Tuesday, March 11, 2008
So It Begins...
Running season officially started today. 45 degrees, little wind, sunny and beautiful. Ran one mile, after not having run all winter. Pretty dang good if you ask me. I'm not going to start out running little .5 mile sprints this year, I'm going to build up some distance right off the bat.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
California Bans Homeschooling
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=58137
Parents of 166,000 students
could face criminal charges
'Breathtaking' decision on homeschooling
now moving to California Supreme Court
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 05, 2008
9:11 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
A "breathtaking" ruling from a California appeals court that could subject the parents of 166,000 students in the state to criminal sanctions will be taken to the state Supreme Court.
The announcement comes today from the Pacific Justice Institute, whose president, Brad Dacus, described the impact of the decision as "stunning."
"The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking," he said. "It not only attacks traditional homeschooling, but also calls into question homeschooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private school."
"If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he said.
WND broke the story of the ruling against Phillip and Mary Long of Los Angeles.
The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates. The lawyers appointed by the state were unhappy with a lower court's ruling that allowed the family to continue homeschooling and challenged it on appeal.
Justice H. Walt Croskey, whose opinion was joined by two other judges, then ordered: "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program."
The determination reversed a decision from Superior Court Judge Stephen Marpet, who ruled "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home."
As WND has reported, the Longs had their children enrolled in Sunland Christian School, a private homeschooling program.
But Croskey, without hearing arguments from the school, opined that the situation was a "ruse of enrolling [children] in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent."
Officials with the school said they asked Pacific Justice to work on the Supreme Court appeal because the organization "has been in full compliance with the requirements of the law for more than 23 years."
"We've never been given an opportunity to represent our case in the Court of Appeal," Terry Neven, the president of the school, said. "Consequently, we are excited that PJI will represent us before the California Supreme Court so that the rights of homeschooling families are preserved."
The ruling, on which WND previously reported, also issued a further warning of potential penalties for parents, this time in civil court.
It said under a section titled "Consequences of Parental Denial of a Legal Education" that "parents are subject to being ordered to enroll their children in an appropriate school or education program and provide proof of enrollment to the court, and willful failure to comply with such an order may be punished by a fine for civil contempt."
The school's website notes it offers a homeschool/independent study program that is accredited. It began in Los Angeles in 1986 with 24 students and now serves more than 3,000 families.
"While SCS is a Christian program, we enroll any family desiring assistance in teaching their own children at home. All we ask is that each family respect our values," the school said.
"The future of homeschooling (both public and private) in California requires the reversal of this decision," Neven said.
WND also has reported on concerns expressed by Roy Hanson, chief of the Private and Home Educators of California, about the way the ruling was issued.
"Normally in a dependency court action, they simply make a ruling that will affect that family. It accomplishes the same thing, meaning they would force [the family] to place their minor children into school," he said.
Such rulings on a variety of issues always are "done in the best interests of the child" and are not unusual, he said.
But in this case, the court said went much further, essentially concluding the state provided no circumstance that allowed parents to school their own children at home.
Specifically, the appeals court affirmed, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."
Further, the appeals ruling said, California law requires "persons between the ages of six and 18" to be in school, "the public full-time day school," with exemptions allowed only for those in a "private full-time day school" or those "instructed by a tutor who holds a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught."
For homeschoolers in California, Hanson said, "there may be everywhere from concern to panic, just based on not knowing what the [ultimate] results will be."
The Home School Legal Defense Association, the world's premiere international advocacy organization for homeschoolers, emphasized that the ruling made no changes in California law regarding homeschooling.
While the decision from the appeals court "has caused much concern among California homeschoolers," the HSLDA said, there are no immediate changes any homeschoolers need to address.
The Longs earlier told WND they also are considering an appeal to the state Supreme Court because of the impact of the order for their family, as well as the precedent that could be construed.
They have disputed with local officials over homeschooling and other issues for years, they said. In at least two previous decisions, courts affirmed their right to homeschool, they said.
The current case was brought by two attorneys who had been appointed by the state to represent the family's minor children in a dependency case stemming from accusations of abuse that resulted from the parents' decision to impose discipline on their children with spankings. The case actually had been closed out by the court as resolved when the lawyers filed their special appeal.
Phillip Long has told WND he objects to the pro-homosexual, pro-bisexual, pro-transgender agenda of California's public schools, on which WND previously has reported.
"We just don't want them teaching our children," he told WND. "They teach things that are totally contrary to what we believe. They put questions in our children's minds we don't feel they're ready for.
"When they are much more mature, they can deal with these issues, alternative lifestyles, and such, or whether they came from primordial slop. At the present time it's my job to teach them the correct way of thinking," he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely infuriating.
