All Quiet On The Western Front

The package from Netflix sat on the counter through the holiday. I knew that this was a movie from an historically famous book and won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1930. The book was written by Erich Maria Remarque, a pseudonym for Erich Maria Remarque, first released in German, sold over 2,000,000 copies in 1929.

Characters
Paul Bäumer is played by Lew Ayers, an actor who was at the start of a long career. With some parallel to this movie, Ayers became a pacifist and was a conscientious objector during WWII. The actor's career took a serious hit for taking a position that was considered anti-American. It was not widely reported that Ayers served in the Army as a medic, with distinction. As the main character and serving as the narrator, the author described his experiences WWI. A schoolboy of only 18, Paul is an writer of several poems and a play, he persuaded by his teacher, and in turn convinces his to enlist in the German Army for WWI. Paul is sent to the western front, where the intensity of dismembering, death and simply war changes his personality. After loosing all of his classmates and wartime protector, Paul undergoes a personality change, his mother does not even recognize him during leave. This transformation is is complete when Kat dies while Paul is carrying him to the dispensary. Soon afterward, while in the trenches a serene Paul reaches for a inexplicable butterfly and is killed by a sniper. This is the end of the movie.

Albert Kropp was played by William Bakewell, an actor who was in just about every television western from 1950 to 1975. This character is Paul's schoolboy best friend who joined the army at the same time. Albert looses both legs near the end of the movie and has to go home when Paul must return to the war.

Stanislaus Katczinsky, also known as Kat was played by Louis Wolheim. Besides the narrator, by far the most interesting character of the movie. Brought in the business Lionel Barrymore, Wolheim's first film was in 1914. This was not his last movie, but close to it, he passed in 1031 from stomach cancer. Before the war Kat was a cobbler; he is much older than than the schoolboy classmate troops, becoming the leadership figure for the company. Kat's experience and intuition set a good example for the green troops. They come to look upon him as teacher, father and protector. He survives all but Paul, the hero dying by inadvertent shrapnel on the way to the hospital.

Score 46 of 50. A very good movie, worth the price, would like the opportunity to see on the big screen.

• Character Development 10 out of 10. Adventurous schoolboys to wartime troops to disillusionment and death.
• Acting 9 out of 10. The main characters, Paul and Kat are unforgettable.
• Photography, cinematography 9 out of 10. Old school of course, surprising graphic, the hands remaining on the barbed wire sticks in my minds eye.
• Writing, script 9 out of 10. Excellent story, even if was written in a blue state of per-WWII Germany.
• Concept 9 out of 10. Following the character development, and evolution of the soul.

Mexican Border Established

On this day in 1853, 154 years ago, the U.S. minister to Mexico, and General Santa Anna, then president of Mexico, signed the Gadsden Purchase in Mexico City. This treaty settled a dispute on the location of the Mexican border west of El Paso, Texas, and fixed the boundaries of the southern United States. Emissary James Gadsden, a South Carolinian disciple of President Andrew Jackson negotiated a price of $15 million, later reduced to $10 million, for the United States to acquire 30,000 square miles of land. This land became what is now parts of southern New Mexico and Arizona.
Jefferson Davis, then U.S. secretary of war, an future president of the Confederacy, under President Franklin Pierce, had sent James Gadsden to negotiate with Santa Anna for the land. The land was considered to have importance for the construction of the southern transcontinental railroad.
Gadsden went on to become an advocate of southern industrialization. This was frustrated by the growing sentiment for states rights which led to the Civil War.

• So, there you have it, shorty after the Mexican American War, in which the US forces kicked Santa Anna's bottom right through Mexico City, the Mexican General/President turned around and sold additional lands to their northern conquerors.
• For those of our illegal visitors hoping for a Californian succession and claiming theft of their homeland, just shut up.

Playing for Pizza

Christmas was very good to me. Six new books to read including Clapton's autobiography and three by this Mississippian author, John Grisham.
"Playing for Pizza" is a short novel, 258 pages, published by Doubleday in 2007.
"Playing for Pizza" is a departure from my experience with Grisham, for all that I have read to date focused on the actions various southern lawyers. This book is about a journeyman quarterback who has run out of NFL opportunity. Rick Dockery's last big league stop was in Cleveland, where by a series of events, the third stringer was thrown into a playoff game in which he proceeded extract failure from the jaws of success. Irate Browns fans want to lynch the Iowa boy, and in his escape is invited to play quarterback for the Parma Panthers. Parma is a city in Italy. NFL Italia is a real football league that has 8 teams, each is allowed 3 American players. For 2000 euros a month (3000 US) Rick jumps at the opportunity to escape the US sports reporters.
Before he ever plays a game , the expatriate falls head over heels for the northern Italy cuisine. Once playing with the team, Reek, as he is called by the Italians, comes to feel like this the most comfortable he has been since playing at home in high school. The team has never won the Super Bowl but have high hopes to be carried there by their experienced, strong armed quarterback. During the season Rick is offered a $100,000 salary to come play in the CFL, he turns it down because he feels responsible to his teammates. Reek does deliver the trophy with a 76 yard, in the , throw that seals the game.
To summarize, this jaded NFL quarterback finds a home, he loves playing with men who play for free, he loves the food, he loves opera and he might stay for next season.
This was a fun book, I recommend it to Grisham fans who are looking for a change of pace. On a scale of 1-10, "Playing for Pizza" gets a 7. True to Grisham form, like Dan Brown and Clancy, he tells a good story from the first person position.

Apure Los Coches Vienen

It is going to be a bitch of a climb if they get to the center divide.

Maybe there is a tunnel.

Maybe we should raise the speed limit.

And a Car Too?

