Who Are You? What Do You Want? Where Are You Going? Whom Do You Serve – And Whom Do You Trust?!
when the local newspaper says that there will be no Doonesbury this week because Trudeau is on vacation and yet there’s current content on the website.
Update: Engage Emily Litella Mode (ELM): Nevermind. End ELM. Seems like they just didn’t bother mentioning the vacation on the web site and continued to date the strips as if they were recent.
Almost forgot about the Caption Contest. Thanks for playing everyone.
1. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?” -Comment by Hodink
2. “Damn! I wish that de-fibrillator would kick in!” -Comment by Chaz
3. “And now, young Skywalker… you will die. ” -Comment by kethepoo
Honorable Mention: “Sharp is the curse that cuts like a knife… damned is your soul and doomed is your life.” -Comment by Steve Skubinna
So…there have been three episodes now and I find it odd that this crowd has been on the quiet side about the subject. It’s not like the first go-around where it was downright embarassing to like the show. Shoddy special effects, weak storylines, feathered hair everywhere you looked and I don’t think the costumes could have been any tighter without the FCC screaming bloody murder even if it was the 70s. I like T’n’A as much as the next guy but, call me weird, I prefer it when it’s attached to an interesting character.
Thank the Lords of Cobal that this is not the Battlestar Galatica of my teenage years. I know, there are geeks out there frothing at the mouth and losing their mathematical minds because Starbuck is a woman in this go around. Since I wasn’t a fan of the first one and I thought Dirk Benedict was best described by the last syllable of his name, not an issue for me. Besides, I believe I’ve mentioned I’m a fan of ladies who can kick ass. I’m not going to do a charactaer analysis for every character, but yeah, so far, Starbuck is my favorite…this week…I reserve the right to change my mind.
The current version of Battlestar is about three shades darker than the first one. It has the grim look that a society that’s gone through being effectively wiped out and set adrift should have. And just like the the original series if you can’t see the parallels between our world and their world, you prolly need a review in basic sociology.
When is it good science fiction? When it tells our story. That’s what made Star Trek in all it’s iterations so interesting. When they show US on the screen but they tell you it’s about them. There’s that layer of plausible deniability, that safe buffer where you can say, well that’s in the future or that’s in a parallel universe or a long time ago in a galaxy far-far away.
After watching the first three episodes of the current Battlestar Galactica, I would say they’ve got the tradition down just right. The characters may be in a different part of the galaxy, but make no mistake about it, we’re watching ourselves deal with destruction, having war thrust upon us, distrust, fear, rebellion, and making the decision yet again to define who we are.
Some bands just belong in a bar…on a summer’s night with lots of ceiling fans blowing and the skylights wide open to let the smoke out and gusts of fresh air in so you can catch your breath if/when you get off the dance floor.
1985-Out on what was then the outskirts of Las Vegas was one of those wonderful, rare finds, a real live Rock’n’Roll BARN. Practically in the middle of the desert, the only lights for a couple of miles on that road. That smell of damp desert drifted in, sage and dust and a tinge of…something on the edge…
A friend of mine from Chicago had called…BoDeans were heading out west…no…not The BoDeans…just BoDeans…yes just like Jethro…no…they’re NOT a shit-kicker band…look STFU, trust me and just go…and bring a girl…you’re gonna wanna dance…have I ever lead you wrong?
BoDeans? Is she freakin’ kiddin’ me with this? Well…she did take me to Depeche Mode before anyone else had heard of them…
On that night a group of guys, from Wisconsin for Pete’s sake, set up their two guitars, their base, and their drum kit, and took everyone in that barn to school. They taught us how Springsteen ought to sound, how he wanted to growl. They showed us what Mellancamp was all about. They put Bob Seger on notice. The lead guitarist gave a lesson in harmonics that would make The Edge cry in frustration.