I don't like kids. I can see where some people might, but I don't. But if I had some that I were homeschooling, and the state came to me and said "We're arresting you for educating your children at home," I think I'd be tempted towards a certain response. If I lost in court, I'm almost certain that's the response I'd choose.
Parents of 166,000 students
could face criminal charges
'Breathtaking' decision on homeschooling
now moving to California Supreme Court
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 05, 2008
9:11 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
A "breathtaking" ruling from a California appeals court that could subject the parents of 166,000 students in the state to criminal sanctions will be taken to the state Supreme Court.
The announcement comes today from the Pacific Justice Institute, whose president, Brad Dacus, described the impact of the decision as "stunning."
"The scope of this decision by the appellate court is breathtaking," he said. "It not only attacks traditional homeschooling, but also calls into question homeschooling through charter schools and teaching children at home via independent study through public and private school."
"If not reversed, the parents of the more than 166,000 students currently receiving an education at home will be subject to criminal sanctions," he said.
WND broke the story of the ruling against Phillip and Mary Long of Los Angeles.
The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates. The lawyers appointed by the state were unhappy with a lower court's ruling that allowed the family to continue homeschooling and challenged it on appeal.
Justice H. Walt Croskey, whose opinion was joined by two other judges, then ordered: "Parents who fail to [comply with school enrollment laws] may be subject to a criminal complaint against them, found guilty of an infraction and subject to imposition of fines or an order to complete a parent education and counseling program."
The determination reversed a decision from Superior Court Judge Stephen Marpet, who ruled "parents have a constitutional right to school their children in their own home."
As WND has reported, the Longs had their children enrolled in Sunland Christian School, a private homeschooling program.
But Croskey, without hearing arguments from the school, opined that the situation was a "ruse of enrolling [children] in a private school and then letting them stay home and be taught by a non-credentialed parent."
Officials with the school said they asked Pacific Justice to work on the Supreme Court appeal because the organization "has been in full compliance with the requirements of the law for more than 23 years."
"We've never been given an opportunity to represent our case in the Court of Appeal," Terry Neven, the president of the school, said. "Consequently, we are excited that PJI will represent us before the California Supreme Court so that the rights of homeschooling families are preserved."
The ruling, on which WND previously reported, also issued a further warning of potential penalties for parents, this time in civil court.
It said under a section titled "Consequences of Parental Denial of a Legal Education" that "parents are subject to being ordered to enroll their children in an appropriate school or education program and provide proof of enrollment to the court, and willful failure to comply with such an order may be punished by a fine for civil contempt."
The school's website notes it offers a homeschool/independent study program that is accredited. It began in Los Angeles in 1986 with 24 students and now serves more than 3,000 families.
"While SCS is a Christian program, we enroll any family desiring assistance in teaching their own children at home. All we ask is that each family respect our values," the school said.
"The future of homeschooling (both public and private) in California requires the reversal of this decision," Neven said.
WND also has reported on concerns expressed by Roy Hanson, chief of the Private and Home Educators of California, about the way the ruling was issued.
"Normally in a dependency court action, they simply make a ruling that will affect that family. It accomplishes the same thing, meaning they would force [the family] to place their minor children into school," he said.
Such rulings on a variety of issues always are "done in the best interests of the child" and are not unusual, he said.
But in this case, the court said went much further, essentially concluding the state provided no circumstance that allowed parents to school their own children at home.
Specifically, the appeals court affirmed, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."
Further, the appeals ruling said, California law requires "persons between the ages of six and 18" to be in school, "the public full-time day school," with exemptions allowed only for those in a "private full-time day school" or those "instructed by a tutor who holds a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught."
For homeschoolers in California, Hanson said, "there may be everywhere from concern to panic, just based on not knowing what the [ultimate] results will be."
The Home School Legal Defense Association, the world's premiere international advocacy organization for homeschoolers, emphasized that the ruling made no changes in California law regarding homeschooling.
While the decision from the appeals court "has caused much concern among California homeschoolers," the HSLDA said, there are no immediate changes any homeschoolers need to address.
The Longs earlier told WND they also are considering an appeal to the state Supreme Court because of the impact of the order for their family, as well as the precedent that could be construed.
They have disputed with local officials over homeschooling and other issues for years, they said. In at least two previous decisions, courts affirmed their right to homeschool, they said.
The current case was brought by two attorneys who had been appointed by the state to represent the family's minor children in a dependency case stemming from accusations of abuse that resulted from the parents' decision to impose discipline on their children with spankings. The case actually had been closed out by the court as resolved when the lawyers filed their special appeal.
Phillip Long has told WND he objects to the pro-homosexual, pro-bisexual, pro-transgender agenda of California's public schools, on which WND previously has reported.
