It is not often I give this warning but here it is. I kinda blew my top on something but I think I get my point across.
If you are offended by vulgarity then this post will really piss you off.
So I am watching this news clip about cloned vehicles.
No kidding they said cloned vehicles. Seems that smugglers have caught on to the idea of making average trucks and vans look like something else. A standard Econoline van suddenly becomes a FedEx truck with a little graphics. Say it isn't so! Not like they used milk trucks during prohibition to smuggle booze around. But wait, there is a new twist. That is right, and I quote "They could be used by terrorists in a terror attack". No shit Sherlock. Like there are a lot of Terrorist cells out delivering baked goods. I lost count how many times they said terrorist and terror in a little 3 minute segment. Talk about feeding the culture of fear.
Come on people! I remember when people stood up for themselves and were not just victims. The media always like to throw up 9/11 in our faces and talk about the terrible tragedy of the towers. Yes it was horrible. Yes it was a senseless loss of life, but let us please drop it! Can you not see that this fear mongering is what keeps people huddled in their homes afraid of a small group of people that may or may not do something?
What happened to the country that would happily run up and kick a Nazi right square in the soft bits? Where did the Cold Warriors go? We would have said "Alright Mother-fucker, bring it on!" not "Oh please Mister Bureaucrat, save me from the invisible evil that may or may not be there." Grow a pair people. We were willing to go and fight 13 million Germans in WW2. Yet we are scared to death of a few hundred terrorists? Why? Have we become so complacent in our air conditioned, germ free environments that we cannot even take a problem head on without 54 committees, 500 new laws and therapy for everyone involved? Have we lost the spirit that caused us to tame the west and go to the moon? Are we nothing more than just shells of what was once a great country of freedom loving people. We have become subjects. We are being ruled by fear and those in power who wish to keep us afraid to stay in power. We even have a secret police that answers to no one and operates on lists of people who are suspected of crimes they may or may not have comitted. Hello?? We have secret prisons, no habeas corpus any more, fewer rights and even fewer options. Is this not what we were fightin against in the whole WW2 thing?
Terrorist are nothing new, our country was founded by them. Remember that.
Sorry Mister Jefferson, I just don't think they get it anymore.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!
To all my friends everywhere,
May the sun shine on your days, the wind be at your back and the road rise up to meet your feet in your travels for the next year. May your Cracker Jacks always have 2 prizes, the pub be selling 2 for 1, your eggs have 2 yolks, and your non transferable tax items be brought forth from the previous tax year at a reasonable deduction rate. May your version of Windows finally run, your Mac continue to do so and your Linux box have solid source code. May the price of your gas always be a pleasant surprise, not a shocking one. May the world find peace. May you forgive, but not necessarily forget. May those who deserve it, get it and may those who need rewarded get it as well. May all your lights be green, the cross signals in your favor and that idiot in front of you do his stupidity right in front of an attentive cop. May all the nasty bass driven cars loose power as you pass. May you always return home in better shape than you left.
May your paper always land on the porch especially in bad weather. May you learn from your mistakes and greet the thrill of wisdom with the grin of a child getting a puppy. May you find the happiness I have. May everyone eat even if it is only Mac and Cheese. May you never
suffer like those you do not know. May you receive the blessings of Spock, to live long and prosper. May any problem you meet be no bigger than those you have left in the dust behind you. And maybe, just maybe, next year I'll figure out a way to tell everyone Happy New Year in fewer words but with as much meaning.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake...
May the sun shine on your days, the wind be at your back and the road rise up to meet your feet in your travels for the next year. May your Cracker Jacks always have 2 prizes, the pub be selling 2 for 1, your eggs have 2 yolks, and your non transferable tax items be brought forth from the previous tax year at a reasonable deduction rate. May your version of Windows finally run, your Mac continue to do so and your Linux box have solid source code. May the price of your gas always be a pleasant surprise, not a shocking one. May the world find peace. May you forgive, but not necessarily forget. May those who deserve it, get it and may those who need rewarded get it as well. May all your lights be green, the cross signals in your favor and that idiot in front of you do his stupidity right in front of an attentive cop. May all the nasty bass driven cars loose power as you pass. May you always return home in better shape than you left.
