It's a busy busy world

The Aftermath Begins while occupation continues

AP: "Although Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised that his forces would pull back by Friday, Russian troops appear to be digging in, raising concern about whether Moscow is aiming for a lengthy occupation of its small, pro-Western neighbor.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told The Associated Press that Russia was thinning out its presence in some occupied towns but was seizing other strategic spots. He called the Russian moves "some kind of deception game."

"(The Russians) are making fun of the world," he declared.

Nonetheless, a top Russian general troops were moving out in accordance with an EU-sponsored cease-fire.

"The pullback of Russian forces is taking place at such a tempo that by the end of August 22 they will be in the zones of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers," Col.-Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the deputy head of the general staff, said at a briefing."

This is pretty ridiculous. It took 3 days for Russian Armor to bully through Georgia, it shouldn't take 7 days to leave.
Presuming these are exiting moves, anyways. Occupying strategic trade routes is a pretty lousy way to do it.

I've maintained for a while this isn't an invasion for Georgia's direct benefit, but just to show the rest of the Caucus and Eastern Bloc that the Bear is no longer hibernating. So what results are coming back in from those surrounding countries?


- Poland signs the US deal to place missile defense units on Polish soil.
- Ukraine is feuding at the highest levels, with President Yushchenko has accused his Prime Minister Tymoshenko of being a traitor for Russia. Yushchenko has been as great a supporter of Georgia as will be found on this earth, even offering his home to Georgian President Saakashvili. The internal turmoil has clouded the situation, and Ukraine seems to be a nation divided by this world.
-Syria continues to ally itself with Russia.

Questions yet remains. Georgia is a close ally of the United States, and frequently relies on US military advice and intel. They're units are US trained as well. So why did this chain of events occour?
Why did Georgia, presumably with US consent, or perhaps even US encouragement, drastically escalate the conflict on the eve of the Olympics, with full knowledge the Russians would not take kindly to it?
Was it US encouragement that lead to the invasion of this nation?
Was it the US using Georgia, and the lives and livelihood of it's citizens to accelerate the NATO expansion?
Or, equally troubling, was our intel so bad we didn't know the strength and the fury with which Russia would strike?

It doesn't all fit together as neatly as we've been told, not by either side.

Review: Star Wars The Clone Wars

Let me preface this by informing you of my star wars history.

I love it.
The greatest saga ever spun by man onto the silverscreen, with great games to immerse for hundreds of hours on end, and numerous books to enjoy for thousands of hours on end.
I took 9 people to the midnight show last night, and yes, we played with lightsabers. A lot.

So with that, I was still fully prepared for this movie to be an attrotious abomination of all things Star Wars. It's animated, it's the prequel trilogy, it's sorta strange looking, John Wiliams had little hand in the score, and the voice acting is usually by different characters.

With that said, I was pleasantly surprised about this movie. I enjoyed it, and I felt like a kid again, with all the wonder and excitement that the sound and fury of a galaxy far, far away can bring to bear.
While the dialogue was clunky, I didn't really care. This movie is almost a 60/40 split between action and talking, and the action is where it shines. Immensely.
Brilliant animation style throughout the battles, in and out of enemy lines, odd angles, and terrific action shots. It is truly something to enjoy.

What I didn't like was the story telling format. This movie is actually a combination of 4 TV episodes, kicking off a TV season of the same style this fall. (Which has me excited). There's basically 4 acts, and while they are not specifically delineated, it is a subtle presence throughout the film. Sorta irritating.
Anikins new padawan apprentice is somewhat annoying herself, but also has flashes of good dialogue.
In the end, a plot that is somewhat lacking in any logical sense is what hampers this movie. But a good suspension of disbelief does wonders for that. :D

I'm giving this essentially a 4/10. I enjoyed it, and it felt like star wars at times, but not all the time, and the plot really is shaky.
I might take my younger cousins to see it again this weekend, as it really is targeted at the 12 and under crowd.

Russia continues into Georgia, Diplomatic Ceasefire notwithstanding

AP: "Defying a cease-fire agreement, a Russian military convoy rolled through a strategically important Georgia city Wednesday and Georgian officials claimed there was looting and bombing by Russians and their allies.
...
An Associated Press reporter saw dozens of Russian trucks and armored vehicles leaving the city of Gori, some 20 miles south of the separatist region of South Ossetia and home of a key highway that divides Georgia in two, and moving deeper into Georgia."

The historical trend of military force overpowering diplomatic intrigue continues.

The US is getting in the act now, with a good dose of humanitarian aide. Yippie Ki Yay.

The Georgian President is one of heck of a public relations man too, more interviews with networks, papers, and websites then I care to count today. Some of it's been a little strange, but his point remains the same: This isn't about Georgia, its about the Russian reestablishment of the empire.


EDIT: As much as I dislike The Sun in general, they have a good article on the status at the moment.

Russian Offensive continues into Georgia, US does little more then Idle

Telegraph UK: "But the conflict was meanwhile increasing in scope. Russian aircraft have already bombed a number of targets inside Georgia including a strike, said the Georgians, on the civilian airport of Tbilisi, the capital. Abkhazia, a larger breakaway Georgian republic, is now a second front in the battle. Russian troops were reported to be advancing on the Kodori Gorge, a foothold of ethnic Georgians in the region."


The strength, the speed, and the fury with which Russia has initiated this incursion indicates a premeditated invasion, with 800-1200 tanks streaming across the border in less then 2 days? That many tanks don't just sit around the border waiting, at least not in a nation interested in peace.

The response of the US and the world?
Times Online:
"The U.S. military began flying 2,000 Georgian troops home from Iraq after Georgia recalled the soldiers following the outbreak of fighting with Russia. The decision was a timely payback for the former Soviet republic, which was the third-largest contributor of coalition forces in Iraq after the U.S. and Britain.

