Talking about Charlton Heston was larger than life - Movies- msnbc.com

Mr. Hartl,

I too admired Mr. Heston for his acting ability. But let's face facts - he was the head of a crazy organization. Whether I believe and support the right to bear arms is inconsequential to the fact that, I certainly would not let the National Rifle Association speak on my behalf.

After all, this is an organization that believes one should carry firearms at National Parks. Hello?

Keeping ready-to-fire guns in out of the country's National Parks is not about Second Amendment "rights"; it's about families being able to camp in National Parks without the fear that some NRA nervous Nellie will mistake them for a bear and start shooting away during the night.

If the NRA are so fearful of crime and wildlife in National Parks, then they don't need to go into them.

The rest of us rational people can camp in peace. This is about our rights, not a specific segment of the population's selfishness in bringing the potential for violence into the last vestiges of our tranquil natural heritage as a nation. Something the NRA and Mr. Heston just could not comprehend.

Their lunatic-like obession with guns is the biggest reason there is so much violence in America today. But I bet you didn't think of that when you were insulting Michael Moore and his film.  Frankly, if Mr. Heston was unable or unwilling to answer serious questions posed by Mr. Moore in his movie, he should never have been ithe NRA's head.

Geniality and heading the NRA is a recipe for hypocrisy - and Mr. Moore exposed that for what it really was.

Next time, Mr. Hartl, please use some common sense when writing your obituaries in future. Mr. Heston's acting, demeanour were no excuse for fronting such rabid supporters of violence.

The future of TV for me ...

The issue I have with the end of all analog (NTSC) TV transmissions in the US on February 17, 2009, has not so much to do with - 

 

• politics (the issue of whether the NTSC, an arm of the FCC is really nothing more than a tool of the corporate media; where private interests/technology are influencing decisions on national public airwaves);
  
• nor the actual technology of HD TV (though I’ve heard they apparently burn more energy than regular TVs, and I question the long-term impact on one’s vision);
  
• UHF channels at the high end of the band being decommissioned and sold for other uses (who gets to buy them, and for what purposes);
  
• or even the voucher program (under different circumstances, I would rather see 100% compensation for the purchase of converter boxes with ATSC tuners, rather than just a voucher).

No, the issue has really gotten me thinking about television in general. In my time here in the US, I’ve perceived the quality of TV programs to have decreased significantly. I base this on the not just a noted decrease in watching television in general, but the reduced number (and types) of programs I watch.

There are essentially three type of television shows that really dominate the prime-time television line-up; ‘reality’ ‘reality-game show’ and the ‘Sex And The City’ clones. None of which I have any interest in. And they have largely replaced sitcoms and drama television programs as the dominant prime-time programs viewed by the public at-large.

And as to what sitcom and drama shows do remain,  the quality and availability of such shows that I do watch has decreased.

By in-large I tend really to watch four types of television shows –

• Local News
  
• The Simpsons
  
• Law and Order
  
• Live Sports events  

Looking at each one -  

1. Local news stations are - by in-large - extensions of the global media conglomerates which dominate the US broadcast television networks and airwaves. Each of them (News Corp, Paramount, Disney, and GE) are major contributors to right-wing and Republican politicial establishments. I’ve observed, much of the news (even at a local level) I find tends to have a right-wing bias, often gets many facts wrong, or even spreads false information. Basic elements of most newscasts (camera work, live feeds, and visual articulation), I’ve found to be remarkably unprofessional in presentation. Elements of the news (like the weather forecasts) are often full of bluster, rarely ever right, and almost never acknowledge errors in predictions. With their bombastic music, most of these stations’ own TV commericals during these local news casts are often self-absorbed, about the station patting itself on the back for its bluster and ‘coverage’. I find I get more accurate, consistent (and reliable) information and coverage from sources online.

 

2. While I still enjoy the Simpsons on re-runs, I do agree that newer episodes aren’t as funny as perhaps 6-7 years ago. And I’m disappointed that the makers are apparently not permitted to criticize/lampoon the Republican Bush administration (of which News Corp has been major political donor and propagandic sponsor through its cable channel). Mr. Murdoch apparently had no issue with them making fun of the previous administration’s key figures.

 

3. Similar issue with Law and Order (the show really went downhill when they brought in Fred Thompson. And especially after 9/11, the show went increasingly more right-wing). But on a more general level, the show has (IMO) become more unrealistic even for its own universe. And its reputation has been hurt by the sister spin-off shows (all of which generally contain poor acting, and really weak storylines).

