Some stories just make you shake your head:
We never think very much about the downside to global harmony. Why not? Defense contractors got families to feed. Some third-world kids would starve if they didn’t have jobs making cheap AK47 knockoffs. Peace doesn’t sound like such a great deal for them.
Chat about whatever.
Steve
We never think very much about the downside to global harmony, but the military-industrial complex does, I can assure you. This is the same issue on a very micro level.
D. Mason
What’s up with Charlie Sheen?
neil
On the subject of ETA, here’s an excellent essay from the eXile on the differences between IRA/ETA-style domestic terrorist organizations and the real hardcore al-Qaida crew. The author explains that he knew immediately that ETA didn’t do the Madrid bombings because they, like the IRA, try to bomb property and not cost lives, since their aim is to win the support of their countrymen and this objective is ill-served by killing them.
The Other Steve
I went to see V for Vendetta last night, and it was really quite good.
Wingnuts will hate it, because they can’t take accept entertainment without trying to assign a political agenda. But it was really quite good.
KCinDC
We can’t implement any policies that reduce the huge number of Americans in prison because it will put people who work for the prison-industrial complex out of work.
Pb
KCinDC,
Indeed. And I will just point out more explicitly that that number includes the prisoners themselves.
Andrei
I’d like to hear what John has to say about the charge from some of the commentators on why he viciously attacks the “lefties” on this blog with ferocity and ill will while he rarely if ever smacks down the oh so many slimy charges, overtly partisan generalizations, untruths and flat out lies as espoused by some of the “righties” on this blog. Namely, guys like Darrell.
don surber
Charlie can say whatever he wants with impunity. His portrayal of Rick Vaughn in “Major League” was a cinematic achievement that grants him absolution from any responsibility from any statement, no matter how rash, from any true Cleveland Indians fan
Willie: “What the hell league you been playing in?”
Vaughn: “California penal.”
Willie: “Never heard of it. How’d you end up playing there?”
Vaughn: “Stole a car.”
don surber
Wesley Snipes? He was a no-show in “Major League II”? I have no Wesley Snipes!
Darrell
tell us whackjob, what specifically are the “flat out lies” espoused by me which are so deserving of smackdown? enlighten us
canuckistani
Wesley Snipes redeemed himself by playing an over-the-top psycho in Demolition Man, the only Sylvester Stallone movie I can watch. But Major League was better than it had any right to be. Almost at the level of Slapshot!
Darrell
He was good in Demolition man.. But in Blade he was fantastic
Pb
Darrell,
Generally, whenever you post here. Specifically? I don’t have that kind of time, so instead of rifling through all your previous posts, I’ll just call you on it the next time I see it.
Pb
Ah, here we go:
Blade sucked. :)
Edmund Dantes
V for Vendetta is an amazing film. It’s amazingly well done. Definitely worth seeing.
Hugo Weaving has played some great characters.
Mr. Smith and now V. Loved the “V” speech. It took me a little while to catch on to all the V words.
Nice to see Portman get away from Lucas. She really is a treasure when she doesn’t have to deal with his wooden dialogue.
Steve
Do we have a bipartisan consensus? Demolition Man is one of the most underrated movies ever.
Darrell
Can anyone explain why immigration enforcement was not all over these immigration protests arresting illegals? I find it arrogant as hell for those who are here in violation of our laws, now demanding their “derechos” here.
And what’s not to like about Blade?
MattM
Blade peaks WAY too early. The vampire club scene is fantastic, and the movie limps along afterwards.
Darrell
Speaking of, I thought Lord of War was good. Nicolas Cage’s narration in particular
Darrell
I agree the vampire club scene was great, but c’mon, immediately afterward the scene in the hospital with the crispy fried vampire..that was also cool and unexpected. It did start off incredibly, but I guess we’ll agree to disagree about the limping along afterward.
Any bi-partisan agreement on the Count of Monte Cristo? Fantastic movie
demimondian
My God, Tim! You liberals! Why don’t you ever talk about the good things that peace and propserity have brought to Spain?
Pb
Darrell,
Blade was tragically born without a plot. It looked pretty, though, and I will say that it was better than–say–John Carpenter’s Vampires, or Sphere, but that’s really not saying much at all.
Krista
.
Indeed. Unfortunately, due to the timing of things, I had a very hard time watching him in Lord of the Rings. I kept waiting for him to say something like, “Never before has any voice dared to utter the words of that tongue
in Imladris, Mister AN-derson.”