May your paper always land on the porch especially in bad weather. May you learn from your mistakes and greet the thrill of wisdom with the grin of a child getting a puppy. May you find the happiness I have. May everyone eat even if it is only Mac and Cheese. May you never
suffer like those you do not know. May you receive the blessings of Spock, to live long and prosper. May any problem you meet be no bigger than those you have left in the dust behind you. And maybe, just maybe, next year I'll figure out a way to tell everyone Happy New Year in fewer words but with as much meaning.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake...
Friday, December 21, 2007
Dear Mister Ridley Scott
Sir, how dare you?
You have taken liberty with one of the classics of American 20th Century cinema, yet again. The first Blade Runner movie you made was a work of not just genius but inspirational art. Then you just had to come out with a director's cut. Fine, we could see what you were trying to portray with that by removing the voice overs, which to my own liking added quite a bit to the movie. But the removal of them did not diminish the overall impact. But now, you have gone too far.
I made time to check my facts before I posted this unlike many of my kneejerk reactionary statements I may or may not have made over time. Acording to IMDB.com the writers were Philip K. Dick (novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?") Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples (as David Peoples). No where does it list your name. Only as a director are you mentioned, not even as a co-contributor but only as an uncredited co-producer. Nice job by your agent by the way, letting you take uncredited credit for something you may or may not have done. Any more vague and you might as well run for public office. Here is where the second problem lies. The count was "5 skinjobs" not 4 as you had edited in. 5 count them 5, not 4. Why did you take it upon yourself to change the script? Was it because with the Writers Guild of America being on strike you thought no one would notice? Here begins the lone voice in the darkness. I did notice the small (almost microscopic) changes from the directors cut, a far superior film to what you just released. Is there some sort of problem in Hollywood with Harrison Ford and his charicters? This needs to end. Here it is sweetheart : Han shot first, Decker could be a Replicant. Deal. Maybe your next endeavor should be a re-cut of Aliens as well. I am sure you could make a chunk of money off of it if you could somehow work NASCAR into it , as I am sure you originally intended. Perhaps a big number 3 on the rear of the escape ship or maybe a NASCAR logo tattooed on Ripley's behind.
I believe you do not deserve an Oscar for this re-cut but instead a swift, hard kick with a steel toed boot in the soft parts of your neither regions.
I am glad I took the time to mellow out a bit before posting.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
You have taken liberty with one of the classics of American 20th Century cinema, yet again. The first Blade Runner movie you made was a work of not just genius but inspirational art. Then you just had to come out with a director's cut. Fine, we could see what you were trying to portray with that by removing the voice overs, which to my own liking added quite a bit to the movie. But the removal of them did not diminish the overall impact. But now, you have gone too far.
I made time to check my facts before I posted this unlike many of my kneejerk reactionary statements I may or may not have made over time. Acording to IMDB.com the writers were Philip K. Dick (novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?") Hampton Fancher and David Webb Peoples (as David Peoples). No where does it list your name. Only as a director are you mentioned, not even as a co-contributor but only as an uncredited co-producer. Nice job by your agent by the way, letting you take uncredited credit for something you may or may not have done. Any more vague and you might as well run for public office. Here is where the second problem lies. The count was "5 skinjobs" not 4 as you had edited in. 5 count them 5, not 4. Why did you take it upon yourself to change the script? Was it because with the Writers Guild of America being on strike you thought no one would notice? Here begins the lone voice in the darkness. I did notice the small (almost microscopic) changes from the directors cut, a far superior film to what you just released. Is there some sort of problem in Hollywood with Harrison Ford and his charicters? This needs to end. Here it is sweetheart : Han shot first, Decker could be a Replicant. Deal. Maybe your next endeavor should be a re-cut of Aliens as well. I am sure you could make a chunk of money off of it if you could somehow work NASCAR into it , as I am sure you originally intended. Perhaps a big number 3 on the rear of the escape ship or maybe a NASCAR logo tattooed on Ripley's behind.
