Blinded by the (Electric) Light

One of the perception problems that the Republicans have is that they're anti-science. A lot of them, for instance, are against embryonic stem-cell research. They think that it's a kin to murder. Others think that global warming, not only is fallacious but debunked to the point where they're constantly throw around such loaded terms as myth and hoax (this, I'm saying, as opposed to a more reasoned discussion). Still others champion such discredited concepts as intelligent design. These people, folks (some of who actually ran for president; Brownback and Huckabee, just to name two), actually think that evolution is not a viable theory. Add to that the fact that Republicans (thankfully not all of them but, yes, a lot) are constantly belittling the more highly educated amongst us and, yeah, it does start to get a little awkward at times (hypocritical, too - this, in that W went to Yale and Harvard, Coulter went to Cornell, Ingraham went to Dartmouth, etc.).........................................................................................................Now, this isn't AT ALL to say that the Dems don't have their own perception problems. They, for instance, seem to want to solve every social problem via the establishment of a new government entitlement program. But, I'm telling you, folks, the fact that a lot of Republicans seem to be embracing such a strong anti-intellectualism, that is really, REALLY, going to make it hard for independents (like me) to support them in a national election. And, yes, that is absolutely a shame. It's a shame - THIS, because America seems to do well when BOTH parties prosper (this, as opposed to now, when they're both flailing).

He Who Shoots From the Hip Often Shoots Himself in the Toe

Don't count me amongst those who say that Glen Beck's programs aren't interesting. I mean, sure, the presentations are often maddeningly slanted, his reactions borderline paranoid, etc. - but, yes, folks, the subject matter itself is frequently thought provoking. Hell, he even has some credible guests on (Amity Shlaes, for instance) from time to time. But, I'm telling you, folks. When Mr. Beck said (not on his own show, ironically) that President Obama, in his opinion, was a racist, that one was way, Way, WAY, beyond the pale. And the fact that he's never apologized for it (unlike Mrs. Obama, who's apologized several times for her gaffe/statement) - that, folks, just might be a bridge that's too far/over the edge for me. And to think that this guy used to work for CNN.

Hollywood Beauties at Their Best (In No Particular Order)

Faye Dunaway (1967).....Eva Marie Saint (1959).....Greta Garbo (1932).....Teresa Wright (1943).....Barbara Stanwyck (1941).....Helena Bonham Carter (1998).....Hedy Lamarr (1942).....Cyd Charisse (1955).....Vivien Leigh (1941).....Jane Fonda (1965).....Ava Gardner (1953).....Olivia de Havilland (1941).....Marlene Dietrich (1930).....Irene Dunne (1939).....Natalie Wood (1962).....Susan Hayward (1949).....Rita Hayworth (1946).....Demi Moore (2003 - yes, I much prefer the more mature version).....Loretta Young (1947).....Lana Turner (1952).....Gene Tierney (1944).....Elizabeth Taylor (1958).....Carole Lombard (1934).....Norma Shearer (1930).....Grace Kelly (1954).....Jennifer Jones (1946).....Jean Simmons (1960).....Diane Lane (2000).....Susan Sarandon (1981).....Audrey Hepburn (1957).....Elisabeth Shue (1995).....Lee Remick (1965).....Ingrid Bergman (1944).....Ann Miller (1946).....Ann Sothern (1942).....Brigitte Bardot (1963).....Merle Oberon (1939).....Michelle Pfeiffer (1992).....Claudia Cardinale (1968).....Raquel Welch (1968).....Linda Fiorentino (1994).....Sophia Loren (1961).....Kristin Scott Thomas (1996).....Deborah Kerr (1956).....Vanessa Redgrave (1966).....Joan Fontaine (1942).....Lauren Bacall (1948).....Catherine Denueve (1976).....Julianne Moore (1999).....Ann Margret (1974).....Joanne Dru (1948).....Ashley Judd (1999).....Winona Ryder (2002).....Naomi Watts (AS WE FRIGGING SPEAK!!!!!).....Paulette Goddard (1939).....Donna Reed (1953).....Eleanor Parker (1954).....Jessica Lange (1982).....Janet Leigh (1958).....Mia Farrow (1974).....Ursula Andress (1962).....Mary Astor (1941).......................................................................................................Alright, alright, I got a little carried away. And, yes, there are indeed some ommissions (some of which are intentional, some of which are not). But, come on, what do you think, not too shabby, huh?