Bob In Pacifica
1971, traveling from Andorra into Spain through the Pyrenees. About a half hour in the bus stops and a Guardia Civil, complete with shingy patent-leather Napoleon hat and machine gun slung over his arm gets on the bus and slowly walks up and down the aisle, looking. Everyone’s silent except for the sound of adam’s apples gulping.
Then he gets off and we go on. Franco’s fascist Spain.
VidaLoca
Um… could’ve turned a big demonstration into a full-on riot?
Bob In Pacifica
You wanna stop integration? Stop businesses hiring illegals. Make the fines for the employers hurt. Before anyone brings back the bracero program, stop the hiring. If you can’t earn a living in the U.S. you won’t come here illegally.
Building a huge wall is not going to work.
Anderson
I would still like some reaction from Cole about the RedState reaction to Domenech’s getting busted. They completely jumped the shark on this one.
srv
Anderson, RedState Philosophy:
1) Deny Reality
2) Close ranks
3) Attack the messenger
4) Purge and threaten any dissent
5) Play the Biden card
6) Find most extreme opposition and label it mainstream
7) In the face of more evidence, rerun steps 1-6
8) When finally trapped, chock it up to youthful exuberance and write 4 paragraphs blaming someone else
9) Self-fellate on new-found honesty and values
Given that Ben was home schooled and couldn’t make it at college, this really represents more of his parents character than his own. They are the ones who should be apologizing.
I’m wondering if someone should be cross-checking the NRO editors also. They seem to have done a bang-up job checking for plagerism.
Ancient Purple
Bingo.
But it will never happen. Every year, someone in the Arizona Legislature introduces a bill that would severely punish employers who hire illegals. The bill dies a quick death by the Republican majority citing that it puts an “undue burden” on businesses and fining them would cause economic harm to the State.
Then there are all the well-to-do’s in Scottsdale who would be frothing at the mouth if they actually had to pay someone a living wage to be a nanny to the kids instead of an illegal alien willing to do the same job for less than minimum wage.
BTW, Darrell, how do you suppose INS is supposed to know who was illegal and who wasn’t at those rallies?
Or should Hispanics be required to show ID everytime they gather in groups of two or more?
The Other Steve
I’m eagerly awaiting “Thank You For Smoking”.
I still find it rather interesting that Chris Buckley wrote the story.
The Other Steve
It is interesting, no doubt.
On the other hand I was listening to some of those protestors today and it came to me that many of them have more desire to be in America than many Americans I have to deal with daily.
They want to work, and they’re willing to risk everything for the opportunity. Compare this to so many Americans today with their entitlement attitude, that they think we all owe them something.
Just interesting. I mean, I was comparing what those immigrants were saying with the loud yelping of Ben Domenech this past week. It’s an interesting contrast.
Jcricket
V for Vendetta was fantastic. Visual effects were great and Hugo Weaving managed to be expressive from behind a mask, gloves and a floor-length black coat.
Given my personal politics, I see certain parallels with the current Bush administration. However, I think whether or not you even care about politics the movie should resonate with you. There were a total stand-out line:
V for Vendetta even has a good lesson for the whiny-ass-titty-babies like Ben Domenech. The louder they scream, and the more they try to grab control through fear-mongering, demonizing the “other” (e.g. homosexuals, muslims, etc.) the more fuel they give to their “enemies” (i.e. the who will eventually overthrow them). And the more fuel they provide, the faster and more violent their downfall will be. Ben’s humiliating defeat is a case in point.
I actually hope the wingnuts go see V for Vendetta, go home and, after wetting their pants, start typing more “liberals = traitors” screeds in their blogs. Let’s see where it gets them.
CaseyL
Honestly, Darrell, I can’t tell whether you’re a complete lunatic or an utter bonehead.
Leaving aside the implicit racism of assuming all the marchers were illegal immigrants, there were half a million people in that march.
What, exactly, do you think “immigration officials” ought to have done? Tell the police to check 500,000 people for papers?
Pooh
Darrell
With you. And Demo Man is Top 5 of the 90’s B-movies. In the future, all restaraunts are taco bell.
ppGaz
Just a little jaw-dropper for an open thread.
Steve
I remember seeing Speed a year later, and thinking hmmm, don’t I know this cute actress from somewhere?
John S.