We drank a bit too much. We danced WAY too much. The smell of the desert blew through the roof and we danced some more. It was one of those nights that you just know you’re never going to forget. And you swear you’ll follow this band forever because…DAMN they can play and sing and that growl just sent a shiver through everyone…
That was almost 20 years ago…
A couple weeks ago I heard “Good Things” on Radio Paradise and that night came rolling back into my memory.
Went to Borders this weekend and picked up some books we were looking for and then headed upstairs to the music section. They had “Best of BoDeans: Slash and Burn”. I just grinned when I looked at that set of tracks.
I bought it and I’ve played it and played it and played it some more. I’ve listened to other music this week, don’t be silly, but BoDeans has been getting as much car CD time as GreenDay. I took it over to our friend’s house for our regular card night. They loved it…I knew they would.
They’ve got a LOT of music out and I wish I could have bought it all, but this one album does wrap up their feel with great respect. Some of their best stuff is recorded live. Sing alongs and anthems that roll through the back of your head.
And no…they’re NOT the guys who did the theme from Friends, unfortunately, at least for me, their “Closer to Free” was the theme from “Party of Five.” Somehow it was their only hit.
Basically if you like rock’n’roll in the old school tradition…if you honestly miss The Replacements, if you’re still waiting for a new Springsteen album that just plain rocks, pick up “Slash and Burn.” It will fill in the gap very nicely.
Oh, and since it’s been an issue on some blogs the past week or two. I don’t get a dime from any of the bands I write about. T-Shirts would be appreciated and accepted, but other than that I just write about ’em ‘cuz I like ’em.
I work down the hall from a Marine Major whose primary purpose seems to be changing internet chat rooms from a teenager’s toy for trading porn and pirated music into a weapon of mass communication. Daniel Drezner has a story that will make the Major very-very happy.
I was going to wait until Sunday but, “immediate gratification takes too long.” (-Carrie Fisher-)
Winners Monday.
OTHER CAPTION CONTESTS:
Wizbang.
Conservative Life.
Outside The Beltway.
Any other caption contests let me know, I’d like to start keeping track of as many as possible. Just drop me an email with the title CAPTION CONTEST.
…from Michele. She got over 400 hits on this before I saw it, what’s the point of playing in a crowded playground?
Your favorite movie in seven words. Don’t tell, let us guess.
Here’s one of mine:
Two brothers meet two strangers, clean up town.
Blackfive has got good info on this story. Seems that some of our folks in Congress think that Survivor Benefits could be better if we die in the line of duty. Go check it out.
It’s like watching a wreck…you want to turn away, hit the mute button, but you just can’t.
I’m rootin’ for the rock-dude who left his band even though I know he prolly won’t make it very far.
I don’t think they should have the seriously emotionally disturbed people on the show. I don’t mind the folks who were delusional, but the folks completely divorced from reality…not entertaining, way too exploitive.
Was it just me or did Mary Roach remind you of the kids in high school who knew all the words to every Grateful Dead song and played with their fingers in front of their face too much? You know…the ones who could make Frisbees do things that freaked your Physics Teacher out. There was THAT kind of intensity there. They didn’t have Teret’s but at any moment they might just start giggling and talking about the bunnies and how the General was going to get you. Made sure the radio stayed on the rock station when they were around ‘cuz pop would just wig them out.
From CNN:
MOSUL, Iraq (CNN) — A Catholic archbishop has been released one day after he was kidnapped in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the Vatican confirmed Tuesday.
No ransom was paid for the release of Basil George Casmoussa, a spokesman for the Vatican in Rome said. There were reports that the kidnappers used his cell phone to demand a $200,000 ransom for the 66-year-old archbishop.
The thought of what may have happened if they had actually killed him gives me shivers. Any illusion that this is not a religious war would have completely disolved. The term “Mass Riots” would have taken on new meaning. Of course, that just may be my Jesuit education on one too many cups of pure Kona coffee mingling with the fact that I just finished “The DaVinci Code” this weekend.
May be the smartest thing I’ve seen a terrorist do in years.