Worsted

Here, folks, is a perfect example of why I've grown to despise Keith Olbermann. Remember how last week he made such a huge commotion about what was happening at that Indian reservation; the suffering that was accruing from those major snow storms, the power outages, etc.? Remember how he even went as far as to put the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs onto his dreaded worst persons list? Yeah, huh? Well, think about it, folks. Who in the hell is in charge of that particular committee now? It's the Democrats, right? They have the majority of the members (9 of the 15) and the chairman, Byron Dorgen - he's a frigging Democrat, too. Mr. Olbermann conveniently left out this little piece of information. Do you think that he would have left it out had the Republicans been in charge, had Senator McCain still been the reigning chairman? I personally don't think that he would have..............................................................................................Oh, and, yes, just for the record, this story was in fact a legitimate one. I would even go as far as to say that Mr. Olbermann's outrage this time was warranted. It's just too bad that he had to ruin it all by showing off his hyper-partisan stripes. Too God damned frigging bad indeed.

Gracious Under Fire

I think that Michelle Obama has been an excellent first lady (as I did as well her predecessor, Laura Bush). The woman is smart, classy, and has, at least from what I can gather, always conducted herself with dignity (and, yes, folks, I include here all the excellent work she's been doing, too; support for military families, her initiative on childhood obesity, etc.). I mean, yes, I know that she had a gaffe (or two) during the campaign and all but, please/come on, that was pretty damn near two years ago. Is there not at least a statute of limitations here? I definitely think that there should be...................................................................................................Oh, and, yeah, that goes double for you, Sean Hannity.

(Rules/Laws) Errors of Omission

Rachel Maddow says that she isn't "pushing an agenda" - that she's only trying to get some "useful information" out there. Hm. Of course, what she gladly forgets to tell us is that she taut she taw a putty tat, too (that and, yes, various other various sundry bits/pieces).

Obviously Oblivious

It's a fact, folks. Sometimes the truth really is right in front of you. I mean, just take a gander at Chuck Heston, for Christ. He's on this planet, right, and the apes on the planet are talking. But not only are they frigging talking there, THEY'RE SPEAKING IN PURE ENGLISH!!!!! I mean, I know that it was only a movie and all but, PLEASE, shouldn't the light-bulb have gone off at least a little sooner/did Chuck really need to see the Statue of Liberty covered up to its armpits in sand? I'm just asking, folks.

Less Than a Stone's Throw

Glen Beck clearly acts the fool. He does it on the radio and he does it on his Fox news broadcast NIGHTLY. And, yes, folks, because of these facts, you really don't need to lie about the guy. But lie/distort is exactly what Rachel Maddow did on a recent telecast. I site, specifically, the episode in which she took (or should I say, cherry-picked?) sections of a recent Beck diatribe against global warming and, yes, tried to make it sound as if Beck was saying that the recent D.C. snowstorm was proof-positive against the concept. Of course, what Ms. Maddow didn't include was that part of the segment in which Mr. Beck, believe it or not, sounded reasonable - you know, the part in which he categorically stated that "one storm doesn't really prove ANYTHING (my emphasis)." How convenient, huh?...............................................................................................And like I said, folks, such distortions aren't at all necessary. This, in that the Glennster provides copious amounts of legitimate fodder. I mean, it was almost as if the lady herself was being a smidge on the shady side. Hm, could THAT possibly be?