And after the passage of the 32nd Amendment, an actor who became Governor of California is President. Again.
robert
why?
zzyzx
Hey, it’s the anti-PC movement’s rules once again. Free Speech is the right to say offensive things. If you attack someone and they complain, that’s censorship. If it’s not snarky and obnoxious, it’s not protected!
Blue Neponset
Don Surber has a good article about the L’Affair Domenech up on his blog. It begins:
Surprisingly Don doesn’t mention white phospherous or how awful Jane Hamsher is, but inspite of that it is a pretty good read it has some pretty some good links.
SmilingPolitely
Redstate condemns Don Surber’s post. Surber, the communist, godless, liberal, homosexual, terrorist sympathizer is now dead to them.
I think a bible quote was thrown in there, too.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Re: American employers hiring illegals.
Recently, I read an interview w/the head of an agricultural concern. He said he had to hire undocumented workers, as they were the only ones who would work for the money he was willing to pay. If he had to pay fair wages (i.e., enough to interest an American), well, he’d rather let the crops rot in the field.
As we debate immigration, we need to be honest and examine the effect of illegals on our economy. On the anti-immigration side, they bitch about the cost of law enforcement and health care, and schooling the brown-skinned horde. But they don’t mention cheap lettuce.
Jcricket
You know what’s pathetic? Even Domenech’s apologies were laced with obfuscations about what he’d really done (to minimize how bad it made him look), veiled attempts to lay blame at others’ feet and, worst of all, continued attacks on liberals.
His comment that “at least when they were attacking me they weren’t attacking America” is one of his prototypical right-wing libels, and has no place in the kind of apology a “real man” (like Patrick Swayze in Red Dawn) would make. So you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t “take it easy on the guy” when he can’t even manage to get out an apology without insulting everyone to the left of Joe Lieberman.
I’m not saying he should apologize to liberals. We’re not his colleagues, and we didn’t place any trust in him. I’m just saying that a proper apology might have been,
Darrell
The left can’t seem to debate issues without playing the race card.. but I will agree with you that let’s examine the effects of illegals in the economy, good and bad. First, I note that you assume all, or most of the cheap labor cost trickles down to the consumer in terms of cheap produce. How could you possibly know whether or not most of those savings line the pockets of big agribusiness? Of course you have no clue, and for that matter, neither do I, but it’s a safe assumption that agribusiness passes down as little of those savings as if possible.
Costs? Well, you’ve mentioned a couple of issue, but the biggest and most obvious costs imo are schooling the children of the illegal aliens. I don’t have hard facts, but it seems to me they don’t tend to have small families. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume a family w/3 kids. Depending on where they live, school costs will be $7,000 – $9,000 per child per year, no including free school lunches, free vaccinations and other services. That means Joe Taxpayer is paying around $25,000/year for a family that earns maybe $20,000/year. You do the math
But we get cheap lettuce, so that evens things out, right? One other related point – why the hell does my driver’s license have photo and scan info., yet my Social S. card has no photo, only a number. Why, in 2006, is this still the case? It’s a system custom made for fraud, yet I have yet to hear 1 politician suggest that more forgery-proof SS cards be put into place. Unbelievable when you think about it
CaseyL
OK, at this point it might be easier to enumerate who isn’t “dead to them” over at RS.
tzs
RS seems to have suffered a Jacobin implosion with the bannings right and left (even of long-time commentators). Reminds me of what happened to Robespierre.
Any revolution always ends up eating its own.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
What makes you think I’m a leftie?
Darrell
Can you provide a link to this condemnation? I didn’t see anything on their front page..
Darrell
Because you pulled the race card without basis in a debate over immigration.. that is the tried and true modus operandi of the left. Am I mistaken?
capelza
Yes, Darrel, you are mistaken…
As for Red State, man, yesterday was a bloodbath…Thomas was indeed Robespierre, only shriller and not as snappily dressed.
For a site that likes to call all liberals emotional (on a good day)…that was the ultimate and absolutely hysterical irony.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Are you high? I live in Arizona – the race card, as played by the left and right equally, was placed on the table long ago.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Plus, I’m a Republican whose poltical hero is Barry Goldwater – the true grand old man of the Grand Old Party.
Leftie, my ass, you reactionary nitwit.
Darrell
yes of course GS, pretend you’re not a race baiter:”schooling the brown-skinned horde”. ‘Nuff said
Tim F.