"We just don't want them teaching our children," he told WND. "They teach things that are totally contrary to what we believe. They put questions in our children's minds we don't feel they're ready for.
"When they are much more mature, they can deal with these issues, alternative lifestyles, and such, or whether they came from primordial slop. At the present time it's my job to teach them the correct way of thinking," he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely infuriating.
I don't like kids. I can see where some people might, but I don't. But if I had some that I were homeschooling, and the state came to me and said "We're arresting you for educating your children at home," I think I'd be tempted towards a certain response. If I lost in court, I'm almost certain that's the response I'd choose.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Barak Huessein Obama News
I don't have a link to it, but apparently the Obamanation is proposing to cap business owners salaries at 50 times what the lowest paid employee makes.
Lets say I make $10,000 per year. Many draw less than that due to lack of experience. That means that "Massive Bookstore Chain Owner" only gets $500,000, on which he has to pay taxes. That's roughly 1/5th of what "Massive Bookstore Chain Store Manager" makes in a year.
This is a ****ing travesty. Is $500,000 a lot of money? You bet. Should it be any of the government's business to regulate how much that business owner can make? Not just no, but HELL NO.
You know, let's just go over to the dark side. Elect Obama, he can ritualistically shred the US Constitution at his inauguration, declare the US to be another Socialist state like The Benighted Kingdom, and we can just get it over with.
I'm sick to death of this thousand cuts crap.
Bring it on.
Lets say I make $10,000 per year. Many draw less than that due to lack of experience. That means that "Massive Bookstore Chain Owner" only gets $500,000, on which he has to pay taxes. That's roughly 1/5th of what "Massive Bookstore Chain Store Manager" makes in a year.
This is a ****ing travesty. Is $500,000 a lot of money? You bet. Should it be any of the government's business to regulate how much that business owner can make? Not just no, but HELL NO.
You know, let's just go over to the dark side. Elect Obama, he can ritualistically shred the US Constitution at his inauguration, declare the US to be another Socialist state like The Benighted Kingdom, and we can just get it over with.
I'm sick to death of this thousand cuts crap.
Bring it on.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Not A Lot Going On
...right now. Working, a lot. I've got lots of school. What free time I have, I spend plotting world domination and writing. Actually, just writing. Not a lot going on to blog about here. No political character has unveiled their new 5 year plan, though I'm expecting that from Clinton and Osama pretty soon.
Life is just a drag right now.
Life is just a drag right now.
Vote Cthulu 2008!
Why vote for a lesser evil?
Seriously though, I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. It does no good, I know. And I'll still end up voting for that rat-b*st*rd McCain in November. But I've voted for the only worthwhile candidate while I could, and I feel good about that.
Seriously though, I voted for Ron Paul in the primary. It does no good, I know. And I'll still end up voting for that rat-b*st*rd McCain in November. But I've voted for the only worthwhile candidate while I could, and I feel good about that.
Monday, February 18, 2008
seaQuest DSV
I'm most of the way through Season 2. So far we've had aliens, time travel, giant alligators, Atlantean ghosts, aliens again, evil psychics, Greek gods, vampire demons...coming up we'll have more psychics, and aliens yet again.
This TV show is killing my braincells, and yet I can't look away. I REMEMBER this stuff! I watch it and I smile.
So cool.
This TV show is killing my braincells, and yet I can't look away. I REMEMBER this stuff! I watch it and I smile.
So cool.
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Brave One
This movie has it all. It joins such greats as Red Dawn, The Patriot, Shooter, and Uprising in the category of movies that should be shown, four times a year, to every child in public school, so long as we allow public schools to continue their malicious and unconstitutional existence.
Jodie Foster plays Erica Bain, who's engaged to Sayid from Lost. She's beaten near to death and he's killed in a spurt of random violence while walking their dog in central park.
Upon waking up, she's shaken. DUH. On impulse she goes to a gun store to buy a gun. This being the high-crime, gun-free utopia of The People's Republic of New York, the harried gun shop owner tells her to apply for a license and come back in thirty days. When she says "I won't live thirty days" he tells her "That's the law."
You have no idea how hard I clapped for that part. All the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
She's eventually sold a Kahr K9 by a guy who overheard the conversation, and she starts carrying it.
The second time she's the victim of random violence, she's a little better prepared. She terminates the man who kills the convenience store clerk who's store she's shopping in, moments before he could attack here.
Let's just think about this for a minute. We've got a woman, who was denied a gun by the government of New York, buying a gun AND carrying it illegally, defending her life successfully.
How DID this movie get made? Seriously. What bed-wetting liberal Hollywood producer was smoking crack when he greenlit this movie, and how can I send him some more crack to smoke? I want to see more of these types of movies.
