Cheney Speech
Here's a transcript and commentary on VP Dick Cheney's speech out in Fulton recently. I like to read.
4.28.2004
4.23.2004
Sad, but inspiring news
I just heard that former Arizona Cardinals receiver Pat Tillman has been killed in action in Afghanistan. This guy gave up millions of dollars to go serve as a Ranger defending his country. It's one of those stories that you may have heard quite a bit in WWII, but never these days. I'm sad for his wife and family. Maybe they'll name the new stadium after him.
I just heard that former Arizona Cardinals receiver Pat Tillman has been killed in action in Afghanistan. This guy gave up millions of dollars to go serve as a Ranger defending his country. It's one of those stories that you may have heard quite a bit in WWII, but never these days. I'm sad for his wife and family. Maybe they'll name the new stadium after him.
4.04.2004
How to ruin a great game
I'm upset. I feel cheated. And it's not because UConn rallied to beat Duke last night in the Final Four. It's because the referees tried to ruin the game by calling the most ridiculous fouls ever. They had UConn's premier player (Okafor) benched after playing 3 minutes in the first half by calling two ticky-tack invisible fouls. My Duke team, not to be overlooked, get just about every starting player in foul trouble using the same method. Randolph and Williams, our two big men (not counting Horvath, who, while good, isn't either of them), fouled out with seven minutes or so left in the second half, leaving Okafor completely unchallenged to lead a comeback.
Incomprehensibly, the referees called only the fouls that weren't there, but ignored some amazing hacks. The one that comes to mind most clearly is the hard foul on Redick in Duke's last possesion. You don't see Krzyzewski, a class act of a coach, often on the sidelines screaming, "That's bullshit! That's bullshit!!" When he's lost his cool, you know there's something wrong. And what is wrong is this game could have been classic. It could have been magical. Instead, thanks to three stupid zebras, we got two championship-caliber teams fighting it out with one arm tied behind their backs.
Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post was there, and his column says it pretty good:
I'm upset. I feel cheated. And it's not because UConn rallied to beat Duke last night in the Final Four. It's because the referees tried to ruin the game by calling the most ridiculous fouls ever. They had UConn's premier player (Okafor) benched after playing 3 minutes in the first half by calling two ticky-tack invisible fouls. My Duke team, not to be overlooked, get just about every starting player in foul trouble using the same method. Randolph and Williams, our two big men (not counting Horvath, who, while good, isn't either of them), fouled out with seven minutes or so left in the second half, leaving Okafor completely unchallenged to lead a comeback.
Incomprehensibly, the referees called only the fouls that weren't there, but ignored some amazing hacks. The one that comes to mind most clearly is the hard foul on Redick in Duke's last possesion. You don't see Krzyzewski, a class act of a coach, often on the sidelines screaming, "That's bullshit! That's bullshit!!" When he's lost his cool, you know there's something wrong. And what is wrong is this game could have been classic. It could have been magical. Instead, thanks to three stupid zebras, we got two championship-caliber teams fighting it out with one arm tied behind their backs.
Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post was there, and his column says it pretty good:
- They came close to ruining the game. With eight minutes to go half the people in the Alamodome, some with no rooting interests whatsoever, began chanting, "Let them play! Let them play!" David Hall, Olandis Poole and Ted Hillary apparently never heard the sentiment that zebras should be seen but not heard.
There was never any kind of flow or back-and-forth rhythm to the game, even though Duke and Connecticut are polished teams offensively. And neither is particularly physical or foul-prone. UConn vs. Duke isn't Michigan State vs. Oklahoma. UConn and Duke rely on skill; they play beautiful basketball. They don't hack it up. Yet, the game was ugly, perhaps even unsatisfying, because the officiating was embarrassingly, even unforgettably awful and actually prevented the teams from playing to the level they'd shown through the first four games of the tournament. All three of them should have been taken from the court at the half and been replaced during intermission.
4.02.2004
Hellboy
Yes, Hellboy, the movie my roommate knows I've been looking forward to for months, opens today. Word of mouth is that it is very cool, but in case you don't believe me, check out Ebert's review or Walter Chaw's review (of Film Freak Central fame), or an overall glimpse from Rotten Tomatoes.