The risk of the conflict setting off a wider war increased when Russian-supported separatists in another breakaway region of Georgia, Abkhazia, launched air and artillery strikes on Georgian troops to drive them out of a small part of the province they control.

Also, Ukraine warned Russia it could bar Russian navy ships from returning to their base in the Crimea because of their deployment to Georgia's coast.

Asked about the possibility of sending the U.S. military or other aid to Georgia, Jeffrey said, "Right now our focus is on working with both sides, with the Europeans and with a whole variety of international institutions and organizations to get the fighting to stop.""

I think this person says it best:
""We have no good options," a US National Security Council official told The Daily Telegraph. "We need Russia's co-operation over Iran and derailing that over a localised conflict in Georgia makes no sense. We just have to hope that diplomacy prevails. The next necessary step is for Russia to respond positively to Georgia's ceasefire declaration.""

...which at the time of this writing, has been shattered and rent impotent.

It is appaling how weak the west is in the face of such obvious evil.

Russia, Georgia initate war, rest of the world is distracted

Times Online: "One hundred and fifty Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles have entered South Ossetia," President Saakashvili of Georgia told reporters in Tbilisi. "This is a clear intrusion on another country’s territory. We have Russian tanks on our territory, jets on our territory in broad daylight."

Mr Saakashvili added that Georgian forces had downed two Russian jet fighters over Georgian territory.

Georgia mobilised its reservists yesterday and launched a massive offensive overnight. Fighting raged today around the city of Tskhinvali, the regional capital, as Georgian troops backed by tanks and warplanes pounded separatist forces,
…
South Ossetian officials said that much of Tskhinvali had been destroyed in the Georgian offensive. A Reuters correspondent some two miles from the city said that the roar of warplanes and the explosions of heavy shells was deafening and many houses were ablaze.

The area is of strategic importance, largely because of the BTC oil pipeline, which runs through central Georgia just south of the breakaway region.

Georgia, a staunch U.S. ally, has about 2,000 troops in Iraq, making it the third-largest contributor to coalition forces after the U.S. and Britain. But Saakashvili told CNN that the troops would be called home Saturday in the face of the South Ossetia fighting.

More than 1,000 U.S. Marines and soldiers were at the base last month to teach combat skills to Georgian troops. Georgia has about 2,000 troops in Iraq, making it the third-largest contributor to coalition forces after the U.S. and Britain.

South Ossetia officials said Georgia attacked with aircraft, armor and heavy artillery. Georgian troops"

A small regional scrap this is not. Georgia has been pushing to join NATO and is leading the charge of the former Soviet Bloc to ally with the US. Russia, seeking to regain its status as a world power, cannot allow this to continue.

This is a good excuse to do a beat down on a much, much smaller country, and demonstrate to the rest of the nations in the region that when the Russian bear chooses to flex it’s muscle, even militarily in the most blatant of forms, no one can stop them. If nation that has backed the US at every turn is subject to it’s control, then no one is exempt from Russian domination.

Alternately, the US trained Georgian army punks the reds on the open field, maybe with US assistance. That would alter the situation here considerably, and shift the field for the other countries as well. If the bear is indeed toothless, then what have we to fear?

Either way, I think this will be a pivotal moment in the coming years for the Caucus, and we’re going to follow this story to its relative conclusion. The real imporant stuff will happen in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Balts, not the NATO Nations.

The immediate effect? A full 1% of the worlds oil flows through here, so fill up on gas before it spikes over the weekend.

The rest of the world now turns its attention to the Olympic games in the Peoples Republic of China, a farce of epic proportions.
A series of games to celebrate the undying flame of the human spirit, hosted in a tyrannical regime who's only accomplishment to date is the slaughter of untold millions, stripping billions of their basic rights, destruction of freedom, dismantling of liberty, and the theft of US military equipment.

Where the Olympics are to represent the finest of humanity, we sink to the lowest depths of the communist pit, where the largest collective number of people on earth are repressed and denied the right to life.

Where the Olympics are to celebrate life, we swim in the morass of a one child per family state.
Where the Olympics are to celebrate competition, we visit the worlds shinning example of a mercantile system, where corruption is destined to control the path of commerce.

As I sit and watch this opening ceremony, there is little I can celebrate. This spectacle of unparalleled scope was built off the backs of millions of laborers, wreaked the lives of thousands, and only enriched the wealthy caste of china.

The Olympics have lost their luster once again, and for what?
The chance to enjoy some Moo Goo Guy Pan?

How the Mighty have Fallen

Yahoo Sports:
"The Green Bay Packers reached an agreement Wednesday night to trade their three-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback to the New York Jets, ending an emotionally grinding month of indecision over Favre’s future."

Aaah... the saga of Favre that I've avoided for so long has come to a conclusion. The Mighty Man of Mississippi, the Legend of Lambeau, and the greatest quarterback the world has ever known, is no longer a Green Bay Packer.

He's a New York Jet.

Mercifully, this isn't the Bears. This isn't the Vikings.

He's a Jet. I'm a Packers fan, but also a Favre Fan. So I'll track the jets much closer.
Tom Brady vs. Brett Favre? Twice???
Brett Favre the small town boy going to the bright lights of the big apple?

Aaron Rodgers had better be worth all this trouble and pain.

Funny Oil arguement in the house

Republicans Show Spine, Mr. Smith back in washington?

Compiled from Politico Sources :
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House, turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m., and they are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.
...

"This is the people's House," said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."
...

Update 2: This message was sent out by Blunt's office:

"Although this Democrat majority just adjourned for the Democrat 5-week vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN cameras have been turned off, House Republicans are on the floor speaking to the taxpayers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican energy proposals.

