Damn I love a good debate...

Be sure to read the comments on the previous post.

This is absolutely infuriating!

The movie "Hounddog" premiered at the Sundance Movie Festival this week - a tale about a 12-year old girl (Dakota Fanning) who is neglected and abused. One of the scenes depicts the girl being raped – note there is no nudity, the scene is very darkly lit, and all you can see of the girl is her hand and face. Now, here's what pissed me off:

Even before the first screening of "Hounddog" at the Sundance Film Festival this week, a Christian film critic, citing Fanning's age, decried the movie as child abuse, and Roman Catholic activist Bill Donohue called for a boycott.

If that wasn't bad enough --

Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission and publisher of the Web site movieguide.org, claims "Hounddog" breaks federal child-pornography law. He said the law covers material that "appears" to show minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

"Even if they're not actually performing the explicit act, we are dealing with a legal issue here," he said.

Baehr said Fanning is being exploited in the film, and that it should be considered an outrage.

"Children at 12 do not have the ability to make the types of decisions that we're talking about here," he said. "If we're offended by some comedian's racial slur, why aren't we offended by somebody taking advantage of a 12-year-old child?"

It is very apparent Mr. Baehr knows absolutely nothing about Dakota Fanning, and shows a complete disregard for the competence of the movie's director, Deborah Kampmeier. Anyone who has ever seen an interview with Ms. Fanning knows she is a very intelligent girl. On this issue she said of the scene "It's not really happening. It's a movie, and it's called acting. I'm not going through anything. Cody and Isabelle (two other young actors in the film) aren't going through anything, their characters are. And for me, when it's done it's done. I don't even think about it anymore."

I applaud Ms. Kampmeier, who defends her position by stating she not only talked to Fanning about the story, but further states "This issue (child rape) is so silenced in our society. There are a lot of women who are alone with this story."

I also applaud Sundance Director Geoffrey Gilmore for standing behind the film and not bowing to the protests.

People like Mr. Baehr piss me off as they believe their moral compass is so absolutely correct that anyone who disagrees with them is 100% wrong. Their kneejerk reactions lead to censorship and other acts of ignorace such as book burnings and in our not-too-distant past, lynchings.

Anyone who knows me knows I am a "gamer" and have played role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons for a long while. I was raised in a Christian household, and when my extended family discovered what I was doing, I was berated for playing a "Satanic" game. Interestingly, when I asked them to simply watch one session, ask questions and make an INFORMED opinion, they almost ran in fear – as if being in the same room was going to instantly corrupt their eternal souls. They had never even seen the game played and couldn't tell me anything about it other than the name.

These people, those with the morality stick shoved firmly up their ass, would have gladly participated in the Salem witch trials. If you don't believe this, then consider the ever increasing number of fines and penalties levied against radio and television networks. This is the financial equivalent of lighting a torch.

It must be said yet again that if you do not like what you are looking at, look the hell away and leave everyone else alone!

Great tribute..

enjoy!

There aren't many better than this...

I am in complete lust with...

Kate Beckinsale

Not that this means anything...

Many will recall that on July 8, 1947, witnesses claimed that an
unidentified object with five aliens aboard crashed
onto a sheep and cattle ranch just outside Roswell, New Mexico.
This is a well-known incident that many say has long
been covered up by the U.S. Air Force and the federal government.

However, you may NOT know that in the month of March
1948, exactly nine months after that historic day, Albert Ar nold Gore,
Jr., Hillary Rodham, John F. Kerry, William Jefferson Clinton, Howard
Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Charles E. Schumer, and Barbara
Boxer were born.

No – seriously – read into that what you will...

Debate this!

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters Life!) - A court in East London is expected to decide this week whether poker is a game of skill, chance or a combination of both.

A jury has been asked to weigh up the role played by Lady Luck in the world's most popular card game, after police accused a club owner of illegally hosting a poker session and levying winnings and stakes without a license.