Erica Bain then starts haunting the bad parts of the city, killing the people who try to take advantage of a petite, middle aged female, who's walking through the bad parts of New York alone.
Eventually she finds the scum who murdered Sayid and took her dog, and after some really, really good one-liners, kills all three of them, with the assistance of the cop who's been hunting the "vigilante" who's been stalking the city.
Along the way we have some soft girl-rock introspective moments, and a whole lot of Dennis LeHane style grit and angst as Erica goes from average Jane to someone who's not incredibly bother by taking out the trash, figuratively. One of the cool things that this movie doesn't delve into is her motives. Yes, she's hunting the city. Why? She obvious is distraught over the handful of notches on her gun's grip, why does she keep going back.
No easy answers, just lots of good old-fashioned American justice, and a couple really touching scenes with a dog.
Last year it was Shooter, which featured Mark Wahlberg beating up cops and shooting U.S. senators with the incredibly manly 1911. This year it's Jodie Foster illegally carrying a concealed weapon and being applauded for it. At long last, there's a part of this country that I don't fear for quite as much. Maybe Hollywood is finally pulling their head out of their nethers and taking a peek around.
Jodie Foster plays Erica Bain, who's engaged to Sayid from Lost. She's beaten near to death and he's killed in a spurt of random violence while walking their dog in central park.
Upon waking up, she's shaken. DUH. On impulse she goes to a gun store to buy a gun. This being the high-crime, gun-free utopia of The People's Republic of New York, the harried gun shop owner tells her to apply for a license and come back in thirty days. When she says "I won't live thirty days" he tells her "That's the law."
You have no idea how hard I clapped for that part. All the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
She's eventually sold a Kahr K9 by a guy who overheard the conversation, and she starts carrying it.
The second time she's the victim of random violence, she's a little better prepared. She terminates the man who kills the convenience store clerk who's store she's shopping in, moments before he could attack here.
Let's just think about this for a minute. We've got a woman, who was denied a gun by the government of New York, buying a gun AND carrying it illegally, defending her life successfully.
How DID this movie get made? Seriously. What bed-wetting liberal Hollywood producer was smoking crack when he greenlit this movie, and how can I send him some more crack to smoke? I want to see more of these types of movies.
Erica Bain then starts haunting the bad parts of the city, killing the people who try to take advantage of a petite, middle aged female, who's walking through the bad parts of New York alone.
Eventually she finds the scum who murdered Sayid and took her dog, and after some really, really good one-liners, kills all three of them, with the assistance of the cop who's been hunting the "vigilante" who's been stalking the city.
Along the way we have some soft girl-rock introspective moments, and a whole lot of Dennis LeHane style grit and angst as Erica goes from average Jane to someone who's not incredibly bother by taking out the trash, figuratively. One of the cool things that this movie doesn't delve into is her motives. Yes, she's hunting the city. Why? She obvious is distraught over the handful of notches on her gun's grip, why does she keep going back.
No easy answers, just lots of good old-fashioned American justice, and a couple really touching scenes with a dog.
Last year it was Shooter, which featured Mark Wahlberg beating up cops and shooting U.S. senators with the incredibly manly 1911. This year it's Jodie Foster illegally carrying a concealed weapon and being applauded for it. At long last, there's a part of this country that I don't fear for quite as much. Maybe Hollywood is finally pulling their head out of their nethers and taking a peek around.
Kane And Lynch: Dead Men
If Michael Mann made a computer game, this would be it. Hardboiled characters, blood, awesome weapon selection, gritty story...and that's just the demo.
If I weren't committing all my resources to preparing for Hillary 'Antichrist' Clinton or Barak Huessein Osama to usurp the White House, I'd own both this and Crysis.
If I weren't committing all my resources to preparing for Hillary 'Antichrist' Clinton or Barak Huessein Osama to usurp the White House, I'd own both this and Crysis.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Lyrics Double Header: Johnny Cash - What Is Truth
The old man turned off the radio
Said, "Where did all of the old songs go
Kids sure play funny music these days
They play it in the strangest ways"
Said, "it looks to me like they've all gone wild
It was peaceful back when I was a child"
Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
Are trying to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What Is Truth?"
A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
"son, that's when people fight and die"
The little boy of three says "Daddy, why?"
A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
Being taught the golden rule
And by the time another year has gone around
It may be his turn to lay his life down
Can you blame the voice of youth for asking
"What Is Truth?"
A young man sittin' on the witness stand
The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
"Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
The man looked down at his long hair
And although the young man solemnly swore
Nobody seems to hear anymore
And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What Is Truth?"
The young girl dancing to the latest beat
Has found new ways to move her feet
The young man speaking in the city square
Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
Are going to be the leaders in a little while
This old world's wakin' to a new born day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What Is Truth?"