"All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House floor."

Update 3: Democrats just turned out the lights again. Republicans cheered.
...
"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring. ... This is a kick."
...
Update 7: Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.

He then said, "I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.
...
They have brought in dozens of their members, who are walking up and down the aisles making speeches. They have packed the floors and galleries with staffers. When Capitol Police tried to remove reporters from the gallery, Republicans stopped it from happening. The crowd has repeatedly broken out in chants of "Vote, vote, vote!" There are several dozen Cub Scouts sitting on the House floor in seats normally occupied by members.
...
Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the dimly lit chamber is a "vision of the future by the Democrat Party: The lights are out, there's no power, and the air conditioning is gonna go off soon.""

I love our republic. This won't have much effect, because most people won't know about it. But I do, you do, and the ones in the positions of power know it. We may yet have some action on this issue, once they come back from their 5 week vacation.
Thats another thing, 5 weeks of vacation with no action on the most pressing political issue of the day? Bad form, bad form. This is only going to get worse, and the republicans had better strike while the iron is hot this season, because the democrats have no solutions.

Review: Batman: The Dark Knight

This is yet another summer movie I went to the midnight opening of, and unlike various other movies, (*cough*walle*cough*caspian*cough*) I left with a sense of satisfaction and contentment.
Where Ironman left me with wonder and anticipation for what is yet to come, the Dark Knight is likely the pinnacle of the DC comic movies, and will remain that way for years to come.

The easiest way to sum up TDK is that it is as good as a movie can be without being great. The story is riveting, entertaining to the nines, and dark as the night itself. Little develops in the life of Bruce Wayne, and even less in the life of Batman. This is partly due to the superb work of Batman Begins, and the story has already been told. (Batman's voice? The Batcave? Hong Kong? ... but thats a topic for another time)

The real work of the film is done by Heath Ledger as the joker. I went into this film ready to mock him and his character, but it's an entirely convincing performance and nails the inane anarchy of the Joker like a 40 year roofer.

Even when other parts of the movie fail, ie Rachel Daws, Batman's characterizations, and stupid tech, the Joker is always there to pull it out. The climax of the third act is particularly potent because of the way the movie has played to this point. But I'll let you see that for yourself.

I say see this while its in theaters, and I'm getting the DVD when it's released to watch again. and again.

Back in Black

Seeing as my last post was exactly 3 weeks ago, 21 days.
Since that time, a lot has happened, so I'll hit the highlights.

Student Life Camp:
My youth group went to Durango Colorado, and more specifically Fort Lewis College, for a 'camp' of sorts. In the mornings and evenings, worship with more the 1500 Christians and some preaching. In the middle, serving in the community at Senior's homes, which was already set up for us. At night, our group would get together, have a bible study and prayer time.
I love this camp, and it'll be my last year. If you're a youth, I would recommend this, at least just once during your youth. It's pretty impressive seeing how many other worship the name of Jesus.
Back Home
So after 2 more days on the road, we arrived back at home. An old friend who moved away was in town, work had hours for me, and the Dark Knight arrived, as well as a 'Institute for Basic Life Principles' conference every evening.
Before I realized what was happening, it was time to pack for the trip to Reynosa Mexico.

Mexico/San Antonio
This was my 5th trip to Reynosa on a missions expedition, and by this point I always bring my towel. (Head nod to Douglas Adams)
Our location was a little different. Previously, we stayed in a house and cooked our own food for the team. For the past 9 years, this was effective, but the house was finally sold. We discovered a Methodist Missions camp that is closer to our op site, and they cook for us.
That's an improvement, and there was more room. So good change.
The work team I was apart of was hanging ceilings in a side building, and that would last until 4ish in the afternoon.
In the evenings, our whole group would return and have a service with the 'Prince of Peace' Igelsia (church) we serve, and the guys would go play soccer and then have a testimony at night. I played soccer. :D

Unfortunately, we fled across the border on tuesday night due to Hurricane Dolly. Rather then become stuck in the mud, we stayed in Pharr, Tx until about 11am on Wednesday, and then returned home. To a couple of other people and myself, who wanted to stay and help, this was not our preferred action. But God works things out, and we were let off the caravan in San Antonio, where we joined up with the Salvation Army and helped them service the first responders as tornadoes touched down across the city. The next day, they headed south for the hurricane relief, but paying for our transportation was outside the budget, so we went back north for home on a bus.

Sadly, my camera is busted. I had the brilliant idea of having a 6 year old Mexican child run with it and take pictures, he was pushed by an older kid, and it broke. Eh.

And the past 5 days, my Internet has been extremely cantankerous, and would not load .blogspot or .blogger domains. But we're back, and if you're reading this, thanks for sticking around!
(Dark Knight review will be forthcoming)

Lo Siento!

Hey, I was pretty much entirely distracted the entire time I was home from Student Life Camp till I left for a missions trip to Mexico, so I didn't ever post.

Student Life Camp was fantastic.
Batman: Dark Night was about as good as a movie gets without actually being great. Better then the Incredible Hulk, not as good as Ironman.
Mexico: I'll be back later. :D

999 post!

Thanks for sticking around, we'll be back to push back during this election open season.

A splendid absense

Quick note, so ya'll don't assume I was mobbed by irate mutant elephants and turned into potato salad over the next week.

I'm leaving today for Student Life Mission Camp with my youth group, in Durango, Colorado. I'll be back on the 14th, but it may be a few more days before I actually post.
In the meantime, I'd like to recommend the blogs I reguarly visit, check'em out if you're bored.

• This is a Cult. Want to Join?
• The Far Wright
• The Seventh Sola
• Such is Life

And last but not least, check out the podcast I co-host, Canned Energy. It's about 20 minutes of fun, so give it a try.

