More Than Turkeys...

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and as anyone who follows history knows, the President grants a pardon to a lucky turkey each year, saving it from the dinner table. However, it appears that this year you don't have to be a bird to get a pardon. You can be, well, let me just paste a list I got off a news site.

On the latest pardon list were:
_Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo. She was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
_Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D. Cordes was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits importation into the country of wildlife taken in violation of conservation laws.
_Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill., who was convicted of making false statements to the federal government.
_Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas, for reporting or helping cover up a crime.
_Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va. Harley was convicted of wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine.
_Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga., whose offense was unauthorized acquisition of food stamps.
_Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C., who was convicted of income tax evasion.
_Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla., convicted of bank embezzlement.
_William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas, who was sentenced for making false entries, books, reports or statements to a bank.
_Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla., who was sentenced for misapplication of bank funds.
_Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
_Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, who was convicted for unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony.
_Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas, convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit.
_Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark., who was convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of government property.
Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit, Mich. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses.
Under the Constitution, the president's power to issue pardons is absolute and cannot be overruled.


Gobble, gobble, gobble....

"Yo"

Today I went to the Sports Bar mentioned in the post where I expressed my concern about the current Youth of America. While the crowd there today was present for the same reason as I(NFL Sunday Ticket) and less rambunctious than last time, I did learn a tidbit about today's youth language.
I was sitting at the bar next to two individuals in their mid twenties (or so they seemed). They were rooting for the team playing against the Tennessee Titans so I didn't say much to them, but had our teams been mutual I would not have known how to communicate. I did not start keeping track until about fifteen minutes before I left, but in that time period of listening to their conversation, I heard the word "Yo" at least thirty times. I had decided to keep track after hearing it in about every aforementioned sentence in their previous conversations. I have used the word myself, but it is typically just to get someone's attention and not to fill space in a sentence where no word is really needed. For instance, instead of saying: "This coming Friday will be a great time to get a good price on an HD TV," it is common to say something to the effect of : " "Yo, those TVs are dropping in price,yo. So yo, you know what I mean, it might be good to get one this Friday. Those prices, yo, they be going down." Upon hearing many sentences following this example, and the Titans not really making good progress in their game, I decided to leave the bar...yo.

Sarah Palin Turkey Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kjM1asH-8


You know, as an alleged former Newscaster, she should know to check her background before rattling off her words. Sometimes reality serves up something better than any SNL skit could ever imagine....

Another Bail Out?

Okay, I will admit that if the auto industry does not get a bail out as well, the that will most definitely launch us into a worldwide depression (if we are not there already). However, if one truly wants to stimulate the U.S. economy, how about a stimulus package that contributes $700 billion to the populace? That would turn things around, I guarantee you! Bottomline is almost everyone in the country is mired in their current situation (aka uncertainty) until things turn around, and once they do, they have to look forward to utilizing their future earnings to pay for the mistakes of the corporate brass. Isn't life grand?

Today's Social Crowd: Trouble is Ahead

I remember when I was younger all of the talk about how someday my generation will be "the one running things" in this world. I didn't really get it at the time, but I now realize what it meant. Basically, we have to take over for our parents and grandparents in maintaining society and making sure it doesn't careen out of control then crash and burn. I must say that I don't really ask for such a responsibility, but it is inevitable and just happens. Right now one could argue that the world is being run, more or less, by the aging baby-boomers, who are approaching retirement (or were until our recent economic crash added a year or two to their tenures). All I can say is: "At least they have an idea."

I am somewhat of a social butterfly. I don't frequent popular social scenes regularly (though I used to in my early to late 20s), but every now and then I need to visit some place to remind myself why I no longer have the desire. Give me a little bar with some music, drinks, and a talkative bartender or someone next to me, and I am happy. However, one does need to occassionally go where the "people" go to see what is supposed to be the popular trends for current society. Last night I went to such a place here in Daytona. A sports cafe/ nightclub with a Greco-Roman theme. Having been there for sporting events (NFL Sunday ticket/College Gameday), I can attest that it is impressive. However, when the night comes and it becomes a popular social scene (most likely due to its free cover), it becomes a showcase of why we should be cautious about who will one day be in charge.

