perpetual memory loss

It’s been around 24 hours since I have seen Avatar.  I have let it percolate in my head and I have also had the chance to to hash out some of my thoughts with fellow geeks.  What follows will be spoiler heavy so if you haven’t seen it yet and don’t wish to know anything then stop reading.

First I’ll start with my gripes.

One of the biggest annoyances in the movie was the lack of any character development for the villains.  They were all just evil dudes who were bent on destruction no matter the cost.  In the case of Col. Quaritch he was just a Marine that was hell bent on kicking ass and killing whomever, or whatever, was in his way.  Understandable but he was like a person devoid of any human emotions who seemed to hate the Na’Vi for no apparent reason.  If he was the only person in the movie like that I would let it slide.  However, virtually all the Marines (except for two) in the movie were also one-dimensional characters devoid of any moral compass or any semblance of a human emotion.  I find it hard to believe that out of the thousands of people there 99.9% of them were completely on board with massacreing the aliens just because they wanted to get some unobtainium (stupid name btw).  Besides I don’t think there is a need for anymore stereotyping of Marines as crazy, evil whack-a-doos.  There was just too much black and white in the movie, and rarely were there any shades of grey–morally speaking.

Secondly, I get the whole allusions to slavery and the plight of the American Indians, but it was a bit much.  Actually it wasn’t even an allusion it was pretty much a straight up comparison to the westward expansion of the United States.  The unobtainium is gold, and the Marines are the evil frontiersman who murdered and pillaged their way across the west.  Now is not the time for a moral or historical debate about that time period.  What bugged me was the ham-fisted attempt to wed that time period with the modern one.  Throwing in phrases like “shock and awe” and “fight terror with terror” took me out of the movie momentarily.  I get it you’re against the Iraq War, slavery, and westward expansion.  Good to know, but unfortunately it was all shoe-horned into the story.  Plus there are other movies that have done a better job with those themes–namely Return of the Jedi.  The ending of both movies is basically the same.  The peace loving simple people defeat the technologically superior, but moralistically inferior people–except in Avatar there is the added element of a Deity that interjects and helps out.

Ok now you may think that with all that griping and complaining that I hated the movie, but if you thought that you’d be wrong.  Watching this movie I got the same feeling I got when I watched Jurassic Park, Star Wars, or Terminator 2.  This movie is a game-changer.  All the work that was done by ILM over the years in creating digital sets and characters was put to spectacular use in Avatar.  The interaction movie is virtually seamless in blending all the real with the digital.  Watching this movie totally blew my mind.  (And despite my gripes with the story, the story was actually pretty good.  There is a decent and simple plot line to follow, there’s a bit of a love story, and there are some moral themes that could have been powerful if I wasn’t beaten over the head with them.) The 3D was great because it wasn’t a gimmick.  The characters weren’t breaking the fourth wall trying to engage the audience.  There wasn’t an overabundance of spears, vehicles, or whatever coming directly at the camera.  Instead the 3D was used as a way to create a more immersive environment.  Pandora felt more real.  There was more depth to the world, and this helped to draw you in.  This is how these technologies were meant to be used.  I finish by restating what I’ve already said.  The movie is a game changer, and it must be seen in 3D.  This movie should become a blueprint for how 3D and CGI should be used to create new immersive worlds.  If it does and other directors keep improving it then there should be a lot of exciting movies in the future.  It’ll be amazing to see where this all leads too.  So if I was going to give this movie a grade I would say it’s a solid 95%, so go see it now.

I woke up this morning seriously pissed off.  I didn’t really know why, but I figured after a nice cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal I would be good.  Unfortunately, I was out of milk so no cereal, and I drank way too much coffee on an empty stomach so I was feeling queasy by the time I got to school for work.  Things spiraled down from there as I had a new project waiting for me at work which pisses me off because I seem to be the only research assistant that actually does research.  The rest just sit around doing their homework.  So I stayed grumpy and became even more irritable as the day wore on.