You could also point out that Blade is more fun than extracting fingernail splinters, watching paint dry and gangrene.
ppGaz
GSFRB, did we do this already?
I live over here near Phoenix College.
Whereabouts are you?
Gold Star for Robot Boy
A post on the AZ Republic’s blog:
Darrell, am I race-baiting by pointing this out?
Gold Star for Robot Boy
ppGaz,
We did! I’m out Gilbert way.
ppGaz
Ah, that’s right. And I think Ancient Purple is also around here somewhere.
Nice weekend we’re having out here.
Too bad it won’t last :-(
Well, unless you enjoy July and August here. I tend to dread them.
capelza
Damn Darrell, my hispanic brother in law from western Kansas (his family has been here for god knows how long…probably there before most white “natives”) gets crap from folks all the time “to go back where you belong”…and it ain’t from liberals…
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Spend a few years in Florida. You’ll appreciate AZ even more.
Darrell
What’s your point? That some racism exists? Wow, what a revelation. Do you think that excuses your own race baiting? also, I note that you can’t/don’t respond to your cheap lettuce argument being torn to shreds.. so instead you respond only on a personal level because that’s all you got
ppGaz
Point taken. I was there in the summer once, at Orlando.
OMG, I thought — literally — that I was going to die.
I didn’t realize the atmosphere could HOLD that much moisture. It was like walking around in a hot tub.
KCinDC
From the well-known lefty race-baiter George W. Bush:
D. Mason
Humidity is a bitch.
Par R
While it was said in quite a different context by Kevin, mere scrolling through the comment threads here often leads to a form of “association” with some of the most repugnant, short-fingered vulgarians that one could ever expect to encounter in life. Tight little left-lugnut pockets of foul-smelling gas….seething low-self-esteem headcases who shouldn’t be allowed to scrawl their thoughts on soiled paper bags in dumpsters or subway cars, let alone punch them into a web form box with a submit button nearby. It’s become increasingly difficult to even type the names of some of the malodorous subhuman cretins who inhabit this nuttersphere anymore; it leaves one with an enormous desire to simply want to be done with them. Blecch.
Pb
Darrell,
Funny that you mention social security–lots of illegal immigrants have fake/invalid social security numbers so that they can work in this country, which means that they are paying into the system, but won’t necessarily be able to collect, later. Therefore, illegals are helping to shore up our social security system–three cheers for illegal immigration!
As for the cost of schooling the brown-skinned horde, who talks like that?
capelza
Pat R, is that a Goodbye Cruel World post?
Please say yes. Thank you.
ppGaz
I have no dog in your fight here, but I can guess at what the point might be.
The right is neurotic and defensive about racism, because it’s redstate roots are grounded in a racist backlash. The entire “southern strategy” was designed to capitalize on a resentment of northern and easter liberal interference with the South and its snails-pace movement into the future and away from its racist past.
Racism, not a concern for law and order, was behind the Bush attack on Dukakis, for example. The campaign could have made the same point with a Fred Horton, white, without using Willie Horton, the black. BTW, the program that put Horton out on the street was a federal, not a state, program, IIRC, so not only was the attack a racially coded one, it was patently dishonest as well.
But the point is that the GOP has always had ways to capitalize on the fact that it can employ the black loyalty to the Democrats by using it against them in appeals to white southerners.
The “racism” thing here is very gray area, very squishy. It is not necessary for a southerner, for example, to actually be a racist, or practice racism, in order to tug on his southern heartstrings and get him emotional about the way the Yankees treated them. And then, turn that into votes. Is that racism, or just good old fashioned political manipulation? Probably more of the latter, but that doesn’t change its quality. The quality is to divide voters on emotional grounds, rather than on logical and intellectual grounds. Its the entire basis for the southern strategy, and it works very effectively.
That’s the good news, it works. The bad news is that is fits into a pattern of divisive politics which ends up with the demonizing, uber-partisan crap that we see today … the kind you revel in, and nourish and every opportunity, Darrell. You never, ever, let down your “lefties are Satan” guard, or take off that ridiculous mask of yours. Without it, I don’t think you’d have anything to say here, or anyone to say it to. That’s why I always say to you, you suck. You just suck.
But anyway, the point is, the racism thing is not, if you will pardon the expression, all black and white. It’s mostly gray, and subtle, and pervasive. Trying to pretend it’s not there is either stupid or dishonest. In your case, it’s hard to pick between those two choices.