Blips Versus Epochs

The earth is approximately four billion years old. I think it's probably fair to say that a great deal has happened to it throughout that time-frame. For instance, I think it's also fair to say that we've no doubt had countless previous episodes of global warming (not to mention countless ice ages as well) - some of which have no doubt been very destructive. I say this, folks, not as a global warming denier, but simply for a little more perspective. I mean, absolutely, there may in fact be a strong element of human causality at play here. But, clearly, there may also not be..........................................................................................I simply ask you to look at these statistics from geocraft.com. According to these folks, 95% of all greenhouse gas is nothing but water vapor. And, yes, even if you DO exclude this particular element, man made greenhouse gasses (CO2, nitrous oxide, methane, etc.) represent only 5.6% of all greenhouse gasses in the environment. Is that amount enough to markedly alter global temperatures? Maybe, maybe not (just for the record, if you do include water vapor, man made greenhouse gasses represent less than .3% of all greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere)........................................................................................So, does this all mean that there's nothing to worry about here? Nope, it doesn't mean that at all. Global warming is global warming. Of course, what it does mean is that maybe we need to be focusing more on how we adapt than how we prevent. And, really, even if (and, yes, I'm saying if) man made pollution ISN'T causing global warming, it's still making us pretty damn sick. We should at the very least want to stop it for THAT. And, yes, as some of my colleagues have pointed out of late, getting off of Middle-Eastern oil wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, either.

The Global Warming Theater

Here's the way that I see it, folks. The issue of global warming can essentially be broken down into four distinct groups. Group one would comprise the global warming deniers (the Sean Hannities, in other words). Group two would be the folks who think that global warming is real, but that human beings aren't in fact responsible for it. Group three (the group that I would probably place myself in) would be the people who think that global warming is real AND that human beings are at least partially the cause of it. But these people also think that we need to be prudent in our attempts to address it (I would refer you to the works of Bjorn Lomborg). Group four would be the people who not only believe in global warming/man's contribution to it, they also believe in an aggressive (their opponents would probably instead call it radical) approach to the amelioration of it. They, in other words, are the truest of the true believers............................................................................................Just exactly which of these groups is the closest to the truth on global warming, I couldn't even begin to tell you (hell, I probably shouldn't even be writing on the issue, period). What I CAN tell you, though, is that whoever in fact wins this argument, POLITICALLY, is going to have one big hell of a bulls-eye on 'em. THAT I can guarantee.

"For Instance" Politics

A lot has been made about how global warming deniers have only been using anecdotes to make their case - the fact of how they point to a snow-storm here, a wintry cold-spell there, etc.. And, yes, me-buckos, it is in fact a very good case that's been made against them. But to say that the opponents of global warming are the only people who are throwing around these anecdotes is ridiculous. Global warming PROPONENTS are doing it as well. I mean, think about it. When was the last time you ever heard someone from the inside of that camp NOT blaming a hurricane on global warming/climate change? It's like, I don't know about you'all but, for me, it's been an extremely LONG time...................................................................................................Oh, and, yeah, then there's that story I've been reading out of Florida - yeah, the one about all those manatees dying? Apparently the water's getting rather cold down there. Anecdotally, I'm saying.

On the Wrong Side of Yesterday

Colin Powell now thinks that "don't ask-don't tell" should cease. Defense secretary Bob Gates apparently agrees with him. Ditto, Admiral Mullen. Hell, folks, even conservative commentators such as Steven Hayes and Charles Krauthammer (aka, the somber one) think that the time has come for this policy to end. It's like, HELLO/ENOUGH ALREADY!!..............................................................................................And the thing is here, while, yes, I obviously agree with these people (this, in that I've long been a strong proponent of allowing gays to serve, and to serve openly), even if I did have some doubts, just take a look at the folks on the other side of this argument; Sean Hannity, Oliver (I screwed the Constitution big-time) North, etc.. That factor alone, I'm saying!

Journalism 00.1

Remember how Olbermann made such a big deal of how Fox (in prime-time) failed to adequately cover the Haitian earthquake....and of how he and Rachel Maddow supposedly DID? Well, guess what, folks, CNN is STILL covering it. And when I say that they're covering it, I mean that they're actually broadcasting a lot of their prime-time shows, hello, FROM HAITI!! Yeah, that's right, Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta are literally THERE, reporting, providing to their viewers as much of that up close and personal (to steal a phrase from the present-day broadcast nomenclature) coverage as possible. Olbermann? Well, let's just say that Mr. Olbermann is back to being Mr. Olbermann; a Palin-obsessed shill for the Democrats, a hack/hatchet-man, etc.. A journalist? I don't think so.