In lieu of this week’s Caption Contest I defer to Conservative Life’s Contest this week. I can’t begin to try and come up with a better picture. It’s so wrong on so many levels.
Via Rodney over at Outside The Beltway.
Some recent news stories have mentioned that the current President Bush and former President Clinton have actually become friends, shocking both sides of the spectrum. It doesn’t suprise me. I voted for both of them. The things that those two men were able to convey to me was that they honestly had this nation’s best interests at heart.
I’m just sayin’, they’ve got a lot more in common than a lot of folks give either credit for.
The Contest was interesting this week.
The winner comes from datarat.
Said the Sec of State
To the gathered Mullah’s
“Do you hear what I hear?”
(do you hear what I hear?)
A bomb
A MOAB
Falling from on Iran
And your NUKE plant’s buried in sand…
Honorable mention to Blondie for noticing something a bit yucky:
EEEHHH????? what was that ??? I could’nt hear you….I’m sorry your gonna have to speak up….”oh I forgot my crest whitening tooth paste”!
Attention members of meteorogical departments and other weather people: 5 is not a high.
Attention Car Makers: If you don’t want me running my engine in idle for more than 5 minutes as the manual says, get your heaters to work better.
Attention Parents: Parking/pausing on the wrong side of the steep narrow street in base housing one block away from the elementary school, 7 minutes before the bell, to have a conversation with your friend is considered not only rude, but downright stupid when the roads are icey and covered with a dusting of snow.
Attention all Base Housing Residents: The inflatable Santas? Yeah, it’s time to lose them.
Attention Parents Part II: It’s kind of cool when you see cops in an empty parking lot, parked with their cruisers facing in opposite directions so that they can have a conversation through the driver’s side window. However, doing that in the school parking lot, 5 minutes before the bell…there’s absolutely no coolness to that…even with a high of 5.
| T | Trustworthy |
| I | Industrious |
| M | Magical |
| M | Mystical |
| E | Enlightened |
| R | Refined |
From Go-Quiz.com
Via Michele…who’s quitting smoking…again…which is always a good time. But then again I understand the need to take someone’s heart out and hand it to them…perfectly rational under the circumstances.
when there was a rent-a-cop at the gate of my base checking ID Cards.
I don’t like it one bit.
I know there was talk about this, but who thought it was actually a good idea?
Everyone I’ve talked to, including contractors, thinks that this is just going too damn far.
Discuss.
I’m sorry, the Director of Homeland Security just shouldn’t look like he can do the Time Warp really well…no matter how good his resume looks.
Paul over at Sanity’s Edge tried calling for a list referendum but he called it off. While you’re there you can talk about your favortite guitar solos.
I remember his blog from his “Blogging 101” series but somehow didn’t save the link…hat tip to Michele for reminding me he was there.
Warning: Going to either one of these sites could suck you into a vortex of List Making and commenting…and then you’ll miss Lost.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government on Wednesday told Americans to slash their calorie intake and exercise 30 to 90 minutes a day, updating guidelines that advised people to lose weight but gave few specifics on how to do it.
Sooooo, eat less and exercise more?
“Eating fewer calories while increasing physical activity are the keys to controlling body weight,” the guidelines said.
I’m just flabbergasted. Who knew?
The advice is not really new, but the government sees the guidelines as an opportunity to change people’s ways.
This is a food pyramid showing what you should eat a LOT of and what you should eat a little of. Take the hint.
Guilty Pleasures: The Meme via Michele via Rox.
CD I have in my car that I roll up the windows to listen to
Can’t think of one that I wouldn’t blast with the windows down.
Book I read flat so no one could see the title
The Summer Tree Trilogy
Crappiest song ever sung at karaoke
Jimmy Buffet – A Pirate Looks at 40
Great Song…my singing…phew!
Bad movie I watch repeatedly
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Article of clothing I love though I know it’s wrong
I still have about three pairs of those very loose and very loud beach pants from the early 1990s.