Stormy70
All right now {cracks fingers}.
Vampire movies? Yes, I enjoyed Blade, but I loved Underworld 1 and 2. Vampires vs. Werewolves. Ding, ding, ding…and the winner is…Underworld.
After the Matrix sequels, it will be a cold day in hell before I see another “talky” by the Wachowski Brothers. They and their movies are dead to me. Since the reviews of V are mixed and no reliable family member with my tastes in movies has signed off on it, then I have to pass. I won’t be fooled by the likes of the Wachowskis again. Nope. Even the original author of the graphic novel has abandoned this movie. Pass.
Krista and Capela – How about Lost? Naveen in the rain, I think I fainted and had to be revived. I really can’t remember. I think I need a shower just thinking about his hotness.
As for my absence, all this commenting with you lefties fried my hard drive, and all I had was my laptop.
Ok, I admit that I also was playing Super Mario 64 and I have almost whipped it. Then it will be on to Donkey Kong Country.
The Ben business? Don’t plagiarize, cardinal sin for a writer. End of story, don’t care much about the side dramatics. He can join the club with Putin, Biden and Doris Goodwin Kearns.
Hi Darrell!
Ancient Purple
Yup. Over here on the east side of Phoenix in the Arcadia District.
The weather is gorgeous today. Possible rain on Tuesday or Wednesday, but still a wonderful week.
Stormy70
Oops, sorry about the missing z in your name, Capelza.
You did see Naveen, though. Right?!
D. Mason
Par R most sane people can smell a pretty foul odor coming from both sides of the political spectrum when they browse these comments. I guess since you are the origin of some of the more foul smelling poison you don’t notice the pungent stench. Extremists manage to stink up the air anywhere they go.
capelza
I did indeed, tucked up in blankies on my couch, it was a miracle cure! I like the hard edge he’s got lately. “Cause you know he’s a pussy cat underneath, but pushed to the breaking point. I’d want to kill that Ana Lucia chick, self control is so sexy.
Have you seen “Bride and Prejudice”, a Bollywoodesque version of Austen’s story. He is in it…very nice.
I, too, enjoyed both Underworlds…but I still want to see V for Vendetta…
ppGaz
Well, we have Phoenix almost triangulated. The West side, and the North Valley, and Scottsdale are missing representation here on BJ, though.
Also Ahwatukee.
Our county is the 3rd most populous in the country now, behind LA and Cook. Four million of us here. We really need some more BJ presence.
Maybe I’ll distribute flyers door to door …….
ppGaz
Oooh, a girl who cracks her fingers.
Oh my.
DougJ
Good to see you again, Stormy.
D. Mason
Stormy I agree with you about the matrix sequels, horrible movies. Still V for Vendetta was quite good. It’s a real feel good flick for someone who hates big intrusive government.
Stormy70
Bride and Predjudice is on my list to see. I endured the English Patient only because of his character showing up on screen to distract me from my complete and utter boredom with the rest of that horrible movie.
I went out and bought the Keira Knightly movie of Pride and Prejudice. It is such a great story.
I watched the Wedding Date last night on HBO, and I thought it was a cute movie. I think I am coming down with the bird flu or something. I have also been watching HGTV practically 24 hours a day, since we will be looking for a new house soon. I need decorating ideas, dammit!
I am descending into a shame spiral. Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, your my only hope!
Stormy70
Your = you’re. My turn to the darkside of the movies is complete. Next thing I will be abandoning Fantasy novels for chick lit and misusing words like there, their, they’re. Yep, Bird Flu.
Blue Neponset
Darrell,
The cost savings of cheap illegal immigrant labor filters into the economy regardless of who the final beneficiary is. I pay less for lettuce and the profits of agribusinesses are higher because of cheap illegal immigrant labor. I don’t understand what your argument is on this front.
Regarding the hidden costs of illegal immigration, the work that they do will have to be done by someone else if they were all to disappeear tomorrow. I don’t understand how one can argue that the cost of gov’t services provided to illegal immigrants will be lower than the cost of gov’t services provided to the legal immigrants or US citizens that will have to replace them.
Pooh
Welcome back Stormy…no Lost spoilers for this week please, haven’t watched it yet. (I agree, BTW, Underworld was the bomb.)
Edmund Dantes
Alan Moore would abandon any movie made about his comic books. It’s in his blood. It goes to the heart of what makes him what he is. Go read the graphic novel Watchman and V For Vendetta, and you would get a feel for why he’d be the type of guy that would never like someone else’s vision of his material.