From: Andrew Payne
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Secret Pin No: PGA00111234
Date: Thursday, December 27, 2007 10:07:57 AM



PEUGEOT AUTOMOBILES LOTTERY
Essex , PE9 2YP , London
FROM: Mr.Andrew Payne
Lottery Manager.
This Email is to inform you that your email address just won you
£300,000.00GBP (THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND GBP)and new Peugeot 407car in the
ongoing peugeot end of year promotion draws held today.
Contact the fiduciary agent with contact information stated
below:...
Name in full
....Address
.....Occupation
....Present Country
....Tel/fax
...Age
Mr. David Correlas,
Contact email: pga_contactagent@yahoo.com.hk
+44-702-409-7574
Claims Agent
--
UTS CRICOS Provider Code: 00099F
DISCLAIMER: This email message and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender expressly, and with authority, states them to be the views the University of Technology Sydney. Before opening any attachments, please check them for viruses and defects.

You have to love how the car was thrown in the make the offer more appealing. If you want to give it a try, go ahead.

The Most Shocking Stories of the Year

People Magazine is in it's annual a list mode. These lists include a the 25 best celeb and the even more intriguing photo compilations of Gwen Stefani's baby boy Kingston and Victoria Beckham. The real meat of the program comes with People's "The Most Shocking Stories of the Year".
Here they are, in order:

• Britney Spears Shaves Her Head: While I don't really care about this future trailer park fatty, she looked pretty good with the new coif.
• Rosie Quits The View: How is this shocking, Rosie had expended the comic capital and had become a fat, mean spirited dyke.
• Chris Benoit's Murder-Suicide: Sadly shocking, an unfortunate reminder that the choices made for immediate gratification, in this case physique from steroid use, often lead to unexpected consequences.
• Isaiah Gets Fired From Grey's: Somebody at the magazine must be upset about the television show loosing their favorite, because all this is, is somebody loosing a job. Big freaking deal.
• Owen Wilson's Suicide Attempt: Always unfortunate, if I were part of this man's family, I would wish privacy out of the papers.
• Lindsay Lohan's Rehab to Arrest: Another future fatty, not news.
• Paris Hilton Ordered Back to Jail: Newsworthy for the entertainment value. This brat has ridden good looks and no talent past the point where being a spoiled little bitch is acceptable. David Letterman was right to treat her like crap on his show.
• Anna Nicole's Death & Custody Battle: Pathetically sad. It is amazing how far big tits go, without those Anna would weigh 300 pounds and be working at Waffle House.

Here are some that I would like to add, more for their contribution than the shock value:

• Benazir Bhutto's assassination
• Barbaro the racehorse, died in January by euthanization, a beautiful animal that died running hard.
• Art Buchwald died in January, a Pulitzer Prize-winning satirist
• Kurt Vonnegut Jr. died in April an absurdist author of great humor, science fiction, and anti establishment novels.
• Boris Yeltsin died in April, he presided over the dismantling of the Soviet Union and led Russia in its rebirth.
• David Halberstam died in April an authoritative writer and Pulitzer Prize winner.
• Lady Bird Johnson died in July, Lyndon's bride, devotion to beautifying the United States made her one of the nation's most beloved public figures.
• Norman Mailer died in November, one of America's most acclaimed, controversial, and outrageous authors, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes.

As you can see the authors draw my attention, they add to our lives with their insight, when the good ones leave us, its like we've lost a view of the world.

The Coldest Winter

Just finished "The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War". It is so nice to read something by a real writer, not some schlub like me. As his last and final offering David Halberstam has written a companion to his sparkling Vietnam book, "The Best and the Brightest".

This story describes a litany of missteps by North Korea, South Korea, China and the United States. The USSR, led by Joseph Stalin, was a major instigator by providing encouragement directly to Communist North Korea and as a patriarch to newly established Communist China.

The Koreans were separated by the actions of the United Nations and treaties following the close of World War 2. Korean had been, during WW2, under the thumb, if not colonized by the Japanese, Korea was anxious to be an autonomous singular nation. The leader of North Korea was Kim Il Sung, father of the current leader. This dictator was a product both Soviet and Sino communist training and since the cleaving of the Korean peninsula hungered for a communist unified state under hie control. At the start the Soviets gave the green light and hardware for the attack. The Chinese fresh from driving the Nationalists to the island of Formosa were busy consolidating their continental control and eager to establish themselves as a nation which European and US imperialists must respect. Initially the South Korean ROK was unprepared for the attack and nearly driven off the peninsula. Douglas MacArthur the US Far East commander headquartered in Japan rallied the troops and regained territory with his famous back end landing at Inchon. From there the general spread his forces overly thin chasing the North Koreans nearly to the Yalu River which serves as the border between North Korea and mainland China. As the UN forces came closer and closer to the Yalu the Chinese under the auspices of being threatened with invasion, entered North Korea and set a trap for the overly extended forces. The Chinese, in the dead of winter, using vastly superior numbers, drove the UN forces all the way back past the 38th parallel. MacArthur refused to accept responsibility for overextending his forces and sought to shift blame to subordinates and political policy makers, namely Truman and Acheson. Ultimately MacArthur was replaced by Mathew Ridgeway who learned to combat the Chinese numerical advantage with artillery and air support. Eventually both the Chinese and the UN forces reached a stalemate and the war was ended with a truce.
Results of the conflict:

• Truman as president and the Democrats took the blame. Republicans swept the office and both houses in the 1952 elections.
• Allied forces, in 5 years from winning WW2, allowed themselves to fall to a very low state of readiness both in terms of hardware and training.
• The Chinese established themselves as a global power willing to use vast numerical superiority to balance western technical advantages. These troops came to be highly respected for their soldier skills.
• US policy, fueled by anti-communist fervor, established a position of supporting Chang Kai Shek and Nationalist China at Formosa. Shortcomings in Korea became a black spot on the US psyche and to a degree led Kennedy to enter into the Vietnamese conflict.
• Following MacArthur's dismissal, the CIA was brought into military circle serving as a source of intelligence. This is a pattern that remains today with reliability that may be questionable.
• By the end of the war, the bond between the Soviets and the Chinese, forged by communism, was on the way to breakage. The Soviets encouraged the North Koreans and for that matter the Chinese into revolution and war, and expected each to serve as satellite nation states without making physical commitments in either theatre. Mao came to develop a deep mistrust of Stalin.
• Mao consolidated his power as the virtual dictator of the Chinese Politburo. The chairman came to equate his vision of Chinese communism as a form of governance, that being very close to the traditional Chinese feudal system, with Mao as the emperor.