------------------------------------------------
My brother made a mixtape when he was six. I remember sitting on the duplex living room floor picking out songs with him. We put it together from my dad's old records, big records from cardboard boxes, singles from plastic cases. That tape persisted for the longest time, I think the last time he played that he was fifteen or so. Tape's been a part of my life for the longest time, and this was, I think, the second song.
The reason I post this tonight is because I'm wrestling with a question very close to the premise of the song. Not "What is truth?" but "What is our duty to the truth?" Do we have an obligation to tell the truth, a duty to be exercised at all times? Is it worth destroying relationships for? When a person is unredeemable, does telling the truth even matter? Can a person ever be unredeemable? What is truth worth, at what point is the human cost not worth it?
And when I close my laptop and sit here, staring off into the darkness, I'll remember sitting on the living room floor with my brother. And I'll hear Johnny Cash saying "What is truth?"
Said, "Where did all of the old songs go
Kids sure play funny music these days
They play it in the strangest ways"
Said, "it looks to me like they've all gone wild
It was peaceful back when I was a child"
Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
Are trying to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What Is Truth?"
A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
"son, that's when people fight and die"
The little boy of three says "Daddy, why?"
A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
Being taught the golden rule
And by the time another year has gone around
It may be his turn to lay his life down
Can you blame the voice of youth for asking
"What Is Truth?"
A young man sittin' on the witness stand
The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
"Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
The man looked down at his long hair
And although the young man solemnly swore
Nobody seems to hear anymore
And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What Is Truth?"
The young girl dancing to the latest beat
Has found new ways to move her feet
The young man speaking in the city square
Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
Are going to be the leaders in a little while
This old world's wakin' to a new born day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What Is Truth?"
------------------------------------------------
My brother made a mixtape when he was six. I remember sitting on the duplex living room floor picking out songs with him. We put it together from my dad's old records, big records from cardboard boxes, singles from plastic cases. That tape persisted for the longest time, I think the last time he played that he was fifteen or so. Tape's been a part of my life for the longest time, and this was, I think, the second song.
The reason I post this tonight is because I'm wrestling with a question very close to the premise of the song. Not "What is truth?" but "What is our duty to the truth?" Do we have an obligation to tell the truth, a duty to be exercised at all times? Is it worth destroying relationships for? When a person is unredeemable, does telling the truth even matter? Can a person ever be unredeemable? What is truth worth, at what point is the human cost not worth it?
And when I close my laptop and sit here, staring off into the darkness, I'll remember sitting on the living room floor with my brother. And I'll hear Johnny Cash saying "What is truth?"
Lyrics Double Header: Johnny Cash - Hurt
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you Hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stain of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you Hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
-----------------------------------------
Yeah, I know, it's not Johnny Cash, it's Nine Inch Nails. Yeah, I don't care. I only listen to the Johnny Cash version.
The music video is touching. It shows him eating and drinking, alone, surrounded by wealth, remembering his life on the road, and more importantly, his wife (who'd recently passed away).
It's desolate and sad and it really is the picture of a man at the very end of his life. Very sad. I think, watching it now, that he would've given everything he had, and everything he'd ever been, to have his wife back again.
The way the song is played, it's completely haunting. Just that guitar, the piano, and his voice, all building to this crescendo at the end. It's relentless, just keeps driving. Meanwhile, the video goes into overdrive showing scenes from his life interspersed with scenes of crucifixition. Strange, but it works.
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you Hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stain of time
The feeling disappears
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you Hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
-----------------------------------------
Yeah, I know, it's not Johnny Cash, it's Nine Inch Nails. Yeah, I don't care. I only listen to the Johnny Cash version.
The music video is touching. It shows him eating and drinking, alone, surrounded by wealth, remembering his life on the road, and more importantly, his wife (who'd recently passed away).
It's desolate and sad and it really is the picture of a man at the very end of his life. Very sad. I think, watching it now, that he would've given everything he had, and everything he'd ever been, to have his wife back again.
The way the song is played, it's completely haunting. Just that guitar, the piano, and his voice, all building to this crescendo at the end. It's relentless, just keeps driving. Meanwhile, the video goes into overdrive showing scenes from his life interspersed with scenes of crucifixition. Strange, but it works.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Sitting Here
My laptop says the time is 2:44am on February 1st.
I've just finished watching 3 horrible hours of seaQuest DSV Season 2. That show takes me back in time. Very few things can inspire wonder in me, and though the crabby old man in me winces at the worse-than-Red Dawn dialogue, the 7-year-old little boy in me is filled with wonder. I watch it and I feel like a little kid again, sitting on the floor in our old duplex, the angled fall sun fighting through the plants in the front window, hoping that my parents will let me finish an episode before bed. It's a nice feeling.