I’ve read his stuff, and I have to say it’s his graphic novel theme to the hilt. They’ve altered some of the pacing (as to which order certain buildings get blown up), but they hit almost everything else square on the head. They had to update some of the things that triggered the English fascist state because when he wrote it, it was nuclear war that kicked started it all. I believe the first part originally came out in 81 to 83.
The scary thing is the purging of homosexuals was something that was in the original. It was in the original to the same extent as the movie. I thought for certain that was the one that was to be enhanced, but it wasn’t. They really didn’t enhance any of the themes that were in the original.
ppGaz
Some more OpenThread material, courtesy DKos.
ppGaz
Bush looked into his soul, you see.
Ancient Purple
Was he trying to see what one looked like since he doesn’t have one?
Just wondering.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Oooh, shredded lettuce! Can I get a balsamic vinaigrette with that?
Actually, I couldn’t/didn’t respond because I went to the gym. While I enjoy posting here, I also enjoy getting out of the house.
As for the actual argument, it wasn’t an argument but more a caution that immigration issues and the economy are well entwined. Therefore, building a wall or fining employers will have serious ripple effects.
As Azul Neponset said:
That’s about right.
VidaLoca
Welcome back Stormy … thought perhaps you had given up on this moonbat-infested fever swamp. — :) — good to see you again.
Laura
I was wondering if anybody would point that out. Illegal immigrants pay an estimated $7 billion into social security a year. They also pay about $1.5 billion into Medicare without getting any of the benefits. Those aren’t insignificant contributions.
Immigration is not a simple issue, but I have a serious problem with Congress giving citizenship to a Canadian ice dancer (no offense, Krista) while attempting to criminalize people who come here because they have a desperate need to help their family.
My sister-in-law is here legally, but she wasn’t going to win any Olympic medals for the United States, so she had to jump through hoops just to get her green card. Nevermind having prove their marriage wasn’t a scam (fortunately for them, they had kept their letters to each other – along with postmarked envelopes), she and my brother had to deal with misinformation and canceled appointments without notification repeatedly from the INS. Having been witness to such incompetence, I have a better appreciation for people who attempt come here legally, only to fall through the cracks because the INS has screwed with them over and over.
ImJohnGalt
I read in the paper the other day a suggestion that one of the ways that Canada could contribute to the war on Terror would be to take the Russian approach, and offer to provide processed nuclear material for Iranian nuclear plants.
I haven’t devoted much time to thinking through the implications (other than that it would mean Iran would not get the byproducts, which I understand may be used for nuclear weapons), but it didn’t seem stupid upon first look.
– Canada doesn’t have an agenda re:Iran as either the US or Russian may appear to
– We have a fairly robust nuclear energy program here
– it would be a way that we could help within our limited budget and small military force, and could help diffuse a rather serious international issue.
Thoughts?
ppGaz
What’s amazing to me is that Bush “looks into the soul” of the devious asshole, Putin, and likes what he sees.
Then he goes out and basically flips off the Germans and French, longtime allies. So we alienate the old allies and make friends with the fuzzy new Russians who proceed to try to fuck us over.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are cooking up this insane, messianic new Middle East policy that so far has us in a world of deepening shit with no end in sight.
Who hired these incompetant motherfuckers, anyway?
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Spent four summers there. My breaking point came with the ‘canes of ’04.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
UConn is terribly overrated. With their size, they should be destroying George Mason.
And where the hell is this Rudy Gay fella I’ve heard so much about?
Gold Star for Robot Boy
This, after Darrell responds to my initial post with the accusation I’m a leftie race-baiter. Sweet.
ppGaz
Cheap lettuce:
Most if not virtually all winter lettuce sold in the US comes from fields down in southwestern Arizona, about two hours’ drive from where I now sit.
How much do you think your January salad would cost you if only American citizens were available to pick this lettuce?
I’m going to wager, at least double.
And those lettuce pickers …. are not out driving around your white middle class neighborhoods causing accidents. Mostly, when they are not in the fields working, they are too tired to be out doing much of anything.
Even the ignoramus George Bush understands the real dynamics at work here:
Gold Star for Robot Boy
UConn is the luckiest team to walk the planet.