This was an excellent book, I recommend it highly. On a scale of 1-10, "The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War" gets a 10, for while being a historically oriented, is a well paced story rich with information. Unfortunately, David Halberstam passed in a car accident before the release of this book, we will see no more of his great work.

Bullshit Gets a Bump

Found this announcement of a new presidential candidate. The most evil woman in Atlanta, perhaps the nation, Cynthia McKinney, is going to run for the Green Party.
When they told her that some of the perks included never having to wait in line, and getting to slap around capital guards without repercussions she got right in line. Like her daddy on a plate of ribs.
There is a wonderful sales pitch on the website linked above.

Georgia In-State Tuition

Sunday's Atlanta Journal Constitution had a story titled "I can't do what I really want to do". This article is about illegal immigrants being denied the a privilege granted to Georgia citizens, that being lower tuition at our state colleges. The article subtitle is "Denied in-state tuition rates, illegal immigrants are dropping out of college or scaling back".
Blanca has had to drop out from Dalton State College because of a new statute prohibits schools granting waivers to students that are in the country illegally. These waivers permitted illegal aliens to pay in-state fees. At least 19 students have had to drop out of Dalton State College.
Other students with similar circumstances expressed resentment at the preferential treatment.

• The first thought that comes to mind is why would the school accept a student without legal standing.
• Taken to an extreme, if these individuals are clearly identifiable and for that matter have openly public standing, doesn't the school, as a branch of Georgia state government, have an obligation to inform the proper authorities as a precursor to deportation?
• These institutions are supported by the public funds from the state's general fund and the Hope Scholarship. Tuition costs are spread over the in-state and out-of-state students in a proportional manner. So, my tax dollars are helping pay for all of these school's expenses. My son is a student at Georgia Tech, so my tuition dollars are helping to pay these school's expenses. If the number of in-state students is artificially increased by the actions of a school's admissions board, then the costs increase for all other contributors, whether they be tax payers or tuition paying parents. What on god's green earth gave these school officials the right to do that with my money? Rare as it may be from me, thank you to the politicians who created the statute.
• The value of the Georgia state schools is well known, even to out-of-state students, tuition rates are affordable. Georgia Tech and UGA are both considered a top educational values for the dollar. As a past out-of-state student, I witnessed the struggles of many students who as co-ops were tax paying state residents and completely denied to right to be accepted as an in-state student. Why should a student that does not enter the country legally or take to steps to become legal have more right to public funds than say, some kid whose father was transferred to Fort Benning during his senior year of high school?

Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly

This is a stand-up comedy DVD from the HBO special of 2000. Dave Chappelle is a comedian, songwriter and actor. He movie credits include Con Air and You've Got Mail.
Dave Chappelle has an easy going manner that is hilarious. He covers politics, racism and Sesame Street.
The DVD was alright, but to be honest, I fell asleep. It was too much like the Comedy Central series. This morning I have found the the HBO special came before the current show on television, much of the same material has been repeated in the later.

Score 18 of 50. If you seen the television series, don't bother.

• Character Development 2 out of 10. You learn something of the man and his range of topics.
• Acting 5 out of 10. It is a stand up comedy special so the range is limited, the delivery of the material is very good.
• Photography, cinematography 2 out of 10. Just different camera angles of Dave on stage.
• Writing, script 7 out of 10. Good jokes, well written.
• Concept 2 out of 10. Goal was met, many laughs.

Grady Going White?

Saturday's Atlanta Journal Constitution had a front page story about the potential leadership change at the major metropolitan public hospital.

Recently Grady Memorial Hospital has been threatened by insolvency. Cash flow solutions have been improved by state and private investment. Part of the reorganization plan includes a restructure of the board of trustees. A potential head of the board may be Pete Correll, former head of Georgia-Pacific, a successful manufacturing corporation based in Atlanta.

Pete Correll has been involved in civic issues. He was involved in getting the state flag changed. He is on the board of Central Atlanta Progress, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Keep America

During his time as senior vice-president at Georgia-Pacific, Pete Correll kept his company strong during a period of increasing foreign competition coupled with manufacturing base of out-moded equipment.

In short, this is capable man who wants to serve his community by offering his skills to a business full of financial landmines and governmental intrusion. So what is the problem?

Joseph Beasley, the Souhern regional head of the Rainbow Coalition said:

I think it would be a horrible choice, I think it vindicates what I've been saying, that there is an ulterior motive, that the business community is trying to grab Grady.

and

He comes from a business mindset, I don't think he'll have empathy for the people that Grady has historically served.

Reverend Tim McDonald said:

That ain't going to fly, they need a more respected, neutral an objective person who will listen to all sides and not just focus on the bottom line

Then the AJC added that numerous inquires were not responded to by current Chairwoman Paula Stephenson.

• The real unpsoken issue, to the community leaders is that Pete Correll is not black, not capable of empathy for those in need.
• This hospital is primarily funded by public money, it will always be that way, to suggest anything other is ludicrous. Do you think that Beasley really believes that Correll's objective to to run the hospital out of business, tear it down, and build condominiums for his white friends? That IS was he was implying.
• By its current mode Grady went bankrupt. This is mainly due to health care cost control issues. But it also because politcal patronage, the hopital is overstaffed with members of the local community, much the the same as Fulton and Dekalb county goverments and MARTA.
• How well would the hospital serve it's community if it were closed?
• Have the communty leaders considered that a well run hospital might provide better service?