Yes, Hellboy, the movie my roommate knows I've been looking forward to for months, opens today. Word of mouth is that it is very cool, but in case you don't believe me, check out Ebert's review or Walter Chaw's review (of Film Freak Central fame), or an overall glimpse from Rotten Tomatoes.
3.30.2004
New Entry
Okay, I've given it a lot of thought, but my list of "Favorite Movies Of All-Time" needs revision. More specifically, a new entry. For the last 20 years or so, the top-two have been as thus:
Today, a revision:
Okay, I've given it a lot of thought, but my list of "Favorite Movies Of All-Time" needs revision. More specifically, a new entry. For the last 20 years or so, the top-two have been as thus:
- Casablanca
- Star Wars: The Empires Strikes Back
Today, a revision:
- Casablanca
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Star Wars: The Empires Strikes Back
3.29.2004
Ex-minister essay
I stumbled upon this little P.O.V. essay from an ex-minister. He certainly touches upon a lot of things I can relate to.
Oh, and speaking of The Passion of the Christ, which is now the highest grossing rated-R movie of all time (heh), rumor has it that this week's episode of South Park features Kyle going to see the controversial flick. I can't wait.
I stumbled upon this little P.O.V. essay from an ex-minister. He certainly touches upon a lot of things I can relate to.
Oh, and speaking of The Passion of the Christ, which is now the highest grossing rated-R movie of all time (heh), rumor has it that this week's episode of South Park features Kyle going to see the controversial flick. I can't wait.
3.25.2004
Batman: The All-Star Actor Saga
Cinescape reports that two more renowned actors have joined the already formidable acting squad for Batman Begins: Rutger Hauer and Tom Wilkinson. What is it with this movie?
Cinescape reports that two more renowned actors have joined the already formidable acting squad for Batman Begins: Rutger Hauer and Tom Wilkinson. What is it with this movie?
Gorey Death
Thanks to the anti-social Jaquandor who found a quiz to figure out Which horrible Edward Gorey death will you die?
My result, naturally:
You will sink in a mire. You like to think you're
normal, but deep down you really just want to
strip off your clothes and roll around in
chicken fat.
What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?
brought to you by Quizilla
Thanks to the anti-social Jaquandor who found a quiz to figure out Which horrible Edward Gorey death will you die?
My result, naturally:
You will sink in a mire. You like to think you're
normal, but deep down you really just want to
strip off your clothes and roll around in
chicken fat.
What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?
brought to you by Quizilla
3.13.2004
Pulp Fiction: Deconstructing the Timeline
Instead of using my vast synaptic resources to create a utopian society, I've opted to settle one of the burning questions of our time: How much time passes during the events in the movie Pulp Fiction?
Well, the first step in this process is to establish a timeline sequesnce. Here is the chapter list as presented in the film:
In scene 2 (VINCENT VEGA & MARSELLUS WALLACE'S WIFE), after Vega and Jules have the conversation about mayonnaise and Royale with Cheese, they grab their guns out of the trunk and go up into the apartment building. When they reach the door to Brad's apartment, Jules asked Vega what time it is. Vega replies "7:22 AM". As this is the first chronologically in the movie, we can establish that the film begins, approximately, at 7 AM on Day One.
Chronologically, the next scene is 4 (JULES, VINCENT, JIMMIE & THE WOLF). This occurs immediately after scene 2. The entire sequence happens during the same morning, and concludes at Marcellus' bar. When Vince and Jules arrive (clad in Banana Slugs gear), the bartender says to Vince: "I hear you're taking Mia out tomorrow." From that we can say that the date and the drug OD sequence happen the following night (about 36 hours from that point), and concludes early the next morning.
The last sequence is scene 3 (THE GOLD WATCH). After Butch's fight, in the locker room, Marcellus is on the phone giving orders to find Butch. Mia and Vince are in the foreground. Mia thanks him for "last night", saying she had fun. Therefore, the fight night is the night after the OD night, 1 day later. Butch wakes up the next morning and goes to retrieve his watch, and the Zed incident ensues. After escaping Zed's pleasure factory and jumping on Zed's bike ("Grace"), Butch checks his father's watch. It says: 10:30. He immediately goes to pick up his chick and vamoose. That is chronologically the last scene of the film, ending at approximately 11 AM.