I believe you do not deserve an Oscar for this re-cut but instead a swift, hard kick with a steel toed boot in the soft parts of your neither regions.
I am glad I took the time to mellow out a bit before posting.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Well this is interesting
 Which Major Arcana Tarot Card Are You? created with QuizFarm.comYou scored as IV - The Emperor The Emperor represents power. There is nothing subtle about this Tarot card. The Empress has power through love.The Emperor has power through power. He is in control, he is forceful and ambitious. Nothing will stop him. He is a natural leader, having either been born to the role or having disposed of all those who stood in his way. If well aspected in a Tarot spread this card can indicate success. It represents obstacles overcome, goals reached and ambition fulfilled. If badly aspected it can indicate either weakness or an abuse of power. |
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The event passes
It is now Tuesday, December 11, 2007 and I am still sick. I got a cold free with the event and a bonus of straining out my voice from playing herald and for MCing feast, albeit badly by my own estimation. I guess the sick was getting to me even then. I have done better, but still they did not throw fruit.
Judi won "Peer's Choice" in the Baronial A&S competition. Not shabby at all. I entered some cheese. It was okay, but the cheddar I made to go with feast was miles beyond it. Wish I had entered that instead. Not a single piece of it survived the night.
So, with some trepidation and wet feet from arrow hunting I"ll keep this one short.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Having dinner with the aliens.
There are times when the fear of loneliness takes an unusual form.
I thought it was dinner with the in-laws.
Let me go back a bit and perhaps you will understand.
It started when Judi told me that her parents had
invited us to a formal dinner. Oh yea, I needed a tux
as well, and it was in Chattanooga. Gee, at the time the
news just seemed to get better and better. Now I do
like good food but honestly I am more of a t-shirt and
jeans, hamburger and fries type of guy. Give me a good
gumbo or something of that nature and I will be happier
than if you gave me something that was all organic,
free range, received therapy, massaged daily by vestal
virgins, only allowed out on sunny days, given daily hugs
and 24 hour a day hot and cold running compliments
emu wings or whatever. I do kind of hick gourmet, I like
name brand hot sauce and ketchup. I find myself more
and more drawn to the ethnic foods that are not royal
table fare but more of what the average person would eat.
So you can perhaps understand my apprehension and lack
of enthusiasm for this dinner.
I must admit I was kind of dreading it. I did a little reading on the net to refresh myself on things my grandmother taught me, like what fork for what. It is times like this that I wish
I would have listened to what she said. I can't tell you what it was she did say because as stated before I was not listening. This was friday. Now let us skip ahead a little more to saturday,
the day of destiny. Okay, not destiny but it kind of felt that way. I was in fact scared i would be obviously from a background where I was not exposed to such things. I was not afraid of
embarrassing myself for anyone who knows me will attest to the fact all i have to do is open my mouth to let that premise fly out the window. I was more afraid of embarrassing Judi's parents and most horrid to me of all, Judi.
The first thing that happened that started to turn my feelings around was the sound of a little voice almost yelling "Uncle Bryian!!" Yes, the neices, the human embodyment of chaos and energy, wrapped in almost fear inducing cuteness. Tegan, the oldest, has been my buddy for quite a while made the times we had fun. Then there was Tamsin, who has those eyes that can melt your
heart. Then there was Tearnan, wee and cute. Then there was Ellie and Matty. Here are my futrue accomplices in some adventure somewhere. I did not get to spend as much time with Logan, but as he gets older I should. Yes, that is right, I spent a good deal of time with my 5 neices. I have now decided i am part jungle gym and have developed a new appreciation for "Why did the .... cross the road" jokes." All else fails use Eilly's punchline, " Cause it had no guts!" Matty has a grip on the universe like no one else i have ever known "What is great about being Matty? Cause I'm Matty!"
Wow.
I put on the tux and the smile I had set aside for formal occasions and we headed down to the dinner. The hallway to the convention center looked like a zeppelin hanger and in truth was a bit overwhelming. Then, at the end of the hall things suddenly changed. Not an oh look at the pretty decorations change, more like the someone slipped the brown acid into my coffee changed.