 

4. I have a lot less time to watch MLB and NFL games, and the occasional soccer match. I have mixed feelings whenever the occasional NHL game is broadcast. I’m not very happy with the overall direction of the game of hockey, as presented by the NHL (too much fighting, not enough hockey). And even if I do put that aside and try to watch anyways, often it’s broadcast on networks which lack the profressional analytical skills I’m used to seeing on Canadian broadcast television. The points are moot, as most sports events are largely televised on cable, of which I have other issues with. 

 

Most of what I watch nowadays are older TV shows, on DVD. We should be able to watch those on our old TV set. And if a new TV show does come along that I’d like to watch, we can rent it from Netflix, or perhaps view it from iTunes with an iPod.

What I want to get away from are the broadcast networks, with all their product placements in TV shows, and endless commercials around them. I have this theory that attention span decrease will be traced to watching too many TV commericals.

The bottom line is, television – whether HD or not -  is not worth pursuing.

 

It’s because of this, that I have decided to simply not bother with broadcast television come February 17, 2009. I think I'll be better without it.

Quote of the day ...

... from Jon Stewart -

Basically, first-term president Bush, you invaded to remove the threat of Saddam Hussein. And you, current president Bush, are there to battle the threat created by the lack of Saddam Hussein.

 

(thanks to Atrios)

Whole Foods Update

For anyone on the planet who's been following -

 

Well it seems the incident at Whole Foods in Redmond, WA has generated a whole lot of ...

 

... nothing.

 

Was I expecting some sort of response? Frankly, yes. After it happened, I mailed two letters. One went to the CEO of Whole Foods Market, the other went to this particular store's manager. My wife suggested two letters. Her idea is that it's almost impossible for something like this to ever change when starting from the bottom up. However, if it starts from the top, it should find it's way to the right person below.

 

However given the complete lack of response, evidently one can be completely incompetant, a bigot, or both at the same time, and still be able to keep down a job at this store. Who said the economy was bad?

 

Their (to-date) lack of a response is more telling then they realize. To me it basically means that it was okay for this cashier to act the way he did, and not be held accountable in any sort of way.

 

A part of me is debating whether I should just not do business there, and just let people know about this particular store. On the other hand, is that really all that I can do? Am I really being a good, upstanding member of community (not to mention a good parent) by just leaving it at that?

 

I'm not so certain. I need to give the idea of action some more thought ....

My experience with Whole Foods Market in Redmond

It's always sad when a place where one shops has to end due to bad customer service. Below is an encounter I had at the Whole Foods Market in Redmond, WA this past weekend.

 

My wife and I were at this store to purchase some breakfast items at ~ 9:20 AM. Our plan was to consume the items there, before proceeding with the rest of our day.

 

My wife went to purchase some coffee, while I went to the smoothie section (I found out later that she went through Checkout Stand #9).

When she was done, she proceeded to sit at one of the tables and wait for me.

When my smoothie was complete, I promptly went to pay for it. The other Stands looked busy, so I found myself standing under Checkout Stand#9. The cashier (a middle-aged white guy with brown hair and a brown beard, named 'Peter')  and was engaged in a conversation with another employee, though the cashier active light over the stand was on.

I waited, and he didn’t respond. He continued to engage the other employee in conversation.

After ~ 3 minutes, a cashier at Checkout Stand#7 suggested I go to the coffee stand to pay for my purchase.

I went to the coffee stand, and as soon as I arrived, I turned around, and saw that Peter was starting to take another customer (a middle-aged white male).

After paying for my beverage, I proceeded back to Checkout Stand#9 and inquired to Peter why he did not allow me to pay for my purchase at his stand, while it was okay for him to check out the current person.

He claimed he did not notice me, and that he was just doing his job. I informed him that I stood there for 3 minutes. He merely shrugged his shoulders. The employee at Checkout Stand #7 was now at #9, providing bagging services for the current customer.

At this point I was angry at the lousy customer service from this individual and promptly informed my wife about the situation. We left.

Both my wife and I have shopped at Whole Foods Market stores in Bellevue, WA, and at this store, and we’ve both received consistent and excellent customer service before (The employee who prepared my beverage was pretty good – she was working in the bakery and went over the smoothie section because no one was there. Now that's customer service).

I like Whole Foods Market. I like the one in Bellevue, WA. Because of that I expect a much higher level of service from them. It is also why I am quite disappointed that Whole Foods Market would employ such a person as Peter. I am frankly appalled that Whole Foods Market would employ the services of an individual who either –

1.      Holds such a double standard as to provide customer service to two white-skinned people while I – a brown-skinned person - had to walk to another counter and spend an additional five minutes waiting to pay for a beverage.

2.      Is too ineffectual at his job to notice a customer standing in his active checkout stand merely 3 feet away from him. I note again, the checkout light was on, and that the customer service rep two stands away noticed me. She was not able to assist because there were people in her line, which is why I believe she recommended I got to the coffee stand.