Basic Economics and Gordon Brown

Independent: "The Government is to launch a campaign to stamp out Britain's waste food mountains as part of a global effort to curb spiraling food prices.

Supermarkets will be urged to drop "three for two" deals on food that encourage shoppers into bulk-buying more than they need, often leading to the surpluses being thrown away. The scandal of the vast mountains of food that are thrown away in Britain while other parts of the world starve is revealed in a Cabinet Office report today. It calls for a reduction in food waste: up to 40 per cent of groceries can be lost before they are consumed due to poor processing, storage and transport."

I think this is really simple, and this whole issue will do nothing but damage the slightly more expensive situation we find our world in.

A retailer puts food on sale to hasten it's sale. The lower cost for an item is a powerful incentive for every customer passing through the doors, often times weather they need it at the time or not. So that item gets moved off the shelf quicker.

Retailers, especially food stores, put stuff on sale to compensate for a lack of demand, excess supply, or to hit a narrow window of sales in time.
Fruits and veggies? If they're not going fast enough, they get put on sale.


So discouraging retailers from putting items on sale? Ridiculous, and only results in less food put into the hands of consumers. Thus, it rots at the store where it has zero chance of being put to use.
The next logical step is for retailers to lessen the supply due to decreased demand. So fewer bulk purchases from the farmers. Now the food can sit on pallets and rot at the speculators warehouse.
Next logical step is for the speculators to realize decreased demand. So fewer speculative purchases the next season.
Then the farmers are stuck with the burden of excess food, and can leave the food to rot in the field as fertilizer for the next season, where due to decreased demand, they grow less.

The end result? Less food grown, less to go around.

Brilliant government policy.

Independence Day

Review: Hancock

The foundation for this midsummer yarn is simple. Hancock is a man with super powers, including flight, strength, invulnerability, and speed. He's also a bum who drinks often, and though he saves people, he his hated by the general public for being reckless and destructive in the process. In return, he's a bitter man who continues to escalate this collateral damage he creates.
A PR rep whose life he saves takes him on as a challenge, to make a real hero out of Hancock. So Hancock goes to prison and is taken back out, as the LAPD needs his help.

Up to this point in the film, I was with it and loving it. Past this, there are quite a few twists in a rapidly accelerating plot, that for spoiler purposes I will avoid discussing.

From a film creation point of view, it's remarkable they were able to take such an invulnerable character and credibly make him both human and vulnerable. That they were even able to add in a threat to his life that didn't involve Kryptonite is even better.

For what this is, a popcorn movie that's going to kill the box office, it excels. Witty, sharp, action packed and with a plot from the pages of the comic books, Hancock is a good movie.
Good for 12 year old? No, and it's not oriented that way. Simply put, this is chock full of language, but not much else is objectionable. So 15+ crowd is the target.

I liked it, I was entertained and I feel like i got my monies worth.
Will I buy the DVD? Not likely.

quicky link

Don't have time for a full post, but there's a fascinating gun control battle going down in atlanta today.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/business/stories/2008/06/30/airport_gun_showdown.html

Con. Poe of Texas lays down reality on Energy Bill

"Gasoline nears $4 a gallon, and congress doesn't have an energy plan except 'turn on these light bulbs'. I yearn for the day when Americans took care of Americans by developing our natural resources...but those days have gone the way of Edison's incandescent light bulbs. We might as well turn out the lights, the parties over."

In case this has slipped under your radar, the new energy bill requires the use of Florescent light bulbs rather then incandescent bulbs by 2010, for enviromental reasons. The tyranny and hypocrisy of such measures is astounding.

Review: Get Smart

I went into this movie with fear and trepidation. Fear, because I was forking over 36 minutes of my time to pay for this film, plus popcorn money. Trepidation, because this movie had all the signs of having all the funny parts in the trailer.

My concerns were unwarranted.

Get Smart is a funny, adventurous, well scripted, scored and acted affair, and it carries itself well despite a shaky plot. Having never seen the TV show, I can't compare the two. It's a series of jokes strung together well enough that you forget it's a series of jokes, and thats all we can ask from an action comedy.

It's clean as a skinned potato on the language front, and with very little objectionable content anywhere else. It's consistently humorous in an intelligent fashion, and enjoyable despite some pretty snarky political shots, although those went both ways.
I probably won't pay to see this again in theaters, but I wouldn't be surprised if my family wound up with it on DVD.



Not that this is become a movie review site, I just haven't found a lot of news that interests me at this time, and subsequently no posts on news I don't care about. Thanks for sticking around folks.

Review: Wall-E

I journeyed to a midnight showing last night for Wall-E with a group of fellow youth, and after some film mishaps with melting celuloid, we watched the movie.

It starts slow and never picks up. While Pixar has done a marvelous job creating a sense of wonder and fallen majesty with the earth, it is seldom engaging.
Essentially, a large corporation has over run earth and made dump of it, and sent humanity away while they clean it up. What isn't clear is the incentive for the earth to be a dump, nor for the company to clean up.
So after 700 years, one lone robot remains, and cheerfully cleans earth. His name is Wall-E, and his friend is a cockroach. Only Pixar could manage to make us sympathize with a cockroach, but they do.
After a while, a different robot, Eve, is dropped on earth and scans for life. Wall-E and eve fall in love. After various exciting times, they deliver a plant to the mother ship, and the computer fights returning to earth.

As a kids movie, I imagine it will succede. It's clever, well animated, and cleaner then a bottle of bleach. I somewhat enjoyed it, but I'm not paying to watch it again.
Nemo, Incredibles, Monster's Inc and Toy Story are far better products.