Ottis Franklin Jones

• My bride is in North Carolina picking up Natalie's mother for a Christmas trip to Georgia. She sent me some pictures of this street in Fayetteville.
• The street is named for a former sheriff of Cumberland County, the link above is to a state proclamation.

The Yawn

After his lungs were suctioned, he would have this fantastically wide opened mouth yawn. I think that he was just stretching his throat and trying to overcome the pain of what he had just endured. Never a complaint.

This image, a still, has been in my dreams a lot lately.

Better Back Off

• The license plate looks like it is photo-shopped, but the truck looks real enough.

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut

This is an amusing movie extending from the Comedy Central weekly.
Released in 1999 by Trey Parker.
The plot is simple, kids learn to put cuss words together in amazing strings that would embarrass Don Rickles. They learn this in an R rated movie they sneak into. The parents are angry and blame Canada. A bloody war starts that finally ends when Satan brings everybody back to life.

Keywords: Uncle F#####, F###, S###, S###, A##, and A######

Score 12 of 50. If you like the show on television, you know what to expect and will love it. This is not worth an experiment.

• Character Development 7 out of 10. Cartman has a v-chip installed and cannot swear anymore. Kyle learns to stand up to his mother. Stan gets the girl. Kenny dies, "You Bastard", descends to hell, befriends Satan, ends the war and as a reward gets his angel wings.
• Acting 1 out of 10. They get a point for having voices you can recognize.
• Photography, cinematography 1 out of 10. Deliberately simple animation.
• Writing, script 1 out of 10. Squeeze in every curse you can think of.
• Concept 2 out of 10. Goal was met, many laughs.

Crotch Rocket

Are those leathers?

Can not see any buckles. I suspect that this lady is focused something other than her bottom getting cold in the wind.

IRS Rules

The best way to look at the U.S. tax code is like it's a three legged mule. It's ugly, deformed, and doesn't do much good for anybody.

Dick Armey

• Keep rooting for the Fair Tax. Its time to take away, or at least retard, the means for politicians to buy the votes of many with taxes collected from a minority.

Not Good for a Tech Fan

Sunday is my father's 69th birthday, so that got me to searching for some other events that happened on 9-December. Then I found it, like a scab picked to soon off of a skinned knee.
Twenty-five years ago Herschel Walker, a junior running back from the University of Georgia, won the Heisman Trophy. A trophy named for a man who coached and won a National Championship at Georgia Tech if you did not know.

The following play was a highlight of his freshman year, running over All-American and future Dallas teammate Bill Bates of the Tennessee Volunteers.



Herschel's best year was as a freshman for UGA, but the Downtown Athletic Club awarded the prize to Marcus Allen of USC. During that season Hershel set the NCAA freshman rushing record and led the Dawgs to the National Championship.

As a professional he played for New Jersey Generals of the USFL, the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants of the NFL. His NFL career stats 18,168 total combined net yards, and 82 touchdowns (61 rushing and 21 receiving).

• As a Georgia Tech fan I have to admit that Walker's college career was a pleasure to watch. Can not help imagining how things might have been different if the Jackets had not fired Pepper Rodgers during the recruiting wars for the young man from Wrightsville Georgia.

Here Comes the Insult

Bless her heart.

• This is a precondition statement, aimed at softening the following derogatory comment.
• Example for the ladies "Bless her heart. She doesn't have enough sense to get out of the rain".
• Or for the masculine, "Bless his heart. He's so ugly he'd run a dog off a meat wagon."
• This is one that my wife and I seem to be saying a lot lately.

A Gold Bar, For Me?

From: ###########
Subject: CALVARY GREETINGS
Date: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 7:55:01

Mrs Linda Williams (JP)
12 Alnwick Road
Nairobi
Republic of Kenya

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,I am Mrs Linda Williams (JP), A widow to the Late Sheik Mohammed Williams, I am 73 years old, I am now a new Christian convert, suffering from long time,cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is, really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't, live long according to my doctors.

This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband was killed during the U.S raid, against terrorism in Afghanistan when he traveled to Afghanistan to monitor an Hospital/a Humanitarian Foundation(HHF) he was setting up for the benefit of the Afghan masses as of then, whose, majority, and 99 percent of them are Muslims/ Islamic scholars and loyalists. During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death , I inherited all his businesses and wealth, and when i noticed that my condition is not improving rather it gets worsen by the day i decided to divide part of this wealth, to contribute to Charity and the development of the churches in Africa, America , Asia and Europe .

I selected you after visiting the Internet and I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the fund to you for charity, the less privileged, churches, orphanages and widows, Propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. I took this decision upon myself because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity upon vanity.

Please, I want you to note that, this fund is deposited with a Security Firm out side Kenya for security purpose. and upon my instruction, you will file in an application for the transfer of the fund in your name which i registered as a gold bar,with the security company the security company, the security company will be used for the said purpose. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family.
Await Your Urgent Reply via ######, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a church, another person or christian individual for this same purpose.
Yours in Christ.
Mrs Linda Williams (JP)
12 Alnwick Road
Nairobi
Republic of Kenya

• The first step of this con will be to collect all of my address, bank and social security information. This of course would be needed to make any such transaction "legal".
• The religious conversion story is interesting in itself, if hubby was killed in Afghanistan by US forces, the suggestion would be that he was a Muslim fighting in a jihad. I wonder how he would feel about the missus giving his money to the enemy.

The Last King of Scotland

This is a story that is based the beginning of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime, as seen by his personal .
The main actors are:

• Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, always good from Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Platoon and the The Crying Game.
• James McAvoy as the new Scotish doctor Nicolas Garrigan.
• Gillian Anderson as Sarah Merrit the wife of a missionary doctor, well known from The X Files.

