A failure and a disgrace

Hello. Sorry. I am not always good at certain things. One might be writing for an audience that doesn't exist, but I promise to try harder.

Now, on to the news of the moment. In a country far across the sea, an election was just held. Let the poo-pooing begin. Everyone line up and tell me why this is just a mirage of success. Yes, that's me smiling with my fingers crammed in my ears. Anyone who attempts to paint this negatively sounds like an utter foot to me. Iraq, a country who was the direct antithesis of free less than two years ago is now one giant step closer to liberty. The road from liberated to liberty is not complete... and no one said it would be easy... but, gosh darnit, if that Bush fellow wasn't right. Even as the media "experts" and his horse-faced opponent rolled their eyes when he looked into the camera and assured the world that Iraqis would vote before Feb. 1, he stuck to it. That country -- or should I say new country? -- owes a great debt to the American soldier who carried out the wishes of it's commander in chief. And if this thing turns out like it could, the whole world might owe a great debt to American and its "dim-witted" leader. Call me partisan or call me overly optimistic, but if the rest of my life is filled with foreign policy failures and military quagmires like this the world will be a much better place when I leave it.

There are still those calling it a failure. Ok, maybe they won't say failure, because they know how foolish they would sound, but they're still hoping to be able to use their "Vietnam Similarities" cheat sheet a year from now. Yesterday a whole lot of people not only risked their lives to vote, but they got dressed up to do it. I was about to say if only those in my country could have that sort of attitude towards voting, but then I read stuff like this, and a 50% turnout doesn't seem so bad.

One other item that's all over the news. Germany has so many screwed up laws that women could get forced into prostitution? And we still care about their opinion because...? They really have issues with this whole free will thing, don't they.

So...were you entertained? No...me neither....

In Good Company: A review

So, last night I was privileged to sit in on a screening of In Good Company. (*Warning* Canned synopsis ahead!)

Dan Foreman is headed for a shakeup. He is demoted from head of ad sales for a major magazine when the company he works for is acquired in a corporate takeover. His new boss, Carter Duryea, is half his age--a business school prodigy who preaches corporate synergy. Both men are going through turmoil at home. Dan has two daughters, Alex, age 18, and Jana, age 16, and is shocked when his wife tells him she's pregnant with a new child. Carter, in the meanwhile, is dumped by his wife of seven months just as he gets his promotion. Dan and Carter's uneasy friendship is thrown into jeopardy when Carter falls for Dan's daughter Alex.

Basically, a love triangle turned on its side.
Any movie that lets you get a good laugh and look at Scarlett Johansson can't be half-bad, and this one isn't. Speaking of Scarlett Johansson, she seems to have this odd quality of being aloof and inviting all at the same time. Both of the leading men are dealing with major setbacks. Dan (Dennis Quaid) in his professional life while, at home, life is reaching new level of excitement. On the flip side, Carter Duryea is the epitome of the "young hot-shot" but finds little waiting for him outside the walls of the office. Enter the comely Alex (Scarlett Johansson) who ends up being the gasoline on both men's already smoldering fires of insecurity.
Sadly, many of the funnier moments have already been viewed by all via commercials running on your TV set. Still, there is a subtle layer of humor that manifests itself in the platitudes and ideas of the corporate world and the quirkiness of the characters, especially Topher Grace's Carter Duryea.
All and all, an enjoyable time at the movies...and more importantly, not a chick flick.

Informal poll

Thanks to a debate that broke out on Hewitt's blog and my disagreement with Hugh's stance, I feel that I should open the question up to all. Who has more influence on your life, Oprah Winfrey or James Dobson? I know where I fall, although both, in my case, are limited. Just drop an email or post a message. More later.

Guess who's back, back again...

Ok, you know... it's me. At least, I think I'm back. Keep your fingers crossed. This place has been pretty dead recently, and if there is anything right in this world, that will change. Also returning today are two of my favorite topics. Close your eyes and guess. Of course, you'll be right.

NUMBER ONE

It's that loud, obnoxious jerk at the party who showed up drunk and has already spilt his drink on half the guests and conversed way to breathily with the other half. Everybody wants him to at least shut-up but really hopes he'll leave...they'll settle for pass out, though.

"Hello Mr. BCS, crapped on any football seasons lately?"
Why yes, yes I have.

We all saw OU get it's various and sundry body parts handed to it a week ago. To many in the sports punditry business this removed all doubt that they were the champions. Small problem. I just checked and there are two other teams that finished without losing a game. One being from a superior conference to that of the "champion". That team, Auburn, played four games against a team that was in the top ten, yet somehow there schedule is deemed weak. I guess that's possible...no...no I don't.
This broken logic would be comparable to declaring the Colts NFL champions based on their blow-out win on Sunday. It was very impressive. Surely, they got lots of style points for that kind of victory. What? Style doesn't count in the NFL? You have to...win it on the field? Crazy NFL.

NUMBER 2

Oh, I've missed you so. Why have you stayed away so long. Oh yeah, you're a component of an incompetent, insipid organization. (Piano pounding) Da, da, da, da. Rathergate.
Some people took the fall. In the end CBS is no worse for wear because of this, though. The findings of the independent panel (independent of what? reason?) are a joke. "Please tell us what we already know and don't answer any of the really important questions....Thanks." All you need to read in the report is this:

"The Panel does not find a basis to accuse those who investigated, produced, vetted or aired the Segment of having a political bias."

Ahem. Righto.
So a producer ram-rods a story through with obvious political ramifications, a producer described as such in the NYTimes: "a star producer overruling the better judgments of an entire series of top news executives. One senior CBS executive said many staff members seemed to be more afraid of Ms. Mapes than of Mr. Heyward, which could help undermine his position with the staff." (HT - Powerline) Also, the producer is known to have contacted and worked with Kerry campaign senior officials on the piece. Yet, no political bias. If you think CBS is hurt by this, and if you think that one line above is not that crucial ask why the president of CBS wrote this:

"We are also gratified that the Panel, after extensive analysis and consideration, has found that, while CBS News made numerous errors of judgment and execution in this story, these mistakes were not motivated by any political agenda. As the Report states, 'The Panel does not find a basis to accuse those who investigated, produced, vetted or aired the Segment of having a political bias." (HT - Hugh)

"Welcome to status quo."

In other news... We seem to have finally reached that first day of winter where my immune system succumbs to the variants of weather and co-existing with other humans. Then it must be memorialized with the annual "trip to the store to buy Cold-Eeze." Lozenges that actually seem to make me feel better. And with my inability to breath and that sensation of an S.O.S. pad standing in for my throat, feeling better seems like a pretty good option.

Sad pandering for free stuff

Yes, posts will return soon. But now for the obligations.

There’s been overwhelming response from bloggers responding to the offer for free tickets to an advance screening of IN GOOD COMPANY.
So Universal Pictures and Grace Hill Media wants to respond to that enthusiasm by upping the ante: any blogger who signs up for the free tickets and then posts this offer and a link to the IN GOOD COMPANY trailer on their site will be automatically entered in a contest to win their very own private screening of IN GOOD COMPANY in their town. The winner can either fill the screening with their friends and family, or see the film alone with that special someone – it’s entirely up to them. One lucky blogger here in the US will win. Sign up at info@gracehillmedia.com and send us your link. And of course, all the non-winners will still be eligible to attend an advance screening in their area.