Therefore we can say that the film starts at @7 AM on Day One and ends at @ 11 AM on Day 4 for a duration of 76 hours, plus or minus a few minutes.
Of course, if you are really a rooster-prick, you can say 76 hours + about 35 years if you include the Christopher Walken's flashback. I'd advise not. Rooster-pricks are far too abudant these days.
Instead of using my vast synaptic resources to create a utopian society, I've opted to settle one of the burning questions of our time: How much time passes during the events in the movie Pulp Fiction?
Well, the first step in this process is to establish a timeline sequesnce. Here is the chapter list as presented in the film:
- 1. PROLOGUE
2. VINCENT VEGA & MARSELLUS WALLACE'S WIFE
3. THE GOLD WATCH
4. JULES, VINCENT, JIMMIE & THE WOLF
5. EPILOGUE
- 2. VINCENT VEGA & MARSELLUS WALLACE'S WIFE
4. JULES, VINCENT, JIMMIE & THE WOLF
1. PROLOGUE
5. EPILOGUE
3. THE GOLD WATCH
In scene 2 (VINCENT VEGA & MARSELLUS WALLACE'S WIFE), after Vega and Jules have the conversation about mayonnaise and Royale with Cheese, they grab their guns out of the trunk and go up into the apartment building. When they reach the door to Brad's apartment, Jules asked Vega what time it is. Vega replies "7:22 AM". As this is the first chronologically in the movie, we can establish that the film begins, approximately, at 7 AM on Day One.
Chronologically, the next scene is 4 (JULES, VINCENT, JIMMIE & THE WOLF). This occurs immediately after scene 2. The entire sequence happens during the same morning, and concludes at Marcellus' bar. When Vince and Jules arrive (clad in Banana Slugs gear), the bartender says to Vince: "I hear you're taking Mia out tomorrow." From that we can say that the date and the drug OD sequence happen the following night (about 36 hours from that point), and concludes early the next morning.
The last sequence is scene 3 (THE GOLD WATCH). After Butch's fight, in the locker room, Marcellus is on the phone giving orders to find Butch. Mia and Vince are in the foreground. Mia thanks him for "last night", saying she had fun. Therefore, the fight night is the night after the OD night, 1 day later. Butch wakes up the next morning and goes to retrieve his watch, and the Zed incident ensues. After escaping Zed's pleasure factory and jumping on Zed's bike ("Grace"), Butch checks his father's watch. It says: 10:30. He immediately goes to pick up his chick and vamoose. That is chronologically the last scene of the film, ending at approximately 11 AM.
Therefore we can say that the film starts at @7 AM on Day One and ends at @ 11 AM on Day 4 for a duration of 76 hours, plus or minus a few minutes.
Of course, if you are really a rooster-prick, you can say 76 hours + about 35 years if you include the Christopher Walken's flashback. I'd advise not. Rooster-pricks are far too abudant these days.
3.04.2004
That's Mr. Durden to you
Took Quizilla's "What movie do you belong in?" quiz, and lo and behold, this is what I got, and I am indeed proud:
Fight Club!
What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla
The list of all possible outcomes is here.
Took Quizilla's "What movie do you belong in?" quiz, and lo and behold, this is what I got, and I am indeed proud:
Fight Club!
What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla
The list of all possible outcomes is here.
Batman: The Ultimate Cast
The new Batman movie in production continues to add to its already formidable cast with the addition of Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon:
The new Batman movie in production continues to add to its already formidable cast with the addition of Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon:
- The cast includes Christian Bale as Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred, Katie Holmes as Rachel Dodson, Liam Neeson as Ducard, Ken Watanabe as ra's al Ghul, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane, and Larry Holden as D.A. Fisk.
3.01.2004
Technological Advances
It's amazing, but this internet orgasmic simulator really does capture a realistic facsimile.
It's amazing, but this internet orgasmic simulator really does capture a realistic facsimile.