There at the end of the hall stood 4 stormtroopers.
Yes, I said stormtroopers.
I said softly to Judi "Imperial checkpoint, just keep moving they will not notice us..." in my best Jedi-like calm tone.
My stomach turned slightly. Not as in a sick type of turn but more of the effect of gravity when your in an airplane and they pull up, climbing into the sky type of feeling. That was in fact the feeling of the evening pulling itself out of the perceived nose dive. We got our "special passes" (read free wine bar) and we were off and running like a bunch of caffeinated jawa! We entered the main area and it was full of displays from all sorts of science fiction. There was Star Wars, Star Trek and the list went on and on. There was a Wookie, a twllik, Vader and a D2. There was Pava Laguna from 5th Element and The MIB's. Oh yes, geek heaven. Each display had a table with some tasty eats from a different chef. There was this beef stew on bread thing and weird Reese's covered lamb chops.
There was a partially vile scallop with fresh sea dredging and some sushi that was to the far end of the awesome scale.
The food at the dinner was, well, okay. It looked "interesting" not in that "my how artful" but more of a "is this from our planet" type of way. Fluffy soup. I think you get the idea.
Then, there was the bartenders. Oh those gifted and very generous people who as the night moved on their freedomin measuring became greater and greater. One of the best quotes of the evening came when I took a drink of a white russian and winced slightly. My comment was "That was a
bit strong." Mike, without missing a beat added "Looked like you had a drink of distilled ass!" Good one, Mike. If there had been a quick second drink the photographer would have been coated in white russian.
We had our pictures done, or more correctly to quote the photographers assistant "We had our pictures made." Yes, somewhere there are pictures of me in a tuxedo.
I had a blast. There in that little point of time was embodied all the things I miss about the South. Kindness, politeness, friendliness and all combined with the act of charity. Conversations with people I did not even know who treated me like an old friend the whole time. Smiles that were not
plastic or forced, but warm and full of heart. These are the things that make up being a Southerner to me. Not flags or hatred. Not slurs or discrimination. Just people being people in the right way for the right reasons. I got to spend time with Mike, Eric, and Chuck; my brothers-in-law. We found
we have a lot in common, beyond the Taylor women. In truth, we had a load of fun, perhaps more than we should have but it made for good times. I had a little time to talk with Mandy and Teri, my sisters in law. Good women with good hearts. It was one of those evenings that you did not want to end, but none the less it had to.
Yea, the dinner was nothing like I had feared. Sometimes it is good to just go with the flow and let things happen. Do not try to fight the stream, but seek a middle path. Don't listen to the fear, just be.
Such is the way of the universe.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
I thought it was dinner with the in-laws.
Let me go back a bit and perhaps you will understand.
It started when Judi told me that her parents had
invited us to a formal dinner. Oh yea, I needed a tux
as well, and it was in Chattanooga. Gee, at the time the
news just seemed to get better and better. Now I do
like good food but honestly I am more of a t-shirt and
jeans, hamburger and fries type of guy. Give me a good
gumbo or something of that nature and I will be happier
than if you gave me something that was all organic,
free range, received therapy, massaged daily by vestal
virgins, only allowed out on sunny days, given daily hugs
and 24 hour a day hot and cold running compliments
emu wings or whatever. I do kind of hick gourmet, I like
name brand hot sauce and ketchup. I find myself more
and more drawn to the ethnic foods that are not royal
table fare but more of what the average person would eat.
So you can perhaps understand my apprehension and lack
of enthusiasm for this dinner.
I must admit I was kind of dreading it. I did a little reading on the net to refresh myself on things my grandmother taught me, like what fork for what. It is times like this that I wish
I would have listened to what she said. I can't tell you what it was she did say because as stated before I was not listening. This was friday. Now let us skip ahead a little more to saturday,
the day of destiny. Okay, not destiny but it kind of felt that way. I was in fact scared i would be obviously from a background where I was not exposed to such things. I was not afraid of
embarrassing myself for anyone who knows me will attest to the fact all i have to do is open my mouth to let that premise fly out the window. I was more afraid of embarrassing Judi's parents and most horrid to me of all, Judi.