Exciting times at Martin Memorial Medical Center

This is a listing of the effect of illegal immigration on the healthcare services. You don't have to watch the video, but just leave it playing while you go do something else on line.

One Guatemalean has cost almost $250,000, One mexican citizen has cost $1,500,000, and their largest problem is ongoing treatment, such as dialysis.

Feds plan market earthquake

...and government intervention in the market will once again rear its ugly head.

AP: "The mortgage aid plan would let the Federal Housing Administration back $300 billion in new, cheaper home loans for an estimated 400,000 distressed borrowers who otherwise would be considered too financially risky to qualify for government-insured, fixed-rate loans.

In 83-9 vote puts the plan on track for Senate passage as early as Wednesday, but President Bush is threatening a veto, and Democrats are fighting each other over key details. Those challenges will probably delay any final deal until mid-July."



Democrats, you procede down the path of Marxism.
Republicans, I will not forget this. I can't work up my ire today, the world is to great a place for that. But this will come back to haunt us.

And with exciting stuff like this happening around us in america, who really has cause to complain about the economy? Heck, we have cheap food, low cost energy, the internet, we're surrounded by items that would astound even those of a hundred years ago, freedom to speak and worship as we please, and right to a trial by our peers.

New York, New York & Blithering Idiocy

I was going to take this post and tell ya'll how wonderful the city of New York is, and that the statue of liberty is pretty big, and that the Incredible Hulk is actually an incredible movie.
But circumstances dictate that I post differently.

The fuel crisis in our country, and really the world is one caused by rapidly rising demand, lack of refining capacity, and only limited growth in oil production.
I don't think it matters a dime where we buy our oil from. It's a global commodity that will be bought, so it doesn't matter where it comes from. So 'buying from Iran' doesn't concern me, nor should it. In reality, we get the majority of our petroleum from North America, be it the US, Canada or Mexico.

But, the solution to this problem is not restricting growth, but rather opening new refineries and expanding drilling to the greatest extent possible. ANWR is there, but it's impact would be minimized by the sheer volume of oil consumed in the US each day, and the limited capacity that can be kicked out of the frozen north.
The real oil is in the Outer Continental Shelf, which is past the 5 mile state water control and up to 200 miles from the coast. Over 75bbl of economically recoverable oil, compared to the 12bbl in ANWR.
So we drill. McCain's nuclear power plant idea is wonderful, but will have limited impact on fuel prices in the next 5 years.

What really has me steamed is the House Democrats response, which is so blatantly in line with Carl Marx, it's astonishing that they sally forth from their leftist lairs and herald it as a solution.
"We (the government) should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market." - Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), member of the House Appropriations Committee

Because the government runs things far more efficiently then the market.
Because those refineries don't belong to the people, they belong to the government.
Because monolithic mercantile monopolies benefit everyone.
Because building new ones is just not an option.
Because this is 'in the interest of the American people, not major corporations.'

Sorry, but as Calvin Coolidge said, 'The Business of America is Business.' When the government starts taking shots at companies, private enterprises fulfilling a valuable role in the market and peoples lives, we need to be worried. Very worried.
Despite the powerful and lingering reminder of the Soviet Union and the Bolshevik revolution, and the millions of dead Russians lying without gravestones, the communist ideals still march on. I don't think this will actually happen this year, or even this decade, but the idea that an elected official would voice opinions such as these is truly disturbing.

(Reposted to mainatin top spot over The Incredible Hulk review

Review: The Incredible Hulk

I went into this movie with trepidation, because the first Hulk movie directed by Ang Lee in 2003 was atrocious. After being blown away with the marvelous Ironman, I was expecting mediocrity or even worse, boredom from The Incredible Hulk.

What we have is something entirely different, a blazing locomotive of comic book dialog, plot, and most importantly fierce action.
Where Spiderman was a mostly introspective look at a young man growing up, Incredible Hulk is a man dealing with the beast within, and the world having to deal with him as well.

If you're not familiar with the basic story, here it is:
Dr. Bruce Banner is transformed into a raging monster, aka The Incredible Hulk, by a bad science experiment. When he's angry or his heart rate goes up, he transforms into this monster, who is somewhat animistic in thought processes. One of the few people who can calm him is Dr. Betty, a fellow researcher whom he loves. The world fears him, and generally tries to capture or destroy him. As a man, Dr. Banner is a brilliant scientist, respected by those who don't know his inside. As a beast, the Hulk is a force of nature, well nigh invincible.

The Hulk character has always walked a fine line, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on a gargantuan scale. From a development standpoint, making Bruce Banner a likable hero is difficult, as his Hulk form is quite destructive.
In this movie, they struck the right balance. The Hulk scenes were brutal and intense, and the rest of the movie was peppered with the necessary introspection that was hit and miss.
Will I see it again? Definetly.
Buy the DVD? I think I will.

Houston and a bit'o live blogging

Thoughts from the convention:

This is big. About 5500 delegates and more miscellaneous people scattered about the seemingly endless teeming mass of humanity gathered together to celebrate the uniquely American past time of politics and peaceful conventions.

So after some heavy handed tactics by the chairman of the convention, whom a colleague of mine has likened to a ‘Castro style handling of the issues’, and more caucuses to decide upon who can actually vote tomorrow, the day is finished. My friends and I are now heading out for dinner, and we’re coming back for a Ron Paul ice cream function.

Ice Cream Social:

Big, it seems as if a third of the convention is present. Terrible music is emanating from the back wall of the Great Ballroom of the Houston Hilton. It seems remarkably similar to what we mock on early episodes of American idol, yet continues to bore into my auditory systems with reckless abandon. The ice cream itself is spectacular, with Blue Bell as the base and a bazillion toppings to adorn it.