Miscellaneous 6

1) I finally figured out something that President Obama and Ms. Palin share in common. They're both losing (rapidly, in fact) independents. And, no, folks, that isn't necessarily a good thing....IN FACT, if such a trajectory continues, you just might want to brush off the name, Bloomberg, a time or two. This, me-buckos, in that, yeah, ya' just might be needing to...........................................................................................2) I always kind of liked Tucker Carlson. One, I thought that he was funny. Two, I found him to be at least somewhat nuanced in his presentation. And, three, he appeared to be far more of a traditional conservative than he did a neocon.....Well, guess what, folks. Now that Mr. Carlson is currently peddling his wares over there at Fox News, he really doesn't seem all that funny or nuanced any more. And, yes, he even seems to be drinking some neocon Kool-Aid; talking with bellicosity about Iran, etc.. It's like, what - what the hell is going on over there? Do these people feel (or are they simply told?) that they have to be a neocon shill, JUST so they can get their face on the air. I'm serious. This, in that that's what it seems to be...............................................................................................3) I've got an idea, folks. Instead of having Charles Krauthammer and Rachel Maddow on different networks (pontificating against what is essentially zero resistance), we put them on the SAME broadcast. This, in that, yes, we just might be able to have some actual debate once in a while. I mean, seriously, wouldn't that be nice for a change?

Finally, A Person to Look Up To

Whenever I see Bob Gates on television, I always think the same damn thing - namely, of just how infinitely better he is than his predecessor, Rumsfeld, was. I was particularly moved by that piece on him on "60 Minutes". I mean, talk about a sober and honest portrayal. I was especially struck by his response to that final question; "So, do you enjoy your job?" After reflecting for a few seconds/gathering himself, he proceeded to talk about the burdens - the penultimate, of course, his responsibility for having to tell family members about the death of their loved ones. His final words were, "No, to answer your question, I don't particularly enjoy my job." Wow, huh? Compare THAT to some of the stuff that Mr. Rumsfeld uttered, I dare you.

Miscellaneous 5

1) I've heard that Sarah Palin will be donating her $100,000 speaking fee for speaking at the Tea Party convention BACK to the movement. Hm, it's like, hello, why not just speak for nothing? I mean, I just don't get it. And, really, if you're going to make a contribution to something, wouldn't it be better just to give the money to a REAL charity - you know, as opposed to some sort of self-sustaining kick-back? I'm just asking.....2) Hey, how 'bout The Who, folks? Seriously, did you happen to catch a glimpse of them at that Super Bowl halftime show? Talk about rocking out! I mean, I know that they're senior citizens and all (Daltrey and Townsend) but MAN, was that ever some seriously good shit out there. And not a "wardrobe malfunction" in sight. Hell, in my opinion, it was the best Super Bowl halftime show EVER!....3) I saw (probably for the 5th or 6th time) "Bonnie and Clyde" this weekend. Man, oh man - I guess you'd have to say that I'm still recovering here. And, no, I'm not even talking about the violence (though, yes, I will in fact admit it, that was quite blistering, too). I'm talking about Fay Dunaway, folks. Wowie, wowie, wowie, was she ever frigging hot in 1967. And the performance itself was so incredibly sexual. I site, specifically, that time when she was lamenting her not being able to see her family. Warren Beatty (Clyde) says to her, "I'll be your family." Remember? Remember how she slithered onto his lap like a snake, a snake with feline propensities? Ooh, huh? And then there was that scene near the end (right before they got gunned down) when she started eating the apple, sharing it with Clyde, etc.. THAT was incredibly sexy. Ms. Fay Dunaway, ladies and gentlemen!!!