The first thing that happened that started to turn my feelings around was the sound of a little voice almost yelling "Uncle Bryian!!" Yes, the neices, the human embodyment of chaos and energy, wrapped in almost fear inducing cuteness. Tegan, the oldest, has been my buddy for quite a while made the times we had fun. Then there was Tamsin, who has those eyes that can melt your
heart. Then there was Tearnan, wee and cute. Then there was Ellie and Matty. Here are my futrue accomplices in some adventure somewhere. I did not get to spend as much time with Logan, but as he gets older I should. Yes, that is right, I spent a good deal of time with my 5 neices. I have now decided i am part jungle gym and have developed a new appreciation for "Why did the .... cross the road" jokes." All else fails use Eilly's punchline, " Cause it had no guts!" Matty has a grip on the universe like no one else i have ever known "What is great about being Matty? Cause I'm Matty!"
Wow.
I put on the tux and the smile I had set aside for formal occasions and we headed down to the dinner. The hallway to the convention center looked like a zeppelin hanger and in truth was a bit overwhelming. Then, at the end of the hall things suddenly changed. Not an oh look at the pretty decorations change, more like the someone slipped the brown acid into my coffee changed.
There at the end of the hall stood 4 stormtroopers.
Yes, I said stormtroopers.
I said softly to Judi "Imperial checkpoint, just keep moving they will not notice us..." in my best Jedi-like calm tone.
My stomach turned slightly. Not as in a sick type of turn but more of the effect of gravity when your in an airplane and they pull up, climbing into the sky type of feeling. That was in fact the feeling of the evening pulling itself out of the perceived nose dive. We got our "special passes" (read free wine bar) and we were off and running like a bunch of caffeinated jawa! We entered the main area and it was full of displays from all sorts of science fiction. There was Star Wars, Star Trek and the list went on and on. There was a Wookie, a twllik, Vader and a D2. There was Pava Laguna from 5th Element and The MIB's. Oh yes, geek heaven. Each display had a table with some tasty eats from a different chef. There was this beef stew on bread thing and weird Reese's covered lamb chops.
There was a partially vile scallop with fresh sea dredging and some sushi that was to the far end of the awesome scale.
The food at the dinner was, well, okay. It looked "interesting" not in that "my how artful" but more of a "is this from our planet" type of way. Fluffy soup. I think you get the idea.
Then, there was the bartenders. Oh those gifted and very generous people who as the night moved on their freedomin measuring became greater and greater. One of the best quotes of the evening came when I took a drink of a white russian and winced slightly. My comment was "That was a
bit strong." Mike, without missing a beat added "Looked like you had a drink of distilled ass!" Good one, Mike. If there had been a quick second drink the photographer would have been coated in white russian.
We had our pictures done, or more correctly to quote the photographers assistant "We had our pictures made." Yes, somewhere there are pictures of me in a tuxedo.
I had a blast. There in that little point of time was embodied all the things I miss about the South. Kindness, politeness, friendliness and all combined with the act of charity. Conversations with people I did not even know who treated me like an old friend the whole time. Smiles that were not
plastic or forced, but warm and full of heart. These are the things that make up being a Southerner to me. Not flags or hatred. Not slurs or discrimination. Just people being people in the right way for the right reasons. I got to spend time with Mike, Eric, and Chuck; my brothers-in-law. We found
we have a lot in common, beyond the Taylor women. In truth, we had a load of fun, perhaps more than we should have but it made for good times. I had a little time to talk with Mandy and Teri, my sisters in law. Good women with good hearts. It was one of those evenings that you did not want to end, but none the less it had to.
Yea, the dinner was nothing like I had feared. Sometimes it is good to just go with the flow and let things happen. Do not try to fight the stream, but seek a middle path. Don't listen to the fear, just be.
Such is the way of the universe.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
Friday, September 28, 2007
The following update brought to you by the makers of Tylenol:
Does Harvard have rules against the use of Yale locks?
Till next time,Be mindful and awake
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