As of now, Ron Paul himself is strangely absent, but my sources indicate it’s possible he will suspend his presidential campaign tonight. Maybe that is why heavy servings of alcohol are present, to drown the potential sorrows of the moribund Paulites.

Ah-ha! The music has changed to somewhat good guitar country, and there was much rejoicing.

Being a page at these conventions has pros and cons. Being involved with such a process is a blessing, and seeing the machine of politics painfully turn its cogs is in fact inspiring. But long periods of boredom, filled with an abject sense of powerlessness to alter the situation do begin to wear on the mind. That’s where card games with fellow pages come in handy, which we spent a good 3 hours all told today playing.

Oh, music changed. It’s an old folksy singer wailing about voting Ron Paul. Not inspiration, but it’s got a nice tune. A bell just rang through the air, presumably the liberty bell, announcing the presence of another Ron Paul promoter. And again.

Judging from the response in this room, the majority of these supporters are on a more radical anti-war crusade then a domestic crusade.

Here stands the man himself, and the crowd is deafening. Ron Paul chants are taken up across the room; this man is literally a hero and living legend to many. Incredible. Now he mentions Texas, and the room explodes with sonic shockwaves quite literally shaking trays nearby.

Apparently, there are 22,000 new precinct chairs in the country, and Ron Paul is glad. He’s also emphasizing the movement factor of this campaign, and its grass roots strength, rather then as a presidential campaign. Crowd likes it.

So apparently there’s another candidate who talks about change. But Ron Paul talks about real change. I agree.

Paraphrase of statement: ‘I am absolutely convinced that we do not have to give up personal liberties to establish our security.’ Eh? What have I given up?

Bridges are falling down? What the heck? Are we still railing about nutzy bridge collapses in Minnesota? *grumble about red herrings*

Strange announcement from Ron, he’s apparently hosing a parallel event in Minneapolis, and all the delegates are coming. Is this the formation of a new party?? The platform shall be the constitution, as he just stated. The Campaign for Liberty shall be its name.

He does bring up a good point. Movements start small and hungry, as this one is. In the words of Orson Scott Card, ‘Most people want to be left alone, that is why history can be affected by astonishingly small numbers of people.’

Ahhh… I will swear upon a bible that he’s been babbling for the past 12 minutes.

He’s done now… this is the strangest thing. He essentially just left his constituents without guidance, which I guess is how this entire campaign has been run. I don’t know what lasting developments will come from this, but it was an interesting experience.

Did I mention I love this stuff?

Houston or Bust!

I'm heading out this morning for Houston, the steamy, smoking, starbucks infused city located in the center of the blazing texas sun, which is incidentally hosting the 2008 Texas Republican Convention.

I'm working as a page on the floor, and back in '04 officials told us texas' convention is larger then the national one.

So ha. Texas is big. :D


I may or may not post while I'm there, it is likely that I will do at least one post however. But if it comes down to a post or an Astros game, I'm taking the greatest game ever played without hesitation.

500 page Global Warming Bill Tanks in Face of Expensive Fuel...err, reality.

The Crypt: "With little chance of winning passage of a sweeping 500-page global warming bill, the Senate Democratic leadership is planning to yank the legislation after failing to achieve the 60 vote threshold needed to move the bill to the next stage.

After a 48-36 vote on the climate change bill, the Senate is likely to move on to a separate energy debate next week. The legislation collapsed for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the poor timing of debating a bill predicted to increase energy costs while much of the country is focused on $4 a gallon gas.

On top of that, a number of industrial state Democrats like Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio were uncomfortable with the strong emissions caps that would have created a new regime of regulations for coal, auto and other manufacturing industries. Republicans, for the most part, held firm against a bill they said would cost billions in regulations while pushing the cost of gas higher.
...
"The message is clear: the majority can’t abandon this bill fast enough," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). "On the one hand, the majority says climate change is the most important issue facing the planet. Yet they’ve rushed the debate on that topic and brought the bill to a premature end. They brought it down before we could vote on gas prices, on clean energy technology, or on protecting American jobs."

Sanity yet remains in the halls and chambers of our elected government, and it has been some time since I was reminded of that fact.
This screwball envirofascist legislation was denied, and I applaud Bush for stating well in advance that he would veto this if it passed. Good to see some real spine in the republican party, and a heart yet beats in the House of Representatives.
It's also nice to see the far left go nuts as their side backs away from 'the most important issue facing the planet' EDIT: I can't find a peep on the Huffington Post or the Daily kos on this...

Myanamar jacks up aid

BBC: "US Navy ships are due to leave Burma's coastline because of the continued refusal of the government to allow them to help victims of Cyclone Nargis.

The navy said it would withdraw the four ships, carrying helicopters and landing craft, after 15 failed attempts to convince the regime to let them in.

French and British navy ships have also been withdrawn after being refused permission to operate.

Cyclone Nargis left more than 133,000 people dead or missing."


Such undeniable evil, and such a love for humanity.
This is why America is important to the world, we are willing to fight and bleed and die for nations and then when nations can't take care of themselves, we're ready to help them recover. Yet the arrogance and hubris of a junta has denied this.

Not much to be done, but keep the people in prayer.

Obama's got nothing

AP:"This is not a decision I come to lightly ... and it is one I make with some sadness," Obama said at a news conference after campaign officials released a letter of resignation he sent to the church on Friday.

"I'm not denouncing the church and I'm not interested in people who want me to denounce the church," he said, adding that the new pastor at Trinity and "the church have been suffering from the attention my campaign has focused on them."

The one redeeming quality Obama still commanded, at least in my mind, was his steadfast loyalty in the face of withering political pressure. He stuck to his guns and defended his friends, even if they were radical nuts.
Now? Barak quits and leaves his friends behind, and goes one giant step farther into the political morass of presidential politics he claims to want to change.
What a wiener.

