found herself back in her old lifestyle. God called Hosea to bring her back time and again from that lifestyle and stay faithful to her despite her unfaithfulness to him.

Sounds meaningless, right? It does, unless You realize the analogy. If you put God in Hosea's place, Israel in Gomer's place, and God's covenant with his people in place of the marriage covenant, you begin to get the picture. God wanted us to see that despite Israel's unfaithfulness to Him, He was going to be faithful to them. They were His chosen people, and He was not going to let them go, even if they decided to follow after other Gods and other desires.

What an incredible comfort it is to know the boundless love God has for His people. No matter what we do, He will remain faithful to us, just as Hosea remained faithful to Gomer. God doesn't evaluate us based on what we do. He evaluates us on who we are, His children. If we realize this, we free ourselves up to become bold disciples for Christ. We no longer worry about failure, knowing that even if we fail, He will be there to pick us up again. If we rebel, he will chastise us, and set us straight. But He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Think on this the next time you feel demoralized in your Christian walk, and allow God to do what He does best, demonstrate grace.

The Hunting of the President

2005-04-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

On a regular basis, I try to see what the other side is talking about. It's fun, mainly because it allows me to confirm the validity of my own beliefs, and lets me see if the left has even cogent arguments. For the most part, they don't.

But this weekend, I was in one of those moods, so I Netflixed The Hunting of the President. The movie, in case you've never heard of it, tries to prove that the right wing set out destroy Bill Clinton right from day #1. It interviewed everyone from David Brock to James Carville, and as a documentary was head and shoulders above the Michael No Moore garbage that came out last year.

Three things in particular struck me as at least worth considering.

It presented real evidence that a lot more was going on behind the scenes in the Starr investigation than got out to the press. When they went after the bimbos, Starr's team wanted to get a hold of any evidence that could bring down the president regardless of how sleazy it was. Brock was particularly helpful in providing evidence for the troopers, suggesting they were in it just for the payoff. And since he broke the story, he should have a pretty good idea. Obviously, Larry Nichols, who was snubbed by Clinton, also was portrayed as a money grubbing lunatic that would literally do anything to take down the President. I have to say, after looking at their backgrounds, I have to agree that this is certainly at least partially true.
Susan McDougall was a pawn in the political chess board, and she was treated abysmally. Her account of her time in prison was particularly disturbing, especially when she recounted the red jump suit she was made to wear, which automatically implied to the other prisoners that she was a baby killer. On one particular bus ride, she tearfully shares how these prisoners tried to pull out her hair, hit her, and abuse her as much as they could. I don't care what kind of evidence she had against the President. I could never condone these types of tactics.
Despite all this, in the back of my mind was the original charge that I have always held to, that the reason he was impeached was because he lied in front of a grand jury. Even if the tactics were unfair, Even if he was innocent of Whitewater, even if he had nothing to do with Vince Foster's death, even if Susan McDougall was mistreated, Bill Clinton as the President of the United states could have told the truth. If he hadn't, nothing would have come of the investigation.

This just goes to show how important the truth really can be. As naive as it may sound, the truth is worth it. Case in point.

Irish-Heritage Timeline

2005-04-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has known me for more than a few minutes realizes I'm a history buff. American history is of particular interest to me.

But for once I thought I might stray from my usual area of expertise and have some fun with Irish history. Today, one of my friends gave me a spoof entitled "Irish-Heritage Timeline" provided by The Onion (March 17-23, 2005), and I thought I would share it with all of you, despite the fact that it is past March and Green Day (of course, I couldn't possibly say St. Patrick's Day, or the separation of church and state would be obliterated).

Apologies to all you Irishmen out there, but this was too funny to pass up.

7500 BC- The first humans arrive in Ireland. Prior to this, only the Irish lived there
2377 BC- Boiling discovered as means of food preparation
749 BC- Celts discover whiskey-distillation process
432 AD- St. Patrick arrives in Ireland, offering 25-cent chicken wings and 2-for-1 taps all night long
400 AD- Christian missionaries travel across Ireland, bringing guilt to the Irish people
841 AD- Vikings found Dublin. In 842, they burn and pillage it out of habit. Realizing their error, they rebuild it, only to destroy it once more in 843
1487 AD- In a decision still regretted today, Irish let a few British friends stay in Belfast
1488 AD- Luck o' the Irish runs out
1807 AD- Famine strikes Ireland
1817 AD- Famine and typhus strike Ireland
1836 AD- Famine and cholera strike Ireland
1845 AD- Famine and meteor showers strike Ireland
1895 AD- The Irish Stone Age ends
1951 AD- Irish Spring, the two-deodorant soap, becomes the first soap allowed on Irish soil
2004 AD- U2 special edition iPod released

Now, come on, that was funny, wasn't it?