I don't believe him when he says he didn't see me. I’ve come to the conclusion that either this person was racist in his behavior, or he is too incompetent to be doing his job. Rather than continue on ranting, it's better that I will no longer be shopping at this store so long as they continue to tolerate employees like Peter who conduct themselves in such a callous and rude manner.

What do you think? Do you believe I over-reacted?

 

Idiots who blab in a middle of a walkway

Ask yourself this question.

 

If you are driving your car on the highway, have you ever stopped in the middle of the road, gotten out of your car, and started having a conversation with some person on the other side of the road?

 

I figure that's a no for pretty much everyone. Why?

 

Because that would be very stupid and dangerous to yourself, and everyone around you.

 

So knowing this, why is it people act the same way when walking or in an office?

 

I was heading from my office to the restroom (brushing my teeth), when I saw this man and woman standing right in in the walkway. They were having a conversation, and people were having to walk around them - including myself. There was plenty of room off to the side and hey, even a bench to sit on! Maybe it's just me, but if you are going to have a conversation with someone in an office, go to a lounge, conference room, or even one's own office ...

 

But no. Not these two.

 

They were still standing bloviating about some banality, even when I was heading back to my office.

 

Are people really that dense or self-absorbed? Maybe it's both?

 

It's times like this I wish I had a camera on my cell phone. Though I'm not sure the legality of posting pictures of stupidity (maybe I can blur the faces, but that would defeat the point).

 

It should hurt when people do stupid things. Perhaps then, they'll think twice about doing it again.

PREDICTION: The news cycle for Monday, Nov. 6th, 2006

The delivery of the verdict in Saddam Hussein’s trial, originally set for October 16th, has been postponed… until the Sunday before the vote on Tuesday, November 7th.

So, expect that on Monday, November 6th, the day before the 2006 US Congressional elections, the news will be filled with reports about the conviction of Saddam Hussein.

Only a complete idiot would believe this is just a mere coincidence.

The thing is, with more than 100 American Soldier deaths in October alone, I don't think this that much effect. The GOP is sure desperate though.

I get tired of seeing broadcast news pander to such right-wing manufactured stories. What's even sadder is that this is very obviously predictable, yet somehow, I expect this to be breaking news on ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.

(thanks to Bob Harris, courtesy of This Modern World.)

Saddam Hussein and his officials must be made to answer for their crimes, but frankly I'd rather see him tried under a real Iraqi court of law, as opposed to this Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal, which is in reality funded by the US Government.

" ... the US occupation authority created the precursor to SICT, wrote its initial statutes and selected the chief investigative judge and four other judges to preside over the trial. The Bush administration decided to exclude the UN from any role in the Hussein trial in order to guarantee the tightest possible control over the proceedings.

The case against Hussein and other Baathists has been prepared from the beginning by a liaison office made up of lawyers and advisors from the US, Britain and Australia—all countries whose governments were behind the the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq."

“the liaison office has been the real power behind the tribunal, advising, and often deciding, on almost every facet of its work, always behind a shield of anonymity”. The SICT’s activities are funded by $138 million from Washington. " (1)

P.S. - I'm still waiting for Osama Bin Laden to make his next coincidental appearance, just like the previous election.

(1) - http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-cogan201005.htm 

 

Don't Tread On Me, eh?

Don't tread on me

George W. Bush, advocating a constitutional amendment against flag desecration, June 27, 2006: "By showing respect for our flag, we show reverence for the ideals that guide our nation. And we show appreciation for the men and women who have served in defense of those ideals.

George W. Bush, commemorating the attacks of 9/11, Sept. 10, 2006:

Right-wingers at it again ... Willful Deception.

So the folks at Disney studios are putting out planned docudrama about the events of 9/11/2001. Why am I not surprised that this event blames the Clinton administration for 9/11 and pretty much lets the current adminstration off the hook on the worst national security failure ever on American soil?

 

So much so, that one of the FBI agents quit working on it as a consultant because he thought they were making things up.

 

How convenient this comes out, just before the 5-year anniversary of this right-wing government's most monumental failure, and just before what is sure to be a very hotly contested 2006 mid-term Congressional Elections.

 

Matt Stoller over at MyDD has been tracking how Digby's been doing stellar work on Disney's ties to the right-wing.  

 

And then there's the folks over at Scholastic.

 

People should be mindful of these powerful corporations who fall into bed with the right-wing. They make tons of money today on the events of the past, to control how we all think tomorrow.

 

Tell ABC how you feel.

 

(image below from Atrios)

 

 

Nursery finally done

I've uploaded the pictures from our baby blog.