Various Christians

The Cult of Christ, run by Matthew the Dyspraxic Fundamentalist has done a pretty sweet run down of different christians.
Yes, it's stereotypes. But I think they're pretty sharp and an accurate portrayl of how the grace of God runs through all people.

The Gospel Incarnated in Subcultural Form
Christian Hippie
Christian Skinhead
Christian Punk
Christian Biker
Christian Republican Voter

Obama's military plan

Scary stuff.
Cut missle research?
Take millions from combat systems?
Negotiate with Russia on nukes?

On America, the Future, and the Rest of the Nations on this Rock

"Look around. The world's tallest building is in Taipei, and will soon be in Dubai. Its largest publicly traded company is in Beijing. Its biggest refinery is being constructed in India. Its largest passenger airplane is built in Europe. The largest investment fund on the planet is in Abu Dhabi; the biggest movie industry is Bollywood, not Hollywood. Once quintessentially American icons have been usurped by the natives. The largest Ferris wheel is in Singapore. The largest casino is in Macao, which overtook Las Vegas in gambling revenues last year. America no longer dominates even its favorite sport, shopping. The Mall of America in Minnesota once boasted that it was the largest shopping mall in the world. Today it wouldn't make the top ten. In the most recent rankings, only two of the world's ten richest people are American. These lists are arbitrary and a bit silly, but consider that only ten years ago, the United States would have serenely topped almost every one of these categories.
...
We are living through the third great power shift in modern history. The first was the rise of the Western world, around the 15th century. It produced the world as we know it now—science and technology, commerce and capitalism, the industrial and agricultural revolutions. It also led to the prolonged political dominance of the nations of the Western world. The second shift, which took place in the closing years of the 19th century, was the rise of the United States. Once it industrialized, it soon became the most powerful nation in the world, stronger than any likely combination of other nations. For the last 20 years, America's superpower status in every realm has been largely unchallenged—something that's never happened before in history, at least since the Roman Empire dominated the known world 2,000 years ago. During this Pax Americana, the global economy has accelerated dramatically. And that expansion is the driver behind the third great power shift of the modern age—the rise of the rest.
...

Americans—particularly the American government—have not really understood the rise of the rest. This is one of the most thrilling stories in history. Billions of people are escaping from abject poverty. The world will be enriched and ennobled as they become consumers, producers, inventors, thinkers, dreamers, and doers. This is all happening because of American ideas and actions. For 60 years, the United States has pushed countries to open their markets, free up their politics, and embrace trade and technology. American diplomats, businessmen, and intellectuals have urged people in distant lands to be unafraid of change, to join the advanced world, to learn the secrets of our success. Yet just as they are beginning to do so, we are losing faith in such ideas. We have become suspicious of trade, openness, immigration, and investment because now it's not Americans going abroad but foreigners coming to America. Just as the world is opening up, we are closing down.

Generations from now, when historians write about these times, they might note that by the turn of the 21st century, the United States had succeeded in its great, historical mission—globalizing the world. We don't want them to write that along the way, we forgot to globalize ourselves."

-Fareed Zakira, Newsweek

One of the most intelligent reads in a long long time. I'm picking up the book later this year, it's just something you hardly ever read: An objective look at how well off the world is, and how bright the prospects for growth are world wide.

Much ado about nothing

It appears the world diplomatic corps are hard at work, slaving away diligently to assuage the pained and appease the villainous of the world.

AP: "Chief negotiators of a landmark treaty banning cluster bombs predicted Friday that the United States will never again use the weapons, a critical component of American air and artillery power.

The treaty formally adopted Friday by 111 nations, including many of America's major NATO partners, would outlaw all current designs of cluster munitions and require destruction of stockpiles within eight years. It also opens the possibility that European allies could order U.S. bases located in their countries to remove cluster bombs from their stocks.
...

The treaty specifies — in what backers immediately dubbed "the American clause" — that members "may engage in military cooperation and operations" with a nation that rejects the treaty and "engages in activities prohibited" by the treaty.

It suggests that a treaty member could call in support from U.S. air power or artillery using cluster munitions, so long as the caller does not "expressly request the use of cluster munitions."

Toothless global initiatives worth nothing. Wonderful stuff.

So whats the reaction of the US & Russia, and likely China, India, Israel, Pakistan and others who abstained from these talks?

"Ivan Oelrich, vice president for strategic security programs at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, said he expected U.S. forces to keep using shells, rockets and bombs that break apart into smaller explosive objects because they have 10 times or more killing power than traditional munitions, particularly against troops in exposed terrain or in foxholes.

Government and military spokesmen in other cluster bomb-defending nations were similarly dismissive of the treaty.

"Russia will not ban cluster bombs and land mines," Lt. Gen. Yevgeny Buzhinsky said earlier this week in Moscow. "We stand for evolutionary development of these weapons. Russia's Defense Ministry objects to radical and prohibitive measures of this kind.""

Just keep on truckin.
What, would they rather we used tactical nukes?

Or perhaps go the old days, when men fought like men and shot each other 20 feet away in a line with their neighbors? The days where wars took years, and there was no real decisive application of force?
No. The world is a far better place when nations such as the US, or even sinister empires such as China or Russia have decidedly potent weapons to swiftly eradicate an enemy from the floor of battle. The US fights for good, and things are much more stable when the powers that be have the ability to stay the powers that be.

Quick Update, Indy Review

So I keep having to do these more and more often... I really need to keep up with this better.

So, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came out midnight wednesday, and I was there with a bunch of friends. Pretty good sized crowd too, as evidencd by the colossal box office over the weekend.