Britain's Gambling Act states that a license is needed for hosting a game of chance but not those of skill, like chess.

"Losers heard muttering about bad luck, winners declare superior skill..."

Quotable Quote...

"Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash."
-- Garland Green (Steve Buscemi), Con Air

Not that I ever complain about anything...

But this has been driving me crazy for a long time. I was on my way to watch my nephew wrestle in a tournament this morning when I hear a PSA (public service announcement) from the anti-smoking campaign The Truth. It was extremely thought provoking as they all are. HOWEVER – The Truth is primarily sponsored and funded by the tobacco industry. I am not saying the opinions expressed aren't valid because of this fact, as we all know what is said in their ads is (pardon the pun) the truth. My problem lies is the sheer hypocrisy of their position.

This year, the parent company for Phillip Morris, Altria Group Inc. will rake in about $97,854,000,000 in sales, two thirds of this being from tobacco sales. These are the people who want us to believe their message that smoking is bad. Simply put, if their convictions and moral compass were pointing in the right direction, the only logical recourse based on the given knowledge would be to stop making tobacco products. To advocate non-smoking then make a fortune on tobacco sales is as hypocritical as if Hitler had been a practicing Rabbi.

I am as big an anti-smoking person as anyone. I grew up with a smoker father and I couldn't even watch TV in the same room as him. Thankfully he quit many years ago. When discussing smoking, I am always reminded of the field trip I took to the local firehouse back when I was a kid. One of the big mantras that was touted was "if there is a fire, stay low to the floor, underneath the smoke, as the smoke can get into your lungs and kill you..." OK, point taken. So why breath the shit VOLUNTARILY?

I know things aren't going to change anytime soon. We have seen a decline in this country in cigarette sales, and we continue to apply heavy sales taxes. I just wish those who fund and support anti-smoking campaigns such as "The Truth" were entirely committed to the true demise of the product.

Another proud reason to be an American male...

Associated Press -
Updated: 7:37 a.m. PT Jan 12, 2007

BEIJING - China will have 30 million more men of marriageable age than women in less than 15 years as a gender imbalance resulting from the country’s tough one-child policy becomes more pronounced, state media reported Friday.

The tens of millions of men who will not be able to find a wife could also lead to social instability problems, the China Daily said in a front-page report.

China imposed strict population controls in the 1970s to limit growth of its huge population, but one side effect has been a jump in gender selection of babies. Traditional preferences for a son mean some women abort their baby if an early term sonogram shows it is a girl.

I bet Friday night at the local hot spot will be a joy! Consider the potential societal shift in that extremely patriarchal society. If women manage to get and maintain any control over their "treasure" we could see major changes.

Giving us a bad rap...

OK, by definition I fall into the category of a "geek". I am a computer lover who enjoys computer games; I enjoy playing role playing games a'la Dungeons & Dungeons; I have both used and laughed at the concept of TCP/IP as a punchline of a joke (Note: anyone who gets that qualifies as a geek as well); I enjoy sitting around with friends and playing board games for hours on end; and I can quote vast passages of Monty Python. All of these quirks or qualities paint the stereotypical picture of one who carries a pocket protector and memorizes 37 digits of Pi.

I won't go into the arguments which demonstrate (and most people who know me generally agree) I am not a "geek", at least in my personal and professional opinion. Yeah yeah yeah -- I know I just opened the barn door to receive 612 comments contradicting me for humorous purposes...

But all this is just the background for this post -- I have a friend who recently purchased both an XBox 360 and a Playstation 3. He was doing some online research about which console game is superior and came across this forum. This is where the true geeks live, and it guys like this which perpetuate the notion that these guys will never have a girlfriend or understand very few people get the TCP/IP reference. What really struck me as I read this post is how it generates into a full-blown argument. The vehemence and anger are almost laughable -- over the virtues of one game over another. Ridiculous.