Ugly Baby Exhibit A

By the time I got home around 5pm I was bristling with anger, and I told neverbesocial that if there was a baby in front of me I would punch it in the throat.  (I have to clarify that statement, however, as most babies would probably melt my heart–like the sap I am–but I would have seriously thought about punching an ugly baby in the throat.)  Be that as it may I kept getting more angry because I couldn’t figure out why I was so angry all day long.  Then I took a look at my calendar and saw what day it was.  Today is March 19th and it is–along with the 20th–the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.  I quickly realized that that was why I was pissed all day, even though I didn’t realize the significance of the day until after about 9 hours of being a real grinch.  I guess my body is just on its own program.

Like I said everything started to make sense after that, but I ended up getting more pissed off because I was thinking about how I hate these wars and how I can’t wait for them to be over and for the troops to come home.  I also was pissed at myself for being such a whiny complaining bitch because someone had the audacity to ask me to do my job, whilst there are other people over in Iraq and Afghanistan separated from their families performing a thankless arduous job.  I decided that it was time to hit the gym and go for a run to burn off all of my anger.  I went to the gym and really killed myself.  Running whilst angry is great; anger is one of the best motivators out there.  After a good two hours at the gym I was feeling really good and as I was walking home and just as I was getting ready to cross the street I noticed that there was like 3 cars at each stop sign waiting for me.  I figured I’d be a nice guy and jog across the street so that these people could get on their way quicker.  Bad idea.  This is the first time something like this has ever happened to me.  I took two steps and both legs cramped up and locked themselves in a bent position.  I came crashing down in the middle of the street in absolute anguish.  I managed to get up and hop to the sidewalk where I laid on the ground writhing for the next 5 minutes as cars drove by staring at me like I was a circus freak.  To make matters worse some people on the other side of the street were walking by and had seen the whole thing and were laughing their asses off.  Salt in the wound.

Continue reading

HBO has had quite a few shows lately dealing with the war in Iraq, and they have all been well done and even-handed.  Taking Chance is the newest HBO film that revolves around the Iraq war, and like the others it is non-political and just tells the true story of one Marine escorting another Marine home.  I don’t want to try and deconstruct this film like some film nerd, instead I will just say that it is well worth your time.  I watched it last night–instead of the craptastic Oscars–and it was an emotional movie.  If you can watch this film without tearing up then you must not have a soul or maybe you’re just a cynical hippie (or both).  Anyways watch the trailer then check it out:

Here is the last (for now) of Mr. Magness’ guest posts, with his best TV picks of the last year.  Since I watch more TV than I do movies I will also add in a couple of my top picks at the end.

1. The Presidential Debates/Election with the Daily Show Commentary

Just like back in 2000 and 2004 Daily Show seems to cover politics the best throughout every Presidential Election. This year Jon Stewart and “The Best F*#@ing News team” would just tear any candidate a new one with great insight and impressive wit. It is great to have people like Jon Stewart around to call bullshit on everyone and anyone in the public spotlight who make fools of themselves. As a government teacher it is nice after reading and watching news all day from CNN, the Post, and our local paper to watch the Daily Show and get more truth then the rest combined. I can’t wait for 2012.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

2. Summer Heights High

If the election had not happened this year this show would have easily been my number one new show of the year. This show is shot like the Office in documentary style and tells the story of three people at an Australian High School, Summer Heights High. Chris Lilly plays all the main characters to perfection and is the creator of the show. The characters are Mr. G (director of performing arts), Jonah (Puck you, Miss) and Ja’mie (Hot AIDS nurse). I put this show as amazing as Arrested Development and The Office on rewatchablity and just pure genius. From the moment you meet the characters you don’t even realize they are all played by the same actor. Lilly has an amazing story line and I hope we will see a lot more of him in the upcoming years.