 

We'll upload more as they arrive.

Steven Colbert - thanks man.

Thank you Steven, for having the guts to do (in satire) what the traditional media in this country has failed to do:

 

http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/ (links below borrowed shamelessly from their site :))

 

Editor & Publisher: Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner– President Not Amused?

Crooks and Liars: Colbert Does the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

 

Other News & Links

• Boston Globe: Bush Challenges Hundreds of Laws (quite a doozy)
  
• Glenn Greenwald: Media Finally Starting to Report the President’s Systematic Lawbreaking
  
• More Heroes
  
• The ACLU: Give Them All the Support You Can

Tax Season

Well today's the day we finally got it done. Oddly enough it didn't seem to take that long. I guess the big hurdle was just starting it.

 

My wife and I are very similar in that regard - usually we're both pretty good in getting things done once they are started.

 

I'm sure though as the years progress, things will get more complicated. But for now, I'm breatihng a sigh of relief.

Painting a room

So my hands and arms are sore from painting. I haven't painted a room in probably 15 years. It's amazing how much I've forgotten. I'm not sure what's more annoying, the setup, the actual work, or the cleanup.

 

My sister-in-law (who I give a big thanks to for helping out) believes it's the latter item.

 

One thing I learned the hard way about painting walls is to be sure you get a good coat down the first time, and don't go wait too long to try and touch it up. Otherwise the previous works starts to come off.

 

Anyways, we did the ceiling and first coat on the walls. We left the room papered and taped down. This is because I'll have to do the 2nd coat sometime next week. I am defintely NOT going to re-paint the ceiling.

 

Once we set up all the furniture and stuff, I should have some photos handy.

My crappy week ...

... actually started Sunday night, though I didn't realize it at the time.

 

I went to bed with a strange hacking cough I seemed to pick up on the way home from Covington, WA (band practice). I thought nothing of it.

 

I woke up Monday, and felt REALLY cold. Again, I reasoned, a run on the cardio machine, build a good sweat, etc, and I'd be fine.

 

Then at about 10, the aches started with my head, then neck, then back, then knees, then the hips. I thought I was falling apart. This was not normal. My throat suddenly seemed like it was on fire.

 

I went home and collasped into bed, and was not able to get out for the next couple of days. To make matters worse, I couldn't really even sleep. My joints hurt so much, I simply couldn't get into any comfortable position for more than 30 minutes. And if I did, it would be interrupted by coughing, and sudden chills.

 

Monday night/Tuesday AM were the worst - I'd now break out into a random sweat. I swore I saw steam running of my head! I was running a pretty high fever.

 

Finally on Wednesday, I was stable enough to walk (the fever seemed to break), and see the doctor. Turns out I had some bacterial infection. I was perscribed some anti-biotics, and some regular flu stuff to treat the remaining symptoms.

 

Of course, in all that time, it's no shock, that the Mrs. ended up getting it too. She's about a day behind.

 

I tried going to work today, but after an hour of sitting, I felt the aches in my calves and neck. Plus that damn cough doesn't want to leave! I'm hoping I'm through the worst of it by now.

 

What's really odd is ...

 

The last time I was really this sick, where I missed so much time from something, was - quite literally- 20 years ago! That's right - I recall missing the last week of January/1986 over what seems to be a very similar set of circumstances.

 

Hey - I never claimed my memory was good, perhaps this was my body's way to commemorate. One would think I'd be stronger now, as I get older ... either that or bacterial infections are far more dangerous today.

 

Time will tell what the last week of January/2026 will bring ...

The Canadian election. Why a move to the right ... ?

I won't delve down into a really big analysis. But in a nutshell, here are my thoughts on what happened, and why the current party (Liberals) were voted out.

 

Because the Liberal Party's mess with the whole sponsorship scandal, I think the majority of Canadians didn't think there were any other viable options in this election. While they have some good ideas, the New Democratic Party has never been able to really reach out to folks on a national level, largely due to poor leadership and lack of substance. The Bloq is a non-option, and useless. They don't even care about their own cause (Quebec separation), all they do is suck up federal tax dollars by being in Ottawa.

 

Interesting how after the results, Duceppe (Bloq leader) made all sort of gestures to work with Harper (PM-elect). Funny how history repeats itself but in reverse ...

 

I think it's what Canadians want for now (i.e. a minority government) Until the Liberal Party gets their house in order (i.e. get rid of the corruption that comes with running the country for more than 12 years), and elect a leader that can infuse new blood, we won't see them in power any time soon.

 

Some of the former premiers look like fairly good options (McKenna, or Tobin). Rock or Dion are other choices.  I think Manley is a bit too old and tied in too much with the party power structure to really be effective.