Laura
Except for yesterday. Yesterday was the annual Cesar Chavez march in Sacramento. It happened to coincide with the protests, but we have it every year. Our former Mayor, Joe Serna, now deceased, was born to migrant farm workers, and as a young adult, he worked with Chavez and the UFW. While he was Mayor, Sacramento became the first city in the country to have a Cesar Chavez Holiday. I feel really lucky because I actually get to walk side-by-side with the workers who put food on my table. They come from Lodi, Merced, Fresno, Stockton, Salinas – basically, all the farming communities in Northern and Central California… I have a very difficult time having anything but total respect for them. And thinking of them as criminals? I can’t. I just can’t.
RonB
You didn’t like Vampires? Carpenter does great self parody, if you dont take him seriously he’s always worth checking out.
As for Sphere, Barry Levinson should be exiled for that one.
artpepper
MASON!!!
ppGaz
Oops!
Pb
RonB,
Maybe I missed something there–maybe it was supposed to be a parody of a movie. Let me ask you a question. When you were watching Vampires, did that give you wood? Huh? Did you get a little mahogany from that? A little ebony? Come on, tell the truth.
Stormy70
Thanks for all the welcome backs. You like me, you really like me.
Being from Texas, I really don’t have a huge problem with all the Mexican and El Salvadorian immigrants. I prefer the guest worker solution since there is no way in hell we are going to round up all those people. Most of these people need some sort of protection from unscrupulous types who would prey on them, and they bring mostly family type values with them. They are extremely hard working and are usually sending money back to better there circumstances. It is very American, as is the bitching about immigrants. See the Irish and Chinese immigration in the previous centuries. I would like to see the border closed and a guest worker program implemmented because most of these people are American through and through. I like their work ethic, and Texas has got some great food out of this bargain. Plus, America is nearing full employment, and still all our illegals are working. Seems like hard workers should be able to earn their American ticket, just like the young men in the military do.
Ok,long rant over. Time to cook dinner.
ppGaz
I agree with almost everything you said, but don’t you think the heritage (food, for example) might be traced to the fact that we stole Texas (and Arizona, for that matter) from Mexico?
Just a thought, Storm.
And yes, we like you, and welcome back.
Please don’t tell anybody I said that last part.
KCinDC
Edmund Dantes, I think the purging of homosexuals was accentuated a little from the graphic novel by the addition of Stephen Fry’s character (okay, I suppose theoretically it was a change rather than an addition, but the character is so different from the similarly named character in the novel (and the changes make so little sense) that he might as well be new).
Laura
Applause for Stormy. But now I’m craving pupusas.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
I posted this at the end of regulation, after the GM player missed the front of a 1-and-1. If he makes the two shots, and it’s a 4-point game with 5 seconds left and there is no OT
Then, near the end of OT with the Patriots up 2, another GM player misses two foul shots. UConn rebounds, drives and…
And I can’t believe the 3-ball didn’t go in. It would’ve been just like UConn to play terribly and STILL get to the Final Four. For a No. 1 seed, the Huskies played poorly in all four of their games.
Pooh
Make a fleepin shot, ‘Nova.
(oh yeah, suck it, UCONN…)
Pooh
G-d help me, I do. It’s a character flaw.
Krista
Stormy, baby! Missed you, hon.
That wasn’t rain…that was my drool.
The bf saw V for Vendetta and said it was frackin’ awesome.
I’m watching Iron Chef right now (the original, not the American version). The chairman cracks me up…especially when he bites into the pepper and then holds himself back from cracking up.
If you need any feedback on decorating ideas, let me know, okay? I’m still an apartment-dweller, so I decorate vicariously.
Steve
I sure feel better now about losing to stupid George Mason in the first round.
capelza
Just came back to this thread and it reminds me of Sunday dinner with friends…the guys are watching sports on the tube and the gals are discussing redecorating and hot men, or how they’d like to redecorate hot men.. :p
Krista
You say redecorate, I say undress, you say tomato, I say to-mah-to…
capelza
Well, I think I actually say tamata (hillbilly accent, somethings I just can’t lose…)
I still like to redecorate after undressing…chocolate orange fudge sauce…it’s art, performance art…
RonB
Yup, you got it. Remember, this is the guy who did “Dark Star-The Spaced Out Spaceship”, “They Live”, and “Escape From New York/LA”.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
The world would be better with more brackets. For everything.
Krista
Don’t be ashamed of the accent. I get teased sometimes for the French accent that appears with certain words (or the French expletives that appear with certain moods.) I think accents are great, though — how boring would it be if we all sounded like newscasters?