http://www.hbo.com/summerheightshigh/

3. How I Met Your Mother

It amazes how much I have fallen in love with this show over the course of three years. A couple years back Brooke’s brother Paul told us about this sitcom and how it was on before Two and a Half Men. Now I HATE/LOATHE Two and a Half Men and believed any show that is on near it would suck just as bad but this show has blossomed into one of the funniest and wittiest shows on TV today. I equate this to being a more modern FRIENDS type show with better story telling and better inside jokes. The story is based on a father telling his kids about the events leading up to how he met their mom but the show is much more then that. Also Peter Segal (Freaks and Geeks) and Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) are absolutely amazing and funny. Free episodes are after the link…

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/

4. The Office & 30 Rock

These 2 shows are put together as one for a very good reason…This is the best hour of television on every week. These comedies keep getting better every year and now 30 Rock is getting the acclaim it deserves. Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan are so funny and Tina Fey has really come into her own as an actress on the show. But The Office is no slouch either when it comes to comedy brilliance. Steve Carell is still up their as one of the best around because of his performance as Michael Scott. I wish he would be able to win some more awards for his spot on impression of stupidity with heart. What makes both these shows great is that they always live up to the hype that surround them every single Thursday.

http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/

(Because I am not a big fan of Alec Baldwin I refrained from watching 30 Rock so I have to thank Mr. Magness for enriching my life by almost forcing me to watch 30 Rock with his constant praise of the show.  So thanks, now it’s one of my favorite shows and I can’t believe I wasn’t watching it.  And I am starting to come around on Alec Baldwin.)

5. Lost

This show will always be in my top ten because it is the best drama on television every single year. If you have already tried to watch LOST and it wasn’t for you then there is not much I can say to convince other then YOU ARE MISSING THE BEST SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION.PERIOD. (then why isn’t #1 you ask..because they make me wait 7 months at a time for a new season)

http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index

(I watched the first and part of the second season of this show and quit after I realized it was a pointless endeavor.  In my opinion JJ Abrams is the hackiest hack in hackdom.  I really hate his stuff and I refuse to watch anything that he is the creative force behind.  I have so many issues with him and his shows but recounting them would take too much time and is not the topic of this post.)

Continue reading

I went over to President Obama’s new USAService.org website to check things out and I stumbled onto the care packages for the troops website.  I checked on it to see what was on it, and in particular, to see what their list looked like.  Here is the list they give:

• A Letter
• AA Batteries
• Crossword or Sudoku Books
• Baby wipes or Purelle hand wipes
• Ziplock bags
• Playing cards
• Writing notebooks
• Pens
• Stationary/note cards
• Beanie Babies
• Packs of Gum
• Girl Scout Cookies
• Lip Balm
• Socks
• Tooth paste and toothbrush

Really? beanie babies.  What the fuck is that for?  Am I supposed to throw it at someone’s head when they pull a gun on me?  Besides that, it is a pretty decent list, but I would propose some amendments to it that I know would be well received by the troops:

• Cigarettes (preferably Camel Lights, Marlboro Reds, or P-Lights)
• Dip/Chew (Copenhagen, Skoal, or Redman)
• Porno Mags (’nuff said)
• Regular Mags (Maxim, Stuff, SI, ESPN, etc)
• Q-Tips
• Tapatio (Best hot sauce ever)
• Cigarettes (you can never have too many)
• Candy (how did they miss that one?)

There you go.  Send a package that includes the proposed amendments above and you will be sure bring smilies to many faces, much more so than if you send a beanie baby.

I know I’ve been MIA lately but there is a good reason which I am going to explain.  I have been drinking a shit-ton of alcohol lately while I have been working through some notions that have been rolling through my dome-piece.  You see I have been feeling the itch lately (no not the VD itch) but the life itch.  Every once in awhile I start getting restless and where I feel like I am in need of a drastic change in life.  The last time I had this feeling I decided to join the Marine Corps and spent the next four years moving around the country and the world.  Additionally, over the past ten years I have lived in four different states and over ten different apartments.  I am just really restless and I am not sure why.