A freshly minted doctor graduates from school, spurns joining his fathers practice for an adventure in medicine. The doctor ends up in Uganda qt the time of Idi Amin's rise to power. By a weird twist of fate becomes the General's private doctor and by association an ad hoc advisor. Amin has risen to power by the way of his military power and a charisma. The charima is what entices the doctor to join the inner circle. As Amin evolves he becomes more and more isolated, fearful of adversaries. To protect himself he begins a Machiavellian cleaning of all real and perceived enemies. He has become like a caged animal, cruel and fierce. The doctor in time comes to understand what Amin has become, and his own complicity in some of the atrocity. He decides to leave and is prevented from doing so. Then he finds out that he has impregnated one of the dictators wives. She is desperate to get an abortion and is discovered, tortured and dismembered by Amin's soldiers. The doctor is now mad enough attempt killing Amin by poisoning his medicine. His attempt is discovered and he is tortured horrifically. Before the soldiers can finish him off, another doctor helps him escape with the released captives from the Israeli airliner that was hijacked by Arabs and brought to Entebbe.

This was a movies that I was really looking forward to seeing. The topic was strong any Whitaker makes every scene interesting. I did warn the wife off of watching, having a suspicion that the violence was severe and at times that came true, worst so at the very end with the dismemberment of the wife and the hanging of the doctor by hooks through his pectoral skin. In the end the movie was a disappointment, the plot revolved around the two main characters to the extent nothing else mattered.

I do not recommend renting this movie, it was chaotic and lacked development beyond the personalities of the two main characters. The part played by Gillian Anderson showed potential at the start of the movie, immediately fizzled and ended with a phone call and a brief glimpse driving away in the back of a bus of refugees. Whitaker was very good and believable as the larger than life Amin. was good as the young doctor. There just was not enough script to work with.

My favorite exchange was early in the movie, Garrigan is talking to a native girl on the bus ride to Uganda.

Do you have monkeys in Scotland?

No, but if we did we'd probably deep fry them!

Score 28 of 50, a movie that could have been much more.

• Character Development 7 out of 10. Amin evolves from a gregarious leader to s schizophrenic murderer. Garrigan starts as an energetic graduate and ends as a fooled and beaten doctor. Merrit does not develop at all.
• Acting 8 out of 10. Whitaker is splendid as the shifting Amin.
• Photography, cinematography 5 out of 10. Scenery at start of the movie was promising, evolved into simple indoor shots of office meetings and Caligula like parties of women rolling their bottoms.
• Writing, script 4 out of 10. This movie treats Amin's development as a mental flaw which I am sure is partly true, but does not nuance with the tribal or political factors.
• Concept 4 out of 10. The premise of a young doctor reaching such influence in a foreign culture is difficult to accept, explanation should have been applied to this evolution.

Confirmable Bank Draft

From: "Dr. Stanley Chynoo."
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: CONTACT MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:17:05 +0000
Dear Friend,
Greetings to you & your Family.
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of ($1.2m) United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time ,Then I went and deposited the Draft with MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE , Cotonou , Benin Republic before I travelled out of the country for a short Course and i will not come back till end of next Month. What you have to do now is to contact the MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance fee and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money norto sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country,The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($95) only being their Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, Don't be deceive by anybody to pay any other money except $95, I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact the Max Delivery courier Service Company now for the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow. Director Max Delivery Courier Company Benin Republic.
Atten: General. Lanna Williams
E-mail: max.deliveryservice@netcourrier.com
Registration No; Eg2272
CodeNumber: 01721457
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and Let me repeat again,try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $95 for their immediate action. You should also Let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft. Note. The MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents money.this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let them know what is contains. I am waiting for your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Stanley Chynoo.

• I enjoy that way that the author suggests that the money will be sent in a box labelled "African Cloths". How precious, short of like our little secret.

What's An Ark

• Whenever I hear the name Noah, I think of the Bill Cosby comedy bit. God: "Noah, I want you to build an arc, 40 cubits by 60 cubits", Noah: "Yeah, right!", pause, "What's an ark?"
• Noah is Carson's older brother, a great little boy.
• This is one of the first puzzles I ever made, picture is scanned from a photo.

My Ship Has Come In

From: ***********************
To: *************************
Subject: FROM WILLIAMS AND SUSAN
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 7:30:24 AM
Good day,
We are WILLIAMS and SUSAN NELSON from SIERRA LEONE. We are writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire to make a deposit of one of the Bank here which is sum of US $ 10,300 million in Abidjan the capital city of Cote d'Ivoire. Due to the current political situation in Cote d'Ivoire we are seeking for your assistance to transfer this Money and also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for your help.
Please, Kindly call us on this Number +22508423410 for more discussion or contact for more details.
Regards
WILLIAMS AND SUSAN

• Going to quit the day job, 15% of $10,300,000.00 is $1,545,000.00, that kind of money goes a long way.
• I presume this infortunate refugee will need all of my bank account information before he can accept my help. The poor bastard, having to live in Cote d'Ivoire and all.
• My email address must have been placed on a list because two or three of these are coming in every day.
• This must work on some people because the offers are plentiful.

Councilwoman?

Michelle Bruce is a city councilwoman for the town of Riverdale Georgia, a town on the southern perimeter of Atlanta. First elected to the post for Riverdale's Ward 2, in 2003. She has been asset for the community by installing changes which have saved over a million dollars during her 4 year tenure. These changes placing limits on unused benefits for city workers and setting limits on the use of city vehicles.

One failed proposal was to add sexual identity to the town's non-discrimination policies. Within that failure is the second hint, the first was the picture, Michelle Bruce used to be Michael Bruce. Michelle is Georgia’s first openly transgender elected.