What I order at the bar when no one is listening
A Foundation and Empire. (They tell me kids today would call it a suicide…mix all the mixers together.)
Fast food item I adore
Burger King’s Angus Steak Burger with all the crap on it. I turn into Homer Simpson….mmmmmm Angus Burgerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I don’t know if it’s the ranch dressing or what but I mean it’s just GOOD.
A TV show that is a good example of the downfall of civilization that I love anyway
I watch nothing but quality educational programming…okay fine…Fear Factor, especially when the couples are on.
Y’all need to fess up now.
There’s an absolutely smart and civil discussion on Chickenhawks over at Digital Warfighter.
Winners Thursday Night
Some of our friends are a bit suprised that I can cook. I don’t know why…it’s not like it’s a shock to find out I like to eat.
Anyway, I thought I’d start sharing some of my recipes that our friends seem to go gah-gah over and that I find ridiculously simple. I don’t have a large file and most of it involves the opening of cans and the dumping of things into pots and pans. I’m not a chef, but I know what I like and thought maybe you’d like it too.
Dump Cake
1 20 oz Can Cherry Pie Filling
1 20 oz Can Crushed Pineapple (drain the juice if you like, I’ve forgotten before with no ill effects)
1 Package Cake Mix, Yellow or Chocolate (Chocolate is RIDICULOUSLY rich)
1.5 sticks of butter (Which I think equals 3/4 Cup of Margirine but this is really a butter kind of thing)Preheat Oven to 350.
Butter or use spray cooking oil on your 11″ x 9” pan.
Dump (see?) the Cherry Pie Filling and Crushed Pineapple into the pan…mix well.
Dump the dry unmixed (Thanks Jack) cake mix on top of the cherries and pineapple and spread evenly on top.
Melt the butter (I use a 3 cup glass measuring cup in the microwave at 1 minute on high)
Drizzle the butter all over the top of the cake mix.
Bake for about an hour.Let cool but try to serve while still warm. Whipped Cream or Ice Cream on top does not hurt the flavor.
I’m sure this discussion will be lots of fun when it transfers over to our crowd.
So Kid Rock is good enough to entertain our troops, he’s good enough to raise money and awareness, but he’s not good enough for the inauguration.
Great move. Make damn good and sure that any younger forlks and social liberals who voted for the President get the message, “Thanks folks, glad you supported us, now please excuse us while we turn our backs on you and get back to making the country all the same.”
As for Malkin…I knew she was conservative…I forgave a lot because of her wicked sense of humor, but I didn’t know she was a member of the thought and morals police.
“Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to “Go fly a kite.”” R.A. Heinlein
Ms Malkin, your kite Ma’am.
Via Goldstein who’s got more.
Michele’s not thrilled either.
Got this one from a friend of mine, thought I’d share.
This week’s Caption Contest brought out some new players…welcome one and all and thanks for joining in.
Winner:
“Open any Arks of the Covenant lately?” by Stryker, who’s most current post is bitch-slapping Oliver Stone.
Honorable Mentions:
“That’s Obama, with a ‘B’. Osama’s the other guy…And I was elected, not ‘captured’, so you can stop grinning now.” by James Agenbroad.
The “WTF was that all about?” Award goes to phein for:
“You think prison’s funny now, but you’ll be smirking out the other side of your face after you spend a weekend with your new black boyfriends once Fitzgerald gets through with your ass!”
I’ll admit ignorance…anyone? Bueller? Ferris? Bueller?
Wow…this in my 100th post. How’d that happen?
Attention Fox News and anyone else with this bit of footage:
I DO NOT need, want, or desire to see the child in the middle of the beach taken out by the tsunami.
And no, Shep’s concerned voice saying, “That child didn’t stand a chance.” doesn’t make me feel any better about it.
I think we understand how horrible this thing is without having THAT in our face.
Why don’t you just pull out the falling bodies from the WTC on 9/11 while you’re at it?
Is it sweeps week or what?