So why am I boring you with this?  I don’t actually know, but I do know that I haven’t been able to work the problem out via alcohol so I figured what the shit I’ll blog about it.  After writing up this blog though I decided to scrap it and not publish it as I felt it was maybe a bit too personal, and then I came back to it and decided to write it differently and to hell with it being to personal.  It doesn’t really matter anyways since most of you all don’t know me, and I figure maybe if I write it out this way–as a dialogue between the warring factions of my grape a la Fight Club–then maybe the issue will work itself out.  So here it goes this is basically the conversation that has been taking place, on a regular basis, in my alcohol fueled head over the last few months–and increasingly so lately:

“Self.”

“Yes, what do you want?”

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Oh don’t give me that ‘I’m fine’ crap.  Why you being such a sour Sally lately?”

“Why you being such an asshole?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Well, self, I dunno what’s wrong.  I just feel like I have to get out of here, you know, move on to greener pastures.”

“What’s wrong with where you’re at? school’s going good, you have a dope new TV, a good apartment, enough money.  From where I’m sitting (same place where you’re sitting btw) things look pretty damn sweet.”

“In a sense that is true, but I also feel the need to move on and do something with my life.  I’m starting to feel a little too comfortable here, and a big drastic change could be just what I need.”

“It could also be just what you don’t need; ever think of that?  Look you’ve been moving around quite a bit lately and it seems to me that every time you start to put down some roots somewhere you just decide to get up and leave starting the whole damn process over again.  Maybe what you really need is no change; just try to enjoy life.”

“I do enjoy life but I’m starting to feel that ol’ adventurous streak flare up again.  My life has become pretty normal and boring.  I thought I was done adventuring and maybe I am, but then again, maybe I’m not.”

“You know you’re fucking retarded right?”

“No need to get snippy.”

“Well you are.  What more do you need to do?  I mean look in just a bit over four years time you have gotten and BA and a Masters.  What else you need?  Is that not enough of an accomplishment for you?”

“No it’s not.  I need more.  I don’t feel like this is accomplishing anything.  Do you know how many people get degrees?  The unemployment lines are full of assholes who have degrees.  They don’t really mean that much.  I want to put my stamp on the world.”

“Jesus delusions of grandeur.  Here we go again, and I thought you were done with all that bs.  But no, you just can’t leave well enough alone can you?  Instead you get all these ideas floating around in your head and then you go and throw a monkey in the wrench.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.  How does one throw a monkey in a wrench?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Well you know what I’m thinking because, well, you’re me.”

“Still want to hear your dumb ass say it aloud.”

“Ok, look dick wad I just think about stuff a lot.  I think about where I’m going in this life and where I’ve been and I want to try and figure out which is the best avenue that I should pursue in the next section of my life.”

“I can’t believe that you are actually thinking that thought.”

Continue reading

Get the fuck out Bush!!

I wanted to wait a bit and digest yesterdays events before I wrote up my feelings.  So first off unless you live in a cave you know that Obama won.  I’m exceedingly happy that he won, since he was who I was pulling for.  His campaign was the first campaign that I have ever been interested enough in to donate some of my not-really-hard-earned-skrilla.

I sat around for most of last night waiting and waiting for the results to come in, and hoping for the best.  Most of the tension came early in the day as once the results came in there wasn’t much drama.  McCain got trounced, and one of the main reasons was the Palin-monkey.  I could have handled a McCain administration sans Palin, but with her I would have been worried about McCain’s health 24/7.  In the hours after Obama was elected all I really felt was a bit of shock and tons of relief.  Relief that the election was finally over, and relief that Bush’s stank will soon be over.  I woke up this morning still tired but feeling much happier than I have in months.  I attribute this to knowing that Bush’s reign is almost over, and with it I feel like there is the light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq.  This war plagues my thoughts on a daily basis, and I spend so much energy thinking about the war, the deaths, the monetary costs; and then that transposes itself into my burning–like the duel Tattooine suns burning–hatred for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al.  On this one issue Obama gets no lee-way at fucking all.  I will give him the benefit of the doubt of a lot of issues, but on Iraq there is none, for me.  On all the other issues I will be patient, vigilant, and actively involved in making my views known to my representatives.  Obama will have my goodwill and full support, but I won’t give him a free pass.