Chocolate orange fudge sauce? Not sure about the orange, but how can it be bad to combine hot men and chocolate?
Zifnab
He wasn’t lieing. That movie kicks ass.
Stormy70
Naveen covered in chocalate sans the orange? The mental image is astounding. Le pant, le sigh. Le Meowrr!
ppGaz – Texas fought a war of independence from Mexico, and we won. We actually had Texicans fighting alongside, as well. Santa Anna and his massacre at Goliad were responsible for Mexico losing Texas. They lost the sympathies of the US, Great Britain, amd even France, which aided Texas’ revolution. Game over, man. The US was lucky to get us, later on, but we still fly our flags at the same height as the US flag. Because we can, because we can. (What Texan ego?)
Stormy70
Gandalf voice/ Matrix sequels cannot be brushed aside so easily. /Gandalf voice
Still not tempted to see this.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
I don’t think there’s a state in the union where the residents fly the state flag with as much fervor as Texas.
Really, I wouldn’t know New York’s flag if it was draped over my head, and how many people live there?
But I must say, Arizona’s flag is stylin’.
The Other Steve
As someone who thought Matrix 2 and 3 sucked, I can confirm that Vendetta rocks.
You should go see it. You might actually like it.
ImJohnGalt
What Steve said. I personall think that the Matrix 2 and 3 deserved to see the Wachowski brothers sat with eyes propped open a la A Clockwork Orange watching the latest Olson Twins movie over and over. However, for the fact that they’ve somewhat redeemed themselves with V, I’d be prepared to give them at least a bag of popcorn while they watched it. V was hella fun. In a way, it reminded me a bit of watching Oedipus performed in full Greek mask – the actor has to express himself through motion and voice, rather than facial expression – fun to watch.
Ancient Purple
Arizona’s flag simply rocks. It is amazingly simple, beautiful and friends that come to visit always say they love the design.
Copper star, rays of sunshine, blue sky. Just perfect for Arizona.
tzs
Oh God, Dark Star. Such a great movie. Invariably an LSC movie at MIT. The Beachball section cracks me up every time I see it. And the arguing-with-an-existentialist-bomb section. Priceless.
“In the beginning there was me.”
(Oh, Stormy, you brought this to mind with your mention of “chick-lit”–have you ever read Freisner’s “Chicks in Chainmail”? I think you might like it–and the other books in the series. Take every single sword-and-sorcery cliche and put them through the wringer. I was helpless with laughter.)
Another book I just finished which I recommend HIGHLY is Connie Willis’s “Passage.” It’s been described as neuro-physiological thriller with philosophical trimmings. I don’t want to say much about it because a lot of the pleasure of the plot is piecing together the information as Willis carefully presents it in dribs and drabs. Suffice it to say the heroine is a medical researcher in a large hospital who is investigating Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). Thoughtful and genuinely awe-inspiring, exploring questions of belief, death, human contact, and memory.
ppGaz
Okay Storm, point to you.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
He went scoreless the game’s final 11:17, and in that span he took one shot.
SeesThroughIt
They sure did (this coming from a UCONN fan). They didn’t really deserve to beat Washington, and they certainly got what they desrved vs. George Mason. A lot of my friends (none of them UCONN fans) said that the Huskies were scary-good and odds-on favorites to win it all. I just plain didn’t see it–they play down to the competition, and they go through 5+-minute stretches where they look like a 7th grade JV team. That’s no way to win a ring. Feh.
Do you remember when the Iron Chefs took three losses in a row and Chairman Kaga freaked out? That was hysterical. But seriously, I freaking love that show. The American version is OK, but it doesn’t measure up to the original.
And on that note, I think my Texas sheet cake has cooled enough for me to eat, so it’s time for mega-chocolate!
Santa Claus
Save me some cookies, Stormy! Ho ho ho!
Urinated State of America
What about the poor former ETA terrorists? Being a soccer hooligan is going to be such a letdown.
Maybe they could do what some former IRA and UVF prisoners have done. You can get tours of Belfast* guided by a former IRA and/or UVF prisoner. Very popular with Germans and Dutch I hear – edgy tourism within two hours flight.
Plus, Bilbao’s got a great art museum.
*Actually a nice town. One of the better UK former industrial cities to live in, third only to Newcastle or Bristol IMHO.