Some of Bruce's political opponents have taken exception to the councilwoman running as a female. Two losing candidates, George Fuller and Stanley Harris filed a lawsuit last week in Clayton County Superior Court against the incumbent City, accusing her of fraud for identifying as female.

Bruce doesn't like it one bit....

They’re trying to make my gender an issue, saying stuff about me being a guy. That’s the only thing they can make an issue of, gender and race because they can’t make an issue of my work for the past four years for my constituents.

• There is little doubt that Michelle Bruce's orientation was not common knowledge to the voters. Just look, she could kick my ass. If the voters picked her and they were unaware of who they were voting for then they were not responsible voter citizens. The complainants should be ashamed for attacking this person, wasting law enforcement and court resources. She was voted in, let her be.
• The thought of a man cutting his pecker off and growing breasts is pretty revolting. Breasts are great, but not on that.
• Since when did south Atlanta become a suburb of San Francisco?

Elwell Stephen Otis

Born in Frederick, Maryland, March 25, 1838

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 1858

Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1861

Commissioned as a Caption in Union Army in 1862

Appointed to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1863 and later promoted to full Colonel.

Wounded and muster out due to incapacity in January 1865.

Brevetted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, in March 1865 in recognition of his Civil War service.

In 1898, was appointed Major of volunteers and was sent to the the newly acquired Philippines as reinforcement for General Merritt. On arrival in the Philippines, Otis assumed command of the VIII. Eventually General Otis was appointed Military Governor of the Philippine Islands.

During his time in the Philippines, Otis was responsible for American activities at the start of the Philippine-American war, which was essentially a failed attempt for independence. US troops reportedly practiced some draconian methods to which Otis commented.

"The conduct of the Washington Volunteers has been the subject of special investigations for some time. They deny wanton burning or cruelties. And still there are strong indications that they practised these infractions to some extent."

Otis was relieved of command in 1900 and replaced with General Arthur MacArthur.

Died in Rochester, New York, October 21, 1909, buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

• General Otis was known to his men as "granny".
• General Arthur MacArthur had gained fame as an teen aged officer that led the successful charge up Lookout Mountain of Chattanooga. Arthur won the Congressional Medal of Honor 27 years after this historic feat. He was also the father of Douglas MacArthur, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, became a 5 Star General serving in WW1, WW2 and Korea.

Diggers

This movie was selected because it is about the lives of clam diggers living in Long Island during the middle seventies. I grew up enjoying raking clams out of the tidal muck, in the same waters, about the same time. There is nothing more earthy than eating a raw clam that you just dug out of the salty mud.
The main characters are:

• Paul Rudd as the focus playing the role of digger Hunt, son of a digger. Rudd did a movie called The Shape of Things with Gretchen Mol.
• Ken Marino as Lozo, fellow digger and father of a brood. Mr Marino is also the writer of the screenplay.
• Ron Eldard as Jack, fellow digger and Casanova of the neighborhood.
• Josh Hamilton as Cons, fellow digger, town dealer and intellectual.
• Maura Tierney as Gina, divorced brother of Hunt, caretaker for the father. You will recognize Maura from many episodes of News Radio and later ER.
• Sarah Paulson as Julie, Lozo's pregnant wife and friend of Gina. Paulson was a regular on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
• Lauren Ambrose as Zoey, rich girl, Hunt's inspiration for breaking away.

The story is about independent fisherman's lives of hard work. An evil corporation has moved into town and bought up fishing rights to tidal tracts with good clam beds. Independents who have made livings clamming for generations are now having to work extra extra for less than subsistence. The work is so hard that Hunt's father dies working in his boat.
Hunt is a young man who while comfortable with his small town life, has an obsession with photography of still life. This is an indicator of untapped potential that Zoey makes obvious during his mourning stage. The movie ends with Hunt giving Jack a smile and the finger as he leaves to make his fortune.
There is one fight, some drug use and a boatload of profanity. The profanity was what made it feel like the area I call home.

Score 34 of 50, a movie that I enjoyed but would not recommend to other than a local or child of the seventies.

• Character Development 8 out of 10, Hunt evolves from a Digger to a photographer, Lozo looks for work at the corporation, Julie gets pregnant again.
• Acting 7 out of 10, Rudd is believable as a detached laborer, Hamilton is amusing as the wasted intellectual.
• Photography, cinematography 7 out of 10, the field, Long Island's tidal marshes are hard to make look bad.
• Writing, script 5 out of 10, simplistic, it is hard to get around the profanity however appropriate to the plot.
• Concept 7 out of 10, personal growth in a period piece, fun.

Alexander

• The last puzzle of the Christmas season that I have finished is for Alexander.
• This for the grandson of our next door neighbors Chuck and Michelle.

That's Me

Found this site by way of Velociworld.
Those of you that know me get the joke.

One Soul Now

One Soul Now is a 3 year old album by the alternative rock band Cowboy Junkies.
Band Members: Margo Timmins (vocals), Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and Alan Anton (bass), three siblings and a childhood friend, all from Ontario Canada. Sister Cali Timmins was an actress on the daytime soap Ryan's Hope.
Recorded: October 2002 and October 2003
Released: 2004
Songs: One Soul Now, Why This One, My Wild Child, From Hunting Ground To City, Stars Of Our Stars, Notes Falling Slow, No Long Journey Home, He Will Call You Baby, Simon Keeper, The Slide
The sultry vocals of Margo Timmins ring true on this 3 year old album. Have been behind the curve on this band which for years was my favorite. My favorite track would have to be the album title One Soul Now but all the tracks fit into what I would describe as a warm blanket.
My enjoyment of this band started with an NPR special of all the different versions Blue Moon, the vocals were haunting and the music had an edgy blues feel. Once on the Tonight Show, Jay Leno said that they were the coolest band in America. Major interest in the band never materialized because the best tracks tended to be covers of traditional country music with slow blues inflection.
The 20th anniversary edition of the seminal The Trinity Sessions was just released. The album guest list includes Natalie Merchant, a singer who in my opinion sounds very much like Margo Timmons.