Another outcome of last night is that finally being built up year after year the youth vote finally showed up.  We had a decisive effect on the election helping to tip the scale, and I think the better candidate won, but that remains to be seen.  Ask me in four years.  Even more encouraging was the fact that the voter turnout was higher than any election in the last century, as over 130 million people voted.  Some regions of the country saw up to 90% of their registered electorate vote.  Amazing numbers.

McCain last night gave in my view his best speech of the campaign, and it reminded me of why I wanted him to win in 2000.  The money quote:

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

This was an important note for McCain to make especially since his rallies have been extremely angry and volitile lately.  Like John Wayne said after Kennedy won “I didn’t vote for him, but he’s my president, and I hope he does a good job.”  Wise words for all of us to take to heart, and you can’t argue with The Duke.

Combine that speech with his appearance on SNL a few days earlier, and you have a couple of the best moments of the McCain campaign.  Unfortunately, I think he was swayed by the neo-cons on his staff and the religious right.  He sold his soul to the worst elements of his party and I think that if he had run a more moderate campaign like the old McCain, and if he would have picked a real VP, things could have been much different.

Obama’s speech last night wasn’t quite what I expected but it was a good, solid, conciliatory speech.  This was the quote that struck me:

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.  To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you.  To those who seek peace and security – we support you.  And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

Hopefully I can come off saying this without sounding like a groupie, but Obama winning is important.  The first minority president of a major western nation.  Where else could this happen.  Not many places, but we are the first, and I think that speaks volumes about our nation.  The only nation on Earth that wasn’t founded on race or ethnicity, but with an idea.  The idea that everyone is free, and that free people can govern themselves.  Some of the founders didn’t think that our republic would last 20 years let alone the 232 we have lasted.  It has been painful for me to watch the standing of our country fall precipitously over the last few years.  Watching the current administration conduct a war like two virgins fucking in the dark, learning about our government conducting torture in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, learning about the administration spying on innocent Americans without a warrant.  These types of injustices have been hard to watch, and have lost us all kinds of respect throughout the world.  With that loss of respect I’ve had to listen to all these wanna-be leaders around the world talk shit just because we are a bit down on our luck, and no one’s manning the helm.  Well last night the world got put on fucking notice.  America’s back bitches. Regardless of what you think of Obama, we all witnessed history last night.  I really feel that our founders would have been exceedingly proud of what happened last night, especially Alexander Hamilton.

Will Obama make everything alright, well shit no of course not, but we have done something, once again, that sets a benchmark for the rest of the world follow.  So if that allows me to gloat, and gives volume to my constant assertions that this is the best fucking country in the world, then so be it.  I don’t need the validation, but for a few months at least the rest of the world will have to again acknowledge that yes America is the shit.  No one knows how these next four years will work out, but I can say with certainty that it will be better than the last eight.  I hope that the republican party crawls out of the cave they have been in and take a good long hard look in the mirror.  They need to come home to the true principles of conservatism–limited government, individual rights, modest foreign policy, etc–because this country needs two parties.  We don’t need the neo-cons, we need real conservatives, because while I am hopeful about Obama, I am not hopeful about Pelosi and Reid.