Narratives Gone Wild

Gee, what a surprise. Sean Hannity goes out of his way to point out Rahm Emanuel's insensitive use of the term, "retard".....but doesn't even mention once Mr. Limbaugh's. It's like, what, it's only an offensive term when a Democrat is using it? I mean, at least Palin kinda' chastised Limbaugh (though, yes, I've heard that she's amped her criticism down a bit - feeling perhaps it's best not to go toe-toe with a fellow ideologue). So much for consistency, huh?...........................................................................................Not that it's significantly better over at MSNBC. Keith Olbermann, rather than taking Emanuel to task, used this whole frigging mess (a full 24 hours prior to Limbaugh even opening HIS pie-hole) merely to take another pot-shot at Palin (as if he ever really needs an excuse, right?). It, me-buckos, was business-as-usual 101/PURE!!............................................................................................And, yes, all the while that this (THIS SHIT) is happening, this United States of ours - IT'S STILL BURNING! Hell, folks, one might even go as far as to say that we're burning because of it. I myself am leaning.....

Miscellaneous 4

1) John McCain has gone from a politician who I once respected as much as anybody to, well, basically just another guy - a guy, folks, who will literally do or say ANYTHING just to get elected, etc.. The latest evidence of this is his suddenly strident opposition to the doing-away of "don't ask, don't tell". McCain, still in the midst of a very tough primary battle with the ultra-conservative, J.D. Hayworth, evidently feels the need to pander....yet again. I mean, wow, huh? Talk about a sad situation. It just doesn't get any sadder, in my opinion.....2) Markos Moulitsas went on "Countdown" tonight and said (quite correctly, in my opinion) that a lot of individuals tune in to Fox because they don't like to hear contrary viewpoints. Yeah, that's right, folks. That's what he said - on "Countdown". He said this on frigging "COUNTDOWN"!!!! Do you not at least see the irony here?....3) Michael Jackson's doctor was charged this week with involuntary manslaughter. My first reaction to this was, "damn, it's about time." My second was simply, "ya' think?" This, I'm saying, in that, think about it here. This character not only gave Jackson a drug that he shouldn't have (a drug that should only be administered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital setting), he idiotically left the room in the process. And, no, folks, this doesn't even get into all of the other drugs that this pathetic loser administered to him (10 milligrams of Valium here, 2 milligrams of Ativan there - pretty soon you're talking real narcotics here). Yeah, I'm pretty frigging sure that you might have a manslaughter charge. HELLO!!

Top 30 Most Memorable/Powerful Oscar-Winning Performances EVER (Subjectively Speaking, Of Course)!!

30) Susan Hayward - "I Want to Live".....29) Elizabeth Taylor - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?".....28) Shirley MacLaine - "Terms of Endearment".....27) Denzel Washington - "Training Day".....26) Maximilian Schell - "Judgment at Nuremberg".....25) Sissy Spacek - "Coal Miner's Daughter".....24) Sydney Poitier - "Lilies of the Field".....23) Alec Guiness - "The Bridge on the River Kwai".....22) Greer Garson - "Mrs. Miniver".....21) Jon Voight - "Coming Home".....20) Ben Kingsley - "Ghandi".....19) Ingrid Bergman - "Gaslight".....18) Ray Milland - "The Lost Weekend".....17) Judy Holliday - "Born Yesterday".....16) Rod Steiger - "In the Heat of the Night".....15) Broderick Crawford - "All the King's Men".....14) Jimmy Cagney - "Yankee Doodle Dandy".....13) Anthony Hopkins - "The Silence of the Lambs".....12) Katharine Hepburn - "The Lion in Winter".....11) Laurence Olivier - "Hamlet".....10) Dustin Hoffman - "Rain Man".....9) Vivien Leigh - "Gone With the Wind".....8) Robert DeNiro - "Raging Bull".....7) Marlon Brando - "The Godfather".....6) Jack Nicholson - "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".....5) Gregory Peck - "To Kill a Mockingbird".....4) Olivia deHavilland - "The Heiress".....3) Burt Lancaster - "Elmer Gantry".....2) Vivien Leigh - "A Streetcar Named Desire".....1) Marlon Brando - "On the Waterfront"......................................................................................................P.S. Donna Reed in "From Here to Eternity" and Shirley Jones in "Elmer Gantry" could have easily been included here. But they are more supporting roles and so I opted no. Yul Brynner in "The King and I"? I don't think so. Spencer Tracy in Boy's Town" and Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday" are probably deserving but, hey, I had to narrow it down a tad. If anybody can think of something that I missed..........