One Soul Now is an album that I highly recommend, give it 25 out of 30 points.

• Lyrics rate 7 out of 10 points
• Music rates 8 out of 10 points
• Vocals rate 10 out of 10 points

Dad Gone For Christmas

• This is for the new daughter of my wife's niece, Natalie is less than a year old.
• Dad should be home to Fort Bragg in a couple of months, but not in time for her first vist to Santa.

Deception Point

Written by Dan Brown, who has authored Angels & Demons, Digital Fortress and The DaVinci Code. Published by Pocket Books, in 2001, having 736 pages
The story revolves around the heroine, Rachel Sexton, a government analyst working for a secret agency, she is beautiful, smart and the daughter of Senator Sexton a presidential candidate. Father Sexton has a hard-on for the presidency and has been hammering the standing President Herney's pet department, which is NASA. NASA has been having publicity issues with a rash of failures when a new satellite locates a meteorite the in polar ice cap. The meteorite tuns out to have fossils of alien life forms. Rachel is brought to the ice cap along with scientists Michael Tolland and Corky Marlinson, all for the purpose of generating an independent, non-governmental, report on the authenticity of the meteorite. Initially all confirm the theory, but late evidence leads the trio to begin the path to truth, the meteorite is a plant. One of the scientists, Michael, is a handsome oceanographer and a widower, the mutual attraction between he and Rachel grows till the end of the story. Once clues point to deception the scientists evade the evil government assassins, prove the meteorite a hoax and vanquish the protagonist.
On a scale of 1-10, "Deception Point" gets a 6, for being a technically oriented, exciting story. This book is fast paced and easy to read. Higher rating is not given because the book follows the Dan Brown formula and is fairly predictable.
Last time the next book up was going to be, "The Coldest Winter", a book on the Korean War by David Halberstam. This is underway, and already judged to be a well written story, the Brown book was picked up in an airport during a recent trip.

My Water Conservation Plan

During my visit home last week, my dad, patron of network news, informed me that the Yankee press was suggesting that Georgia's water problems were the result of poor water management.
Returning home, Atlanta news reports focused on a local man whose water consumption exceeds 400,000 gallons per month, that's right one house, not a business. That is pretty ridiculous but it is obviously not the norm. Most folks have made serious effort to saving water, in a system where consumption is already less that in the north. How the folks accomplish this in the west is commendable.
Georgia's water shortage is due to the lack of rainfall, compounded by a population explosion. Regions in the south have always been water poor. For years I have believed that unless growth was controlled, this would be a problem. No rain, more people, duh!
Here are the things I have been doing to save water:

• No lawn watering has been done in the last two years.
• Plant and shrub watering was discontinued in 2007. I have had about a dozen die to date including a rhododendron and a couple of azaleas.
• No car washing.
• No house pressure washing.
• Grey water watering of indoor plants.
• Ice from purchased soft drinks into the dog's water dish.
• Shorter showers and skipping some on weekends.
• Reduced toilet flushes. No explanation necessary.
• Stopped running water for shaving.
• Stopped running water for brushing teeth.
• Reduced number of wash loads, bigger loads.
• Replaced clothes washer with more efficient model that uses less water per load.

If the problem continues, this is my proposed set of water restriction steps:

• Import and drink only Coors beer, its made out west and would be adding water to the system for our friends in Alabama and Florida.
• Stop giving water to the dog.
• Stop bathing.
• Stop brushing teeth.
• Stop pissing on UGA Bulldogs.
• Collect and recycle water from the Georgia Dome.
• Divert the New York City aqueducts, then well see how little water Yankees can live on.

Runs Hot

• This is for the youngest of three next door.
• It seems like Carson has been running a mild fever since he was born. You would never know it to be in his presence, he never stops smiling. So, like a car with a bad thermostat, he just runs a little warm.
• Merry Christmas Carson.

Hartsfield Airport

• Excuse me, I meant to say Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The name was hyphenated to honor the former Mayor Maynard Jackson following his death.
• It is common knowledge that Mayors Jackson and Campbell used our airport as their personal fiefdom, for graft and nepotism. Campbell was jailed for related issues.
• Back to the picture. On the walkway between concourse A and the main terminal, there is a string of sculptures all depicting African-American art. No where in the airport are there sculptures based in other cultures. Just this crap, which has been on display well past any hope of enjoyment.
• I proclaim this sculpture "Black Man Pulls Head Out Of His Own Ass".

Gifts for Kids

• This is for my sister-in-law's grand daughter. Just finished in time to be a Christmas present. This little girl lives on 5 miles away and I just realized that I've never seen her. Maybe this should go to a little girl I know. Oh well.
• Used hardwood plywood for the first time. The cuts were much easier to make and there was less required sanding. A problem was that the thinner material wanted to warp, this was overcome when gluing the panels together using a strong back.

For The Byrds

Singer songwriter David Crosby, formerly of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and before that the Byrds, recently spent some time with Hardball's Cris Mathews on MSNBC. Had this to say about our young soldiers.....

"You know, on the one hand you've got a young kid who is patriotic, who loves his country, believes in it, and he's being told, 'Yeah this is the truth, and we've gotta go in there to protect your mother and your sister.' And he goes over, and he finds out the job is killing somebody else's mother and sister."

Graham Nash, a co-guest, was in clear agreement, labelling the President as...

"Emperor"

Chris Mathews, responsible for the shows content made no attempt to quiet the effluent flowing from the musicians mouths.