The reason I'm watching seaQuest at 3 in the morning is licking herself in the kennel next to my knee. One of our rats had surgery yesterday, and my mom watches here during the day, I watch her at night. I figure the next time I'll sleep overnight is probably Sunday or Monday night. I'll nap 2-3 hours at a time once or twice a day until little rat can be left unattended for more than 15 minutes.
I'm about 6 hours from being legally intoxicated due to lack of sleep. Four days of this to go. Welcome to Hell.
I've just finished watching 3 horrible hours of seaQuest DSV Season 2. That show takes me back in time. Very few things can inspire wonder in me, and though the crabby old man in me winces at the worse-than-Red Dawn dialogue, the 7-year-old little boy in me is filled with wonder. I watch it and I feel like a little kid again, sitting on the floor in our old duplex, the angled fall sun fighting through the plants in the front window, hoping that my parents will let me finish an episode before bed. It's a nice feeling.
The reason I'm watching seaQuest at 3 in the morning is licking herself in the kennel next to my knee. One of our rats had surgery yesterday, and my mom watches here during the day, I watch her at night. I figure the next time I'll sleep overnight is probably Sunday or Monday night. I'll nap 2-3 hours at a time once or twice a day until little rat can be left unattended for more than 15 minutes.
I'm about 6 hours from being legally intoxicated due to lack of sleep. Four days of this to go. Welcome to Hell.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Another Safe
Bought another safe two days ago. Put it in my closet. After an unfortunate incident involving some out of control rage by a certain family member, all extra guns got locked up downstairs. I keep a 9mm in my desk for carry and for my nightstand gun, and various other family members do the same, but all the serious hardware is downstairs.
Ever since, it's bugged me that I don't have anything close at hand for serious social situations.
Now I do. Plus I now have a place to put my other safe (the one filled with investment info and precious metals). One of the best Benjamins I ever spent.
Ever since, it's bugged me that I don't have anything close at hand for serious social situations.
Now I do. Plus I now have a place to put my other safe (the one filled with investment info and precious metals). One of the best Benjamins I ever spent.
Thompson Is Out
It's been a while since I've blogged - life's what happens when you're busy making plans - but I wanted to say something about this.
It is absolutely insane to me that Clinton, McCain, Edwards, Guiliani, Obama, Romney, or Huckabee will be our next president. They. ALL. SUCK.
Thompson was the last great electable conservative, and he betrayed his conservative principles by dropping out, by not DOING MORE. When a republic is at stake, there's NOTHING you don't do to save it.
Looking at that list of candidates, I'm reminded of the tagline from the horrible movie Alien Vs Predator.
Whoever wins...we lose.
It is absolutely insane to me that Clinton, McCain, Edwards, Guiliani, Obama, Romney, or Huckabee will be our next president. They. ALL. SUCK.
Thompson was the last great electable conservative, and he betrayed his conservative principles by dropping out, by not DOING MORE. When a republic is at stake, there's NOTHING you don't do to save it.
Looking at that list of candidates, I'm reminded of the tagline from the horrible movie Alien Vs Predator.
Whoever wins...we lose.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
God's Gift To Shooters
Took my 2 newest rifles, Barak Huessein Osama and Rudy Guiliani out to the range on Wednesday. Never had fired them before, and I had a new piece of equipment I wanted to test while I was out there, a pair of Radians electronic earmuffs. The amplify the sounds around you and deaden gunfire, or so I'd been told when I got them as a Christmas gift.
I was scared to fire the rifles with the earmuffs on. I've had a 25-06 go off pretty much right next to my ear w/o hearing protection, and I really didn't wanna hear a 30cal amplified. I manned up and pulled the trigger. I can't imagine how I shot without them. They fade out the gunshot, and it ends up sounding like a video game. Awesome device. I never want to go shooting without them again. They are God's Gift To Shooters.
Oh yeah and, the rifles shot minute-of-paperplate at 25 yards. Next week, 50 yards!
I was scared to fire the rifles with the earmuffs on. I've had a 25-06 go off pretty much right next to my ear w/o hearing protection, and I really didn't wanna hear a 30cal amplified. I manned up and pulled the trigger. I can't imagine how I shot without them. They fade out the gunshot, and it ends up sounding like a video game. Awesome device. I never want to go shooting without them again. They are God's Gift To Shooters.
Oh yeah and, the rifles shot minute-of-paperplate at 25 yards. Next week, 50 yards!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Death Sentence
It's the movie The Punisher should've been.
Very simple plot too. Happy family man Kevin Bacon's son is brutally murdered in a gang initiation rite. Kevin Bacon then commences kicking @$$.