The crowd consists mostly of individuals about six to ten years younger than I. There is an occasional smattering of someone my age, even older, but for the most part it belongs to the young. The women seem to be ones who have watched too many episodes of Sex and the City, and think that it what life is supposed to be like. Granted, they are young, but I think they would have enough sense to realize Carrie and her friends would not hang out at a sports bar with free cover showcasing an Ultimate Fighting contest. Then again, this is Daytona, a place where I saw a bunch of women dressed to go see the recent movie but after they had dined at a local barbecue joint. The men they bring along or chat with seem to take their grooming cues from the UFC cage fighters (i.e. spiked hair, lots of gel, and a permanent pseudo-scowl on their face), and their dress code from boy-bands. I look at this and think it looks silly, but then remember that the people who grew-up watching these boy bands from the late 9os and early decade are now young adults. I liked Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer when I was a kid, I will admit. (And if everyone who denies they did now speaks the truth, there is no way they would have sold the amount of records they did.) However, when I was old enough to make my own clothing decisions I didn't go out and buy huge pants and die my hair multiple colors. Maybe because we had enough sense to realize when the fad passed that it was stupid. The club also has a dance floor, which I have no intention of frequenting, especially considering the fact that it is populated by people proving beyond a doubt that white people can't dance. There is also the alarming presence of an immensely overweight white-guy in baggy attire, buzzed on alcohol and yelling about how he is about to "bust a funky move". This means it's time to head for the door, since this if this guy does break loose in dance it will be hazardous for all within a ten foot radius. I exit the place and go outside, where girls are talking away on their cell phones trying to get the last of their group to arrive so that they may all enter the scene as a pack, and illustrate their strength by charging directly to the bathroom. The young guys are also on their phones, talking to their friends who have to "come down and meet this girl, seriously, she wants to meet you." Catching a glance at these guys and getting a whiff of their strong aftershave, I can assume that if the missing buddy wears the same, the girl in question can already smell him.

To quote Ralphie from the time honored classic A Christmas Story, "I went out ready to face the world...wiser." Well, maybe not too much, but reminded of why I like what I do, and more comfortable with myself as a person, though alarmed by the new norms of society. But to quote The Beatles: "We Can Work it Out." I certainly hope so.

Scarlett Johansson in Glasses

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Beautiful, isn't it?

"Quantum of Solace", AKA "Casino Royale: Part II"

Okay, let me start by saying that if you thought the last Bond flick lacked in action, this one more than makes up for it. The action sequences are crisp, brutal, and in your face. Furthermore, they actually serve a purpose and advance the plot, they are not sequences around which a plot is written. Basically, they're not the Bonds of the Brosnan era.

Having read some reviews for Quantum, there seems to be some common complaint that it gives the action in question priority over character development. In short, it isn't Casino Royale. Well, I have to disagree with them. Quantum of Solace begins almost an hour after its predecessor ends, and hence should not be viewed as a stand alone Bond flick as has been the tradition in the past. One needs to view this as if they just watched Royale, went to the lobby for an intermission, and then came back for the second half. This movie is meant to build upon the first one. It is the second half of a story (or the halfway point in a series, as it seems they intend to stretch out a story to honor actor Daniel Craig's four picture deal). The character development and motivations for Bond have already occurred, as well as those of "M" (Judi Dench is always brilliant in this role) and Bond's CIA buddy Felix Leiter. View the movie as a continuation of the previous story, and you will have no problem with enjoying for the pure entertainment value it offers.
This movie offers a lot of homages to films of the past for Bond junkies (one for Goldfinger is obvious), but most of all, it remains true to the characters created by Ian Fleming. This Bond is not a superman quipping one liners; he is very human, capable of being harmed, and as is the case in this one, doing much harm to others. After losing the love of his life in the previous chapter, he is an individual driven by vengeance and does not want to admit it. Perhaps the greatest illustration of Bond's obsession over his lost love (Vesper Lynde for those who have forgotten) is the lack of a "Bond Girl" in this outing. Bond does have a fling with one woman, but the one that could be classified in the traditional romantic counterpart role is more of a protege to him as opposed to a lover. The love of his life has died, and he has no desire to love or forgive in this movie.
I believe that the whole vigilante approach for Bond works rather well in terms of a two part story. One might make and argument that this Bond story is one that could appeal to both women and men in a certain sense. The first half involves meeting a special someone, falling in love, and then suffering the tragedy of the loss of that loved one. The second half is about getting even with assholes who are responsible for her death. What's more romantic?

In short, go see this damn fine movie!