• What is it us as the media's audience that permits such an affront to the truth? Here is a man who did so much drugs and alcohol that his liver quit. The judgement of such a person should not be held out as an example to the public as rational or even insightful. This rat bastard lives by the grace of some regular person, who if even opposed to the war, had enough sense not to be a deceptive asshole.
• And for Graham Nash, the Hollies did freakin bubble-gum music. Hey Carrie Ann, did you know Graham Nash was an asshole? Nash, you were brought to CSN&Y for the high notes, unless you are singing, keep your bloody mouth shut. By the way, are you a legal resident?
• For those of you familiar with GOPU, the Davis Cup title is named for the classically inappropriate Rob V. Davis.

Goes Both Ways

The Ohio city of Columbus, home of the Buckeyes, has forced Gay Street to go both ways. No kidding, Gay Street went one way, now it takes bi-directional traffic.

Todd Ramming, part owner of Cafe Brioso said....

"It already looks nicer, more comfortable and more inviting."

• Cafe Brioso's waiters dress in the costumes of the Village People.
• Go to the linked story, sometimes you have to wonder if these reporters realize what they are witting.
• If this was a story in a church flier, MSNBC would be running the story as part of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Dam Break

Thirty years ago today, November 6, 1977, the Toccoa Falls Dam in upstate Georgia disintegrated, starting a wave that killed 39 people.

An inspection by a volunteer fireman the same morning, found no
problems.

The earthen dam had been built in 1887, creating a 55 acre lake 180 feet above Toccoa Creek and just before the scenic Toccoa Falls. In 1911 Christian and Missionary Alliance College was built on the creek just below the dam.

The 39 claimed were residents of the college and staff.

President Carter's wife Rosalynn visited after the tragedy. She wrote, "Instead, I was enveloped by hope and courage and love."

• A sad day in Georgia' history.
• I fish up there sometimes, a beautiful place.

Thoughtful Words

Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

• Think before you speak, then speak with confidence. Most of the time this works pretty well for me, whether or not what I say has accuracy or wisdom is matter for others to judge. When stressed, anger sometimes overwhelms me and thought can be cut short, the casulty being sensitivity to others.

Cigarette Smokers

I grew up in a family of cigarette smokers, both parents, two grandparents and two brothers. Tried them a couple of times but they never took. Have always enjoyed the smell of cigarette smoke, with exception to the stale smell in a room used by smokers.

What the government does to cigarette manufacturers is total bullshit, where else in the world would a government make a corporation (person) advertise against itself? What the government does to smokers is even more oppressive, by applying sin taxes, pet projects funded by thieving elected officials.

There is one habit of smokers that drives me nuts. They think the world is their ashtray. For the last five years I've been pitching in as an adopt-a-mile volunteer. At any corner, before a driveway, or store, on the driver's side, the curb is littered with cigarette butts.

I support your right to smoke but quit throwing your garbage on our street.

asterisk

The ball that was Barry Bond's 756th home run is about to be branded with an asterisk. Marc Ecko, who bought the ball in an online auction from a 21-year-old student ran a website poll for fans to vote on whether or not the ball should be branded with an asterisk. Voting ended in September and it was announced that the ball would be sent to Cooperstown with an asterisk.

The unnaturally enormous ballplayer has vowed to boycott the Hall of Fame if it displays the record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk. The threat includes skipping his potential induction ceremony. Bonds told MSNBC...

"I won't go. I won't be part of it,"

"You can call me, but I won't be there."

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball, and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk,"

"You cannot give people the freedom, the right to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

In other statements Bonds has called Marc Ecko...

"an idiot."

The Hall of Fame has declined to comment.

• For having the intelligence to forge a way in which Barry Bonds has to directly answer the public's opinion of his dishonestly, I am naming Marc Ekco one of my Great Americans.
• For Barry, you still suck. You let your friends go to jail to protect your image. You are no better than Bill Clinton.
• Mr. Bonds seems to have forgotten some baseball history, Roger Maris's single-season home run record was marked with an asterisk by then commissioner Ford Frick.

Smokin' Aces

When the DVD arrived in the mail yesterday, my first thought was not remembering that I had ordered this movie. After watching I was left wondering why. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, in 2006, his only previous script of note was Narc.

The story is about how all of these super assassins try to kill this mob snitch named Buddy Israel, played by Jeremy Piven.

Other known actors in the movie are:

• Ryan Reynolds as Richard Messner, Liotta's partner, he lives
• Ray Liotta as Donald Carruthers, dies in elevator shootout
• Jeremy Piven as Buddy Israel, the Las Vegas entertainer turned hood, dies before the FBI can have is heart cut out for installation in is Don father.
• Wayne Newton as Himself, fat non-dancer as himself, cameo
• Ben Affleck as Jack Dupree, the bounty hunter, quick exit
• Peter Berg as "Pistol" Pete Deeks, he used to be in Chicago Hope, played Billy, he dies very early too
• Alicia Keys as Georgia Sykes, the shapely black assassin, she lives but only after being shot twice in the elevator
• Common as Sir Ivy, the loyal muscle, gets to carry off Alicia Keys, oh-my
• Jason Bateman as Rupert 'Rip' Reed, funny as the scumbag bail bondsman
• Andy Garcia as Stanley Locke, the uptight, lying FBI department head, he lives
• Zach Cumer as Warren, the karate boy, numchuck swinging brat

To save you the trouble of watching. Ben Affleck dies right off the bat. None of the assassins succeed, but do kill dozens in the trying. The aged mob boss is really a forgotten FBI plant. And finally, a disgusted FBI agent kills Buddy Israel and his mob boss father in the hospital.

For me the most amusing character was Warren, the ADD child who lives with his grandmother. "Am I going to have to ball this thing up?"

Score 9 of 50, this movie is serious crap, do not rent it.

• Character Development 1 out of 10, you live or you die
• Acting 2 out of 10
• Photography, cinematography 2 out of 10
• Writing, script 1 out of 10, this looks like the original Ocean's 11, a bunch of friends got together and made a movie one weekend.
• Concept 3 out of 10