Actually a little more complex than that. He kills the first of the gang somewhat accidentally. They come looking for him, and he kills the next one very intentionally, in a rather terrific brawl that involves seatbelts, a car door, and a hockey stick.
They come looking for him again and kill the rest of his family.
Kevin Bacon says "Screw this law and order crap," loads up on rather mediocre weapons, and whacks the remaining 9 gangbangers in an abandoned mental institution.
Why you'd go into that situation with a revolver, a 1911 (OK, maybe if you were a diehard 1911 fan), and a SIDE BY SIDE SHOTGUN is completely beyond me. Bacon handles the guns fairly well, and it's rather educational to watch someone who's obviously not well trained blunder his way through a fight against a bunch of guys who hold their guns sideways. Shotguns are employed on both sides to great effect - but blowing people 12 feet backwards...completely unrealistic.
The best part of the movie is watching Kevin Bacon morph from an ordinary guy into someone who really doesn't care. About anything. Law, right, wrong...there's a point at the end where we expect much hand-wringing and liberal-lesson-imparting to occur, and it just...doesn't. It's an emotionally AND physically brutal movie, and I like that. I'm putting it on my must own list.
Very simple plot too. Happy family man Kevin Bacon's son is brutally murdered in a gang initiation rite. Kevin Bacon then commences kicking @$$.
Actually a little more complex than that. He kills the first of the gang somewhat accidentally. They come looking for him, and he kills the next one very intentionally, in a rather terrific brawl that involves seatbelts, a car door, and a hockey stick.
They come looking for him again and kill the rest of his family.
Kevin Bacon says "Screw this law and order crap," loads up on rather mediocre weapons, and whacks the remaining 9 gangbangers in an abandoned mental institution.
Why you'd go into that situation with a revolver, a 1911 (OK, maybe if you were a diehard 1911 fan), and a SIDE BY SIDE SHOTGUN is completely beyond me. Bacon handles the guns fairly well, and it's rather educational to watch someone who's obviously not well trained blunder his way through a fight against a bunch of guys who hold their guns sideways. Shotguns are employed on both sides to great effect - but blowing people 12 feet backwards...completely unrealistic.
The best part of the movie is watching Kevin Bacon morph from an ordinary guy into someone who really doesn't care. About anything. Law, right, wrong...there's a point at the end where we expect much hand-wringing and liberal-lesson-imparting to occur, and it just...doesn't. It's an emotionally AND physically brutal movie, and I like that. I'm putting it on my must own list.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
I saw one of their last '07 shows recently.
Much more relaxed than they usually do before Christmas. They'd break off in the middle of a Christmas song to let Clark and Pitrelli dual guitars, and the theatrics during Old City Bar were comical rather than dramatic. Far less professional, but they really looked like they were having a good time. That band enjoys what they do.
The second half of the show they just let loose. Started off with Proud Mary and detoured all over their discography.
I thought it was cool that they worked in some of their less-well-known songs into the Christmas half of the show. Siberian Sleigh Ride, Wish Liszt, a whole bunch of others that rarely get played. I do so wish they'd do a Christmas Attic concert.
Well worth the $75 per seat fee. Probably worth double that.
Much more relaxed than they usually do before Christmas. They'd break off in the middle of a Christmas song to let Clark and Pitrelli dual guitars, and the theatrics during Old City Bar were comical rather than dramatic. Far less professional, but they really looked like they were having a good time. That band enjoys what they do.
The second half of the show they just let loose. Started off with Proud Mary and detoured all over their discography.
I thought it was cool that they worked in some of their less-well-known songs into the Christmas half of the show. Siberian Sleigh Ride, Wish Liszt, a whole bunch of others that rarely get played. I do so wish they'd do a Christmas Attic concert.
Well worth the $75 per seat fee. Probably worth double that.
3:10 To Yuma
Christian Bale once again shows why he's the best actor around. The last scene he has with his wife, where he explains why he's going is perfect. I'd love to see him do a movie with Michael Mann.
It's basically a reverse of The Fugitive, set in the Olde West. Outlaw is being escorted to jail, his crew tries to break him out.
Russell Crowe plays the main baddie, a man of few words who seems to see to the heart of everyone around him. He has a strange purity - he knows he's evil, and he's content with that.
Christian Bale plays a one-legged farmer who hires on to help escort Crowe to the 3:10 to Yuma train, which will take him away to be hanged. The "reveal" for why he joins up with the posse comes later in the movie, and is rather...wrenching.
Violent and appropriately bloody, with a dragged out gunfight at the end that wants to be Open Range but just isn't.
It's basically a reverse of The Fugitive, set in the Olde West. Outlaw is being escorted to jail, his crew tries to break him out.