I will continue to feel happy, hopeful, and relieved for the next 75 days until Bush gets the fuck out.  Then the real work of putting this country back together starts.  But until then I will sit back and celebrate the history made, and the fucking awesomeness of America.  Speaking of celebrating here is a video I got from The Daily Dish of a celebration going on here in the ‘fake’ America last night:

For me that was one of the worst aspects of the McCain campaign, and a slap in the face to everyone I know who doesn’t live in the ‘real’ America, but yet served their country honorably.  It’s not often that you see a group spontaneously break out into singing the American anthem.  I love that video, and it sends chills up my spine.  I wish I was there for that moment.  I have to say I truly, deeply love country, our flag, and our anthem.  Even though at times the Marine Corps was unbearable, if the need ever arose, I am still willing to die for my country and the ideals of our Constitution.

After that it will be time to get to work, because as the old saying goes politics is a contact sport not a spectator sport.  So I implore everyone to keep your enthusiasm up, stay in touch with your representatives, and let them know where you stand on the issues as they come up.  One last thing since I’m on the East Coast and it is relatively close by, I’m thinking of going to the inauguration this year.  If you are planning on going let me know.

Oh yeh…

AMERICA FUCK YEH!!

For those of you, who like me, can’t stand watching The O’Reilly Factor here is the first part of O’Reilly’s interview with Obama.  The second part will be released next week.  It’s a pretty good interview, and it will be interesting to see where this interview goes next week.  I find it odd that O’Reilly pretty much assumes that diplomacy will get us no where with Iran or any other Middle Eastern country.  He pretty much dismisses the idea as pointless, and just wants to go to war already.  It’s amazing how quick some people are to ring the bell of war who have either never served or never been in one.  It’s easy to be a hawk when you know your not the one that is going to have to fight.

YouTube Direkt

Here’s a couple of videos that make light of this whole Sarah Palin veep pick.  Personally I think this is akin to suicide for the McCain campaign, but who knows sometimes these long-shots pay off.  It’s just that I think her negatives far outweight any of her potential positives.  One of the worst parts about this picks, from McCain’s standpoint, is that it takes away his argument against Obama’s experience.  Her youth and inexperience combined with his age and proclivity for cancer make for one potentially devastating ticket.  If he died in his first year or two the effects would be catastrophic and would make the Bush Administration look like FDR’s.  If McCain wanted to pick a women I’m sure he could have found a more experienced candidate, but maybe he just has a penchant for the beauty queens–Cindy McCain better watch her back.  Also it is never good for your veep pick to be embroiled in scandal on the first day.   Besides now I am going to have to listen to commentary about how her kid has Downs Syndrome and that somehow qualifies her for the VP.  Lastly, she has almost no opinion on the important foreign policy issues of our day: nuclear proliferation, Iraq, terrorism, Russia etc.  Doing a search for her on LexisNexis and EBSCO brings up nothing.  The closest she has come:

Alaska Business Monthly: We’ve lost a lot of Alaska’s military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?

Palin: I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.

Not exactly the deep thoughts I was hoping for out of a veep candidate, besides the fact that this is a blatant attempt to pander to women, and win their votes.  The only problem is that most of Hillary’s supporters won’t vote pro-life just out of spite.  I will re-iterate that is, in my opinion, political suicide, and that McCain’s campaign is effectively over.  Anyways enjoy the videos.

Update 3:25

Found a couple good commentaries on the Palin decision.  First is from Obsidian Wings, one from James Fallows of The Atlantic, and the other is from Sensico.

For those of you–like me–who missed this speech last night, here it is in full.  It is a good speech that hits on a lot of the key points that Obama needs to really cement over the next few days.  Namely their background, and how they have worked hard to get to where they are.  They are not elites, but instead are the poster children for the limitless possibilites that are available here in America.  I find it funny that the guy who is faithful to his wife and family, and worked extra hard to get where he is is called an elite.  While the guy who only got into the Naval Academy because of his name, cheated on and subsequently divorced his wife because she was disfigured, and can’t remember how many homes he owns is seen as the regular joe.   I’ll never get it.  Anyways here the speech.

YouTube Direkt