Speaking of games, why do board (and card) gamers get such a bad rap? Playing board games such as Risk (or many of the newer great games such as Chrononauts) is generally considered "geekish", yet it's NOT geekish to spend $10,000 to play in a televised Poker tournament? Huh?

Keeping the segues alive, tonight is a Poker night for me... the first time in a while. "Almost" Clark is gonna take home the prize! OK, at least I am gonna' try. I will let you faithful readers know the outcome.

Another sentencing yesterday -- life imprisonment without the possiblity of parole for Mario Garcia for the conviction of the murder of Christie Wilson. Great, another person we just provided room and board for the next 59 years. But hey, we don't need that money for anything else...

I am the Sun!

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon's Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Couldn't help myself...

This was one of the first (and best) cartoons of my childhood - The Mighty Heroes. Few of my friends actually remember this short-lived series, but it was very memorable to me. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. -- I just learned (as an adult) that this was the start for Ralph Bakshi... cool.



Here's a 2nd one -- just for kicks!

OK... I promise this is a ONE-TIME deal.

I normally don't spend much (read -- ANY) time on these, but I was asked to do this, so --

Fill this out:

1. Who are you?

2. Are we friends?

3. When and how did we meet?

4. Do you have a crush on me?

5. Would you kiss me?

6. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.

7. Describe me in one word.

8. What was your first impression?

9. Do you still think that way about me now?

10. What reminds you of me?

11. If you could give me anything what would it be?

12. How well do you know me?

13. When's the last time you saw me?

14. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?

15. Are you going to put this on your blog and see what I say about you?

Does anyone have any Advil?

Now that I am sleeping at night, I actually have energy during the day so this morning was the first day back in the gym. My goal is to swim for 45 minutes to an hour each day...

Not that I lasted very long today, I have no wind. But I did swim laps in a start/stop fashion for 45 minutes, totaling about 15 laps. Oh well -- I am aiming for16 laps tomorrow. When I wasn't swimming, I was walking back and forth in the pool. Not quite as aerobic, but it's an effort to walk the length of the pool, especially in the deeper end.

Saturday evening I saw the Garbeau's production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". If you have never seen the show, it is definitely worth the effort. Please support theater like this or it will go away and that would be a crime.

2006 is in the books...

and it was year that brought the following changes to my life: I got a new job, moved to a new place, had a good romance (then lost it), was diagnosed with sleep apnea -- resulting in many, many sleepless nights -- then received a machine to counteract it, and I played Santa Claus for the first (and hopefully not the last) time. My exercise regime was non-existent due to the apnea, my car needs a pretty serious tune-up, my hairline laughs at the concept of a comb, and I still haven't won the lottery. But hey, at least I spent New Year's Eve alone watching National Lampoon's Vacation.

Saddam Hussein is dead. I applaud the swift turnaround of the execution, a mere four days after losing his appeal (also swiftly handled). Though I believe he is a "patsy" with regard to the current war on terror (face it, the Bush administration needed one to detract attention away from the fact the military wasn't able to capture Osama Bin Laden, a seven footer lugging around a dialysis machine, he fully deserved what he got.

Would that ALL capital punishment sentences be that fast! I continue to read articles and hear/see newsclips about person(s) getting either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This sucks (see my unabashed position on this)!

Casino Royale is one of the best James Bond films in years. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it.

Damn... I have writer's block. More to come later...
OH... wait a minute!
Out of respect for my (ex-)girlfriend, I refrained from posting babe pics on my blog (mostly). To start 2007, I present Hannah Hilton, a Penthouse Pet that is nothing short of breathtaking.

Attention readers...

Sorry for my absence. I have a lot to say in the coming days and will be updating real soon. I was "chastised" in a roundabout way about the lack of personal insight recently. Rest assured that will be corrected. I will be back with my opinions in the next several days.

To hold you over for a little while, reflect back on 2006 with Dave Barry.