Russell Crowe plays the main baddie, a man of few words who seems to see to the heart of everyone around him. He has a strange purity - he knows he's evil, and he's content with that.
Christian Bale plays a one-legged farmer who hires on to help escort Crowe to the 3:10 to Yuma train, which will take him away to be hanged. The "reveal" for why he joins up with the posse comes later in the movie, and is rather...wrenching.
Violent and appropriately bloody, with a dragged out gunfight at the end that wants to be Open Range but just isn't.
I Am Legend
Saw it recently. Decent movie. I like how they portrayed Will Smith as slowly going crazy. The atmosphere was well done, giving the impression that he really was the last man on earth...and the tension of night kept viewers on their toes.
The ending felt like a cop-out though.
And I take much pride in the fact that I'm fairly better armed than Robert Neville.
The ending felt like a cop-out though.
And I take much pride in the fact that I'm fairly better armed than Robert Neville.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
New Year's Eve
Didn't think anything would come of it this year. Sure, I'd tried to set up a bowling meet with some people from work. Didn't get much of a confirmation from anyone, and none at all from one in particular.
Got to the lanes late, thought all my friends woulda packed up and ambled on home. Nope. Everybody who'd said they might come, and then some.
Bowled the second best out of my group. Listened to horrible rap dreck, and 5 good songs, most of which came from the 80s. Made ascerbic comments on the state of society with my best friend. Watched a bunch of gangstas freak-dance next to us, and made ascerbic comments about them. Nearly puked on a cheese curd.
One of the best times of my life.
Then I get home.
It appears the other shoe is falling.
Every silver lining needs a cloud to appear behind.
But I still had one hell of a good time. Thanks guys. At the risk of sounding cliched, y'all saved my life last night. I thought I was alone in this, and then I come to find I got friends and more of 'em than I expected. I'm eternally grateful.
Got to the lanes late, thought all my friends woulda packed up and ambled on home. Nope. Everybody who'd said they might come, and then some.
Bowled the second best out of my group. Listened to horrible rap dreck, and 5 good songs, most of which came from the 80s. Made ascerbic comments on the state of society with my best friend. Watched a bunch of gangstas freak-dance next to us, and made ascerbic comments about them. Nearly puked on a cheese curd.
One of the best times of my life.
Then I get home.
It appears the other shoe is falling.
Every silver lining needs a cloud to appear behind.
But I still had one hell of a good time. Thanks guys. At the risk of sounding cliched, y'all saved my life last night. I thought I was alone in this, and then I come to find I got friends and more of 'em than I expected. I'm eternally grateful.
Jericho
Forget for a moment that it's produced by the Commie Broadcasting System, and that many of the situations the characters find themselves in are completely unrealistic, and that the end of the world would look much bleaker and the people much less well-coiffed than they appear.
This is dang good TV.
This show contains everything that is good about America.
~Resisting the trampling of civil liberties
~Self-reliance
~Good people pitching in to help one another
~A community led by strong men
~Preparedness
~The positive portrayal of firearms ownership
Hawkins's daughter asked him what he had a competition 1911 for and his reply was "Shooting." He then told her that it was high time she learned. She asked why, and he said "So you can defend yourself." Then there's the line I have written on my white board, about 2 feet away from where I sit right now "Every able-bodied person needs a gun. Sixteen years of age or older. Line up."
The fact that they portray the heads of the community as strong, human men is incredible as well. I thought males had been reduced to bumbling, out-of-touch, insensitive, lecherous lugs or out-of-control grown-up adolescents on TV. Gray Anderson, Johnston Green, Stanley, Jake Green...they think and act logically, and with a strong sense of character.
It's no wonder this show was canceled. This was anathema to everything offered on TV at the time. For all it's flaws, this is dang good programming.
This is dang good TV.
This show contains everything that is good about America.
~Resisting the trampling of civil liberties
~Self-reliance
~Good people pitching in to help one another
~A community led by strong men
~Preparedness
~The positive portrayal of firearms ownership
Hawkins's daughter asked him what he had a competition 1911 for and his reply was "Shooting." He then told her that it was high time she learned. She asked why, and he said "So you can defend yourself." Then there's the line I have written on my white board, about 2 feet away from where I sit right now "Every able-bodied person needs a gun. Sixteen years of age or older. Line up."
The fact that they portray the heads of the community as strong, human men is incredible as well. I thought males had been reduced to bumbling, out-of-touch, insensitive, lecherous lugs or out-of-control grown-up adolescents on TV. Gray Anderson, Johnston Green, Stanley, Jake Green...they think and act logically, and with a strong sense of character.
It's no wonder this show was canceled. This was anathema to everything offered on TV at the time. For all it's flaws, this is dang good programming.
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