From the opening second, I was in love with this film. Wonderful, beautifully crafted camera work pervaded the film with a few glaring exceptions, and this only because the rest was so good.
The sound track was dencent, but no where the class of John Williams prior efforts.
Harrison Ford made Indy work again, and Shia worked the lil' Jones knock off very well. Top this all off with a plot I loved and had some pretty good vilians, and it boils down to one thing: This feels like Indiana Jones, and while not the finest of the series, it can hold it's head high amongst the classics of the series, and stride as a god amongst mortals among most films. I loved this.

So what else besides early morning movie watching? Your humble blogger-man has graduated from High School, and tossed the tassels on saturday. Some other friends have graduated, so it's been busy with grad parties and ceremonies.

Unfortunately, the weekend was dampened by some pet issues. A dog staying at our house attacked my toy poddle, Sandy. The stitches and repairs were cost prohibitive, and Sandy was put down. I loved that dog, the perky lovable one-eyed rescue project from my 11th birthday...
Brother and Mom picked up a Cocker Spaniel at a rescue, so we'll see how this functions.


In the vast world around us, what on earth is going on in Boston and Chitown with the trains?

Review: Prince Caspian

Let me preface this review with a bit about my position on Narnia. I've been a raving fan of the books since I was 6 years old and mom read the first half of the Magician's Nephew, and I've since read the rest of the series at least 7 times. I capped Prince Caspian off again for the 9th time Wednesday night, and it is certainly my favorite book.

I realize The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe has some very strong allegorical elements to Christ, but I think the rest of the series steers pretty clear of that, so I'm not into using this as a witnessing tool or anything, it's just wonderful fantasy for children.

I went to a midnight showing for Prince Caspian last night, with a pretty large contingent of night owls.
First, after being scared out of my mind by a trailer for Chiauaua (how the west has fallen...), the movie began.

It begins well enough, but quickly diverts from the book for no real reason, in several key places that alters the story.
King Peter is an arrogant jerk obsessed with power. Caspian is a whiny kid at times, yet manages to hold his own on the screen. Trumpkin the Dwarf is spot on, and Reepicheep is just as annoying as he was in the books.
Aslan though... could they make the Lion of Narnia any more of a wimp???

I am bitter about this movie, and disappointed. In the LWW, the book was followed about 90% of the time. I'd say this was about 60%, and it was stuff that didn't need changing.
Especially the final 3 minutes...

Veeps?

Quick hit from a brilliant but tired mind:

It'll be a Obama/Edwards Ticket for the dems. (And how weaselly IS J. Edwards? He waits until the primary is decided to pick who to endorse? Cripes man, show at least a little respect for yourself!)

For the GOP, we've got a McCain/Giuliani Ticket.
Nobody hates Rudy, they are both equally solid on the war, similar on almost all other issues except abortion, which may not matter much at all.

So there's my predictions. If they're wrong, you get all your money back.
What'dya think?

Robert's Reads

Jeana: "By the way your "Robert's Reads" twirly, thing-a-ma-gigger (how is that spelled?) is really cool. Not just really cool, but REALLY cool, like fascinatingly cool. I've been playing with it like it would make me money or something."

I do like it myself. :D

So if you're a regular visitor, you probably noticed the new white box with the book covers over on the right side bar, twirly action and all.

There at 10 books in the carousel, 9 of which I have read and 1 I plan to read this summer. Here they are, and with a short summary/review of the book.

Godless by Ann Coulter

'The Church of Liberalism' is a fiery and brutal damnation of liberals and the democratic party and it's atheistic policies. Nearly 1/3 of the book is dedicated to dismantling Evolution, the rest is general ripping of US schools and restrictions on freedom of speech regarding religion, Christianity in particular. I enjoyed this book, and while I wouldn't give it as a present to a liberal aunt, it's a solid read for any moderate or conservative American with a respect for traditional faith.

Do as I Say, (Not as I Do) by Peter Schweizer

'Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy' takes a very broad swipe at high-profile left wingers, ranging from Barbara Streisand to Ted Kennedy to Michael Moore to Noam Chomsky to the Clintons, with 10 people in total. Well researched and a relatively easy read, it is not really ground breaking in it's conclusions. It's just more ammunition for what we already knew, many liberals are hypocrites.

Nothing Like it in the World by Stephen Ambrose

'The Men who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869' is a masterpiece of historical writing and storytelling. Ranging from the initial surveys through the Sierra Nevada Mts, to the questionable financing, through the founding of the two companies, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, through the incredible armies of men relentlessly driving a ribbon of iron across the plains, to the final closing weeks of the herculean effort, Ambrose crafts an enjoyable and informative book about an overlooked event that was so crucial in shaping the United States.

Iron Tears by Stanley Weintraub

'America's battle for Freedom, Britain's Quagmire 1775-1783' is a look at the American Revolution from the other side of the pond, from the seat of the globe-spanning empire of Britain. I picked this book up initially because I'd been reading Matt's blog pretty regularly, and I wanted to see what our revolution looked like from the other side. If you have an interest in our founding, it's fascinating to see the other side of our war, and how the hand of God moved so often to assist the rebelling colonists. Not that Stanley will say that, but there were entirely to many 'lucky breaks' for the American side to chalk up to chance.

How Capitalism Saved America by Thomas DiLorenzo

'The Untold story of our country, from the Pilgrims to the Present' is an absolutely fantastic piece of history & economics. Well written, researched, and a startling breath of libertarian fresh air in US history. The concept that the New Deal only worsened the depression, and a frank examination of how much better off we are today then even the early 1900's are both desperately needed, and I've loaned this book out to several people in the short time I've had it. If there is one book I cannot recommend highly enough, this is it.

I'll put the other 5 up later.